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| An acquaintance of Elder Rowe who he believes is quite interested in reading the Book of Mormon |
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| Elder Rowe's driving adventures on exchanges with Elder Kanye West, er, um, Elder Kavaefiafi (of Tonga) |
Dear family,
Hello! Greetings from Levin with the warmest winter I've ever had.
I will be saying "ka kite ano" to Elder Cerros this Thursday because of transfers. I will be staying in Levin as District Leader and will, crazily enough, be training "Elder Christensen." He's gotta be American with a name like that. But we'll see. I can't believe I'll be training, especially because I feel like I need training still for myself. It'll be a great learning experience for me though. There's now being a new training guide implented into the work where the new missionaries and their trainers with have an extra hour of studying each day so that the "greenies" will no longer be green after 3 months and be ready to train someone themselves. So luckily I've got some guidance on how to train a missionary, though I'm sure I will learn a lot more from him. That's how it has been with Elder Cerros. Strangely, he's being transferred without leaving the zone, so he's just going to be a few hours away.
(So that Nacho/Esqueleto bond can still continue from a distance. By the way, I asked Elder Cerros, and he says that he's Nacho. It only makes sense considering I'm tall and skinny. And Elder Cerros would look better with a mustache.)
This week has been good, as usual, of course. I was on exchanges with Elder Kavaefiafi (have fun pronouncing that) for part of the week. He's Tongan, but from Sydney. I learned a lot from him about being bold and getting in the door, of course in a very friendly way. I also learned that when you're a Tongan missionary, all Tongans like you. Or maybe it was just him...
But it's been good, though kind of slow because it was the last week of school holidays for the winter so everyone seemed busy. Levi, Ace and Jaky (I think that's how Jackie spells her name) have all been busy with family things (because Jaky and Levi are first cousins--not like "cuzzins" like everyone else is with each other) so we haven't been able to see them much. But 9 year old Anna Huavi is doing good and is still excited for her baptism on the 14th. Having us teach her has been helping her mom a lot as well to become active in the church again. She has regained that excitement that comes from learning about the gospel. It was pretty neat to see that as we taught the Plan of Salvation, every one of Sister Huavi's questions related exactly to what we were just about to explain next.
In fact, we work with a lot of less-active families here in New Zealand and it's always interesting to see the things that they remember as well as what they have somehow forgotten. But the church is true, so we do the best we can to help rekindle the joy of the gospel in their lives and just hope they'll push themselves to do what it takes.
Thank you so much for all of you thoughtful prayers and inspiring words. Even though I thoroughly enjoy serving a mission, I'm always in need of encouragement, like reminding myself of a voice in my head of a little girl named Anna Mary saying "Don't give up."
Thank you also to Jenny for that wonderful quote.
Sorry I can't write more! have an amazing week! Enjoy the food for me! And tell everyone that says Hi, Hi!
I was wondering if you could send me some numbers like:
the population of utah,
of orem,
the number of members in the 4th ward
people ask those a lot, so thank you.
I can't believe Matt's already leaving! Please send me his email and mission address once you're informed of it yourselves.
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
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