Monday, May 31, 2010
May 31, 2010
Hola Familia!
Wow! What a week. We had a little of everything!
I will try to cram everything into this letter.
We had the last zone conference of President Wade on Thursday. The night before all the bus drivers went on strike and weren’t working so we got a bus to Limpio. (where we buy food like San Lorenzo) On our way someone used a slingshot and broke the windshield of the bus!! All of a sudden the AC was on haha. Luckily we had our suits on. When we arrived at Limpio there were crowds and crowds of people trying to get to work. People were hanging out of buses haha and all the zone was there at the zone leaders’ house because no busses were going to Asuncion. So they called the office elders and they came and picked us up in the mission van. While we were driving we passed police officers walking with their shields! (see photo) It was intense! We got back alright but there were some problems with wanting more money. There were other elders with stories of busses almost hitting each other, and racing (but they’re always racing each other). But at zone conference, President started by explaining how our mission has been the ¨flagship¨ of all the missions in South America (and more), leading in stats. Then we broke it down into characteristics. What do we need to do to be the flagship? What do we need to know, and what do we need to be? We saw a slideshow of our new mission president. I'm excited to meet him. Then since it was the last zone conference of President Wade they had everybody give a brief testimony. It was very powerful. They gave us a Book of Mormon in English and a glued-in letter and photo of their family.
Saturday we had a great lesson with a man named Augustine. He is the ex-husband of Leo. We were talking about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and he said, “Well I need a sign”. We told him about how signs do not bring testimonies. I explained to him how I had come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and I felt the spirit so strong, and I know that he did too. We gave him a baptism date for the 19th of June. He came to church yesterday (along with 12 other people ). Later that day we stopped by Leo’s, and the ex-husband was there. We had come to find out that he had been drinking the night before church, which sucked but he said he felt something different, something that felt good. We explained that that was the Holy Ghost and he started talking like he wanted a vision of something. I want to talk to him while he is sober. I really think he could progress.
We were also blessed to find a lady who wants to be baptized. Her husband is a member from about 6 years ago, but inactive. They need to get married first, and she wants to be baptized in a river so we are thinking that a baptism and a marriage on the riverside would be great. They’re still a little shaky on the marriage but she has a desire to be baptized.
We also made pancakes at an investigators house. (see photo) She wants to be baptized, but her husband doesn’t like the church and they’re not married, so we'll see. That’s great to hear about Elder Webster and the Elder Ursenbachs, If there is anything I can say from here to them it would be, “Enjoy every day. Don't give up. You have 2 years to work and eternity to think about it.” Send my congratulations to Dave!
Thanks for everything you do for me! I love you guys so much!
Love Élder Rodgers
Wow! What a week. We had a little of everything!
I will try to cram everything into this letter.
We had the last zone conference of President Wade on Thursday. The night before all the bus drivers went on strike and weren’t working so we got a bus to Limpio. (where we buy food like San Lorenzo) On our way someone used a slingshot and broke the windshield of the bus!! All of a sudden the AC was on haha. Luckily we had our suits on. When we arrived at Limpio there were crowds and crowds of people trying to get to work. People were hanging out of buses haha and all the zone was there at the zone leaders’ house because no busses were going to Asuncion. So they called the office elders and they came and picked us up in the mission van. While we were driving we passed police officers walking with their shields! (see photo) It was intense! We got back alright but there were some problems with wanting more money. There were other elders with stories of busses almost hitting each other, and racing (but they’re always racing each other). But at zone conference, President started by explaining how our mission has been the ¨flagship¨ of all the missions in South America (and more), leading in stats. Then we broke it down into characteristics. What do we need to do to be the flagship? What do we need to know, and what do we need to be? We saw a slideshow of our new mission president. I'm excited to meet him. Then since it was the last zone conference of President Wade they had everybody give a brief testimony. It was very powerful. They gave us a Book of Mormon in English and a glued-in letter and photo of their family.
Saturday we had a great lesson with a man named Augustine. He is the ex-husband of Leo. We were talking about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and he said, “Well I need a sign”. We told him about how signs do not bring testimonies. I explained to him how I had come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and I felt the spirit so strong, and I know that he did too. We gave him a baptism date for the 19th of June. He came to church yesterday (along with 12 other people ). Later that day we stopped by Leo’s, and the ex-husband was there. We had come to find out that he had been drinking the night before church, which sucked but he said he felt something different, something that felt good. We explained that that was the Holy Ghost and he started talking like he wanted a vision of something. I want to talk to him while he is sober. I really think he could progress.
We were also blessed to find a lady who wants to be baptized. Her husband is a member from about 6 years ago, but inactive. They need to get married first, and she wants to be baptized in a river so we are thinking that a baptism and a marriage on the riverside would be great. They’re still a little shaky on the marriage but she has a desire to be baptized.
We also made pancakes at an investigators house. (see photo) She wants to be baptized, but her husband doesn’t like the church and they’re not married, so we'll see. That’s great to hear about Elder Webster and the Elder Ursenbachs, If there is anything I can say from here to them it would be, “Enjoy every day. Don't give up. You have 2 years to work and eternity to think about it.” Send my congratulations to Dave!
Thanks for everything you do for me! I love you guys so much!
Love Élder Rodgers
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 24, 2010
Hola Familia!
Well first of all the Mission Office has moved! The address to send letters and packages has changed. Here is the new one:
Elder Rodgers
Paraguay Asuncion North Mission
Avda. Santisima Trinidad 1280
c/ Julio Correa
Asunción Paraguay
I'll attempt to answer all your questions about this area but if I don't remind me and I will answer them next week. That monkey was at the house of some person that we went and took pictures with. The monkey’s name is Marcelo. With our laundry there is a lady that does it, an older single lady. I have gotten some pants back from her still dirty so she does what she can. Every area has somebody to do their laundry. Elder Alvarez speaks a little bit of English. He can understand English really well. I am helping him learn English. We are learning “I am a Child of God” in English and we might sing it in zone conference Thursday. He has been a member for 10 years and only him, his sister and his mom are members. His father died about 5 years ago and his mom has remarried. He has been in this area for 6 more weeks than I have, and this is a huge area!!! I’m sure there are areas that nobody has touched. There were 62 people in church and we had a baptism on Saturday, a lady named Leongina, ¨Leo” and her confirmation was yesterday. I am the ward piano player. Yesterday was the first time in the brand new chapel! It’s small but beautiful! The first week of the change was hard. Everything was new but its a lot better now.
There is a package that is on its way home right now. I had told the people at the office to send it with Élder Peterson (who is flying home right now) but they sent it through the mail system anyways (I told them to bring it back to the office)... so it will get to you in a month or two.
I have really been enjoying learning more and more of the stories in the Book of Mormon. There is so much there that you can learn. I have been listening to John Bytheway still and learning more. I love the Gospel. I have some letters that I have ready to send out to some people that will probably be sent at zone conference.
Thanks for everything that you do for me!
I love you guys so much!!
Con Amor
Élder Lucas Rodgers
Well first of all the Mission Office has moved! The address to send letters and packages has changed. Here is the new one:
Elder Rodgers
Paraguay Asuncion North Mission
Avda. Santisima Trinidad 1280
c/ Julio Correa
Asunción Paraguay
I'll attempt to answer all your questions about this area but if I don't remind me and I will answer them next week. That monkey was at the house of some person that we went and took pictures with. The monkey’s name is Marcelo. With our laundry there is a lady that does it, an older single lady. I have gotten some pants back from her still dirty so she does what she can. Every area has somebody to do their laundry. Elder Alvarez speaks a little bit of English. He can understand English really well. I am helping him learn English. We are learning “I am a Child of God” in English and we might sing it in zone conference Thursday. He has been a member for 10 years and only him, his sister and his mom are members. His father died about 5 years ago and his mom has remarried. He has been in this area for 6 more weeks than I have, and this is a huge area!!! I’m sure there are areas that nobody has touched. There were 62 people in church and we had a baptism on Saturday, a lady named Leongina, ¨Leo” and her confirmation was yesterday. I am the ward piano player. Yesterday was the first time in the brand new chapel! It’s small but beautiful! The first week of the change was hard. Everything was new but its a lot better now.
There is a package that is on its way home right now. I had told the people at the office to send it with Élder Peterson (who is flying home right now) but they sent it through the mail system anyways (I told them to bring it back to the office)... so it will get to you in a month or two.
I have really been enjoying learning more and more of the stories in the Book of Mormon. There is so much there that you can learn. I have been listening to John Bytheway still and learning more. I love the Gospel. I have some letters that I have ready to send out to some people that will probably be sent at zone conference.
Thanks for everything that you do for me!
I love you guys so much!!
Con Amor
Élder Lucas Rodgers
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17, 2010
Hola Familia!
How’s the best family in the world?
Well, big news, well big-ish. I got changed. I am now in an area called Emboscada. (in English ¨Ambush¨). My new comp is Élder Alvarez from Columbia. He only has 4 months left in the mission and Élder Hanchett has another greenie, haha. This ward is small. There are about 300 members in the area but a long time ago the chapel closed randomly for a month and a lot of them went inactive. Yesterday we had 15 members, and one investigator. I helped bless the sacrament, and gave a short talk. It’s a whole new part of Paraguay. I walked into my new house, put my suitcases down and looked at the wardrobe and saw a big ¨Elder Peterson¨ on one of the drawers, so a Canadian has been here before, haha.
I sent a package home with some things from the Indians here but I got a call last week saying that I needed to send 90 mil more. I think I will send the money tomorrow, but just to let you know I took out 200 mil today and last week.
Well I have been having some great personal studies, reading the Book of Mormon, and in “Preach my Gospel”. I really love the gospel. It always has an answer for everything. I have been listening to John Bytheway too and I seem to always learn something new from his talks. They are very inspiring. The gospel is great. I love it. The power of prayer is amazing. I remember the prayer last week given by Dad. That was very special for me. It gives me boosts of energy when I need it. I have made obedience a quest not an irritation. It is something that John Bytheway was talking about, to turn obedience from an irritation into a quest to be obedient.
Something that I have learned here is that we have to put the will of the Lord first, put His way before our way like it says in 3 Nephi 13:31-33. Don´t worry about your will, just have faith that God will lead you and guide you, because in 1 Nephi 3:7 we know that there is always a way with God. 2 Nephi 2:24
I love the Savior, I love the church.
Thanks for everything you do for me! I love you guys SO Much! Thanks for your examples in my life.
Con Amor, Les Amo
Élder Lucas Rodgers
How’s the best family in the world?
Well, big news, well big-ish. I got changed. I am now in an area called Emboscada. (in English ¨Ambush¨). My new comp is Élder Alvarez from Columbia. He only has 4 months left in the mission and Élder Hanchett has another greenie, haha. This ward is small. There are about 300 members in the area but a long time ago the chapel closed randomly for a month and a lot of them went inactive. Yesterday we had 15 members, and one investigator. I helped bless the sacrament, and gave a short talk. It’s a whole new part of Paraguay. I walked into my new house, put my suitcases down and looked at the wardrobe and saw a big ¨Elder Peterson¨ on one of the drawers, so a Canadian has been here before, haha.
I sent a package home with some things from the Indians here but I got a call last week saying that I needed to send 90 mil more. I think I will send the money tomorrow, but just to let you know I took out 200 mil today and last week.
Well I have been having some great personal studies, reading the Book of Mormon, and in “Preach my Gospel”. I really love the gospel. It always has an answer for everything. I have been listening to John Bytheway too and I seem to always learn something new from his talks. They are very inspiring. The gospel is great. I love it. The power of prayer is amazing. I remember the prayer last week given by Dad. That was very special for me. It gives me boosts of energy when I need it. I have made obedience a quest not an irritation. It is something that John Bytheway was talking about, to turn obedience from an irritation into a quest to be obedient.
Something that I have learned here is that we have to put the will of the Lord first, put His way before our way like it says in 3 Nephi 13:31-33. Don´t worry about your will, just have faith that God will lead you and guide you, because in 1 Nephi 3:7 we know that there is always a way with God. 2 Nephi 2:24
I love the Savior, I love the church.
Thanks for everything you do for me! I love you guys SO Much! Thanks for your examples in my life.
Con Amor, Les Amo
Élder Lucas Rodgers
Monday, May 10, 2010
May 10, 2010
Hola Familia!
It was really nice talking to you guys too. That was really nice to hear that you guys are doing good still! Well Paraguay is slowly getting colder and with the humidity it makes it colder than it seems. Thanks for everything that you do for me. It helps a lot. One thing that I forgot to talk about is shirts. The ones that we got from missionary mall are hard to clean. That's what Sister Sotelo said, and they get dirty fast. So if it is possible to send some later that would be great.
We have had a great week. Saturday morning we went to a member’s house to climb trees and cut down branches by using machetes. It was really fun. Friday we were helping clean up the backyard of Trifi. Tomorrow we will know about changes. This week has been a little hectic, but is all good.
I don't think my Ipod will work. I think the humidity killed the screen. I tried restarting it but it didn't work so I don't think there is any use sending it home. I can look around here for a new music player that works.
I will be sending home a memory card asap and I have all the pictures on my back-up so let me know when you get it.
I have become a pro at adding new holes to my belt haha. One belt has two new holes on it haha. There is another that I still need to add one to it.
Thanks for everything you do to help me. I pray for you guys every day and for all the family. The Lord lives. I am printing off the talk about missionaries to read on my way to San Lorenzo.
Thanks for everything!!
Les Amo!
Élder Rodgers
It was really nice talking to you guys too. That was really nice to hear that you guys are doing good still! Well Paraguay is slowly getting colder and with the humidity it makes it colder than it seems. Thanks for everything that you do for me. It helps a lot. One thing that I forgot to talk about is shirts. The ones that we got from missionary mall are hard to clean. That's what Sister Sotelo said, and they get dirty fast. So if it is possible to send some later that would be great.
We have had a great week. Saturday morning we went to a member’s house to climb trees and cut down branches by using machetes. It was really fun. Friday we were helping clean up the backyard of Trifi. Tomorrow we will know about changes. This week has been a little hectic, but is all good.
I don't think my Ipod will work. I think the humidity killed the screen. I tried restarting it but it didn't work so I don't think there is any use sending it home. I can look around here for a new music player that works.
I will be sending home a memory card asap and I have all the pictures on my back-up so let me know when you get it.
I have become a pro at adding new holes to my belt haha. One belt has two new holes on it haha. There is another that I still need to add one to it.
Thanks for everything you do to help me. I pray for you guys every day and for all the family. The Lord lives. I am printing off the talk about missionaries to read on my way to San Lorenzo.
Thanks for everything!!
Les Amo!
Élder Rodgers
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3, 2010
Well we had a great week. We were helping people a lot. This coming week we are sure is the last week we will have together so we plan on working hard to find the people in our area that are really praying, looking, searching for the help. We had a great fast. It was just a great week.
Well I understand that, mom, you don’t ever want to see a tarantula in real life, so I will make sure to send just pictures. As of right now is their season to come out because it is cooler out now. I have been seeing a lot of parrots. I saw a pet monkey a while ago haha and the last week we found two leeches in our bathroom. It’s interesting, every time we return to our house we have to check our bathroom for creatures: cockroaches, leeches (well now we are), frogs. My camera dropped and the lens cover broke a little bit so I got a new camera today. (I got my pin and activated my Visa.) I took out 900 Mil which is about $189 American - a new Samsung. It works with my old camera card but has a different battery. But it is rechargeable. The old rechargeable batteries that I have are slowly and slowly losing overall life so I was thinking of replacing them anyways. I can buy the same kind here, but I will when I need them, for now I will be okay.
Thanks for all the information on how the family is doing. That's awesome to hear. and I will try what you suggested about my ipod and tell you in my quick email tomorrow.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Savior and his life. I really want to read "Jesus the Christ". One of my favorite scriptures is in D&C 76:22 - "that He Lives!" When the Savior suffered for us he suffered for each of us, for our names, for our disabilities, for our short-comings, for everything in our lives. (Alma 7:11-12). He was pre-destined to do this. But the only thing he asks of us is that we keep his commandments to receive his blessings. I know the Savior lives. He has a glorified body and he has conquered death. I am grateful each and every day for what he has done for me. I love you guys.
Love Élder Rodgers
Well I understand that, mom, you don’t ever want to see a tarantula in real life, so I will make sure to send just pictures. As of right now is their season to come out because it is cooler out now. I have been seeing a lot of parrots. I saw a pet monkey a while ago haha and the last week we found two leeches in our bathroom. It’s interesting, every time we return to our house we have to check our bathroom for creatures: cockroaches, leeches (well now we are), frogs. My camera dropped and the lens cover broke a little bit so I got a new camera today. (I got my pin and activated my Visa.) I took out 900 Mil which is about $189 American - a new Samsung. It works with my old camera card but has a different battery. But it is rechargeable. The old rechargeable batteries that I have are slowly and slowly losing overall life so I was thinking of replacing them anyways. I can buy the same kind here, but I will when I need them, for now I will be okay.
Thanks for all the information on how the family is doing. That's awesome to hear. and I will try what you suggested about my ipod and tell you in my quick email tomorrow.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Savior and his life. I really want to read "Jesus the Christ". One of my favorite scriptures is in D&C 76:22 - "that He Lives!" When the Savior suffered for us he suffered for each of us, for our names, for our disabilities, for our short-comings, for everything in our lives. (Alma 7:11-12). He was pre-destined to do this. But the only thing he asks of us is that we keep his commandments to receive his blessings. I know the Savior lives. He has a glorified body and he has conquered death. I am grateful each and every day for what he has done for me. I love you guys.
Love Élder Rodgers
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