Signing as a witness to the wedding. :)Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Pictures
Ross sent a few pictures this week. Some investigators that he has been working with finally decided to get married and he was a witness at their wedding and helped baptize them. He's written about them to us before so he sent pictures. I didn't want to post the pictures of the family without their permission so I cropped them down to just Ross so you can at least see him!! If Ross says it's okay I'll post the real pictures later.
Signing as a witness to the wedding. :)
Signing as a witness to the wedding. :)
LONG UPDATE
How do I fall so far behind?! Yikes!! So sorry to those of you that keep up with this. Here are excerpts from his letters over the past month. Thanks to mom for editing these and getting them ready to post because that's the hard part!! Enjoy!!
~Hillary
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
So this week was pretty good. We didn't get to work a lot because of all the things going on with the transition to Pres Clayton, our new Mission President, but it's alright. He came into the mission last Wednesday and me and my comp snuck up to the mission office to meet him. He is a great guy. We had "meet the president" meeting with him on Thursday and we got to know him and his family. He brought his daughters with him but only one is staying. And she'll only be here for the summer, she goes to BYU. I'm excited to work with him. He is a great man and his wife is too. She said that she is going to set up a mission blog so that our parents will get to see what we are doing..so be looking for that!
Alex was confirmed on Sunday and he gets the PH next week. Way cool. His family wants to be baptized now too! Last week we had another FHE with them and the Mom, Maria, said that she is ready to be baptized. Just as long as the water isn't cold hahaha so things are going great with them.
On 4th of July, we had to be in our apartment at 6 p.m.because things get a little crazy in the SD ghetto. But we watched the fireworks from the alley way behind our apartment. They had a huge firework show/party by the naval base, which is close to our apartment. So that was cool. It sounds like yalls 4th was pretty chill.
Well that's all I've got. I hope everything is going great! Almost 5 months! LOVE YALL
Ross
July 12, 2011
Today is the transfer letter day. Me and my comp are staying together.
This Thursday is my first interview with Pres Clayton. I've talked with him a bunch of times and I'm pretty sure he will be cool with me going home early. I'm going to give him a heads up in my Presidents letter today so it will be on his mind. hahaha
This week was good. We had a lot of success on Sunday. We had 6 people at church, but it was nothing we did. The De La Cruz family came and then we had 2 random people just show up. Things are going way good. This week, we are helping a kid get his mission papers filled out. That is exciting! And...a less active that I helped reactive in Imperial Beach just went through the temple on Saturday and is leaving for his mission to North Carolina in 9 days! How cool is that? I'm way excited for him. He is a little cocky, (more than I was haha) so the mission will humble him, but he will do great!!!!
This week has been a little tough. I've been thinking a lot about home for some reason haha It is nothing that yall are doing, yall are ok. It's just me. The other day I finished the BoM for the 3rd time and I did the math to see how many pages I had to read to finish it in Spanish. I only have 5 months left.....that is crazy. 4 transfers...and this transfer is only 5 weeks. I kind of freaked out a little bit, but I'm good now! Don't worry about me!
Well thanks for everything!!!! I LOVE YALL!!!!!!!!!
Ross
July 19, 2011
In preparation for a talk in church on "a mother's viewpoint in having a son on a mission--thoughts and impressions I have had as Ross has served a mission", I asked Ross what advice he has for boys as they contemplate and prepare for a mission. This is his reply:
"What advice do I have for younger kids to prepare for a mission? I guess: IT STARTS NOW. Don't put off preparing till the last minute or I guess don't procrastinate. It may seem far away, but it goes by fast. I realized this week that before your mission, everything in the church is geared towards preparing you for that time. Sunday school, mutual activities, seminary, mission prep, all that good stuff. Returned missionaries sometimes complain that there is nothing to prepare them for when they return home. I think that they didn't get "it" on their missions. The whole reason the Lord sends us out at 19 years old is so that we can prepare ourselves, for 2 years, for the rest of our lives. And because we are 19 year old kids, it takes us being pulled out of our comfort zone and taken out of everything we know (sports, TV, girls) to be able to be taught by the Lord. So that is why I say prepare now. Don't take yourselves out of everything in the world. But start to cut things down a little bit. Focus more things that matter. "Leave behind GOOD things, for BETTER things." Start to focus on what matters so that when you get to be the Lord's missionary, you learn the lessons he has for you quicker and you can become refined. I guess that's what I would tell them. The Lord has taught me so much in the past year and a half. I cant even begin to think where I would be in my life if I didn't go. If there is any doubt in their mind of going on a mission, slap yourself, and then never have those thoughts again. I wouldn't trade this, the hardest/most difficult/most trying/most humble/most rewarding, time of my life for any college football scholarship/any chance to play professional sports/any chance to become rich and famous. It means the world to me, and if they start to prepare now, it will mean even more to them. (alright, I just stepped off my soap box) I hope that helps.
(Needless, to say, it did help, immensely)
My first interview with President Clayton went great. I talked with him for about 30 minutes ( my longest interview with Pres Donaldson was like 5). He is a great man. Very humble and he told me repeatedly how grateful he was for me and how much he loved me. We talked about life back home and my family, we talked about my mission and the zone, we talked about my future. He promised me that after my mission, he would stay in contact with me. That was nice, something Pres Donaldson promised as well. In my last president's letter, I sent him a heads up about me going home early. We talked about it and he already knew when I was scheduled to go home. He asked when the semester started and I told him the middle of January. He said, "we cant have you miss that. Ill make sure you are released early." So I'm coming home early! I also told him that yall wanted to come out and pick me up out here and he said that he wouldn't trade the experience he had picking up his sons for anything. He then said, "We would love to have your parents here and meet them." So it looks like everything is a go!
July 26, 2011
Well this week we haven't had the most success, but it has been a really rewarding week.
Our week was ok. We had some good experiences. I think this week was more for me than it was for my area...if that makes any sense
On Wednesday, I was on exchanges with an elder and we went on a secret mission. Hahaha. There is an inactive member in his ward that doesn't really like missionaries. His wife is really active so she wanted us to meet with him. So she (the wife) took her husband (the inactive) to the Mormon Battalion and the plan was for me and my comp. to stop by and "accidently run into them". So my comp and I had all the Mormon Battalion sister missionaries working the situation. Then when they came out of the tour we "accidently ran into them" and started talking. To make a long story short, the guy really opened up to us and his wife said the things we told him really opened up his mind and helped him. We will see what happens there. Now, fast forward to yesterday......
THE RODRIGUEZES GOT MARRIED!!!!!!! Yeaaaaahhh! The Andres and Maria finally got married yesterday. They did it at the court house and asked me to be one of the witnesses! Then they showed one of their friends a pic of the temple and they said, "in one year from now, we are getting married there!" It was awesome to hear them say that! Really rewarding
Well that's about it for this week. Not a lot to say. I got the Dallas Cowboy package! It was great that yall took the tour of the stadium--I was jealous! My first week back we are going on a tour of the stadium. I love the shirt and other things. hahaha Tell everyone I said hey. I LOVE YALL!!!
Ross
August 2, 2011
We had a surprise meeting with Elder M. Russell Ballard on Saturday! Turns out that if your daughter is married to the Mission President, you can speak to the mission whenever you want to--if you are an apostle hahah. We had a meeting with him and with all the bishops, stake presidents, and WMLs in our mission...it was AWESOME!!!!! He answered a lot of questions about the work and explained a lot of new things. Then I got to meet him and shake his hand after. He looked at my name and said, "Elder Little......hahaha (chuckle)...God bless you" and patted me on the shoulder hahah. It was pretty cool!
THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY WAS BAPTIZED ON SUNDAY!!!!! I attached the pics to the email. The wife wanted me to baptize her so I got to do that...it was great!!!!
I had to translate again in church on Sunday...this time from Spanish to English. It was our Branch Conference so we had all the stake leaders there and they used translation headsets...it was pretty intense. I could definitely feel the Lord helping me because I couldn't stop and the speakers didn't pause. I had to translate to English as they were speaking in Spanish!
So all in all....it was a pretty great week! Thanks for everything! I LOVE YALL!!!!!
~Hillary
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
So this week was pretty good. We didn't get to work a lot because of all the things going on with the transition to Pres Clayton, our new Mission President, but it's alright. He came into the mission last Wednesday and me and my comp snuck up to the mission office to meet him. He is a great guy. We had "meet the president" meeting with him on Thursday and we got to know him and his family. He brought his daughters with him but only one is staying. And she'll only be here for the summer, she goes to BYU. I'm excited to work with him. He is a great man and his wife is too. She said that she is going to set up a mission blog so that our parents will get to see what we are doing..so be looking for that!
Alex was confirmed on Sunday and he gets the PH next week. Way cool. His family wants to be baptized now too! Last week we had another FHE with them and the Mom, Maria, said that she is ready to be baptized. Just as long as the water isn't cold hahaha so things are going great with them.
On 4th of July, we had to be in our apartment at 6 p.m.because things get a little crazy in the SD ghetto. But we watched the fireworks from the alley way behind our apartment. They had a huge firework show/party by the naval base, which is close to our apartment. So that was cool. It sounds like yalls 4th was pretty chill.
Well that's all I've got. I hope everything is going great! Almost 5 months! LOVE YALL
Ross
July 12, 2011
Today is the transfer letter day. Me and my comp are staying together.
This Thursday is my first interview with Pres Clayton. I've talked with him a bunch of times and I'm pretty sure he will be cool with me going home early. I'm going to give him a heads up in my Presidents letter today so it will be on his mind. hahaha
This week was good. We had a lot of success on Sunday. We had 6 people at church, but it was nothing we did. The De La Cruz family came and then we had 2 random people just show up. Things are going way good. This week, we are helping a kid get his mission papers filled out. That is exciting! And...a less active that I helped reactive in Imperial Beach just went through the temple on Saturday and is leaving for his mission to North Carolina in 9 days! How cool is that? I'm way excited for him. He is a little cocky, (more than I was haha) so the mission will humble him, but he will do great!!!!
This week has been a little tough. I've been thinking a lot about home for some reason haha It is nothing that yall are doing, yall are ok. It's just me. The other day I finished the BoM for the 3rd time and I did the math to see how many pages I had to read to finish it in Spanish. I only have 5 months left.....that is crazy. 4 transfers...and this transfer is only 5 weeks. I kind of freaked out a little bit, but I'm good now! Don't worry about me!
Well thanks for everything!!!! I LOVE YALL!!!!!!!!!
Ross
July 19, 2011
In preparation for a talk in church on "a mother's viewpoint in having a son on a mission--thoughts and impressions I have had as Ross has served a mission", I asked Ross what advice he has for boys as they contemplate and prepare for a mission. This is his reply:
"What advice do I have for younger kids to prepare for a mission? I guess: IT STARTS NOW. Don't put off preparing till the last minute or I guess don't procrastinate. It may seem far away, but it goes by fast. I realized this week that before your mission, everything in the church is geared towards preparing you for that time. Sunday school, mutual activities, seminary, mission prep, all that good stuff. Returned missionaries sometimes complain that there is nothing to prepare them for when they return home. I think that they didn't get "it" on their missions. The whole reason the Lord sends us out at 19 years old is so that we can prepare ourselves, for 2 years, for the rest of our lives. And because we are 19 year old kids, it takes us being pulled out of our comfort zone and taken out of everything we know (sports, TV, girls) to be able to be taught by the Lord. So that is why I say prepare now. Don't take yourselves out of everything in the world. But start to cut things down a little bit. Focus more things that matter. "Leave behind GOOD things, for BETTER things." Start to focus on what matters so that when you get to be the Lord's missionary, you learn the lessons he has for you quicker and you can become refined. I guess that's what I would tell them. The Lord has taught me so much in the past year and a half. I cant even begin to think where I would be in my life if I didn't go. If there is any doubt in their mind of going on a mission, slap yourself, and then never have those thoughts again. I wouldn't trade this, the hardest/most difficult/most trying/most humble/most rewarding, time of my life for any college football scholarship/any chance to play professional sports/any chance to become rich and famous. It means the world to me, and if they start to prepare now, it will mean even more to them. (alright, I just stepped off my soap box) I hope that helps.
(Needless, to say, it did help, immensely)
My first interview with President Clayton went great. I talked with him for about 30 minutes ( my longest interview with Pres Donaldson was like 5). He is a great man. Very humble and he told me repeatedly how grateful he was for me and how much he loved me. We talked about life back home and my family, we talked about my mission and the zone, we talked about my future. He promised me that after my mission, he would stay in contact with me. That was nice, something Pres Donaldson promised as well. In my last president's letter, I sent him a heads up about me going home early. We talked about it and he already knew when I was scheduled to go home. He asked when the semester started and I told him the middle of January. He said, "we cant have you miss that. Ill make sure you are released early." So I'm coming home early! I also told him that yall wanted to come out and pick me up out here and he said that he wouldn't trade the experience he had picking up his sons for anything. He then said, "We would love to have your parents here and meet them." So it looks like everything is a go!
July 26, 2011
Well this week we haven't had the most success, but it has been a really rewarding week.
Our week was ok. We had some good experiences. I think this week was more for me than it was for my area...if that makes any sense
On Wednesday, I was on exchanges with an elder and we went on a secret mission. Hahaha. There is an inactive member in his ward that doesn't really like missionaries. His wife is really active so she wanted us to meet with him. So she (the wife) took her husband (the inactive) to the Mormon Battalion and the plan was for me and my comp. to stop by and "accidently run into them". So my comp and I had all the Mormon Battalion sister missionaries working the situation. Then when they came out of the tour we "accidently ran into them" and started talking. To make a long story short, the guy really opened up to us and his wife said the things we told him really opened up his mind and helped him. We will see what happens there. Now, fast forward to yesterday......
THE RODRIGUEZES GOT MARRIED!!!!!!! Yeaaaaahhh! The Andres and Maria finally got married yesterday. They did it at the court house and asked me to be one of the witnesses! Then they showed one of their friends a pic of the temple and they said, "in one year from now, we are getting married there!" It was awesome to hear them say that! Really rewarding
Well that's about it for this week. Not a lot to say. I got the Dallas Cowboy package! It was great that yall took the tour of the stadium--I was jealous! My first week back we are going on a tour of the stadium. I love the shirt and other things. hahaha Tell everyone I said hey. I LOVE YALL!!!
Ross
August 2, 2011
We had a surprise meeting with Elder M. Russell Ballard on Saturday! Turns out that if your daughter is married to the Mission President, you can speak to the mission whenever you want to--if you are an apostle hahah. We had a meeting with him and with all the bishops, stake presidents, and WMLs in our mission...it was AWESOME!!!!! He answered a lot of questions about the work and explained a lot of new things. Then I got to meet him and shake his hand after. He looked at my name and said, "Elder Little......hahaha (chuckle)...God bless you" and patted me on the shoulder hahah. It was pretty cool!
THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY WAS BAPTIZED ON SUNDAY!!!!! I attached the pics to the email. The wife wanted me to baptize her so I got to do that...it was great!!!!
I had to translate again in church on Sunday...this time from Spanish to English. It was our Branch Conference so we had all the stake leaders there and they used translation headsets...it was pretty intense. I could definitely feel the Lord helping me because I couldn't stop and the speakers didn't pause. I had to translate to English as they were speaking in Spanish!
So all in all....it was a pretty great week! Thanks for everything! I LOVE YALL!!!!!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Update...
Ross is about 75% of the way through his mission....sometimes that seems so hard to believe, other times I feel like the days drag by. I'm guessing for my parents, the days just seem to drag by!! We all love Tuesdays when we hear from Ross and it's funny to see my parents stare at their phones, repeatedly updating their emails, waiting for that one that says it's from Ross. We love our missionary so much and are so proud of him and his service to the Lord...but we sure do miss him!!
I've posted 3 of his latest emails to my mom below. I always say I'm going to try to do better at keeping this updated but I never do! In Ross's letter this week he mentioned that his new mission President's wife wants to start a blog for the families to read so we'll let you know if that is done and if you're able to access it as well. I'm hoping she gets a blog started, I would love to hear how things are going out there from the mission's point of view!
Ross is very grateful for the letters and gifts he has received from family and friends. I know you may not always get a return letter of thanks and updates, but just know your thoughts and gifts are appreciated. He is so so so busy and recently we've only been getting short notes ourselves on Tuesdays. But Ross ends every letter (to me at least) by saying "tell everybody that I love them" so I'm passing that on to you too. He loves you and is grateful for your love and support. :)
So enjoy reading the emails below and if you feel so inclined, his address is posted to the side and you can write him a quick note...because even if he doesn't write you back, he LOVES to get mail. Such is the life of a missionary I guess!!
Love,
Hillary
I've posted 3 of his latest emails to my mom below. I always say I'm going to try to do better at keeping this updated but I never do! In Ross's letter this week he mentioned that his new mission President's wife wants to start a blog for the families to read so we'll let you know if that is done and if you're able to access it as well. I'm hoping she gets a blog started, I would love to hear how things are going out there from the mission's point of view!
Ross is very grateful for the letters and gifts he has received from family and friends. I know you may not always get a return letter of thanks and updates, but just know your thoughts and gifts are appreciated. He is so so so busy and recently we've only been getting short notes ourselves on Tuesdays. But Ross ends every letter (to me at least) by saying "tell everybody that I love them" so I'm passing that on to you too. He loves you and is grateful for your love and support. :)
So enjoy reading the emails below and if you feel so inclined, his address is posted to the side and you can write him a quick note...because even if he doesn't write you back, he LOVES to get mail. Such is the life of a missionary I guess!!
Love,
Hillary
Letter from June 21, 2011
June 21, 2011
Hey...tough week....but it refined me and things are getting better
Ninety percent of our teaching is in Spanish. The only person we teach in English is a 19 yr old girl but even then, her boyfriend doesn't speak English so we have to talk to him in Spanish. But yeah, everything is in Spanish. My area is just like something you would see in Mexico.
Well like I said this week was like the refiners fire. I'll relate it to sports. Remember the beginning of my senior year and I lost, what I like to call, my "swagger"? I just felt like I couldn't do it anymore? I just hit rock bottom? That is what happened this week.
Our investigators buffed us, we didn't really accomplish anything, and we had one investigator tell us they didn't want to be baptized anymore. So yeah.....I was humbled. On Friday night, after the night was over, I got on my knees and prayed. For awhile. Then I realized something. I realized that I was trying to do it all by myself. I was trying to do things my way. And the work of the Lord can't be done only by man. Its impossible. You have to be guided by the Lord in order to succeed. These things I was going through was a humbling process. The Lord was helping me realize that I couldn't do it on my own. I needed his help.
So Saturday it was a little better, but it was still the same kind of thing. Sunday was good. We only had 1 investigator show up, but then something happened to turn it all around. Sunday School was just finishing and President Lopez came and asked me if I could translate for the high councilor. I smiled and said, "You want me to translate?" What was going through my head was , "I have trouble translating what I want to say, there is no way that I can translate what someone else is trying to say." He smiled and shook his head, "si". I looked back at him and said, "Si, si quiere". He must have seen the look of doubt on my face and he put his hand on my shoulder said, "Si te puedes." He had confidence in me, but I had 0 confidence in myself. I remember looking around and thinking, "there are tons of people here who are fluent in both languages, why can't they do it?" So Sacrament meeting started and I prayed hard during the sacrament. I prayed for the Lord to help me, to put the words in my mouth, and to give me confidence in myself. So he was the first speaker and we started and it went great. I made a couple of mistakes but I was able to keep up with him and translate without a lot of long pauses or missed words. Wow. It was a powerful spiritual experience! I sat back down and then I just opened up my heart to the Lord for helping me get my "swagger" back.
Yesterday was great. We had some good lessons and our WML asked a lady straight up, "so..why haven't you been baptized yet? Do you want blessings?" The lord humbled me and now things are getting a lot better! It is amazing to see the Lord work in other people's lives but it is even more amazing when you see it in your own lives!
Well that's about it! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!
Ross
Hey...tough week....but it refined me and things are getting better
Ninety percent of our teaching is in Spanish. The only person we teach in English is a 19 yr old girl but even then, her boyfriend doesn't speak English so we have to talk to him in Spanish. But yeah, everything is in Spanish. My area is just like something you would see in Mexico.
Well like I said this week was like the refiners fire. I'll relate it to sports. Remember the beginning of my senior year and I lost, what I like to call, my "swagger"? I just felt like I couldn't do it anymore? I just hit rock bottom? That is what happened this week.
Our investigators buffed us, we didn't really accomplish anything, and we had one investigator tell us they didn't want to be baptized anymore. So yeah.....I was humbled. On Friday night, after the night was over, I got on my knees and prayed. For awhile. Then I realized something. I realized that I was trying to do it all by myself. I was trying to do things my way. And the work of the Lord can't be done only by man. Its impossible. You have to be guided by the Lord in order to succeed. These things I was going through was a humbling process. The Lord was helping me realize that I couldn't do it on my own. I needed his help.
So Saturday it was a little better, but it was still the same kind of thing. Sunday was good. We only had 1 investigator show up, but then something happened to turn it all around. Sunday School was just finishing and President Lopez came and asked me if I could translate for the high councilor. I smiled and said, "You want me to translate?" What was going through my head was , "I have trouble translating what I want to say, there is no way that I can translate what someone else is trying to say." He smiled and shook his head, "si". I looked back at him and said, "Si, si quiere". He must have seen the look of doubt on my face and he put his hand on my shoulder said, "Si te puedes." He had confidence in me, but I had 0 confidence in myself. I remember looking around and thinking, "there are tons of people here who are fluent in both languages, why can't they do it?" So Sacrament meeting started and I prayed hard during the sacrament. I prayed for the Lord to help me, to put the words in my mouth, and to give me confidence in myself. So he was the first speaker and we started and it went great. I made a couple of mistakes but I was able to keep up with him and translate without a lot of long pauses or missed words. Wow. It was a powerful spiritual experience! I sat back down and then I just opened up my heart to the Lord for helping me get my "swagger" back.
Yesterday was great. We had some good lessons and our WML asked a lady straight up, "so..why haven't you been baptized yet? Do you want blessings?" The lord humbled me and now things are getting a lot better! It is amazing to see the Lord work in other people's lives but it is even more amazing when you see it in your own lives!
Well that's about it! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!
Ross
Letter from June 14, 2011
June 14, 2011
We meet in a school because most of the members don't have cars and have to walk and all the other buildings are too far. There is no room to build in Barrio Logan so we rent out the school on Sundays and Fridays (activiteis). But maybe we will have a building soon, they have been trying for a while though.
This week was great. The members here are awesome. There is a lady who talked to her friends about the gospel and then called us and told us we had an appt with them and she would be there and together, we would baptize them ahhaha. That never happens. We had the appt last Thursday, they came to church on Sunday, we had another appt yesterday and now they have a baptismal date for the last Sunday of the month. God works with those that want to share the gospel. All it takes is a desire.
Yesterday was full of miracles. We received 3 referrals. One from a member in my last area. One from a RC for his parents and his 2 brothers. And one for another family of 4. WOW! I have been praying so hard for miracles lately and doing my best to be worthy of them and the Lord is blessing us. I dont know what we are doing, but God is blessing us a lot now. But with those blessings come a lot of pressure. God has entrusted us with these opportunities, now we have to take care of them and bring them in. It's going to be fun.
I love you mom!
Ross
We meet in a school because most of the members don't have cars and have to walk and all the other buildings are too far. There is no room to build in Barrio Logan so we rent out the school on Sundays and Fridays (activiteis). But maybe we will have a building soon, they have been trying for a while though.
This week was great. The members here are awesome. There is a lady who talked to her friends about the gospel and then called us and told us we had an appt with them and she would be there and together, we would baptize them ahhaha. That never happens. We had the appt last Thursday, they came to church on Sunday, we had another appt yesterday and now they have a baptismal date for the last Sunday of the month. God works with those that want to share the gospel. All it takes is a desire.
Yesterday was full of miracles. We received 3 referrals. One from a member in my last area. One from a RC for his parents and his 2 brothers. And one for another family of 4. WOW! I have been praying so hard for miracles lately and doing my best to be worthy of them and the Lord is blessing us. I dont know what we are doing, but God is blessing us a lot now. But with those blessings come a lot of pressure. God has entrusted us with these opportunities, now we have to take care of them and bring them in. It's going to be fun.
I love you mom!
Ross
Letter from June 7, 2011
June 7, 2011
I am feeling more settled in, but there is a sense of urgency that I haven't felt before..I think it is because I realized that I have 6 months left and its time to perform. But yeah, I'm more calm now, but we still have a long way to go before we get where I want the area to be
President Clayton comes in at the end of this month. He called Pres Donaldson and told him they were going to drive in the night before and stay in a hotel and President Donaldson said that's fine, as long as he stays out of the mission boundaries. After Pres Clayton is set apart, as soon as he steps foot in the mission boundaries, he is in charge and the keys are past....pretty cool
Well this week was great. We had a lot of success. We had a training meeting with Pres Donaldson and he re-explained the doctrine of baptism. That is the urgency I am feeling now I think. There is no way that the people in my area can truly be saved and receive the help from the atonement without me/missionaries. Its brought a whole new outlook and it makes me want to run to everyone on the street. It has been something that's missing on my mission so far, the urgency, but I have it now and I like it.
We have 3 people with baptismal dates and things are going great. My area is like Tijuana. There are no black people or white people, just Mexicans/Latinos....its awesome. Our branch president wants 2 baptism per month, so that is what he will get. The branch is awesome....story time: So on Sunday night we went to see a less active and we were just talking. I asked him how things were going and he said they are.....ok. I said, "M..., that doesn't sound too convincing. Whats up bro?" He then opened up and laid it all on the table. How things were rough with his family and how after his baptism all these trials came up and how he stopped going to church because he couldn't handle everything. I was thinking about what to say to him and I opened my mouth and told him how the adversary doesn't want him in church because he knows his potential. I told him the God needed him church to be an example for people everywhere that it is possible to turn their lives around. (He used to be in a gang and deal drugs and all this stuff and has been shot at now for what he did in the past). He teared up a little bit and said that he knows he just has to take the step. After I invited him to take the step this week and go back to church. He said he would and we have an appt with him tonight and are going to talk to him and his girlfriend, who is not a member. It was such a powerful experience. I have been focusing a lot lately on the having faith to tell people how it is and to promise them things with my priesthood authority. The spirit testifies to people when we do that and it is a powerful experience. AWESOME
Ross
I am feeling more settled in, but there is a sense of urgency that I haven't felt before..I think it is because I realized that I have 6 months left and its time to perform. But yeah, I'm more calm now, but we still have a long way to go before we get where I want the area to be
President Clayton comes in at the end of this month. He called Pres Donaldson and told him they were going to drive in the night before and stay in a hotel and President Donaldson said that's fine, as long as he stays out of the mission boundaries. After Pres Clayton is set apart, as soon as he steps foot in the mission boundaries, he is in charge and the keys are past....pretty cool
Well this week was great. We had a lot of success. We had a training meeting with Pres Donaldson and he re-explained the doctrine of baptism. That is the urgency I am feeling now I think. There is no way that the people in my area can truly be saved and receive the help from the atonement without me/missionaries. Its brought a whole new outlook and it makes me want to run to everyone on the street. It has been something that's missing on my mission so far, the urgency, but I have it now and I like it.
We have 3 people with baptismal dates and things are going great. My area is like Tijuana. There are no black people or white people, just Mexicans/Latinos....its awesome. Our branch president wants 2 baptism per month, so that is what he will get. The branch is awesome....story time: So on Sunday night we went to see a less active and we were just talking. I asked him how things were going and he said they are.....ok. I said, "M..., that doesn't sound too convincing. Whats up bro?" He then opened up and laid it all on the table. How things were rough with his family and how after his baptism all these trials came up and how he stopped going to church because he couldn't handle everything. I was thinking about what to say to him and I opened my mouth and told him how the adversary doesn't want him in church because he knows his potential. I told him the God needed him church to be an example for people everywhere that it is possible to turn their lives around. (He used to be in a gang and deal drugs and all this stuff and has been shot at now for what he did in the past). He teared up a little bit and said that he knows he just has to take the step. After I invited him to take the step this week and go back to church. He said he would and we have an appt with him tonight and are going to talk to him and his girlfriend, who is not a member. It was such a powerful experience. I have been focusing a lot lately on the having faith to tell people how it is and to promise them things with my priesthood authority. The spirit testifies to people when we do that and it is a powerful experience. AWESOME
Ross
Monday, June 6, 2011
It's Transfer Time!!
Ross was transferred to a new district two weeks ago but we weren't able to find out where until one week ago. Here are the past couple of week's emails....
May 24, 2011
Well....its come to an end.....
As you can see, my ministry in Sweetwater has come to an end. After 10 1/2 months here in Bonita 3, I have to pack my bags. I guess we will find out tomorrow where I am going.
Well, I guess I'm not surprised that I'm leaving, I've known it was coming since last Thursday. We had a meeting with our stake president and Pres Donaldson on Thursday to talk about the stake missionary plan/work. I had planned on talking to Pres Donaldson after because of a feeling I had been having for awhile. For the past couple of weeks, I have been feeling "detached" from my investigators. I love them and I taught them with the Spirit, but I didn't feel like that is where I needed to be anymore. It was a terrible feeling, but I guess you could say I was kind of feeling like I needed to leave and go somewhere else. So after the meeting on Thursday I talked with Pres Donaldson and told him how I was feeling. He asked me why I thought I was having those kind of feelings and I said I wasn't sure. He then asked how long I had been in Sweetwater and I said, "10 1/2 months." he said, "That's a long time. That's probably why. But, you don't have to worry about it anymore." And then he smiled and gave me that look like I was being transferred. So yeah, I've had an idea that I was leaving, but my name on the letter confirms it. Its a weird feeling to leave, but oh well. Its nice to know that I'm on the same age as the Lord.
My birthday was awesome! It was basically like any other day. I went to church, everyone there wished me happy birthday (No one said it in Spanish, they all said it in English to me ha-ha) then my WML invited me and my comp over to his house for lunch so we ate there. Then we went to my favorite family's house and they threw me a party and we had Chinese food and cake. (When yall come pick me up we will definitely come back to see this family. I love them so much) and then another member made me a cake. So yeah, it was pretty awesome! A lot of love. It definitely will make leaving that much harder.
Please tell everyone thanks for everything and I will start working on sending out thank you notes!
Well that is about it. I guess we will find out tomorrow where I go. Thanks again for everything! I LOVE YALL!!!!
Ross
May 31, 2011
Ross has been serving in the Bonita Third Ward in the City Heights area of San Diego for the past 10 1/2 months, a very long time for a missionary to stay in one area. He has been expecting a transfer for quite some time and we found out last week that the transfer letter came and had his name on it. So, that's all we knew for a week. He was gone, but we didn't know where. I am including part of my email to Ross this week to help you understand some of his response (~Martha)
Hi Buddy!
I saw you at 7-11...ok, maybe it wasn't you, but I did see the 7-11 Store on Kettner where you made a purchase with your debit card. Ok, what does it all mean?
Questions:
WHERE ARE YOU, What is it like, Do you like it there, How about your new companion? What ward and stake are you in? What are your responsibilities?
These past few days not knowing where you are have been some of the hardest--I think more so on dad. He has been obsessing--checking your bank account several times a day looking for transactions!!! Most of the time we can't get you to slow down in using your debit card and this week you have hardly used it at all--go figure! I suggested calling the mission office to ask where you are serving now and he said that you would be mortified if I did--haha! I didn't really think you would, but I figured I could wait until Tuesday. Dad woke me up at 11:30 Saturday night saying "I found him, I found him" (I know you are laughing). The pending transaction posted to your account and just said 7-11 in San Diego with no store number or address. YOUR dad called Chase Bank Customer Service and had the poor lady track down the address of the store and then he mapquested it and used the 360 viewer to see the area. He then spent the next 2 hours analyzing what ward, stake, etc. this store is in. He tracked this location to your previous areas, the mission home, and the mission office. He was just all over this piece of information!!!! (Now, I know you are really laughing). Hey what can I say, he makes his living analyzing! He has decided that you are in the San Diego Stake--is he right?
Ross' Reply:
Ha Wow...
Yes dad, your prediction was right. I am back in the SD stake. This time I am in Barrio Logan in the Logan Heights branch. I am a ZL here again with a new ZL, Elder Celment from Washington.
Hahaha well I'm glad to hear that dad cares about me. hahaha The 7-11 I stopped at was near our Branch President's house. I figured that I would throw you for a loop because that is nowhere near my area haha. He lives way out. Talk about an amazing priesthood leader. He knows all the members, less actives, inactives, and recent converts by name and face and has their addresses memorized. He runs the branch to perfection. He is way good. We went to branch council on Sunday (first time I have been to one since my first transfer) and I was impressed. He holds all the elders accountable to their visits and is always grateful but never satisfied. He is a little intimidating sometimes, but we went to his house my first full day in the area and got to know him and told him that I was all in. He trusts me already, I think, because he has been giving us a lot of people to go take care of and we have been having some success with those people. Its been good.
It was definitely hard to leave Sweetwater. I miss it still, but I have so much work to do I don't have a lot of time to miss anything. The Rodriguezes are supposed to get baptized at the end of the month, so I will go back for that. But other than that, I don't think I'll go back to Sweetwater a lot. The members in my area now are just as good, if not better than in Bonita. The branch is in the top 15 in the nation in baptizing. That's some pressure, but the success is coming along nicely.
So yeah, that's been my week. Just trying to get the area going again. The ZL before left us with nothing so its like white washing again, but it will come along. Actually, Pte Lopez (the branch pres) called Pres Donaldson and asked him about me. He already knew me when I got there and met him haha. It was kind of weird. He is pretty intense.
Well that is about it for this week. I've got a lot of stuff on my mind with the new area and everything so sorry if this email is jumbled. I LOVE YALL!!
Ross
May 24, 2011
Well....its come to an end.....
As you can see, my ministry in Sweetwater has come to an end. After 10 1/2 months here in Bonita 3, I have to pack my bags. I guess we will find out tomorrow where I am going.
Well, I guess I'm not surprised that I'm leaving, I've known it was coming since last Thursday. We had a meeting with our stake president and Pres Donaldson on Thursday to talk about the stake missionary plan/work. I had planned on talking to Pres Donaldson after because of a feeling I had been having for awhile. For the past couple of weeks, I have been feeling "detached" from my investigators. I love them and I taught them with the Spirit, but I didn't feel like that is where I needed to be anymore. It was a terrible feeling, but I guess you could say I was kind of feeling like I needed to leave and go somewhere else. So after the meeting on Thursday I talked with Pres Donaldson and told him how I was feeling. He asked me why I thought I was having those kind of feelings and I said I wasn't sure. He then asked how long I had been in Sweetwater and I said, "10 1/2 months." he said, "That's a long time. That's probably why. But, you don't have to worry about it anymore." And then he smiled and gave me that look like I was being transferred. So yeah, I've had an idea that I was leaving, but my name on the letter confirms it. Its a weird feeling to leave, but oh well. Its nice to know that I'm on the same age as the Lord.
My birthday was awesome! It was basically like any other day. I went to church, everyone there wished me happy birthday (No one said it in Spanish, they all said it in English to me ha-ha) then my WML invited me and my comp over to his house for lunch so we ate there. Then we went to my favorite family's house and they threw me a party and we had Chinese food and cake. (When yall come pick me up we will definitely come back to see this family. I love them so much) and then another member made me a cake. So yeah, it was pretty awesome! A lot of love. It definitely will make leaving that much harder.
Please tell everyone thanks for everything and I will start working on sending out thank you notes!
Well that is about it. I guess we will find out tomorrow where I go. Thanks again for everything! I LOVE YALL!!!!
Ross
May 31, 2011
Ross has been serving in the Bonita Third Ward in the City Heights area of San Diego for the past 10 1/2 months, a very long time for a missionary to stay in one area. He has been expecting a transfer for quite some time and we found out last week that the transfer letter came and had his name on it. So, that's all we knew for a week. He was gone, but we didn't know where. I am including part of my email to Ross this week to help you understand some of his response (~Martha)
Hi Buddy!
I saw you at 7-11...ok, maybe it wasn't you, but I did see the 7-11 Store on Kettner where you made a purchase with your debit card. Ok, what does it all mean?
Questions:
WHERE ARE YOU, What is it like, Do you like it there, How about your new companion? What ward and stake are you in? What are your responsibilities?
These past few days not knowing where you are have been some of the hardest--I think more so on dad. He has been obsessing--checking your bank account several times a day looking for transactions!!! Most of the time we can't get you to slow down in using your debit card and this week you have hardly used it at all--go figure! I suggested calling the mission office to ask where you are serving now and he said that you would be mortified if I did--haha! I didn't really think you would, but I figured I could wait until Tuesday. Dad woke me up at 11:30 Saturday night saying "I found him, I found him" (I know you are laughing). The pending transaction posted to your account and just said 7-11 in San Diego with no store number or address. YOUR dad called Chase Bank Customer Service and had the poor lady track down the address of the store and then he mapquested it and used the 360 viewer to see the area. He then spent the next 2 hours analyzing what ward, stake, etc. this store is in. He tracked this location to your previous areas, the mission home, and the mission office. He was just all over this piece of information!!!! (Now, I know you are really laughing). Hey what can I say, he makes his living analyzing! He has decided that you are in the San Diego Stake--is he right?
Ross' Reply:
Ha Wow...
Yes dad, your prediction was right. I am back in the SD stake. This time I am in Barrio Logan in the Logan Heights branch. I am a ZL here again with a new ZL, Elder Celment from Washington.
Hahaha well I'm glad to hear that dad cares about me. hahaha The 7-11 I stopped at was near our Branch President's house. I figured that I would throw you for a loop because that is nowhere near my area haha. He lives way out. Talk about an amazing priesthood leader. He knows all the members, less actives, inactives, and recent converts by name and face and has their addresses memorized. He runs the branch to perfection. He is way good. We went to branch council on Sunday (first time I have been to one since my first transfer) and I was impressed. He holds all the elders accountable to their visits and is always grateful but never satisfied. He is a little intimidating sometimes, but we went to his house my first full day in the area and got to know him and told him that I was all in. He trusts me already, I think, because he has been giving us a lot of people to go take care of and we have been having some success with those people. Its been good.
It was definitely hard to leave Sweetwater. I miss it still, but I have so much work to do I don't have a lot of time to miss anything. The Rodriguezes are supposed to get baptized at the end of the month, so I will go back for that. But other than that, I don't think I'll go back to Sweetwater a lot. The members in my area now are just as good, if not better than in Bonita. The branch is in the top 15 in the nation in baptizing. That's some pressure, but the success is coming along nicely.
So yeah, that's been my week. Just trying to get the area going again. The ZL before left us with nothing so its like white washing again, but it will come along. Actually, Pte Lopez (the branch pres) called Pres Donaldson and asked him about me. He already knew me when I got there and met him haha. It was kind of weird. He is pretty intense.
Well that is about it for this week. I've got a lot of stuff on my mind with the new area and everything so sorry if this email is jumbled. I LOVE YALL!!
Ross
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