Triple Exchange!

Hello Everyone!

This week was quite a busy one! As the title suggests, we conducted three companion exchanges this week! We were with the Elders from Havelock, Harker's Island, and Washington all at different times throughout the week. We saw some miracles and had a great time serving with these Elders.

A week ago, for preparation day, we went golfing! It was actually a lot more fun than I thought it
would be and we all enjoyed ourselves!

Throughout the week we taught many lessons and I was grateful for the chance to have a lesson with a recent convert from Washington while on exchanges in Washington. We read from the Book of Mormon and learned from the prophets of old. The Spirit attended and it was great to see her again!

We saw some miracles on Sunday! One of our investigators that speaks only Spanish attended church. The miracle was that a member from the ward got along with her exquisitely and they enjoyed each others company greatly! Our recent convert, also blessed the Sacrament this week! It was his first time, so it was a wonderful experience for all of us. The Sacrament meeting was full of the Spirit and as we sung "How Great Thou Art" at the meeting's close, I was overcome with a deep gratitude for the Lord and all that He's done. How blessed we are to have the opportunity to trust in Him during this life.

As I may have mentioned in the past, we've been reading through The Book of Mormon as a mission. This week I was touched by Enos and his example of prayer. We are blessed with the capability to commune with our Eternal Father. We must always be sincere in this endeavor. Consider Enos' example of sincerity. "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens." (Enos 1:4) Other parts of the chapter speak of a "struggling in the Spirit" and a "wrestle...before God". Surely there is no room for vain repetitions or apathy in our prayers. Cry unto the Lord and He will answer your prayers. I know He is there and He is yearning and waiting to hear and answer our sincere prayers.

I love you all. Have a marvelous week!

With love,
Elder Rogers

Tie-Breaker!

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! On Friday, we went on exchanges with the Elders in Harkers Island. We always see so many miracles on exchanges! We set one of our investigators on a baptismal date, found three new investigators, and stayed quite busy! It was fun to be with Elder Nipko for a day.
The day before that was my year mark and we celebrated it with our ward mission leader and his family! They're the best! After a tasty dinner of hamburgers and fries, I chopped a tie in half!
Sacrament meeting was absolutely amazing! 3 less-active's came! And one of them we haven't even seen in several weeks! There is such a joy that enters my heart when I see these people at church! The Spirit of the Lord was very present during our meetings yesterday and overall, it was just a great day!
As I think of one thing that I've learned on my mission thus far, many principles and truths came to mind, but I think the most powerful one is the truth that through Christ's atonement and our agency, we can do all things. This truth has been shown unto me as I've struggled and grown and overcome weaknesses, all along with the Savior by my side. Ether 12:27 states: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I know this to be true. Trust in the Lord, and He will deliver you. His grace is sufficient.
I love each of you. Be your best and have a week full of faith!


With Love,
Elder Rogers

The Glass is Half Full.

Hello Everyone!

Well I'm gonna hit my year mark on Thursday! I can hardly believe it has been a year. Time flies when you're having fun! This week went really well and we were able to achieve the Standard of Excellence, so that was exciting!

One of our investigators came to Church this Sunday. She had met missionaries about 25 years ago and she still remembers the peaceful feeling of the Spirit that she felt so many years ago. What a wonderful thing! She has been progressing and we are excited to continue teaching her.
We saw many miracles this week, but one of them involved The Book of Mormon. We were walking around, talking with people one day and we stopped to talk with a few guys sitting in their yard. We introduced ourselves and our message, and showed them The Book of Mormon. Both of them asked if they could have one and said they were going to read it from cover to cover! This book has such an amazing power that if they truly do read it, they will surely receive a witness of it. I'm grateful to have its influence in my life and for the understanding and gratitude of Christ and His Atonement that is gained from studying this book of scripture. I invite each of you to study it daily. President Ezra Taft Benson once said, "There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path." What a marvelous promise from a prophet of the Lord. I know it to be true and promise that it can be yours if you simply act.

I love you all and hope you have a tremendous week!


With Love,
Elder Rogers


P.S. Here is a pic of the entire mission from last week.

Pig Pickin' and Spiritual Nourishment

Hello Everyone!

This week was fantastic! So much happened, so I'll try to hit the highlights. The beginning of the week was fairly normal, but Thursday was a Mission-wide conference in Virginia! We traveled up in the morning and returned that evening for a grand total of about 7 and a half hours of driving. It was definitely worth it, though!
It began with a Spiritual meeting in which our Mission President, President Baker trained us on different topics, but the core of it was the Atonement. How grateful I am that Christ performed this sacred sacrifice. He loves us all so dearly. I was called on, along with 3 other missionaries, at the end to bear my testimony of Christ, which was a wonderful opportunity!
Following the meeting was a pig-pickin'! It was delicious and we got to talk with and see missionaries from everywhere in the mission, so that was fun!
The rest of the week went well. We had Zone Meeting on Friday and we talked of and trained about The Book of Mormon! Our Zone is just great!
And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise." We can have hope through the Atonement of Christ. I know that. He can change us and transform us into people we never thought we could be. Our peace and joy can be greater than ever before and we can live with Him forever. What a wonderful thing to hope for! I love you all and pray you have a fantastic week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Here's some pictures. One of them is with me and all of my companions still on their missions!

We All Deserve to Serve

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! We traveled up to Virginia on Tuesday for a Leadership meeting and this next week we'll be going back up to Virginia for another meeting/pig pickin'!(Like a barbecue) It's going to be a blast! The whole mission will be gathered together for the first time since I've been out here. We also received transfer calls and I'll be staying here in New Bern for the next 6 weeks with Elder Egbert, but we'll be getting another companion named Elder Johnson to work with us!
On Sunday we found 3 new investigators who all said they would be baptized! We're excited to be teaching them and look forward to seeing them progress. Our convert is also doing quite well. He sat at the Sacrament table this week and later bore his testimony during the meeting. The Spirit was quite impacting as many members shared their witnesses of restored truth. I'm so grateful for this gospel!
We had the opportunity this week for some different service projects, so that was good. We mowed a lawn (Which is quite different in the humidity!), trimmed some bushes, and moved some mattresses across the town. We felt better after each of these service opportunities. We also learned about Service during one of the classes on Sunday. It is true that "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) Look for opportunities to serve others, whether they're big or small. I promise that as you serve, you will gain charity for those whom you serve and you will draw closer to your Savior.
Have an amazing week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. We saw some beautiful sights this week in New Bern!

Pioneer Day Fun!

Hello Everyone!

This week was fantastic! On Tuesday I went to Morehead City for an exchange with the Elders down there. I had the opportunity to bear a simple testimony in Spanish, so that was neat! We also had a mini missionary with us this week from the Woodington ward. He did an amazing job! We're excited to find out in a few weeks where he'll be going on his real mission!

Our investigator that was baptized last week received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday and he's doing really well! Our 9 year old investigator, also came to church so that was good. The Ward had a Pioneer Day Activity on Saturday, and it was quite enjoyable! They had taffy pulling, an egg tossing contest, a watermelon eating contest, and much more! It was great! Elder Egbert, our investigators, and I all joined in the watermelon contest! It was a race to see who could eat two slices the fastest. I got 1st place and managed to keep the juice off of my shirt!

This week I was touched by a verse that I read in Alma 5. It's verse 38 and it says, "Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd." Jesus Christ is calling each of us. As we listen to his voice and follow him, we distinguish ourselves as His sheep. I invite each of you to consider what things the Savior would have you do and then do them. He is calling. We just need to listen. I know He loves us, and I know He is there.
Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Faith is Power

Hello Everyone!

This week was one of nervous excitement. Our investigator got baptized on Saturday and on Sunday I confirmed him! Elder Egbert and I also spoke in Sacrament meeting. Whenever a big event such as those comes up I'm always nervous and extremely excited!
Throughout the week, we helped prepare him for his baptism, and by the time Saturday came around, he was quite ready. He was really excited as well! Our Ward Mission Leader helped out a lot and it was a very spiritual experience for all of us.
We also found a few new investigators this week that seem to have a lot of potential. One is a family. They're so nice and very interested in the restored gospel, so we're excited to continue teaching them. We have some other investigators that are also doing well. It was Monday evening that we met and taught many of these people and so our week definitely started out with a miracle!

Before I share a little bit of how my talk went yesterday, let me tell you how they asked us to speak. Last week, on Sunday morning, my companion and I were conversing with one of the young men in our ward as the members entered into the chapel for Sacrament meeting. We would greet them as they walked in. Somehow we got on the topic of speaking in Sacrament meeting, and I started telling the young man about how I had only spoken once my entire mission and I was coming up on my year mark, so I guess I would only have to speak twice for the whole two years. We laughed a little bit and I didn't think much more of it. At least until later, that is! After Church the same day, the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric came up to my companion and I and asked us to speak the following week! Haha when I told the young man he couldn't help but laugh. So that's how we were asked to speak.

My topic was "The Power of Faith". I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity. I learned so much! No matter what situation it is, the power of faith delivers us from bondage. Whether that bondage is physical (as with the Children of Israel and Moses) or spiritual (as with the bondage of sin that comes upon us) we can be delivered from it through the power of faith in Christ. Mosiah 7:33 seems to state it well. "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." Faith is a principle of action and power and requires the use of our agency. I invite each of you to seek faith in our Savior and exercise it. I know that the Lord will deliver us as we have faith in Him and bring us true peace and happiness.
I love you all. Have an amazing week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers