Christmas in Jersey

The love I felt at Christmas!

December 29, 2014

        Christmas was awesome.  The presents I receive where amazing. They filled me up with so much joy because it reminded me how much you love me and that you are all taking time out of your busy lives to think of me.  Best Friends and family ever!  We had so much fun on Christmas with a breakfast to feed an army prepared by our wonderful senior couples.  I had probably 5 strips of real bacon.  It was so good. Though the best activity we did with the zone was making ginger bread houses.  We were under the impression that it was an activity that involved creativity, so of course my district went all out turning our gingerbread man into missionaries contacting a snow man.

            Christmas Eve we had 3½  dinner appointments.  I have never been so full in my life.  The last dinner appointment was a buffet.  We managed not to throw up, which is still a mystery to me because I didn't think I could make it out of there. Thankfully we never get fed like that.

            The best Christmas present of all was going to the temple in New York. It was incredible and I also got to eat a gyro from the street vender outside the temple.  If Aunt Estefania is wondering, I did not get it with lamb.

            I love you all so much and I'm so excited for what the new year will bring.  We are all united in Christ.

Love you all,
Sister Rogers

At at Christmas Party

Our Gingerbread House



Photos of my Zone

Celebration

Christmas concert - I sang a solo!

December 22, 2014

            I'm turning 21!  I never thought I would make it this far.  Getting older while on a mission is weird.  I still don't even feel like I'm 20 and now I have to add another number to it.  It’s weird to think that I would have been just now sending in my papers if the age changed hadn't happened.  That's how God works.  Thanks for all the presents that were sent.  I'll hopefully be able to write you after Christmas. 

            This year for Christmas we have rain, rain, rain, and a few snow flurries.  It is probably a good thing because it is super hard to park in Elizabeth. I regret failing the parallel parking on my driver's test because it could come in handy about now. 

            The Spanish ward and our branch combined for a Christmas party this year.  It was the most interesting church party I have ever been to.  Clowns, Mickey & Minney Mouse, and Santa came.  It also lasted until 11 at night so we didn't get to see how the food went, but apparently they ran out of food because there was 160 people at the party.  It was a bit crazy.

            So here is a picture of my new companion.  She is pretty cool and likes to try on crazy hats at the mall.

 

            I just wanted to end by saying I know Jesus Christ in my Savior.  There is something so special about this time of year when people decide to remember the one who makes everything possible.  Because of the gift he gave I have been healed of the pains that I have suffered.  I know he can heal you too.

 Sister Rogers

 

Transfer to Elizabeth

December 15, 2014

            I went to the beautiful land of Elizabeth.  I'm working in an English branch that also has a Spanish ward in the same building.  The area is so city with tons of people and the diversity is amazing.  Mostly we are the only white girls on the street.  The church building is not actually a church, but an old business building.  It is super fun to be in a branch.  Most of the members are actually Spanish that speak English very well.  The Lord has prepared this place for miracles to happen.

            My companion is Sister Clarke.  She has been out only 3 months and is super fun.  She loves to talk to everyone and enjoys pranks.  I am in trouble.  She is from Rigby, Idaho and loves to run, eat, and do crazy things. 

            So we live in an apartment with 2 other Spanish-speaking sisters.  It is a little different than my last apartment because instead of getting my own bathroom, I'm instead sharing one with three other people. It works out pretty well. 

Miracle this week:

            The church put out a new video called “He is the Gift” and as missionaries we have to share it with 10 people every day.  We stopped a man on the street and had him look up the video on his smart phone. During the video his appearance changed as the spirit of the Lord filled him.  He instantly wanted to share it with his Grandma.  He gave us his number all from watching a little video.  It really touched him.  I felt the spirit so strong.  Such a neat experience.

Sister Rogers

My new address is:

167 Elm St.

Elizabeth, NJ 07208   

Moving Day

Me and Sister Rigby

 December 7, 2014

So I don't have any time because we have to move a lot of things to the car to leave.

Our area is closing and I have not seen so many things in my life.  We took 2 car loads of just stuff.

Sister Rogers

Highlight of the week is I went bowling and scored a 95 miracle

 

Saying Goodbye

Princeton Stadium for Turkey Bowl

The Turkey Bowl at Princeton

 December 1, 2014

            We played football at an Ivy League college stadium – Princeton.  How much cooler can it get?  I even played.  “Don't Fall Over in Your Chairs.”  Sister Rogers actually ran around for an hour as people scored touch downs.  We even had some festive weather with the snow (My area didn't get any because we are too close to the shore).  My team won and I even dropped the football.  

            Thanksgiving dinner was amazing.  Sister Kniesler really outdid herself.  She made food for at least 10 people and there were only 5 of us.  My favorite dishes where bacon stuffing, broccoli and cauliflower casserole, and best of all a French onion soup thing.  I don't know how she made it so good.  I could have just eaten that for dinner and I don't even like onions that much.   We had two homemade pies, pumpkin and apple.  The potatoes and gravy where good, but I miss the Sadler version.

            We were quite satisfied with our Thanksgiving, but on Sunday night we had our second Thanksgiving surprise when a non-member (who has gone to relief society for 13 years) invited us over for dinner.  The turkey was as big as a medium dog.  Right before we ate she told us that the turkey was alive this morning.  She was at the farm and couldn't decide which one to choose until one of the turkeys flapped it wings.  You might say he volunteered as tribute. 

            Bishop Linares is the best bishop in the world.  We have recently been struggling to find new people to teach and we have been doing a lot of door knocking.  We asked him what we should do. He told us something I will never forget. "Sisters you have already done the hardest part.  You came here.  It is really our fault (the members) that you don't have anyone to teach."  That brought so much comfort to know that the work doesn't ride just on our shoulders but everyone has an equal part in missionary work.  That is something I want to try to remember so I can become the best member missionary ever.  It is such a blessing that the Lord is teaching me these things now.

            It has been so amazing to be a part of this ward.  I am going to miss it.

Check about this amazing video about the real meaning of Christmas.  It is so powerful

http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529 

Sister Jersey



Me and my companion at the turkey bowl



My companion at the turkey bowl