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

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

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

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

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

Let Us Assist Him

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! Zone Conference was on Tuesday. President Baker had asked me to accompany on the piano for the meeting, so we spent a portion of our Preparation Day last week practicing for that! We also prepared for a 20 minute training on the Holy Ghost that Elder Dudley and I gave! You could say that we were pretty nervous for all of that, but I'm glad to tell you that it all went well. The meeting was quite spiritual and I felt my Savior's love as many testified of Him and this wonderful work.

We saw some miracles on Saturday! As we went out to work, we had hopes of meeting many Less-Active members. Those hopes were fulfilled later on and at every single Less-Active's home we went to, we were able to find them home! One lady even let us share a message with her and her father! We taught of the Savior and His Atonement. What a beautiful and pure doctrine! I'm so grateful for His loving grace and everlasting sacrifice.

The Primary Program was on Sunday and it was fun to hear all of the little children testify of eternal truths. I love all of the songs they sung as well. The Spirit was present and all were edified.

As I read Section 14 of the Doctrine and Covenants, I was impressed by verses 10 and 11. The Lord speaks to David Whitmer. He says, " 10 Wherefore, I must bring forth the fulness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel.

11 And behold, thou art David, and thou art called to assist; which thing if ye do, and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward. Amen."
The word 'Assist' stuck out to me. This is the Lord's work, but He trusts us and allows us to assist Him in it. And as we do, we truly are blesssed both spiritually and temporally. I invite each of you to do just that. Assist the Lord in every way you are capable. Each sacrifice we make for Him brings all the greater blessings to our lives. I know He lives.
I love each of you and hope your week is a joyful one!


With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Our parking lot is getting enlarged!

A New Beginning!

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! On Tuesday we began our trip to Virginia. Many missionaries and their luggages were transferred throughout the states of Virginia and North Carolina and it was a miracle that everyone ended up where they needed to be. On Wednesday, we met Elder Ferrero fresh out of the MTC. He's from Las Vegas and loves to read. He's funny and I'm glad to be serving with him. My other new companion is Elder Dudley. He's from the San Diego area and has been out for 10 months.

We had a great training meeting in Virginia and then headed back to New Bern. It's been a good week and we had such a wonderful miracle! As we were driving to a dinner appointment, the member who was going to feed us texted us and asked if we had time for a lesson afterwards because they had a friend who was interested in being baptized! We had time. The lesson went quite well and we were able to set this young man on a baptismal date! He had even asked for permission from his parents to meet with us and had attended church once already, so we were definitely blessed that evening. I love the many miracles that the Lord sends us.

I was touched by the words of Jacob, brother of Nephi this week. In 2 Nephi 2:6-8, he declares, "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." Jesus Christ truly is full of grace and truth. I love Him. He has given Himself as a ransom for sin. We all know this and should glory in His humble sacrifice. And how greatly important it is to make this known. In this is held the purpose of missionary work. To bring others unto Christ so that they may partake of His everlasting sacrifice. I invite you to tell a friend about this wonderful truth. The fulness of His gospel has so mercifully been given to each of us. Let us share it freely.

I love you all. I hope that you have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers