From the Wind and Hills of Wainuiomata - 5/27-28/2012

Greeting from the Wainui Hills!

Oh man, it is cold here. It's really windy and rainy. But it's a pretty awesome place. Wainuiomata is pretty much a town built in a valley at the top of a hill, like in a big bowl. I think it used to be a swamp. So we're surrounded by hills, though I think the kiwis call them mountains. The only way (maybe) out of Wainui is one road down the massive hill that leads back into Lower Hutt. And yes, Dad, you can pretend it's Hobbit-like if you want. But it's a fairly big city. Actually, i'm pretty sure they're filming The new Hobbit movie somewhere nearby. We'll see.

But this place is great. My companion is Elder Maas, from Rexburg, Idaho (somewhere around there). He's been on his mission 6 months and has been here the entire time. But he's still not sick of it, of course. The ward is really great. They were suprised to see my name because there's been and Elder Rowell and an Elder Rawle who served here last year, but hopefully that will just make it easier for them to remember my name.
There's just one ward here with about 60 people attending on average. There are hundreds more less-active members, of course. But yesterday I got to speak in Sacrament meeting, and then we had to help in Primary for the third hour of church because all of the teachers had something else to attend. I haven't been in Primary for a long time. I don't know how those people do it. Luckily, there were only like a dozen kids in the whole group.

I had a bit of a shocker yesterday after church as it started to pour down. We biked home to change out of our suits and into less-fancy church clothes. And then biked to our lunch appointment (we get fed a lot here, extra bonus!) about 10 minutes away. We were soaked before we even got halfway there. But it was definitely worth it because they made some amazing pizza! We carried along our way the rest of the day in the wind and rain trying to find someone who would actually let us in or even be brave enough to get out of their bed and answer the door. Let's just say it was a long afternoon. But for some reason, I discovered that I'm really good at doing wheelies on my bike in the rain.

Life as a missionary is very different now that I'm not a zone leader anymore. I have so much more time at nights that I don't know what to do with it. Hopefully this will give me more of a chance to write more in my journal. But just like you were saying Dad, that's how I feel, and that's why I was so excited to get out of Palmy. I feel like a brand new missionary, but with the experienced missionary skills. So it's a lot of fun.

I tried to send some pictures, but I'm not sure how to do it on these computers. So next time sorry.

Thanks for all of your love,

gotta go,

Love,

Elder Rowe

Farewell to Palmy - 5/20-21/2012

Various photos of zone leader travels in the Palmerston North Zone



All taken at appropriate times and in appropriate places, of course

Or so he says . . .

Final Greetings from the Great Palmerston North! The time has come, and I can't believe it, but I'm leaving Palmy. Transfers are this Thursday and I'm off on a new adventure in the magical land of ....Wainuiomata! Down in "the Hutt." A place full of excitement and wonder, unlike any other! Or at least we can pretend. For all you pakehas out there, it's pronounced "Why-newy-o-mahta." And I'm excited!

Though it will be really weird leaving here. I feel like I've been here my entire mission. I don't know what it's like to be in a new area. I guess you could say I'm nervous but excited. It'll be great.

The week has been a crazy one! Especially since for my last week in Palmy, I wasn't even here for most of it. On Monday Elder Niutua and I drove up to meet the New Plymouth Elders in Hawera to start our exchange. I then drove farther up with Elder Fifita back to New Plymouth. Now that is a magical place! It definitely gives Laguna Beach a run for it's money. Just with more modest looking homes. But it's also a really great place for missionary work and Elder Fifita and I were able to have a lot of success! And I was able to learn a lot of great lessons. It's amazing to see how some missionaries can talk to a stranger and right away become their best friend. Many times during the exchange when we would see someone on the street or go to an investigators house I would afterwards say, "They seem really cool, how often do you go visit them?" He would usually respond "I've never met them before," or "this is only my second time coming here." But the person he was talking to seemed as if they'd known each other for years. So that's my new skill I'm working on.While still being myself, of course. I guess the secret is really loving people as Christ would, or talking with them as President Monson might.

Also, Elder Niutua and I had another amazing adventure on Friday. As part of our zone, we traveled up to visit the Waiouru Branch as well as Taihape where the branch president lives. No missionaries cover that area, so we're trying to figure out for President Kezerian what work is available up there in the two small towns. We got to sleep in a caravan! Though I guess you'd call it a camping trailer or something. But yeah, we stayed at the branch president's home, in his trailer, and did some visits around the two areas. It was swell

bye! 

Happy Mother's Day - May 12/13 2012

Talofa lava! Manuia le asosa o tina! (Happy Mother's Day!)

Once again, it's been another interesting week. I think I've finally realized that it's fairly difficult to have a "normal week" as a zone leader. However,I guess there's probably no such thing as a normal week for any missionary. But that's a good thing I think.

This week, somewhat unintentionally, we've been visiting with a lot of less-active members of the Church. I remember I used to always think of less-active lessons were us trying to befriend these people who've "gone astray" and we, as missionaries try to gently inspire them to come back to church by sharing a quick little scripture at the end of our random conversation. But now I realize there's such a great difference in it. The people we've been seeing this week and the past few weeks are those members who've gone less-active but actually want to come back. They just want to learn the important truths of the Gospel that they seem to have forgotten along the way. So it's always cool to see the great faith that they have in knowing that the Church is true, but just have a few setbacks keeping them from being fully active. So I always learn a lot from the less-active members of the Church. One thing in particular that I've always believed is that life is so much better and perfect when we keep the commandments. Nothing that the world offers us can make us happier than the things that Heavenly Father has to offer us.

I learned another great principle this week while on exchanges with Elder Windhausen here in Palmy. (He's one of the Assistants from Wellington). He wanted to do some powerful finding, so I decided to take him door-knocking to somewhere I've never been. We decided to go to the "rich " part of my area where all the fancy houses are. But more importantly, it's where all the families are, families who are already keeping the commandments and the parents are married! The only reason that most missionaries, including myself, don't normally go visit those places is because we aren't usually warmly welcomed. Mainly these people think that they have everything they need in life. They don't realize they're missing the most important part, the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We did get a pretty good reception, however. Almost everyone was nice to us. But no one actually was willing to have us back for a legitimate lesson though. But we gave all three of our Books of Mormon  away.It was cool.

bye

5/6 May 2012 - Hey! It's May Already!

Elder Rowe and his latest weta find in Levin

Elder Rowe and his mission twin, Elder Cook, eating huge carrots in the back yard

Hey Hey! I can't believe it's May!

Sorry about last week's letter, I don't know why, but they seem to keep getting shorter.

A lady in my ward was telling me about the moon thing. I noticed it seemed a bit brighter, but not bigger. I thought she was crazy or something, but I guess she was sharing facts.

My weeks been good! I was able to go to Levin, for what I'm absolutely convinced was the last time, on exchanges. It was good to go back though. Last transfer when I went I wasn't able to see a lot of the people I wanted to see, but this time I was able to, so it was good. I was with Elder Cook from Providence, Utah. He just got transferred here from my old area in Napier. He and I have so much in common. Not in the longboarding, trampoline jumping, sno-cone eating, dancing eyebrows kind of way (is that how you'd describe me?), but in our lives and circumstances. For example, he has 5 sisters and 1 brother. (They're older however). I can't think of any other things, but trust me, there was a lot. And he looks like me, in a little boy sort of way. I remember seeing him at Christmas time and thinking "man he looks like me! Did I look that young and green when I first started my mission?" So it was a good few days in lovely Levin.

I was also able to do an "emergency" exchange with the Feilding elders, so Elder Brown from Melbourne came with me to Palmy. I'm always amazed at how good some brand new missionaries are at...being missionaries. I remember I was horrible at everything when I first started my mission. And I'm still struggling! But Elder Brown, who's been out about a month, is already set to become the assistant to the President! Powerful guy!

Well I gotta go but I love you so! ttyl

28/29 April 2012

Patea Beach. The scrunchy face is due to the sun.

Presumably also Patea Beach, on zone leader travels

Hello hello!

Sorry if this is really short, I don't know what's happened to the time.

It's been a ___ week in Palmy. I'm not sure what adjective to put there in front of "week."

I was blessed to go to Hawera for the 5th time this week. I thought that last time would be my last, but I'm sure that this one definitely was. But i'm glad I was able to. go I learned a lot. Hawera has always been a really slow, less-than-successful area. But I was there with Elder Tukukino, who just got there last week. And everything that I thought about Hawera completely changed. We had an amazing exchange with some amazing lessons and amazing new investigators. That place is so full of people to teach, you just need the attitude and the love for tall people. We visited some former investigators whom I met the first time I was there, but hadn't really been taught since. We had a really simple-but-spiritual lesson with them Monday night. And then they texted us Tuesday morning to see if we could come over again for a "feed" (to have a big dinner with them). We had dinner already planned with a member family, but we couldn't turn down either. So we got stuffed! But it was a really good night we were able to have with Nigel and his family. And afterwards, the parents and two sons sang us a Maori song with the guitar. It was cool, to say the least.

Well I gotta go! I love you! I wish i had more time! have a wonderufl week!

21/22 April 2012

Happy Autumn!

The mornings and nights are getting colder and colder. But that's mainly because the sky has been really clear, making it nice and toasty during the day, but all of that heat isn't being held in, so Elder Niutua is always in need of a coat. Because he's not as manly when it comes to cold weather like I am. After all, I'm from Utah. Just kidding, I'm always in need of a coat too, and wear more clothes to bed than he does, so I think we're both cold in different ways. Speaking of toast, our toaster broke and I've been struggling these past couple of days, because I'm no longer able to go and "have some toast in my quarters."

Anyway, Elder Niutua is a fitness king, it's probably the Aucklander in him. We've been going running almost every morning, and it's great! So, I'll be back to my slim and trim self soon. Probably not, but I do feel a lot better during the day because of it.

To answer your question, Elder Niutua grew up in Samoa, but, then moved to New Zealand when he was about 10 maybe? So he speaks Samoan fluently, but also speaks English like a regular Kiwi.

Well it’s been a really interesting week in the land of North Palmers Town. I never had a full real day of regular missionary work.  Monday was P-day, Tuesday was Wellington for Zone Leader Council, Wednesday we went to Wanganui to relay all the previous day’s information to the District leaders, Thursday was interviews with President Kezerian as part of our District meeting, and then Friday was our weekly planning. And then Saturday comes along, a whole day to see everyone, and no one seemed to be at home. I blame the beautiful weather. 

So this transfer is starting off interesting. I need to find a better word than interesting. Peculiar? We have a lot of great people with a lot of potential we’re working with, we just need to do some better planning to see everyone! I think one of the problems with being here so long is that I know too many people. There seem to be too many options of who I can go visit in a day. So we’ll be doing a bit of sorting out the wheat from the tares. I hope that doesn’t sound harsh. It’s a tough thing to do, but I guess it’s all a part of picking the ripe, low hanging apples off the tree. Rather than aiming for those high up ones that aren’t ripe yet.  Do you need some more analogies?

Among the heaps of different cultures here in Zealand, I've recently grown a great love for Indian people. We teach a group of students all from India who are all flatting in nearby flats. I think they're all Hindu, but some of them have some Christian beliefs as well. It's just been really cool to see their interest and enthusiasm in learning about the Gospel. They're always excited to see us and ask questions, or have us say a prayer for them. And they're always fascinated or confused about some of our beliefs or rules as missionaries. They also make really good Nan bread. Of course.  

Well thanks for everything. I always love hearing from you and what's happening in life. Even the silliest little things. And thanks for forwarding Matt's email. He sounds the same, but different in a wonderful, wonderful way.

Have an amazing week!

New quote:

"The most important mission that I have in this life is: First, to keep the commandments of God as they have been to taught to me. Next, to teach them to my Father's children who do not understand them."

-George Albert Smith

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 

April 15/16, 2012

Elder Rowe and his new companion

Elder Rowe and his former companion

Malo soifua!

It's been an interesting week with transfers and all, but all is settled now. I sent off Elder Segi down to Wellington on Thursday, and Elder Niutua came up from Christchurch. In fact, he was serving in my beloved Riccarton Ward and often visited the Mapurangas. I say this with modesty, and I've heard it from a few missionaries who've served in Christchurch, but Violah is still talking about me. I heard that Elder Segi and I are her favorite missionaries. (If you remember, he was the one who replaced me and then baptized Kaibos and Rudo. So Elder Segi and I sent a picture of the two of us to them with some words on the back. And our autographs. But yeah I would love to see them again.

Elder Niutua (new-too-uh) is a Samoan from Auckland. So he's The Man, as we say, and it's going to be an amazing transfer. I guess it didn't start off very amazing though. And I tell you this not so you think I'm struggling or unhappy, but because I learned a great lesson just in these past couple of days. Thursday and Friday were pretty rough days, without the level of success I was expecting. We had a lot of lessons lined up for those two days, but everything seemed to keep falling through. We were able to have two really powerful lessons on both Thursday and Friday night. Both of which strengthened my testimony of one, the Book of Mormon, and two of the power of the Atonement. But what I'm trying to say with all of this is... that after all of the bad comes something great. After the trials come the miracles and the blessings. (If you can call a slow day a trial). And then Saturday came! It was what we call "Chockers" or "chock-a-block" with busyness, our schedule was so full on Saturday with some really great lessons, and it all made up for thursday and Friday. I came to another conclusion, that for us to truly appreciate the good things in life, we must experience the bad things.

On Saturday, one of our lessons was with a university student named Taylor who is friends with some members. She has come to church a few times, including the last two General Conference broadcasts. We were finally able to have a real lesson with her, to ask and answer questions, and to see where's she at in preparedness... She's golden! She loves everything about the gospel and is totally ready to be baptized, once we teach her of coures. So we're excited!

Also, in other exciting news, there was a baptism yesterday. I wouldn't say "we had a baptism" but we were a part of it. A 9 year girl from a less-active family was baptized yesterday by her father. We've been visiting with them for a while to help the rest of the family join the dad at church, and to help Ngawai finally get baptized. It went wonderfully, and it was so great to see the joy in her family's eyes.

That's exciting about all the changes in the Sharon 4h Ward, I think I'll be very confused when I get home. Especially when I see who's on the stand, and seeing Dad teaching sunday school. Who's elder's quorum pres?

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