A Week with the Funks. (Written on 12/3/17)

Hey fam, this week has been craaazy sweet!  Right now it's thursday night as i'm writing this on alfasmart.  tonight me and my wonderful companion went on splits with Elder Funk's wife, Sister Funk and Sister Rowley!  It was my first time going on splits with Sister Rowley and this time we happened to have the pleasure of being accompanied with Sister Funk too.  A little nerve wracking but i'm also so gateful for the learning opportunity I had.  They taught so simply and beautifully. and truly brought a special spirit to the lesson.  We taught ibu Tutut and Mbak Vero.  They're getting baptized next week!  They're such miracles.  WE taught about the doctrince of Christ. or The gospel of jesus christ.  we read straight from 3 nephi 27, the savior's own words to the people of Nephi.  It's such a beautiful chapter, as christ explains why he was sent here to do the will of His father.  to be lifted up on the cross, to die for us.  He reminds us that no unclean thing can return to heavenly father, but if we have faith in him, repent, and are baptized in His name (aka by the proper authority), are sanctified by the holy spirt, and are faithful until the end we can be saved.  it's so simple. and so beautiful.

I know that God really does love us, because he sent his perfect son to help us who are not perfect, we all sin, we all make mistakes, but repentance is real.  Monday we had MLC and it was amazing,  one of the main things that touched my heart was a quote from sister rowley.  "Don't get discouraged,  The Savior is with you. He died for you."  whether we're missionaries or just normal people we are all disciples of jesus christ and we all have different trials, and i know He can help us through those trials, if we just let him in, if we just come unto him.  Like alma says in alma 32:27  'if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words and exercise a PARTICLE of faith'  with whatever faith you have now in the savior, decide what you're going to do with that faith, how are you going to act on that belief.  do you really love him, do you really believe he loves you?  so what are you going to do about it?  All He asks us to do is follow Him and keep His commandments.

It is now sunday night, i was so tired I almost fell asleep in our last lesson.  After 2 weeks we FINALLY saw Ibu E again (the one who almost got baptized) but it's a good thing she didn't at the time we were pushing for cuz she is sooo not ready, and i'm glad we saw her tonight bc i was worried we were going to have to drop her but i was actuallly with Sister Utomo tonight (we had a mini split)((there's some drama with that i'll let ya know in a sec)) but we both saw the potential in her tonight, and we know as she diligently starts reading the Book of Mormon again her heart will change.

Also tonight sister utomo and I saw Ibu Tutut and Mbak Vero, who will be getting baptized this Saturday!!  They're just miracles and I'mso so grateful for this opportunity to be here to help them enter into the waters.  I know sister Rowley and Sister Funk are excited for their baptism too, they're so sincere and Ibu Tutut said the cutest thing, she's so humble, she's like,  "I just can't describe how grateful I am that they wanted to come and see me, I'm just a small person, but they wanted to come see me." :') so cute.

we had 6 people at church this week! (we could count saturday night's session of conference) but it was awesome that they all got to meet President Rowley and Elder Funk.  and the talks were all on point, I also got to see my old investigators that the timur sisters are teaching, it was so great, and i saw BOGOR MEMBERS and MALANG MEMBERS and I just love the memberes here in indonesia so so much it was great.

oh ya, ya know how i said there was drama i wont tell you what but i will tell ya that i'm soooo grateful for my amazing companion, sister toala.  we get along so well and we laugh all day long and she's teaching me a lot. it's like she's training me not the other way around!  SHE GOT TO BE INTERVIEWED BY ELDER FUNK which was way cool and he gave her the best advice so we're both just PUMPED to get out there and work hard!

also i had my first paranormal experience, it was so weird yall and sister toala was there so she's my second witness.  we were roleplaying and i was making her recite the first vision in indonesian over and over again until she had it perfect while we were eating lunch.  AND THEN. all of a sudden my glass of milo moved slowly across the table!!!! o.O!!!!  it WAS CRAZY YALL we both just stopped and watched it, it stopped, we looked at each other, and we're like. uhhhhh what the.  we tried to see if the table was like slanted or what not.  nope.  or if it was just slippery, no.  IT WAS CRAY YALL.  so thats my first crazy experience.

we also have sad news,  so my mission grandma just got married and many members from all over indonesia went to her wedding in malang.  turns out there were members from solo that went, and on the way home they got in a terrible accident, 5 were injured and 1 passed away, and the one happened to be one of the new elder's father. ):  He just got on the field 3 weeks ago. and his mother is in critical condition.  Please keep this elder's family in your prayers.

I'm trying to think of anything else,  oh yeah we're getting new bikes today hollah!  It was just a great week, my companion and I found quite a bunch of new investigators and we have 3 people on date for baptism in desember, and life is just good.  I can't believe I'm hitting a year in indonesia this week. so weird. it doesnt even feel like it..  I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had this last year in this beautiful country.  I am so lucky I could serve the beautiful friendly people of Indonesia, to be a representative of the Lord and to share His true gospel with the people.  It's such a beautiful thing to see, the light of the gospel truly blessing the people's lives when they accept it.  Heavenly Father has told me that on my mission, I will be filled with joy as i see the light of the gospel touch people's lives, and that I hold in my hand the happiness of numerous of people, even generations unnumbered.  I finally understood that this week. Elder funk shared so many cool stories of his mission as he served here 45 years ago.  and how he got to meet his old investigators, maybe he wasnt there when they were baptized, but they thanked him for teaching him..  and that one family has had so many missionaries and so many go to the temple and etc..  Maybe as missionaries we dont always see the frruit of our labors immediately, but i know no effort is wasted when we share this precious message with whoever will listen.  who knows who will accept it in the Lord's time after I am gone..  I just heard that Sister Yandel (our miracle contact)  wants to go to the temple next year (':  and I found out from Bogor members that an investigator that I taught got baptized (do you remember Fana? (: )  and SHE'S PREPARING TO GO ON A MISSION!!  isn't that beautiful??  I'm so happy.  This gospel is just full of Happiness and everyone needs it in their life.

I'm trying to think of a spiritual thought for  yall, but the only thing I can think of is just the simple things.  Pray everyday yall, talk to Heavenly Father, He loves you, and prayer will give you strength, read your scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon the last few conferences have had AMAZING talks and promises about the power of the Book of Mormon. I know the words of Christ will strengthen you.  The simple things will protect us from the advesary, from all the temptations,  the simple things will help us want to become more like Christ.  I hope you all have seen the new Christmas campaign,  forget about yourself this Christmas, think of others, serve others, do the things Christ would do if He were here.  Mosiah 2:17  (You're only in the service of your God when you serve others)  I love this gospel, I love my Savior and Heavenly Father and I hope you all can draw nearer to them this Christmas!  Love you!

<3// Sister Rowntree

1) way cute candid pic from Sister Funk's iphone while we were walking through a gang.

2) just being cute ya know

1) my mission grandma! probs the last time i'll see her she's movign to tanggerang cuz she jsut got married!

2)me and anak ku <3

3)lol we look better upside down and its sister Lea from Malang! <3 (':

4) just feelin fab

1) one time we went to a park and we taught the restoration to a group of young girls it was fun

2) splits with sister rowley and sister funk! *(:

1) I SAW SISTER YANDEL AGAIN!!!! <3333

2) MAMA TANTI FROM MALANG!! <333

3)ANAKKU<3

4)they're both canadian, and i'm pretty sure i'm from canada somewhere so ya. we're all canadians

1) He's tongan she's samaoan i'm just there.

2) our house!

3) ya itulah.

4) lol this is what i usually look like, rachet.  but hey look at the cool surroundings of surabya

No time to post! Sorry (written on 11/27/17)

HEY FAM!!!

I'M IN JAKARTA FOR THE NIGHT WEE!!!

today.  we had MLC again with a GENERAL AURTHORITY ELDER RANDY D. FUNK. IT WAS AMAZING MY FLAME OF FAITH HAS BEEN REKINDLED AND I'M READY TO GO!!! 

TONIGHT I GET TO GO ON SPLITS IWTH SISTER FUGLSANG!! ONE OF MY MTC COMPS!  AND I SAW SISTER RATUNUMAN AGAIN!! LIFE IS GOOD THE GOSPEL IS TRUE AND I LOVE THE SAVIOR!

i promise next time i'll write a real email and send pics  love you all thanks forhte support have a christ centered week ya  CHRISTMAS IS COMIN BABY!  GET OUT THERE AND SERVE! (:

<3// Sister Rowntree

Banjir human Latin Astagah!

Banjir= floods  hujan=rain  laron= THOSE DEMON BUGS WITH HUGE WINGS THAT ARE ATTRACTED TO LIGHT ASTAFIRGHALLAH!!!!  do yall remember that train story when I was in bogor??/ when the doors opened and all these nasty laron entered?!?!?  ya. well. it's rainy season, so guess whats back. T____T

Hey fam what's happenin.  This week was soooo long and challenging and faith testing and just everything.

soooo it turned out that my child didn't get here until WEDNESDAY  and Monday and Tuesday we had bike problems so not much happened, contacted a few cool people.

Wednesday:  picked up my daughter

New comp: SISTER TOALA

From?  NEW ZEALAND

SHE'S SAMOAN!  SHE'S SO TALL SHE'S LIKE 6'2!!!

that day we also had 2 great lessons.  one with a new investigator namanya Ibu Y, she's so cute, she used to be catholic, but now she follows her husbands religion. I think I told yall about her last week, shes still amazing and she did her homework, (read from KM) and prayed about it,  SHE JUST HAD A BABY GIRL we got to go see her sooo cute,  she says next week she'll come to church.  and last time she said.  "I Miss Him. (Christ)"  isn't that beautiful,  we're helping her find him again, and it's by doing the most simple things..  President Erying says that as we serve others, read our scriptures and pray everyday, we really will 'Always remember Him' as we've promised Heavenly Father each week as we partake of the sacrament.  Just the little simple things that we do everyday can help us come closer to Jesus Christ and really become His Disciple.

My last 2 months here in Surabaya have been awesome, we've found so many new people to teach and I really thought we'd be having baptisms soon but all of a sudden it seems like all of the people who had real potential are slowing dropping off the face of the earth. and it's just like.  :o  what have I been doing the past two months?? Heavenly Father we are trying our best we're trying to increase our teaching skills and be obedient and from our point of view it's like there's no success..  it can be discouraging sometimes if I'm being honest, but I know it all comes down to our faith.  The Elders gave us their investigators daughter to teach who wants to be baptized with her mom!  Her name is Mbak V!  we're planning on seein her everyday this week to get her prepared!  Such a miracle, sometimes we do have to work as hard as we can, and sometimes it seems like it's all in vain, but when we hold through and are diligent unto the End the Lord blesses us!  so that was cool.

Sunday we found a really sincere new investigator. Ibu S, she lives by herself and works in Surabaya and her son lives with her parents in a desa (village(like legit junglely monkeys cool village))  her life is so hard,  when she was 7 months pregnant with her son her husband wasn't faithful to her and left her, she really opened up to us and when we talked about the covenants we make with Heavenly Father when we're baptized she received it! 

One thing I've realized with other Christians while I've been serving and learning about the gospel of jesus Christ is the differences between our church and every other Christian domination.. With the fullness of the gospel, we really can receive the blessnings of the atonement of Jesus Christ!  It's great other people love Jesus, and  I know God blesses them too,  but I know the only true way we cn receive forgiveness for our sins, be completely healed from pain or sorrows is if we're baptized by Christ's true authority and receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost.. Heavnely Father is so loving, and he knows we will struggle with weaknesses and trials and all sorts of stuff, but with the holy ghost we really can feel his loved, be cleansed from our sins and feel free!

I know this gospel is the only true gospel that will bring us everelasting happiness, the only way we can really really apply the atonement in our lives!

Okay now to talk about training.. woah.. it's so weird being a mom.... it's only been like 5 days.. and I've learned a lot... like how much I need to stop thinking about myself and what I want,  I've repented don't worry, but MAN it is hard to overcome the natural man, but my child has helped me see how important it is to really just forget about ourselves and do the Lord's will, I need to be thinking about how I can help HER and our investigators.   It's so weird to think that almost a year ago I was in her shoes...  she's so positive though, I remember how hard it was to adjust to living in the crazy but beautiful country of Indonesia!  getting used to the FOOD the SMELLS the people, we are having so much fun though and we're always laughing.  Her testimony is so strong and beautiful,  I'm so proud of her,  even with her simple language I know that our investigators can feel the spirit when she testifies and that is what matters!

well, I think that's all I have to say for this week.  we're going to be finding like crazy again this week until we find that one red tomato who wants to follow the example of Jesus Christ.  this church is true yall,  oh oh I have a cool quote from the Liahona.  (this was when President Russel M. Nelson's grandpa(who already passed away)  visited his dad. and his dad asked his grandpa if this church was really the true church.)

"My son,  just as sure as you see that picture(of the first presidency), just as sure is the gospel true.  The gospel of Jesus Christ has within it the power of saving every man and woman who will obey it, and in no other way can they ever obtain salvation in the kingdom of God.  My son, always cling to the gospel.  Be humble, be prayerful, be submissive to the priesthood,  be true,  be faithful to the covenants you have made with God.  Never do anything that would displease God.  Oh, what a blessing is the gospel.  My son, be a good boy."  !!!  ISN'T THAT LEGIT!  Let's all try our best to be good boys and girls and just keep god's commandments, that's all he asks of us because he LOVES us and knows the commandments will help us and keep us safe and happy!  No no we're not gonna be perfect but repentance is real and amazing! Complete obedience to the gospel entitles us to all the blessings people of Indonesia!  have a nice week yall!  <3 Sister Rowntree

1) MY CHILD!!!!1 (:

2) she thinks our height difference is hilarious!!

The Fabulous 3

welp.  it turns out.  yes. i am still training.  but i have not moved to surabaya 2  SO I DONT HAVE TO WHITEWASH HALLELUUJAH!!!!

My child is coming tomorrow!!! (most likely) I'm so excited to train.  She is from New Zealand and she's polynesian, but I dont know how to spell her name, i'll let you know next week.

so this week i've been with sister utomo and sister Bourelle AND WE'VE HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!!!  thinking about trios used to give me anxiety but this trio has been a BLAST.  sister utomo is finishing up her mission at the end of this transfer, and sister bourelle is one of my favorite sisters. we are litterally twins. shes just canadian and i'm american that's the only difference we love the same movies songs tv shows it's so fun.  we've seen many miracles this week too.

time is short so i'll just share 2 cool stories that happened last night.  so this week we were rejected hard core but on the way to that terrible appointment we met this sweet pregnant woman who used to be christian but has then become the other religion to follow her husband. we told her who we were and she said she needed someone to talk too.  so we went to her house yesterday.  she was so opened to us on how much she misses the bible and how she used to feel in her heart, she says she needs jesus to help her, but it's hard since she's changed religion.  we promised her the blessings and comfort she'll get from learning our message.  she even prayed to heavenly father in the name of jesus christ after our lesson. the spirit was so strong and so sweet, and it just hit me how amazing being a missionary is. we are here to help people come unto jesus christ.  Help people remember who they are and what they need. i was so touched by her.

and then the second story when i was still in malang i met this lady at the park, we told her who we were and she's like sorry i'm not christian and we're lqike oh okay. so we keep talking and then she's randomly like. but i want to marry a christian. and i'm lke. huh?  and she's like. i'm so confused. and i asked her if she knew anything about jesus christ and she's like no. so we gave her a plan of salvation pamplet and got her number cuz i was about to move to surabaya and she lived in the exact same area! so i finally get to surabaya and try calling and texting but she seemed not interested..... 7 weeks later i get a call from a number that's not ssaved.  

"Hello?"  "Is this sister rowntree? do you remember me?"  and i'm like uhhhhh sorry this number is not saved... .and she's like, you met me in malang and iwas like OH YA I REMEMBER YOU HI. and she's like, i'm coming back from church right now... and i'm like  WOAH YOUR'E GOING TO CHURCH NOW?!?! can we meet today?  

so we met her and her new boyfriend who is christian at this big park.  she told us about her hard life, and how she wants to find peace and happiness in jesus christ.  we shared the restoration with her and hse is the most humble person ever willing to accpet. she knows she has little knowledge about the savior but we promised as she reads the book of mormon she'll come to know it for herself that he's her savior too.  IT WAS SO COOL. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!  pray  for missionary opportunities  yall.  show your light, come unto the savior and follow those first promptings from the spirit. I love you all  have a nice week!

sister rowntree

1) my sweaty face and cute indonesian baby

2) lol this was from forever ago.

sorry i dont have anymore pics i forgot myt card reader and sister bourelle's card reader isnt working next week i swearrrr i'll send some bye!!

I am of child

WAHHHH!!!!!  THIS WEEK HAS BEEN INSANE!!!  LITERALLY. THE MISSION HAS EXPLODED.  why you may  asks?

TANSFERS.  I swear this was the most dramatic transfer of my life astaGA.

so yes I have some news.  (and this news will explain the title (: )

IM TRANSFERING

to......

SURABAYA 2. so it's not that far lol.  I'm just in the other building.. but do you know what that means.....

I'M WHITE WASHING SURABYA 2. which is 12 times bigger.  oh.  white washing= like... sending new missionaries in an area, (like not having just one missionary go in the area with a companion that already knows where things are.)

and top all of that.  IM OF CHILD!   I'M BECOMING A MOTHER!!! (Becoming a trainer (; )  finally after 11 months of being in the country I'm finally going to be able to train a new missionary!! I'm so excited!! but also sooo terrified because I HAVE NO IDEAE WHERE ANYTHING IS IN MY NEW AREA AHH!!!!  we literally hve nothing. lol.  I don't think there's many progressing investigators there cuz there's been no sisters working in the timur area for like 3ish months.....  sooooo this is going to be an adventure but I'm so excited.  miracles happen when you get lost and you don't know where you're going I swear!  it's like nephi when he's like "and the spirit led me beforehand or something I forget" that's how sister ratu and I found sister Y  (':  so I know the Lord is just wanting to me grow again.

mssions are so funny, you start getting comfortable and then the lord's like "nnNOOOPE!"  and smashes a piece of cake in your face do you get what I'm saying?  AND 2 MORE SISTERS ARE COMING TO SURABAYA, so they'll be in my old area... they're so lucky.... sister hyde and I have found over 40 new investigators this last transfer and we have 2 baptismal commitments so the sisters white washing my old area have it SOOOOOO good.  it's ifne. -___-'   (; just kidding, I will do the Lord's will.  yup so that was the explosion, seriously there were so many tears this week hahahaha

wow.   also sister hyde and I worked soooo hard this week. we found our 10+1 new investigators and IBU E and her son came to church! Puji Tuhan!  The lord is so good.  

I just want to share a little thought on faith.  with faith we can do anything.  that's like the main thing I've learned on the field is that I am literally nothing, and can literally do nothing if I don't rely on the lord in every aspect of my life!  wow!  I love this work, sorry this email is short.  Have a nice week yall and find some ways to strengthen your FAITH!

Divine Destiny

wow!  this wek FLEW by!

Surprise!  We had to say goodbye to Sister Ratunuman!  she was supposed to be here for 2 more weeks, but Sister Stefani randomly got transfered to Malang, so I will miss my old companion,  but I know I'll see them again soon in November because nowwww as Sister Training Leaders we can go into the other sisters area's for splits and to do a house check!  Sup[er stoked to be able to go back to my old area <3  Monday we celebrated sister ratu's 20th birthday,  she bought us all pizza ( i know what youre' thinking  SHE baught YALL stuff on HER birthday?!?!?)  it's an indonesian tradtion so i aint complaining :p  I surprised her with JCO frozen yogurt too, it was fun and we jammed with our ukelele's again with the elders!

Tuesday:  I left for Jakarta with the Zone Leaeers for MLC,  so fun the food was great and we were all called to repentance!  I lvoe repentance, I am so grateful for this gospel, like, us unperfect creatures mess up everday and fall shrot from teh glory of God like, wE ARE LESS THAN THE  DUST OF THE EARTH cuz when god says "dust, move."  it moves.  and when god asks us to do simple things like "pleaser ead your scriptures child, say yoruu  prayers, and go to churhc."  we're like, "nahhhh..."  like in Mosiah 4:5

"For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your NOTHINGNESS, and your WORTHLESS and FALLEN STATE"  MAN!  that's like a nice slap to the FACE!  I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES!  but even though we do mess up everyday, God stilll loves us!  It's like what Sister Joy D. JOnes says,  we are never worthless, we will alawys ahve worth, even when we're not worthy.  Repentance is so great.  we can try again and again and Heavnely FAther will be pleased with us if we're sincere!  isnt' that beautiful?  I feel pumped!

our investigators are great but we need to find more taht will act!   Our theme lately in our mission is really really focusing on the |Book of Mormon, to be personally converted to it and using it with power in order to help our investigators become converted.  I love the Book of Momron, and i"m trying to study it even more prayerfully so I can help my investigators here too.

This is sister Hdy'es last week as a missionary!! she's freaking out!  we've made huge goals.  we want 10 investigators to hcurch this sunday and to find 10 new investogators.  go big or go home  (lol literally)  so weird,  and I still can't believe i'm on my lsat 6 month stretch.  so weird, was the MTC really just a year ago?  weeeiirrrdddd.

well that's about it yall,  surabaya is still hot but it's great, we meet really cool peopel everyday.  Mission work is so legit and OH I ALMOST FORGOT.

Let me tell yallw aht i got from chruch eysterday.

I was called to repentacne AGAIN (but i'm feeling SOOO ALIVE bc of it.)

soooo i'm not sure if it was a worldwide church thing, but every class and talk in sacrament meeting was all about family history work!

can i just say that Elder Rasband's talk about here are no coincidences and it's all in God's plan is SO TRUE.  do yall remember how baad i wanted to serve in japan on my mish? lol.  did the apostles who assigned my mission know taht my biological father was apart of the wonderful islamic religion?  no.

HOW INSPIRED IS MY CALL, IS EVERY MISSION CALL!  while we were wathching the videos form the church about family histroy work i was like.  woah. l ike. I have NO IDEA about my birth dad's side.  his parents, their parents, were tehy aprt of that religion since forever or waht?  I HAVE NO IDEA,  and now i'm in a country where i can learn about out their religion!  I just know the lrod sent me her to (yes invite other s to come unto christ)  but also to learn about my birth dad's religion and maybe even my ancestors religion who knows.  Iknow taht this will opent he door for my family to learn more about this gospel and i know my ancestors are waiting for me to find their names so ic an take them to the temple! I'M PUMPED!!!    Ihope you will all start today, to help out your ancestors who are waiting for their ordinances to be done!

I looveeee this tgospel,  I love my Heanly Father, and I'm so greatful for the Precious gift of his beloved son Jesus Christ.  I'm so greatufle for hte Savrior's sacrifice, I know taht he's REAL and LIVES.  and this is HIS CHRUCH, and everyone needs this in their lives.  I hope yall will pray for  missionary opportunities to share how the restored gospel has blessed your life with yoru friends.  they need you.

I love you all thanks for the love and support!  have a wonderful week!

<3 Sister Rowntree

1) cute district\

2)mlc with zone leaders

3) MY CUTE 9 YEAR OLD INVESTIGATOR GOT BAPTIZED IN MALANG 2 WEEKS AGO!!!

1 year! (This post was written on Oct 22)

I CANT BELIEVE IN 3 DAYS I'M HITTING MY YEAR MARK I'M FREAKING OUT THIS IS WEIRD WHAT!?!?!?

Yall are getting two of my emails this week cuz last week the site was down so we didn't get to email! sorry!

OKAY SINCE THE PAST 2 WEEKS THINGS HAVE GOTTEN CRAY!

1. SISTER RATUNUMAN'S HERE!! my last companion! she's such a blessing and i didn't realize how much i missed her!  

2. i'm going to MLC tomorrow with the zone leaders!  so i'm a little nervous for the statistical reports but hopefully they'll tell me what i need to say lol. 

3. i've gotten to receieve updates about all of my investigators from Malang!  Our little 9 year old finally got permission from his parents to be baptized!!! (: he was baptized last week, he's such a champ and is such  a strength to his family.

UGH. our investigator that we've been teaching since july (Pak J) has been wanting to be baptized for MONTHS, and his daughter is literally like literally forcing him not to go. sunday morning when he's trying to leave she blocks him and refuses him to go and he has no support from his wife and they're getting all the neighboring christians to talk smack on mormons too and it's just so so hard for him and he's so sad and watns to be baptized but cant cuz he hasnt been to church. ughhhh satan is working so hard in that area.

Even Sister Y is getting persecuted about too, sister Ratu shared with me Sister Y's trials and it's been so hard for her, she didnt want to come to the womens' conference cuz she was just so sad and mad @ the world and us and her problems but she said that the holy ghost was like, "get up, you need to go. you dont have transportation  but you can walk ((the church is way far from her house)) you need to go." and she said she really really didnt want to go  ut she followed the spirit and from sister Ratus' words she was just in tears the entire session and said that heavenly father answered her prayers :') isn't that beautiful?

with all the hardships my investigators in malang are going through, it's just more proof of how real this work is and how real Christ's restored church is.  

I think of the early saints and what they went through, we can't even imagine, but even today we have to be strong in our testimonies of this gospel!

we ahve 2 really progressing investigators, ibu E, she's still not able to get baptized... we gotta get her to come to church, please pray for her,  

and Kak F, from papua, she's so smart and amazing! we taught her again on sunday, and we and SHE is convinced that God sent her here for a reason, she has a spiritual gift and she says she's seen her ancestors before and shse's asked us what are they waiting for, and we talked about the spirit world and temples and we told her, that ther ancestors need her.

She's going to read and pray about the book of mormon again and we specifically asked her to pray about baptism, I know she'll gete her ansswer because she's acting, she comes to church she does her homework, she is just so prepared.

this sunday was AMAZING TOO!! WE HAD S I X INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH!!! WHAT?!?!?!  soooooo cool!!! I've never had tat many beofre!!  so our new investigator brought her PENDETA to our church and he is OSOOOOO INTERESTED he loved learning yesterday, we iwll meet them again on thursday.

we also had a family come, they're so wonderful and Ibu was all teary eyed when the ward sang a child's prayer (it was branch conference) so president rowley was there and all the talks were amazing and exactly what all of our investigators needed to here. including myself!

President rowley talked about inspecting ourselves everyday, asking ourselves, did i do enough today? do i need to repent today?  did i have enough charity?  and the beautiful thing about the gospel is that we can repent everyday, we can wake up a new person everyday. so i challenge you all too to look at yourselves and ask what can you do to come closer to the lord!

also we had training after church about the book of mormon.  it's not enough to just read it, and say, okay i read a few verses i'm good for the day.  we need to soak it in our souls it needs to become apart of us. if we read the book of mormon everyday we're promised strength from above, power to overcome temptation.  we need to be constantly increasing our testimonies of jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful for the book of mormon.  I'm so grateful for the mission it is changing my life.  I hope you all have a nice week!  

<3 sister Rowntree

Sorry I couldn't email on the 15th! We had computer problems

What a loooooooong week!

It's like the days feel like absolute years, but the weeks fly by! We have so many great progressive investigators, and have had many miracle contacts and we have had to  drop many wonderful people, but we are here to harvest the field is white says the Lord so we will find those who are ready.

lol one time this week, we were WAY FAR from the city at the Branch President's house and we ended up late there cuz we got lost, so we had to SPEED back to get to our night appointments. i swear, i swear on my life our bike ride was like 6 or 7 or 8 miles, NO JOKE. okay maybe 7 i'm not sure we use Kilometers here in indonesia, but we did it in 50 minutes going up like 2 big hills. we. were. DRENCHED. in sweat. literally. MY ARMS MY FOREARMS were perspirating!!! like i thought cheer summer conditioning was like 3 years ago, oh wait, i'm serving in Indonesia speeding along crazy roads at night on a bike. holy cow. and guess what.

we get there.

AND THEY'RE BOTH NOT HOME!!

(our investigators live literally right by each other) and neither of them were home even though we already made an appointment. ugh. #missionlife

This week is going to be crazy, our lovely sisters in Malang are having a move. Sister Mentari is FINALLY going to the MTC in the Philipines, she's already served for 5 MONTHS. she hasn't gone through the temple yet, because there were not enough Indonesian's leaving on a mission so she had to wait! crazy huh!  I'm so glad she's finally getting to go to the temple for her first time, so since she'll be gone my old companion Sister Ratunuman is coming to Surabaya for 3 weeks!!  we're going to be in a trio!! I haven't been a trio since the MTC! (woah almost a year ago.. o.O)

It's actually really funny too, Sister Hyde is the one who trained sister Ratunuman! and now sister ratunuman is going to be killing off her own mother on the field! The sad thing is, bc we are a trio, it's most likely that Sister Hyde can't go to her last MLC and i'll just fly out to Jakarta next tuesday without her and just the Zone Leaders, I know she's really bummed out from that. and i'm even more nervous cuz i always just look to sister Hyde ya know and now crap. she ain't gonna be there, I gotta get my self together!

WE TAUGHT KAK F FROM PAPUA!! SHE'S A MIRACLE and she came to church!  she loves learning and we can teach her in english!! We tried inviting her to be baptized but she says she's not ready yet, I know she will be soon, President tells us to tell our investigators to not wait for the blessings that come by following Christ's example through baptism.  she is so wonderful, but we can only teach her on saturday and sunday at the Timur church! she's not even in our area but we got special permission to teach her! (:

Ibu E was supposed to get baptized this upcoming sunday but she didnt' come to church again yesterday. -___-' so we will be hoping for the next sunday on the 29th.  THIS MONTH IS GOING BY SO FAST.  she is so great though, she was having a hard time giving up tea but since wednesday i think she's gave it up! she just wants to keep god's commandments it's awesome. 

it was just another normal long and awesome week here in surabaya, we're still trying to find like crazy and we found 9 really good new investigators this week so hopefully they'll become progressive soon.  Missionary work is aweseome.

This sunday i heard a quote from sacrameent meeting that went along the lines of,  "a living prophet is more important than our 4 standard works (the bible, the book of mormon D&C and the pearl of great price)" and i was like woah, are you sure a church leader said that, but now that i think about it, it's so true, our living prophet speaks to god directly TODAY for US and what he says is what God wants us to do, and I know the President Monson is the Lord's voice today, and I'm so grateful for all of our prophets and apostles that lead and guide us today.  It's just another way God shows us that he loves us! I dont have much else to say, but i know this gospel is true with all my heart and I hope you all can find that out for yourself.  Have a Christ centered week yall 

<3/ Sister Rowntree

Missionaries singing. Click on this post to see vjdeo.

Thanks Sister Rowley, the mission President 's wife for e-mailing this!

GENERAL CONFERENCE!

It’s still blazing hot, and ya know, in Utah there’s a ton of roadkilled deer?  Well that’s how it’s like here in Surabaya with rats x10

Keluarga dan temanku gimana kabarnya?

Last night (Tuesday) we taught Ibu E again. SHE COMMITED TO BAPTISM! And now we’re going to try to work with her son too who’s 8 so he can be baptized!(:

It’s Thursday night and we just got home from the CRAZIEST bike ride of my life, holy cow.  SOOOO FAR, SOOOO DARK, HUUUUUGE TRUCKS on a crazy street, wow it was crazy. But we are alive, and our new investigator is so amazing. She LOVED church last week, and she says while she’s at work she’s counting down the days until church again (‘:  isn’t she wonderful?

Also last night Wednesday night, we met with our investigator who came to women’s conference and we taught her and her husband. (they can speak English) and she just poured out her soul to us, and we talked about temples and how her family can be together forever, and how the restored gospel will truly bless her life.  With tears in her eyes she asked, “really?  Will this /really/ help me?”  and we testified that it will, the spirit was so strong I even got teary eyed while talking about how the restored gospel has blessed my family and biological family.  The Lord is too good.

WOW. IT’S ALREADY MONDAY.

WASN’T CONFERENCE AMAZING?!?!?!?!?!?!?! OH MY GOODNESS. OH. MY GOODNESS. All of my fears and worries and challenges and questions and prayers were answered!!! Every single one!! I made a list.  So I guess I’ve just been going through a midlife crisis (or a HOLY COW I’M HITTING A YEAR ON THE MISSION AND I STILL DON’T HAVE MY LIFE TOGETHER crisis.) and I’ve just been so unsure of myself and just not feeling the best.  Glory to God on high!  Puji tuhan! Allhamduillah! He answered my prayers.  I got the most from conference from the Sunday session bc our ward had headphones where you could listen to it in English (‘:  NOT. That I cant understand it in Indonesian, but the voice overs sometimes don’t translate everything word for word or fast enough and I just really really needed to hear conference in my native tongue. 

Wow. I heard the voice of the lord.  Russel M. Nelson’s talk was literally just for me I swear on my life, okay I’ll just share what I got from it.

1.       What seemed to pop out to me over and over again was “Girlfriend you need to humble your little self “  I swear humility was spoken in so many talks, so that’s one thing I know I need to develop. And just relying on  the lord completely!

2.       2. That I am enough, and God uses the weak to bring amazing things to come forth.

3.       3. THE. BOOK. OF. MORMON. And coming to know my savior even more.  The word of god helps us come to know our savior, and when we know him he can heal us, and help us. But we have to make the choice to act.

4.       I forgot who said it, but something along the lines of, “if you don’t actively live the gospel, you wont have enough light to push away the darkness.” !!!!!! SO COOL SO TRUE!! I know its easy for people to say we just live normal lives, but we aren’t normal people, we are latter day saints, we are the Lord’s people and he expects us to act that way, to give our worldly desires to him. To think of him always.  WE MADE THE COVENANT WITH HIM WHEN WE WERE BAPTIZED, so shouldn’t we live it?  Wow I am pumped!

5.       During Sunday session I literally felt the lord calling me to repentance, I used to before the mission, like, for example, if I was in church and realized I wasn’t doing something or this person seemed more righteous or whatever I would like.. get bitter or feel down.. BUT WE CAN REPENT EVERYDAY! Isn’t that awesome!  Our whole lives should be daily repentance and trying to become better people.

6.       Woah and my testimony was strengthened about Joseph Smith too, I loved all the different pictures they’d showed throughout each talk like “the first vision from afar.” SO BEAUTIFUL. And the savior’s visit to the nephrites and he served them ONE. BY. ONE. Wow. So beautiful. 

7.       I felt so strongly for the first time in my life while President Erying was speaking that “The Lord atoned for YOUR sins.”  I have heard that 12 billion times in my life growing up in the church and I have testified about it 10 million times here on the field, but for once I finally believed it for myself! I cant even begin to describe what I felt on Sunday, with the powerful testimonies and the beautiful angelic music.  The whole room was just filled with the spirit and I truly heard the voice of the Lord speaking to my soul. It was so great. Wow I just.  I’M PUMPED!!  I cant wait for the liahona to come out to study all the other talks in english haha!

I’ve made a lot of goals that I desire to work on, the promises that the prophet, presiden erying and President Nelson explained about the book of mormon just PIERCED my soul. I want that strength, I want to be able to overcome temptation I want to come to KNOW THE LORD!  I hope you all gained something from conference, I hope the lord spoke to you and I hope you’ll be willing to change something in your life to come closer to Christ to be a strong disciple. He needs us to be strong, as the world grows darker and crazier, we have to be strong and firm in the faith in  Jesus Christ. 

I am so so grateful for living prophets and apostles, and I substain all the 12 and the leaders of our church, I know they are called of god and whatever they say is what the Lord would say if he were here.  I know it’s so so important to heed to their counselings to strengthen our families, and remain spotless from the world.  It’s okay to be different, what really matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us!  I love Heavenly Father, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ, I love Joseph Smith and I’m so grateful for his sacrifice in restoring the Lord’s true and living gospel, I love this gospel, I’m so grateful that I can repent everyday and become a new person every day. “ Look unto God and live.”

Our investigators are doing well we had 1 at church and she felt the spirit and it’s just the best thing ever. Sorry no pics from this week I’m a terrible person lol. But enjoy our music videos.  Love you thank you for your support!  Have a Christ Centered week yall! <3 Sister Rowntree

New area!

Well, since i’m in a new area, i guess i should try to describe what it looks like, right now i think rainy season is coming up because lately it has rained everyday!  I’m not complaining because surabaya is the hottest city in Indonesia, it’s also the second largest city!  Sometimes i stop and look at my life and say to myself, “i’m in the 4th largest populated country in the world, in the second largest city, and me and a few other missionaries are in charge of the salvation of the souls here. O.O”  that’s intense, but it’s such a priveldge, thank goodness it’s the holy ghost that does the converting and not us young missionaries right?

Surabaya is so cool, you still have the kampung’s here(cute little neighborhoods) where most of the houses are cementy and everyone lives close together, but then you make one turn and BOOM you’re on a big road and it’s like you’re biking through down town salt lake!  I love surabaya at night, the traffic, the lights, i love the city, this makes me miss jakarta.  So yes we ride bikes here, in jakarta we walk and take buses.

the house in surabaya is SOOOO NICE so much nicer than the one in malang so that's great. but there are more cockroaches...

my diet hasnt gotten so bad here, i'm getting fat again, we just dont have time in the morning to cook good breakfasts and when we go out and preach like, we only take 15 minutes or so to eat whatever is on the street cuz were go go GOING. which is fine but my rice chin says otherwise.

we're trying to go visit more members, but President rowley doesn't want us to just go to members houses just to eat. NGGA BOLEH

This week has been absolutely BLAZING. bLAZING. Hot.  I am literally 12 shades blacker than before goodness gracious.  But this week was also full of miracles!

Sister Hyde and I made a goal to find 10 new investigators this week, that’s a lot, and we worked SO. HARD. This week, we talked to EVERYONE. Asked EVERYONE for referals, in the blazing sun, in the rain, we kept going.  WE FOUND 11! WOO!

We have miracle investigators too,  #1 Ibu E,  she’s so great, the other night she strengthened mine and sister Hyde’s faith.  Her family is so so SO. Against our church, but she compares our church to food, she’s like, “Hey, if i have this cookie and i say it’s the sweetest thing ever and yall have never tried it, how do you konw it’s sweet for yourself without eating it first??” its the smae with the book of mormon and our church, she is so awesome, now her daughter i think is softening her heart, she’s actually talking to us now.  We brought up baptism for her, and she’s all for it, but she jsut has to come to church and pray for strength that her family will let her come.

#2 Kak F, she is from PAPUA!!!  My sister!!  I’ve always wanted to teach a papuan, she’s actually the Zone Leader’s investigator cuz she’s not in our area, but on Saturday we watched the General Women’s session (WHICH WAS AMAZING AND I DIDNT EVEN UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT CUZ IT WAS IN BAHASA BUT I SURE HOPE YOU SISTERS WATCHED IT AND HAVE MADE GOALS TO BECOME MORE RIGHTEOUS I AM PUMPED!)  Anyways, SHE CAME!! And she LOVED LOVED IT1!! She lives so close to the Timur church (me and sisiter Hyde are in the Barat church) and she opened up to us and was like, “I just feel like i cant speak openly with the elders cuz theyre boys..”(oh and she speaks perfect english ((thank you heavenly father))) so we asked President Rowley (who surprised us with his visit) and he gave us permission to teach her!(: we will be teaching her at the other church, it’s hard cuuz we cant go to church iwth her rcuz it’s not our area, but we will ifnd good members to fellowship her. (:

Heavenly Father is just so good,  right before I started writing this email, I was reading the scriptures.  This may sound weird but this week I was kinda slacking on my scripture study,  sister H and i are still trying to figure out our morning schedules together cuz you know every companionship does it differently and we take TWELVE years to plan and we leave early in the morning to get to appointments so therer’s literally been no time to study. So i’ve felt off this whole week, usually i read when i get home at night, but i just wanted to read talks which are great. But i still felt off, i finally said this morning, sister, get yo life together and open up the book of mormon, I started reading from Mosiah 3(which is amazing)  and while we were personal studyng adn before cleaning the house we had conference of last year playing so we could listen.. while I was reading the book of mormon my heart was just full of warmth and happiness and I felt the spirit testifying to me what i was reading was true.  So my testimony has been strengthened again, it is so so important to read our scriptures everyday, even if it’s jsut for 5 minutes. 

I’ve been trying to ponder about my relationship with heavenly father lately. Sometimes in lessons i feel like i say these things, but am i really saying wahts in my heart or is it just another lesson... i’ve been trying to find God, I’ve been trying to learn more about my Savior so I can really have a true testimony about him. Our living prophets and apostles have told us that we can come to know God through sincere pray, through daily scripture study, through service, through purifying yourself and becoming like the Savior and for the past couple of weeks, i have felt like Enos, having a wrestle with the lord in my heart, seeing if i’m out here for the right reasons.

I am so grateful for the mission.  I know this is what I need in my life to become converted to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The General Women’s conference literally was an answer to my prayers and the next morning i had to teach gospel principles about Our Heavenly Father.  I really can say for myself that I know that Heavenly Father lives, and that he loves us, and He is patient with us.  I always beat myself up bc i’m not a perfect missionary, or perfect person, or daughter/friend/sister..  but I know that I have worth and always will. I am so grateful for repentance, that everyday I can become a new person.

Man i just feel good inside ya know! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us so much!  And I really hope you all can find that out for yourself, for me i had to have that wrestle, I had to act, I had to make my prayers more meaningful, I had to open up the scriptures, and I had to give my will to the Lord and work harder than i ever have to find God’s children who are ready to accept the true and living gospel.

This gospel is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord’s church, the ONLY church that has His priesthood authority, the ONLY gospel that allows us to unlock the blessings of repentance, forgiveness and the Atonement in our lives. I know that He lives, and I know that President Monson is his living prophet today. I hope we will all heed to the prophets words, they are from God, what the prophet says is so important and it’s what Heavenly Father needs us to do.  I know the restoration is true, i know joseph smith saw god the father and his son that spring morning and I am so grateful that I was able to be raised with this glorious knowledge. 

God is good, Life is good, even though it’s hard sometimes I know we can get through anything because we have Lord on our side!  Please watch conference and ask yourself what you can do to become more true to the faith.  I love you all, I love this work, and I love my Savior. 

Stay classy yall <3 sister rowntree

sorry yall i'm really bad at taking pics throughout the week, my cmaera's too big, and sister hyde forgot to bring her camera too haha.  i'm trying to load a video of us singing, but it might not load in time lol. sorry. next week aja ya.

1) me being fabulous

2) rain rain go away

11 months down!

Woah it’s already Monday!! I havent written a thing yet!!  Waduh, this last week aka my first week in surabaya was CRAZY LIKE. CRAZY. It went by so fast, i’ll tell ya why.

Monday: got to surabaya had no time to unpack did lots of things, it was hot, packed for MLC.

Tuesday: woke up at 4 IN THE MORNING to leave for the airport to jakarta for my first MLC missionary leadership counsel.  MLC started at 12 til 9:30 AT NIGHT. Waduh.  I had anxiety like until 5 cuz in my head i was thinking (holy cow, i’m with all the leaders of the mission i’m not a perfect missionary yet, what am i doing here?!?)  but the lord has called me and i will do his will and he just wants me to do my best, I stopped getting anxious around 5 when it was mine turn to roleplay contacting in front of everyone.  (ya i thought i was gonna die being with all these way experienced missionaries) but the lord strengthened me and the spirit was really strong when i testified, it was really cool and it answered my prayers knowing that, ya no way am i a perfect missionary but as long as i have the spirit and doing my best that’s what matters.

Sister Rowley made us wayyyyyy yummy food too.

Wednesday: traveled back to surabaya from Jakarta, had BML (branch mission leader) meeting to discuss stuff, and then we went to work.

Thursday: Interviews with President Rowley and Round Robin with Sister Rowley. AND THEN WE PLAYED FUTSAL AS A ZONE!!!!!! (soccor)  IT WAS SO FUN I ACCIDENTLY KICKED THE BALL IN SOME INDO’S FACE IT WAS SO SAD BUT HE WAS FINE.  Holy cow indonesian’s are sooo good at soccor. It was so so so soooo fun. (the only reason we could play futsal is if we made our goals, every companionship in the zone had to get 2 investigators to church AND WE DID IT! (those who didn’t had to give up their pday lol but we all still got to play!)))  it was awsome!

Friday: PLD! Aka Zone Conference, as an STL we have to give the spiritual thought, and Sister Hyde and I thought talking about how to handle rejection and not letting it damper your faith was perfect because the theme for zone conference this time was “Having the FAITH to teach repentance and baptize converts”  in the indonesia jakarta mission we teach repentance and baptize converts, but first we need the faith to do so.  We read from D&C 6 where the lord tells us that if we’re rejected in his name blessed are we! 

I remember being new on the field and if i was rejected rudely by someone i’d take it so personally and it would bring me down, but we have to remember that the savior was PERFECT and even HE was rejected everyday!  I know he’s been through everything we have and that’s why we can turn to him.

We also had to role play again in front of everyone and once again the spirit was so so strong, I always like doubt myself before i have to roleplay, even in real life when we’re teaching i’m always doubting if i have the spirit, but i know that i do.  I’m really grateful for these new experiences and opportunities that i’m having, they’re really really helping me stay closer to god and the spirit and being more in tune.

Sister hyde and i are doing just fine she is the best, she’s a great singer and loves broadway too, we sing all the time together and we can harmonize!  Also i just made her her last planner for her mission and i put temples on it and a cute couple thats getting married cuz hse’s going home soon hahaha.  ALSO I HIT 11 MOTNHS TODAY WHAT.

Saturday: uhh....  THIS LAST WEEK HAS BEEN IN SANE SO WE HAD TO FIND ALLLLL DAYYYY LONGGG. We had found no investigators at all this week! So, we went out and we talked tO EVERYONE. Lieterally. I was so exhausted by the end of the day, but sister Hyde and I are SO in tune with the spirit! It’s so cool, we will both get these feelings to like stop our bikes and turn around enter into one gang or talk to some random person, she is still trianing me on how to become an stl too and she’s helping me llearn so much about beingg BOLD.  Alma tells his son to be bold but not overbearing somewere in the book of mormon and that’s what we have been doing.  Please pray for us to find god’s elect, we are working so hard, and we have made a goal of having 2 baptisms by the end of this month BC WE HAVE FAITH YALL. We are going to sprint til the end of sister hyde’s mission that’s forsure.  I know we’ll find them.

Sunday: the little teeny tiny branch i’m in is amazing. I love the members already. Also in relief society we discussed a talk from last general conference about that perfect light that grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

There were three things.

1.the light from church

2. the light from the gospel

3. the light of Christ

This world is getting darker and darker by the day.  I’ve heard that america is just absolute crap rn.. it’s so sad, sometimes we tend to ask ourselves, wow is god really here?  Where is the goodness in people? But i know that he is.  Because He sent his son for us.  And his light is everywhere, and through church and his gospel we can stay spotless from the world.  You followers of Christ, remember who you are, and remember the convenants you’ve made with your heavenly father, we have the priveledge and it’s our responsibility to stand out from the world, to be different, to let the light in christ in us shine forth.  Don’t be afraid to follow christ, in this terrible world, it’s the only way  to happiness, it’s not easy. But it’s worth it.  I know he loves us and all he asks us to do is follow him.

Life is good!  The mission rocks! I love my heavenly father and my savior!  Keep trying, don’t give up and turn to him!  Love Sister Rowntree

Sister Hannah Rowntree

Indonesia Jakarta Mission

Jalan Senopati 115

Kebayoran Baru

Indonesia 12190

1) MY OLD DISTRICT OF MALANG )))':  lol it's way funny cuz we were matching loool

2) got to see sister ratunuman again!!! (:

3) MY NEW AMAZING COMPANION SISTER HYDE!!

4)FUTSALLL!!!