I just love it in this place, today is basically the last day for Elder Woodward and Elder Rigtrup as a missionary in the New Jersey Morristown Mission. It's crazy, but it is true. They will definitely be missed. On the bright side I found out that I will be staying in this area and training a new missionary! A lot of missionaries go their entire missions hoping to serve in this area for one transfer and I get to serve for 5 ( about 7 and a half months). The traveling AP that was with me and elder Woodward for the Fourth of July is going to come to the Jersey City heights area to train a missionary. I am so pumped, it is going to be a blast! On a more sad note someone I grew really close to is leaving. His name is Elder Follet. We both entered the mission field at the same time and were trained in the same area, he is Spanish speaking. He is the man and I am going to miss him, I'm sure our paths will cross again. Even though there is a lot of change happening, I am super excited for what is coming! Life is so good. This week has been good. A huge highlight was taking Jahadah to the temple. It was such a beautiful experience and you could tell she was loving it. In church on the next day she gave a talk on her conversion experience and told the whole ward that she was going to serve a mission! Alex got confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost in sacrament meeting. When we sat back down he turned to me and said, I am just so happy. Amazing moment I won't forget! I love you all! Elder McOmber |
Monday, July 25, 2016
july 25, 2016
Monday, July 18, 2016
July 15, 2016
the New York, New York South mission (just across the pond!), and to
another cousin Hunter McOmber, who I am pretty sure just entered the
MTC and is going to Houston, Texas!
This week has been crazy so I am just going to give you a few of my
journal entries that I am keeping on my iPad, they sum it up pretty
well
July 13 Paulina, Julissa, Julio
Today I went on a exchange with my district leader Elder Brooks, in
his area (Bayonne). The last lesson, we taught was a super awesome
lesson! Paulina has been investigating the church for 23 years, and
Julissa has been for the last 6, waayyyyyy to long. So we talked
lovingly but boldly for a whole hour just about how baptism is a
blessing and a starting point rather than a scary end destination.
They were still unsure, I felt like we were going nowhere so I decided
to have us all kneel and have Julissa give a prayer for whether or not
they should be baptized and what day, and have us sit and wait until
they knew they had an answer. So we knelt down and I looked of over at
the clock and it said 8:23. We started a prayer that last a minute and
then we waited...with our heads bowed... Me and elder brooks said
nothing and waited... Finally they got up together and sat back down.
I looked at the clock and it said 8:47. We had been kneeling on the
floor for 24 minutes. Julio was the first to speak, He said he knew it
was the right thing to do and that he just had talk to his son first
(who is a member of the church). Paulina and Julissa followed suite
and the spirit was soooooooo strong. I found out from elder brooks
that that was the first time Julio had been taught by the
missionaries. I already know that will be one of my favorite
experiences from my mission.
July 16 bitter sweet bitter
The 15th was such a crazy day. I heard my cousin, Elder Rigtrup, give
his dying testimony in zone conference. He has been in my district for
my whole mission and it wasn't until I saw him give that, that I
realized that he is really going home. Though he has been trunky and
talked about home the entire time, I knew he was working hard. I spent
all of today's shower in tears over the fact that he and my companion
(Elder Woodward) are going home, I wish they would just extend! Then
after zone conference we went to Alex's house and went over the
baptismal interview questions. He is completely ready for baptism, so
I was on a complete high. I met Alex 26 days into my mission, and now,
exactly 3 months later, he is being baptized. I love him to death and
will always stay in contact with him. We then went over to Moses
house, where he continued where he had left off a couple days before,
expressing how he felt like there was too much going on in his life to
worry about whether or not he should get baptized. After trying to do
and explain everything I could, trying to figure out what really was
holding him back, he was still saying the same thing. We finally left
him 2 Nephi 31 (which talks about the gospel of Jesus Christ and talks
specifically about the importance of baptism) and talk him to pray
really hard, for a long time to know what it is God wants for him. He
accepted and whatever he says today will be what we have to do,
whether it's to continue to prepare him for baptism or to leave him be
and hope that he will pick up the Book of Mormon again at a later
date. I have come to truly love it out here. I honestly never want to
leave my mission, these bonds that I am making with the people, and
other missionaries, are stronger than life itself. I am looking
forward to the day that I get to reconnect with all of them.
July 17 good day
Morning: Today is the day of Alex's baptism! It has been a very long
journey, but it is only the beginning for him. But I want to talk
about the news I just got about Paulina, Julissa, and Julio. They are
officially getting baptized! When they said they had to talk to the
son (victor, a active member in the church) they were figuring out
when he could come back and baptize them!!!! September 7th is the day.
I am honestly so grateful that I was able to meet them and witness
first hand the spirt work with them. I am sooo happy for them and for
Alex. Like it says, Good Day.
Night: Today was such a blessing. We met with Moses before church to
see what his decision was, he told us that he wanted to get baptized!
He came to church. In sacrament meeting Alex turned to me and said,
"Elder McOmber, I can't thank you enough, you have been there for me
from the beginning, I am nervous but so excited." I just about cried.
Alex's baptism went so well, the ward loves him! He had 3 people
invite him over for dinner, and the bishop and stake president want
him to have a calling as soon as possible. And he is excited to have
one. Just when Alex left the room to go with brother Starks into the
baptismal font, Jahadah walked in and sat down behind me. She tapped
on my shoulder, when I turned around she had the biggest smile on her
face and was holding a temple recommend... Needless to say I was soooo
happy. Me and elder Woodward are going to the temple with her on
Saturday!
This week has been a great week.
Love you all!
Elder McOmber
Monday, July 11, 2016
4th of July! Justin's favorite holiday!
Another great week! We are working hard and getting a lot done! Today is super busy because it's the 4th. I am in one of the best places I could be! The Statue of Liberty is actually way closer to New Jersey, and it is in the area I cover (on my area map it is actually included haha) and Liberty State Park does a really good firework show, so I am going to be in heaven tonight! (The 4th of July is my favorite holiday) Here are some updates! Jahadah: She is solid! She loves going out with the sister missionaries and she will be going to the temple soon! Moses: he is the man! Coming along really well, he is super excited for his baptism Gillian: for those of you who don't remember, this is the friend of Kyle. She is so sweet and has a genuine desire to do what is right and follow God. Cool experience of the week: This week we went over to someone's house who recently joined the church and they had a friend name Tamarie. After a while of talking I asked her if she has ever asked herself "where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?" She said, "everyday!" So we talked about Gods plan for us and she said she wants to get baptized and follow gods plan for her. She is super cool Funny experience of the week: The attached video! Sometimes between 2 and 4 the energy level gets low. So I do that to get us pumped up again hahaha Much love! Elder McOmber |
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Hello everyone!
I am sorry for the past few weeks, they have been crazy full days. But
luckily I have a little bit more time to tell you all about what is
going on!
luckily I have a little bit more time to tell you all about what is
going on!
About 2 weeks ago exactly we took a 18 year old young man named Kyle
on a team up with us to get him excited to go on a mission. We had
helped this nice women move and she invited us to come over, so we
were teaching her for the first time. The lesson went really well and
Kyle contributed a lot. And the end of the lesson we invited her to
follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. She said yes!
After the lesson Kyle was beaming, he loved it and wanted to come out
with us again. We invited him to think of some of his friends that
could use the message that we bring. The following Sunday he told us
that he had a friend that he had talked a little bit about the gospel
to and was interested in meeting with us. On Tuesday we met with him
and a very nice 18 year old girl. She is so sweet. We taught the first
lesson and once again Kyle was awesome. We extended the same
invitation to her and she accepted. After she said, "I can just feel
the happiness that comes from Kyle and you guys and I can't help but
to think it has something to do with the belief that you all share." I
am really proud of Kyle and the kind of person he is, and I can tell
he is getting really excited to serve a mission.
on a team up with us to get him excited to go on a mission. We had
helped this nice women move and she invited us to come over, so we
were teaching her for the first time. The lesson went really well and
Kyle contributed a lot. And the end of the lesson we invited her to
follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. She said yes!
After the lesson Kyle was beaming, he loved it and wanted to come out
with us again. We invited him to think of some of his friends that
could use the message that we bring. The following Sunday he told us
that he had a friend that he had talked a little bit about the gospel
to and was interested in meeting with us. On Tuesday we met with him
and a very nice 18 year old girl. She is so sweet. We taught the first
lesson and once again Kyle was awesome. We extended the same
invitation to her and she accepted. After she said, "I can just feel
the happiness that comes from Kyle and you guys and I can't help but
to think it has something to do with the belief that you all share." I
am really proud of Kyle and the kind of person he is, and I can tell
he is getting really excited to serve a mission.
Speaking of going on missions, Jahadah wants to go really bad! She
went on a 4 hour long team up with the sister missionaries in our
ward and loved it! She got to sit in a lesson and contact some people
on the street. She said, "even though it really hurt to have a lot of
people reject me and what I wanted to say, I felt really good just
allowing them to have the possibility to have what I feel right now.
And of course it was amazing when the people decided to listen!" She
talked about how she wants all of her friends to feel what she is
feeling, so she is going to bring 2 friends with her to our next
lesson. Oh and Jahadah graduated this week! She was like "you should
be proud of me! At the after party I was offered weed and everyone in
the circle was telling me to do it and I said no, I am a Mormon and I
am proud." She is so solid.
went on a 4 hour long team up with the sister missionaries in our
ward and loved it! She got to sit in a lesson and contact some people
on the street. She said, "even though it really hurt to have a lot of
people reject me and what I wanted to say, I felt really good just
allowing them to have the possibility to have what I feel right now.
And of course it was amazing when the people decided to listen!" She
talked about how she wants all of her friends to feel what she is
feeling, so she is going to bring 2 friends with her to our next
lesson. Oh and Jahadah graduated this week! She was like "you should
be proud of me! At the after party I was offered weed and everyone in
the circle was telling me to do it and I said no, I am a Mormon and I
am proud." She is so solid.
We have been teaching this 18 year old named Tyrell. He is a humble
young man who has a sincere desire to follow God. Attached to this
email is a picture of us with him before he left for graduation. He is
leaving for Maryland for the next few weeks but he said he wants to
get baptized when he gets back!
young man who has a sincere desire to follow God. Attached to this
email is a picture of us with him before he left for graduation. He is
leaving for Maryland for the next few weeks but he said he wants to
get baptized when he gets back!
Hopefully you all remember Arcides, he turned 16 on the 21st and will
be receiving the priesthood soon. We have been teaching his younger
brother Moses. He wants to follow his brothers footsteps and wants to
get baptized, and he wants Arcides to do the baptism!
be receiving the priesthood soon. We have been teaching his younger
brother Moses. He wants to follow his brothers footsteps and wants to
get baptized, and he wants Arcides to do the baptism!
I love being out here! I am so blessed to be here and meeting all of
these people.
these people.
I love you all!
Elder McOmber
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