June 9, 2014 - Jersey City Mentality!

May 27, 2013 Jersey City, NJ

 Missionaries in Jersey City

 Elder Magelby and Elder Pico visiting the mission

 Liz's baptism

Jersey City 2nd Ward

May 19, 2014 - Cloudy with a chance of...........HAPPINESS!

Dear Peeps in da crib!

Hey how we doing?  Hope all y'all are livin' the dream cuz you better believe, I AM!  We do it big out here so I don't know if y'all can handle it!  LOL!  Elder Pabla and I have been working really hard.  It's so fulfilling to have people come to church and see how the Gospel is blessing and strengthening them every day.  Liz is still the most prepared person I have ever met.  She is getting baptized this coming Sunday which will be an awesome experience!  As a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, there is not a better and more amazing feeling than seeing someone enter into the waters of baptism and completely start their life over.  I can't even describe how much it has blessed my life to be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and help God's Children begin their trek home.
Jersey has just been beautiful this past week.  It wasn't excruciatingly hot or unbearably cold.  It was perfect!  On Friday night Elder Pabla and I were out contacting people and we contacted this guy named David.  the whole time we were talking to him, it was softly raining.  By the time we finished and got his information, it began to pour, all over Jersey City.  While we were walking back in the rain, I couldn't help but feel so incredibly happy.  We got to a street corner and I looked up to God and just yelled "I LOVE THIS!!!!!"  The overwhelming feeling finally just burst and I felt so incredibly happy to have had the opportunity to prove to God almighty that I loved what I was doing and nothing was gonna stop me.  I cannot even express to anyone how much I love being here and sharing the Gospel with ALL OF HIS CHILDREN.  Yes, it's really hard sometimes.  Yes, we get frustrated sometimes but, I would not trade one second of this experience for anything in this entire world.  Every hour, every minute, every second has changed eternity for me.  I will never be the same!
I love all of you so much!  I am grateful to be able to always and forever be a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

Keep it Fresh
Elder Rodeback

May 12, 2014 The Beat Goes On.........

Dear......Everyone!

I can't believe I talked to my family yesterday!  It was the most surreal thing in the world.  What was more crazy was that it was unfortunately.....the last.  (from the mission)
Last week was a pretty awesome week!  We had so many different things going on I couldn't even believe it.  We taught Liz which went very well.  We also had the opportunity to do some service for some members who have zero interest in the church anymore.  Life couldn't get much better than that, just livin' the dream and doin' it big!  Between helping people come to Christ and having fun with my companion/roommates, I just love being here.  We went and played Ultimate, last "P" day and I couldn't believe the amount of sunburn that everyone had!  Haha!  We had Zone Meeting last Tuesday and the monthly focus on faith and working with members, was unveiled.  As the week progressed, I realized how much my mission has done for me.  On Sunday EVERYTHING HIT ME!  I realized that I was going home in a couple of weeks and it scared the daylights outta me!  It's interesting though, because as I have studied the Gospel, I have realized that each Prophet has something in common.........acceptance of change.  Change is where we grow and become more like God.  I have just grown to love that principle as a missionary and I hope that I can take that with me!

I love you GUYS!  Keep it easy out there!
Elder Rodeback

WE BE....BIG PIMPIN! WE SPENDIN CHEESE. WE BE...BIG PIMPIN OUT IN N.J.C.!

Elder Says:

Chillin in the dirty city

Wit my main man

I don't smoke that loopy weed

Cause I'm out here doin' the deed.

Preechin' & Teachin'

to the Goblins and Ghouls

We stare poverty in the barrel

But they think we be fools

CAUSE WE BE....

Big Preachin' we teachin' kids

WE BE......

Big Teachin' out in JC!

It's just the Elder power preachin' here in JC!  (Mash up of Kyoto by SKRILLEX and Big Pimpin by Jay-Z)

How we doin'?

Hop all y'all are doing boss!  I can't believe it is stinkin' Mother's Day!!!  I feel like I called home yesterday!  Life in Jersey City has been .....well you guessed it, AMAZING!  I can't tell you how much I love this place.  God has just unloaded so many stinkin' miracles on us it isn't even funny!  Last week was crazy!  The Lord once again changed me.  I just can't even tell all of you how happy I am to be here and to be a missionary.  Elder Pabla and I have been working super hard.  This lady showed up at church last week and found the Sisters and told them that she wanted to get baptized....Well, she lives in our area so we taught her on Friday and Sunday and she is so prepared to receive the Gospel!!!  I don't know how many RMs read this thing but man, I am sooo tired!  I feel like I crash every night.  I will keep all of you updated on this girl's progress.  

That's all I have to report on this week....I hope all of you enjoyed my little rap at the beginning... ;)

I love you guys!

Elder Rodeback

April 28, 2014

Dear family and friends!

What's up guys?  I am sorry for being such a bone head and not writing one of these more frequently.  It's interesting how as your mission goes on, your emails home get worse and worse.....sorry mom.  So much has happened over the past little bit!  Elder Marchant got the boot and Elder Pabla is my companion now!  We have been working really hard and have had so many miracles!  Every day I love my mission more and more.  As I see people accept and apply the principles of the Gospel, I get more and more attached to this place.  I am still in Jersey City.
Last week Elder L. Tom Perry visited our mission!  We spent Monday in an All Mission Conference with him.  What an amazing experience to be in his presence.  It will forever make an impact on my life!
I have been getting really tired!  I won't lie, I can feel the past two years catching up to me.  But I wouldn't trade my mission experience for anything.  I am out of time unfortunately, but I love you guys!  Keep being Bosses!

Elder Rodeback

March 31, 2014 - How High is UP? True or False?

Hey there e'er body.  It know it's been a little bit since I have written a blog update *boo me*!  I sincerely apologize.....You may call me Elder Scum.....  :)
This week was a ballin' week!  There were so many people at church yesterday that we almost didn't have enough room!  Transfers are once again here and I am STAYING!!!!  YES!  On the bummer side, Elder Marchant is being transferred.  Elder Marchant and I had so many fun times together and I am bummed that it is time for it to end.  I am super excited to meet my next companion though!  New adventures are the cat's pajamas!  It has been one of the greatest transfers of my mission because of the biggest lesson that I learned.  Elder Marchant and I, for the life of us, could not find anyone to teach!  We worked so hard and despite all of our best efforts, we couldn't find a soul.  As I have reflected on what I learned from this last transfer, one powerful and important principle stuck out to me and it is one I will never forget.  Never, EVER deviate from what you know is true!  Even when life is hard, even when nothing is going the way you want it to.  If you live the principles that you know are right , God's plan will be laid before you.  I know that God lives and Jesus is the Christ and the Book of Mormon is true.  I love you all so much!  Keep doing the things that are right and the Lord will bless you in all things.

Love,
Elder Rodeback

Elder Rodeback & Elder Marchant, Jersey City, NJ

March 17, 2014

Hey Guys!

I know, I know.  It's been a couple of days (and by days I mean weeks.)  Once again I am completely out of time and I don't know what to write in my update this week.  Life here in Jersey City is fun as can be.  I love this place!  We literally have the best of both worlds.  You can go down to my boy Dayquan's house and be in the straight "hood" or you can go to Brother Davis' house and be in the most expensive apartment building I have ever been in!  This place makes me laugh!  Like I said I am outta time.  I love you all, take care!

Elder Rodeback

 DUUUU Rags!

 Got snow Elders?

For the Lord God will help me................

Hey Everyone,

Man, it has been a little bit since I have been able to send one of these things.  Truth be told, I have been stumped the past couple of weeks on what the Lord wanted me to write about.  I mean, I get up and do the same thing every day and yet, every single day is a cherished moment for me.  One that I will ponder upon every minute for the rest of my life.  I cannot effectively describe to you in words, the feelings that resonate in my heart every day as I think about the things that I am doing out here, and the miracle that has taken place in my life.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ has changed my life forever.
I am still in Jersey City, just in case you didn't get the update.  I love this place so much!  My companion is Elder Braydon Marchant and we have a blast together!  We spend a lot of time in the hood of Jersey City because of all of the work there is to do.  The young man name Dayquan that we have been working with is making some amazing changes in his life and every time that we go to see him he changes a little bit more.  My mom asked me if I was tired of the snow and the answer is......YES!  It makes parking impossible and I begin getting really antsy when we are in the car for too long.
Here is some spiritual uplift for y'all.
"For the Lord God will help me.  Therefore, shall I not be confounded.  Therefore, have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed." 2 Nephi 7:7  I hope every time that you are faced with a temptation and do something that you shouldn't do, you remember the words of a prophet of God.  Jesus Christ will not stand ashamed of you at judgment.  Why are we standing ashamed to keep the commandments of God?  Back up, or Get in!

I love you all!  Be Safe!
Elder Rodeback

"It wreaks in here!!!!!" "That's the smell of weed....." "It still wreaks!"

HAHAHAHAHAH!
Dear friends and family!

Once again I am sitting at my computer trying to put into words the events and hilarity that was last week!  We had such an awesome week!  It was full f the Spirit of God.  It ended up with us popping a tire after hitting a pot hole!  Elder Marchant and I know that God wanted it to happen so that we could help other people that popped their tires as well! :)  Life as a missionary cannot be replaced by anything in this world.  I love serving Here!!  The reason for the title is because of a funny story that happened last week.
We were walking out of a less active family's apartment and we just got smacked in the face with the putrid smell of pot!  The only thing we could think to say was, "Man, it wreaks in here!"  The kid smokin' it on the steps said, "that's the smell of weed..."  In a bit of an angered tone.  All we could do was look at him and say, "It still wreaks!"
I want all of you to know that I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that his commandments are for all of his children and will bless and change their lives, just as they change ours.  It is our responsibility to make sure that they know.

Love you all!
Elder Rodeback

Pictures from Superbowl Week!

January 27, 2014

Hey Guys!  It's been a minute!

I hope that my mom informed y'all that I got transferred to Jersey City.  WAHHOOOOO!!!  I love this place so much!  So many people are just willing to hear the Gospel and listen to us!  We had a baptism yesterday and it was SWEET!  Funny story...... The baptismal font wasn't filled up all the way so we started to fill buckets and run them from the kitchen to the font.  Well, I goofed....I spilled on my suit pants hahahah!  It was so funny all I could do was laugh :)  The baptism was awesome though!  It wasn't one of those baptisms that drag on for three hours.  It was all done in 30 minutes!  Sister Goode is awesome!  She was just so prepared and accepting of everything and she is also pregnant and still wanted to be baptized!  

We were cruising down the street last night and Elder Marchant said, "Hey, there is the Empire State Building!"  What?????  was the only thing that could escape my mouth!  Also, The Statue of Liberty is in my area right now!  Ahhhhh, I just love it here so much!!!!!

I love y'all dearly!  Keep missionary work in your daily prayers

Elder Rodeback

Cold in New Jersey!

 Check out the drawing on the top!  He still likes to draw!

Newest member of the Church in Jersey City!