Minus 29°F

December 9

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 80

Buenos dias! Ahora pasamos por mucho frio aqui. Pues no es tanto, mas o menos esta como en Canada. Pero, no podemos manejar por las reglas de la mision, entonces Elder Condie y yo pasamos mucho tiempo caminando! Hacia frio pero nos encanto servir a la gente y quitamos mucho nieve. 

Good morning! Now we go through very cold here. For it is not so, it is more or less like Canada. But we can not manage by the rules of the mission, Elder Condie and then spent some time walking! Charming but cold towards people we serve and remove much snow.

It was a crazy week! We were very busy, but I'd way rather be busy than have nothing to do! As I mentioned earlier, It got pretty cold this week. Wednesday night it dropped to -29! Wednesday morning there was about a foot of snow on the ground. For our morning exercise we went out and shoveled snow for some members, then for their neighbours. Then for random houses that weren't shoveled. It was a lot of fun and some pretty good exercise seeing as how we did it for several hours. Then we parked the car, (Mission rule, we're not allowed to drive if there's snow on the roads) and we walked all over Meeker! We got to serve a lot, and no one got away from us! We OYM'd every person we saw! Some tried, but the advantages of being young is that we can run, slip, fall, and get back up to keep running almost without missing a beat. 

On Saturday we had the ward Christmas party, and man! They went all out in the Meeker Ward. It was Polar Express themed, and the church was converted into a train. Our Bishop was dressed up as a Conductor, and he stamped everyone's tickets. Despite Elder Condie and I not having tickets we were able to get in and enjoy some great food, and of course doing missionary work at ward activities! 

Well not too much happened this last week, we went out and worked our tails off! I know that the Lord blesses the faithful. I know that Jospeh Smith was the Prophet of God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ once more to the Earth! 

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Rojo

Thanksgiving

December 2

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 79

Buenas tardes! Perdonanme por favor por estar aqui tan tarde! Es que hoy tuvimos una actividad con toda la zona por el dia de preparacion. Ibamos a haver el email antes pero, por tener tantos missioneros en Craig todos las computadoras en la biblioteca ya estaban occupadas! por esto mando tan tarde.

Good afternoon! Please pardon me for being here so late! Is that today we had an activity throughout the area for the day of preparation. We were going to send email before but have so many Missionaries in Craig all the computers in the library and were occupied! by this command so late.

Well last week was pretty interesting. On Monday we were up in Craig because we needed to go to the Craig district's district meeting, And then we did exchanges with the Elders of the Craig 1st Ward. They're both very young missionaries, so it was great to go with them. I was with Elder Hamblin on bikes! that was fun to get some exercise, except that I ripped my pants!!!!! But it's ok it's on the seam so I'll be able to fix it! but despite biking around in the cold with ripped pants that night we had a great day! Then the next morning we had the Sisters Conference. Fortunately that was in Meeker. I still don't understand why President Murdock sends Zone Leaders to a meeting with that many Sisters but I trust that he is inspired! Luckily this time instead of just Elder Stephens and I, Elder Barfield and Elder Gibson joined Elder Condie and I. It was great meeting, we all trained. The funniest part was when the Sister Training Leaders trained on locking your heart. It was very entertaining, we're lucky to have to great STL's in our stake that do a great job with all of the Sisters. Oh yeah if any of you didn't know they now have Sister Leaders called Sister Training Leaders. Sorry to burst your bubble Machistas! The four elders ducked out for the last training and made them all lunch. It was pretty simple because we didn't want to burn it or anything, so we made Pancakes, Eggs, and Hashbrowns. There are pictures of the four of us in the kitchen but I don't have them I will send them to you once I get them though. The bad news is that I spilled strawberries on my other suit pants. So I currently have no suit pants... and there's no drycleaners here in Meeker.

Thursday was thankgiving ofcourse and that's when things went bad, I caught some nasty virus which had me out of commission for the rest of the week blaaaaaqhhh!!! But now I'm better and super excited to get back to missionary work WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!

Anyways I love you all and I know this church is true!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Rojo

Yes, we like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

November 25

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 78

Hay que pasa?! Parece que casi todos me han olvidado! Pero esta bien, espero que todos disfrutan su tiempo de los dias festivos! Pues no son los dias festivos en Canada. Pues aqui por esta semana vamos a ver el dia de gracias entonces muchas personas se van a diferente lugares o estan muy occupados con sus familiares que vienen de visitantes.

There it goes! It seems that almost everyone has forgotten me! But okay, I hope you all enjoy your time of holidays! Well, are not the holidays in Canada. Well here for this week will see the Thanksgiving then many people go to different places or are very busy with relatives coming for visits.

Speaking of busy weeks, We had a super busy week last week! But it was amazing, the Lord blessed us so much for our diligence, obedience and hard work. On Monday as I mentioned last week we weren't too bad. That night was probably the best Monday night of my whole mission! After we ate dinner we went out to work! We taught 3 lessons and found 4 new investigators. Crazy I know! Then we went back to our appointment to meet up with Elder Koyle who was coming on an exchange with us. Tuesday we went out and worked our tails off! We talked to EVERYONE and saw several miracles! It was a super great day, we went to see our investigator Cesar, we got there and he was just cleaning up his house, so we helped him. He asked if he could play some music so we explained our rules to him about music and how we can't listen to most music, but we could listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. So he found it on Pandora and started blasting MOTAB in his house while we cleaned. The best part was that he actually liked it. (Cesar is 22 years old) Then we sat down to teach him, the spirit was already there because of the music, and as we taught him the Restoration it got intense! The spirit was so powerful that you could feel it in that room! When we invited him to be baptized he just nodded because there was no way that you could deny that. We invited him to prepare for the 14th of December and he said, "If God puts it into my heart I'll do it." Man that was an amazing experience!

Wednesday we had our zone meeting, so we woke up early to drive to Craig, be on our conference call, and then train on the thigns we'd learned in MLC's the previous week. It was powerful meeting. Afterwards one of the members of our Stake Presidency brought us lunch. I thought about the scriptures where Christ tells his disciples to not take extra money or clothes with them. He does provide a way for his Servants! after the meeting we did another exchange with The Steamboat Springs Elders. We didn't get back to Meeker until round 3 PM but then we got straght to work! We worked our tails off once again! Thursday when we exchanged back it was snowing pretty hard so we had an interesting drive up to Craig. Elder Condie and I didn't get back until 4 PM but we went and did everything we could with the time that we had! Then the weekend came and we worked as hard as we could for the entire time. We got to see so many miracles in the work of the Lord. Makes sense seeing as how he is a God of Miracles!

I know that to be true, This is the true church of Jesus Christ! This is his work and nothing can stop it from progressing!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Rojo

Miracles in Craig

November 18

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 77

Buenos dias a todos! Que raro, que les cuneto una historia bien interesante. Y nadie me manda un email de regreso. Esta bien puedo vewr que me han olvidado aqui en Colorado. Es bueno este porque nunca voy a salir de Aqui voy a server en la mission por todo mi vida!

Good morning to all! Funny, that cuneto them a very interesting story. And no one sent me an email back. Okay I can see that I have been forgotten here in Colorado. This is good because I'll never get out of Mercer. I will serve a mission all my life!

Well we had a super crazy week last week so Elder Condie and I are just taking a nice relaxing P-day. FALSE!!!! There's no such thing as a nice relaxing P-day! We still have lots of things to do like finish cleaning our apartment and getting ready for our zone meeting on Wednesday, not to mention be ready for Elder Searle to come on exchanges with us!

Anyways last week was crazy as I mentioned in the email I sent Wednesday and earlier. Monday was the hanging lake ordeal, Tuesday we did exchanges, Wednesday we had interviews with President Murdock and then drove to Craig to do some work up there, I'll be telling a few miracle stories, because it was an AMAZING day up there. Wednesday night we had to drive down to Rifle where we spent the night with Elder Gibson and Elder Barfield, then MLC's the next day in Glenwood. Friday we went to Rangeley. And then Finally! Saturday and Sunday we had two somewhat normal days here in Meeker.

So first off let me tell you about some of our Craig miracles. We went to see some investigators, and we decided to park down the street giving us a chance to OYM some people. We parked next to a house and prayed for an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. As we got out of the car someone pulled up to the house where we had parked. Perfect! So we went and talked to her, she let us into her home and we taught her and her son the Restoration. It was such a powerful lesson, the spirit was incredibly strong and she accepted a baptismal invite. Later that night we went to see Los Pando a family that we'd met and taught a few weeks earlier. As we picked up where we'd left off in the Restoration, the thought came to me, oh no we don't have a Spanish book of Mormon to give them! as we'd already given away the copies we had with us. The thought came to me "Give them yours, and write your testimony in it." So I did as Elder Condie would teach I would take a minute to write my testimony on the first page. When we finished the lesson and testified of the book of Mormon I gave them my copy. At first they insisted that they couldn't take my copy, after explaining that I wanted them to and had written something just for them, they humbly accepted it and promised to read. Bernardo, the husband was so excited to have his own copy and was asking us about church what time it is and everything!

Well I'm going to wrap up there, I could never even begin to write all the miracles we see in a week. I know that our Father in Heaven is a God of Miracles, I know that this is his work and that he is hastening it. I know that this is his true church once again restored onto the earth!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Rojo

Sister's Hiking Accident

November 13

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 76

Pues perdoname que mando el correo muy tarde, pero es que el Lunes las bibliptecas ya estaban cerradas por el dia de los "Veterans" y ayer estabamos demasiado occupados para hacer el e-mail. Tengo una historia para contarles y tambien hicimos los intercambios ayer. Hay mucho que hacer! Hoy tenemos las entrevistas con el Presidente Murdock, y vamos a Craig porque tenemos citas. Despues vamos a Rifle para pasar la noche con Elder Gibson y Elder Barfield porque tenemos los MLC's manana. Oh no les dije pero Elder Barfield mi hijo ya tambien es un lider de zona! Y sirve en mi antiguo area! Pues no tengo mucho tiempo hasta que llega Presidente entonces a las historias!

Well forgive you control the mail very late, but Monday is that libraries were already closed for the day of the "Veterans" and yesterday we were too squatted to the e-mail. I have a story to tell and we also trade yesterday. Lots to do! Today we have interviews with President Murdock and Craig because we're going to appointments. After going to Rifle for the night with Elder and Elder Gibson Barfield because we have MLC's morning. Oh but I did not tell my trainee is already Elder Barfield is also a district leader! And served in my old area! Well, I have not much time until then President comes to stories!

Ok so first off my new companion is Elder Condie! I sent you a picture of the two of us drinking from the spigot at hanging lake a couple months ago, and I'll send more pictures next week when I have time. So interestingly enough we hiked hanging lake again this Monday. We knew that we were heading down to Rifle to buy groceries anyways so when other missionaries texted us about hanging lake we decided to go. our whole district came too! The Rangeley Elders and the Sisters here in Meeker, two of whom are from Fiji. IT was a beautiful hike as always and a lot of fun. However closer to the end of the trail up the canyon where there's little sunlight it was a little slick. I just kicked footholds for myself and kept going with a few other Elders who were all racing up to the top. It was beautiful up top and we had a great time and took lots of pictures! on the way down however we had a slight mishap. When we reached the super slippery part some people started falling. So an Elder Pikula (amazing elder love him! more later) started helping people down one of the slick sections. We were about half an hour behind schedule and hoping to finish early enough. Well that didn't happen. Sister Keavali, on of the Fijians here in Meeker slipped and hurt her ankle. We got her down to the flat and I quickly took a look, I pulled out my ankle brace which I'd wisely brought. Then she told me that her quad hurt. ... ... Ooooookkkkaaaayyyy?.... ... somehoiw she hurt her ankle and her quad? then her calf hurt her. Ok so it's her knee that's hurt then. I checked it quickly (Thanks for paying for those first aid classes mom and dad!) I didn't feel anything seriously wrong so I said, "We'll get some snow on it tie it up and then get her off the mountain. Annnnnnnd that's when she started hyperventilating and went into shock. So, we tried our best to calm everyone down and just carry her down the mountain, we sent a few runners ahead to get the rest of the Elders. It was tough carrying her down because the trail was still pretty slick for quite awhile. luckily we ran in to a group of nurses who were hiking up and they helped us out. We made it about half way down when some Paramedics came up. We stayed and then helped them carry her down on a stretcher. long story short we took another three hours to get down and were back to our area very late. She's ok though just a strained muscle and she should be fine.

But I gotta go we've got interviews! I love you all and quick question mom and dad when you get home could you scan and email me my call letter I need it to renew my license.

Con mucho amor,

Elder Rojo 

Member referral

November 4

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 75

Pues Buenos d-d-dias! Hace un popco de frio aqui hoy! No tanto como en Canada, pero sufficiente que llevo mi Chaqueta!  Nos pone un poco nervioso porque manana son las transferencias y si sigue nevando va ser dificil para manejar a Rifle por la reunion. Pues oramos que las carreteras esten bien y todos los que cambian pueden llegar con bien!

For Buenos d-d-day! It's a little cold here today! Not as much as in Canada, but enough to wear my jacket! We were a little nervous because tomorrow is still snowing and if transfers will be difficult to manage Rifle by the union. Then pray that the roads are well and all that change can come with either!

So as I mentioned tomorrow is transfer day! I'm a little sad because Elder Merrill and Elder Khaky-Kazzazy are both leaving... =( But at least I'm not leaving! I was scared of that, We're opening two new zones and three other Zone Leaders got released, so there's a ton of movement going on. I think almost every zone leader companionship is having a change. I was scared, but luckily I get to stay here in Meeker because I absolutely love it here! I'm excited to keep working with all of the people here which leads me into a few awesome stories from the week!

So on Tuesday Elder Merrill had a really bad fever, thus we had to stay in the apartment. I don't think there's anything worse than staying in your apartment on the mission. It's just absolutely miserable because you want to go do missionary work, and you feel disobedient just sitting around. Not to mention you get BORED OUT OF YOUR MIND!!!!!! But anyways Wednesday morning right before we left the apartment, we got a call from Brother Murray. Ok I haven't told you all about him yet, but Brother Murray is amazing he's one of the two members in the ward who speak Spanish, and he's an amazing member missionary! So he called and told us that he wants us to meet Tony's friend Joe. Well ofcourse we'd love to meet him! So that night we went with Brother Murray and Tony to meet Joe. HE IS SO AWESOME!!!!! He's a really intelligent really open young man who's just amazing he was asking amazing questions and has amazing answers to questions that we ask him. I'm also pretty excited because we're goin to go play basketball with him today, he plays on the high school team and the coach. (who's a Less Active) is going to let us play!

Another amazing miracle was just last night. We were teaching our investigator Kimii who's been on date before but never came to church and was struggling a little bit with keeping commitments. We went and were teaching her. It was such an amazing lesson! The spirit was there so strongly and man it was phenomenal! As we started she told us about how she wants to change her life and dedicate herself more to God. So as we taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, she became so excited to come to church, and to read her scriptures everyday! She knows it will bless her and she's so fired up for her baptismal date on the 30th!

Alright well I don't have much time, but I love you all. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that he is at the head of this church and that thtough him all that is unfair about life will be made right if we will follow him.

Con mucho amor,

Elder Rojo 

Visit from Elder Baxter of the Seventy

October 28

Las Venturas de Elder Rojo: Capitulo 74 

Pues que loco que ya estamos en la ultima semana del cambio! Me siento que acabo de llegar a Meeker. Estoy un poco nervioso, pero no voy a pensar en esto nada mas.

Well, we're already crazy in the last week of change! I feel like I just got here to Meeker. I'm a little nervous, but I'm not going to think about it any more.

Well last week was amazing! It was such a privilege to have a seventy come and teach us! I remember back to when Elder Robbyns came to the mission, and Elder Bednar, all of them have been so different, but exactly what I've needed at the time! It was amazing when he trained us, he stood at the front and asked us what we wanted to learn, he took all of the things missionaries asked about and wrote them on the board. Then he started going through them one by one teaching us how to find better, how to better involve members in our missionary work, how to help those we teach keep commitments. It was an amazing experience! It was also hilarious because he's from Scotland so he was constantly making fun of America! He said that they'd destroyed his language and it was just a blast! 

It was really funny at the beginning of the meeting when He and Sister Baxter shook everyone's hands. All of the Sisters were giving Sister Baxter hugs. Elder Merrill, Khaky-Kazzazy and I were sitting next to Elder Gibson and Elder Stephens. I turned to Elder Stephens and said. "All the Sisters are hugging, I'm giving Elder Baxter a hug!" Elder Gibson replied, "No Elder Redd don't do that!" I turned to him and with my little mischievous excited grin that he's so used to nodded my head vigorously and said, "I'm gonna do it!" So when we got up there I said, "Sorry Elder Baxter I'm a hugger!" I gave him a big hug and everyone started laughing. He then said to me, "Since you hugged me I now know everything about you." Well that's a scary thought! 

It was a great week overall but I've got other things that I need to take care of, I lvoe you all and hope you have a great week! 

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Rojo