Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Monday, November 16, 2015

Cotton Galore!

Hello Everyone!

This week was good! On Monday we had a Zone Preparation day! That was really fun and there are a lot of great Elders in our zone. We played some basketball and soccer and other sports. On Friday we had exchanges and we got to help out a lady fix some posts on her farm.

Two of the less-active families that we taught this week came to church! It was really exciting to see them there. There is such a joy in attending church and partaking of the Sacrament, and that joy is just added upon when others whom you love also come.

Tomorrow we'll be blessed to be visited by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy. I'm looking forward to it! I'm also excited to see many of the Elders I've served around.

This week we experienced a miracle! As we were tracting in an area we aren't in often, one man let us in his home. We taught the Restoration and he said, "That just makes so much more sense than what I've heard before." It was nice to hear those words. The Spirit was present as we taught him and we are excited for our next appointment.

I have been trying to ponderize verses of scripture each week and this week I chose Alma 60:23. Especially the second half. It reads, "...Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also." I know that this is a true principle. As we cleanse and purify our Spirits and inner vessels the rest of our lives will be purified and blessed. As we put Christ first, everything else will fall into place. What a blessing it is to have this restored gospel in our lives! May we all live and apply it as we draw closer to our perfect Savior.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Here's a picture of me in a cotton field a year ago and then one of me in a cotton field this week.





Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Goldsboro Zone

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! I'm starting to get used to the area and we've been staying busy! This week we met several less-active members and got to know them. It's been wonderful to teach and love these people and feel the Spirit of the Lord as we do so. This gospel will truly bless all those who heed its message.

On Friday we had Zone Meeting! It went really well! I'm in the Goldsboro Zone now, so it was nice to meet all the different missionaries. This is the first Zone meeting in 2015 that hasn't been in the Kinston East Zone! We talked about helping investigators and members keep commitments and I was truly edified.

This week I thought a lot about Spiritual things and temporal things. In Matthew 26:41, the Savior says, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." What a true statement! There is great power in strengthening our spiritual stamina and relying more fully upon the Lord than upon the arm of the flesh. As we do the simple things like scripture study and prayer, our Spirits will be filled and we will receive strength to live our lives as the Lord would have us. He is so merciful and loving and He is waiting with open arms to help us in every aspect of our lives.

I love you all! Have a scripture-filled week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers


P.S. Here's me in a field and also a picture of our humble abode.




Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Mt. Olive Arrival!

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one. It was full of change! On Wednesday, I met my new companion, Elder Funk and headed off to my new area. I've met a bunch of new people this week and have enjoyed Mt. Olive thus far! We live right next to the Mt. Olive pickle plant and some mornings as we go out to work,we can smell the fresh aroma of pickles! Haha so that might take some getting used to. My companion is really great, though, and our home is nice! Elder Funk is from Mesa, Arizona and he really likes trucks.

On Thursday, we saw a miracle! We were tracting and a man answered the door. He told us that he wasn't really interested, but went to get his wife. She wasn't interested either, but right before we were about to leave, I taught them briefly about the Restoration and how there were 12 Apostles on the earth today. That caught their attention and they let us sit down and share the message more fully. Afterwards, the man who at first rejected us apologized that he had done that. He was quite sincere and expressed how sorry he was. It is amazing how much a little understanding can change ones perspective.

We also had a Trunk Or Treat event on Saturday that was really fun! They had a little picture place set up that my companion and I got our pictures at. We also handed out some candy. It was a good time!

One spiritual insight that I had this week came as I ended my fast. I gained such strength throughout fasting and as I concluded, I read a few verses from Isaiah 58. The whole chapter is powerful, but verse 8 says, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward." I know that fasting is inspired of God. I felt so much peace and courage as I fasted with real intent yesterday. As we obey God's commandments with a willing heart, all of the promises He gives are sure. He truly will grant us each blessing that He promises with unfailing certainty. His love is infinite. I pray that we will all strive to love Him as He loves us.
I love you all! Have a joyous week!



Elder Rogers