Weekly update 12-23-2013

Hey There!

So my subject to this email "Big Week" has a couple meanings. This last week has been a pretty big one and also, this coming week will be a big one! Lets start with this week...

It was great!! We taught a lot and just had some pretty cool experiences. Most of which happened on Saturday. So.. Sister Batty and I teach every Saturday morning at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility AKA DA PRISON. We teach five prisoners, members and nonmembers, all males though. It's pretty tight to be honest. We always have someone there with us though, so don't worry mom. ALso, I only had to go through the metal detector twice my first time visiting.. so that was a plus! Anyways.. this week we taught them the restoration and it was solid! The guys are way cool! So on our way back home from the prison we drove by an apartment complex that one of our potential investigators lives at. We were planning to go see her later that day but Sister Batty and I just decided that since we were in the area we would just stop then. We went and no one was home. But as we were walking back to the car I stoppped because I heard a baby crying. I look over and in a parked car in a car seat there was a baby just screaming. Let me remind you that it was about 10 degrees outside. This child was frigid. So we looked around and didnt see anyone near so we went and knocked on the apartment a few times that the car the kid was in was parked in front of. After knocking for a few minutes no one answered.... So we werent just going to leave a baby crying in a car in the freezing cold! So, I called the cops. First time dialing 9-1-1... of course it happens in Fort Dodge. haha The cop came and started looking in the car and the all of the sudden a lady comes out of the apartment we had JUST knocked on a few minutes ago. She comes out and asks what is going on.. we told her we heard the baby crying and she acted quite surprised to see her child in the car. She hurried and grabbed the carseat out of the car and then thanked us. The baby looked like he had been in there for a while. Poor guy... he honestly could have died. The cop talked to us for a few seconds and then went to talk to the lady that left her child in the car. We left the scene just thanking God that He led us to that place at that time. If we wouldn't have been there that baby could have froze to death. We were both just very thankful that we were worthy of the Gift of The Holy Ghost that led us to the right place at the right time. It was a very humbling experience.

 

Later that night, Sister Batty and I went to visit a less active lady. She's way cool. She has tats all up her arms, is a dang good singer, and has a sweet motorcycle. haha Anyways, before we left her house she gave us a present for Christmas... guess what it was? PEPPER SPRAY! It was sweet! It even has a cute little case and everything! I'll show you when we skype:)

 

Everything else went really great this week. We are working hard and staying warm. Yesterdayin cchurch, Hermana eggett, sang "Come Thou Fount" Accapella... dang that girl has pipes. It was seriously one of the most incredible things Ive heard. That sister just continues to amaze me. She is incredible and I definitely look up to her.

 

This next coming week is the BIG because... 1) I GET TO SEE YOU ALL ON WEDNESDAY! 2) because its the last week in December, which means... the last week to reach 550! God works miracles, I know it can happen!!

 

I am so excited to talk to you all on wednesday. I love you very much. I know more than ever that Jesus Christ is my Savior. His Atonement is central to the gospel. Without Him, we cannot accomplish anything worth value. I know this because of experience and because the spirit of the Lord which consumes me. I love you all and I promise you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that this work is true and His love is unfailing.

 

Merry Christmas to everyone!Hope the Spirit of Christ dwells within all of us this special season!

Love, Sister Halee Rogers

Weekly update 12-17-2013

Halee saw some of her favorite Sisters & Elders at Zone Conference this week.

Elder Cleverly

Hermana Stroud

Sister Batty (her current companion)

Sister Jensen (Mission President's wife)

Sister Tobias & Sister England, her Sister Training Missionaries.

Elder Tall

Chillin with her scriptures!

Hey Family!

It's been another great week here in Ft. Dodge. Cold... but good. We got a new investigator this week... her name is summer. We met her knocking doors one night. She was definitely a tender mercy. She has accepted a lot of what we have taught and is currently working on not smoking! We also had zone conference this week! It was really great! I saw a lot of people there that I knew and it was really inspiring to to hear from President and Sister Jensen. We watched this movie called, "Ephraim's Rescue"... Man, it was really really good!! I cried a lot, but the spirit was way strong. It was a real testimony to me of what faith is.

We worked really hard this week and I am just totally exhausted, but its been really good. It was in the negatives this week, so it got pretty chilly, but I'm still alive! haha

There's not a lot new, that has happened so it's a pretty short update.

But I guess, I'll take this time to bear my testimony. I know that God is our Eternal Father in Heaven. I know He loves us very much, more than we can comprehend, and I know this plan of happiness He has created is tipping in our favor to return to Him. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He was sent here to save us from our fallen state. I know that He was born in Bethlehem to a mortal mother Mary and an immortal father in heaven. There is no greater peace that is brought to my soul than the peace I feel when I partake of Christ's infinite Atonement. His love for us in unfailing. I've never been more happy in my life than I am when I help others to come and feel of this same love.

 

I hope you all have a great Christmas. Remember what it is about.

 

I love you!

Sister Halee Rogers

Weekly Update 12-9-13

She found a little piece of home!

Casey's baptism!

Yes it's COLD in Fort Dodge!

Elder Sanders will leve to go home this transfer.  He's been a great Elder!

Elder Belliston & Halee practicing for their musical number for Zone Conference!

Mother Dearest as well as the rest of my beautiful family!!

This week was SO GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Casey Parmalee was baptized on Thursday! It was awesome... we had a few malfunctions but everything worked out! So the baptism was at 7pm on thursday so Sister Batty and I went at about 5pm to fill the font so it would be nice and warm! We turned it on and plugged it and left and then came back at about 6:30... the font was supposed to take an hour and a half to fill.... when we got back to the church it wasn't even CLOSE to being filled.. and the water temp. was at about 120 degrees!!! We were freaking out a little. So we started filling up pitchers of cold water and pouring them in the font so we were able to cool it off. But the font still wasnt filling up! So we went on with the baptism anyways... Needless to say that Casey had to get baptized three times in order to be fully immersed because the water level was at her knees (not lying)... her back basically touched the bottom of the font when she went down. I'm not sure how they got it done but they did! It was miraculous. We later came to find out that a little bit of the string that was connected to the plug in the font was wrapped sneakily under the plug causing some of the water to drain!! It was nuts... but it all worked out and the service turned out great! One baptism closer to 550!!!

So that was some good stuff on thursday! On Friday, we had Zone Training Meeting! It was way way good! I learned a lot! The Assistants had a really good training as well as the zone leaders and sister training leaders! the meeting was about 3 and a half hours long but it was so good! And I cant remember if I told you last week but this coming week we have zone conference and each district is either doing a play or a musical number. Our district is doing a musical number. Elder belliston and I are playing an arrangment of Silent Night on the guitars and everyone else is singing! It's super tight and we got to practice that on Friday and it sounds way sweet! I guess you could call it angelic! haha just kidding!

We also got to attend a really fun White Elelphant gift party on Saturday for the ward! It was way fun! Then we had church yesterday and it was awesome as usual! Then we got to watch the Christmas Devotional last night. It was way good! I love Christmas time!!! Everyone is so nice!!!

So... we are currently at 461 baptisms as a mission and our goal is 550. WE CAN DO IT!!!! I know the Lord is going to bless us if we just work hard and keep our covenants!! Please keep praying for us! I love you all so much! Can't wat to see you...16 days!!!!!

I know this church is true... if you ever struggle get back to the basics! PRAY,  READY AND GO TO CHURCH!!! LOVE YOU!

Sister Halee Rogers

Weekly update 12-2-13

Alrighty Fam!

Hey yall! How was everyones thanksgivings??? I hope it was great!! Mine was... I had 3! Needless to say my appetite is WAY higher then it needs to be!!! haha so I have to repent and make sure I am keeping the Word of Wisdom and not eating too much this week. But man, the food was all SO DANG GOOD! haha

This week was pretty slow since a lot of people were out of town. We were supposed to have a baptism last Saturday(2 days ago) but there were some issues we had to work out, so hopefully Skie will still get baptized before the end of the year. We are are going to do all we can to HELP her get there. She is really prepared just has trouble being completely obedient. With the help of the spirit though, we will be able to discern her needs and re set her date this week. This week on Thursday we have a baptism!!!! Casey is getting baptized and man is she ready! She is so excited! She passed her interview on Wednesday and even went out and bought a skirt for the occassion! She is so excited and very ready. You can just see the joy radiating from her! She has also had a huge desire to share the gospel. She has done so with her mom, and now her mom is a newe investigator! It is way cool to see how much of an example Casey is becoming to everyone around her.

So this week, I got to wear jeans more than I have my entire mission! We did a lot of service! It was sweet and way nice to do some manual labor for a little while. We worked with a lot of lessactives and members this week. For the upcoming zone conference each district has to do a skit or musical number so our district is doing a musical number. Myself and the two zone leaders are working out a sweet arrangment to silent night on the guitar. Its going to be awesome! And it gives me the chance to play! I LOVE IT! haha

Everything is going so great. Sister Batty and I have grown a lot closer this past week, its been great and she is really opening up now. It's been way good.

Welp family, sorry this is so short... but I love you and I know that the gospel is true!!! It really is!

Also... the book is blue!

LOVE YOU!

Sister Halee Rogers

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!