I'm a Dad!! Don't Worry, It's Not What You Think

 

 

Howdy Folks,

This Cowboy country is really getting to me. I think I might even start to like country! Ha Psych! Still not happening, but I am falling in love with this area, Its a great place to share the Gospel! So I'm sure your'e all wondering about the title of this email. Let me explain. When a missionary trains a new missionary, he becomes the new missionary's "dad" its just a slang term for being a trainer. Don't worry, I don't make him call me dad, that would be weird. But other missionaries will call him my boy and they will call me his dad. So there you have it, the secret language of missionaries! My new companions name is Elder Legaspi and he is from Naga City in the Phillipines! He is 100% solid and I love him already! He is 100% willing to work and he is even willing to put up with me. This week was kinda slow missionary work wise but it was still a good week! Here is how it went!

Monday: Elder Thompson and I,went on a legendary adventure out into the wilderness to find the remains of dinosaurs. It was so dope! We hiked for an hour and a half and came across the largest dinosaur tracksite in North America! The tracks spanned the length of a quarter mile and two opposing river banks. Since Elder Thompson and I are professional adventurers, we couldn't possibly be satified with the tracks on only one of the riverbanks, so we took off our shoes and forded a freezing cold river to reach the other dinosaur tracks. it was 100% worth it. The water was so cold that the instant my feet hit the water they just hurt. It was knarly. We then had to trek back to our car and face the wrath of some migrating cows that were pretty, well, bovine. It was definitely my favorite P-Day so far!

Tuesday: It was the last day Elder Thompson and I had together, So we tried to work our bottoms off. We had a great lesson with our progressing investigators, Jonathan and Crystal, and we found some new people to work with. Missionary work is the best!

Wednesday: Wednesday we drove to the Springs to pick up my trainee and to hand over Elder Thompson to his new companion. It was pretty sad. But all is well that ends well! I got some last minute training on how to be a trainer and I also got to meet Tru Faith, my favorite Christian rapper, who happened to be a former investigator of Elder Thompson. We then went to the airport to pick up my new companion and we had a safe drive home, all the way to La Junta, which is like a two hour drive. We are so isolated!

Thursday we got to weekly plan a smidgen and then go meet some investigators and the bishop. Bishop Efird is pretty awesome and we have a lot in common, since he just got called as Bishop and I am fairly new myself. We got to eat dinner with them and they invited us over to make calls to our families on Christmas.

Christmas: We studied like normal and then played Fact or Crap for almost two hours. The game is the best! We then went and saw a  less active and shared a spiritual message with him. Its great to be able to share Christ on Christmas!  We then got to go over to the Bishop's house and call our families, which was awesome! Shout out to the Fam, my favorite people ever! Luckily for me I get to keep them forever! We then watched Willow, which is by far one of my favorite movies ever. So good! I also have to say thank you to my Mom and my Grandma and Alexa for making my Christmas awesome! The shaving cream works great Grandma! I am a pretty spoiled missionary!

Saturday: Probably one of the roughest days I have had as a missionary. I just didn't know where to start and we had a limited amount of miles and it was just generally stressful. One of the families we were teaching dropped us because they ran into some Anti Mormon literature while doing research. That was pretty hard on me, because they had been a miracle find. But I have confidence that the Lord will soften their hearts and that we will be able to continue to teach them.  It still broke my heart. I then had a very drawn out and emotionally draining conversation with an aggressive atheist who insulted my intelligence and called me a sheep for believing in God. If the guy had been humble and polite with me we probably could've have parted ways without me wanting to give into the natural man and punch him, but instead he had to demean me and call me an idiot. I have nothing against other beliefs and even a lack of belief, but there is no reason to be rude. I think he is more mad at God than anything else. Looking back and having thought about it for awhile, I realize I needed to have that conversation to strengthen my testimony and to try my faith. I am very grateful the Lord helped me out and I know that if you ask for it, He will help you too.

Sunday: Our investigators came to church! That is always a win in my book! We got to go meet a bunch of people and recieved a really promising referral from a lady in the ward! The work is really picking up and I am so grateful I get to be a part of it! We taught the Word of Wisdom to our investigators and the they said they would live it! The Lord really made up my inadequacies in that lesson and It was super humbling.

I just want to bare my testimony that I know the Lord Qualifies whom He calls. I know it, because He is doing it with me. I love the Lord and I know that someday I will see Him again. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that God lives because the Spirit has born witness of  it in my heart. I testify that the Book of Mormon can help solve what ever problem you have, if you sincerely search it's pages and include God in the equation. I testify of the power of the Atonement of Christ. (Alma 34) It is the sweetest experience to feel the love the Savior has for us and when we repent and take advantage of the Gift of the Atonement, we feel that love so strong. He has the power to change your nature, your habits, your life. I invite you to let Him. You will not regret it. Life is hard, but it is harder with out Christ. I am grateful for all of you and I love you all very much. Stay safe and live long and prosper!

With Love,

Elder Rogers 

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When Your'e Mission Presidents Asks You to Go Super Saiyan... LAST MINUTE

Holy Strawberries Batman, We're in a jam!

Well Folks, that's just how I feel. So I found out last week that I would receive a companion by the name of Elder Thompson and that we would slay it in La Junta, Colorado. A little backround about La Junta. It is so dinky out here its knarly! I never thought that I would fall in love with small town america but I have. This area is off the chain. Anyways  This was the plan. But as anybody who has ever made a plan knows, plans don't always work out. So, without further ado, here was my week:

Monday: Just another Low Key Monday, played hours and hours of Basketball and packed in preparation to be transferred. I also received a certain Alexa's letter (thankyouthankyouthankyou) 

and a package from my Grandma Janet and my Grandpa Don. Thank you both so much you made this missionaries day so grand!

Tuesday: I get a phone call. From my Mission President. He tells me he wants me to train a new missionary who will be coming from the Philippines this Wednesday. I stop breathing at that point and choke out a yes. After he hangs up I go curl up in the fetal position and try to calm my toast. It takes me awhile, but I recovered in time for Transfer meeting, where i met my bro for life and current companion Elder Thompson. We Insta-clicked and it has been such a blast serving with him! Which makes training all the sadder, because he will most likely be transferred out to the Springs. 

Wednesday: My first official day in La Junta (pronounced La Hunna) Man I love this area! there is so much potential here! We cover a 5500 square mile radius, which makes it the second largest area in the mission. We need more miles #thatmissonarylife. Anyways we found two new investigators that day, and there names are Daniel Two Feathers Redearth and Marilyn Hansen. Two Feathers is a 57 year old legendary guy and Marilyn in an extremely intoxicated old woman who needs a lot of help and I love them already! 

Thursday: Just for kicks and giggles, my Mission President calls me again, and asks me to be the District leader. In a new area. At 3 Months.  So, just to make sure everyone is on the same page I am now flush training (training in a new area) a Filipino who may not even speak English and becoming a District leader right out of training. Can you say fetal position? I do want to testify that the Lord qualifies those He calls. During the Sacrament this week I had the blessing and opportunity to ask God what I lacked. He told me, by no uncertain terms, that it was faith. So I am determined to change that. I firmly believe that even though I am inexperienced and tasked with a huge amount of responsibility, I will be ok. Not only ok, but I will thrive because I choose to believe and have the faith the the Lord will walk, train, and be district leader with me. If i rely on Him. If Peter can walk on water because of Christ than surely the Lord will help me. Only if I let Him. We all have our agency to choose. We also found a family with 4 people who of baptizing age that are willing to hear our message. God is Great.

Friday: We found 3 new investigators today, including Jonathan, who said he would come to church and try it out. I am so grateful that the Lord sees the need that I have the fears that I harbor and comforts them in the perfect way. I love Him dearly.

Saturday: we got to teach a bunch of people and we a great lesson with Jonathan. We invited him to be baptized and he said he would pray about it. Elder Thompson and I are also ridiculously alike in a lot of ways. There was no awkwardness what so ever. 

Sunday: Jonathan came to church  and asked to be baptized, it was so sweet! We also got the chance to set up a few appointments with some people who should have joined the church long ago. Again, I love this area. After church we saw some crazy people and I got roasted by an 80 year old grandma who called me, and I quote "a creepy A** white cracker" Shout out to Sister Steir. After that we met with Jonathan and his wife and invited them both to be baptized on the 16th of December! They said yes! So by the end of the week we had 10 new investigators, and 2 with a date. It is so humbling to be that the Lord is willing to use such a weak person as myself to bring people into the fold of God. I love being a missionary!

So Brothers and Sisters, if you are feeling weak and unimportant, I testify that that is false. You are a literal son or daughter of God, the very Creator of the Universe. He loves you dearly and will do all He can to help you. It is always your choice to receive that help. I testify of the divinity of my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. He is the Great I Am. He does love us. He was and continues to be the Gift. He is the Reason for the Season. I love Him greatly. I invite all of you to find Him, and enjoy the blessing of the Atonement. To become more like Him. It can be done. I also testify that I am here in Colorado for someone and for something. God did not just send me here for fun. He sent me here because I will grow the most and become more like His Son here than anywhere else. There also people that only I can help at this time. I know that.  I cannot express the perfection and majesty of God's plan for us. To quote President Uchtdorf, "It works wonderfully" Joseph Smith was a prophet. He did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know it with all my heart. Read the Book of Mormon and find out for yourself. No one can make you happier or find out the truth. But. I promise you, no matter where your relationship with God is at, if you read the Book of Mormon and try to live the teaching in it, your life will get better. I know it. I love you all and I leave you these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Mason Rogers

P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

MTC Bros at transfers

 

 Elder Thompson and I. Bros for life.



 

Us being Dorks! This picture sums up our week. LOL

Pueblo, Colorado, Here I Come!

Salutations!

So this young guy is getting transferred!! On the real though I'm a little bummed out. I love 17th ward and the work is really picking up. This last week my companion and I set a goal to teach 30 lessons a week. We taught 28! Even though we didn't make it, we still were able to bring a lot of people closer to Christ, and that's what missionary work is all about. So the main things that I learned in my first area are as follows:1. Trust in the Lord, He will provide. I cannot tell you how many times things just worked out. Every single day I could look back at what I was blessed with and I just knew that the Lord was orchestrating it. It just took my choice to notice. 2. i learned that being driven isn't something someone is born with. It's a day by day choice. You have no idea how powerful your agency is. It makes the difference in so many things when you CHOOSE to rely on Christ. 3. Patience. Patience for days. That's all I'm going to say about that. 4. Humility. This isn't my time, or my mission, or my work. It's the Lord's time, It's His mission that He has for me, and It's His work in His way. The moment you get over yourself and serve someone else, or do things in the Lord's way, your'e acting humbly. This lesson is one I'm probably going to be learning for the rest of my life. Alright. I will get off my soap box now. Without further ado, here is how my week went:

Monday: Well, Monday. It came, It went. I can't really remember it! I think we played Ultimate Frisbee. That's all i got.

Tuesday: We came, We saw, We taught a bunch of lessons.

Wednesday: Wednesday we had Zone conference, which was pretty awesome. It was super spiritual and got me even more pumped for missionary work. We talked about loving Christ and why it is important. Overall it was really great!

Thursday. We weekly planned and taught 2 lessons at coffee shops. It would have been great if we could have taught the word of wisdom there, but we were teaching the restoration. It still went good!

Friday: A ton of appointments fell through, but we found two new investigators which is super awesome.

Saturday: Taught a ton, learned a ton. Can't really remember it though. I found out that I am being transferred. I will be going to Pueblo to preach the gospel to the Puebloens. My companion will be Elder Thompson, and I'm super excited!

Sunday: I got to say goodbye to a ton of the families I had gotten the opportunity to work with. It was kinda sad but a really positive experience overall. 

So sorry that I can't remember anything else. I'm still teaching in my sleep though! So that's still interesting.

So my new address is as follows: 2408 Bellview Ave Apartment. #3, Pueblo, Colorado. Zip code 81050

And here is my testimony as follows: I love Jesus Christ. I know Him and as His personal representative I am striving to be be like Him. I know this is His Church because I have studied it out in my mind, come to this conclusion, and prayed about it with all the energy of my heart. The Spirit has witnessed this truth to my heart over and over again. I love His gospel. by living it's precepts and doctrines and principle I have found everlasting and eternal joy. I invite all who are doubting, sad, upset, or just plain bored with where they are at to live these principles of Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. I know these things work, and that they work wonderfully, even perfectly. They are of God. I know that these truths have been restored to their fullest by Joseph Smith by the power of God. He was a prophet of God and a martyr for the truth. I know that the Book of Mormon is no fantasy, no complex fable made up to catch men in a snare, but I testify that it  is the word of God, the most true book on the planet. It testifies of Christ and invites all mankind to come unto Him to be healed, and to follow Him and become like Him. I know that the Lord has sent me to Colorado to do His will because He knows what is best for me and for all His children. I testify that it is by the Will of God that I am getting sent down to Pueblo, to be companions with Elder Thompson, to preach His word and testify of Christ. I know these things to be true and I testify of them in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all and I miss you lots. 

Much Love,

Elder Rogers

Obey the Lord, Who We Love, With a Willing Heart

Dearly Beloved,

   We are gathered here today to celebrate Elder Rogers last week of training. Suffice to say he is P-U-M-P-E-D PUMPED! So I don't think I will be training this next transfer, which I am pretty happy about honestly. I don't think I'm quite ready for that. My Companion continues to disagree, but I just ignore that. I think I have learned more about myself and about Christ in the last 12 weeks than I have in the last 2 years. Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, God is great, and He loves us more than we can comprehend. My heart and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the increasing evil in the world, I hope that you all are safe and sound. So this week was not as productive as I would have liked it to be, but that's A-OKAY, because I am confident that it turned out the way the Lord wanted it to. I did learn a lot though! So we were given a talk by a ward member titled Teaching by the Spirit, by Gene R. Cook. It blew my mind! I realized that Missionary work is so much easier than we sometimes make it out to be. The more US we put into to something, the less God has to work with. Don't miss understand, we still need to work hard and be faithful, but this is HIS work, not ours. The only say we really have about what goes on in the work is whether or not we are going to be a part of it. That's why it's so important to teach by the Spirit. It is the ONLY way people will ever truly change. When we are obedient to the commandments, when we seek after Christ with all our hearts, and we decide to be disciples, we are able to utter the prayer of faith, and by the prayer of faith we receive the Spirit as our companion. Its so simple that we tend to mess it up by over complicating it! I testify that the Gospel is that simple. Further more it is only possible through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Anyways, without further soapboxery, here's how my week went:

Monday: So last P-Day we all went to a very small building to play basketball. By the end of my mission I'm going to be LeBron James. Not even kidding. We play so much basketball it's ridiculous. But nevertheless, it was still better than sitting in an apartment for hours and hours. We had dinner with the Ventura's, who have to be one of my favorite families we eat with, they are so funny. They fed us Noodles and Company, which is straight up baller eating. It's so dang good! After a full day of basketball and good eating, we retired to our apartment and went to bed. According to my companion I continue to teach lessons in my sleep. I can only hope the extra practice will help me out.

Tuesday: We got to give service and help out a lot of ward members and still teach a ton! We met with this guy named Gabriel who got active in the church while he was incarcerated, but has fallen away a bit and is looking to come back. Its always so spiritual with that guy, I love how powerful the Atonement really is. Words cannot describe the love I feel for my Savior.

Wednesday: I went on exchanges with Elder Gutierrez in my area and had a grand old time. I really had to really on the Lord that day, cuz our Studies got interrupted by a driving course I had to take for driving in icy conditions. Two words: Drift Pad. I basically learned braking techniques and how to get out of a slide or a spin. It was so much fun. The rest of the day we got to teach a bunch of people, as well as find some new investigators. It was a great day. We also got to teach another new investigator, and we challenged her to be baptized and she said she would if she found out that these things were true. So she will get baptized potentially soon! I love my job! Ironically we taught that lesson at Starbucks...

Thursday: So our car was out of commission the entire day, so we were stuck at our Zone Leaders' apartment basically the whole day. Luckily it was weekly planning day, so it was still productive! We even picked up a new less active family, who we are working with to get to the temple! So Pumped!

Friday: Zone Training was today, and it was soooo good but soooo long! We basically learned how to work with members better and what the mission will be focusing on for the next year. We broke it down to one simple sentence that has so much meaning. Obey the Lord, Whom we love, with a willing heart. Obedience, Charity, Humility. Its so great and I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to be a part of it.

Saturday: We got to meet with a ton of people and help them out, which was awesome. We had dinner with a family who apostatized, but they kicked us out before could teach them -_- I'm learning more and more everyday that you can only invite, you can't force anyone to accept anything. Which can be kind of a bummer, but I know God has a plan for them, even if I'm not part of it!

Sunday: Let me just say, I love fasting! It is such a great experience to sacrifice to show the Lord that we are dedicated to what we are praying for. I got to bear my testimony, which was a great experience. We got to watch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, and it was awesome.

As I enter into my last week of training I am so grateful for the prayers and love that have been expressed on my behalf. I really do love you all so much. I testify that this is the true church. That God is at the Helm and He will not steer us astray. He loves us,and His ultimate act of love was sending His Son to suffer and die for us. I testify that Christ lives and that He loves us as well. We are sent here to become like Them and to have joy. I know this is true. I know that families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father's plan. It truly is the Plan of Happiness. Joseph Smith was a prophet. The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth today. I love you all and pray for you often.Be sure to tell someone you love them today! This Christmas I invite you to give something back to the Savior. Prayerfully consider what it could be,and then do it. You will see miracles happen. Again, I love you and I miss you all.

Love,

Elder Rogers

Kick, Push, Kick, Push, Coast. Some Weeks Just Like That, But not This Week

Dear Family and Squad,

This week has been a little crazy! Now if only I can remember it. So what they don't necessarily tell you about a mission is that it goes by at WARP SPEED! I feel like just yesterday I stepped of the plane and here I am at the precipice of week 11, two weeks of training to go! They also don't tell you that if you keep at it enough, you'll start teaching the lessons in your BLOOMIN SLEEP! 4 nights out of the last 7 I have woken up to sound of the lessons coming out of my mouth. My Companion and I even role-played the lessons out in our sleep as well. I'm wondering if at my year mark I'll be knocking on doors in my sleep. Its possible. Now, without further ado, my week.

Monday: So last P-day I went on a hike! In the snow! In shorts! Mistake? I don't think so! I then got the opportunity to play so Frisbee with some pretty cool katz. It was a fairly decent P-Day! Oh we also met a guy who thought he was his own god and that 10% of his spirit is in his body and 90% of it is out in space looking out for him. His name was Steve and he takes the prize for weirdest belief I've encountered.

Tuesday: So Tuesday was uneventful, but we got to teach our new investigators, which is awesome! We did have some sketch stuff happen with a family we ate with, but nothing life threatening ;)

Wednesday: We weekly planned all week long it was gloriously boring and productive at the same time. We did have a miracle happen though. We had role played for an investigator during companion study, and we were pretty worried about how the lesson would go. She had previously told us that she had already been baptized and that she didn't need to be baptized again, so we thought we would have a lot of opposition ahead of us. But alas! She asked if she could be baptized! and so we extended the commitment and she accepted! I love role playing!

Thursday: So on Thanksgiving and Christmas we get to watch any PG movie as long as we both agree on it as a companionship. This was probably the biggest surprise to be as a missionary, because here i thought movies would be a complete no fly zone. My companion forgot to schedule one with a member so I still didn't get to watch Willow, but I think in the long run that's ok with me. We had dinner with a delightfully hilarious dysfunctional family, emphasis on the FUN in dysfunctional. Luckily they toned down the vulgarity for my companion and I and for that I am really grateful! I also got to play in a turkey bowl that morning which was great except for the snow. Our evening appointment canceled on us so we retired to our zone leaders apartment where we all got whooped on by Elder Smith during Monopoly. I also want to say that I missed my family very dearly and I am eternally grateful for the package i received.

Friday: Friday was a blur. We taught some people but a ton of people cancelled as well. Thats all i can remember.

Saturday: We started the purging/cleaning  process on one of our less actives homes, which needed it dearly. That house was hard to breath in. Still is, but I was glad to give service and help invite the Spirit a little more. We had a great dinner with the Burks, an awesome family in the ward, and stopped by some more houses on our way home to finish progress and teaching records.

Sunday: I got to go to Fort Carson yesterday and see how the branch is doing! It is such a blessing to be able to cover two areas and help out the military families on Fort Carson, I really love my area. I was given the opportunity to bare my testimony as well as give the opening prayer and bless the sacrament! Its a really small branch, but it still feels like every ward I've been in. Just goes to show the Church is true everywhere! Even if sometimes the people aren't!

So that was my week and here is my testimony. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. I know that he died a martyr and he died for the truth. I testify that Christ lives. As His Birthday swiftly approaches, it becomes easier to remember Him, to act as He would, and love a little more. I know that this Church is true and that God will never conform to the will of men, but that one of the greatest things we can do is give our will over to God. When we do this we are able to become better. I testify that families can be together forever. I know this is possible because Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I testify that God answers prayers and that He will always be there for us when we need Him most, not necessarily when we want Him. Sometimes prayers aren't answered the same day they are said. To quote Isaiah, The Lord's ways are higher than our ways! I love this gospel. I love every struggle, hardship,and affliction that turns me to my God and His Son. I am grateful for my family, and I am so grateful they are mine forever. I love them very dearly, and I am so grateful I get to share the same gospel that blesses my family with others. The Church is true. If you have doubts, choose faith, if you have questions, ask God, and then look for them in the Book of Mormon. I love you all and miss you dearly!

Love,

 

So Excited to receive a letter from Elder Hite!!





 

My Comp in a cave we found on our Sweet Hike