Ramona: Hastening

Mom,

I did get the package from Nathan.  haha Nathan would forget it on the car! In fact, he probably was on his way to the Post office when he got distracted doing something else!

So, this week was pretty normal... went out... did Missionary Work...good stuff! haha just kidding! there is always something to talk about with missionary work.  We had another week with many lessons. However, while we have people to teach and to talk to, we are trying to find some new investigators.  I get the feeling we might need to drop a few of them soon just because they don't really want to DO much.  Don't get me wrong, I love being here and being with these people but our job as missionaries is to invite people to come unto Christ.  We have
invited them and they don't seem to want to come. A little discouraging but hey, there are still thousands of other people we can talk to and invite.  

This week we went to see one of our investigators named Matthew.  We have been teaching him for about a month now and he admits that he knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet but his hold up is that He doesn't like large groups of people so church is an issue.  We were over at his house
teaching him and he was telling us some of his concerns (mostly found through anti sites) and it was getting close to the time we needed to head home for the night when I felt prompted to bear testimony of the
Savior and of our calling as missionaries and His servants.  We had been struggling to help him feel the Spirit the whole lesson. It was a serious battle.  But, honestly, I bore the most powerful testimony I had ever given.  He was a little taken back for a moment. Then smiling he said, "Hallelujah."  We ended with a prayer and being thoroughly late for curfew I left feeling so good about how we worked so hard and eventually the revelation came and we were able to help resolve his concerns. The Spirit guides us to be instruments in the Lord's hands.

We also had a great meeting with our Bishop where we organized a time to go on splits with him and the Ward Mission Leader.  He asked us how many lessons we had been teaching a week and when we told him that we
were doing 20-26 lessons he was really impressed.  It helped him see that we were working hard and that the ward needed to step up their game to help us out and give us referrals.  Anyway, I'll stop before I get started on my member work rant.  haha

I am really loving this work.  We are truly seeing a hastening in the work and it is amazing to be a part of it.  I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again next week.

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona: Bipolar

You didn't mention the fact that BYU played Texas last week so I knew they won without knowing it was Texas. I had no idea they beat Texas until like 5 days later when we were at a member's home and they were talking about it. haha.

Alrighty, so I have no idea what is up with my ward right now... it is really bipolar. So like one week we will just struggle to find people at home and then another week EVERYONE will be home.  Luckily we were able to find tons of people at home this week and we set a new personal record for lessons! :) 26 lessons in one week! It helps though when your companion gets a 10 lesson day while I was on exchanges back in Ramona Oaks! It was way fun to see everyone again and the dessert contest was a blast.  One of my favorite desserts was a tortilla thing with like caramel and fudge in it.

This week's miracle though happened last night.  We went to a potential investigator's home for like the 12th time to try and catch Jen at home and ready for a lesson.  Normally she is at work or really busy because they have been in some hard financial times recently so we keep trying.  Over the past weeks we have met this guy named Bobby there and he has always been really nice and all but not too interested in lessons or anything.  Well last night we went over as usual around 8:15-ish after 2 people canceled on us.  So we walk up and we are greeted by Bobby again, but what was different is that he invited us to come in and sit down with him and chill for a bit.  We of course started directing the conversation towards God and what he believes and he just opened up to us.  It was awesome! We started teaching a little and bore testimony and it was just a really good conversation.  He was way nice and he was really thankful for our diligence to find them at home. :) It was the first time we had added someone to our teaching pool in like 4 weeks so it was really nice to get someone new.

We are doing really well in Ramona. I'm still livin' it out here getting those cowboy points! There haven't been too many Kodak moments recently so I don't even know if I have any new pictures, but I will get some soon! I think we are going back up to Julian soon and the Temple and Point Loma in the next 4 weeks so those are always good picture times.

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona Oaks: A Visit, Judging Desserts

This picture brought to us by Sister Sarah Sebos:

I just thought you might like to see your son judging a dessert contest. We recruited him back to Ramona Oaks ward just for tonight. He said it was like coming home, well almost! We love him!
-Sarah Sebos

Ramona: Nothing too crazy

This week has been good.  Nothing too crazy happened. The new District leader is in the Ramona Oaks ward so when we go on exchanges I will be going back to Ramona Oaks. haha I also have another missionary from my MTC district back in Ramona too named Elder Todd.

But really, this past week has been a bit of a struggle.  We have been trying to find new investigators but for whatever reason can't seem to do so.  Luckily, we had a freaking BOSS Stake Conference! It was all on missionary work and how the members can get more involved.  When the members get involved, everything starts clicking.  You find more prepared investigators who are more likely to be baptized.  Always remember (when you get to the field), Member work is where it's at.  Mitt Romney's son is in our stake presidency and he gave a really good talk about missionary work and inviting.  He brought up some of the youth from his ward and had them tell stories about them inviting their friends.  One of them had her non-member friend with her and the non-member shared her testimony! It was so awesome!... That is, what I heard of Stake Conference...

Sunday evening into Monday I found that I couldn't hear very well in my left ear.  Yep, another ear infection. Luckily I got a doctor who trusted me on this one and got me plenty of antibiotics.  I am already feeling much better so all is well.  Another one of those awesome missionary blessings is that we heal quickly. haha.  It did make me realize though that I don't think I have a card for our insurance... so I had to use the mission medical.  It would be nice to get that... haha

Oh and how is the CD going?... :) I thought of another good one! It is called "Beatti Quorum Via" (spelling may be off but it is a STAB arrangement again)

I love you!
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Ramona: Labor Day

Dear Mum,

Thought I might throw in an Australian accent in there.  

Well funny thing about transfers is that we found out today whether we will be transferred or not... I'm staying! Who can say 9 months?!? haha It is pretty crazy that this will be my 6th transfer in practically the same area.  I still cover part of the San Diego Country Estates which Ramona Oaks primarily covers.  So I am staying here with Elder Stowe and going to keep earning those "Cowboy Points" (I already earned enough for a bolo tie! :) ).

We had a pretty average week this week.  The 23 lesson madness ended. God figured if he let us have too many of those kinds of weeks we wouldn't have any work left for any other perspective cowboys. Ramona would get translated too quickly! haha We sent home one of my favorite Elders today.  Elder Okada (the Japanese one), and I got his trainee for the day (that makes two for the day).

Crazy stories..... hmmmmm...  OH! Well here's the deal, after 6 weeks of investigation, we finally found out what was biting Elder Stowe! Bedbugs! No, not me, but the real thing! Apparently they come out at night when they sense the carbon dioxide from your breathing and suck your blood.... kinda creepy. But anyway, we found one just chilling on the bed! And where you find one of those guys, there are bound to be hundreds! Luckily our Ward Mission Leader owns a pest control business and sprayed our apartment.  ummmm yeah! That's about it!

Who knew I was sent to the California Ramona Mission? Oh well! I love it here! It will make visiting a whole lot easier!  

If I could make a request for a Christmas gift or something (it might take a while) I would really love a CD with a bunch (like 15 or so) of the songs we sang in choir.  I might think of some over time, but it wouldn't be a
bad idea to ask Sophie Roberts or something for some names of the good ones.  I thought a few but I don't know the composers. Mama J can help you with that.  "Prayer of the Children" (SATB version if possible), "Who are the Brave?" (Men Ensemble), "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" (SATB again), and Two Love Songs (they aren't love songs really, also SATB) are a few I have thought of so far.  I love you all!

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury