Snow, Snow, Snow

January 26, 2015

            It has finally snowed in New Jersey.  It looks as if it will be a blizzard.  I'm excited.  I've heard we will be getting everything from 6 inches to 3 feet.  As I'm writing, the library is closing due to the storm, so I better make this quick.

            We spent two days walking because the walking elders needed our car so they could go to a transfer conference.  Gratefully, we met some really cool people along the way or else it would have been a long day.  One of my favorites was a Haitian man by the name of Kola like the drink. He shared with us that on the day of the ice rain he had almost been killed in a car accident, but God protected him.

            I was also able to talk to Sister Papin from my last area today and she lost her job so now she is super excited to come to church all the time.  God works in mysterious ways.

            Crazy thing about Jersey—because of the snow it is really hard to find parking, so in order to save a parking spot, people put out trash cans and chairs in the street so they can have somewhere to park.  It is really funny.

            We had the best surprise Thursday morning.  A member gave us a call and asked what we were doing.  It was about 9, so obviously we were studying.  "Well I'm at the diner right next to your house; come meet me there."  We had the best breakfast every.  I love how much the members care!

            Got to go, the storm is coming.

Sister Rogers

Nothing to Say

January 19, 2015

 

Well family I ran out of time this week, but know that I love you so
much.  Miracles are happening everywhere.

 

Sister Rogers

3 Months to Go

Elaine and myNew Blanket

January 12, 2015

            I learned this week about the power of the atonement in the lives of all God's children.  We have many people that are trying to make it back to church and a lot of them are struggling with addictions.  One of them, Brother Elco, expressed to us his concern that he could not come back to church because he smoked.  We talked to him about how that was a false notion because the Savior wants us to come to church no matter what and he wants us to repent.  The next week we brought a recent convent who also is struggling to stop smoking and her advice to him was to read his scriptures and just keep praying.  It is so amazing how God asks us to do such simple things and miracles come that would never have happened on their own.

            The picture below is one of our beloved members that made me a blanket that is around my shoulders.  Elaine has some special needs, but she is so funny.  She gives all the missionaries nicknames. Some of the names are not so appealing like no-no, turtle, drum, and rice ball.  Lucky
enough I got the name of Singer.  She makes blankets for all the missionaries that serve in Elizabeth and likes to call us 5 times a day.  Elaine is working on going to the temple this year.

            So many of you have noticed that I have been on my mission for quite a while and don't worry I still have a few more months left.  You might be pleased to note that my companion that I am currently serving with reminds me every day that I only have 3 months left and when missionaries leave the mission we call that dying.  So every day I get to hear "You are dying soon."

Love,
Sister Rogers

 

Miracles in the New Year

January 5, 2015 

To my Favorite People,

            The week has been amazing.  The Lord blessed us with 23 lessons and usually the area only get 18 on a good week. 

Miracle this week: We were walking home for correlation when a mother and her son started walking with us.  I asked her how her New Year's went which lead into a conversation about how she is changing her life with the Savior. Before I could even ask if we could visit her, she was giving us the address to her home.  On Saturday we taught Lena and her husband about the restoration.  We asked her husband, Roberto how he has felt the spirit. He told us that as we were talking to Lena he felt the spirit telling him to go listen to what we were talking about.  It was so spiritual.  They even said they would be baptized and Roberto came to church on Sunday.  Sadly they live in the elders’ area, so they will continue to teach them.

            That was the big miracle for the week.  New Year’s we were out contacting at 8 at night.  People thought we were crazy.  It was so cold, but so worth it for the Lord.

            I ;ove this great work.  See you next week.

Sister Rogers

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