Week #20 12-8-14

Awesome tie Elder Daniels!

With Elder Raubach

With Elder Cope from Phoenix.  Good friends.

Selfie in his rain riding gear!

Hey everyone! How is everything going?? So I made it to Nampa this transfer and I am really excited! I have two new companions! I am in a trio with Elder Lagunzad ( from the Philippines) and Elder Ward who came out six weeks after me! So I am really excited and I hope everything goes well!

As for my week not much happened! It wasn't to sad to leave Caldwell! I wasn't there for too long.  But I am going to miss the missionaries that I served around because they were super cool!  We really didn't do anything big this week besides transfers! We have been packing for like two days straight! Other then our usual appointments nothing went on! Oh I got my bike fixed and it runs like new.. oh wait, it is new! Haha It rained pretty good so I have some pictures/ stories about that!  Anyways, sorry the letter wan't very long. Not too much going on!

I know that Christ lives! This time of the year is to celebrate the birth of Him! So what better to celebrate his birth than to do service! My challenge for you guys this week is to go out of your way to serve someone. And if you do this I promise you Heavenly Father will bless you and help you along the way! I love you guys! Thanks so much for everything! 

Week #19 12-1-14

Elder Rogers got bit by a dog.

Elder Rogers & Elder Van Wagoner got to go back to Melba to the Journey's baptism.

Selfie!

Hey everybody! How is it going?? Sorry I didn't email last week! I was really busy! But I have got some stuff ready for this week!

The big highlight of the week was Saturday! So on Saturday we had district meeting and it was really good! We listened to a talk by Dieter F. Ucthdorf about being grateful and it was bomb! Then we went and met with a less active lady and talked to her and her boyfriend about blowing things up and running from the cops! It was a fun visit! Then after that I got to go back to MELBA!!! It was awesome! We were teaching a couple name the Journey's and they got baptized! So me and VW were reunited! It was a good night!

Bad news time! My bike exploded! Haha I was riding my bike really slow and I looked back to see where Daniels was and he was way back there! Then I looked forward and hit a curb and endowed and ate it! It wasn't a hard fall so I thought everything was fine. But then I was riding it later and the rear derailleur like exploded when I shifted gears! So I have to get a new one! 

So I gave a talk last week in one of our wards about living the gospel joyful! It was fun, then I had to give another one this week about missionary work! Giving talks isn't bad at all when you are a missionary!  It is weird how that works! 

Nothing else really happened this week! We had a lot of bike problems so we were taking care of that all week! Oh Thanksgiving! So we ate with a family in one of our wards, they are super awesome! There was six missionaries there so it was kinda funny! We all sat at our own table and it felt like we were at the little kid table! Haha Then after that we rode our bikes like 10 miles to another dinner!  But the other family we ate with was really cool! One of the guys served his mission in Mesa AZ so we talked about all the good places to eat in Mesa! 

But anyways that is all I got! I love you guys so much and I am so thankful for all the support you guys give me! I love you so much and I hope you all have a good week! I know that being grateful for what you have not only helps you see what blessing Heavenly Father is giving us, but it also opens doors to more blessings! I challenge you guys to be grateful for what you have and look for Heavenly Fathers hands in our lives! Love you guys!

Week #18 11-24-14

No email & no pictures this week.  Sad mamma!

Week #17 11-17-14

First snow!

Where's Elder Rogers??

Guys, it freaking snowed! I loved every second of it until I had to go outside. Now I hate it! Can you guys send some of the heat this way! But for reals, I hate the cold! I think God sent me to Idaho to punish me because of the cold! Haha Just kidding! But just a few highlights from the week. 

Tuesday we started the New Member lessons with kim and that went good I guess! We showed her the Restoration video and that always brings the spirit! The only problem is that she runs a day care at her house so there were little Ninos running around everywhere! She kinda feels like she already knows everything so it is hard to get her attention when we are reteaching. Plus I have know idea how to teach the new member lessons because I haven't had any experience. And neither does Elder Daniels so it is kinda fun.... Not!   It is soooo awkward, but we are getting better!

Wednesday we went and helped a less active lady around her house! It was really cool because we have begging her to come to church for a while now and she finally came yesterday! And when we were there on Wednesday, she had a friend over and he sat in on the spiritual thought and he seemed interested. But when I invited him to church, he kinda brushed it off so I didn't think anything was gonna happen there! But, She brought him and another friend to church and it was freaking nutz! So Heavenly Father blessed us by reactivating a less active, and giving us two new investigators! He loves me!

Thursday was the snow day! I wasn't feeling to good so we didn't go out and work, but we set up my bike and hungout! It was really nice to be inside during the snow, but it sucks being stuck in the apartment all day! Now I can't even ride my brand new bike because of the snow and it sucks! I was looking forward to it! But that's okay because I got to put some miles on my fresh kicks! 

Friday we had district meeting and it was really good! It is always fun to get all the missionaries together because usually the spirit is super strong or our conversations are really funny! Then we had lunch and a nice snowball fight! Have I mentioned that I hate the snow?? It is freaking cold!

Saturday, nothing big really happened!

Sunday, was really good! We had those two investigators come to church and it was really good! He actually asked me for a copy of one of the talks that a member of the ward gave! It was really funny! But hopefully we can start teaching them.

That's pretty much my week! I miss you guys a lot and the weather! But I know this is where I am supposed to be and I know that Heavenly Father is always blessing me! He is always blessing everyone, even when it seems like he isn't, he is! You just have to watch for his hand in our lives and we can see how he blesses us! 

Love you all!

Week #16 11-10-14

Elder Daniels (Riley's companion) & Elder Larsen with Kim.

Hurt his ankle playing soccer.

Hey familia hows it going?? I hope everyone is doing good because I am doing great! This week was a good week! I will give a few quick highlights! So we set a baptismal date with a guy named Axel. He is married to a member so she is a really good influence on him! He is getting baptized on the 22nd so hopefully he will stay with it! Then yesterday, we had a baptism with this lady named kim! She is super awesome and was ready to get baptized when I got here! It was a really good baptism! I was scared that no one was going to come, but there was a full house that night! It was awesome! Then on Friday we had sports night! We brought a less active guy who is struggling right now, but he seemed like he really enjoyed it! Also, we were playing soccer and I wrecked my Ankle! I was kinda ticked because I was out of commission for a day or so! But it's all good now! Still a little tender but I can get around on it!

Well not much happened this week, but it was a good week! I know that baptism is the only way back to Heavenly Father! It is the gate to the the straight and narrow path! And as long as we keep those covenants and do what we are supposed to that Heavenly Father will welcome us back with open arms! I love you guys so much and thanks for all the support! You guys rock! Deuces!

Week #15 11-3-14

Hey everyone hows it going?? I hope you are all doing great because I am lovin it!  So I am in a biking area and I kind of hate bikes. So we pretty much walk everywhere! But the one day we were riding our bikes we got stopped by this guy on the street!  He asked why we don't baptize people on probation and why we still teach people in jail. I knew the answer to the probation question, but I totally spaced and couldn't think of an answer so we are gonna go back and talk with him! 

The first person I met when I got here was a lady named Kim! I guess she is Golden and is getting Baptized on Sunday so I have something to look forward too! I don't really know her very well but she seems awesome!

So in my apartment, there is six elders. Enough said! Haha but there are two apartments! The spanish live down stairs, and the four english elders live upstairs! We haven't had too many late nights, because we are usually super tired. But when we do we usually talk and laugh and it's a good time!

I honestly have no idea as to what is going on in the area, but I am trying to figure it out!   I don't really know the members very well, so I think that is going to be our game plan for investigators. I have a weird feelin that the members don't like the missionaries, but I can change that! Anyways, our area is kinda slow and we didn't really teach that many lessons, because I am still getting situated and everything, but that should be changing here shortly!

Anyways, I love the work. Being a missionary is awesome! I have realized that mine and Heavenly Father's relationship has grown a lot! I know that the Atonement is real and that it really does help people change and be forgiven. The Atonement is there for everyone and Heavenly Father enjoys when we access it. I love you guys and hope you are all doing great! 

Dueces!

Mom: No I haven't taken any pics because I don't have a camera. but we are going to Walmart today so we might not have to send one. I can probably just buy one. I did get the boxes, thank you so much! I was starting to freeze!  No I didn't get a bike. I don't know if I will because I hate them! But I might just buy one from walmart, because the one I have sucks big time! As for Christmas, ties and socks are always nice! But crazy socks because they are totally approved! I got a bunch of them when I went winter shopping! Oh also I am going to need a new flashdrive I think I answered all your questions right?? I love you!

Week #14 10-27-2014

RILEY WAS TRANSFERRED.  

I am in the Caldwell East stake, which is definitely a bigger town then Melba, but isn't the biggest city! My new companion's name is Elder Daniels and he seems like a cool guy! We live in an apartment with two other elders and then there are two elders who live underneath us! Love Ya

Riley said he will miss Elder Christensen (from Gilbert) so much.  

"He's the big brother I never had".

So the highlight of these past two weeks was Aspyns baptism! She was so stoked to be baptized! She was golden, and if you guys would have met her you would think she grew up a member!  Her uncle came form eastern Idaho and baptized her and it was special because he is one of the only strong members in her family! She had tons of support from her friends and family! The whole room was full and it was a really good baptism! Anyways, I will miss Melba! It will always be know as the birthplace of Elder Rogers! I will probably have more pictures next week because Elder Van Wagoner took a bunch of pictures for  me! Anyways, I love you all and you all rock! Love you!

 Aspyn's Baptism

TRIBUTE TO MELBA!

This is Dennis Adams!

He is super awesome! He loves to have the Elders come by his house! We have to go over there and clarify  false doctrine! I don't even know where he gets it from but it is definitely weird! He claims to be a Mormon with a sword so he never takes crap from anyone and is basically an old stubborn cowboy! He is always giving us food and is always looking out for us! He was recently ordained an Elder so he refers to himself as Elder Adams! Good guy, gonna miss him for sure!!

The Bunnels!

Super awesome family and really nice! He is a cop, army helicopter pilot, served his mission in Tijuana Mexico! She is a school teacher and coaches the girls volleyball team! So whenever we go over there we are always chatting about volleyball! Their kids are super awesome and like video games, football, and riding motorcycles! They are a really cool family and are super funny! The dad is just like a teenager and reminds me of myself sometimes! Gonna miss them!!

This is the Christensen family!

Probably one of my favorite families in Melba! He is the Ward mission leader for his ward and is really awesome! He is really knowledgeable too! If we ever had a gospel question, we would just call him up and talk to him! She is a dance teacher and a stay at home mom! Their kids are so funny! They usually would walk out in their underpants then get yelled at! They were really funny! If we ever had a dinner appointment with them then we wouldn't schedule anything else for the night because we would be there the rest of the night! Haha one of a kind family!

This is part of the Cowger family!

They are a really sweet family! They have four boys and one girl! The kid in the middle is about to leave for Lima, Peru on his mission! His sister just got back from the Dominican Republic on Thursday! IT was really cool because she gave her homecoming talk the same day he gave his farewell! So there was a ton of people there! But it was really cool and you could feel the spirit there! He gave a killer talk about a really awesome topic that really touched me. She gave a money talk and shared a bunch of experiences about her mission that were really cool! I hope I will be able to come home with some cool stories! Oh and she looks exactly like him just with long blonde hair!

Week #13 10-20-14

Elder Rogers didn't send an update this week saying he didn't have time as the computers were all busy with so many missionaries?  Ummm...that's not acceptable son.  However he has promised a really good email next week and we grateful for fun pictures.  

Backyard football

Elder Whitmer from AZ- thug missionaries!

Back of pick up?  Idaho transportation!

Quad Tracting!

Week #12 10-13-14

Helping the bishop skin a deer.

Hey guys how's it going?? This week was pretty good! So the area I am in we deal a lot with less active people and so we are visiting them alot of the day. But we also are teaching 4 or five people that aren't members, but are super awesome people! 

So two highlights from this week. First was on Friday! We got to help bishop skin a deer wich was supe fun! But he did it a way I haven't ever seen! He startted skinning the neck a little bit by hand, then he took the loose skin and wrapped it around a rock. Then he tied a rope around the rock and tied the other end to a quad. Then they romped on it and peeled the skin of like a starving monkey with a banana! 

But one day me and my companion were knocking on doors in this ghetto neighborhood and this guy let us in. He was kinda sketchy so we didn't really want to go in, but he was the only one to let us in all day! So  we manned up and started talking to this guy and teaching him and stuff! But Elder VW really had to go to the bathroom so he ask the guy if he can go and the guy was like " Yeah it is down the hall on the left". SO I was talking with this guy about sports and just stuff like that and Like fifteen minutes later I realized that my companion was still in the bathroom. So I told the guy " I am gonna go check on my companion just to make sure everything is alright" So I walked down the hall and my comp was gone and I started freaking out! The window was open so I thought he had climbed  out the window so I stuck my head out the window and he was standing there and he was like " We need to get the freak out of here. Look behind you" And in the room across the hall there was some messed up stuff! There was blood on the floor and like garbage backs full of what looked like it could be a body. So I start climbing out the window and I hear the guy start running down the hall and as I am climbing out the guy grabs my leg and is like pulling my leg and stuff just like I am pulling yours right now! 

 Haha I am really funny! 

 

Anyways, I know Jesus loves everyone and I know that his Atoning sacrifice covers everyone! I love ou guys and miss you all so much! Loves

-Elder Rogers

Week #11 10-6-14

With Elder Christensen from Gilbert (above) & Elder Hulet his MTC companion (below) watching the MEET THE MORMONS movie.

Hey everyone!

This week was awesome! Tuesday we all got together and watched Meet The Mormons! It was awesome! Everyone and their mom should go see it! We also got a new investigator and her name is Shirley. I don't know if I have talked about her yet, but she is an awesome lady. She has stuff going on in her life and the gospel would probably fix them all. So hopefully all goes well! Then on Wednesday, we had a super awesome lady, Sis. Jensen, bring us lunch from Nampa and it was really good! Then there was General Conference this past weekend! Let me tell you, it is way better when you are a missionary! Either that or it's just because I was paying attention!  Haha I really liked Elder Bednar's talk. I think if everyone in the world would go watch it then the missionaries wouldn't be getting the door slammed in their face as much! The priesthood session was awesome! I really liked Quentin L. Cook's talk. I can't tell you what I liked about it because I don't have my notes with me, but I know i liked it! Haha

Anyways, that was pretty much my week! But I know that the church is true and that the Atonement's cleansing power is infinite and it can truly help people in their lives! I love this gospel so much and I wish I could just force it on people because everyone needs it. But I am also grateful for our agency and the ability we have to act for ourselves. I love Jesus Christ and I know that he lives.

Love for everyone!

Elder Rogers

Week #10 9-29-14

Buckin Hay!

IH Tractor- GPa Rogers is watching over him!

JR's Baptism!

Apple Picking!

Monday- was a good day. I got to talk to everyone and it was awesome. That day we had  a lesson with Aspen about the plan of salvation and it went really well. She is stilll planning on getting baptized on Oct. 18 so I a stoked!

Tuesday- We had a lesson with Chuck and he asked us bout Grace v. Works. We tried to explain to him how we believe in both, but it didn't really go over well. So we are hopefully going to see him this week and get that cleared up. 

Wednesday- Was a slow day, nothing really happened. Except we went and taught the cub scouts how to tie ties! 

Thursday- Was extra slow and it was one of those days where I wanted to die! Painfully slow!

Friday- Was a good day. We had district meeting which was super solid. Then we went to lunch. We had Idaho Mexican food. Let me tell you, nothing beats Arizona Mexican food.  But I did have a really funny experience. So I had to go to the bathroom really bad so I was running to the bathroom. I made it to the bathroom and while I am peeing, I realize that there was no urinals in the bathroom. I thought that was weird but I didn't really think anything of it. Then I looked over and there was a little box on the wall which I believe, not sure if this is the truth, but I think they are for feminine products. So I started freaking out because I realized I was in the women's restroom. Luckily no one came in so I got away safe and sound. But the district got a good laugh out of it!

Saturday- Was a good day. We woke up and had to move a lady from Melba to Nampa. She is an old cat lady so it was probably the worst thing I have ever done on my mission. The bishop's son threw up because he a had a legitament hair ball in his mouth. It was really funny but freakin nasty! Then we got to go to Caldwell for this baptism. We found him out in  Melba and started teaching him, but then we found out he lived in Caldwell so we had to turn him over to the Elders there. He wsa a Golden investigator so we weren't worried. Then afterwards they took us to golden coral.

Sunday- was crazy. So we had a homeless lady come in to church. She turned out to be a drug addict/wanted criminal. So that was fun. Then we had two homecomings in one ward so there was a  load of people that came and we had like three investigatores there so we were really busy! It ended up being a good day though!

Week #9 9-22-14

Elder VanWagoner holding a rack.

Missionary Service!

Elder Christensen.

Dutch oven potatoes!  Looks delish.

Sorry I didn't write to you last week, we were in Nampa all day so I didn't get a chance to be on the computer very much! 

Monday-Transfer day so we had to get up at like 4:30 to take elder Astle to the transfer spot. It was stupid though because he didn't even need to go because we ended up giving him a ride to where he was transferred! Then I did some shopping for winter clothes! I was really cold like two weeks ago, but this week was super hot so I didn't even need them Haha! Then that night we had a lesson with two girls who are golden investigators! Seriously they were ready to get baptized right then! But one, who's name is Taylor, we aren't able to teach anymore. We got a call from the lady's house we were teaching them at and she said her parents were super ticked that she was taking the lessons so hopefully she will take them when she turns 18. The other girl, Aspen, is super awesome. She was meeting with the investigators a while ago, but she didn't like it but her family ended up getting baptized instead. Then this member girl who is on the cheer team with her asked her if she wanted to meet with us and she said yes! So we are teaching her and she set a date to get baptized on Oct. 18! 

Tuesday- Was pretty slow during the day, but we had a fun night. We went around with one of the ward mission leaders. We had a name to go visit from the bishop so we went there first. When we got there the lady tried sicking her dog on us, but what was really funny Because the dog was super old and took like fifteen minutes to get out of the house! Me and Elder VW both got in the car because that is what a representative of Christ would do! But the Ward mission leader, I love this guy, just stood there! He told the lady that it was illegal to sick your dogs on someone, which it is, but that really ticked the lady off! She started swearing and telling us that she wrote the law and stuff like that. It was really funny! I was just laughing in the back of the car and I think Elder VW was wetting his pants! Haha Then after that we went and contacted a media referral and we got a new investigator!

Wednesday- we went and visited a man named Dennis. Dennis was baptized like a year ago and just received the Melchizedek priesthood. He is one of those guys that looks for the questions that can't be answered! He is an awesome guy though! Then later that day we went and visited a man named Chuck Bardin. He is a retired undercover cop from L.A. and is a super awesome grandpa! He was kinda raised in a Cherokee household, so he is new to the whole christian thing. One of his buddies gave him a bible and so he is just starting to read it. We went over and gave him a Book of Mormon and taught him the restoration! He seemed really interested! So we are going to visit him tomorrow! Then that night we went to a "come and see"! It is like a tour of the church and they have booths set up for investigators. But it was a youth one so there was a ton of people! It was awesome! Aspen went and there is another kid there that we are going to try and visit! So hopefully that goes well!

Thursday- Was really slow! We kept striking out so we decided we would go visit some of the members! This guy has an old Chevy in his garage that puts out like 500 ponies and has nos! It is freaking ridiculous! But it sounds like heaven! Then we went on splits and I was freaking out! I had to teach these two kids the restoration.  

Friday- We had district meeting which was fun I guess! We have two new greenies in our district so I am not the youngest anymore! It feels so good! Then we had another lesson with Aspen which went really good! We watched the restoration video and just did a follow up lesson on the restoration! We are meeting with her today and we are gonna talk about the plan of salvation! So hopefully that will go well! I am leading the lesson so keep me in you prayers because I suck at teaching! It's crazy how prepared I felt in the MTC then I got out here and I felt like I knew nothing! 

Saturday- We did a lot of service! We went and helped the lady that said all the f words! I haven't ever been inside her house until then! I thought I was gonna die! There wasn't any clean oxygen in the air, just cat hair and smoke! It sucked! But luckily we were there for like ten minutes so it wasn't to bad! But then we went and helped this lady move in! There was a ton of stuff and the whole ward was there to help so it went by really really quick! But I was helping this guy carry a big dresser in and it was freaking heavy! But as we were walking it in, we were going to set it down for a second because are hands felt like they were breaking, but while he was setting it down he tripped over a rug and the whole thing fell on him!! I was freaking out but he wasn't hurt so now I think it is kinda funny! Then we got our hair cut and went and visited a guy name Paul Maucher!  He is like 90 years old! I think he was here for the first coming... haha just kidding! But he super cool! He can't read anymore so all he does is listen to the scriptures on tape and he is so spiritual! He was telling us how he got to go into a Holy of Holys which blew my mind! But he wants to go on a trip back east to go on a family history extravaganza! Then that night we went and talked to a kid who is like 16 and doesn't know if he wants to go a mission or not and we just talked to him and his family about it which was fun!

Sunday- We had a meeting at 8:00 then were at church until 3:00. I love church, but it is really hard to be there the entire day! But then right after church we had a lesson with a girl named Sarah! She is super awesome and is raising a kid by herself! We read Alma 32 with her and it was a super spiritual lesson! She was crying the whole time and she is progressing very well! If she wanted to get baptized right now she totally could!

Anyways that was my week! I love you guys so much and I miss you guys like crazy! I am so sad I missed Ali and J's wedding but from the pictures it looked like they were super happy and are going to have a great future! Ali you looked so pretty in your dress! I am really bummed I wasn't able to be there! But I love you all! Make sure those grand kids don't forget me! I know that Jesus is our savior and without him we wouldn't be able to return with our heavenly father again! I love this church so much and I can't wait to see what it has in store for us! I love you guys alot and I will talk to you next week! Send me Pics!

Week #8 9-15-14

We didn't get an email from Elder Rogers this week.  He was busy with transfers and didn't get time to email :(

However- I got this sweet email from Sister Harbor & Sister Stirm.

Thank you for sending your missionary to Idaho.  He helped us today teach the 
Wolf Scouts hw to tie a tie.

Week #7 9-8-14

Caving on PDay.

Working in the alfalfa field.  Farmer Rogers.

 Moving Sprinklers

FHE on the bridge over the snake river.

Holding another bunny.

So Thursday night we got a call from the mission president saying that there is another elder staying with us for the rest of the transfer!  Thursday night I was teaching a new member lesson to this lady named Sandra! We were teaching her about member missionary work and it was super cool! Words just flow out of my mouth and I say things that I don't even know are true but when they come out it ends up all being true! So basically the spirit was flowin and it was super dope! But That was pretty much it!

Week #6 9-1-14

Beautiful sky after storm!

Aww...cute puppies!

Elder VanWagoner's light saber.

Elder Rogers light saber.

Hey guys this week was pretty slow, but it had a few good highlights!

We had the new missionary meeting where all the greenies and their trainers meet with the president and stuuf and just talk out our feelings! It was like when coach vee made the team sit in a circle and tell each other what we didn't like about them! Anyways, that was fun! 

Then one night it was like 11:00 and we got a call from the zl's about some missionaries who rolled a truck!  I guess their back wheels hit something and they did a front flip and landed upside down! Everyone is safe so it is all good!

Then on Sunday we were sitting in sacrament meeting and I heard someone ask me if I  was okay, so I turned around thinking they were talking to me but they were talking to the guy behind us! I turned around and he was out cold! I thought he was dead at first! I didn't know what to do so luckily there was an EMT in that ward so he saved the guy!

Anyways, that was pretty much my week! Thanks to everyone for the prayers, I can really see them while I am out! I know that through Christ anything is possible and when we are having troubles that we need to turn to him and he will help us out.

-Elder rogers

Week #5 8-25-14

With Elder VanWagoner his companion.  He said these 2 pictures sum up their relationship.  I can see why they get along so well.  Haha!

Ricky's baptism!

Great picture of Elder Rogers taking in the beautiful country.

With the Bishop's son who happens to be wearing a Highland HS Swim & Dive shirt given to him by Bryce Farabee.

Working in the Lord's vineyard.

Checking out the view from the haystack!

This week has been prettty slow! Just visiting a bunch of people and teaching! Except for sturday! That was a good day! Ricky was baptized and it was awesome the spirit was really strong and he is such a champ1 Then we got to watch the ground breaking for the Meridain temple! Elder Bednar gave the dedicatory prayer which was super cool! All in all it was a power day! Then on sunday he was confirmed and he asked Elder Van Wagoner to confirm him and I got to sit in on it! THat was pretty darn swell! Then we just chilled at one of the bishops house the rest of the day because no one wanted to talk to us! Anyways that was pretty much my week! I love you guys so much and I knkow that what I am doing out here is right! Love yay and miss you all!! Dueces!