5 Months Baby, 5 Months! Well, Sort of..

My People,

Its crazy that I have been out for almost 6 months. My mind is blown! Seriously I feel like my whole mission is going by faster and faster!  This week was really humbling and really just full of miracles. I cannot tell you how much I love God, and How much I want to be like my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the Gospel  and I am grateful for my mother who taught it too me,and provided a haven from the world where my testimony could grow. I cannot say thank you enough. 

Monday: I got smoked at Settlers, which I had it coming to me, in all honesty! Can't win all the time, there has to be opposition in all things. I also wrote letters to the other Rogers family! Uncle Milan, If you get the chance could you send me some of your music? I would love to show you off to my companions!

Tuesday: We got to do some service for a sister in the ward who loves horses and wolves. She is pretty great.  We then taught a lesson to a completely Spanish speaking family through an interpreter, which was awesome! The Lord always provides a way!  We then went over and taught an awesome guy named Neil who was a referral from a member in the ward.

We then taught our investigators who got baptized this Saturday!

Wednesday:We had to cahnge all of our plans that day because a member couldn't give us a ride to one of the out lying towns! But it was all in accordance to the will of God, because we found a new investigator! And we will be teaching her whole family very soon I think! It totally might be a trap though, because her husband is a youth pastor and so we may or may not be walking into a fairly heated situation! Luckily I know not to bash so Elder Legaspi and I will only testify of the truthfulness and attempt to teach the Gospel! I for one am pumped!

Thursday: We Weekly planned. YAAAY. We also taught one of our progressing investigators, James, who is pretty awesome! 

Friday: I went on exchanges with Elder Reimer, my zone leader, who was also my zone leader before I got transferred to La Junta. Its good to be friends with other missionaries! We tracted in the freezing cold and found a new investigator for his area, which was pretty sweet! 

Saturday: Elder Reimer and I traveled back to La Junta after we helped one of his investigators move. The member husband of the investigator reminded me way too much of Uncle Chris, with the beard and everything. We were best friends by the end of the move, but sadly I am an hour away from the area he lives in, so i will never see them again :,( Being a missionary is the best, you get to meet all sorts of great people. After getting back to La Junta we prepared for the Baptism, which went super well! Jonathan and Crystal were both super nervous, but they felt the Spirit really strong and I didn't drop either of them! Who knew that my dipping ability from ballroom would come in handy on the mission! Thanks Ms. Clare!

Sunday: Jonathan and Crystal were both confirmed members of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. We had a ton of investigators attend, but one of them dropped us after church, which was a major bummer because we thought she was solid. But God is great and by the end of the day we found two new investigators! I love being a missionary and I love serving the Lord!

I bare witness of the Divinty and mission of our Savior Jesus Christ. He lives and He loves us dearly. It is through His sacrifice that we are not only cleansed from sin, but also from our sadness and weaknesses. There were many discouraging moments that I had this week, but through relying on Jesus Christ, I was able to be lifted out of weakness and despair. But only because I chose too. Our deliverance through Christ is 100% dependant on our choice to serve Him or not. I know that this is true, for I have done it, and I have diligently sought the Lord out. I know that Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration of the fulness of the Gospel. He died for his testimony and lost everything multiple times for the truth. He was only able to translate the Book of Mormon, because he was commanded too of God. He was a man, and like all men prone to weakness. But that does not stop him from being a prophet of God. God uses weak people to do amazing things. Missionaries are a great testament to that. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ and that is led by Him and that revelation to guide the church has been given to prophets from the beginning and is the same today.  When the Lord commands, I must obey, because I love Him. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love and miss you all! Stay strong and you know, maybe write me a letter?? Please??

Love,

Elder Rogers

 

 

Jonathan and Crystal at their Baptism

 



 

James and I, True Homies 

Elder Reimer and I on Exchanges

 

Why Does Time Fly? And Why Does it have to Fly Now??

Well Brothers and Sisters, Fans and and not-so-much-fans,

Life is amazing. Its spectacular, it takes you by surprise and sucker punches you on an ironically unpredictable yet consistent basis. But life is amazing! "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have JOY" ( 2 Nephi 2:25) We find this joy when we are obedient to the commandments of the Lord and we truly apply Christ's Gospel. I would stand the Gospel of Jesus Christ against any self help book about finding happiness. Yes there are many ways to be happy, I myself choose to be happy everyday. But Brothers and Sisters I testify that the MOST happiness and how to be HAPPIEST is only found in the Gospel. Period. That is the truth,and nothing will stop it from being the truth. Where our agency comes in is whether or not we are going to CHOOSE to live it or not. An incredible lie the world likes to tell people is that to have faith in something or to believe in God and seek him out is a sign of a lack of intelligence. Well I don't feel particularly unintelligent. To seek out something greater than ourselves is to be truly intelligent. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that man is quite lacking. Like, a lot. I testify that if you seek out God and ask if He is there and if the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is His church, He will answer you. I do warn you that if it is just to satisfy mere curiosity that the chance of you receiving an answer does go down. Joseph Smith didn't enter the Sacred Grove and pray to God to satisfy his curiosity, he went there to act on whatever answer he got. Though doubts may assail us, the best thing we can do is ask God himself, and to keep living the Gospel. I promise that is how the darkness and confusion of doubt will disperse. I know this because I have doubts all the time. Even daily. But I cling to the iron rod and I pray mightily to my Heavenly Father and I look back at how the Gospel has blessed me and right when I need it, I get the answer to my prayer. If I know nothing else I know that God lives and that He loves us. I suppose that I have been on my soap box enough, and I am sure you all want to hear about my exciting week! So, here it is!

Monday: I smoked my companion and one of our investigators at Settlers of Catan. Thanks Grandma Janet for teaching me the ways of Settlers! and more importantly the finer points of faith!

I can't look at that game with out thinking of you! Love you!

Tuesday: We had cleaned out our apartment like mad men the previous day in preparation for the inspection we had today. Besides that we were able to look for more people to no avail, but luckily for us it is the Lord's timing not mine!

Wednesday: I've wondered about the spelling of the word Wednesday.. we say it like Wensday but i guess we have to make things complicated in the English Language! We were able to have a great lesson with one of our investigators and his real intent seems to be growing ! the Lord is awesome! The rest of the day was highlighted by a lot of people saying no to our pretty faces and shining personalities and one super great lesson to finish the day! As a side note, I am still refusing quite stubbornly to have a bad day, and so far its working ;)

Thursday: We weekly planned and just generally made things happen! It was for real a shake and bake day! We met a sweet new potential investigator that I think will come around in the near future, but who knows! We got to move his 875 pound safe and piano for him so I think it's only fair we also teach him the Gospel, but like I said, all in God's time!

Friday: I have become a master at driving in the snow, because I spent a total of 2 hours driving in the ice and cold. I have a couple gray hairs from the stress of it. But Zone training made it so worth it. I learned a lot about discipleship to Christ, and it made me recommit to my Savior even more. Man I love being a Missionary!

Saturday: We didn't do much of anything but sit in a chair and get spriritually hit in the face by a two by four! We had to be in Pueblo all day for Stake Conference and It was so good! Plus it was reimbursed for the miles so that made it ok! I then whooped my Zone leader and my companion at Settlers, again. And again, Thank you Grandma!

Sunday: Sunday was pretty low key, but we were able to find a new investigator, so God is great!

So because I bore my testimony at the beginning I won't do it again. PSYCH! Its my job to bare my testimony as much as I can! 

I know that my Redeemer lives. I thrive off the scripture " Be still, and know that I am God" My entire life could be imploding and i know that if I take a moment to still my thoughts, and recognize God's hand in my life, I can have peace. I testify of that Joseph Smith did not die for a fairytale, or to defend a lie. This is unequivocolly the restored Gopesl of Jesus Christ. If it wasn't I would not be on a mission. That is the bottom line. I testify that you too can know this as I do if you read the Book of Mormon and pray to God to know if it is true. All concerns and problems and doubts can be comforted and answered through sincere study of the Book of Mormon and prayer. Believe me when I say i would not be saying this if it doesn't work. I testify that it does. I love the Lord, I love my Father in Heaven. I know They love me perfectly. I feel their love everyday. And you can too if you strive to keep the commandments. God didn't just give them to us for fun or because He wants to control us. They are the way to happiness, not just in this life but for all eternity. I love you all and miss you dearly, but I love being a missionary more. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Much love,

Elder Mason Rogers

P.S. Letters from yall would be awesome.... and now that I homebound  P-day i can write you back!

New Year? You're Telling Me that Last Year is Dunzo?

Happy New Year From La Junta, Colorado!

I hope everyone was responsible and had all the right kind of fun! For new years My comp and I did the craziest thing. We slept. We went to bed at 10:30 and we slept. Suffice to say holidays for missionaries (at least for me) generally just feel like... another day. I just want to start off this letter with gratitude for the amazing people in my life (Y'all) and the amazing family I was put on this earth with. 1 Nephi 1:1 applies to my life so much, and the more families I meet, who don't have the gospel, the more committed I am to raising my own family in the gospel and the more grateful I am for "goodly parents" Thank you.

So without delaying any longer, my week:

Monday: I got the chance to do something I haven't been able to do almost my whole mission. I got to write letters. Lots and Lots and Lots of letters. After letters my companion and I played board games with Jonathan and Crystal, who happen to be some of our investigators. It was a lot of fun! as we drove out to Fowler, a tiny little town 30 minutes from La Junta, for dinner, we came across a raging fire! Which delayed us a good ten minutes from a delicious dinner. Which, as a missionary, is nye unto death. When we got to the supposed address of sustenance we found an empty house, a really creepy empty house. So we swiftly found the correct address, and following all traffic laws, we drove to dinner. Apparently Fowler police have nothing better to do, so they pulled me over. This was the first time in my young life that I was apprehended by the law. Apparently my back lights weren't on, and when he asked for my registration, I couldn't find it. Which was terrifying, to say the least. Luckily, he didn't give me a ticket, only a stern verbal warning. It wasn't pleasant! What matters, is that we got to eat food, and it was a grand old time.

Tuesday: Tuesday was pretty low key, we tracted a lot and found a few potentials, but we had a pretty interesting appointment that night. We were accompanied by our Elders Quorum President to an investigators house who had said that he wasn't interested anymore and had left the copies of the Book of Mormon we had left them outside to be destroyed by the elements. If you want to get me fired up, that's a pretty easy way to do it. Luckily I know that the Spirit can't be around contention, so I didn't give in to my first instinct and verbally roast him to Timbuktu. The natural man in me really wanted to tho. When we got there he talked about some of his concerns and problems he had read about, online, about the church. Just so everybody knows, just because you read it on the internet, doesn't mean its true. Apparently this guy didn't know. All his questions he had he attempted to back up with the scriptures, but awkwardly ended up answering his own questions and proving our points for us. In the end it came down to reading the Book of Mormon to find out if this Church is true and he just flat out refused. Wanting to know if the gospel is true, but refusing to read the Book of Mormon is like hearing about the sun, and refusing to go outside and see for yourself. Absolute facepalm. I know that one day he will be ready to read it and when he does, it will bless his life. I know this because the Gospel has blessed mine, and I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.

Wednesday: We went ham in Las Animas and found 3 new investigators and one new less active member to work with. I love being a missionary,it is so awesome to serve the Lord! I kind of feel like Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when he says "I Love Being a Turtle!" Except that being a full time missionary is cooler that being a teenage mutant ninja turtle, hands down.

Thursday: We came, We saw, We tracted, We realized it was new years eve and no one was answering the door. Thursday was pretty glacial, but some days are like that. We still somehow found a new investigator, so that was awesome.

Friday: LOL. Friday was just a whole lot of awesome. Just a whole lot of it. So on the way to District meeting, just as we got far enough away from any towns for it to be futile to turn back, the gas light came on. And 14 miles outside of Pueblo, we ran out of gas! Isn't that just awesome! So because of that, District Meeting was thrown off, Exchanges were thrown off, and in my eyes the whole day was thrown off. Luckily for me, God doesn't have my infantile perspective. I got to exchange with Elder Reimer, one of my best buds in the mission, and we got to tract for most of the day. Out of the quarter mile of houses we knocked, only one person was interested. 1. Uno. That's it. BUT it made tracting worth it, and as we taught this 1 person the gospel, the Spirit bore witness to me that she was the reason that I had ran out of gas, that everything seemed to be lagging, that no one had responded. God cares enough about this one person that He delayed our whole day so we could find them. And that made it worth it.

Saturday: Saturday was pretty slow, but we got to meet James, who was a refferal from last week. James is such a golden investigator. He is 14 but has had more life experiences and trials than most 30 year olds. And he is so ready for the gospel. He ate up the whole lesson and the Spirit was so strong. He accepted the baptismal date of the 23rd of January and I just know this gospel will bless his life immensely. 

Sunday: Low key Sunday, we weekly planned. It was...exciting.

Anyways, I just want to bare solemn witness that God lives and that He loves us. Individually, personally, and perfectly. Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know Him and I love Him dearly. I testify that afflictions are blessings, even if we don't realize it. I testify that we are given commandments so that we can be happiest. That is what the gospel does, it makes us happiest when we live it. I testify, with all my heart, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God,and that he died for the truth. I also testify that he was a man, and that as a man he made mistakes. It is unfair and plain stupid to expect any more of Joseph Smith than what he gave, which was everything. To echo Elder Anderson let us "Leave brother Joseph alone". If you really want to know if he was a prophet, read the Book of Mormon. Ponder it. Remember just how merciful the Lord has been to the Children of men. Then ask. Ask God if it is not true, I promise you, that God will tell you, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that it is. I know because I have done this. I have lived this. and I have been blessed by it. Skeptiscm is easy, and will ultimately leave you empty. Apply your faith just a little bit more this week, and see if God will not bless you, because He will. 

I love you all and miss you dearly,

Much love,

 

Elder Rogers

 

 

Excerpt from My last companion - Elder Thompson - This just shows that God is in control and he uses whoever is available and willing to answer our prayers.  He is so aware and concerned about each one of us.  IT IS AMAZING TO SERVE HIM!!

 

This past week we met a new less-active member named Gabe.
*STORY TIME* Gabe has been inactive for quite a long time. My last companion, in La Junta (Elder Rogers) called me on the 24th, to remind me to go find and meet with Gabe in our ward. (Elder Rogers met him somewhere, when he was serving in the springs) So, turns out.. Gabe was literally a 10 second drive up the street we were already on when Elder Rogers called. We walked up to the door and told him we were friends of Elder Rogers.. and we were sent to see him. He instantly started crying and invited us in. He explained that he had to put down his dog (10 yrs old) a few hours ago. He said that about an hour before we arrived, he prayed vocally for the first time in a long time. He prayed for help from Heavenly Father.. and we were there. It was really cool seeing how Heavenly Father had use multiple people to have Gabe receive an answer. We are helping re-activate him, and his room-mate is investigating! Woot Woot!

 

 

An abandoned Catholic Settlement from over 100 years ago

 

 Me and Elder Thompson on our Epic Dino adventure

 

 Elder Thompson and our investigator Jonathan

 There was a Fire!!

 

 Woops...

Chillin with my Comp