4/12/99
Dear Family,
You ask about my schedule as AP –let me take you through last week.
Tuesday morning started with a meeting from 7-9 a.m. with President White and the 3 zone leaders. The official title is ZLTM ( not to be confused with DDM, MSF, ZCPM, other mission code words) zone leader training meeting. In this meeting we plan zone conference. A lesson to the zone leaders, and President White had a few thoughts for all of us Alma 7: 21-25. After meeting Elder Sober was sick so he became my companion and Elder Hoare went with his companion up north. Elder Sorber stayed and rested while I worked on membership records. And then after lunch I went with the Fowlers to tie up the deal on a new house rental agreement. I was translator. From 3:00 on I went to appointments and switched back with Elder Hoare.
Wednesday I went on a split with Elder Brooking. Things are a little slow in his area and we wanted to help him get reexcited about the work. I feel like I know Elder Brooking pretty good and asked if I could be the one to go. I set some goals first. I wanted to find two families ready for the discussions. We didn’t have the whole day. We did find and teach the first discussion to a family. They were real poor. They told us how the rain from the night before leaked through the roof. The father really listened good and asked good questions. We scheduled some other appointments with people that we found for later in the week. I tried to get him fired up in our study after lunch. I felt pretty good about the split. I just wish I could have done more to jump-start his area.
Thursday Elder Hoare and I worked in the office. Then at 11:00 President and Sister White returned from the airport with 4 new Elders. 2 Viet speaking ( Elder Burhnam, and Davis) , and 2 Khmae Elders ( Elders Park, and Miller) , also that same morning 2 native Khmae Elders joined the force ( Elders Chin, and Nou.) There are 34 elders right now. That will change this week. We will lose Elders Gray, Heywood, McCormick. We will gain Elder Richardson. Total will be 32 until June. At least 6 more coming in June.
We joined the new Elders for lunch then took their bags to their houses in our 5 speed mini-van while they went and bought bikes. It is exciting to see new Elders come. Friday we conducted the orientation from 7:30-12:00 talked about mission policy etc.
That evening was the branch New Year Party. We attended with the Father and 3 kids of our “Golden family” . His name is Sophen. We met with him today and had a great appointment. He really liked Mosiah 2:17----When your in the service . . . He said he really liked the verse and that it really stuck in his mind. We made appointments to go back on Wednesday the 14th and teach the whole family the 2nd. Our goal is to commit them to baptism this week.
I must tell you that Elder Hodson has taken off in the last few months. We helped put together the comp. Assignments and we had put Elder Hodson as a Senior comp. President White talked with us again later and after prayer felt like not only should he be a senior but that he should train Elder Park. It is been a great learning experience for me to see the Lord, and President White work with Elder Hodson. I know that Elder Hodson will be a great trainer. Also Elder Park has the makings of a good Elder already.
This morning was really fun. This last week that Elders Gray, Heywood, and McCormick are here they are conducting MTC for Elders Nou and Chin. Elder Hoare and I translated as President And Sister White opened and welcomed, then Elder Hoare and I each taught a session. I took the first 15 pages of the Missionary Guide and taught the Purpose of Missionary Work. I enjoyed teaching . I focused on Heavenly Fathers Plan and Conversion, and the why of missionary work. Because we do not have all the scriptures translated and this young men are young in the gospel it is fun to expound on their knowledge of the plan. This is something you can’t do down in the original 6 discussions. Elder Hoare was next with “ Christ like Attributes”. I hope the lessons were not overshadowed by the peeled, sliced, chilled mangos served as a midmorning snack!! J
Thanks for all the good letters!!
Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,
Elder Rogers
P.S. Take ice water squeeze lime into and add sugar to your taste! This is a great thirst quencher!!
4/26/99
Today’s letter mostly answers questions that we have asked over the last while--- kind of a catch up letter.
He includes some journal entries – I will type them at the last.
Also this week Elder Hoare and I went and rescued 4 Elders. They were moving from house 17 to a new smaller house, house 2B. Elder Hoare and I went up town and found a truck and 3 bored Cambodians and paid them to help us move. 2 trips in the big truck was all it took. It was the New Year, they helped us and we gave them some money and so we both left with smiles.
I am so excited for Mitch!! Elder North is going to do great! I tried to write him a good letter last week. Send him my love and encouragement.
JOURNAL ENTRIES:
Right now we are working with a guy named Sophon. He has 5 kids and it is a real nice family. We found them one day at his neighbor’s house as Elder Hoare needed a bathroom stop. He has twin sons. 2 other sons, and a daughter. He told us a funny story of when the twins were young one of them was sick. Sophon was preparing some medicine and the sick twin left the room and the healthy one entered. Sophon made the healthy twin take the medicine. The mother, Sophon’s wife heard the healthy one complaining and crying about having to take medicine and informed Sophon of his error. We had a good laugh about this. I told them about Ang and Anne but his twins are identical. We have just finished the first discussion with just him. We are struggling getting the 2nd started with him. We have missed him a couple of times………..
2 events are historic today. The first was Elder Suy, the first Khmae returned missionary, who returned today from an Idaho, USA mission. Historic because he is the first to return. He is in a difficult situation because he wants to return, someone has agreed to pay for his education at Ricks college. However he comes home with no job, family, or place to go. He is staying with Pres. White right now.
I also received a letter that I wrote to myself at the MTC over 1 year ago today. Seems like yesterday.
Sophon and his family came to the Branch New Year Party. I introduced him to everyone that came in. He sat at a table with Luu Thom and some of the other priesthood holders and families!
Friday we were really impressed with the branch leaders and their families, as they planned and ran the show for their party. Today there is no Sunday School teacher and only a few to church. The leaders decided to show a video to everyone.
I must tell of an experience that happened last week. We met with Sophon and his wife, daughter, and other family members. We told them before that we wanted to come and teach the 2nd discussion. They were ready. Sophon prayed to start and Elder Hoare and I started teaching. We answered a few questions that Sovann, Sophon’s wife, had from the Book of Mormon. Then we began the second discussion. The first principle about physical death went great as they really listened yet were puzzled and unsure what they were hearing. They asked great questions. This is fun to teach, person who is willing to listen yet weighing and judging and asking questions. When it all finally clicked and they understood about resurrection, as they thought about the idea that all will be resurrected, Sophon smiled and said “ that is deep”. Just as we were starting the second , a pick-up truck with police painted on the side came to a quick stop outside the gate. Out jumped the fattest, biggest Cambodian I have ever seen. He was wearing a gun and came right up motioning for Sophon to come. I could tell that he was drunk. He said he came to bring Sophon to a New Year’s Party with all the boys. We asked if Sophon could wait and finish the discussion and then go, but he said he didn’t have a ride and the fat guy was incredibly persistent. Sophon was gone and we all sat there wondering what had happened. ( This is kind of what happens with the phone at Family Home Evening) The wife and family lamented, they didn’t want him to go. I said, “ We had such a good feeling here, but now it is gone.” They agreed. We didn’t finish the discussion because the spirit was gone.
I was stunned the discussion was going great, then the fat guy came. I have never seen such a direct opposition from the adversary. An opposition that blatantly destroyed a discussion. We need more prayers and help from Heavenly Father to help this family.
I need to record some of the events from yesterday. We had a great Zone Conference on the theme of steadfastness. Mosiah 5:15. Elder Sorber conducted. Sister White talked about the Pioneers who crossed the plains and their steadfastness came from their temple covenants.
Elder Hoare and I gave our lesson on prayer and said “look-up” to God for personal help, help to convert others, and give gratitude back. It was a great district conference.
After Zone Conference on Friday , we were out and about and scheduled with our new member Chany Hang Bo. As we were visiting with him we asked him what he had been doing for New Year. He said, “ Oh not too much just stayed home and drank sour tree juice and stuff.” Sour Tree Juice is fermented sugar plum tree juice. We knew before from a member that Chay Hang Bo had been drinking.
My first thought was oh, no, we need to have someone talk to him about drinking again. I made a mental note to tell a member. Then I thought no, I need to be true and just tell him. So I asked him, “Does Sour Tree Juice have alcohol in it? He answered no but then we talked about how it was fermented and that was against the Word of Wisdom. He said he knew it was wrong or thought that it might be wrong. A member friend had told him it was wrong to do it. He told the friend that he would ask the Elders. He talked about his plan to say what he had been doing and see how we the Elders responded. It was a test! And I almost failed! We had a good talk about repentance and from this point on----- NO MORE SOUR TREE JUICE! It was a great experience. It took place as we stood by our bikes. A five minute scheduling visit, turned in to a great spiritual growth experience for all of us. Especially I think for Bo as we handled his problem in a spirit of love and trust and honesty. Elder Hoare and I talked afterwards. We were glad that I popped the question.