Editor's note: Elder Rowe sent us a copy of his journal entry from sometime in January. Here it is, trasncribed as closely as we are able.
2 January - 6 January 2012
This has been an amazing week. Truly amazing. I can't even list all the great things I learned or that happened. I had two more exchanges, first with Elder Finlinson in Wellington and then with Elder Metusela in Palmy. My exchange in Wellington with Elder Finlinson (from Delta, Utah) who is one of the assistants was the biggest learning experience for me. Elder Finlinson is an amazing missionary, and not because he's got a great personality or is really funny. He does everything by the Spirit and he is more diligent and organized than any missionary I've met. And so I had an amazing time in Wellington. We (well, mostly Elder Finlinson) talked with everybody we came across. The only reason someone wouldn't get talked to would be because we were already talking to someone and they snuck past as we were occupied. And what's even greater about that is considering how busy Wellington is. I think another reason I particularly loved being in Wellington is the never-ending diligence that Elder Finlinson had. We never stopped. It's not that we were at a frantic pace all day, but we were missionaries every second of the day. There was never a time to feel lazy or bored because there was always something to do, even though we were driving the whole day. (Speaking of which, it was in the Mission big beefy van van which I can't fathom how he manages to pilot and/or park around Wellington City). Every time we got out of the van and to an appointment, we managed to talk and teach some passerby about the Gospel.
As my thoughts continue to randomly spill out of my head: Wellington is full of just the most random places to live. I don't know how these people were found! There was one guy who lived among a bunch of flats about a library, and then others who lived crammed on the side of a hill with a cracked, zig-zaggy sidewalk heading down to each flat. I've never been in any place like it. It's especially weird compared to the small farming areas that other missionaries are in. But to sum up my time in Wellys, I never felt more like a missionary than on those two days. So I'm working on bringing the same feeling to Palmy.
On Wednesday and Thursday I was back in Palmy on another exchanges while Elder Tukuafu went to Wanganui. In fact, I didn't even see him between because of the traveling that took place. Elder Metusela, the most sophisticatedly hilarious Samoan missionar ever (from Melbourne) came down to teach me a few magical things. Overall, one thing I really learned from Elder Metusela is how to love everyone. Everyone said hello to him and immediately became his best friend. It's a skill I'll continually be working on.
We were able to find some really golden investigators on our exchange. One in particular is a less active lady with a non-member husband and kids. In fact this past Sunday after we found them the 15-year-old daughter and a niece of the lady (named Elly) came to Church, even though they were late. And they stayed for all three hours! So things are going great!
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