August 29, 2016 Week 45 Vargas La Colon

Hello Family,
How is everyone?  Sorry to hear your car broke down, that's a bummer.  We don't have cars we walk everywhere.. so.....
I have discovered the Liahona magazine, I enjoy reading it. It has a lot of good pictures and stories in it.  There's a good article about senior missionary work.  I like those guys, they are like your parents out here.  We had good ones in the MTC, I'm not sure they have any here though.  There was also a story about a kid who wanted something, but he couldn't afford it, and his parents were sick.  Anyway so he ended up getting a surprise from someone, of some toys he wanted or something.  It reminded me of the time that those members in Springville gave us toys for Christmas that one year.  I tried to see who they were, but they ran off.  It makes me want to do something more to help the little kids around here.  I also want to thank those people that gave to me when I was little, of course I don't know who they were.
We haven't been able to meet with that family I told you about again yet, they are only available one day a week.  We do have an investigator though, he is cool.
Our cell phone was being stupid, I have to clean the connecters all the time, because they aren't good. So we got another phone, it is funny because it is the same phone I had in Solonda.
I'm super tired this week and have been falling asleep pretty early.

I guess that is all for now.  Love you guys
Love Elder Rogers

August 22, 2016 Week 44 Vargas La Colon

Hey Mom
Thanks for the package, I enjoyed all the letters from everyone.  I've been washing my clothes in the sink in this sector.  I refuse to pay for the laundromat.  I also refuse to match my socks now, because unlike you mom, I can't watch netflix while I do it.
I have been cooking quite a bit lately, I don't want to alarm anyone, but I am getting pretty good at being on my own.
I almost got killed by a dog.  We were minding our own business knocking on doors and stuff.  There are a lot of stairs here, so we are walking up the stairs, I look to my right and all the sudden this giant dog comes running at me with its mouth open barking and trying to eat me.  (intent to kill, I'm not joking)

I ripped off my bag and tried to whack it with my bag, he had me backed up against the wall trying to kill me.  Finally he ran off.  No respect.... I felt like Chuck Norris there for a sec... Why don't they wanna eat my companion?? Just me. Anyway...

We  went to a park and met some friendly people.

Well we are just trying hard.  My new motto "Just try" actually it's always been my moto hasn't it.  Like Dad used to tell me when I was swimming,  "go out there and beat everybody"  "I'll try Dad"
Yep

Also Wednesday all of our appointments were not home, so we decided to try one more house, and we found this really cool family of 7.  We taught the grandkids and the kids and the mom, it was awesome!  Anyway Have a great week Love you Guys
Love Elder Rogers

August 15, 2016 Week 43 Vargas, La Colon

Well this week has been pretty good.  We have been looking for a lot of people this week. I had a good scripture that I wanted to share, but I lost it.  I don't know where it went.  This sector seems really hard, we have not gotten any serious investigators at this time.  It is hard when no one wants to do anything to change their lives.  Some weeks you have more bad days than good days, and that was kind of how this week has been. I just wanna have a day that goes exactly right once on a while. Stress......
I have been feeling pretty good this week., just a few episodes of sickness, but my medicine is working pretty good, and I am trying to eat stuff I'm supposed to.  There doesn't seem to be any spaghetti sauce here, so  today I am just having noodles.  We had a good meeting with President last night, and all the leaders here in this ward.  Oh Mosiah 2 I think it is pretty good.  Anyway read that.  Writing in my journal everyday is killing me... just so you know. My shoes are completely torn up and now I don't know what to do. I know that you said to not procrastinate but I....just...couldn't....help it....So they are broken. I might just start using my sunday shoes. But they are a little big to use every single day. I thought my feet would get alot bigger but turns out that doesn't happen in 9 months. I might have to buy some from Ambato. They are super cool shoes though. I wouldn't mind doing that. I think next week I am going to send all of my voice recordings in the morning so I can just type to you guys in the Afternoon. I need to find a cyber that is awesome though. Those are hard to come by.  No pics this week sorry.  

Ya there was another earthquake in Quito, I slept through it, I don't know what's wrong with me!
I found a waffle iron, but they are like 70 bucks. 
Don't have fun without me. I am just happy that school is going to start soon and nothing happy happens during school so...

August 8, 2016 Week 42 Vargas La Colon

Hey Mom,
Been in this new area for 6 days now, and we are just trying to find people to teach.  I am super tired and I just want to go to sleep.  The Basina keeps shutting off our water when I'm in the shower!! It's making me crazy and late for church.  I'm trying to set a good example here, but it's hard. None of our investigators came to church Sunday, hopefully this week will be better.  We are trying to talk to people, but they keep shutting me down.  We are working hard and contacting people like crazy.
Also I need to get a waffle iron, I really need one.  Oh and my shoes are all crap, I'll figure something out don't worry.

It's back to the laundromat in this area.  Or wash my clothes in the sink...
We went to a park today, it was nice.  I'm doing great.  I'm back to speaking Spanish all the time since my new comp doesn't speak English of course.
I don't know what else to tell you, sorry about Kloe's Guinea Pig.  You could eat it, but you'd have to cook it right.  I guess I will go look for my waffle iron now, talk to you next week.
Love Elder Rogers

August 1, 2016 Week 41 Oriente Quiteno

HEY MOM!!!!! 

Well as you have guessed...yeah we had changes. I actually did pack most of my things in my bags....although not everything fit....It was still a nightmare but...So now I am in Vargas. It is in La Colon. It's where President is. Well almost. It is really close to his house. Not super close but closer. I am a little scared hahahaahhaha. Why would they move me here? Oh well. 

So I was studying the scriptures this week....like every other week...but I found a really great scripture in Isaias 55:8-9 which says 

 8 ¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Well I was reading your email mom and I feel really sad for the tragedies. It's very sad but, I was reading this scripture and it really hit me. I found this to tell my investigadors about the Book of Mormon and how God always has a plan, but I think it applies to this as well. I know that alot of people focus on their own understanding or their own thoughts but I really like what the Lord says. He knows that he is smart and everything he does is for a reason. It wouldn't make sense if the things of God were not of Order would it? I really don't think so. I know that we want to make up reasonings for every little thing but the ways of the Lord are on a different plane than we are. Everything he does is of a higher understanding. Everything he does is for our benefit and we may never understand why he does what he does. We can try to understand but we will never reach this plane of understanding until we are perfect in Heaven...how do you spell cielos? Well anyways I know that the Lord does everything according to his will and everything he does is for our benefit. Even though we do not understand. We don't need to understand. I have found a lot of people here in Ecuador that say, "Well we don't need Prophets in this day" Or "Well God will never give us another book" Well I really believe that if God wants to give us another book or 3 others or 5 others. I feel like we should accept these books becuase the Lord knows what is best for us. Also with what is happening at home I think the same. We need to be humble in order to really understand why these things are happening. Sometimes through humbleness we may find the mysteries of God. Especially if we look for them. But we also need to remember that our thoughts are not on the same level as the thoughts of God. I love you guys and hope you are all doing well.

Love Elder Rogers

This is my new Companion Elder Gil from Peru.

July 25, 2016 Week 40 Oriente Quiteno

Hello Family,

Well morale is a little low today, I broke my trompo. Threw it into a wall and it just exploded.  I felt a little sick last night again. I bought some street cologne today, smells nice.  Something super cool about Ecuador is that they can make custom clothing, real nice stuff.  I have been kind of cold here in this sector.  I have been in this sector a month already.
We had some good lessons this week, and had about five investigators come to church.
Well I had to buy some dog food for all the stray dogs here.  They are starving.  Some people feed them bread, but that seems more like duck food, so I got them some dog food.  I am only going to feed my favorites though.
We had interviews with the President, they came to the house, and talked to us.  My comp was a little sick a day last week.  We continue to work hard and are looking for people to teach.  All is well here!
No pictures sorry maybe next week gotta go
Love Elder Rogers

July 18, 2016 Week 39 Oriente Quiteno

Sorry about last week with the computers, but jeez mom back in the day they only had hand written letters and no photos like ever.  So you're pretty spoiled really.  We hiked back up the teleferico, it was pretty hot and a long day of riding busses and hiking.
So this week we went to a different computer place. These computers actually work, they are not full of viruses and the usb ports really work!
Another Earthquake, it felt pretty big, not as big as the first one back in Feb, but still pretty big! They just keep happening.  It's not like Wyoming for sure.
It's super windy here lately.  I am getting my clothes shrunk down today, I'm really impressed with the way the Ecuadorian people can sew stuff, they are professionals.
I was looking back at some of my pictures from the MTC, those were good times, I enjoyed it there, especially the food.  I'm getting a little sick of rice here, to be honest.
I know I don't write a lot of spiritual things, but I have had a lot of experiences here that have been real good for me.  We have had a lot of good lessons, and felt a lot of love for the people. I know you can't see it, but it's happening. I do love being a missionary and teaching people.  I mean we have ups and downs here too, it's life.  It's been a fantastic experience so far.  We just keep trying to work as hard as we can.  The success we have on our missions don't just include baptisms, we have to try and help strength the members and try and help them as much as we can.
There are a ton of hills in this sector, I am getting really good at walking up hill all day. I never thought I'd wear out shoes, but I have.

Here's me and Elder Adams

Here's my thinking acorn and a sea shell.

Love you guys, Elder Rogers