Happy Monday!

Hey family!

Lets be honest... i really dont remember what happened this week. For those of you who havent experience a mission, there is a time warp that occurs. The days feel like weeks! you go to bed, without a clue of what happened just a few hours ago, let alone that morning. and the weeks feel like a day! you look back a week or two ago and it feels like just yesterday. so whether time goes by fast or slow really just depends on how you are looking at it:) i was able to get back to work pretty easily after calling home. I was scared that i would be super distracted all week, but i was fine! I was thinking about it, and i know that heavenly father is helping me so much out here. things that should have been so hard for me about a mission, havent been. for example: i'm the type who gets mega homesick just being away at girls camp or youth conference for a few days! how have i survived three months? (yes, that is correct! today is my three month anniversary!)  heaven knows!... literally! there are so many more things that should be hard but arent, i know that heavenly father is looking out for me!

 

there were some incredible things that happened this week, though! first, a few weeks ago we met this guy and he was curious about the book of mormon and wanted to learn more. so we took down his information, but we hadn't been able to get in contact with him for weeks. Finally, last week, he answers his phone and he tells us that we cant imagine the things he had been through the past few weeks. THE DAY AFTER we met him, there was a major tragedy in his family, like major. We were able to go over this week and pray with him and his family. but how crazy is it that right before this tragedy happens, god puts us in his life. and we are now able to offer him peace, comfort, hope and a strong foundation to get through these things! Heavenly Fathers timing is so perfect, its crazy..

 

also, we have a baptism set for june 1 for this cute little couple who are expecting a baby girl within the next month! (we are praying that she waits until after the baptism... but she might decide to make things exciting:) ) it has been so incredible to see the changes come over these two! we have been working with them since i got here, and they have been so slow coming! but something happened these past few weeks and they know that this is what they want for their family. He even asked his manager for sundays off!! that is more of a big deal than y'all realize. these two came to florida with 20 dollars in their pocket, with no idea how they were going to survive. he found a minimum wage job, and has somehow been able to support his family on it since december. but he works A TON of hours to be able to do so. any spare second he has, hes working just to make enough money. it was such a leap of faith on his part, to ask for a whole day off. these two remind me why i'm here on a mission! it has been so exciting to watch them change and grow, and to see how happy they are now. they are just happy all the time! thats what this gospel does:)

 

transfer calls are this saturday!! and since i'm now officially done being trained, anything could happen. Sister Chadwick thinks that shes being transferred, just because thats been the pattern of past missionaries in this area, but we will see! i'll be able to let you all know on monday whats happening! i really hope that neither of us get transfered though because this area is just starting to blossom!

 

Exciting things are happening:) and i know that Heavenly Father is at the head of this work. its so fun to be even just a small part of it:) i know that this church is christs church restored to the earth, and that joseph smith was called to be a prophet and given the priesthood authority. I know that this gospel changes lives! and i know that Christ makes all things possible and through him we can find peace:) i know that heavenly father loves us, and he knows us, and knows whats best for us. I know the the book of mormon is the word of god, and that heavenly father speaks to his children through its pages. i know that he answers our prayers! and i know that we can live with our families and our savior and heavenly father forever. I know these things with all my heart:) and i know that these things are worth standing up for, and speaking out for!

 

i love you all so much! And i wish you all the best week ever!

 

love always, sister rowland