MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY EARLY NEW YEAR!

Hey Family and Friends!<3

I hope you had all your wildest dreams come true on Christmas and hope you all have a Happy New Year!🎆🎇🎊🎉 I know I have made some killer, awesome 2017 goals! Especially to end strong the last 6 months of my mission (or it's actually less than that now)! :/ Here are some of the craziness that has happened the last week:) :

-The Wyoming 3 Elders, Elder Julander and Anderson, had a baptism! His name is Yunuen and he is legit! He even got to be confirmed on Christmas! Best Christmas present ever!:)

-Got to go caroling with our ward mission leader, Brother Linford, and his family! They are awesome and we love them! (P.S. Caroling is the best way to find EVER!)

-Had our half-mission Christmas party where the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and some of the Lansing Zones got together here in Grand Rapids and had a party! It was so much fun!:)

-Went to Hasting's (our District Leader's) baptism on Christmas Eve! Maybe even the most spiritual baptism I have been to on my mission! After 12 years of going to church with his active wife, one son just got home from a mission, one son is just leaving on a mission, and one son is getting married in the temple today!, Chris Patterson came home from work a couple weeks ago and told his wife that he was ready and it was time for him to be baptized. The spirit and tears at that baptism was unreal! Such an amazing Christmas gift to me!<3

-Had trade-offs with Ludington and got to spend the day here in Wyoming with the awesome Sister Nording!:) I learned so much from her! She has such a calming and peaceful spirit about her and she is such a hard worker! I think I needed that trade-off more than she did!;)

-Andy (one of our investigators) called us a couple days before Christmas saying he hadn't forgot about us! He is just having crazy family problems and the holidays have been keeping him busy! He said he wanted to meet with us after January 1st! Such a tender mercy and miracle!:)

-Christmas Eve was spent eating Mexican food, a.k.a. deep fried chimichangas (spelled something like that...haha), at the Openshaw's with a ton of their family and the elders!

-Christmas Day was spent having breakfast with the elders at the church (before church), our beautiful Christmas program, going to the Coipel's where they gave us a gift and stoking (so nice!), ate brunch (SO MUCH FOOD!), AND GOT TO SKYPE OUR FAMILIES! BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER! Then we got to go eat dinner, play games, and chill with the elders at the Valverde's home for the rest of the night!

I have had such an amazing last Christmas on my mission! I have been so blessed to come serve in "The Greatest Mission in The World" and I am pumped to keep sharing the light of the world, our Savior Jesus Christ, this season! Love you all and hope you have a STELLAR New Year!:)

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

                    Merry Christmas from our ugly Christmas sweaters and the huge Christmas trees at the mall! Haha!:)

Got to see my homie, Sister Mathis, who I served in Lansing with at the Half-Mission Christmas Party! Love her!<3 Haha! (And she may kill me for sending this home!)

Christmas Day with my gorgeous companion, Sister Vera! We are hoping that we stay together this next transfer! We figure out on Friday (New Year's Eve!!!)

Us at Half Mission Christmas Party!:) (P.S. Transfers are the day before New Year's Eve...opppsss...)

Another from Half-Mission

So all of these wonderful sisters are in my family tree and related to me somehow! (We were just missing my momma and a couple other sisters that were in the other half mission!)

And a crazy one....because that is all families.....;)

Week 54: The True Meaning of Christmas

Hey Family and Friends!<3

I hope you all have had a very Merry Christmas and continue to! Especially in Arizona with your warm and sunny weather! It has been an arctic wasteland here lately! But I am cool with it.....*bu dum cha*....it looks like we will be having a white Christmas!:D

So I decided to do a little something different today. I feel inspired to share a journal entry that really helped me understand the true meaning of Christmas this year. I hope you can feel the spirit as I share it and that it motivates you to share Christ's light with others.

December 10, 2016

This morning was one of those "miracle mornings" that we are often blessed with on missions. However, it was a tender mercy because we were given an answer to a "why?" question from Heavenly Father that can often be harder/more challenging to receive/understand. We unfortunately couldn't make it to the Holland Sisters' baptism because of the crazy snow and our lack of a car (members willing/wanting to drive in it-I don't blame them. We didn't even want to risk anything.) We felt bad because we wanted to be supportive sister training leaders and the zone leaders and Wyoming 3 elders were even going. But we prayed and we both received the answer, "Why are you asking me? You already know the answer." So we head off to door knock and head the opposite way because I felt like we should. And what do you know? There was a kind, young man that we were able to give a Christmas, Mormon.org card. Then, we had to make a pit stop at a gas station to use the restroom and had we gone the other way, we would've had to wait for a couple hours. We stopped at the gas station, used the bathroom, I bought 2 donuts ('cause why not?), gave the cashier a Christmas card, and then we headed on our way to door knock.

I happily ate, shared, and enjoyed my donuts. Meanwhile, a truck with a trailer happened to spray us with dirty slush (and A LOT of it). He didn't mean to, but it made me a little grumpy, and of course I happened to be the one standing closest to the road. But on we walk.......we ask one lady if we can help her shovel her snow and she politely declines because she's almost done. But we see a little ways on an old man who looked weary and was struggling to even pick up his shovel. From how little he had done, it looked like it would take him all morning to finish. We dodge traffic and run across the street to offer to help him. He gratefully and politely accepted and me and Sister Vera shoveled away. Well, as we were shoveling I could feel my Grandpa Rogers with me and that he was proud of me. I said a silent prayer in my head for my hands and wrists to not ache for the rest of the day due to my arthritis and shoveled on.

Well, the man happened to be 72 years old and his name was James (or Jim-he said for short). Just like grandpa. I felt so grateful in that moment for that experience and the joy I felt for serving that man. He told us that was only their 2nd winter living in that house and thanked us with a dozen, free eggs from their chickens. We told them we don't need/take pay or money, but they insisted on the eggs. Now I know why we didn't go to Holland. I got my "why?" And as I walked home to our apartment happily carrying the eggs, I prayed to thank God that my hands didn't even slightly hurt.

I hope that you all felt the spirit as you read that. I know the true meaning of Christmas is Christ and all he did for us while on the earth. Let's keep that service and love moving forward as we spread the light of Christ this Christmas season. Love you all! Merry Christmas!:)

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Because I am sure his mom would appreciate this and because I crack short jokes to him ALL.THE.TIME. BAHAHAHA.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE WYOMING WARD MISSIONARIES!<3

Love this sister of mine!<3 I guess we will see what happens to us after Christmas.....

Week 53: Church is Cancelled......is that even possible?.....

Hey Family and Friends!<3

So this week was CRAZY BUSY and REALLY WHITE! The snow is dumping here in Grand Rapids! It looks like I will get my FIRST, WHITE CHRISTMAS!!! :D It was actually so snowy yesterday that they cancelled church! (There's a first time for everything I guess.....) But me and Sister Vera had a blast this week, it is definitely starting to feel more like Christmas! It literally is like magic in the air! Especially with all this snow, hot chocolate, and happy people wanting to be more Christlike! I love it! Here are some of the things that went on this week:

-Blitz with the Grand Rapids Sisters!:) Got to spend time with my posterity and go back to my old area! I loved it! And we may have had a little bit too much fun seeing as I found out I am a total loser when it comes to leg wrestling....don't ask.....

-Trade-offs with Grand Valley as well! Got to go to Grand Valley with Sister Robertson and hear stories about my dad on his mission while I ate Marv's yummy burritos! Man, do I have blackmail on my dad! (Marv got the pleasure of serving a mission with my dad in the England Birmingham Mission).

-Michigan Lansing Council! Got to go to my home in Lansing and see all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders in the mission! Meaning I got to see my mission mama, Sister Nelson! Love her!<3 We even got to plan for our awesome Half Mission Christmas Party happening next Wednesday here in Grand Rapids.

-Watched the Christmas Devotional with Sister Peggy Toy. A cute, old, cat lady we got visit and see. She is less active because of her health. Every time I leave there it confirms to me more and more that I am allergic to cats. #canyousayichy

-Door knocked for 3 hours in the pouring snow and figured out that my boots have holes in them. I came home to soaking wet, freezing feet! Thanks dad, for the new boots!:D Hallejuah for living close to a mall!

-Shoveled snow for a old man named Jim! He was 72 and it was the cutest thing ever! He told us he couldn't pay us and we said, "That's ok! We do it for free!" He was so happy when we left he insisted we take a dozen eggs from his own chickens. And then he shook our hands and gave Sister Vera a cute, awkward hug. It was so cool. Service is what Christmas is all about. I will have to tell more of the story next week when I have time!:)

Anyways, I love you all so much! Enjoy the Christmas season! Don't stress! Spend time with family and serve others! That is literally the best feeling ever and the true meaning of Christmas!<3

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Blitz (where me & Sister Vera go spend the day in an area) with the Grand Rapids Sisters this week! Got to go back to my old area for a day! Loved it!:D 

My granddaughter, Sister MacArthur, and me door knockin' in the snow!:) 

Trade-offs with Sister Robertson in Grand Valley!:)

So we figured out Sister Rogers STINKS at leg wrestling....the things we do on trade-offs....in our spare time of course....

This is Marv Rameriz! One of the coolest guys I know! He served a mission with my dad in the England Birmingham Mission and I got luckily because on trade-offs with Grand Valley I got to have lunch with him! Love this guy! (And dad, he wants you to send him this picture!)

Looking out of our study room window=beautiful!<3

Week 52: Christmas is HERE! (A.K.A. This fluffy, white stuff)

Hey Family and Friends!:)

Well...this week has come and gone so fast I don't even really remember what happened. Here are some highlights of the week:

1.) Trade-offs with Big Rapids and I got to stay in Wyoming and be with my sweet, goddaughter, Sister Newby again!:)

2.) Got do service at Railside and help them decorate for Christmas and do glamour shots with the residents to give to their families for Christmas! It was so fun! And my favorite, hilarious resident, Norma, told me I looked like I was 8, and then my other 101 year old friend, Bunny, looked at me and told me I looked like I was 60. It was hilarious!;) 

3.) We got to have interviews with President on Thursday and him and Sister Jacobsen came up from Lansing so it was exciting to spend the day with them!:) I just love President Jacobsen. He is the best!:)

4.) Shannon got sick and Lily fractured her thumb and bruised her face (from skating) the day after we put them on date! (Satan is a dog!) We are still teaching them, they just couldn't come to church due to that! Pray for them, please!

5.) We had a killer lesson with Sister Bell. We watched the restoration video and we are trying to help her get back to the temple. The spirit was so strong and she is understanding the gospel better. (She really didn't remember anything from the missionaries before she got baptized years ago.)

Anyways, sorry, it has been a crazy emailing day and I don't have much time! But I love you all! And I hope you keep doing the 25 days of Christ initiative! You will see miracles as you do so! Love you all and have a STELLAR week!

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Good, ol' door knocking days! 

Dinner appointment at the Emery's & a visit with Sister Young, my old STL.  I miss & love her sooooo much! :D

Week 51: 25 Days of Christ Initiative

Hey Family and Friends! :D

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, ate lots of turkey, gained a few pounds, and slept a lot! We had a blast! We went and spent our morning playing 4-square and hard core, intense card games (don't mess with missionaries) at the church with all the missionaries in our ward and the Grand Valley sisters. It was way fun! Then we went to the Oliver's in the ward for a yummy dinner, games, and dessert. And then all 6 of us went to the Openshaw's and had more dessert and games. It was so much fun! I love this ward! They are totally family!<3

Me and Sister Vera are SUPER PUMPED for Christmas!!! Like SUPER PUMPED! Jammin' out to Christmas songs, decorating our apartment, and Sister Vera's Mom even sent her this 25 days of Christ activity that we are doing. We were too excited and impatient to wait until December 1st, so we started it the day after Thanksgiving! Hahaha!:D

But we are also working on being more diligent and focusing on Christ more. We were promised in our last week's email from the assistants that as we have faith in our Savior and Heavenly Father, every single companionship would get a baptism this transfer. And man, as we have done so, we have see miracles. Our area is flourishing! We picked up a new investigator on Monday evening named Shannon and her daughter, Lily. They came to church along with Heather! And Heather even brought her husband! Plus, Shannon's son was in town and he came too! We had 5 investigators at church! Miracle! First time in 7 weeks since I have been here! And one of our sweet, less active sisters, Sister Bell, that I love even came as well! Church was a party! And so good! Sacrament meeting was all about getting out of our comfort zones! Our investigators LOVED it! And it was good for us missionaries too. It made me want to push myself even harder.

I know that as we get out of our comfort zones and turn to the Savior that we can see miracles in our lives. I know that he will bless us and we will feel pure joy. Not because of the presents this season, or the decorations, or the music, or the food, but because we have a Savior who is helping us be like him, and someday eventually return and live with him again. Find pure, true, lasting joy in the Savior and your Christmas season will be jolly and bright!

"....and their joy shall be in the Lord..." -2 Nephi 27:30

P.S. Light the World this Christmas season and do the 25 day initiative with your family and friends! Go to Mormon.org to watch the amazing video of Christ and to learn more!<3

 -

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Party on Thanksgiving at the Oliver's!:D

When members from the Grand Rapids Ward still love me and bring us holiday treats=happy Wyoming sisters:)

OUR "IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS" FACES!:D

Week 50: "I'm dreaming of a white........Thanksgiving?!"

Hey Family and Friends!<3

Happy Thanksgiving and Turkey Day! 🦃I hope you all eat wayyyyy more food than you should and have a blast watching "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" (my favorite!) This last week was awesome! Me and Sister Vera were able to work so hard since we are healthy and doing well! We even got another set of sisters in the Grand Valley Ward and so now me and Sister Vera are over 10 sisters! Super fun and always crazy busy! I am excited to go on trade-offs with them all this transfer! :)

Saturday was our first snow fall for the season and it was FREEZING, but wayyy BEAUTIFUL! I am grateful for the beauty and holiday spirit the snow brings. It was crazy because it was literally 70 degrees on Friday and we were in short sleeve shirts and flats and then the next day, on Saturday, it was 32 degrees, dumping snow, and we were bundled up like sausages!!! That's Michigan for ya! Hahaha! I don't think it can get anymore bipolar than that!;)

I had the coolest experience on Saturday. I was having a rough morning. The snow was giving me anxiety because I knew we were going to have to be out door knocking in it, my hands and feet were already hurting (darn arthritis!), and I was homesick for my family with it being the holiday season. I literally went into my studies with a heavy and sad heart. I can't even explain it to you. It was nothing I read. No verse that stood out to me. No thoughts that I had come to my head. But I literally felt so much peace as I read the Book of Mormon that morning. We go around each day testifying of the peace that the Book of Mormon brings, but I never had a personal experience like I did this cold, dreary day in Grandville, Michigan. I literally had a change of heart and was able to come out of my studies happy and like nothing was wrong.

I know Heavenly Father gave me that experience to help me know of the power of the Book of Mormon. We were able to have a great day! We door knocked for a total of 7 hours that day! (The longest I have ever done in 1 day on my mission!) We were able to talk to and invite 51 people to learn, out of which 6 were interested and we set up return appointments with! We stayed warm, had happy spirits, our comp unity was on POINT, and the Spirit was so strong. I can honestly say our Heavenly Father gave us the spiritual and physical strength we needed to accomplish our mission on Saturday. He knew we could change lives as we humbled ourselves and turned to him. And we did. Or more like he did.

The Book of Mormon is true. If I know anything in this world I know that it is true. It gives us power. And I will be forever grateful for this other testament of Jesus Christ and for the prophet Joseph Smith and all he went through so that we could have this treasure. I love you all and hope you have a STELLAR Thanksgiving! Thank you for your prayers! Remember, keep the faith!
--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Some of our zone before Elder Mafile'o left last Monday!;(

Our pathway to our apartment!<3

Me and Sister Vera found our new fav, cute, little restaurant called Russ' down the street from us. What we thought was a hole in the wall.....was some of the BEST FOOD EVER!:D

One last picture of the pretty snow!:D

Week 49: Happy Holidays...Already...say what?!

Hey Family and Friends!:)

So this week was....ehhh......let's just say staying in the apartment for a week was awful! Poor Sister Vera was super sick! This nastiness is like spreadin' across the whole country right now and I am sick of the sickness! Haha! But all is well now, she is better and we started off yesterday right! :)

We got to hit the ground running yesterday again (well....almost....). Church was great! I finally felt like I knew mostly everyone yesterday and that it was home. It is always a great feeling when you get to that point in an area. :)

We also picked up a new investigator yesterday named Andy! He is awesome! He's in his 50's, a retired dairy farmer, and super religious. He loves God. And he found the Book of Mormon so interesting. He already loves us! He said, "Well.....I never had sisters growing up! Only 3 brothers!" And we said, "Now you do!" I have a good feeling about him. Keep him in your prayers please that he will have strong spiritual experiences as he reads the Book of Mormon and as we meet with him!

Heather is doing great! She finally committed to come to church with us on November 27th and give it a try! Pray she will keep that commitment! And Sy is also doing well! We taught him Saturday night with a member in the ward that speaks Vietnamese! It was super cool! We even got the Book of Mormon in Vietnamese on the gospel library app on his phone! We are going to start reading it with him so that can help him with his English! Pray he will understand it!

Anyways, God is good. I really don't know how much I can emphasize that. He is there. He loves us. He is aware of us and this work is the most important work anyone can do. I was reading Jacob 5:70-72 the other day and it hit me really hard.The Lord is laboring "with us". He isn't letting us do this by ourselves. If we were left to ourselves we would epicly fail. But with him we can epicly win! I love my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I love this gospel. And I love the Greatest Mission In The World, The Michigan Lansing Mission!<3

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Our crazy awesome Hasting's district....and the Spanish Elders too....hahaha! We are going to miss our stellar, Samoan, district leader Elder Mafile'o. He is going back to Hawaii!;(

Merry Christmas from a sick (meaning cool and physically sick) reindeer! Bahahahaha!

Got to see my momma for the first time in 6 months when we went down to Lansing for MLC (training for leaders in the mission). So weird being back to my old area and we died when we saw each other! Love her!<3 

Sounds familiar.........just can't put my finger on it.....

Trade-offs with my child! Just like old times! Love her!<3

Week 48: Moldy Leaves ;)

Hey Family and Friends!:)

I hope you all had a great Halloween! We got to eat dinner at the Richardson's in our ward and then go to President Smith's (our Stake President-he's in our ward) house to hang out with them after dinner! It was so fun! Love them all!:)

So me and Sister Vera spent most of this week sick with that nasty cold/horrible allergies that are going around. I guess it is really bad here because of all the moldy leaves. And especially bad for me since leaves don't really exist in Arizona. The only reason I am excited for winter is because everything will be dead!!!! Hahaha!

Sister Vera was also able to go to Dr.Vickor's and now we are both getting fixed! Our jacked up bodies are feeling a lot better! So that is really good!:)

We had trade-offs this week with the Ludington and Grand Rapids sisters! I got to be with Sister Phelps and then my baby, Sister Gardner! It was so fun! Just like old times! I love being a Sister Training Leader. I learn so much from the sisters here in this zone. It is amazing.:) They are amazing.:)

We are also slowly teaching more and picking up new investigators! Yay! Thank you for your prayers! They are working! And Heather is doing good! Understanding the Book of Mormon better and really desiring to know if it is true.

I love this gospel. It is the essence of a happy life. Especially when Jesus Christ is at the center of it. I love you all and hope you have a stellar week!<3

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

Happy Halloween!:)

:D

:)

                           I don't know who she thinks she is?! Haha.......this describes our companionship perfectly.:)

Love her.<3

Week 47: The Best Birthday in the History of Birthdays.....HAPPY HALLOWEEN!:)

Dear Friends and Family,

🎃HAPPY HALLOWEEN!🎃

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all my lovely family and friends who sent me gifts, cards, prayers, and love yesterday. I definitely felt and loved it all. It was an amazing day. There is something special about being able to be a servant of Jesus Christ on your birthday. And your 20th birthday for that. Great start to a new decade of my life. :)

It was so cool to see how Heavenly Father was helping me have such a special day yesterday. We had stake conference this weekend and that was amazing! Elder Ketch, from the quorum of the seventy, came and he is hilarious. You can feel the spirit so strong as he teaches. I LOVE the Grand Rapids stake. I was literally in tears yesterday as Heavenly Father showed me how many people that I love and know in this stake. It was the best seeing my family from the Grand Rapids Ward as well as the Wyoming Ward and hearing them wish me "Happy Birthday's" and giving them all hugs. I even got to see my old ward mission leader and his wife from when I was serving in Meridian down in Lansing. That was such a tender mercy because I could give hugs and take pictures with them. I adored them and I only got to say good-bye through a teary sounding phone call a couple months ago, so it brought tears to my eyes when I saw them. Reason #5000 why I know Heavenly Father loves us and cares about the little things in our lives.

Sister Vera is just plain amazing. I don't know how I got blessed with such a great companion. Scratch that. Such great companions on my mission. She cooked me breakfast, made me a cake, took pictures & videos all day long and just made sure I was having a great day! I just love her and I was so thankful! We ate a yummy lunch and dinner at member's houses and came back at night and opened presents and ate cake! Sister Jacobsen even called me to wish me a Happy Birthday from her and President. Love them.<3

The work in Wyoming has been going slow but we are slowly moving up. I just keep looking up to my Savior, Jesus Christ. That was one thing that was emphasized by Stake President Smith this stake conference. As we "Look Up" to the Savior things always seem to work out. Take away the distractions and focus on the one that matters most. And give yourself credit for trying even though you may not always get things right the first time! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us, are patient with us, and are just waiting to pour out blessings on us. I have seen that to be true this week!<3

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

The time to look like a sausage has begun!

Got to do trade-offs with the Big Rapids sisters this week! So fun!:) Big Rapids and Sister Newby are a blast!:)

The Ludington Sisters got to spend the night for my birthday!!!.....Jk....it was for stake conference....but we can still pretend!;)

My daughter and granddaughter.....Sister Gardner and Sister McArthur. Sister Gardner made sure to wish me a "Happy Birthday" on Saturday night so she was the first one!;) Love her! Love them both!

One of my favorite's, The Bright's, from the Grand Rapids' Ward. Love them! They are family for sure!:)

Almost started crying when I saw the Robison's from Lansing. You can tell I was just a little happy!;)

Pretty leaves......pretty companion! I just love October in Michigan!:)

And that wraps up this week folks! #1-I am most likely driving you crazy with all my pictures....and #2-The rest are suppppeeerrr embarrasing!;) (A.K.A. Sister Rogers looking like a dork.) 

Week 46: Zone Conferences and Laughs:)

Hey Family and Friends!:)

So this week has been crazy busy! Same old missionary work with new Sister Training Leader responsibilities. Haha! I love Sister Vera A LOT! We were just talking the other day about how we didn't even have to adjust to be companions....it just happened. And usually by being with each other 24/7 you find at least one thing that bugs you about your comp! But me and Sister Vera are weirded out because we haven't found any. We didn't even have an awkward or hard adjusting period. It has been awesome. And the fact that we both think each other are the most hilarious being's ever makes for a pretty great time!:)

We had zone training on Wednesday this week and me and Sister Vera taught about how our purpose as missionaries, "Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.", goes hand in hand with Christ's (and Heavenly Father's) purpose, "To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) It went really well, but I was so glad when it was over! Teaching in front of 34 amazing missionaries is intimidating! The Grand Rapids Zone is on FIRE!!!:) Love this zone! (And the Lansing Zone of course, always will.)

Our area is going a little slow! We have like 2 investigators! One is on the struggle bus, but the other is progressing. Heather is in her 20's and is really just trying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. The hard part is she is really involved in the worship team at her church and it is at the same time as our ward. Pray for her to be able to come somehow! And also that we can find some new people that are ready to receive the restored gospel in their life!:) I know and have faith we will as we keep working hard and being obedient!

Oh! And cool story...me and Sister Vera were door knocking the other day and this lady was bashing us and the Book of Mormon hard core. While she was getting all riled up, we were just calm, loving, and boldly testified. Literally in front of our eyes her whole demeanor changed. We walked away with her still set in her ways, but she was laughing and smiling with Mormon missionaries, instead of yelling at us. She even trusted us enough to tell us about her family. It was such a cool experience!

Well, I love you all and hope you have a stellar week! Keep sharing the light of Christ with others! This world needs him!<3

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

My first fall has been breathtaking! It's like nature is celebrating my birthday!;)

THE ONE AND ONLY....GRAND RAPIDS ZONE!<3

A ton of us missionaries went and helped with an all day Family History Seminar for all the people in the Grand Rapids area! It was a blast!:)

Week 45: Clearly I Don't Know Sports.....or Much of Anything for that Matter;)

Hey Family and Friends!:)

So I kind of like....ADORE.....Sister Vera and Wyoming. Great companion, great area, great ward. I literally have nothing to complain about. It was hard leaving Sister Gardner and Grand Rapids, but I know I am right where I am suppose to be. :) But literally...NEVER a dull moment between me and Sister Vera. We are constantly laughing and smiling. It is great! :D

Funny story...so we were door knocking and this man in his 20's opens the door and he is interested so there is this long silence while Sister Vera is writing his name and number in her planner and so I break the silence and ask....."So, you are a dodgers fan?" (He is wearing a blue shirt with a white D on the front.) He replies, trying to hold in a laugh, "No. Tigers. Detroit tigers." I just respond, "Well...you can tell I am not a sports fan!" Bahahahaha! We were laughing so hard after he closed the door! In my defense, dodgers are white and blue! They are just blue on white, instead of white on blue! I love me some baseball. Really though.....haha!

We've been teaching a couple investigators and less actives and really trying to go through the area. I am trying to get to know everyone as well! This area is huge! Probably even a little bigger than my Grand Rapids area, which is crazy. We have 3 sets of missionaries in our ward and I think we are the only ward like that in the mission. It's pretty awesome.

I also went on my first trade-off. I got to go to Holland and go to Lake Michigan on my trade-off! It IS BEAUTIFUL! LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE THE OCEAN! Except the sand is softer and the water is fresher.:) Got to spend it with the awesome and sweet Sister McGhie! Couldn't have been a better first trade off!:)

I love you all and I know that this church is true! I know that as we watch always the Lord will bless us. In Mark 13:37 it says, "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." As we watch out for ourselves, others, and the Lord he will come to be our best friend. And "...if ye do, he doth immediately bless you..." (Mosiah 2: 24) Have a STELLAR week and keep the faith!<3

P.S. This is my new address:

196 Brookmeadow North Lane Southwest Apt. 6 

Grandville, MI 49418

--

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

LOVE HER!<3

Long door knocking days.:)

Our week in review. Bahahahaha!

Me and Sister Gardner's last P-day together! We went to the beautiful Meijer Garden's! Love her so much!:)

The famous sculpture from Leonardo da Vinci. There is only one other in the world. I think it's in France?......

                                               
                                                                         
                                                     Saying bye to the Grand Rapids Ward!;( Love these girls!

Love the Sigmiller's! Going to miss them! People have told me that I look like part of the fam! Haha!:)

I'm going to miss this cute family!;(

My other Grandma! I love her! it was way hard to say bye to G-Rap Ward!

Love and will miss the Gilbert Family!:)

Welcome to the celestial kingdom.

Sea Shell searching!