letter from Jon 2-2-09

2-2-09

Hey family and everyone!!!!!!!!!! Well this week has just been nuts and so fast. I’m so so grateful for such wonderful parents and friends and leaders and examples!I love you all so much!Thanks for all encouragement. As you all know I got new comp from Chile, and he is a really good kid. Things have been pretty stressful for Jon Rog lately but its getting better. My companion and I are buds, I have really had to humble myself and make a few changes this last week but I know the lord is blessing me and I can feel all of you love.I’m sorry for not always being positive it’s so so so hard down here sometimes. I know I’ve learned more patience on this mission then I could ever image.I’m so blessed and happy that my Lord and family is always there. It’s always hard to change companions. This week when I was studying and found two good scriptures a Santiago or James 4 10 ( hey- It helps to listen to the Temple session in Spanish)
10 aHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
That’s my hope…. And Mosiah 24: 15-16.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did astrengthen them that they could bear up their bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with cpatience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.
These two scriptures really helped me out this week.Things are going good down here in good old Vitarte. Its getting hotter everyday, but you just got to love it. J Sometimes when I’m just soaking wet and nasty I stop look at my companion and say man look at us..”Were dudes” hehe… and he laughs!We are working hard. Something interesting happened to us this week and now we are bud! I tried to act like Benites and when we give the lessons I complemented my companion. I would say things like my comp said…just like what he said…. or I know my companion is right. This builds unity. We taught 45 lessons this week! We truly did kick it into gear. I am really talking it up! Well after 5 awkward days we are just talking each other’s ears off. Now I have my Spanish edge back!
I think how crazy it would be to have a Latino companion as my trainer if I was in America and he didn’t know English very well. I guess I’d be bugged too! So one day I sat him down and said hey pal you help me with language and I’ll help you with everything else and he liked that!Also new thing we are now eating dinner at member’s homes and it’s really interesting. I am really getting to see a lot of new Peruvian Foods. The members try so hard to make us happy. Yesterday we ate with family of the bishop ( notice—we would say Bishop’s family) and first we had potatoes and sauce that was sooooo hot it made me tear up and made my ears ring. And then they served soup made from every vegetable and animal that is in Peru. (at this point I was done ….full), then we had causa a mashed potato deal with chicken inside and salsa…. Then we had juice break to cleanse the pallet.
It took everything I had to get it down. I was so full…. Then they bring out a bowl with yogurt and every fruit from South America. I did not know what to do. I took a look at my companion and he smiled. We were both grasping our stomachs and our spoons were shaking and we were sweating. The family anxiously waited for us to finish it all. I was sooooo done! Somehow I got it all down woof! We were waddling the rest of the day! Oh I cant wait until nest weekThis week we found a few more good people and are excited to work it baby! I’m ready to go after it.
I love reading how my buds all around world are just tearing it up and changing for the better! Dad congrats on the new calling! Preach my gospel teacher. I love that book!Thanks so much everyone!
May the Lord all help us become who we want to be! Your son in Peru! Muah! Elder Rogers