6/5/08

Dear Family,
Today we got 3 letters from Jon in the mail; dated 5/12/08, 5/19/08, and 5/26/08.
They said mostly the same things that he had told us on email. He also sent 2 pictures of his area, Huanuco. I will post them on the blog http://elderrogersperu.blogspot.com .
Jon tells again of his experience in the small town of Ambo with Elder Davis.
He said that the taxi rides back and form from Ambo to Huanuco were so scary. The mountain roads are so narrow, twisty and steep. The taxi driver would think nothing of passing a semi truck up a hill. He and Elder Davis had to try and get both towns investigators to church and so they were a little late to Elder Davis’s ward in Ambo. When they arrived at Elder Davis ward they were almost ½ hr late and the ward was singing the intermission song. After the song the Bishop stood up and introduced the 2nd half on the program and it was that the 2 elders would be speaking for 15 min each. Jon did not have anything prepared and so he just gave the 5th discussion. He had just passed that off so he was able to do that.
Huanuco is a beautiful area and Jon so enjoys it. It is moving into winter there and so it is getting chilly at night.
This is a picture of Jon on the bridge going into Huanuco and a picture of some of the beautiful farming areas.
Thanks so much for all your support to Jon. He does not have time to write to all but we will try and keep the blog current. Thanks so much Jeff and Mitzie

Jon 6-2-08 Letter

Well hey everyone,I just wrote a page and my computer froze so….. yea here we go again fresh and new --- be positive right? Well I’m glad everyone had a wonderful weekend as a family at the wedding. Thanks for all the wonderful emails and for filling me in. It is so awesome and I’m so excited for Ani and so happy for her. I’ve been thinking of you all week family and I kind of longed to be there. I am the only one left out of Rogers bunch to get hooked up but I’ll have my chance in 18 months. I’m so happy for everyone and I cant wait to see pictures of everyone. I heard from a really good source that Ani is very genuinely happy.
Well its been another week and I passed off #4 and #3 lessons this week yeah!!! I’m excited and pumped. I love to teach when I know the Spanish stuff like the back of my hand. I’m talking more then ever and doing good. My companion and I are really struggling right now. He is struggling with some things but don’t worry I’m fine and trying to stay positive. Thanks so much for good letter Clint your exactly right. I have an interview with President Lindstrom, my last. I’m going to take advantage. I’m working hard and pretty much got things figured out so I’m trying hard to love my companion. I know you want to know what is up but I’m going to be positive about it this time and not talk bad, but he has been taking my mission money without me knowing. Well I don’t have enough clearly but it wont happen again.Well I’m doing good and real excited about new investigator that we have named Jonny from Brazil he speaks Portuguese but understands Spanish. I can understand him too, but I need Nick or Juj. He is progressing fast and I think we have another baptism with this good 22 year old in two weeks. We just passed him on street and he started asking questions. It is so cool being a rep if Jesus Christ. He said I want to change my life and this makes sense what do I have to do? I said get baptized brother. Let us go to work. He is changing every day and it is so awesome.We had the baptism of Brian Smith yesterday, remember him he is 14 and has health problems but is excited and now a member. It is going good in this area. I am excited. I am talking more and more and I actually know more in Spanish about the gospel now then I do in English. Hehe. I sometimes can’t think in English. Its nuts my English is terrible as you can tell. Its a little tough to type too.I love all you guys and am so glad to hear about how wonderful the wedding was and the fun times. I’m praying for you and thinking about you everyday. I’ve been reading my patriarchal blessing and more and more it is coming true. Isn’t it awesome? It said something about being careful with money, and also about setting goals, and much more. I love to see me headed in right direction and I know this mission is a way for me to be that man/husband/father that I can’t wait to be.I’m doing well through hard times and good times. I love youElder Rogers

May 19 2008

5/19/08
Dear Family,
It’s been a quick week again. I didn’t get any mail today. I was kind of bummed. I guess it’s a holiday in Lima. I’m beginning to hate holidays cause all that means is no mail but I’m ok and next week will be great. I’m doing good. I have the same comp and the work has really slowed down but I’m working hard on my lessons and passed off #5 last week and I will pass off #4 a little later this week. It is way stressful but I am doing it!!! ...yeah well jazz are done darn next year hehe.I’m doing better with my comp and studies we still cant be on time but that’s just life down here. I’m trying to learn all I can and prepare for new President in July. He is Latino. I want to show him that I want to be here. I’m just pounding my lessons its harder then I thought but I know I can do it with the help of Lord. This week I went on exchange with an Elder Davis to a town called Ambo. Look it up it was just tiny town and it is one hour outside Huanuco. It was so fun and I spoke more with him cause I am really getting the hang of the language now. It was awesome. We slept outside on his roof under the stars and it was just so fun! The little town has a catholic church and that’s it. It was just a little area town. It was fun seeing all the mountain people and it was so pretty. It was really the prettiest drive going down there. This week we got a family to go to church so we are working with a family and Brian is getting baptized 1 June.It’s fun to be able to talk and teach. I’m doing well and I can get along with my companion by trying to help him. I’m like Kirby on best two years flipping the pictures. “I know Joseph Smith was a pamphet”. heheI’m working hard on goals and trying to listen to promptings. Time is flying. It sounds like lots is going on is St. George. I wish you good luck. I’m glad you had fun at the annual girls week. Keep me updated on all that goes on. I want you to know I’m trying my hardest to do what’s right and I can feel my own growth. Sometimes I say things and don’t know were they come from but I do….. its the Lord. It is time for Elder Rogers to speak his mind in other language. How can we not go on in such great of cause? I love you all and glad you liked package.Elder Rogers

Real picture of Huanuco

Jon sent this picture today in package for Mother's Day. This shows the main downtown but he is more in the outskirts. The river is in the foreground. It is a very beautiful place.

Huanuco, Peru

I tried to find some pictures on line. There was some celebrations on U-Tube, but no pictures. I think that Huanuco is off to the left in the distance in the river picture. In the videos it shows Huanuco sitting on the side of the mountain with the river below. Huanuco sits quite pretty atop the river valley and terraced farm hills.

letter of 4-21-08

4-21-08

Huanuco is cool. It is a chill town. It is not huge but pretty big. It reminds me of Cedar. Everyone here is Catholic, everyone!! On Saturday and Sunday the streets are empty cause everyone is in church. You can hear them, “Oh Jesus son of Mary”. It makes contacting kind of tough.
People here are really in love with 3 things. It is so terrible almost all investigators have problems with chastity, drugs and drinking even 12 year olds! I have seen men literally fall on their face trying to walk home from the bar, no joke!
Huanuco is the motorcycle of the world. You always see couples on them. City parks and corners are like make out spots. Most people we contact have to stop kissing before we can talk with them. “free love” I will have to admit the motorcycle thing does look way fun cruising through the pretty down town. Huanuco is very pretty in places.
They have big churches in the downtown central too. We like to ride the 3 wheel machines occasionally.
2 hours away from here is a big drug trafficking area, Tico Maria. We are not allowed to go their only native missionaries can work in that area.
Please keep me in your prayers; I am right on the brink of conquering the language. I need divine help! P-days rock. It is fun to be with the other companions.
Your Son Elder Rogers

Road to Huanaco

5/11/08 Written letters are so slow. We just got this letter yesterday in the snail mail. The email letter on the blog of 4-8-08 tells of this adventure, but this picture is so cute I had to put it up.