May 30, 2011 {Email}

Well, this was a crazy week! First to start out, Elder Wright woke up early Tuesday morning and as i walked by him to go to the "private" (bathroom ha) he just looked at me and said very quietly "I'm sick". He didn't look good at all. It turned out he had Typhoid! He slept for like two days straight! And then on Friday he was back to full strength! He says he doesn't get sick very often but when he does it is bad. Kinda like my dad haha.

So with him better we had a lot of work to do on Fri. and Sat. to prepare for the baptism and try to see our investigators before Sunday. We got things done and not going to lie it took like all of our energy riding all over the place. We even rode our bikes to Abuakwa to do interviews so i got to see Jennifer and Juliet again! They are doing great but still not coming to church :(. It was cool to see Abuakwa again though.

Everything went well and Sunday came around. There was going to be eleven total baptisms in our district! Two of them were our investigators Kwesi and Douglas! Two sweet sweet guys! All of them were so excited!

When we got to church we informed the bishop of the baptism and began to fill the font which has drain that goes to it. About an hour later i had a thought, "go check the font" so in the middle of the sacrament meeting i went to check it and sure enough the water had stopped flowing! there was only an inch of water in the font! The reason it stopped was because the power was out. I informed the members and they just told us to do the baptism next week. We did not want to postpone this baptism, there are 11 people excited and ready to be baptized so we will do the baptism for them! So we suggested we fetch water and the members didn't like that idea so we, me, Elder Wright, Elder Ekaette, and Elder Chewaka went and began fetching water in hopes to fill the font within two hours. That was A LOT of water and it took all we had to just get enough water for someone to be baptized. I was dead tired after that! But it worked! The water wasn't the cleanest but we got it done. The Abuakwa people showed up with their investigators and the baptism was completed. It was such a sweet baptism and i am so grateful the Lord helped us to fill the font in time. I don't think we could've gotten that done on any given day but He helped us to get it done on this day for these wonderful people. Sure enough right when the baptism was over the power came back on haha so now the water was running but we didn't need it. Oh well ha i don't really know the reason why He had us fetch the water for the font but whatever it is i am glad to be a part of it.

Now for transfer news! One of the AP's called us this morning and told Elder Wright we were not going to be companions after today so we were bummed all day and just depressed. We have been hoping so much to be able to stay together to work hard in this area and keep it going. We didn't know what was going to happen just that we weren't companions anymore. Then we got a call from Elder Akoki (my grandfather) who was in the mission home on his way home. He gave us the hint that we were both training! Now we were really anxious to get the real news. But it didn't come and we were both really quiet all day. Finally, just as we were about to start doing our wash, President Sabey called and told us that we were both going to be training just as we heard AND that we would both be in Asuoyeboa still!!!!!!! Sweet! I am so happy i still get to be around Elder Wright and in this area! This is such a sweet transfer! The other two will be leaving and we will get two fresh greenies in our apartment. I am way nervous about training but hey how else am i supposed to grow if i never do these things. It will be a great opportunity and it will be fun to do it with Elder Wright!

That is a crazy week i know! Holy smokes mission is changing!

Love you! Have a great, fun week!

Elder Rogers

May 23, 2011 {Email}

This week has been great! We keep on having sweet experiences each and every day! Well almost each and every day... this week i was on the disabled list for a couple days with the sickness known as Malaria. It wasn't too bad this time but i just had no energy to go out and be in the sun. I would become wasted very quickly. To be safe and to get better quicker we took the days off which worked out great because the weekend was very busy for us! To help us out with the busyness we finally were given BIKES! Brand new bikes came to our apartment from the mission. We were so excited because we could now get to our area so much faster. We weren't expecting the pain that would come to our buttocks but i guess that all comes with the blessing of a bike. Anyways it has helped a lot and allowed us to see a lot more people each day.

Sundays are always my favorite days of the week! It's on these days that we get to see our investigators diligently search the church. I don't know why but the investigators in Asuoyeboa come very often, it is so sweet! This week we had lost touch with our baptismal candidate Kwesi, who should be baptized on the 29th. We didn't see him or hear from him all week and we were very worried about him. On Sunday, sure enough he walks right in the church with his young daughter, sits down and starts teaching her how to sing the hymns. We were so excited to see him again! We will be having a baptism on this Sunday and he will be a part of it. I love the work here in Asuoyeboa, the ward helps so much! It reminds me of the members back home how they welcome new people to the church.

Today for P-day we went to the ZOO! Our zone went as an activity and we were all way excited and curious to what we would find. It turned out to be pretty sweet even though the living conditions aren't the best for the animals. It's nothing like our good ol' american zoos. They had lions, monkeys, snakes, crocodiles and a lot of other cool animals. No elephant, rhino or hippo so i was very sad. It's ok it was fun! I have been having a great time here! Love you all!

Elder Rogers

May 16, 2011 {Email}

It was another sweet week! Brother Okian and his two children were confirmed and he also got the aaronic priesthood. He was so happy to finally get it since we haven't been able to because of general and stake conferences the last two weeks. It just came up to me with a big smile on his face and gave me a strong Ghanaian handshake. It makes me so happy to see the light come in their lives.

We have been very blessed these past few weeks with meeting people who are just ready to "live" the gospel. As we go around everyone always calls the white men over and says they want to hear the gospel, but that's all they want to do. Lately we have met several people who are ready to live the gospel. It's been such a blessing to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to be a part of these people coming to know the truth. For some reason the people here in Asuoyeboa are way receptive, even Elder Wright says this is unlike anything he has seen on his mission and he's been here long, ha long enough that he got his travel plans today haha he seems to be stressing a little bit. I haven't been helping with the situation much either ha i tease him a lot. Anyways, We have met so many really cool people that understand the importance of the message we have. They understand why they need to be baptized into the only true church. It has been so awesome to be a part of!

This week something terrible happened to me! Possibly the worst thing on mission so far... I was going to make my usual bread and egg sandwich in the morning and i had 3 eggs left so i decided to use them all. The first one i cracked looked a little strange and didn't come out very smoothly but i didn't care ha it can't hurt me. Then i went to crack the next egg and right when my fork (yeah, we have forks!) hit the egg BAM!!! the egg exploded! Man i was in shock! Elder Wright asked, "What was that?" I just replied, "My egg??" I had no idea eggs could blow up! As i looked at it i saw that it was all black inside and then the smell came. UGH! Man it took everything i had not to vomit. Elder Wright fled the seen ha. Then i checked the next egg and the same thing happened! What in the world?! The smell was beyond terrible now. My first reaction was to wash it down the sink but our water wasn't running. Then i panicked! I put it in a black plastic bag, tied it tight and ran outside and threw it in the neighbors backyard! Maybe not the smartest thing to do, but i was not thinking straight at all. That yard was close to our bedroom so we went and barricaded ourselves inside to avoid the smell and it worked. I didn't smell it again. I still don't know how i didn't throw up, but i am sure that was the worst smell i have ever had go through my nostrils. Even thinking about it right now i want to just gag. All i gotta say is sorry for whoever finds that black bag. Not good at all. Other than that the week was just fabulous! 

Being in Ghana is so humbling. Even as missionaries we are expected to live off of 3 cedis a day which is like 2 dollars. At first it seemed like nothing but after i began to see the people here and how they survive i realized that 3 cedis is living good here. That is 3 meals and that's all you need. To think back home i would spend 12 dollars at cafe rio just blows my mind, i can't even imagine that right now, but it was normal and still is for all of you. It's just a weird thing how blessed we are back home, if only i could have seen it before coming to this wonderful place. 

I really love it here in Ghana!

Elder Rogers

This is from their Easter baptism.

Show this picture to Andy Nielson, it's his mt. He is now in my ward and is our ward missionary leader.

May 2, 2011 {Email}

This week went by so fast! It seems like we just had our baptism. We have really been having fun with the work here in Asuoyeboa. It's been a crazy week too, so many unique situations have come to us that are just different, but it makes it interesting and fun. We have met a lot of former investigators that our zone leader Elder Christensen taught when he was in the area and they are actually really solid people. It was about a year ago that they were taught and each of them went pretty far in the discussions but something happened to stop them from being baptized. We are getting to know them and are going to try to help them to go through with what they already know to be true. All they got left to do is act upon their faith. Gaining the knowledge that it is true is the hard part, now they just have to live it. It's been a sweet experience to work with these people that have been through a lot. The lessons are definitely guided by the spirit because without it i am just a 19 year old boy that would have no idea what to say to these people. The situations are way beyond me. It has a really been a neat experience to work with them.

I can't believe its already may and i will be done with my second phone call home by next email. 2 down, 2 to go. Crazy!

Love, Elder Rogers

April 26, 2011 {Email}

This week was amazing! There's not a better way to spend Easter than to have a baptism. The coolest thing was as we were preparing brother okian for the baptism, we noticed that his children were old enough to be baptized too. They had been sitting in on all of the lessons, but didn't really understand it because of the English. We asked Okian to teach them everything and then they could be baptized too. He was way excited for that! He did it and his 11 year old Joseph and 9 year old Elizabeth were baptized with him! It was so neat. His wife also came to the baptism with there 7 year old who will turn 8 next month. They should both be baptized by the end of May! So sweet! A whole family is what i have always dreamed of seeing come to the truth. We also had an old lady named Agnes baptized. This was also a cool thing because it was the mother of our Elders Quorom President Alex. He did the baptisms so he was able to baptize his mother. I love just seeing the smile on their faces as the ordinance is finished. Definitely an Easter i will never forget!

The way they celebrate easter here is strange. It is huge! They start on Wednesday and don't finish till Monday. It is more of a party than a spiritual day, I guess that's how all the other churches are. Our Easter was amazing though! What a great way to spend it having baptisms. I really have been loving my mission more than ever these last couple weeks. The work is really paying off and it is such a blessing. I hope I can just be with Elder Wright till he finishes so we can do some serious work here.

Elder Wright and I are doing great, we love this Asuoyeboa area and have just been working to get these people to know the truth. There are so many people that we just love and want so badly to come to the truth. I really believe they will come with some patience and perseverance. The work has really been getting sweet. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week! (Go Yankees!) :) 

Elder Rogers

April 18, 2011 {Email}

This week has been another good one. For some reason it went by so much faster than any other week. The work is going great for Elder Wright and I. This Asuoyeboa area is so powerful, and we only are going to half of it! The other two elders are experiencing the same sweetness. I am starting to meet those people that i know i am just going to love and do everything for them to have the gospel in their lives. We are preparing one man for baptism this week, his name is Okian Danko. He is older prob around 60, and has a ton of children ha. He has been coming to church for 2 years and is an ex elder from the SDA church. That's not an easy thing to leave but he said he knew it was true so he left his church! If only all people could have that courage and strength. Anyways he has been waiting to be baptized for a long time so we are just putting the final touches on the lessons then sunday he will be baptized. Hopefully his wife and some of his kids will follow shortly! Sweet family.

One thing me and Elder Wright are getting really good at is getting beat by the rain! The only two times it rained this week we were caught in it and this rain is no small thing ha. The first time we were at our farthest investigator and as we were beginning to walk back it started pouring! We just said what the heck and kept walking ha. We were soaked! And last night we were about 10 minutes from the apartment when it suddenly came, we ran barely being able to see because of light out and water in our face. It was really fun ha! Things are going great here! 

Oh, by the way transfers were today and there are no big changes in our zone. I'm staying for an actual transfer in Asuoyeboa, yay! 

I love you all and wish you the best! Go Yankees!

Love, 

Elder Rogers

April 11, 2011 {Email}

Asuoyeboa is awesome! I love it here. It's still not quite like Abuakwa but i feel as i get to know everyone better and spend some more time here i will be able to feel that same love for the area and all of these people. It has been so hard to learn all of these new names. Man i feel like an elementary school teacher trying to remember everyone and their concerns. It's difficult when they are all black haha. We're getting there though! We have found out our area is huge! We split it in half with the other to studly missionaries, Elder Chewaka and Elder Ekaette. We have taken the Tanoso side of it and they took the Kwadaso side. Still, we have to walk forever just to get to our area. Then when we get there we have to WALK some more. Holy cow i don't think i've walked this much in all of my life put together. Well, thats an exaggeration, it just seems like a ton of walking! We have met some really cool people though. Hopefully they will continue to progress. One of the best things about this area is the chapel! It is a big white one right on the main road so there are always random people that just show up and it makes it easier for our investigators to come. It's kind of strange working in a ward now.

Being with Elder Wright is such a blessing. I have really enjoyed working hard with him. I hope we get to stay together for a little while so i can learn all that i can from him. We have had some way fun times. Today for p-day we did a talent show and our apartment did an Ethiopian culture dance in honor of Elder Chewaka. Haha it was awesome. If you are wondering what it is i'm sure youtube should have something for it. Of course we dominated since me and Elder Wright are basically professional dancers... ;). It's been a great week, and i'm really looking forward to the next one.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Rogers

April 4, 2011 {Email}

Well, things have changed a lot in the past few days. I should tell you that i am no longer serving in Abuakwa :(. There has been an emergency transfer that cleaned out the Asuoyeboa apartment this week and I will be one of the new 4 missionaries to be serving there. Yeah, big news huh? It's crazy! At first i was very sad to be leaving Abuakwa and all the people i love and to leave Elder Yapo who will be going down to Cape Coast for his last two weeks. It was a shocker to all of us. We went around and said good bye to them, but they didn't really act as if i was going anywhere ha since Asuoyeboa is just a 15 minute tro ride. I will be in the same district! The sweet thing is i will be there to see the baptisms of my people in Abuakwa since they do them in Asuoyeboa! The two missionaries going to Abuakwa are Elder Meinzer from Utah County and Elder Gibson from Cedar City. Two sweet guys and i'm very glad they are there to continue with the people i love. They will do great! 

My new companion is Elder Wright from Thatcher, Arizona! He was actually born in Springerville, Arizona where my grandparents live so they could possibly know his family! In high school he did wrestling and of course he likes bow hunting! Gotta love the Arizona people! He has been on mission for almost 20 months and was just released as AP. I'm way excited to be able to learn from him and become a better missionary like him. He is a solid guy! The other two in our apartment are Elder Ekaette from Nigeria and Elder Chewaka from Ethiopia. They are awesome! I get to learn about Ethiopia now which seems like an awesome place. These guys are funny. The Asuoyeboa ward is powerful! Church on Sunday they all welcomed us so nicely and there were plenty of people there. The area is really big so we finally figured out how to split it. Elder Wright and I will take the Tanoso side which is the closest town to Abuakwa ha it's so weird. We have been walking a ton trying to find ourselves and the members. The work is not going to be easy since we are kind of starting from scratch but i'm way excited for it! I'm excited to have a sweet companion to do all of this with! Crazy week, but i know all of this is what the lord wants!

Elder Rogers

March 28, 2011 {Email}

This week was really good! It started off with Juliet suddenly becoming very excited about our message. She even came to church when she was sick yesterday. It was awesome. She is slowly starting to allow herself to go with what she knows is true. I'm very excited for her. Our two baptismal candidates John and Charles weren't able to come to church this week so we are postponing the baptism again. I think that is good because maybe if all goes well Juliet could join them!

We also met the coolest little boy this week! His name is Phillip and is only 13 years old. He came to church by himself after we had invited him and some other people around him. After the service he was saying how happy he felt in the church and he wanted to be baptized and become a teacher. Ha it was so cool . He is really smart too! He memorized our phone number we gave him within a day. He's like a boy genius i swear. After teaching him a couple discussions he came to church the next week but this time he brought his whole family! It was the coolest thing! They all loved it too. Elder Yapo and I made it a goal to baptize a family before he went home. It would be hard to baptize them that quick and everything would have to go nearly perfect, but it could happen! I'm really excited about this family!

Today we finally played full-pitch football again! We had President Sabey doing the refereeing so that made it fun and fair. I'm still not getting any better but i'm trying ha. It's a good thing all i do is play defense so i can rely small on my basketball instincts. That is my only chance ha. It felt good to finally run around again and try to burn off some of my newly acquired fufu belly ha. I wish we could do that more often!

Well it's been great here in Abuakwa. Elder Yapo's days are dwindling very quickly and it is sad. I will miss him a lot. It's been really fun to work hard with him and to learn from him. 

I hope you all have a great week! I love you all!

Elder Rogers

March 21, 2011 {Email}

This week has been pretty fun. This greenie Elder Japhet is really something ha. He has been waking up every morning at 4;30! I don't know why, but he is pretty loud and always turns on the light right outside my room so it's right in my eye. Ha I guess he just really wants to get the day going fast fast. Tonight i am going to put some duct tape on the light switch and write do not turn on until 6:30! Ha 6:30 is early enough, I can't be waking up at 4:30 every day or i will not make it ha. I have had the opportunity to go and teach with him a little this week since Elder Yapo wasn't feeling too well. This guy has so much energy! He just wants to walk and walk and walk some more ha it's sweet to see that energy. Sometimes i would get worn out so I would have to say slow down big guy ha. I have been introducing him to what it's like to walk with an "obroni" (white man) ha it was shock to him at first when i got attacked by twenty little kids. He got used to it though and thinks its pretty fun, which it is. I love the little kids!

Every night this week there has been huge thunder and lightning (kacey, the thunder LOOKS so cool! haha love ya sis) but really i could watch that all night, the lightning is more powerful than i have ever seen.
Another thing i have been doing is trying to learn the Twi language. In my studies i have been trying to read the book of mormon in Twi. It's not easy but i can see it helping me small small. It's been quite a frustrating but fun thing to do. I hear that is how everyone else learns their languages on mission so i thought i would give it a try. We'll see how it goes.

The work has been going great too. Elder Japhet really helped us this week with some of our progressing investigators. Charles will probably be baptized on the 2nd as well as John who has been preparing for a long time. We are still working really hard with Juliet, when i see her i just want so badly for her to overcome her challenges and do what she knows is the right thing.

Today for p-day we went to one of our members house and guess what i did??? I mowed the lawn!!! Yeah, ha i thought i wouldn't have to do that for two years, but that thought was spoiled today. It was actually really fun to do it again and of course i made it look like a baseball field. They do tend to let the lawn grow a little too much but we were able to get'r'done! After we had some amazing fufu with some light soup so right now my belly is very satisfied!! Gotta love Ghana! Have a great week everyone!

Elder Rogers