Monday, January 30, 2012

Ello Chaps!

This week just flew by! As they seem to always do. On Tuesday I received six letters from family and friends! So I felt very loved this week. Elder Brown now has less days than I do months left being a missionary. :) I hope I get a good next Comp. I'll let you know how he is when I do. :) We have had some good teaching opportunities lately. We are preparing a Jason Rogerson to be baptized on the 18th of February. He has progressed so fast in a short amount of time. When I first met him I thought "yea.. we won't have much luck with him," and now he is more active than many members in the branch. :) There are things to be happy about here in Running Springs. On Saturday we had Interviews with President Godwin. I always look forward to meeting with him. He can be a little long winded :), but he always has great advice. This morning I went to a members house for a voice lesson! This has been in the plans for a couple of weeks now, and It will continue every p-day at ten. Sister Brady teaches singing a lot different than what I am used to. I wanted to do it so I can keep this voice of mine exercised, and hey maybe I'll learn a few things. :) I wonder what my average ":)" count is for these weekly messages. I'll have to count them up at the end of my mission. :) Oh, and there I go again. Well I'm still alive, I miss y'all, and I love y'all


Monday, January 23, 2012

January 23, 2012

Hello from Northern Mexico!

This has been an awesome week. On Saturday I was able to attend the baptism of two boys (Kenneth and Kevin Ewing) back in Hesperia! This was a baptism we set up when I was there. It is cool to see that things that we worked on months ago are coming to fruition. It was a very spiritual experience.  Their dad who had been less active was able to baptize them. It was a sweet experience for that family, and I feel it will bless them for years to come. It was great to be one of the few assisting in the confirmation given by the Bishop. It was also such a blessing to see everyone from the Arrowhead Ward. I have some friends there that I will have for the rest of my life. I hope I can continue to gain friends and build relationships like those throughout my mission. We had Stake Conference on Sunday and we were able to be Instructed via satellite by Elder L. Tom Perry. It is cool to see how the Apostles give specific instruction and inspired guidance for each area. This broadcast went out to all of Southern California. This morning we had a "district breakfast" over at the Lake Arrowhead Missionaries' apartment. We bought a lot of food and the six of us ate it all. :) I was surprised we did, though knowing missionaries I shouldn't be.:) I hesitate to put this part in the email but I do so anyway. :) while we were there a couple of raccoons were participating in an intricate part of life right on the doorstep (I will leave that up to interpretation:). Just one of the many things you see while here in this vast wilderness. The Zone Conference we had on Thursday was one I will never forget. There were car inspections and Elder Brown and I came prepared. This inspection is also a competition and they pick the cleanest car out of the two zones, and guess what.... WE WON!!! We cleaned, we came, and we conquered. Elder Brown says that he can now leave his mission happy.:) Hopefully President Godwin was paying attention as to give him more of an incentive to keep me in car areas. :) It did help that our Branch Mission Leader Bro. Scullin owns a car wash and we get free washes and vacuuming.:) But despite how glorious that victory was the real victory was knowing that I helped in some way assisting two more into the waters of baptism. I hope to continue working, having success, and maybe having a little bit of fun on the side. :) Thanks for reading about my simple joys of being a missionary. 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Hello Outside world,

So the other day we had dinner at our Branch President's house. To our surprise there was a very large black bear, which has been stuffed in his living room. upon inquiry, he informed us that he had shot it with a bow from his front yard. He further explained that the black bears in these mountains are more comparable to grizzly bears in size. Just another reminder that I'm not in Kansas anymore. :) Elder brown has only 28 more days on his mission. It won't be long before he has less days than I do months. :) It will be interesting to see what my perspective is on life when I have that short amount of a time before I return home. I have heard many missionaries in there homecoming talks profess that they were sad to leave the mission and go home. I'm not so sure I can have such a heavenly attitude, but hey, a year and a half is a long time for me to become the type of person who wishes to serve longer. anyway we have a good amount of work to do and I'm gaining some great experience as a missionary. I finished the Book of Mormon this week. I have been reading it since I left on the mission, but I have been going through it pretty slowly as to not miss a thing. Just as in other times when I have been through the Book of Mormon, I have received a spiritual confirmation of it's truth. Line upon line and precept upon precept, my testimony has grown more and more solid. Anyway I think I've done enough rambling for this week. Well If there is anyone reading this you should send me a letter! I love those things. :) Ba Bye for now.

Love,

Elder Roos


Monday, January 9, 2012

Hello Citizens!

Don't worry I haven't been eaten by any of the bears or mountain lions that roam these parts. I am alive and well continuing my missionary service. Tomorrow I will have been on my mission for five months! In another month I will have completed a fourth of my mish! Of course it doesn't feel like that at all. It is amazing looking back at all I have experienced thus far. From meeting so many amazing people to Being apart of baptisms (not to mention many great meals :), I have truly been blessed. I have been so well supported by family and friends along this journey of mine. It is also very exciting to look to the future. God has been undeniably involved in what I have gone through so far and I can't wait to see what he has in store for me as I push forward.  Yesterday was a successful day as we had five Investigators at church! From what I've been told that is a high number for the mountain areas. There is of course much progress needed for these individuals, but It shows that what we are doing is not in vain. As a completely random side note: Our new District leader has decided that we each need Jedi names. :) So next week I will update you on what we have decided mine is going to be. :) In other news it has been unseasonably hot here in the mountains, and they don't expect snow until February! To many this was welcome news, but for me it is the saddest weather forecast I have ever received :). This area seems naked without the coat of snow across the the skyline of trees. Well I hope all is well for everyone. All is well for me.

Love,

Elder Roos