WEEK #66 - Exchanges, Every Day...

 What a week! 

Monday: October 19th

Today was great! We had interviews with President and taught a really great phone call lesson to Velma. She's been struggling finding peace in her life and we taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His peace is all encompassing as we turn to Him and submit our will to His. Trust in Him, and you'll find peace as you follow Him! 

Road trip with Elder Hawkes...

Tuesday: October 20th

Happy 20th!!! :) Today was a great day, we woke up early and drove about 4 hours to Rifle! I got to exchange with the Rifle ZLs, I was with Elder Tesch. He's such a goofy legend! I really enjoyed spending the day working with him. Rifle is a beautiful place!

Rifle Exchange!

Wednesday: October 21st

We got up and drove to Grand Junction for another exchange! I went with Elder Camp in the YSA area. We had SO many lessons today, it was fun bouncing around teaching about our Savior Jesus Christ :) 

GJWest Exchange!

Thursday: October 22nd

Woke up AGAIN for another exchange! This time I got to drive back to Montrose... yay!! I even got to be with my former compaion Elder Malm. We both taught Angela together who's always a stud! It was so funny being with those Elders, we ate Chinese takeout and got demolished, haha! Classic mission days... 

Montrose Exchange! 

Friday: October 23rd

Well... our last exchanges got canceled because half of them were in quarantine because of COVID exposure, and the other half were evacuated because of the East Troublesome fires over in Granby.... just a normal day in the mission, right? :) We ended up driving from Montrose to Denver (about a 5 hour drive) and got home around 7:30pm. It was a looooong drive, but I absolutely LOVE all these mountain roads in Colorado. Fall just looks absolutely beautiful, I can't wait to take my family out here with me! 

Saturday: October 24th

Today we had a bunch of meetings, but we got a lot of things organized with the Office Team for the November Training Plan (what we want to focus on as a mission for the month). It also is getting pretty cold here in Denver, I'm "SO" excited for the cold weather... ;) 

FLIP... there's snow!

Sunday: October 25th

Today we woke up to 10° weather and SNOW!!! Literally yesterday me and Elder Hawkes were walking around in short sleeves... holy cow, it was SO cold. And, our truck didn't start. RIP. We were outside in the bitter cold trying to get our truck out. We finally made it to church, but today was a good day! We taught a couple lessons and shivered a bunch haha :)

Snow snow snow

Here's our truck!

Enjoy the week, and I'm praying for you all!

Love,

Elder LaRose 

keldon.larose@missionary.org

Here is my new address:
999 East Tufts Avenue
Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80113

WEEK #65 - You speak Spanish?... Nope.

Denver denver... holy cow, it's a new chapter in the mission!

Elder Hawkes selfie!

Monday: October 12th

AWEsome pday today for the goofs :) We played kickball as a District and then I got to see a little bit more of Denver. I can't believe I'm actually in Denver now haha! It hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. We met with President Rees to outline some things for the mission. It's going to be a great week!

Tuesday: October 13th

Today we got to teach a bit, and organize a LOT of training for the future. Driving around Denver hasn't been that bad, only a few crazy people! Including me :)

Beautiful cotton candy sky!

Wednesday: October 14th

Today I got to make cookies for the first time in my life. (Hey! Dont judge me haha ;) I actually took the time to open the packet, mix it, and bake them haha. Everytime I just fail once I get to the cookie dough stage cause I just eat all of it cause it's so good.... we brought them over to some members and they loved them! I'm surprised I didn't burn them haha. I got to teach my aunt Staci again, she's so awesome! Me and Elder Hawkes had a great member dinner and shared a really cool thought on the comfort that Christ brings us through both easy and tough times. 

Proof I actually made cookies

Thursday: October 15th

District council was great, we ate some dinner outside with some members and it was pretty cold. I was noticable shivering cause I'm so skinny haha! We'll see how this Denver winter will be... I'm definitely going to need to wear all my layers, haha!

Friday: October 16th

We trained all the new missionaries and the leadership which was great. We called this one man who was avidly against a belief in God. He said, "If there was a God, why would He be interested in me?" It was a little tough to swallow that, I just want everyone to feel the love and comfort that comes from knowing they have a God who is their loving Heavenly Father. I really pray that we can help this person develop Hope in God. Let us all press on!

A great picture of Christ!

Saturday: October 17th

Me and Elder Hawkes got roasted by President. We basically just need to be better at training haha! Hey, it was our first time, we can get some slack ;) Nah, it wasnt that bad, it's so fun being with Elder Hawkes. We're always cracking jokes with each other. Elder Samojla finally got released from being the Facebook Specialist for the mission, man he's been there for a while! I love that Elder :)

Classic police outside our apartment...

Sunday: October 18th

Today we got to eat dinner with a member outside as we froze. We even got to teach 9 lessons today, one of which was in SPANISH! They had their kid translate the whole time, it was pretty awkward haha. Me and Elder Hawkes looked at each other and asked, "Do you know Spanish? Nope!" Haha, it was a great day today, learned alot!

I hope you all continue to find peace in Christ! Let me know how you're all doing, best of wishes!

Love,

Elder LaRose 

keldon.larose@missionary.org

Here is my new address:
999 East Tufts Avenue
Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80113

WEEK #64 - Denver. Wait a Minute... Denver?!

 Craziest week of my mission.

Monday: October 5th
Today got to get the flu shot, and wait an hour and a half for it.... SO FUN. Then, later today I got a phone call from President Rees and I'm now going to serve as the Assistant. We are going to be basically whitewashing the area, and my new companion Elder Hawks is a STUD but he's only been there for a week. So... new beginnings for sure! I'm SO sad to leave Elder Malm though, he's been a great companion.

Goodbye Elder Malm!

Tuesday: October 6th
We had our last call as a District, I swear I said every closing prayer haha! We had one last lesson with Angela, she's been able to find so much peace in her life as she's turned to her Savior, especially through the comfort of the Book of Mormon. I know this Gospel is true because I'm living it, and I'm loving the joy the comes from righteous living. There is not a right way to do the wrong thing. We must follow our Savior who is the only way, the only path that will bring us eternal happiness. Saying goodbye to Angela (again!) was sad but she was excited for me to travel on to Denver.

Wednesday: October 7th
Exchanges with Elder Burke was super fun! We definitely squeezed it in at the end of the transfer haha. We got to teach a few lessons and worked hard, he's a great Elder! He was reassigned from Peru, so crazy how many missionaries are reassigned now. I packed everything (barely) and loaded up everything.

Thursday: October 8th
Transfer day!! We got to GJ and as soon as the transfer bus showed up things kicked up 100mph. So many things to coordinate, but we got everyone where they needed to be! We got the bus to Rifle and dropped some people off, then once we got to Denver I met my new companion Elder Hawkes! We hit the ground running with going to the airport to pick up a new missionary. Turns out... his flight got DELAYED for an hour and a half!!! Dang. So we were at the airport from 4:30-8:30pm waiting to pick up this Elder. Elder Hawkes' phone died and mine got to 5%!!! Dannnng Gina! What a great way to start my first day in Denver :)

View outside my apartment, 4th floor!

Friday: October 9th
Today was CRAZY. Me and Elder Hawkes had to take the missionaries who were going home to the airport and I was assigned to drive the Tundra truck... WITH A TRAILER! What the heck, I'm pretty sure I've only driven a trailer once for like 10 yards in my life... and NOW I'm straight driving a truck and trailer on a Denver highway for an hour going to the Denver airport to find a parking space for this fat trailer... holy cow! As I was on the highway something jolted our electric cable connection loose from the trailer and my tires started smoking!!! I pulled over and got out as tons of cars flew literally inches from our faces. We got the trailer fixed and kept heading toward the airport. Luckily we got everything there and everyone home in one piece. Fun day :)

At the airport with Elder Eastman!

Saturday: October 10th
Today me and Elder Hawkes had our new assistants orientation because we whitewashed this area. Elder Hawkes has only been here about 3 weeks and me 3 days, so definitely a fun challenge! We get along super well so I'm not worried about anything. He's from Syracuse Utah and we love joking with each other. We taught some lessons today too!

Apartment

FUNNY STORY:
Me and Elder Hawkes were going on a walk outside our apartment when we see two drunk girls and a black guy walking on our side of the street coming towards us. So we crossed the Street hoping to avoid their attention when all of a sudden the black guy yells, "HEY! HEY, where did you get those white SHIRTS??? DANG, yall lookin SEXY! Those are some SEXY men!!" Oh. My goodness.... it was SO hilarious haha!! Holy cow, they were totally all drunk but it was just absolutely hilarious to experience that. #OnlyInDenver

Elder Hawkes

Sunday: October 11th
Got to attend sacrament meeting today with the Orchard ward, and met some great members. We had dinner at this NICE house... holy cow Denver is so rich. We taught a couple lessons and got to manage the whole Zone report. That's basically how we report what we do each week across the 9 Zones.

Chillin at the mission office

Definitely a crazy week. I've learned alot and I can't wait to have more crazy stories to tell! They never seem to end on my mission, don't they haha :)

Love,
Elder LaRose

keldon.larose@missionary.org

Here is my new address:
999 East Tufts Avenue
Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80113

AREA #4 - ORCHARD - 10/8/2020 - 6/17/2021

 COMPANIONS:

MEMBERS:

MORE BLACK CANYON PIC

WEEK #63 - October. Wait a Minute... October?!

Woah. 

Monday: September 28th

Today was so good, pday is just the best. At Walmart I bought pretzels, cereal, and milk. I think that's it... haha! Someone needs to teach me how to cook :) Or I can just make some good Mac and Cheese, or a bowl of Lucky Charms that always seems to do the trick ;) 

MLC with Elder Malm!

Tuesday: September 29th

Woke up at 5am and drove forever across Colorado to get to MLC. I love the beautiful drive out there! Got to see so many other missionaries and discuss how we can direct the Lord's work to move forward, as it ever will be. Driving back was so amazing, the views are just so beautiful! 

Wednesday: September 30th

We taught a couple lessons today, some varied in their craziness. We had one lesson where this husband and wife were constantly bickering back and forth with, just roasting each other for not understanding the story of the Tower of Babel.... ummmm, we were talking about the Book of Mormon, haha! :) Sometimes people are weird. 

Thursday: October 1st

I can't believe it's already October. What. Is. Going. On. This month is going to be AWEsome! Today we had an in person combined District Council with the whole Zone, it was so good! The Spirit was definitely present, especially as we focused our discussion around 3 Nephi 5:13 which starts with, "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God..." Such a powerful scripture and statement as we declare our discipleship and loyalty to our Savior Jesus Christ! 

Harry Potter's closet

Friday: October 2nd

Had a great meeting with our ward mission leader. He's basically the guy who helps us the most with helping others come closer to Christ in the area we serve in! 

Saturday: October 3rd

General Conference! A time and a place where we can gather virtually to listen to the words counsel, love, and advice that beloved prophets and apostles have for us! I invite you to discover what this opportunity is, and what lies in store for YOU as you seek it out. 

The classic General Conference setup!

Sunday: October 4th

This last day of General Conference was so AWEsome! One of my favorite quotes was, "Not making a choice is a choice." We in this life must choose a side, staying on the middle ground in the road is still a choice. We must be all in with the Savior and His side! So many people are content with the middle ground, the no man's land, the place of indecision – which is a decision. So we must CHOOSE our CHOICE and act in faith. Great insights!

This week was great, and I was definitely taught a lot. I hope each of you were guided through trials and strengthened amidst hardship! Keep pressing forward. 

Love,

Elder LaRose

keldon.larose@missionary.org