tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20945005965407607272024-02-20T18:20:02.543-08:00Sister Melissa RowleyThe year was 2014 (or maybe 2015, or 2016...) in Texas, San Antonio...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-81429813463585104472015-05-18T10:54:00.001-07:002015-05-18T10:54:41.507-07:00<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><div>The good news: I'm learning to be less concerned about my own story and more concerned with other people's on my mission. <span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">The bad news: I'm a terrible blogger.</span></div><div><br></div><div>But here's a mini-miracle for you:</div><div><br></div><div>At district meeting (our district is made up of the most experienced missionaries in the mission... aka, the assistants to the president, the lead sister training leaders, zone leaders and district leaders... and then there is us newbies) a training was given about seeking referrals in a more excellent way. That members are not referral machines, but spirit-inspired people. When the zone leader demonstrated this for us, they prepped their "members" (the AP missionaries) teaching them how the Lord really does prepare people for the gospel, and then explaining that after the message they would ask about families who would be prepared for the gospel. Basically they <i>promised </i>this pretend family that pure inspiration would come during the message.<font color="#000000"> <span style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;line-height:16.8999996185303px">It was an inspiring, spirit filled role-play and I felt so excited to try it out.</span></font><br></div><div><br></div><div>At dinner last night I was so nervous promising this family that the spirit <b>would </b>prompt them with people. That takes guts and trust in God. And we did it. Sister Hatch and I taught the member message in great unity, and when we came to the end and asked who came to mind, our members said, "Well, no one comes to mind."</div><div><br></div><div>I remained confident and reassured them that answers take time and come with prayer. As we kept talking, I felt the Spirit there like a cheerful, calm presence, especially when the father began to share an experience he had this past year. On the way to work he <span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">talked with a taxi driver about the gospel. After work he felt prompted to bring out a Book of Mormon with him, and then miraculously, out of thousands, had that same driver for the ride home, and was able to give him a Book of Mormon.</span></div><div><br></div><div>After that brought tears to his eyes, the mother shared what she'd learned in Relief Society about giving away copies of the Book of Mormon and she looked excited and motivated. Then the father said, "Hey, I have 5 managers at my work that I see monthly. I could give each of them a Book of Mormon and then follow up next month with them." And then as the mother was giving us a ride to our next destination, she said, "I just remembered there's a man who lives next to us; he rides around the neighborhood in his wheelchair. A woman in the other ward talked to him about the gospel and told us to go meet him. She said he's really interested. I forgot about that. There's another name!" She and I grinned at each other and I said, "The Spirit works!"</div><div><br></div><div>That was a testimony builder, that if we just try our best to do what we learn, then God will provide the rest. Missionaries who show forth faith really can make promises and the Lord will fulfill them, because really our role as missionaries is to just invite the Spirit. Sister Hatch continues to be an amazing example to me of humble charity. I have seen us wind up in the right place at the right time to help someone who is struggling because of the way she leads out the area. We both are just children when it comes to understanding missionary work and how to teach people with all the special missionary techniques, but we have firm testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ, and that outweighs any inadequacy.</div><div><br></div><div>And on that note, I can't believe how far I have come from that perfectionist, timid, straight A student of my first letter home. I guess I can say of that Sister Rowley, as Shakespeare's character (a character even quoted in LDS General Conference) said, <font color="#000000">"<span style="line-height:18.2000007629395px">'</span><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:18.2000007629395px">Twas I, but</span><span style="line-height:18.2000007629395px"> '</span><span style="line-height:18.2000007629395px">tis not I</span></font><span style="line-height:18.2000007629395px">. I do not shame to tell you what I was, since my conversion."</span> </font>I stand all amazed at what Christ has done for me and continues to do for me when I put my focus on him and not on me throughout this mission. I continue to need Him every day.</div><div><br></div><div>The world is a mess. It needs a Messiah.</div><div>We're all fallen, so He tells us to follow.</div></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">I can't have a testimony... unless my faith has been tested.</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">And you can lead others because you are led.</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Love,<br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Sister Rowley</div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-80176414407406433332015-02-09T12:10:00.001-08:002015-02-09T12:10:59.544-08:00<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i>How is your investigator?</i></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Sister Ann still proves herself as wonderfully sweet as ever; she gave us more homemade soap -- this kind is an oatmeal face soap. (Maybe all this soap is a hint? ;) She wasn't at church this week, which made us sad. She's been coming every week. We're planning to see her so we can follow up on what happened. Church is so important to help us get through the week.</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Last week we found 7 new investigators! New investigators are people you've had a lesson with and they accept a specific return appointment. This week we want to help them start progressing, so we're p<span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">ouring over Preach My Gospel to help them</span><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"> the best we can. It should be great! Thank you for all of your prayers. We are doing our best to find the people God has prepared. We don't want anyone to be left out or forgotten, and we know your prayers are helping.</span></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Some things I'm looking forward to this coming week are </span><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">helping two of our new investigators get their shelter dogs ready for a dog show. We're also helping one woman with family history. And Sister Record's birthday is this Friday!</span></div><span class="im" style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">What was your favorite teaching moment this week?</span><br></i></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div></span><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">When we taught the restoration to one of our new investigators, the spirit was so strong. She asked a question, and as I opened my mouth the answer came out smoothly; so much more than I could ever say on my own. Then she asked why we're so happy, and do we ever get stressed? </span><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Sister Record and I chuckled a little, because we had actually been a bit grouchy earlier that morning. We told her we are most definitely human, but the joy we feel while talking about the gospel is real and wonderful. She came to church the next day, and it was humbling and heart-warming to see the radiating smile, joy we hadn't yet seen on her face before, as she spoke with new friends in the hallway. She has a beautiful smile, and we feel priviledged to see that.</span></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Those experiences feel sufficient for sharing purposes, so I hope you feel the same, but in case you were wondering, this weekend we saw three flat roadside skunks, a belly-up armadillo, a living roadrunner, a herd of dangerous cows (the sign said, "For cattle emergencies, call this number...") a stag who almost approached our car, and a huge herd of deer. Sister Record thinks the only thing missing is a kangaroo. I don't want to burst her bubble.</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Thank you again for your love and support!</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Sister Rowley</div></div> <DIV> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt';font-family:'"Helvetica","Tahoma","Arial","sans-serif"'><font color="#666666"><br><br> NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><BR> </DIV> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-6664365088440214302015-02-02T11:37:00.001-08:002015-02-02T11:37:22.246-08:00Rekindled Blog<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote">I was inspired by a relative of mine (specifically, the father of my new companion -- being related to my companion is one of the most fun revelations I've received this transfer, especially since we hadn't even met before the mission :) to bring my blog back up! I'm so grateful to be serving with Sister Record, and to soak in everything I can learn from her. She truly radiates love and enthusiasm and a joy for the gospel. It is a delight to work and laugh and study with her.</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">I'll just forward my family email here to let y'all know how things are going, because a testimony is important to share! Each week I just respond to questions my mother asks, because she is so amazing and helps guide my emails like that. Otherwise, without questions, I don't share too much, unfortunately. ;)</div><div class="gmail_quote"><br><div dir="ltr"><span class=""><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i>Tell us about the people you are working with right now.</i></div></span><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Sister Ann (name changed) She's delightful! We asked if we could call her Sister G., but she said, "Oh, I really wish you'd call me Sister Ann..." We're undecided if that's kosher to use her first name, but it might be too late to insist otherwise, because 'Sister Ann' is starting to stick with me. </span><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">In any case, it's easy to see the hand of the Lord when we see how instantly and easily we connected with her; the Lord intended for Sisters to come in and finish her teaching before baptism. He loves her and wants her to feel comfortable with this decision.</span><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">I felt inspired by my missionary cousin's email this week. He wants to make sure people know what they're turning down. I've felt that impression too; once we were contacting a media referral (someone who puts their info in online) and he said, "Oh, no, I'm not interested, that must have been my daughter who put my info in. Sorry." And he was about to close the door. I said, "Oh, you know why she probably did that?" And testified to him about his daughter's love for him, and about the temple and eternal families. He looked so touched, and let us set up an appointment after that. That was not me. That was the Spirit. I'm so grateful I have the example of my cousins to set me straight, because I'd forgotten that experience, and we're letting people turn us down for a game of Monopoly. How ridiculous! They need this message more than they know.</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Therefore, our teaching pool is currently small, but with our new organization, and with the recent visit of Elder Nelson to inspire us to new heights, we have high hopes and desires for growing that pool. The focus on teaching by the spirit and teaching with love is opening new doors. Sister Record is loving and respectful and people can't help but smile when they meet us.</div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i>How did the visit with Elder Nelson go??</i></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i><br></i></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i>(I know you didn't ask that, but I know you would have if you'd known to ;)</i></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Elder Russel M. Nelson wanted to shake each of our hands before the meeting began, so President Slaughter pointed to my row -- me specifically -- to be the first to shake the apostle's hand. What a </span><i style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Polar Express </i><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">moment! The crowd went silent and I couldn't believe I got the first gift of Christmas (or in this case, the first handshake of the meeting). Elder Nelson radiates love and gratitude. I never want to let my testimony -- my sleigh bell, if you will -- go silent because I stopped believing in prophets. That man is a special witness of Jesus Christ.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">He encouraged us to gain a greater command of the English language -- w</span><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">e want our message to be clear and understandable so people know what they're turning down. He used the example of President Hinckley, who </span><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">would practice and re-practice what he would say before any important speech. The rest of the apostles would bring him their public addresses, and he would edit for them -- "put a little Hinckley polish" on it, as Elder Nelson says. I love that, and really want to help people understand what I say.</span></div><span class=""><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><font color="#000000"><br></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Do you have weekly service hours you are supposed to accomplish? What do you do for service? </i><br></div></span><div>We are in an experiment area for the new church website 'Just Serve.' However, without iPads, we haven't made much use of it. Our ward mission leader, who would typically be the one to look online and find opportunities off the site for us, was also released this week without a new one called. These are just road bumps and excuses, however, and we're eager to learn more about this new website! </div><div><br></div><div>Also, website or no, we're always on the lookout for new service opportunities, and I'm eager to learn from people around me about noticing opportunities and acting on them.</div><div><br></div><div>For example, a<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px">fter we left Elder Nelson, five of us joined in the car -- us and a trio of sisters who serve in a nearby area. The driver, our Sister Training Leader, immediately and humbly requested for a prayer of gratitude that we could hear an apostle of the Lord. Instantly I felt the truth that she had taken the gratitude Elder Nelson exuded and brought it into her life and heart.</span></div><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);outline:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px">Because of that prayer of gratitude, God blessed her with an opportunity to serve. When we stopped for dinner at a sandwich shop (we had been trying to find Chinese) she began speaking to the unhappy looking woman behind us in line. We ordered our sandwiches, and sat down, and then I watched as our young sister leader purchased not only her own food, but also the sandwich for the woman. The joy and love radiated off of those two as they parted ways, a sandwich and a pass-along card tucked in her arms.</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);outline:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px"><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);outline:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px">Apparently, this woman had recently encountered a serious medical problem, restricting her diet. Her family was trying to be supportive and patient, but it was very hard, and they had gone out to eat. She couldn't go with them, and her heart was breaking. She forced herself to get out of the house and go get something to eat, leading her to this sandwich shop. The entire drive there she prayed from sorrow.</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);outline:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px"><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);outline:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16.8999996185303px">I think when we pray, the loose ends of our prayers float up to God, and He ties the ends of two people's prayers together, and if we remember our prayer, and remember to be humble, we can follow the end of our string to the person he's connected it to, and find either the answer to our prayer, or the chance to be someone's answer. The sister leader's prayer of gratitude was tied to that woman's prayer of desperation, and I'm crying now to think of how beautiful it was to see that knot unfold. Now I don't ever want to let go of the ends of my prayers.</span><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I bubble with joy every time I get to talk to anyone about my amazing family, my breathtaking examples of siblings, my beautiful mother, my incredible father, and my stellar grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles, (including the family of my companion Sister Record ;) and I keep my fan chart ready to show -- haven't shown it yet, but we're on the lookout for people who need a whiff of genealogy in their life. I feel so blessed to be of such good stock!! :)</div><div><br></div><div>Keep being the incredible examples you are to me, whether you're family or not!</div><div><br></div><div>Keep praying for missionaries and missionary opportunities like I know you're doing!</div><div><br></div><div>Keep the faith!</div><div><br></div><div>Love, love, love,</div><div>Sister Rowley</div></div></div></div> <DIV> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.0pt';font-family:'"Helvetica","Tahoma","Arial","sans-serif"'><font color="#666666"><br><br> NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><BR> </DIV> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-30627951306576810662014-12-15T12:01:00.001-08:002014-12-15T12:01:41.042-08:00Discontinuing<div dir="ltr">Good and bad news: I'm discontinuing this blog. The good news is that the work is moving on. Things get too busy for emails <i><b>and </b></i>a blog!<div><br></div><div>But to anyone reading this, I'm still in Texas, still loving this gospel, still serving as a full-time missionary. If you're interested, you can email me and request for my family emails. But life is busy for y'all too, and I'm sending my love with or without emails! </div><div><br></div><div>Keep up the good work! Read your scriptures, say your prayers, and go to church. That's the secret recipe for success, and I'm sharing it with the internet! You can even share it with your friends. You're welcome. :)</div><div><br></div><div>Love,<br>Sister Rowley</div><div><br></div><div>melissa (dot) rowley (at) myldsmail (dot) net</div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-73342893435039146902014-12-01T11:12:00.001-08:002014-12-01T11:12:57.610-08:00Week Five!<div dir="ltr"><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">I was in such a hurry last week I didn't even write what week it was! Haha!</font></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><b style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Mission Report: </b><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Our investigator passed his interview and is getting baptized this Saturday! We're so proud of him! Mission life is hard, but it's so good. We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ... :) This past Sunday we learned in Sunday School how to answer the tough questions that people ask, or that we ourselves may have about the church. The first step is to remember to pray and to search the scriptures. Then the church has great resources on </span><font face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.mormon.org/faq">www.mormon.org/faq</a>. And then if the person asking are just wanting to fight, then show them love and don't engage in discussion. Sometimes you can tell if they're not interested in learning if they ask rapid fire questions, ignore your sources, ridicule character, etc. It's hard as a missionary, but we need the gift of discernment -- the ability to tell between those who are ready to hear our message, and those who aren't. I heard it said recently that the only problem with the church is that it's true. :) Just show people love and respect, trust in God, do many good things of your own free will, and it will work out in the end.</font><br></div><div><b style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></b></div><div><b style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Quality of Christ: </b><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">My companion is helping me develop c</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">onfidence. Confidence isn't knowing that you're right all the time, but confidence is knowing that Christ will not let you or anyone else down. So I've been working on opening my mouth with confidence. No need to be shy about this wonderful message! I'm terribly awkward, but I'm cheerful about it, so that's good. Haha!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></span></div><div><div><b style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Challenge! </b><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Memorize a new scripture that means something to you. This is something that I've been working on. Scriptures bring such a peaceful, hopeful spirit into my heart. Someone once said, 'The more I learn, the more excited I get.' And that's how I feel about the gospel! The more I learn the more excited I get.</span><br></div></div><div><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Trust in God!</span><br></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">Love,</font></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">Sister Rowley</font></div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-61757278741863910532014-11-24T10:53:00.001-08:002014-11-24T10:53:05.864-08:00WeekChallenge and Quality: an attitude of gratitude<div>Mission Experience: I am at a member's home borrowing an ipad to email for this holiday's P-day, so this will be brief, but I am so grateful for their kindness towards missionaries. I'm grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for Joseph Smith, for good weather and open doors. For running water and a running car, for Preach My Gospel and all it teaches. For the Book of Mormon and its power. For open hearts and helping hands. For God our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. And for you! Thank you for your support.</div><div>Love,</div><div>Sister Rowley</div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-27071809477928257242014-11-17T11:06:00.001-08:002014-11-17T11:06:35.631-08:00Week Three!<div dir="ltr"><div><div>In Preach My Gospel it says something like your attitude about your mission is a reflection of your respect for the priesthood. When we met with the Mission President a week or so ago, he taught us about the priesthood -- so to improve mission morale, he teaches priesthood? Cool! The power of God is real and faith in it strengthens us. Learning more about the priesthood gave me such a respect for God's order -- He doesn't just throw His power around to whoever wants it; they have to be worthy and use it as He allows.<br><br></div>Here are a few tidbits of what we learned:<br></div><div><br>Different Words with the Priesthood:<br></div>1-<b>Conferred:</b> receiving the whole priesthood. Example: When you receive the Aaronic Priesthood, you have all of it, regardless of if you're a Deacon, Teacher, or Priest.<br><div><div><div><br>2-<b>Ordained:</b> placed into an office, or a division of duties that go along with having the Priesthood.<br><ul><li>Offices in Aaronic Priesthood: Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Bishop. <br></li><li>Offices in Melchizedek Priesthood: Elder, High Priest, Seventy, Patriarch, Apostle</li></ul><p>3-<b>Set Apart: </b>set apart in a calling. </p><ul><li>Ordained is for life, as long as the man stays worthy -- so, once a bishop, always a bishop, once a deacon, always a deacon. But callings come and go. So when a bishop is called a second time, he doesn't need to be ordained again, only set apart. We don't really need to call him Bishop when he is not the set-apart bishop; it's just a tradition some people have.</li><li>A Stake President is not an office of the priesthood, it's a calling. So it's not once a president, always a president. Cool, huh? Also, there was a tiny, unimportant thing he mentioned offhand, that it's not Young Women's President, because she's not the president of the young women: the Bishop is their presiding authority. It's the Young Women <i>Program</i>'s President, so you'd say Young Women President, not Young Women's President. Hard to wrap your head around, but so fascinating.<br></li></ul><p>4-<b>Keys: </b>the right to preside. It takes keys to give keys. It's so important to not overstep your bounds as a priesthood holder. That's why we recognize the "presiding authority" whenever they're in our meetings. Showing respect for the man with the most keys in the room shows respect for God.<br></p><p>5-<b>Titles: </b>Calling people by the right title, and those sorts of things are called the "unwritten order," meaning it's not written anywhere, but are learned from observation and revelation; President Slaughter has learned it from observing the leaders of the church, since he's worked with them closely, and it just shows such respect for the priesthood and that power. <i>Examples: You just call a patriarch "Brother," because he doesn't hold any Priesthood keys. He holds the Priesthood, yes, but he doesn't have the right to preside. You can call any holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood "Elder." All 3 of the presiding bishopric members can be called Bishop, but not so with normal bishoprics; just call ward bishopric counselors "Brother." Only members of specific Quorums call their president of the 70's "President." The rest of us call them Elder, because they don't hold keys that apply to us, well they do, but not they're President over us like the Prophet is, and such. Both the President and counselors of stake presidency can be called President. These were just some odd, fascinating things that make me want to learn more!</i><br></p></div><div><b>Challenge: </b>Study something you don't understand this week! The more I learned from President Slaughter about the Priesthood, the more I cared about it and my testimony grew. So learn something from the scriptures, from the prophets, from your local priesthood leader, from prayer. Prayer is probably the most important one. Pray about what you learn.<br><b><br></b><b>Mission Report: </b>We've invited and are helping a wonderful man prepare for baptism on November 29, so pray for him too! And missionary work is so good. I've written too much already, but I love all I'm learning and hope you love learning every day as well!<br><b><br></b><b>Quality of Christ:</b> Knowledge. The more I have read about Christ's life this week, the more my testimony of Him grows, and I want to share it even more. Christ is constantly talking about faith, and having unwavering, great faith. When Peter walks on water, his faith wavers and he sinks for uncertainty and doubt. But still, I mean, come on! Peter <i>walked on water! </i>I find it so inspiring that a mortal walked towards Christ on nothing but water with nothing but faith in Christ. What a miracle! So imagine even greater faith than that? <i>Wherefore didst thou doubt? </i>Christ says. <i>I know you have faith, so why did you doubt? </i>Great faith is <i>unwavering. </i>Knowledge doesn't take away from faith; God is light and knowledge. So keep learning and keep focusing on the right place. If Peter didn't turn his focus away from Christ onto the storm, he wouldn't have sunk. (But still, how humbling that Christ will always save us if we call to Him.) So keep focusing on Christ!<br><br></div><div>I love you all!<br>Sister Rowley<br></div></div></div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-81455069355133964002014-11-10T11:28:00.001-08:002014-11-10T11:28:15.063-08:00Week Two!<div dir="ltr">I learned so much this week and I don't even have time to talk about it! Missions keep you so busy!<div><br></div><div><b>Challenge:</b></div><div>Pay attention! There are opportunities everywhere. I love hearing experiences of how you're already doing this. So keep it up, and get back up if you have a rough week/day/hour. I am in awe every day of how God places people in our lives at perfect times.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Mission Report:</b></div><div>After church, Sister E was looking to give a book back to a Sister M who we had never met. We said sorry, and parted ways. A few moments later a woman came out of the church kitchen and introduced herself as a Sister M from the other ward. We said a cheerful greeting and parted ways, but then the Spirit poked me, I guess you could say, and I turned back and said, "Wait, are you the Sister M who needs the book from Sister E?" And she was, so we pointed her in the right direction and she almost ran down the hall. Sister E found us later and told us how grateful she was for sending Sister M in her direction.</div><div><br></div><div>That was such a small experience, but I was touched because it felt so real and so powerful and so simple to see how God placed us in the right places at the right time to talk to the right people to get that book returned. And if he cares that much about Sister E and Sister M and what they worry about after church, then of course He cares about His lost children who don't even have the blessings we do. So I know my companion and I will find the people we need to.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Quality of Christ:</b></div><div>I've been working on hope like Christ this week. Mosiah 24:13-15. I think the command to 'lift up your head' and 'lift up your heart' to be of good comfort is an action, not an automatic feeling. Sometimes hope doesn't come naturally, to me; I'm a bit pessimistic. Cheerful, but pessimistic about what I can accomplish on my mission. But that's okay! That's what I'm trying to develop. So if my heart hangs down, I push it back up, and keep doing that -- push-ups are the worst, but they're good for arm strength. If we get back up when we get knocked down, we'll have such a strong heart. God will strengthen us, and ease the burdens, and if we submit cheerfully and with patience, we will find Christ! Keep getting back up, keep repenting, and anything is possible.</div><div><br></div><div>Love,</div><div>Sister Rowley</div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-15704581065999822402014-11-03T10:23:00.001-08:002014-11-03T10:23:27.558-08:00Week One!<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div>Texas is a beautiful state! I love the friendly people, my patient companion, and the reliable car. The apartment feels safe, the bed feels comfortable, and the water clean. Our alarm clock changes sounds every morning, which I find amusing and confusing.<br><br>Also, the members are saints and I have not gone hungry since I've been here thanks to their scrumptious cooking. We've eaten zucchini boats, pulled pork sandwiches, grilled chicken, Chinese Take-Out... I've been gifted homemade jelly, and candied apples, child-made paper books and candy rings. And I've only been here 5 days. The huge hearts of these Texans are incredible.<br><br><b>Challenge!</b><br>On that note, my challenge to you this week: do something nice for a missionary in your area! It's so encouraging to have some stranger offer to take a picture and send it to your family, or offer you a bottle of water when it's hot (everyone here drinks bottled water...) Dinners are great, referrals are awesome, smiles and a handshake are lovely. Anyways, just keep being the beautiful, supportive people you are!<br><br><b>Mission Report:<br></b>Things are hard, and even though people are so friendly and the ward members so supportive, we haven't met <i>any </i>of our goals <i>any </i>of the time. Which, being reasonable with myself, I've only been here 5 days, and barely know anything about missionary work. Also, day 2 of my mission we took over the entire ward boundaries. So that's a huge amount of mileage to cover for 2 relatively new sisters. But, still... for a straight A, A- student, getting D's and F's is like General Conference without an airplane Uchtdorf talk -- kind of depressing, even though you know it's not required all the time. But we'll keep working and learning and growing in the mission field.<br><br>We met a lovely Catholic lady on the side of the road who listened to the entire Restoration lesson from us right then (I love Catholics; but they rarely want a message, so I think God was preparing this wonderful woman) while a cat wrapped itself around my legs and got hair all over my nylons and people peered out their cars at us as they drove slowly past like, <i>What're they doin?</i> So the work is going on, and it's kinda fun! :)<i></i><br><br></div><div><b>Quality of Christ:</b><br></div> I've been working on having diligence like Christ this week. I was reading in 1 Nephi 8, about the Tree of Life dream. I compared those who became ashamed after the fruit, and those who fell down.<br><br>"I beheld others<span style="color:rgb(182,215,168)"> </span><b><span style="color:rgb(56,118,29)">pressing forward</span>, </b>and they came forth and <span style="color:rgb(106,168,79)"><b>caught hold of the end</b></span> of the rod of iron; and they did <span style="color:rgb(191,144,0)"><b>press forward</b></span> through the mist of darkness,<span style="color:rgb(241,194,50)"> <b>clinging to</b></span> the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if <b>they were ashamed</b>." (vs24-25)<br><br></div>"...he saw other multitudes<b> <span style="color:rgb(56,118,29)">pressing forward</span></b><b></b>; and they came and <span style="color:rgb(106,168,79)"><b>caught hold of the end</b></span><b></b> of the rod of iron; and they did <b><span style="color:rgb(191,144,0)">press <i>their way</i> forward</span>, <span style="color:rgb(241,194,50)"><i>continually holding fast</i></span></b><span style="color:rgb(241,194,50)"> to</span> the rod of iron, until they came forth and<b> fell down and partook</b> of the fruit of the tree." (vs30)<br><br></div>They both followed the words of God and pressed forward. But I love the difference "press <i>their way </i>forward." Make it <i>your </i>journey! Diligence is personal. Enjoy it. That was good advice for me. It's not anyone's journey but my own, so I only need to measure up to God's expectations.<br><br>Clinging makes me think of clothing that doesn't fit right. Or plastic wrap to put on food you're going to toss later. It makes me think of nails digging in, tips of fingers holding tight, but everything else pulling you away sort of verb. It doesn't make me think of a loving verb.<br><br>Continually holding fast sounds slow, patient, calm, trusting... My companion prayed for us one night, and she said, "May Sister Rowley slowly learn all... no, I mean, fastly learn all she needs to for this mission." She meant quickly, but I liked how she used fast-ly. God's time is fast enough for needs, but not too fast for what we can handle. I'm going to fall over when I get home I'll be so tired, but I'm gonna be so happy!<br><br>So keep the faith!<br></div>Love you all,<br>Sister Rowley<br></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-77722736868866259362014-10-27T12:23:00.001-07:002014-10-27T12:23:02.032-07:00Getting a Sense of the MTC<div dir="ltr"><i>I've been learning how to listen while I'm here at the MTC.</i><div><br></div><div>To myself and my own needs, to snoring, to amazing teachers, to construction zones, to silence, to hymns, to companions and their needs, to girl talk, to mission lingo, to hometowns and destinations, to people saying "hey, guys... oops, I mean ELDERS!" To the chatter of the cafeteria, to the shatter when at least one person drops and breaks a glass a day. To the elder in the desk next to me, rapping quietly to himself about Priests, Deacons, and Teachers. To four different alarm clocks going off at different times in our residence.</div><div><br></div><div>To rows of churning washing machines and rows of splashing showers. To our district having silent arguments as we learn how to interact and love each other. To dorky church jokes. To the heavy click of the locks on every door. To the clack of keyboards on P-days. To the sound of my own voice trying to explain the gospel simply. To the Role Playing teachers pretending to be investigators and asking the questions that make you squirm. To the voice of the Spirit whispering so quietly.</div><div><br></div><div><i>I've been learning how to see while I'm here at the MTC.</i></div><div><br></div><div>To see how my companion wakes up in the morning, bushy haired and bleary eyed, and still beautiful. The graham cracker brown color of the bricks on every identical building. The way the temple lights up in the dark hours of the morning as you shiver up the parking lot. The sea of black suits every devotional. The shiny black and white square on every chest. The bottom of the mattress in the bunk above you as you try to fall asleep. The laughter of two sister missionaries as they hug and rejoin. The scrawl of all the notes you're trying to take. The colorful meal on your pasty yellow tray. The way our district's faces light up when we see our teachers again.</div><div><br></div><div><i>I've been learning to feel here at the MTC.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>To feel the scratchy MTC blankets. To feel the smooth pages of the scriptures and desperately need more time to read. To feel love for people you've just met. To feel excited and scared at the same time. To feel an impression and act on it. To feel weird when I see someone with a phone. To feel warm in my heart during a spiritual discussion. To feel excited over the strangest things: emails, even the ones asking you to take a food survey of the cafeteria; cool Devotional speakers that carry tissue boxes under their armpits to represent carrying sins with you; the cute little laundry soap boxes in the bookstore; when your teacher/investigator finally says a prayer in front of you; when you get cool insight in the temple; companionship prayer and our group hug afterwards; when you have time at the end of the day to read a few more verses of scripture.</div><div><br></div><div>The MTC teaches me so much. It's hard and regimented and taxing; like an army barrack for a spiritual army of peace. It's beautiful and warm and friendly; a green house for souls. I'm super excited to leave for Texas this Wednesday, but these have been an amazing two weeks; they've just flown by!</div><div><br></div><div>I pray for all of you <i><b>all </b></i>of the time. I'm finally learning what it means to have a prayer in your heart <b style="font-style:italic">always. </b>And I'm so excited to serve the Lord! I wish you all of the blessings the Lord can give you!</div><div><br></div><div>Much, Much Love,</div><div>Sister Rowley</div><div><br></div><div>(P.S. I'm emailing this to my blog, so I'm not going on any forbidden sites, don't worry! This Sister is working ridiculously hard to try to be 100% obedient. Yeah, it's even harder than it sounds. :)</div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094500596540760727.post-79476894073022579342014-10-09T00:57:00.000-07:002014-10-09T00:58:00.291-07:00Week Zero: Speak Life<div dir="ltr">I can't believe it's finally come, and in 7 days I'm heading in to the MTC. Wish me love.<div><div><br></div><div>Prepared? Of course I don't feel prepared! And at the same time, I do. It's really bizarre. But whom God calls He qualifies, right?</div><div><br></div><div>I have to warn you. If you want to hear play-by-play about the progress of investigators I get to teach, or ugly details about the weather in San Antonio, or what we busied ourselves with on P-day, this won't be the blog for you. I spent 3 1/2 years blogging EVERY DAY about all of the nitty-gritty details of my life in college for my family, and I need a change in blogging scene. It was a great experience, but it was hard to write, and probably hard to read. That's what journals are for, not blogs.</div><div><br></div><div>So I've thought long and hard about what I want to send home each week. I don't want my mission to be about me. College was about me. Now I want this stage in my life to be about Christ.</div><div><br></div><div>Of course it'll be personal, and of course you'll still get a view of what I'm doing. But I'll save some kick-butt stories to share at home when I'm Melissa again, not Sister Rowley. And I want to honor my future friends investigating the gospel with a little privacy in their growth towards Christ, so I'll save their personal stories for a space not so public as the internet. But we do want to testify of Christ and let people know that other people are investigating this gospel! So here are three things I'll share each week:</div><div><br></div><div>1-- The attribute of Christ I'm working on that week with what I've learned so far about that quality.</div><div>2-- One or two of my favorite missionary experiences of the week. (That's why you visit missionary blogs, right?)</div><div>3-- A challenge for my family/readers. A returned Sister missionary told me she wished she'd been challenging her family all along so that this mission experience could be their mission experience too. #sharewisdom</div><div><br></div><div>We'll see what happens to the blog as it evolves. So if you want to follow along, I'd be so happy to have you here! As a missionary my job will be to reach out and seek those who don't yet know Christ. Every day will be rewarding and hard and exhausting, so I've been told. And sometimes it will be nice to hear from people already on the path with Christ, showing support and mutual faith.</div><div><br></div><div>"For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." -- Romans 1:11-12</div><div><br></div><div>I miss you already! So I'll share my growing faith with you here on this blog as I try to follow my Savior all the way to Texas. And you can share your faith with me if you so feel the desire. Mutual faith! <3</div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, I've got some studying to do.</div><div>And we've both got some faith to develop.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheerfully yours,</div><div>Sister Rowley</div><div><br></div><div>P.S. If the journey gets hard and you don't have time to follow yet another blog, but would still like something to take away and uplift your life, I've spent a ridiculous amount of hours compiling a collection of 555 inspirational, motivational quotes for myself -- a few more than one-per-mission-day in little fortune cookie form to get myself started in the morning. (yeah, I know you can buy quote books for like $10, but sometimes I'm kinda cheap and also probably too much of an over-achiever... also, maybe I only learned of these books after I compiled... ahahaha :) These are obviously not a replacement for scriptures when it comes to true motivation, but sometimes you need motivation to seek motivation. Haha, so if you would like a copy of this, shoot me an email saying "Hey, soul Sister, send me those quotes or something," and I'll forward it straight to you for your printing and enjoying use.</div><div><br></div><div>melissa . rowley (at) my lds mail . net</div><div><br></div><div><i>(There are no spaces, and the parenthesis at is an @ sign, but I want to elude automatic computer spammers... is that how spamming works? No? Ok, so whatever, I'm crazy, but we already knew this... :) As long as you are not a spammer, feel free to contact me through this same email <b>any</b> time during my mission's duration. I'll be checking it weekly and I've heard missionaries love mail. *not hinting* *not hinting* haha, again, so much love. - Sister Rowley)</i></div></div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com