A New Investigator!

December 30, 2013

A NEW INVESTIGATOR!

so this week was crazy getting everything situated and still trying to learn the area! i know the members here are amazing tho, thats to say the least! 

i know that im here for a reason, but its just gonna take time to figure it out!  

Christmas was great! the ward took care of us! 

it was the best thing to get to talk to you guys! and Christmas wasnt long enough!  

so the rest of the week we spent seeing more less active members and tracting and we actually got a new investigator! :)  the Lord is already blessing our efforts 

love you! wish i had more to say but its just been a slow week! 

Elder Rollins

Elder Rollins & Elder Bitton

Glad they found a library in their tiny town!

Elder Rollins' depiction of his area. FUNNY!

He says, "We're in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of small towns all around us. 

This area is 25mi X 35mi whereas my last area was 10 mi. We only get to drive 1100mi per month! 10 towns make up our area, but we can't even go outside because the roads are all iced over!  It's called 'freezing rain'!" LOL 

Quite the opposite of having 'sunny day schedules' where the kids are not allowed to go outside because it is too hot! hahaha

Merry Christmas From Elder Rollins!

December 27, 2013

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" 

From Elder Rollins & Elder Bitton

NEW ADDRESS:

304B NE 6th Street

Oak Grove, MO 64075

The New Area

December 23, 2013

THE NEW AREA

okay this all covers what my weekly letter was gonna say so this is my weekly letter! 

What is your companion's name?

Elder Bitton

Where is he from?

las curses new mexico! 

How long has he been out?

6 months! he came out with me!

What was your first impression of your new companion?

hey, this kids my same size! lol then i started talking to him and he kinda reminds me of a calmed down small Joel! lol i think that im really going to like working with him! i have a lot that i can learn from him and i hope that i can help him out as well!

Where do you live? Apartment or With members?

we live in a small duplex by ourselves and love it! it has a garage and two rooms 2 bathrooms and its brand new!

What is your apartment like? good area? sketchy area? hahaha

How many missionaries live with you?

just me and Elder Bitton

What is your new address?

304 b NE 6th st

Oak Grove, MO 64075

Do you have a car or are you on bikes?

full time car with 1100 miles lol but thats not a whole lot cuz our area is like 25 miles by 35 miles... its huge and its a bunch of small towns(10)  that are spread apart! Odessa where the church is has 5200 people... Napoleon has 220 people so thats like what the rest of the area is too.... 

meet STORM our Ford Fussion!

What was your first sunday at church like?

did not have church... there was to much ice and snow that it was cancelled....

Did you meet lots of the members?

weve met a few families but not to many! 

How did the mission president extend this new assignment to you?

he really didnt... the APs did on tuesday night! but i think this is like the perfect call for me right now!

How did you feel when you got this assignment?

i was super excited! 

How was your first transfer? The packing, the moving, the unpacking, figuring out the area, etc.

it sucked! i hated leaving! i miss all those families that are in Overland Park 1st ward and cant wait to go visit them! :) packing is packing lol unpacking was quick! i left a lot in the suit cases! figuring out the area will take a long time because of how spread out our area is! its ridiculous! but as soon as we talked to our ward mission leader i knew this is where im supposed to be right now!:) 

so we literaly have nothing... we showed up to our duplex in our brand new car with and empty area book... our phone had no numbers, we didnt even have a ward roster.... we only had some dishes and some beds and our luggage... its crazy how empty it was! so we started off by getting a few essential phone numbers.. the sisters that are serving in the ward with us and our bishops number and our ward mission leaders number. so we called the sisters (sister adams and sister harris) and tried to talk to them to see if they had any people for us to see or people that they thought would be better for Elders cuz of their situation. they said they'd like to meet with us and so we met at McDonalds because we either have to have another priesthood holder with us or meet in a public area. we talked to them and they gave us a couple of names that they had talked to that may be interested about learning our message. but they had no real info on them so they ended up being a bust... so we knocked some doors which is my least favorite thing about being a missionary.. but its is an essential part cuz we have no one to teach. With noone to teach, we are not completing our purpose! so the next day we tried to visit some members of our ward and they lived in a small town called Napoleon... which was forever away! so for the next few weeks we are going to trying to talk to anyone that will talk to us and members of our church until we find someone that is willing to listen to our message about Jesus Christ!

love you!

Elder Rollins

Just in...

December 17, 2013

OPENING A NEW AREA!

We just got news that Elder Rollins has received a special assignment to open up a brand new area!  It is a town called Odessa, MO. It is only one hour away from his current area. Population 5200. This is an exciting opportunity! Pray for him and his companion that doors will be opened and hearts will be softened; that they will have success in this part of the Lord's vineyard.:) 

A Missionary Christmas

December 17, 2013

Here is a poem Elder Rollins Sent me. All missionary moms... get a tissue! hahaha

A Missionary Christmas

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving.

The thrill just wasn’t there.

No pictures taken with Santa Clause, 

My decorating has no flare.

His presents are shoes, shirts and ties

two suits, and socks.. no fun.

I’ve bought him all white clothes because...

This year I’m giving Christ my son.

I’ve spent more time in the temple,

my testimony stirred.

I’ve reread November’s ensign,

felt strength come from his words.

Our family prays more frequently.

My tears are quick to run.

Abraham seems closer because...

This year I’m giving Christ my son. 

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers 

gave their sons to war?

Or how the pioneers chose Zion

Their sacrifice was so much more.

My loss will be his presence,

I’ll miss his smile a ton.

For two years we will pray for him.

I’m giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he’s not looking.

I memorize his eyes, their shine.

He’s always hungered for the part of him,

that makes his soul divine.

The Stories and lessons he always heard

his choice and mine are one.

I’ll put my faith in God’s hand.

This year, I’m giving Christ my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter;

I think I finally understand.

Christ’s birth should be celebrated 

by giving Him a hand.

It’s because I know Christ lives and reigns

that all his packing’s done.

My gift has taken 19 years to make.

This year, I’m giving Christ my son.

I know there’s one who understands,

the sacrifice I’m making.

Who knows the gift I willingly give,

The toll it will be taking.

For he has done it all before

greater love there could be none.

For years ago, God gave to me

His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held

the hands I taught to pray.

Now knock on doors to find the ones 

who will listen to what he’ll say.

Because I know Christ needs him

until all the gathering’s done.

My gift has taken 19 years to make.

This year I’m giving Christ my son. 

Elder Rollins’ email 

send packages to the mission office lol we are not supposed to send things to our apartment anyways... just found that out this past week. my bad.... :) 

Elder Hayes Calvert Rollins

Missouri Independence Mission

517 W Walnut Street

Independence, MO 64050

so this week was crazy! we spent a lot of time at the brazzells and it all paid off!! they are on date for the 11th of January to be baptized! :) it was so sick how everything fell perfectly in to place. and Jillian is getting baptize this weekend! :) sadly leashia dropped us:( not good but she wants us to come say good bye before one of us leaves. (still dont know for sure) and so were gonna see whats going to happen from there. we had our big zone conference/christmas program! did some jousting at the brazzells! went to rose estates again this week and met some of the residents! had lunch at mary faiths! went on exchanges! got the call to train and then got another call telling me that i was no longer going to be training but i was going to be on a special assignment... idk what that means but what ever happens im gonna go forward with faith and and with a smile! so.. lots of things happened this week! :) and all of them have led me to the same conclusion that ive always had and the reason why i came out on my mission.

God answers prayers. He loves us and He is gonna take care of us! :) Christ died for us and is our savior! this church is true! and the scriptures have helped me in so many ways! i know they are true! and that we are blessed as we strive to do all we can to live the precepts of GOD!

love you! 

Elder Rollins

This is the big red bag project that their stake has been doing for the past 10 years. People donate toys and clothes for the kids in foster care. 

Pictures for the Week!

LOTS of SNOW this week!

Ward Christmas Party. :)

Bishop, Santa & the Overland Park 1st Ward missionaries. 

Elder Rollins and Bishop Staggs

The chocolate advent calendars I sent them. :)

This Week was a Blur and a Brrrr!

December 9, 2014

This Week Was A BLUR & a BRRRR!

okay so sorry but i honestly dont remember the week other than it was cold, there was snow, the ward christmas party and lots of time spent at the brazzells! :) okay so im going to just leave you with a few thoughts and probably scriptures and keep better track of next week! :)

we are the end... all past events such as the first vision, the translation of the book of mormon, the restoration of the priesthood, and the reorganization of Christs church and the building of many temples has led up to whats happening right now. The lord is hastening his work!!! 

its time to step up and do what we are supposed to do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.... 

3 Nephi 27:21

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my ^agospel; and ye know the things that ye must ^bdo in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

dont be ashamed of what you believe in! 

Romans 1:16 

 16 For I am not aashamed of the bgospel of Christ: for it is the cpower of God unto dsalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

be an example to those around you! 

1 Timothy 4:12 

12 Let no man adespise thy youth; but be thou an bexample of the believers, in word, in cconversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in dpurity.

the most important thing we can do right now is to Preach the Gospel as Joseph Smith said! 

i know this church is true, i know that sharing the Gospel will bring blessing into your life so for your sake and the sake of everyone you know and love just go out and do it! :) 

Love,

Elder Rollins

Enjoying the holidays away from home

December 5, 2013

I love when we receive text pictures from the members of Hayes's ward. We got out of the movies and had this fun surprise. :) 

They look good and happy! :)

December 7, 2013

I got on facebook tonight and saw these pictures from a family that Elder McCurdy and Elder Rollins are teaching! They got to help decorate the Christmas tree. :) 

The Barbie Tree! lol

The Big Tree! :)

I'm sure Elder Rollins is thrilled to get to decorate a REAL tree! Ours has been fake for ever, but he always wants us to get a real one! lol 

I'm so glad they get to be a part of this families Christmas festivities. :)

Brother Brazzles took the Elders to Bass Pro to get them Carhart Beanies to keep them warm in the Kansas Weather. 

It is comforting to know that they have good people looking out for them. :)

3 Letters Today!

December 4, 2013

I got 3 letters from Elder Rollins today! WHOO HOO!!

Here is a little from all 3 letters. 

I LOVE hearing about his investigators and the progress he is making but it is also really nice to get some day to day details! :)

Mom: How's the training going?

Elder Rollins: "The training is going great! Elder McCurdy has probably caught on better than I did and have. I feel like my ability to train is pretty good but there's probably better trainers out there. Yes. We will be together his whole training! :) I love that we are almost on the same page all the time now! He's good at talking, I am not really. But I know the doctrine fairly well and can usually get a good scripture out and bare testimony. We are both good at gaining people's trust and helping people with their concerns. We could both probably follow the spirit a little better tho... I love that Elder McCurdy isn't afraid to try new things and test his limits and he has really helped me learn to do the same!"

They have Sisters and Elders in his ward so I asked about his area and if it was hard to stay busy with 2 sets of missionaries in their ward:

ELder Rollins: "There is a lot of work to do! WE have lots to do but the sisters are struggling to find people. This is a tough area to serve in cuz its really wealthy. But I love this area! I love everyone I meet!"

“My Thanksgiving was AWESOME! For lunch we went to our investigator’s houses, Mary and Jack and had prime rib! But it was super uncooked so they had to microwave it! hahahahaha Just made me think back to dad always saying, “just nuke it.” LOL It was a good dinner tho. We were able to talk with Jack and get to know him better which was awesome cuz we both really want to teach him! 

Then we had dinner with the Fackerells! I LOVE that family! They are wonderful! We tried some dang firey salsa but the taste was excellent. They made ham and turkey and twice baked potatoes and a whole array of things! It was a good day! :) 

Lastly, we went to the Haughts and watched some church videos! (This must have been after Thanksgiving because the Haughts were in Phoenix for Thanksgiving! lol)

He ends with 2 scriptures:

Doctrine & Covenants 76:22

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the atestimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he blives!

Doctrine & Covenants 58:4

4 For after much atribulation come the bblessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be ccrowned with much dglory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

I always try to get a little information out of my boy of few words! hahaha 

Mom: What do you do for your morning workout? I figured with another wrestler as his companion, they would be really hitting it hard! hahahah NOT! lol

Elder Rollins: “Well, I do pushups and pull ups mostly.”

Mom: What do you eat for breakfast and lunch? 

Elder Rollins: “B - Eggs, pancakes, french toast, cereal, begals. L - pizza, dino chicken nuggets (hahahaha)

Mom: What do you do on your P-Days? (where’s the cleaning buddy?) lol 

Elder Rollins: “Shop, email, basketball” 

Elder Rollins LOVES getting letters! Sister Haught told me that the Elders run to the mailbox everyday to see if they have anything and whenever they do, they are SOOO happy and excited! 

Email is good but letters are BETTER!!

hayes.rollins@myldsmail.net

****When writing a letter, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and you will be guaranteed a letter back! 

Mission Home Address:

Missouri Independence Mission

517 Walnut Street

INdependence, MO 64050-3632

***Apartment Address until December 19th - He may be transferred this time

Elder Hayes Rollins

10244 W 81st Terrace #218

Overland Park, KS 66204

Elder Rollins: “Mom, I just wanted to say thank you for sending so many letters! I LOVE it! Please don’t stop! I LOVE getting them! :)

Elder Rollins thoughts on the new Stetson Valley ward: 

“We have an awesome bishopric! They are going to do amazing things!” 

Elder Rollins wrote me a letter about how much he worries! He listed 20 things that he worries about all the time. Well that worried me! hahaha So I looked up the word ‘worry’ in the dictionary and actually a word that means worry is CARE! So I told Elder Rollins that he probably CARES so much more than he WORRIES! He seemed to like that, so he sent me a letter talking about some of the things that he cares so much about: 

1. Mom, Dad, Haylee (my family) & my relationship with the Lord
2. My friends, the ones I have now and the ones who have been with me and will always be with me!
3. WRESTLING! I miss it so badly! lol It sucks because I never see it anywhere. Everything else I get a glimpse of, but wrestling, I get nothing! There is almost no comparison of how badly I want to wrestle! 

Overjoyed!

December 2, 2013

OVERFLOWING WITH FEELINGS OF JOY!

we are just working hard and trying to find the people that lord has prepared for us! and we have truly been blessed this last week! 

    we have been working with this investigator, leashia, for like 18 weeks! and she is finally catching on! she is coming to church and reading more and has finally agreed to a baptismal date! im so excited for her! she was the very first lesson i taught and now ive seen her grow into having her own testimony and ready for the next step! its been a huge faith builder for me and its cool to see how the Lord will make things work in his own time! :)

    we've been working with another family the brazzells for a while now and things are finally starting to fall into place! :) we have been meeting with them about 2 or 3 times a week now and they are progressing quickly, the daughter gabby, this week, shouted out that she wanted to get baptized and i about cried cuz it was so cool to hear. the father is sick, hes hilarious :) and he has been holding the rest of the family back and this week he broke it down for us and said that he's ready to start keeping our commitments and said that he needs to start coming to church and reading and praying more! the spirit in their house is so strong now! :) and its been really cool to see the transformation in this family that ive grown to love so much. and last night we got a phone call from their close friends that got them in contact with the missionaries and they called us and asked us if its true that the brazzells are beginning to progress as fast as they thought they are! and then praised us about how great of missionaries that we are and told us that he had a bad experience with one missionary and that had caused him to stop taking the lessons and that if we could get to the brazzells we must really be special :) i was about in tear because the spirit was testifying to me how the Lord really does put us where we need to be! man! these are the experiences that missionaries live for! :)

     i have been so blessed this past few weeks with many things! 

love you! ELder ROllins! 

ps thanks for the Christmas gifts and the pumpkin bread i love it! :) 

We got this picture from a member that had the Elders over for Thanksgiving dinner. Looks like Elder McCurdy got his wish! 

This past weekend, the Haught family, from Elder Rollins' ward came to Phoenix. They stopped by our house to meet us. They asked if I had anything I wanted to send back with them, so I got a few packages together and they were so kind to deliver them to the Elders. 

Last night Sister Haught sent me pictures of Elder Rollins after receiving the packages I sent to them. He did not know she was doing this! While the Haughts were at our house, I immediately remembered the back roller! (that's what we call it) I literally jumped up and got it for them to take back to Hayes. I was inspired because Hayes said he was going to call the mission nurse today because his back is so bad! I was literally MOVED by the spirit to get that roller! Hayes was so happy! He used it immediately! It was such a blessing! I'm glad I listed to the spirit and followed that prompting!

ps thanks for the Christmas gifts and the pumpkin bread i love it! :)

I made Elder Rollins and Elder McCurdy a Christmas stocking. 

As for the Christmas stockings... Sister Haught said that when Hayes opening up the box with the stockings he literally screamed! hahahaha

They were both so excited! Hayes took out every present and shook each one trying to figure out what the gifts were. LOL 

These are moments of joy for a mother! :)

The Work is Progressing!

November 25, 2013

this week was freezing cold!!!!! like 29 was the high a couple of days! which means it was tcfh (to cold for hayes!) lol but on the bright side we had a sick week! 

i have decided that i love service! we were able to rake some leaves for Mary faith! and she wants us to come and help her rip out her carpet next week! and on top of that shes coming to church with us! :) when someone says that they want to come to church with us i want to like cry cuz no one ever wants to come to church with us! 

we finally hit Brother Brazzells heart yesterday night! he truly sounded sincere when said he will really read and pray about the Book of Mormon from now on. i was so excited! now that he's on board his family should be baptized before the end of the year! :) i am so excited for their family!  

Leashia will get baptized soon, just kinda needs to break down her wall, its like when someone gets heart broken from a relationship and they put up a wall and dont let anyone in cuz they dont wanna get hurt again, thats where she's at.. 

so today for pday we have to deep clean our apartments... no basketball and no sports.. im very sad but happy cuz now our apartment will be spotless! even though its already pretty clean.

this is what i studied this week because president gave me some scriptures to read!, i hope you like it and understand it and it can help you cuz it brought new light to me! 

the scrpitures were Isaiah 58:6-9 doctrine and covenants 121: 45 and doctrine and covenants 50:29 

so this is what i learned from the scriptures he gave me:

i learned that when im fasting that i truly need to put my heart into it and that as im fasting for repentance that i will literally feel my burdens get lighter and the chains holding me back will be lifted from me. i have already begun to feel that happening. sin covers us up from the spirit and as we repent its like the sun coming up in the morning. the difference is incredible as you feel the spirit starting to come back into your life and as we continue to live righteously we will have the spirit more fully. then the Lord forgives us fully the more sincere we are and takes us back into his presence when the Holy Ghost is willing to be with us.

sin usually begins as a thought and if we learn to control or to watch our thoughts (Mosiah 4:30) we can better keep away from sin and as we stay away from sin we will be more charitable because sin is usually a selfish desire. also as we live better we have the spirit with us and are worthy to use the priesthood which will help us be charitable because the priesthood just allows us to serve others. every aspect of the priesthood is meant for us to serve.

as we become clean and purified, we will be blessed and we can ask for whatever we need and if its in line with the will of our Father he will let it be done. so we need to be clean so that our prayers will be answered because our cleanliness allows us to have the spirit and the spirit will guide us to ask for the things the God wants us to ask for so he can bless us.

love you! 

Elder Rollins

Some Questions:

Q. How often do you get to use the car? 

You should definitely get a picture of you guys directing each other when you are backing out of a space! hahaha i always get a kick out of the missionaries having to do that! 

A. we have the car every other week! and i dont have to direct the backing up cuz im the senior companion and Elder McCurdy doesnt have driving privileges yet.

Q. How much time do you get on the computer each week?

A. im on for like a little over 2 hours. pretty much we have time to do what we need. we were told to take at least 2 hours if we need it! :)

Q. How many emails do you usually get each week? 5, 10, More?

A. ive been averaging like 35 emails a week.

Q. Where do you go to check your emails? Library? Church building?

A. we check them at the library

Q. Are you going to get a facebook?

A. we will get face book but probably not until july when President Keyes leaves.

Q. Did you get the Thanksgiving package?

If you don't eat the Pumpkin bread right away, keep it in the frige.

A. yes got it and i already ate it lol :) mail me more:) i love it and it wasnt enough!

Q. hahahaha! There is never enough pumpkin bread! lol

Did you share it? or Horde it? hahah

A. shared it lol most of it. actually 2 loaves to mccurdy, shared with elder smedley and a loaf to the sisters!

Q. if you get transferred, does that mean someone else will finish training Elder McCurdy? How is his training going?

A. no. his training ends at the end of this transfer. he wont freakin do his lessons, other than that hes an awesome missionary!

Q. Do I write too many letters?

Let me know if I am going over board!

A. nope keep sending them!

Q. Hows the ankle?

A. IDK GOING TO THE DOCTORS THIS WEEK IT HURTS HIGH UP AND ITS WEAK! .............. AHHHHHHHHHH

Q. When are your next transfers?
Should I send your Christmas presents to your apartment?
I will be mailing them the second week of December.
Will you get them?

A. send stuff to the mission office to be safe and transfers are december 19th.... i think i'll be leaving.