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

 

New Mission Home Address

For anyone who is interested in corresponding with Elder Rowe via snail mail, please note that the mission office moved this week. We've updated the address in the profile box on the home page.

Earthquakes

Dear Loved Ones,

I can't believe it's already been almost two weeks! It seems like just a few days ago that I got off the plane in Christchurch. Yet the big aftershock that was last Wednesday seems like forever ago! It's a very confusing thing. Days last forever, but weeks fly by. And I heard that months are even faster. So it seems I'll be coming home in just a couple weeks and that two years will have already passed.

Finding people to teach (investigators) has become a lot easier. Elder MacTavish and I have "heaps" of investigators, it just seems like they're never home. But the lessons we have been able to teach have been going well. Our usual schedule (apart from scheduled appointments) is us biking to a certain area and trying to teach our investigators in that area, but they're nver available. Because our investigators aren't ever home or are "busy," we will go to a different neighborhood, and find the same lack of success. So then we will do some door knocking.

Though it's of course pretty scary still, door knocking has become a lot easier and more comfortable. I think especially because I have been trying to rely more on the Spirit and not just saying the basic door approach phrase. Getting totally rejected isn't that bad because that just means they're not ready to hear the gospel. So we move on and try to say the best things we can to touch their hearts and help them realize how the gospel will bless their lives. I've found that the easiest thing to have a conversation about is the earthquake and aftershocks. "Did you feel that one on Wednesday?" "Yeah!" "Yeah, it was like 5.8!" I heard the ceiling tiles in the Riccarton mall fell down! Whoa! or "How has your house been doing with the earthquake?"

It's interesting. We had an aftershock during Sunday School yesterday. Everybody just sits there with an awkward/worried look on their face. When it ends, we laugh, then everything continues normally. And then we discuss it later with people we meet. "Did you feel that one this morning?"

Earthquakes are a pretty cool thing to feel. Not when they cause damage, though. The usual Riccarton ward building (about a five minute drive for most members) was damaged in the main earthquake, so the ward began sharing a chapel with the Cashmere Ward about 20 minutes away. Initially, the plan was to use that building until November and then go back to our own chapel after repairs had been made. But we were told in Church yesterday that we won't be going back until at least March. It's been a problem. There have been some members who haven't been coming to Church the past couple of weeks because the Cashmere chapel is too far away. Now that we're going to be there until March I hope they'll realize they need to come. The distance has also been a problem to get new investigators to Church! So we'll press forward with faith and hope it will work out and that members and non-members will be able to cope with the distance.

The ward is great, by the way. I'm struggling with people's names, but I was told that's okay. (They only know my name because I'm wearing a name badge). We have dinner with different families four or five times a week, which is fantastic. I've been able to eat all of my vegetables and other healthy foods then because we've been lacking them in our flat (it's not called an apartment). By the way, Elder MacTavish and I are the only ones in the flat (which is pretty "flash," or fancey). It's part of an apartment complext of about ten flats. Or would that be a flat complex?

On Saturday the city put on a free concert--eight hours of popular New Zealand artists--as encouragement for the people fo Christchurch to "Band Together." We heard there were 21,000 people who attended. Don't worry, we didn't go. By the way, Hagley Park, where the concert was, is one of the coolest parks I have ever seen. The trees are huge and it's a gigantic green place. Maybe you should Google-Earth it? I think it's my favorite part about the city of Christchurch so far. We pass by or through it a couple of times each week. It's beautiful!

So you know, last night I had a great experience as we rode home. I felt a really wonderful feeling of gratitude to be here. I need to admit that once I arrived here in Christchurch, I lost my excitement for New Zealand. But last night, I just felt so much gratitude and joy to be here and to be a missionary. I don't know what it was, but I now have an even greater desire to be serving here and I know that desire will only increase.

I need to go, but I hope I answered all of your questions and that my grammar sounds okay. I'm worried it's going to be pretty bad when I get home. (No offense to the Kiwis).

Have a wonderful, wonderful week! Good luck to the girls and their last week of the term. Work hard, and pray! I know prayer is one of the best ways to be comforted. It has helped me so much. So never hesitate to do so, nothing but good can come from it.

Thanks for all of your prayers, support, and encouragement. It means "heaps" to me (a lot!) So thank you.

Love,

Elder David John Rowe