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

Footrace with Bullets 27 January, 2014

Alright guys pull your chairs up cause its story time,

Alright so it was Tuesday and we were on our way to a lunch appointment. I was walking with my comp (Elder Bezerra) and a 16 year old boy named Facundo. We were taking Facundo out to show him what the missionary life was all about. He is interested and really wants to serve a mission. 

So we were walking on the West Side of our area, (neighborhood Cueca 15) and after enough time in San Lorenzo, you learn to keep your eyes open and moving, Elder Bezerra however is still learning. 

So Elder Bezerra is a little behind me talking to Facundo. I am looking up ahead. Cueca 15 is the most dangerous neighborhood in the mission and in our area. 

So anyways, I am looking up ahead and I hear a POP POP POP, Now there are 3 things in San Lorenzo that make that sound, 1. Pistols, 2. Fireworks, 3, Backfire of a motorcycle. Usually it is the later 2, Fireworks and backfire. But I notice that this man, about 60 feet away, is running across the street throwing rocks. He is now on our side of the street directly   in front of us. 

From out of no where this motorcycle comes from around the corner, and this teenager jumps off and pulls out a freaking pistol and starts shooting at this guy that was throwing rcoks. And this pistol toting teen in shooting at the man, but is shooting in our direction.

Now about this time, (this all happened in like 3 seconds) this man started running for the other side of the street. Still throwing rocks. Now I am a big fan of cavemen, but I think in this day and age, you need a little something different then rocks. But anyways, hes throwing rocks.

At this time I grab Elder Bezerra and Factundo and I start running the opposite direction. But we are a good 40 to 50 feet from running around the corner. So I just sprint like I was storming Normandy Beach but I felt like I was running back to the ocean. But as I turn the corner I notice that I am alone. So I run back out in the street, (like captain america) and grab a winded Elder Bezerra and Facundo. Well Facundo was alright, Bezerra was the one that was slow and going to get killed. The shooting continued but we went another direction to lunch.

after this I needed to change my underwear no JK, No one got killed.

Also we found a drunk 21 year old passed out on our nieghbors fence so we woke him and helped him home.

Well guys not much more happened, Elder Bezerra got sick but he is fine.

These pictures are of our are in San Lorenzo and of me and Elder Bezerra, Enjoy

Elder Rowley

Elder Bezerra and 2 Canine Buddies 1-27-14

Elder Bezerra Puts the Fear of God into Elder Rowley 1-27-14

Teaching Our Dear Sister in San Lorenzo 1-27-14

2 Bros in Christ, Bezerra and Rowley 1-27-14

O San Lorenzo, How oft would I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings...1-27-14

20 January, 2013 New Comp and Everything is Suave

Hey guys so this week was a little crazy but over all it was good.

So Tuesday night Elder Bezerra arrived. He is from Brazil. He is blonde, built like a brick (physically powerful) and is 26. Immediatly the questions started flowing, but now it english or spanish, but in Portugues, Yes I am going to repeat that one more time. Protugues. So there has been alot of portugues to spanish, spanish to english dictionary reading. i think I understand portugues better then spanish by now. Haha.

So it was 9:30 at night when he arrives and he asked me when our next lesson was. Like that night. I just laughed, new missionaries, got to love em.

So me and him do ju jitsu in a mud hole in our back yard. Its was fun. I learned very quickly that Ju jitsu is for submission and wrestling is for control. So at first it was close but now I'm a little better. He actually takes me down which is way surprising.

We are starting from scratch again here but refuse to quit. To legit to quit. We got to more investigatos in 3 days and we are trying to reap the field cause it is white. 

After 8 months my spanish is finally starting to some along. Thank goodness, its about time, but I still have a ton more to learn. 

We tried to do weekly planning. i forgot what it was like to be new, (Elder Valdez was 6 weeks in, he had only a few questions) he just unloaded on my. What was prusumably a 2 hour task, took us 5 and we still have not finished. I feel like my patience has been strengthened.

Elder Bezerra has a fear of dogs, so Argentina is not his place. But we have been working together with our dogs and his fear is going away. He prayed to God alot to take his fear away, he says his answer to his prayers was me. 

Well guys, the Church is true! The book is blue, Moronis on the Ball, I love you all.

Elder Michael David

My New Comp From Brazil - Elders Bezerra and Rowley 1-20-14

Elder Rowley on P-Day - If You Look Close, You Can See Sweat Stains On Mattress from 110 F Summer Indoor Temps!  1-20-14

13 January, 2014 Craziest Week of the Mission

Well guys, it has been awile. Sorry about the lack of photos too on my blog. First of all I dont carry a camera here. Second of all I think it is broken.

So the reason this is called the craziest week of the mission is because it had its extreme highs and it extreme downs.

So at the begining of the week we got done with P-day and went and found a lady named Cynthia, she accepted a baptismal date for the 8th of Febuary!!! Yuh Yuh, then we got 5 recieved and 5 contacted, The next day we found a lady that had us give her a lesson at her front door (awkward!) but in the end she was crying and wanted us to come back. She turned down a date for baptism. This is awesome because we couldnt do work for a week because of my foot. But now comes the mess.

So wednesday comes around and this whole week already Elder Valdez had been acting strange. Like sick and mopy. So thursday morning he said "Man I am too sick to work" So I was like "Ok man" So he slept alot but I noticed that he really wasnt like super sick he just was withdrawn. So he woke up from his nap and I asked him, "Alright Bro, Whats up man?" Well after this he proceeded to tell me how he snuck out when I was all drugged up with painkillers and medication at 2 am. He sat on the roof cause he couldnt sleep. A girl passed by and they started talking. Then they went to the park and broke the law of chastity. Well, I was shocked. Elder Valdez is a spiritual stud. This is the Elder that I tracked with and I had grown to love. I mean Elder Valdez and I really hit it off. I am not going to lie. At first I wanted to cover everything up but in the end I told him that he needed to call President. So the next 3 days we were in and out of the Mission home constantly. Well anyways long story short. He is home now. 

Guys, everybody makes mistakes. I have alot of respect for Elder Valdez because he did what was right, not what was easy. I love him. Keep him and his family in your prayers please.

Well other then that this week was really peaceful and normal. My spanish is coming along, ( I guess) But its not perfect yet.

O yea, So now I will recieve a brazillian. And I will train him and this is my 3RD TIME WITH THE 12 WEEK PROGRAM (only missionaries serving now will know what I am talking about).

Well guys, stay strong and carry one.

Elder Michael D

6 January, 2014 Happy New Year!!!

Dad, you went to Rome after Christmas - What?? 

Soo, I've spent a couple days in my apartment, doctor's orders, letting my foot get well. I guess I cut it pretty bad, stepping on some re-bar and kept walking on it for several days. Ughh. So i made a flow chart of my life ( its what happens when you have 168 hours of absolutly nothing.) Any ways it took me like 10 hours and it is pages long. I have a plan for EVERYTHING. So that is good to get out of the way. 

Dad, I just want to thank you for everything you are doing for Hyrum. He has a good heart. He is just SUPER impulsive. THats what makes him fun. Thanks so much. It means a ton for me.

How is Jennifer? Why does she not want to write me? 

Thanks for the update. My foot is better. I am going to kick satans trash today. Our area has died. BUt I know spiritual CPR so watch out.

I almost got arrested but they just brought us to a house as witnesses while they ransacked the place then I sighned papers. THe whole time this really attractive 20 year old cop was telling me I was beatuiful and she was single. Her voice quickly reminded me how long I have gone with out contact with a girl. I just stuck close to Elder Valdez so we were all good.

Love You son Choo CHoo

30 December 2013 Angels Are With Us

Thanks for yor email. Yea Angels kicking butt is always a good thing.

So remeber that cut on my foot right? Well it got infected bad. I went to the Pharmacy and got some antibiotics but the infection didnt go away. So I went to the Hopital and they told me the medication I was on was 30 years out of date and is illegal in th US. So i cant walk for 6 more days. Our area has died completly but Elder Valdez is going on exchanges afters news years to keep the area alive. my cut is pretty gross looking. Lots of puss, drainage and all that. I clean it al the time. Your son is too tough to stop and to dumb too i guess. The doc said i needed stiches too bu he wound is too old. Oh well, scars make good stories i guess.

Man, I am in indoors all the time and it is getting to my head. I just cant read church material all day so my mind wanders to home. I miss friends and socializing SO much. Cant wait to work again. I feel like it i torture.

Thanks for your prayers and remember angels got your back.

Elder Rowley

23 December, 2013 2-Hour-Long Skype!

So, everyone, I had an awesome skype with Dad, Mom and Jennifer, at Jennifer's apartment. I got to introduce Elder Valdez to my family. His mother was so nice to call my family at 5am in Payson and leave a voicemail for them to skype me at 9am.

It was so fun to see my family - they all look the same and haven't changed much - Dad is as fat and sloppy as ever, haha, J/K Dad! :-) We can settle it with the gloves, when I get home, haha!

So, it was snowing in Provo, Jennifer took the web cam outside to show us the snow and show when Mom drove up in her van. Don't know why, but that made me so happy to see Mom drive up like that, cause Dad wasn't sure when her doctor's appointment would be over!!! I showed the snow to my land lady's daughter and her little boy - they were way excited to see snow!

So, our summer is super hot here, sometimes 110 F in our apartment, so we sleep on the roof. Since it's 2 days before Christmas and everything will be closed on Christmas Eve, President Lovell has given us today (Monday) to try and skype or email our families, since it may not be possible tomorrow or Wednesday.

Hope you all have a very beautiful and snowy Christmas - doesn't exactly seem like Christmas here, with no snow! God bless and praise Him for the sacred gift of his holy Child Jesus Christ!

So thanks Jennifer, Mom and Dad for a super nice and long visit. Love you all and Merry Christmas to everyone!

Love always,

Elder Rowley