Colorado Springs Baby!!

My dear friends and family, I love and miss you ALL!! I go through loved ones withdrawals all the time!!

SO this last week I entered the mission field!!! I'm in the Fountain area of Southern Colorado Springs and its so surreal!! My area right now is pretty ghetto, but its going good.  I've already had doors shut in my face, which is really fun!!

My trainer's name is Elder Zundel and he's kind of a dork. I am honestly struggling to love him. He's great and all, but a lot of his habits irritate me. He really loves the work, though.  LOL, again, pray for something and the Lord will give it to you!! We are teaching only a few investigators but we are trying to find more everyday!! Met our downstairs neighbors and turns out that they're PAGAN!! like what the monkey?? but I gave them Our Search for Happiness by M. Russell Ballard, so hopefully that will spark some real interest.

I'm starting to understand the general exhaustion that missionaries talk about.  I'm tired all the time. I've never prayed so much in my life! The Lord really does answer prayers and lifts us up. Been praying a ton for charity, and let me tell ya its pretty opposite of the natural man! If you're considering a mission, and you know who you are, the Lord will bless you more than you could ever imagine. Seriously, you won't regret it.

To those struggling with ANYTHING, give it over to the Lord. you have already been bought with a price, its literally our choice to whether we hold on to it or not. 2 Nephi 31:19-21. In fact, that whole chapter is the center of the gospel! I listened to a talk by Cleon Skousen and it blew my mind!! it was titled, "The meaning of the Atonement."  I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand more. 
My heart hurts from reading about what's been happening back home and I just want YOU to know I'm here for you and you are in my prayers. 

Letters and packages would be MUCH appreciated ;) but seriously they will probably save my sanity ;) I had to talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday, and the topic was the importance of following the prophet. General Conference is literally the MOST APPLICABLE scripture in our lives. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, seek guidance from the Lord as you prepare to watch it. He will give you the answers that you need from the mouths of men and women who have been ordained to talk to God. I testify that every single message in General Conference comes from God. It will bless your life I promise you!! Also I'm extremely proud of my brothers and my sister for committing themselves more fully to God. Good job Ben on winning!! I knew you had it in you!! Im also trying to write at least five letters a week to people so if you get one you're loved and if not, I'm working on it ;) I'm also extremely grateful for my parents teaching me the gospel. Most of what my trainer teaches is review and I know this is because you took the time to teach me.

I leave you with my solemn witness that Christ lives. That as He suffered in Gethsemane and Died on Golgotha He did it for YOU. He is my personal savior and I admonish you to make Him yours. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. The Book of Mormon is the most true book in existence, and I KNOW that its the fastest and best way to come unto Christ. I love the Lord, and I love His gospel. This Church is true. The devil may send his whirlwinds but as long as you build upon the foundation of Christ you will not only be ok, you will be better.  Faith is a verb, an action word to be applied DAILY. Thomas s. Monson is the Lords mouthpiece. Prayers are answered. I love and miss you all,

With much love and affection,

Elder Mason Rogers

P.S. My Address is 4810 Manzana Drive, Apartment number 207. Colorado Springs, CO. Zip code is 80911

I wasn't kidding about sending me stuff!! also email me your addresses so I can write yall love letters ;)

 

 

Never Pray for Patience...

Dear Family and Friends,

 

My first week at the MTC was crazy!!! I wish I could blame any bad grammar on another language that I'm learning buuuuuttt, nope! Its just plain exhaustion!! Imagine this: You've just left your family for two years, not to mention a TON of friends, you've sacrificed years of education to not get paid, and this is how your day goes. You wake up and 6:30 and you get dressed and go study for an hour in a classroom with 9 other guys. Then you eat food that was made to feed genetically mutated velociraptors and therefore NOT OK for normal humans. Then you have 50 minutes to work out, 30 minutes to get ready for the day and then 7 hours of class time followed by 3 hours of personal study. Sounds brutal right? It would be without the CONSTANT companionship of the spirit. Ive literally never learned more in my entire life in such a short amount of time! I'm humbled every other hour and broken down so that I HAVE to rely on the Lord. He is there and he does care.

The other night I was baring my soul to my God and before I could stop myself I asked for patience. This was a mistake and also a very important experience for me haha. That night one of my roommates decided to roleplay as a chainsaw, while in a coma. Elder Kunz would not be woken. I didnt fall asleep till four in the morning. It was a struggle. Ironically I didnt realize the Lord answered my prayer till after the trial of my faith. But he did and it was because I had faith that he would. Its so humbling that an all powerful Being would care about one such as I.

My companion is so awesome! He is super positive and we get along great! we're almost always on the same  page so it makes it so easy to preach the gospel.  He's also 6'3, a state champion heavyweight wrestler and really quiet. Basically, we are opposites haha! but it works out great! His personality totally reminds me of Elder Lucas, WHICH is also funny because his last name is Luker!!

I can't wait to get out in the field and serve the Lord with all my might, mind, and strength! The biggest thing I've learned here is the Doctrine of Christ. This is Literally the center of the gospel. I invite all of you to make this Doctrine the center of your lives and I know that it will bless each and every one of you in ways you can't even imagine. Please write me and send me your addresses! I love letters!! and Packages ;)  I wish I had more time to write, but for now this will have to get you through another week without me.

I know that the Lord lives. I know that through Faith in Him and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End, we can access the divine power of the Atonement and He will make your burdens light. I know that He knows each and every one of us more intimately and perfectly than anyone else. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he did see God the Father and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. This IS the true Church. I know that families can be together for ever through the plan of salvation. I know he answers prayers, not when we want, but when we need them. I know the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the Gospel, that it is THE MOST POWERFUL WAY to come unto Christ. If your'e not noticing Him in your life anymore, look harder, He will never leave you. 2 Nephi 31:20-21. read it and know for yourself. I love and miss all of you, and I love some of you more than others ;) you know who you are ;)

Much love,

Elder Rogers

P.S. Elder Hite and Elder Penrod say hi, they're doing great :) Elder Hite left yesterday for Germany so don't send his packages here anymore, incase you didnt get the memo.... also i will write you back if you write me ;)

 

Mason's Comp Elder Luker



 

Provo MTC - The Adventure Begins

Mason said goodbye to the family Wednesday Morning.  He didn't want to be emotional right before he went into the MTC so he asked us to head back to Arizona that morning and have his grandparents drop him off at the MTC. We had breakfast together and then Mason read to us his favorite scripture and bore his testimony.  He had family prayer and he hugged each one of us goodbye.  Steve served his mission in the Netherlands and it is their tradition to wave until the person you're saying goodbye to is out of site.  You will see Mason waving at us as we drive away.  It was hard to let him go, but he is ready and we are excited for him.

 

Last meal with the family

Sharing his favorite scripture

 



 

Its hard to say goodbye



 

All smiles now.  He is ready to go!!

 



 

The Elder who was greeting Mason asked him where he was serving... When Mason told him Colorado Springs, he got so excited because that is where he is from.

 

Elder Mason Rogers - Beginning his Missionary journey in the MTC

Send Letters or packages until 9/18/2015 to:
Elder Mason Quinn Rogers
SEP21 CO-COSP
2005 N 900E Unit 112
Provo, UT 84602

Send letters or packages after 9/18/2015 to:

Elder Mason Quinn Rogers
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission
4090 Center Park Dr Ste 4
Colorado Springs CO 80916

email: mason.rogers@myldsmail.net