People of the West! Gather round and lend me your ears!
First off, I have to say, I don't understand why, but every email I got today made me cry!!! (thanks mama) I started reading the letter I got from her last week talking about Dyl Weed's Birthday. It just sunk in that he is 15. It just blows me away at how much has happened in the couple of months I have been out. (Side note from mom.....IN 10 DAYS IT WILL BE A YEAR!) Then I read Dad's email about my other Grandpa's Birthday and I remembered being there last year! Then Mama emailed me AGAIN and talked about Dylan getting his Patriarchal Blessing and I was like WHAT?????? It's crazy!
Well, I am sure that Mom told everyone where I am. Scotch Plains is pretty boss, I am not gonna lie. North Newark will always be No. 1 though. :) We had a baptism on Saturday which was pretty BOSS! I had only taught her once, but there is just something about being part of a blessing. ESPECIALLY when it is a part member family. Her name is Sofia and she is 9 years old. She was so excited that she only slept for 2 hours the night before. It was an awesome day!
Man, there was so many AWESOME things that happened last week and so many things that I learned. The biggest thing that I learned that stuck out to me was this, GOD CHASTENS THE RIGHTEOUS! I was thinking to myself last week, "Why do I gotta leave? Why can't I just serve my entire mission in North Newark?" Obviously, I accepted God's will. It wasn't until today that I read something that made it all click. In Mosiah 23, there is a verse that says the Lord chastens his people to try their faith and strengthen them. Then I remembered the "God's Will" video. "I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to be." I realized that and was like, "That's it, I am done. No more will I question ANYTHING. I will go where you want me to go." I know that things don't really work out the way we want them to all of the time, but it is for our own good.
Back in Newark, there was an awesome experience that helped out a dear friend of mine. This person lost their phone and really could not find it ANYWHERE! I looked at them and asked, "Have you prayed yet?" When they answered no, I told them to go pray. They then dropped to their knees, in the middle of the hall and prayed. The phone was found within 5 minutes. I know that as we show faith and love for God, miracles happen!
Be safe guys!
Love you!
Elder Rodeback
Elder Rodeback
Monday, June 17, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
June 10, 2013 - TRANSFERRED!
Bon Dia! (Bone-JEE-UH) todo bein voce? (toodoo-bane voe-se)
WASS UP???? It has been a glorious week out here in North Newark and I am SAD to say, it will be my last week here in North Newark. That's right, I have been transferred once again. NOOOOOOOO! I am super bummed to be heading out, but excited to be headin' to a new place to be able to learn and grow some more. We had an awesome week last week. We worked our tails off and got some work done! Had a lot of less actives at church yesterday. Also, Elder Thatcher will be follow-up training Elder McEwan. He is super stoked and I am excited for him. We continue to try and see Sister Estevez, but to no avail. Hopefully we can find her soon.
I learned some really cool stuff this week. I had a really awesome experience yesterday that strengthened my testimony of prayer. I was really down yesterday. I have known for a little while that I would be leaving this transfer and it finally hit me yesterday. All day I had been saying a prayer that some how, some way, I could stay and be comforted. At about six o'clock yesterday, I had just finished saying one of these little prayers in my mind and all of the sudden a song popped into my mind. It's a song from "The Works" and the lyrics go, "Children go where I send thee." Right then I knew it was from Heavenly Father. I knew that He was aware of me and even though I want to stay with every ounce of my heart, this time is not about me. I realized that God has a place prepared for me. He has a way for me to go that I need to follow and it's up to me to do that. I know that will all of my heart, He hears and loves us. He wants what is best for us, and like that country song goes, "sometimes the answer is no."
Love you all!
Elder Rodeback
WASS UP???? It has been a glorious week out here in North Newark and I am SAD to say, it will be my last week here in North Newark. That's right, I have been transferred once again. NOOOOOOOO! I am super bummed to be heading out, but excited to be headin' to a new place to be able to learn and grow some more. We had an awesome week last week. We worked our tails off and got some work done! Had a lot of less actives at church yesterday. Also, Elder Thatcher will be follow-up training Elder McEwan. He is super stoked and I am excited for him. We continue to try and see Sister Estevez, but to no avail. Hopefully we can find her soon.
I learned some really cool stuff this week. I had a really awesome experience yesterday that strengthened my testimony of prayer. I was really down yesterday. I have known for a little while that I would be leaving this transfer and it finally hit me yesterday. All day I had been saying a prayer that some how, some way, I could stay and be comforted. At about six o'clock yesterday, I had just finished saying one of these little prayers in my mind and all of the sudden a song popped into my mind. It's a song from "The Works" and the lyrics go, "Children go where I send thee." Right then I knew it was from Heavenly Father. I knew that He was aware of me and even though I want to stay with every ounce of my heart, this time is not about me. I realized that God has a place prepared for me. He has a way for me to go that I need to follow and it's up to me to do that. I know that will all of my heart, He hears and loves us. He wants what is best for us, and like that country song goes, "sometimes the answer is no."
Love you all!
Elder Rodeback
Monday, June 3, 2013
June 3, 2013
Guys SUP????????????????
There is nothing worse than getting Strep Throat......HATE IT! There was a dumb rain storm last week and I didn't wear a coat cuz it was warm and now, here we are! I worked through it as best I could but yesterday it slapped me in the face HARD! We have been seeing some amazing stuff happen in our area the past month. I know that it is all because of the hard work we are throwin' down. We had some of the less active people we have been working with show up which was pretty awesome. We have really been trying to get them there. Now we just have one family that needs to quit being so lazy! hahaha!
This past week has just straight up been hotter than Hades! The second I walk out the door I am DRENCHED! It is just ridiculous!
The biggest lesson I have learned this week is how a love for God changes us as human beings. President Boyd K. Packer taught "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the Gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." Even though I have probably used this quote before, I continue to climb mountains and change my life with it. A love for God brings a stronger desire to learn doctrine and learn the Gospel. Just as that quote says, learning and using Gospel principles will change behavior faster than studying behavior. A huge lesson that I have learned is that if we want to change our lives and feel God's presence more fully in our lives, study the Gospel. Learn what God has done for you and then apply what you learn. It is easy for us to change behavior, but pretty soon the old behavior comes back. The only person that can truly change our nature is God and I know that comes by simply learning and applying Gospel principles.
Alright guys, peace out.....gotta run!
Love you guys,
Elder Rodeback
There is nothing worse than getting Strep Throat......HATE IT! There was a dumb rain storm last week and I didn't wear a coat cuz it was warm and now, here we are! I worked through it as best I could but yesterday it slapped me in the face HARD! We have been seeing some amazing stuff happen in our area the past month. I know that it is all because of the hard work we are throwin' down. We had some of the less active people we have been working with show up which was pretty awesome. We have really been trying to get them there. Now we just have one family that needs to quit being so lazy! hahaha!
This past week has just straight up been hotter than Hades! The second I walk out the door I am DRENCHED! It is just ridiculous!
The biggest lesson I have learned this week is how a love for God changes us as human beings. President Boyd K. Packer taught "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the Gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." Even though I have probably used this quote before, I continue to climb mountains and change my life with it. A love for God brings a stronger desire to learn doctrine and learn the Gospel. Just as that quote says, learning and using Gospel principles will change behavior faster than studying behavior. A huge lesson that I have learned is that if we want to change our lives and feel God's presence more fully in our lives, study the Gospel. Learn what God has done for you and then apply what you learn. It is easy for us to change behavior, but pretty soon the old behavior comes back. The only person that can truly change our nature is God and I know that comes by simply learning and applying Gospel principles.
Alright guys, peace out.....gotta run!
Love you guys,
Elder Rodeback
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
May 22, 2013
Friends!
What's up guys? Hope it's nice and warm out on the west coast because I was SWEATING MY BRAINS OUT yesterday. Not even kidding, I lost 5 pounds walking around yesterday. Straight up disgusting! So, first off, I have a shout out to some people. First, Shout to my boy Chase Lindsley for completing your mission! My mom said your homecoming talk was amazing! I have two things to say, I hope you didn't get too trunky and, even though your mom has you home, as a missionary, I know that you would rather be out here! Stay frosty! Next shout out goes to my friend Taylor Jeffery for just bein' a supreme boss!
Now, for the fun stuff! It has been an amazing week filled with scares and fun! We taught Brother Echevarria about the temple and he is so excited to be baptized for his dad and his brother. He is even going to do the paperwork for his Jehovah's Witness mother. He is such a boss! It has been amazing to be able to just work hard, even though the heat makes it really "wet" work! By the way another props to my little brother Dylan who turns 15 in a couple of weeks! HOLLA at ya boiiiii! Man, Newark is really starting to wreck my vocabulary.
So, during district meeting yesterday, we watched a Mormon message called "Mountains to Climb". I'll tell you what, that hit me hard. I didn't realize until yesterday that I am a perfectionist and when I fail, I beat myself up way more than I should. When I watched this video, I understood something very important. Heavenly Father does not expect me or my life to be perfect, so why should I expect that? I am finally gaining an understanding that my Heavenly Father loves me regardless of my sin, regardless of my mistakes. His love is always there for me, even when I make a mistake. All I have to do is pray and let him in.
Sorry guys, kinda short today. Love you guys! Talk to you next Tuesday (Memorial Day cuts out the emails).
Elder Rodeback
What's up guys? Hope it's nice and warm out on the west coast because I was SWEATING MY BRAINS OUT yesterday. Not even kidding, I lost 5 pounds walking around yesterday. Straight up disgusting! So, first off, I have a shout out to some people. First, Shout to my boy Chase Lindsley for completing your mission! My mom said your homecoming talk was amazing! I have two things to say, I hope you didn't get too trunky and, even though your mom has you home, as a missionary, I know that you would rather be out here! Stay frosty! Next shout out goes to my friend Taylor Jeffery for just bein' a supreme boss!
Now, for the fun stuff! It has been an amazing week filled with scares and fun! We taught Brother Echevarria about the temple and he is so excited to be baptized for his dad and his brother. He is even going to do the paperwork for his Jehovah's Witness mother. He is such a boss! It has been amazing to be able to just work hard, even though the heat makes it really "wet" work! By the way another props to my little brother Dylan who turns 15 in a couple of weeks! HOLLA at ya boiiiii! Man, Newark is really starting to wreck my vocabulary.
So, during district meeting yesterday, we watched a Mormon message called "Mountains to Climb". I'll tell you what, that hit me hard. I didn't realize until yesterday that I am a perfectionist and when I fail, I beat myself up way more than I should. When I watched this video, I understood something very important. Heavenly Father does not expect me or my life to be perfect, so why should I expect that? I am finally gaining an understanding that my Heavenly Father loves me regardless of my sin, regardless of my mistakes. His love is always there for me, even when I make a mistake. All I have to do is pray and let him in.
Sorry guys, kinda short today. Love you guys! Talk to you next Tuesday (Memorial Day cuts out the emails).
Elder Rodeback
Monday, May 13, 2013
May 13, 2013 Update & PICTURES!!!!!
Hermanos y Hermanas......buenas DIAZ y feliz dia de mama.
Yo soy bueno y mi compeneros es MUY Bien! el trabaja en mi area es ......PSYCHE!
HaHa! What's up guys! It's been a ball this week here in Jersey. I had to throw some Spanish your way to make sure y'alls are still alive and kickin! We had the craziest week! The funniest thing was that we were invited to Brother Canada, the hispanic guy in the picture I send home, for a bbq. We get there and everything is awesome. He showed us his massive dogs, speaking of which, I have a crazy story to tell you about the dogs. Anyway, he tell sus that he has to go pick up his girlfriend and would be back in like 20 minutes. He left 7 missionaries who speak no Spanish with a bunch of Hispanics! The only Elders that spoke Spanish were Elder Hernandez and his companion Elder Diaz. So, while we waited for him, this drunk as can be, Puerto Rican at the bbq walked up to us and started to show us magic tricks! I kid you not! There is nothing funnier than watching a drunk hispanic man do magic tricks! We laughed for an hour watching this guy do his stuff. When Brother Canada got back with his girlfriend, he introduced her to us and we all shook her hand, but on the very first shake, she goes in to kiss Elder Garcia (He is the Philippeano in the picture). We were all saying, "NONONONONONO!" Man it was so funny!
Now, the story about those dogs. Brother Canada's dad was walking the dogs one day and out of no where, this Pit Bull came through a gate and started charging Brother Canada's dogs. These two dogs are HUGE! One is a full bread Rottweiler and the other is a Rottweiler mix. He takes them on a 5 mile run and only feeds them meat. They are just big bricks of muscle. When the Pit Bull charged at them the Rottweiler juped out and bit the Pit Bull on the mouth before it could bite anyone. Then the Rottweiler mix clamped down on the Pit Bull's neck. Brother Canada's dad grabbed the dogs and threw them against the fence. Because the dogs are super obedient, they didn't move.
Well, now my less that I learned this week that has changed me. The monthly focus here in the NJMM is prayer. I have been studying and working with that. In Gospel Principles class yesterday, a man asked this question, "How can I grow my relationship with God when I don't have time?" The first thing that popped into my mind was, "make time." and as I pondered on that a little bit, I realized something really cool. God can't just say POOF, here is a relationship with me. If we want a relationship with anyone in the world what do we do? We talk with them, we spend time with them! It is the same thing with Heavenly Father. If we want to have him with us and actually feel like he is our Heavenly Father, we need to treat him the same way we treat our earthly parents (unless you are disobedient and disrespectful. If you treat God that way, you will get stuck with lightening) Guys, you wanna feel Him with you? You wanna feel his comfort? Here is three easy steps to do so, 1) Go to church. 2) Pray. 3) Read your scriptures. Each of which require you to give Him time. Pray with sincerity and love. Attend churc to take the sacrament worthily and Read, seeking His spirit.
I love you guys, keep up the good work!
Elder Rodeback
Elder Rodeback, Elder McEwan, Elder Thatcher & Elder Hernandez
Elder Pires & Elder Rodeback
Elder McEwan, Elder Thatcher, Brother Echavarria & Elder Rodeback
Elder Smith & Elder Rodeback
Yo soy bueno y mi compeneros es MUY Bien! el trabaja en mi area es ......PSYCHE!
HaHa! What's up guys! It's been a ball this week here in Jersey. I had to throw some Spanish your way to make sure y'alls are still alive and kickin! We had the craziest week! The funniest thing was that we were invited to Brother Canada, the hispanic guy in the picture I send home, for a bbq. We get there and everything is awesome. He showed us his massive dogs, speaking of which, I have a crazy story to tell you about the dogs. Anyway, he tell sus that he has to go pick up his girlfriend and would be back in like 20 minutes. He left 7 missionaries who speak no Spanish with a bunch of Hispanics! The only Elders that spoke Spanish were Elder Hernandez and his companion Elder Diaz. So, while we waited for him, this drunk as can be, Puerto Rican at the bbq walked up to us and started to show us magic tricks! I kid you not! There is nothing funnier than watching a drunk hispanic man do magic tricks! We laughed for an hour watching this guy do his stuff. When Brother Canada got back with his girlfriend, he introduced her to us and we all shook her hand, but on the very first shake, she goes in to kiss Elder Garcia (He is the Philippeano in the picture). We were all saying, "NONONONONONO!" Man it was so funny!
Now, the story about those dogs. Brother Canada's dad was walking the dogs one day and out of no where, this Pit Bull came through a gate and started charging Brother Canada's dogs. These two dogs are HUGE! One is a full bread Rottweiler and the other is a Rottweiler mix. He takes them on a 5 mile run and only feeds them meat. They are just big bricks of muscle. When the Pit Bull charged at them the Rottweiler juped out and bit the Pit Bull on the mouth before it could bite anyone. Then the Rottweiler mix clamped down on the Pit Bull's neck. Brother Canada's dad grabbed the dogs and threw them against the fence. Because the dogs are super obedient, they didn't move.
Well, now my less that I learned this week that has changed me. The monthly focus here in the NJMM is prayer. I have been studying and working with that. In Gospel Principles class yesterday, a man asked this question, "How can I grow my relationship with God when I don't have time?" The first thing that popped into my mind was, "make time." and as I pondered on that a little bit, I realized something really cool. God can't just say POOF, here is a relationship with me. If we want a relationship with anyone in the world what do we do? We talk with them, we spend time with them! It is the same thing with Heavenly Father. If we want to have him with us and actually feel like he is our Heavenly Father, we need to treat him the same way we treat our earthly parents (unless you are disobedient and disrespectful. If you treat God that way, you will get stuck with lightening) Guys, you wanna feel Him with you? You wanna feel his comfort? Here is three easy steps to do so, 1) Go to church. 2) Pray. 3) Read your scriptures. Each of which require you to give Him time. Pray with sincerity and love. Attend churc to take the sacrament worthily and Read, seeking His spirit.
I love you guys, keep up the good work!
Elder Rodeback
Monday, May 6, 2013
May 6, 2013
Good morning people of the West!
It has been a glorious week out here in the NEW-ARK! We had transfers last week and guess what???? Elder Thatcher and I are going three rounds! Woooo Wooooo! On top of that President Jeppson asked me to train a new missionary so Elder McEwan stepped up and is THE Italian Stallion! The three us of have been pounding pavement, working hard and we were fortunate to see Brother Echevarria get baptized yesterday. We have been working super hard and it has been amazing. It was hilarious because Brother Echevarria chose Israel Israel God is Calling, as the opening hymn because it was on the movie Blazing Saddles! When I heard that I about died cause I was laughing so hard. Man, Elder Thatcher and I have had some amazing times. We didn't get off on the right foot, but we have become really good friends and we are super stoked to welcome Elder McEwan into the dream team. He is a Visa waiter going to Brazil, but we don't hold that against him. ;) J/K He speaks Portuguese very well.
I have been struggling a little bit the past couple of weeks. My body just felt trashed and I felt like I was losing a battle with Satan. I felt like I had been fighting his spirit destroying arrows for so long that my defenses were starting to weaken. I had no idea what to do. I would get down to say my prayers and just have no idea what to say or what to ask. I would just get there and......nothing. Last week we had Zone Meeting and the answer to my prayers came. I realized that my prayers had been trash for the last couple of weeks. I realized that because of all the people I wanted to pray for and to help, that I wasn't able to really give my heart and soul to God anymore, and I missed that relationship that I had with my Heavenly Father. During that Zone Meeting, we were given the opportunity to go and offer up a heart felt prayer to Him. When I finished, I felt so bad that I had lost something so precious to me. It was then that I vowed to Heavenly Father to never lose it again! This is what I wanted to share with all of you. It is only through prayer that we gain a relationship with our Heavenly Father and nothing should ever come in between that precious and sacred time to converse with Him. When I say converse, I mean it! If we give up our everything in a prayer, and just say everything, it is then that we are able to hear and feel this Godly messenger who brings us answers to all of our prayers.
I love you guys! Take it easy!
Elder Rodeback
Elder Thatcher, Elder Rodeback, Daniela Sartore, Elder McEwan
It has been a glorious week out here in the NEW-ARK! We had transfers last week and guess what???? Elder Thatcher and I are going three rounds! Woooo Wooooo! On top of that President Jeppson asked me to train a new missionary so Elder McEwan stepped up and is THE Italian Stallion! The three us of have been pounding pavement, working hard and we were fortunate to see Brother Echevarria get baptized yesterday. We have been working super hard and it has been amazing. It was hilarious because Brother Echevarria chose Israel Israel God is Calling, as the opening hymn because it was on the movie Blazing Saddles! When I heard that I about died cause I was laughing so hard. Man, Elder Thatcher and I have had some amazing times. We didn't get off on the right foot, but we have become really good friends and we are super stoked to welcome Elder McEwan into the dream team. He is a Visa waiter going to Brazil, but we don't hold that against him. ;) J/K He speaks Portuguese very well.
I have been struggling a little bit the past couple of weeks. My body just felt trashed and I felt like I was losing a battle with Satan. I felt like I had been fighting his spirit destroying arrows for so long that my defenses were starting to weaken. I had no idea what to do. I would get down to say my prayers and just have no idea what to say or what to ask. I would just get there and......nothing. Last week we had Zone Meeting and the answer to my prayers came. I realized that my prayers had been trash for the last couple of weeks. I realized that because of all the people I wanted to pray for and to help, that I wasn't able to really give my heart and soul to God anymore, and I missed that relationship that I had with my Heavenly Father. During that Zone Meeting, we were given the opportunity to go and offer up a heart felt prayer to Him. When I finished, I felt so bad that I had lost something so precious to me. It was then that I vowed to Heavenly Father to never lose it again! This is what I wanted to share with all of you. It is only through prayer that we gain a relationship with our Heavenly Father and nothing should ever come in between that precious and sacred time to converse with Him. When I say converse, I mean it! If we give up our everything in a prayer, and just say everything, it is then that we are able to hear and feel this Godly messenger who brings us answers to all of our prayers.
I love you guys! Take it easy!
Elder Rodeback
Monday, April 29, 2013
April 29, 2013
Guys, SUPPPPPPP?
It's been a pretty boss week here, and crazily enough it's the end of another transfer and I am staying in North Newark for another one! (in reality I am staying for the rest of my mission) This one is gonna be super short because I procrastinated a little too much. FIRST AND FOREMOST, everyone do me a favor and tell my mom how amazing she is. :) She is such a boss! Whenever I tell her I need something, she just gets it done and I can't tell her how much it means to me so I need EVERYONE to get on Facebook or when you talk to her, just tell her how amazing she is and how good of a mom she is. I hope there is more than ten people that read this so that she is just overrun with comments. I gotta throw a big shout out to Max Biegel who is THE BOSS! I know that you are gonna be stellar. I got your letter and it made my day! One more goes out to my cousin Austin Huff who received his call to Tucson Arizona! WHOOP WHOOP! Shred it buddy! The Lord is hastening his work. Elder Thatcher and I see evidence of that every single day. We get up and go pound pavement and then a miracle happens. It's amazing! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Lord and be a part of the "Gathering of Isread." It Changes my life every day. Every time I see someone accept the Gospel and become a new person in Christ, it ingrains His Gospel even deeper into my soul. I love you guys and again, I apologize for the short update!
Elder Rodeback
Newark's Happiest Missionaries!
It's been a pretty boss week here, and crazily enough it's the end of another transfer and I am staying in North Newark for another one! (in reality I am staying for the rest of my mission) This one is gonna be super short because I procrastinated a little too much. FIRST AND FOREMOST, everyone do me a favor and tell my mom how amazing she is. :) She is such a boss! Whenever I tell her I need something, she just gets it done and I can't tell her how much it means to me so I need EVERYONE to get on Facebook or when you talk to her, just tell her how amazing she is and how good of a mom she is. I hope there is more than ten people that read this so that she is just overrun with comments. I gotta throw a big shout out to Max Biegel who is THE BOSS! I know that you are gonna be stellar. I got your letter and it made my day! One more goes out to my cousin Austin Huff who received his call to Tucson Arizona! WHOOP WHOOP! Shred it buddy! The Lord is hastening his work. Elder Thatcher and I see evidence of that every single day. We get up and go pound pavement and then a miracle happens. It's amazing! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Lord and be a part of the "Gathering of Isread." It Changes my life every day. Every time I see someone accept the Gospel and become a new person in Christ, it ingrains His Gospel even deeper into my soul. I love you guys and again, I apologize for the short update!
Elder Rodeback
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