Week 3-MTC

Happy Halloween Yall! What better way to start off this holiday than at the temple! 
Well let me just jump right into it. This week has been such a testimony builder for not only me but my whole district. Thursday morning the elders were a bit late coming in and when we did see them, they had quite the shocker for us. Elder Hughes had gone home. At first we thought they were kidding! Elder Hughes?! We all figured he had the strongest testimony of us all. He was so excited to go out and share the gospel just like it was shared with him a little over a year ago. Apparently up till the day he left, he never changed his personality. He was still the joking fun-loving same Elder Hughes. He had had a few interviews with the branch President and then with the district president the week before but none of us could have imagined anything like this! Even his comp. Elder Lee was surprised. Late the night before as they were all getting ready for bed, Elder Hughes went up to Elder Lee and said he was going home that night. He said it wasn't anything to do with worthiness issues, he just felt he didn't have a strong enough testimony. He then packed his stuff and left that night. We were all kind of shell shocked. Hermano Frey, our teacher that day, changed up the lesson and we watched part of the restoration and then went and prayed to know once more that it was true. Then we had a testimony meeting. We all took a look at our own testimonies and reifermed why we were here. It was all uphill from there. This whole week has been building on that testimony and I have learned a bit more about the character of Christ and what it means to represent Him. 

That night we had our first TRC which is kinda like visiting teaching to volunteers from the area...in Spanish. I was really nervous at first but I think that was one of my favorite experiences! It feels so good to teach real people and share the gospel with them. The spirit was so strong even if our Spanish wasn't:). 

Fri, Elder Tipps was sick so all the Elders had to stay home which meant that it was just us 4 girls all day long. It is super rare to have more sisters than elders in one district. I love it:) I felt so bad for the elders that day because we learned so much in Spanish and took a huge leap. I am still amazed at the miracle of what we are doing every day! 

Sunday is my favorite day at the MTC! This week I got to sing A Childs Prayer with Elder Jenkins in our branch. I love the musical #'s here during all the meetings and it was so fun to be a part of that. I was also made the music coordinator in our branch. That means that I get to be the annoying one to try and get people to play for sacrament meeting and priesthood. I'm excited though. Its always fun to have a calling. Plus I get to go meet the new missionaries in our branch tomorrow and tell them all to come to choir! We haven't had a new district in our branch since we came in so we are pretty excited. Especially since there will be 4 new sisters:) Relief Society was taught by Sister Jean Stevens who is in the General Primary Pres. Yes mom, you should be jealous:) R.S. is my favorite here! She gave such a great talk and the spirit was so strong! 

I love how much I am learning here! The Devotionals and Firesides have helped me so much this week. I have learned so much about how powerful the Book of Mormon really is. It's not just a good book that makes people feel good and somehow answers questions that we have. This is a book of power! There is a special spirit contained in this book that is unlike any earthly thing. In a previous MTC Devotional by Elder Holland he gave his testimony of the Book and stated that unless converts have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, their testimony cannot last. That is how important it is! Without the restoration, without the Book of Mormon, we have nothing else to share. 

For movie night, we watched last years MTC Christmas Devo. by Elder Bednar. He taught about the character of Christ and how there would be no atonement without the character of Christ. The character of Christ is that Christ turns outward, when the natural man would turn inward. It was such a good talk and helped me have a deeper knowledge of what the phrase "What would Jesus do?" really means. He also talked about conversion. He said that you can have a testimony and still not be converted. A testimony is what you know, conversion is being consistently true to what you know, to have the character of Christ. 

I have also learned so much about faith this week. It's amazing how much more you can learn about faith. I have learned that I still need so much more! In Peter 1:7, it says that the trials of your faith are as good as gold. These trial are to refine you and help  you to become more like God. Being at the MTC is a different kind of trial than anything I have ever encountered. It has been so different than anything I expected. My faith has already been tried and stretched and I know it still has a long way to go. What a comfort that these thing will be for my good and will bring me experience. In Ether 2: 24-25, The Lord tells the brother of Jared that the winds and storms have come from Him, but not to worry because He has "prepared" them for the storms. Their barges were tight like unto a dish and they would not sink. This is so true in our lives. I have been prepared for what I am going through and I will not sink. Alexa has also been prepared. I want you to know that I think of you guys and pray for you often. It just about breaks my heart that I can't be there to help with everything but like I said before. I am trying to be the best missionary I can so you can get those needed blessings. I love you so much! 

I can't wait to get the pictures! Please send more! I actually didn't get any printed off before I left so I don't have a family pic or any thing which would be super nice to have. Besides it will be nice to get some mail too. Lets just say I was super happy yesterday to get the dearelder from you:) James is so awesome! Tell him thanks for keeping Alexa's spirits up. I would write him myself except I don't have his address. Thanks for doing the absentee form. I was actually wanting to ask you to do that so consider permission granted to sign my name:) As far as winter stuff goes, I do have my coat. I just kinda wish I had more shoes and tights. I'll be ok without them though. I have no clue which box or suitcase they would be in under the house. There is a small clothes store somewhere around here that I still haven't checked out. By the way, does anyone know a way to keep my feet from stinking after wearing those shoes all day every day? That would be nice. I'll try and get a pic in my greenish shirt. I actually have a few pics on my camera I was going to attach but I forgot to bring it today. Next time ok? Send me pics of everyones halloween costumes ok? mine is my orangesh shirt with my black skirt and a missionary tag. Who can guess who I am?:) I love you guys so much and pray for you every day! 

Les Amo! Hermana Rowley (Shayla)

There is Hawaii, out in the middle of the ocean!

Our Halloween costumes!

Week 2-MTC

Aloha and Hola! 
Well I am now finished with week 2 here at the MTC! The temple this morning was amazing and just what I needed. Pdays fall on the perfect day for me! I was so excited to get mom's weekly letter last night. I forgot to tell you about Adam in my last letter but I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see him and get a quick update on the fam! I am praying for you always and am so sorry that you have to clean the house alone mom! You know I would help you if I was there! Alexa and Tyson, I want letters from you! How far are you on Dr. Who now? How is school going? Do you miss me yet? I miss you! Luckly all my roommates say they enjoy my singing all the time so that is something I do to keep my spirits up. I always am happier when I sing:) I think the elders in my district sing more that me though! They are alway bursting out in a quartet and they say they sing each other to sleep:) They are so fun, I just love my district! 

This Sunday was another amazing day. I think sundays are my favorite here! For our RS speaker we got Sister Dibb and she told us all about these awesome stories with her dad, Pres. Monson. It was so cool to here about his family life. He likes to whistle in the morning, he likes his marshamellows toasted brown, and he still owns four chickens:) I also love that every Sunday night after the fireside is movie night and this sunday we watched The Testaments. I haven't seen that in so long and it was amazing to see it again! The spirit was so strong. I love looking around after the movies because not only are the sisters all crying by the end but the Elders are as well. As Elder Tipps would say, It's definately a tear jerker! 

My classes are going great! I have amazing teachers and am learning so much. It's so fun to study the scriptures here at the MTC. I get more out of them then I ever have before! The spanish is still difficult but Its coming along. Its so fun to be able to speak certain phrases in a different language. Every once in a while I wish I could go home and show you all that I know so far:) So far I know everything I knew after 2 years in highschool spanish, except now I can somehow remember everything! Its such a miracle! It will be so amazing when I can actually speak an intelligent conversation though:). 

I heard an amazing quote the other day that I wrote down and thought I'de share: "Many Young women are serving missions, many are preparing to serve. Not because they are not married or have nothing else to do, but because they have a desire to serve and therefore, are being called to the work. The reason so many are going is because, in the next generation, Heavenly Father will be sending His priesthood army to the earth. He wants to send them to mothers who have been properly trained and taught in the gospel and what better training can a young woman have than that of serving a mission" -President Hinkley. I am so glad to be apart of this work! We learned last night in devotional that there has been a 471% increase in missionary applications since the announcement was made in general conference. By the way, in case anyone was wondering (I know my family was), when the announcement was made and the missionaries here at the MTC heard it, there wasn't just shock, but everyone literally shouted for joy. Apparently there were whoops and hollers from everyone! How cool would that be to be here for that! The Lord is truly hastening His work! 

Well its getting colder here and I am just now realizing that I didn't bring enough stuff for winter, you know, since i'm going to Hawaii and all:). This morning was a cold rainy walk to the temple. I'm super excited for it to snow though because Elder Tipps has never seen snow! I love you all and can't tell you how excited I get when I hear from you! I will be praying for Alexa and hope that everything goes well with her procedure they are going to do. Keep me posted. I am trying my best to be the best missionary I can be so I can send all those blessings home to you! I love you!

Hermana Shayla Rowley

Week 1-MTC

10/17/12

Well what a week it has been! First week here at the MTC and where to begin?! First of all, thank you so much for the letters I received! For those of you who don't know, dearelder.com is a lifesaver!!!! I know I gave out my email but please use dearelder.com instead! I only have 30 min for emailing and don't have a way to print here at the MTC. Thanks so much! 

Saying goodbye was hard but my first day started pretty quick. I was led through all sorts of places to get my name tag (hermana Rowley!:), mission books (by the way, to learn Spanish, they didn't really mention that you need like 20 lbs of extra room in your suitcases for books! I should be fine though:), my new living quarters and then my classroom where I met my companera, Hermana Dunn. Hermana Dunn is 22, a graduate of the nursing program at BYUI, and heading to Buenos Aris Argentina to serve as the mission nurse.  She was really excited because she is the runt of her family at 5'10 and is used to being around tall people:) Funny but I have just realized that her personality and everything is almost identical to my roommate, Michelle at BYUH. She is a super hard worker and is anxious to be obedient and get everything done. I love her and am blessed to have her as my companion. My district consists of 4 hermanas and 4 elders. They are all so fun and the spirit is so strong at our meetings. The elders really keep all of us laughing thank goodness! Elder Tipps is our district leader from Nashville Tennessee and his companion is Elder Simon from Australia. Yeah think of those accents together with hilarious personalities! Elder Hughes is a convert of about 1 year and has read the entire bible more than once and read the book of Mormon in a week! You think he is quiet till you get to know him better...then he says the funniest things! His companion, Elder Lee is from Utah and is just as funny and great as the rest of them. They all have strong testimonies and different backgrounds. Sisters Beckart and Crane are our roommies and are so sweet and fun. Hermana Michelle is a sister that was our roommate until this morning. She is now headed off to her Visitor Center Mission in California. I am really going to miss her cause she has been such a fun spirit to be around! I think she was the only one who really got my humor:) It has been fun having her here since she was doing the same thing I will be doing on my last week. She said that the last week was the most difficult yet most fulfilling of all her time at the MTC. she had tons of classes and got to go to temple square and be a temple square missionary for her official training. So I got that to look forward to! Did I mention I am sooo excited!!!!!

I have seen Rachael (Sis. Williams), along with a million other people I know! Hermana Dunn thinks I know everybody. In fact, right now I am sitting beside Megan Braithwaite and she told me to say hi to you all:).

I love every day here at the MTC! I love the classes with the awesome teachers, the devotionals, the firesides, the choir, Relief Society (we had Sis Burton came to speak to us!!), gym time, P-Days, Temple time, meal time, and ever time in between! Spanish is so hard sometimes but I just keep telling myself not to worry about it. The Spanish will come and then maybe I will be able to say what I need to. I have already taught 3 lessons to our "investigator" (my teacher) totally en Espanol! My grammar is terrible but somehow he understands it. I did make the mistake of saying Te Amo instead of Le Amo to him. (Te Amo is something someone says to someone really close, like a family member). He just laughed a bit and then said something later. Another time he was trying to explain what happened between he and his wife and I couldn't understand so we just said "no entiendo" he kept repeating it till he finally said what he was trying to say ("ERRORR") in a really bad english accent. haha, and he wasn't supposed to be able to understand or speak any English

:)

People have said that angels walk the halls of the MTC and I truly believe it! The spirit is so strong and the missionaries are so amazing. It's also fun cause these angels happen to speak tons of different languages and will shout random things at you that you cant understand:) I suppose I am becoming one of those:)

I absolutely LOVE the music here! I love hearing all the hymns the missionaries sing before and during each meeting. It brings the spirit so much. I am going to get some music from the music library soon to audition to do a musical number with an elder in my zone who has a really amazing voice. Wish me luck on that:)

Well my time is almost up so I need to be going. I love you all so much and can really feel your prayers! I have grown so much in the past week and as hard as it is, I will make it through this stronger and happier than I ever have before! Te Amo!

Hermana Rowley
(Shayla)

PS. Mom, hermana Dunn's old bishop and his wife were here and took a pic of us by the map and are supposed to send it to you so I hope that gets there. I wanted you to use that pic from a few years ago with the pink shirt or I guess if you want the one on the wall would be fine. whatever you think is best. My two fav. scripts right now are Matthew 10:39 and Ester 4:14 (starting with "Who knoweth..."). If you can use both. if not, you just pick the one you think is best for me:) I love you so much! plus, if you want to send me some more stamps I would not object:)

Mission Call

Dear Sister Rowley, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. In addition to your calling to share the gospel, you will be assigned to serve in the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors' Center. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

Wow! Perhaps extremely unexpected, yet now I can say that this mission call is greatly anticipated! Although, who would have thought Spanish in Hawaii!!! My mission call was received at the end of August and now, after about a month and a half to prepare, I am getting ready to leave in two days! I am so excited to be going back to the same area where I was living at BYU-Hawaii just 2 years ago! People keep reminding me that I won't get to get in the water, but that honestly doesn't bother me too much. I know how beautiful everything is on land and I am content to enjoy that:) I really am going to the most beautiful place on earth! I also already LOVE the Laie Temple! I was never able to go there when I lived there because it was still under reconstruction, but I loved walking on the temple grounds and passing by it on my afternoon runs. It is so beautiful and I am so excited to be able to be there every day. Also, and I kid you not, I am going to get to wear a mumu and sandals while serving at the visitors center!

Things have been pretty hectic here as you may guess but I have grown and been blessed so much, just through the preparation. I have been working on finishing the Book of Mormon and my testimony for it has just grown tenfold! I had the opportunity to go through the temple the week after I got my call and I have learned, that is the greatest blessing of them all! I love the temple and the blessings that come with it! I'm so lucky!