Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Week!

Hey Everyone!

Merry Christmas! I hope that it's fantastic for everyone! This week was great! The weather was really nice, which was especially helpful, since we were biking! But anyway, there were some really wonderful things that happened this week!
First of all, we contacted some investigators that we haven't seen for about a month or so! That was exciting! And to make it even better, they moved to a home that will be a nicer place to raise their daughter, they got a car, and they both have jobs! So that's wonderful! We taught them a few times and things are really looking up for them!
We were able to help out a recent convert clean her home this week! She basically keeps everything and won't throw it away. But it was really cool because she told us she wanted to have the Spirit in her home and she knew that He wouldn't abide in a messy place. So my companion, the Spanish missionaries, and I went a few days to help her out! Haha, to be honest, it was pretty fun! We threw away something to the order of 12 big ol' trash cans full! It was a lot! And there's still more! But she was really appreciative and it's always nice to be able to serve.
We went caroling as a district last night!! That was extremely fun! Haha we were able to sing to several families and they loved it! When we went to an investigator's home, one of their little boys, started singing "Joy to the World" with us! That was pretty funny! We had a really wonderful time and hopefully brightened some of their days!

And last but not least, our Sacrament meeting yesterday was exceptional! It was Christmas themed and several of the musical numbers were so beautiful! The Spirit was so strong and I just felt so much peace. The overarching theme, or message, was the sole and primary message of Christmas. That of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. My testimony of Him was strengthened just in that short period of time. He truly is the Christ, God's Only Begotten Son in the flesh. It is in Him and through Him that we can receive the most joy in this life and eternal Salvation in the life to come. I know He lived and died for us, and that He lives again. I pray that each of us will remember Him as we enjoy and celebrate Christmas, and I hope we will remember Him each and every day. I love every one of you and so does He. Have a very merry Christmas!


With Love,
Elder Rogers

My First Rejection!

Hello Everyone!

Well I'll start off this email by explaining the title! Recently, my companion and I have been doing a little more knocking doors and trying to find people to teach. This Saturday, we were in Snow Hill and we talked to several people and eventually came to a certain door upon which we knocked. After a short time we heard the voice of a lady say, "Who is it?" to which we responded in a jolly tone, "It's the missionaries!" And then came the rejection... in a soft but firm voice she said, "Go away." So we did! That was the first time on my mission something to that effect has happened. I count myself lucky! No slammed doors, no dogs sicked upon us, no yelling...just a soft no. Haha now that I say that, those things will probably happen! But if they do, we'll just keep pressing forward. I suppose that's one lesson that can be learned from the situation. No matter what happens in our lives, we should press forward with a positive attitude!
On Friday, we were able to attend a conference with Elder Snow of the Seventy! It was really great! Perhaps one of the biggest things I learned that day came from his wife. She talked about the hymns and how they are scripture. She referred to the Hymn Book as the green scriptures! She also mentioned the importance of singing the hymns in our Sabbath day worship. The hymns truly do bring the Spirit, and they can teach us so much truth.
Yesterday something one of the speakers said stuck out to me! I believe she was quoting a General Conference talk when she asked "What is our gift to Christ this year for His birthday?" That really caused me to think. What are we giving Christ? He gave us the ultimate and wonderful gift of His Atonement and the option to choose Eternal life! I would invite each of you to think what you're going to give Him for Christmas. Maybe you'll devote yourself more diligently to daily scripture study. Maybe you'll make your prayers more sincere and meaningful. Maybe you'll choose to repent of some transgression that is holding you back. Maybe you'll strive to be more positive and loving towards everyone around you. Maybe you'll be a friend to someone who doesn't have many. Maybe you'll share the gospel with a friend. Whatever your gift to Christ is, I know that He will be very grateful for it, and it will bless your own life so very much! I love you all and I hope your Holiday Season is joyous and your week is wonderful!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Christmas is a comin'!

Hello Everyone!

This week was really good! My companion and I set up our Christmas tree, we've been eatin' some Christmas candy, we've been listening to Christmas music, and we've been talkin' to people about Christmas! It's been wonderful!
This week we were able to hand out several "He is the Gift" cards and show a lot of people the video! It truly is a wonderful initiative the Church has put out! Christ is the reason for the season! I encourage you all to share the video with your friends! Whether it's on social media or giving them a card, I know that it will bless their lives and ours!
We were able to offer some service this week as well! We helped an older couple in our ward rake their leaves and we were also able to help some people move! Haha and then the other day we were riding our bikes and we were about to pass by some people sitting on their porch. I tried waving at them and then looked in front of me to see two little dogs run into the road after me! I swerved to miss them and then sped up a little! I thought they would have stopped after that, but one was persistent and started chasing after me! I got quite the adrenaline rush! So that's when I really started trying to go fast and I eventually out-raced him! And then he chased after my companion for a little while!
Two of our investigators,were at Church yesterday! It was really nice to see them there and they said they really enjoyed it! It was fast and testimony meeting and there were several pure, sincere testimonies born. Every time I hear a testimony or I bear my own testimony, I can feel my conversion deepen and my faith in Jesus Christ grow. I know that Jesus is the Christ and I hope that we can all focus on Him during this season and always. I love you all and hope everyone has a week full of joy and peace!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

It's the Holiday Season!

Hello Everyone!

Christmas is on its way! I'm really excited! This week was good! I
have a new companion now, and I'm done with training! It's been really
great so far! Me and my companion have a lot in common and we've
gotten along really well so far!
Thanksgiving was really wonderful! We ate with a member family,
and then we played some board games and some sports at the church with
our new district!
Now that my trainer left, I've been in charge of the area and sort
of helping my new companion get to know it and everything! It's been
good! Something that we're going to be focusing a lot on is a program
launched by the Church called "He is the Gift". It focuses on Jesus
Christ being the true meaning of Christmas and how we should strive to
keep Him at the center of our thoughts this holiday season. There's a
really cool video on christmas.mormon.org that you all should check
out! It also has a bunch of different of our beliefs and its just a
wonderful website!
I know that Christ truly is the reason for the season. And I know
that the gift of His Atonement is such a blessing for each of us. As
we strive to do His will, we will be blessed with comfort and peace.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and is the thing that
will bring us the most joy in this life and the next. I hope that we
can all remember Christ throughout this holiday season and throughout
our lives. Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Gobble! Gobble!

Hello Everyone!

Thanksgiving is comin' up and I'm really excited! But anyway, this

week was good! As of right now, my trainer is gone and on his journey

home! My next companion is Elder Broyles! I don't know too much about

him yet, but I'm excited to meet him! I'll send a picture next week!

  This week we had Stake Conference! It was quite wonderful! They

even had a Primary choir of all the kids throughout the Stake! They

sang really well! And there were several wonderful talks! The theme of

the conference was temple and family history work! I gained a renewed

excitement for this! Especially with how easy it is now! Technology

has made it extremely easy to do family history work!

  Thanksgiving is this week! I'm really excited! Not only because of

the food, but also because of the chance that we have to be grateful.

We truly are blessed with so much! Most importantly, I am grateful for

the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which brings hope and joy throughout

anything and everything. I know that Christ died for each one of us

and that through His grace, we can become clean. It is my hope that we

all strive to live as He lived and make use to the fullest of His

wonderful Atonement. I love you all and hope everyone has a fantastic

week!

With Love,

Elder Rogers

P.S. The conference was in New Bern! That's the boat picture!

The Field is White

Hey Everyone!

This week was good! I only have one more week of being trained! And
my trainer goes home in a week as well! Changes are on their way, and
I'm excited and nervous! It's starting to get a little chilly here,
but it really hasn't gotten too cold yet!
This week was the Primary Program in the Kinston 1st Ward and
that was a good experience as well! It was all about families and how
we can be with them forever. The Spirit was so strong and I was really
grateful for that simple truth. It truly is a blessing be able to live
with our families forever! All of the children did very well and it
was fun to hear them speak and sing! Also, one of our investigators
was able to come to Church, so that was great!
Well I titled this email as such because we were able to stop in a
cotton field this week and take some pictures! And it's true, the
field is white, already to harvest! So many people are being prepared
to hear the restored gospel! Just as cotton farmers joy in the
harvest, there is so much joy to be found in sharing the gospel with
those around us! I invite you all to think of one person who you could
share the gospel with and pray for an opportunity to do so. And then
act. I know that God is preparing so many people to hear His gospel
and that as we share it, our lives and the lives of those who hear it
will be blessed. I love you all and I know that The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true! Have a fantastic week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Still Painting!

Hello everyone-

This week was great! We had the opportunity to help out a  lady paint her bathroom! One of the members is a painting contractor, so he

showed us the ropes and we got to painting! We helped her out three

days this week and we're getting close to being finished! I never

realized how much time it took to paint a room! But it's been good! In

the end, her bathroom will be painted, we'll have given some service

and also gained some painting skills! Everyone's happy!

  So this Friday we went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders and we

had quite a funny experience!  We had a wonderful Zone Meeting in the

morning and over the course of the day we had a few great lessons!

Eventually it was time to go to bed and we both began our nightly

prayers. I finished and climbed into bed. He was still praying for

quite some time, and I thought that he was just really spiritual or

that he had a lot of things on his mind, but that misconception I had

was gone when I heard him start snoring! He had fallen asleep! Anyway,

I woke him up and we both laughed about it! He is a wonderful

missionary, and I learned a lot from him!

  The work is going well! There is one family that we have been

working with for a while that recently showed some more interest. Most

of the time, their kids, ages 2 and 4 have been running around

throwing things and being quite loud, but this week, they weren't!

Tthe mother was able to listen a lot more and she really showed desire

to know if these things were really true! And she said they'd come to

church this next Sunday! So that was all exciting!

  This week, I realized what brings the most joy in missionary work,

at least for me. And that thing is testifying of Jesus Christ.

Whenever I do that, I feel the Spirit so strongly and my testimony of

Him and His role deepens. Jesus Christ is our Savior! He lived and

died for us. He knows and has felt everything we are going through and

ever will go through and He can lift our burdens. This one piece of

knowledge brings such peace to my soul.  I love all of you and hope

that we will all be able to remember Christ in all things. Have a

miraculous week!

With Love,

Elder Rogers