Getting to Know the People

Dear Family-

This week has been good! We haven't found any investigators yet, and that's a bit frustrating because I want to teach so badly! We're trying to work through members, but they don't seem too interested in helping us. That's okay, we'll turn this ward around! I'm sure of it.

We met a less active girl named M. She is so amazing! She was baptized last year and has such a positive light about her. I know she has a strong testimony and it's amazing how visible her testimony is! She truly is going to be an amazing influence for the Church.

Another person we visited this week was V. She lives with her daughter, who's in our ward, and is 97 years old.

First time eating flan.

V is absolutely incredible. She has a portable keyboard and played songs for us from memory. We then sang for her, and I could tell how much it meant to her. It was probably the most spiritual experience I've had so far while I've been here.

I cannot even express to anyone how much I love this work! The Lord is gathering His full forces to fight the ward against Satan, and we are winning! It may feel like a losing battle, but we will win. That is promised to us. Let's hasten the work to prepare the world for Christ's coming!

Love,

Sister Rogerson

First Area--San Bernardino

Dear Family-

I'm in California now! I've been assigned to work in the San Bernardino area, in the San Bernardino 2nd ward. Everyone seems really nice in that ward and there are 7 missionaries in the ward.

My companion is Sis W, from Layton Utah. She and I are working really well together so far! We haven't been teaching much, because we don't have much to go off of, but we've been meeting members and talking to people on the street. It's really amazing to see how people are using the gospel, and even more amazing to find people on the street who just happen to be members!

                       

My Trainer, Sister W.

We have two other sisters in our apartment- Sis M and Sis S. Sis S was in my zone at the MTC, so it was great to have her with me in our apartment! Sis M is my other half, seriously. She's from Georgia and loves Diet Coke and is everything I am! I'm so blessed to have a great apartment.

The ward I'm in hasn't had sister missionaries for a long time, like 30 years. Everyone's super excited for us to be here. They all keep introducing themselves to us and it's hard to remember everyone, but I'm so happy that they want us here!

I had to bear my testimony in church yesterday, and I told everyone that I was so excited to be there and I couldn't stop smiling. Later, Sis W told me that when I was bearing my testimony everyone in the congregation was smiling too.

The bishop of the ward loves my accent and wants me to do it always. Apparently it's a conversation starter!

We haven't found a lot of investigators this week, because the ward list needed cleaning up, but we found some potentials! I'm hoping and praying that they will be open to what we have to say.

That's all for this week! Love y'all!

Love

Sister Rogerson

Getting Ready to Leave

Dear Family-

It's time! I leave the MTC tomorrow for California! It's scary and exciting at the same time! I didn't know you could feel so many emotions at one time.

Something one of the MTC presidency said yesterday made me smile. He said that a lot of non members are referring to the missionaries as "President Monson's Army." I smiled because it reminded me of Dumbledore's Army from Harry Potter. YES! Monson's Army!!

It really is similar to an army. We call going out to do missionary work "being in the field", like the United States Army is. We fight against evil every day, and we are always on guard for what the adversary may do to harm us or other people. But we have the protection from God to do His work, and He will make all things possible. He has called me to do His work, and He will give me the strength to do it, that I have no doubt.

It's going to be hard leaving the MTC. I've grown so used to this kind of life, and now I have to get used to another kind of life. Getting up at 6:30 isn't such a big deal anymore, but enduring through the day is still a little bit of a challenge! I know with God's help I can do it.

MTC District

That's it for this week! Love you all and I'm prayin' for ya!

Love

Sister Rogerson

Week One in the MTC

Dear Family and Friends -

I don't even really know where to being with this week! It's been so hard and so intense and so rewarding. I don't think I've ever felt so many emotions at one time.

So I got into the MTC on Wednesday, and immediately I was taken away and given a lot of new things to remember. All the buildings on east campus look the same. The only way you can identify them is by the different numbers on the buildings. I've definitely gotten lost more than a few times! I still don't feel like I know my way around here.

My companion is Sister Gardner, from Pleasant Grove Utah. I really like her! She's more quiet than I am, but is fine with me being me. Which makes me happy.

                                                                   

My district is really fun! We're all going to Redlands, actually, my whole zone is going to Redlands! We leave next Tuesday at 3 AM. One more week!

This is what the Elders do while the Sisters study.

We do a ton of role plays here. We as missionaries act as investigators, and then we teach our own investigator, who is one of our teachers. My investigator's name is Dan, and it's been sort of difficult getting him to be interested in the Gospel. The point of doing these role plays is to evaluate how we are doing as missionaries. One of my problems is that I'm having trouble figuring out how to make the lessons personal to my investigator. Me and Sis. Gardner have really been working on that.

Last night we met with Dan, and I was stressed and overwhelmed and just prayed to get through this lesson without it being too bad. We went in and started out lesson. About halfway through it, there was an awkward silence, because both me and my companion didn't really know what to say. I just opened my mouth and words came out. They were not my words, but the words of the Spirit. I don't even remember what I said, just that I was surprised that I was saying it. It was pretty amazing.

I really do love the MTC, but it is not easy! My whole day planned out for me. It reminds me a little bit of EFY, except for the fact that it's more intense and harder and more serious. And the Spirit is way strong here. It is definitely the Lord's training school!

It is the Lord's school, but it sort of feels like a prison. A very nice, clean, voluntary prison. On Thursday we were walking past some elders and one of them yelled, "Welcome to prison!" I guess it is prison to some. I know of a few missionaries who are here for 9 weeks! They're learning the harder languages.

I saw Sis. Gallego this week! It was so exciting to see her after all these years.

I also have seen Katelynn Kimbrell around. She's doing really good!

That's all for this week. Love you all!

Sister Rogerson