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

10-27-13 Weekly update!

Sister Batty, Sister Rogers and the Sister training Leaders, Sister Tobias and Sister England

Their whole zone with President & Sister Jensen (middle).

Hey yall!
So this week has been pretty nuts! A lot went on... it seemed super long and I'm just completely tuckered out, so im pretty glad that today is pday cause Im DEFINITELY in need of a nap. Seriously though, I'm exhausted. But its so great, cause thats evidence that Heavenly Father is blessing Sister Batty and I so much with so many people to teach. We absolutely LOVE it! We go hard all week long and it brings us so much joy to know that Heavenly Father trusts us. For reals though, I'm so humbled and grateful that Father in Heaven has blessed us so tremendously.
Also, we just figured out that this weekend is daylight savings! Extra hour of sleep... BONUS! It couldn't have come at a better time. Another blessing from Father in Heaven! He loves us!

More blessings.. we obtained 4 new investigators this week! One of which was a referral from a ward member! And gosh dang it, she is solid! her name is sky and she's 14 years old. She's totes getting baptized very soon! She's awesome! She just eats up the gospel and loves everything about it! We are teaching her tonight so hopefully we will have a date for her! She's been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy and absolutely loves Young Womens and personal progress! She is a miracle blessing from the Lord and it all started with a member referral! EVEN COOLER!

We had exchanges this week with the Sister training Leaders. That rocked! They are awesome and we worked really hard and Heavenly Father blessed us with lots of miracles.
Sister batty impresses me more and more everyday at how strong and hardworking she is. Her testimony is powerful and she is getting more and more confident every single day. its awesome!

So we have three investigators that have to be interviewed by President Jensen before they can be baptized due to some legal complexities that need to be worked out. And then President Jensen has to write a letter to the First presidency and basically ask for an exception for this person to be baptized. It's quite a long process. Hopefully we will get all the interviews done this sunday and we can get that next step of the process underway. Man, we have so much to do and so many people to help prepare, but its so amazing! We are truly blessed.

So Hermana Eggett and I have become really good friends and are already planning all the adventures we are going to have when we get back from our missions. DISNEYLAND being the first thing we do. haha! But seriously, I'm pretty pumped.

ANYWAYS... it has been such a blessing to see the Lord blossom this area right before my eyes. It has been incredible, and I know with all my heart that this work is true. I wouldn't be so happy if it wasn't! I love you guys so much and am so grateful for all of your support, prayers, and everything else you do. Keep sharing the gospel and SEEK TO FIND THE ONE! I love ya!

Love,
Sister Halee Rogers

10-21-13 email!

Group of missionaries volunteering at a 5K.  Must be getting cold.

With Elder Steele and Elder Belliston.

With her companion Sister Batty.

With Sister Jensen from her ward.

With Hermana Eggett.  Her best friend from the pre-mortal existence.

So.... Hello everyone!
So first off, tomorrow marks my 5 month mark. That's just crazy! I am starting my sixth month out!!! WHAT?! Man. I am absolutely loving this work. This week was great! We were very busy! Teaching a lot! We currently have two investigators with baptismal dates, and we should have at least two more this week. Heavenly Father is pouring down endless blessings! I am so humbled to be receiving so many great things. Sister Batty and I are doing our best to continue to stay humble, obedient and working hard. I'm seriously so grateful to have Sister Batty as a companion. She is so great. She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen and she never complains. She has such a strong desire to be exactly obedient and in turn is utilizing the Gift of the Holy Ghost she has been given to the fullest. We get along very well, so I'm just so happy about that!
Ahhhh... I don't even really know what else to say... I am just so happy. all of the time! I love every aspect about this work. I love this area, I love the people, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ward. They are so helpful and really working valiantly to move forward the work of salvation. I have never been a part of such effective ward council meetings. We are starting to receive more referrals from members and its all because we are working together. When we do that, Heavenly Father blesses us.
My testimony is growing each and every day. I find such satisfaction and joy in repenting daily and internalizing the Doctrine of Christ. This really is the Work of Salvation. We are helping to rescue those people that are lost so that they can be saved my the eternal grace of Jesus Christ and the majesty and efficacy of His infinite atonement. I know with all of my heart that the light of the Atonement extends to ALL people. This is true.

I just want you all to know that you are amazing! Sorry for such a short update. I will give more details next time. I love you guys!

Love Sister Halee Rogers

Training already! 10-14-13

Elder Tall, zone leader, was obsessed with Halee's "Good Will" vest so

 she gave it to him as a going away present before he got transferred.  

(don't think she was too sad to give that vest away- ha)

Weekly P-Day game of Settler's of Catan with the Elders at the Relief Society President's house.

Last game of Settler's before Sister King and Elder Tall both got transferred.

Good bye to Sister King- transfer day.

Good bye to Elder Tall- transfer day.

Hello to Sister Batty.  Halee was just made a trainer and is excited to work/train Sister Batty.

Yellow!
This week has been pretty darn awesome! As you know, transfers were on Wednesday and I got to drive 3 hours all the way to Iowa City to pick her up. It required waking up at 3:30 am to do it... but I was pretty excited. My new companion's name is Sister Batty. She is from Wayne County, Utah (central) and she is 19 years old! Thank goodness, I was really scared I was going to get someone really older than me and it would be super weird, haha. But SIster Batty is way awesome. She is a very hard worker. She doesn't like to talk much but that will soon change once she realizes that part of her training is leading the discussions in the lessons and inviting people to be baptized. So she should be broken in here pretty quick:) haha She likes to run... so we went running one morning... I DIED. Holy crap, I am so out of shape. Its like I can't be physically and spiritually in shape at the same time I swear.. Cause before my mission I was physically in shape but not so much spiritually in shape... and now I'm on my mission and I'm spiritually in shape but not so much physically in shape. LAME! I need to work on that. I'll start simple and maybe eat a banana or something today. Then next week I might do a burpee. Who knows... I don't want to get to crazy here! haha

Mostly this week we've had a lot of meetings but have had some good teaching opportunities as well. We have two investigators with baptismal dates... Casey for December 5th and Brandon for November 16th... we are pushing very hard to make our mission goal of 550 baptisms by the end of the year! We have been fasting and praying full force for this goal and I know that with the Lord's help we can accomplish it! It's all about obedience and humility at this point. We also got a new investigator this week... her name is Debbie! She is one of our investigators' mom! She's way sweet and really looking for a change in her life. We had a wicked sweet lesson with her the other night about the restoration and invited her to be baptized and she readily accepted! Hopefully by this week we will have a date set for her. We are supposed to be giving her a church tour on Tuesday so I'm pumped!!!

Every P-day we go over with the Elders to the Relief Society President's home and play a round of SETTLERS OF CATAN! Man... its so fun!!! It's like everything I've hoped for and I just get really excited throughout the week! haha It reminds me of playing with Riley and sadi and morgan! haha

Anyways... things are going really great! I have a goal to read the Book of Mormon in a month. I started yesterday and I'm like 20 pages in.. so I think I can do it! I just want you all to know that from the bottom of my heart I know that this is the only true church on the earth. And as crazy as this world is getting, the gospel is the only thing that can save it from it's own self destruction. Families ARE forever and Jesus Christ is really the Only Begotten Son of the Father. He Lives.

I love you all so very much! And you guys just keep me motivated! I love ya!

Love,
Sister Halee Rogers

Mission update!

Brother Clark bought her a $20 rib eye!  Made her day!!!

With Sister King and Sister Hendrix from their ward.

Iowa Barn!

She's obsessed with cornfields- ha!

District meeting!

Fun in the car!

Loving the Iowa landscape!

More cornfields- ha!

Fall in Iowa!

Funny red thumb!

Hello again!!
First I must start off this email by making a shoutout... to my wonderful sister Sadi Pope... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! I hope its the greatest day ever! I love you so much! Also... happy anniversary to both sets of grandparents! I love ya!

Okay... SO.. this week has been great! And I bet you are all wondering about the transfer calls we received this morning... My transfer doctrine is that I will be staying in the Ft. Dodge West area and I will be training a new missionary! I'm kinda nervous but pretty stoked as well. I will get my new companion on thursday so its going to be exciting! Hopefully she's cool... haha but if not I will still love her cause thats what Jesus would do!!

Now that the exciting news is out of the way... This week has been great! GENERAL CONFERENCE ROCKED MY WORLD! Seriously though... I was going to share what my favorite talk was in this email but then as I went back through all my notes I couldn't decide on a favorite... so I thought I'd tell you my favorite from each session... but that didn't work either cause they were just all so flippin good and inspired!!!! For real though.. when President Monson stated that this was one of the most inspiring sessions of conference that he had ever attended I agreed completely! M Russel Ballards talk about missionary work was incredible. SEEK TO FIND THE ONE!!! Another talk that I am definitely going to have to go back and read and study again was Ulisses Soares talk about Meekness. So inspiring. Boyd k. Packer on Scripture power...man so powerful! GAHHHHH they were just all so good! I could go on forever and tell you what I thought about each talk but I'm not going to. I just want you all to know that I know that we are Prophet led. That the leaders of this church are divinely called and truly inspired of God when they speak to us. Their words are scripture!

Along with conference... our week was pretty eventful! Yesterday.... we found out that one of our investigators stabbed someone at a high school dance and is now in jail... haha I'm not even joking. We were like what the??? So He's probably not going to be getting baptized very soon. Crazy thing is, is that we literally saw him right before the dance and he was showing us his cool new pocket knife he got..... YIKES! We had no idea he was going to use that new pocket knife to stab someone in the back. CRAZY! The guy he stabbed had to get life flighted to Des Moines but is doing okay now. And as I stated earlier, our investigator is now in jail and will most likely be tried as an adult because he turns 18 in a week. Lesson to learn here is DON'T BE STUPID.. or you'll end up in jail!
Another good story from this week, and quite frankly a much happier story from this week was when Libby called us on the phone Monday night. She called and was talking to us for a little while and then asked, "Sister Rogers and Sister King... Did you get a message from God last night?" I asked her, "what about?" She said, "Last night I prayed to God and asked Him if He would let you guys know that I loved you... Did He tell you?" I smiled really big and told her that yes we had received the message. She got so excited! It was seriously the cutest thing ever! haha That girl is so precious!
Last little bit of news for the week... I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!! woo hoo!!!!! My goal was to finish it before the end of the transfer and I did! So i'm pretty pumped about that. Gosh dang, that book is so true and so freakn good!!! Words can't express how amazing that book is! Also.. Its been getting pretty chilly here! I whipped out my boots a few days ago... I am so not looking forward to the FEET of snow that lie ahead! YIKES!!

Welp... I love you all very much! Keep the faith and always REMEMBER HIM! Trust in the Good Shepherd:)

LOVE YOU!
Sister Halee Rogers

SHOUTOUT LIST

Dad...... I love your letters so much! And thank you for the gift! It was awesome!

Ali.... I had one of the other sisters in my district read your letter you wrote to me cause it was so good. and this is what she said about it.."This reminds me of everyone I freakn love so much!" haha so youre letter was awesome!

Carlee... Thank you so much for the package!!! That notebook is adorable and I absolutely LOVED all the pictures you sent!! Can't wait to hear more about blakers!! Also... I think Ranger would be an AWESOME middle name... keep the BRB initials going!

Mama Jane Ward.... THe pictures of the wedding and your note and postcard were so great! Thank you so much!

Momma... Thank you for sending all of my winter clothes! YOU ARE THE BEST!!! I LOVE YA!