Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Virginia Chesapeake Mission

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice!

Hello Everyone!

Easter was wonderful! And so was our week. It flew by. On Thursday we were heading to one of our investigators homes. I missed a turn, but we kept driving to see if the road would reconnect, or if there would be a detour we could take. We soon realized there wasn't. But we also realized that a less-active member we had never met was close by, so we decided to go visit him. We didn't end up meeting him, but we met his son (He's probably about 30) and invited him to church. He said he'd come! On Sunday he came with his wife and two kids! It was a miracle!!

Another wonderful thing happened this week. We were teaching one of our investigators and he told us that he's been starting to pray more and he's felt a change in himself where he's starting to act with more kindness and love. It's really neat to see the change in ourselves and others like that. And the gospel truly does change us for the better!

This weekend is General Conference! Come up with some questions or concerns you have in your life, write them down, and then listen to General Conference prepared to receive answers and guidance. I testifty that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet called of God to lead His church and children at this time. I know that his counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are also called of God. Your Heavenly Father has given them inspiration and revelation that you need to hear. I promise that as you watch General Conference, you will receive guidance. In 3 Nephi 12:1, the Savior tells the Nephites, "Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants...: I know that this is true for us as well. May we all listen to the voice of Christ, given through His living servants in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a blessed week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. There's this burger joint we go to with a Less-Active a lot. It's delicious!!


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Lay Hold Upon the Word of God

Hello Everyone!!

This week was great! On Thursday we had our Zone Conference. It was amazing! We talked about how we could more effectively plan and introduce The Book of Mormon. It was great to see all the other missionaries and feel the Spirit in such great abundance. During a short testimony meeting at the end, many of the missionaries shared short testimonies of Christ. What a beautiful feeling it is to feel the Holy Ghost bear record of the Father and Son! We felt Their love and were all uplifted.

The next day we did exchanges with some of the Elders in our Zone. Elder Ray came here to our area and my companion went to theirs. At our dinner appointment with some members, the father told me that I should grab some seconds. So I did and began to eat again. When I finished, he said I should take some more! Haha I ended up eating 4 servings and being quite full. Perhaps next time, Ill just tell him I'm on a diet. But it was a great appointment and we watched #Hallelujah with them.
This week I was reminded that there is great power in the scriptures! I thought a lot about how we must liken the scriptures to our lives and how we must treasure them up in our minds. The scriptures truly do teach us all things that we should do! (2 Nephi 32:3) In 1 Nephi 19:23, Nephi says, " And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." I know that the Scriptures are true. I promise that as you read them, your faith in Christ will increase, and you will one day " land [your soul]... at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Helaman 3:30) What a wonderful promise! God has spoken. May we continually hold fast to His word in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love each of you. Have a fantastic week!!

With Love,
Elder Rogers




Wednesday, March 16, 2016

#Hallelujah

Hello Everyone!

This week was wonderful! We've been staying really busy and teaching a lot. The Restored gospel is the best message anyone could share!

On Friday we had District Meeting and we also went on exchanges with our District Leader, Elder Bullinger. He's my MTC companion, so it was really fun to be companions with him again (For a day), 18 months later!

There was a man that the Sister missionaries here have been teaching and he was baptized on Saturday evening. It was a wonderful service. And Church on Sunday was absolutely marvelous. The Spirit was strong and we were edified. I know that as we continually follow Christ and keep the commandments, we will be given continued strength.

During Fast and Testimony meeting, I bore my testimony about how the gospel is all about love. The Plan of Salvation was made out of love and carried out because of love. John is truly correct when he states, " He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4:8-9) What a great privelege it is to serve our Father and help all to feel His abounding love! One way we can share His love is by helping others learn of Him and Follow Him. The Church recently came out with an Easter video that helps do just that. I would encourage you to share that video with a friend or family member. I know that as you share God's love, you will feel it in your life. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all! Have a lovely week!

WIth Love,
Elder Rogers


P.S. The video is found at www.mormon.org/easter


Thursday, March 10, 2016

Grand Caravan Ridin'

Hello Everyone!

I'm in Virginia now! It was a wonderful, crazy, stressful, and fulfilling week! The first three days of the week, I packed and said goodbye to a few of the members in Mt. Olive. I'm definitely going to miss a lot of people down there. On Wednesday, a member drove us to Greenville, NC where transfers took place. I got to ride up to Virginia with two of my past companions, Elder Dudley and Elder Ferrero, so that was fun!

On Thursday was a mission leadership meeting and then Friday was Zone Meeting! It's been 5 months since I've conducted and led a Zone Meeting, so I was a little rusty, but it still went really well. Our Zone is great and everyone was excited and happy.

My new companion is Elder Davis. He's from Layton, Utah and he loves rock climbing. He's been on his mission for almost 18 months. He's great and I'm excited to serve with him here in Suffolk!

We've already seen miracles here. The Lord's hand is so prevalent in this work. I know that 2 Nephi 27:23 is true. It reads, "23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." He truly does do miracles. As we exercise our faith in Him, He will reach out and miracles will be present in our lives.

I love each of you! Have a miraculous week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Yes, our assigned vehicle is a Grand Caravan.


Thursday, March 3, 2016

Yes, It's called the "Virginia" Chesapeake Mission

This week was exciting! I'm getting transferred to Virginia on Wednesday! This will be my very first time serving in Virginia. I have absolutely loved serving in North Carolina, but I am also excited to serve in Virginia. We got transfer calls on Saturday. Elder Talbot is staying in Mt. Olive, and his new companion will be Elder Weber, who has been out for about 6 months. My new area is the Bennett's Creek ward in Suffolk, VA. My companion's name is Elder Davis and I will be serving as a Zone Leader again.

On Tuesday we experienced a miracle! We were in a town we don't go to very often because it's far away and we were headed back to Mt. Olive. I saw a sign for an apartment complex and felt prompted to try to go find it. We ended up at four homes that looked like there were people home, so we decided to knock on their doors. The last one was a man from Haiti and he invited us in to teach him. We began to teach the Restoration and about halfway through he told us that his son was a member! He called his son out of his room and when I saw him, I realized that I had seen him at church before! So now we're teaching the father. We'll see where it goes!

On Wednesday we had some crazy weather! We ended up staying at a Less-Active members home for about 3 hours because we had to stay inside due to the tornadoes! Luckily we were safe and the next day there wasn't much storming.

I have been "ponderizing" a verse of scripture each week for a few weeks now. This week I chose Ether 6:12. It is when the Jaredites land upon the promised land. Part of it reads, " [they] did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them." Our Father in Heaven is so merciful! Whenever I personally thank Him in prayer I feel His Spirit in great abundance. We have so much to be grateful for! Think about how He has blessed you in your life. And then thank Him. I know that He loves us. As we express our gratitude for His tender mercies, we will realize more and more of them in our lives.

I love each of you! Have a grateful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers