Elder Rowland August 30, 2009

Ty Sent us some pictures today! The first two are of his District, there are 3 Americans.

Elder Nasella went and played ball at Brighton

Elder Rowland is Nuts!

Elder Horrocks is brand new on the mission and is learning the language great!

And Elder Braz is my awesome companion.

The other 2 are pictures of our baptism.

She is 76 years old and was happy as ever to be baptized

And the thing im holding is the babtismal font

Love you all!

Elder Rowland August 17, 2009

This week was great, im really like working in a branch. Its always pretty interesting. We are teaching a man of about 45 years old and his mom. And everytime we go there and teach , it seems like the lord blesses us with a little more inspiration. Yesterday we brought them to church and we didnt tell anybody about his problems with drugs and things like that. And every lesson that was given in church, was about the word of wisdom! and the spirit was so strong, and it was just neat to see how the lord works. Another thing that happened yesterday was that me and my companion had to stay at home a little longer than planed because my comp has to put in eardrops for the next week , three times a day, but anyway , we marked some visits that were pretty far away and so we had to cancel thoses visits, so as we were sitting at home, he asked me " what do you want to do" its kind of hard to explain the story about the answer that i gave him but i will try. We had a great investigator that said she recieved an answer about the book of mormon and wanted to be babtised, and then one day she came outside with the book of mormon and said" my husband doesnt believe in these things and he doesnt want you guys to visit anymore. So we left the book of mormon there, crushed because she was a good one. So i said to my companion. " hey we have never talked to here husband, so lets go over there and mark a visit." then my companion gave me a few excuses not to go and then i agreed with him, then i got the feeling to just stay home for the rest of the night. And then he put on his shoes and said " Lets Go." So at first i kinda got scared because i know that her husband did not want us to visit, but we were on our way. When we arrived at the house my comp we knocked on the door and we marked a visit with him and everything went really well. So i know that we were guided by the spirit. But i love you dad, thanks so much for the package, and the funeral tape, i really need to hear it. Im loveing the mission dad.
Elder Rowland

Elder Rowland August 10, 2009

Hey Mom
Thanks so much for the great package! i sure loved it , and me and my companion are really enjoying the candy. Everything is going really well here mom. I cant believe time is going so fast. Gentrys already going on a mission ! thats pretty amazing! I am the one that felt like a million bucks with that package you guys sent with all of the cards. This last week was a tough one, Its been raining for 4 days straight! But besides that everythings is going good.This week we were asked to give a blessing for a guy that hasent eaten or talked for 5 days. He is pretty much waiting for death, i think he was depressed or something, but mom ive never seen anyone as close to death as that man did laying there. But i gave the blessing and i know that the spirit spoke through me. He didnt get up after the prayer or any great miracal like that, to tell you the truth i dont know what happened to him because we left right after the blessing. But i know that i left it up to him and the lord. I sure love you mom and im learning a lot here. Some hard lessons some times but its helping become who i must become.
Elder Rowland

Dad
Thanks so much for the great package! i absolutly loved it . I will be set for the rest of the mission now dad, Thanks so much for the sacrifice you guys made to put it together. Dad thanks so much for your continuing support. This past week, I have reflected a lot on death, and our lifes here on the earth. I had a question put infront of me in the book of mormon that asked , if you were to meet the strains of death in this very instant, would you be ready to meet your great lord and savior. ( Alma 5:27) And other things happened this week that has really troubled me . If i was scared to die, what it would be like , if i really am ready. I answered my question like this, These past few weeks i havent really thought that my work was good enough. I really dont know if i would be ready to meet my great lord and savior now. But i want to live so that i am more and more confident everyday. I thank you so much dad for your great support. You are pushing me so well. And tell the whole Rowland Family thank you so much for those wonderful cards. I loved them , Sounds like you had a great time at the family reunion. I love you Dad.
Elder Rowland

Ashley
Thanks so much for what you said. You probably do not know this but you recieved ispiration. I was being really troubled this last week because of death and things like that. Me and my companion were looking for this investigators house. and on the map he lived about at the end of the world. So we went there and on the way we saw the town cemetary. I have never seen something like that in my life. Everyone is buried above the ground, some people even have houses. But i noticed something about the feeling i felt there. I felt an emptyness. a weird feeling. And i started to think, how hard would it be to die? Am i ready? Am i sufficianty prepared. And then other things happened that week that was made me think even more in death. I am sincerlly greatful, for life after death. This life is tough, And like you said there are so many people that shape us into what we are today. I was reading about what happened to you, and as i was, i felt that you did the right thing ash. Dont worry, everything will turn out fine for you. There is so much happening in the world today ash, the advisary is increasing his forces. The lord needs you more than ever. It is tuff , this life, but it can be made so much lighter if the light of the gosple is in your life. I love you ash, im so proud of your dicision to serve, your very brave. Thank you for your example.
Elder Rowland

Elder Rowland August 3, 2009

Hey Mom
How are things going there mom? Thanks for the pictures. Ill be getting the package on friday, because thats our zone conference. But i will let you know what i think of it next monday. Mom things are going really great. Im so happy to hear that logan is going to timberline. that brings back so many memories. And even though i thought some days were a living hecK, i would love to do it all over again. Thats so neat, i made some good friends and learned a lot of cool things there. Thanks for everything mom. Thats so crazy that tyson is already back! wow, when i was leaving , his dad talked to me about him being out for a year and how he was doing really great in the language. Time is flying. Thanks so much for everything mom. I love you . I know ive been a bit lazy about sending pictures but i think next monday you guys will get some , i sure LOVE YOU MOM
Elder Rowland
 
Hey There
How are things going dad. Thanks so much for all that you said dad, When i was at home it seemed like you could read my mind, and that you knew my problems and difficulties, and exactly what would help me out. IT was almost scary how good you were at knowing these things. And know , here i am 6000 miles away and its not any different. Thanks for the insperation and great advise dad. Being that next friday or sunday , im not sure which day exactly, but i know its fathers day. I just wanted to let you know dad that i love you. In my patriartical blessing it says that i knew you and mom before coming to this earth. I know that these feeling of love run deep. I know , that without a shadow of a doubt that you would give your life for me and would do all in your power to help every one of your kids from harm and danger. THANKS so much for keeping me away from that danger.As you helped rais us you showed that protection and love. You are truly a DAD. Thanks dad for everything. I sure love you DAD and know that your helping me out more than you know, even 6000 miles away.
Elder Rowland