How many missionaries get a Leap day as a P-day?
How are ya? I'm doing pretty great. I am really loving this ward. This place is great. The ward leadership is super missionary focused and it really rubs off on the rest of the ward. Did I tell you guys the ward's goal for baptisms this year? I can't remember....well it's 20. Yeah. 20. Most wards in this mission are lucky to get 6 or 7, and most TO wards usually get like 3. But they're determined to reach their goal, and the entire ward is starting to pitch in and help. So yeah. Things are good :) This week, Bishop Anderson actually got up and challenged the ward to pray and fast for missionary opportunities and that the ward would be able to hit their goal. Needless to say, I was pretty excited about that. It got the ward pretty excited too, so that's even better. Our only problem is we can't seem to get our investigators to come to church. (Insert aggravated scream here) We're planning on concentrating on the Sabbath day with all of them this week, so hopefully that yields some fruit.
Other than that, I don't have to much to report. Haha our week wasn't exactly thrilling either :) I do feel like we might be setting a few baptismal goals this week though, so stay tuned and I'll let you know what goes on. Have a great week!
PS sorry I have pictures but I forgot my cord to connect the camera to the computer.....next week :)
The Mission Pic
Monday, February 29, 2016
Weekly Report 2/22/2016
Another week of an excerpt.
Well I'm glad that all [the emails] went through [last week] haha! It was kind of an interesting experience. You'd be surprised the mass panic that spreads among missionaries when something goes wrong with emails. You'd think that someone got shot or something.
Anyhow this week was pretty good! We're still seeing miracles everyday here in TO4. I'm honestly amazed at how well things are going. We're working hard and being diligent, and the Lord has been providing much more amply that I had ever thought He would. One of the coolest things that happened this week was picking up our new investigator, Jim Alexander. Elder Carpenter and Elder Plummer tracted into him a few weeks ago, so we went by to follow up and he invited us right in. We got to know him and taught him the Restoration, which he really loved. At the end we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he thanked us profusely for, and he agreed to say the closing prayer, crying as he did. It was a really spiritual lesson and he wants to continue learning and come to church this next week! So that was pretty awesome. We also had a lesson with Johnny again yesterday, but that could have gone better. He wasn't home when we got there, but showed up about 10 minutes later and, on top of that, was just a bit tipsy. So that wasn't exactly the best, however he talked to us later feeling really bad about everything and talking about how he needs to get his life back in order. We ended up having a great text conversation about God's love for him and how we want to help overcome his problems. By the end of it he was feeling a lot better and had a new resolve to change, particularly to stop drinking. So hopefully all continues to go well with him!
Other than that everything is still going great! In light of a spiritual message, I had a really powerful experience with the sacrament this week. I made a very specific point to sincerely repent of my mistakes over the past week, truly feeling sorry for them. As I then partook of the water, I immediately felt all that burden lifted, and I was filled with joy. It was a very simple experience, but it really strengthened my testimony of the Atonement. Pretty cool stuff :)
Hope you're doing well!! Love ya :)
1. This is my new favorite sign.
2. "Preach the gospel unto every creature..."
Well I'm glad that all [the emails] went through [last week] haha! It was kind of an interesting experience. You'd be surprised the mass panic that spreads among missionaries when something goes wrong with emails. You'd think that someone got shot or something.
Anyhow this week was pretty good! We're still seeing miracles everyday here in TO4. I'm honestly amazed at how well things are going. We're working hard and being diligent, and the Lord has been providing much more amply that I had ever thought He would. One of the coolest things that happened this week was picking up our new investigator, Jim Alexander. Elder Carpenter and Elder Plummer tracted into him a few weeks ago, so we went by to follow up and he invited us right in. We got to know him and taught him the Restoration, which he really loved. At the end we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he thanked us profusely for, and he agreed to say the closing prayer, crying as he did. It was a really spiritual lesson and he wants to continue learning and come to church this next week! So that was pretty awesome. We also had a lesson with Johnny again yesterday, but that could have gone better. He wasn't home when we got there, but showed up about 10 minutes later and, on top of that, was just a bit tipsy. So that wasn't exactly the best, however he talked to us later feeling really bad about everything and talking about how he needs to get his life back in order. We ended up having a great text conversation about God's love for him and how we want to help overcome his problems. By the end of it he was feeling a lot better and had a new resolve to change, particularly to stop drinking. So hopefully all continues to go well with him!
Other than that everything is still going great! In light of a spiritual message, I had a really powerful experience with the sacrament this week. I made a very specific point to sincerely repent of my mistakes over the past week, truly feeling sorry for them. As I then partook of the water, I immediately felt all that burden lifted, and I was filled with joy. It was a very simple experience, but it really strengthened my testimony of the Atonement. Pretty cool stuff :)
Hope you're doing well!! Love ya :)
1. This is my new favorite sign.
2. "Preach the gospel unto every creature..."
Weekly Report 2/15/2016
No general this week, here's an excerpt from my email.
So this week was pretty great. I think I might have an idea of what I'm doing, but I'm not sure haha. This is a new playing field for me, one that I'm very unfamiliar with, but so far I'm having fun so I'm liking it. [With this group of] Elders our district, its been a lot of fun. We all have a very unique sense of humor, so putting us all in the same room amounts to sitcom level humor and shenanigans.
So this area is awesome. I'm more than impressed with the leadership here, and the work is on the verge of exploding. Like wow. Plus we had an amazing week. We saw a lot of miracles, the coolest of which is involves a guy named Johnny. So Elder Carpenter and Elder Plummer talked to him last week, gave him a BoM, and he said to come by any time. But when we went by yesterday, I immediately recognized him. Last Monday, Elder Petersen and I ended up talking to this guy at Home Depot for like 10 miuntes, and it was Johnny! He recognized me too, and we ended up having an amazing lesson on the Restoration with him and set an appointment for later this week. So that was awesome, and that was only one of the crazy awesome miracles we saw this week. Needless to say, TO 4 is starting to grow on me.
So yeah pretty great week! Sorry this is kinda short :P There was some confusion with getting into the family history center today so I'm a bit short on time. Anyhow, hope you guys are well! Talk to you next week :) Love ya!
PS The District
So this week was pretty great. I think I might have an idea of what I'm doing, but I'm not sure haha. This is a new playing field for me, one that I'm very unfamiliar with, but so far I'm having fun so I'm liking it. [With this group of] Elders our district, its been a lot of fun. We all have a very unique sense of humor, so putting us all in the same room amounts to sitcom level humor and shenanigans.
So this area is awesome. I'm more than impressed with the leadership here, and the work is on the verge of exploding. Like wow. Plus we had an amazing week. We saw a lot of miracles, the coolest of which is involves a guy named Johnny. So Elder Carpenter and Elder Plummer talked to him last week, gave him a BoM, and he said to come by any time. But when we went by yesterday, I immediately recognized him. Last Monday, Elder Petersen and I ended up talking to this guy at Home Depot for like 10 miuntes, and it was Johnny! He recognized me too, and we ended up having an amazing lesson on the Restoration with him and set an appointment for later this week. So that was awesome, and that was only one of the crazy awesome miracles we saw this week. Needless to say, TO 4 is starting to grow on me.
So yeah pretty great week! Sorry this is kinda short :P There was some confusion with getting into the family history center today so I'm a bit short on time. Anyhow, hope you guys are well! Talk to you next week :) Love ya!
PS The District
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Transfers and the like
Hey everyone!!
Sorry that I've been slacking off latetly :P I"m getting lazy with emails and not to much has happened so that kinda just snowballed haha!
So I'll start off with the big news: transfers. That's right, that time has rolled around yet again, and it turns out that I am leaving Newbury Park, but I'm not going very far. I'm Thousand Oaks bound. TO 4th ward to be exact. Ward hopping yet again haha :) (Newbury Park is a suburb of TO for those of you who don't know) I do have to say, though, that I'm pretty bummed to be leaving NP. I've really loved it here. The members here are awesome, the area is gorgeous, and I've just had a ton of fun. I honestly thought that I was going to be staying for one more, but alas tis not so. But hey, at least I'm only moving a few minutes down the road. Even though its a completely different stake, I'm sure I'll see some of these folks around :) OH! And my new comp is Elder Plummer. He's pretty awesome. I think everything is adding up to being a pretty freaking awesome transfer :)
Work wise, things are going pretty swell. We were able to meet with Ann again this week (the woman with cancer) and it was a great lesson. We brought our High Priest Group Leader, and he was perfect. Her parents are a bit antagonistic at times with their questions, but he was able to answer them perfectly and you could tell that Ann really felt the Spirit. At the end we offered to give her a priesthood blessing, and she agreed and they'll be giving that when they go back this Thursday :) So that was pretty sweet!
So for a quick spiritual thought I want to share a scripture that I found this past week that has quickly become one of my favorites. It's 2 Timothy 2:3. "Thou therefore endure hardness well, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." This transfer was difficult, but I really learned a lot. I think the biggest thing I learned was how to be a good soldier, and I think to 2 most defining characteristics of a good soldier are meekness and humility. A good soldier bows out his own will to a greater cause, and makes that greater cause his will. Then he fights for that greater cause and does all he can to accomplish his purpose. I've learned how to be a better soldier, and I hope to do all I can for the cause.
That about sums up my life right now :) Hope everyone is doing well!! I love you all and I'll let you know how things are going in the new area next week!
Much love,
Elder Brennan Jon Rosenlof
1. Final pic with the Koeppels.
2. Final pic with Lem.
3. Service swag.
He also sent this to Scott. A little fun on a recent P-Day.
Sorry that I've been slacking off latetly :P I"m getting lazy with emails and not to much has happened so that kinda just snowballed haha!
So I'll start off with the big news: transfers. That's right, that time has rolled around yet again, and it turns out that I am leaving Newbury Park, but I'm not going very far. I'm Thousand Oaks bound. TO 4th ward to be exact. Ward hopping yet again haha :) (Newbury Park is a suburb of TO for those of you who don't know) I do have to say, though, that I'm pretty bummed to be leaving NP. I've really loved it here. The members here are awesome, the area is gorgeous, and I've just had a ton of fun. I honestly thought that I was going to be staying for one more, but alas tis not so. But hey, at least I'm only moving a few minutes down the road. Even though its a completely different stake, I'm sure I'll see some of these folks around :) OH! And my new comp is Elder Plummer. He's pretty awesome. I think everything is adding up to being a pretty freaking awesome transfer :)
Work wise, things are going pretty swell. We were able to meet with Ann again this week (the woman with cancer) and it was a great lesson. We brought our High Priest Group Leader, and he was perfect. Her parents are a bit antagonistic at times with their questions, but he was able to answer them perfectly and you could tell that Ann really felt the Spirit. At the end we offered to give her a priesthood blessing, and she agreed and they'll be giving that when they go back this Thursday :) So that was pretty sweet!
So for a quick spiritual thought I want to share a scripture that I found this past week that has quickly become one of my favorites. It's 2 Timothy 2:3. "Thou therefore endure hardness well, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." This transfer was difficult, but I really learned a lot. I think the biggest thing I learned was how to be a good soldier, and I think to 2 most defining characteristics of a good soldier are meekness and humility. A good soldier bows out his own will to a greater cause, and makes that greater cause his will. Then he fights for that greater cause and does all he can to accomplish his purpose. I've learned how to be a better soldier, and I hope to do all I can for the cause.
That about sums up my life right now :) Hope everyone is doing well!! I love you all and I'll let you know how things are going in the new area next week!
Much love,
Elder Brennan Jon Rosenlof
1. Final pic with the Koeppels.
2. Final pic with Lem.
3. Service swag.
He also sent this to Scott. A little fun on a recent P-Day.
Week of February 1, 2016
Even less to say this week. This transfer has taken it's toll. He is tired and ready for change.
Not really anything to report. We had a LOT of service this week, so that was good. We went out to this ranch last P-day where they film all sorts of movies and commercials and the like, so that was sweet. We were talking to the guy who owns the place and he was saying that we missed Justin Beiber by a week or less. (Thank heavens) But yeah that was honestly the coolest thing that happened this week.
Sorry that this is such a boring email haha! Things are just continuing to go forward.
I did find this picture of him with his friend, the former Elder MacKay
Not really anything to report. We had a LOT of service this week, so that was good. We went out to this ranch last P-day where they film all sorts of movies and commercials and the like, so that was sweet. We were talking to the guy who owns the place and he was saying that we missed Justin Beiber by a week or less. (Thank heavens) But yeah that was honestly the coolest thing that happened this week.
Sorry that this is such a boring email haha! Things are just continuing to go forward.
I did find this picture of him with his friend, the former Elder MacKay
Week of January 25, 2016
He didn't write a general this week, he didn't have a whole lot going on.
Well I'm definitely not jealous of your winter. I like my winter a lot more. Sunny 4 days out of the week with a high of 70, and the other three days overcast with a 50% chance of rain. I'm pretty sure that this whole "spirit paradise" thing is somewhere in our mission, because really. It's awesome here. :)
This week wasn't to bad. Not to much exciting. Prepare for some calls, because I probably won't write a general this week haha :) I did have a chance to use my window screen skills though. Tell Gary he would be proud. We were helping some potential fix up a rental they own, and they needed some new screens built so I answered the call to action. And they actually turned out pretty good! Not to bad for 15 months of no action haha!
We also had a big broadcast this week, which I'm sure you heard about. It was pretty good. Nothing earth shattering, but a good reminder overall. And yes, transfer meetings are no more. We're all pretty devastated. At least I am anyway. I'm definitely glad I'm not an AP now, because they and Pres are desperately trying to figure out what the heck they're going to do. I talked to them a week ago and they still had no idea. Keep them in your prayers haha :)
Well I'm definitely not jealous of your winter. I like my winter a lot more. Sunny 4 days out of the week with a high of 70, and the other three days overcast with a 50% chance of rain. I'm pretty sure that this whole "spirit paradise" thing is somewhere in our mission, because really. It's awesome here. :)
This week wasn't to bad. Not to much exciting. Prepare for some calls, because I probably won't write a general this week haha :) I did have a chance to use my window screen skills though. Tell Gary he would be proud. We were helping some potential fix up a rental they own, and they needed some new screens built so I answered the call to action. And they actually turned out pretty good! Not to bad for 15 months of no action haha!
We also had a big broadcast this week, which I'm sure you heard about. It was pretty good. Nothing earth shattering, but a good reminder overall. And yes, transfer meetings are no more. We're all pretty devastated. At least I am anyway. I'm definitely glad I'm not an AP now, because they and Pres are desperately trying to figure out what the heck they're going to do. I talked to them a week ago and they still had no idea. Keep them in your prayers haha :)
Weekly report!! Week of January 18, 2016
Hey everyone!
Hope you all are doing great. Things are pretty swell here! Nothing really to complain about. Life moves forward and so does the work of God! I'll give you the report:
Covering two wards continues to be an adventure. The hardest part about is trying to make sure that you split your time evenly between the wards. Sometimes things get rolling in one of them and you get excited, but then you're like "Oh yeah! We have them too!" So you have to shift your focus and vice versa. It gets confusing at points. I'm just glad that I was in one before I was in both of them, because poor Elder Petersen has a hard time remembering who's who and where's what haha!
Anyhow, Jocelyn continues to be our golden girl! She's progressing and is very excited about the gospel. We did hit a little speed bump, though. Her fellowship was talking to her sometime during the week and found out that Jocelyn is in fact married....but not to the guy she lives with :P So that's a bit of a bummer. However, she has already talked to her husband and they are making arrangements for their divorce. I've been really impressed with how she has been handling the situation. She was really worried at first that we were going to be upset that she wasn't going to be able to make her date of Feb. 6th, but we reassured her that all we care about is that she continues to come closer to Christ and does everything she can so that she can make that step. She came to Stake Conference to, and she loved it. We also got to introduce her to Elder Higham, which was a great experience for her. So yeah she's doing great!
We have another Ensign story to report, though. This one is about a woman by the name of Ann. So Ann had a best friend in high school that was a member, ad she went to church and seminary with her all the time. When she hit college she became disenchanted with religion as a whole and just lived her life how she wanted to. Well now she's in her late 40's and is in the final stages of head and neck cancer and likely only has months to live. Her friend contacted our bishop in DV and asked him to go over, and as she talked with him she told him that she wanted to be baptized. So now we're currently teaching her and her parents, hopefully moving her towards baptism, at the very least preparing her to have her work done in the temple. It's a pretty sobering experience to say the least, but it's really put things in perspective for me. We are literally acting in behalf of the Savior in helping this woman come closer to her Father before she passes through the veil. Again, I love being a missionary :)
And those are the highlights of the week! I hope that you all have a wonderful week. God be with you all :)
Much love,
Elder Brennan Jon Rosenlof
1. Hydra-minion? Min-drant? I dunno. Whatever it is its sweet.
We also got a surprise picture from Elder Higham via the Graff's as they are friends from Mission Viejo
Hope you all are doing great. Things are pretty swell here! Nothing really to complain about. Life moves forward and so does the work of God! I'll give you the report:
Covering two wards continues to be an adventure. The hardest part about is trying to make sure that you split your time evenly between the wards. Sometimes things get rolling in one of them and you get excited, but then you're like "Oh yeah! We have them too!" So you have to shift your focus and vice versa. It gets confusing at points. I'm just glad that I was in one before I was in both of them, because poor Elder Petersen has a hard time remembering who's who and where's what haha!
Anyhow, Jocelyn continues to be our golden girl! She's progressing and is very excited about the gospel. We did hit a little speed bump, though. Her fellowship was talking to her sometime during the week and found out that Jocelyn is in fact married....but not to the guy she lives with :P So that's a bit of a bummer. However, she has already talked to her husband and they are making arrangements for their divorce. I've been really impressed with how she has been handling the situation. She was really worried at first that we were going to be upset that she wasn't going to be able to make her date of Feb. 6th, but we reassured her that all we care about is that she continues to come closer to Christ and does everything she can so that she can make that step. She came to Stake Conference to, and she loved it. We also got to introduce her to Elder Higham, which was a great experience for her. So yeah she's doing great!
We have another Ensign story to report, though. This one is about a woman by the name of Ann. So Ann had a best friend in high school that was a member, ad she went to church and seminary with her all the time. When she hit college she became disenchanted with religion as a whole and just lived her life how she wanted to. Well now she's in her late 40's and is in the final stages of head and neck cancer and likely only has months to live. Her friend contacted our bishop in DV and asked him to go over, and as she talked with him she told him that she wanted to be baptized. So now we're currently teaching her and her parents, hopefully moving her towards baptism, at the very least preparing her to have her work done in the temple. It's a pretty sobering experience to say the least, but it's really put things in perspective for me. We are literally acting in behalf of the Savior in helping this woman come closer to her Father before she passes through the veil. Again, I love being a missionary :)
And those are the highlights of the week! I hope that you all have a wonderful week. God be with you all :)
Much love,
Elder Brennan Jon Rosenlof
1. Hydra-minion? Min-drant? I dunno. Whatever it is its sweet.
We also got a surprise picture from Elder Higham via the Graff's as they are friends from Mission Viejo
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