First Thanksgiving in the Mission Field

Hey foo, where are your shoes?

What's up friends and me familia?  Another week, another ridiculously vague and short blog update from Elder Rodeback.  I am sorry people….all I do is service so I don't know what I can update you with except the fact that I am still in the Eatontown South area with a new companion!  If you didn't get the update from last week, his name is Elder Hafoka and he is STRAIGHT OUTTA TONGA!!!  He is a total stud and quite frankly, he is my favorite companion that I have had.  He is like 6' 2" and is RIPPED OUT OF HIS MIND.  Luckily, he has a huge weight set and we workout hardcore every day.  Believe me when I say, you have never worked out hard until you have worked out with a Tongan!  We work really well together except we lose track of time and run late to some things.  Anyway, I do have a hilarious story for everyone.

So, on Thanksgiving we had three dinner appointments and you all know how it is, and everyone makes the exact same excuse, "It's Thanksgiving!  I'm suppose to eat as much as humanly possible."  Then later you whine and moan about how you shouldn't have eaten so much food because your stomach is about to rip in half.  Well, Elder Wells, Elder Galvez, Elder Hafoka and I got to our first dinner appointment and I kid you not, there was enough food to feed Africa sitting on the table in front of us.  Elder Hafoka and I looked at each other a just smiled, we knew how much food we were gonna eat.  So, after the blessing on the food, we began to eat.  Unfortunately, we completely forgot that we still had two other appointments.  Elder Hafoka and I filled our plates not once, but twice.  Immediately after eating we realized that we still had two more appointments.  Even after that realization, we still ate dessert.  After dessert we left and all the way from the front door to our car, we were jumping up and down trying to pack down the food we had just pounded.  Luckily, we didn't have to eat at our next appointment.  We did however have to eat at the last one and I honestly wanted to puke my brains out by the time we made it home.  I also had a food baby for another four days! 

I hope you were entertained by my dumb little story and I hope everyone is doing good out there!  Service is what we are about right now.  There's lots to do and many people to help.  Hopefully we can make a good impression on someone so that when we start tracting again we will have many to teach.

Peace from the East!

Elder Patrick Rodeback

November 21, 2012

Yo, Peeps of the West!  How's it goin' out there?

HaHa!  What's going on people?  It's been so crazy out here!  I am so sorry I haven't been able to get an update to you for so long.  I haven't had a solid "P-day" in like three weeks.  I didn't even get a "P-day" last week.  We do service all day, every day, it's crazy!  Special shout out to a super close friend of mine, Miss Shannon Blackham!  Shan, I am super sorry I haven't written back yet.  Monday I am going to make time to write back to you.

 Well people the only thing that has really changed is that we wake up and go straight to service.  It is super ridiculous, but there are a lot of people who need our help.  We do have a baptism date on December 16th.  His name is Kevin and he is so stinkin' ready it's not even funny.

 Also, I have a new companion and I am stoked to say, he is straight out of Tonga!  His name is Elder Hafoka and he is huge!!  Pictures are included this time.  Alright guys, peace out.  Love you all and I will get a solid email out soon.

Love,

Elder Rodeback

Hurricane Sandy!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Today after the Hurricane Sandy, our apartment is still without heat or power.  Last week I took a cold shower every stinking day.  To be honest, I felt like a real man toughing it out and living with what I had and doing what I had to do to get the work done effectively.  As of Saturday me, Elder Jester, Elder Wells, Elder Galvez, Elder Gittins and Elder Archibald have been staying at the Red Bank Elder's apartment.  Side note, the Red Bank Elders are Elder Daybell and Elder Mull.  We have been staying there because they have heat and power.  I am kind of nervous because we are suppose to get hit with another storm today or tomorrow and it is supposed to be below freezing temperatures and 75% of our ward are still without heat or power.  This storm has been devastating.  People's lives have been absolutely ruined.

We actually have been doing loads and loads of service.  I have been in jeans and a t-shirt for a week now.  Secretly, I am thoroughly enjoying being in casual clothes.  Sadly my shoes (Vans) got ruined.  We went and visited with the Sinagaglia's who are my favorite people here.  They have no power and no heat and have a 3 month old baby.  The first time we saw them they were ok and were able to keep the baby warm.  We gave them what food and water we had and I also gave them all of the cash that I had.  They literally had nothing.  It was horrible.  We made sure that they were good and went on our way.  We returned to check on them on Saturday and things had gone bad and the baby ended up getting sick.  They needed to get out but couldn't take their animals with them.  We made a decision to be slightly disobedient and we told them we would go over and feed the cat and dog while they were gone so that they could get the baby to warmth.  They are now in Perth Amboy at a family member's home.  Please my family and friends, keep the people out here in your prayers.  They really need them.

On a funnier note, I found out today that Jen Swindler's aunt and uncle live in the ward I am now serving in.  What a small world!!

We're working hard and helping out the best we can.  It's hard work but I love making a difference for someone else.  Keep us in your prayers.

Love,

Elder Rodeback

This is a picture of what washed up on the beach after the storm in Long Branch, NJ.