Aug 31, 1998

8/31/98

Word to my Awesome Family:

        How are all of you? 

        I am writing to you from a new house, a new area, and with a new companion..  This week has been very weird.  Tuesday I spent half the day in my old area, then moved in the afternoon and went to one appointment in the new area.  It was time for me to hit the road againg as Elder McCormick was visited and observed by the zone leader for a day.  I left my suitcases packed at my new house and lived out of a smaller bag for two nights and a day at House 61.  I was companions with Elder Tolman.  Elder Tolman  and our zone leader speak Vietnemese so I was Viet Elder for a day.

        Thursday was my first day in my new area: the Kampuchea Krom Area.  It is big, thick city with lots of sied streets off the main roads.  I am pretty much lost right now.

        Friday we had a fun mission day.  We rented a bus, piled in , and left Phnom Penh.  We were told to leave the 28^th open on our planners but we were not told why.  We were thinking they had arranged for a service project of somekind.  Howerver it was a fun day.  We went 40 km to an old city called Udong.  It was the capital of Cambodia from 1618 to 1775.  It is two little hills that stick up in the middle of a flat.  On top is ruins of Wats (temples)  And stupas.  Stupas hold the remains of past kings, like a pyramid.  You will have to wait to see the pictures next week, also I will send my journal entry about the day.  It was weird to be a true tourist for the day.  The best part was just to be with President & Sister White, the couples, ans the other missionaries.  It was a fun day.

        Saturday we finished a 6^th discussion with Chun.  Chun is 20 and has been working with Elders McCormick & Folsom.  It was kind of a trade as in my old area Elder Fernandez and I have been working with Kosal.  Chun was baptized on Sunday and I hope down in the 5^th Branch that my buddy Kosal was baptized, I haven’t heard yet.

        As a new missionary it the 2^nd Branch I thought I would have to speak in Sacrament meeting, however I gave the Baptismal talk.  It is going to take some time to get to know all of the members, for them to know me, and know the area, like I do or did in the South.  Also Sunday was the last day for House #30, home of the 2^nd Branch, to be used.  Today they moved to a newer bigger home #13.  House #30 has been used since the beginning I think, it is also the house where tanks were fighting out front last year.  I was able to attend a meeting there one time.

        Today Elder McCormick and I have been busy paying bills and taking care of things like that, as we have just moved in to this House #17. One block north west of the Olympic Stadium off of Nehru.  I live with Elders McCormick, Heywood, & Hoare.

        We received a $800 check from the phone company and were taking it down to the mission office on our bikes.  When we got the office, Elder McCormick had lost the envelope.  We called the phone company and they hadn’t seen it.  So we pedaled North again to find the check or plead with them to cancel the first one and write another one.  Elder McCormick was upset at himself for losing it.  As we left the mission office, I said a little prayer in my heart asking for help to find the check or resolve the problem.  About halfway there, we say some papers that looked like a bill in the ditch.  We slammed on the brakes and sure enough there was the $800 check and other receipts,......... and we thought Rolaids spelled Relief.  There is so much trash and things on the streets an din the gutters it is amazing we found it, but we both saw it at the same time and knew.  I know the Lord hears those little thoughts and prayers we say in our hearts.

        Elder McCormick and I are going yo have to depend on the Lord and work hard to find people to teach this week.  They have just baptized some new people and we have to start anew in the finding and teaching department.

        I just finished my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon.  Ether 12.  Check it out.

        Good Luck with school, work, and all that is going on back home.  Choose the Right.

        Love your son, brother, missionary,

                                Elder Rogers

Aug 24, 1998

Clint Mission #32                                                                                8/24/98

Word Family!

                It is going to have to be a quick one today.  I just got word that I am moving and so P-day has been pretty much shot.  I am moving North.  My new area will be Kampuchea Krom area with my new companion Elder McCormick.  They have asked Elders Fernandez, Ruden, and Fartin to go home early to make room for new Elders to come in.  Needless to say big changes.  They will go home Sept 30 instead of Oct 28^th.  I was just going to work with the new 5^th Branch and now we will be in the North part of the city, 2^nd branch.

                Elder Fernandez has had quite a trial this week.  His chin got infected from a razor burn, and began to swell up.  He looked like the guy on the one movie stung by a bee and had a allergic reaction.  We went to the doctor and they cut open his chin and removed a carbuncle which looked like the white innards of a zit.  It had gotten pretty infected here in Equator land.  I watched the whole procedure.  Today we went back again they cleaned it out.  I watched again and still have not decided if I want to be a doctor. 

                Sunday was an exhausting day.  We had 46 people attend the new 5^th Branch.  There should have been  a few move but there is kind of a group squawking about the change and went to afternoon church.  In the meetings I spoke, lead the music, played the piano, helped the Branch President conduct a priesthood worthiness interview, and we also had Tal baptize a young man 16 that Elder Fernandez and I taught, his name is Mory.

                Mory quote,” This is extra special, because I am the first in the branch to be baptized”. Another awesome young man who is excited about the gospel, and has joined the church. 

                In sacrament meeting I used 1 Nephi 17:15 :

“Wherefore, I Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethern to faithfulness and diligence’. 

                And talked about how everyone needed to do their part in order to build the ship. 

                I still have to get packed tonight.  I will send pictures next week.  I have really enjoyed my time with Elder Fernandez and in the first branch.  I have learned so much in the last little while. 

                I am enjoying the work, and loving the people.

                Love you all,

                Your Son, Brother, Missionary

                Elder Rogers.

                

Aug 17, 1998

Clint mission letter #30                                                                       8/17/99

Dear Family,

                How is everyone doing?

                Here in Cambodia we just had Zone Conference.  The theme was on a balanced effort with special focus on planning and use of District Missionaries.  Also I took notes as Branch Elder on helping get the new members callings and running a better spiritual baptism. 

                There are 55 baptisms scheduled here for the month of August.  A total of 24 people received baptism in July.  The increase is a big part of the help from the District Missionaries.  It was announced yesterday officially in Church that the 1^st Branch will split in two.  A special meeting next Sunday, and the 5^th Branch will meet on Sunday the 23^rd. Yesterday there was 149 people at church and we thought 130 was too many.  The sacrament was blessed twice. 

                Also it was fun to see from the South Central Area, Sophauaarit receive the Aaronic Priesthood, and Luu Thom baptized a man I helped teach named Heng.  

                It is summer vacation here for the kids.  They have flocked to the free English class.  This past week over 150 people have been attending English.  I talked with and taught close to sixty people last Thursday.  You can’t really call it teaching.  I just mainly talk, answer questions and spell words for them.  We use all the folding chairs at the Church.  “You’re welcome as long as there is a chair. 

                One other fun part of Zone Conference was a trip to the Intercontiental Buffet as a mission activity.  Good eats.  I had a little pasta with shrimp, lots of mangos, some other oriental dishes, and cake and ice cream.  I just tried everything out, you should have seen some of the Elders who knew what they were after.

                We have also switched to a Siesta Schedule.  We now wake at 5:30 a.m. and leave by 7:00 a.m. after showering etc., ½ hour Book of Mormon Study and six French Toasts.  Lunch is 45 min plus 1 hour of companion study and personal study.  Proselyting again until 6:00 p.m. 9:30 lights out. Things kind of shut down here after lunch as everyone has there nap. 

                This week has gone by like a blur.  We have received a bunch of referrals from English and members. This week will be the first discussions with them and also we are trying to help Mory, Hout, and Kosal.  They continue to work towards baptism this month.  These 3 young men did not make it to church so we need to help them this week.  The first discussions are going to be a bit difficult.  We have run out of Book of Mormon’s again.  We are patiently waiting for more.  We had to copy 3 Nephi 11 and staple it together for them.

                I want to thank all of you for your prayers.  Sister White gave a talk in Zone Conference about prayers of the faithful in behalf of Cambodia.  We have certainly been blessed with peace and safety in this land and there has also been a boost given to us by the District Missionaries.  We are working hard towards our goal of 225 baptisms by the end of the year. 

                It seems I am never with my companion.  I spent 3 days this week without Elder Fernandez.  One day with Elder Williams, while Elder Fernandez went on a Zone leader training split.  I spent one day with Elder Harman as Elder Fernandez needed to do some interviews, and yesterday with District Missionaries as Elder Fernandez was sick.  It is kind of stressful which means it is good for me.  I am working hard on my language. 

                Well have a good week everyone!  I appreciate all of your love and support!

                Love ya and do good!

                Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,

                Elder Rogers 

Week #31

Clint mission #31

                The letter to go with journal entries came today too. I am just going to share a few things that were not in the journal entries.

                                                                                                                                8/3/98

Dear Family,

                Wow, this has been one of the craziest and most challenging weeks of my life.  Elder Lloyd has been sick with bronchitis.  I am still not allowed to use a camera except at baptisms.  There are 6 Elders in my house now. House 43233, as this is best for our areas right now.  Elder Fernandez and I, Elder Madden and Sober, Elder Lloyd and Brooking. 

                The biggest thing that stands out in my mind about this week is Sopawn’s baptism and going out with a district missionary companion for 3 days in a row.  I would go out with Vee in the morning from 8:00-12:00 from 12:00-1:00 I would have lunch at the church with Bro. And Sister Olsen.  Bro. Olsen was my companion until Tal would come.  I then would work with Tal from 1:00- 6:00 p.m. Elder Fernandez worked with new Elder Sober in his area.  While Elder Madden filled in for Elder Lloyd in his area with Elder Brooking. 

                In all of this mess they decided it was easiest just to move in and that is the way it has stayed. 

                We are working with another good young man Kosal.  He is a friend of Tal and the gang.  He bakes French bread in Chba Ampoa each morning and has been studying in the afternoon with us at the church.  He committed to baptism this week for Aug 30^th.  He is excited and pushed his way up to have a front row look when Sopawn was baptized yesterday.

                Saturday the 1^st the young people who have been attending Seminary and Institute had a party.  Seminary and Institute are held each Saturday.  They study the Doctrine and Covenants in English and then talk about it in Khmae.  Most know quite a bit of English and help those who don’t.  It is taught by members who know some English too.  It is easier for me to speak English sometimes to these younger people.  They went to the Olympic Stadium to swim and then came back to the church for Pizza.  I heard it was really fun and most wore their T-shirt to Church on Sunday.  “Gathering of his Sheep “ C.E.S. Activity 1998  Asia.  ( Church Education System )

                I am working hard on my language skills.  I have started a new vocabulary book, and I am constantly writing new words.

                Dad I will send you pictures and a list of those I have baptized. 

                I am really busy and the weeks just sail by.  This week I did a lot of contacting by myself in this new area.  The people in this area live by the river.  It is also a busy small business area.  It was very difficult to find someone to listen.  Many Missionaries have this a lot, but it was a bit of a change compared to sitting at the church and teaching as fast as you can. 

                Most of these people have never heard of Jesus Christ.  I give them a pamphlet with a map to church, a simple testimony , answer a few questions and try to schedule an appointment.  A rare few are mean or rude, most just say too busy or are not interested.  Also lots are scared when they see this white boy in a tie pull up and start speaking Khmae. You can hear the people as we ride by they know who we are:  : Jesus Christ”, “Jesus Christ is coming” or for those who don’t know about the church “Frenchmen”, etc.  What an awesome responsibility!  I hope that many of those people that turn us down, that a seed has been planted for the future.

                It seems that we work hard like this for awhile not finding too much and then the Lord blesses with a couple of goo member referrals or someone who wanders into the church.  I know that Heavenly Father wants us to share the gospel with our brothers and sisters.  Especially when like me and our family -we are so blessed. 

                I love all of you, so much! Keep up the good work. 

                Love your Son, Brother, Missionary, and Best Bud,

                Elder Clint Rogers

Dear Family                                                                                          8/17/98

                It is official as of yesterday, there is a new branch in Cambodia, making a total of 5.  Yesterday we had a special Sacrament meeting where the boundaries were announced and also the new Branch President Nou Houn.  On your map everything east of Monivong Road  and south of Mao Tse Tong is the new 5^th branch.  I am excited and humbled to be able to help as the Branch Representative and help get this Branch going.  Often I remember something Bishop Jennings once said, “Make sure you young men watch how the ward works, because you will soon help a small branch somewhere on your mission.” Sunday the 23^rd we will meet for the first time, in the same building from 8:00-11:00 a.m.

                This week has been patience week for me.  I think the hardest lesson comes by way of Sopawn,  Sopawn likes to talk and tries so hard to answer questions right and things,  that you really have to concentrate to know what he is saying.  Then you have to jump on opportunities to speak.  The problem is this he has come from the providence to Phnom Penh in search of the Church and now as found it and is a member, but has no job and lives in a one room house.  I really want to help him get established with a job and things in order to bring his family in and unite them in the same house and in the gospel. 

                Sopawn has asked this week for a job and if he could live at the Church.  He thinks for some reason that he must be at the church studying.  Elder Fernandez and I have been trying to help him see how important it is for him to be a good father, and help them have a chance to study the gospel, and also that the church can’t support him.  The day most of this broke, I was on a split with a District Missionary as Elder Fernandez was sick.  I asked how it was going trying to find a job.  He is in a new city and has been praying hard but has not done any looking.  I opened up with him to Nephi 17 and we talked about Nephi had to do the work but Heavenly Father guided him to build the ship.  We compared this to him.  Also I had a decision to make because I was carrying the news of a job offer for his wife as a maid for a couple who are members coming soon to work for UN I decided not to tell him and still haven’t.  Maybe it is the answer to his prayers and ours but I didn’t feel right about telling him.  We continue to follow-up with him this week, no job yet but he is truly looking. 

                We made the Viel Shao run this week.  It is actually outside of Phnom Penh past Chba Ampoa. I put the old Japanese Red Rider on cruise control and made it in 30 minutes. 

                We met with a family who has not been met by the missionaries for awhile and come to church pretty good.  They were excited to see us.  However we felt like we were going to see the inactive people in the house.  It turned out that their older son came who is a member in another branch and Elder Fernandez knew him.  The Son was having a bit of a rough day and was also assigned to speak in Church.  He felt like going for a ride on the ‘ol moto and ended up at his mother’s house, while we were there.  He said it was an answer to his prayers, and we didn’t find any inactive members home. 

                I love to read my Book of Mormon each day.  I’m in Mormon close to finishing the book again.  I finished it once in the MTC.  I like building chains:  Listing scriptures that have the same promise or contain the same themes.  I will send you some when I am done.

                I have also been thinking a lot about the people.  There are lots of people over here who work hard to make ends meet.  They are stuck in the day to day stuff.  It is hard to get them to give you a minute and then even harder to help them glimpse the promises of the gospel that have been given to us by Jesus Christ.  But wow the change that comes to those who accept and want to know more like Luu Thom, and the faithful members here. 

                Hope things are well for all of you. 

                Sorry not much time today.  Love you all very much.

                Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary.

                Elder Rogers