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.