Week 4 - July 30, 2016

Another week in the books here at this place. On Sunday, I was called as the new District Leader, which actually doesn't mean much, I just call on people to say the prayer in class and then have to go to some meetings on Sundays in the branch and report about 11-D. Elder McLaws and Gappymier are the new Zone Leaders. McLaws is awesome. He grew up in Arizona and about 300 mormons graduated in his class but he was the only one to go on a mission. He is a stud and was a good football player in High School.

On the 24th, we had the Nashville Tribute Band come play for us and that was pretty cool to see people rocking out to some LDS music.

Elder Bean left on Monday and he was so happy to get out of here. I hope he is doing good out there in New York! Kye, Stockton, and Sarah got into the MTC this week and it is good to see them all. I saw Kye sleeping on a bench today and then ran into Stock today and his name badge was missing and for some reason that was funny to me. It's almost dumb how easily amused you get in here. Jon is leaving tomorrow and he got in here a week after me and that is frustrating! Happy for Conner getting his call to Bakersfield! I have a good group of friends.

My comp Elder Wright had his birthday this week so we threw a party for him and it was a good day.

Class this week has been rough. We all love Brother Garlick; he brings the spirit everyday he comes in to teach us. We are his last District he teaches here. Then we have Sister Toma, who just got home from the Berlin Mission 8 months ago and got married a month ago, and it is hard to stay awake and pay attention during her lessons but I think she is just side tracked by other things in her life but we all like her. The German is coming along but is so frustrating and hard. It is such a literal language and the grammar and sentence structure is difficult. One word can have 4 different meanings.

Overall had a great week. We watched some videos in class of families getting baptized and then being able to go to the Temple together and I just got a craving to want to help people be able to do those things. Families are the most important thing ever. I love going to the temple on P Day and seeing the married couples there and a few weeks ago Elder Bednar emphasising the importance of family and his role as a Father and Husband. The Temple revolves around families. Can not wait for that time of being a Father and Husband. There are over 50 pronouns that describe God, and the one he asks us to use is Father. 

TRC this week was great. We taught a missionary that just got home a month ago and he didn't say much but our next guy served in the Germany North Mission in 67-69 and he said " I remember a Robert Rothwell as my pediatrician when I was younger." That took me by surprise and we gave him a lesson on Nachstenliebe "Charity" and felt the spirit so strong while we were with him.

So excited to serve the people of Germany! I get my travel plans on Friday and that just gives me the butterflies!​

Love you all and hope you are all doing well! Have a good week.

-Elder Rothwell

Favorite Scriptures of the Week:

**D&C 121:45

"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."

**D&C 18:10-13

" 10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

 11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. 12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!"

**Mornoi 7:45-48

"45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

**Ephesians 6

(this is just the heading)

"Children should honor their parents—Servants and masters are judged by the same law—Saints should put on the whole armor of God."

Elder Rothwell with (from right to left) Elder Christiansen, Elder Lundell, Elder Bean, and Elder McGee!

 We got this video of Dax along with some pictures on Wednesday!

"So guess who we ran into playing soccer after dropping Sarah off!  He was giddy and full of life!!"

We Love Elder Rothwell and the work he is doing!