17 March, 2014 Climbing Mountains and 26 People in Church

Well this week was good. We worked hard and got 1 investigator to Church. The problem is trying to get the investigators to church. They tell us the morning of that they are going to come, but they never show. We are patient and re teach them that it is coventant with God and not with us.

Well we climbed a mountain today. It was really legit. We saw a condor as big as me too. It was a breathtaking view. Totally worth it.

Well not much more to say. Church is True. I know that. The book is blue. Moronis on the ball I love you all.

Rowley

Also if you want to see pictures they are on my blog at eldermichaelrowley.blogspot.com

Sunrise Near Chos Malal 3-17-14

Breakfast After Sunrise near Chos Malal 3-17-14

Early Morning Hike With Elder Cardenas 3-17-14

Uh...Trying to Remember My Geology...Rocks! 3-17-14

Hope it Rains - Tired of Waiting...3-17-14

Rock Slide Clip 3-17-14

Hot Shower, Here I Come...Well Maybe Not Hot...3-17-14

(Notice my dirty bum haha...)

10 March, 2014 High on Cos Malal

Well guys fetch were do I begin. Man this area and the people her are totally awesome. We work hard everyday. 

We had 5 baptismal dates. They all fell because no one came to church, But we are going to win and succeed. We had a super powerful lesson with an investigator and commited him to a date for baptisim. Super dope. And they understand me here. They all think im from Brazil. i guess my accent.

My spanish is coming along. Or at least I feel like it is. I dont know haha. 

Alright, so a funny story. It was really hot here one day and told Elder Cardenas that drink were on me. So we went in a tienda and he brought his drink and I paid. Well we sat on a park bench and I noticed that his drink was a redbull. Well I informed him that we cannot drink this on the mission. But he had already drunk half and he finished the rest. Well in short, the rest of the night a very serious, composed Elder Cardenas couldnt shut up or sleep or anything. I asked later and found out that that was his first energy drink in his life. Haha oh well. 

Well guys, the district is going to play soccer so I will see you all later.

Chow.

Rowley

P.S.

Today Playing soccer. Yea we won....jaja Look how skinny I am now haha

Soccer fun with the district 3-10-14

District Brethren after Soccer 3-10-14

3 March, 2014 Transfer - CHOS MALAL !!!

Well this week was awesome. First last Tuesday I really ligitly almost dies of a fever and food poisioning. My fever was 104.8 and I could even think strait. They gave my a big injection in my rear of Penicillion after I told them I was allergic to it. Hurt really bad but took care of the problem.

Well the next day I got a call. The Zone leaders said I had to leave very fast for Chos Malal, 6 hours away. An Elder had to go home so I had to fill his spot.

Chos Malal is a small town and we are the FIRST missionaries in all the history of here. We have one family that is memebers and our church is a little shed thing in the middle of a horse pasture.

My comp (Elder Cardenas is from Ecuador and has 2 months on his mission, so I am training again. But my spanish is getting better everyday. My somp is very patient with my spanish and helps me alot.

The People her are VERY friendly, (huge contrast) and Chos Malal has a feel like Roosavelt Utah 50 years ago, small, peaceful and perfect. It is tucked in the hills and mountains under Mendoza, so very north.

We work hard and I am having a blast. I love it here and wouldnt want to be anyother place.

I love you all,.

Elder Rowley

24 February, 2014 A Fun Ward Activity - And A Spiritual Lesson

Well this week was crazy. First we had a hail storm that was so bad that you couldnt be out side. Then the streets flooded up to our waists. So we had the service oppurtinty to help people across the river. The current was so strong it almost knocked us over. I saw a dog try to cross the same time I did. Sadly to say it didnt make it. It was pushed under my feet and I never saw it again. But it was actually pretty cool the rainstorm part. Not the dog part. 

So this last Saturday we had a activity. It was cool. We had different rooms filled with different things from different kingdoms of glory. I had the Telestial kingdom so I could tempt people. It was fun. Then we had them go to a big room were they ¨died¨in a plane crash. The people then went back to the rooms but for the kingdom telestial we switched rooms to a dark room with a heater to represent Hell. It was cool. Then we had a pizza contest after. Alot of investigators came but none the next day to church.

Well the church is true the book is blue, moronis on the ball I love you all,

Elder Rowley

Church Ground Covered with Hail 2-24-14

 Video Clip of Hail Storm San Lorenzo 2-24-14

Branch Members San Lorenzo after Fun Activity 2-24-14

17 February, 2014 - Sweet Boys - A Spiritual Blessing

This week was REALLY cliche but was well worth it.

So we got a less active to church yesterday. A huge success for us. We also stopped by the lady who was makeing excuses and she broke down crying. We have her number and send her scriptures to read all the time. She is starting to progess which is good.

So I have a way cool story. So yesterday at church a lady (very bossy) came and demanded that 3 of us come with her and give a blessing to a little boy. I was kinda mad and being demanded but we went. Well an other Elder (new) was eager to give a blessing and asked if he could go so I said yes. 

Well I stood outside the door when it started. It started to take a very long time and I was wondering what was going on. All the doors in the church have windows so I peeked in. What I saw next melted my heart. 

The room was still and I could feel the spirit super strong. The three missionaries had their hand on the little boys head and the the mother was standing with her eyed closed crying with folded arms. I looked next to the little boy who to my suprise had a smile that went from one ear to the other and had his little fist curled in a ball with the thumbs up sighn to me. It was abvious in that moment that God cares about the little ones and this little boy could feel the love of God as well.

All my 9 months were worth it at this moment. That is a memory I am never going to forget.

Well guys stay strong and keep trucking. I love you all.

Elder Rowley

Our New Companions Mine is Elder Bezerra from Brazil 2-17-14

You can see me on the back row near the right. Elder Bezerra is on my left.

Elder Bezerra 5th from Right in Back 2-17-14

Yes, Brazilians can be blonde!

10 February, 2014 Transfers for Others, Not For Me!

Well this week was pretty cliche. We worked and tryed to find investigators. We have a few but they dont seem to want to progress. Mate (Yerba Mate - their traditional tea) is too important i guess. 

We have a investigatos whos sister (member) chased us down in the street. We gave her the first two lessons and set a baptismal date. Her name is Estela. She is very receptive but once her sister returned to cordoba she keeps on making excuses not to talk with us. It is kinda discourgeing. But we dont give up.

In Ward Council meeting they are focusing on giving each companionship 15 less active families so it is very hard to find time for other people but we will succed.

We recieved calls this week that half of our district is leaving. Im going to missi those guys. They are very cool.

The pictures are of me performing the ritual of burning my agenda after each tranfer. I am with Elder Bezerra again for another 6 weeks. 

Elder Rowley

Transfer Ritual - Burning Agenda 2-10-14

Me with Burning Agenda 2-10-14

The Flames Sink Lower 2-10-14

3 February, 2014 I'm a Bodyguard?

So as a recently we (Elder Bezerra and I) have been having some ¨close encounter¨ by this I mean like men watching our apartment, moto bandits (guys that drive really close and try to snatch your backpacks) and menacing pebes (teenagers). Before Elder Bezerra, I never had a problem in 8 weeks. So I was laying in bed trying to think what and why all this was happening. Finally I realized that Elder Bezerra is blonde, green eyed and every one of the members, other missionaries, and investigators thinks he is American. So now I walk down the street while he talkes my ear off, watching our surroundings and  advoiding drunks and gangs of pebes, changing our routes and watching our backs. The whole time he is oblivious to his surroundings just life is jolly and full of butterflies. But I love him.

I can finally say that after 9 months on my mission, I LOVE MY MISSION. Things are good here, we lack on the investigators but I am honestly enjoying myself. Lifes Good and it has been for like 3 weeks. And I honestly hope it stays this way. 

Well today is a zone activity and I really want to show off my inner michael jordan so I got to run.

The Church is true, the book is blue, moronis on the ball, I LOVE YOU ALL.

Elder Michael D Rowley

P.s-  The pictures are of us doing service. 

Doing Service 2-3-14

More Service 2-3-14