How God Shows His Love for Us

June 23, 2014

 

            Well a few Sundays ago I had the great opportunity to give a talk in church.  It was a pretty good talk if I do say so myself.  Just Kidding.  If any of my talk touched anyone it was the Spirit that touched them and it was such an amazing blessing to study and pray for guidance to help and uplift others.  The theme for my talk is the title listed above and it really got me thinking about blessings I receive in my life.  

 

            For example I absolutely love ICECREAM.  I know this might be news to some of you because I became addicted to it in college.  But I love it so much that I have 2 ice cream stickers on the back of my badge.  So Heavenly Father knows that Sister Walton and I love ice cream and last week Sister Walton was having a super rough day.  We were contacting and a random man we contacted gave us Klondike bars. He was so amazing.  He is from Pakistan and lives in Rhode Island.  He was so interested in learning why we would dedicate our time to go out and teach the gospel and pay for it.  He is interested in reading the Book of Mormon.  Then it got even better because our rare meal appointment fed us ice cream sundaes.  The member also commented on Sister Walton's talk and the part that she shared a personal experience about feeling alone.  The member started crying because her daughter is going through the exact same thing right now and it gives her hope that she can get through it.  The ice cream life did not stop because later in the week a less active bought us ice cream twice......Double Stuffed Brownie.  Though thinking back on it I probably should have picked something else for Heavenly Father to show me his love.  Well as the elders say (as they pat their stomachs) my testimony is growing (just kidding it is not actually that bad)

 

            The sad news of the week:  President Jeppson is leaving this week.  The mission is going to miss him so much.  I try not a think about it.  He has been a source of such inspiration and love.  With his help I have come through the most difficult struggles I have faced out here.  He has been through so much and truly knows how to comfort those who stand in need of comfort.

 

            I love you all!

 

            Remember to read your scriptures because as you do everything else will get done.  Put God first and he will take care of the rest.

 

Sister Rogers

 

Let’s Decorate the Gym

June 9, 2014

            Weddings are great.  This week we decorated for a wedding.  Let’s just say the gym at the church didn't look like a gym any longer.  We spent the majority of the service cutting plastic sheets to hang up on the walls.  We also decorated the gazebo.  But afterwards we were so exhausted.  My companion almost fell asleep in studies.  We had a stupendous week.

            On Monday we had a nice surprise.  One of our less actives asked us what we were doing and if we had had dinner.  Of course, a version of P-Day dinner is usually something you can scarf down while you are scrambling to finish the letters you promised to write to people.  So the obvious answer was no we had not had dinner.  She says “Then let’s go and get some food.”  So IHOP it was.  That was a real tender mercy of the Lord.

            This week was full of miracles.  We got in contact with at three people that we haven't seen since the first week of the transfer.  It was amazing to be so blessed.  My companion who is usually very timid even called one of them to repentance.  It made me so proud of her.  

            The greatest lesson I learned this week is that God really wants us to do such great things, but he knows we are not perfect, so he must perfect us in order to achieve our potential.  So I guess I no longer need to be surprised to discover that when I have the hardest trials the greatest blessings follow. One thing that my old companion always told me is that God is always preparing us for something else.  Well, I hope you all have a great week

            Just last note I want to thank everyone so much for their prayers.  I know a large part of my receiving so many blessings on my mission is due to all the prayers I have received from my friends and family.  I love you so much.

Sister Rogers

 

The Attitude of Gratitude



Sister Houser and me

June 2, 2014

            Well this week is something that has really sparked some soul-seeking.  I have really been examining my motives behind my actions and I have come to realize that my main motivation is not love.  It comes, I have found out, when you switch to a new area and your heart is still a bit in your last area.

            So this month’s theme is Love, which is so perfect and it is really amazing how much serving people really causes you to love them.  So my companion and I have been doing everything we can think of to serve the members and non-members.  We discovered the best way is just to show gratitude.  It has not only built them up, but it has also helped us remember all the blessings that we have been given.  So, in conclusion, if you want to have happiness, have gratitude.   

"A subtle but significant blessing we receive is the spiritual gift of gratitude that enables our appreciation for what we have to constrain desires for what we want. A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment."

                                                            —David A. Bednar, "The Windows of Heaven"

            In addition, we found a new investigator this week.  He was a potential that Sister Walton had and when we visited Neil, the first thing he offered us was beer.  We decided to save the word of wisdom lesson for later, but we taught him the Plan of Salvation.  Neil has never really been to church, and doesn't really know anything about things religiously.  As we talked, it was if he was soaking it all up.  It was so cool to see and it was really amazing to watch him start to understand what we were saying.

            I went to the TEMPLE.  It was such a neat experience again to go and you learn something new every time.  It is amazing because the temple is the only place I have been where it is as if the Spirit is tangible and you feel it everywhere.

Love you all

Sister in Jersey





Sister Houser and me at the Zoo

Sister Houser my 3rd Companion

A Magnolia tree - the most beautiful tree in Jersey

 

My new companion - Sister Walton

Sister Walton and me at the Manhattan Temple

 


A recent convert

The Statue of Liberty