The Church is Truuuuue! March 6/7, 2011

Hello my wonderful family!

Napier is getting cold! Though only compared to the heat of before. Yesterday was wet and I almost wore a jersey (a sweater) because of it. But then biking warms me up well enough. The Napier/Omahu area is doing great and we've been being able to work a lot better with the ward members and we can really see the success it brings.

Answer to some of Dad's questions: Having eggs on hamburgers is more common than having toma(h)tos or onions on one. I love kumara/sweet potatos! And Tim tams! And Sweet thai chili sauce! have I told you about that? The sauce we always have on potsickers is a common used condiment here. It's as commonly used here as say, barbecue sauce is back home. As a dip that is, not as a marinade. 

Elder Triantafillakos has more of an American than Aussie accent. though to me it sounds kiwi because he softens his R's like all of these English people do.

The Earhhquake is still pretty big news. And no, the quake was only felt down in Chch.

I loved your ward conference talk Dad! thank you so much for sending it.

 My thoughts of today about this week:

Jesus Christ's Church has been restored! We have a Prophet on the Earth today and we have The Book of Mormon as another witness of the Divinity of Jesus Christ!

Oh how I wish everyone could just realize that. I think there should be a breaking news story announcing such a wonderful thing and then Elder Triantafillakos and I (as well as the missionaries all around the world) would walk around town asking people "Did you hear the news?! Well, let us tell you more about it!" I'm definitely feeling just like Alma today when he says in Alma Chapter 29, "O that I were an angel...that I might go forth and speak with trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth and cry repentance unto every people!"

And by "cry repentance" I mean teach the Gospel and baptize them.

I've been amazed this week about the Book of Mormon and the responses people have to it. When we tell people about it, some are very grateful for such a wonderful book and they're excited to read it and pray about it. Whereas most people say, "The Bible is good enough for me." They have no idea what they're missing! If people could only realize what a wonderful book it truly is. The joy, peace, comfort and guidance that comes from reading the Book of Mormon is possible for everyone if they would only read it and find out for themselves that it's true. It's the word of God! It makes me pretty sad when Elder Triantafillakos and I will teach a lesson and then that person will reject the remarkable message of the Restoration and won't even pray and ask God if it's true!

But I still have joy because I'm a missionary and I love it! As Alma continues in verses 9 and 10 "this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my [Kiwi] brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy, then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea even that he hath heard my prayer"

So, despite all of the people who reject the Truth and the fulness of the Gospel, I still find so much joy in being able to teach Matt & Jenny's family, and Eamonn, and Rebecca and seeing the "exceedingly great joy" that they feel when we share the Gospel  with them. It's having those lessons with them and having the Spirit touch their hearts that makes being a missionary the best thing ever! And when they finally come to church, I will be even happier.

I'm so happy Dad that you have been able to get that job and that your lives are back to normal(-ish) once again!

 Do you have any FHE ideas or game ideas that we could use to relate gospel principles as we teach kids? That would be great! We have a FHE resource book, but other ideas would be very helpful.

Just remember:
"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all so very much!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe