Hello There! Sunday, December 12/ Monday December 13

Dear my beloved family,

I'm glad to hear all is well in Orem! Because all is well in Christchurch. Well, with me that is.

This Friday is the big day! Violah and Mako are getting baptized! Both are excited and Violah always says she's "so happy!" On Tuesday, we taught Violah, Mako and Rudo about the Word of Wisdom. They were all pretty surprised about not drinking coffee, but they didn't drink it anyway, so they all committed to follow the Word of Wisdom, even Rudo who hasn't decided to get baptized yet, still said she would.

Violah's 21-year old daughter Niasha was visiting for a while from Dunedin while looking for a job up here, and to be polite she sat in on the lesson. We first talked a bit about the Book of Mormon with her before we started the lesson and she was pretty interested and said she would give reading it a try! She is quite active in her own church, but I think seeing her mom and brother get baptized into this Church will give her more incentive to hear the lessons from us.

We haven't been able to talk much with Rudo because she's been pretty busy or preoccupied, but she came to church yesterday and is making friends with some of the young single adults, so I think that will encourage her to at least keep coming to church awhile before she decides to get baptized.

Mako (I thought it was MaRko, because pronounced with an accent it's "Mawko", but there's no R so it's Maw-ko, not Mar-ko FYI) is doing great! He went to Scout camp with the rest of the young men on Friday and Saturday, so that was awesome and definitely made him feel like part of the ward.

The ward has been a real great help with the Mapuranga family and they already seem like part of the ward! So I'm really grateful for that! What every new investigator needs is fellowship and a sense of belonging in the ward, because as a ward we're there to learn from each other and help each other come closer to Christ, and if someone doesn't feel like they are needed or even wanted, they will leave. ( I hope I don't sound like a broken record as I say this every week)

So on Monday, we finally were able to make contact with a less-active member named Errol (we had the wrong address and for weeks we've been going to the wrong, empty, apartment down the street from him). So we met Errol and had a good chat with him about computer games, biking and fishing, and then as we had hoped, he brought up Church. He hadn't been to Church for about 8 years or so! He left because of a number of reasons, but he hadn't ever gone back because he didn't feel like he was needed or wanted (part of it was actually that home teachers stopped coming). He had gone to a number of different churches over the years but he didn't agree with any of them (because they weren't true of course). And so when we visited him on Monday, and then stopped to say Hi on Friday, that was enough to get him to come to church yesterday! I was so glad and surprised to see him sitting in the back of the chapel as we walked in. He was also warmly greeted by a ward member who was an old friend of his as well as the Bishop and others. Errol stayed for the whole 3 hours and really liked it! So that just reiterates the importance of ward members helping ward members. Just from having two missionaries come and say Hi, it brought Errol back to Church.

Also, I've learned this week as well how great the Book of Mormon is to have in helping people join the Church. It shows that we really aren't just some other church, but that we're the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter-days and that the Book of Mormon is proof of that. I love the Book of Mormon and all that is in it that can bless and help to guide our lives.


Random comments
I'm glad that Anna prays for my investigators individually! I love that and appreciate it!
I wish her and Jenny the best of luck with their tryouts! That will be awesome!
I can't wait for the Christmas package! Thank you!

We've had the opposite weather than what we should have. It's been pretty cold for the past 3 days! Crazy!

I don't know what Pres Jolliffe did professionally before being called as a mission president. And as for the question about whether Christmas is a big deal here, I will talk more about that  later on I'm sure (like after Christmas). But yes, it's big, because nobody celebrates Hanukkah or Kwanzaa so it's all Christmas. Though Christmas is all about barbecues and water activities. Really funny.

I'm struggling to find out how the phone call will work for sure, but I will be using a pre-paid phone card and probably a member's phone. And will call you in the afternoon on your Christmas Eve. Will you be out of the house for any reason then? We're 4 hours apart so it will probably be late afternoon 3 4 or 5? I will do my best to make it work the best.

Repeat from last week's sign off, but it's a good one. And I mean it! I love you!

"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Well I gotta go, but I hope you all the very best! 

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

Love Elder David John Rowe

Buenas Dias, Tardes o Noches (Sunday, December 5 or Monday, December 6, depending on your whereabouts)

Hello my beloved family,

I'm glad to hear you're all doing so well!

I will answer questions first, because I failed last time.

1. It's pretty hot here! As I'm sure you can assume! But luckily this past week was a lot nicer because the sun wasn't as burning as it has been before. My arms are super tan and islander-looking, and I've got some sweet tan-lines. Well, the line from my sleeves reaches my bicep, the one on my neck from my collar, and my wrist from my watch. So it's pretty funny when us missionaries change into "mufty" (non-church clothes) and everybody is wearing t-shirts with their neck tan lines. I'm not sure how hot it is, but yeah, it's hot. Especially when we're riding bikes with a backpack on. So I greatly appreciate it whenever it's fairly cool. The mornings and evenings have the perfect weather, so I try to reserve door-knocking for the evenings. 

2. We bike soooo much, I couldn't even measure it. One of our dinner appointments/FHE was 6 miles away and we biked home from it in about 20 minutes. I don't know if that's impressive or not.

3. Elder MacTavish did not get transferred, but he most likely will next time. Or I will, either way, one of us will. 

4. My studies are going great! I'm currently reading in the Book of Mormon to finish President Webb's challenge. I was in Alma when he gave it, and I'm now in Jacob. So I'm kind of almost done. President Jolliffe asks us to read 5 pages from the Book of Mormon everyday anyway. But I'm also trying to finish the 2nd half of the New Testament. I find that harder to read than the Book of Mormon. Other things I read randomly are Jesus the Christ and Teachings of Presidents of the Church--either Joseph Smith or Spencer W. Kimball (books I scored off of other missionaries).

Dad and Kathy, I'm really glad you two could go to the temple together, I look forward to being able to go again. It would be especially nice if we could go to the Hamilton one when you pick me up. ;)

Whenever I'm really hot, I think how cold you guys must be and I'm jealous of the snow. But then I assume you're probably jealous of me, and it all evens out. So be grateful for the snow (when it comes back) and I will be grateful for the sunshine. 

I can't believe Anna has head gear! That picture is adorable! ;) So does she just sleep with it on or what? And braces for Jenny? Everyone is going to be so different when I get back! I need to see a picture of brace-face when she gets them on.

For calling on Christmas, we'll either go to the chapel, or use a member's phone. But what I do is buy a calling card and just use that for the paid time limit on it. But I will be sure to figure it out in better detail. I will be paying for it with that card, and it will probably be in the afternoon since you're 4 hours ahead.

The week has gone well. A particular highlight is that I got to put my five years of Spanish class to work this week. My Spanish was horrible, but the experience was really great. While door knocking on Wednesday, Elder MacTavish knocked on the door of a Chilean woman named Laura who didn't speak English. I told her I spoke "un poco" but she took that to mean she could have a full on conversation with me. After struggling with trying to speak Spanish with her for about 5 minutes, I was able to figure out that she's a member, but hasn't gone to church for many years (I think not since she was baptized when she was a girl). But she told me her husband, Sebastian, speaks English (what a relief) and that we could come back on Saturday to talk and have him translate. So on Saturday we went back and taught them about the Plan of Salvation. The husband is agnostic and didn't really care to "listen" but agreed to translate for us. So Elder MacTavish and I taught the Plan of Salvation, while Sebastian translated for Laura. Sebastian didn't seem to get much out of it, but as we continue to teach Laura while he translates, hopefully he will be able to hear the Spirit and not just the words we're saying. We hope to get Laura coming back to church, but it will just be hard for her having to go through the whole meeting in English. We have a few members in the ward who speak Spanish, so hopefully they will be able to fellowship her and she will be more willing to come to Church. Also, we gave her a Libro de Mormon and she was really glad to have it and to read it. During our lesson with her, we had her read certain scriptures in the Spanish Book of Mormon and I think that really helped the lesson a lot, because the Book of Mormon can always testify of truth, while having Sebastian translate for us might not have been doing so perfectly.

Update with the Mapuranga's: On Thursday, Elder MacTavish and I went over planning to teach an object lesson with tea bags (ironic isn't it?) about Baptism and the Holy Ghost with Violah (Rudo was at a wedding rehearsal all week for her cousin). Marko had a friend over, but left his friend in his room playing Playstation to come listen to us. He started asking questions relating to the Plan of Salvation so we realized it was important that we answered those and teach him that lesson, and that it would be good for Violah to hear it again anyway. So we brought out my handy Plan of Salvation diagram to teach the whole thing. Violah soon called in Marko's friend Kevin to come in and "show us some respect." So Kevin came in and he even had his own questions about the Plan. We were pretty surprised by two 12 year olds' questions about the after-life. They even had questions that we had to answer by mentioning baptisms for the dead! By the end of the lesson, as we hope all investigators will do, Marko and Kevin realized they need to get baptized to get to the Celestial Kingdom. We asked Marko if he would like to get baptized and he agreed that he wanted to. So him and Violah are set for getting baptized on 18 December! 

We talked to Kevin's mom about us coming over to teach him but she responded with a rude remark, so hopefully next time Kevin's over at Marko's he will be able to be taught. Marko and Violah came to Church yesterday as well as the ward barbeque on Friday (with Kevin). I was so grateful for those ward members who made Marko and Violah into the ward, but kind of suprised by those who ignored them. It's just a reminder to me that I should always make someone new or alone feel welcome. And that's a challenge I extend to all of you. Reach out to the lonely ones in need. Just simply saying "Hi, how are you?" to someone who seems alone can mean all the world to them.

"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Well I gotta go, but I hope you all the very best! 

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night! (I'm going to start saying that one more often!)

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe

Happy Summertime - 11/28/2010

Dear my dear family,

Merry Christmas! And another Happy Thanksgiving to you! I'm so jealous of your Thankful feast on Thursday. I did kind of have my own Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, without actually realizing it until afterwards. I actually forgot about celebrating until I got home for the night. But one of the young single adults from the ward took us and the Sisters out to lunch at a food court for some cool reason. She suggested this place where I got a big plate with slices of beef, chunks of potatoes, kumara,  and pumpkin and then peas/carrots with gravy! And so, if I would have been thinking about it, I would have ordered turkey. But it was very Thanksgiving-like nonetheless, and a "pretty mean feed".

I'm glad you had a great Thanksgiving yourself and that you were thinking of me, particularly with food being left over. And deviled eggs! Oh man. No more comments. I loved the picture you sent of the feast, but had to look away. I've been meaning to ask, and meant to before I left, could you send me some recipes? Simple ones that don't take too much time to make? Maybe just in an envelope next time you send letters or whatever? That would be great! Like cookies (oatmeal/choc chip/peanut butter whatever)! I feel very deprived from such goodies.

Congratulations on your test dad! I knew you would pass!

I loved the photo of the Christmas tree so very very much! I can't think of a very good adjective. Extensively! I'm going to try and print it. Everybody looks so old already! Except Dad of course. :) We've got two tiny ones that we set up and Elder MacTavish has started putting his packages next to.

It's really weird how Christmas-like it feels already, even though I've been sweatier this week than I have my entire life. It's really hot, (I don't really know, but at least more than 30 degrees) but I like it. I just hope I'm not stinking investigators away. I hope you realize I'm sweating as you're freezing. So if we think of each other, we'll both appreciate the current weather. Part of why it already seems so Christmasy in spite of the fact that there was noThanksgiving and there are no festive city decorations, is the Joy to the World DVD campaign that's going on. I don't know if you've seen commercials on TV, but the Church has ads going out for free DVD's of the Joy to the World film. When someone orders one the mission office calls us with their name and address and then we deliver the DVD and try to schedule a return appointment to see how they liked it. It's a really great way to get new investigators and to get people thinking about Christ.

I've always been kind of hesitant to get into the Christmas spirit too early for some strange reason, but at church yesterday one of the speakers said something like "We should always have the Spirit of Christ, so why is it ever too early to have the Spirit of Christmas?" So I'm very grateful for Christmas and people being more accepting of the Gospel!

President Jolliffe sent us a really great email this week so I wanted to share a little part with you. What gifts shall we give our Lord this Christmas? The greatest gift we can give is us. Look for ways to bless others this Christmas, visit the lonely and you will not be lonely, visit the poor and you will not be poor, visit the sad and you will not be sad, visit the lost and you will not be lost. I hope you like that as much as I did.

This week was a good one, of course. Thursday was a pretty big Spiritual feast and we taught four pretty powerful lessons. There aren't really details, but I love seeing the change in people's faces when they realize what we're saying must be true, even though some of them don't feel like they really want to accept it as truth. But we're not giving up. Quite the opposite experience is seeing the horrible things Satan does when he is influencing people rather than the Spirit that had previously been present. For example, our Golden motorcycle rider John was drunk when we tried to see him on Friday. He has so easily accepted everything we've taught him and was so happy about it. But his brother-in-law was killed in the mining accident here, so he started drinking again. When we went over, he started ranting on about "who the heck does this Joseph Smith guy think he is?" It wasn't John talking, it was the alcohol. Luckily, Elder MacTavish made up an excuse to get us out of there, because we knew the Spirit wasn't going to be there. So Satan is very real, and is trying his hardest to prevent those he can from baptism.

On a much better note, the Mapurangas are doing great! Viola, Rudo and Marko were all at church yesterday, and they all liked it. Marko actually brought a friend, and he really liked it too! Marko and Thomas both are hoping to go on the Young Men's campout in two weeks and I think mutual during the week as well. Yesterday, I gained a better realization of the importance of working with members of the Church to work with our investigators. Brother Winetana, the Young Men's president, made Marko and Thomas feel very welcome and excited about church, (I just wish the deacons could have done the same). But Rudo has made friends in Young Womens and the sisters in the ward are very  loving and helpful to Viola.

I wish I would have done a better job myself back home by reaching out to others and helping them feel comfortable at church. So I give you that challenge: always reach out to someone who may need it. You never know the impact, until you try. I guess in general, ALWAYS reach out to someone who may need a friend. I have a hard time doing it still, but there is no harm in meeting someone knew and being friendly.

  

I love you all so very much and am always praying for you!

Have a wonderful wintry week, enjoy the snow, and thank you for all of your love and support!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe

A Wonderful Week - 11/22/2010

Elder Rowe's Current Zone in Christchurch



This week has been a great one, full of powerful Spiritual lessons! Let me introduce you to the "Maupurangas." I totally made up that spelling, by the way, and will for the rest of their names. Caibos (Dad), Viola (mom), Rudo(17year old daughter), and Marko (12 year old son) are a wonderful family from Zimbabwe. We first met Viola on the side of her house weeding while we were door knocking a few weeks ago. She seemed very excited to listen to us and invited us back for a lesson. We were concerned about how well it was going to go because she is slightly disabled both mentally and physically. Elder MacTavish supposes she's had a stroke or something. She has a hard time walking and can't speak very clearly, but can usually understand what we're saying. The first time we met her, we could barely understand what she was saying, but knew she wanted us to come back. So last Sunday (14/11/10) we went over to visit her and mostly just confirm our appointment for that Tuesday (16/11) with her and her husband, but we ended up watching the Restoration DVD with Viola and the kids. Twice! The first time the kids kept coming in and out especially during the main part. And so after the movie ended, we asked them how they liked it. "Yeah, it was nice." And then Viola said she wanted to watch it again! We said definitely.

It didn't quite have the impact it should have had the first time, so I was so glad we could watch it again. And the second time was a lot better and they all got a lot more out of it. They all said they wanted to come to church and before we had even invited them.  We made an appointment to have a lesson with Rudo and Marko on Wednesday. 

So on Tuesday, we went to the Maupuranga's and taught Viola's husband the first lesson-The Restoration of Jesus Christ's Gospel-and answered his questions. He told us he wanted to learn about the Mormons from the Mormons, and that taught him successfully. He said he was so glad to now know what the Church believes, and he was just very glad about the whole message overall. And that he's noticed how much more his wife has been smiling ever since we first taught her. Of course we told him to pray about it so he could find out for himself whether or not it was true. He said he definitely would. Sadly, he said he will be too busy until mid-December to be able to hear more lessons. So hopefully by then the rest of his family will be baptized and he will be more willing to make time for us.

On Wednesday we went back to teach Rudo and Marko. Marko had a friend over and didn't want to listen, so we taught Rudo, and Viola listened for the third time. Rudo, being 17, has her own questions about religion but we were able to answer them and after we finished, she seemed a lot less confused (apparently she missed some important aspects of the movie on Sunday). She seemed very grateful for the Book of Mormon we gave and she was very excited to read it and find out the truth for herself. And so it was great to see Viola and Rudo at church yesterday. We'll work on Marko later.

On Wednesday we also had a wonderful lesson on the Plan of Salvation with Joel, an ex-motorcycle gang member. Joel, who has been looking for a change in his life and trying to do what's right, loved the lesson. He said he had started with so many questions but that they were all answered. And we committed him to be baptized after teaching about the Celestial Kingdom. He said he already has been. We quickly explained about the need for the proper authority to do so.He was fine with that and is committed to be baptized in mid-December (we'll set an official date next time we see him). So that was so wonderful!

More wonderful lessons happened, but those were the major highlights. I just love seeing people's reactions when they realize the truth of this Gospel. "It makes so much sense!" is what they say. If only everybody would realize that. We just need to work in different ways to address their particular needs. So I'm so grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost, who is the real teacher. We just speak, but He is the one that is the teacher. I love being a missionary.

Oh, Harry Potter. I will enjoy seeing both movies back to back in 2 years. Unless it's scandalous...

Being a missionary is such a wonderful thing. When I think of how much time I have left until I go home to Utah, it seems really long. But when I realize how little time I have left to teach and preach and work as missionaries do, I realize so much has already gone.

I love studying every morning, and in fact, feel like I don't have enough time at all! So I try to use as much free time as possible to read what I can.


I'm off to go bowling as a party for the missionaries who are leaving this week from transfers (i'm staying of course).

I've been eating bubble gum-gumdrop ice cream the past couple nights. The idea of it is disturbing at first, but I really like it now. Kiwis have amazing ice cream.


I always try my hardest to make sure I'm always smiling! So I hope you are all doing the same. Smiling plants seeds.

Good luck with this next test Dad, I will be saying extra prayers!

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will try to celebrate the best I can! To start, I want to thank you all for everything! I've learned as I've been on my mission, that I had soooooo much to be grateful for back home. And that I do as well, just being a missionary! So thank you! I will be eating Thanksgiving-like, but also be giving thanks all this week! Or always.

I love you all so very much! 

Have a wonderful wintry week!

Love Elder David John Rowe

P.S. This is a picture of my zone; Left to right: Elder Kitekiaho, Elder MacTavish (the one in the back trying to look cool). Elder Tzanis, Elder Bonnefoy-Jenkinson, Elder Lund, Sister Motuliki, Elder Dave, Sister Wu.
And yes, I am a full tithe payer. :)

It's Been Interesting - November 14, 2010

Buenas dias!

I use that greeting a lot down here. Just kidding, never actually. No one knows what it means.

Hello family! I'm glad to hear that all is well in O-town! Because all is well in Chch. At least with me.

Today is cloudy here as well! And we had a clogged up shower during the week to go with your clogged up kitchen sink. So it's kind of like we're in the same place today! Sort of.

I'm glad to know you, Dad and Kathy, are still having fun despite your busy schedules. But I guess it's especially important that you have fun because of your busy schedules! And congratulations on your test Dad! That's sweet-as! I'm so happy for you for passing with flying colors and know you will with your next test too!

What's Thanksgiving? Is that a holiday? I wish they had it here. Even though sometimes I get fed by members as if it is Thanksgiving. What is the date for it? Because I will be sure to have mashed potatoes for lunch or something. Are you doing it at our house? Or at the cabin? That's weird that it's going to be such a small group!

Kathy asked about interesting people that I've met. This week has definitely been the week for interesting people. Or did you mean interesting in a good way? I've heard more anti-Mormon stuff this week than in the rest of my life combined. It wasn't threatening stuff, just mocking questions or what people thought were proofs against our beliefs. But in the end we only brought them closer to realizing the truth rather than them leading us astray. I taught one kid named Alaster while Elder Mac was teaching someone else (while we're were in the Square, where most opposers try to challenge us). Elder MacTavish and I had met Alaster while door knocking a couple weeks ago and he came from around the corner (dressed in a black shirt, tie and pants) anyway... He started throwing questions at us that only someone who has studied Mormonism could know, but in a bad way. And so he knew sooo much about the church, but he was using it to question our beliefs. So we eventually blew him off because the discussion was going nowhere. But Saturday he came up to us again while we were in the square with two other Elders. He wanted to know about Joseph Smith, but in a deep doctrinal sense, like what goes on in the temple etc. so after awhile we finally told him that he can't learn about deep doctrines (especially because he only wanted proofs, not a testimony) until he read the Book of Mormon. Then he could be able to understand deep doctrines. "You can't learn Calculus until you understand the maths before it."  So we left him with some chapters to read and told him next time he sees missionaries to talk to them about the chapters he read.  I don't know why I told you that.

But that's how it usually is I guess, people want to know about all of the doctrines Joseph Smith taught, but we have to explain that first they need to know the Book of Mormon is true to understand that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. So we have a couple investigators who at first were mocking or challenging our beliefs but who are now willing to listen and try to gain their own testimony. Anyway.... My faith wasn't shaken at all by the way, but strengthened.

When door-knocking, I haven't ever gone into someone's house the first time we meet them. If they have an interest in hearing our message they'll tell us to come by some other time, or if they're curious to hear something, then a conversation will commence on the porch, and then they'll invite us back another time because we have become friends. Usually people will talk to us about other things and then say, "Nice to meet you, have a good day" and they won't care to hear about the Church.

I'm really glad Elder MacTavish is a Kiwi, because if I had an American companion, we wouldn't get along as well with people. They would give us nonsense about Americans trying to take over New Zealand with their religion. And some people have a problem with some the Book of Mormon taking place in the "Americas."

On Monday we had an amazing lesson! All thanks to the Spirit there to testify and touch Brian's heart. Brian is a single guy in his 60's. When we first met him, he seemed to have nothing more to say than how horrible the world is. He also was fed up with there churches and the Pope with his big "party hat" and fancy robes. So, in short, he has so many views that are in line with the Church (like the vileness of the media, and sin and bad people in general). So when Elder MacTavish shared with him Mosiah 3:19, he loved it! He said something like "this is so true!" and when we told him the Book of Mormon was his to keep, he was so grateful! We committed him to read it and he said he would, so we are going back in "a fortnight." I wish it could be sooner!

We had a big aftershock Saturday morning at about 4 a.m.  I thought it was dream until I asked Elder Mac about it later. There was another big one last night while we were teaching a guy in his garden. He just laughed about it and we continued on.

Zone Conference was great! We had a big in-depth lesson on the Plan of Salvation. It wasn't so we could teach our investigators about it, but so we had a better understanding for ourselves. Awesome! Zone Conference also gave me a lot of encouragement, though it was kind of in a chastised way. President Joliffe said our Zone is doing great, but it could be and should be doing so much better. So I am very determined to use my time a lot better and make sure I am always doing my best, even when it seems hard.

Transfers are next week, though I'm guaranteed to stay because of my newness. I would be pretty bummed if I had to leave Christchurch already, considering all of the new investigators we have! Such as a student named Paolo, whom I greeted with a "Bon Noiche" (or however you spell Good Evening in Portuguese) when I saw a Brazilian flag in his living room when he opened the door. That definitely got his attention and friendliness. So he was very keen on reading the Book of Mormon when we told him about it, and we are seeing him next Sunday.

Or there's Janice-Marilyn who is a very interesting lady in her 50's who loves having Elder MacTavish and I come around because she's pretty lonely, even though we have to sit on her front porch because we're not allowed to go in single women's homes. She tells us she has always meant to get baptized because she realizes it's important, so we have a Baptismal date with her for next month, but she doesn't seem to be taking in all that we're teaching her, so we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, I love being a missionary so very much! Despite the times when I'm extremely tired or sweaty! I'm so happy to be helping Kiwis find the happiness that comes through Jesus Christ's Gospel! 

I hope you're all doing so great! I always pray for you and I'm so grateful for your prayers!

Have a fantabulous week!

Love,

Elder Rowe

 

 

7 November (or 8 November if You're in New Zealand)

It's been an interestingly different week. On Monday, after P-day, the Exchanges started. Elder MacTavish stayed here in Riccarton/Papanui (which is the name of my area by the way) with Elder Tzanis, and I went with Elder Tzanis's companion Elder Bonnefoy-Jenkinson to the Rangiora/Kaiapoi area. I will refer to my long-last-named companion as Elder Bonne. Elder Bonne's and Tzanis's area (Rangiora/Kaiapoi) is the rich area (Rangiora) and the most affected by the earthquake (Kaiapoi). You don't need to memorize those names. But the main thing about this area is that people are not very accepting of the Gospel here! So the missionaries there are experts at door-knocking (we don't call it tracting). So I became an expert as well (at least, I improved a lot) because that was what we did for most of the three days I was there. I feel much more comfortable now and am not so scared that I'm going to mess up or say something stupid (which still happens of course). 

I thought Elder Bonne's door approach was really interesting. Rather than saying something like-- "we're missionaries... sharing a message about Jesus Christ..." and after they turn you down, ask if there was "anything else besides religion to help you out" (which is Elder Mac's approach)--he instead would say something like "we're missionaries... we're in the neighborhood giving a helping hand... if you need any help in your garden or any help with things from the earthquake..." And their usual grimace would turn into a polite "Thanks, but we're fine. Then if they were still keen on talking to us and smiling he would then mention "as missionaries we teach about Jesus Christ..." and then we would get politely turned down. Elder Bonne was all about 'planting seeds' and leaving the people with a good and friendly image of missionaries as helpful and friendly. Sadly, some people think we're just trying to force our religion onto them. Which isn't true! We want people to learn of the truth, not tell them how they're wrong. So I learned a lot about talking with people from Elder Bonne. Elder MacTavish is really good with talking to people also, but he mostly talks younger people who are friendly. Whereas Elder Bonne seemed to be able to talk with everyone! Whether it was with people about England (where he's from), or injuries, or about cars. And that seemed to cover everybody who was willing to have a chat. So I'm working on relating with people. 

I had my first rainstorm bike-ride on Friday! It was ridiculous! So much for a rain-proof coat! It only protected me for so long. Biking in the pouring rain began to be pretty fun once I was completely wet. But when we went inside to teach our investigators it was super uncomfortable, sitting there part dry, part wet. But it was a good experience for me. It wasn't a good day, but now that it's over, I'm glad it happened. That's how life works. Or at least how it should work. I became extremely grateful the next day for the hot, hot sun! I can never complain about it being too hot as I bike and sweat, because it's so much better than biking in the rain. I don't think it will even get that hot here, compared to Robby's experience in Brazil. However, there's a hole in the Ozone layer here, so it gets extra hot in that way. The sun burns! So sunblock is a must. (I am wearing it, don't worry)

On P-days, the usual activity is "playing sport." Last week I learned how to play Touch Rugby! Slightly different rules than Rugby League, including a prohibition on tackling. I'm way bad at it. I think football, "gridiron," is much more fun, probably because I know how to play it. A group of missionaries from our zone usually meets up every P-day (about 8 or so of us) and we do our emails at the same internet cafe and then have lunch. A couple weeks ago we played basketball, which I felt pretty cool at because I didn't get wasted or feel like the worst one there (which is how it usually is). Basketball is the second most popular sport in NZ, but Rugby is the main thing, of course. It seems that every male in NZ plays rugby on some team.

Yesterday, being Fast Sunday, was Testimony meeting in Church. One of our investigators bore his testimony! I was really happy! His name is Graeme (Graham) and he has had some mental illness problems that make quitting smoking an especially hard thing to do. As soon as he quits he will be able to be baptized (Elder Mac has been working with him a long time). So we have a member of the ward who's a mental health nurse working with him to quit. Other mental health doctors don't promote quitting smoking to those with mental illness because of the stress it can cause. So we're praying for him.

The weather here is very interesting. The first couple of weeks I kept being confused. I kept thinking we were going into winter (because it was fairly chilly) but then I would see blossoms on trees and my mind would have a freak out. I can't really explain it. But it's all fine now and I now remember it's springtime/summer. Saturday was super hot, but today is pretty cold again. So the weather here is much worse than Utah's phenomenon, of it being really sunny, then being really cold and cloudy and hour later. Crazy! New Zealand is an interesting place. I sometimes forget I'm halfway across the world from Utah, but then I remember and realize that's why it's so different. I'm so happy to be here!

II will be sure to send a picture of Elder Mac and I sometime. I don't really have one yet. I'm not a photographer of people, just landscapes. So I'm working on that, because I realize you like seeing me much more than some trees in the sunshine (which is what I like)

We have district meeting every week, which I really like. I was "assigned" to bear my testimony at last weeks. But I was glad too. I testified that despite all the atheist type views we here or thoughts that we might have about "what if God is really just made up?" we just need to remember the feelings we've had from the Holy Ghost. I cannot deny the feeling of the Holy Ghost that has touched me numerous times and told me this Church is true! The feeling that tells me Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father live! The feeling that has brought me to tears many many times. That is how I know this Church is true. And yes, I cried as I bore my testimony to my district. I've realized that I cry every time I do. Not when I'm testifying to an investigator or anything, but every time I go before a group and bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Our Zone Conf is this Friday, and I'm really excited for it. We had a Zone Meeting my first week, which was pretty much the same thing I think, but that was great! I think I may have told you about it. I sometimes get confused if I told you something, or if I just wrote it in my journal.

Our meetings are held at our Earthquake damaged chapel. So,  no one is really supposed to go in there, but at the same time, it's okay. (The damaged parts are all blocked off, so don't worry). Elder Mac is the District leader by the way. We play ball with the zone leaders sometimes or call them for tools for Elder mac's bike that keeps breaking. And Sisters Motuliki and Wu are in the Riccarton Ward with us, so we have dinner at member's homes often. 

About email with other people, the rule is to just do email back and forth with your family, so it should be fine to get emails from relatives, but I can't really respond because of time. (this email has taken me forever!) But I would looooove to get written letters! It's, in a way, more exciting to receive letters in the mail. And it would take longer for me to respond, but I would respond in more detail because of lack of time restrictions.

Elder MacTavish is a cool cat. He is really friendly and "popular" with the other missionaries and members of the ward. About him: he's been a member of the Church his whole life, but when he was a teen he didn't feel like going to church or keeping certain commandments (I don't know which ones). He soon realized, as all people should, he was much happier keeping the commandments. And so he prepared for a mission, and knows a ton about how to answer questions from investigators and quote scriptures. Something I'm working on. 

Have a wonderful week! Remember to Pray and Study your scriptures and write in your journal daily! But I love you all soooooooooooooo very much! And I always pray for you and am so grateful for your prayers for me!

Love, 

Elder David John Rowe

Happy Halloween

New Zealand Sunrise

G'day and Kia Ora!

Happy Halloween! What an interesting holiday. I need to see some pictures of the girls' costumes! Especially Flo and the White Rabbit. What!? Where did they get those ideas? Has Jenny even seen that movie?  I can however easily imagine Anna as a hippie. (Wink wink) Yeah, I need pictures, because I'm sure they all looked fantastic!

I'm sure you were wondering how Halloween is down here. Basically, people know what it is, but not many people care. Elder MacTavish and I saw only about 20 kids trick or treating last night as we biked around. And we saw some of our investigator's kids and they didn't seem to have scored very much candy. I mean, very many "lollies." So I think if people had candy in their house, they would give some out, but it was pretty scarce. So, Americans are lucky. Also, I think most people think you have to dress up scary for Halloween. So that was weird. Lots of scary children.

As for teaching, we don't very much. We have heaps of investigators, but no one is ever home! Calling them doesn't work, so we just show up at the times they previously said was best for them. But that doesn't always happen. But maybe I misunderstood your question... I personally, do teach a lot. I'd say I teach a 1/3 and Elder Mac does 2/3. But with people who have been taught all of the lessons and are in need of reviewing, then I will teach, as sort of a practice. But with new investigators Elder Mac will teach the main lesson and I will add points where I feel necessary or inclined to. As for door approaches, we do about 50/50. Though he usually takes care of the getting to know you stuff. I'm bad at that, and trying to improve. I actually feel quite comfortable teaching, considering I did it everyday in the MTC. It's a lot easier in English. I think the best part about teaching a lesson is when the person has a question and we can answer it just through testimony, rather than having to prove that it's in the Bible. Testimony always seems to be the best, and scriptures are there to give better understanding, rather than proof that [there is a Spirit world] or [the 3 Kingdoms of Glory].

Kiwis recognizing missionaries: I'd say a 10th of the people have seen us, but don't really know all that much. We get a lot of "not interested!" before we even say anything. I've only heard that the missionary work is a lot better in the North, but as of late, this mission has been progressing greatly! I will try to get some stats for you sometime.

  

I'm afraid I don't know what else to say. This week was pretty slow and the weather was bad. I had my first rainy bike ride! Not fun. But kind of. We have a lot of investigators, but few of them are actually progressing. But that's mainly because they're never available for a lesson. This week I go on exchanges! So I will tell you about that next week.

I hope all is well. It sounds like it is so, so I'm glad. I love you all and am praying for you. And I'm so very grateful for your prayers for me. Remember to read your scriptures, because they're nothing but beneficial! So why wouldn't you?

Have the most wonderful week!

"Fa", (slang Bye in Samoan. It's how the missionaries' phone calls always end with each other)

Love,

Elder David John Rowe