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Friday, December 19, 2008

Greetings from France

I thought folks might be ready for an Elder Rowley Update.  Here are a few quotes from recent emails...  Brian, in his own words: scary thought, huh?  I've left the punctuation and style just as we received....  I hope no one is offended by a few of B's turns of phrase, but those who know him well wouldn't recognize him without them...


Here they are:
  • its kind of weird being roomates with people who have been on their missions way longer than me cuz its hard to quote new movies and stuff. hopefully i don't lose my sense of humor.  [this has been the only fear that Brian has shared with us since arriving in Paris.  the kid is definitely unique!]
  • today was elder fairbourne's b day so we went bowling on our p day it was awesome! then we went and got pizza kobobs. soooooo bomb. [I included this to show that Brian is really appreciating the french cuisine!]
  •  im gay enough i have a freaking scarf!!!!  there so normal over here but dad dont worry im drawing the line here!!!! NO MAN NIKKERS!!!!! [Steve and Brian have always shared a disdain for men wearing capris.  They refer to them as "man nickers"]
  •  i miss you all dearly though but this is where im supposed to be.  nothing is bad!!!  and if something seems bad or hard, its really not.  it really is only for our good to make us better and stronger.  the lord loves us so much and he would never just let us suffer for nothing, it is always great for us in the long run.  sacrifices, i've learned are really just big leaps of faith.  and it always seems hard or bad at first, but it ends up being giving up something good for something great, its not really a sacrifice.  we have so much to be thankful for its ridiculous!!!!!  gosh life is good and will just keep getting better! 
  •  ive noticed really quickly that the worst days on the mission are days where you dont work hard.  there was one day this week where we were on exchanges and i was with elder navarro and we couldn;t do enything cuz neither of us spoke french and so we just sat around!!!!  it was freaking horrible!!!!  the worst day of my mission,  but it was such a good experience!!!  all of our trials are in the long run.
We're thrilled for Brian to have this incredible opportunity.  I love seeing that he is still Brian, but already a more mature version of himself.  It's exciting to see and brings a special kind of joy to this Christmas.  

3 comments:

Leah Z said...

Kelly and I were talking a while ago about how there are some Gospel lessons you absolutely cannot learn except through experience. Learning that the pain of a trial is worth suffering if it causes you to become more like the Savior is maybe the principle that most requires learning by living. It's so sweet to hear someone else's testimony as they make another step toward getting it.

On a more secular note, everyone wears scarves here as well. I don't think it would take too many more weekends in Seattle like the one you're having now before many men would toss out their frozen machismo and find a scarf.

Derek and Emily said...

He's still Brian! Do you still forward his emails? I think I somehow got deleted from that list and I would like to still get his updates, if you don't mind!

Beth said...

It sounds like Brian is an awesome missionary! How fun for him and such a great experience! Hearing from your missionary at Christmas is the BEST present a Mom and Dad can get! Happy New Year you guys!