Week 17: The Lord Has a Plan for Each of Us!

Hey Family and Friends!<3

I hope you all had a Happy Easter and ate lots of candy! I know I sure did!;) (And almost made myself sick....dumb lactose intolerant problems.....hahahaha!) :)

So I have many emotions running through me today. Late last night, we get a call from President and Sister Jacobsen saying "We are in the area, and wondering if we can stop by?" So of course we say yes and are kind of freaking out because President and Sister Jacobsen don't just stop by! They are busy people! Well....when President got over he told me a sister in Kalamazoo is going home for a medical reason and so a sister in our district that is in the Meridian Ward is going to Kalamazoo to take her place, and he asked me to move to Meridian with Sister Lau. TOTAL SHOCK! I thought maybe next transfer I would move to Meridian because President has had me moving back and forth and being in the Lansing and Meridian Ward the past two weeks. But I didn't ever expect this!

The craziest part is he said he didn't even know why he had me doing that this last week (switching back and forth). He just figured I would move there because this is Sister Steele's last transfer (Sister Lau's companion), and so I would go take her place after this transfer. NOPE! I leave tomorrow morning! I have been in tears as I am texting the members in Lansing Ward and all my sweet recent coverts and investigators. We are going to visit a bunch of them tonight so I can say goodbye and take pictures. I am going to be a bucket of tears. ESPECIALLY when I say goodbye to my sweet Virginie and Julia because who knows if I will ever see them again. They are moving back to France in June. So.....I am just going to be a mess today. And since I have been up packing and probably gone to bed at midnight the past two nights.:P So that doesn't really help!

But I am so grateful that there are no such things as "good-byes" as I said in my last email. Only "see you laters". I definitely now understand why they say it is harder to say goodbye (see you later) to people in your mission, rather than your family when you leave home. This has been my family for the last 4 months and East Lansing will always hold a very special place in my heart.<3 

Luckily, I KNOW I am suppose to go serve in Meridian. I am excited! I LOVE Sister Lau and I will be in the same stake and district which is so comforting. This is the Lord's plan for me and President has spent lots of time praying over it, and I have as well. When I have been going over there are trade-offs I leave feeling sad because it has already started feeling like home. And the craziest part is last time I was there (Saturday) I ended up meeting the Bishop, Ward Mission Leader, and other members. President said that is amazing and crazy and he knows this is the Lord's plan. I know too! It makes it so much easier knowing I have a Savior who loves me and a Heavenly Father who has a plan for me. He is watching out for me. He is watching out for you. They love us. And because of this gospel, I don't ever have to say goodbye.

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Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

So Sister Nelson's momma got us bunny ears for Easter!:) Happy Easter Every-Bunny! Bahahaha!;)

HAPPY EASTER! BAHAHAHAHA!:D

Easter with my sweet Virginie!<3

So we went to the State Capitol last Monday for a P-day and it is beautiful!:)

Capitol Shenanigans!:D #wearethebomb

Trade-offs at Meridian! My new companion as of tomorrow morning, Sister Lau, is on the left!:) LOVE THEM!<3

Found swings on a tree in Meridian and I DIED! Happy day!:D

Meridian makes me happy too!:)

Week 16: One of the Greatest Gifts of All- He Lives So We Can Too!

HAPPY EASTER PEEPS! BAHAHAHA!<3:D

So I actually wrote Week 14 on last week when it was 13 so I am sorry about that! I soooo lose track of time on my mission! (**note from Momma:  or it could be that her Mom is losing track of time cuz she's the one who addresses her emails with the weeks, too!  Sorry!)  But this week was awesome!:D Probably one of the hardest weeks of my mission but I witnessed so many cool, tender mercies that just showed me how much Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives! Here are Mom's "questions of the week":

1.) What was your favorite part about Rick's baptism?

He literally couldn't stop smiling and he was glowing! It was so awesome to see! And his fiancee was in tears the whole time and that was so precious to me! She was so excited! She was telling us before the baptism that she didn't think she could love him anymore, but in a few hours, "I think I will." <3 They can get married in the temple October of 2017 because they are getting married this October and I guess they have to wait a year from when they get married civilly. I didn't know that! But I hope I can come back for that!:)

2.) How is your trio going with Sister Child?

It is going good! She is the sweetest! It is still hard figuring out how to teach and door knock with three of us, but we are getting better!:) But it is also way more fun to be in a trio! There is always something funny being said or happening!:)

3.) What's something you feel very "accomplished" about so far? What feels very natural to you as a missionary?

I think I just feel accomplished in the sense of fulfilling my missionary purpose of "Inviting others to come unto Christ", even if that doesn't always mean every person I invite gets baptized, they are that much closer to knowing the truth!:) And I think the schedule just feels very natural. 6:30 am-10:30 pm days are the norm now! Hahaha!:) That doesn't mean I am not tired though. I think all missionaries are tired, all the time! But that's how you know you are working hard! "Earn your pillow, EVERY NIGHT." (As said by an elder in my mission.)

4.) There seems to be some crazy MSU fans. Do you guys hear about it a lot?

YES! THERE ARE LITERALLY HOUSES THAT ARE PAINTED GREEN AND WHITE HERE! IT IS RIDICULOUS! BAHAHA!:D But seriously......we were door knocking the other day and sadly a man opened the door and said, "Don't bother door knocking today. Michigan State just lost so everyone is just going to be angry." We walked away laughing. Hahaha! And crazy enough me and Sister Nelson got pics with two of the MSU basketball players!!!! We saw them at the mall on Monday and we flipped out and had to gets pics! Sadly though, they lost........:(

5.) What's a favorite scripture of your's this week?

I forgot to write the reference but it is in the Book of Mormon and I love the part of the scripture that says, "We had hope in our deliverance by him...." This Easter season, I have been thinking a lot about how comforting it is to know our Savior lives so we all can live again too! Death is only a step into immortality and eternal life. I have always had a hard time saying good bye to people, whether that be family, friends,my high school ballroom team, my missionary friends that get transferred, people I meet once on my mission and never get to see again, etc. But because Christ lives there are no such thing as "Good-byes" only "See You Laters"! We went to a stake relief society fireside last night and it was on "Happy Landings" based on Dieter F. Utchdorf's last message in the February Ensign. Something one of the speakers said is, "We all said, "Bring it on!" to Heavenly Father in the pre-mortal life." We knew it would be hard, but also that it would be worth it. And because of our Savior we can overcome any challenges, struggles, or heartaches we have, had, or will have. I know he lives. He loves me. He loves you. And he wants us to come unto him so we can live with him again. He has already gone through what you are going through. So trust him and let him help you. As you come closer to Christ, I can promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that you will feel how much he loves and cares about you. 

I hope you all have a very happy Easter, eat lots of candy, and most importantly, remember who and what we are really celebrating. THAT HE LIVES.

Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

He totally touched my back and the Elders in my district were laughing at me because they said I turned bright red! Did not!;)

Michigan sunsets can be just as pretty as AZ ones, I have figured out!:)

Rick's baptism!!!!!:)

Week 15: Walking Through Gethsemane and On to Calvary

Hey Family and Friends!:D

I hope all is going well! It's finally warming up here in Michigan! It's just super wet and rainy now! It's the Michigan mist effect! Haha! So bizarre!:) 

Here are Momma's famous "questions of the week":

1.) Do you feel different now that you're a (part) trainer to a new missionary? How has it been?

Oh my goodness! Sister Child is sooooo sweet! She totally balances out me and Sister Nelson's personalities and has been a real blessing to not only this companionship, but to our area! It just shows me that Heavenly Father really does know where we need to be and that he has a plan for all of us. Anyways, she's from Logan, Utah (figures...hahahaha).;) And we are adjusting pretty good! Trios are SO FUN! They can be a little hard sometimes, but Sister Child is so awesome so it doesn't even matter! And we are getting better at teaching and door knocking in unity!:)

2.) What's some good advice you can give to brand new missionaries of something to those who are prepping to leave?

Just don't become a robot missionary. Be you. Heavenly Father is sending you to a certain area for a purpose. You can be obedient without being a robot. And nobody likes a fake missionary!:)

3.) How has the finding been? Are you guys in a car most of the time or are you outside a lot?

Finding has been was fun! Especially with Sister Child here! She talked to one of her first "Gander-Ranters" the other day and it was HILARIOUS! His name was David and we talked to him for like 50 mins! He totally believed so much of what we do! Like that Jesus Christ came to the Americas, that God and Jesus Christ are separate people, etc. We just couldn't get him to want to meet with us! Darn David! But he sang to us before we left and we had to do everything in our power to not bust up laughing!!! "Be kind to yourself....be kind to yourself....." it went a little something like that!;) Haha! So now we just bust up in that song every time we need a laugh!:) Or remember that he said, "What are you three goddesses doing here?" when we walked up to him! Bahahaha!

But we are on car fast this week!:P So lots of walking! Which stinks because we always are on a car fast week on the weeks that we have baptisms and that is crazy! But the members in our ward are awesome at giving us a ride to places! We already had two members give us a ride home from the grocery store and another member give us a ride to the library. I LOVE this ward! It definitely feels like home.<3

4.) Aside from being on a mission, this is the first time you've lived on your own. What's been the best & hardest thing about it?

Best- Just being able to take care of myself and learn and grow! And have so much fun serving the Lord and being in a new place!:) And knowing I can do hard things with the help of my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.

Hardest- Not being able to talk to my family for sure! That's one of the biggest ones! And another is just seeing that some people don't want to accept what makes us so happy. 

5.) Update us on your investigators? Is Steven's baptism still set?

Rick is the one getting baptized this Saturday at 11 am!!!! So that is exciting! ;D And then we are still teaching Steven. He has just been struggling with his health and family issues so please keep him in your prayers! And then the rest of our investigators are doing good as well!

6.) Sister, Rogers do you prefer emails or written letters better and why?

Written letters for sure! They come randomly and brighten up my day! And I love seeing peoples' handwriting and love in their letters! It's a little more personal, and I usually have more time to respond that way! But I love emails as well!:)

But this week I want to share something from Jeffrey R. Holland's talk "Missionary Work and the Atonement" that he gave in an MTC address in 2000. I just love it and it has means the world to me as I read it on my mission. 

"When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him-the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Missionary work and life in general requires us to sometime walk through Gethsemane and on to calvary. But how comforting it is to know that we have a Savior who loves us and always knows how we are feeling. He is our life and our light! We have great reason to rejoice this Easter season as we celebrate him and what he has done for us. He lives. He loves us. And he wants us to be happy. My challenge to you all is to watch the Easter video on LDS.org and share your testimony about it with someone whether it's on social media, in person, etc. 

I know that our Savior loves and cares about each one of you. Let him carry your burdens and sorrows, because he already did. Show him how much you love him this Easter season by showing your love to others. I hope you all have a STELLAR week!<3 I love you all so much!

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Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

We got to go on a ROAD TRIP!!!:D To Kalamazoo that is like an hour and a half Southwest! A cute old couple in our ward took us and the Elders to Lamb of God! And OH MY GOSH! It was amazing! The church paid for us to go and it the spirit was so strong! We saw so many of our missionary friends there because the Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo Zones got permission from President to go! The only downfall is we got home at like 11:45 at night and then had to set our clocks back an hour (dumb daylight savings time)! So we didn't get to bed until 1!!!! But it was SO WORTH IT! It really helped us feel the Spirit of Easter! Check out their music! It is amazing! It reminded me of doing, MTC, Mom! It made me miss those days!:)

Awesome, big Sis, Virginie letting us borrow all her cute, French clothes because we didn't bring jackets and had to walk home in the cold! Silly us! Good thing she takes good care of us!;)

Guess who I got to see on Thursday?! We flipped out! We even got to be comps for a while and go door knocking in my area while our other comps were in training! Love her so much!<3

Our first finding day with the new Sis!<3

YES!!! It actually got up to 73!:D

Week 14: I AM GETTING A SISTER! SAY WHAT?!:D

Family and Friends!:D

I am so excited to say I am staying in this area WITH Sister Nelson and we are getting a THIRD companion!!!!!:D We are so excited! It is going to be so fun! President called and said, "Sister Nelson is the trainer, but Sister Rogers you are going to be helping her." So I am the weird middle man! But I am so excited because there is literally never going to be a dull moment!:D It will be rough in teaching and door knocking at first, but I know we will get it down and the Lord will provide a way! <3 Oh! And a cool tender mercy.....so Sister Sheppard (MTC comp) is up in Bay City but she is coming down to Lansing because the same thing is happening to her! She's going to be in a trio and while her companion and Sister Nelson are in training, WE GET TO BE COMPANIONS FOR A COUPLE HOURS! I was so excited when one of the AP's called and told me last night that I started crying! I miss her so much! We are both freaking out! I talked to her this morning in email and it is cool because we are both in the EXACT same position! We were literally meant to be sisters!<3 But me and Sister Nelson are getting along a lot better and I really love her! I obviously have more to learn from her and her from me, or she wouldn't be staying. The song, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" has had a special place in my heart this week! It makes me cry every time I hear it. I know the Lord has a plan and purpose for me. I also know through the tender mercies I see every day that he loves us more than we can comprehend and he wants us to be happy.<3:)

Here are the questions for the week:

1.) Noah: Big question: when were transfers & did you get a new companion?

Well....already answered that....haha! But we get her on Thursday!:)

2.) Eli: Have you gotten all our letters & do you like them?

I do get all your letters and I LOVE THEM!!!<3 You don't realize how much you love letters and packages, and how much they help until you are a missionary!:)

3.) Gabe: What's the worst food you've had so far?

Cat and Dog hair in EVERYTHING that a family served us. Yum, yum! And then i ate "questionable" chili one time and Sister Nelson told me she wasn't going to tell me what she found in it or I would have an anxiety attack! She knows me well!;) And still to this day, no matter how much I bug her....she won't tell me. Haha! Probably a good thing.

4.) Ezra: Highlight of your week?

Figuring our about transfers! It was cool because I had been praying about them and I wasn't ready to let Sister Nelson leave me, but I also wanted a new companion! So Heavenly Father gave me the best of both worlds!;)

Also stake conference was AMAZING! Stake President Coakley of the Lansing Michigan Stake has such power when he speaks the spirit burns in you like fire! I love him! Our stake conference was all about "Building Our Faith in Jesus Christ". One of my favorite things said (actually there a lot of things I loved) but it was something President Coakley said. He said, "We should be the most positive people on earth. We should be the happiest people on earth." How true is that?! :) The gospel brings us eternal happiness that we can't find anywhere else! I also loved when President Jacobsen spoke because he just stood up at the podium and said nothing until all us missionaries came up and sung, "Called to Serve". The whole stake was crying! It was the most amazing experience! 

5.) Meg: What does the Midwest (Michigan, Detroit) accent sound like?

They just pronounce some words with a weird drawl. I will have to show you when I talk to you all on Mother's Day! (Which is coming up soon!)

6.) Dad: (He knows he asked this before...) But when do you get the chance to go to the Detroit temple?

As soon as Virginie has some names!!! So soon, hopefully! We are working on it!

7.) Update us on your investigators:

Virginie isn't an investigator anymore, but she is STELLAR! She is coming door knocking with us on Tuesday morning and she is pumped!:D

Steven is struggling with his health and a lot of his family is sick! So please keep him in your prayers! I am hoping this hard time is building his faith.

Rick is on date to get baptized March 19th!!!!!! AHHHHH! He is so solid! We told him he had to be off smoking and coffee for two weeks before his baptism (and we taught him the Word of Wisdom exactly 2 weeks away from that date) and his response was: "Ok. I will quit today. I am getting baptized March 19th." Holy faith! Me and Sister Nelson couldn't stop smiling! He's the coolest and his faith just builds my testimony!

So as you can see the Lord's hand is in ALL of his children's lives! My challenge to you all this week is to share something you learned in stake conference or church with someone who could use a spiritual lift in their life! I love you all so much! God does too! ;)

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Remember the church is true and I love you!

<3Sister Rogers<3

Michigan Lansing Mission

This describes our district to a T! Elder Dunn in the front is our district leader and is leaving!;( So we will get a new Elder and then our new Sister! But other than that everyone is staying! So happy! And Elder Dorrough (with the baby in his coat) is our new district leader! Bahahaha! So STOKED! LOVE HIM! Haha!:) This is the only pic I think! Sorry!