June 19, 2017 Week 86 Quito, Manantial

Hello Family,

There is so much to do....  We are doing well, getting to know my companion and such.  I have discovered he is a fan of Justin Bieber..... Also I like the new zone leader, Elder Gonzalas, He seems cool.  I've only talked to him once.
I'll tell you about this thing on my foot, it is a little concerning, maybe I'll send a picture later.  It is pretty swollen now, and hurts quite a bit.  It's interesting, we may have to amputate......  Still teaching our investigators.  Still getting ready for baptism, some got pushed back a few weeks. Satan works hard sometimes on making our plans harder.   We did find a new guy this week who is pretty cool, but he works a lot of Sundays so I'm not sure he can come to church.
Also made some no bake cookies, put a little root beer extract in there.  Not a bad idea.
We went bowling as a zone, it was fun.

Tell Granny that I am in fact getting my shoes fixed today, so no worries....  There's a guy that will patch the holes, if I had smaller feet I'd just buy new ones, but there are none in my size.  I think they will last the rest of the time here.  He's putting tires on them.  It's magic!!

It's a little lonely without Elder Astin, back to speaking Spanish all day.... Now I don't know if I'm speaking English or Spanish, I get all mixed up. There are some new Sisters in our zone too. Everything is going pretty well so we will keep up the work.
Love Elder Rogers

June 12, 2017 Week 85 Quito, Manantial

Well this week was interesting.  We did a service project this week.  Building a house.  We got a bunch of sand and some concrete to make our own foundation.  That is how they do it here.  With a shovel and all by hand, no big cement trucks coming in.  20 buckets of sand and 20 buckets of little rocks to start this foundation.  Then we carry a cement mixture over all in buckets.  Pretty tough work.   It's hard to explain, but somehow it works out.  Then after that we went home to shower, to discover that the water was off again.  So we dumped some buckets of water we had saved from when there it rained on ourselves just to try and get off the concrete.  Luckily I have some old spice deodorant, so it's all good!!  We had some amazing food also.

It was funny, right after the whole concrete thing one of our investigators asked us to help her move a stove.  I was like, but I'm gonna die, but we are missionaries and we are doing service.  So that is what we did.  She wants to be baptized next month so that is great....
We have another baptism this month also.

Well changes were today and my new companion is from Columbia and is Elder De Leon.  Elder Astin is off to my old sector the hottest place on Earth.  Santo Domingo.  I'm sad to see the old guy go.   But at least he will be in my old stomping ground, seeing all my friends there.  The kids, my homies.  Here's the district before the split. Serious....

We saw President for the last time this week.  He is great, he gave us temple recommend holders. I will miss him.  Also had divisions this week, it's been very busy.  Sorry I don't really have more to say.  I'm just tired and busy.... 

Until next week Fam
Love Elder Rogers

June 5, 2017 Week 84 Quito, Manantial

Happy bday Bean!!
How's everyone?  It has been a really good week, we had 9 investigators come to church, and several would like to be baptized, so we are so excited about that.  It has been a week of great things.  I got my other bday package, so thanks for that.  Cruel joke though... Any way, we had conferences with President this week, and it is his last one in the mission.  I am still trying to figure out how to be a good district leader.  We had a meeting about that and I learned a lot so that was also great.   We just meet a lot of new people and had some good visits and lessons.   This is a great area with some really great people and I love the ward.  It is going great.  Thanks for writing I will talk to you later
Love Elder Rogers

May 29, 2017 Week 83 Quito, Manantial

Well the dogs are barking non stop as usual.. that's how you can tell its Ecuador I guess...  Still practicing the harmonica.  Rough week, a lot of people not being home and stuff.  Trouble cooking this week also, broke a bunch of eggs, kind of depressing.
I got a nice present from some kids for my bday, they gave me some candy, it was real nice of them.

Being 20 isn't really all it's cracked up to be.  It hasn't been the best week here, but things will get better.  I am sure of it.
I have come to believe the word of wisdom to be really important, I kind of wish more people would follow that.  I believe great things could happen if they would.
The shower is kind of working now.  We got it fixed, turns out it was like all the electrical was burned or something.  They also hung some old lady type stuff as doors, it reminds me of Grandma Pepsi.
Anyway sorry I have to go. Talk to you next week Love you
Love Elder Rogers

May 22, 2017 Week 82 Quito, Manantial

Happy Birthday to me!!

Well I am 20 today!!  I feel a lot wiser actually already.  I am in my early 20's so what ever advice I can give you, please try and listen.  Not right now, but maybe later.....  Thanks for the cards and such... I love my birthday cards.

We had interviews with President this week, I think they might be the last ones we have with him.  I am going to miss him, he has been a great President.  My comp and I are both feeling better finally.  It's cold here.  We got changes this week.  Elder Astin and I will be here for another three weeks.

We had some good visits this week.  Hopefully we get some Sunday attendance.  It's been a great week.  Love you guys

Love Elder Rogers

May 15, 2017 Week 81 Quito Manantial

It was great to Skype yesterday, my last Skype call... Great week this week.  Feliz Cumpleanos Kloe!! Here are some pictures for ya...

The baptism was great, very exciting and a great day.  We cleaned the church up real nice first. It was my comps first baptism, so he was a little nervous, but mostly excited.
We did a bit of service this week, more painting of course...  It was very interesting.
We did a bit of sanding first.  Some other members came and just went to town with us.  Then they used a few machetes to scrape the walls.  It was a great service project.
I thought it was going to take forever, but it was great.  I'm still feeling a bit ill.  I'll pull through, don't worry.  Our investigators are doing well, good meetings with them this week.
We found out one of our investigators is very sick, and I feel really bad for her.  She is a single mom, and she really wants her kids to learn about the church.  I hope she will be ok.
I guess I'll tell you about the shortcut sometime.  It was not what I expected.  There was a little river, lots of mud, and a bunch of people calling us gringos.... Good times.... Any way until next week.
Love Elder Rogers

May 8, 2017 Week 80 Quito, Manantial

Well once again no water!!  Whatever....  We had a great appointment with one of our investigators, he feels good about baptism on May 20,  so that is awesome.  All-in-all a good week of staying busy.  Got a new zone leader, he's a good guy.  We had an activity this week, I got eaten alive by some bugs.  Played a little soccer also.
It's definitely a great ward here in this area, full of great people.  I think we can get a lot done here actually.
Cinco de Mayo here the 5th, made some burritos that day.  I had a couple days of not feeling too well this week, just achy and tired.  It's fine though.  We purchased some stuff from our window today, I'll tell you about that later.  I don't have any pics this week, but we are skypeing in a few days anyway, so I feel it creates more excitement this way.  We also made some more arepas with the Venezuelans.  They are awesome!! Anyway no pictures, oops, maybe next time.
Love Elder Rogers