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