Fire Burning

From April 4, 2014

Last Saturday we show up at a member's house to have a lesson with her non member sister. We get there and there is a bunch of people there which was kind of weird. So we enter and the member is wearing a super dirty tank top and shorts and she was all dirty. I asked her what was going on and she told me that her neighbor was burning trash. Everyone here burns their trash being that there is no garbage disposal service. The fire then spread and caught some weeds  and lit her backyard on fire. Her backyard is kind of like a forest mixed with a jungle mixed with a field. All the weeds were pretty dry and it burned a significant amount. Luckily it's pretty humid here so it didn't burn everything down. I was looking at it and I made the comment that if we were in Utah there would have been no hope. When we got there all the flames were out basically just a lot of smoke and ashes.  She had ran out of water so Elder Paravato and I got some shovels and we started going to work putting dirt on the smoking weeds. We got super dirty and sweaty and had to go back to our house and take a shower after. We worked on that for about an hour and half and after we taught a little lesson to the sister. The next day none of them, there are two members and they are both sisters (one has two kids and neither is married, [of course]) and the other sister who is the investigator. Then on Sunday my ward mission leader and I went there to see why they didn't come. Apparently at two in the morning someone knocked on their door. Now you need to realize that these people live out in Ranchador. This is a cantón. A cantón is basically a suburb. Now here it's the opposite of the U.S. The inner city is nicer and the suburbs are sketchy and dangerous. Anyways this person basically tries to first talk his way into the house by saying he was from the police. That doesn't work so he grabs a large wood pole and starts banging on the door like a battering ram. They called the police and a neighbor. The neighbor, who is less active, and she goes and calls another neighbor who is a gangster to go help her out. In the end the police and they did not get robbed. So moral of the story. If you think you had a bad day you didn't. 

Love you all. Thanks for everything. Read 2 Ne 31 about the Gospel of Christ. 

-Elder Rowberry

Carry On My Wayward Son

From March 28,2014

This week we had Multi-zones. That is when a bunch of zones come together and they are instructed by President Cordón. They are really good. We learned about the Atonement and how we need it as well as the Doctrine of Christ. We also learned about extending commitments to people and improving our teaching. I learned a lot about how we need to relate everything we teach to the Doctrine of Christ, or Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endure to the End. I have been learning a lot about repentance. Repentance is not only for when you do something bad but it's when you want to change. The Guide to the Scriptures describes repentance like this, "A change of mind and heart that brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general. Repentance implies that a person turns away from evil and turns his heart and will to God, submitting to God’s commandments and desires and forsaking sin. True repentance comes from a love for God and a sincere desire to obey his commandments. All accountable persons have sinned and must repent in order to progress toward salvation. Only through the atonement of Jesus Christ can our repentance become effective and accepted by God." I really like how it talks about the change of mind and heart that brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I have really been trying to repent. I am gaining that new attitude and that change in heart. I am not doing bad things out here on the mission but I have a great need to repent. I need to change everyday. I need to look at my day, everyday, and see what I did well, what I can improve, and what I shouldn't have done. I invite all of us to do this. In our nightly prayers lets give an account to our Heavenly Father about what we have done. After doing that we ask for forgiveness and ask for the strength to change. Then the next day lets change. How great would it be to have a "fresh attitude" everyday. We would not get sucked down into the mire and drudgery of life. How great is the opportunity to change! We all have weaknesses. We all fall short. Just as necessity is the mother of invention I believe that weakness is the mother of improvement. As the Lord tells Ether, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I know I have so many weaknesses but it's the best to be able to see a weak thing become strong. So weaklings lets go! Let's change! "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God." (Alma 34:32) So let's use Christ's Atonement, let's prepare to meet God by becoming more like him through repentance.

Anyways thanks for everything. 

-Elder Rowberry

Work like a beaver

Well another extremely stressful week down. Another changes week without changes for me. I'm still in the same area. I will be going on seven and half months in the same area by the time this change ends. It's always very very busy here because new missionaries come and old missionaries leave and we have to prepare a ton of stuff. I had to make a little newsletter for the mission to hand out to all the missionaries. I had to do a ton of things that I think I've already mentioned in other letters. 

  During Changes Week we do a lot in the office so we don't get that much time to work in the field. But with what little time we had we worked as hard as we could. Everyone thinks it's so awesome being in the office and that we just sit on our nice comfy chairs in AC all day, which we do. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, I want to go to the office. In the office you really learn a lot of things. My problem solving skills have gone through the roof. I am much more efficient in my work. My ability to work longer and harder has increased. I've learned a ton about Excel (never thought my excel skills would improve in the mission) and other things. I've learned a ton from President Cordón and the Assistants. I've learned to do things correctly and think about all the problems and do things on time. President is very strict about things like that. It's been a huge opportunity for me and it will continue being so. But it's also a flippin lot of work! It's also a lot of stress. Everyone here tells me how I have gray hairs. I think they are coming in quicker now, but you know what? Work is good for us. We had a special stake conference this week for all of Central America. It was via satellite from Salt Lake City. Elder Martino spoke and Elder Scott and Oaks from the 12, as well as Sister Oscarson. They talked directly to the people here. One thing that Elder Oaks talked about was the principle of work and education. He also mentioned that dependency is something that we need to avoid. It was all really good. A copy of President Cordón's summary is attached. It's in Spanish but hey you guys have google translate. 

Thanks for everything everybody

Have a great week!

-Elder Rowberry

Ps. A copy of the Estandarte, the newsletter I made is attached. The mensaje presidencial where it says Cada Area Bautiza (Every area baptize) I made that graphic and we have been using it this month to animate the missionaries. It's been working because we have a really high potential.

Cool, Clear Water

This week was a good week. Except for the fact that the water in Ciudad Paraíso, where I live, went out. We haven't had water for this whole week. We've been using purified drinking water and water from a big truck that passed by. I've been showering outside with buckets. This week Elder Paravato had to have surgery on his toe to remove an ingrown toe nail. So he's been in the house all week. Luckily Elder Wiser, who used to be in the office, got sick as well and he's staying in our house so Elder Paravato stays with him and I with Elder Pérez the old companion of Elder Brizzee who went home. 

On Saturday and on Sunday I was on interchanges with my Zone Leader Elder Muti. He's from South Salt Lake. He's finishing his mission on Wednesday. It was cool learning from him. He is originally from Tonga so his aunt sent him some of those Lava Lavas. I was able to fulfill a long time dream I've had which is to wear a lava lava on my mission. We were going to wear it to church and we had them and we were about to leave but then we felt like we should't. It was probably a good idea not too. 

Also this week we have received a ton of boxes of Book of Mormons. I've moved so many boxes. We got another 72 this morning that we had to move. We don't really know how it's all going to fit in storage. 

Spiritual thought: Everybody read Alma 7. It is really good. It talks about the Atonement and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those are the things most basic that we should understand as members because those are the most important. The most important thing is not where Kolob is or other things like that. Once we know those things and have a testimony of those things we can and definitely should start branching out and learning more. 

Thanks for everything.

-Elder Rowberry

P.S. Thanks for all of you who responded to me.

Rolling Rolling Rolling

From March 7

This week was just a normal week. Just working hard hopefully not hardly working. We taught lessons and tried to save peoples souls. No big deal really. On Tuesday we went and taught to this girl named Gabriela. She is 19 years old. She has a kid that is 4 and has another kid that is 1. For you constant readers (Mom and Dad) I mentioned her in an email a couple of weeks back. She is the lady whose husband I got mad at. On Monday her husband or rather, companion,  went to the United States. She was super sad. She just wanted him to stay and be a good husband and father. We went and taught her and taught her about the Atonement and how God is always there for us. She felt a lot better after. Really that is one thing I love about the mission. I love going and making peoples lives better. It pretty dang awesome I'd say We are getting close to putting a baptismal date with her. Also this week I want some reader participation. What scriptures have comforted you most in your times of need? I would really like hear from you. I want your scripture and why you like it. 

Yesterday I was able to go on interchanges with one of the APs. His name is Elder Gubernick. He's from California. It was cool to go with him and watch him work. He is one of the best missionaries in the mission and he can teach so well. I learned a ton from him. One thing that I have learned a lot here is humility. You can't go around thinking your the best and know it all. That's hard sometimes because we like to think we know it all. But I'm super grateful for the opportunity I have had to work close by President Cordón and really experienced missionaries so that I can learn. I still have SO much to learn. This is the best place to learn.

Gracias Oiga

-Elder Rowberry

Freefalling

From March 1

This week was a crazy busy week. President Cordón gave me a huge project to do. It took me all week to do. On Thursday we worked all the way to 9:00 at night. On Thursday we worked for over 12 hours straight in the office doing this. I had to make booklets for all of the ward mission leaders. We printed, literally, thousands and thousands of pages. We had to come in on our Pday and finish it up. That's why I get to write today, because we didn't get to have P day yesterday. 

   Last P day we went and got wings. I've been missing wings. 

    This week we celebrated my birthday in two different members houses. (Better late then never I guess.) We made Pizza at our Ward mission leaders house. The Gochez family, a recent convert family that's super awesome (when I was sick with Bronchitis I stayed with Brother Gochez for hours everyday while my comp went on divisions and worked. They now have adopted me as their son. Sorry Mom and Dad.) and they threw a surprise birthday party. It was really nice. 

     The same day as the party we went to back to a house that we had visited before. We had talked to the husband and he told us to come back. I could tell that the wife was a little hostile. We returned and the husband wasn't their. We were at their gate and I could see the wife and daughter. We said,"¡Hola Buenas!" and they didn't respond. We said it three more times and finally the wife came over and started chewing us out. She told us that she is the wife of the owner of the house and she doesn't receive Mormons. I tried to ask her why but she just told us very angrily that is would be better if we just left. I didn't convey it very well but that is probably the meanest anyone has ever been to me on my mission. I laughed at her and left. We have not returned. 

    On Sunday we had a Tarde de Hermanamiento. That is when a bunch of members and investigators get together to have a lesson and then maybe play a game and have a treat. It's basically a Family Night but in the afternoon. After that we were leaving El Ranchador. I don't know if I have explained what El Ranchador is but its a Canton that is really ghetto. Anyways we were in the street and a bus was going to pass us. I was on one side of the street and Elder Paravato was on the other. The bus passed between us and when it had past I saw something very funny. I saw some leaves rustling and then I saw Elder Paravato's head pop up from a hole that is about six feet deep. When the bus passed he stepped back and fell into a ditch. We were with a bunch of women from the Relief Society and we just all started busting up. It was hilarious. He wasn't really hurt so it's alright. 

  I forgot to tell you guys that we moved houses about a month ago. Our new house is way bigger and nicer. Both the areas Paraíso 1 and Paraíso 2 live there now. We got the big room. Our room has AC which is pretty dang sweet. I'll send you pictures of it next week. It also has a counter with cupboards. Also pretty dang sweet. Anyways one of the Elders from Paraíso 1 hurt his back. His name is Elder Brizzee. He's from Idaho. He broke his back a couple years ago but then re hurt it here. He couldn't hardly walk. He had to go home this week so now we have a trio. I hate seeing missionaries go home. However it's way better to go home for a physical problem than it is for being iniquitous.     

 That was my week.

Thanks for everything. 

-Elder Rowberry

PS You're welcome for the longer letter.

Happy Birthday to You

This week was a good week.Thanks for all the birthday wishes. That meant a lot to me. Also a shoutout to my bro Josh. He's the best. This week we found some pretty positive news. We found a really positive family. I really hope that they will progress. We have been working with this one family. The mom and dad, who aren't married, are having some relationship problems and we have been trying to help them get through those. The dad wants to go the United States to try to earn more money. She doesn't want him to go. He is not respectful to her and she really wants him to change. We had a really good lesson with them. I felt the spirit strongly. I don't know if I have ever felt the spirit like that before. We talked about what things they could change to make their relationship better. She said, "I don't want him to go to the United States. I want him to stop hitting me, I want him to stop drinking. I want him to be respectful." She then started to cry. Before this I was feeling really sad. I saw that their relationship was broken. I compared it to that of my parents and the relationship of my family. I could see their potential and I wanted to help them so much. I asked the man if he was willing to change. He just kind of smirked and smiled and said, "Not right now." That, mixed with the tears of his wife, made me very angry. This was a different kind of anger though. I feel like it was the same kind of anger that Christ had when he kicked the vendors out of the temple. I was so upset that this guy was willfully hurting a daughter of God and the mother of his children and looked at it like some kind of joke and was not wanting to change. I spoke to him very clearly that he needed to repent and so that he knew that it was not a joke. We know that families are ordained of God and are the most important thing we have here. After the lesson while walking home I realized that I felt a little bit like Christ felt in that moment I mentioned and that he was angry because the people were desecrating something sacred. I learned a little more how important families are. That was a neat spiritual revelation that I received this week.

Thanks for everything.

Elder Rowberry