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