Hey family this is Elder Rogers down in Peru!This week was awesome we had two marriages and had a baptism yesterday. It was my companions first. We are working hard and temperatures have really gotten sweaty hot and miserable. We are busy and we have 14 people with fecha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so excited and we are trying to do all we can to get them all in. Everyone has their little problems but we got some good buds that can get baptized. We married a family with two kids. I’m so excited and they have fechas for 21 of March! ,Maria and David. I was in at a marriage again yesterday. Marriages are so so stressful but so awesome. I can really feel like we making a difference down here. My companion is getting lots of cool experiences; his first baptism yesterday of a lady named Jaklikn and it went really well. I’m happy just to be able to go after it down here. We have two more baptisms this next week. It’s hard to explain the stories of all of them but there all great people.
I love little kids! Many of you now know Bruno, with a name of dog. He is a nut, he is like Kason on drugs that speaks Spanish. He is my bud for life. Everyday he climbs through my bedroom door window to wake me up. Everyday he makes a candy picture to tell me how hot my girlfriend is. He really is something else but my buddy. He talks so so so fast! I should be pretty sharp. Everyday I have language study with Bruno from 11 to 11:15 then that’s about as much as I can handle and I’ve got to do something else.
This week we were contacting and I contacted a dude with blue and white jersey on and I read it and it said …..DIXIE! What!…. I said,” hey were did you get that shirt?” He said his family sent it to him. I said, “ that’s my high school no way what a small world!!!” I wanted to buy it from him and I reached for my wallet but decided not to. I didn’t want him to walk away with no shirt just so some rich American could have a Dixie shirt. I was so shocked. Cool uh! Dixie High in Peru!
Sorry about the 100 sole charge last week we went to Chiles and I splurged. It was so amazing and one of highlights of this last year of my life! I got a cookie, a brownie and ice cream and a chicken fried steak! It was great! Thanks dad for making the happiest lunch of my life possible! I dedicate this song to dots…..remember Uncle Mike on the houseboat. I miss that guy!I love you all
I’m making best of my two years!Love Elder Rogers!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Letter from Jon 2-16-09
2-16-09
Hey family and everyone ¡!!!!!!!!!!!!Well I hope everyone had a fun happy valentines day and, hope everyone is healthy and happy and enjoying life its so fun to hear the happenings in everyone’s life and its such a comfort.Thanks mom and dad and everyone else for the emails. Thanks so much Carma for fun package… mmm brownies and good stuff. I love you guys! Grandma thanks for the “ I will survive card” hehe!!!!!Well its been a good week and my companion and I are rolling. We really got lots going on and its crazy how time goes when you trying to help people accomplish there dates for the most important decisions of their life’s like baptism marriage and being active in the church!This week we had a baptism a lady named Elsa Calron. She is 26 and her mom and brother are members. She was really prepared and read almost all the Book of Mormon. It was a really good baptism. I was blessed with opportunity to baptize her. We have been working with her sense Blackie was here. Can you believe I have a spent a month with my greenie? !!!!!!! Anyway she finally got baptized and it was really good. Her mom got really emotional and said she never thought she’d be alive when her daughter finally got baptized. The mom never gave up hope. I’m so so happy to be a part of the miracle and change that happens in these people’s life as they make the decision to be baptized. It was really awesome. I’m making so many friends and really have such love for these people. Being here so long has really given me a chance to gain confidence in the ward. Yesterday bishop put me on the spot and said we will now have a 5 minute talk by our missionary Elder Rogers what!!!!!!!!!! With this little warning I got up and shared four scriptures.
D&C 20: 70
70 Every member of the church of Christ having achildren is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their bhands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.
What our responsibility is I challenged them to bring their kids and family to church.
What we should do and how.
D & C 24:12
12 And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and adeclare my gospel as with the voice of a btrump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.
Open the mouth, and what will happen if we don’t
D & C 60: 2,3
2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their amouths, but they hide the btalent which I have given unto them, because of the cfear of man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is ekindled against them.
3 And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be ataken away, even that which they have.
It was on the spot but I felt good about it and I made them laugh too! I did not come down on them too hard. It was good but I was sweating cause I still get nervous talking to crowds Carolina called me on the phone she went back to Jauja and she is doing good she said in the church! She couldn’t come visit but that’s okHehe o man I got so many crazy stories. I just have to tell you guys when I get back I have seen some really hard and sad, bad things but also many miracles…. It’s non-stop action down here. This month is Water fest and yesterday we were in the park and a group of 50 boys came up to us with a bucket and stuff. I thought we were done for and then in the front I saw a kid that I know that used to go to the same gym that we did. He said hi and shook my hand and I was like hey pal you know it would be unholy to soak us and he laughed and said yea your right and they all left. It was a modern day miracle. I love making friends. The kid that saved me is a die-hard evangelical and hates our church but he is our friend and that friendship helped us. I love the work and love all of you. It truly is an adventure down here, but I love it! Muah! Your Son, Elder Rogers
Hey family and everyone ¡!!!!!!!!!!!!Well I hope everyone had a fun happy valentines day and, hope everyone is healthy and happy and enjoying life its so fun to hear the happenings in everyone’s life and its such a comfort.Thanks mom and dad and everyone else for the emails. Thanks so much Carma for fun package… mmm brownies and good stuff. I love you guys! Grandma thanks for the “ I will survive card” hehe!!!!!Well its been a good week and my companion and I are rolling. We really got lots going on and its crazy how time goes when you trying to help people accomplish there dates for the most important decisions of their life’s like baptism marriage and being active in the church!This week we had a baptism a lady named Elsa Calron. She is 26 and her mom and brother are members. She was really prepared and read almost all the Book of Mormon. It was a really good baptism. I was blessed with opportunity to baptize her. We have been working with her sense Blackie was here. Can you believe I have a spent a month with my greenie? !!!!!!! Anyway she finally got baptized and it was really good. Her mom got really emotional and said she never thought she’d be alive when her daughter finally got baptized. The mom never gave up hope. I’m so so happy to be a part of the miracle and change that happens in these people’s life as they make the decision to be baptized. It was really awesome. I’m making so many friends and really have such love for these people. Being here so long has really given me a chance to gain confidence in the ward. Yesterday bishop put me on the spot and said we will now have a 5 minute talk by our missionary Elder Rogers what!!!!!!!!!! With this little warning I got up and shared four scriptures.
D&C 20: 70
70 Every member of the church of Christ having achildren is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their bhands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.
What our responsibility is I challenged them to bring their kids and family to church.
What we should do and how.
D & C 24:12
12 And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and adeclare my gospel as with the voice of a btrump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.
Open the mouth, and what will happen if we don’t
D & C 60: 2,3
2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their amouths, but they hide the btalent which I have given unto them, because of the cfear of man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is ekindled against them.
3 And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be ataken away, even that which they have.
It was on the spot but I felt good about it and I made them laugh too! I did not come down on them too hard. It was good but I was sweating cause I still get nervous talking to crowds Carolina called me on the phone she went back to Jauja and she is doing good she said in the church! She couldn’t come visit but that’s okHehe o man I got so many crazy stories. I just have to tell you guys when I get back I have seen some really hard and sad, bad things but also many miracles…. It’s non-stop action down here. This month is Water fest and yesterday we were in the park and a group of 50 boys came up to us with a bucket and stuff. I thought we were done for and then in the front I saw a kid that I know that used to go to the same gym that we did. He said hi and shook my hand and I was like hey pal you know it would be unholy to soak us and he laughed and said yea your right and they all left. It was a modern day miracle. I love making friends. The kid that saved me is a die-hard evangelical and hates our church but he is our friend and that friendship helped us. I love the work and love all of you. It truly is an adventure down here, but I love it! Muah! Your Son, Elder Rogers
Monday, February 9, 2009
Letter from Jon 2-10-09
Hey fam ¡!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-10-09
Que tal la mejor familia del mundo?
Thanks so much everyone for the wonderful emails it sure does help having such love and support from everyone. Im glad the trip to salt lake and travels were fun.This week has been a really good one I have really felt the spirit strongly this week and it feels so good. I’m so sorry for not having a good attitude sometimes I worry too much about myself and I know the lord will take care of me and my struggles are nothing compared to his. This week we had conference with Elder Carlos A. Godoy from Brazil in the quorum of the 70 here in Lima. It was so good and I cried because the sprit was so strong. He told us that he had a son on mission and that he hoped for his son that his mission was tough and filled with challenges because the mission is a MTC for life. I really liked that and its so true. He was awesome. He is a convert and told us his story. When he went to Utah to get set apart by the prophet Elder Godoy found the missionaries that baptized him. Can you imagine how you would feel? woof ! I think it would be like pay day to just to know that your covert was active hehe! He also told us that when we baptize one we baptize hundreds and its so awesome! We here stories like that down here. Your convert can get married have kids, then those kids go on missions. Then those kids have kids. Just think it all started with one baptism and it is so awesome!I love all my converts and all I want is that they can continue to progress and be happy in church I know that would be so special and I want to live my life so that they always look up to me like they do now and I’ll always be there for them. I tell them when I get home, that if they have to call me from Peru to come back and help I’m right there. I got a call the other day for Carolina from Jauja she is in Lima and she is coming to visit me tomorrow. I’m so excite. I hadn’t heard anything for a while but she said she moved to Lima and found a ward and now is attending her in Lima. She still loves the church. I was so happy. I was just a small part in here conversion but it was so cool. That conference was so fun for me to see that some know about live down here. He knows how we feel. It was fun to hear someone say that what we do down here is life changing!!! It was so cool!!!I have really tried to love people down here. I’m best buds with all the kids that rob everyone else in dangerous parts up here in the hills and its just so cool! They call me Smith cause they don’t know my name Rogers very good but one time I taught them about Jose Smith and they liked it. So now when I come around the corner and there are a bunch of scary boys with their shirts off playing ball, I hope and pray there is one of those kids in the group. Usually the boys are very scary and they yell, gringo go home, but then one will says hey Smith! Then the rest of them look at him and are like Smith?…. yea Smith and I’m like wooooo…saved again!Godoy talked about converting people and not just baptizing and it just pumps me up to do my best in teaching and really love them, my companion and I are pretty good buds and things are pretty chill right now.I love you all so much! You are always in my prayers! Love your Son Elder Rogers
PS It is carnival right now so everyone’s chucking water balloons at everyone. On Sunday it was so wild cause its like 105 with humidity and it feels like 247!!! Hehe..
You have got to love it baby.
Que tal la mejor familia del mundo?
Thanks so much everyone for the wonderful emails it sure does help having such love and support from everyone. Im glad the trip to salt lake and travels were fun.This week has been a really good one I have really felt the spirit strongly this week and it feels so good. I’m so sorry for not having a good attitude sometimes I worry too much about myself and I know the lord will take care of me and my struggles are nothing compared to his. This week we had conference with Elder Carlos A. Godoy from Brazil in the quorum of the 70 here in Lima. It was so good and I cried because the sprit was so strong. He told us that he had a son on mission and that he hoped for his son that his mission was tough and filled with challenges because the mission is a MTC for life. I really liked that and its so true. He was awesome. He is a convert and told us his story. When he went to Utah to get set apart by the prophet Elder Godoy found the missionaries that baptized him. Can you imagine how you would feel? woof ! I think it would be like pay day to just to know that your covert was active hehe! He also told us that when we baptize one we baptize hundreds and its so awesome! We here stories like that down here. Your convert can get married have kids, then those kids go on missions. Then those kids have kids. Just think it all started with one baptism and it is so awesome!I love all my converts and all I want is that they can continue to progress and be happy in church I know that would be so special and I want to live my life so that they always look up to me like they do now and I’ll always be there for them. I tell them when I get home, that if they have to call me from Peru to come back and help I’m right there. I got a call the other day for Carolina from Jauja she is in Lima and she is coming to visit me tomorrow. I’m so excite. I hadn’t heard anything for a while but she said she moved to Lima and found a ward and now is attending her in Lima. She still loves the church. I was so happy. I was just a small part in here conversion but it was so cool. That conference was so fun for me to see that some know about live down here. He knows how we feel. It was fun to hear someone say that what we do down here is life changing!!! It was so cool!!!I have really tried to love people down here. I’m best buds with all the kids that rob everyone else in dangerous parts up here in the hills and its just so cool! They call me Smith cause they don’t know my name Rogers very good but one time I taught them about Jose Smith and they liked it. So now when I come around the corner and there are a bunch of scary boys with their shirts off playing ball, I hope and pray there is one of those kids in the group. Usually the boys are very scary and they yell, gringo go home, but then one will says hey Smith! Then the rest of them look at him and are like Smith?…. yea Smith and I’m like wooooo…saved again!Godoy talked about converting people and not just baptizing and it just pumps me up to do my best in teaching and really love them, my companion and I are pretty good buds and things are pretty chill right now.I love you all so much! You are always in my prayers! Love your Son Elder Rogers
PS It is carnival right now so everyone’s chucking water balloons at everyone. On Sunday it was so wild cause its like 105 with humidity and it feels like 247!!! Hehe..
You have got to love it baby.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Hand written Letter 1-26-09
Hand written letter and journal dated 1-26-09
I did not type everything because most was in email.
This week we confirmed Hermana Maria de Carmen as a member of the church and gave the Priesthood to Efrain. It was awesome. I am also working hard to try and make sure all the old converts; Pavel, Rafael, Efrian, Rocio, Maria are all doing good so that they can feel how important they are and stay active and busy. We are also now working with many, many people that are working hard to be baptized this month of February.
I am so busy and I get lots of weight pushing down on me right now and the Lord is just going to make me all polished up when I get home. I know that this whole training thing is going to be a challenge. I will probably spend 6 months in Vitarte. Oh well!
I really love the ward and I have lots of good friends here. Please pray for my health (back, weight, mind) and my patience and success. I am doing good, but I still get down sometimes. I know the Lord knows whom he wants in his church. I am happy and truly trying my hardest. Tell Clint, Em,Jar, Jete, Abby, Lish, Ty, Space Kace, Aubrey Sue, Bailey, Bood, Big Rick, Haaaal!, Ang, tj, jr., Ani, and Juj That I love them all!
Love your Son, Elder Rogers
I have been a little nervous with my new companion. It is hard to figure out how much he knows. I was a bit intimidated at first. I have learned he is a little clueless at times. Last night I taught him that we put toilet paper in the toilet not the trashcan ooooh… it was a hard lesson.
Note from the editor: This surprises me. There were many motels where we stayed where you had to put the toilet paper in the trashcan. Jon must have a good toilet.
Jon says Elder Fuentalba is 6ft 2 in and skinny. He is from Chile. It was hard to get used to his Spanish at first. He didn’t finish his words. At first there was lots of What?…uh?… It kind of scared me. I thought I knew how to speak Spanish!
I did not type everything because most was in email.
This week we confirmed Hermana Maria de Carmen as a member of the church and gave the Priesthood to Efrain. It was awesome. I am also working hard to try and make sure all the old converts; Pavel, Rafael, Efrian, Rocio, Maria are all doing good so that they can feel how important they are and stay active and busy. We are also now working with many, many people that are working hard to be baptized this month of February.
I am so busy and I get lots of weight pushing down on me right now and the Lord is just going to make me all polished up when I get home. I know that this whole training thing is going to be a challenge. I will probably spend 6 months in Vitarte. Oh well!
I really love the ward and I have lots of good friends here. Please pray for my health (back, weight, mind) and my patience and success. I am doing good, but I still get down sometimes. I know the Lord knows whom he wants in his church. I am happy and truly trying my hardest. Tell Clint, Em,Jar, Jete, Abby, Lish, Ty, Space Kace, Aubrey Sue, Bailey, Bood, Big Rick, Haaaal!, Ang, tj, jr., Ani, and Juj That I love them all!
Love your Son, Elder Rogers
I have been a little nervous with my new companion. It is hard to figure out how much he knows. I was a bit intimidated at first. I have learned he is a little clueless at times. Last night I taught him that we put toilet paper in the toilet not the trashcan ooooh… it was a hard lesson.
Note from the editor: This surprises me. There were many motels where we stayed where you had to put the toilet paper in the trashcan. Jon must have a good toilet.
Jon says Elder Fuentalba is 6ft 2 in and skinny. He is from Chile. It was hard to get used to his Spanish at first. He didn’t finish his words. At first there was lots of What?…uh?… It kind of scared me. I thought I knew how to speak Spanish!
Monday, February 2, 2009
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
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
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