Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Mt. Olive, NC

Hello Everyone!

Well, I'm getting transferred! On Saturday, we got our transfer calls and I'm headed to Mt. Olive in two days. It'll be a little bit of a change, but I'm excited for it! Mt. Olive is in the Goldsboro Stake, so this will be my first time leaving the Kinston Stake in my entire misison! My new companion's name is Elder Funk, but that's about all I know about him so far since I haven't met him yet.

Our week went well. It flew by and we saw many miracles. One was a referral from a Less-Active member. He had invited his Aunt over to his home to learn more about the restored gospel. She was quite interested and even accepted a baptismal date! Another miracle was a potential investigator that we talked with a few days ago became an investigator. He had read from various places in The Book of Mormon and had questions and was willing to learn. We were excited to hear that!

This week I learned of the power and importance of humility. As we humble ourselves and rely on the Lord, our lives will be so much more joyous! In Proverbs 3:5-6, we learn, "5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Our Father in Heaven and His Son love each of us immensely. They know what's best for us. As we trust them and put our lives in their hands, they will do miracles and our joy will be great!

I love all of you. Have a magnificent week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Ponder, Pray, Prepare

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! On Monday we had many of the Elders in our zone assemble for some Basketball and games. It was great! We also had a couple opportunities for service this week, so that was good. We helped lift some plywood and also helped someone move. Both of them provided us with some sort of food! (Which was no requirement for us to help, but it's always nice)

We saw plenty of miracles this week! One of them was at a part-member family's home for dinner. We had planned to ask the husband who is a non-member how he felt about the church. Following the dinner, before we had asked him, he said, "I've got a few questions." We sat in the living room and answered questions he had about eternal marriage and families. He accepted an offer for him to learn more. We are excited for him! I marvel at the many miracles which the Lord places in our path.
My two companions and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. It went well! Before I came on a mission I always thought that missionaries didn't get nervous at all to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I now know that they do. Not as much as we used to, but still a little bit. All of our talks went well and the Spirit of the Lord was present.

I felt the power of pondering this week. In 3 Nephi 17:3, the Savior tells Nephites that were gathered around Him, "Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again." He gave such a simple formula for Spiritual understanding. Ponder, pray, and prepare. I experienced this firsthand during one of my studies this week. Beforehand I prayed for some sort of spiritual enlightenment. As pondered and prayed, Heavenly Father gave that light to me, and since I was prepared for more, it was then given. I love Him so much. We are eternally blessed to have such a loving Father in Heaven. He loves each of us immensely. I would invite each of you to ponder, pray, and prepare. As you do, knowledge and light will be given and you will draw closer to the Lord.

I love you all. Have a fantastic week full of the Spirit!

With Love,
Elder Rogers



Friday, October 16, 2015

Five Elders, Burgers, and Fries!

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! We found two new investigators that are quite interested in the gospel! On Tuesday, we had exchanges with the Assistants to the President and learned a bunch! The next day, I turned 20! It was a great birthday out here in the mission field! On Saturday was our interviews with our mission president. President Baker is wonderful! I learn so much from him each time I meet with him.

There's a recent convert who's 21 and preparing to serve a mission. We've been working with him and this past Sunday, we found out that he'll be receiving the Melchizidek Priesthood soon and can hopefully go on a mission in January. We're so excited for him!

We also took our recent convert, to a lesson with a less-active member of the church and they really connected! The Spirit was powerful and it was a wonderful lesson. He got us dinner afterwards, as well, so that was just the perfect ending to our time with him.

I've began to "Ponderize" as Elder Durrant counseled in General Conference. The verse I'm choosing this week is 1 Peter 3:17-18. Verse 17 reads "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." Let us each strive to do what is right, even when bad things may happen to us. The reward will be truly great in the Kingdom of Heaven. I know that Christ lives and He has experienced all things. Let Him lift your burdens.

I love you all, truly! Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers






Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Listen, then Act.

Hello Everyone!

This week was quite busy! There were a few hurricane warnings, but we were blessed to stay safe. On Tuesday, we spent some time cleaning our carpets and headed up to Virginia for a leadership meeting! (I got some pretty nice landscape pictures on the way up.) Wednesday was our leadership meeting and the Spirit was strong. On Thursday, we planned for our Zone Meeting on Friday.
The Zone meeting was good! We talked a lot about faith. What a powerful principle! Faith was a large topic throughout the General Conference sessions this weekend. I felt my Father in Heaven's love as I listened to the words of living prophets. And that peace and joy was wonderful! But if the only thing these words accomplish is bring feelings of goodness to us, their purpose is lost. We must hear the words of Christ, then put them into our lives. We must listen, then act. That is my invitation to each of you. Ponder the words from our Father in Heaven given this past weekend, then live them. I promise that as you do, the power of God will enter your life. Repentance and dedication to the Lord bring the Spirit in a tremendous way.
I love you all. Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers