102°F👎 ~ 5-28-2018

Ball so Hard....literally

More views than people here

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Elder Zeagler and his foot

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Hello everyone, this week was a busy one that's for sure. To start the week I went on an exchange with Elder Henderson. We had a pretty good exchange. Lots of contacting..... but there was kinda a down side to all that!! All of the good contacts we found we had to refer to other missionaries because they didn't really live at the house we knocked on and lived out of our area!! So that was a bummer. Also had some crazy people we found......But that's how it goes sometimes. We found these 2 guys that were so high and gave them both Word of Wisdom pamphlets ha! they didn't seem too upset so Maybe they will call us back??🤣 
Once we finished up our exchange me and Elder Pollock had a nice day full of lessons set up..... but sadly not a single lesson went through! The only thing that didn't fall through that night was eating dinner with the deacons of the ward! And boy was that a treat haha. Honesty probably the craziest meal appointment of my whole mission so far. There are some wild 12 and 13 yr olds here!!
This week we also had an exchange with the other Lubbock Zone leaders, which was super fun. I went with Elder Zeagler. And he is hilarious. We visited a less active member and Elder Z. Convinced him that he was born and raised in South Africa and to become a man he had to kill a lion with his bare hands! Glenn want very happy when he found out that Elder Z. Is from North Carolina haha!! On our exchange we also did tons of contacting too because all of our lessons just keep falling through. But we found some sweet people in the hood we met!! We had a lesson with our investigator Brenda at McDonald's where she works. Before we went in we prayed that we would be able to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon.
When we got in there and we found out that she ended up getting a longer shift and couldn't meet today..... so we were just about to head out and people just started flocking to us and just bombarding us with questions! It was madness for a minute! That day we came out of McDonald's placing 3 Book of Mormon's and having 4 potential investigators!! It was a pretty cool experience and a smack in the face to remember that he is there and listening to our prayers. 
Before our night ended me and Elder Zeagler were walking back to the truck after another lesson fell through ha. There were these young kids playing ball across the street so we decided to go show them what's up ha!! We walked over there and they instantly started swearing and us and being disrespectful. So we challenged them in a game and if we won they have to listen to our message about Christ and is they win we would just walk away......(There was eight 12-14 year old boys that we were playing with hah).... these kids didn't expect 2 white boys to be able to ball or something cause they were mind blown when we could dunk on a 9 foot rim!! So after we swatted and dunked over them a couple dozen times we had a good come to Jesus moment. It was more like a be like Jesus Christ thought and stop swearing!! Defiantly a fun time, besides Elder Zeagler spraining his ankle and going to get and xray at the ER after..... I'm good though Mom😉

Saturday we also had to take a spontaneous 2 hour drive out to Clovis to do a baptismal interview because an investigator after investigating the church for 12 years wanted to be baptized. He has super bad anxiety and said it's now or never. It was well worth the trip out there..... even though we are like 300 miles over our limit!:)

This week me and Elder Pollock also have been weeding out our investigators that arent progressing enough to waste or time on. So if y'all will pray we will be able to best help the people we are working with and also....We have an INV whose name is A.B. he is a sweet guy! We have been teaching the whole time I have been here. He come to church every week, loves learning more and more about the gospel....but there are 2 problems!! We are working on getting him and his GF married and helping him stop smoking. He also has an 8 yr old boy Amoni. He is super ready for baptism first. If y'all could pray that A.B. will be able to do that that would help him makes those stores steps faster! 

This week I have been thinking so much about the importance behind the Book of Mormon. President Nelson gave a talk in the 2017 fall session of conference that focused on the BoM. He asks in the talk what would your life be like without the BoM. And I really thought about that. I realized that without the BoM, I would not have near the knowledge that I have right now. 
I wouldn't know about the plan of salvation.

I wouldn't know that my family can be together forever.

I wouldn't know that when we are resurrected that we will be able to be made perfect and live with our father in heaven. 

I wouldn't know the importance faith, prayer, and repentance.

I wouldn't know of the things that our Heavenly Father expects out of us.

I wouldn't know that God truly does love each and everyone of us, and that I am a child of God. 

I wouldn't know that through faith, patience, and humility that Heavenly Father will bring and life us from our trials.

I wouldn't know that my Savior went through every pain, sickness, affliction, burden, and so much more, just do that we can be redeemed of our sins. And the reason he did that is because he lives us. 

I wouldn't know that this is the only true church on the earth without reading it and praying to know if it is true for myself. And I challenge you all to do the same. I know sometimes that it may seem hard to make time to do it. But the Book of Mormon will lift and bless us here in earth. It is the play book in the game that we are in. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and will help you in your life also. 

Thank you for all your prayers and support. 
Love Elder Rose🌷

Some Doctrine

My guy Elder Henderson

Me and Elder Pollock drew this....psych;)

Comp study with Elder Z. On a parking garage

Typical Texas

Got this pic in a text as I worked on Elder Rose's blog tonight :)

5-21-18 ~ Y'all are fixin' to get wet

Good morning y'all. First off hope everyone enjoyed my weekly last week...... took way to long so don't be expecting one like that for a while!:)
This week was pretty wild. To start out the week Elder Pollock and I drove to Clovis, NM to go to that districts District meeting for the week. Which when we do that, it consumes up a good portion of our day because it is pretty far away plus the time change. So after the long flat drive back to Lubbock, I had to take a Van driving class. Because for transfers they always have the Lubbock ZLs help with the driving everyone around. The training was pretty lame haha basically taught me not to drive like a Texan (mad man)...... So after I got all the training done and passed the test we headed to Rosa's in the big 12 passenger van to meet a member for lunch! I thought people looked at us weird just in our truck haha we got some pretty crazy looks driving that thing! 
The next couple of days were filled with helping the assistants move, helping a lady in the ward clean her mess of a backyard and helping the Holiday family move out of their house. Moving the assistant's was worse than us moving that's for sure.... they had twice as much stuff compared to us.... and they lived on the 3rd floor!!😅 But helping out the Holiday's was sweet because they went to school at BYU-I for a while and had a connection with my Dad's cousin so that was pretty cool!! Super small world. 
This week we also had quite a few pretty sweet lessons. We had this referral for a guy named Latron Harris. So we went to take this guy his bible and a complementary Book of Mormon:) we show up into this pretty ghetto apartment complex hoping not to get shot by this guy sitting in his car jamming and smoking a blunt. We go knock on the door and ask if Latron is here and they pointed over to that car. We go over and talk to this guy and he is one of the coolest guys I've met out here. He just had hip surgery, so he wasn't trying to walk like a gangster his hip just hurt.... ha thats what he said! But he wanted to say a prayer for us before we left! So he starts going and all the sudden he says......."Lord, Father God I am out of words now so I'm gonna pass this off to these guys now.......So start talking boys"😂 probably the best prayer I have ever heard!! And yes I jumped in and closer it off for him!! 
We have also been teaching this lady for a couple weeks now and she is soaking it all up!! She has committed to be baptized on June 9th. Pretty soon, and the only problem is that she lives in Crosbyton. Which is an hour away and she works on Sundays. But the lessons that we have had with her, we have just gone over to her work ( McDonald's in Wal-Mart) after she gets off work. She also had found us 3 more people to teach so she is pretty sweet!! If y'all could pray for Brenda Martinez that she will be able to continue to read the Book of Mormon and get Sundays off that would be awesome👌

This week we also had heard that it was a possibility that it could put down some rain, but we didn't think much of it.... because Texas. So we are out knocking doors and visiting less actives on bike day and we see these big dark clouds rolling in. And at this point we are like 8 miles from the truck so there is no turning back now. Someone actually yelled at us whims We were riding y'all are fixin' to get wet haha. We get caught in the middle of this rain storm and it rains for like 2 hours on us. But we were enjoying every minute of it, because that was definitely better than 100 degrees we have been having. So now the crazy part of the story!!! A couple days later we are out aways in the more country part of our area and see the biggest cloud I think we have ever seen, and hear it's gonna be a good one. So this cloud keeps getting closer and closer, but we are still out trying to visit people. By now it is raining pretty good and only going to get worse. On the way home it was raining so hard that the roads were flooding. And there were people parks under the overpasses because the hail was bad just minutes before we got there. So we finally make it home without drowning, and we find hail no joke the size of golf balls!! Our neighbor found one bigger than her palm!! Turns out that there were lots of cars driving through it and came out with broken windshields from it all!! Pretty crazy. And it was almost like we had just a little umbrella over us the whole time getting home. For us it didn't seem bad at all....besides the roads were rivers it was just barely sprinkling.
This made me think about the time that we are in now! We are in the middle of the storm. We have been led and given advice of what to do. On our way to our eternal home there are overpasses that we can have protect us from the storm. Things like church, reading the BoM, and praying. But we still eventually have to get on the road and push through the storm. Sometimes in life it is easy to get caught up in the fast lane and crank the music louder. But those people were the ones that ran off the road or got hail damage. We sometimes just need to slow down a little and do what we can to protect ourselves from what the adversary is throwing at us. Just like Heleman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Put on rain gear and grab your umbrella, and continue to build that foundation of Christ. Hope y'all have a great week!!
Love, Elder Rose🌷

More clouds

Calm before the Storm

Shoulda brought my driver

Fun pics that came through texts this past week!

5-14-2018 ~ Elder Rose Chapter 1-4

Chapter 1


1. I, Elder Rose having been born of goodly parents and having seen the hand of the Lord among my days share with you a record of my dealings with the Lubbockites.

2. Wherefore on the 8th day of the 5th month many Elders and Sisters met in the west side of the land Lubbock. Where we received guidance on how to use our new instruments (phones) as if it were the Liahona.
3. And it came to pass that me and my companion, Elder Pollock, were asked to help enlighten the multitude of our past experiences we had with our new instruments.
4. Therefore we compared it unto what Nephi said concerning the Liahona when him and his family were journeying from the land Jerusalem. And they saw great and marvelous things as they put their faith and diligence unto it.
5. And after the multitude had departed back to their laboring areas. I, Elder Rose departed to a land called Clovis, New Mexico. Where I was to dwell for 24 hours with another missionary who was large in stature and whose name was known as Elder Dotson.
6. And it came to pass as I was in the wilderness of Clovis, we came across a trialed and struggling family who were seeking comfort. And we spake unto them with much sincerity in our hearts. And we spoke of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We spoke of his infinite Atonement that he went through to help us through our times of need. And though we spoke of the comfort that we have felt from our Savior.
7. Wherefore as we spake the power of the spirit came upon them and gave them peace and joy, and helped them I this time.
8. And it came to pass that on the next day in Clovis, we found ourselves offering service at a food bank to help a hungry and thirsty multitude.
9. And it brought us joy to serve these people to help them help others prosper in the rugged wilderness.


Chapter 2

1. And it came to pass that on the morrow We journeyed on back to the land of Lubbock, where I would continue to labor diligently among the Lubbockites.
2. For, the time cometh that we were to meet with a mother and daughter seeking the truthfulness of the word of God.
3. And it came to pass that we did meet with Rachel and Jocelyn and were accompanied with our friend,Brother Jones. And we spake much of the commandments of the Lord. For they are here to bless us here in this probationary state. And as we follow them, it shows our faithfulness to the Savior.
4. And it came to pass that we also spoke much about the Book of Mormon, which testifies of the doctrine and life of Jesus Christ. Wherefore they had many questions concerning this great and marvelous book.
5. But behold, the spirit of the Lord was with us as we spake as though it was a sound of a trump among them. And they also were overcome by the power of the Holy Ghost, and had made a promise to read it. And we promised them that as they did so that our Father which art in Heaven would ease Rachel's temptations of alcohol, cigarettes, and the good green. (weed)
6. And it came to pass that we departed thence to continue to teach and testify of Christ among the Lubbockites.
7. Wherefore, as we were out preaching restored truth we were confronted by a confused creature that looked like something we had beheld once before. And it was a man that had changed his appearance to a woman, even as Bruce Jenner. Therefore we learned that some of the Lubbockites thought we were in the time of Sodom and Gomorrah.
8. But behold, we were taught of the realness of our enemy, Lucifer, and were guided by the spirit wayward to avoid this evil and corrupt being.
9. And it came to pass that we were mentally worn and shaken from our encounter with the strange creature. Even so much that as we retired to our beds we had great and horrible nightmares.
10. Nevertheless we prayed to the Lord for strength and were granted much.


Chapter 3

1. And it came to pass that over the course of our next days we were blessed exceedingly for our righteous desires, even so much that we had but one night where we were not fed by members. And they offered us food which was as sweet as the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eve partook of.
2. And we desired to have more. Thus we remembered of the virtuous young women which we had so persistently written over the course of our days that we may win ,as though a battle, their hearts that they may draw nearer to us.
3. Wherefore as we were thus journeying on we came across many of whom were sick and afflicted. Even so much that they were laiden in bed.
4. But behold, we came and visited them offering them our testimony and blessing. And promise that through their faith that the Lord their God would heal them. And they showed great faith to the words which we shared in their behalf.
5. And thus we continued about the land eastward of Lubbock going from house to house to share of the goodness and mercy of our Heavenly Father.
6. And it came to pass that we found ourselves in the multitude of "Church of Christ" believers. And they attacked our beliefs as though it were a hunter in the wilderness.
7. But behold we again relied on the strength of the Lord to lead and guide us what to say to or persecutors. And thus we were prompted to share many things, but the things we said meant nothing to them.
8. Wherefore we came to the point of much frustration and anger towards our brethren the Lubbockites inasmuch as the raising of voices. But we relied on the Gift of the Holy Ghost to lead me what to say, and we bore testimony of the things which we have come to know through much study, faith, and prayer.
9. Therefore we spoke of the doctrine and life of our loving Savior. For i know that God so graciously sent his beloved son to come and save us from our pains, afflictions and temptations. Because he died for us and was resurrected so that we can become like Him.
10. And we shared of the truthfulness which is held in the restoration of this Gospel through the guidance and hands of a beloved Prophet Joseph Smith. For I know that he was called of God to continue and restore the Gospel that Jesus Christ established while he was on the earth.
11. And it came to pass that our persecutors looked as though they had seen an angel, for they knew that they could not take away the testimony which is in me.
12. And I beheld the importance of what I have come to know is true. Therefore I command you to seek the words of our Savior, and the revalation given to our current Prophet.


Chapter 4

1. Wherefore it came to pass that on the 13th day of the 5th month of the Two thousand and eighteenth year over Trump's reign over the Americans.
2. We beheld that it was sunday. Even so a special sunday. Mothers day. And it came to pass that on this special day we went to our place of worship to obtain a spiritual feast, so that we could thus have the strength and courage to continue on throughout this next week.
3. After being filled by the word of God. We went home and obtained food to sustain our physical bodies. Thus we then set out to spread the truth to those in need.
4. We went about sharing what we know. But no-one would hear us. Wherefore they looked at us as though we were that great and horrible creature. And did not listen to what we knew.
5. Nevertheless we carried on with joy in our hearts. For we knew that they would again have to opportunity to accept this gospel. And thus we were also joyful because it was thus time we would get to speak with our families.
6. And it came to pass that were brought into the Iverson's home, and they fed us a wonderful meal. And it came to pass after our stomachs were filed we spoke with our Mothers who we love dearly. For they have always so generously showed us love and charity, even though we were pains in the butt to raise.
7. Nevertheless our time to talk felt short, but thus it was time to go and continue to journey among the land Lubbock. For this is the calling we have. To go and teach and serve even as Christ did.
8. For behold, I believe I his words. And they have filled my life with much joy. Even so much, that I wasn't to share that with all I come in contact with. I know that he lives and through him we also can live again. I am thus thankful for my knowledge and testimony of the plan of salvation, for I know that this time being away from family may seem long, but to this serve the Lord our God for two years cannot compare to the eternities I will spend with my family.
9. And behold, I Elder Rose know that if we come to him on bended knee having faith. He will be there and bring us forth out of bondage. And this is the testimony which is in me, even so, Amen.

 Zone Conference

E. Dotson special

Classic exchange selfie

Dirt, Wind and Heat..... 

 Another sunset pic

Talking to the Fam❤

5/7/2018

Also if anyone would like to send me and my comp some Ranch, that would be great.......have lots of salad but forgot the ranch today!!!;) 

-Elder Rose

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P.S.  Elder Rose only wrote the above note so I'll add a bit more from our email from Monday.

Part of a Note to Elder Rose's Momma ~
This week has been pretty good! The responsibilities are good I guess, honestly it isn't what I expected it to be! Really we just have to make sure and pass info to the DL's, call people and check up how they are which is my fav part, and sometimes just take some people stuff! But other than that it is pretty normal!! It sometimes makes things tough because our area is so big and have so much going on!! But the best moment of the week was hanging out with our Ward mission leader!! He is the Texas Tech basketball personal trainer. So one of these days he is going to take us on a tour here!! And also guess what?!? He did Decathlon at BYU in college?!?! He is a boss, and he answered tons of questions that I had! I will probably ask him for some work outs sometime soon, so he can whip me into better shape!!

Another Part of a Note from Momma ~
I was told You shouldn’t sit in the grass because there are chiggers and fire ants. You can’t see them. And you can even get them by walking through the grass -

 So be careful 😉

From Elder Rose ~

Ohhhh so that is what bit me yesterday??;) haha just kidding! But I have heard that too!!:)

Love you Momma!!!

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And THANK GOODNESS FOR PRESIDENT AND SISTER HALES POSTING PICS THIS WEEK!

4-30-2018 ~ I "Lubbock" here in Lubbock

Howdy Everyone!!

Well, I am here in headquarters of the mission finally...honestly did not expect that to happen!! My mission is so big with so many different areas. But Lubbock is awesome. My area is the biggest one in Lubbock and we cover the whole east side, which in reality is almost half of Lubbock! 

To Start the week I hit my 9 month mark. These past 9 months has gone by way too fast. I have loved every minute of it, whether it was hard or not! I have learned so much about this gospel, Our Savior and especially myself and what I want to become. It was hard leaving home to come and do something that I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I have been so grateful for the people and experience that I have had while I have been out here. I would not have the testimony I have now without any of that!!

This week was jam packed with lessons, dinner appointments and endless amount of getting to know Lubbock better!! I am finally serving in a ward here, and we were fed every single night except 1 this week......most likely going to chunk up here;) Our area also gets many many Bible referrals, which is great because that opens up lots of opportunities to introduce the gospel to people that may or may not have any interest in what we have to say! But on the good note, I have only been yelled at once to get off someone's door step here!!!:) Those are my favorite moments to be honest! 

This week we were also able to go see a guy that hasn't been able to come to church in over 30 years. His name is Tony. Tony after being married for over 25 years just recently went through a really rough divorce. He called us and asked us to give him a blessing! We had a great time getting to know him and a great teaching opportunity. We invited him to church and yesterday we were happy to see him there! He also brought along his sister and his son! We had a few moments to talk to him before church started and there was such a change in his attitude; it was amazing. He talked a lot about the little things that he was doing to help him find that happiness again! During sacrament meeting we sat a few rows back from him, but I noticed while he was taking the sacrament that he could not wipe the smile off of his face!!

It strengthened my testimony that no matter what we are going through, Heavenly Father knows where we are at. And if we come to him with the struggles that we are facing and have faith in him. He WILL lift us up.

 

I know that this church is true with all my heart! I hope y'all back home are doing great! Never forget that in those moments when we feel like we are just being beaten down to our knees by the world....to say a prayer! You are already on your knees. That is what Heavenly Father wants of us. 

Love you all and hope that you have a great week!!!

-Elder Rose

Bro. Woody

Austin Ahidley

Michalean Ahidley

Arturo and Edith