Its hard to admit when we are struggling...

8/15/16

Hey Mom,

So, I am definitely struggling right now. My comp doesn't want to work or be obedient. This is easily the most disobedient I have been, just by virtue of being around him. Im trying so hard to be obedient and work hard, but Im alone. I am definitely turning to the Savior right now, and trying to come close to Him, but sometimes I am so angry with my comp that I have to pray for a really long time to calm down. I wish i had never been transferred here to be honest. Some days, with the companion that I have, Its really hard to feel like a successful missionary, and sometimes its hard to feel like a missionary at all. I definitely pray about it all the time. All the time. I know God is keeping me safe. I appreciate the prayers mom, and the concerns. I'm trying hard out here, and I'm giving it my best! Im gonna write a group email about this week, but I'll just let you know we don't do much. The ward doesnt trust us, and it breaks my heart. Im just so lost on what to do. Anyways, I love you lots,and I miss you tons! I can't believe that jacob is gonna be home! Crazy! I also can't believe its almost been a year. One more month and Im half way! Love you!

Love,

Your baby boy

A typical Week in my Life

8/1/16

Dear Family and Friends. 

Here is how my week went:

Monday: We went up to Colorado Springs and played board games and volleyball. I got the chance to hang out with my good friend Elder Clancy, which was pretty nice. We then stayed the night, because on Tuesday we had Zone Conference.

Tuesday was a huge meeting from 7:30 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. It was really really long. Really long.

Wednesday we had a couple meetings with investigators, which went ok.

Thursday: We set up a baptismal date for Jeff, for August 27, which is pretty awesome. Jeff is married to a less active member who is trying to come back to church, and its been awesome to teach them.

Friday: We had a ton of meetings and service, which made a long day longer haha. Fridays just arent the same!

Saturday: We did more service for an investigator and his member mom. We did landscaping, so I felt right at home! It was like 80 degrees tho, so it was really nice!

Sunday was awesome as always, I love the sacrament!

I want to bare my testimony that Obedience brings happiness. It brings blessings and peace. I testify that Jesus Christ is there and that He loves me. Personally and infinitely. He paid the price for my sins and mistakes and mess ups so that I can be clean, so that I can feel hope. I love Him, He is the greatest friend I have ever had. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His church, and that I represent Him. What an honor it is to invite other to come unto Christ!

I love you all, and miss you lots!

Love,

Elder Rogers

Too busy to write...

7/25/16

Dear Fam,

Man, Sorry, but this email is just gonna be weak. At this time in my mission, I'm doing pretty good, just super super busy! I love y'all so much, next week will be way better, promise! In other news, Zach needs to email. and so does Ben! Like right now! I will be sending letters home soon, so if you want a letter, email me your address and some questions! Love yall!

Elder Rogers

Missions are hard!

7/18/16

Hey Mom!!
So my companion is Elder Tyler Villaneda, and he is from Salinas, California. He doesn't really want to be a missionary,and doesn't care for obedience. ...and we are staying together for another transfer -_-  he has a pretty immature sense of humor, but can be funny sometimes. He likes to listen to a lot of crappy music. He can play guitar pretty well, but is usually in a bad mood. He came out with me, which makes correction difficult. also, he doesnt care in the slightest. 

Im so excited to have Jay and Bri back home, that will help a ton! I really love the Nelsons in the ward. I met them last night, they own a crossfit gym, they are super down to earth, and they have an intense rock climbing wall in their down stairs. They are just really great. There are a lot of Gossipers in the ward, which is really annoying. People stress me out. The work isnt going as well as Id hoped, but I feel like im trying to do it all by myself. So thats frustrating.

My best friend, in probably the whole mission, is Sister Madsen, a sister in my district. Its a little awkward, but we usually have a good time if the other is around!



 I love you dearly, and I miss you lots!

Love,

Elder Rogers 

Having an ADHD Day!

7/11/16

Hey Family,

I'm doing good! I'm just a little unfocused enough to write a long email today, haha.  I'm excited to get done with this transfer, its been a rough one. I'm just studying the Book of Mormon right now, And we are working with a cool Part member family right now. Canon is sort of like La Junta, pretty rural. I'm trying hard to get going in this area, but I have a really good feeling about this week! Charity is where it is at and I am working on it this week.

 Me and my dad, Greatest ever

 Me and my boty and his boy(the one behind him) Im grandp!

 Im on Mars

Red Sun,  Sorry Cal' el

Call me Nephi!

Happy Fourth of July!!

Hey Family!!

 I had a great Fourth of July.  We went to a ward breakfast, and then we went to bishops castle, then we played volleyball at the park, then we had ribs at a members house and launched fireworks. Haha,  it was a good day. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. -_- It looks like Lake Powell was a blast!

This was the second time I've been to Bishop's Castle and it was a blast! I faced my fears and went to the highest point, which is probably a solid 100 feet in the air on uninspected mortar and steel. it was sketchy!  Best part was I got to hang with my boys that I loved training so much.  I got really close with them. I also got to see Elder Johannesson, who I trained last! It was good to see them!

Things are still a little rough with my companion... 
I'm trying to be the best I can, he doesn't really respond well to invitations. He just does what he wants. A lot of the time he says he doesn't want to be a missionary. Its really sad, because he is going through some hard family stuff. His motivation isn't there at all.  I am just praying for him and his family.

Love you!!

Holy 4 Days of Service Batman!

Dear Family,

How are you? Happy Independance Day! God Bless America! I am so grateful for our amazing country and the opportunity I have to serve the people in it by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It truly is amazing. Im also grateful for the men and women who make freedom possible. Freedom isn't free. Thank you.

So this week was the strangest of my entire mission! It started out by going to Colorado Springs for P-Day and then Exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Price! I got a lot of Cupcake in my face from P-day, but luckily I survived. I also did some Parkour, Shout out to Zach Attack for inspiring me #kongs for days! 

So after Tuesday's exchanges, we got word that a family in our ward was being kicked out of their house, and that they had two days to pack and move a family of 6. And of course, because it was so last minute, there wasn't a lot of help going on. So we got the opportunity to move for 4 days straight. We packed, planned, and moved an entire house, and then cleaned it afterwards. It was an incredible 30 plus hours of service. By the end of each day, we were so exhausted that we would just crash. It was weird to not be proselyting, but I know that what we did is what Jesus Christ would have done. Needless to say, my body was wrecked, and remains wrecked. Some of that furniture was quite heavy!

 Anyways, I want to testify that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. With out God's love, this life would not be worth it, at all. I know, with all my heart that the feelings of the Holy Ghost, and His companionship, are real. I testify that because of the power of the Holy Ghost, I know Christ lives, and will come again. I know that families can be together forever, through Heavenly Fathers plan. I am so grateful for this Gospel. I know it to be true. 

I love you all, and miss you lots, but I am so happy to be where I am, and to be doing what I am.

With all my love,

Elder Rogers

Hey Yall! Not Feeling it today!

Hey! So Im having a crazy bad brain fizzle right now, and the week has escaped me! So here are some pictures!

Haha never mind! As I went to go look at pictures, I realized that I hadn't taken any cool ones lately. So yeah! This week was better than last, which is great! Im really starting to love Canon and the people here! 

This email is super lame haha, Im so sorry!

I know that this Gospel is true. I know that the Scriptures and the Prophets speak the Words of Christ. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, we can change. I am so grateful to be a missionary, its the greatest thing I've ever done! 

Love yall! Stay great!

Love,

Elder Rogers

Lots O Pictures

The Derpiest Dog Ever

So Hot!!

The Royal Gorge

Obedience? What's Obedience?

Heyo Fam!

This week has been quite challenging for me. Actually, the last two weeks have just been full of lameness! My Companion, as much as I love him, doesn't really care about obedience. Here's how you know if your'e being disobedient. Step one: If you have to rationalize it, you're probably being disobedient. Step Two: If it has the word sex in it, we probably shouldn't be listening too it. Step Three: Waking up at 8 every morning is definitely not a positive.

Anyways, this is how my week went!

Monday: We had some great emails, played some basketball, went to a pretty sweet thrift store called New Horizons, and we played Cranium with the district! It was super fun! We then went home and ate! 

Tuesday: We handed off two investigators off to the sister missionaries serving here. The lessons went good, and I hope that they accept the Gospel! I then went and got a haircut from a sister Janes and asked for a very low key hard part, which she decided to ruin. Lol, don't ask for hard parts from old ladies, it doesn't end well :'( besides that it was a good haircut! We then decided to tract for an hour and we met some really interesting people! This guy named Ken opened the door and started to talk to us, which was cool, except that he was a very drunk, staunch Lutheran. He said he wouldn't read the Book of Mormon, at that point we just decided to end with a prayer and go on our way. The rest of the afternoon was like that. Very minimal acceptance. But honestly, thats ok, we were successful because we invited. 

Wednesday: We went and saw a less active named sister Cavalier, who won't come to church because somebody yelled at her. It was pretty lame. We then had Chinese food that was mediocre. We then went to Penrose and talked to a bunch of really uninterested part member families. One of them, Brother Darrow, had the legs of a corpse! They were super fleshy and white and smooth. It was morbidly interesting! Then we went to dinner with the Defrancescos and took sweet pictures with his sweet Indian Motorcycle. So jealous. 

Thursday: We weekly planned.

Friday: We had Correlation meeting with our ward mission leader and we had a bonding moment as we both put applesauce on our waffles. He says its a southerner thing. We then did soooo much service it was ridiculous. We got rid of Common Mullein at the Royal Gorge, which is a wannabe Grand Canyon. After doing that for two hours, we then had to go bail a trailer full of hay. What I didn't know is that I was allergic to Hay. I proceeded to break out into hives all over my arms. It was super uncomfortable. 

Saturday: I got to do some Landscaping in the heat and it was pretty nostalgic for me! I then saw a picture at a members home that made me even more nostalgic. But i'm not trunky! We also found out that we have no more miles, but I refuse to sit around and do nothing, so we are going to bike as much as possible! 

Sunday: We did absolutely nothing. It was super boring and irritating.

Anyways, Have a great week, and be obedient!

Love,

Elder Rogers

Don't Cry for Me, La Junta

Hey ya'll,

So this week was my last week in La Junta. I've been blessed to serve there for the last 6 months of my life, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I've had to meet the incredible people there and have them in my life. The La Junta Ward is truly family, and I will miss them like crazy! 

I am getting transferred to Canon City! My Address is :

220 W. 3rd St.,

Florence, Colorado 81226

So this week was super slow, probably because sooo many of our appointments canceled because they were on vacation or something! Don't go have fun, its treacherous to your local missionaries!

I'm honestly super weirded out right now, it doesn't feel real to leave La Junta. This letter is kinda super lame, because i forgot my camera and adapter, so no pictures from me! Lame!

I just want you all to know that this Church is true. Jesus Christ Lives, and He loves us! How amazing is that!  We are loved, no matter where we have been, or what we have done! I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet! The Book of Mormon is true! Read it, and find out for yourself. 

Sorry this email is LAME! Just super busy here!

Love,

Elder Rogers

Two little Guns at Bents old Fort

 Some bow hunting skills

 Me and Vern Ward

 The Maldanado Family in La Junta

 Me and The Armstrongs! I love them

​Me and The stangers! One of my favorite Families of my Mission!

And The EFIRDS! My family away from my family!

We Cool, we cool!!

 ​Me and the Williams

Chain saw skills

Well, I'm in Canyon City

Dear Loved ones,

Well, I'm officially in Canyon, spelled Canon. It is a strange place and I miss La Junta with all my heart haha. Its so strange how much love you have for the people you serve! My new companion is Elder Villaneda, who came out with me. He is pretty cool. So here is what our week was like!

Tuesday: Had transfers, got settled into the little house we live in. It was pretty boring.

Wednesday: We went out and did some work, met with this nice lady named Hellen Saul. She is 85 and willing to learn, which is super humbling! 

Thursday: We weekly planned, and I got roasted by this guy named Sam Carlson, who thinks that he is training us. He told me that I wasn't humble at all, and that I was superficial. All because I looked into his eyes when I was talking to him. Needless to say my head became two to five sizes smaller, and I felt about as big as a mouse. But alas, I thank God for the opportunity to self check and grow. 

Friday: I can't remember what we did.

Saturday: I also can't remember

Sunday: We had probably the most unproductive Ward Council meeting ever. It was lame. I can't even remember the rest of Sunday!

Well, I know this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that through Christ, anything is possible!

Love y'all!

Elder Rogers

Crikey! In Honor of Steve Irwin. Rest in Peace Steve

Dear Brudas and Sistas

How are you all? I apologize profusely for the lack of real letter writing. I wish I had time, I'm sure the Lord will help me find it! 

So this week was pretty interesting! We cleaned our apartments and got a perfect score! They said our moms have trained us well. Shout out to my great mom! So this Friday is my Birthday, no big deal. For years I have avoided telling people that it was coming up, but you know, I like getting birthday wishes and feeling loved, so I'm telling y'all!

Monday we played some intense dodgeball that made me sore for the next 3 days. It was 100% worth it haha

Tuesday we weekly planned. It was a fairly slow day for us.

Wednesday we had inspections and We found the first of the Crocodiles we ran into, it was pretty scary. We also found this new investigator who was from Winslow, Arizona, so i told him to take it easy.

Thursday we rode our bikes around and found some new investigators. It was a fairly decent day. We also found out why James doesn't want to come to church. Apparently his mother told him that he had broken her heart by joining the church, and that she would die soon and that is all that she would remember him by. God bless her soul. I'm having to really pray for the ability to forgive there.

Friday we went to Las Animas! And we found some more Crocodiles and invited some awesome people to church! What a good day!!

Saturday: We tracted some more.  #Tractingislife. And we found this cool guy named Brennan who said we could totally meet with him and his wife. He says he is agnostic, but God can fix that.

Sunday was sooooo good! 6 less active member came to church, and it was so good to see the ward reach out to them. This ward is really coming together when it comes to helping people out.  We also got to eat with the Stangers and go meet with the Ballantynes, which makes two of my favorite families in one day! Whoop Whoop! I can't even tell you how much I love La Junta. La Junta is Family.

To end Im going to dust off the old soap box. This Sunday I gave a talk about choices. The two most often made choices in our lives are whether we are going to choose Christ or not. There is no Gray. When you step into that realm of justification, it leads very swiftly to just right-out sin. Make no mistake, Jesus Christ knows us perfectly, but brothers and sisters, just because it is the consensus, or socially acceptable, that doesn't make it right. Morality is not dictated by the whims of a broken culture and imperfect people. Morality is established by a Loving Heavenly Father for our happiness. I was writing my mom today, and I mentioned that so often we mistake convenience for perfection. False. So often perfection is not convenient. Living a perfect Gospel given to us by a Perfect Savior, as imperfect people is daunting. It is unattainable alone. But here is the best part. I testify that it is possible. I testify that because Christ came, lived, suffered, died, and lives today, we can achieve the impossible. I know it, because I'm living it. I am so incandescently happy. No matter the disappointment or adversity life gives me, I am happy. The gospel is the only lifestyle in which lasting peace, happiness, and growth can be found. I promise you. I know that Christ lives, and that He loves us, just as our Heavenly Father loves us. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is a marvelous work and a wonder. How sweet it is, to be alive, to know Christ and our Father and their plan. While living in a world of confusing ideals and angry voices, The Gospel is the only haven from the Storm.

I love you all and miss you dearly,

Love,

Elder Rogers