December 30, 2013

Hey ya'll!!!
Merry New Year!!!!  ALMOST!!!!!

Man, the past week has been awesome!  WE had such a solid Christmas!  We talked to the family and had an awesome Christmas Devotional.  The only downer was that Elder Walker was sick for a few days, but eh' can't control it.  We got to walk around Lakewood on Saturday and that was pretty fun.  P.S. that trapper hat was a really good idea mom.  My head was so warm!  We got to talk to a whole lot of people and we even we able to talk to some Jewish people...  they thought we were Jewish as well.  To be able to testify of our Savior Jesus Christ this Christmas was one of the best experiences!  I love to know and feel the power behind the sentence, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives."  To be able to teach and testify the same things that Peter, James and John did, is the greatest opportunity I have ever been given and I will be eternally grateful for this experience.  I cannot express what the Lord Jesus Christ means to me.  I know he lives and is at the head of this church.  I love ya'll!!

Elder Rodeback

                           Elder Rodeback played Joseph in the Christmas Fireside for the members.

Alex Boye performing for the New Jersey Morristown Missionaries at their 2013 Christmas Conference

December 16, 2013

Man, this past week was nuts!

What's going on my friends?  It has been a crazy couple of weeks and it's just leading into another crazy week.  There are so many great things goin on here in Tom's River.  Elder Walker and I have a blast!  The Zone had the opportunity to go up to the Manhattan Temple and that was so awesome!  To be able to be rejuvenated by the Spirit of God was the greatest thing in the world.  We actually got permission to borrow the mission van (a big ten seater poliga-bus) and cruise up to Manhattan.  We fit almost the entire Zone in that monster!  It was so much fun to be able to go up as a zone and talk and goof around a little in the bus!  Other than that, there is a whole lot of work going on here in the area.  We have been able to see so many amazing miracles that just reaffirm that God loves his children.  God is our Father.  We are His children.  It's a two-way relationship.  I unfortunately, only have half of a "P" day once again.  Due to a fireside practice that is two hours away.  :) 

I love y'all, keep it fresh out there!

Elder Rodeback

                                  Pictures are from last Christmas (2012)  I'll replace them when I get new ones.

December 9, 2013

Hey Guys!

Man, this week was awesome!  It finally snowed yesterday and it finally melted today. :P  Boooooo!  I was lookin' forward to having the snow on the ground.  Elder Walker and I have been workin' our tails off (I am pretty sure I say that every week so let's shake things up) Elder Walker and I have been doin' mad work out here in Tom's River.  The people down here are amazing!  We started teaching this boy and he is awesome!  His dad is a member out in Utah.  He already knows everything about the church, he is just awesome!  We had Jingle with the Jeppson's which is where we go up to the mission home and have breakfast with President and Sister Jeppson.  Man, the devotional that they did after breakfast was so powerful.  To be able to hear the pure testimony of Jesus Christ from President was amazing!  Sorry this is so short this week.  I am low on time cuz we only get half of a "P" day today.....TEMPLE TRIP on TUESDAY!!!  YESSSS!

I love y'all, take care
Elder Rodeback

December 2, 2013 - Shiver Fits & Screaming Knuckles

Hey Guys!

It has been a crazy week after the transfer!  I got doubled into a new area.  Say Hello to the REAL Jersey Shore!  Can I get a YEAH BUDDDDDY?  haha!  Tom's River, y'all got the two Alpine boys ready to win!  My new companion is Elder Collin Walker from Alpine, Utah!  haha, I know ballin, shot callin!  We were in High School together and the ward gets a kick out of hearing about it.  Our ward is boss!  (almost as cool as Princeton 2nd)  We are super excited to get some hard core work done!  Last week was a mess!  One of our missionaries broke his collar bone during the Turkey Bowl.  That was a super big bummer.  Other than that, there was a lot of trying to meet people.  We were able to have dinner at the Bishop's house which was great because we got to meet him and his family and learn a little bit more about the ward.  Those are probably the two biggest highlights of the week.
This past week has been awesome for me because I have been able to ponder and think about the true nature of God, and more importantly the relationship that we have with our Heavenly Father.  If we could just more fully understand the two-way relationship that we have with Him, we would be better able to understand the purpose that we are in this temporary place.  God is our Father and WE are His children.  It goes both ways.

I love y'all.  Hope everything is stellar back West!  Keep Warm
Elder Rodeback