Weekly Update 11-25-13

Snow in Fort Dodge.  Trying to keep warm!

District picture.

Halee & Sister Batty taking to the streets of Fort Dodge!

Love this picture!

Hola My Family,

How is everything going? Swell I hope. Things are going great here! Sister Batty and I are together for another 6 weeks here in Fort Dodge! Things are going great and the Lord continues to bless us. We currently have 4 baptismal dates. Skie for this coming Saturday... Casey for next thursday, kyrah for December 14th, and Debbie for January 18th. These investigators are doing amazing! We have a lot to do to prepare for Casey's baptism as well as Skie's baptism, but we know that Heavenly Father is goinng to help us help them become prepared. They are both way excited and really understand the importance of the covenant made at baptism. Casey is beyond excited! She seriously can't wait. And she is getting baptized on her birthday.. what better birthday gift could you ask for?? So J, one of our investigators that got thrown back in jail called his mom the other day (while in jail), and we happened to be over at her house visiting her. He must have heard me speaking in the background because he was like, "Is Sister Rigers there? Let me talk to her!" So I got to talk to him on the phone.. I asked him how reading the Book of Mormon was going because I had sent him one earlier that week, and you know what he said??? He said, "Man, I'm ready for a baptism when I get out of here!!" haha It was the greatest thing ever. He has changed SO much. It was such a great conversation. haha

 

Thanksgiving this week! The ward is having a turkey bowl and I was super pumped to play until I found out that missionaries can't play:( SAD DAY! but a member invited us over for Thanksgiving so we are pretty pumped! Everything is just going very well. I'm so grateful to Father in Heaven for blessing us so much. It has snowed a few times and its been in single digits... it's been biting cold but things are working out good, I am staying warm!

Last week on wednesday, the district went bowling! That was way fun and I must say that those bowling classes I took in college came in handy! I kicked some trash haha

 

Nothing super crazy has happened, but things are just going so well! Sister Batty and I are still getting along great and are working hard. We are really focused on 550 right now. I love this work and I love this Gospel.

I love you guys so much and can't wait to see your beautiful faces a month from today!!!! LOVE YOU!!

 

Love,

Sister Halee Rogers

11-18-13 Weekly Update

Elder Steele, my zone leader! He goes home on friday:( man i'm gonna miss him! He was the greatest!!

Me and the Hermanas. Seriously... I love them so much.

All of us missionaries this past sunday... we werent sure if anyone was leaving so we got a just in case picture!

I got all my warm clothes you sent me!!!! Mom & Dad... thank you so much!! I have no idea what I would do without you! I love all of it.. its so cute and nice and warm! Thanks! Love you!

Family!!

So it's another week down!!! Man, things are flying by! We had a pretty good week this week! It was a little slow but it was good. We had a few minor setbacks as well, but we are still pushing forward with faith and diligently working to reach our goal of 550 by the end of the year. In this last final push we are having to put forth all of our efforts and trust in the Lord that He will take care of what we cannot do. 550 was His goal, we know that it can happen! There have already been 431 souls that have been brought into the fold of God in the IDMM. Thats incredible! But we are not done, and the Lord is not done either. We are seeing more and more miracles each and everyday. My faith is building tremendously.

 

We didn't get any new dates set this week but we were able to help souls come closer unto Christ. One of our investigators got thrown back in jail... sad day. but all is well! We were able to go contact an investigator that expressed her desire to be baptized which was awesome!! The Lord is putting people into our path at this crucial time! Sister Batty and I are doing great! We are getting along wonderfully and are loving working hard. We haven't received our transfer calls yet because we get them on monday( which is today, they just havent called yet). Although, we are 99% sure that we will both be staying here in Fort Dodge for Christmas WOOT WOOT!

We are pretty pumped. I just LOVE Fort Dodge so much!

 

There's not much other exciting news, but I just want to share with you all my testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With all the fervor of my heart and soul, I know that the fullness of the everlasting gospel was restored to the earth by Heavenly Messengers through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Everytime I speak of this event, I am filled with the Spirit of the Lord. That is how I know this is true. I also know by that same power of the Holy Ghost that upon reading the Book of Mormon, one can come to know this same thing that I know...In addition to knowing that Jesus is the Christ and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His church on the earth today. This is true you guys, it really is!!

 

I love you all so much. More than any words can describe. Keep fighting the good fight and keep the faith! You will be blessed for every righteous thing you do! Remember that in this life, "your joy in not full,but in [Christ] your joy is full.."

 

LOVE YA!!

Sister Halee Rogers

11-12-13 Weekly Update!

They had a fun P-Day with the Hermanas.....Appleby's & Pedicures!

Hey Family,

This week has been really great. Heavenly Father continues to bless us. Sister Batty and I were able to obtain 4 new investigators this week with the help of Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. We set a baptismal date for one of our investigators for November 30th! Our other investigator Casey is still set for December 5th. She is doing awesome! Last week was really rough for her, but after much praying and studying she decided that what she really wanted was to be baptized and she wanted to do what Heavenly Father wanted her to do.. not what other people wanted her to do. She bore her testimony is Sunday school this week and it was way powerful. She has definitely been prepared by the Lord. There is such a change and happiness that has developed within her that words can't describe. On, Sunday there were a few visitors that were just here for a week for work but still came to church. Their names are Madi and Jesse Peterson. They bother returned off their missions just barely in september. Madi played volleyball at NorthWest college in Wyoming.. (Snow played them all the time) We played different years, but we had a good time talking about volleyball and stuff. She served in Alaska which was way cool so I got to talk to her about how I almost went and played there! It was pretty sweet. They were both way nice and have offered to take us out to dinner a few times this week. Last night we went with them and it was so nice of them to do that!

Yesterday.. (p-day) The Hermanas drove down from Webster City and we went and got lunch at Applebees and got pedicures! Man, was that NEEDED. It was pretty fun, and now my feet feel all nice and soft. My toes are painted too, but no one can ever see them cause they are all closed up! 

So... its been pretty darn cold pretty darn fast. Yesterday, there was a high of 30. Yikes. It snowed. It was really cold and bitter... not sure what I am going to do when it gets in the negatives!! I'm getting frostbite just thinking about it, so I'll stop.

This week I started reading a book called "Believing Christ" by Stephen E. Robinson. Man, it just enlightens your mind to what the Atonement offers us. Long story short my testimony has grown tremendously. I haven't felt such truer words than these:

NOTHING is impossible with Jesus Christ, but EVERYTHING is impossible without Him

The Atonement offers us the opportunity to join with the Savior and be perfected in Him. Our personal perfection will come, but not for a long long time.. WAY after this life. When we are judged, Heavenly Father will judge us a companionship with Jesus Christ if we've had faith, repented, been baptized, received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and endured to the end. Because Christ is perfect, we become perfect in Him through the Atonement. It's incredible to think about. Because, the Celestial standards, or in order to live in Heavenly Father's presence, we must be perfect and unspotted. We have already failed. If we started now and did a million great things, it still wouldn't be enough because we have already ALL sinned and are now stained. We are already disqualified for the Kingdom of God. But, the good news of the gospel is this.. That through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can become clean if we unite WITH Him. It's such a blessing to have this gospel. To know that Heavenly Father loves us enough to provide a way to return to Him WITH OUR FAMILIES. We just first, must enter into those sacred covenants with Him that are made through priesthood ordinances such as baptism, confirmations, and temple sealings. 

I love you all very much, and I love that we have a Savior that is saving us. 

Loves

Sister Halee Rogers

P.S.  I saw this on one of the Lutheran Churches in town.. it said

"Wrinkled with Burdens? Come in and get a faith lift!" 

hahahahahahahahahah I about lost it haha LOVE YA!

P.S.S.:  Blake is SUCH a doll! Carlee sent me a few pictures too. He is so cute! I cant wait to see him on skype! I brag to everyone about him all the time!

11-4-13 Weekly update!

Carving pumpkins on P Day!  

Elder Steele, Elder Belliston, Sister Batty and Sister Rogers!

Halee found a QT in Des Moines when they were there for a meeting.

She was in heaven!

Making ornaments with Sister Bair (RS Pres) and showing them off as earrings!

Hey Fam!

Man, it feels like last monday was FOREVER ago! I'm glad I can email you all today1 This week wasn't as busy as previous weeks, but we still received a lot of blessings and I've still got a smile on my face so thats good news!

Sister Batty and I had the "New Trainer meeting" this week on tuesday in Des Moines. It was a great meeting! But something even better happened... I FOUND A QUIKTRIP1 Seriously, it was the best day of my life. I made the Elder that was driving us stop by there on the way back to Ft. Dodge. Funny story... I actually made a bet with one of the elders. I won.. poor kid. So he had to buy me a drink from QT. IT ROCKED! pictures to come. 

On Wednesday and Thursday night because of Halloween, we had to be inside by 6 pm. So basically we had 3 hours to study or do whatever. Sister Batty and I got it approved to watch 17 Miracles! Man, I really love that movie. It was incredible. Those people gave up everything for the Lord. And because they sacrificed so much, their faith grew. And because they had such great faith, they saw miracles. It was a testimony to me that the Lord has required complete consecration throughout ALL time. We have to give up our ALL to the Lord. These people did, many prophets of old did, and Jesus Christ was the perfect example of giving His all to the Lord.

As you draw close to certain markers on your mission you inevitably go through a process of self evaluation. You step back for a second and start to question yourself. You ask, "Am I where i am supposed to be at this point in my mission?" "Have I done enough?" I've been going through this process the last few days as I draw closer to my 6th month mark. It was good to see what else I need to improve on and do better to become more consecrated.

On Friday, we had District Meeting. It was WAY good! The spirit was very strong! We ride with the Hermanas to District Meeting every week so thats always fun! Getting to know them and just talking with them is great. I seriously love those two sisters so much! They are such hardworkers. I know that a partial reason of me coming to Ft. Dodge was to meet these incredible sisters.

Saturday was cool. we had a super saturday activity for Relief Society and that was a blast! I made some sweet Christmas tree ornaments out of buttons. It was legit and definitely a pinterest original haha

Yesterday was a pretty rollercoaster day but it ended very well! President Jensen and his wife came to sacrament meeting. One of our investigators was interviewed by him so that went well. We went out and worked all afternoon and then got a text from the Dillons, the members we live with, that said they were having a mini thanksgiving dinner and we were welcom to join them. So we did. And man was it more than a mini thanksgiving dinner. It was a real thanksgiving FEAST! it was so so so good! Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, jello salad, peas, gravy, all the works. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Man, I got so full though! It was the greatest.

The work out here is going well. We only have one investigator on date for baptism,Casey, but are working on getting a few others this week. We really want to help contribute to our mission goal of 550. We are hoping that we will have a date with a 14 year old named Skie this week. Pray for her! I just love this work very much! and I know that its true!

Also real quick, i don't know if I told ya'll this last email but i spoke with President Jensen and we should have ipads by april! WHUDDUP! super pumped!

And I also just want to say thank you so much to my awesome mother and father that sent me those sweet halloween decorated chocolate covered strawberries! They were delicious! And yes.. I did share! haha Also, thanks to the Adams family for sending me those cute pictures, halloween jokes and "BOO Mix" You are the greatest. and it means so much to me to have your guyes support!

I love you all! Fight the good fight:)

Love

Sister Halee Rogers