December 25/26, 2011

Elder Rowe overseeing the preparation of Christmas dinner

Elder Rowe and his compadres with their Christmas "tree," cut down from their back yard that morning.

Merry Christmas (officially) my dear family!

How's the snow? I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas so far.

It's been quite the week. The highlight of course being yesterday and calling you. Ya know.

At the start of the week, Elder Greer, (from Cache Valley, Utah, serving in Levin) and I went on exchanges here in Palmy. And boy were we powerful. Well, I guess it was mainly Elder Greer of course. On Monday, we were able to set a baptism date with a woman named Stormy. She was one of those people whose lawn we mowed a few weeks ago. She is living with her partner named Frankie who is a less-active member. They're both really keen on doing the right thing for them and their kids. And so they're always happy to see us. The only problem they have really is their neighbors (who we're also teaching) that like to drink. So that's what we're trying to work with in this neighborhood--drinking, smoking, chastity, and swearing. Swearing is one of those first little steps we're working on with them. But they're excited and we're excited, and I keep imagining the day when that whole street is full of Mormons who have to rent a bus because none of them can drive to Church. It's awesome.

On Tuesday, Elder Greer and I mowed a lawn (one less ridiculous then the one on Wednesday that I sent pictures of) and then went and set another baptism date with a girl named Stevie who also lives on that same street as Stormy and Frankie. We taught her about the Restoration, finally (we've known her for a while but were then finally able to teach it to her) and she was way excited to be baptized. And what's even better was that she came to church on Sunday! We weren't sure if she was actually going to because of Christmas, but when we popped by to say Hi, she was all ready to go and just waiting for us a ride. Church was "a lot quieter" than the rock band churches she's used to, but she really liked it and felt really loved by the family that picked her up. We were also able to teach Stevie about the Book of Mormon on Friday.

Wednesday, the massively long lawn was attacked and mowed. We couldn't even attempt the backyard, one because it would have taken 3 hours, and two because there were too many random objects like rocks, bikes and jaguars that were hidden in the grass. So we're going to try and find a weed wacker first and go back this week.

Thursday was our amazing Christmas conference. As part of it, each district had to prepare a 5 minute skit of some sort. Our District won of course. It wasn't a contest, but everyone still told us ours was best. It was the story of Ammon and the King's Sheep with a little "Whose Line is it Anyway" twist. I got it on film, so we can be sure to watch it years from now. And maybe I'll get a Tony award for it.

Christmas was great. We ate waaay too much. I still haven't adjusted to eating like an islander. It's pretty shameful. But the islanders understand that I'm a Palangi, so they don't expect me to eat AS much as their island boys. Our fridge is full of leftover food we were given. But I don't want to eat any of it. Hopefully I'll be hungry again one day.

I'm excited for this week and all that lies in store. Lots of exchanges, which means lots of miracles.

Merry Christmas!

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