09.24.13 | Week 24 | Homestead Zone

Hey my wonderful family!

 

So, I have 2 items of very good news for you this week:) We will start off with the first one. SISTER DAINES AND I ARE STAYING TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER 6 WEEKS! Thank you for all of your prayers. I KNOW that they helped. We prayed for it every day too. We were so anxious to find out last night. We didn't get our transfer call until about 10 oclock last night. As they came around and said, Sister Daines....Stays. Sister Rogers....ALSO stays. We jumped up and started screaming, and hugging each other. Haha then we sat down and were like, wait. Hopefully they didn't say, "just kidding, Sister Rogers, Transfers, and trains." So we texted the Zone leaders after the transfer call and made sure that what we heard was right! Sure enough it was. We are SO EXCITED. We just love each other so much. We have way too much work to do. We can not be split up yet! We are also so happy that we are going to be together for conference, AND for halloween:) We find out tomorrow which sisters come into our apartment. We have beds and everything set up. It's going to be weird. We are really excited to have more sisters...but if they aren't clean....things arent going to be pretty;) Luckily Sister Daines and I are both clean people. Its been nice.

 

My second item of business....

The Daniels family is confirmed. Family. I cannot even tell you how much I love them. They are everything to Sister Daines and I. Whenever we are feeling sad or down, all we do is think about their family. We had rides arranged for them to get to church, since their car has not been registered. We had faith that God would take care of them while we got our other investigators to church. We walked in the the Chapel, and sure enough, Herbert was sitting there with his family. Its been so fun to see them come every week. The first Sunday, he was in just nicer clothes, the next sunday, he was in a shirt and tie, and this sunday, he had a suit on. He loves church so much. And so does his whole family. Lakyvia LOVES relief society, the kids love primary, and Herbert loves everything about church. Haha he told the whole story of Nephi in Gospel Principles. He is such an awesome guy. Wow. Can't even describe it.  Their confirmations were so powerful. (yes there is that word again:) ) And yes, of course, Sister Daines and I are so excited that we get to stay here with them for another transfer:) I would have cired. Dad, Thank you for writing Herbert a letter. I know that he will love that so much. I really cannot wait for you and the family to meet them one day. Sister Danies and I keep saying that one day we are going to come back and he is going to be Bishop Daniels. ;)

 

I did ride my bike this week. Wow. Can I just tell you how hot it gets on a bike. I was sweating more than I think I ever had! I felt NASTY. Sister Daines and I were so tired too. Haha my tire went flat though. We were riding by some construction, so I believe thats what happened. We have a guy in the mission that can look at it though:) no worries.

 

I am SO SO SO beyond happy that Kylie is going on a mission. Keep me updated with where she goes! Man, I miss that girl a lot. Thats my long lost sister! And Mitzi and Macey...I love them too! I am so happy for them. Wow. I am going to come home and every one is going to be gone! That is weird. I cannot believe that I am already at my 6 month mark. I only have 9 transfers left. That's so crazy...

 

Well.. I love you all so much. As you all know. I know that you are all doing so well. Thank you for all your words of advice, and prayers. They really do help. Have a great week fam. Tell the Dogs hi for me!!  Haha I saw a Golden Retriever for the first time on my mission.. Almost died. I almost got out of the car to go and see it. Pathetic?;) Love you all!!

 

Sister Rogers

09.16.13 | Week 23 | Homestead Zone

Family!

Wow. What a week!! Thank you for all your support, once again:) I couldn't be more thankful for the family I have back home, supporting me, while I am here on my mission. As you know, it isn't easy being here, away from all of you, but with all of your help, it was possible to get through the rough

time that I had.

Well, I have great news for all of you! THE DANIELS FAMILY WAS BAPTIZED! Thank you for all of your prayers for them. Sister Daines and I know that, that was not done by just us. We had so much help from everyone. This was truly such an amazing baptism family. Baptisms for one person is amazing, but a baptism for a family, its a whole other story.

*here is Kaceys explanation of her wonderful week to her president

President Anderson,

This week was a miracle week. I saw the Lords hand in everything. As you know, we have been working with the Daniels family. It was truely a miracle, and a blessing, just to know this family. They are such a prepared family. We had to stay very diligent, and make sure that everything was organized for this baptism. We were a little nervous, because we had a lot to do on sunday. We had to get the mother, and the son taught, interviewed, and father interviewed once again. We knew that we were not going to be able to do it without the Lords help. We also could not have done it without the help of the ward. We had two different rides for the Daniels family to church, and they helped us organize and get everything ready for the baptism. All of our hard work and Diligence paid of. We had a baptism of 5, just yesterday. As each of them were baptized, and I knew that Heavenly Father was so happy for them. He helped us make it possible for this family to be baptized. Seeing the fathers face, as his children, and wife were baptized, was a face that I truly will never forget. As we we went up to talk to him after the baptism, he couldn't stop thanking us. He said, "Thank you for bringing me and my family here, we couldn't be here without you." As we all know, this work couldn't have been done with just sister Daines and I. But with the Lords help, and our diligence, it was a possible. Its moment like these that I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be able to be a missionary, and help the people here in South Florida come closer to Christ.

Thanks for all you do President. We are so grateful for you and Sister Anderson, and all that you do for our mission. We love you both

Sister Rogers

That's pretty much the story of their amazing baptism. As you could tell, we had a lot of help from the Elders, the Ward members, and the Lord. I cannot express my gratitude. This experience is a once in a lifetime kind of experience. Sister Daines and I had a goal of 5 baptisms for the month, and we are now moving that goal up to 7. We are going to get two more in this month! We are searching for families! Which there are a lot of them, they are all over the place. This is going to be possible because Sister Daines and I really do feel like we are staying together. We had our interview with President Anderson, and It was great. He is such an amazing Mission President. He told Sister Daines to prepare to have more sisters in our house! We aren't sure if we are ready to share it yet.;) Its so clean with just the two of us;) haha no it will be fun to have more people in there, and yes like mom said, I will have more clothes to share with;)

Now that The Daniels are baptized, we are working on finding another amazing family to get baptized. We have been able to meet some amazing people. We blessed a father and his son and as we were saying this prayer, the father was crying. He called us the next day, and thanked us. He thanked us for all that we had done, and for being on a mission, and following that prompting, so that we could pray with him. It was a really cool experience. Sister Daines and I actually went back to them, and had a lesson with their family. We have been carrying a picture of our families with us in our scriptures, and have been showing everyone. They are all so amazed at how beautiful our familes are, and we testify that our families are the way they are becaue of the Gospel. Its a really powerful thing. It makes me really grateful for my family. Everytime I get to brag about you:) I love you all so much.

I hope that everything is going well back in St George. Looks beautful from the pictures that Kort showed me. I really miss the mountains a lot! It will be a great day when I see them again. I might even want to live in them for a while;) haha Good luck with planning the wedding! Just make sure you get a cardboard picture of me there! Ya know, so i can be there;)

Love you all!!! Never forget that:) Thanks for your prayers.

Sister Rogers

09.09.13 | Week 22 | Homestead Zone

Hola Familia!

 

As usual I want to thank you for all of your words of advice and all of your support. I could not have done it without you. I printed off dads email here at the Library, and I studied it along with presidents email in my personal study. Dad I cannot tell you how many times I used the words that you said in Lessons, and in our District training. You truly were inspired. I know it. And then mom, I recieved both of your letters (which by the way I get the mail the same amount of time as I used to. So no worries) But I got your letter and I just started to cry. My parents are such great support, and they truly are intitled to recieve revelation for me. Mom as you said, you felt that good things were about to come. Good things have come!! More than you can imagine. I will copy and paste the story from presidents email, regarding time. But the Daniels family that we met, they are truely sent from God. Sister Daines and I have been so happy. All we can think about is this family that we met. Its so nice to finally have investigators to worry and think about, instead of thinking of all the things that we are missing out on at home. Heavenly father has allowed Angels to lead our footsteps to the Daniel family, and we are so honored and grateful to be able to be God's instruements and teach them, and help them come closer to their Savior Jesus Christ:)

Our mission conference was AMAZING. Elder Soares spoke to us, and of course President and Sister Anderson. We were filled with words of wisdom. I got do see EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the mission. Yes. I was SO excited to see my "mom" Sister Bean. We both ran up to each other and just gave each other the biggest hug ever. We both were just crying. I really do love her so much. I have been beyond blessed to have such great companions out here in Florida. God has been very good to me. If you could continue to pray for Sister Daines and I to stay together another transfer that would be great:)

I want to tell you how amazing our bishop is. Just yesterday we were trying to find a ride for the Daniels family to get to church. We told him that Herbert (the dad) was a little rough looking on the outside, but has a heart of Gold. We need someone that wouldn't be intimidated by him to give him a ride. The bishop replied in text and said, "Give me their address and their phone number, and I will pick them up at 9:10 tomorrow!" (ps. this is the black family that I have been dreaming and praying for:) ) Because of him, Herbert, Lakivia, Ulisses, Herbert Jr. Sincere, Abella, and Atner. They are SO ADORABLE!! the dad is amazing. Hes bald, with a huge beard, tattoes, and grills. Haha I just love this family! Keep them in your prayers!

Sorry that my email has really been scattered all over the place, I just wish I could tell you everything! Just know that all your prayers, and hugs have been felt this week. When I truly needed them. You were there:) Youre always in mine as well! I love you family!!!! So much:)

Con mucho amor, Su hija, y hermana, Hermana Rogers:)

Here's a letter Kacey included that she wrote to her President about her week of miracles....

Dear President,

This week was truly a week of miracles. I know without a doubt that Heavenly father puts us in the situation that we go through for a reason. Last week was a really hard week and we were not finding anyone that was prepared. We found many people that accepted return appointments but then either wouldn't be at home, or changed their minds.

We were checking up on a Harvest blessing that we had left a couple days back to this cute family of 7. We had prayed with the mother of the home and her 5 children. As we knocked on the door, a man, answered the door. Who turn out to be the husband of the the lady we had blessed. We started talking to him. He seemed to be a very faithful man, and accepted prayer right away. He recognized us as Angels. We prayed for him, and he asked us to include his neighbor that had been causing him and his family a lot of trouble, and the people in the neighborhood as well. We gave him a book of mormon, and he said, "I am so excited to read this book. I knew there was something more to the bible!" We invited him to be baptized and he said, "Im looking forward to it!" We left that home, with the spirit so strong. We carried it with us the rest of the day. It was a feeling that I had never felt before! The next day we returned to this man. He opened the door, and came out and said, "You girls! You are AMAZING!" He began to explain that the prayer we said the other day, was answered! His neighbor had gone to jail! His whole family was so excited, and the neighbors as well. He told us that we was reading in Nephi, and he just knew that this was the word of God. We taught him the Restoration, and he knew without of doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. He came to Stake Conference yesterday withe his whole family. Afterwards, we asked him how he liked the service, and he said, "To tell you the truth, there is nothing like that. I felt like I was in another world! This place is amazing, and everyone is so friendly!" We set them with dates, the whole family, and they all said yes! We are so excited. President, I know this is what God has been preparing us for. This amazing family of 7 that is more than prepared to recieve the truth, and come unto their Savior Jesus Christ. I have been so grateful. I have been able to keep staying Diligent and Obedient, and I know that because of Sister Daines and I, and our hard work, that God is able to work miracles through us. As long as we do our part, God with touch our stones. We are so excited to see this family enter the waters of baptism!

Sister Rogers

I want to add a little part for you all to hear. After Church, the bishop took over Herbert to meet President Anderson. Herbert went straight up to President with us by his side and said, "I want you to know that these two girls, are angels. They were sent from God. They answered the prayers of my family, and myself. I am looking forward to my baptismal date, and I will do anything that I need to!" Sister Daines, and I were sitting there listening to his words, with tears streaming out of our eyes. His words hit me so deeply. The spirit was so strong, and President looked into our eyes, and just looked so happy and proud of us. I cannot even believe this week. It has been such a miracle. 

09.03.13 | Week 21 | Homestead Zone

Hello!

 

First of all. Wow. SO many things are happening at home! I am not going to lie, I am really sad that all these fun things are happening while I am here...I miss you all every day. Especially now, as the work is really hard. I find myself thinking how much easier it would be to be with you all enjoying the fun things that are going on. The other day, Sister Daines and I were practicing on asking "inspired questions" so that we could get to know our investigators needs more. We were asking each other inspired questions, and Sister Daines, asked me "What motivates you do to the work?" I sat there and thought about it. It brought me back to the poem that I sent home...I know that I am here because I have so many brothers and sisters up in heaven that told me to find them, here on earth. I am here finding those that I promised I would find, and I am bringing them the truth. -That's what motivates me to do the work. So as times really are hard, and I would so much like to be home during all these exciting times, I know this work is so important. Plus, I can do hard things. Right mom??:)

 

This week, was a big learning experience. The times, that I thought things were never going to turn around, I prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I have never been on my knees more than I have been in this past week. I didn't think that I had the energy to go any more. I know that I am sitting here at this computer right now because of the strength that I got from my Heavenly Father, and from Jesus Christ, and his suffering for all of my pains. I may not have many amazing stories to tell, but this week, I can say, that my testimony of Jesus Christ grew. As I thought of him in the Garden of Gethsemene asking Heavenly Father, to let this cup pass, if there be another way. If it be his will, let it be. All of the pain that he went through for us to be able to repent, and be clean to live with our father in Heaven was tramendous. I can't even comprehend it. I thought of all that us as missionaries go through. We go through all this pain, and sorrow, devoting 24/7 of our time to the work so that others can live with Heavenly Father again. We truly are representatives of Jesus Christ. How great is our calling?

 As Sister Daines and I have been working hard, trying our best to be lead to those that are prepared, I have had to really learn the importants of PATIENCE. While we have harvested for hours and hours each day, we have not been able to find the people that prepared to hear the Gospel. In Preach My Gospel it says, "Patience, the capacity to endure delay, trouble, oppostition, or suffereing, without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious." It includes, hope and faith. As I have been studying how I can have more patience in my life, and in the work now, I have really come to the conclusion, that it is in the lords timing. It is so much easier said than done, to say that I am going to have patience when things get hard. When those moments come around, when it seems like no one is ready to hear the gospel, or I just have not yet found them, that is when I need to really have hope and faith that things WILL work out in God's timing. I have also learned this week, that I am not perfect. I am not the perfect teacher, and that must be patient with MYSELF. Sometimes I push myself too hard, and I get really frusterated that I am not doing everything perfectly, or people arent flocking to the baptismal font because I am not saying the right things. As I read in the scriptures, Alma chapter 17: It says, "I will make you instruments of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." "Bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto thee success." I know that success is just around the corner. As I endure to the end, put in all the work that I can, and have diligence, I will meet those that are prepared and ready for the truth.

Through perserverance, and hard work we were able to see miracles at the end of this week. On Pros Monday, we had been harvesting all day, trying to find those 5 people that would say yes to church, and baptism. We were at three, and the day was nearing to the end. We gave every last bit of energy and we went out and harvested for another hour. We were walking on the sidewalk and said hi to a family that was getting things out of their trunk. We asked them if they needed any help, and we eventually found ourselves in their brand new home, they had just moved into today, blessing it. This cute family of three, loved the prayer so much. They accepted to come to church, and also to be baptized together as a family. After we walked out of their home, we said a prayer of thanks right away. We found a couple more people that were just as prepared on that street that night. I know that God has a bigger plan for us. It may not come when we want it to, but it will all work out, according to his timing. We just need patience.

The work is great! Hard, but great. I know I am here, to find my brothers and sisters, that are looking for the truth! This weekend we have stake conference. Which means that we are going to be having a Zone Baptism. Sister Daines and I don't exactly have anyone ready to be baptized this weekend, unless a miracle happens:) But we do have people committed to church:) It is going to be so amazing. And I have NEVER in my life been more excited to hear conference. I can hardly wait! Also we are having a mission conference this saturday. A seventy is coming to talk to us:) The whole mission will be there as well! We really are so excited for it:)

 

Family, I love you a lot. I am so happy for every one of you, and all that you're doing. Especially ZACK!!!! YOURE GETTING MARRIED!!!!!! wahoo!! haha I hope you know I love you all. I have already almost been out for 6 months now! Crazy....Time flies! Have a great week:)

 

Sister Rogers