Week NINE in New Jersey!

I am Samuel the Lamanite,

I fight for what is right.

I will prophecy of the coming of the Lord.

…excerpt from a song that we listen to every day.

What's up people from the West Side?  Letter from whoa, WEEK NINE!  I have been in Jersey for nine weeks!  That's nuts!  So, let's hop onto this update.

Monday, 9/17/12

Typical "Pday".  We went to BJ's for shopping.  I bought some new ties and we ate lunch at Pizza Hut buffet.  We finally found Alex again.  I was so stoked to see him and talk to him again, after four weeks.

Tuesday, 9/18/12

Today, at District Meeting we did a personal accountability with the Lord.  Man, was that a spiritual experience!  I have done that twice now and every time I do, I cry.  Don't judge me.  We were also able to have Junior come to Sister Castro's house and have dinner with us.  He gave a better explanation of why we make covenants than I could ever dream of giving….He is SO prepared.

Wednesday, 9/19/12

Today was a smack in the face.  Alex's dad told us not to come back anymore.  It makes me sad when the ignorance of some people gets in the way of other people doing what's right.  I know with all my heart that someday Alex will be baptized.  Then I made Gensuka (an 11 year old girl that we teach) cry.  I told her that we were here to strengthen her relationship with Heavenly Father so that when we leave she can rely on him and not missionaries.  Then she said, "You are gonna leave?"  I said, "Yes, Elder Heward goes back to Utah in four months and in two years I will do the same thing, then she cried.  On the bright side, we gave Elizabeth a blessing.

Thursday 9/20/12

All of our appointments juked!  LAME!

Friday 9/21/12

Today, President Jeppson came by and talked to us.  Then we did exchanges and I was able to go with Elder Christensen (I was looking  forward to that cuz me and Elder Christensen are pretty good friends) we taught Gensuka the greatest plan of salvation lesson ever!  Just when we thought we couldn't do better….We taught the greatest restoration lesson ever, to Kevin!

Saturday 9/22/12

Today was nuts!  We had Zone breakfast and training.  That lasted until noon and then we taught Junior the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity.  It was pretty good.  At first he was reluctant to commit to it,  but then he did and I was so happy to see him do that!  We met Jesus (hey suess, not Jee sus)  He was a media referral for us but we decided to let the other elders teach him because we thought he would understand better in Spanish.  I got soup all over my shirt and my brand new penguin tie and I was super unhappy about that!

Sunday 9/24/12

We went to church but Elder Heward was sick so we came home. ;(

That was our week, hope you enjoyed.

Peace from the East!

Elder Rodeback

September 17, 2012

Holla!  From the East Side!  HaHa!  What's up people of the West Coast??  So, today instead of doing the typical update, I wanna bear my testimony to the people reading this.

Not a whole lot happened last week because we had district meeting.  I had to go to leadership training which is in East Brunswick.  That is an hour south.  It started at 8am and ended at 4pm and to top it off I had to pick up Elder Estipona who is in Newark.  So, we woke up at 4am on Wednesday and Thursday and didn't get home until 7pm both nights.  It kinda stunk.  We also did a deep clean of our apartment on Saturday which took all day.  Even though we didn't teach as much as I would have liked to, I know that because I attended those meetings and did the things that were asked of me, Heavenly Father will bless me.  Wanna know how I know that?  Well, Friday we got a media referral and on Sunday (last night) we contacted him.  He is now getting baptized on October 21st!  He accepted everything we taught him.  We taught him about how the authority to baptize was taken from the earth and that we had received it once again through John the Baptist.  He said to us, "So, it's really like I was never baptized at all!"  We even talked to him about the Book of Mormon and the Bible, about how they teach the exact same thing.  Then he said, "If you believe the Bible, you would be dumb not to read and believe the Book of Mormon, they say the same thing."  I know that because of the faith and work that Elder Heward and I have been doing, the Lord blessed and blessed us with the opportunity to teach one of the sacred, elect people who have been truly prepared to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know God loves and listens to every single one of our prayers.  He is the light and the life of the world and in Him and in our Savior, we are strong.  We can do anything.  I know the love of Christ is all encompassing.  I know that when we cry, the Lord is there holding us and crying with us.  I know that my Savior, my hero, my brother lives and guides every one of us.  I know without a doubt in my mind that the reason we are here is because Heavenly Father loves us so much.  So much, that he is willing to let us come here and grow so that we can be just like him some day.

I love you all and while I miss all of yo' ugly faces, it's nowhere near enough to bring me home.  Please be safe and do everything you can to always remember our Brother and our Father.

Keep the thug passion alive!  West side all day!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Garret Rodeback

September 10, 2012

"Early in the mornin' I rise up from my bed,

Get down on my knees and pray that im not dead.

Got to find the reason, the reason I'm still here.

Got to find the reason that the Lord needs me today."

Missionary remix of Sublime's ,  "What I got!"

Haha, What's rockin' people of the West Coast!  Last week was a hard week for me, won't lie.  But it ended in miracles!  So, let's act like a frog and jump in!

Wenesday, 9/5/11

So, today was a slow day.  I will share a crazy awesome experience and a NASTY one!  During my personal study, I really wanted to continue my BOM reading but we were teaching Junior that day and we really wanted him to progress.  I prayed with everything I had that I would be able to do both.  I prayed that in my personal reading I would find what I needed to be able to help Junior.  And, I did!  Because I allowed myself to be a tool in the Father's hand, I was able to put together the dream lesson for Junior from my personal reading.  Unfortunately, he juked our appointment.  We did however move Angel's couch that had been peed on  countless times by two dogs and it was dripping with urine. I kid you not peeps……. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thursday 9/6/11

We did weekly planning and Elder Heward and I, again by the direction of the Spirit, concocted the perfected dream lesson for Junior.  He juked our appointment once again.  Along with that, it was the worst walking day humanity has ever experienced!

Friday 9/7/11

Today we had a sit down lesson with Elizabeth and it went pretty well.  She is super nice and said she is gonna be baptized, she just has to get better first!

Saturday 9/8/11

We played some solid sports with Lyns (Laventures cousin) and it rained like crazy.  After sports Elder Heward and I were sprinting through this rain and I stomped in this puddle that soaked both of my legs from hips to toes!  It was magnificent!  We taught Kevin today and he is finally coming around again.  He had struggled when his buddy died but it is lookin' a lot better now.  Hopefully he keeps pushing through.  Junior juked appointments today and yesterday. L

Sunday 9/9/11

It was a typical Sunday.  Did our studies and again we prepped to teach Junior and also taught a lesson at church.  We even taught Marlon (a less active member).  Later we went to Junior's apartment complex and……..HIS CAR WAS HOME!  Elder Heward and I looked at each other, said a prayer, and sprinted up the stairs.  We had a member with us and we sat down and began the dream lesson with a prayer and a hymn, "The Spirit of God".  The lesson was amazing and to top everything off…..HE COMMITTED TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!!!  He asked if he could be baptized in two weeks?  Just so he could be 110% ready.  We told him that he could be baptized in three weeks.  We asked him if he would prepared to be baptized on the 30th and before Elder Heward could finish the sentence, with excitement in his eyes, he said YES!  Not Yeah, or OK, but YES!  All he taked about after that was how excited he was and how it just sounded right.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I know that, without a doubt in my heart!  I know that as we put everything in the Lord's hands, nothing will go wrong.  Faith in Christ makes anything possible.  As Sister Miller says, "Faith casteth out ALL fear."

I love you guys!  Thanks for tuning in on the bright and wonderful day!  Hope all y'alls out there are keepin' things as thugged up as you can!  Westside all day! ;)  Be safe my friends and watch out for each other.  Remember if you avoid doing hard things, great things will avoid you.  I love you all!

Elder Rodeback

September 4, 2012

Yo, my peeps what up? Another day, another update from Elder Ricky Ricky Rodeback.  Haha, hope life is holdin' up solid for all yalls out ther'.  I have finally been sleeping so that is a SUPER PLUS.  I forgot

my  journal today, so I will just give a brief over view of my week.

Monday, August 27 - Sunday, September 3, 2012

Today we did the usual "P" day stuff.  Elder Montes bought a Sentinal Prime Transformer which was cool!  We also went to Union City and was able to see …….New York City!  That was pretty slick!  I barely had enough time to write letters and I didn't get to send the one to my mom so I was super bummed about that.  Good day though.

As for the rest of the week, truthfully without my journal it is really hard to tell you what happened on each day.  Let that be a lesson to everyone…..write in a journal!  The reason I remember the events on "P" day is because it stands out from the rest of the week.  I'm just gonna summarize my week and hopefully that will be good enough for you.  If not…..TOUGH NUGGETS!!!!  HAHA!

So, last week we went to teach Alex and when we got to his door, some guy drove past and said, "He won't be back for two weeks, he is in Newark with his mom."  So Elder Heward and I were like, "Alright, let's go know on his basement door just in case he is in the basement and this guy is a nut."  So, we did.  As it turned  out the guy was Alex's dad and he got mad.  I just played it off as "We didn't recognize you!"  We taught Kevin and then he juked us.  We finally taught Carline again.  She has been working hard even though we haven't seen her in three weeks…..lame.  Well, that's all I can remember at this point…..I know, how lame of me.  I will repent and it will all be fine.  I know that this Gospel is true.  I know that through Christ, all things are possible.  The most taught principle in the scriptures is "Ask and ye shall receive."  I know that my Redeemer lives and all that we have to do to know that and feel his love is to ask. 

Keep strong peeps.  Remember you future missionaries…..Called to serve, here to Love!

Peace from the Hood,

Elder Rodeback

Rikarika Rodeback???? Who is that???? - August 27, 2012

People of Amedica, I present to you! THUG LIFE - By  Elder Rikarika Rodeback!

Ahhhahaha! What's up people? Another week and another update! Sorry I didn't get one out last week.  Sadly, the library internet was down all day last week so I had to go up north to Maple Wood and had just enough time to write my momma. Just for an update I hadn't been sleeping at all for a week so I went to the doctor and he said that it was most likely caused from racing thoughts caused by ADD (I told you mom). So he prescribed Aderral form me  and I got home and decided I would leave it in the Lords hands.  No medication or nothing. That stuff is way too scary for me. Welllp let's get to the week shall we?  Oh yeah let's do this thang!!

Monday 8/20/12
Today we did the usual "P" day stuff.  We got up at six did laundry, studies at seven but at eight we did a switch-up.  We went Transformer hunting FIRST!  We went to Toys R Us and it was a joke so we went to WalMart and, OH YEAH I bought an Iron Hide!  Then we went to the library and then did a Zone volleyball tourney.  We had a BLAST!  The only part that was the pits was, I hadn't slept since Thursday and I was nasty sick ALL DAY!

Tuesday 8/21/12
We had a lesson with Alex who is a killar investigator! He is sixteen and guess what we have in common….We both Adore MMA!  We had a super solid lesson with him though and I am absolutely positive that he will be baptized this next transfer! (thats all I can write because I ran out of time to write in my journal on Tuesday)

Wednesday 8/22/12
Today was sweet. I went on exchanges with Elder Montes. He and I get along so well. He is my District Leader and he lives in the same apt. as me.  We taught Teresita who was baptized the Sunday before and she is the sweetest lady. The funny thing though is for some reason Elder Montes only baptizes old people haha. Then we taught John who has been investigating the church for a while and it was a good lesson.  Luckily all the people we taught today spoke English so I was able to participate. After John we got juked on an appointment with Carlitos so we went and saw Cesar who is bi polar and special in other ways he was cool.

Thursday 8/23/12
Today, was kind of a joke. Super irritating! We had TAC (Transfer Apartment Cleaning) then we had weekly planning.  After that we did service so we didn't do any proselytizing til 7:15 :( super stunk but I felt good for helping Sister Alvarez. I knew that we had helped someone feel Christ's love.

Friday 8/24/12
Today we taught Alex again. He is such a stellar kid! He understands everything but  he just isn't sure if this is the right path for him. I am pretty sure if we work really hard, we can help him to see that to be able to return to Heavenly Father someday and truly come unto Christ, he needs to step through the gate of baptism. Baptism is not the end it is merely the beginning of the long trek back.

Saturday 8/25/12

Yeah I totally spaced writing in my journal today!  Whoops! L

Sunday 8/26/12
Today, was the end of the first transfer...wait what? Where in the world has the time gone??? I can't believe that I have already been in Jersey for six weeks, that blows my mind! Elder Heward has been called to be District Leader today.  I'm pumped for him! He is gonna be a killa district leader!  We taught Doris today who we met on saturday and she commited to prepare to be baptized on the 30th of September!

Wellp my peeps,  that's some of the high lights of my week :) I know that this gospel changes lives and  that people truly come to Christ through repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I know that miracles come from having undying faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love this gospel more than I love anything in the world and I know that people are prepared to hear the gospel from me. Heavenly Father needs me here and  there is not one other place I would rather be. I love you all!  Until next week,  remember "Called to Serve.  Here to love!"

Peace from the East.

Elder Rodeback

My First Baptism! - August 13, 2012

Hey, guess what time it is? Yeah you guessed it! Yours, mine and our favorite time of the week!  IT'S FREAKIN UPDATE TIME!!!!!!!!!! What's up people of the kushie Alpine, haha!  It's been an awesome week since the last time we talked and a lot of cool stuff has happened!  So let's do this thang!  By duh way... I was emailing Elder Richard (Peper) and he said,  "You sound black, I think Jersey is already diggin in it's roots."

HAHA!  I love that kid to death!!!

Monday:

"P" day is seriously awesome!  Being able to talk to my momma for an hour or so is awesome!  I straight up miss her like CRAZZZYYYY! We went Transformer hunting.  Back up to before we left the apartment to goTransformer hunting.  We always say a prayer as an apartmentship before we head out together.  It was my turn to pray and yeah you guessed it,  I straight up asked Heavenly Father that "As we go out on our hunt we can find our prey that they might be killed and brought back to the den."   Guess what happened?  I FOUND THE TWO I WANTED!!!!!!!  Yeah, I found my Star Scream and my Sideswipe!  I was so pumped Heavenly Father even double blessed me in letting me find a Mike Aitken signature flick trix at the toy store and it came with a Mike action figure. Did I buy it? Obviously, I'm not dumb enough to pass up that kind of a blessing! When I'm blessed I take it and RUN. We also started an exchange with the zone leaders.

Tuesday:

I ran the area fo da first time eva!! We taught Carline and had a killer lesson with her! Elder Taylor is a stellar missionary.

Wednesday:

Today was specialized training for the new elders and their trainers (sisters are also included in that).  I was so pumped to get to see some of the MTC buds again. Me and Elder Thompson met up and we are still tight.  We joked and laughed and had a killer time.  Me and Elder Call are still buds too.  We taught Nombes but sadly Pierra had to drop us.  :(  Her parents who are in Africa said they didn't want her to talk to us anymore.  Luckily we had a killer lesson wit the Beldores (less actives) and they committed to come to  church. Whooop!

Thursday:

Today was walking day.  Such a drag... we walked around for six hours, it was so fetching humid and HOT!  I got heat exhausted so we had to give elders Christensen and Montes a call to come and pick up. As soon as they did we went and got food.  I ate healthy while they got Wendy's.  HAHA fatties,  but as soon as we walked into Wendy's a torrential down pour smacked the city in the face. It was seriously like an instant flood. Stuff was over flowin' people were wiggin' out it was HILARIOUS!!!  The rain out here is so pretty!  We had the opportunity to teach Eric today. The lesson was stellar,  he really wants to do what Heavenly Father wants for him to do.

Friday:

Today, wasn't as eventful as Thursday except we had a solid lesson with the Martinez family (part-member and less active family).  Joe is not a member but his wife is,  she is just less active. We were gonna teach the atonement and then I had a super solid impression to ask him if he had ever had the missionary lessons before, and why not. And bam it was like an instant break through.  We switched and taught the restoration and he was very receptive he even committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.

Saturday:

Today, was much needed.  We had meetings with the mission president, President Jeppson, and it helped me truly understand some things.  I can with 100% confidence say that he is called of God.  We had a sweet lesson with a new investigator tonight. His name is Frets.  His wife is a member and he hasn't had the lessons yet so obviously we jumped all over dat.  He is 100% prepared by God.  He had so many questions and the Gospel answered all of them he even committed to be baptized!

Sunday:

Today, was my first baptism!  I had the opportunity to help Laventure begin his journey to Christ and the kingdom of God.  I am so excited for him!  He was about to jump out of his skin after it was over!  My entire  view of missionary work has been changed because of that one moment in time.

Today:

Today, we woke up at six so we could hit the laundry mat by seven, begin studies at eight, and hit the library at ten (sorry it took so long to write dis momma) I even got to see a picture of two of my closest buds.  Cody and Kevin.  I really miss you guys!  Hope life at home is treatin' you well and Cody, have an awesome time at the MTC!  I absolutely loved the MTC.  Just be who you are and shake things up!!! Also ask my mom to show you the MTC angry birds video.  haha if you play it on "P" day you will have a blast!!!!! I love you two knuckle heads be good!

Wellp, there it is. Update of da week suuuu whaaaaaa! haha I love all yals out there readin'  dis. I love this Gospel and I love seeing the happiness it brings people.  By the way there's a few people I wanna yell at through this email.  The people who said they were gonna write me... I am very disappointed to have not received anything as of yet.  You are breakin' commandments when you don't write missionaries. Look it up in proverbs 25:25.  Yeah das was up... my address is:

Elder Patrick Rodeback

859 Cross Street

Elizabeth, NJ  07201

I better get something dis week from all you punks (especially

my little sister) Hahaha

Peace and anarchy!

Elder Rodeback

August 6, 2012

What's up, people from outta the hood! HaHa!  Life out here is killa tight!  I'm really beginning to adapt... yeah!  So we were so rushed that I totally forgot my journal when we left the apartment today so this letter is gonna be a brief recollection of what happened in the past week.

Monday:

Today was "P" day. It was a good day, nowhere near as rushed as the first "P" day. We went to da library and did email and honestly, something I will never EVER get sick of, is hearing from my momma. It makes my day every time! Getting letters is even better! We then went shopping and then you guessed it. TRANSFORMER HUNTING! We went to Walmart,  Kmart, and Target and to my dismay they had absolutely NO GOOD TRANSFORMERS!  Not one Starscream, or Optimus or Jet

Fire or Mega Tron, nothing.  I was so disappointed!

We then went and taught a killer lesson to Laventure.

So because I forgot my journal everything else blends together,  so today I decided to do it a little different. What I'm gonna do is write down our investigators and the lessons we had and then at the end say some funny stuff that happend.

Laventure:

He is such a stud! He is 13 and absorbs everything we teach him and his dad is completely on board with him being baptized. To my excitement he axed( thats how people out her say asked) me to be the person that baptizes him! Whooo! I'm so excited he really understands everything and as soon as he learns something he does everything he can to apply the teachings to his life. As soon as I get pictures at his baptism I will send them home. We played at the park with him and his cousins again and his little cousin Silva held my hand again, such a cute kid!

Charlene:

She juked our first appointment this week and the second one we set, she also juked.  But at the second one we taught her sister so all is good!

Kevin:

Kevin is a solid guy.  He is 23 and he really wants to know the gospel.  He came to church yesterday so he is on track for his baptism date of the August 26th.  whooop whooop!

Those are our three dates.  We had some sweet contacts and we are working hard and really striving to be 100% obedient and we are pretty good at it.

We had 4 investigators at church yesterday, 3 of which have dates and are progressing well! We also taught Pierra.  She is from Belguim and is 17, even though she looks 20!  She is super solid and really wants to know of the gospel and its teachings.  

Well I hope mom is posting pictures. Miss you all! keep it thug out th're haha peace from the hood!

Elder Rodeback!