February 27/28, 2012

The Elders on a clean up project

Love those yellow vests

Elder Rowe and his companion - They're a lot more soaked than they look

Dear Whanau,

Kia Ora, Tena Korou

It's been a most marvelous week of course in the Palmerston North. I'll try not to repeat myself, considering I wrote halfway through the week.

On Tuesday we had our conference and interviews with President and Sister Kezerian. It's always a treat to be able to learn, especially from your Mission President. I gained a lot about the importance of studying and techniqes in doing so, as well as sharing the Gospel in 30 seconds to someone on an elevator (not that we're ever in that situation, but a matter of letting people know who we are and how important the gospel is, as quickly as possible.)

After interviews, Elder Segi and I started our exchange with the Levin elders. Elder Siale from Tonga stayed in Palmy with me and we had a grand ol' time. I've thought for a while that islanders hate the rain, especially getting caught out biking in it, but Elder Siale is much different. On Wednesday we both really wanted to bike because we hate being in the car all day, even though the sky looked like it was just waiting to pour. But we went out and about not minding the light sprinkle that was falling on us. (I decided not to wear my rain jacket because Elder Siale left his in Levin, and it was too hot anyway. But we were fine all day. I was getting wetter from my slight perspiration than the mild precipitation, until right before dinner time, when we finished knocking some doors and the rains came a tumbling down. So it was fun! (See picture for further details on our enjoyment)

Other news of the week is our Stake service project on Saturday. With our yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests (which always seem to attract bees) our stake cleaned up Himitangi beach/town. There's was a pretty good turnout, and almost more people than work needed. (See picture for minimal amount of rubbish bags). Elder Segi kept commenting on how dirty the water looked (compared to Samoa) and I had to keep reminding him that he didn't need to go and get the rubbish that was out at sea. Just kidding, No swimming! Well i gotta go i love you!

I'm staying in palmy!

February 22/23, 2012

Elder Rowe goes to Wellington

Elder Rowe drives the gigantic mission van around the tiny, hilly streets of Wellington

Hello my dear family,

I hope you're all doing swell!

Sorry for the considerable amount of worrying I'm sure I caused you as you checked your emails for any sign of contact from your beloved son. I'm alive and all is well. I'm just a very busy man these days, as you know. I forget what happened last week because I keep thinking of this week's activities, but I will save those for next Monday's email.

So last week was good! I had another double exchange, but luckily I was in my area for half of the week, unlike before where I'd be gone for a week. Exchanges are the best! It's always awesome to be able to go and serve in another Elder's area and see what it's like there. When you stay on the exchange, you see a lot of miracles. Miracles always happen on exchanges. That's why it's always so great that we have them so often as Zone Leaders. Then again, miracles happen everyday.

Last Monday I stayed in Palmy with Elder Hunt while Elder Segi went to Fielding. Elder Hunt and I were able to have a great exchange with some powerful lessons. One particularly great lesson we had was with the Reiri family. Sis Reiri's cousin Mickey (from Japan) has been staying with them as she learns English at the university. Mickey has a hard time believing in God, but she has a strong desire to be able to. She's been to church a lot of times but this is the first time we've been able to teach her. We started with a simple fun lesson on the Ten Commandments. She really liked that and then the  lesson kind of turned to her asking more about getting an answer an answer to her prayers for herself about the reality of Heavenly Father. We talked about the feelings of the Spirit as well as the things she needs to do, such as continually pray, read the Book of Mormon, and come to church.

It's hard to explain, but it seems like the lesson with the people who always seem to have the least belief in God are always the most spiritual lessons. I always feel strongly of the Holy Ghost as we testify of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the love they have for us.

The second half of the week was my exchange with Elder Lemalu, who is one of the Assistants down in Wellington. My adventure in Wellington was a brand new one this time, mainly because I had to be the one driving because Elder Lemalu doesn't have his license. For whatever reason, the only car the Assistants have is the beefy 9 passenger mission van, which is the craziest thing to have to drive around Wellington of all places. The streets of Wellington are about half the width of a regular street, plus going up and down the hills, plus they have random shaped intersections that you can only know where to turn if you've been there before. And you have to do all of this at normal speeds. I was constantly having to change lanes because the lane I would be in would become a turning lane. Elder Lemalu had to honestly direct me where to go the entire time. And I don't mean the normal "turn left up here" but "go into the left lane, take this first left and go directly right. Slow down around this corner and come a bit more left so the passing cars can get by." It wasn't because Elder Lemalu was super annoying or a back seat driver, but because I desparately needed continued guidance of how to drive a giant van through the smallest streets I've ever seen. I always felt I was going to scrape the sides of the parked cars as I drove past as Elder Lemalu told me to "come more to the left so you don't scare the cars coming this way by driving in their lane. I'm a pro now though. I could probably fly a plane after learning to drive like that. It's almost as crazy as the driving in Brazil was, except there are actually lines on the road here.

Many wonderful things are happening in Palmy, and it's always a joy to find a new investigator or teach that first lesson to someone and see their excitement to learn more about the restored gospel of Christ. From what I've been told, I'll be staying in Palmy for another transfer, though I still don't quite believe it. But next Monday will be the final results, so we'll confirm then.

Well I gotta go,

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