Week of Miracles

Hey everybody,

On Tuesday, I got to go to the Temple as part of a Christmas Conference. It was a pretty cool experience. Besides the 5 hours in the car, it was a fun time. I finally got proof that driving in the breakdown lane is legal in Massachusetts. The traffic was slow enough for me to take a bunch of pictures.

We had a crazy experience contacting a media referral on Saturday. Just so it makes sense, we found a young man who is about 25 and lives with his mom. Anyway, when we knocked on the door, his mom answered. We mentioned her son's name and she asked him if he had contacted us. From down the hall, he said that he ordered a book. She asked which book, and he replied that it was a Book of Mormon. Immediately after that response, she precluded him from taking the Book of Mormon and turned us away. Sorrowful, we decided to tract around the neighborhood. After a few houses the young man left his house and started walking the opposite direction down the street. We finished the house we were at and got in our car to see if we could catch up to him. After going down a few streets, we found him walking alongside the road. We then got out and talked with him. He said he was on his way to work. After acknowledging that his family situation was hostile, he took a Book of Mormon and asked us what the steps to becoming a member were. That was really cool, and we are planning on meeting with him soon. It was such a miracle. If we had stopped by just a few minutes later, he would have already left for work, and we would've only met his disinterested mother. Also, if we hadn't stayed in the neighborhood, we would've missed him completely. We also met a family that is extremely prepared to receive the Gospel. It was so amazing, how those two experiences seemed to just line up.

In my personal scripture study this week, I read a verse in King Benjamin's address in Mosiah:
9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

Repenting daily is an amazing opportunity that Jesus Christ has given us through His Atonement. As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember to change through the gift that God gave us.

Love,

Elder Rogers

Chilling in Narragansett

Hey everybody,

It's been another great week in the Massachusetts, Boston mission! It was like 20 degrees on Saturday, and we tracted for about 15 minutes before we decided to do something else. One of the funniest things I've noticed about Rhode Island in my two months here is that there's always an emergency. It's not uncommon for us to pull over for an ambulance or fire truck to drive by. I don't know if people just call 911 a lot, or if there are legitimately a lot of emergencies. There are like five emergency room doctors in my ward. Anyway I gave a talk in my ward yesterday. I can't believe I've already been here for two months! It's amazing how much I've changed.

Yesterday we had five investigators come to church. It was awesome to see them all there. I've really gained a testimony of how doing the little things can influence our faith. The investigators that read from the Book of Mormon and come to church are excited to learn and easy to teach. The contrast between them and investigators who don't do these things is massive.

Helaman 15:

7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—
8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.

I know that as we read from the scriptures every day, pray, and go to church that our faith will become unshaken.

Love,
Elder Rogers

White Christmas

Guess What? It snowed last night, but it's pretty much all melted right now. I got a picture at like 6:40 this morning, so it was all still there.

Well, I had a pretty ridiculous week. We had interviews with the mission president on Friday, but on Thursday night we had our fire alarm go off. (It was malfunctioning, but we didn't know that.) Anyway, after we realized our apartment was not in flames and nobody else's fire alarms were going off, we tried calling the police department. Of course, the number we had was no longer in service and we don't have a phone book. We have like four fire alarms that detect both fire and carbon monoxide, and we also have separate carbon monoxide alarm. Only one went off, so we were pretty positive it was a malfunction, so we opened our windows just in case and went back to bed. It was kind of freaky, to tell the truth. After the third false alarm, my companion remembered there is an information hotline, from which we secured the fire department's number. We called them and they came and told us that it was a faulty alarm and just unplugged it.

So, two hours of sleep shy, we went to get interviewed by President Miller. I had a pretty good interview with him and it was a cool experience. It was hard to stay awake all day, though.

I have seen with missionary work that it is so easy to focus on the disappointments, but there are so many miracles around us. I have found that I am much happier when I focus on the good things that happen.

One miracle this week is we met a 17 year old who is really desirous to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We knocked on his door, and he told us that we were an answer to his prayer. He said that he had just been wanting to find a church to go to, and we came. He came with us to the First Presidency Christmas Fireside and we have an appointment with him next week to teach a lesson!

Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Rogers

Turkey and Football

Hey everybody,

On Thanksgiving morning, the ward had a turkey Bowl. We aren't allowed to play sports with members so we stopped by and met a few of their nonmember friends.The members we ate Thanksgiving dinner with invited a few other families as well. So, it was a pretty big gathering. The food was all really good and we had a fun time over there.

I had a really cool experience with my journal this week. We had a rough week with people cancelling their appointments. I read in my journal from before the mission. I saw how far I've come through the last few years. The rest of that night was so amazing because I did that. I still experienced disappointments, but I wasn't disappointed in myself. I've seen the blessing that a journal has been in my life. A few weeks ago, I read about when I received a personal witness that the Book of Mormon is true, and it lifted my spirit and improved my teaching ability. After that experience, I knew that I could promise someone that they would receive an answer to their prayers because I did. Elder Richard G. Scott said, "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need."

Love,
Elder Rogers