Hey guys! sounds like everything is just heaven there!!!
Mom i sure loved the quote that you sent!! I know that it is a fact, because I have seen this in my own life. I am grateful that you can benefit from my good old days from seminary!
I would like a favor - dad or mom, i would like the recipe for the homemade chicken noodle soup and the noodles if you could type it up and email it ASAP that would be awesome!
Tyler, my old companion sister assunção is serving in an area where your old companion served. i dont remember his name, but she said that he said you are an aweome person and that you were zone leaders together!
Hahahaha daddy you are the best....i love you so much and i know that Heavenly father is very proud of the family you have raised. I am proud to be your little girl. I still hope... as i did when i was talking with mommy as a little girl...to marry someone as special as you! Mom - i know you are an elect and special daughter of heavenly father. i know he loves you and prepared you and blessed you greatly because of all of the fabulous and righteous choices you made as a young girl. Nothing is greater than my desire to follow in your footsteps and be the kind of mother you are!
Well Russell!!!! I had a dream about you last night! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BROTHER - BEET ROOT ONSTABEE RAT RAT FUSSELL ahhahaa... I hope you still have your little hymn book. Go and read what i wrote to you last year. Know that i feel the same still and that i love you and miss you even more than i did last year!!! I dont have much money, but i will bring you something great. I love you more than anything.
Jesse boy... how the heck was sadies... what did you guys do for the date and what did you dress up like? i remember how great the dances were back in the days. take advantage of every second of high school because it is almost 5 years since i graduated....what the heck, i am an old geezer! but it sure flys by fast!!! Keep your standards and help others live righteously and you wont have any regrets!
Logan - remember that time i picked you up from your basketball game? You were way ticked because your team lost. I tried to cheer you up but it wasnt working. So i asked you "What was the score?' and you said 40 - 15. I said oh thats rough....How many points did you have??? and i remember you looked at me and said
15!!!! hahaha i never laughed so hard. you were so disappointed that your team lost that you forgot to tell me that you made all of the points haha... life is like that sometimes.
I have learned here in the mission the importance of teamwork. Even though sometimes no one else seems to be making baskets, their influence on the court still counts. Somebody gave you a good pass, or blocked one of the advisery. Sometimes people are feeling so crummy about themselves that they dont feel like taking a shot, or doing something new. It can be a real bummer, especially when you set everything up perfectly -to give them a chance to feel the joy that comes from a "SWISH" But the thing is you have got to do is give others the opportunity, set things up for them again and again, because what matters isnt if they make the basket or not, it is if they feel confident in themselves enough to make a good decision. SHOOT IT! as dad always said from the sidelines... Keep moving forward...as you say.
I know that the saying is true about you can never make a basket if you dont shoot it. and you get better with each hit or miss. you learn, you grow, and you become grateful for those special people as you think back, who unselfishly gave you the chance of a lifetime. Who set things up for YOUR BENEFIT. -and i know that as you are the one who sets good things up for others, that your skills and talents are sharpened as well!
That is my basketball talk for the day and even though i never liked playing bball - i sure learned a lot from watching you guys all those years! Thanks so much for your dedication and love guys!!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Ashley's latest email
Thank you all so much for the wonderful christmas wishes. I love each of you very much. I was truly touched by your Christmas story dad. I love christmas here! We know that the message of Christmas is Love. The first gifts of christmas weren´t gold francencense and myrr but it was Christ, the son of god, given to us to redeem us from our sins and from death. My love for my Savior is indescribable. I know that he sends prepared people to his prepared servants. Truth and Comfort have testified to me that I am where I need to be. I love my mission. I love my life. I am so blessed.
Thank you so much for the package that I recieved! I loved your letter mom. I know you will have the chance to see all of the extended family and please tell them that i love them and that i love this gospel. Thank them for the help and love they have always offered me, and invite them for me to choose something to do that will help them improve their lives.
Thank you so much for the package that I recieved! I loved your letter mom. I know you will have the chance to see all of the extended family and please tell them that i love them and that i love this gospel. Thank them for the help and love they have always offered me, and invite them for me to choose something to do that will help them improve their lives.
Monday, December 13, 2010
to Cottonwood Ward
Dear Cottonwood Ward
Merry Christmas to all and a great big hug from Sister Rowland in Brazil. I thank each one of you for the prayers and sacrifices offered in my behalf. These past few days I have been reflecting in all the ways I was prepared to serve here.
I want to send you all my love. I feel so grateful for the many kind acts of service that I recieved from many of you during my life. I recieved a small piece of information this week from my mission president in response to my last report i sent him. He said the following
"No effort in righteousness will go unrewarded in eternity - that is, everything good that we do has an effect, whether we see it or not. Be consistent in all that you do and attend to the seemingly small things and you will be amazed at what the Lord is doing and will do - for you and for the work."
I know that this is true. I am certain that the lord is working miracles in each of your lives this Christmas season. Tender mercies and kind acts are quite common this time of year. I remember when we would go and do baptisms for the dead as a Christmas present to Christ. I know that these special trips strengthened me and also helped very special people in the spirit world. As you share with others gifts for Christmas , dont hesitate to share your testimony and love for them and for the gospel. I love you all deeply. I pray for you daily, and I think of The Cottonwood Ward often! Merry Christmas
With Love -Sister Rowland!
Merry Christmas to all and a great big hug from Sister Rowland in Brazil. I thank each one of you for the prayers and sacrifices offered in my behalf. These past few days I have been reflecting in all the ways I was prepared to serve here.
I want to send you all my love. I feel so grateful for the many kind acts of service that I recieved from many of you during my life. I recieved a small piece of information this week from my mission president in response to my last report i sent him. He said the following
"No effort in righteousness will go unrewarded in eternity - that is, everything good that we do has an effect, whether we see it or not. Be consistent in all that you do and attend to the seemingly small things and you will be amazed at what the Lord is doing and will do - for you and for the work."
I know that this is true. I am certain that the lord is working miracles in each of your lives this Christmas season. Tender mercies and kind acts are quite common this time of year. I remember when we would go and do baptisms for the dead as a Christmas present to Christ. I know that these special trips strengthened me and also helped very special people in the spirit world. As you share with others gifts for Christmas , dont hesitate to share your testimony and love for them and for the gospel. I love you all deeply. I pray for you daily, and I think of The Cottonwood Ward often! Merry Christmas
With Love -Sister Rowland!
Monday, December 6, 2010
how we created a place and situations where mom and dad could recieve direct precise clear and tender loving inspiration to direct our family. Ash
There are so many other things that you could be doing but your choosing the right. TY
as a person or missionary we all have responsibilities.
the first is our personal worthiness. if this is not where it should be, we need to get it in order to be able to progress.
the next is our companion. for me its sister hulse but for most people there it is your spouse. you need to take care of them - but if you personally are not doign well -this will suffer. but if the first thing is in order you both can work in unity and help eachother be better.
the last thing is your area. i am responsible for helping those that live here to be better. i have a responsibility to teach them the right things and to help them change the things that are holding them back from being the best they can be. just like parents have the responsibility of teaching their kids the right things and help them change the things that are holding them back.
If i personally am not doing well, i cant help my companion, and if we are not doing well, i cant help the people in our area.
This is so true in our homes too. Ash
The lord helps so much in this work , And when the Spirit withdraws from us in the work, You know it , because you feel it , Really stong, Its like an Emptyness that can only be filled with spiritual things. Im greatful that the lord has created that Spititual Well in me. Because you never want to run out of living water, because of that thirst you feel. TY
President Hinkley said of missionaries: "Do you know that you are the most prayed for people on the Earth? you know that your fathers and mothers are praying for you. you know that your brothers and sisters are praying for you... the whole church prays for the missionaries in family prayer, in private prayer, in prayers in meetinghouses. the plea goes up to heaven to remember and bless the missionaries in each and every session of the temple throughout the world... if there ever comes a temptation to do something that you shouldn't do, just quietly stop and think of all the people throughout the world who are on there knees praying for you" I love that quote, you know you are so loved when so many are thinking of you so much all the time. you are part of a marvelous work Ash, nothing else in the world compares to it.
There are so many other things that you could be doing but your choosing the right. TY
as a person or missionary we all have responsibilities.
the first is our personal worthiness. if this is not where it should be, we need to get it in order to be able to progress.
the next is our companion. for me its sister hulse but for most people there it is your spouse. you need to take care of them - but if you personally are not doign well -this will suffer. but if the first thing is in order you both can work in unity and help eachother be better.
the last thing is your area. i am responsible for helping those that live here to be better. i have a responsibility to teach them the right things and to help them change the things that are holding them back from being the best they can be. just like parents have the responsibility of teaching their kids the right things and help them change the things that are holding them back.
If i personally am not doing well, i cant help my companion, and if we are not doing well, i cant help the people in our area.
This is so true in our homes too. Ash
The lord helps so much in this work , And when the Spirit withdraws from us in the work, You know it , because you feel it , Really stong, Its like an Emptyness that can only be filled with spiritual things. Im greatful that the lord has created that Spititual Well in me. Because you never want to run out of living water, because of that thirst you feel. TY
President Hinkley said of missionaries: "Do you know that you are the most prayed for people on the Earth? you know that your fathers and mothers are praying for you. you know that your brothers and sisters are praying for you... the whole church prays for the missionaries in family prayer, in private prayer, in prayers in meetinghouses. the plea goes up to heaven to remember and bless the missionaries in each and every session of the temple throughout the world... if there ever comes a temptation to do something that you shouldn't do, just quietly stop and think of all the people throughout the world who are on there knees praying for you" I love that quote, you know you are so loved when so many are thinking of you so much all the time. you are part of a marvelous work Ash, nothing else in the world compares to it.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Very last emails from Dad and TY
Ty
It’s hard to imagine this is your last week in the Mission field. I’m sure your emotions are high, and your thoughts are many. What a great thing you have accomplished Ty. I’m so proud of you. This will act like a springboard for the rest of your life . you will return to your mission experiences many times throughout your life to help you solve problems and challenges that you will face. It will give you strength and direction when things don’t always turn out. In other words , now you will know how to handle the rest of your life. I know the lord has a special love for those who serve him honorably. He will continue to pour out his blessings as your life unfolds Ty. After you get home your choices will be great big ones as you decide things like marriage and profession. They set a course as to your happiness for the next chunk of years to come for you. What an exciting time for you! Like always me and Mom will watch you do just great. You will always have our love and support in all your decisions. You left us a good boy and were getting back a great young Man. I know you will anyway, but please be sure on your flight home to thank your Father in Heaven for the great experience you have had. We know all our prayers we have offered to him for your safety and protection have been answered. I have told him thanks many times for that. Well this is the last time I’ll write you Ty, it has been so great for me, I love you so much, what a great experience we have shared in, Thank you. My cup truly runneth over. I’ll see you soon! Dad
Thanks Dad, I really love you so much and i will see you on thursday.
Love Elder Rowland for the last time
Signing out
Monday, October 18, 2010
Ashley latest email
I love my family
Ashley Amber Rowland to rowlandbunch@gmail.com
11:54am
How blessed we are to be here - at this point in our lives. What a tender week this will be. I am so proud of my Tyler boy - I am not sure he will ever know of the impact he has had on my life. I thank Heavenly Father so much for giving me the opportunity to serve in the same country as him during the same time period. Ty taught me and lifted me up with each email and experience he shared. I am so grateful for all of you guys too. It is incredible how much the emails of friends and family inspire me to do my best.
This week was rough - One of the most difficult of my mission. How grateful I am for free agency. For Christ. He was my rock this week. The waves crashed and the storm raged, but the difficulties and trials passed. The sun came back out, and the light of the gospel is shining a little stronger, a little brighter in my eyes. Mom - I remembered your famous words this week! anytime there´s work to be done and you think there´s too much to do for one, do yourself a favor - do it yourself. Thanks so much mom. I am also grateful for the scripture that I remember hearing for the first time as my daddy was teaching me by my bed. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. This week, i fought, I prayed, i worked, and i chose faith instead of doubt. I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us, and answers every single prayer we say. He leaves the work to us, but makes the impossible ..easy.
DANE WOMACK taught and baptized my District Leader - Elder Amauri da Silva - this week we were talking and he said that he recieved a letter from dane a year ago saying that I would be serving in the same mission as him. Tell Dane way to go next time you see him. It is so neat to see the fruits of the mission....
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tyler's possibly last email
Well Hello there!
How are things going at home. This week was just great , Today we will be marrying and baptizing Diego and Dayane. I'm pretty excited. I will tell you about it next week . Its kinda weird that I'm on my last week as a missionary . It is not affecting my work. but i just feel like I'm going to leave home. In these 2 years , I don't know how it happened but i feel more like a Brazilian than an American. I gave my last testimony in church this last Sunday and it was really special. I never thought that it would be so hard to leave. But the very thought of it is pretty hard to bare. But at the same time i am so excited to see all of you and all of my dear friends and start my life as the lord would have me do. IF you guys need anything, just let me know . I love you all so much. I don't know if i will have too much time to write you guys next week . but i will be sure to read the emails. So if this is the last time that i will be talking to you on the mission i want you to know how much i love you guys and how much i appreciate the 2 years of great emails that you sent me with love. IT helped me so much! I will see you all next week!
Love Elder Rowland
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