Wednesday, December 28, 2011



Hello my good people

Christmas!!!.... was great :) Santa even found me up in these mountains :). I received many packages in addition to the presents I received from my family :) I now have more candy than I could possibly eat, some cash :), and most importantly a couple of light sabers from my dear family :) (they know me well) A special thanks to My fam, The Roos Grandparents, the Harmon grandparents, the Osborn grandparents, Grandma Barbera, the Holloways, the Freihoffners, the Cardens, Sister Ashbie, the Sterners, and of course good 'ol Krysta Klumpp. You guys made my Christmas great, with all of your gifts and cards. I'm sure there were a few I might have left out... please be forgiving of my ungratefulness :(. Of course the best gift I received was to talk to the fam for a good while. They are all as giddy as when I first left them. :) I hope everyone had a great Christmas, especially my other peeps in the field. So in other news the work has been slower this last week due to Christmas and the craziness it brings. But the lessons we did have were great and the spirit has been there to back us up. Hopefully the same can be said for this next week.  We have a couple of very promising Investigators who we hope will find the narrow gate that very few find (Baptism + Confirmation). I will keep you updated. This morning we had a District meeting and afterwards we all went to the legendary Ceder Glen Malt Shop. Once there I ordered myself a peanut butter malt with chocolate and a double carmel twist (my mommy should be very jealous :). I'll have to take some some of you guys there someday. The traffic here has been awful because of all of the skiers headed up and down the mountain. It is a big contrast of what I have seen in quiet Running Springs. well enough rambling.. I love all of you and I hope everyone has the best year ever. :)

That one kid who is on his mish in the San B Forest,

-Elder Roos (or Rooster and Roosey as some have started to use :)



Monday, December 19, 2011

We've been getting a lot of snow this week! We have started helping people who are stuck on the side of the road. In doing this we have realized that we aren't very good at it. :) We don't have a tow rope, chains that will fit other cars, or anything else that would possibly help people get out of the snow.  We are more emotional support until someone better equipped comes along. Shoveling snow has been a great tool to fellowship some less active members we have been working with. The work is here, but it is a hard time of the year to make much progress with it. I feel like I have come miles since I first came out on my mission spiritually and otherwise. My teaching skills are also very much improved since the MTC. :) well I don't have much time today so I will have to go. I wish you all the best Christmas ever. I love y'all! and Happy Hanukkah!!!!


Monday, December 12, 2011

Ello Ev-ery-one

It is week three in the mountains and the snow is coming down. It's an early Christmas for a desert boy like me. :) If you read my last message you can stop crying.. my crazy headaches have slowed down. :) It has been difficult to get the work here in Running Springs up and moving, but we'll get it there. My new Comp Elder Brown and I are teaching well together and that can only get better. So in other news we experienced a Christmas miracle this last week! The local grocery store Jensen's had a freezer brake down, which resulted in a multitude of people surrounding a seemingly unlimited amount of frozen foods and Ice cream! I think it's safe to say I ate too much Ice cream that day. :) (Someone had to eat it before it melted).My only regret Is not having a bigger freezer to fill. :) It was good to see a lot of people get food who may be struggling this Christmas season. I'm sure it really was a miracle for many families who received free food. I wonder if there are special secret agent angels who are assigned to go and break freezers for the common good. :) Angel Robin Hood :) One good thing about all of this snow piling up is that we have a great service opportunity shoveling driveways. I'm sure many people will be surprised to look out of their frosted windows to see a couple of young men they don't know shoveling for them. :) Well not much else to report except that while all of you are going about your daily lives, I'll be "Tractin In a Winter Wonderland" :) Thank you so much to those who write me.

I love you guys!,

Monday, December 5, 2011

So I've had quite a week! From being transferred to a snowy town up in the mountains to finding out I have a disease.  I'll Start with transfers. :) I have been transferred from the desert of Hesperia to the thick forests of running springs. Running springs is beautiful. It looks over all of San Bernardino and I can even see the LA skyline off in the distance. Driving up there was quite an experience as I saw something I hadn't seen for a long time.. SNOW! I will be seeing and shoveling a lot of that by the time I am out of here. Thanks for asking I did say driving! My new Companion Elder Brown and I are driving a 2011 Jeep Compass! These are the newest vehicle installments in the mission and three months in I am driving one in one of the most coveted areas in the mission!  Running Springs is just a short drive from Lake Arrowhead where they pull water for Arrowhead Drinking Water. Around the lake reminds me of Christmas Town on A Nightmare before Christmas! My Christmas is should be as good as it gets without family, so it could be worse. :) I received a wonderful box of presents from my family and some very chritmassy things from the Holloways (I feel loved). Elder Brown is a smart guy who has been out for 21 months! There is a lot that I can learn from him. Combined with my three months together we make one whole mission! Anyway we are "white washing" in to this are so we are still trying to find our way around. So you are probably wondering about the disease I found out that I suffer from. No this isn't a Joke or a Segway into some metaphorical lesson on missionary work. I am a part of the 0.1 percent of the population who suffer from cluster headaches. This past week has been full an incessant pain and sleepless nights. I being one who has never suffered from headaches in the least, thought it would be wise to ask someone about the constant headache which I have been experiencing. I explained my symptoms to our missions Doctor, who recognizing that they are not Migraine Headaches diagnosed with having Cluster headaches.  He then informed me that these are considered to be one of the more severe headaches. At the peak of pain Ibuprofen doesn't touch it despite how much I have upped the dose. I am currently on Excedrin, which due to the caffeine content also keeps me quite awake at night. Now in my latest research of this issue I have found out that the medical community has nicknamed this the "suicide headache". (so comforting :) Dr. Peter Goadsby, Professor of Clinical Neurology at University College London a leading researcher on the condition has commented: "Cluster headache is probably the worst pain that humans experience. I know that’s quite a strong remark to make, but if you ask a cluster headache patient if they’ve had a worse experience, they’ll universally say they haven't. Women with cluster headache will tell you that an attack is worse than giving birth. So you can imagine that these people give birth without anesthetic once or twice a day, for six, eight, or ten weeks at a time, and then have a break. It's just awful." I am grateful that my case has thus far proven to be mild but I fear it has the potential of being monstrous down the road. In my research of the triggers that cause these spurts of pain they say that one trigger could be Cocaine, and one of the others could be elevation change.  I think I'm going to account it this headache attack to me going up the mountain and not illegal drugs.:) Anyway I'm done whining. Because of my brothers I have a need from my childhood for attention when it comes to medical needs. As far as I'm concerned they can keep the attention.:) (Love you guys:) Well P-day was moved to Wednesday so we could have a chance to go to the Redlands Temple. That always is such a spiritual rejuvenation and the Cafe Rio afterwards isn't to bad either. :) Tonight my Family is going to Hawaii. don't have too much fun without me. :) Keep me in your Prayers (I feel like Paul, to glory in tribulation).

Dear Everyone,

Kellie McElroy was my friend. Her death Came as a major shock and I am currently in denial. It will be easy to remain in denial in a world where my contact with those at home is limited. She brought light to my life and on many occasions she lifted my spirit higher. I pray for her family and many friends. I have a firm testimony that she is in a state of peace and rest. (Alma 40: 12) Last night the thought came to me to write her a letter. Now I do not have the chance. I mourn with hundreds of others that loved her and were effected by her bright countenance.

love,

Elder Roos

Monday, November 14, 2011

Hey!

What a week! this has probably been one of the more frustrating weeks on the mission so far. Our Baptism dates for this Saturday have been delayed.... until February. That one fact alone seemed to drain the motivation out of us this week, but we have pressed forward. They baptism date has been moved so far because they want to have a big wedding with their family. And the mother, who will be the financier, wanted it on Valentines day. Despite this unforeseen circumstance, there is a chance I will be here come February. Anyway, one thing i love about being a missionary is that as I focus on other people my trivial problems wash away. This is our last week before transfers so we are going to make it good. Speaking of transfers I'm not sure what will come of them. I'm finished with the training program so it is unlikely Elder McKay and I will stay together. So I will probably be staying in this area. One thing that has been fun lately is rehearsing for the mission wide Christmas concert on December 3rd. There will be 200 of us singing! Without some kind of music I would shrivel up and die out here. :) Well I will know what is to be my fate when I write again.

Monday, November 7, 2011

"Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today. Wove, twue wove...So tweasure your woves forever" :) It seems as a missionary you never stop hearing about getting married.  My Comp in particular talks about getting married every other hour. :) He plans to get married the second he gets home.  As for me I think I can manage waiting for a bit longer. :) Marriage is also something that causes stress for missionaries when a couple is not married but wants to be baptized. The other Elders that live with us had a baptism ready to go if it weren't for the adamant of the couple to not be married. Luckily for us in the Arrowhead ward in the Hesperia Stake that is not going to be a problem.  Jake and Athena Rivera are getting married on the fifteenth of this month! With the subsequent baptism on the nineteenth it should be a week they will never forget, nor I. :) Anyway, with the political campaign in full force we have had a couple of investigators who have come to church ask us if we are a colt. We simply asked "I don't know you've been to church, are we?" :) It's funny how Satan has filled this world with thousands of misconceptions about Mormons. It has started getting colder.  In fact the mountain that happens to be the same mountain on the arrowhead water bottles is covered with snow (yes arrowhead water bottles come from San Bernardino County).  Yesterday I learned of an interesting statistic: San Bernardino County has the third highest gang population in the nation. I've got some work to do. Well it's time to go. Congrats on Les Mes everyone who is involved. I'm sure it is glorious. :)


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Today i will be doing something i haven't done in my entire life. I will not be dressing up for Halloween! (though i think dressing up as Ammon or Captain Moroni would be pretty sweet).  We have been instructed to be in our apartments at six: no exceptions. I have still found ways to celebrate Halloween with the ward Halloween party and carving pumpkins with a family. I carved a missionary pumpkin :) (His name is Elder O' Lantern).  Thanks to my dear Grandmother sending me a pedigree chart I have concluded that In this ward ,which I am currently serving in, resides Rulon Taylor my Great Great Uncle.  He is 89 and now calls me his new nephew. :)  The missionary work, like most things in life, seems to have many ups and downs. The trick is to make the best out of every day given you despite differing circumstances. This last week was was fortunately an up for the most part.  We have been focusing a lot on a couple named Jake and Athena Rivera. They have recently undergone a court case to gain custody of their child. With many prayers on their part and on ours they now have him back. I don't doubt that this was God's doing as they have brought their lives closer to his teachings.  We are shooting to have them baptised on the nineteenth of November. :) It is sad to see some that we are working with pull away in some degree. There is not a lot that we can do but keep trying with them and hope for the best. At the end of this transfer will be the end of my official training period.  Which means that my Comp Elder McKay will more that likely be leaving me. :( I will be a little bird leaving the nest getting ready to fly on my own. :) well i think that fills the cliche requirement for my messages which means it's time to go. Does anyone read these? I really have no way of knowing. Thank you all for the letters and the Halloween treats. I love you guys!


Monday, October 24, 2011



hello everybody,
So i was sitting at dinner one night with the Taylor's, an older couple in the ward.  Brother Rulon Taylor was on the subject of his ancestors and he brought up being related to Emer Harris, Martin Harris' brother.  I've always been told that i had some kind of family tie like that to Martin Harris as well (this has been my excuse for misplacing my scriptures through my many years of seminary :), and my grandma's maiden name and my middle name is Taylor!  Still sceptical about really having some distant relatives randomly in this ward, I turned to the four generation family chart that i was instructed to bring to the MTC (it turned out that it had no use:).  It turns out that my great grandpa's middle name is Emer! So if my conclusions are correct The taylors and there grand kids, that are also in the ward, are related to me!  Now this may seem like something that is not worthy to announce, but as a missionary even something little like being barely related to someone in the ward can be exciting. :) anyway, I have not come down with any diseases known only to southern California yet, so .. that's good, though there is a sign in our group of apartments that says: Warning some chemicals in the air are known to the state of California to cause birth defects.  So if your pregnant you probably shouldn't be breathing anywhere near where i have been living for the last couple of months. :) Besides family quandaries and toxic air things have been great.:) Despite Elder McKay's wish to move on after this transfer to a car area, Our Bishop and Ward Mission Leader are trying to keep us in the ward. It is a very good thing to be loved by the ward.  The baptism on Saturday went better than i could have imagined.  The spirit of the event seemed to come in waves, from the talks to the moment that Kathryn went into the water.  It's something that even the most eloquent writer couldn't describe. missionary work is like a bag of lays potato chips, you get a little bit and you can't stop.:) (let's hope it stays that way). This week I have been well supported this week with letters. Thank you to all who take the time, it means so much to me. well until next week. :)

Monday, October 17, 2011

I've come to the conclusion that as missionaries we bring either the best or the worst out of people.  We get some who listen and want to know what we say is true and then we get those who seem to turn on us as we walk around the corner.  It reminds me of the movie Inception when the dreamer's sub-conscience notices an invader. :) Or on The Matrix when the people stuck in the matrix do whatever they can to protect the status-quo of their existence, but i haven't seen that one .. cause that's ... uh rated R........ :) It was a slower week for us here in Hesperia and this next week we are really going to push ourselves in the work.  This Saturday the twenty second there is a baptism for our investigator Kat! I am very excited for that.  She is well prepared and so willing to keep every commandment (Golden).  So if on Saturday your wondering what I'm doing at around 3:00 I'll be watching someone be cleansed of all sin and making sacred covenants.  It is such a blessing, and it is just a taste of what I'll hopefully get to experience more of in these next twenty two months.  Today it is P-day and we are playing a basketball tournament with the two other zones here in the high desert.  If any of you who are reading this knows of my basketball skills you should also know that those other zones are going into this tournament with a significant advantage. :) If only we could play water polo or somethin. :)  I will now reiterate what I've heard many times from my fellow missionaries: This is going so fast.  I'm sure some transfers will go slower depending on my comp and area, but for now I'm trying to take in the moments.  I'm trying to remember the specific moments that i feel the spirit strongly or I am riding on my bike at nigh through the cool desert air.  I have a bad tendency to get a little poetic so i guess it's time to sign off.  My last bit of wisdom is this: Investigators are like artichokes it takes a lot of work to get to their hearts. :) 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

So i have come to the conclusion that here in Hesperia there are a lot more dogs than people, and they are more apt to talk to us as well! :) The work is going great.  In our Zone Conference this last week we heard from Alan F. Packer a member of the Seventy, who is also The Apostle Elder Packer's son. He gave us many words of wisdom straight from the first presidency.  I am still working on applying all of it. At that Zone conference i found out our zone has more baptisms that all of the surrounding zones! I feel like as a zone we can keep it up as well!  But of course it's not all sunshine and flowers in the mission Field. We experienced some extreme winds here in the High Desert! Apparently this coming season winds get up to 100 mph! Maybe i can harness this energy and put some kind of sail on my bike! :) At least that's what my Grandpa Harmon would do! I have been thinking lately about the pioneers and what extremes they went to for the building up of Zion.  If i could even muster a fraction of the stoic nature they had i would be an amazing missionary. I'll make that a goal as i push forward one day at a time. Thank you so much for the letters I have received, they mean so much to me. Funny story of the week: apparently, a missionary  told a couple of investigators to read a few verses in the book of Mormon before they returned to visit. The problem was he assigned 3rd Nephi 3:7-9, instead of 1st Nephi 3:7-9. So instead of the classic scripture master saying i will go and do, the message verses in 3rd Nephi stated: 

 7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our asecret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance. 8 And behold, I aswear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct. 9 And behold, I am aGiddianhi; and I am the governor of this the bsecret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be cgood; and they are of dancient date and they have been handed down unto us.

Let's just say the Investigators were a little afraid for the next appointment. :) Luckily i haven't done anything that dumb yet, but I'm sure my day will come. :) I love you all and thank you for the support.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Though i grew a foot or two before i left on my mission, now it seems i will continue growing more feet spiritually. Getting people to quit smoking and drinking is an experience that is requiring a lot of faith and prayers.  The end goal however, will make all of that worth it.  If things work out, we will have four baptisms this next transfer.  This last week we set dates with three and we will be setting another within the week.  Though I'm sure we're not by any means the best missionaries, God has provided those people for us and we are doing our best.  Anyway! I'm learning to play Jack Johnson on the Ukulele :) (that's not apostate is it? :).  I loved Conference. I want Elder Holland to be my companion so he can just throw it down with one of our investigators who is dragging their feet. :) President Monson's first talk when he enthusiastically said "HELLO!" was the best. :) A Starvalley Wyoming Temple! That is exciting.(My Dad grew up there!). I'm sure that he called everybody the second he heard that. :) Thank you to everyone who is sending me letters.  After a long day even the simplest of message lifts my spirits. One thing i love about the church is that is is hospital for sinners, and not a museum for saints.  We are all doing our best, and as long as we keep "getting up when we fall" we will make it.  Not much else to report except that i am alive :), I miss you,I pray for you, and 'Harah For Isreal'. :)  

 Love,

Monday, September 26, 2011

Hello again,

Today we did a hike as a zone which was really fun. We hiked up a place called Mormon rocks. :) They were named that when the Mormons came through to settle this area! it's good to get out of the tie now and again! We mountain biked down to where the hike started, and low and behold my bike now has a flat.(which i will be spending my precious p-day time fixing) :(  This last week went well! we picked up five new investigators, which is apparently good for around here. We have our week pretty scheduled up. I am excited to see conference as a missionary! In commemoration of it i will be preparing some panang curry for a member on Saturday :) and my comp will be making some German dish. :)  Tomorrow is more 'Greeny' training with the president which takes away from our time to work, but I'll get some good things out of it. My companion really likes to memorize poems and share them in dinner thoughts etc. I just might have a few down in the coming months. To my friends and fam: I love you guys, to my fellow missionaries: Ha-rah For Israel! and to everyone else: the church is true :)




Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Today i got to go through the Redlands Temple! (So beautiful). It was an experience i won't forget, and it was a spiritual boost for this next week. Afterwards i was able to go to the one of the only Cafe Rios in California! My soul is now rejuvenated with all of it's needs. :) Because today was our temple trip we are having p-day today instead of Monday.  I like having Monday off better. :) We are making steps upward in the work.  Our lessons per week are increasing and we are getting more new investigators.  This Sunday we will be setting a baptismal date with a young woman named Kat. We have been doing the lessons with her and she is very receptive. :) There are others who are not as receptive but we are working on 'em! I would just like to publicly announce that when i get home my mom (who is a biking fanatic) is going down in the bike race we are having when i get home. :) My companion Elder McKay shared a quote with me that I really like: Six days the devil works works. Works overtime on Sunday. Then he's ready once again to go to work on Monday. So if all evil you would shun and keep your conscience level. You must begin at early dawn and work just like the devil. :) and that is exactly what we do.  We are putting more time in working with members because last year in this mission 75% of our baptisms last year came from member referrals. Anyway! No crazy storys yet, though our roommates did get attacked by a hobo who apparently hangs out with Jesus. :) I've got a pork burrito in my stomach, I've got the spirit on my side, and I've got work to do... So Bye!

With lotsa love,

Elder Roos (I've heard many ridiculous pronunciations of my name in the last few weeks :)


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Things in Hesperia are great! The ward seems to really like us there is a lot of competition to sign up to feed us dinner :). I am being well fed. The work is going well here. In fact this Saturday we have a baptism!!! Three kids are getting baptised (Brandon, Kaitlyn, and Skyler).. (a boy and two girls).  I am excited. :). I came in after they have had quite a few missionary lessons but it has been fun teaching them the commandments and seeing there willingness to accept them. They are in the foster program and they were put in a great lds family.  We are also going to try and set baptismal dates with three others this week. :) I feel like i am finally getting the hang of this missionary thing, but i have a lot of learning to do. Luckily, my companion Elder McKay is an excellent teacher and i am learning so much from him.  I am doing my best to be obedient.  It is surprising that i can do that and still have a lot of fun. :) Missionary work can be a drudgery for some people, but when you take it head on with the right attitude you can have a good time (despite sore legs and a lack of sleep :).  It is surprising how fast things go when you are constantly doing something.  I don't have enough time to write everyone i want to, even on p-day :(. If you find it within your heart to say hi, I will do my best to get back to you :) I know this church is true, I feel it whenever i teach someone, and I am so grateful for the continuous atonement of Jesus Christ in my life.  I am so lucky to spread his message.  Hesperia hasn't been brought up to heaven yet but I'm workin' on it. :)

With much love,

Elder Garrett Roos   





Sunday, September 4, 2011

Elder Roos has arrived ...






Monday, August 29th, 2011


Well it has been a memorable three weeks, but i am ready to get going! I leave tomorrow! (Tuesday).  I fly into the Ontario airport tomorrow morning and I'll have all day to get to work. :) I'm excited to meet the mission president and my trainer comp. Yesterday we had a departure devotional and it is finally setting in that my real mission is beginning and it is goodbye to the smell of starch in the wind and fattening cafeteria food. Though one night i taught a good lesson with a practice investigator and they just happened to have pad Thai that night :) ... God works in mysterious ways. :) Anyway today i will be packing and doing laundry and making sure my bags aren't too heavy for departure.  My scriptures are marked and tabbed ready to go (though i have a lot of studying still to do).  I am going from a district leader to a greeny. :).  This has already been such an adventure and I can't wait to see what insanity awaits me.  It's weird having to ask the branch president about news because there is no way to access any outside world info :) So apparently there is a hurricane and there was an earthquake?? But it's a good thing (not having access to news etc.). I can stay focused at the task at hand i.e. inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, babtism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end. :) I love you and miss you Mommy, Daddy, Aaron and Cam.  I also miss me good friends like.. Dallon, Coy, David, Shelbi, Arianna, zelda, Jadon and.. yea am I forgetting anyone....... oh yea! Janae of course! :) K i gots ta go.. In summary I'm doing well.. I love this Gospel and my faith is like many seeds that have been planted and are continually growing :)
 
K loves ya all

Monday, August 15, 2011

Dropping Elder Roos off at MTC



Friday, August 23rd, 2011

Well one week from today i will be getting on a plane at 8:35 sooooo you guys need to be awake so you can anwer my phone call from the airport! I don't know the exact time i will be able to make it so just be up and waiting :).  I'm finally getting used to this place and i am leaving in a week! crazy stuff.  Sandy's package was soooo nice! it made me happy.  And i got my glasses.  I like them but it would be hard to where them all day.  I love contacts too much.  i'm glad everything is well at home. I have been thinking a lot about Les Mes auditions.. that is soo exciting i will need to know what the cast is :).  I will be sending some pictures today! hopefully they will get there soon.  and i will send my sd card towards the end of the week even if it isn't full. There are some funny videos on there.  My district is a lot of fun but it seems every group has it's problems.  I think they like me being the District Leader because i'm pretty chill when it comes to some rules :) well it cams birthday this week! i hope it's a good one.  I keep getting care packages from the holloways! i get soo much i can't finish all of the food befor the next one comes. please pass on my gratitude to Sandy and the Holloways.  I will be singing in the choir tonight! (along with hundreds of others :).  but we are singing a song that references Christ calming the seas. (the end of Mark 4) i love the song and i feel the spirit when i am at choir.
Anyway i gotta go but write me back!  I love and miss the whole fam.


MTC Fun!!






August 10, 2011

Garrett enters the MTC in Provo, Utah.