Blessing the Sacrament for President Monson and the 12 Apostles!

Thanks for the advice dad. Im not alowwed to look at the blog so Ill have to see it in 2 years.

It sounds like you are a busy guy. I raised you right so dont give up. haha jk. No buit seriously. You are a huge blessing in Grandmas life.

I totally understand spanish. Speaking it is still alittle hard but I can understand 90 percent of whats being said.

Thank you for your sacrifices. I love you and I pray for you. thaks for the advice. I want to challenge you to pray as if you were at Christs feet. It has changed the way I pray.

When jacob gets here I will be a veteran. Its crazy. I have seen my friends come and go already. Lucky English speakers.

How is my blog?I was way stoked to see Kathy and all them. I saw Jennifer Holmes as well. It was cool.

So guess what? I blessed the sacrament for pres monson and the quorum of the 12.  I was literally like 50 to 60 feet away from the prophet. The power in the room was amazing. Only 48 of us were picked based on referance and stuff. I am also the senor companion although im pretty sure im the youngest in my zone....;)

Well I need to go get my laundrey now. Thank you for everything you do and all your sacrafices. I love you and pray for you aften.

Love Michael

How am I doing? Wednesday 12 June, 2013

Here are parts of emails to Mom And Dad:

Hey guys, sorry i have not emailed sooner. My p days are on wednesday so i can onl email then. The pictures i sent are alot. The blonde kid in the room is my companion, the one with me holding a kids hand is my zone leader (our gang pose) and the one with lots of people is only half of my zone. I think you can figure out the rest. 

Well it has been hard here. Harder then moving out for sure. Somedays I want to quit and come home but i dont. But some of the other days are good. I have to sit in class forever, like 6 hours forever. It kinda sucks but i am learning spanish good. I have begun to teach a man named Abel. He is reading the scriptures and says he is coming to church this sunday. I teach him all in spanish. I also pray in spanish and bear my testimony in spanish.

Two days ago my allergies flared like never before. It was pretty bad.

My companion is pretty cool, we have never fought but he does things that irratate me. (kinda like the little kid telling the same joke over and over.) Elder cullimore is also in my district, he is quiet and doesnt seem to like to have fun. The other district leader is elder parks, he is from Hunington beach and is a surfer kid. He a little of the "cooler then you"  attitude. Other then that i am having a blast. The food is ok. Not as good as dads. I have lost 2 lbs.

Everyday we have gym time. My zone thought i played basketball for a highschool. I school them good. Same with soccer. Our district is deffinitly the best at sports. Soccer and basketball. There is alot of sitting time and it kinda reminds me of a endurance camp. We have to go to 2 devotinoals a week. Regardless to say, for a kid with lots of energy, this is not the place to be. They told us in the begining that they didnt want this to be like an EFY but with so many missionaries it looks and feels like one.

Thank you for your sacrifices for me to do this and i love you all. Have a great day. Tell Jennifer I said hi.

Love,

            Michael

7 June, 2013 How's He Doing?!?!?!

Mom and Dad are hoping and praying all is going well - is he happy, sad, homesick, frustrated, totally focused?? Made any new friends, does he like his companion? Pins n needles, till we get the first email/letter!!!

4 June, 2013 Setting Apart (Ordination as a Full-Time Missionary)

Yesterday, Brother Losee, my Young Men's leader and Sister Losee stopped by to wish me well.

 My sweet You-Know-Who was sitting on the couch downstairs, trying to get it together for my setting apart, while I brought plenty of kleenexes to soak up the tears. She's been nice to come right over after work each day, so we could enjoy each other's company as much as possible before the LONG time apart!

 We all went to the Payson Mt Nebo Stake Center Chapel, to President Newman's office. President Newman gave me lots of good advice about keeping my relationship with Christ and the Holy Ghost first in my life, in order to learn to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to learn the language well. Dear Sister Pino, wife of my deceased friend Jim and friend in her own right was kind to attend.

 President Newman and I stood for a picture, below, after my setting apart.

 After my setting apart, it was handshakes only with Priscilla - pretty tough!

Wednesday 5 June, 2012 Entering the MTC

Dad cooked breakfast one last time - bacon, eggs and toast. Hugged Jeremy, Mason and Drake (little kids next door) goodbye and said goodbye to Jamie, their mom.

Took two cars to Provo, so Mom could run errands after. Rode with Dad - he told me I was a fun kid to raise: "all boy - a daddy's dream." I told him he'd been a really cool dad!

He gave advice to be patient in learning and let the process do its job and the Lord do his job.

Tried to track down P at her work today enroute to the MTC. No luck! Oh well. Mailed 1st letter yesterday and hope she gets it soon! Dropped by UCCU by BYU Stadium to get some paperwork done for my mission finances, etc., Then to the parking lot across the street to the east of the MTC for last photos of e with MTC in background. Big hugs and "I love U's" for Mom and Dad. Beat the rush at 10:30am, drove up to canopy at front doors of MTC. No one else was arriving yet! Unloaded 4 pieces of giant luggage; gave more hugs and a senior missionary in white shirt, tie and suspenders took one of my bags and led the way in to the NEXT TWO YEARS! Love U all,
Michael 
 Took pix in front of the MTC, across the street.

 Quiet this time of morning, we were the only family there at 10:30am! Hugged Mom and Dad hard, exchanged "I love you's." Looked at Dad in surprise when he kissed my cheek...at least he wasn't crying or anything!

Drove in to entrance, to right under canopy - no other families yet! One more hug. A senior missionary in white shirt and suspenders helped with one of my 2 large and 1 giant pieces of luggage, while I shouldered the backpack and pulled the large and giant ones behind.

 Looked around after walking through the automatic glass doors and waved again! Love my Girl & love u all!
Elder Michael Rowley
More from the previous day to come!

Getting Ready #2

Getting Mission Stuff labeled and ready to go!

Totally Sweet Tie Rack

Getting Ready #1

One big suitcase, hope everything fits.

Everything laid out.

Missionary Picture

Missionary Picture