Elder Rodeback & Elder Bell in Princeton, NJ
Elder Rodeback
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
August 19, 2013
Hey Guys!
Man it has been a crazy week the past week! We had to do three different exchanges. It blew my mind! We worked super hard though and I just can't believe it is already "P day". My mom sent me an email today and asked how I got distracted in the video she posted last week. I have absolutely zero recollection of that occurrence. It was five transfers ago! I can barely remember what happened last week! So, moral of the story, just disregard that part. I am kind of shocked that she put that video on the blog in the first place......
My testimony has changed and grown over the past little while. I feel it change LITERALLY EVERYDAY! The missionaries out here in the Dirty Jerz, have had a focus the past two months of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon. The converting, changing power that this Book carries, is REAL. I know that this book is of God! I also know that he asked Nephi to write everything down so that when Joseph Smith needed a witness that he had seen God, it would be there. Guys, does everyone understand??? THE BOOK OF MORMON IS WRITTEN FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD LIVES AND THAT THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN RESTORED! I know that if you read the book every single day, you will NEVER go less active and that your testimony will grow every single day.
I love you guys! Keep on Keepin' on,
Elder Rodeback
Elder Corbridge, Elder Gittins, Elder Rodeback
Man it has been a crazy week the past week! We had to do three different exchanges. It blew my mind! We worked super hard though and I just can't believe it is already "P day". My mom sent me an email today and asked how I got distracted in the video she posted last week. I have absolutely zero recollection of that occurrence. It was five transfers ago! I can barely remember what happened last week! So, moral of the story, just disregard that part. I am kind of shocked that she put that video on the blog in the first place......
My testimony has changed and grown over the past little while. I feel it change LITERALLY EVERYDAY! The missionaries out here in the Dirty Jerz, have had a focus the past two months of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon. The converting, changing power that this Book carries, is REAL. I know that this book is of God! I also know that he asked Nephi to write everything down so that when Joseph Smith needed a witness that he had seen God, it would be there. Guys, does everyone understand??? THE BOOK OF MORMON IS WRITTEN FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD LIVES AND THAT THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN RESTORED! I know that if you read the book every single day, you will NEVER go less active and that your testimony will grow every single day.
I love you guys! Keep on Keepin' on,
Elder Rodeback
Friday, August 16, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
August 5, 2013
Guys, What's UP?????
It has been another glorious week out here in New Jersey and an even better week serving in the Princeton 2nd Ward. Man, again I have to say, it is the weirdest thing to serve in a Ward. On top of that a Ward that is just like a Utah ward. There are over two hundred active members in the Ward and I feel like I am in Utah! I won't lie, the longer that I am in this area, the more I love it! Still, it isn't the same as Spring Garden. :) Elder Bell and I have been workin' our tails off the past two weeks. Elder Bell is such an awesome missionary! We had a meeting last week and when we stood up to talk, everyone laughed because he is 6'9" and I am 5'10". Haha! So, I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting yesterday and right after it was over, this sister walks up to me as says, "Did you go to Lone Peak High School?" I told her that I did and she said, "So did I! I graduated in 2010!" I was like haha, um, WHAT???? It's a very small world!
I was doing a little study on faith today and man I was hit with the Spirit as I read Moroni 7. In verses 24-27 there are so many precious truths about the power of faith. It mentions how there are many diverse ways that our Heavenly Father blesses us and how he answers prayers in MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. That impacted me so much just to see how much God loves his children. How he knows us individually and that he can give us answers that are only recognizable to us. Answers to our individual prayers. The scripture also talks about faith and how we are saved by faith. It poses a very meaningful question. It says, "Have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into Heaven and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon all the children of men?" - Moroni 7:27 That is what missionaries are here to testify of. THAT GOD STILL LOVES HIS CHILDREN. That miracles haven't ceased. The only time they will ever stop is if we lose faith in the power of God. I know how much God loves each and every one of us. I know that He lives and that the Church is ALIVE! It is constantly changing and growing better as the world grows worse. I just wanna bear testimony of how powerful the power of faith is among the children of men. If we have faith in Christ, we can do what so ever thing is expedient in him - Moroni 7:33-34. Our life here is just as short as a mission. DON'T WASTE A SINGLE MOMENT! Don't waste time, it is the WORST mistake you can ever make!
Love you guys! Take care.
Elder Rodeback
It has been another glorious week out here in New Jersey and an even better week serving in the Princeton 2nd Ward. Man, again I have to say, it is the weirdest thing to serve in a Ward. On top of that a Ward that is just like a Utah ward. There are over two hundred active members in the Ward and I feel like I am in Utah! I won't lie, the longer that I am in this area, the more I love it! Still, it isn't the same as Spring Garden. :) Elder Bell and I have been workin' our tails off the past two weeks. Elder Bell is such an awesome missionary! We had a meeting last week and when we stood up to talk, everyone laughed because he is 6'9" and I am 5'10". Haha! So, I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting yesterday and right after it was over, this sister walks up to me as says, "Did you go to Lone Peak High School?" I told her that I did and she said, "So did I! I graduated in 2010!" I was like haha, um, WHAT???? It's a very small world!
I was doing a little study on faith today and man I was hit with the Spirit as I read Moroni 7. In verses 24-27 there are so many precious truths about the power of faith. It mentions how there are many diverse ways that our Heavenly Father blesses us and how he answers prayers in MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. That impacted me so much just to see how much God loves his children. How he knows us individually and that he can give us answers that are only recognizable to us. Answers to our individual prayers. The scripture also talks about faith and how we are saved by faith. It poses a very meaningful question. It says, "Have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into Heaven and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon all the children of men?" - Moroni 7:27 That is what missionaries are here to testify of. THAT GOD STILL LOVES HIS CHILDREN. That miracles haven't ceased. The only time they will ever stop is if we lose faith in the power of God. I know how much God loves each and every one of us. I know that He lives and that the Church is ALIVE! It is constantly changing and growing better as the world grows worse. I just wanna bear testimony of how powerful the power of faith is among the children of men. If we have faith in Christ, we can do what so ever thing is expedient in him - Moroni 7:33-34. Our life here is just as short as a mission. DON'T WASTE A SINGLE MOMENT! Don't waste time, it is the WORST mistake you can ever make!
Love you guys! Take care.
Elder Rodeback
Monday, July 29, 2013
July 29, 2013 - Hightstown, New Jersey!
People! SUUUUUPPPPP?
Man, it has been a ridiculously crazy week! I got transferred once again......still blows my mind! I am now in Hightstown, serving in the Princeton Ward. Man, I walked into church yesterday and was dumbfounded! One, there was almost as many people in church as there was in the Utah wards, and two, it was JUST AS NOISY! I was a little shocked in the beginning because I haven't been in a ward like this in over a year. The people are AWESOME though and I am so excited to be able to serve in a super solid, family ward!!!! My new companion is Elder Bell and I keep telling him that we are the goofiest companionship in the mission! I am like 5'10" or 5'11" and Elder Bell is 6'9"! He is almost a full foot taller than me! It's hilarious. WE have been working hard this week, living the dream of being missionaries. Side note - his last companion was my BOY, ELDER HAFOKA! HOLLA! We will send pictures soon!
Last week I brought up a video that I had watched and we had the opportunity to use it while teaching a young man about the power of faith and prayer. Needless to say, the Spirit flooded the room. Thanks again Sister Ricker, it was inspired! It was amazing to be able to see that and not have a single doubt about God's Plan for ALL OF HIS CHILDREN.
I don't know how many of you have taken the challenge to use the prayer pattern, but each time I use it there is some bit of revelation that is given to me. The Book of Mormon really does change lives. It changes people, and the very nature of our souls. AHHH I can't even describe the power that this Book, this Divinely written Book, contains.
Something that I have really been learning about is the importance of family. Don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly, but the thing that I did not take advantage of as much as I should have, was BEING family. I learn and see everyday how much different peoples lives could be if they would simply do things as a family. Even just reading the Book of Mormon and saying family prayer will drastically change everything.
You guys ROCK! Thanks for all of the support! I LOVE YOU!
Elder Rodeback
Elder Gittins is going home!
Bubble guns!
Man, it has been a ridiculously crazy week! I got transferred once again......still blows my mind! I am now in Hightstown, serving in the Princeton Ward. Man, I walked into church yesterday and was dumbfounded! One, there was almost as many people in church as there was in the Utah wards, and two, it was JUST AS NOISY! I was a little shocked in the beginning because I haven't been in a ward like this in over a year. The people are AWESOME though and I am so excited to be able to serve in a super solid, family ward!!!! My new companion is Elder Bell and I keep telling him that we are the goofiest companionship in the mission! I am like 5'10" or 5'11" and Elder Bell is 6'9"! He is almost a full foot taller than me! It's hilarious. WE have been working hard this week, living the dream of being missionaries. Side note - his last companion was my BOY, ELDER HAFOKA! HOLLA! We will send pictures soon!
Last week I brought up a video that I had watched and we had the opportunity to use it while teaching a young man about the power of faith and prayer. Needless to say, the Spirit flooded the room. Thanks again Sister Ricker, it was inspired! It was amazing to be able to see that and not have a single doubt about God's Plan for ALL OF HIS CHILDREN.
I don't know how many of you have taken the challenge to use the prayer pattern, but each time I use it there is some bit of revelation that is given to me. The Book of Mormon really does change lives. It changes people, and the very nature of our souls. AHHH I can't even describe the power that this Book, this Divinely written Book, contains.
Something that I have really been learning about is the importance of family. Don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly, but the thing that I did not take advantage of as much as I should have, was BEING family. I learn and see everyday how much different peoples lives could be if they would simply do things as a family. Even just reading the Book of Mormon and saying family prayer will drastically change everything.
You guys ROCK! Thanks for all of the support! I LOVE YOU!
Elder Rodeback
Monday, July 22, 2013
July 21, 2013
Friends, Family.......SUPPPPPPPP?
It has been a straight up glorious week out here! Every time people ask me what it is like to be a missionary, I tell them, "It is the best thing in the ENTIRE world and I would not trade this experience for ANYTHING!" Amazingly, it is transfers again and AGAIN, I am being transferred! I swear that I just got to Scotch Plains and I am now leaving. I don't know where I am going yet, but I will find out soon! I received a call from President Jeppson last night and I have been called as a Zone Leader!
We had some awesome things happen and I know that it was all based on the Lord. If you pray for miracles, miracles will come. Just look for them. We have to look for the answers to our prayers. We can't just sit on our rear and expect God to send us some random blessing because we are lazy and don't do anything.
I wanna just bear my testimony on how the Lord provides a way for ALL THINGS. Christ said, "if ye will have faith in me, ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." If we have faith in Christ we can overcome the world. I know that to be true. I know that by going out and doing, we receive miracles. We are blessed with power. My mom suggested that I watch a video on lds.org today called "Endure with Faith". I can't even tell you how much that strengthened my testimony. It also made me cry a little bit, but my pride will just say it was allergies. ;) Brother and Sister Ricker, you are a perfect example of courage and faith.
Every day, we are at war. Every single day, we enter the war zone. WE NEED TO GET UP AND FIGHT EVERYDAY. When your feet hit the floor, Satan had better be screaming in misery because he knows that you are up and he isn't going to win! I know that with God on our side we can do all things! Let's do this!
Love you,
Elder Rodeback
Also, every one get on the Bible videos on LDS.org and watch the "Peter and John Continue Preaching" and look at the way Peter reacts throughout the video. Peter is my hero and I want to be able to bear witness of Christ just like he does. He knew it was war and he FOUGHT! Back up, or get in!!!
It has been a straight up glorious week out here! Every time people ask me what it is like to be a missionary, I tell them, "It is the best thing in the ENTIRE world and I would not trade this experience for ANYTHING!" Amazingly, it is transfers again and AGAIN, I am being transferred! I swear that I just got to Scotch Plains and I am now leaving. I don't know where I am going yet, but I will find out soon! I received a call from President Jeppson last night and I have been called as a Zone Leader!
We had some awesome things happen and I know that it was all based on the Lord. If you pray for miracles, miracles will come. Just look for them. We have to look for the answers to our prayers. We can't just sit on our rear and expect God to send us some random blessing because we are lazy and don't do anything.
I wanna just bear my testimony on how the Lord provides a way for ALL THINGS. Christ said, "if ye will have faith in me, ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." If we have faith in Christ we can overcome the world. I know that to be true. I know that by going out and doing, we receive miracles. We are blessed with power. My mom suggested that I watch a video on lds.org today called "Endure with Faith". I can't even tell you how much that strengthened my testimony. It also made me cry a little bit, but my pride will just say it was allergies. ;) Brother and Sister Ricker, you are a perfect example of courage and faith.
Every day, we are at war. Every single day, we enter the war zone. WE NEED TO GET UP AND FIGHT EVERYDAY. When your feet hit the floor, Satan had better be screaming in misery because he knows that you are up and he isn't going to win! I know that with God on our side we can do all things! Let's do this!
Love you,
Elder Rodeback
Also, every one get on the Bible videos on LDS.org and watch the "Peter and John Continue Preaching" and look at the way Peter reacts throughout the video. Peter is my hero and I want to be able to bear witness of Christ just like he does. He knew it was war and he FOUGHT! Back up, or get in!!!
Monday, July 15, 2013
July 15, 2013
GOOD MORNING UTAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has been another glorious week here in the Dirty Jerz and man it has been straight up WET! It rains almost every day. It has been so crazy! I wouldn't be surprised if we are hit again with another hurricane. Elder Corbridge and I have been working hard together, trying to be the best missionaries we can. We have this investigator named Brother Loyo who we have been trying to get baptized. It has been a process! HaHa! He is awesome and knows everything is true, he just won't come to church! We had an awesome experience while on exchanges last week where we found a man that had been taught by missionaries for TWO AND A HALF YEARS! Is that ridiculous or what????? He lives with his daughter here in Scotch Plains now and he is amazing. We taught him about baptism and he was very reluctant at first but by the end of the lesson he committed to get baptized. He is one of the prepared. All I can say is, "I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!" The biggest way that missionary work has helped me is that I am learning to internalize the doctrines and they are becoming a part of who I am. It is amazing what the Book of Mormon can do! The Book of Mormon is the key to EVERYTHING! If the Book is not true, then every single thing that we believe is wrong. If it is true, then God the Father and Jesus Christ really did show themselves to Joseph Smith. I honestly cannot describe the love that I have for the Book of Mormon. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERYDAY!!! Give it five minutes and it will give you happiness all day! That's all I have time for today guys. Sorry I missed last week. TOO MUCH stuff going on. Also, SISTER TAYLOR JEFFERY, if you are reading this blog, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MISSION CALL!!!!!!! WHOOP WHOOP HOLLLLLLA!!!! You are gonna rock the house down in Mexico!
Love you guys!
Elder Rodeback
P.S.
Here is a study pattern to use when you read the Book of Mormon. It rocks!
Pray, Read, Write, Pray, Read, Write, Pray
Pray about a question or something you want to know
Read in the Scriptures
Write down impressions and things that stick out to you
Pray and confirm what you have been taught is true, and thank God for it
Read some more
Write some more
Pray and confirm some more
It has been another glorious week here in the Dirty Jerz and man it has been straight up WET! It rains almost every day. It has been so crazy! I wouldn't be surprised if we are hit again with another hurricane. Elder Corbridge and I have been working hard together, trying to be the best missionaries we can. We have this investigator named Brother Loyo who we have been trying to get baptized. It has been a process! HaHa! He is awesome and knows everything is true, he just won't come to church! We had an awesome experience while on exchanges last week where we found a man that had been taught by missionaries for TWO AND A HALF YEARS! Is that ridiculous or what????? He lives with his daughter here in Scotch Plains now and he is amazing. We taught him about baptism and he was very reluctant at first but by the end of the lesson he committed to get baptized. He is one of the prepared. All I can say is, "I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!" The biggest way that missionary work has helped me is that I am learning to internalize the doctrines and they are becoming a part of who I am. It is amazing what the Book of Mormon can do! The Book of Mormon is the key to EVERYTHING! If the Book is not true, then every single thing that we believe is wrong. If it is true, then God the Father and Jesus Christ really did show themselves to Joseph Smith. I honestly cannot describe the love that I have for the Book of Mormon. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERYDAY!!! Give it five minutes and it will give you happiness all day! That's all I have time for today guys. Sorry I missed last week. TOO MUCH stuff going on. Also, SISTER TAYLOR JEFFERY, if you are reading this blog, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MISSION CALL!!!!!!! WHOOP WHOOP HOLLLLLLA!!!! You are gonna rock the house down in Mexico!
Love you guys!
Elder Rodeback
P.S.
Here is a study pattern to use when you read the Book of Mormon. It rocks!
Pray, Read, Write, Pray, Read, Write, Pray
Pray about a question or something you want to know
Read in the Scriptures
Write down impressions and things that stick out to you
Pray and confirm what you have been taught is true, and thank God for it
Read some more
Write some more
Pray and confirm some more
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)