New Photos from Elder Roque

Here are a few of the most recent photos from the mission field.  As a parent, it warms my heart to see Zach so happy.  I know that not every experience will be a positive one, but he seems to be enjoying the time he has as a missionary, and really loving the people that he has been sent to serve.          

What cute kids

Baptism day

Fellow missionaries

J.C. Penny pose

The only car Zach has had on his mission

Random snow picture from last winter

Great Family

Elder's from the Morristown Mission

Zone breakfast

Manhattan Temple

One of my "Futbol" buddies

July was a great month!

This week has been good. We recently had a baptism, his name is Dominique and is 18 years old.  It is the first baptism this branch has seen in 11months.  It's great to be part of the process when someone makes changes in their life that bring them so much joy.  On a more personal note, I have been playing a lot of soccer! I am gettin pretty good. I have played with people from all over the world.

We were able to see fireworks as a zone for the 4th of July, it was really fun. We have been focusing on working really hard,and doing the best we can. We have a couple of investigators that are moving along well. We are having an all mission conference soon with all the new missionaries coming over from the Cherry Hill mission; it should be a lot of fun. It is amazing to see the changes in people as we teach them and help them draw them closer to God.


Things are going amazing!!!! We met a guy named John and he is progressing so fast. HE is amazing! He is getting close to being baptized really soon. probably in August.  We are working really hard and seeing a lot of success. We have about 3 people who could be baptized within a month. Time will tell. But other than that the heat is killer!  Still hot and humid but it is supposed to cool down these next few days. Hopefully!

I have been asked to speak at the funeral of a member of the branch.  I don't know the man but he was a member of the church. His wife is not. I will be using the plan of salvation in my talk. Hopefully her burden will be lifted. Our recent convert Domonique was called as a branch missionary and is preparing to serve a mission in a year. He is also preparing to get his patriarchal blessing!!!!! Our investigator John is still praying about a baptismal date: probably the end of August. He is amazing. He has felt the spirit and is committed living the gospel of Jesus Christ; he is already talking about going to the temple!!!!

Amazing Temple Trip

We had the opportunity to attend the temple this last week, it was amazing!!!!!!! We were there to see a couple be sealed and were also able to witness baptisms and do confirmations,  as well as go through a session. It was a great experience.

Unlike many of the temples I have visited, the Manhattan temple is right in the middle of the city.  As you can see from the picture, it's busy outside with traffice and noise, but once to step inside it is so quiet and peaceful.  Really quite amazing.  If you weren't paying attention to the building you probably wouldn't know it was a temple if your just walked past.

We have been stressing lately, as our teaching pool in small and we are trying to find new people to teach. Right now we have 3 solid investigators. Domonic who is being baptized the 10th, and Damien who we started teaching yesterday.  He already has a love for the Book of Mormon . We also are teaching a man named Gary.

We are absorbing the Cherry Hill mission on the 1st and we are having a mini transfer the 7th. More missionaries and the possibility of a new area or companion on the mini-transfer.  Who knows what will happen. Everything is going well.  Keep us in your prayers.

Elder Roque

New Blog

I thought I would get a new blog up and running for Zach.  I want for his mission experiences and photos to have their own venue.  So, here we go.  I just want to clarify that Zach is not posting this information, I am. 
I know it shows at the bottom of the posts he did, but I set the blog up with his name for his info.  So just in case anyone thinks he is blogging from New Jersey, he is not.  I am still posting for him, and thoroughly enjoy it. 

It has truly been a blessing to have him serving as a missionary.  It has been hard as parents to have him so far away, but the growth he has experienced, and the miracles he has seen and been a part of has made it all worth while.

Thanks,

Lari

Transferred to Bayonne 6/7/10

I am now in Bayonne. I have really seemed to have come into my own and am now teaching more powerfully than I ever have. It is amazing when you prepare and are obedient, how well the spirit works through you. My new companion is Elder Brasga, we served in the MTC together.

I do like Bayonne. It is another walking area; keepin the weight off. The branch we serve is very smal, we average 20 people at church each week. Even though it is small I know with the Lord's help it will grow tremendously.

We are teaching a lot of teenagers and I have been pretty bold in calling them to repentance, but it is exactly what they need. Elder Brasga and I have been working our tails off. Yesterday I taught about 18 teenagers at the park. I taught them the whole restoration and the whole plan of salvation. We are going back tonight to teach them again. We get to go to the temple next month!!!!!!! I love the temple. It is such a blessing in our lives. I love You all And you are always in my prayers.

New Area

I am now in Bayonne. I have really seemed to have come into my own and am now teaching more powerfully than I ever have. It is amazing when you prepare and are obedient, how well the spirit works through you.  My new companion is Elder Brasga, we served in the MTC together.


I do like Bayonne. It is another walking area; keepin the weight off. The branch we serve is very smal, we average 20 people at church each week. Even though it is small I know with the Lord's help it will grow tremendously.

We are teaching a lot of teenagers and I have been pretty bold in calling them to repentance, but it is exactly what they need. Elder Brasga and I have been working our tails off. Yesterday I taught about 18 teenagers at the park.  I taught them the whole restoration and the whole plan of salvation. We are going back tonight to teach them again.  We get to go to the temple next month!!!!!!! I love the temple.  It is such a blessing in our lives.  I love You all And you are always in my prayers.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was wonderful.  Ivan did his homework, and helped the kids with a present for me. I received a Barnes and Noble "NOOK" e-reader.  So cool!  I know that it probably annoys my family when I fall into a book and read non-stop, but I truly LOVE to read. One problem; my aging eyes cause me to make some rather unflattering faces when trying to read the rather tiny print in many books.  This in turn causes loud laughter, and what can unequivocally be termed "evil speaking" directed at my rather funny faces. I suppose I should be thankful that I make them laugh.  At any rate, the nook allows me to increase the size of the font of any book that I download, so, I hoping that loud laughter will be a thing of the past.  (At least at my expense!)

I do have to say though that the icing on the cake was speaking with Zach on the phone. It's amazing to hear the change in his voice.  He is truly enjoying his time in New Jersey,and loves those he has been called to serve.  He has grown both spiritually and temporally.  The mission experience has given him the opportunity to view the world through truly unselfish eyes.  This time has been set aside to serve the Lord and those in the communities he labors in.

I know that these two years, although a sacrifice when it comes to education and other desires; will prepare Zach more effectively than if he had chosen not to serve.  The experiences he is having now cannot be replicated at any other time in his life.  The joy in his voice when he shared recent experiences warmed my heart.

Zach was transferred the Wednesday following Mother's Day to a new city called Bayonne. It looks like it is just across the water from Newark.  He is still in a walking area, and has lost about 20 pounds. I am thinking that he possibly might lose more weight as the summer is upon the Jersey Shore.  Zach says it is hot, hot, hot and very sticky.  So, from extreme cold to extreme humid heat. GOOD TIMES!