February 11, 2009
We have a bunch of investigators, some better than others of course, but there are a few that are just amazing. Last week we had 4 people in church and the week before we had one that was not there this last week, so we have five baptismal dates for the 28th so long as we keep them animated (excited) about coming to church and progressing. I would say the family I want to tell you about is the Familia DeVilla. They are amazing. They are a family made up of two grandparents, Francisco and Angelica, two daughters--Justina (and the other we have not met--and three grand kids, Daniel, Jorge, and Erica. The grandfather came to church with Daniel and Erica on Sunday. The kids are great. The grandpa has a bit of a drinking problem and a very common thing down here is chewing cocaine leaves, which he has a problem with as well. The great thing though is that in one of our lessons with them he stopped us and was like "I want help to stop drinking and to stop coceando" (they make verbs for everything here) so we were like of course and they came to church. Sitting in church, little Daniel was sitting next to a member´s son. This kid, Carlitos, came up to us after the meeting and he was like "¿Daniel told me he wants to get baptized, what do I do?" So we just told him to keep being his friend. This family is amazing we have to teach very simple so they can all understand, but if you could just feel the spirit that I have felt while teaching them the lessons you would know the church was true in that instant.
Another experience we had yesterday, was we went down to a city called Tartagal, where another set of missionaries lives and helped them out. Remember the cats and large dogs? Well apparently things got a little out of hand and they started pushing mud down the mountains and the city was inundated with water, mud, debris, houses were washed away, businesses destroyed, it was bad. So we spent yesterday helping out as much as we could down there. The missionaries´pension down there was flooded with mud and water and walls were knocked down and some of there stuff was ruined or lost (white shirts + mud = brown shirts) so we helped them move up to another pension up in Mosconi and cleaned that place up too. The others helped out in Villa Savedra, a barrio part of Tartagal and helped a member get all of the waist deep mud out of their home. It was bad and it was sad to see, but all in all it was a humbling experience to see all of that. It made me realize a lot of the things that I take for granted in my life in the states.
The work is going well; I’m trying hard, getting better and relying on the Lord for all the help I can get, and I can´t help but smile all the while.
We reopened the area here so there are members here, but the place is relatively untouched in the outskirts. We walked about 5k to an investigator´s home the other day, and the road keeps on going, so there is still a lot to do. I never thought that I would be the one who introduced someone to the gospel for the first time, but it´s happened, it´s a weird feeling to know that there are those who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ, even in this country. But like I said, the work is still going and it´s going well at that.
Happy Valentines Day!
Elder Rose
11 February 2009
03 February 2009
February 3, 2009
This week was good. None of our investigators came to church because it was raining cats and rather large dogs but they are progressing well. When it rains here, it really rains. All of our investigators had there baptismal dates moved back a week because of that but we are teaching a ton and completing with all of our numbers. Pocitos is amazing; I love it. I am doing fantastically and could not ask for anything more than what I have here. I’m getting better in every way or at least I am trying.
31 January 2009
January 25, 2009
This week was fantastic. We went on divisions on Friday and it was way cool. I went with one of the Latin’s in a city called Tartagal to the south and we had some great experiences. The member that we ate lunch with had a question before we shared our spiritual thought and she pulled out a scripture she did not understand. I thought about it for a minute and a scripture that I had received in a letter popped into my head, it was Alma 26:12. I shared that with her and she said that was exactly what she needed to understand her question. So thank you to all of you for sending me inspirational scriptures and such because in doing so, you truly are being tools in the hands of the Lord.
We have a couple dozen investigators right now, and one of the most promising is a lady name Maria Quinteros. She actually asked the previous missionaries for a Book of Mormon but they never went to teach her! So we found her and we have been teaching her about the gospel. She seems to understand it and really have a desire. We are going to try to extend an invitation to be baptized next time we visit.
We are teaching a family that we actually stumbled upon because we ran into a drunken man in the street and he took us to their house... weird I know. But we have taught them the first lesson and are going back in a couple days. There are two children one of 11 years and the other 12 years. They are really excited about it and we believe that the parents will be baptized and if not they will allow the children to be, along with their adoptive mother/aunt.
So that is going very well. We keep running into members, less actives and people that are not even on any of the church lists and we just find them in the streets, it´s odd but very cool to see how the spirit guides you to bring people back to the truth.
I had a very cool opportunity to give my first blessing in Spanish; a lady in the ward ate some bad food and has been sick for a week or so. Moral of the story is don´t eat horse empanadas :).
Elder Jeff Rose
We have a couple dozen investigators right now, and one of the most promising is a lady name Maria Quinteros. She actually asked the previous missionaries for a Book of Mormon but they never went to teach her! So we found her and we have been teaching her about the gospel. She seems to understand it and really have a desire. We are going to try to extend an invitation to be baptized next time we visit.
We are teaching a family that we actually stumbled upon because we ran into a drunken man in the street and he took us to their house... weird I know. But we have taught them the first lesson and are going back in a couple days. There are two children one of 11 years and the other 12 years. They are really excited about it and we believe that the parents will be baptized and if not they will allow the children to be, along with their adoptive mother/aunt.
So that is going very well. We keep running into members, less actives and people that are not even on any of the church lists and we just find them in the streets, it´s odd but very cool to see how the spirit guides you to bring people back to the truth.
I had a very cool opportunity to give my first blessing in Spanish; a lady in the ward ate some bad food and has been sick for a week or so. Moral of the story is don´t eat horse empanadas :).
Elder Jeff Rose
23 January 2009
So I am here in Argentina and it is amazing!
I found that my Spanish actually isn´t that horrible. I can´t understand everything, but they can at least understand me. I met my companion. His name is Elder Jordan Nichols, from Ogden Utah -- the coolest guy ever. We hit it off right away.
My area ... borders a city in Bolivia called Yacuiba. My city is called Pocitos. It is so cool. We´re kind of in the jungle and it gets to be about 120 during the day :) I love it. It´s a dust bowl but the church is strong. Our branch president is hilarious.Bolivia is literally 20 yards away.
We have a few investigators and the members are strong. Last night we taught two lessons back to back that were seriously probably two of the most spiritually experiences I have had. It was way cool.
Our zone took a hike today) Tuesday is P-day still. We went to a water fall in Aguaray which was soooooo cool. We saw a monkey today, IN OUR AREA. So cool. It was in one of the barrios.
Oh by the way, elder Nicholls is the coolest guy ever. Our area is the best ever, Argentina is the coolest (not temp wise) and I can feel all of the prayers that you have been praying for me. Thank you for all that you do. The people here are amazing. They are always in a hurry and always working hard, but the ones who take a minute to be humble are so teachable and I love it. Can I say that again? I love my mission.
There´s so much to tell I have to have you narrow it down a bit. Needless to say I love you all and I am doing fantastic. I hope you are all well.
My area ... borders a city in Bolivia called Yacuiba. My city is called Pocitos. It is so cool. We´re kind of in the jungle and it gets to be about 120 during the day :) I love it. It´s a dust bowl but the church is strong. Our branch president is hilarious.Bolivia is literally 20 yards away.
We have a few investigators and the members are strong. Last night we taught two lessons back to back that were seriously probably two of the most spiritually experiences I have had. It was way cool.
Our zone took a hike today) Tuesday is P-day still. We went to a water fall in Aguaray which was soooooo cool. We saw a monkey today, IN OUR AREA. So cool. It was in one of the barrios.
Oh by the way, elder Nicholls is the coolest guy ever. Our area is the best ever, Argentina is the coolest (not temp wise) and I can feel all of the prayers that you have been praying for me. Thank you for all that you do. The people here are amazing. They are always in a hurry and always working hard, but the ones who take a minute to be humble are so teachable and I love it. Can I say that again? I love my mission.
There´s so much to tell I have to have you narrow it down a bit. Needless to say I love you all and I am doing fantastic. I hope you are all well.
30 December 2008
My time is winding down!
December 30, 2008
My time is winding down and I have nearly two weeks left at the MTC is all. As for my real departure date it will be either the 12th or 13th as long as I get my visa, which I haven't heard anything about other than the fact that the consulate we met with personally, Senor Cafeiro, told us there would be absolutely no problem.
We should also be getting new missionaries today and tomorrow which is always so fun. Oh, I have been a little sick lately, beginning on Christmas Eve, and now I have no voice so that makes teaching interesting, but don't worry for a second about me. I’m fine and I’m going to go to the health center to have it all checked out. I’ll let you know if it turns out I have the plague or something ;)
The time here, though it is winding down, only seems to get more and more precious. I am learning so much and the language just keeps on coming little by little. It is so fun to see how we can all speak pretty much the entire day and communicate all the things we want to. And as for the teaching, it is progressing so well. I can really see now from experiences I have had of recent that the love that I can have from the Lord is showing through me to the people that I teach. And I CANNOT wait until I get to the field so I can let that love spill out on everyone that I meet.
Most of those who I met when I came into the MTC are gone, actually there is only one more district and then we would be the senior district, weird huh? The calling is still going well, always learning and always finding out new things about people in general and especially about myself. Thank you so much Mom and Dad and all my siblings for all that you did in training me to be a strong servant and to love the gospel and to have a love for other people. I am starting to see how certain experiences which I have had in my life were put there specifically to prepare me and throw me through the refiners fire so that I could serve with the power that the Lord knows I have the potential for. Thank you so much for your love and your prayers and all the caring that you put towards me. You are the epitome of a COOL family and you are so great. Love you all. You are in my prayers and I think of you always.
Vale la pena,
Que tangan un beun dia con mucho felicidad en el servicio del senor
Elder Rose
My time is winding down and I have nearly two weeks left at the MTC is all. As for my real departure date it will be either the 12th or 13th as long as I get my visa, which I haven't heard anything about other than the fact that the consulate we met with personally, Senor Cafeiro, told us there would be absolutely no problem.
We should also be getting new missionaries today and tomorrow which is always so fun. Oh, I have been a little sick lately, beginning on Christmas Eve, and now I have no voice so that makes teaching interesting, but don't worry for a second about me. I’m fine and I’m going to go to the health center to have it all checked out. I’ll let you know if it turns out I have the plague or something ;)
The time here, though it is winding down, only seems to get more and more precious. I am learning so much and the language just keeps on coming little by little. It is so fun to see how we can all speak pretty much the entire day and communicate all the things we want to. And as for the teaching, it is progressing so well. I can really see now from experiences I have had of recent that the love that I can have from the Lord is showing through me to the people that I teach. And I CANNOT wait until I get to the field so I can let that love spill out on everyone that I meet.
Most of those who I met when I came into the MTC are gone, actually there is only one more district and then we would be the senior district, weird huh? The calling is still going well, always learning and always finding out new things about people in general and especially about myself. Thank you so much Mom and Dad and all my siblings for all that you did in training me to be a strong servant and to love the gospel and to have a love for other people. I am starting to see how certain experiences which I have had in my life were put there specifically to prepare me and throw me through the refiners fire so that I could serve with the power that the Lord knows I have the potential for. Thank you so much for your love and your prayers and all the caring that you put towards me. You are the epitome of a COOL family and you are so great. Love you all. You are in my prayers and I think of you always.
Vale la pena,
Que tangan un beun dia con mucho felicidad en el servicio del senor
Elder Rose
23 December 2008
I Love This Work
December 23, 2008
Hey Family--
Thank you for all of your letters, and all of the prayers that have been offered in my behalf. I really appreciate it. I am doing really well in fact. And yes, the smile is still working hard dad! It’s really hard not to smile when I think about all of you during this Christmas season. The things that I have been learning and realizing and putting into practice have blessed me so greatly. We have had the most amazing firesides and devotionals lately and I have learned so much and my desire to DO has increased so much. I Love this work and I know that I am here doing the right thing.
I have really enjoyed opening the gifts that you have sent me mom and dad. Thank you so much for keeping it simple and uplifting. I knew I could count on you two do what would bring the spirit of the true reason of Christmas into my life and the lives of others here at the MTC through sharing of what I have with them.
Mom, Thank you for your love and the caring that you have for our family. Thank you for raising me up in a way that I never had a doubt in my mind about what I was supposed to be doing with my life and where I was supposed to be. It has become one of my biggest inspirations to continue on in the paths of righteousness. Like with the stripling warriors, I do not doubt that you knew it and because you always made that known, I now know it.
I have heard a lot about the people down in Argentina and I realize that they are being affected very hard by the crisis in the world right know. I want to be able to help them in any way that I can, but I know that I cannot support them all. What if do know though is that I have something more precious than money to give to them, something that I really can't give to them but I can allow them to have through the spirit and through coming unto Christ. This time of year is especially poignant for this message to be spread to the world. And I testify to you that this is the message that I will be sharing: That he Lives and that he is our redeemer and savior and through him and only through him can we grow and progress and gain the only true happiness in this and the life to come which is eternal life--a life with him and with our families and those who we love deeply. I love you all deeply and desire in the greatest way, from the core of my being to share this message with not only the people of Argentina, but with you all.
I know that you realize what you must do, but I want you to realize that you are not the only ones that are banking on your righteousness. We are all pulling for you and all desire for you to be righteous so we can share the fullness of our joy with each other. Like I said I know I cannot give everyone money or food or whatever they think they need, but in my weakness I can share with them what GOD knows they need. Please read Acts Chapter 3, I think it is verses 1-10. If that seems odd search for the chapter in Acts where Peter states that he cannot give money, but he says "what I have I give unto you" and he commands a man who has been lame since birth to arise and to walk. This story touched me to the core and made me realize what I am doing here. Not necessarily here where I am right now, but in the larger sense of my mission. When people ask me why I am here, I will tell them boldly and nobly that I am here to give that which only our lord and redeemer Jesus Christ can give to them; the happiness which only he can inspire.
His is the message I challenge you all to ponder in your own lives this Christmas season. Sorry I am occasionally long winded which on this occasion means I have no time left to share much about my day to day life, but this I feel is more important. I love you and I cherish you each individually and as a whole. I send my love and the love of the Lord.
_ Your son, brother and best friend
Elder Jeffrey Rose
Hey Family--
Thank you for all of your letters, and all of the prayers that have been offered in my behalf. I really appreciate it. I am doing really well in fact. And yes, the smile is still working hard dad! It’s really hard not to smile when I think about all of you during this Christmas season. The things that I have been learning and realizing and putting into practice have blessed me so greatly. We have had the most amazing firesides and devotionals lately and I have learned so much and my desire to DO has increased so much. I Love this work and I know that I am here doing the right thing.
I have really enjoyed opening the gifts that you have sent me mom and dad. Thank you so much for keeping it simple and uplifting. I knew I could count on you two do what would bring the spirit of the true reason of Christmas into my life and the lives of others here at the MTC through sharing of what I have with them.
Mom, Thank you for your love and the caring that you have for our family. Thank you for raising me up in a way that I never had a doubt in my mind about what I was supposed to be doing with my life and where I was supposed to be. It has become one of my biggest inspirations to continue on in the paths of righteousness. Like with the stripling warriors, I do not doubt that you knew it and because you always made that known, I now know it.
I have heard a lot about the people down in Argentina and I realize that they are being affected very hard by the crisis in the world right know. I want to be able to help them in any way that I can, but I know that I cannot support them all. What if do know though is that I have something more precious than money to give to them, something that I really can't give to them but I can allow them to have through the spirit and through coming unto Christ. This time of year is especially poignant for this message to be spread to the world. And I testify to you that this is the message that I will be sharing: That he Lives and that he is our redeemer and savior and through him and only through him can we grow and progress and gain the only true happiness in this and the life to come which is eternal life--a life with him and with our families and those who we love deeply. I love you all deeply and desire in the greatest way, from the core of my being to share this message with not only the people of Argentina, but with you all.
I know that you realize what you must do, but I want you to realize that you are not the only ones that are banking on your righteousness. We are all pulling for you and all desire for you to be righteous so we can share the fullness of our joy with each other. Like I said I know I cannot give everyone money or food or whatever they think they need, but in my weakness I can share with them what GOD knows they need. Please read Acts Chapter 3, I think it is verses 1-10. If that seems odd search for the chapter in Acts where Peter states that he cannot give money, but he says "what I have I give unto you" and he commands a man who has been lame since birth to arise and to walk. This story touched me to the core and made me realize what I am doing here. Not necessarily here where I am right now, but in the larger sense of my mission. When people ask me why I am here, I will tell them boldly and nobly that I am here to give that which only our lord and redeemer Jesus Christ can give to them; the happiness which only he can inspire.
His is the message I challenge you all to ponder in your own lives this Christmas season. Sorry I am occasionally long winded which on this occasion means I have no time left to share much about my day to day life, but this I feel is more important. I love you and I cherish you each individually and as a whole. I send my love and the love of the Lord.
_ Your son, brother and best friend
Elder Jeffrey Rose
16 December 2008
Things in the MTC are Fantastic!
I hope this letter finds you all well and that things are going great for you all this holiday season. Things in the MTC are fantastic. Everything is really coming along. My calling is going very well and I am learning a ton when it comes to doctrine, the language, and just a lot about life.
We had a really awesome experience on Sunday night to have a fireside by the BYU men’s chorus and it was so fantastic. Music really brings the spirit so strongly. They invited all the former members of the chorus who are in the MTC to come and sing the last two numbers and one of the members of my zone went up. I had no idea. He said it was the best Christmas present he could have gotten.
I had my first opportunity this Sunday along with elder Chestnutwood to act in our zone leader responsibilities. There is a lot to do but it is so good. We get some new missionaries this week for the first time since I have been here so that will be fun to help them figure out what's going on in this new and strange place.
The temple is closing for the end of the year so they can get some work done, and on our normal days we would go to the temple for the rest of the year we will be participating in the service inside the temple which is pretty awesome if you ask me. It’s a chance to help build up the Lord’s house and make it beautiful again.
Tell everyone that is asking that I couldn't be happier and that I love them all so much. I am so excited to hear about McKay’s mission call. Tell him congratulations for me and I know you don't have any problems keeping busy but make sure you are always serving and doing the things that the Lord asks of you I love you all from the depths of my heart and beyond. My love is always with you.
Elder Rose
We had a really awesome experience on Sunday night to have a fireside by the BYU men’s chorus and it was so fantastic. Music really brings the spirit so strongly. They invited all the former members of the chorus who are in the MTC to come and sing the last two numbers and one of the members of my zone went up. I had no idea. He said it was the best Christmas present he could have gotten.
I had my first opportunity this Sunday along with elder Chestnutwood to act in our zone leader responsibilities. There is a lot to do but it is so good. We get some new missionaries this week for the first time since I have been here so that will be fun to help them figure out what's going on in this new and strange place.
The temple is closing for the end of the year so they can get some work done, and on our normal days we would go to the temple for the rest of the year we will be participating in the service inside the temple which is pretty awesome if you ask me. It’s a chance to help build up the Lord’s house and make it beautiful again.
Tell everyone that is asking that I couldn't be happier and that I love them all so much. I am so excited to hear about McKay’s mission call. Tell him congratulations for me and I know you don't have any problems keeping busy but make sure you are always serving and doing the things that the Lord asks of you I love you all from the depths of my heart and beyond. My love is always with you.
Elder Rose
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