In Which I See Christmas For What It Should Be

Dear Family,

Merry Christmas Adam! The day before Christmas Eve :)

This week has been great! We had fantastic lessons with both B and A, and A's progressing so much! I feel so blessed to be working with her and seeing her faith grow, which makes my own faith grow. It's amazing to see them progress!

During this month of December, I’ve started to realize how much I love being a missionary at this time of year! Our message to the members this month has been John 3:16-17. We tell members how Heavenly Father gave us a priceless gift- His Son- and His Son gave us the ultimate gift- the Atonement. Then we talk about some things that we can give Christ for Christmas. It’s funny to hear the kid’s answers (they tell us Jesus would like toys for Christmas). Their hearts are in the right place and it’s so cute to see them want to give Christ things that are important to them!

I love being away from the commercialized aspect of Christmas. I love not worrying about presents or being occupied with Christmas movies or stuff like that (although we’ve been listening to Christmas music for the past 2 months now). It’s amazing to see and feel the Spirit of Christmas, which is so much stronger when you’re a missionary. That doesn’t mean we’re not excited for Christmas day, but there are things that need to be the center of Christmas, like Christ! I’m so grateful I get to experience Christmas as a missionary. It's one of the most amazing experiences.

Have a great Christmas and love you all!

Love

Sister Rogerson

In Which Good Decisions are Made

Dear Family-

 

Sorry it's been a while since I've written! Days just go by so much faster than they should!

 

This week was a little bit slow, then we had the absolute best day yesterday! Our investigator, A, came to church by herself. Usually her less-active husband comes with her, but for some reason he didn't yesterday. A found a ride and got there by herself. She also gave the opening prayer in Gospel Principles, and that was the first time she's prayed in front of people before. She really sees the importance of church and enjoys coming. We have a lesson with her tonight, and I trust God that it will go well!

We also had a huge miraculous miracle yesterday! We've been working with a less-active, C, and her recently baptized daughter Ca. We've also been teaching Ca's dad, B, who isn't married to C and is not a member. Yesterday C and B decided to get married! They've been together for 16 years, and have wanted to get married but never did it. They talked to Bishop Lomenick, who told them he would do it for no cost. Their plan is to get married in January or February. I'm so happy for them!

With this particular experience, I've learned that there is no knot that God cannot untangle. Since He knows the outcome of all things, He knows what events will lead to good decisions. All we have to do is actually follow the promptings we get from the Spirit that will help us figure out how to solve life's puzzles.

I've been reading in the book of Revelations, and I'm amazed at how many of the prophecies in that book have come to pass already! We as missionaries really are here to help people prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord. We can do that by the Spirit if we are worthy of it. God has called us here to serve in California, and there is no way He is going to let us fail. Several experiences have made me realize that God does not forsake anyone. I have felt His protection all around me. I tell Sis. Wall all the time- "There is NO WAY this gospel is not true!"

I'm so happy to serve here! I love it!

Have a great week!

 

Love,

Sister Rogerson

In Which It Rains And We Are Sick

Dear Family-

This week straight up rocked!! All of us here in the apartment (Sis W, Sis S, Sis M, and I) have all been sick this week. It's just a really bad cold that refuses to go away, but we Lysol-ed the apartment and all's good now!

 

One cool thing that happened this week was that it rained. But not only did it rain, it rained for 3 days straight! The roads were flooded and closed off, and there was basically a river down the main roads. It was so much fun that day! Sis. W and I had to walk through the street at one point, and the water came up to our knees. We laughed and squealed and it was just so fun.

 

We have a new investigator, A. She's married to a less active, but they're both trying to come back to church. They were at church yesterday, and I think they really enjoyed it! We meet with them again this coming week and I'm excited. A is just completely ready to accept the gospel. She told us so.

 

We also are going to visit this 14 year old girl.. The Lord is really opening doors for us to teach people! So many people are being prepared to receive the restored gospel, and that is all I want for them. I want to love them into the church.

 

Something I learned this week is that prayers work. I've been praying for strength to be able to do His work despite being sick. I've found that I've been able to do just that! I still had to go home early a few days and rest, but we were able to keep all our appointments and still rest and get better. I'm grateful for prayer! It truly is a communication to our Heavenly Father. And He answers. If you don't believe it, try it!

 

Love you all! Have a great week!

 

Love,

Sis Rogerson

A Week in November

Dear Family-

 

This week we had our Thanksgiving activity. A ton of less-actives came and had a good time. The food was super good! It was Thanksgiving dinner #1 of 3. #2 is next week.

 

On Saturday President Van Cott held a mission-wide conference, where the whole mission was gathered at the mission building for a fireside, basically. It was so amazing and I heard so many things that I can use to help my ward and my investigators.

 

Nothing much else went on, so everyone have a great week!

 

Love,

Sis Rogerson

In Which I Realize that Obedience Does Not Give Me Control

Dear Family-

This week has been very productive. We found a new investigator, L, who was referred to us by the elders. She is 80 and has a very strong belief in God. We are so excited to teach her and hope that she accepts our lessons.

Something I've noticed about my mission is that even if you are being completely obedient, sometimes things just don't go as you planned. President Van Cott tells us we only have control over what happens in the morning and the evening. Everything in the middle is out of our control. This week we had a lot of appointments fall through, and I've been trying to accept that some days that's just going to happen.

On the plus side, we had a really amazing lesson with R, who is  less active. We showed her a Mormon Message about the Atonement (None Were With Him) and talked about how the Atonement can be applied in her life. She finally opened up to us and told us a little about her past, and how she has felt God in her life. We gave her a Book of Mormon and asked her to read and pray about it. This was probably the most spiritual experience of my mission so far. We had been stuck with her because we didn't exactly know how to help her progress more, but the Spirit just took over in that lesson and I know that those words I said were not mine, but Heavenly Father's.

We went to a baptism of an 8- year old girl in our ward. Going to her baptism reminded me of mine 12 years ago. She was all smiles and just so happy and excited to follow Christ and be baptized. She has such great faith. I think I'm realizing what Christ meant when He said, "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me (Matthew 18:3-5)."

Look for missionary experiences this week! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true!

Love,

Sis Rogerson

In Which We Celebrate Halloween

Dear Family-

This week was pretty great! I get to stay in my area with Sis. W. We are both so excited to work with this ward.

We've been visiting a lot of less actives lately, and some of them came to the ward Halloween activity that we had this week! It was so exciting to see them there. I hope that they will feel welcome and come to church soon.

We also have 2 potential investigators! We're meeting with them both this week and I hope that they will be interested in what we know!

Not much else happened this week, so I want to bear my testimony. This church is the absolute best thing that's ever happened to me. It has helped me through so many awful times and I've come out stronger because of it. There is a peace and joy found in the gospel that is not found anywhere else. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to share the gospel with God's children!

Love,

Sis Rogerson

Ward Harry Potter themed Halloween Party. Note the floating candles.

In Which Our Patience is Tried

Dear Family-

This week was pretty tough! A lot of our appointments fell through, and there was a lot of time when we were wondering what we should do. This week was really a patience-trial week!

We did get in touch with a less-active family though! They let us stop by their house, which is on a little mountain. It overlooks the valley and is just so beautiful! They have a lot of citrus trees and gave us some fruit to eat. One fruit was basically a really tiny clementine, but it has a different name. They also have a goat and some Polish chickens...which we held! It was so awesome. The dad is fascinated with fossils and gave us a sharks tooth to keep and let us hold fossilized velociraptor feces! Talk about awesome!

Transfers are happening this week, and we found out that both Sis. W  and I are staying in San Bernardino!

Thank goodness! I love this ward too much to leave.

That's it for this week!

Love,

Sister Rogerson

Sister Rogerson vs Pit Bulls

This week has been really good! Yesterday we went to a training meeting with Elder Walker of the Seventy, and it was so awesome to listen to his council. It was also awesome because I saw a lot of my MTC zone there! It was like a huge reunion and I loved seeing everyone.

I led a lesson this week. We were visiting a less active, D, and we talked about conference and that turned into faith in God and it was just so awesome to be able to lead a lesson! I felt so confident because of the Spirit. I could not have said what I did without that Spirit!

I went on exchanges with our sister training leaders this week. It was a great experience! We found this 18 year old girl who actually lives in my area but was just visiting Redlands for the day. I got her information and we are going to try to contact her by the end of the week!

I got lovingly attacked by pit bulls the other day. Well they were someone's dogs, and she let them in, and they were just so excited that they jumped right on me and knocked me off my chair and bit at my ankles and feet, and stole the shoes right off my feet! I found a couple bruises and scratches from them. And now I am not that fond of pit bulls.

We also ran into some Jehovah's witnesses, and that was quite an experience. I didn't say much to him, because I wasn't sure if I would be able to control what would come out of my mouth, but I listened to what my trainer said and am trying to think of what I would say when that happens again.

Transfers are next week! I'm hoping to stay in my area (San Bernardino) and with my trainer, but if I'm transferred then that's where the Lord needs me to be.

Love you all and stay safe!

In Which We Pet a Goat

Dear Family-

This week has been really great! We taught a lot of people and I'm just so happy!

We taught this less active woman named Rachel. After we talked for a bit and shared a lesson, she said that she's grateful we came over and wants us to come visit her every week. The elders had not been able to get in to see her yet. This truly was a miracle!

Then we went to visit a couple. She's a member, he's not. He asked us how he can be baptized, and we told him he needed to take the missionary lessons and he asked us to come back so he can receive them. Miracle!!

Sis Wall and I have been trying to listen to the Spirit more, so we can be more directly guided to what we need to do. We were walking down the street and it's just so amazing to see us feel like we need to go a certain way, so we go and there's someone willing to listen to us. MIRACLE!!

I've learned that listening to the Spirit is absolutely essential in missionary work. As a missionary, you are given that promise of always having the Spirit, but it depends on if you are worthy to have the Spirit. I've realized that not having the Spirit = not being able to teach with the Spirit. It's something amazing.

This church really is true! Christ lives!

Love,

Sis Rogerson

Santa Anna Winds Blow Us Around

Dear Family-

 

Interesting week this week. Sis Wall and I had been trying to stop by this one house several times, and we could never catch anyone home. I had decided that they were ignoring us and one night last week, Sis Wall felt like we should stop by. I agreed, but in my heart I was doubting that anyone would answer. Someone totally did answer the door! We made an appointment and were able to meet with her later in the week. She is such an amazing woman with a strong testimony. It was such an amazing teaching moment for me.

 

This week the Santa Anna winds started. These winds are SO strong. They can get up to 90 miles an hour! They come from the mountains, and San Bernardino is in a wind tunnel basically. It sounds like a hurricane! Branches were all over the street, mailboxes were blown down, and flag poles were torn up from the ground. It was really crazy! Sis Wall and I got blown around a few times. It's so funny. We have to be really careful with our skirts!

 

We almost got chased by a dog. We were walking down the street and this big canine dog was on the inside of a fenced yard and all of a sudden he jumped halfway onto the fence and started barking. No joke, this dog almost jumped the fence! He was growling so much and barking. I jumped in the back of the car and cowered like a 5 year old. It was pretty eventful.

 

I hit my month mark this week! I've officially been a missionary for a month.

 

We also helped this woman out this week. Earlier, Sis Wall and I were venting about how we want to do service, but every time we ask, the people say, "Oh no, we'll just get the elders to do it." Later that day we drove by this man and woman who were outside trying to get a canopy out of their tree. It had blown into the tree and gotten tangled from the Santa Anna winds. We stopped and helped them. They rewarded us with Coke :)

 

General Conference was absolutely incredible!! There was so much that was fantastic, but something I really like is "Will I falter or will I finish?"

 

Have a great week!

Love,

Sis Rogerson

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

Night Before

So. This is it. I've been planning this for about a year and now it's really here. Tomorrow I will be set apart as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A lot of things have led me to this decision. Some of it was watching other friends going on missions and feeling left out. Some of it was because it's been drilled into my head that I can go on a mission. When I was younger, my parents would always say, "WHEN you go on a mission," not "IF you go on a mission." I grew up believing that it was my responsibility to go on a mission. It wasn't until I was a Beehive that I learned that I had a choice.

A mission didn't even come into my plans until a few years ago. I watched my surrogate brother leave on his mission and, later on, saw three of my best friends go, all at the same time. I missed them all so much, and then thought, "Hey, I could serve a mission if I wanted to!"

I started thinking about what steps I would have to take, but 21 was still a year and a half away. Then came the announcement. Y'all know which one I'm talking about. Suddenly my plans changed drastically. Instead of waiting another year, I could leave for my mission after the semester was over! I panicked a little bit and spent a few days in prayer, ending with the decision that I was going to serve a mission.

Things happened-months passed, papers were in, call was sent to me. California! It's where my mom served and one of my closest friends is serving right now. The excitement was almost too much.

I went through the rest of the semester not really thinking about what I could do to prepare for my mission. Near the end of the semester, I felt like school was just distracting me from my mission! What I really wanted was to leave. But I don't think I understood exactly what "leaving" entails.

For me, leaving means saying goodbye to my family. Saying goodbye to my brother in particular will be the hardest, I think. Leaving also means I may not see many of my college friends again. Things may happen, people change and move to other states; they move on to another stage of their life. Leaving also means limiting my communication with those I love. I don't think there was a day last spring where I didn't call or text my mom.

As I was experiencing these first feelings of excitement and anticipation, a lot of doubts also came to mind. What if I wasn't good enough? What if I was too tired to get up early (a legit concern for me)? What if I didn't get along with my companion? Would I be able to emotionally do this exhausting mission?

But every time I start feeling doubtful, a serene voice of comfort comes into my heart. I CAN do this. I WILL do this. It is where the Lord needs me at this time, and I will serve with all my heart.

I know things will work out for me. I know that everything will be okay. I will see my family again, and they will be exactly the same as when I left them. I will change people's lives. I will be forever friends with those I meet in the mission.

Now, as I end to go eat Mac n Cheese with my brother and sister at 11:11 PM, I know things will work out. As I sit here on the night before, I really do believe that I will be okay. Heavenly Father will help me through this. He has never failed me.

I am ready to be a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Bring it on!!!