Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Let Us Assist Him

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! Zone Conference was on Tuesday. President Baker had asked me to accompany on the piano for the meeting, so we spent a portion of our Preparation Day last week practicing for that! We also prepared for a 20 minute training on the Holy Ghost that Elder Dudley and I gave! You could say that we were pretty nervous for all of that, but I'm glad to tell you that it all went well. The meeting was quite spiritual and I felt my Savior's love as many testified of Him and this wonderful work.

We saw some miracles on Saturday! As we went out to work, we had hopes of meeting many Less-Active members. Those hopes were fulfilled later on and at every single Less-Active's home we went to, we were able to find them home! One lady even let us share a message with her and her father! We taught of the Savior and His Atonement. What a beautiful and pure doctrine! I'm so grateful for His loving grace and everlasting sacrifice.

The Primary Program was on Sunday and it was fun to hear all of the little children testify of eternal truths. I love all of the songs they sung as well. The Spirit was present and all were edified.

As I read Section 14 of the Doctrine and Covenants, I was impressed by verses 10 and 11. The Lord speaks to David Whitmer. He says, " 10 Wherefore, I must bring forth the fulness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel.

11 And behold, thou art David, and thou art called to assist; which thing if ye do, and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward. Amen."
The word 'Assist' stuck out to me. This is the Lord's work, but He trusts us and allows us to assist Him in it. And as we do, we truly are blesssed both spiritually and temporally. I invite each of you to do just that. Assist the Lord in every way you are capable. Each sacrifice we make for Him brings all the greater blessings to our lives. I know He lives.
I love each of you and hope your week is a joyful one!


With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Our parking lot is getting enlarged!


Thursday, September 24, 2015

A New Beginning!

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! On Tuesday we began our trip to Virginia. Many missionaries and their luggages were transferred throughout the states of Virginia and North Carolina and it was a miracle that everyone ended up where they needed to be. On Wednesday, we met Elder Ferrero fresh out of the MTC. He's from Las Vegas and loves to read. He's funny and I'm glad to be serving with him. My other new companion is Elder Dudley. He's from the San Diego area and has been out for 10 months.

We had a great training meeting in Virginia and then headed back to New Bern. It's been a good week and we had such a wonderful miracle! As we were driving to a dinner appointment, the member who was going to feed us texted us and asked if we had time for a lesson afterwards because they had a friend who was interested in being baptized! We had time. The lesson went quite well and we were able to set this young man on a baptismal date! He had even asked for permission from his parents to meet with us and had attended church once already, so we were definitely blessed that evening. I love the many miracles that the Lord sends us.

I was touched by the words of Jacob, brother of Nephi this week. In 2 Nephi 2:6-8, he declares, "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." Jesus Christ truly is full of grace and truth. I love Him. He has given Himself as a ransom for sin. We all know this and should glory in His humble sacrifice. And how greatly important it is to make this known. In this is held the purpose of missionary work. To bring others unto Christ so that they may partake of His everlasting sacrifice. I invite you to tell a friend about this wonderful truth. The fulness of His gospel has so mercifully been given to each of us. Let us share it freely.

I love you all. I hope that you have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers




Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Unexpected Call

Hello Everyone!

This week was quite eventful, especially the latter end! On Monday, we said goodbye to Brother Melton, our ward mission leader. He's been great, and has done so much for missionary work here! Tuesday through Thursday were fairly busy with visiting investigators and members and sharing lessons, but Friday was the eventful day!

We were going about our day on Friday, just as usual. And then we got an unexpected phone call from our mission president! He called Elder Egbert to serve as an Assistant to the President and told us that he'd need to be up to Virginia that evening! So that's when our entire schedule changed for that day. He had to pack and get ready and a few hours later, we drove him halfway and the current Assistants took him the rest of the way! That was exciting!

Saturday was when we got our transfer call, though. I'll be staying in New Bern and getting two new companions. One, Elder Dudley, who has been out for over 9 months, and the other is a brand new missionary! So we'll be training him.

We also had a great lesson with a less-active member on Saturday! We brought our recent convert with us and he bore powerful testimony on the importance of daily scripture study. It was fantastic! Our convert is also going to the temple this Saturday to be baptized in behalf of his father, so that is quite exciting!

This week I was touched by the testimonies of Alma and Amulek in the Book of Mormon as they testified of Christ. Alma 15:16 states, "And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;" Amulek gave up so much for the Word of God and for the Savior. In our lives, what things are keeping us from drawing closer to Christ? They are different for all of us, but whatever they are I exhort you to let them go. If something is keeping us from Him, it is not worth having in our lives. I know He lives. His grace is real. He loves each and every one of us. Put your trust in Him.
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers



Monday, September 7, 2015

Plan, Plan, Plan.

Hello Everyone!

This week was a busy one! But also quite good. On Tuesday we went up to Virginia for a leadership meeting and I felt the Spirit so powerfully there! I always love those meetings. Thursday was our day of planning. We literally planned for almost the whole day! It was our weekly planning day and also we planned for our Zone Meeting and an exchange.
On Friday we had our Zone Meeting, which focused on Revelation through Church Attendance and it went really well! We also went on an exchange with the Assistants to the President and saw some miracles! We were able to meet with and later teach a referral from a member. We also met a less active member we had never met before, so that was exciting!
This week I was touched by a verse of scripture in 3 Nephi 18 when the Savior teaches about the Sacrament. It's verse 7. "And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you." I love the part that says as we partake of the Sacrament, we are witnessing to God that we remember Christ. How blessed are we to be able to partake of this sacred ordinance. I invite all of you to seek for and pray for a more sacred experience the next time you partake of the emblems of the Sacrament. I know Christ lives and we are immensely blessed to have an opportunity to remember Him each week and testify to God of our willingness to do all He asks.
Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers