Dear Zion

I've come to realize that a good week for a missionary can come down to five minutes of success out of the 10,080 minutes we live each week. A few of those minutes of which I speak were on Friday. We had a lesson with our investigator Steve. As I have done many times before we had Steve open his Book of Mormon to 2 Nephi 31, the chapter on baptism. We read the chapter with him until we reached versus 9 and 10, where we come across the famous line "Follow Thou Me." Elder DeVaney then invited him to be baptized. After only a moment, he replied "Absolutely!" I have been on my mission long enough to know how important that moment is. I have also been on my mission long enough to know that this was the easy part. :) Steve will have many hurdles yet to face before we can make baptism a reality. The difference now is that we know that he is willing to take that hard road. Another couple of minutes that made this week successful were the ones we spent with Suzane Cuaz. After discussing the details of the restoration I committed her to baptism for the 23rd of June. We hope and pray that her kids Taylor and Riley who are of baptismal age can join her as well, but without there father's consent it will not happen. I have a feeling that baptismal permission has been the bane of many missionaries trying to baptize many of the broken families here in California. Well I hope there are a few minutes next week that will make it another success for the ward here in Big Bear, and ultimately for the Lord.

Until next week

Dear Family and Friends

Big Bear has been a blast so far. We have met a lot of great people, and I can see why it is a coveted area in the mission. I was pretty certain that Running Springs was the most beautiful area in the mission. Big Bear has proven me wrong. The work is going better than I could have anticipated.  The Lord has provided new teaching opportunities that we desperately needed. Meeting the Cuaz family has been one of the most exciting developments since we arrived here. Suzane Cuaz is a single mother with four kids. She wanted to join the church when she was very young but her mother wouldn't allow it. She has prayerfully asked what church she should attend and the answer she received is "you already know." Suzane and her kids have been to church twice so far and we will be teaching them later this week. I look forward to seeing progress with that family. On Thursday I went on exchanges with another missionary in our district. The reason for the exchange was so that I could do a baptismal interview for a Larry Crawford, who was just baptized into the Lucerne Valley Ward. This is the first time I have interviewed anyone for church purposes. When the interview was finished I knew that he was more than ready to be baptized. It is great to see someone so willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ. On a side note Lucerne Vally is a vast desert. It reminds me of "Tatooine" off of Star Wars, or more specifically "Mos Eisley" (you'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy... I know I am a nerd:). So in short Lucerne valley is Spirit Prison and Big Bear is Spirit Paradise. :) While we were on Exchanges Elder DeVaney Contacted a media referral we got on our phone. Steve Close called the number on the back of a pass along card that he got from some missionaries years ago. (yes, a little thing like giving someone a card does matter.) Yesterday we taught him the Restoration and he is pretty excited about it. It is nice to not only get new investigators, but solid ones as well. Another neat experience started as we got a phone call from our Ward Mission Leader, brother Nielson. He informed us that there was a less active member who needed a blessing. It just so happened that this less active member was none other than Aaron Brinks who is a famous MMA Fighter. We met him at the church and it was clear to see why he would succeed in such a sport.  The blessing went well. He came to us in a lot of distress and left feeling at peace. It is amazing what the spirit can do. Maybe Aaron can teach me a few moves. :) Anyway! I hope all of you are doing well. I will try to get better at writing letters. I'm having fun out here.

I have been transferred to.... 'drum roll'...

BIG BEAR LAKE CALIFORNIA! After spending six months in an amazing mountain area, I have the chance to be in the mountain area next door! Though we are building the work here from the ground up, I am happy to stay in the mountains. Especially when it will be one of the coolest(temperature) places in the mission come summer time. Though it is going to take some time to get work going, I know this will be great place to train. Speaking of which, my greeny's name is Elder Travis DeVaney from West Jordan UT. He spent eight years playing football back home and he has a fetish for studying and drawing dinosaurs. He is very well rounded. :) We have been getting along very well. In other news I GOT TO TALK TO THE FAM YESTERDAY! It is funny how long you look forward to that and it is over in a flash. It was a needed boost for me at this point in my mission. Like I said the work here is slow, but we do have a couple of things I am excited about. A young man in the foster program named Mario Barr has started taking the lessons from us and has committed to be baptized! Due to the complications of his family situation we don't know how long it will take to get the permission to do so, but fear not we will do our best. Tonight we are teaching him the Plan of Salvation. We are striving to be as obedient as we can be. We need all the spiritual power we can get right now to get this area going. Well I'm nine months out on my mish and things are going well for us in the great San B mission.

It is official, I am being transferred. I feel my stay here in Running Springs has been very well spent. Sunday was one of my last chances to see all of the people I have grown so close to in these last six months. It has been hard saying goodbye, but the spirit has called me another way. :) To add to the anxiety to going to a new area I found out that I am going to be training a new missionary! This is both exciting and scary. My greeny and I will be whitewashing into an area, which means it will be new to both of us. This puts a lot of pressure on me to get the work going as well as getting this new missionary up to speed. To add to that I was also asked by President Godwin to be a District Leader! So I will be a "White-washing-Trainer-District Leader". This will be a different missionary experience than what I am used to. It is one that will require all of the diligence to be obedient that I can muster. So I may need extra prayers this month with the added pressures I will have. God always gives us opportunities to stretch. I been stretched quite a bit as a missionary. I hope in this new challenge I won't have to many "growing pains." :) Lisa is still on track to be baptised! That will give me a chance to come to Running Springs in a month or so! Not much more to say than thanks for all of the support, and I will have a chance to talk to my mommy in a week. :)

Pics - 4/30

And it came to pass That It was another great week in the field with a few more stories to remember. On our way to district meeting on Tuesday we stopped to take pictures of the valley. A guy named Ted pulled off next to us and asked "are you guys Mormons?" We were like "..... yea :)" He said he had been going through some very hard times and he wanted us to pray for him right there. (a common occurrence actually) After finding out that he lived in Running Springs we asked if we could come over. Yesterday we had our first lesson with Ted. The spirit was strong and he has committed to be at church this Sunday! He is one of the most promising new investigators we have had in a while. We have been very blessed to pick up at least one new investigator each week. Another miracle that happened this week was when we set a baptismal date with Lisa Ornalez! It has been hard to get lessons with her the last couple of transfers, but when we did we were bold. We read 2 Nephi 31 and challenged her to baptism. These types of lessons are the ones I will remember for years to come. Her family has been going through some hard times. I know that the gospel in their lives can heal many wounds. For now Lisa the mother of four is the only one so far with a date, but we hope that her example will push her daughters along. In other news I find out if I am going to be transferred on Saturday. We had Interviews with President Godwin this last week, and though it was undetermined, He made it seem that I would be going. I have been here for six months, which is about the length they want missionaries in one area. I have mixed feelings about leaving Running Springs, especially with all of the great work we have been doing lately. But as they say "I'll go where you want to go dear Lord." I have seen a lot of good happen here In Running Springs. I will surely miss it. It's a good thing I would only have a five hour drive from home to get back here. :) Well nothing is for certain just yet so I will let you know next week. I miss you all soooo much. 

It is not often you get to shake hands with an apostle of the Lord. On Saturday I did just that. We arrived at the meeting in Fontana at two, an hour before it was time to start. As time grew closer My comp and I went to the restroom at 2:25. On our way back to the chapel we passed Elder Ballard and his security guards. :) I nervously looked at him and greeted him as I softly said "Elder Ballard" with the slight nod of my head. He replied with something like "how are you Elders today." When got back to the Chapel I turned to another missionary and told him That we passed Elder M. Russell Ballard in the hall, and my companion said "WE DID!?" Ha :) He didn't recognize him nor did he hear me greet him.:) After everyone was seated quietly we started with everyone lining up to shake Elder Ballard's hand. Accompanying Elder Ballard was Shayne M. Bowen and Elder Scott D. Whiting of the Seventy. We also heard from Douglas F. Higham who is an area Seventy for a part of California. All of their talks were amazing, but it was clear who the apostle was when Elder Ballard spoke. He was a lot funnier then I thought he would be. He got up to the pulpit and the first thing he said was "well.... let's go home!":). As he looked over all of our faces he said " you guys need to put on more sunscreen!... We don't want you comin' home with cancer!" :) He proceeded with his talk and the spirit was strong. He saved some time at the end of his talk to answer questions and address concerns. At the close of his talk he simply bore his testimony by reading 3 Nephi 11. If you have not read that chapter recently I suggest you do so. He got choked up as he read it gave us his Apostolic witness that Jesus Christ Lives. He called blessing upon us for the work here in The great San B mission. It is safe to say that this was the best meeting I have ever been to on my mission, if not my life. I am going to work on applying the wisdom they had for us in the coming weeks and months ahead. The work in Running Springs is still going well. We are getting new investigators and getting them on the path of discipleship. I hope my fam has fun in Mexico, but I would rather be here.

Dear Southern Utah,

This email won't nearly be as exciting as the last, but there are a few things to report on including the epic snow storm we had. The people of Running Springs never fail to tell me how fed up they are with the snow. I've never had this much winter in my life! The good thing about snow storms is it helps us get into more houses. Would you deny a couple of missionaries covered in snow at your front door with ice shrapnel filled winds laying siege upon their faces? I didn't think so.:) That actually did help us get into a couple of houses that normally turn us away this week. In other snow related news we got stuck! We got a truck A.D. (after destruction) that would supposedly keep us out of that kind of trouble with it's four wheel drive etc. But after an amazing lesson on the Book of Mormon with a couple of our new investigators Dean and Linda, we got stuck in the middle of a snow storm heading back to the main highway. After pushing, digging, sliding, and freezing for forty five minutes we finally called our Branch Mission Leader Earl Purkiss. With his help we finally got the truck we have named Bruce back on the road.:) We finally got home at 11:30, Which is a bit past our curfew. :) The work here has been going good, but we are definitely in a building stage again after those two baptisms. We are working with a few people now that I have high hopes for. In sadder new an investigator we started teaching recently dropped us after looking up a lot of "anti" on Joseph Smith. I told her that her reading the Book of Mormon and asking God is the ONLY way she can know the truth. She wouldn't listen. In happier news M Russell Ballard is coming to speak to the mission this Sunday! I am very excited for that. It isn't to often I get to hear an Apostle of our Lord speak in person. I will let you know how that goes next time. I have a firm testimony of this work, and every experience I have builds on that. I hope all of you are doing wonderfully. Thank you for your prayers.

Hello World,

There are few weekends in my life that can compare to the one I just experienced. The combination of baptisms and Easter is more than any missionary could ask for. The first was on Friday, where I had the opportunity to baptize Diana. It has been such a blessing to know her. Through the entire program she couldn't restrain her tears. I do admit I was pretty nervous to do the baptism, but it went perfectly. As I was getting changed into my dry clothes, I felt the chills which I personally feel when the spirit is with me. I know that her baptism was of great eternal significance. After I was dressed I gave a talk on The Gift of the Holy Ghost, and then our branch president led in her confirmation. When the final prayer was said I asked her if it had met her expectations. She replied that "It was better than she could have imagined." Diana is a follower of Jesus Christ, which is a manifestation of her strong faith. The second Baptism was for A.J Lundgren. His baptism was on Saturday morning and it was as celestial as the first. I started teaching him the week we arrived in running springs. He has been seeing missionaries for ten years and he has finally taken the step of baptism. The change of heart I have seen with him has been huge. During the baptism he was the picture of sincerity. He is a man who doesn't express too much emotion, but with the Spirit of God unrestrained his emotion was also unrestrained. His father in law baptized him and we had the confirmation in the light of an Easter morning. The reason for the Easter holiday is the same reason we can feel the true joy that I have felt in circumstances like the ones mentioned. It is because of Jesus Christ and His Infinite Atonement. On another note I would like to thank my amazing family for the box of Easter candy! I would also like to thank my dear Grandma Sandy for her package of sweets as well. The support I have received has been amazing. I love you all and I will see you all very soon. (I'm a third of the way through my mission:) 

To Everyone,

This mission has been full of firsts for me. It is the first time I have lived away from a sweet mother who cleans and cooks for me. :) It is the first time I have been personally involved in others coming to Christ. It is also the first time I have gotten in a car crash. For those who have driven with me in past years you are probably not surprised. :) Believe it or not I have been an overly cautious while driving, but it only takes one mistake to get into a car accident. I was driving down the highway here in Running Springs and I made a left turn and I didn't see the oncoming car coming. They hit our back end. If they would have swerved a foot they would have missed us. that initial hit pushed us into the bumper of a car turning right. So the first half of this week we were on foot while I car is being repaired. :( Ironically enough we were able to talk to a lot more people that way and we picked up a new investigator! on Sunday I was able to turn this into a great analogy for living the gospel. when I got to this area I drove in snow and on ice for my first time. I also have never experienced so many drivers darting down skinny mountain roads so fast that you don't see them until the last second. We also have had the experience many times to drive through fog so thick you can't see the yellow lines on the road. But it was the moment when I wasn't fearful of crashing that I made a mistake. At the beginning of this life God has handed us keys to the new car that is our bodies. Though at times we may be careful in keeping gospel principals, when we let our guards down by letting ourselves be distracted or deceived by Satan, we crash. Where this analogy falls apart is that there is no auto body shop on earth that gives you a car better than the one you crashed when they are done fixing it. The Atonement of Jesus Christ on the other hand does. Not only are our spiritual wounds healed but we are lifted even higher than we once were. Yes I just turned a moment of my utter stupidity into a gospel lesson.:) Another first for me in my life will be this Friday, when I will have a chance to baptize someone. Dianna called me one morning B.C (before the crash :) and asked me If I would baptize her. I am so grateful that I will have the chance to be a part of this sacred ordinance. another first for my mission is the fact that we have two separate baptisms this weekend! One for Dianna and the other will be on Saturday for A.J Lundgren. I have loved becoming his friend and preparing him for baptism. At the priesthood session he came to me and a member of the branch council and said that after ten years of going through different missionaries and wards, he feels that he is finally ready. He said that it was the right branch and the right missionaries (ME!:) that have brought him to this complete 180 degree turn. I loved conference. Holland's talk about the "11th hour" and Uchtdorfs talk about "envy and forgiveness" were my favorites. I felt there were many things that I could 'liken' unto myself. :) well thank you for your prayers and letters.:)

 What a busy week! It was very productive despite two days that I had to be a leadership meeting. The meeting was on Thursday and Friday and it took most of both days to do it. The part I was confused about was I am not currently serving in much of a leadership calling, but President Godwin said that this meeting is for officially called leaders and others he feels have an influence on other missionaries. It is good to know that Pres trusts me and is keeping me in mind. I learned a lot in those meeting that I have already implemented in my missionary service. Another thing we found out is that on the 21st of April M. Russell Ballard is coming to speak with us! So I'm pretty pumped for that.:) This week we picked up three new investigators! The first one is Ken, who we tracted into a couple weeks ago and we have started teaching. Getting the next two investigators was a small miracle. We met a guy named Dean at the post office a few weeks back and he told us that he lived across from the Strebel family in the branch. We next saw him at Jensen's, a small store here in R.S, and we said hi to him there. On Saturday a thought spontaneously popped into my head "let's go see Dean" so we found the Strebel's address on our ward list and drove down his street. Not only was Dean outside shoveling snow but the Strebel's were outside to greet us too! That made it a very casual situation and we were able to help Dean shovel out his driveway. His wife Linda invited us in for hot chocolate and we were able to talk for a while. It turns out that they have investigated before and that she has read the Book of Mormon! We have a return appointment with them next week so wish us luck. It has been great to see the Lord silently lead us where we need to be. Another very funny but sad thing that happened this week was that due to the huge snow storm that just ended last night: CHURCH WAS CANCELED! This was the first time I didn't go to church on my mission, and man I missed it. :) The Snow has not been fun in fact yesterday we got stuck! Snow is a life experience I have assuredly attained out here on the Mish. Well thank you for your many letters and emails! We are still looking ahead to the two baptisms in the first week of April, and we are getting those involved prepared. I love this work. Now I am off to a zone snowball fight being held up here in the mountains! So I'll see ya next week!

We have been so blessed these past few weeks with some great successes. First with Dianna and now with Alex Lundgren. He has been seeing missionaries for ten years now! On Thursday he we set a baptismal date with him for the 7th of April! Seeing him change these last few months has been incredible. We wanted him to set the date himself through prayer. He wanted it to be on March 31st, which is a lot sooner then I thought he would want to do it. Unfortunately and fortunately that weekend is conference weekend, so we moved the date up a week. Along with seeing him change, It has been wonderful to see what the gospel has done and will do for their family. Their two kids will have a rare opportunity to be raised in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the time comes they will also have the chance to be baptized by their priesthood holding father. The funny thing about this is that we have decided to keep Dianna's date for the sixth of April, putting both baptisms a day apart. We considered combining them, but our branch president wanted to have the baptisms separate to make it more special for Dianna and AJ. In other news we have a new Branch Mission Leader. Our last one was an older guy named Michael Scullin. His family at one point one more than half of the businesses in Running Springs. He knows everyone in town and we can't go tracting without a few people saying "oh.. you guys must know Mike Scullin!" He has been an amazing resource to have. Our new Branch Mission Leader is one of my favorite members in the branch Earl Purkiss. He has already been helping us a lot in our work. He is very sarcastic and we make fun of each other non-stop, so he's obviously the best guy for the job. :) So we are still working hard here and I hope we can find even more success. I know that the only way that will happen is rely on The Lord. I love all of you and thank you for your letters. :)

Hey Mi Amigo's

It's very rare that I publicly profess that I have seen a miracle. This last week I did. A few weeks ago we started teaching someone who would become one of the hardest people I have taught thus far on my mission. She was a member but she had her records removed from the church a long time ago. She has four kids and she is divorced. Her name is Dianna. When we first taught her it was evident she would be going nowhere fast. She has been indoctrinated with every Anti-Mormon theory out there. She has pushed me to the very edge of my gospel knowledge.:) This last week she said that she had been praying and she knows that this is the path The Lord is leading her down. She wants to be baptized on the 6th of April, which is the first day that she got The Book of Mormon when She was a small girl. Knowing her for the short time that I have has changed my life. There may be concerns yet to be faced while teaching her, but the biggest battle has been won: faith in midst of fear and opposition. I know that this was the hand of Lord in her life. It makes the other awesome activities I did this week seem small in comparison such as riding roller coasters at a small amusement park for a zone activity or even going to The Redlands temple. We are pushing ourselves to do more for this work. I am so happy to have your support. 

aaaaayyyyyy (Italian new yorker :),

What a celestial weekend. Seeing Jason Rogerson being baptized was the only thing that could have topped his marriage to Tracy Sansone the day before. They have become close friends with me over the last three months.  On Sunday I was able to do the Confirmation for Jason. When I finished it seemed everyone was in tears. Those precious moments are the reasons I am here. I have been In front of hundreds of people confidently a lot of crazy things, including being in underwear at one point for a stage production. For some reason, the weight or I should say the reverence of ordinances like this, bring me more anxiety than all of that. :) I prayed that I would be calm and in tune with the spirit, and the words seemed to flow without hesitation. In heavy contrast to Sunday, on Monday we went to Pep Boys Auto for a simple oil change. Six hours later we finally drove away. Apparently there was some alignment issues or something. :( Yesterday was had an awesome service opportunity. We "sodded" a baseball field for the community! Our entire zone took the grass at the old Sixty Sixers field (local semi pro baseball team) and we brought it to a field at a park in San Bernardino, which was in really bad shape. Once that grass takes root it will look beautiful. while we were there a girl was crossing the street and she was hit by a car. She survived and we found out this morning that she is with her family now. She definitely had many missionaries saying prayers in there hearts for her throughout the day. I have a new companion! I can't forget to mention that. His name is Elder Hales and he is from Arizona. He has been out for three months, which means I am his "follow up trainer." That puts a lot of the load on me as far as keeping the work going is concerned, but I am ready for this.I hope to make this a chance to "yield much fruit" in this part of "The LordsVinyard." :) Elder Hales is different than any comp I have had. It will be a "growing" experience for sure. Dallon is home and It feels as though I have begun. :) just a year and half left and I'll get to see my cousin. Which is ironically the amount of time our ages differ. I wonder if this is what it was like waiting to get to earth in the pre-earth life when he left. :) Well, I could go on for much longer but I must say goodbye. Thank all of you for the never ending support I have received.

........ Sup..

So It's official. I have been a missionary for half a year!! I hit the six month mark! Now all I have to do it do what I just did three more times. If I could replicate my last six months a few times I will have had a very successful mission. Not more than twenty minutes ago I gave my last comp. Elder Brown a hug goodbye. In less that twenty four hours he will just be known as Ethan. :) there were a lot of great missionaries going home this transfer, including a roommate I had in Hesperia Elder McFarland. He has been one of my favorite missionaries I have met. So Elder Brown going home means that I will have a new victim. I will get my new companion tomorrow at about 9:30. The poor fellow has no Idea that he is being shipped to a snowy mountain to be alone with me for hours on end. :) I really hope we get along and I hope he is ready to work. We have some amazing things happening in our area at the time being. This Saturday We have a baptism! I am very excited for that. Tomorrow we will be putting together a program for it. His name is Jason Rogerson. He has been the most golden investigator I have taught thus far. He will be such a strong member in the church, which is something that is hard to say for a lot of people in the San B area. Along with that we have a few other investigators making some great progress, like quiting smoking for instance. Last week I mentioned that we started teaching a lady with a lot of big questions for us. We met with her twice and both times the lesson lasted more that two hours! Elder Brown said that she pushed him to the very edge of his gospel knowledge. She has a long way to go but I feel that she is a sincere seeker of truth. That being the case she will find out that these things are true by the power of the Holy Ghost. I'm alive, I'm happy, and I'm a Mormon.

HEY Y'ALL,

What a Heaven of a week! We had a great lesson with one of our investigators Alex Lundgren. He has had missionaries talking to him on and off for the last ten years! We decided it was time to get bold, so we read 2 Nephi 31 with him and he is currently praying to find out when to be baptized! Granted this exciting news is not yet set in stone, but it is more progress than we have seen with him since we have been here. In other missionary news we had a family of new investigators fall on our laps yesterday.  In ward council we were informed that a mother and her kids who have been attending Calvary Chapel and has apparently been to Bible College. She now wants to give the Mormons a try. :) She apparently used to go with her mom or something when she was young. We have an appointment with her tomorrow, and She has warned us that she has some big theological questions for us that she thinks we can't answer. I'm pretty sure we'll be fine answering her questions but just to be safe... pray for us. :)  This is my last week were I can use Elder Browns two years of experience in dealing with every missionary situation conceivable. :) I'll let you know how that goes. This month is going to be a good one. I'll have the chance to see baptisms and a lot of progress with others that we are teaching. This Running Springs place is growing on me. I hope my next comp doesn't make things go downhill. Well no funny stories to report this week. The work goes on. Thank you so much for the letters etc. I have a lot of people to reply and not much time, so bare with me.

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

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. 

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

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