DEL CERRO: Hey There!

Hey There,

Sometimes I don't know what to write... today is one of those days... haha I guess I will go through and answer your questions for once! :) 

For the 24th of July we are doing a breakfast and flag ceremony.  The Youth just went on Trek so a few of the youth from the Stake will share their experiences there.  

Steven is doing well. We were able to meet with him this week and talk about CPR... aka Church, Pray, Read... It can save your life you know... :) 

My new ward is really supportive of missionary work.  As with every ward, there are always all star families when it comes to missionary work.  This ward is full of leaders which is really cool to hear all of their experiences.  They feed us too well..... I am pretty sure I have gained a few pounds already from being in this ward. :/ I'm not used to having so much food in front of me coming from a YSA ward full of students.  

In fact, funny story! Yesterday, we were walking down a hill from an apartment complex. We had just had a short meeting with an investigator and were on our way back to our car when this lady roles down her window and stops in the middle of the street and starts talking to us tell us that she wanted to feed us! She explained that she had a bunch of nephews who served missions and that she grew up in AZ.  So I guess we are going to have dinner with her and her husband in the near future! So yeah... we get fed pretty well... :) 

And now an excerpt from my old companion Elder Nichols: 

Hi Sister Rowbury! This is Elder Nichols. I am lucky to be here next to your son emailing. He is the man. Some of the funniest memories of my life have been with Elder Rowbury. He is the funniest person that has ever lived and has a mighty fine appetite. I will share with you 3 things that I have learned about life.

-Food is everyone's mutual friend

-Trust in God and all will fall into place 

-Smiles go for miles

Elder Rowbury has for sure helped me in affirming my testimony in those three things and hundreds of other things. Thanks for raising such a great son and one of my best friends. I've never met you, but I love you and your family too! Thanks for being awesome!!

Now back to Elder Rowbury!

So yeah! That's about it! We are going to the Midway again today.  This time we are going with a part member family in our ward who really wanted to take us.  It should be fun! Anyway, I love you lots!

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

DEL CERRO: With President Schmitt

Mom, 

I can't believe Justin got married.... that is too weird... haha oh well.  I am sorry to hear about you getting sick! I will be praying for you.  I got an email from dad this week! it always makes email time that much better when I get a message from him as well.  He told me he talked to someone from the mission office.  I think he talked to Sister Trotter.  She just lives upstairs from me.  We are buds since I have lived in the same complex for well over 9 months now (the majority of their mission) haha. Luckily, what he was talking about with her was what I have an update for!

We were able to have interviews with President Schmitt yesterday and they went great! Elder Odell and I stay for the whole time while the other Elders and Sisters are doing their interviews so we were able to chat a little bit with the other missionaries, Sister Schmitt, and a few of the Schmitt kids.  They are so fun to have around! There were two of the Schmitt kids and a cousin of theirs who was visiting. While we were waiting the kids decided to organize a little performance.  So they gathered all of the missionaries who were there at the time and performed a play about a dead donkey and a box troll on the church's stage using the props there. It was super funny! We played some bey-blades, which are like these battle top things with Clayton their 6 year-old.  It was really nice to be able to talk one on one with President.  He asked me what I enjoyed doing and when I said soccer he gave me a detailed recap of the world cup final between Germany and Argentina, who scored, and how.  It was nice. I was able to talk with him about being home in time to go to school and he said to let him know the exact date and that he would work it out so I was home in time.  I am super surprised that it starts as soon as January 5th! I don't remember it being that early.  So December 30th will be pretty set in stone... :) The other night I did have a curiosity if I would even be accepted to BYU... and I must admit, it is becoming more of a desire to apply and see what happens. I have heard that going from UVU to BYU is pretty good about accepting credits... I don't know, maybe look into it for me and give me some feedback? :) definitely continue with the application for UVU for me though and try and apply for that FAFSA grant/any other grant you can think of again.  I really appreciate it! 

With President and Sister Schmitt

This week I also had a chance to go on exchanges with Elder Nichols! You might remember him as one of my companions from the YSA ward! It was a really fun exchange.  It was a bit of a struggle of a day but it was concluded with a completely random firework show on the 11th of July! :) We still aren't sure what they were celebrating, but they shot off quite the display at Qualcomm Stadium! It was a blast!

That was pretty much my week! :)

Love, 

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

PS: 

This is a picture of how far I moved when I was transferred!

A picture of a picture at a former seventies house. That box on the table is "Alvin's Box" which held the plates while they were in Joseph's possession... pretty awesome.

A picture of all the Bit-o-Honey's that I ate a few weeks ago while emailing you... :) aren't you so proud?!

DEL CERRO: July 4th, Sadly no Parades

Sadly there were no parades this year! :( To be honest, our fourth of July was a little uneventful. Nobody was really home so we spent much of the day in meetings. It was a bit of a slow week with the holiday. We have mostly older people in our ward so they were all visiting their grandchildren throughout California. haha 

But I love my ward so much! They are incredible! for example, we have a former area seventy in our ward and each week his wife brings us fresh cookies and cinnamon rolls to eat while we are emailing in the family history center.  They are so good! We were able to meet with our Teenage friend this week once.  Unfortunately, he wasn't able to go to church this past week so that was a bummer but we will probably see him tonight.  

Amber wrote me an email telling me about her father.  I was able to write here a quick note.  she replied within 15 minutes which was pretty impressive but she is going to be ok. The Lord always has a plan for us.  No matter what we are going through he understands perfectly. 

President Schmitt is incredible.  I am very excited to see what he is going to be able to add to this mission.  He is a great man and his family is amazing as well! His kids are so funny! They sold everything to be here.  They sold their house and quit their jobs so they could come out.  They are great! :)

Super Sorry for the terribly short email but I am short on time today.  I love you!

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

DEL CERRO: Can You Do Me A Favor?

Mom,

Can you do me a favor and see if my mission call says the following:

"Elder Rowbury, 

You have been hereby sent to the mission where the only places you get transferred to will be immediately across the street from your previous area!"

Thanks! So I was transferred to the Del Cerro Ward! it is a family ward just across the freeway from where I was before! haha suddenly I am having flashbacks from when I was transferred from the Ramona Oaks ward to the Ramona ward! I guess I have something about just crossing streets. The Funniest thing about being transferred from the YSA 2nd ward to the Del Cerro ward is that I live literally 3 doors away from my old apartment... literally! It is pretty great! sometimes I go into auto pilot mode and pass our door and start walking towards the YSA ward's door.  When I catch myself halfway between the two doors and realize that I don't live there anymore. it just makes me laugh every time!  

My new companion is Elder Odell! He is from a small town in Idaho named Ririe.  He enjoys wrestling and Football.... He is really good at wrestling... and football... haha We actually served together up in Ramona and he served in the Ramona Oaks ward after I was transferred to the Ramona ward.  He has been out for about 21 months, so it is looking like we will likely be together for his last 3 months. We are having a ton of fun together though so it is going to be sad to see him leave! 

The Del Cerro ward is pretty great and let me tell you, it is a lot nicer than my previous area... so I didn't tell you before but you may have inferred that my previous area wasn't exactly the most... manicured... we actually had some really great ghetto areas of our ward but it was really fun! I felt like we went through a portal to Tijuana on more than one occasion. haha so now you know that part of my last area was on the History Channel's show "ganglands"! :) But do not fret! I was totally safe and now I am in an area that is really... clean is how I would explain it.  It is just basically a Suburb in San Diego.  San Diego is kinda weird because the city limits are massive and there are just a ton of "communities" is what they call them within the city.  

So, I am in the Del Cerro part of San Diego.  I guess the past few months this area hadn't been able to do any service because most of the people that live in the ward are older people and are retired and already pay people to help them around the house. But for some reason we have been hammered with service most of the past week which is super out of the ordinary for this ward.  We helped one of the members do some landscaping for his front yard, we ran into some people who needed help chopping up this large section of tree that fell in their yard, and last second we were asked to help move a dude yesterday who had hurt his back.  It has been pretty fun to get to do some more service again.  I do miss teaching though.  

Miracle time! So this past week at the YSA conference, that Ryan was at, a kid came up to some of the YSAs afterwards and asked how he could get baptized and join the church.  So the very building that the conference was held in is now where I go to church! And we are teaching this kid! His name is Steven and he is super prepared! His father told him he should join a church that would help teach him good values. So, he walked around the corner, saw a bunch of the YSAs and decided to look into that one! We were able to teach him twice last week and he came to church and had a good time! He was our only investigator at church so we hung out with him in his youth classes all day which was nice because for our joint 5th Sunday Priesthood Relief society they talked about emergency preparedness! haha So we ditched that and went to teachers quorum! hahaha :) it was pretty great! 

To answer all your questions! the earliest I am thinking of coming home would be December 30th.  That would be two weeks early.  I figured that would give me plenty of time to get ready for school.  I am planning to do the January Semester at UVU so will you be able to enroll for me?! and let me know when their start date is!!! I would really like to know. but Christmas isn't going happen... I don't want go home crazy early or anything. but yeah! I will need to talk with president Schmitt about everything here pretty soon! We get to meet him tomorrow! I am so excited!!! anyway!

Grandma's memory!

I will never forget when we convinced Grandma to hop onto Nathan's Longboard and take a picture of her boarding! I am pretty sure that was my most popular picture because all my friends were convinced that my Grandma was the coolest Grandma ever! Which is true! I love you Grandma!

Hopefully that is somewhat how you imagined it! haha 

Anyway, That is basically how I am doing! Having a ton of fun preaching the gospel! 

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA (last one): I can run but I can't hide

One word..... Weird.... That is all I have to say about your little visitors on Sunday! I'm sure they might have told you but let me tell you my side of the story... 

So, This last Weekend was a giant regional YSA conference being held in San Diego so when I heard that Ryan and Shaina were coming for their honeymoon here the thought did cross my mind that they might try to see me at church but I disregarded it and actually even forgot that they would be here because I didn't even know where I would be going to church until the week before.  So I thought I was safe in the back of my mind and didn't give it a second thought.

Fast forward to this past Sunday.  We go to the church building which is outside of our stake (again, one more reason, I thought I was safe from intruder attacks)  for church we had scheduled to meet with one of our members just before Sacrament begins.  We designate another one of our members to save us a seat and go to teach her.  We have a great lesson and we walk into the chapel and our seats were stolen! The chapel was filling quickly, luckily there were overflow seats set up clear to the back of the gym.  Around the back we see our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Konold.  So we are sitting there talking about the choir who was going to be doing a musical program for us rather than having speakers talk to us.  The choir was great! There were 2 or 3 former California San Diego Missionaries in the group from Arizona so it was funny to see them.  The only thing was that we had seen them earlier that morning because they performed for the Recruits at the MCRD. 

So we were talking about that with our Ward Mission Leader when all of a sudden I get that feeling like someone is staring at me.  You know that odd sixth sense that people have when you look over at the person in the car next to you when you are stopped at a stop light and you both look at each other? That is what I felt.  So I look back and I saw Ryan walking about 7 rows back behind all the chairs. We made eye contact and he just gave a goofy smile and waved.  I was in Shock! I asked him later what my face looked like and he said that I was so confused! Apparently I mouthed, "Oh my gosh".  haha

So I snap around again so I am facing forward, grab Elder New and say, "My brother is here..."  he looked at me and said, "You're kidding me right? Which one?" so I told him. 

So Sacrament meeting eventually starts and it was actually really cool! my favorite part was the administering of the Sacrament.  Because there were so many people there (the YSAs filled up nearly all the chairs) they had about 24 men to pass and six pairs of priests on their own separate tables to break more bread than could be fit on just the one table.  There were Sacrament Tables lined along the front of the chapel and when all the Deacons stood to pass the Sacrament I felt the spirit confirm to me the power of the priesthood.  It made me think of all the deacons that stand all over the world to administer something so important.  I feel like when I was a deacon I didn't realized the importance of what I was doing and how many young men throughout the world there were who were able to be a part of that service. 

Anyway, that was a little off of the subject of my story. So, the Choir sings great, and the closing prayer is said and Elder New starts counting down. 10, 9 8, 7... Confused I asked him why he was counting down.  He said, "Don't even Elder!  You know why!" and he kept counting. 

Then I saw Ryan and Shaina coming up to us.  I gave Ryan a hug and was a little unsure if I could hug Shaina but she made me do it and told me that she is my sister now so it was fine! haha still weird! In fact, our Ward Mission Leader saw me hugging a girl and not knowing what was going on just turned back around! haha He figured she was a sister or something but I just thought it was funny that that was his reaction. I had no Idea what to even say or do! I just kinda sat there looking at the two of them and just said something that I honestly can't even remember what I said! haha But we took a quick picture and they left and the awkwardness was over... And that is my side of the story! It was definitely weird! haha

The Newlywed Surprise Attack

So yeah, My week was weird! Some lady today was dancing in the laundromat while singing, "Hashtag, Hashtag, HASHTAG, HASHTAG!..." over and over again.  I also found out today that I am being transferred tomorrow.  I don't know where to yet but It is going to be somewhere exciting I'm sure! I'll tell you all about my new area and companion next week! President Clayton is still here running the mission until the 28th which is when President Schmitt will take over as president after a brief 2 hour intro to the mission home and office.

Thank you for the Wedding photos! I really appreciated them! Both of them do look happy! :) I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: If I Never...

Mom,

     

If I never have to move Anna's stuff ever again I would be just fine. haha I thought a lot about Dad on Sunday.  Everyone kept asking us if we got to call home on father's day like we did on mother's day so we had to tell everyone that unfortunately we do not. It is so Crazy to me to think that the wedding is already here! Elder New and I were looking at the date this past Sunday and were both surprised that it was already half way through June! The days are going way too fast and I swear I was just at this same computer emailing home a few hours ago. haha It is pretty ridiculous being able to think about where I was 1 year ago and that it was back in Ramona.  It seems so recent and distant at the same time.  I often find myself forgetting entirely what it is like to not put on a shirt and tie on in the morning. I think I might have lost all ability to be able to sit in someone's home without bringing out the scriptures or a gospel topic of some kind! haha It makes me laugh whenever I think about how weird my life is compared to everyone else.  I love it.  

In fact, this was a few weeks ago, but we have a Recent Convert who has recently been taking us to Mcdonald's (this is how we roll in the poor singles wards!) each Monday.  I call it Member Missionary McDonald's Monday Mania, or MMMMM for short. haha So we meet up at the institute and McDonalds is literally a maximum of 50 yards from the door to the institute to the door of McDonald's. While walking over, we see two exchange students from China enrolled in the English program at SDSU, so we just start talking to them and invite them to mormon.org. They accepted and we both went on our way.  As we continued our trek to McDonald's, Alisha (our Recent Convert) says, "you guys love what you do." Our reply was, "yep!" haha and that was the end of that conversation 

     

This past week on Sunday we were passing out the programs to everyone as we were preparing for Sacrament meeting and another of our Recent Converts named AnaKaren told us that she needed to talk to us after sacrament meeting.  I wasn't too sure what to think of it but was curious to find out what she felt was so important to tell us that she needed to do it in private.  So sacrament meeting came and went and we began talking to her again and she told us that she had decided to serve a mission!! I was so excited! She was baptized in late November so if she leaves quickly after her year mark and goes through the temple I will be able to see one of my Recent Converts go through the temple!

A few weeks ago We had our final training with President Clayton and we were all able to sign A tablecloth that will be at future Reunions and get-togethers.  So I sent a picture of that! you can see my signature in the picture at the bottom of the picture directly beneath the Yellow marker. We were also able to take one last final picture as a zone with President and Sister Clayton.  And be sure to hold on for this next one because we went a little crazy and rebellious! Sister Clayton REQUIRED that President Clayton allow her to hug each of the Elders just once before everyone had to leave back to their assigned areas.  So each of us were able to have one last hug before they left.  

Signing President and Sister Clayton's Tablecloth

Zone with President and Sister Clayton

Anyway, that is our week! things are rolling along World Cup and all! The Gundred's really set me up for temptation around this time of year! While I am missing out on the World Cup and Ryan's wedding, I still can't tell you enough how much I love being out here! I'm excited to see the pictures next week!

Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: The Real Deal

Isn't the weather hear amazing?! :) No joke, if it gets to the mid 80s then people start complaining that it is too hot.  It is pretty fun! I walk out from the apartment at 6:30 am and it is always about 60 degrees and never gets about 80 in the day.  It is pretty great... :) I'm glad my shorts were able to be of use to someone!

So this week was the first week of the month, which means that we have a TON of meetings. Thursday the 5th was one of the craziest days ever! We started out our day by compiling all of the Key indicators (goals and actual) for the missionaries in the San Diego Area for a meeting later that day. Then we ran to a Zone Conference where 3 zones of missionaries (about 50 missionaries) gathered together to receive instruction from President and Sister Clayton, The Assistants to the President, and President Morgan which normally takes 6 hours... but this time it took 7 hours.

SO! we ran from there, picked up a member to come with us to teach Angel and Omar, our two brothers that are investigating, but we were SUPER late to that so we had to make that meeting short. And we were still late to the next appointment with one of our members for dinner. We had some INCREDIBLE authentic Mexican food (always amazing), unfortunately because we were so late we couldn't take our member home that was with us for our first appointment! So we kidnapped him for dinner... :) he didn't mind...

So we tried to be super quick there but we were still super late for our next appointment with an investigator so we had to keep him for that lesson as well! haha luckily he didn't have to end up working that night after all because by the time we got out of our that meeting it was 8:10... and we were already 10 minutes late for our meeting with the Stake President and Mission President to report on the key indicators I was telling you about earlier...

So we weren't able to take him home then either! haha! Luckily he didn't mind and it reminded him a little of his mission so he thought it was fun.  We did eventually get him home though about 4 hours later than we had originally expected. He was a good sport though! 

Also, I'm not sure if I have mentioned this, but the Broadway musical "the Book of Mormon" was in San Diego for the past couple of weeks.  It is a satire about a missionary who is called to Africa. It doesn't accurately portray the beliefs of the church at all but the Church has taken the "high road" and responded well by using the publicity in a positive way. In the hope that the play would bring additional questions about our beliefs, we had 5 sets of missionaries in various parts of downtown San Diego from noon - 5:30.  So part of our week was spent in downtown San Diego talking to random strangers! haha There were plenty of people who were about their own business rushing to or from their jobs, homeless, and others who were generally not all that interested. However, I found that often the people who were a part of the play itself as part of the orchestra or actors themselves were the ones with the most questions! It was really cool actually! Also it was really fun to stand right in front of the theater where the musical would be playing and have people come up to my companion and I and just stare for a few moments before with confidence saying, "Nope, They're the real deal!" So we had some interesting experiences down there but it was fun!

On a more spiritual note, on Monday we had a Less-Active that we had been working with make some great progress! We brought a member of our ward who is preparing to leave on a mission come with us and she worked miracles! She did so well and was able to testify of the blessings of reading the scriptures each day! we challenged our less-active to read each day, thinking she would read maybe a page a day. No, that didn't happen. By the time we came back on Friday she had read up to 1 Nephi 18! She loved reading and said she felt happy as she read the Book of Mormon.  It was so awesome to see how our Member's testimony was able to help her out so much more than we ever could have! 

That is basically how my week was! very busy! but busy is good! especially as a missionary! :) I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: Teaching

-- Happy Birthday Allen! I'm sure he'll get plenty of hugs from his daughters but add one in there for me! 

This last week was really cool! We have had some amazing weather, our investigators are doing well, and our members are sharing the Gospel! It started out with an interesting lesson with an investigator named Matt.  He is a great kid who has been raised with a Christian background. However, our visits have been getting more and more... how do I explain it... Contentious?... I guess we can go with that for now.  He has had some questions about why the Book of Mormon was necessary, or why baptism was essential, and what role faith played in our salvation. We knew some of his concerns but Elder New and I were on Exchanges with some other Elders that day and he is definitely the more well versed in the scriptures out of the two of us. So I was left to resolve his concerns with another missionary who doesn't know he area and to be honest I was a little scared.  Matt knows the scriptures very well and I knew that he would want to use his knowledge to fight with us.  but we went in there planning to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  the first 30 minutes were great.  He agreed with everything we had to say about Faith and Repentance.  But once we got to Baptism things went wild again and we were both there using the knowledge we both had to resolve his concerns.  We emphasized the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it clarifies hings from the Bible.  Later we brought up John 3:5 where Christ teaches that we must be born again of water and of the spirit to enter into the kingdom of God and he asked, "is it really talking about baptism here?" Luckily the young Elder I was with remembered that the very question he was asking was clarified in the Book of Mormon in Alma 7:14! It was incredible to be able to be stuck in a place where we weren't quite sure what we needed to say and then have the Spirit help us remember something we used to help us learn an answer.  Eventually it came to the point where we had to end and we finished with Moroni's promise that if he were to honestly read the Book of Mormon and Ask God to know if it was true, then he would receive an answer that it was true and that what we taught him was true.  

This past Saturday night we got a call from the Sisters in our zone.  They told us that they had just met a guy named Chris who really wanted to be baptized and come to church! So we finished up what we were doing and headed on over. When we met him he tells us about how he had been taught by the missionaries in Escondido (just north of our mission boundaries)  and had to move down here for cheaper rent.  So we gave him our number, the address for our institute building where we have church and found him a ride so he could come to church the next day.  he liked it! it was awesome to see how he was so willing to come to church and have us teach him! it was a nice change of pace. :)

Yesterday we had President Clayton's final Leadership council.  It went just like normal without anything too special until the end when he, Sister Clayton, President Morgan (who is in the mission Presidency) all gave their final testimony as tradition gives for those who will be gone before the next months council.  The Spirit was so incredibly strong as he Testified, "I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. I know, I know, I know."  I have been so lucky to be able to be led by such a great example of a Righteous Priesthood Holder.  He won't be leaving until June 28th, 3 days after transfers. That way President Schmitt will have a full 5 weeks to get to know all 250 of us before the next transfer. President Clayton was telling us that they will only have about 2 hours with the new President to show him where the office and the mission home are and how to get there.  After that President Schmitt takes over. it is so crazy, but I am excited for it and to see what we will be able to learn from him.  I'm sure miracles will continue and increase as we move forward. I can't wait to hear from you next week! 

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: Hey Mom!

I declare that I have the cutest Nieces and Nephews! haha Memorial Day as a missionary was kinda weird. Basically, nothing changed... except more people were home having BBQs. So we were able to teach quite a few people! We did get some amazing Carne Asada this last Sunday so I guess that got us in the mood for a BBQ kinda... It is so funny, we as missionaries have no idea when a holiday is coming up.  All last week people would ask us when memorial day was and we had no idea it was coming up.  We honestly don't know our holidays... other than Christmas and Mothers day that is! haha.  I'm glad that the Cemetery is still able to use the crosses! To be honest, I'm surprised they have held up this long. 

This past week we had MTEs again! I went to the San Diego 10th Ward up in the Clairmont area of San Diego.  We met with a Less Active named Brother Girch who is a retired Mechanical Engineer.  At first, we talked with him on his porch. Then slowly we worked our way into his kitchen where he gave us an apple. Then, We finally made it to his Living room after a little over an hour of talking with him about some of his projects as an Engineer which was way cool!  He had told us about some of the Examples in his life who he had really looked up to as leaders.  We were able to share about Captain Moroni and how he was such a great leader of his men and that what made him different was his Faith in God and that if all men were like Moroni then the adversary would have no power.  We need to hold ourselves to the level that Moroni held himself to, and as we do, God will strengthen us and make us into a better person that we alone would not have become.

Earlier this past week I was on Exchanges with another missionary in his area and we helped move this little Russian Lady with her little Ukrainian friend for almost 5 hours. We did it all with a dally and two shopping carts! They were so funny with their accents and all, but they were so grateful for the help. They even made us some authentic Ukrainian food called Red Borscht.  It was so good! We had another member with us who was a good sport about it too and he told us about his mission to Bolivia. It was actually a ton of fun! Later that week the Elders went back and Added those two as investigators! :)

Today we are going to Balboa Park (San Diego's version of central park in Manhattan) and playing field sports (like ultimate Frisbee and stuff).  It should be fun! I guess that will be our memorial day celebration! I love you and can't wait to hear back from you!

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: Good to Talk to You

This won't be a super long letter but I hope you don't mind too much. Nothing too much has changed in he past 48 hours.  I won't be getting transferred so I will spend another 6 weeks at SDSU! :) We had a lot of Success yesterday! We were able to teach Angel again.  He and his brother accepted baptismal dates for June and we ad an awesome lesson with him! The best part was his prayer at the end! we had asked him to pray to know if the Book of Mormon was true and so he did except he said, "I really want to know if the Book of Mormon is true... I feel like it's true. I know It's true. But I ask for a confirmation from you."  He also said that he wants to come to church every week. :) I love cool experiences with investigators! Anyway, That's what happened yesterday! Today we are going to a park to play ultimate frisbee! woot woot! I will write you next week!


Love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Picture number 1 is with Mitch!

Picture number 2 is with Gary Cookson. He is from Sacramento and in the same ward as the Smith's!

SDSU YSA: Incredible Week

Well, these pictures aren't from this past week but I thought they were pretty fun! I am sorry to hear about Eric! But I'm sure that the Hill's are able to get through this hard time.  They have always been a spiritual strength to others and strong in their faith and I don't doubt that they see the Lord supporting them.

This past week has been incredible! I'm trying to be creative in my positive adjectives haha.  But really, some really cool things have been going on/will be happening.  We were able to meet with Mike again.  He Plays football and has recently been having some amazing growth with his
testimony.  While he was reading the book of Mormon he felt really good and the next day felt the same feeling during football practice.  We had another awesome meeting with him and talked about the importance of reading and praying each day and he practically already had a testimony of it. He is so much fun to teach.

Also Elder Ballard is down here again because he is the one speaking at the CES fireside this week out here that will be broadcast to the world. Cool thing is that the building it will be broadcast from is my stake center that I am emailing from right now.  We live just down the road. haha Unfortunately, even though we are YSA ward missionaries we don't get to go to the fireside.  But on the bright side, He is doing another special mission Conference so we will get our own meeting with him.  Also the Broadway satire musical Book of Mormon is coming to San Diego in about a month.  As part of a media campaign being put on by the Church in the Area we are sending in pictures of what missionaries really do and there is going to be a link to a bunch of pictures coming up on facebook or twitter with the hashtag #realBookofMormon or #realMissionaries So we have been taking pictures of our everyday activities and sending them in. The second picture I sent with this email is one that I am sending in of Elder Roberts and I knocking on a door where no one was home! haha but no one has to know that!...

To answer your question, We go to both the MCRD church meetings at 7:30 am and our YSA ward's meetings at 2 pm.  This past week one of the first recruits I was able to teach at the MCRD graduated and as part of the graduation week their families come down to the base and get to tour around the grounds.  On what is called "family day" the church does like a small cake cutting ceremony and get together and every once in a while we get to go. So I was able to meet his family who aren't members but were supportive of his decision which was a really cool experience.

Oh, and I was finally able to get in contact with Julia yesterday! It is really weird to contact people that I know from before the mission.  It is just like two different worlds in my mind and when they cross over and there is a connection it is just the weirdest thing haha.

Anyway, That's about all I got for you this week! I'll be sure to tell you all about what Elder Ballard was like next week! :) 

love,
Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: Bang!!

Well.... I am trying to pick up the pieces of my mind that were just blown... So... Ryan?? Married?? I'm still trying to decide if this is real life or just a joke... haha well dang! I guess I'll miss that one... haha oh well! I commanded Ryan that he is REQUIRED to keep me up to date on everything that happens and details.  I loved the Pictures of Nathan, Scarlett, and Hazel all Easter'd up! I showed some missionaries around me the "Rowbury Cheeks" Everyone says that Nathan and I look the same.  It is pretty funny.

     

Mitch is a Recent Convert from Las Vegas.  He was going to San Diego State playing football but they let him go a few days ago because he is planning on serving a mission.  But on the bright side He gets to spend more time with us doing missionary work! :) He is pretty great! His excitement for the Gospel is so infectious! The Ward loves having him here!  

This last week was awesome! We Had an awesome Easter! It started with the MCRD both of my Recruits that I have been working a lot with are both in Phase two up at Camp Pendalton so I was trying to find another recruit to work with. Lo and behold, another awesome recruit falls into my lap!  He is really quiet and humble but so ready to learn.  He is in his Final Phase and preparing to go into something called the Crucible in a couple of weeks which is where the recruits use all the knowledge and training they have received and it culminates with "the Reaper" which is this brutal hike with a heavy pack, limited food, water and sleep.  So, I met with him kinda just talked about what he has learned so far and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We were able to set a goal for him to be baptized May 4th a few days after the Reaper and he is a graduated Marine! it is so exciting! I have to get someone to interview him this next week so he will be ready. So that was cool!

    

Yesterday we decided to try to see an investigator we had added a few weeks ago and his brother who was the real person we were looking for.  Their names are Angel and Omar.  So we showed up to their place, and Omar answers and he is way down to be taught.  when we asked if Angel around he was like, "Yeah, let me go get him!"  so we met Angel and he is way cool.  He had met with the sister missionaries while they were teaching his girlfriend and he wanted to learn more! So we are talking and give him a Book of Mormon and show him the story of the Stripling Warriors and he was pretty interested so we asked him if there was another time we could come by and teach him and his brother. and he said something like, "Well, I am pretty busy this next week.  I don't know... not friday... well, hmm... how about right now?" So we just ran with it! Yeah we would love to meet with you right now and teach you all about how awesome the Gospel is! haha So we sit down in their room and teach him all about prophets and the Restoration and they both love it! So we asked them if they would "follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the Priesthood authority of God." and Angel is all like, "Yeah!" Omar thought about it for a little while and came to the same conclusion.  It was a super cool miracle to have met the two of them. Especially because Angel was supposed to be at work but he didn't end up going that day for some reason.  

So that was something really cool that happened this past week! so yeah! Busy week though! we had a really fun activity idea for the YSAs to bring their friends to.  We are calling it an "Apptivity Night" where we set up different rooms in the Institute as different smart phone apps like angry birds, cut the rope, tetris, etc.  One of my personal favorites was the Facebook room where there will be socializing and index cards so you can write your testimony and post it on a wall! I thought it was a fun idea that you might get a kick out of. Anyway, I love you all and hope to hear from you next week! 

Love,

Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: Easter is coming!

First off, I put the ticket on my credit card not my debit card. I honestly don't know if those accounts are connected or what but if it makes a difference then I put the ticket on the credit card just so you know. :) haha  I put the mission address on the ticket.  I have no clue where you all live now so I gave the only address I knew.  haha Connor and I email back and forth every week so we stay in pretty close contact.  All he sent me this last week was a sentence in Portuguese.  Last week he ended his email in Portuguese but luckily I had someone next to me who was waiting for their visa to Brazil so I could understand it.  Sounds like he is enjoying himself! :)

     

The Speculation is true! In June we will be getting a new Mission President.  His name is President Schmitt.  He is really young (like 43 or something) and is bringing like 4 kids with him.  He is a Lawyer and his wife is a practicing medical doctor.  So it will be a big change but it should be really cool to see what he will bring to the mission field!

     

By popular demand, Elder New is from Las Cruces New Mexico (Where New Mexico State University is located).  He enjoyed playing basketball, swimming, and long walks on the beach with his dog named Luke... Maybe that last part was a lie but I don't know what to say about him other than if you put Justin Karoly as my companion then you would basically see what is going on. haha  I haven't told him that he reminds me of him but there is a crazy resemblance at times!  He is an awesome missionary! It is funny because I remember being around Justin just after he had come home from his mission and thinking, "I hope one day I have a companion on my mission like him."  Well, I got my wish! haha He is great though I'm sure pictures will come shortly.

     

This week there wasn't anything too crazy.  We have of course seen some cool miracles though coming from challenges given that were inspired by Elder Ballard's talk in the Sunday Morning session of Conference.  We asked 3 separate members to apply principles of Preach my Gospel to their missionary efforts and a really cool one happened with one of our member's named Gary Cookson (his family is from Carmichael by the way. Do we know them? they know the Smiths and Hills!)  We challenged Gary to use the Book of Mormon in his missionary efforts and to read Preach My Gospel chapter 5.  It wasn't even 24 hours before one of his friends asked him, "So, what is the Book of Mormon anyway?"  he was of course, a little taken back by his friend's question. haha It is always so cool to see the Lord provide us with opportunities to share the gospel with those around us! 

   

I received news that Recruit Johnson was able to be baptized this last Sunday which was really cool! Even though I wasn't able to be there, I am so proud of him and so glad the all went well.  I have been working with another Recruit from UT who grew up with the church in his life but never saw the importance to be baptized.  Since being in Boot Camp, he has since decided that he needed that extra strength in his life.  He is awesome and has become a close friend of mine.  He is only 17 and the process would be difficult for us to get his parents permission so we set a date for him to be baptized May 4th, the day after his 18th birthday.  Unfortunately, his baptism falls in his second phase as well up at Camp Pendalton so I won't be able to see him be baptized either which is a bummer. But, I am still super proud of him and excited for him to be baptized!

     

That is about all I got for my week! Tell me how your Easter goes! hope you have fun! And don't forget that I get to call you soon! :) 

Love,

     Elder Ethan John Rowbury

SDSU YSA: We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet!

Wasn't Conference Awesome!!!!! I actually didn't see Scotty in the Choir.  I did see a TON of LP kids in the UVU choir including Lauren who was in my Chamber choir Quartet my Junior year and also Taren Pew's little sister.  This time we watched all the sessions at church buildings.  Well, actually I guess that is a lie.  we didn't get to see the Sunday Morning Session yet because we were at the MCRD and had a regular fast and testimony meeting so we were some of the only people in the world that got the Sacrament during Conference weekend! :)

This Sunday at the MCRD was eventful. I am teaching a kid named Recruit Johnson and I met him a few weeks ago.  The first time we met it was on that day where we had like 4 times as many visitors show up than normal so I met with him with another recruit really briefly.  He seemed interested then but we just didn't have much time to see how truly anxious he was to be baptized! haha So when I met with him the following week (2 Sundays ago) while we were talking he was just loving everything that was taught and we started talking about baptism and his face lit up.  Once I noticed his face I asked him, "Do you want to be baptized?..."  he replied, "Yeah! I really do.  Ever since I walked through those doors I have wanted to be baptized."  I was shocked! haha He had felt the Spirit so strong just by walking through the doors of the auditorium where this small branch meets that he knew that it was the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  So  we set a date for him to be baptized for as soon as possible.  The next week, (so now we are at this past Sunday)  we met again.  He is still solid as ever so I literally taught him EVERYTHING! Restoration, Plan of Salvation, went over the Gospel of Jesus Christ again, Commandments like: the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, Tithing, Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, etc. ALL OF IT! He loved it! So he went straight to an interview for his baptism, meanwhile his friend Recruit Diaz was being interviewed to make sure he could perform the ordinance.  When all was said and done, both were ready.  The only problem is that the process of Boot Camp at the MCRD takes 13 weeks broken into 3 phases (4 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks) and for second phase they go up to Camp Pendalton and this was his final week before he went up for phase 2 so I won't be able to see him be baptized but I told him that I will be there in Spirit.  It is unfortunate but the important part is that he is baptized which I am so Excited about! I can't wait to see him come back as a Priest blessing the Sacrament! So yeah... that's what I did during the Sunday Morning Session... I think my favorite talks from Conference were from the Priesthod session.  Randal L Ridd gave a great talk about how this generation can be labeled "The Choice Generation" because there are so many choices to be made.  We can ultimately use the technology available for great good or great harm and that we must be "where we are when we are there" and not be caught up updating facebook or texting friends (I thought of you mom when he said that haha).  I also loved President Eyring's talk from Priesthood about the Heroes in his life.  

     

My new companion's name is... Elder New... yeah he understands his name is redundant but I must admit, it still makes me chuckle a little bit inside each time someone cracks a completely unoriginal new Elder joke.  He is very tall. 6'7" to be exact. Yeah, that's taller than Cameron! haha He is a stud missionary and reminds me a lot of Justin Karoly.  I am really excited to have him as my companion! This past week we had a ton to do.  We had our last interviews with President Clayton yesterday! It was sad! That took until 2. Then we did a few things at the mission office for a meeting we have coming up with the Stake President which took until 5.  Then we went to go move a recent convert who told us he was moving that morning which took until 7.  We went and got some food because we were starving and hadn't eaten all day and when it was all done and we were back in Church clothes it was 8:30 pm and we have to be in at 9.  yeah, it was a crazy day.  So we went to go try an investigator we hadn't been able to see for a while because he has been busy with College, Work, Football and Training, and volunteer coaching for a little league team. But when we have been able to catch him it has been awesome! So we go over  to see him and before we knock on the door he is outside to open the gate.  We sit down, Elder New introduces himself, and we start following up to see how he has been since last time we had seen him.  He tells us that he hasn't been reading everyday but here and there he is able to open it up when he has time and apologizes for not reading more (inside I was stoked because he had the motivation to read on his own! haha) we begin teaching and we had planned to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ so I started to give a brief summary quickly going through faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and he stops me there as I was trying to quickly explaining how I feel the Spirit.  And as I was struggling how to explain it, he said, "OH! I have to tell you about this! So every Mormon I have ever met is always so happy and positive and I have always really liked that, and as I was reading a few weeks ago I felt really happy and... I don't know how to explain it... like complete! and then the next day while I was at Football practice and I felt the same way! it is weird, but that's the way I felt!" Elder New and I just looked at each other like "did that really just happen?" haha So we explain to him that the Spirit prompts and speaks to us in ways that are familiar to us.  We continued with the lesson, taught the principles of the Gospel focusing on baptism.  At the end we invited him to be baptized and he accepted.  We set a date for him to be baptized on May 17th and he was super excited! 

     

So the work is moving forward! New companion and all! I know just the person to give the bracelets to! Her name is Jackqueline and she was recently baptized! I can't wait to get them! Thanks Leah! Know that I love you all and can't wait to hear from you next week! 

love,

     Elder Ethan John Rowbury

Oh and here are some fun pics from the USS midway! :)

Only the captain was allowed to sit in this seat...
I thought I would make some commands while I had the chance.

Elder Uchtdorf's talked about Selfies!!!

Um... excuse me! are we matching?!