Ramona Oaks: MTEs & Miracles

This last week has been super amazing! We had something called MTEs (missionary training exercises) where we meet with several zones and we get instruction from the mission president. After we meet we get a third missionary to come with us and implement the things we learned. While we were together we went and visited a Less Active and his daughter, who was back from college for the summer, answered the door.  We went in and started visiting with everyone and having a good time.  We started teaching about the Atonement and Repentance and it was exactly what she needed.  When we asked who she knew that we could teach and would benefit from the lesson she said that she was the one that really needed that lesson and that she should would come to church this Sunday and drag her dad with her! haha So that was super fun.  

We also had an exchange with the Zone leaders who are in Spanish work.  So Elder Brown got to go back to Spanish for a day and Elder Cena (he is from Italy!!!) and I stayed in Ramona Oaks.  We had a ton of miracles happen.  

First off, we were able to catch a family at home that we have been trying to get a hold of for the past, like, 3 months, taught them, and they committed to coming to church! 

Second, we had received a referral from one of the other elders in Ramona.  When we knocked on the door we found a kid who had no idea who the person we were trying to find was.  However, as we continued to talk, he mentioned that he was suffering with some really bad depression and had thought about committing suicide.  We were able to talk with him some more about the gospel and how we have a loving Heavenly Father and gave him a verse in the Book of Mormon to read! I can't wait to see if he actually did or not and see what happens with him.

This last week we had a really good week and were really busy.  The ward members have gotten super excited that they are their own zone now and missionary work has taken a huge leap forward.  It is so exciting to be on the front lines and see the Gospel changing people's lives! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona Oaks: Mother I Love You! Mother I doooooo!

Mother I Love You! Mother I doooooo! 

Well, I know It has been a long excruciating 3 months since you have heard my voice but alas, I get to call you on mother's day this week! All narcissism aside, I am pretty dang excited to call you all.  I'm not exactly sure how it all works now but it'll happen somehow. You better answer! I only know XXX-XXX-XXXX and XXX-XXX-XXXX. Which I think is Ryan's so... between the two of you hopefully I will get one of you.  I actually realized I could probably get away with calling/texting you guys with one of the mission phones because you have California area codes still. haha

I am so excited to hear that Mason's baptism went well! You all are always in my prayers as well and hopefully you get the house situation settled soon!

Word of us singing in Sacrament meeting has spread to other wards and we are now singing in the Ramona ward this week.  We continue to get compliments for our song.  I guess that it continues to have a greater effect than I would have imagined. 

This last week was another transfer and I stayed in Ramona Oaks so that will be 3 transfers at least (A little more than 4 months) here.  A lot of exciting things happened in transfer meeting! We received 3 more new Elders in our district alone (our district has 8 Elders).  Not only that but Ramona was made its own Zone meaning it has about the work rate of most Stakes without having a separate stake.  We are now the 12th zone in the mission. 

This week we did a lot of service.  We also experienced a bit of Utah weather! At first it was somewhere around the mid to high 90's then recently it has been raining like crazy!  

We sang our Vocal Point song in the Fireside this last Sunday and it went pretty well.  I'm not quite sure how I am going to get a video of it to you but I'll find a way.  A ton of missionaries recorded it at one point or another so it shouldn't be too hard to find. We had the opportunity to teach the freshman seminary class yesterday which was a ton of fun.  It involved watching the mini-golf trick shot video and showing them a cool card trick so they stayed entertained. haha

As for miracles this week, it continues to amaze me how much of an impact our song had on the people of the ward.  But the only reason I can think of is found in Alma 37.  Church is true! haha. I'm going to try and send a few pictures again so maybe that can be a miracle! Anyway,  you all should meet up for mother's day so I will get to talk to everyone! I miss you all so much!

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona Oaks: Transfers, 2 Down 15 To Go

Well, another transfer has come and gone (2 down 15 more to go!).  I just found out that both Elder Brown and I will be staying in Ramona Oaks! I am officially done with training which is such a relief! I thought I was going to die from repetition! haha.

I just sent dad the talk for Mason's baptism. Hopefully it is everything Mason was dreaming of! :)

Fun storytime!!! 
So, this week Elder Brown and Elders Christensen and Brinkerhoff (two Elders from the Ramona Ward) had the opportunity to sing in Sacrament meeting in my ward!  We were planning a song that was super difficult but then we realized a few days before that we were way in over our heads so we decided to simplify.  So, after practicing Nearer My God to Thee (the hymn book version)  for 15 minutes we called it good and were basically hoping for the best! haha

So Sunday came and we had no time to practice, warm up, no nothin'! We went up there and sang what I thought to be fairly well considering the time we had prepared for, but definitely nothing special by any
means.  We finished up and walked back to our seats happy we didn't totally scew up and make fools of ourselves.  However, the full impact of our simple song was not known to us at the time.  After sacrament meeting we were showered with praise and thanked for our participation in the program by various members of the Ward.  This continued all throughout the remainder of the church meetings.  I honestly have never been complimented so many times for a song in my life, which was weird to me.  But the biggest blessing came after church when we went to visit the Styx (our recent converts) after church.  We were about to leave after our lesson when Gerry stopped us and told us he had been going through a rough time recently and that our song had helped him feel the spirit really powerfully and that it was exactly the  message he needed to here at that moment. He thanked us and we left for our next appointment.

When Gerry told us that we blessed him by singing our song it really gave me a testimony that even though I'm not perfect,  the Lord is making me an instrument (in this case literally. haha) in his hands to bless the lives of others.  At that moment I felt so loved by my Heavenly Father that he would help me see the joy of being able to bless other's lives.

I can honestly say now that there is no other place I would want to be or any other thing I would want to do than to be here in Ramona helping others come unto Christ.  Even if it is a mediocre song we put together in 15 minutes of practice, it meant something to someone else.  And that's all I can ask for.

I can't wait to hear how Mason's baptism goes and how the family is doing!

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury