Homestretch

August 7, 2017

Hey Mom!!

 I  applied to a few job finding sights! Sorry haha I fasted a fast of gratitude for my mission and also to able to find a job, so I know the Lord will provide!  I'm gonna start my weekly email soon, I have lots to talk about! This week was awesome, I've been sucking wind on a bike and preaching the Gospel! Why am I getting released so late??? haha no biggie I guess, its just kinda weird! Usually, people get released like that afternoon, but I figure President Oaks is working, so no worries :) 

Anyways :) I love you and I will see you real soon! I invited Kaylie, but I told her to keep it on the down low, and tell yall that she is here to pick up a relative! Man, it doesn't feel real at all! 

I'm having some members I'm really close with, hold my bike until we get the chance to come back up and visit. I want to trade him for a road bike he built, which is really nice and what I'm more interested in. Anyways, I bought a new white shirt at ASOS to come home in, and I'm throwing the rest away, they are nasty, stained, ripped, worked in shirts. I sent the pants I wasn't wearing as often back home in that package, along with my elevation mask and other work out stuff! Anyways, It should be real good :) SO SO SO excited for home! but also sad my time is already up. 

Final Transfer

July 31, 2017

Dear Family!

So last Saturday I got the notification that I would be transferred for my last Week! And I am so grateful for that, often times as missionaries we can get into a rut if we have been in an area for awhile, so my prayers were answered, and I got an area where I can finish strong! Its biking, so thats fun, I can finally bunny hop haha. 

I have two companions, Elder Pexton, who is one of my really good buddies who I came out with, and Elder Bowles, and awesome greenie from Eugene, Oregon! We make a cute little bike gang, riding around town, causing trouble (A.K.A. preaching to reach!) I lost my helmet during transfers, so I definitely stand out as the trouble maker, but I'm over, people still listen to our message! 

Monday was pretty shweet, we went to a trampoline park, where I had a good ole time flipping around, just like Zach taught me :) Then we went hiking with the Colburns at Red Rocks! We then got to go to dinner with a family going through some really hard times, and it was awesome to share about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how He can heal us!

Tuesday! I got to see a bunch of my friends who were at transfers and said goodbye to those who were going home! Its crazy that I am not far behind them, these being my last days in the mission! As I reflect on these last two years of my life, I can't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude for my Savior, and the opportunity He and His Church has given me to grow and to build my foundation on Jesus Christ. Some say it is a sacrifice, but while a mission is hard, all I have seen is blessings and miracles. I am so grateful for that. When I finally got to my area, I had some lunch and got to work! We biked to go see some investigators and made some return appointments, and on our way to another appointment, we met this kid Nathan, shared the message of the restoration with him and invited him to learn more! He said sure and gave us his address! So that was a cool miracle!

Wednesday we went to do service at Care and Share, the local food bank! While it was fairly boring, it was good to help out the community! We then went to do a transition lesson with the North Zone Leaders with a guy name Mike, who is interested in learning more! It was nice to teach someone seeking the truth, but I did have to throw down on false doctrine. Im not about to let that stuff slide!

Then we went to Costco so that I could pick up food, since I had just been transferred there. We LOVE samples haha! My Comp Elder Bowles is the nicest and even bought me lunch! Later that evening we chaperoned a date with a single guy in the ward and his girl friend, but it wasn't as awkward as it sounds! Plus I had the most dank fajitas I have ever had, they literally came out sizzling . 

Thursday we did weekly planning weakly! It took daggum forever, and we still didnt finish! After about 2 hours we just decided to get up and go do stuff, so that we didn't kill each other from cabin fever. 

Friday we had district meeting at a ranky stank church, and that was a good time! Afterwards we went to Five Guys, which was such a blessing! The dankest food was eaten, and everyone left fat and happy! Also by this time, my legs are perpetually tired from biking incessantly, but its fine, I love it! After the dankest food was eaten we went to finish weekly planning, and had a good tripanionship inventory! After that we did more stop bys, had dinner with the Lopez family, who told Elder Bowles to check his facts, so now we always tell Elder Bowles to check his facts!

Saturday was a gucci day! We went tracting and got everything from the typical born again christian responses, to a very depressed man opening the door, looking at us and instantly saying "not interested" in a likeness to Eeyore from Winny the Pooh that I couldn't help but laugh! We did hand out three copies of the Book of Mormon, which was awesome :) That night we had an opportunity to go to a Colorado Switchbacks game, which is a professional soccer team! It was a really good time, especially because we got free tickets 

Sunday was awesome! WE LOVE FASTING! My stomach was so so so grateful to give up trivial things like food and water to supplicate the God of Heaven! I got the chance to bare my testimony so that was cool, even though everyone in the ward thought I was a young man who had come with the missionaries haha. Nope, turns out im one of the most experienced missionaries in the mission! Boy were they surprised, I guess it was my youthful glow and enthusiasm that got them confused  So during Church, this girl comes and sits behind us and afterwards we find out that she is from Germany, one hour outside of Frankfurt, and on vacation touring the United States! She has been going around every Sunday and exploring different religions, and decided to try ours out! She stayed for all 3 hours and said she loved it! We got to teach her a little bit of the Gospel and give her a copy of the Book of Mormon! She gave us her address in Germany, and her email, and said it would be okay to send the missionaries by! What a sweet miracle! She is driving from Seattle down to Texas then back up to Maine to discover America! Sounds like goals to me! We then went back and studied and planned and went to do stop bys, got yelled at by some random dude, to which I told him I ain't no holla back girl, and the guy responded with thats Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Not really, but thats what happened in my head. We just left instead. At this point, my stop has never been more grateful, and it was so sad to have to eat bounteous amounts of delicious food at the Colburns, who fed us because they are the best!

So that was my week! Hopefully this email makes up for my typical lack of emails..

I want all of you to know that we can have unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ, just like the Prophet Jacob, and that I have received too many witnesses and gone through too many incredible experiences to ever deny my testimony. My testimony is this: I know that Jesus Christ lives. I have read the holy scriptures, lived the principles found within, prayed to know for myself, and have been edified by the Holy Spirit of truth. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God,  called to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ, translate the Book of Mormon, and seal his testimony that there is a God in Heaven and the Christ is in fact our Savior, with his blood. I know this because I have read the fruits of his labor, the Book of Mormon, and I know that it is the most true book on the earth. No ones frivolous and denigrating opinions about a book they have never read will take my experiences away. That book has brought me closer to Jesus Christ, it has cemented my morals, deepened my wisdom, brought incredible insights to my mind, and given me peace like no other book ever has. And all of this is because it is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is true, make no mistake. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and I will be for ever. He lived, He died, and He lives today.

Love y'all, Thanks for the support :)

Elder Rogers

P.S. I love being a missionary :)

Rough Week and Perspective

July 24, 2017

Hey Mom,

This week was rough. I am so done, and so ready to be home, it honestly couldn't come fast enough. I almost died in a car wreck, again, because of these stupid Colorado drivers. Even though I said a big no no afterwards, I was super grateful we didn't die. I haven't been sleeping very well, and that's been affecting my wake up time, which is like my eternal trial out here.  Everybody but one person canceled this week, and then the lesson we did have with one of our investigators was going so well, and we got a call and a text from our neighbor saying our fire alarm was going off.  The stupid thing was just going dead. So we had a really good lesson cut short by Satan, and that about sums up the week. Then today we hiked the incline (did it around 35 minutes) and my comp and I finished first! He beat me by 10ish minutes, so he killed it, but then we waited for the zone, and they took a while, and so we waited for an hour for these guys, and they get there and we are missing someone, Elder Cluff, the overweight guy who DIDNT want to go. I love this guy, so my comp and I tell the rest of the zone that we were going to go back down and help him out. So we get down there and we walk with him for a while, and the poor guy is in so much pain and close to heatstroke, but he tells us he was doing better by himself, so we mozy on up and low and behold, all of them had left, including his companion. The most dirtbag move I have seen in a while. So we wait and wait, and wait for this nearly asthmatic trooper, and he gets to the top and no one but us are there to give him the support that he needed. I am so frustrated right now, I can't even tell you. Then I remember that my keys to the truck are with the Zone leaders, and they are irritated that I had the nerve to ask them to come back and get me the keys. I had no words for them, I was so angry. And these are some of my best friends, and they just leave this poor dude. Like he could have died if we hadn't helped him. I don't know, everything right now is frustrating in my life. I've been done with missionaries, mission rules, crappy opinions about the rules, and missionary work for a while now, and this was just like the icing on the cake. When you work as hard as you can, and nothing happens, and you keep the rules to the best you can and NOTHING happens, and you have to deal with people (missionaries are the worst) it wears you out. The only reason I'm going to keep going is that I'm not a quitter. And I love my companion and I want him to have success in the area. But as far as I go, what a tender mercy that I'll be home soon. :)

Response from Mom: 
I'm sorry, Mason.  It sounds like Satan is trying his very best to take a valiant warrior for Christ and make him resent his friends, experiences and struggles. Remember, one of his greatest tools is to get us angry because then we can't feel the spirit. It is the spirit that brings to our rememberance all the amazing spiritual experiences, miracles, tender mercies and growth through trial that we experience along our journey through life. I can hear how tired and frustrated that you are right now. Missions have are way of really breaking you down, but if you let him, Heavenly Father will build you back in His image. I have seen such tremendous growth in you as you have learned humility and to rely on the Lord. Satan wants nothing more than to get you to forget that in these last two weeks of your mission,  to give into discouragement and to  resent the rules and the safeguards put in place through revelation. Mason, please don't let him win. Will you do something for me and take a few minutes to pray? Ask the Lord to take away the anger and to see all the elders and investigators in your district through his eyes. I promise if you do you will have an increase in patience and love for them. Pray for gratitude for all these hard things that give you the chance to love as he loves, even the most unlovable. After that, if you still aren't feeling better, pray to know what you need to feel joyful in these last two weeks of your mission. Sometimes, our prayers aren't answered because we are asking for the wrong thing. I have been studying a lot about devils and unclean spirits. You may want to pray about the need to cast them out. 

I know you Mason. YOU are determined, COMMITTED, loyal, AND hardworking. I know you can and will muscle your way through these last two weeks. I also know that Heavenly Father doesn't want that for the last days of your mission. He wants you to have joy! And perspective. He will bless you with this if you ask. I feel his love for you so strongly as I write this and I want you to know that I am praying for you right now.

One last thing. I don't remember if I sent you the link to the guy who did the experiment on rice... if not, it goes like this. He had 2 jars of fresh rice. Before he sealed up the first he thought love towads that jar. He then labeled it love and sealed it tight. Toward the other jar he thought Hate! Labeled and sealed it. He put the jars away under his desk. 3 months later he took them out. The jar labeled love was still white and fluffy. The jar labeled hate was rancid, brown and gross. All he did was think love and hate. If you can just focus on thinking love toward struggling, bone headed missionaries, the rules, the area, investigstors... all of it. You will change your experience. We are creators and the process starts with our thoughts and these thoughts propel us forward to good works through faith.

I love you so much, Mason. Imagine I am hugging you tight and sending (thinking and praying love your way as hard as I can)

From the Perspective of a week...
 Don't worry, Mom,  It was a good opportunity for me to grow, so I still love them, it was just a rough day!  

This week was pretty okay, Everything canceled, again, and people weren't home, and I got yelled at tracting, through the door, so typical missionary stuff. I'm super close with this recent convert named Gilbert Kuhn, so he has been coming up to Woodland Park pretty much everyday because I'm leaving, haha. So, thats been fun! We also picked up this part member family this week, so thats cool. 

 I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED FOR MY LAST 10 DAYS!! like what the freak?? But its fine, just an extended layover? Also, my bags weigh less than 60 together because non of my white shirts are worth taking home #eternal stains of hard work. So thats good. I'm trying to think of an interesting story.... but I can't :( 

Church was good this week, said good bye to a lot of people, so that was sad :( Said goodbye to investigators and less actives too. Then In gospel principles we found out our dinner tonight is literally signing divorce papers today, so thats awkward....

Any way, I have a lot of pictures to send, but I need them from my buddy, who took them haha 

Uhm, I'm doing good, been trying my best to finish strong! I got to teach a class about what I had learned from my mission, which was really cool :) Can't wait to do a family home evening from it!

Anyways, sorry I'm boring, thats just how the week went :/ I love you so much, can't wait to see you soon!

Love,

Elder Rogers

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Meetings, Miracles, and 'Merica - Happy 4th of July!

July 10, 2017

Dear Family!

This week was one filled with meeting, miracles, and 'Merica!

First, I'd like to wish America happy birthday! on the 4th of July we got to participate in the Monument parade, and that basically consisted of me yelling "America!! Yeah!!!!!" and getting the crowd to chant USA with me haha We then got to man a booth and try and talk to people about our first amendment right, the right to worship as we please! People were interested in walking away from us, not really talking tho... But we got to end the day right with some amazing fireworks, 9000 feet above sea level! 

So we had another mission tour zone conference, where we met President Stevenson and Sister Stevenson. What was lame is that Im only going to have them for a short while, so my motivation to get to know them isn't super spectacular!  They are really nice, and I know they are called of God.

Some sweet miracles we saw this week consisted of finding a new investigator through tracting, and one finding us through family history! We got the phone number of a recent widower who loves family history and he actually answered the phone! We told him that we would love to meet with him, and that every Wednesday night at 6 there is a family history group that gets together. He said he would totally come and he would love to meet with us!  Another miracle is that I hit a ridiculously high note in choir on Sunday, which was a huge tender mercy.

So quick note, the majority of my neighbors are ministers from Charis bible college, and they always bring up religion with me, which is a great opportunity to share my testimony.  A few weeks ago my neighbor Shaun came up to me and started to talk religion and during the course of the discussion he commented "man I really like you guys, I can really feel Jesus when Im around you" which was cool. He agreed that I was saved and we let a differences aside. He wouldn't take a Book of Mormon, which is ironic to me, because they all want to talk to us but they don't  want to listen. #salty. Anyways, fast forward to this last week, and my neighbor Dave asks for some help with a bike and in the course of helping him says that he feels a lot better knowing that we are saved, because he and Shaun had talked about it. Never mind that I had shared my testimony with this man several times and talked about my relationship with Jesus Christ. Dave just wasn't listening. He said later in the conversation that he sees me leaving the Church someday, and I just laughed.

I know that this is Christ's church upon the earth. I and others before me have come to this knowledge through the power of God, and no one else. No matter what others say, I know that I follow a living God, Jesus Christ, and His prophet Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon is true. I have read it over and over again, and it is the same answer every time. My invitiation is simple, read it for yourself. I know that God lives, and that He loves us a perfect Father would. He sends prophets, both ancient and modern to reveal his plans for us and testify of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. 2000 years ago Christ came and redeemed His people. He ministered to those in need, taught those who would listen, and died for all. For me. and He lives today. I know it. Simple truths that were lost after the death of the Apostles were restored by Joseph Smith Jr. by the power of God, and we can come to know for ourselves through a simple process. Read, ponder, and pray. I promise all of you that these things are true. How grateful I am for this sweet knowlegde. As documented in Lehi's dream, I have tasted of the fruit, and I am not ashamed :)

Love 

Elder Rogers

PDay Adventures

June 20, 2017

Not Much Goin' On

June 12, 2017

Hey Fam,

Not much happened this week, but I am doing good!

Got sick Wednesday and Thursday, But have recovered since.

Moved apartments, my new address is 4090 Center Park Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80916!

Love you all, It will be a better email next week! ;)

-Elder Rogers

So Good, So Good!!

I am doing sooo good! Loving it here in Colorado! This last week was pretty sweet, went by almost as fast as this one. 

Last Monday we went to Manitou Springs and dinked around and played some basketball and did things that missionaries do for fun :) like play guitar, and sports.

 Tuesday we saw a bunch of awesome people with the Ward Clerk, Brother Pratt! I got attacked by a gigantic Malimut, met with Dick and Buck, and had a great lesson with Norma Jean and Sister Wilson. Dick and Buck are an old guy and his dog that are just hilarious. The entire time Buck would just not stop whining, so Dick just kept yelling "Shut up Buck!" and Dick used the word goof, so I liked him instantly. Sister Wilson is a returning member who can't come to church because of work, and her mom Norma Jean, isn't a member, so that went well. 

Wednesday we got the chance to walk some dogs at TCRAS, the local animal shelter. I love dogs, but I'm not 100% sold on having one. Twas a good time though. Afterwards, we went and helped build an apartment complex for Habitat for Humanity, and met a bunch of humanitarians from Pennsylvania, and I was able to have some really good conversations with a few of them. 

Thursday we weekly planned, went to Goodwill to do service, and did some stop-bys, and had dinner with a family who gave me their granddaughters email.... That was the second time that had happened that week.

Friday I was on exchanges in the Palmer Park ward with Elder Powell! It was great to spend the day with him and teach the gospel! 

Saturday we met with Suzy, our recent convert, and tried to meet some other people, but most everything fell through. 

Sunday we had our other investigator with a baptismal date come to church, so that was awesome. The work continues to move onward and upward!

I want all of you to know just how much I love this Gospel. There is nothing that could make me abandon it because I know this is the way to be. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, that He sees me the way I can be, not the way I often am. May we all strive to accept the Master's invitation and come follow Him. 

Love you all so much!

-Elder Rogers

Two for One

May 22, 2017

Hey family,

So I'm one year older and wiser sort of. This week was off the chain, and I'll tell you how it went.

Monday: Went Hammocking in Garden of the God's and played my lil' guitar and just chilled out!

We then had a lesson with a member family that went really well, and as always, reminded me of just how much I love teaching the Gospel.

Tuesday: We helped a disabled member move two fridges around, which was nuts. They were so big! Later that night we had the dankest pizza at AJ's Pizzeria with a sweet grandma named Sister Harger, who works out, which made my day! After dinner, we went to see another family in the ward who hadn't been to church in a while with a guy named Brother Pratt, who is awesome. 

Wednesday: We drove up Pike's Peak for the wedding of our investigator Suzy! Then they invited us to lunch at the Mucky Duck, and I had some delicious steak. So good. I also discovered that I love baked cheese. 

Thursday: We Weekly planned, and it was revelatory as always! We also went to Goodwill, where I didn't buy anything because self-control is the best! 

Friday: We had a district meeting down in the Springs, and it was super trunky and distracted because we are all good buddies, and we make each other laugh. We got to go see Aaron, who is trying to get temple worthy and is on his way! I also realized that I'm super ambitious, which is a good thing.

Saturday: SUZY GOT BAPTIZED!!!! It was such a spiritual moment in her life, and I was so grateful I got to be a part of it! Also, Katelynn Smith got baptized at the same time, so that is technically a two for one! Such a good day. We went to an estate sale real quick check it out and met a former member who was really polite to us and told us to stop by again. We then had an awesome lesson with a little guy named Torah. He said that he wants to be baptized now, so that will probably happen in the next few weeks! After that, we went to a Family History event at the library, and met two members who had just moved to woodland park and hadn't been to church in a long time!  After we had a Jimmy Johns dinner, we drove up to Cripple Creek and got tailgated the whole way because of glorious Tiwi. After that, we taught Jordan Warrick, and it turns out I know his family from La Junta! So that was cool.

I want to say thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday, especially my family, you guys made it one of the best!

Sunday: I got to renew my baptismal covenants, which is what I look forward to every week, so that was as Jordan Warrick says, happy awesome. I also was privileged to confirm Suzy as a member of the church, which was a huge blessing for me. Then we got lost for like 2 hours after church, but it was okay because I got to pet a wolf and eat really good tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwiches. 

So that was my week! Hope everyone is as well as I am! 

I want all of you to know that I know that this is Christ restored gospel. We do indeed have a prophet of God today, and he is led by Jesus Christ, who is the head of this church! Jesus Christ is my Savior, and I know that He lives. My Father in Heaven is there, and He is there for you too. May we all come to a knowledge of them and act upon it!

Love,

Elder Rogers

Mother's Day Wrap-up

May 15, 2017

Hey Mom,

It was so good to see you/ talk to you yesterday. I miss you and the family pretty darn bad, especially the closer I get to the end. And I'm constantly praying about what to do with my life, and I think time at home will be important. I need to save up money for a car and to pay for certification tests and stuff. Anyway, I was honestly pretty surprised how supportive you guys were about me wanting to grow Marijuana, but I am really grateful for that. Thanks for always praying for me AND writing to me, sorry I feel that I don't get written enough sometimes. I'm glad Ben is communicating with you. That is so important. I've always been super grateful that open line of communication. I'm going to do my best to just rock it over here in CO. I love you mom, you are always on my mind and in my prayers!

love,

Elder Rogers 

Fisher of Men...

May 8, 2017

Dear Family,

How are you all doing? Not that anyone emails me anyways ;) or reads these.....

Anyways, Ive been doing really good, this last week was super awesome. I can't really remember much, but I will give some highlights that I do remember!

I went on exchanges with Elder Fuller, and we had a great time doing service and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Sacrament was especially sweet this week, since I didn't get to take it last week do to Stake Conference! 

Im getting transferred! My new address is 945 Forest Hill Rd, Woodland Park, CO

Today was fun. We went to the mountains and then had a bbq and played football with the zone, it was sweet.  Happy Mothers day, by the way, i love you so much, Mom.

Love you! 

Here is a pic!

You know im a fisher of men.... and a fisherman ;)

IHOP Trips? VETOED!

Hey Yall,

So this week was great! Full of great spiritual experiences and fun ones as well!

On Monday, We had the opportunity to go to the sand dunes and run around like crazy people! I had been when I was younger, and it was cool to go back. Especially because they are nestled between Mount Blanca and a couple other giants. It was so much fun, and I still have sand in my ears.

Tuesday, we had Zone Conference, or ZOCO as it is sometimes referred too.  It was super revelatory and spiritual. I wrote down things to ponder, things to act on, and yes or no questions that I had for the Lord. One of the things that I felt to act on is diligence, which is an energetic, loving, hardworking attitude towards missionary work. So basically I want to finish strong and give it my all. Another thing that I got out of it was something to ponder, and that was if I am giving the Lord my all. It's a tough question because I happen to be so back and forth that I'm a human avatar for the Chinese National Ping-Pong championship. And sometimes I have about as much ambition to change as a neutered turtle. But the Lord qualifies whom He calls, and I have the enabling power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost on my side, so what could be better? So I'm trying my best, and I humbly ask for prayers on my behalf, that I will want to finish strong every day. Because missions are hard, and more and more I'm feeling pretty burnt out. 

Wednesday my companion recovered from a possible concussion, and we had a great lesson/ dinner with some of my favorite families ever. Ky and Kory Smiths are the brother/ sister in law to one of the families we are working with, Caitlyn and Jeremy Smith. We had some awesome food and a great lesson with them, and they even came to church on Sunday!

Thursday to Friday we did an exchange with the Zone leaders, and it was awesome, we got to teach a lot of people and just generally have a good time. 

Friday night, as we were ending the exchange, I was hungry, so about 9 o'clock at night, I stopped by IHOP with my companion, and two other Elders, got my usual (Chocolate Chocolate Chip pancakes), and devoured them. Thinking nothing of it, we went home. Fast forward to Sunday, I get a call from President Rehm, who asked me if I had gone to IHOP. I said yes, and he reprimanded me. So moral of the story is be inside your apartment by 9 o'clock! Even if you are craving pancakes. 

So yeah that was my week! Super good Sunday and Saturday, lots of conferences and meetings, and lots of good times.

I know that Christ Lives. He is the head of this Church, and I have 4 more months to serve him the best I can. What a blessing it is to be able to put aside what I want and do what my Savior wants me to do. I love this Gospel, and I know that it is the ONLY way to access Jesus Christ Atonement. I also know that because of His Atonement, every moment can be a new moment, that there isn't a lag period between the last time God forgave you and the next. The only lag is in ourselves, whether we want to repent and look to Him, or carry that weight around and not be free. Do you want chains or wings? Even though i am an avid lifter, I don't want that kind of weight, I'd rather look up to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. They are there, just ask them, they have always answered me. I love you all and I hope you all have a great week, I know i will. Remember love is always the answer to every problem.

Love,

Elder Rogers

Im Still Alive and Loving it!!

April 24, 2017

Good Morning Mom, So the last two weeks have been Interesting for me, I've done a lot of service, and i got to be one of Bob barkers beauties from the Price is right!  So I don't remember all of what happened these last 14 days, but I'll give you the good details! So lots of cancellations happened these last two weeks, as people we are working with were busy with their lives and such, but we did have some good lessons in the last two weeks and have picked up a few more investigators! Here in Sanford we do service most days, and it consists of everything from inoculating cows for A.I. to branding calves, to building greenhouses and cleaning peoples houses out. Whatever it is, we are living the gospel. Service really is the gospel applied in our lives. When we aren't doing service we are teaching, which has always been my favorite.  This Tuesday we were asked to participate in a Mother/Daughter event for both wards, in which they played the most elaborate game of the Price is Right! There were so many people there, we had to keep setting up chairs. Like I mentioned before, we got to be male renditions of Bob Barkers Beauties, and we had a great time cheesing it up with my good buddies Ky Smith and Mike Hostetter. And that's about the most exciting thing to happen to me this last two weeks! We also got to go to Penitente Canyon again and hike around and be hooligans, as usual!  I'm doing a lot better with sleeping, as some of you know, I haven't been, so this is good. I could still use some prayers for helping me wake up on time, still struggling with that.  I had a Body Code session with a member of one of the wards we cover, and it was super interesting. A lot of energy work, with which I was skeptical at first, but I actually fell asleep for the first time in months on time without help. And I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders, you should totally look into it. I guess to get certified and get the program it's 2200 hundred, but I'm definitely going to get certified when I get off my mission.  I had a realization the other week. I went into a hospital to give a blessing, and I realized that I didn't want to go to work there every day. Turns out I hate hospitals. So with that epiphany, my dreams of being an anesthesiologist died. So here I was for the 4th time on my mission with a change of plans. So for the last few weeks I have been in fervent prayer. When I think of Arizona or Utah, it just doesn't feel right. The only thing I have in Arizona is family and some friends, but no job opportunities. In Utah its even less family and even less job opportunities. And then someone suggested business and moving back to Colorado after my mission. And that sat well with me, and so I prayed about, and it still feels good. So thus far I have a job opportunity lined up, and several places to live. All I'm saying is that that's the way I'm leaning right now. The only plan I have set in stone is getting certified in welding, and working at that to save up capital to start businesses. Honestly, for a while I've felt that BYU isn't the place for me. I have to get my life in order in the next few months so I can hit the ground running. Anyways, I love you and I hope you're feeling better, you are always in my prayers.  May we all come closer to Christ and our Heavenly Father, and seek the Holy Ghost in all our dealings. I know this is where true happiness will come from!  Love, Elder Rogers ReplyForward

Its All Good

April 10, 2017


This week was as the kids say "dank"

Im doing real good, been getting stronger and also been having a lot of success in this awesome area!

We did a lot of service this week, basically all week. My body is wrecked!

We moved a family into the ward and picked them up as a family of four new investigators! We also had another investigator accept a baptismal date for the 20th of May! 

Sorry this letter is short, but I have no time today! Love you all, have a great week!

I'm a real Cowboy

April 3, 2017

Dear family,

I hope everyone is doing well today!

Conference, as always, was amazing. Some insights that I gathered is that the Lord really wants us to love one another, and ourselves. I want to raise my voice with the Apostles and testify of the Plan of Salvation. I know what was said is true. We do have a Father in Heaven who loves us. And He does have a plan for us. Let us always remember to look up to Christ. I know that He will lift us higher.

This week was really good, I got a new companion, Elder Ulibarri, and we get along great! We are really alike, except he is really tall, and I'm really, not haha!!

We had a great lesson with a part member family, the Smiths, and the wife said that if she found out that this Christ's restored gospel that she would be baptized! The spirit was really strong and it was awesome to hear that she has real intent and a sincere heart. We also finally got to see another family of investigators that have been super busy. It's such a blessing to get to teach the gospel to people. I love being a missionary.

We also got to do a lot of service this week, which included branding calves! Imagine WWE meets farming and that's basically what it was like! It was really smelly and sweaty, and painful, but overall really fun! And let me tell you, those little cows can scream! We also got to help install a garage door for the Colburns, a family I'm really close with in my last ward, who were visiting family down here!

Overall it was a great week, possibly the best of my life! Its all in your attitude! I know this is the restored church of Jesus Christ. I know that His Atonement is what everything is centered on. Everything else points us towards it. I know that despite my many mistakes and failures, I am clean, and He sees me as I will become, not how I am. I know that He loves me, and I love Him. Come and know the Master, you will never regret it!

Love,

Elder Rogers

I'm doing 100% better, my companion and I (Elder Ulibarri) are already the best of friends. The area is doing better already.  I have a companion who is a hard worker and willing to compromise and get stuff done. I love these people and this area so much, and we do service all the time! I'm sleeping a lot better now, and I feel spiritually recharged, It's so awesome how God knows me. and takes care of me.  A lot of things have actually made the difference.  I had a good talk with some of my good friends up in Springs, and I had some really good talks with God, and I finally gave it all to God. I stopped punishing myself and holding it against myself. And after that, I could sleep. Unfortunately I thought that I had to suffer more for what I did, but that was a lie, and Satan was trying to get me to beat myself up, but the more I go through the repentance process the more I realize how forgiven I am, and if my Heavenly Father can forgive me, than,  I can too.

Love you mom!

 Right? i tasted burning hair/flesh for an entire day! it was nasty haha

Missions are Hard

March 27, 2017

Hey Mom, honestly I'm struggling right now. I prayed for trials earlier this year and I'm starting to think that that was a mistake. Yesterday was a good Sunday, I felt better about things after it, but these last few weeks have been really hard and now I'm getting a companion who doesn't like me. I'm trying to have a positive attitude about things, but that turns into not writing about what's going on in my life. I haven't been sleeping well for the last 4 weeks. I lie in bed and just sit there till around 2-3 in the morning, and somehow I finally fall asleep. and I'm not the best waker-upper either. So my average wake up time is between 10-11. Its this constant cycle of failure and I don't know what to do. My alarm clock goes off, and I don't even hear it, mom. and my companion, on top of it all, is a lazy spoiled fetch, and while he is a nice enough guy, just gets under my skin. I'm beaten down and tired and unmotivated. I'm in an area that is 85% members and not a lot of them are good missionaries. they have small town pettiness mastered, but are good people all the same. my only highlight in my life are the few people that we are teaching, the sacrament, and that I get to lift every night. that's about it. I'm just doing the best I can mom, but its hard. I'm just glad I'm almost done, and I hate that I'm looking forward to it so much. Its just been a really difficult 9 months and I feel like for the most part I've barely kept my head above water. I'm definitely not coming home because of this. a lot of me still wants to be here. I'm just struggling finding the love of the work and the motivation. I'm worried I might be depressed as a chemical response to the recent stress I've been under, but I'm just doing my best. Don't worry, none of this is affecting my testimony or my conversion. I just feel like a crappy missionary. I was praying for a good, strong comp who would help me get out of this seemingly never-ending haze, but now I have a guy who I'm supposed to strengthen and work hard with. I'm just going to give it my best and keep moving forward. can you see why I haven't wanted to necessarily share what I'm going through? not very resounding and testimony building stuff to read. I'm just a normal guy who is trying to do the best I can, and right now, my best just doesn't seem adequate, or even mediocre. This is the hardest thing I have ever put myself through, and even now I don't regret a moment. I just wish I was better than I am. Anyways, I will keep yall in my prayers, I know the Lord will make things happen the way they are supposed to. 

Frozen Pond

March 13, 2017

Hey, wasn't feeling an email home, but this week was good. here are some pics of me on a frozen lake! love you!