Hello everyone, so this week has been pretty crazy, very busy, and very rewarding. Arabic has been coming along a lot better, I can see myself improving a lot more, I'm now praying in Arabic and things are starting to come easier, I'm able to following along in the lessons a lot better, too, which is good. It's really cool how the Lord helps me, I've tried to learn Arabic in the past, and it's so much easier with the old gift of tongues on your side. So we got a referral for this family, and we have been teaching them this week, they're really cool, the Mothers name is Ibtihal, and they're from Iraq. They're Muslim, which makes teaching them interesting because we have to jump through some hoops to make sure we can actually teach them, but they're awesome, and came to church on Sunday! Elder Hawkes translates the meeting into Arabic when we have people who don't speak much English come, so that was fun to be up there with him. The new Light the World video came out, and it is awesome, everyone go and see it, and if you've already seen it, go and share it, because we want to spread the Light of Christ with everyone. We were teaching another Family, they're from Syria, and the Father was talking about how he wanted his kids to have Christmas again. He's muslim, but he said before the war, and the government oppressions, his whole apartment complex would celebrate Christmas in Syria together. But after the government crackdowns and the war, they were forced to stop, and now that he's in America, he wants his kids be able to experience that. They are so cute, his two little kids, the oldest is maybe six, but they were so happy to be able to celebrate Christmas. We are so blessed to live in this country, but also to know of Christ, and of His Gospel. The initiative is all about sharing the light, and not in the normal ways, but by simple acts of service, and then by sharing them. I love this years initiative, so it you haven't seen it yet, go to mormon.org and go see it, because its great. Have a good week everyone
So hello everyone, this week was again, pretty amazing. I've been working on putting more of myself into the work. I already spend all my time serving, but recently, I've been working harder to really give all my efforts, and especially my thoughts. When my thoughts are constantly on The Lord, and how you can best help His children, you are the happiest you can ever be. It's the paradox of happiness that whosever shall find his life, or attempt to find happiness, through money, power, even good things, it will never be enough. They will always be looking for more, always thirsty, but never filled. Now, contrast that with what Christ said next, that whosever shall lose His life, for my sake, shall find it. The way to find true joy and happiness, the only way to be satisfied with everything we have, Eternally satisfied, is to not seek after it. But to honestly seek after the benefit of others. When we continually turn outwards as the Savior did, we will be happy, but that will not be our goal, but a byproduct of our commitment to the happiness of others. Being able to go on a mission is an amazing experience, it's unique in time, and it allows us to feel a portion of that joy, as we commit fully to The Lord. Now this is just something I've learned, and I'm by no means anywhere near perfect at it, but it's an amazing principle, that we should share with all around us. So this week, we have done a lot of finding, we were able to teach this great family yesterday, they're muslim, and the Spirit in the room was so strong. We will be meeting with them again this next week, and hopefully they'll want to start progressing, but we'll see. One of our Recent converts received the Priesthood on Sunday, the experience was amazing, and the Spirit was so strong as we discussed the work moving forward, especially in regards to the Arabic speaking people. The wars in Iraq and Syria are driving people to places where they can hear the Gospel, in Sweden we're teaching four different people who are either prepping for baptism, or have already been baptized. And there are more investigators there we haven't met yet. We're preparing to do something very similar to at least two people in France. These people are ready, and will hear the message, it is our opportunity to find them, and I'm so great full that I get to labor in this part of His vineyard. Until next week Elder Rosenbalm
Hello everyone, hope your all doing good, it's been another amazing week. Though it's flown by, I know I probably say this every time, but time is all our of sync here. So anyway, this week, we have mainly done a lot of finding, there are a lot of Iraqi's and Syrians here, but many of them don't know who we are, so we get to tell them! It's great! I love talking with all of the Arabs, and learning the Language. Arabic is hard, but I'm slowly getting better. Emphasis on slowly. But it's ok, because I'm learning Arabic, which just makes me happy every time I think about it. We've been working with Adam and Azel, they're really excited to progress in the gospel, which is amazing, and they're so committed. We've also been helping another member named Suhaila, and she's also bringing her cousin to hear the messages Nina, its been a lot of fun. So, we also had something called MTE's where basically, multiple Zones get together, on this huge exchange, as well as instruction from the president, his wife, AP's and others. It was really fun, but as part of it, we got introduced to the Christmas video that the church is going to put up on November 25th. They have some teasers for it right now, but look out for it in ten days, its really good its all about 25 days of serving, and each day a different way to serve like Jesus did. Its a bit weird getting ready for Christmas when the sky is bright blue, and its 100 degrees outside, but its ok, its all the Christmas, the Spirit of Christ's birth is universal. I cant wait for it, so that's about it for this week, until next week, Elder Rosenbalm
Hello Everyone, So this week was pretty great, it's pretty funny, because I met the another Seventy this week, within a week of seeing President Hallstrom, our stake had stake conference, and a member of the seventy came and presided, Elder Biskin, it was great. He was so spiritual, we actually talked with him for a minute or two, and you could just feel his amazing Spirit, it was great. He talked about a lot of things, but one of the things he mentioned was interesting to me, he said that the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency all prayed and fasted for months, (six maybe, I don't remember), to ask what would be the saints best protection against temptation today. Elder Biskin said he was thinking it was going to be Temple work, but they came back, and the answer was Sabbath Day observance. That was interesting to me, but keeping the Sabbath day Holy is the best thing we can do today to keep ourselves strong through temptation. Cool! So that was good, but that stake conference was great. We are mainly finding a bunch of new people to teach, we are working with one of the men that we baptized last Saturday, his family wants to also start hearing the lessons so we're very excited for that, we also have a new family that we met that wants to come to church, and start to hear a lot more. So, here was a conversation that I had with my companion, "Hey Elder Hawkes, who are we going to visit next?" "Oh we're visiting Mohamed" "Wait which Mohamed, Mohamed Hieder, or Mohamed Abdulwahad?" "No, Mohamed Mohamed" "Oh, ok gotcha, brother Mohamed" "No, not Brother Mohamed Mohamed, former investigator Mohamed Mohamed" "We have a former investigator Mohamed Mohamed?" "Yup" "Ok sounds good lets go" So, not too much happened this week, but hopefully in the next couple ones, things will really start to pick up. Arabic work is great, and the culture is so amazing, I was fortunate enough to have been exposed to it a but before my mission, but being here, and spending all of my time with these people is just awesome. There are many people that the Lord has prepared to find His gospel, and it's our privilege to find them. So that's about it for this week, Elder Rosenbalm
It's wonderful to write to you all on this Tuesday morning, hope you're all doing well. My week has been great. It's weird because it seems like yesterday I was writing my last letter, and now here I am again, and a ton has happened. My Arabic is progressing, I can see some improvement, and yesterday, it was so weird, because I could follow along ok, when we were teaching this Iraqi referral we had gotten. It was amazing, I only picked out words, but I was able to understand and follow. I have definitely seen the Lord helping me to learn it. Whenever I had attempted to learn Arabic in the past, one of the biggest problems, was the fact that I would try to think of an Arabic word, and Spanish would pop into my head. I took Spanish for two years and I got it pretty well, so Spanish would just be there instead of Arabic. But ever since I started studying it on my mission, I have never had the slightest problem. He's also making things stick much better, which is really nice. So that's good.
We had two baptisms on Saturday, and two confirmations on Sunday, these two guys are so solid. Adam and Azel, both from Iraq, they're really good friends, and they were both searching for Christian churches for a while, but none of them felt right, eventually through God, they found us, and loved it. They are literally the miracle converts you read stories about. Their whole story is amazing, and inspiring, but I don't have time to write the whole thing out. Suffice it to say, they were prepared and God showed them the Church. I have a feeling that they are going to do a lot in the Church and help many other Iraqis come to Christ. The baptisms was so full of the Spirit, and it was great. We're going to start teaching Adams family this Wednesday, and I'm super excited for that! They're so solid. We are working with some other members, and finding people, it's been great, the work is amazing. I love the Arabic people, and it's such a blessing to help them learn of Christ, and learn how to become more like Him. On Sunday morning, we had Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy talk to us, it was so good. The Spirit was strong; it just makes you want to be a better missionary, and person. The Spirit that you gain as a missionary is unlike any other. The joy that the Lord gives to those who share is amazing. And we need not only feel it on missions, but sharing with our friends, and even sharing, again with our families. My Mother taught me, over and over again, and because of that, I'm here. Harold B Lee taught “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes.”. That joy is found in losing yourself in selfless service to those whom the Lord has chosen for you to labor, wherever that may be. That is how we have peace, and the fullness of joy.
Elder Rosenbalm
Here are some fun adventures this week which include:
us with Mohammed (or Adam, he's getting his named changed) and Azel, and one of Adams kids. That was a great day, but the plug in the baptismal font is really weird, so it got stuck, and we could not
unscrew it. One of my zone leaders found a suit, got in and tried but he couldn't get it, so in desperation he started dumping the water down the whole of the plug (it is hollow to prevent flooding) using a trash can, lol, we eventually got it unplugged so that was an adventure. We also have some pictures I took at the San Diego Temple at night, we taught some investigator there. Oh, and the last ones really great, remember how we Skype some Elders in Sweden, well, one of the guys got baptized this Saturday, and they took those, lol. And lastly, all the Arabic Elders were together for the baptism, so we got some pics, and I'm killing my trainer because he's dying (going home) after he trains me.
Hi everybody, how goes it? So I'm now out in the Field, San Diego! It is awesome here, I'm so pumped and working is just great. I got into the Presidents office last week for our initial interview, and were just talking, then he told me that I was going to be assigned Arabic speaking. I was so excited, still am, Arabic is amazing. It's brutal, but also great at the same time. I just want to know it, but alas, it takes time, whose even heard of that anyways, like taking time to learn a language, unacceptable. But it's good, I'm progressing, so that's good. My trainer is named Elder Hawkes, he's really cool, he speaks the language fluently, so I'm learning a ton from him. My mission president's name is literally Jon Schmitt so that's fun, he's an amazing guy, I've only been able to spend a little time with him, but I can just see how Christlike he is, and he's a great example. His wife is also super Christlike, it's so great to learn from them. So the work, it's amazing, like, we live in a place called El Cajon and while we cover all the Arabic speakers in the whole mission (and we're actually helping some elders over in Sweden with an Arab over Skype) most of our work is done here in El Cajon because you walk down some of these streets, and everyone you see speaks Arabic. Like over two thirds in a ton of places. It's weird when they don't speak Arabic, it's so weird, but great. So ya, there are a ton of people, I thought that there would be like maybe a few Arab areas, really interspersed, but the whole city is just full, it's the best. So there's lots to do here, we are actually baptizing two investigators this week, they're both friends, the previous missionary's found one, and he invited his friend, and now they're both getting baptized on Saturday, I'm so excited. Actually starting to work as a missionary is way better than just preparing for it at the MTC. I liked the MTC, but it really just isn't the same, this is way better. Anyway, that's about it, I might get into more particulars next week. Have a good week.
So, Jon left the MTC early on Tuesday Oct. 18th. He called me from the airport because this nice gentleman let him use his phone. It was a quick hello but of course it was wonderful to speak to him.
AWESOME NEWS-
I spoke with Jon's mission president's wife about his medication and doctors on Thursday. GUESS WHAT??
Jon has been called to be an Arabic Speaking Missionary in the San Diego Mission. Isn't that amazing!!!!
His companion is Elder Hawkes who has been serving as an Arabic speaking missionary for over a year. I can't wait to hear more on Monday from Jon.
Chris and I got to take Jon to get his remicade infusion at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem. We spent about 4 hours with him and loved seeing him. Now, going to the hospital is not the most fun thing to do, but we got to see him. He looks so amazing!!!! He was pretty tired after his infusion but he said that he felt a lot better when he started teaching at night. The Lord really is blessing him.
Well Hello everybody, how comes your respective lives. It's week two, and that is just so weird. It seems like way longer than simply two weeks, and yet shorter. Time is so relative, a week ago seems like yesterday, but two weeks ago feels like a year. Time is weird. Anyway, I'm still loving it here, I leave on Tuesday at like 3 AM so that's fun, and the next email will be in the field, which is so weird. I wouldn't feel ready, but by this time I've realized our total dependence on the Lord, and how prepared we think we are makes zero difference, because He is in charge of it all. Still a bit nerve wracking, but I'm super excited. I'm enjoying it so much here, and I've said that before but it's just so true, it's because I get to do two of my favorite things in the world, learn about the Gospel, and teach others. Which is what I do everyday, all day, oh ya, and I get the extra bonus of being a missionary, surrounded by missionary's, in a dedicated place and having the Spirit with me super strong like all the time. It's the greatest. So loads happened last week, but honestly, a lot of it was a blur, but here are some highlights. We continued to teach an investigator named Kai, he was a stud, and his progression by the last day was amazing, we could totally see his faith in Jesus Christ increasing so much. Sadly though, we only teach investigators for a week, so we had to stop teaching him. We got a couple new ones which are both pretty cool, a girl named Brooke, and a guy named Guilhrme, they're both really cool, and for Gui's, we have 45 minutes to teach him, instead of the 25 for the rest of our investigators, and it is so nice. Me and Elder Crone and Blackham (my companions) were just having the best time ever teaching him, we didn't have to rush, or skip, we were able to answer all of his questions, and really teach. It was great. We had some struggles, teaching with a trio the first week, but we've gotten loads better, we're so much better at teaching as a companionship of three now. They're both super cool though, as well as my district. We're all so tight, we're all going to go play vollyball against the other districts of our zone today, we're gonna wreck them. lol.
So there was something really cool the Spirit taught me while at fast and testimony meeting this Sunday, I was thinking about growth. It's interesting because when we first got in to the MTC, that night, other elders from our zone came and talked to us in our dorms (our rooms are right next to each other), and they just seemed so much older, self assured, confident, like they had been here for a while, and knew exactly what they were talking about. Giving us advice, words of encouragement. They had only been there a week. The week after we had done the same thing to the new kids, and I was thinking on that during the meeting. Then I thought on how we were now the old ones, the people who had introduced us were leaving the next day, and we were those seasoned vets. And probably the weirdest part was, I felt it. We had been here a week and a half, and the growth is incredible. Like, I can't describe how much I personally have grown, and how much the people I know have too, and it's barely been over two weeks. I was thinking about that, and I was kind of thinking how wow, the MTC really helps people to grow and as I was kind of thinking that, the Spirit kind of said, No. The MTC is a great place, and helps people grow, but there is now way that anyplace could take two thousand 20 ish year old kids, and change them the way this place changes us. He told me that it was our call. Our ordination. The fact that we have been blessed, and set apart as missionary's for Christ. That is why we experience so much growth. That is how we are able to do His work. Because He has given us the power to do it. Being a missionary is an amazing feeling. It is unique in this life, being set apart from the world as a full time missionary is the greatest experience I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of, and it's just getting started. I'm so excited for the next two years.
So ya, that's about all that happened, ooh, we had Elder Bednar come and talk to us which was super cool, I got great seats, and was sitting like 20 feet away from an apostle, then when he walked away he walked right by us, it was great. I really wanted to sneeze, and have him say bless you so that I could say I was personally blessed by an Apostle, (one of my favorites too, I love how aciedemic, and yet sprititual he is, it's a great example) lol. It was a great talk, and it helped me a ton. So that's basically it, just the same things. Learning and growing, it's great. Anyway, until next week,
We went to IHOP before going to the NTC. Ben Hong came with us and Chet skyped with us. It is was great fun. Dropping Jon off was of course bitter sweet but we did it and he is happy.
So hi everybody! How's life? The MTC is just so great, I am having the best time here, and loving it all. The classes are super good and intersting, and we're actually teaching nonmenbers which is way cool, our investiagor this week is a guy named Kai, he is seriously so cool, he's this polonesian guy, and is just awesome. It's been so cool actually practicing what we've learned, and the Spirit is just so strong when you're a missionary, I've definitally felt it guideing and helping me. Being a missionary is an amazing experience, I'm so glad that I have this opportunity. It was pretty nerve wracking our first couple visits with him, but the Spirit really just helps us allong, as the Lord says, "I am able to so mine own work" - somewhere in the D&C, not really sure where though, lol, I really want an Ipad, it's been super hard not being able to run a quick keyword search, I was kind of relying on that all throughout seminary and stuff, "oh I'll have an iPad when I go on my mission, all the missions will have them by then". Little did I suspect that the day would actually come, and I don't know if we get iPads, I don't think so because those missions that did were told to bring money to pay for it, I wasn't so... ya. But we can always hold out hope.
I'm part of a trio, and both of my companions are awesome, Elder Crone is from virginia which is cool, near DC, and he's, as stated before awesome, my other comp is named Elder Blackham and he's from near ogden I think, somewhere up north there, he's also way cool, we're all super tight it's great. The rooms are made for six people, but because of the way things turned out, with an Elder not showing up and stuff, us three have an entire room to ourselves, and the're both pretty neat like me, so our room is immaculate. Like, other Elders in our district will literally come into our room to write letters and stuff because theirs is messy because they have twice the people, and some of them statistically are bound to be messy. It's awesome though because we all get like two beds, double the closet space and things like that. My district is also awesome, they'res eleven of us, and we've really just grown really close, and they're all way cool. I feel a recurring theme going on, "everying thing is just awesome, it's so cool" but really I'm just loving it here, though really the MTC was probably not going to be the hard part of my mission experience, because I love learning, and growing, and that's all you do here! I enjoy school when I like the subject, and what better subject than the gospel (spoken like a true missionary I know).
So conference was amazing! Like it's a unique experience watching conference in the MTC, for starters, you're all hyped up on the Spiritual juices, and that's exciting, but you're not really expecting too much, because we've all watched conference before, but then saturday morning rolls along and you all gather in this huge room with multiple giant projectors and other methods of watching. It starts to fill up early, and by the time everyone gets in, there are about 2100 missionary's packed into this room, all talking, laughing being 20 ish ear olds. Then, suddenly, it grows quite, and everyone stands up. The room full of missionary's goes dead quite and everyones standing for the prophet, then the chills start to hit, and you know it's gonna be a good one. It was so spiritual, especially that first session, I was just floored, the spirit was so strong throughout the whole thing, and you could feel the Spirit in there, as over two thousand of the Lords missionary's listened intently the the words of our prophets. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had in my life. When we all got up to sing, all of us raising our voices with the choir, all preparing to serve, it was amazing.
Umm, what else, I don't really know, the week has flown by, there's been a ton of studying, learning, and growing. Seriously, me and my district were talking, and it's just crazy how much we've changed in just a week. Like it seems like longer, and yet shorter. Time is weird, don't try to comprehend it, just accept it. Anyway, ya, just how much we've changed, and grown is crazy, it's just weird to think about. Hard to describe, I don't think I can very well, but it's a good different, and I'm excited to keep learning and growing. So until we write again,
So Jonathan arrived back to Utah one month prior to entering the MTC. He had a fun time getting ready for his mission and hangin with his friends Jacob and Dax. He was also a great help to me MOM. Jacob, Jonathan and Dax all went to Southern Utah for a week. They had a great time climbing, hiking, camping and having their car break down, hitch hiking and who knows what else, hahaha.
Those three boys are great friends. Here are some photos of them before Jon left. Jacob is going to NYC, Spanish Speaking and Dax is going to Texas (cant remember the name of the mission) Spanish Speaking.
Hi Mom! How are you, I'm just writing to tell you that i got in fine, everything is great here. I have loved my first day so much, it is seriously the best. Don't worry at all about me, Love you so much,.
Elder Rosenbalm
Oct. 6, 2016
Hey mom, hows it going? things are going gret here, just loving it all. I started writing a letter to you, and then realized I would have to write the whole thing over agian in my group email, so I'll kind of do a mix, with the group starting here, and we'll pick up with ours up after:
So hi everybody! How's life? The MTC is just so great, I am having the best time here, and loving it all. The classes are super good and intersting, and we're actually teaching nonmenbers which is way cool, our investiagor this week is a guy named Kai, he is seriously so cool, he's this polonesian guy, and is just awesome. It's been so cool actually practicing what we've learned, and the Spirit is just so strong when you're a missionary, I've definitally felt it guideing and helping me. Being a missionary is an amazing experience, I'm so glad that I have this opportunity. It was pretty nerve wracking our first couple visits with him, but the Spirit really just helps us allong, as the Lord says, "I am able to so mine own work" - somewhere in the D&C, not really sure where though, lol, I really want an Ipad, it's been super hard not being able to run a quick keyword search, I was kind of relying on that all throughout seminary and stuff, "oh I'll have an iPad when I go on my mission, all the missions will have them by then". Little did I suspect that the day would actually come, and I don't know if we get iPads, I don't think so because those missions that did were told to bring money to pay for it, I wasn't so... ya. But we can always hold out hope.
I'm part of a trio, and both of my companions are awesome, Elder Crone is from virginia which is cool, near DC, and he's, as stated before awesome, my other comp is named Elder Blackham and he's from near ogden I think, somewhere up north there, he's also way cool, we're all super tight it's great. The rooms are made for six people, but because of the way things turned out, with an Elder not showing up and stuff, us three have an entire room to ourselves, and the're both pretty neat like me, so our room is immaculate. Like, other Elders in our district will literally come into our room to write letters and stuff because theirs is messy because they have twice the people, and some of them statistically are bound to be messy. It's awesome though because we all get like two beds, double the closet space and things like that. My district is also awesome, they'res eleven of us, and we've really just grown really close, and they're all way cool. I feel a recurring theme going on, "everying thing is just awesome, it's so cool" but really I'm just loving it here, though really the MTC was probably not going to be the hard part of my mission experience, because I love learning, and growing, and that's all you do here! I enjoy school when I like the subject, and what better subject than the gospel (spoken like a true missionary I know).
So conference was amazing! Like it's a unique experience watching conference in the MTC, for starters, you're all hyped up on the Spiritual juices, and that's exciting, but you're not really expecting too much, because we've all watched conference before, but then saturday morning rolls along and you all gather in this huge room with multiple giant projectors and other methods of watching. It starts to fill up early, and by the time everyone gets in, there are about 2100 missionary's packed into this room, all talking, laughing being 20 ish ear olds. Then, suddenly, it grows quite, and everyone stands up. The room full of missionary's goes dead quite and everyones standing for the prophet, then the chills start to hit, and you know it's gonna be a good one. It was so spiritual, especially that first session, I was just floored, the spirit was so strong throughout the whole thing, and you could feel the Spirit in there, as over two thousand of the Lords missionary's listened intently the the words of our prophets. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had in my life. When we all got up to sing, all of us raising our voices with the choir, all preparing to serve, it was amazing.
Umm, what else, I don't really know, the week has flown by, there's been a ton of studying, learning, and growing. Seriously, me and my district were talking, and it's just crazy how much we've changed in just a week. Like it seems like longer, and yet shorter. Time is weird, don't try to comprehend it, just accept it. Anyway, ya, just how much we've changed, and grown is crazy, it's just weird to think about. Hard to describe, I don't think I can very well, but it's a good different, and I'm excited to keep learning and growing. So until we write again,
Elder Rosenbalm
So hi mom, we're back, so funny thing, I literaly just wrote Jon instead of Elder Rosenbalm at the end of that letter lol. I've pretty much gotten over that, but my musscle memeory still just goes instictivly to Jon. I almost emailed my branch president like that the other day, but caught it just in time. It was a close one. So how are you doing? Hope you're holding up, like I said, I'm doing great here, like, I wasn't exagerating at all in my letter, oh and by the way, I really don't understand why, but this program doesn't have spell check, which is basically the dumbest thing ever, it makes 0 sense. But there were plenty of words I totally messed up and had no idea how to fix, so if you wouldn't mind doing that that'd be great. So ya, lifes great here, it was really funny, like the first few days everyone would be saying "Hand in there Elder", "Just make it untill Sunday", or "It only gets better from here!" and I'm just like, it's not hard, I'm loving it. Most people have hard times, but because of probably a mixture of blessings from the Lord, and my own just my own personality, I'm really not having a hard time at all. Like I've seen my comps have it, but I'm really just loving it. It's all so great, I can't really explain it, the Spirit just makes everything good. I've gotten a lot better at understanding the Spirit, and being guided by it, I've defenitally seen that througout my lessons, and stuff, but ya, I'm having a great time. Dax got in yesterday, I saw him a couple times, and he's in my same building so I'm probably gonna go talk to him at nights for a bit, so if you see his mom, tell him that I'm taking care of him, if he needs anytihg, I got his back, though from our short talks yesterday he seems to be doing great, a bit tired maybe, but everyone is. He's handling it like a champ, it was also really cool to see him, and hang out with him and stuff. My health is doing great, all is well, I have more energy than I know what to do with, I'm like constantlly bobing a foot, or wanting to go run somewhere. I discovered a hidden tallent for four square, a game that I haven't played since Rennesaunce, but that is actually pretty fun when a bunch of 20 year old guys all get going. I've been running a bit, I'm still not very fast, but I try to run about a mile a day, which keeps me in shape. The foods good, I'm enjoying it, and eating a ton, though I doubt it's possible for me to gain weight (lets hope atleast with my pants). I'm glad that your teaching certificate is coming along, and I'm super excited to see you next week, do you know if one or both of my companions will be coming or no? Oh and sorrry but, ya, not needing the rice milk. I'm fine. You don't need to do stuff like that, serously, I've gotten healthier since being here, it's probably God saying good job, so ya, thanks for trying but next time, I'm good. There will be pictures coming, I didn't take any, but an Elder in my District, Elder Van Dyke did, so he'll email them to me, and I'll forward them to you. So ya, thats about it, if you have any questions, let me know, I'll try to reply by the end of the day. Love you a ton!
Elder Rosenbalm
Oct. 6, 2016
Hey dad, hows it going in Kuwait? The drama over there with your work seems hard, sorry, but alteast the weather seems to be getting better. It's freezing here, it hit a cold spell or something, but I need a coat to go outside, because it's cold. You probably got my email to mom, I'll send it to both of you from now on, but in case you didn't I'll forward it to you in a sec, and I'll also send a copy to mom of this one, because there was something I forgot to tell her. Anyway, ya, hows church and your calling over there? Do you have more time to work on your calling or is work still super crazy? The food and stuff are all good here, I leave for San Diego on the Eighteenth, I should get the details about a week before, so in my next email, I'll let you know more. I like my teachers, they are both pretty cool, and good at teaching, I've learned a ton here already, and grown a ton too. I have two companions, they're both cool, Elder Crone and Elder Blackham, mom's will be able to tell you more, but it's really hard to describe people without you actually knowing them. Umm, ya I read the letter I'll send to mom, it has most the other things. But one thing i did neglect to mention was a really cool experience that we had Saturday night. So it was after conference, and we were all talking about it, and about how we were feeling etc. It got pretty serious, and then a sister asked for a blessing of comfort just to help, then another, and it ended up being almost everyone in the district wanted one, so we Elders all gave blessings. It was a really cool experience, I didn't get one, because I've been feeling great, and I know I could have gotten one, but I was fine. Anyway, I did give one though, and it was a cool experience. The one I gave to you was a bit rough, I don't know, it was my first one and stuff, but the one I gave on Saturday seemed to flow better, like, it seemed easier, and I think as I continue to do more, it will continue to get easier. But it kind of helped me not to be nervous when giving them, I really just felt how the Lord takes over, and it's His blessing. Anyway, it was super spiritual, and we all I think got a lot closer because of it. Oh ya, and I totally forgot another thing, and mom will love this one, so I'm just role playing a scenario (I don't remember what it was about) with a sister, and after she noted something that I really thought was interesting. She noticed that I talk fast (which is totally usual), but that whenever I begin to teach, or to testify of Christ, my speech slows down, and I talk slow, and clearly. I hadn't even noticed I was doing it. I can remember doing it now that I'm thinking back to it, ever since I got here, I can remember slowing down, not consciously. but slowing down whenever I would do that. It is a cool gift from God, and am super glad that He has given it to me. Of course I'll try to talk slow, but it is really cool that He would do that for me. Anyway, that's about all that has happened, so, I'll write you again next week, Bye
Well Hello everybody, how comes your respective lives. It's week two, and that is just so weird. It seems like way longer than simply two weeks, and yet shorter. Time is so relative, a week ago seems like yesterday, but two weeks ago feels like a year. Time is weird. Anyway, I'm still loving it here, I leave on Tuesday at like 3 AM so that's fun, and the next email will be in the field, which is so weird. I wouldn't feel ready, but by this time I've realized our total dependence on the Lord, and how prepared we think we are makes zero difference, because He is in charge of it all. Still a bit nerve wracking, but I'm super excited. I'm enjoying it so much here, and I've said that before but it's just so true, it's because I get to do two of my favorite things in the world, learn about the Gospel, and teach others. Which is what I do everyday, all day, oh ya, and I get the extra bonus of being a missionary, surrounded by missionary's, in a dedicated place and having the Spirit with me super strong like all the time. It's the greatest. So loads happened last week, but honestly, a lot of it was a blur, but here are some highlights. We continued to teach an investigator named Kai, he was a stud, and his progression by the last day was amazing, we could totally see his faith in Jesus Christ increasing so much. Sadly though, we only teach investigators for a week, so we had to stop teaching him. We got a couple new ones which are both pretty cool, a girl named Brooke, and a guy named Guilhrme, they're both really cool, and for Gui's, we have 45 minutes to teach him, instead of the 25 for the rest of our investigators, and it is so nice. Me and Elder Crone and Blackham (my companions) were just having the best time ever teaching him, we didn't have to rush, or skip, we were able to answer all of his questions, and really teach. It was great. We had some struggles, teaching with a trio the first week, but we've gotten loads better, we're so much better at teaching as a companionship of three now. They're both super cool though, as well as my district. We're all so tight, we're all going to go play vollyball against the other districts of our zone today, we're gonna wreck them. lol.
So there was something really cool the Spirit taught me while at fast and testimony meeting this Sunday, I was thinking about growth. It's interesting because when we first got in to the MTC, that night, other elders from our zone came and talked to us in our dorms (our rooms are right next to each other), and they just seemed so much older, self assured, confident, like they had been here for a while, and knew exactly what they were talking about. Giving us advice, words of encouragement. They had only been there a week. The week after we had done the same thing to the new kids, and I was thinking on that during the meeting. Then I thought on how we were now the old ones, the people who had introduced us were leaving the next day, and we were those seasoned vets. And probably the weirdest part was, I felt it. We had been here a week and a half, and the growth is incredible. Like, I can't describe how much I personally have grown, and how much the people I know have too, and it's barely been over two weeks. I was thinking about that, and I was kind of thinking how wow, the MTC really helps people to grow and as I was kind of thinking that, the Spirit kind of said, No. The MTC is a great place, and helps people grow, but there is now way that anyplace could take two thousand 20 ish year old kids, and change them the way this place changes us. He told me that it was our call. Our ordination. The fact that we have been blessed, and set apart as missionary's for Christ. That is why we experience so much growth. That is how we are able to do His work. Because He has given us the power to do it. Being a missionary is an amazing feeling. It is unique in this life, being set apart from the world as a full time missionary is the greatest experience I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of, and it's just getting started. I'm so excited for the next two years.
So ya, that's about all that happened, ooh, we had Elder Bednar come and talk to us which was super cool, I got great seats, and was sitting like 20 feet away from an apostle, then when he walked away he walked right by us, it was great. I really wanted to sneeze, and have him say bless you so that I could say I was personally blessed by an Apostle, (one of my favorites too, I love how aciedemic, and yet sprititual he is, it's a great example) lol. It was a great talk, and it helped me a ton. So that's basically it, just the same things. Learning and growing, it's great. Anyway, until next week,
Elder Rosenbalm
Hey guys, so I basically said it all in my other letter, everything is really going great here. I've been hanging out with dax a bit, were in the same building so we just go talk with each other and stuff. I'm still loving it here, it's just so great. Mom, I'm excited to see you on Saturday, it'll be fun, and it's timpanogas as well, so food! I eat great here, it's a bit proccessed, so it sometimes hurts my stomach a bit, but enzymes are great , and I'm actually doing better here than I was before I got here. I'm the healthiest I've been in years. I have so much energy, it's ridiculous, the Lord is just pouring out blessings upon me, I don't know exactly why I'm being so blessed why others are having a hard time, but I just thank Him for it. But literally, I'm going from the time I get up, to when I go to bed at 100% energy, always moving or shaking a leg. The gospel just excites, and envigorates me, infuses me with so much energy and just makes me so happy. I love it. Dad I'm sorry about your work and the stresses and calling and stuff, here's a scripture that I love Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Now I feel like asking "So what do you think that passage means" or "what do you think Paul is trying to tell us", lol, I've been turned already. So that's basically it, anything else you guys want to know? If you email back in the next few hours I'll probably be able to reply. Anyway, I'll send pics in a sec. Love you
