Finally a Good Week September 27, 2010

Well it was about time we had a good week, for my compainion's sake. I think the poor kid was getting tired of it and starting to get a little depressed, but we had a good week so life is better......

So lets see, no baptismal dates set up but I can see some in the future.... so to add to the testimony, the only way to do missionary work is through members. So we picked up 3 new investigators this week, all three from referrals from members, and all three seem pretty legit. One of those members being Omar and his family, gotta love recent converts. They are doing awesome. Omar is an amazing guy. Didn't get a chance to go up and visit Rosa and Julio this week. We will go up tomorrow. Keep them in your prayers, please.

Last Monday we went to the Barc stadium... it was amazing. We went with Monks (my old companion ) and his greenie, Elder Lloyd.

So yeah, life is good. For my bday we are starting our English class, lucky me.

Well I love y'all, hope all is well,

Love

Elder Roos

September 20, 2010

Homemade Root Beer

So yeah, it was another slower week. I have decided contacting people on the street normally ends up in fake doors or people who don't have time when they tell us to come. All I can say is you can never beat member references!!!. But yeah the back half of the week was alright.

The companion is doing alright. He is really timid... and rumor has it I'm not, so I think at times i overwhelm him. I have been making him sing at citas, LOL. The members and everyone loves it. He has an amazing voice.

Rosa and Julio haven't been to church in 3 weeks. Its hard for them to come because they have to go with the bishop and that means leaving at 7 and getting back at 5. It's especially tough when they only get 2 days a week to spend with their 15 yr old daughter and one is Sunday, so we are gonna see what advice Pres. Hinckley would give them.

Omar is awesome as always. He didn't come yesterday cause Santi had his first on-TV game. I guess that's a pretty good excuse.

Well I love y'all.

Elder Roos

September 13, 2010

So another week down in Terrassa and another lesson learned. It is important to be very specific in your prayers, for instance.... when you pray to find people, it might be good to add in that they are there when you set up the visit. So yeah, we did a very good job finding people. we set up about a visit, if not more, a day with a new person.... then 8 times this week we got to doors and people weren't there. Ironic that I read in Mosiah 23 where is says that at times God finds it just to try his people.... yeah.

Oh well, all is good, we lost the baptism but I wasn't sure if it was going to happen.

Let's see, the companion is doing okay. He is young, last night in a 50% joking manner I told him I didn't know that deacons could serve missions. I'll make that reason 258 why I'm not going to home school my kids. But you got to love new missionaries, they want to work, and you can't complain about that.

So my day was made today by Ashley Warner. I finally after a year got a letter from her!!!!!

Well life is good, hopefully this week will kick last weeks butt.

Love all of yall,

New Companion

So because we are having a conference with a couple GA´s tomorrow, we have P-day today and transfers Wednesday.

Well, I have a new companion. It was funny the look on his face when President jokingly called me SGT Roos. But I figured I've said too much crap about my trainer to be a bad one, so I have to be good. He is pretty cool, he is from Park City and check this out, He was a pro Jazz Singer, funny right. Yeah, I guess he sang at several of the really pijo (fancy) restaurants in Park city and got paid a couple hundred a night.

So, tomorrow will be my last day with Elder Lindsey. I'll miss that kid. He drove me nuts at times but he will def go down as one of my favorite comps, I mean what more do I want? I baptized 3 people with him.

So, funny miracle story:

Yesterday we were sitting in gospel principles (Sunday school) and one of the members opened the door and told us there was a family standing in the entrance. So we went and talked to them and took the kids to the primary classes then the parents came to our class. After we talked to them we found out he talked to the missionaries 10 years ago and wanted his children to have a spiritual knowledge so they searched out the church. We didn't set a baptismal date with them. They are getting married in Oct and said right after then they would like to be baptized. I love the way the lord works.

We do also have another baptism planned for the 23rd of Sept. Its a little shaky, he didn't come to church yesterday but we will see what happens. So yeah thanks for all you prayers and I think we can all tell they are working. Well I love y'all, looking forward to hearing from you next week. I think today we are going to take a tour of Camp Nou (the FCB stadium)

well love y'all

Elder Roos

A Very Happy Missionary

So it's official, Terrassa ward has 3 new members, 2 being converts (an eight year old boy whose family are members was also baptized). It was amazing to see the change in Julio in only a month or so. He really has surprised us, I might just say he is more solid than his wife, not that she isn't solid, but he has jumped in head first. At the baptism he went up to bear his testimony and it was amazing. He said how he has years and years away from God and for the first time in his life he felt like he doesn't have a cargo on his shoulders. I have learned that I love the testimony and prayers of investigators and recent converts 10 times more than members. They are so sincere and unrehearsed, you can tell without a doubt that it is from his heart. It made me laugh when he was done he was like "Thank you all, thank you all very much," then went to walk off, then ran back up and said amen. LOL

So Rach and Evan might be able to relate with me about the one problem with baptisms.... at least in my case it seems to always leave me without investigators. We have one right now, an 18 yr old girl named Kerly. She is doing everything we ask and the Young Women are doing an awesome job of showing her love, but she is just a little low on faith. Hopefully we could see a baptism with her in the next couple weeks, but still pray for new investigators; it worked last time.

So this week we had 2 pancake eating citas. One with a 1/2 American family and the other with a guy who has an American wife (also is probably going to be our next bishop, we should find that out next week).

I got a interesting phone call last night. It was a mission number but not one on our records, I picked up and heard, "Hello Elder Roos, it's President Hinckley"... and yeah I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say.... I get my new companion a couple days early. Elder Lindsey and I get to be in the office Wednesday morning to get trainer training. I'm just glad I answered the phone well and wasn't like, "Hey who is this?" LOL

Elder Lindsey is doing well. We have been working together fighting against trunkiness. I think it will be good that his last 4 days he will have a greenie watching his every move.
Elder Roos

Everyone who was baptized that day and those who baptized them.
An eight-year-old from the ward baptized by his Grandfather, Elder Lindsey baptized Rosa, Julio was baptized by Stevie, and a gentleman baptized in another ward by a missionary whose name I don't know.

Stevie and Elder Lindsay with Julio, Rosa, and their daughter.

Three very happy missionaries after the baptisms.

So i don't know what you're saying in your prayers over there, but keep it up. Rosa and Julio are doing AMAZING. So you'll like this. We were a little nervous about teaching them both tithing and the Word of Wisdom. About a year ago, Julio lost his licence for a DUI but when we taught the WOW, he was excited about it. I was amazed how easily they accepted it. I'm almost wondering if this DUI was preparatory to his stopping drinking so he could be prepared when we got there. When we were finishing teaching tithing, Elder Lindsey asked Julio if he thought this was a law from God, and Julio surprisingly told us no... then a couple seconds later he said... "It's a right." I thought that was a pretty good answer. Also, he asked me to baptize him... so I'm a little nervous to do it. Rosa was sick yesterday but we will see who she wants to baptize her.

The rest of the week..... Wednesday we had a office couple (a husband/wife set of missionaries who help run the clerical side of things) come check our piso, so i went into military mode last week, they said it was the cleanest one in the mission, even better than the hermanas. Wednesday and Thursday we picked up 3 new investigators. One has some potential, but it might take a while, we are starting with finding faith.... fun!!! Saturday we visited Rosa and Julio, so I'm gonna restate how awesome they are. We had a good Sunday, 4 investigators in church, good day, and we might have had the best numbers in the zone for the week, not like it's a competition... but if it was we would have won. LOL

Well, I love y'all. Hope all is going well.

Chapter of the week, 2 Nephi 31, Gospel of Christ

Well I love you all,

Elder Roos

A Great Week in Terrassa!

So if you remember correctly Rosa and Julio where the ones who were going to be baptized at the beginning of July but we lost contact with them. well you'll like the story.

Well, last Thursday we got a call from a man who had moved here from Australia (originally from Argentina) and wanted us to come visit him and help him figure out a way he can come to church. Just so happen that he and his family live in the same pueblo as Rosa and Julio. So we set up a Noche De Hogar for Wednesday and me and my companion asked a member who helped us with Rosa and Julio to drive us out there and if we could just drop by their house just to see if we could find them.
Well we did and they were there. This is where is gets good. As we were talking she was telling us how she kept thinking about us and the church and how she really needed to come back, she even told us that last Thursday (same day the new member called us)she couldn't stop thinking about the church.... God works in wonderful ways,. We taught an awesome lesson out of 1Nephi 8 (tree of life, thank you Rach for the silver Parker pen because I used it as the iron rod) Now we are going to baptize them both on the 28th.

Yeah the only problem that came up is they don't have a car, nor the two member family who live up there and the first bus doesn't come until well after church starts. So Sunday we went up with the bishop and his family to do a sacrament meeting with all them up there. This is how amazing our bishop is (remember what he has been through the last month, and without a job). So he is going to leave an hour earlier then he normally does, go up there to pick up the 8 people in his nine person van and drive them to church and put his kids on a train.... amazing right? Yeah, I hope my mansion in heaven is in the same neighborhood as his.

It's been a really good week. We had a good zone conference yesterday (meeting with the missionaries in the surrounding area). Thanks for prayers, they get answered don't they?
Love,
Elder Roos

Two More Baptisms!

Omar and his eight-year-old son were baptized! Here is what Stevie had to say about it:

Well, just like Juana and her daughters (Augustine's family), I had doubts that this day would ever come, but it did. It was awesome. I was happy that the ward made a good appearance. I would say there were about 50 people there. Also, there were several of their friends so hopefully they could feel the spirit and have a little more interest in the church.... so we will see...

So yeah, we are still super dry on investigators (people to teach), we did some good searching on Thursday, but then Friday and Saturday my companion got sick so we didn't get the chance to capitalize on it. The companion is dong alright. I have to tell you I hate killing Elders (being the last companion before an Elder returns home). Its like he is in a moral fight between when he know he needs to do and what he feels like he can justify dong only cause he has 4 weeks left, I can give you the days if you want them, he keeps reminding me. So, yeah, I have to fight not only to keep myself motivated, while trying to motivate him without him getting offensive about it. He is pretty good he just kinda took a downward turn this last week and a half.

We are seeing a good amount of success with one less active family we have (the one the Assistant to the President insulted). We got the entire family to church yesterday, that brought a big smile to my face. It's pretty much because the sixteen-year-old she broke up with her bad news bf so her mom told her church would make her feel better.

The bishop and his family seem to be doing really well (The Bishop's wife lost her battle with cancer a few weeks ago). We caught a ride with his from his pueblo back to Terrassa last week and I got to have a good talk with him. He is a awesome guy.

The year mark went well, we didn't really do all that much cause E. Lindsey got sick, so I bought me some cookies and a soda and celebrated like that. LOL, oh the exciting life of a missionary. So pray that we find some investigators, and more importantly that they are really interested.

Elder Roos

Omar, his eight year old son, and his older son who performed the baptisms.
Elder Lindsay and Stevie with Omar and his sons.
Stevie with Omar and his family and friends.

Update

Well, Stephen lost his camera (I know you are all shocked!), so we are no longer receiving audios. Hopefully I'll be better at posting again.

Just a quick update - Stevie is no longer in Manacoor, he is now in Terrassa, a suburb of Barcelona. They have had a tough couple of weeks but it looks like things are looking up - Here is his latest letter:

So yeah, much better week than last week. It wasn't perfect, we are still low on investigators (people to teach) and lessons, but saw some awesome success with Omar (a man they have been teaching for a few months) and others.

Okay, so funny story first. There is an OLDER LADY in our ward. Very strong testimony and very good member, but is kinda losing her mind a little. So, she is really good about sharing the gospel with everyone, especially the Muslim lady at the fruit store she goes too. A couple weeks ago she asked us for a Book of Mormon to give her, so of course we took one over to the member. Well, Friday we went to visit her and she wass like, "You know my friend,I took back the Book of Mormon. I told her if she wasn't gonna read it then I'm taking it away. She didn't believe me so i took it from her right there." I guess we need to count our blessings that we cant teach her anyways. LOL

Saturday we had the most spiritual cita I have had my entire mission with Omar. His son, the older one, not the soccer player had just got back from EFY (a week long conference for youth in the church) so he was on a spiritual high. We decided to have a testimony session right there. It was amazing. Omar gave an amazing testimony how he knows all of this is true because sometihng that wasn't of God couldn't make him feel this good. It was amazing. We announced his baptism at church and he got even more excited about it. The ward is giving him really good support. We are also going to baptize his 8 yr old son, so come Saturday the entire family will be members.

Yesterday our church service was all the youth talking about EFY. They really did come back 100 times stronger. I loved how one woman went up and bore her testimony telling them if they like this feeling, to serve a mission. it was an amazing meeting.

So yeah, that's about it. I hit a year thursday, also Omar has his interview that day so it could be a day to celebrate. Keep him in your prayers.

love elder roos

Pictures

I realize I have been a major slacker but here are some of the pictures Stevie has sent over the past few months.

I'm not sure if this is a gallery or what, but that is a picture of the two of them.

A close-up of the photo in the gallery window.

All the elders serving on the island of Mallorca.

Stephen and Elder Hansen with Augustine and his family. Augustine was already a member and he baptized his wife and two older children. His son is not yet old enough to be baptized.

We have this same picture of Stevie and an elder who was serving in our ward when Stevie was about seven or eight.

Spain wins the World Cup!
Stephen and Elder Neaseth with a young women and her boyfriend whom they were teaching.

The Manacoor Branch.

Paella - One of his favorite foods since arriving in Spain

Quick Update

Because Stevie now sends us audio recordings each week instead of letters it is much harder to just copy his weekly updates to the blog. I am going to try to transcribe the updates (probably not word-for-word unless we get a really short one) so you all can know what's going on with him.

This week was transfers and Elder Naseath left Manacor for Barcelona; he was replaced by an elder who served with Elder Harris just before Stevie and Stevie has only heard good things. They are currently working with a part member family and the Dad is set to baptize his wife and daughters sometime in April.

Catch Up

December 21, 2009
 So, another awesome week in Spain. Honestly, I'll bet I see 10 miracles (that i recognize as miracles) a week. It's truly amazing. Cati is amazing, she loves the Gospel and she is already talking about wanting to go to the temple, that's good stuff.
  Our other investigators are getting close, I would guess 3 more baptisms in the next month. We could have even more if we have another random one like Cati.
  The Christmas conference was nice. We did a skit about trainers and greenies. I kinda pocked fun at Elder Harris and he was in the crowd, but I still wonder if he caught on. LOL

December 29, 2009
  Well, I'm am glad to say that I am not going anywhere this transfer. To be honest, even if President did try to transfer me, he would have to fly out here himself and drag my butt on to the plane.
  So, the rest of the weekend went well. We had the people who walked into the church asking about it at during church on Sunday. We taught a really strong lesson to them about the Restoration. He had some doubts when we asked him about baptism but I feel confident that he will come around. He is the type that really wants to know the truth and we all know if he searches for an answer he will find it.
  Besides that, nothing too new to report. Elder Naseath and I set transfer goals this morning, lets just say I'd rather shoot for the moon and land among the stars then not leave the earth at all.

January 4, 2009
 Well, I love p-days and don't love them at the same time because that's another week down and I'm never sure if I've done enough in that span of time. I don't think there has ever been a time in my life where time has gone by so fast, so I need you to pray for 30 hour days, can you do that? Thanks, your the best..

January 11, 2010
So, another good week down. Didn't really do too much as far as numbers go, but we are seeing tons of success with less actives (people who are members of the church but do not attend regularly). I think we will see some baptisms soon but never know. People and their agency, sometimes I wish they didn't have it because I know better than them. LOL but true.

Hey, question: Do ya'll have any ideas for Young Single Adult church activities? I'll bet you didn't know that if you are in a small branch, callings that aren't filled like activities commity fall on the missionaries and not people like the branch president.  (Love Spain)

PICTURES!!! (Finally)

This week we received a package from Elder Roos which included two camera cards full of photos. Here are a few of our favorites.

At the Provo MTC with his friend Ty

With the other Elders in his class at the Provo Temple

.

All the Elders in the MTC who had matchiing ties.

All the missionaries in the Madrid MTC singing in the park.

The Madrid Post Office (not kidding).

In front of the Madrid Temple

The Madrid Temple

At the train station in Madrid Leaving for Barcelona

View of Barcelona from a castle overlooking the city.

With the Hinckleys and the others who arrived in the mission with him

View of Manacor from his apartment window

Members of the Branch (congregation) at the Branch Christmas Party.

With his companion, Elder Naseath

With Cati at her Baptism!

A view of Manacor

With members of the Branch at a Branch activity

A Cathedral in Manacor

A Few Editor's Notes

Elder Roos has started making a voice recording each week off his camera. I am having a few technical difficulties but I will start posting those as soon as I figure it out.

We are still waiting on pictures. He sent a few in an email a few weeks ago, but the way they were attached locked them against being downloaded.

If there are ever things in the letters you don't understand, just leave a comment and I will try to explain.

Although Elder Roos has access to email once a week, snail mail really is better. He is only allowed to email immediate family and he only has an hour a week to read all the emails and to write us. That really isn't much time. Additionally, he can't print it and his email has limited space so he can't keep your letters. Trust me, missionaries love receiving letters in the mail, it can make their entire day (international postage is 98 cents). If you just have a short message, you can make a comment on this blog and we will include it in one of our letters that week.

Thanks for all your support and prayers! We know he appreciates it!

-The Roos Family

December 14, 2009

Today we went and saw the one of the old Catholic churches in Mallorca. As far as a museum goes, it was really cool. iIt had a tun of stuff from the 1300s. But as far as a church it was different than I'm used to.

I really can't describe home much I'm loving it right now. Seriously it is borderline perfect. Our branch (congregation) is really small but you know me, I've always done better is small environments.

As far as speaking in Spanish on the audio next time I'll see what I can do. I love being with Elder Naseath because he wants to work on his Spanish too. Right now we are doing an English fast until Christmas. Its working pretty well. Once in a while I slip and say something in English, but I can't tell you how much it is helping my Spanish. My goal is to be able to speak Spanish with Evan when i call (well here they call it castellano, the Latin American form is Spanish). the Spaniards are really weird, they have pride in weird things.

Well, love ya'll!
Elder Roos

If I wasn't a missionary, I wouldn't believe this week - December 7, 2009

So, this week was amazing, we are truly seeing miracles. We got that commitment Monday night from a person who we were close to dropping, but she snuck up on us. She wasn't able to come to church because of work. We thought she had other concerns but that was it. She is so strong I can't believe it. I did a voice recording and am gonna try to send it. That has more details on everything. Like I said, this week was borderline unbelievable.

I love my companion. he just has a good head on his shoulders. We are changing this area from a barely surviving area to the strongest area on the island, all because of the Lord's hand. Seriously, I think I'm happier right now than I have ever been. I love this work, there is nothing like seeing people change.

Love ya,
Elder Roos

Barc vs. Madrid + Rain November 30, 2009

Well, I'll start this letter out with a little mathematics:
Barc vs Real Madrid = people don't come to the door or are drunk at the bar
Rain = wanting to get inside
Barc vs Madrid + rain = two soaking wet missionaries

So yeah, this place loves their soccer. We know when something good happened by the yelling, honking and pandemonium. Gotta love Spain.

So now to the report of an awesome week. Tuesday we flew up to Barc for a multi-zone conference with Elder Kapisckie. It was amazing. He didn't come with a agenda, he just asked us questions and vice-versa, I am a better missionary for it. Wednesday night we stayed on the main land and I got to meet the family of a guy I was in the MTC with. It was really cool. Then the cool part: Thursday we were flying back and i started talking to the lady next to me. Found out her sister was a member and we just talked a lil then me and Elder Naseath taught here the 1st lesson, including a baptismal invitation which she accepted. How awesome is that? Too bad she lives in Palma and the other missionaries get that one, well we are on the same team. Then on the train a lil later we met a guy who's sister is Mormon, and of course he got off the stop before our area started. I love doing other peoples work  :) 
 
So my companion is from Cali. He is only on his 4th transfer, about 7 months. We are the youngest companionship in the mission. Its okay, we get work done. We don't have any baptismal dates right now but we keep asking. We got a call from the assistants this morning saying that the president had a feeling that we are gonna set a baptismal date this week so we need to call him when it happens, so we are planning to set three just to blow his mind. Please pray for that.

So how do you get a branch president who isn't very motivated going? You get his inactive daughter to show up to church. We met with her Saturday night and watched "Finding Faith in Christ with her and her bf. Then, when he started questioning things she was like "Stop being stupid. Can't you tell this stuff is true?" You shoulda seen the smile on the president's face. Let's just say meetings were a lot more effective yesterday.
    
Besides that not too much, just living the life.

November 23, 2009

So to answer your questions of how i like it and how my companion is.... well the title (Manacora, is there anything better)should give you your answer. The branch here isn't very strong (only about 20 people) but it is growing. I think we could realistically have 4 baptisms this transfer. We made one baptismal date this week (not sure if it counts, it a girl who is about 8 and a half and about half of her family just got activated, so we will have to ask president to see if that counts).  but yeah all of them are family of 2 different members. Elder Natheas is still a stud, I really like him. We are going to change the reputation of this area.

The weather's good because its about 80 today.  They said we should bring a
coat but I don't think I'll need one while I'm here.

So yeah, things are really good here, I've really seen my Spanish improve.
I would say I've spoken more Spanish here than i did all 6 weeks in Castellón.

November 9, 2009 and November 16, 2009

*Stephie apparently sent a letter on November 9, but we never received it. He tried to recreate a little of it for us in his November 16th letter.

What made this week interesting:
So, I was sitting an a train station with another elder waiting for a couple of other missionaries to come after exchanges (when missionaries change companions for a day or two in order to learn different methods of teaching). A man walks by and I say hola, just like I do to everyone. He looked at me weird... like everyone does. Then he misses his train. So, for the next 30 minutes he stands on the platform and stares and me for a the entire time. It was weird but I didn't think much about it. His train comes, and I wish I was making this last part up, but he steps on the train, turns around, winks at me and blows me a kiss. What the crap is wrong with Spain!!!!!!!
So, now that you are done rolling on the floor you can read the rest of the letter.
That was last week.

I'm getting transferred to Manacor, its on the island. It should be cool. Lets just say this transfer might be action motivated (we had a 3 day exchange last week because we got in a little discussion about if we should be lazy and negative or not, and the Citadel has taught me to yell well. I like Elder Harris he just doesn't have the same work ethic i do.

I just got in Manacor and I'm not gonna lie I've been in this area and with this comp 30 minutes and it is already my favorite. It is beautiful. It looks so Spanish it isn't even funny. Its a small zone and everyone seems to really have their head on straight. I am really excited for it.

My new companion is Elder Naseath. Rumor has it that he is a machine. From our talk  on the train I would agree. The first thing he said when I told him I was in the military was "I´ve been praying for a comp like you!" He is pretty new as well, only 7 months, so he really wants to nail Spanish. Can you tell I'm excited?

Fun fact, Manacor is the home of the #2 tennis player in the world, Nadal. Cool, huh?
Well, nothing new after that.
love yall
- Elder Roos


avenida salvador juan 67, 3 izq
07500
manacor
Palma de Mallorca
españa

October 25, 2009

Well, all is normal in Spain. I still don't understand anyone, still see naked posters everywhere, and futbol is still a way of life. That is what I'm going to focus on in my "About Spain" section of this letter.

There is no way to explain the obsession these people here have with this game (I must say, I'm starting to develop an interest in). Here are some examples:
1. There should be a rule here about futbol similar to the politics rule. I don't think that a missionary should be able to talk about their favorite team, I could see losing investigators that way.
2.There is a bar below our piso. The first couple days I never saw it open. I thought it had gone under like everything else in Spain, even though it still looked really nice and fancy inside. Turns out it is only open when Barc, Real Madrid, or Spain futbol games are on and when they are this place is packed. We can tell the score of the game just by when they heer or boo. 
3. And, probably my favorite example: My comp went into a shop to buy a Spain flag. In the window there was a BFC (Barcelona Futbol Club) flag, he asked the price on both. the Spain=€2.50, the BFC=€16.

So this week was a very successful week. We got about 5 new investigators and set 2 more baptismal dates. I'm a little skeptical on all three dates, but I think all three will get baptized eventually. Zone Conference was awesome. Pres Hinckley is amazing. I love when he is talking and he tells a story about "President Hinckley" never dad... kinda funny but I think it's a sign of respect.

I really like my companion. He is a little lazy, but I think we balance each other out. The truth is one of the most important things is to be happy in your companionship, I think outside of teaching by the spirit that leads to the most success.
Well, love y'all lots!

- Elder Roos