I don't even know how to start this email...I'll start it like I usually do. Family, I love you so much. If you could see me right now, it's really hard for me to hold back the tears. I'm failing quite miserably actually. I love you all so much. More than last week, even though I said it wasn't possible. Thank you so much for your emails. They mean the world to me, they really do.
Ricole! What the heck! This is the coolest thing since...since....I don't know....since sliced whole wheat bread with all-natural peanut butter smothered on it. I'm so happy! I'm so happy for you! I wish I could be there! But the Lord needs me elsewhere. Oh man, I'm kind of an emotional mess right now. In a very good way though. Wow...I'm just so happy right now. Ricole and Michael, Congrats! Michael, this is for your eyes only: Come on man, why couldn't this have happened sometime before July 13th? I'm only kidding, of course. You're an awesome man, you made the best decision of your life. Ricole is one of the most amazing, incredible people in the world. You might think you know that already, just wait. With her as your wife, you have a reason to be happy every single day. Take care of her. My Dad's not the only one with a Benelli. :)
Violet, thanks for the email and the pics! As I pictured Henry running around yelling "Gog", I was smiling so big. That started the tears. Ricole's news opened the floodgates. Dad, thank you so much for the email. Dad, I think about you all the time. You are my hero. You have been for 19 years and you will be para sempre. I think about you all a lot. I've realized that there are things that you've all done for me that I've been grossly unappreciative for. Thank you Mom, Dad, Violet, Quinn, Henry, Ricole, Michael, and Mitch. Mitch, I'm sorry your name is last haha. It's nothing personal.
So let me explain where I am right now. I'm at the SLC mission home because there is an Elder who just had some surgery done and he needs a companion, so since I'm a trio that's serving really close by, I was asked to stay with him. I've been here since Saturday night. It's been a great blessing. HUGE blessing. For many reasons. First, I get the chance to get to know President and Sister Winn a little bit. They are awesome. Absolutely awesome. And I get the chance to study a lot. Those days in the field taught me that I have a lot, a lot to work on. God knows that, and He's blessed me with some extra study time.
Allow me to continue to explain why I'm the luckiest person in the world. I have the best family and friends ever. Also, I have been blessed to know some of the truths of God, and now I have the chance to serve Him, adopt His Will, and be among His beloved children.
It hasn't even been a week yet. Is that possible? Let's start at Tuesday. We got on a bus early in the morning, dropped some of my best friends off at the airport so they could serve in Mesa. Then we drove all 14 SLC "Visa Waiters" (that's what we're affectionately called haha) to the mission office. President Winn briefly met with the group and then made companionship assignments. I lucked out. Elder Dodge and Elder Ramos. Elder Dodge is really experienced and he teaches me so much. Elder Ramos is from Brasil, and he is amazing. We do language study together and talk about Elder Dodge in Portugues haha. I love these Elders. I didn't really realize that until I had to spend some time away from them while I'm here. But they've been over a little bit, and that's when I realized how much I missed them. I can't wait to be back out with them. There is work to be done.
I met Elder Bodily (Melvin's grandson) while I was at the mission office that day. That was cool, but I didn't really have time to talk, because we basically hit the field immediately. Our area is right around the office so we didn't waste anytime driving either. As I type this, I realize that I don't have the time or the words to describe this week. These 6 days. High highs, low lows. We taught an investigator that morning. It felt soo good to bear my testimony to her. I can't really talk about all of our investigators, but I do have something to say about them in general. This might make me emotional again, but it's such a blessing to work with people. There are so many people in the world who are trying to change their lives, who want to escape drugs, alcohol, sorrow, and pain. They are literally crying out for help. There aren't enough missionaries to help them. There aren't enough people to tell them about Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and the path that He has paved for every single child of God. There is so much sadness in the world. Even in Salt Lake City. People don't know that there is more, that there is salvation available. They just haven't been told yet. Even in Salt Lake City. That's why God calls missionaries. He knows His Children, He knows what we need. We all need Christ. These 6 days have really changed me. Christ's power has never been so real to me. And I testify that His power is real. I've felt it in abundance.
I'm coming to realize that despite all of my deficiencies and weaknesses, Christ is the Light that I am trying to hold up, and He is Perfect. I have a lot to learn, and practice, and develop, I'm not going to stop trying to improve my ability to do this work. But the truth is that the Gospel is where the power lies. The Holy Ghost is the teacher. I just have to try to minimize how much I stand in the way.
Well, I should probably get off now. Know that I'm being very well taken care of. (My very first lunch in the field, a lady gave us money to pay for our food haha. I started talking to her and she just served in the Kennewick mission, where she knew the Ostlers haha. Small world.) The members here are very kind. Not everyone in Salt Lake is in love with missionaries haha, but that makes it fun and interesting. I love you so much. This is amazing time for the Rogers family. Miracles are being poured out all over the place. I've never been more aware of miracles as I have been for the last 6 days. God is our Loving Heavenly Father. That statement is 100% true, and probably very underappreciated by the world. I testify that it's true. He blesses in abundance.
Do you remember Elder McLaw's homecoming talk? One of the things he said was "Christ is the Reason". I feel like there is so much meaning to that short phrase. I only know some of it. But I know it's true. Obedience is the price, faith is the power, love is the motive, the Spirit is the key, and Christ is the Reason.
I love you all. I say it a lot. But I probably still don't say it enough to express how I feel. Don't read it too quickly, I'll say it again. I love you all. You mean everything to me.
Sincerely,
Elder Jonathan Todd Rogers
P.S.
Just for your information, The address for the mission office (where mail should be sent) is:
3487 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
But I have more time to read emails now, and mail only gets delivered once a week, so email might be best now. Thanks!
P.P.S.
Keep praying for the visa please. I feel like I need to be in Brasil. But also know that I am soo blessed to be here. I learn so much every single day, and the opportunities here are amazing. This reminds me of somthing Elder Zivic told us at the MTC. He asked us, Why do you think God waits for us to ask for things that He is already willing to give us? It's probably because if God just gave us things that were good and in line with His Will, but we didn't have to ask and work for them, we would forget God. That really really hit me when I heard it. It's truth. So I'm trying to let Him know that I want to go to Brasil, but even greater than that, I want to do His Will. He's in Charge. He knows what's best. I trust Him. And I love Him. We'll see if He lets me stay for General Conference. I have a feeling He Will haha.
P.P.P.S.
RICOLE!!!! Again, That's so awesome!!!! I can't wait to wake up on December 30th! I love you! Congratulations! Mom....hang in there haha. Dad, have fun taking pictures haha.
P.P.P.P.S.
Mitch....bro....irmao...I love you. You are the best brother in the world. If I had to create a brother from scratch, I wouldn't have been able to make one that even comes close to you. That's why I'm glad that God made you, and I didn't. You are going to change people's lives wherever you are. You are that awesome. I can't wait to talk to you again.
No comments:
Post a Comment