Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Thursday, January 28, 2016

SNOW!!! But Not That Much.

Hello Everyone!

This week was wonderful! It started out on Monday evening. The Lord has just been blessing us this week. We went from lesson to lesson that night and the Spirit was powerful in each. On Wednesday we had a broadcast to all of the missionaries in the world. It was inspiring! We heard from several of the Apostles and leadership of the Church. One topic they addressed was always having the Savior on our lips. Always declaring His name. This is something we should do as missionaries, but also throughout our lives. One way of remembering Him always is talking about Him frequently.

Yesterday church was canceled. We had had some snow on Saturday and so they canceled church. It's different here than it is back West. Snow is a big deal! So that was pretty sad, but we were able to teach many people, and it was still a wonderful day! Some of those we taught yesterday were people we had tried to teach before, but they wouldn't let us. We had some great lessons as we testified of Christ and His infinite Atonement.

In my Book of Mormon study this week I read several chapters in Ether. One verse that really stuck out to me was in chapter 6 verse 17. It reads, "And they were taught to walk humbly before the Lord; and they were also taught from on high." This verse teaches so many powerful principles. First, they were taught to walk humbly. It didn't just happen. It is not our natural way of walking. Pride so often encompasses our steps. But as they walked humbly, they were taught from on high. Think of your life and the decisions that you make. Do you rely upon God to lead you? I know that as we rely upon God, choosing to take steps in line with His will, He will truly teach us from on high. Joyous is the path that God has laid before us. May we all walk in the steps of Christ.

I love each of you! Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers


Thursday, January 21, 2016

It Began in Weekly Planning

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! On Monday we had a Zone Preparation day. It was really fun to meet together with everyone and play some sports!

We saw a miracle this weekend. But it began during our weekly planning session. The Spirit was present as we planned, and a we received some revelation for a certain investigator we hadn't focused on recently. We were inspired to teach him in a particular member's home. So we took action and those plans took place on Saturday. We set him on a baptismal date, and he came to church. He's excited, and so are we! I am so grateful for little miracles like this.

Another of our investigators also came! And 3 or 4 Less-Active's we were hoping would come! It was wonderful! And our Bishop and Stake President both spoke since it was Ward Conference. What made it even better was that there was food afterwards! We a delicious Southern meal!

Recently I've been marking and trying to memorize several verses from the Book of Mormon. There are so many inspiring verses in there! I love it! One of them was from 2 Nephi 9:45. It reads, "O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation." It's just so simple. How grateful I am for a Savior who provides a path of deliverance. He is so loving. Let us turn from all of our sins and turn to God. I know that as we do, peace, joy, and happiness will enter our lives. We will have a great purpose and meaning behind our actions. I know that this gospel is true. And I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers




Wednesday, January 13, 2016

"Do You Have a Dinner Appointment?... Alright, We'll Feed You!"

Hello Everyone!

This week was miraculous! Interviews with our Mission President went really well. President Baker is a wonderful man. On Thursday, we had a lesson with a less-active member that we had been trying to meet with ever since I got here. And we also had a lesson with a member and his wife who's not a member. Both were great!

On Friday, we were out teaching with a member and as we drove past the library, we saw one of our investigators standing outside it. So we stopped and shared a message with him! We hadn't seen him in a while. And then he came to church this week!
There were 3 times this week that members offered to feed us on the spot! On Sunday we didn't think we had any meals, but then we ended up with a lunch and a dinner appointment!
At 7:30 on Saturday night, we got a call and my companion was asked to speak in church. Not much notice, but he did great!

I've been reading the beginning of The Book of Mormon recently. I love Nephi's words! He teaches the importance of prayer in 1 Nephi 18:3. It reads, "And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things." This was as Nephi was building a boat. When we have to do difficult things or go through many afflictions, we must turn to the Lord. Not only will He provide a way for us to accomplish great things, He will provide peace. I know He is there. And He yearns to hear from us. His love for each of us, His children, is great. May we love Him as He loves us.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Here's our mission logo.


Monday, January 4, 2016

Miracles!

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! We saw some amazing miracles this week, but I'm going to save those for the end. On New Year's Eve, my companion and I went to the Mt. Olive pickle drop. At 7 PM they dropped a 3-foot, glowing pickle into a big bucket. (One they use to make pickles I think...) They did it at 7 so everyone can go home and get to bed on time, which was nice for us missionaries since we can't stay up late anyway!

We had a great Zone meeting on Friday. A Bishop from one of the wards came and spoke for a little while, so that was nice. We're going to read through Preach My Gospel as a mission as well, so that's been great!

Alright, now for the miracles. On Monday night, our Elder's Quorum President was scheduled to come out teaching with us. Our appointment for that night had canceled a day or two before, so we were going to just try to stop in on a few people with him. The first person we tried, we ended up having an amazing lesson and our Elder's Quorum President was just excited about it the whole way home. Then Tuesday came and a Brother had signed up to come out to a lesson with us. Around 4 or 5 our appointment for the night canceled. So we called a bunch of people and couldn't find anyone to go visit. Before I knew it, we were driving to our home so the Brother could take us out. I was unsure of where we would go, but after praying I felt peace and knew that it would work out. The first place we tried was an investigator's home and they let us right in. We had a wonderful lesson! The same thing happened on Wednesday! We had a member signed up to come out teaching with us, and our scheduled appointment canceled. The first person we tried let us in and we had a great lesson! Our God truly is a God of miracles! "But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are." (Mormon 9:11) I know that God lives. He loves. And He will truly perform miracles in our life according to our faith.
Have a wonderful week and look for the little miracles in your life!


With Love,
Elder Rogers