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. :)

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. :) 

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.

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,

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 :)

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 :)

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   

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

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.