I'm Wearing Short Sleeves Today, Though I Think We're Going to get Caught in the Rain - 5/22-23/2011



Elder Rowe working on a very special service project. The stuff in the back of the truck is exactly what you think it is.



You can see that he is enjoying himself.



Showing off his sweet kitchen skills, Elder Rowe attempts to liberate a frozen hot dog (he calls them "sausages" now)using a sauce pan as a hammer.

Hello Hello!

It's been another great week here in Levin. A lot of different and exciting things happen each and everyday.

Last Friday a member from the ward called us and asked Elder Cerros and I if we wanted to go and meet a friend of his to teach. We said yes of course, and so he picked us up in a big van with his son, his dog, and a trailer full of horse manure. We drove out to Hokio Beach, the more hillbilly part of Levin, where the lady lived. When we got there, he said "Get the spade out Elda." To make a pretty nasty story short, Brother Reiri's friend wasn't even home for us to teach, but she got a pile of manure dumped in her yard. At first I thought he was joking when he told his son to give the Elders a turn. But nope. He handed me the shovel and I started tossing the poo from the trailer to the spot next to her garden. Elder Cerros and I had to deep clean our shoes when we got home.

Being a District Leader is much harder work than I anticipated. But it's good for me. It keeps me humble and hard-working. It puts an added measure of stress into my life, which is also good for me. Sometimes. I think it keeps my missionary work from becoming too easy.

I've also been driving a lot this week, and so that's been special. I'm a safe driver, but yes, I'm sure I terrify plenty of people, including Elder Cerros, with my skills, or lack of, at driving. We take a lot of road trips--like to Palmerston North for district meeting, or to Otaki where some of our members and investigators live. So I try to bike as much as possible when we're in Levin.

I'm now fluent in Spanish and Samoan, so you know. I often speak in Spanish to Elder Cerros unintentionally--normally just simple, everyday questions like "Que hora es?" "Adonde vamos?" Donde esta los llaves? "Yo Necesito mi corbata." And other random things. I'm not sure if he likes it or not, but he likes my funny Hispanic/chinese-sounding accent. We often quote Nacho Libre--but only when appropriate. Like "why did you change your shirt?" 'It was... estiiinky."

I'm also learning more and more Samoan--just random things I pick up from members and the many Samoans who we meet door-knocking. The most important phrase that I know is "O te iloa O Le Tusi A Mamona e moni." "I know the Book of Mormon is true." I'm hoping I get to go to the Samoan program at least one transfer during my mission. But then again, they'll feed me too much.

Dad, and Robby, I'm doing my best to exercise every morning. I might need to buy some new clothes because they might not fit soon. Not because I'm been eating too much, but because I'm getting so buff! Just kidding. But it might be true.

  

Sorry, I'm out of time again. But I hope you have an amazing week and that you get plenty of summer sunshine as I try to keep warm and dry.

I love you and appreciate all of the love and support you give me.

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 sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (to quote Sara) very much!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe