16 December 2013 Love Takes a Holiday

Well mom, this week has been good i guess. Like Priscilla Dear Johned me so...
>

 > Well im pleased to hear of your recovery but i want you to know that
> you are a stud so keep it up.
> Well alot of our dates have been lost. due to our investigators not
> assisitng church and greedy elder that requested 1/4 of ourr area even
> though Toma Norte (the area) is way way way closer to our church.
>
> Its really hard to feel the christmas spirit here. It really is cause
> its like 104 and like 110 in our cement pension. And last week we sung
> one hymn(christmas) in our pension and i felt the christmas spirit
> flood in my heart. We also have a dog that can climb fences and
> latters and will crawl in our beds with us at night. But the amazing
> part is that she braks in the pension through the bars on our windows.
>
> Thanks for you prayers and I hope all is well there.
>
> Elder Rowley love ya

9 December, 2013 Humble and Loving People Among the Chaos

Ok guys what up?

Well this week has been a little crazy actually. The police have been on strike so throng and gangs of people break in and rob stores and people and stuff. So one day we had to stay in doors all day and the others we had to be back indoors by 6pm. I sleep with a knife and pull a dresser infront of my door and I sleep with a dog too.

So now i would like to talk alittle about my investigators and such.

So as of right not we have like 6 Progressing investigatos Orianna-She is envengalist and has a date for the 4th of January. She needs to pray and read.

Miguel and Patricia- Live in a house as big as your bathroom. I got sick after taking a sip of the water they offered us. They need to come to church. They are very receptive and humble though. They stand while we sit and teach.

Patricia- Spirit led us to her. She was cooking out side her gouse.

Her house is as big as your bedroom. She talked once with missionaries before but they never returned. SHe needs to come to church but she wants to be baptized.

Rolando-Devote Catholic, i personally believe he is crazy but he acceptied a date.

Claudia- She is the mother of a active girl. She wil not progress cause she doesnt want to commit.

Well guys, there is not much more. We are trying to be obedient and serve with all our hearts.

Elder Rowley,

Keep it up.

Our Entire Mission: Find Me! 12-9-13

Neuquen West Zone: Find Me again! 12-9-13

2 December, 2013 Boring, What??? How 'bout 10 Baptismal Dates?

Well guys. I honestly can say this week was routine and pretty boring. There is not much going on. Really. We just set 10 baptismal dates and flip`ped our area around cause the elders before us sucked and were lazy. 

Our goal for this week is obedience. Like exact obedience.

I am in the middle of Jesus the Christ right now. It is good,. I really like it and James Talmage is a beast.

Well guys, i would like to take a moment of silence for my favorite actor Paul Walker "Brian Oconner" of the Fast and Furious movies. He died this past week and I am sure he is driving a white celestial lamborgini with God right now. He was such a stud.

Well guys stay strong. Pray alot and do miracles.

Elder Rowley

I dont have many pictures cause its dagerous here and i dont carry my cmera on me.

Well  not much else, Its reallt boring this week, Thanks for your prayers. I amstill strying to learn the language.

My new town, San Lorenzo, is a NW suburb of Neuquen, fyi.

25 November, 2013 - Streetfights, Prostitutes and Hard Work!!!

Well When some of you read this, I wil have been out for 6 months, Man time is flying.

Well I am now in San Lorenzo, Argentina. The most dangerous part of the mission, My adverage day goes like this. I wake, study for 4 hours, leave, watch street fights, advoiding really hostile street dogs, saving souls, recieving contcts, having the best numbers in our district (by along way), hiking mountains, go home, watch, prostitutes walk around. oh yea and were would i be if i didnt mention the pebes (teenagers) pulling our there pistols and shooting at each other. haha, its awesome here.

The kid I am training is a stud. He works hard and his spanish is awesome. I wish i had a native companion though cause i am still not fluent.

Well that is one thing i am tryingto work on is my spanish. I wish it was better. Well i got to run to service. Takee care

Elder Rowley

P.S. Everything is going well here. Stress is mostly gone. Me and my comp got the highest numbers in our zone. Things go well when I can do them my way (the Lord's way!)...

18 November, 2013 - Transfer to San Lorenzo!

Thanks dad,

Umm well I dont really have much news. I am just survivng. I actually understand spanish. Its awesome. I will send I bigger email in a minute, if I don't run out of time. I am trying to do enerything last minute. I have been traveling all P day. 

Hey thanks for all you do your a stud. I dnt know what happened to that baby bird, that I fed every day. I just let it go in the field. Its a killdeer to.

I have cut my backpack open and sown a knife case inside for emergencies. I am ready for whatever. The knife it easaly accesable but compledly hidden. I also slep with one. 

Choo Choo Rowley

K so i ran out of time and gtg but I am training 2 missionaries and I am in San Lorenzo in the west of Neuguen and I and senior comp. Baptized 2 last week. I will send pictures later cause my stuff is not unpacked.

Stay strong you all.

Elder Rowley

I will tell stories later but San lOrenzo is the most dangerous place in the mision. yea, dont worry, Dad. I have street smarts. I will stay out of trouble. I will just run if i see anthing. I am ready for it if it comes looking for me.

More notes:

I am in a branch. They dont really have wards except in the big city. My next email will blow your mind.

They use CDs and a CD playe for hymns, instead of a piano.

Sundays I go to church then go and prosilite. Just normal really, i dont do much. Hey guess what, i can understand spanish.

P days are hecktic, i have to email and shop adn I only get 6 hours for pday, no time for sports. Haha,

Hey mom i love you and will be fasting for you, thanks for all you do. I dont really know what else to say. My next MASS email will explain it all.

Hey i love you so much and apprectaite you alot.

You OBEDIENT boy hah jk :)

ELder ROwley

11-11-13 Epistle to the Bro's

Hello, this is your bro and friend Michael Rowley but now known as Elder Rowley. I'm sending this email to my Payson High bros, who are in other missions, to encourage and uplift. Before I begin I want to explain two things.

First, I'm not perfect. I make mistakes, I don't want you to think that I'm like a hipocrite because I make mistakes too.

Second, you may ask yourself by what authority can Michael write all this. Well I have been out longer than any of you even if it is by four weeks. If any of you have a problemn with it, I'll be happy to take it up with you in 19 months. Now let's begin.

Let me tell you a lil' bit about my mission. I have to deal with poisonous scorpions and snakes, I have to deal with porn that is all over. I have to deal with companions that come from a completely different background. My mission has been some of the darkest days of my life. I have to deal with huge spiders and I have to check myself for ticks. I constantly work with dropped baptismal dates. I've had people threaten to kill me if I come back. I've had many doors slammed at my face. I've had people making fun of me for not knowing Spanish. I walk during siesta(a time were everyone sleeps like 4 hours). I fear for my family and Mom's health and I fear for the future.

I also have seen a visible change in myself, I've seen my testimony grow. I've seen people filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. I've learnt to be humble(almost) and patient. I wouldn't trade my mission experience for anything. 

I know that you guys are going through some similar experiences. All I can say keep your head up. When thoughts of doubt and darkness enter your mind(and I know they have) Pray. As if you were at the feet of Jesus.

You may ask yourself why am I here? I feel like I'm failing and you may not even have any baptisms. But now let's turn to preach my gospel, pg 10, paragraph 1 says 'Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.' Guys aslong as you're committed and you wake up on time and try your hardest everyday and be obedient then you're a good missionary. It's on how hard you try. God doens't judge you on how many times you get knocked down, He judges you on how many times you get back up.

Jesus knows what you're going through. When you think your backpack is heavy, how do you think Jesus felt when He had a cross on His back. When your knuckles hurt from knocking, Jesus is hurt too as He hung from them on the cross. When you're too tired to wake Jesus was too tired to walk after feeling your pain all night in the Garden of Getsemaney. When you get mad at your companion and hate him for everything he is(don't worry I've been there) Jesus forgave all who killed Him. Jesus has been there, He knows you and your pain. Take advantage of the Atonement.

Guys one day we will be united, The Bros. We will ride and blast music and go Y and R. We will have fun. But for the next 2 years we are warriors for God. I have declared war on Satan and I'm asking you to join me. Alma 56:17 is my motto. I will conquer (like the armies of Antipus) or die trying. We can do it, represent Utah! Let's go!

Elder (Your Bro) Rowley As a good Elder once told me- Your BROther in Christ. (Eldgredge)

P.S- Check out my blog, eldermichaelrowley.blogspot.com

and watch out for them storms my Philipean bros.

More notes:

Well we 3 (me, Elder Fisher, Elder Zapata) are going to be together another transfer, things are going well, that man that called me out in sac meeting apologized. Yea Elder Zapata is laughing right now. Mom, he rmebers you asked him about backpacks or bags, when you called the mission office. He is ok now i guess, we talk our probs ut ALOT.

Well, do you really want to know how i teach people? I dont just bear my testimony and zone out the rest of the time. I asked ALL the english elders and they said it is normal to zone out a little,when you don't understand everything. BUt teaching is good. People here are rude though so we don't get in a lot of times.

Mom, i am your only son, Tell me whats going on with your health adnd you. Thank you for bringing me up in the gospel. This last week I read aboiut the sons of Helamen, i read the book of Mormon like for 2 hours everyday. I love reading it. You raised a good warrior. Thanks. I am in Ether right now.THe nephpites are SO stupid to forsake God over and over every like 3 to 5 years. My testimony of the Book opf MOrmon is the strongest thing i got. 

Dad, those "battle tank" shoes you bought are the only ones that are comfortable for walking 15 miles a day.

Haha i am so happy to see the pics of my bros from Canyon's Farewell. I am glad you saw Priscilla,  haha! Now, we can pray for Hyrum, as he works to save for his mission.

Hyrum and Canyon at Canyon's Farewell - (Canyon is downhill so he looks shorter) 11-10-13

Answers to questions from Mom:

1. We have to clap at gates cause people get mad if i knock at there doors.

2. People drink Tang here and eat with their hands. They also have NO speed limits so people drive crazy and motorcycle weave in and out of traffic. 

3. Yea im pretty wise with my money.  i get like 830 pesos and 300 for travel a month.

4. I am fed lunch everyday. Lunch is dinner so i eat eggs for breakfast and at dinner at 9 pm. thats really all.

5. I just drink bottled water. I can take hot water.

6. So this next email will be for kaleb and my bros. 

7. I have heard of no missionaries being harmed in the philipines.

Dad, i dont really write anybody specifically besides you and mom and literally 1 or 2 sentances to Priscilla. and then the mass message. I suck at typing so that one takes for ever. I wil email more when we dont have 3 elderes trying to cram emails into a 4 hour window. I kinda thought that my mass message was kinda like, heres whats going on. ya know. but you all are my 1st prioroty. haha, have a good week!

And our latest baptism, Julio! 11-11-13

Hors d'oeuvres - our pre-lunch snack-11-11-13

My hand after being bit-11-11-13

4 November, 2013 - Thank-you for Your Prayers & Support!!!

Thanks Dad and all of you for your support. It really helps to know I have a team at home. BTW I won a "My dads the best war" with my comp. I bragged you up big time.

Hey Dad, I was wondering Were you a zone leader or anything and how long did it take you to learn the language?

Thank you so much. Things are going better though.

Haha yea Dad. One thing in the MTC i learned is just that. I now try not to show (the members and missionary comps) up with arm wrestling and stuff. But one night when the argument got particularly bad I told Elder Zapata that we could take it outside. HE shut up VERY fast. Dont worry, trying to become CHrist like is my greatest challenge.

Can you tell her (my sister Jennifer) to Email me please?

K guys really quick, so this week was ALOT better. I saved souls, walked 15 miles a day and got bit again, all in one day.

So story time cause i bounce,

I went to clap at a fence, When i went to clap a huge dog jumped over and bit my hand really bad. Like my hand is all chewed up but i forgot my camera at the pension so i will send pics next week. So i was way mad, i had a crappy week and ws not in the mood for anything, speciially the dogs. So i thought " What would Jesus do?" So i put hand sanatizer on my cut and tried to forgive the dog. So i went down the street trying to talk to other people. Well on the way back down the street like 10 or 15 minutes later i saw the dog sleeping in the gate. So in my head i came up with a way good plan. I looked on the ground and found a long skinny rock that loked like a roll of pennies, or at least that size. I put it in my hand and it made a excellent equilizer. A equiller is something that you put in your hand to make your punches harder. I so creped up to the gate and puonded on it. The dog jumped up and rushed across the yard. I had my bloddy hand dangling over the side of the fence. When it jumped i jerked my bloddy left hand back and brought my right hand in a nice hook that connected right with the dogs mouth. I must have hit it hard cause instead of landing it smashed into the fence. It got up and ran away. I win, game over. The Church is true.

Well i gotta run guys, Pray and read the BOM, they wil stregthen you.

Elder (The dog beater) Rowley

Sorry Guys, no pics - I'll send a photo of my hand next week...

10-28-13 Trials and Tribulations

Fast and pray for me; 

both the members and my companion are really rude when I struggle with the language. I am not like home sick, but i am like friend and social sick.

BTW, I got bit again, this time by a stupid little dog after a lesson when i went to stand up. It drew blood. Im at 6 times now!

Guys I love you all so hard. I am glad that you are nice to the missionaries cause I dont know about Provo, I think they have it nice there, but missionaries go through hell. At least here in 25 de Mayo.

Sorry to give less than a rosy picture - I won't quit!

Love your Son, Elder Rowley

This is my Friend that pokes his head through are screen door every night for food. 10-28-13

This is a lesson with a CRAZY guy. His wife came and kissed me. His wife also took pictures to send to his parents who are pastors. He freaked out on us like 7 times. HIs house is the nicest in 25 de mayo.10-28-13

Just Another Day: Preach Christ, Break Up Dogfight!

So this week was nuts. I Dont have much time, AGAIN.

So i walked out of a lesson and I heard a noise. It was a dog getting mauled by a freaking pitbull. There was all these people just standing around just watching. The owner was literally beating the pitbull trying to get him to let the other go of the throat. Well long story short, i jumped on the dog getting attack and held him still so the owner could isolate the pitbulls head. So after like another 2 minutes of beating the freaking pitbull it finally let go. So now i have a freaked out dog in my hands it had its mouth open and i thought it was going to bite my head off, but i just held it still by the throat until it calmed down. Then it walked off. Stupid thing is my companions had no idea what to do and just joined the rest of the sheep and just stood and watched.

So things are going well here. I have seen flocks of parrots fly overhead. That was pretty cool. We set 2 baptismal dates last week.

Well i have a TON more crazy stories but I my comps are bugging me to get off the computer. K love ya all.

Elder Rowley

All the new missionaries Mision Neuquen 10-21-13

Doing Dishes 10-21-13

Laundry Time! 10-21-13

This is how i wash my clothes. it sucks ahah 10-21-13

This is how big the spider are. Welcome to Argentina. 10-21-13

Holiday in 25 Mayo!!!

K guys, since I am in a really small town and it is a holiday, all the stores are closed. I am at a members house. He is letting me use his computer and my companion still needs to write and we only have like 45 min left of P day. I will write more next week.

So companions are Elder Fisher from Utah and Elder Zapata from Colombia. They are cool. I live in a little tiny apartment that smells like a cat died in it. We deep cleaned it and it smells better.

I am learning the language ok.

There are dogs that chase us and really aggresive here. But if you stand your ground they book it.

So I am in a REALLY small town called 25 de mayo. Look it up. It is the outskirts of the mission and everything is super expensive. 

I hope my pictures can explain more. I am really strapped for time. 

So my plane ride here was like 20 hours. It was nuts. To make it worse I couldnt recline or anything. So i stayed awake I didnt fall asleep for like 40 hours more. It was knarly.

So who ever said this was a 2nd world country is a lier. This is so a 3rd world. Or at least were I live. But actually it is a cool adventure.

I say a spider as big as my palm.

K I got to go.

Love Elder Michael Rowley

Sorry, pix are almost never in order!

Argentina! Companions are Elder Fisher from Utah and Elder Zapata from Colombia 10-14-13

Elder Fisher from Utah and Elder Zapata from Colombia 10-14-13

I cooked a chicken from like scratch. It turned out good.10-14-13

I'm really HERE!! Argentina Neuquen Mission office 10-14-13

In 25 de Mayo Hilton - 1st Apartment 10-14-13

Leaving Idaho - Elder Pettit and I 10-14-13

Me and my fav, Elder Graves United once again, enroute to Argentina. I freaking love this guy. 10-14-13

Me and Pres Lovell - Mision Neuquen Argentina 10-14-13

Me leaving Idaho 10-14-13

Me leaving Idaho 2. 10-14-13

More Elder Graves n me - funny, funny guys!! 10-14-13

My FIRST CITY in Argentina!! 10-14-13

Rowley & Graves, Inc. 10-14-13

So this is Buenos Aires. 10-14-13

Welcome to The desert, Neuquen 10-14-13

Bug Traps, General Conference & Good-bye Beautiful Idaho!

So this week was great. I had a man give me like a 190$ pair of Oakleys and I got my visa.

So i need to be to a transfer site in 2 hours to go to Argentina, so I need to make this quick.

So I have been told by everybody that when I figure out why I am in Idaho is the day I will leave. I figured it out, did what it took, and the next day my visa came. GODS REAL.

I also invited 2 people that were into satanic crap to be baptized and they said yes.

So the reason this is called Bug Traps is because in our basement we have a hobo spider problem. So to combat this problem we have sticky traps. (http://www.zorotools.com/g/00096902/k-G4143334?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&kw={keyword}&gclid=CNKAhMSQhboCFS_ZQgodgUoArQ)

Last night, my companion thought it would be funny, since we have a punking war and i waxed his leg with one, to stick one to the back of my head. Now if these things can immobilize snakes and mice, they sure as heck can take hair off. I was really angry, first because there were 2 other Elders in our basement laughing at me, and cause i thought i was going to end up with a bald spot. And all of those who know me, know i love my hair.

So I grabbed one off the floor, and chased my companion down and tackled him. I smashed the other trap into the back of his head and got up and walked into the other room. Keep in mind I still had the trap on the back of my head too.

So my companion walked into the room with the other elders and sat down. I remembered at this time that on the trap, Olive oil counteracts the sticky and you can pull it off with ease. But i was still mad at my companion so i just watched and kept my mouth shut.

The other Elders, under my companions direction, started to rip the rat trap off. And with the rat trap came his hair. Everybody was laughing so hard. Now my soon to be excompanion has a 1 inch by 4 inches long, bald spot on his head. I just had the other elders put olive oil on my head after and i didnt loose on strand of hair. haha sucks to suck.

So I dont leave until like, Wednesday, So that is when you will get a call.

The church is true, the book is blue. Moroni's on the ball. Te amo todos.

Elder Rowley

P.S- If you were not able too, watch D. Todd Chirstofferson's Talk. It is legit.

Me n Elder Pettit When i heard i got my visa. (My Oakleys)10-7-13

Actually this is me when I heard I got my visa. Sorry! 10-7-13

And one of my Fav's, Elder Eldredge 10-7-13

Brother Ramey - 10-7-13

Elder Eldredge and I - 10-7-13

Elder Eldredge's Place = I am the Champ at Ping Pong 10-7-13

Elder Miller 10-7-13

Elder Parks 10-7-13

Elder Thomas 10-7-13

Elder Vincent - 10-7-13

Elder Vincent Loses Some Hair 10-7-13

Another Hair-Loss Pic of Elder Vincent 10-7-13

Me and My companion, Elder Vincent 10-7-13

Me and My Zone Leader, Elder Yellowhair 10-7-13

Me with other mesa branch missionaries. Elder Pettit and Vincent and Tidwell 10-7-13

My all time favorite investigator. His name is Johnny Rojo. He is such a stud. I love this guy 10-7-13

If I was a UFC fighter, this is what I would look like 10-7-13

More Johnny Rojo 10-7-13

My Personal Trainer, Ben Coyne. He is a stud 10-7-13

Poor Elder Vincent's Hair - Ouch! 10-7-13

Some Missionaries still fall asleep in conference 10-7-13

This is the inbetween sessions fun at Elder Eldredges place 10-7-13