Call from Jon 12-25-08

12-25-08

From the call with Jon

This is a picture of the family Jon lives with in Vitarte

We asked him what he knew of the Bolivian mission being closed. The companion that Jon has now never went to Bolivia he went from the Peru MTC to Lima East. He was called to Bolivia though.
Apparently the mission was closed in 1 day due to terrorists. Many of the missionaries left with only what was on their back. There are some real scary stories.
One Elder tells of them leaving in a hurry with 4 Elders in a back of a pickup truck. There were sticks of dynamite thrown at them as they left. The church had a private plane waiting for them at the airport.
We ask about the Lima Este mission. There are 230 missionaries now. We think that 30-50 are from the Bolivia mission. There are 20 zones in Jon’s mission. There are 6 zones in Lima: 1 zone on the Amazon, 2 in Huanuco, some in the providences etc. There are 4-6 Elders in a district. There are about 230 baptisms a month. That means about one per missionary, but it does not always work out that way.
For Christmas the mission president organized some Christmas dinners. Jon said he had about 100 missionaries at his dinner and some missionary couples. Jon was real impressed because they had mashed potatoes and gravy and good meat. Jon’s mission president is a native so he was real impressed with the good food. They held the dinner in the stake center. Jon said the Stake Centers are huge in Peru.
The Stake Centers in Peru are way bigger than the Stake Centers in the states.

Jon was supposed to have a baptismal interview on Christmas Eve, but the person getting baptized forgot (?) about it. Jon was going to take the DL to the potential member’s home later in the day on Christmas day to possibly conduct the interview

Rafael in getting baptized later this month and Jon calls or cks up on him everyday. Rafael said you don’t have to keep asking me if I drank alcohol or if I have been with girls. Jon told him --- I will call you everyday until we get you baptized!

Peru has interesting Christmas Eve traditions. Everyone goes up on their roof and shoots off powerful fireworks. Jon says it last for 15 minutes and it feels like you are in a war zone. It was unbelievably loud and pretty.
All the workers take Christmas off including the Police so Christmas Eve and Christmas day are a free for all. Jon watched a dude getting robbed right in front of his house.

Jon is 176 pounds now. His cooking lady cooks rice with chicken sauce every night. He is getting tired of that taste, but loves the cooking lady and her family. Jon also lives with this family. It is very hot and moist in Peru right now as it is summer.
Jon lives in Vitarte, Lima, Peru. It is a part of Lima. It is very poor area. The people live in little dusty houses on the hills. He says it looks a lot like the Mesquite area.
Jon loves the people and the Elder’s are trying really hard to get some families in the church.
During Jon’s call we quickly conference called all the Grandmas and Grandpa’s and Lisha and Clint. He was able to say a quick Merry Christmas and able to hear them tell him that they loved him.
We sure enjoyed hearing from Jon. Mostly we just listened and enjoyed hearing his voice and spirit.

12-22-08 Letter

12-22-08
Hey fam!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hehe how is everyone doing? Its been a crazy long preparing week and the emails were many and great! Dad I’ve gained about 18 pounds in total. I’m still a little light but I feel great and find stuff to eat. I’m trying to be careful with money but its hard thanks so much for all the support.Well this week has been good we’ve been working so hard to bring to pass 3 baptisms this month and we had two marriages planed for yesterday but one fell through. Susy just wont commit and the RM boy friend is killing us. They were so good but we keep finding hidden secrets and sin and they don’t want to repent. It’s pretty sad all they have to do is marry. I was so bummed, but we had wonderful marriage of the other couple. It was awesome. I was a little stressed because I’ve never been to chosique but I found it and we had them married. I took lots of fun pictures and will sent them later but we are hoping to baptize them this week the 28!!!!!!!I’m praying so hard. We have worked so so so hard and work is kind of slow. Rafael is doing good too. I challenged all three yesterday, and they all seemed pretty excited about it. I am going to call or pass by everyday this week I’ll tell you on the call if they are going to get baptized cause baptism interviews for them are Christmas Eve yeah!!!!!Its been busy week and we found 3 more couple for January its hard cause we have to get them all married first. No one is married so it makes it hard but I want families and we will go forward with faith. I know if we are obedient and have faith and go for it there will be baptisms. I really like the East Stake baptism statistics. Wow- 30 baptisms this year!. If Blackburns and I get these three it will be 30 31 32 for me in my first year in mission. It’s been a long haul, but we have done a lot of good down here. I saw some of the Bayovar people at wedding and they told me about some of the investigators. One is going on mission J remember Eddy with the earring? And his mom the miracle? They are doing great! It’s rewarding some days when you hear things. Also Jauja is doing good. Carolina and her family have wrote me 3 times now. I sent them hymnbooks. Huanuco to is still holding in strong. I’m so so so excited for the call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I will make a list and will be excited to talk on Christmas. The plans sound great! I will be so happy!Love your son and brother working and sweating in Peru!So your going to dinner with Blackburn’s weird! My buds were laughing when I read mom’s email about being a bit more circumspect. That day was fun and I really am trying to be good companion. We are working hard.
I can’t believe you get white Christmas woof!Love Jon--- Elder Rogers

Letter from Jon 12-15-08

12-15-08
Que tal fam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My emails were so fun today! This has been a good week thanks for all love and support. I’ve really had some investigator challenges these last couple of week but I know things are going better. Elder Blackham and I had a fast and we found 2 more investigators from an awesome family. They have the 28th as fecha (Baptism Date) and we might have a marriage this week. No one is married down here its nuts! Elder Blackham is a stud. We are buds and we keep making goals to be better and we sure are working hard. Elder Blackham went to Chile for 2 days and I’m with other Elder so he probably wont be able to write to his family... He just went to take out his papers since he is illegal here in Peru cause his mission is Bolivia but know he’s mine. Sometimes I tease him I don’t know what he thinks about it hehe...I had good change of attitude this week. I read the talk “Come what may and love it” by Joseph Worthlin. It’s so true and like President Wilkinson said the mission isn’t all roses but its a time were you can give it all to the Lord and I’m trying so hard. We really are so busy. Rafael is doing great. I’m really excited for New Years Eve with him. ( I think that is when he is getting baptized) The best part is that Rafael and Pavel are buds. They come in blue jeans to church every week yeah!!!!!!!!!!I’m so grateful for all your love and I truly am so blessed. I’m learning so much. I’m thinking about buying a blow up pool for the family we live with. It’s getting so hot. It should be fun with all little kids for Christmas. This week will be crazy. I hope we can get the two marriages going. I’m in charge of taking them to chosiquea and I’m going to need divine inspiration to pull this off. I’m working hard! Love you all! your son elder rogmuah!!!!!!!!!!

Picture Up dates- Thanksgiving, People, Vitrate, Lima Peru the place I live

12-1-08 Letter

12-1-08

Hey fam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Woof its been a crazy week and it doesn’t feel at all like Christmas. I was thinking so much about all of you this week and just couldn’t imagine what it would be like eating such yummy food. We sat down and talked about family traditions in English with my buds and how I couldn’t even fit things on to the plate! … mmmmm from ham turkey mashed papas and even mom’s cinnamon rolls mmmmm a smorgasbord of sweet love mmmmmm…Well I hope you had a great week and everyone has recovered hehe! I got yummy sweet packages from mom so I was cooking up a storm. We had mac and cheese and turkey helper with instant potatoes and gravy mmmm! Thanks mom everyone loved me! Well dad I’m kind of bummed. I wanted my dad to release me I loved the idea but life will go on and you got more callings coming I’m sure. I’m ok and I love you.Happy b-day Clint! Well this week has been a little rough but I’m not going to focus on it and try to work hard for next week and Rafael. He is a great kid but his fecha is for the 30th of December now. He fell ( he drank) and its been really hard on me but I will help him all I can but its hard when someone falls after receiving a witness like he did but I’m ok and I will try to keep working hard! I’m so glad my family is doing good. I’m so so so grateful for all you in my life and that keeps me going through hard times. It doesn’t seem like Christmas down here. It’s so hot. I got some fun Christmas packages and It will be so fun to call home. I cant believe its December today woof!
My Questions to Jon:Tell us about your meetings with the Mission President. Really good! He gave me permission to go to Lima central to buy family something for Christmas yeah!!!!!!!! And we are buds. He says he know I’m working hard ! Do you jump on the bus and go to the office every week? No I’ve only been 3 times in whole mission. The mission office is about 1 hour away. Do you get your own mail every week? Yeah but comes through my zone leaders Do you eat out every week?never only on conferences or interviews How are Parvel and Rafael doing this week? Pavel is my bud he’s doing so good and loves your Book of Mormon movie you sent. We watch all the time. Does your companion have any St. George Blackburn relatives? No Does this area look like your other Lima area. yep uuuuugly… The dusty dirty hills with little houses? Yep that pretty much summs it up!. Where are you to with packages? I got Christmas tree with all pictures thanks for including food mac and cheese but still no pants. Its all good mom don’t sweat.. Did you get the wall hanging? We got turkey and tree up and ready. My penz ( cooking lady-landlord loves it… Did you get the T-shirts? Yea i love them 81!!!!!!!!!! The pants? nope Did you have the Beef and gravy and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving? Yes it was awesome mmmmmm We all really miss you and at this time of year especially. We sure hope your health is doing well. How are your muscolos coming along? I’m doing good and I miss you all so much to but we will all go on heheWell last week I got to go out to bowling and it was so fun. I got a 204 my all time best ¡!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know were it came from but it was supper fun. We played like 6 games but the first game was best and I ate pizza and ran into someone hhhe?.................BRIDSALL----- I love that kid! I just strait up tell him-- man you the man! I didn’t like him in MTC but not I love him.
I’ve gained drum roll……………13pounds I’m coming in at 176 yeah!! Still skinny but I’m working on it. We had a pushup contest yesterday. I almost died but I love my perfect pushups! I’m nothing like I was. I’m going to try next year to look good for coming home heheCongrats A J!!!!!!!Alaska woof !I love you all and am doing goodLove your son Elder Rogers

Letter from Jon 11-24-08

11-24-08
Clint’s 30th b-day
Hey family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Muah!!!!!!!!!!Well I’m glad to hear everything is doing good and that the family and everything is busy but still enjoying the holidays. I miss this time of year in good old St. George and want to put up lights and go see nuggies but I know I’ll be back in one more yea!Thanks so much for the emails and forwarding them to everyone mom and the hard work you do to keep me happy! I know things get mixed up some times I’m glad you just didn’t accidentally erased Kylee girls letter on purpose. I’m glad you had fun in Mexico and all is safe and well at home (mom you can send me some good soaps and stidex pads and that’s about all. I can’t buy them down here)This week has been crazy we just keep seeing miracles and we had conference with the President and ate and ate pizza this week again. We also went bowling on Friday me and the zone and my gringos after the temple. It’s been good week and it was first time I’ve been to temple in pretty much a year. I only went 2 or 3 times in January in CCM and Bayovar. It was exciting I put the whole family in the prayer box and hope you feel my love. Sorry for the fragrant charges on my card I should have got capital one… Remember the commercial Clint? Back me up….. I’ve been on vacation down here. We ate out twice after temple and conference in nice down town Lima and I had a whopper and Big Mac and chicken sandwich from KF to the _______c hehe yea!!!!!!!!!!!!Ill try to keep it in check but I think mom you can hold on to your packages while I’m Lima. We have a store like Costco in my area woop woppp!!!!!!! But I got paper turkey on my table at our house and the penz ( cooking lady) loves it and all other stuff Christmas tree and potatoes tell Carma-- thanks for Christmas stuff to muah!!!!!Well this week we have been working hard and have had some ridiculous experiences. One good one, we taught 25 year old Rafael , Pavel’s friend and I told him to pray and we’d come back in 3 days. Well when we got back to the members house( Cordava’s house---- they are the best it would be like teaching in President Wilkinson’s house so I take all people there) He was outside waiting for us and I said how did your prayer go? I was just expecting the norm and he said great! I looked at my companion and said really?....He said he went home and prayed and didn’t really feel that much different like I told him he would but then he said he prayed again the next day after a hard day of work and felt so alone and when he prayed he was just over come and felt new. He told me…. The spirit was thick and I said so what do you think? Was that an answer from god that this church is true? and he said quote ; I KNOW it was!!!….I was just like shaking cause I knew he was serious. We then watched the first vision and after the movie he looked at me and said wow that just sums it all up doesn’t it! My companion and I laughed cause we were so happy and just pumped! I challenged him right then and there without any lesson and not even going to church. I ask him if he would continue in these lessons and be baptized in the future? He said I think that’s clear isn’t it …..Of course I shot up and shook his hand!!! We were all like wowo um wow um…What do we do now? It was just like best two years but he will be baptized on the 6 of December. He accepted and came to church yesterday to all three hours of church. How is the church not true any one that asked with faith will know!!!!!!!!!!!!Its been good week and all hard sweaty days.I love you all and want you to know I’m working hard I’m ticked BYU got killed that just sucks, but what do you do right?Thanks for all love and support muah!!!!!!I’m going to try to find somthing fun to send home this week for Christmas yeah!!!!!!Love your son Elder Rogers
I also got some hymn books for some old converts in Jauja; Brigham and Carolina and so that kind of ran the bill up, but I am sure you’ll help with all the financial. Dad I hope I’m not making you work more, but I’m trying to buy good things. I don’t buy stuff that’s not necessary like; bacon cheeseburgers, an extra came of bowling, or pizza. I’ll try not to spend spend spend--
-ok? Mom joke for youPor que Fue nefi tan muscoloso? Porque el hizo muchos planches! Hehe Planches is pushups and plates in castillano heheMuah!!!!!!!!!

Jon's Holiday Message

Tell all my buds i love them and to take care of there investigors and they will be your best buds forever. You'll know if you are loving the work if you leave every area better then you found it like it says in "Preach my Gospel" and maybe leave every area crying. Iknow we are all the work in the Lord and he will guide us to do. President Wilkinson says it gives you the feeling that we just have to run from house to house and not let one ear escape with out escuchando de los mormones! We all have a great work to do. We must loose ourselves, joke, and have fun and teach and go forth with power from the spirit!!! I love you all and we will all be better husbands, fathers and sons muah!!!!!!!elder rog

letter 11-10-08 and 11-17-08

11-10-08

Hey fam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Things are going great and life is just really crazy right now I just don have time to do anything but what I have to as trainer and senior companion, but I love it and I will always make time to do it right. Well I’ll tell you what is going on --- Jon is answering the questions I asked him.Where do you live? I live in Los Portales 30min from Lima in a sweet ward with really good members. What is your area like? My area is pure ghetto with sandy hills, and cardboard house. There are a few nice houses in valley where lots of the members live. It looks like out on the hills of Lake Mead. I call them ugly! Hehe How is your cooking lady and that situation? I live in a house or room next to penz family. ( That is the lady that cooks) It is smaller then dad’s office. We have bunkbeds. She cooks really well and I finally might be gaining weight. What does she cook? rice!!!!!!!! How do you feel safety wise? Yeah! We’re ok mom but it is kind of scary having two gringos around here. I will be protector now I don’t like taking crap and just yesterday one dude tried to jew my comp and I said nice try pal we aren’t on vacation. I know how much the moto costs and I gave him a sole and walked away.
Do you have any stores or restaurants near you? I went to a meeting for all the trainers for all the missionaries in Lima and it was way cool. It is a new thing the church is doing and Levaya was there and I saw Braxton Wilding there too. I was like wow your skinny hehe then he called me a punk for being in providence a whole year. I called him a punk for eating at Papa Johns all year then I said so when are we going to rock Papa John’s bro? What is your new companion like? Since he is from Bicknell is he a farm boy or cowboy? Yep! He is little different. He tells me about firing up the backhoe and going to work when he was bored at his house. I was like sweet! Is he tall? Six two! What is the branch like? Our ward is the bomb! The Bishop sent me a little kid yesterday and said who is the family you brought to church and at beginning of the meeting he welcomed them personally yeahª!!!!!!! How is your health? Do you feel like you will be healthy in this area? Yes, I do, I am doing better. Also how are your packages? They are coming slowly but surely. Did you get your pants yet? Nope not yet. Did you get the Thanksgiving package? Nope. Did you get the package from Grandma Talbot? Yeah mmmm pure foodI’m working really hard with my new companion and it’s helping me become who I want to be cause I run the show.We found a lady last week who is dating a RM they want to get married in temple and we are teaching her and gave her fecha (a baptism date) for the 29 of November and we have a baptism that is planned of a sweet 20 year kid who loves reading what I give him. I study it first then give it to him then tell him to tell me about what I gave him. This time Alma 22 and he loved it!I’m doing great but they made a new rule for the Internet. We have to write the President for 15 minutes and then our family for 30 minutes. I am pissed! Lots of rules are changing! I will try to write more next week and just print emails I love you all!Your son Elder Rogers


P.S. yeah this week during meeting President and I talked about some things I never told you cause I didn’t what you to worry. We got robbed in Jauja. The door was open and everything. I was scared and my IPod was gone and some charging cords. I was mostly pissed and screamed at Carpio for not locking the door. He had the keys. Anyway so President said hey Elder Rogers, I found your IPod and some more stuff. We will talk next week at your interview. He said it was Carpio and he planned the whole thing. Now that wasn’t too uplifting but true! Oh well, you got to love the mission muah!My new companion and I are doing well studying. Right now I am trying to teach him all I’ve learned and he loves it. I’m learning a lot teaching him. We are seeing miracles though. We found a family of 6 a whole family!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are putting fecha on them tomorrow. Please pray for family Pena!

11-17-08



Hey family!!!!!!!!Wolf, its been a wild week. We are working are butts off and it is now hot!!!!!!!! Just like Bayovar pushing more past the 80s and into the 90s everyday with hot sun and humidity. yikes!I’m so glad mom and dad had fun trip you guys are traveling fools. I got my companions laughing pretty hard telling them I get emails from all over the world from my sweet parents. I told them you loved life. I exaggerated a bit on your trips, but it sure did make for a better story. I’m glad you had a great time on Mexican beaches and Mexico City and the ruins. Man I want to go to Mexico when I get older it just reminds me of the song what happens down in Mexico stays in Mexico( I think Jed Ence showed me that song) I guess you know how internet cafes really work. Hehe J Most of the keyboards I use don’t have letters and everything is in the wrong positions.I’m glad the family is doing good and everyone is having a positive attitude and going forward through good times and not so good times. I appreciate you telling me all mom but a little sugar would be nice for 13 more hehe.I love you all, way to go Clint on fishing! Labron is the man!Well I just received letters from Jauja and it sure is a payoff off Carolina wants to go to temple and is a councilor in the primary!!!!!!! Yeah with her daughter. Benites my bud is doing good and he called me the other night and said he watched transformers as activity with Huancayo stake and they loved it hehe!!!!! A little lax(our zls on rules) Hey they are in the province but it is a great movie! All the converts are doing great and I’m so happy! Benites says it was like Carolina and her daughter were made to be members. I know they were. I know I’m in right place.This week we had a baptism my buddy Pavel a 22 yr old stud. He asked me to baptize him. We have really worked hard as gringos getting this kid ready and the mission is kind of slow right now on baptisms. We showed everyone in district that the gringos are here to work ! Pavel is a great kid but the baptism was really stressful for me. I tried to put it together as my first baptism as senior comp with new gringo. It was suppose to start at 7:00p.m. I had to call the Bishop at about 7:25 to ask him were he was at !!!!!!!! da!!!!! People are really behind the ball sometimes but it all worked out more perfect then I imagined but at 8:15. Oh well! We have great ward just like Utah. Many people came to the baptism and really helped us out. We had music, talks and some one even brought bread for after. I felt like Pavel was welcomed nicely. He was confirmed yesterday and I’m happy!It is lost of work! Things are going great and I love helping my companion learn and study lessons. It’s crazy! I talk so much in lessons but my companion is the man. He is just a humble dood and I love him.We have conference this week, and that means more pizza in Braxton’s area downtown! Yum ---here I come!Muah I’m healthy happy and doing good. I really am feeling the sprit and fruits of the mission Keep it real!!!!!!!!!!!!!Love your son, Elder Rogers!!!!!!!!! Keep that spirit with you everyone! When things get hard me and my buds say in English; we just got to keep living the dream hehe…. its way funnyKeep living the dream everyone!

letter from Jon 11-3-08

11/3/08
Hey fam and everyone!!!!!!!!!How is everyone doing I’m doing great well its been a heck of a week and I’m just working my tail off and really into things now……….drum rollIm in Ate-Vitarte Lima!!!!!!!!!! And I took the 13-hour buss ride back down through the highest free way in the world and up past Cerro de Pasco in the high mountains and it was way pretty and way cool.It was really hard to leave Jauja especially with the new friends and families and my bud Benites....tears lots of tears. I gave everyone hugs and it was just hard. I felt like I was leaving the MTC again and that was hard but this time it might be for life. I might never see some of my best buddies again. I told them I’ll keep doing what is right and if I don’t see you again I’ll see you in the celestial kingdom. I was bawling and if that doesn’t sound like the cheeses thing. It was hard for me! Brigham game to my room pounding the door in the night I left sad, and Hermana Lina and Carolina both gave me hugs and told me to take care of myself just like mom would and then when I got on the bus I was choked to say buy to Benites it was good but really hard. I love them!Well I’m senior comp!!!!!!!!!! And I got a gringo from Bicknell, Utah?...hehe he was pulled out of group going to Bolivia and I’m pretty much training him cause he stayed in CCM longer until President put him with me...Its nuts and he doesn’t know much but its way fun to help him out. I got of my 13 hour bus and he was standing there all nervous and was like como...aa.aa.estasss elder um elder.... and I was just like what up bro, we’re going to be buds. We talked English all that night but then I said ok buddy now we work and we planned set some plans and I said we can only speak English when we are in the house at night or if you need anything just tell me...Its kinda way fun being the leader and way intense too but we get along good and its way strange. He put me with a gringo with 10 months woof!!!!!! Also my new house has hot water!!!!!!!!!!!!and that is enough to be happy about so I’m pretty stoked. I told him we aren’t going do any sleeping or messing around on the job were going to study hard were going to work hard every hour and we going to baptize with obedience and diligence. He got kinda nervous but I also said and we are going to have fun too....I’m trying to be the senior missionary I never had to him and we are really tearing it up. Yesterday there were 138 in church!!!!!!!! A little different then Jauja and we had 18 in the new members lessons! Yeah baby we have a goal of 3 baptisms this month pray that the two gringos can do it. I know we can but it back in the ghetto of Lima and things are going pretty good. Woof it’s intense speaking Spanish and leading it all, But I’m enjoying it and I love helping my companion. I explain all the Spanish into English for him. We talk until like 11:30 every night in our beds and he just laughs and laughs at my stories of my wild ride so far and doest believe it . It really is a dream what my life has turned into now and a lot of responsibility my President has given to me but I’ve made it a goal to show everyone why we have gringos in this mission. We are going to work! We do work our butts off, and we are so tired but I love it and he does too!…. heheIts a lot of responsibility and I have no time....but will always make it for my loved ones...and my own area but I know with the help of Lord and if we are obedient we will have success and I want to come out of this change better in Spanish too.I love you all …Pray for me Your son Elder Rogers

letter from Jon 11-3-08

11/3/08
Hey fam and everyone!!!!!!!!!How is everyone doing I’m doing great well its been a heck of a week and I’m just working my tail off and really into things now……….drum rollIm in Ate-Vitarte Lima!!!!!!!!!! And I took the 13-hour buss ride back down through the highest free way in the world and up past Cerro de Pasco in the high mountains and it was way pretty and way cool.It was really hard to leave Jauja especially with the new friends and families and my bud Benites....tears lots of tears. I gave everyone hugs and it was just hard. I felt like I was leaving the MTC again and that was hard but this time it might be for life. I might never see some of my best buddies again. I told them I’ll keep doing what is right and if I don’t see you again I’ll see you in the celestial kingdom. I was bawling and if that doesn’t sound like the cheeses thing. It was hard for me! Brigham game to my room pounding the door in the night I left sad, and Hermana Lina and Carolina both gave me hugs and told me to take care of myself just like mom would and then when I got on the bus I was choked to say buy to Benites it was good but really hard. I love them!Well I’m senior comp!!!!!!!!!! And I got a gringo from Bicknell, Utah?...hehe he was pulled out of group going to Bolivia and I’m pretty much training him cause he stayed in CCM longer until President put him with me...Its nuts and he doesn’t know much but its way fun to help him out. I got of my 13 hour bus and he was standing there all nervous and was like como...aa.aa.estasss elder um elder.... and I was just like what up bro, we’re going to be buds. We talked English all that night but then I said ok buddy now we work and we planned set some plans and I said we can only speak English when we are in the house at night or if you need anything just tell me...Its kinda way fun being the leader and way intense too but we get along good and its way strange. He put me with a gringo with 10 months woof!!!!!! Also my new house has hot water!!!!!!!!!!!!and that is enough to be happy about so I’m pretty stoked. I told him we aren’t going do any sleeping or messing around on the job were going to study hard were going to work hard every hour and we going to baptize with obedience and diligence. He got kinda nervous but I also said and we are going to have fun too....I’m trying to be the senior missionary I never had to him and we are really tearing it up. Yesterday there were 138 in church!!!!!!!! A little different then Jauja and we had 18 in the new members lessons! Yeah baby we have a goal of 3 baptisms this month pray that the two gringos can do it. I know we can but it back in the ghetto of Lima and things are going pretty good. Woof it’s intense speaking Spanish and leading it all, But I’m enjoying it and I love helping my companion. I explain all the Spanish into English for him. We talk until like 11:30 every night in our beds and he just laughs and laughs at my stories of my wild ride so far and doest believe it . It really is a dream what my life has turned into now and a lot of responsibility my President has given to me but I’ve made it a goal to show everyone why we have gringos in this mission. We are going to work! We do work our butts off, and we are so tired but I love it and he does too!…. heheIts a lot of responsibility and I have no time....but will always make it for my loved ones...and my own area but I know with the help of Lord and if we are obedient we will have success and I want to come out of this change better in Spanish too.I love you all …Pray for me Your son Elder Rogers

10-27-08- Post Birthday Thanks

Oct 27, 2009
Hey Family Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful love that you’ve sent!. There were so many letters of love and packages this month it has been so great!!I got three packages today and 2 letters from Kylee girl!! And one from lish and ty and grandma and a full board of emails! I’m going to have to do some printing this week. Thank you so much for the happiest b-day everyone muah!!!!!!!!!!I’m excited that little Bailey came!! and dad and clint are going to mexico without me? You’ll need a guide hehe!!!!!!!!! Yo puedo ayudarles ahora .Muah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Well I had a great b-day and opened love letters fun pictures and just had a great time. We had a family home evening this Sat. in my behalf and we invited all my best friends. (the recent baptisms in Jauja) Hermana Carolina bought me a cake and wrote Elder “Rogger” on it in blue frosting. We had pizza too! Remember I taught everyone how to make pizza. We took pictures and played some FHE games. I bought the Bob Marly CD to listen to. I think that’s ok for special occasions …. right?.... They threw the cake in my face pretty good, that is the tradition here. I’ll send pictures. We had about 12 people at the party that we have taught and reactivated and that was the most rewarding part it. My party ended with a 3 year old kid doing the Michael Jackson dance thriller for me!!!!!!!! He said he wanted to dance like Elder Rogers. I don’t know were he learned that? He danced the whole song it reminded me of Kason--- it was so funny. It was a little sad too we have changes today and I’m way nervous!It was a great b-day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am really happy and just my self. It has been great week! I got letter from Bishop Greer and he said hi and good job. He also challenged me to be the missionary that Mom thinks I am. I sure am trying to! I thought that was a cool idea. I love you all and am working hard I feel so good and full of spirit I really do love the people here in Jauja! Even though things are still a little rough at times I’m getting used to it and sometimes I stop and think when I’m sleeping between 3 Latinos on the floor of some little whole in the wall house or eating crap they call food or riding on a buss with 37 people as big as the lume or watching a drunk dude fight or lay in street….. I think am I really here or is this real….. but I’m getting used to it.My companion has let me lead last week in everything to the point its almost annoying but its really helping me and there is no time to sit back and daydream or chill on the job we taught 45 lessons last week!!!!!!!!We are working hard and I’m way tense cause we have changes this week but they still haven’t come…….I will tell you as soon as I know what the changes are. Tell everyone thanks for all the love and tell them I’m doing great. I feel bad I spent some cash and I’m way spoiled but I’m so grateful! Thanks so so so much!Tell everyone to be safe in all there doing and I love you all so much!I’m sorry I couldn’t answer total today but I just got overloaded with lovealways your son in Peru!Elder Rogger

10-08 Journal entries

10-12-08
The work is going good in Jauja, Peru. Jon is working hard and has a great companion, Elder Benties.
A couple of stories from Jon
He says he was so excited to get his bud Brigham, age 18, the priesthood and on his first trip to the temple. It took the youth 9 hours one way to get to the Temple and the Bishop forgot to make an appointment so they could not do baptisms. 9 hrs. to the temple and 9 hrs back and not one baptism. That is a great sacrifice.
The people here in Jauja really like to play Dodgeball. After FHE we were about to begin a game of Dodgeball, but first I gave everyone a famous “yummy” American candy a “warhead”. Everyone was supposed to put it in their mouth at the same time. We had about 23 people. I said 1…2…3.. eat them! It was absolutely classic! Hehe I wish I had a camera. They were all pretty brave and sucked and survived the sweating and suffering of the first 2 minutes of the warhead. After the first 2 minutes it is really kind of a yummy candy. Anyway after the activity we got 13 contacts and 10 neuvos in this one day. That is more than I’ve had in whole weeks. J
I pray many times a day, we can get these people to church and teach them and bring them to the truth and baptize them.
I really am so happy to be Elder Rogers

letter from Jon 10-20-08

10-20-08
Hey family, mom and dad and all my loved ones muah!!!!!!!!!!This week has been crazy fast and I got lots to report its so crazy! My companion is preparing me for being senior and its tough, but exciting. I went on an exchange with Elder Packer from California and successfully led 6 lessons and took charge the whole 2 days in Jauja and it got me excited but kind a nervous. Elder Packer only has only been in the field 3 months so I had to talk most of the time. I can switch back and forth from Spanish to English now. I almost want to ask people if they understand cause I still cant believe we just talk for 45 min in Spanish and they understand, but president said in my interview Rogers you are ready for future assignments so I said yeah. I don’t know what will happen this next change but am excited to learn and change. I like the responsibility of leading but still have lots to learn. It is so fun to hear from you all and I’m doing good. I love the mac and cheeses and so does everyone else and the peanut butter. This week I gave a talk in church and was just so proud of our converts they are all active happy and learning. I’m handing out pictures of Jesus and everything like crazy. I talked on service and am just full of love for the families that I now have as my friends in the church and we are best buds they will not stop talking about me and Benites leaving and we are all dreading it, but maybe one day I’ll come back and show you all these families that I know were prepared in this time for us to be instruments to help them .It still rains like crazy and it kinda makes it exciting and intense in the muddy streets.I also bought an Hawaiian punch last week I think it was miracle!!!!!! I’m going to drink it for my b-day it was made like 3 years ago and was sitting on the shelve. I’m so blessed. I was probly the only one that could or wanted to buy it!!!! Fine fellow gift!!One of my favorite things to do is ask families how they were baptized and hear there story they are all miracles and so interesting. The family of my penzinita started with her younger brother and then the elders were pulled for 10 years for terrorism and then her sister was baptized in Lima and 3 years later her oldest son... well Alina my penzinita went to baptism with her daughter and then her daughter was baptized 6 months later and then she said I want to hear what these boys say to convince my kids. Alina took the discussions and was baptized 1 yr later by her first son Michal. Michal is on a mission now and last year Eddy was baptized because of the good example of his brother Michal, and 6 months ago her hermano( brother) Jesus the hardest of all asked Elder Carpio to be baptized because of the blessings of his family that he saw. He was the only one that didn’t want anything to do with church was finally baptized in August wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took yrs and yrs but now we have eternal family and there all my best buds especially my penzinita. I know it was all meant to be and started with one. We have two investigators brother of Hermana Liztte and 1 other boy and I told them this story. I love you all and if you have questions let me know until next week muah!!!!!!!!! love your son Elder Rogers!!!!hey PS please everyone tell Kylee girl happy happy bday on 25

10-16-08 letter

10/13/08
Hey fam !!!!!!! How is everyone and life in good ol St. George? It sounds cold! hehe Welcome to my life. I’m doing good and I got the protein packages mom. I started my work-out with my buddy Elder Benites. He loves “The-perfect-pushups” and I hardly get a turn, but we are both feeling better and trying to put some meat on our bones. I feel good and those vitamins are good too. I hope I got normal function and will keep you updated on weight watchers. My companion is doing good too and we just stated the protein so maybe next week I’ll weigh in at 190lbs hehe just kidding . This has been a good week, I’m sorry about the fishing and tennis loss mom and Dad but your still the best parents ever! Clint you know I’d love the dutch oven. That’s awesome Ang is expecting a little curly head and Lish is about ready to pop! I guess I’ll be a uncle again next week! Thanks a million for all the love and support.This week has been good week and I have really felt the spirit and progress in my testimony and also the ward. All of our baptisms are active and its so fun to be best buds with them all. We joke and see the new faces in church every week! Andy is passing the sacrament and Lizzette comes every week with her sister and the Book of Mormon. Carolina loves it all… and Brigham got the priesthood and his temple recommend. I am really happy being apart of all this.So a funny thing happened this week we did a church wide service with over 300 members in Huancayo. Its so fun to think after this life I will see all these people and we will all be there hopefully together in the kingdom…. But camera dudes came and filmed us and said here we have are friends from the U.S. so I talked on camera on Huancayo TV. I asked and made sure that it wasn’t going to church or Utah or the US. I would not like to see my skinny grill in between next conference in some touching story of Peru. Everyone else froze up so I just said hi and told who we are. I said we love to serve and are so happy. I think it was ok Spanish…I hope but it was fun we planted trees in a park. I was in my new favorite jeans yeah!!!!!!! It rains every day so hard your really going to love the videos I filmed. This week was also mission conference and it was so good. I love President but I think he doesn’t want problems cause every time he talks to me he is like; Rogers how are you? Great, that’s good! I’m so happy for you! Your gaining weight it seems. Yeah President, what ever you say and he’s off. But I guess I can take care of myself right? I have for 10 months! yeah!!!!!I love you all
Stay strong We all must go on in this great cause!!!!!!!!!!!Elder Rogers’Muah!

Letter from Jon 10-6-08

Letter from Jon 10-6-08
Hey family and everyone,
Wow.. another great week of conference! I loved every bit and I got to watch all 5 sessions. Conference started out a little rough, we watched through the Internet. This was the first time that I had ever tried to watch on the Internet. The church has really got a nice system. You can watch on the Internet just like TV but you have to have a nice computer which is very rare and hard to find down here in Jauja and I was so excited and prayed to get good computer and for the spirit. I was so excited and we left to go watch at 9:30 to get a computer up and running. Conference started at 11 here but I wanted to listen to the music. To make a long story short the adversary was working pretty dang hard. My companion and I were probably the only two people in Jauja that wanted to watch conference and 5 out of 9 places with computers were closed because there was a big party in central sat and sun. We had to walk the whole town to find one hole-in-the wall computer terminal. After an hour of trying to make it work, we left and went to another hole in the wall Internet shop. Still we could only hear conference we could not watch and it still didn’t work too well. At one point I started to tear up and then just cried in my little cubicle because I was so so so frustrated and it was 11:30 already. I finally got it to work and then for the afternoon session we were able to find a better store to watch the afternoon session from. I loved it and was so thrilled when it started working. You can guess the talks I loved. “God does love me” by Anderson and “Hope” by Uchtdorf. I’ve always loved the subject of hope and I’ve defiantly felt the grief and pain and stuff in my life so far on my mission. I felt the Uchtdorf talk was just for me.I also loved talk by Japanese girl about missionaries. It is cool being a missionary during conference you feel the support when people talk about missionaries, I like it when she says if you have a missionary write him letters of love and support. She knows she was one and she know that letters save you.I loved many talks and took really good notes. I also watched both the sessions Saturday on the computer in English yeah! Sunday we went to the stake center in Huanacayo. We watched the sessions in Spanish by the satellite. The power was out all day Sunday but the stake center had a generator hehe nothing stops us!I loved the stories of respecting wives and girls and marriage, and also the prophets stories. I love when he said the best feeling in this life is receiving a prompting and acting on it and then finding out later it was the fulfillment of someone’s prayer. If there ever is an errand that the Lord needs run I Tom ( jon rog )will run it! Conference was great! In Jauja life is good. We took an investigator Daniel to conference with us Sunday and he has committed to getting baptized this Saturday! He is 18 years old and is a friend of Brigham. We have like 13 boys preparing for missions. I’m so excited! I know when we save one we save many!We also had really good experience this week. Hermana Carolina and her daughter gave us three referrals; a couple of families with 2 children and single mom and her two sons. We taught them all together in Carolina’s house. She is excited to share the gospel know she has it and its amazing. I want to baptize a family so bad I hope her friends will see the happiness this gospel brings and follow the example of Carolina.The work is good and we got 6 close to baptism. All we have to do is get them to go to church.The drug problems are still here we got stopped coming to Huancayo just before church and the Internet. It’s way scary there always looking for someone and always packing the heat! But it’s all good. We got out and walked the rest of way. They know we got nothing but the Book of Mormon .I got 3 packages this week! It was like Christmas! I’ve already got to work on the lasagna in dried package. It should help my weight watcher plan. I also got the whey powder and snacks! Thanks so much! I’m so spoiled even now I love it its like birthday month for me. I got it all mom thanks! Muah! And I love the church movies and so do our investigators. They love Elder Rog and Benites cause we always got something fun to give or watch or play thanks to good a good family. You guys are big in the workI love it when the Prophet told the story of the circus. He said childhood wont wait! I cant wait to party with you when I get back! It’s so true and I had a great childhood and I still think I have a little left hehe!Well today we also rode on a bus and man got on from circus looking for some money and started doing tricks. Everyone was like o boy here we go again. This dude was desperate and I felt bad. He rolled up cigar and stomped on it telling us it wouldn’t break and it did. Then he like chucked it out the window. Then he did a card trick and dropped his cards and we all saw that they were glued together. I was embarrassed for him so I turned and looked out window and prayed for his dignity. It was a harsh crowd. Then he said wait one more trick and if you like it you must pay a sole… He said he would eat new cards and he did …and I was like what, a weirdo. Then he talked for like 3 min and then put his hand in the air and spit the cards all back out perfect but wet!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the happened!!!!!!!! The bus was in awe!! It was all part of his act. We were all taken in. ….wow. I saw him eat them and chew and swallow and talk…….. needless to say I reached for my billfold!Love you allYour son elder rogP.S. My heart was pounding with talk of Eduarado Gavvarett the general authority that told about Peru he was here 4 weeks ago. I shook his hand and talked to him he was taking about my mission in Lima Bayovar, canta rey!
(This is probably the GA that looked like he would speak English but only spoke Spanish when he visited the mission. )

Letter from Jon 9-29-08

I have a miracle story about a boy named Brigham that left for Lima. He wanted to get baptized and we were so bummed when he left. I went ahead and put him in our plans for the next week. We were just hoping he might show up. Well, we were walking down a street and there he was!!!! He said, “ Lima just didn’t work out.” He decided he wants to stay in Jauja. So, we told him we wanted to start teaching him and baptize him and he said he really wanted us to baptize him. His whole family is members in Lima and he came to Jauja to get a way form it all and to go to school. He also decided to go to church for one year here before going back home. He already has a testimony and we taught him the first discussion after church. We challenged him and he is so ready. He wanted the 2nd lesson and then we taught him the 3rd lesson on Monday. He was baptized Tuesday night after the interview. He asked me to baptize him and I was so honored. He gave his testimony after the baptism and said that he had been waiting for this day his whole life. He now knows the church is true for him self! He was so happy and clean! We will give him the Holy Ghost next Sunday and the priesthood. He says he wants to go on his mission next year after he goes to the temple for first time with the youth of Jauja to baptize for the dead. It is a miracle and I know I’m in the right place and god knows whom he wants in his church. Love, Elder Rogers I’m so excited for conference hehe yeah!

Letter from Jon 9-15-08

9-15-08

Dear Family,
Today is changes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And I prayed long and hard with my health and with my great companion, and my Andes. I have been kind off in a bunch because I don’t want a new companion but also I have been sick and also I could have turned into a senior companion. Well I just found out I’m not going anywhere!!! And I have the same companion yea! I’m really excited and I could care less about going up as DL or anything like that and at best angles this is what is best for with me. My companion told me I’m going to be a machine missionary for the next change and I’m so excited to learn with him. I told him he will be my trainer 9 months yeah! I really am excited for one more round with my best bud, and whatever else happens can happen.This week we have been felling a lot better the President and the Doctor called us two times and put us on another anti biotic and then we took a worm pill yesterday called the bomb, I was so nervous but besides being ridiculously skinny I feel pretty good, (dad I eat and drink but just cant seem to gain, I have headaches a lot but they say nothing in the guts I hope I’m ok. my clothes sure don’t fit) I just want to say thanks to everyone who fastest for me and is praying on my behave I’m going to be fine and am excited for the future. Thanks mom and dad and my sweet Kylee girl I love you all. I really love all the blogs, and funny stoires it saves me… Jar’s perma pout ! I couldn’tbe happier I love you! Keep it coming hehe! I want video and pictures of all the little guys and stories. Especially of Kason and Jete, well everyone, please!!! This week has been really good I feel like we are receiving blessing of or labors we baptized 2!!! Yesterday the family Barsola mom and her daughter. It was really great and I have been working with this family since day one and have seen their doubt struggles and happiness coming in the gospel. Hermana asked me to baptize her and my companion her daughter and that was so great we are working with the rest of the family. We have a baptism tomorrow, this will make 4 in 6 weeks more then Jauja has had all year! I’m so happy for helping this family come to the truth! And we got lots more work to do hear in Jauja !!!Go BYU!!!!!!!!!! Yah!!!
Love you all Your son Elder Rogers!Muah

letter from Jon 9-8-08

9-8-08
Hey family and everyone,First I just have to say thanks for all the love and sweet emails!!!! I love you all so much muahhhhh!!!" This is skinny Elder Rogers down in Peru. It’s been another week and we are working hard back in Juaja and taught almost 50 lessons this week. It feels so good to walk the streets and speak Spanish. I’m still a little uneasy with my health but am praying everyday for my companion and I to shake this off. He is sicker then I am and just doesn’t look good. I feel so bad for him and I know its just a trial that we have to get through. We are feeling a little better and we have a date for a family of three this week so that’s exciting
This week I taught the Sunday lesson to all the youth solo and it went really well I was completely comfortable with the language but felt like a dad. I had to take away cell phones and split kids up and make kids read, but it went well. I taught the pride cycle in Helaman and felt the spirit strong. I kind of went off on the gift of tongues a little just like doing my best but in other language it was cool. We have been working hard and trying to help the ward out.I got a package from Carma tell her thanks and I also got 3 today from mom they said one got lost but I got 3 so that’s exciting. This week we watched a sweet movie at FHE in someone’s house about one of the apostles in Japan and he was in Nagasaki right after bomb and rebuild all the Christian churches and when they left all the other soldiers were making fun of people who wasted time making churches instead of fooling around with girls and enjoying themselves and as they got on the train to leave the soldiers that helped felt pretty down then the 200 plus Japanese’s people came up over the hill singing on-ward Christian soldiers and touched hands saying thanks so much as train left!I was bawling cause my mission has just been tough lately and I know it will all pay off in the end, my companion and I are still really sick he has lost 25 pounds and I weigh 165 its really kind of scary and we don’t know what to do. Mom and dad please pray and maybe even fast for me this next week. It is transfers and we are going to doctor again today. Please don’t worry I have so much left to give and all I want to do is work hard feel good and be happy. I’m comfortable with language now the only thing holding me back is this trial. I’m trying to have a good attitude and work hard everyday even when I feel terrible. I can feel the spirit so strong and he is comforting me I just have to get through this!Thanks so much for all love and support.This week has also been good growing week a lot of times I have to talk with bishop and others cause my companion really wants me to be ready if I go up as Senior! Yikes!Its also been good week full of drunk parties and I just amazes me how lost some people are.! One dude came up to me and said Jauja is the best climate in the world! And said what do you think I said have you ever been outside Juaja he said no why would I hehe…. I just laughed and said you know nothing else Jauja is miserable cold. Hawaii is the best climate in the world he said its not cold its perfect look in the stores there are no fridges cause they don’t need them cause its just perfect here.… I said wow! Buddy and I thought he might have few screws loose and lots of Jauja pride!I’m doing good and trying to stay upbeat I love you all and will talk to you all-next week thanks dad for backup!Your son Elder RogersMuahhhh!

Letter from Jon 9-1-08

9-1-08
Dear Family, mom and dad, and everyone else,Hey, let me tell you a little bit of what’s going on this week. This Tuesday my companion and I were sick. I started to realize we were in trouble. We have been getting sick too much, so we called president. (This time we skipped zls, cause I guess they just think its a joke) and he send us to the clinic in Huancayo. This whole week we have been in and out of the clinic. I took a stool test because I have been in Jauja longer. We got put on an all- liquid diet and antibiotics. Friday we went back to Huancayo and the results said I don’t have parasites but a stomach infection and so does my companion. The doctors said it was the food. I was happy that i didn’t have a snake in my gut. This is the second time that I have gotten real sick in the last while. I have had it so we talked with pres about the penz and the water and everything. We don’t have a choice or say in what we eat but I am trying to be careful, dad. They have a filter and she boils the water so I think I’m good there but thank you for your email today and I will pay close attention. I told prez my companion lost 7 kilos and he was as sick if not sicker then me. The President says to call him any time and he is going to keep a close eye on us the rest of the time and if we don’t get better he will be first to know. We finished are pills last night 6 day antibiotic and I went to the bathroom solid for the 1st time since Huanuco on Friday. I feel pretty good it fills like the pills might have healed us. We pray all the time for health and have both been really sick and we are skinny and weak. It’s been a long week and we didn’t get a lot of work done, but I feel better and hopefully its all up hill from here.
I love you all and thanks for support and prayersWell we had another conference with prez and its September already and I felt 100% better at talking this time then last and that was fun. It’s just like talking to anyone else but in Spanish, no more what is your name.......good. Now I can say lots of things and just talk.
We got word form Bayovar that the Catholics have had a revelation and that they are baptizing by emersion in Bayovar and the surrounding areas of Lima the catholic church!!!!!!!!!what!!!!!That is nuts man they want to be true church so bad they just cant keep up with a little thing I like to call revelation!This week one of the restaurants in Jauja was found out to be serving big amounts of tender meat at low price and really what it was was Dog! We were actually going to eat there. It looked way nice and legitimate and I thought it would be safe! haaa thank heavens we found out !!!Church was really good this week and we learned how the most important word in the scriptures is remember and I really liked that. It’s so true and we are so so blessed. We also taught the young men and women class. That keeps me on my toes and its so crazy. I am just a crazy kid and I am teaching kids.
I really had lots of down time this week and loved the August Ensign. It is so good even though it was just full of articles about how to get hooked up fast. Personally I don’t like reading about fun date ideas during my mission. hehe Sensitive stuff, but it was really good and I really liked Todd Christofferson’ s story about the new 12 and others. I encourage everyone to read it. Well this is all for this week. I love you all. Next week will be a better week! muahI’m doing great and learning so much!!! love you son Elder Rogers

letter from Jon 8-25-08

Aug 25, 2008

Hey family,Thanks for all the wonderful emails today it was so good to hear from everyoneThis has been a long busy week, and kind of hard I just keep dealing with sickness and its hard for my companion too. Our area is just a little rough but we are trying to have good attitudes and we are working hard. My companion is the man and we really are working hard. Our companion studies rock. I’m learning so much and I feel pretty comfortable in my lessons.We are really getting people involved and we have family home evenings every week and Friday night activities. We are teaching over 6 families and we have plan a b c for baptisms totaling about 28people. We are regularly teach the 28 people, but none of them want to come to church so we have to literally hunt them down and bring them to church. It’s an adventure. We have 7 people with a date for 7th of September. I cant believe august is gone woof!We are working hard and its getting colder in Juaja. You can see the burnt faces of all the little kids playing soccer in the street and every time the ladies walks by with their babies on their backs you and see a little snot bubbler coming out of the cute little kids nose. I’m trying to stay warm!I’m not going to lie I watched the last five minutes of the USA redeem team beat Spain on a black and white TV at my pennisonta house. We HAD TO eat!! hehe We called it family home evening! I told President in my letter that USA owns b-ball! If he asks me I’ll just tell him-- it was awesome!!! Right now I’m studying “Preach my Gospel” like a donkey! (hehe burro is donkey and it’s my favorite Spanish phrase to say. We are working like donkeys! One day we contacted two fat old ladies and said how are you and they said were working like fat old donkeys! Then the two little old ladies looked at each other and laughed like witches! Then they looked at us and then back at each other, laughing!!! It was great Peruvian experience)But I love studying and filling my mind with the gospel! It’s so good and I feel the spirit so strong! P.S. I need more games I’m fresh out of ideas for games for 30 people to have fun after FHE lesson. We had 45 people at our last activity. There are almost as many in church, I’m still playing the piano and we have had 60,91,83 people in church the last 3 weeks word!I love you all and am always praying for you, thanks for praying for me Love you all your son JonCool story one Elder told me story on prayer. The Elder and his Dad were driving home late from the mountains and didn’t have enough light or gas to make a mistake and take the wrong rode. They came to a fork in the road. Should they go right or left? They prayed and they both felt they should go to the left. They turned left and just after mile there was a dead end. Then they had to turn and go down the other road to get to their home. They were upset and scared and barely made it home. They reflected and both felt that their prayer was answered and that they were to go left. They wondered why the Lord would do that. Then they realized if they wouldn’t have gone left they would have gone right and maybe doubted and turned back to go left and then they would have never made it home. So it was the right answer to go left, so there would be no doubt in their mind that they needed to go back and go right!It got me thinking of the accident that Elder JK and I were involved in. Maybe if I didn’t lightly roll the “MTR” I might have roughly rolled it with JK and I a ways down the road. I always wondered why I had such bad luck but maybe it was a small miracle and the protection of the Lord for what “J” and I are doing right now! Love you muahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!Share with “J”

Letter from Juaja Peru 8-18-08

The Family Rodriquez Salazar and Hermana Lizette. This is her Mom and Sister all Members. Next baptism is Hermana Candy in Blue.

This horse was on the side of the road

I just had to get a picture.

Aug 18, 2008

Dear Family and FriendsHey everyone how is everyone doing this has been kind of a long week but at the same time short week, because we had a combined conference with 4 other zones Tarma La Merced, Huancayo and Mantaro, it was really good and they had a general authority there from Guatemala. I thought he was American because he was white and I was waiting for him to speak a little English but it never happened. I way hoping he’d say one thing like ok, oke doky or something but it came out Spanish. The conference was really good and President really wants to kind of clean up the mission. He us asking about apartments, food and everything and its pretty crazy but cool to. I’m doing great with my new companion and we work and get along great. This week we have just been going all over the country and staying at houses of zone leaders because we have had so many things going on at Huancayo. Church went really well too this week and the piano playing turned out well. I feel like I’m getting blessed with the gift of fingers. I can play all right. My companion is awesome and we are really tearing it up. We have meetings with the youth and with leaders and are dong things we have never done before its really awesome to get everyone involved. I love activities and just trying to explain in my Spanish. My comp is way funny too. The other day the office called our house and said I had a package coming next week I was studying so he answered and said hello and they said Elder Rogers and he was like yea what do you need and just pretended to be me and it was way funny. I bet they think I can speak way good in office now!We also have been working hard with all the members and just everyone we can. Hermana Candy is finally getting baptized this week! She asked me to baptize her and I’m excited. We have been working with her since I came here. We also found another family of a mom and 3 kids and sisters. There are no dads here, and it’s really sad. They finally came to church and they will be baptized on 31 of this month.I did something way fun this week I took a new Elder on a division to Jauja with me so I was in full command. He knew nothing it gave me crazy experience of how it might be very soon if I move up. Don’t get me wrong I am happy where I am right now, but he was just nervous and new like I was. It was way fun to answer his questions and reassure him and just be his bud. He is so lucky because Elder Per is his companion. I told him to be so grateful because there just isn’t enough Elder Pers for all of us when we started. It’s been a long ride and it feels like yesterday. I had 2 months but I complete 8 tomorrow and I can’t believe really when you look back how time continues to turn. Yeah this change is flying cause my companion is the man. He really wants to work hard. There was something cool that happened at conference. President said he felt the mantle and the Lord direct each and every change. This was his first change and he said he was really nervous. He made sure he was in tune. When President told us about it he was like why does this missionary have to go way out there or over there or with him but he made the changes he was inspired to make. President looked right at me for about 3 seconds right in my eyes and Elder Benites too. I felt that my companion was an answer to my prayers but he was a zone leader in Lima and they moved him here with me as a District Leader. It was cool!Yesterday in church I was asked to explain baptism to all the little kids in church. In Primary class it’s like 2yr olds to 12 year olds. There were about 11 kids more then usual because we had conference yesterday. They sang the baptism song and they were all so cute. I just started crying. It was kind of embarrassing because I couldn’t help it. I was like darn it but the spirit was with these cute little innocent Latino kids! So one more fun story: The other day some dude was like hey gringo what are you doing here? Well maybe I’m proud full but I’m getting a little tried of it and the personal challenge. It is hard contact people that think there so funny at my expense. So I walked up to him and shook his hand and his lady friend that was with him. He said you don’t speak Spanish uh? and I said nope, not at all its really hard for me that’s why I just speak English all the time because I just cant speak it but I said it all in Spanish and he said oh yeah I understand. Yeah think dudeI’m a punk--- I know! I love you all your sonJon

letter from Jon 8-4-08

8/4/08

Dear famHey everyone how is it going as you know today is changes and I have fasted and prayed to go were the Lord will have me go or if nothing changes that the Lord will bless me. My companion and I are having some struggles but its all good and now I find the changes are………Elder Carpio is going to Lima and I have a new companion Elder Vinetas de Central America. They say he’s the man! I sure hope so. I’m excited!!!!!!!! He will be the DL in Juaja. The DL’s are usually pretty legitimate minus my last two companions, but I’m excited for a change. Please everyone plead that this kid will want to do what’s right. I will be my absolute best with him and I’m excited
Its been a pretty good week we baptized a 24 year old, Hermana Lizette her other two family members are members. We have been really working hard with activities and getting the youth active. We have like a club of kids all 18 years old and they are studs, my little future missionaries. I know I’m going to cry when I leave. We have had good activities every Friday night and we watch movies, teach mini lessons and play games. We have played everything from jeopardy to musical sillas (chairs). I could really use some ideas, I’m running out.
I also have to speak in church every third Sunday and teach the investigator class! The class contains the new recently baptized members and the inactive members. I also picked up a piano-playing job. It’s kind of stressful, but I pray for Lord to help me. I’m little nervous for this next Sunday and I have got lots to do but I am excited. I love helping out. I also organized a special musical number with my companion. We found the Army of Helaman in Spanish and we will sign the chorus in English. All 8 of the priesthood holders will sing it! I filmed our practice. It is pretty week but down here its going to be like a special number for general conference. I am nervous though cause guess who is accompanying? Yep, Elder Rogers! Pray for my fingers literally. Pray that they won’t freeze up. Yesterday it was like playing with ice cubes and bless me that I will have time to practice. One of my best buds left his name is Elder Dalhman from Taylorsville, Utah. Look him up Clint! He is going to call you guys or email you. He was so so so legitimate and we were best buds. Elder Dalhman reports this Sunday! He kept me from going crazy. He was one of 3 white kids in my zone. He taught me so much about being your best even though no one else is. He gave me so many good ideas like contact 30 a day solo if you have to. He taught me to say prayers out load at night even if your companion doesn’t want to and bless your companion in your prayer
Elder Dalhman was a stud. He had 3 baptisms the day before he left bam! He also sold me his weights, so I’ve been working out hard. I’m so sore my chest hurts when I reach for things, but I’m excited and I’m going to work it for the next 16 yeahhh! I t feels good to work up sweat before jumping into the running waters. Yep its been a good week and I am going to finish my Spanish book manana. I got way behind but only falta 20 pages. The book has its really helped me. I’m so excited for this change. Can you believe I’ve been out almost 8 months and I remember my first p-day in the field? I remember how anxious I was to get my first letter from my family and now I’m on my 5th change. It just keeps going faster, but I love it. Thanks so much for all the love. I’m trying to be my best and represent the family and loved ones well. May the Lord bless you all!Your son Elder Rogers.Mmmmmmuah!

letter from Jon 7-28-08

7/28/08

hey fam darn it I have no time the stupid internet froze on me again! I want you to know I’m doing good and I love you. We got some baptisms planned and my comp is letting me lead on teaching and contacting in the streets. I love you all. Time goes by fast though and I’ll talk to you next week. Thanks for all emails today! Man I had such a good email but what do you do? I love you all and I have sent some fun things in the post
We have had lots of good activities in the church and we have 80coming to church now and about 15 in investigator class yeah! Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
This is how I feel this week. Lots of love Thanks for everything I’ll hit you with good email next week
Your son in Peru
Stay positive! Next week ok mmmmmmmuah

Letter from Jon 7-21-08

7-21-08

Hey Family and Friends,
This is elder Rogers down in Peru and I want you to know I’m doing great!Thanks so much for the fun emails today and stories hehe and fun news I’m so happy that dad will be stake pres when I’m home for Christmas and the plans for Christmas sound fun mom for 09 yeahhhhh!I’m glad the newly weds and Ang and TJ are doing well and your trip to Idaho sounded fun. Clint, Ang and everyone thanks for the letters!Mom you can send me food and meat or whatever you want. I’ve bought some sweet winder clothes from my bud going home next month. He hooked me up.I also am glad everything is going good with family this is such a blessing to check in every week! I’m looking forward to that new Jacuzzi . Please have it done by O9 ok!
Well this week has been a better week . My companion and I are getting alone a lot better and this week we had are first conference and interviews with the new Latino President. I’m just going to say one thing, “he’s the man!”He is so legitimate and for real he doesn’t want to put up with any crap! He really harped on study and planning and comp relationship and that was really good and also talked on how we will be great future companions/husbands if we do what is right and seek the Lord and let him mold us. (The next 16 months for me) so that was fun but a little tough cause I still have such a long time. (While the kids going home are like yeah what up, but its all good). I’ve got best family and friends in the world right!I completed 7mo. 2 days ago. Time continues to roll by time when b- chizz gets down here I’ll have over year yeah! I am so excited for all the new calls keep telling me. Dad you can tell the people that when you do what’s right and are obedient you are happy because thee Lord will rain his blessing on you because he has to. (The law of obedience) and if not you will wonder why does the Lord allow this when really its you.This week has been good with The new President and the conference. The Conference was really long. My new President is a Latino President Wilkinson. During the interview My Pres. said he loved St. George and had been there and said I’m glad to have Elder from St. George. He said he wants to move to St. George some day. He also said wow you have 7 months like a new miss would say it but we talked for 20 min!!!! in Spanish and it was good. I was really nervous at first cause it was in Spanish but it was good.I’m eating like a horse and have bumped up my calorie intake so I’m not a prisoner from Aswitz. I eat a bag of bread for one sole everyday and I tell my cooking lady to buy me and my companion a cupcake at night. My companion and I are getting along better too!

The other day some drunk dude came up in my face and just started swearing. The people here are so bad sometimes. They say terrible things like; gringo go home no
body likes you and a few other choice words. I’m used to it but also am glad I’m not alone and a missionary cuz if I was with Kylee or mom and wasn’t a miss and someone said that ohooooo hehe. BUT I was like here we go again…. drunk dude. Then my companion walked up and pushed me slightly out of the way and smiled at the dude 5 inches away from his face and said, “ hey old man how about a little more respect for my companion. yea His name is Elder Rogers and if you want to talk about the gospel with us or what we do everyday were happy to talk but if not…… get your drunk bum out of here....o snap props to my comp!!!!! It was the first friendly studdly thing he has done for me and ill always remember it!!! ...PS it was cooler in Spanish oooh…..clint you would have loved it ...he just punked the crap out of him in a missionary kind of way! word!We’ve always got along, I just get a little flustered when he doesn’t want to work or cut corners but your letter helped a lot dad thanks! I just try to help him and learn what I can when I’m in charge we are really going to contact!This week has been chill, and I have to goals be exactly obedient without getting on my companion and hopefully he will follow. Every morning I make some good noise as I study and work out J! I am starting to eat more and I ask for two of everything now and I pay the lady an extra sole or two or three a day for bread and treats so thanks for financial support. This week also we went in the oldest catholic church in South America and Peru. Jauja represents the first founded Spanish city. It is not part of Machu Picchu or Cuzco cause of course those are Inca cites, but the big man, Francisco Pizzaro, settled this town first. hehe crazy huh!I love learning Spanish History.I love you all…. your son in Peru. I am working hard and getting closer to the Lord. Elder rog

Juaja July 2008

This is from the back of my house and it is cold!

Jon's New Mission Pres.

New mission presidents and their wives have been
called. They will begin service about July 1.

Juan Augusto Leyva, 47, Peru Lima East Mission; California Ward, Trujillo Peru Central Stake counselor in the Peru Trujillo Mission presiden­cy; former stake president and coun­selor, bishop, high councilor and mis­sionary in the Peru Arequipa Mission. Regional manager of LDS Employ­ment Resource Services. Born in Chepen, La Libertad, Peru, to Arturo Leyva Sanchez and Olga Petita Ponce Solano de Leyva. Married Luisa Rata Yturbe Gutierrez, five children.
A stake Young Women president,, Sister Leyva is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president, coun­selor in a ward Relief Society presi­dency, Relief Society teacher and seminary teacher. Born in Trujillo, Peru, to Segundo Julio Yturbe Leon and Teresa Gutierrez Flores de Ytur­be.

Letter from Jauja 7-7-08

7-7-08
Hey family, This is Jon Rog down in Jauja. Man its chilly but no fear I’ve made some purchases. I sent a card and I’m rock’in totally Peru old school style. I’m doing great family! I want to tell everyone Clint and Em, Lish and Tyler, Erika and Rick, Ang, Ani, mom, dad, tj and juj hehe. Thanks so much for the fun emails and letters and love. I’m sorry I even said anything about the mail, because I’m still racking it in and am so loved and so blessed and really so grateful. Don’t stress I’m happy hehe and love it all! Well I’m in Juaja and its way crazy cold and fun. Every Sunday they have huge market swamp meet. They are always on Sunday. I mean just HUGE! That makes attendance in church really low. We had 6 in class yesterday, my companion and I one teacher and 3 others but its ok. We have got our work cut out for us. The house where I live is a pretty good one with semi hot water to shower hehe. We live so far away from pentionista that when she brings dinner it’s usually cold, but its all-good cause we walk to her house for the other two. The food is ok, well pretty rough but I try to smile and just eat all of it that I can. I usually buy things in stores to help keep me happy. I’m warm and sleep with two hug blankies and the Pine Valley blanket. I haven’t gotten any packages yet but wrote a card to office to see what’s up. They should be coming, thanks so much! My companion works pretty hard sometimes but this week has been a little rough. We haven’t studied once together and he doesn’t like doing planning or numbers so I do it.
Yea well he sleeps everyday while I study but we usually leave at 11:00a.m. I don’t mind the extra study. I’m really trying to work hard on Spanish and I am on page 123 of the Spanish book of 500 pages and I am learning tons. My companion and I get along fine but we just don’t do all we are supposed to. Its really so frustrating but I will continue to push forward. This week has been pretty good we are working with a couple different people and one lady that is so confused with catholic religion hehe its so funny and she is my favorite investigator, she is like now wait just a minute you boys tell me God and Jesus are different people now that’s just silly. She has huge Old Catholic bible that’s like two feet high. I’m really enjoying learning dad. Some times I’ll just read, read, read while my companion sleeps and learn so much about Jauja and the old investigators. Then I am ready to go at 11:00a.m. I’m trying to get streets and directions down. It is way cluttered and confusing...but I’m slowly starting to figure everything out. I love reading my book and am speaking a lot better, and at pensinistas house she has a radio always playing but never music only advertisements of businesses in town. Some times I go to the restroom and take the radio with me and just listen to 5- 7 min of commercials. Then I try to recognize the addresses and directions and what they are saying. Its way fun cause they joke just like American radio. They have things like; “subs so fast you’ll freak” It challenges me when they talk fast hehe, but I can pick up on it and love it. I got a letter from grandma the other day marked Jan 10th. She told me good luck in CCM. hehe I think I’m getting everything eventually so don’t worry. Muah thanks muah!
It’s kind of scary knowing I’m out here all-alone, but I know I’m never alone.
2 Tim 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
and I know this is the perfect set up for me to become a man of the lord. I love teaching and speaking and just doing my studies. I know obedience is another word for happiness and faith and I will try my best to make all you proud and keep fighting. It is really tough the work and everything but its getting better I love you all so much and if you have questions make a questions page and we will chat next week. I’ll be in the fields of Jauja until then! I sent you a fun card through the post so they should be coming soon. I cant wait to hear from you next week.Your son, Elder Rogers

Jauja Peru

Letter from Jon June 30 2008

June 30, 2008
Dear Family,
This is Jon Rog out in the middle of nowhere in Peru...this week as you know I got transferred to Huancayo a province up high in the mountains of Peru...is so cold and I wear everything I have everyday. The sun feels good in afternoon but is frigid at night and in morning. Well I left Huanuco and went 5 hour by bus to Tarma one of the biggest mining toxic disaster towns. It is in the top 10 I think in the world for a disaster area and freezing cold. It is the trading place for every province in eastern Lima. I then went 3 more hours by crazy taxi on four spare tires through the mountains 70 miles an hour to Huancayo, then I found out my area was 2 and half more hours away! woof ! I went by taxi (Toyota corona) with 7 people. Yea! It was a carsick nightmare! It was so intense winding through the mountains. My new area is Juaja. It is a small town in mountains 2 hours from Huancayo. It’s just me and my comp Elder Carpio. I have had these companions so far; Birdsall in MTC, Echecary in Bayovar, Mamoni in Huanuco and now Carpio in Juaja. We are only elders in this city and just commute to other small towns its so crazy! We are teaching people in mud house sitting on bags of potatoes. Its nuts! We are so high I can see mountains in distance with glaciers. The first couple of days I had nosebleeds and was chucking in middle of night and couldn’t breathe... but my lungs are going to be as strong as steal. Juaja is 2 or 3 more thousand feet than Huanuco. Well like I said we are the only Elders in town and our ward is so weak. We have 900 registered members and only 50 came to church on Sunday. There are 63 active members. We have no bishop he is currently assisting the Catholic Church and only one counselor. It is so sad! We are so blessed in St. George. Elder Carpio and I are really going to have to work like it all depends on us, dad! hehe. Huancayo is like Las Vegas and our zone covers all of southern Nevada and Utah. It is like my DL is in St.George (conception) and I am in Pine Valley (Juaja) and I cover Veyo, Enterprise, Grass Valley, Central, Pinto or (Panchuscho, Huaya,and Mancaha) it’s nuts! I’m in the Mantaro Zone in Huancayo!
The other day we taught family in a mud house with one light bulb and we were sitting on bags of potatoes. Juaja is all farmland and we walk through fields with the sheep dogs and contact. There are so many cows and its just such an adventure! Im the only white dude in hundreds of miles. Both of my ZL’s are Latino, The president is Latino, companion is Latino and only 3 out of 20 missionaries are white in my zone yeah.... Well my pensionista cooks alright and I can tolerate potatoes. It is what we have everyday, rice and potatoes and little sauce. My comp is tiny but I think we will get along. He wants to work. The people just laugh at the gringo cause I have real lama binnis scarves. I don’t care how I look. Everybody’s hands are just pink cause the wind is so cold. My apartment is made out of bricks--- thank heavens! It is like a big ice chest but at least we don’t have to go outside at night and patch the areas were wind is coming through with a big fresh cow pie like everyone else! hehe. Its such an adventure. I love it! I’m really doing better with Spanish even though I still get frustrated. The other day in church I said a prayer and just couldn’t think of a word so I just said it in English hehe.. It is so nuts! It is like I’m in a movie! I can’t believe I’m walking with cows telling little old ladies and men to come to church. It is way cool! I’m taking photos and you can try to look up Juaja on the internet its know for the oldest Catholic church in Peru so that’s kind of cool . They have big Catholic parades on Sunday. That makes it hard for church but its fun seeing all the action with dudes holding big gold crosses and hundreds of ladies dressed like Virgin Mary. I really am in the thick of things so if I want to eat, or buy something, I’ve got to talk. I am learning to talk. It’s such a blessing to still stay close to all of you.I’ll be the kid walking through the mountains teaching the people in their colorful clothes. I guess my companion says there have only been 3 baptisms since Christmas here! Yikes! and not to many white boys hehe. I still get made fun of daily but I love it. Thanks so much for all the wonderful emails last week and this week and for the 10 commandments, and thank you Clint, Lish, Bood, Rick, and everyone thanks so much! I’m going to try to just be the bomb at Spanish in this change. I have a new goal of a 500 page Spanish book! Yeah! I’m going to do it. This gringo is going to be Latino yet! It sounds like everything is good back with family. I’m glad you had fun on trip mom and dad at the Roger’s reunion, and mom in Ohio. I love you all. It was hard to leave my last area. I sent journals about it last week. I loved that family. I am enjoying the work and working hard. I love you all and Jon Rog is just what you’d see out of National Geographic! Hehe! with lamas and everything! Oh P.S. I my way here I saw some Latinos in my zone. They all said how you doing? I saw my first zone leader Elder Rowhars and the missionaries said we hear you had 15 baptisms! It is fun when you have time and history in the mission and not just the new-confused kid.Love your son ,Elder Rogers in Juaja! Good luck finding that on map!hehe!muah!

Huancayo Zona Mantaro 6-23-08

Hey Mom and Dad and family,
Hold on everyone, I’m out of here! I’m going to HUANCAYO ZONA MANTARO! I’m way nervous because just like before it is totally unexpected. I’m excited I guess too! I have been praying all week to go were the Lord wants me to go, but that the move will also be a good move for me too! My new comp is Elder Carpioo what! Yeah! It is nuts! Get out the map Family it is another province in the other direction. It will take me a 13-hour bus ride to get there- yikes! I’m really kind of nervous. I loved Huanuco minus my companion and now I’m gone again.
Next week ill be writing from a different area but still in Peru. I have had 3 Latinos and three areas in 4 changes woof. It looks like I’m going to be a province missionary. I know it will all work out. I have completed six months this week yeah!!! I was so excited except I got sick again. It has been a little rough but I’m better now, but I still have pretty good lung cheese as Mike would say... but I’m feeling good now. ( This must mean that he has a cold) Thursday I will get on the bus again and it will take me until Friday night to be in my new area because I will go back to Lima.
Thanks everyone for praying for me. I love you all! This has been a pretty good week we have 2 that will baptized when I leave and we are working with a lot of others. We had an activity this week and it was with both wards. We played limbo and musical chairs even though they didn’t get it very well. They went through the line 4 times without lowering the bar. They were all like yeah this is so much fun? I was a little flustered but I said what the heck lets put the bar on 2 stacks of chairs so everyone can play “vamos amigos” yeah! I think they just like to listen to the best of EFY music. I also gave a talk in church and felt pretty good about it. I can just about say what I want relating to the gospel at least. I am excited! We also played soccer last week and I made a header goal Kylee girl! I took a picture with a baby lama. The big new of the week is I’m certified!!!!!!! 1 through 5 baby yeah!!! I did it on the 18th with my tight zone leader; I went on exchanges with him the day before my goal and told him I wanted to do it. He said he appreciated my desire to be my best and work hard and really appreciated my help in lessons and testimony during the exchange it was a great day for me. I will be sending multiple copies to various people of my certified sheet hehe no just kidding.. I got conference talks and I read that one about Puno, Peru from Ronald A. Rashband. Puno is where my comp Mamoni is from so that was kind of cool. Lake Titacaca is close to my new area I think... We moved a lady out of her shack this week and then she decided she didn’t like her new house so we moved her back into her house. It was a great chance and opportunity to practice on a good attitude hehe wow! Thanks lady! I was walking down the street the other day in my area and a bus full of Americans came down the street and said look everyone the missionaries. I waved and I felt pretty cool. I remember when we were on vacation to crazy places and we would see those missionaries walking down the street, and now I’m one of them. The bus was the first white people that I have seen in Huanuco minus Birdsall, Davis and a few other since the CCM.
I could really use some games and fun ideas to teach the commandments that’s is the hardest. I would also like/. love anything you want to send. I’m being patient and I appreciate all that you have sent. I haven’t gotten anything for two or three weeks letters wise. I hope that there is some mail in Lima waiting. Thanks for everything! I got a package of potatoes last week and that was awesome!
I love you all! It sounds like all is well at home, Ani and Juj, Rick and Erika, Ang and TJ, Clint and Em, Lisha and Tyler ….. Please be safe everyone!I love you so much!
Remember your son and brother! Love Elder Rogers