Ramona: Elders

It looks like I got the email 8 days ago but it didn't show up in my inbox until like 4 days ago for some reason. And yes I got my new bank card. And you should send mail to the mission office at:

7404 Armstrong place 

San Diego CA 92111.  

Nathan said he sent a package like a month and a half ago but I haven't gotten it yet... Oh well. 

As far as Companions go I have had:

Elder Whitrod: 1st transfer, Australian, and I'll be honest I didn't like him very much so I didn't write too much about him. haha He is the one I went to Point Loma with (place with the light house and stuff).  Speaking of which, we are going today so more pictures of that to come soon. Oh, and he left some pants behind so I took them and got them hemmed and now they are mine! haha :)

Point Loma with Elder Hinrichsen

Elder Brown: transfer 2-4.5, short, from Thornton CO/ Grand Prairie TX, loves music, we would sing to people for lessons in places that weren't too fond of us(haha), and wants to write music when he gets home.

Elder Hinrichsen (hine-rik-sen):  transfer 4.5- From Sandy UT, Played Basketball and Baseball, wants to be a pilot when he gets home, we are making an "I spy: Ramona" book with pictures of crazy things that people have here while they aren't looking. haha We also discovered this big ol' valley in the middle of nowhere that is in our area.

There's some info for ya! :) Yeah this week has been pretty fun.  Brother Malky got baptized unexpectedly this last week which was a surprise so I have some pictures of that. 

Brother Malky And RC Family

In Ramona, roads seem to just turn from asphalt to dirt without warning.  So we have some good adventures with surprise obstacles that we have to traverse with our Toyota Carolla.  We went through this like dried up stream bed and made it to the other side so we got a few pictures of that as well.  There have been a few fires recently but only one got us worried for an evacuation. Luckily the fire fighters got it under control.  We are in the middle of wildfire territory so fires are really dangerous here.  

Dried up creek we made it through! (Elder Hinrichsen)

This last week we have done service literally everyday but P-day and Sunday so we are both really physically tired. We are working hard and having fun! Anyway I better go. I love you!

Love

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona: Tsk Tsk Tsk

You are in trouble! you didn't write me! haha it's ok.

This week has been pretty fun! We had a blast on fourth of July! Even though I couldn't be with the family on our favorite holiday I was able to have a party with some of the missionaries out here!  That is, with the missionaries that we live with in our apartment. haha.  We all had to be in our homes by 6:30 PM so we got a little creative.  We watched all the church videos that we could find (Legacy, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, Mr. Kruger's Chrstmas, etc), ate subs and went crazy with the Little Debbie snacks! haha We were able to see the local firework program from our kitchen window.  We were lucky enough to have an apartment that faced the right way. :) so I was able to get my yearly dose of fireworks (not quite as good as stadium of fire though...)

This morning we went over to a member's home and while doing laundry I made a breakfast bagel like back home! My companion really liked it as well! Later today we are going up to Julian for some tacos and pie! I know it might be a weird combo but in Julian, EVERYTHING goes with pie! haha :)

Other than that, our week was pretty normal for a missionary.  My six month mark is sneaking up on me (on the 23rd) which is crazy to think about! I don't feel like I have been out for that long but time flies when you are having fun!

I'm still earning my cowboy points one scoop of horse poop at a time! by the time I leave Ramona I might have earned myself a good set of boots! haha.

Oh! and by the way, one of my shoelaces completely died on me the other day so I am down to one set of shoes until I replace the laces.  We don't really have anywhere that would have laces nearby so I was wondering if you could send some out for me sometime.

Anyway, I am doing well! Still alive and surviving all the fires so far!

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona: ET

yyyeahhh.... I got ET'd (Emergency Transferred)... Basically there was an elder who was having some issues trying to get things sorted out before he goes home and wasn't fit for training another elder. So they switched me from the Ramona Oaks Ward to theee....... Ramona Ward!!! wooooo I went real far! haha. The people here are really awesome too! As missionaries, we need those families who just kinda pick us up and make us feel better. This ward has a ton of them! haha It has been interesting training so far but really fun.  We live in an apartment now with another companionship (which is super rare in the San Diego mission) which I am sure you can imagine the chaos caused there! :)

The Meeting with Garrett went far too well! it was amazing! This kid is fully prepared to accept his family disowning him to do what he knows to be right.  We set a Baptismal date for November 30th (his birthday) which coincidentally fell on a Saturday this year... :)  the Lord has His way to get what he wants. During the lesson as we were talking he mentioned his desire to prepare for his mission... think about it... this is a non-member with preach my gospel who is preparing to go on a mission!  We were also able to see him in Church which was awesome! He actually attends the Ramona Ward whenever he is allowed to go to church so I will get to see him here and there.
 
This 4th of July I am going to be in a parade!!! haha We are doing a "lawn-mower brigade" which is basically just a silly choreographed group of people marching with lawn-mowers... for no real purpose! haha


 
We went to the Temple today! It was awesome to be able to go back and feel the Spirit there.  However, with me going to the temple, it cut down on my email time so I'm affraid I need to get going.  Know that I love you and miss you!
 
Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury