October 30/31 2011

Hellos to the Rowes!

It's been one of those weeks. You know, being a missionary, one of those great weeks.

Happy Halloween by the way! I think Halloween is a lot less of a big deal here than it was in Christchurch, but that's not saying much. I'm sure tonight some kids might go trick or treating, but that's about all that really happens. We're going to an FHE tonight with our investigator family and will probably have a feed. But it won't have anything to do with Halloween. ha ha

Speaking of them, we've been teaching the Taukapo family for the past couple weeks and we're so close to finally setting that baptismal date with them. Hopefully it will be tonight. The Taukapos are a part-member Tongan family. Brother Taukapo has been less-active for awhile and him and his family have been going to a Tongan church. But the mom and two teenage daughters both want to get baptized in the "Mormon Church." It's all just a matter of having more support from the Dad and having him get back to Church to help his family. But they're great and will most likely be coming to church this Sunday.

My new companion, Elder Tukuafu is straight from Tonga, but learned English at Liahona High School, so he speaks English better than me. He's really awesome, for lack of a better term, and we get along quite well. It's kind of funny because he's Tongan and all, but I wouldn't be suprised if he told me he grew up in New Orleans and played the trumpet. If you know what I mean. Let's just say.. he's a Groovy Brotha.

It's also really wonderful that I now have a Tongan companion so that things will be able to happen more quickly with the Taukapos. It's not that they don't speak English well, it's just that having him testify in Tongan to the parents will be a lot more powerful and meaningful to them. So it was definite inspiration in having Elder Tukuafu come here.

It's pretty crazy for me to be the "senior" Zone leader, I'm definitely so lost. Well, not really, it's just a lot for me to handle. I'm not stressing, just slightly overwhelmed with it all. Gratefully, Elder Tukuafu has been out for 18 months and so he's more experienced in that category and he is helping me a lot. So no worries.

I got to go to Wellington again last week and that was fun again. Except, for some reason, it was before the transfer and so Elder Tukuafu didn't get to hear any of the things that I'm supposed to share with the District Leaders. Have you guys ever been on the Kezerian's blog? It's pretty cool, and I'm on it recently, so that makes it even cooler!

Thank you for all you do for me and your love and support. Keep being wonderful!

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