Monday, April 18, 2016

Week 20: The Sun Actually Shines Here?...

This week has been wonderful! We had zone conference and it was so good! We talked a lot about testifying and inviting people to learn boldly and I have seen SO MANY miracles this week because of that. I testified to a man after he said he wasn't interested about how Heavenly Father has a plan for him and this gospel will bless his life and make him happy and he just started spewing out his number to me right when I finished. I also testified to a lady who was trying to argue with me and say that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were one and you could tell she felt the spirit. She calmed down and wasn't as riled up. She also couldn't argue with us after that. She was a mess of words. It was exactly like the scripture says, "Men shall be confounded..." (or along those lines) as we testify of Christ. Well here are Momma's "questions of the week":

1.) How is David doing? Any successes this past week?

David is doing great! He came to a baptism on Saturday for this little boy in our ward who is like in love with me (not to brag or anything). We eat dinner with their family once a week and every time I went over, he kept asking if I would be at his baptism. Haha! And then the elders in the ward even called a couple days before and said that we better be coming or he would freak out! Haha! But David really liked the baptism and I know he felt the Spirit. We are just working on building his testimony. Keep him in your prayers please!

We also taught a new lady named, Jesslyn, who we door knocked into. She is the sweetest and is of the Bahai faith. Strange thing about their faith. When we met her she already knew about the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and Book of Mormon. They base the belief of their prophet off a scripture in the Doctrine in Covenants. So strange! But she wants to keep learning more so we are excited to see where it goes! Her family is adorable as well! She has a 19 year old girl, 14 year old boy, and 6 year old girl who is a ball of fire! She is hilarious and adorable! Her name is Hyacinth (like the flower!):) Keep Jesslyn in your prayers as well please to have an open and softened heart so that she will have the desire to be baptized when we see her this next week.

2.) What blessings do you think you've gained this week from your mission?

More love for people. Especially the people who slam the door in our face, get mad at us, or tell us that we are crazy. It just helps my testimony grow and helps me feel closer to my Savior. And also, patience! My family knows I am not a patience person, but you have to be out here! With others, but maybe even more importantly with ourselves! 

3.) Everyone ALWAYS mentions how happy you look, Sister Rogers! What do you say to that? What makes you the happiest about serving?

Mosiah 2:17 and Mosiah 2:41:)

4.) Ponderize Scripture:

"And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." -Mosiah 18:21

Love others! It just makes life so much better! And more fun!:)

Love you all so much! Keep striving to come closer to your Savior each and every day! And have a STELLAR week!;)

--
Remember the church is true and I love you!
<3Sister Rogers<3
Michigan Lansing Mission

A red truck I found and I DIED!:O I just got lucky seeing beautiful cars this week! (Anyone who knows me well knows that vintage, Ford trucks are my fav! Especially red and blue ones!)


Zone Conference! We decided to match!;)


Me with a beautiful VW Bug!<3 I asked the guy if I could take a picture next to it and he said yes!:)


On trade-offs with Sister Young! She came to Meridian and a member named Mallory took us out for ice cream! Love her!<3 (And yes....the sun is out....and yes....I got fried....and yes....I bought sunscreen today, Dad....) ;)


We were tired, and looking in the sun. But I love her and had to take a pic!:)


FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING!!!




Monday, April 11, 2016

Week 19: Gander Ranter to the MAX!!!!

Hey My Dearest, Favorite, Family and Friends!<3

So if you have never heard of a "gander ranter" before you are missing out. Definition: A citizen of Michigan who talks so much they barely breathe and you can barely get a word in. And that is totally what happened to me and Sister Lau on Saturday! 4 hours of finding and door knocking and we knock into this OLD grammy who is in her underwear and talks for 30-45 mins while we just stood there listening, nodding, and occasionally getting a "yes" in! Bahahahaha! That was the longest one Sister Lau has ever seen on her mission and she goes home after this next transfer! It was so funny! The lady was sweet, but man. The Spirit told us to listen and be kind for a while, but I think she could tell we were not all there by the end of it. Haha! So she let us go! How kind of her!;)

Anyways, Meridian Ward already feels like home and like I have been here forever. Funny how each ward you are in on your mission feels like home instantly. I love it! And me and Sister Lau laugh a ton and get along great! I may or may not be a little jealous that my family is taking her out to dinner when she gets home!;) (She is super excited about that, Dad.) As long as she doesn't replace me I am good with that! I told her that! Bahahaha!;) I had a hard time with change before my mission, but now I love it! It has been so good! This emergency transfer to Okemos has been a blessing in so many ways, even though I do miss my family in East Lansing. BUT! I got to go to a baptism for our Zone Leaders which are the elders in the Lansing Ward on Saturday so I got to see everyone! It is so nice, but weird! Being so close, yet so far away! But I am having a blast, loving every moment of my mission. Taking it all in because it is just flying by! I can't even believe it is almost Mother's Day and I get to talk to my family again soon. Sometimes I feel like just yesterday I left, but then I feel like a different person so it feels like years ago at the same time! 

Anyways, now I am starting to "Gander Rant" so here are "Momma's Questions of the Week";)

1.) Update us on any investigators. Who can we pray for?

David- He really needs prayers! We put him on date for baptism this week and was so excited but has been texting us about his doubts! He really needs to "Doubt his doubts, before he doubts his faith!" as I told him! But we are meeting with him tomorrow! So I am hoping we can have a really good lesson on baptism and its importance. But please pray that he can strengthen his faith, and that his doubts will disappear! Especially because he has been so good about reading The Book of Mormon!

2.) How has it been teaching/finding with a new comp?

It has been a little difficult getting used to it! Especially because I was so used to being in a trio and used to how Sister Nelson and Sister Child taught. But we are definitely getting better with time!:)

3.) Any successes this week? What have been the challenges?

We have scheduled a ton of lessons for this week! We just need some solid, new investigators! Prayers for this area!

4.) Have you seen any funny stuff this week?

The Grammy with the panties! And some crazy stories that will be told when I get home!;) Don't need Momma worrying about me!;)

5.) Any scripture passages that have caught your eye?

My ponderize scripture for this last week was Mosiah 13:9. It is when Abinadi is talking to the evil King Noah and calling him to repentance. "But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be I am saved." I love this scripture. What great faith Abinadi had! He did what the Lord asked him to and then didn't worry about the rest! He lived his life to make Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ proud of him! Little did he know that because of him, Alma was converted, and then thousands of others. We may not see the effect we have on someone's life, but that's why we have to be such good examples! Just yesterday a member of the ward, Sister Leeson (also an elderly,couple missionary who works in the office and is from Tuscon, AZ) told me she met someone at the store the other day who remembered my name. I guess I talked to him months ago walking down the street in East Lansing. I couldn't believe he remembered my name. It touched my heart and showed me how much people remember when you are kind to them and love them! And little did I know the effect on him that it had! Sister Leeson told me he was even thinking about meeting with the missionaries! So my challenge to you this week is to be a good example! Do something kind that makes you go out of your way. And if nobody sees the effects, even if you don't see the effects, who cares! Heavenly Father does and he will be proud of the daughter/son of God you are becoming!

I love you all so much! Have a STELLAR week!;)


--
Remember the church is true and I love you!
<3Sister Rogers<3
Michigan Lansing Mission

The longest icicle ever! It didn't even fit in the pic! It was like double that length!


Me with that super long icicle! (Momma note: remember The Christmas Story movie?)

Me and Sister Lau with a super awesome, sweet, recent convert named Audrey who came out door knocking with us!


Creepy, statue heads we saw while door knocking on Saturday. I really don't know what's in the water here.......oh wait, lead.......ha.....sorry, bad joke.


Monday, April 4, 2016

Week 18: #LDSConf

Family and Friends!!!:)

"Did you know how much I love you?!" (Just like Jeffrey R. Holland said!) I am so grateful for you all! Your letters, packages, love, support, prayers! It makes me feel like I am so blessed to be alive and I can't believe how many amazing children of God Heavenly Father has blessed me to get to know, meet, and love in my life! I thank him every day for you all! And you are ALL in my prayers!<3 

Here are Momma's "Questions of the Week"!:

1.) So, tell us about your new comp, area, ward, etc. How are things going?

I LOVE Sister Lau! She is from Arizona too! She lives in Buckeye! And dad! She was born in Birmingham, England!!! She wants to know what areas you served in on your mission! So cool! Small world! She is so gorgeous, sweet, and an amazing missionary! We get along great, laugh A TON, and are like sisters! The area and ward is awesome too! I already know most of the members even though we haven't had a regular church Sunday yet because of General Conference, and they are awesome! It is so cool because I know where mostly everything is in this area because we would come to this area all the time to email at this library when I was in East Lansing! But I love this area! I am glad I am in the same stake as well! It was so cool to see some members from the Lansing Ward when we went to the stake center to watch General Conference!:)

2.) Do you like your new place?

Yes! It is cute and small! But perfect for the two of us! AND IT HAS A TREADMILL! HALLELUJAH! :D I have missed running! Not the same as running outside, but better than nothing! I will count my blessings!

3.) Even though you're still new to Okemos, any potential investigators?

YES! :D

David- Sister Lau and Sister Steele found him personal contacting in South Lansing a couple weeks ago! I got to teach him once this last week and the Spirit was so strong! He's such a cool guy and came to General Conference (both sessions) on Saturday! And had to take a bus in the SNOW and walk there to get to the stake center! So you all have no excuse not to watch it! If you didn't get the chance to, go back and do so! ;) 

And we also have Llyod, Karuna, and a couple others! But we haven't got the chance to meet with them lately! So pray that we can schedule and keep appointments please! And pray for David to keep feeling the Spirit! He is really open minded and looking into a lot of different religions right now! But it was so cool because he took notes like CRAZY at general conference and would say, "Yeah!" everytime he agreed with something the prophet or apostles said! It was the cutest thing ever! Hahaha!:)

4.) Now that you've gone thru a transfer, are you seeing the blessings of them?

I am actually on my 3rd transfer now, Mama! But I think you meant area! Yes! I totally am seeing why we are needed in certain places! I accomplished my work in East Lansing and now it's time to accomplish what Heavenly Father wants and needs me to here in Okemos. I learned so much from my first area, companions, and the people I got to know, teach, and love in East Lansing though. They shaped me into the missionary I am still becoming! I am so grateful for that blessing!:)

5.) What were some of your favorites from conference?

Well I hope everyone LOVED and enjoyed General Conference and felt the Spirit! I know I did! My favorite talks were Henry B. Eyring's, Gerrit W. Gong's, and Jeffrey R. Holland's! And President Monson's of course, but they were all amazing! Talk about tears! I heard EXACTLY what I needed to hear and my questions were answered! Even the questions I didn't know I had! I know these men are men of God and speak his words. I love them. I sustain them. I will follow them to show how much I love God and his servants. I hope you all got the chance to watch them, and if you didn't, that is my challenge to you! Have questions in mind and listen for your answers! I promise as a representative of Jesus Christ that Heavenly Father will answer your questions. Why? Because he loves you! "May God bless us tomorrow, to help us remember how we felt today!" I couldn't agree with Elder Holland more! Keep those words close to your heart, treasure them, and follow them, and you will be happy no matter what life throws at you! "For tomorrow, the Lord will do wonders among you."

I love you all soooo much! Have a STELLAR week!<3


P.S. "The great thing about the gospel is we get credit for trying, even if we don't succeed."
--
Remember the church is true and I love you!
<3Sister Rogers<3
Michigan Lansing Mission

Oh! And my new address is:

4201 Southport Circle Apt.1A
Okemos, Michigan 48864
-- 
                                               

ADORE AND LOVE THIS GORGEOUS COMP OF MINE!<3


So I get the privilege of driving this good, ole' "soccer mom" van! It's pretty fun and nice! Never thought I would say that! Don't worry, Mom! I still won't get one when I grow up!;)
(**note from momma: disclaimer... please know,I do not nor ever discriminate against mini van owners. My kids just know I don't prefer them for myself.  I tried them....don't like them.  That's it.  And...um....I MAY have expressed my opinions to my kids at one time or another.  They aren't supposed to TELL people though!)


So I figured out I know how to paint and I am pretty good!;) I love serving others!


Look at how cute she is!;) She likes to cook! That means Sister Rogers eats yummy food!


Monday, March 28, 2016

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.

--
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!:)










Monday, March 21, 2016

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!!!!!:)


Monday, March 14, 2016

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!

--
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

Monday, March 7, 2016

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! ;)

--
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!