Feb 7 1998

We just received Clint’s letter today and we were excited!!  It is dated 2/7/98--- I do not know what happened.  The blank spaces contain Khmer.  I am going to have to see if I can find a Khmer script for my computer. 

                                                                                                                2/7/98

Dear Family,

                Word!  I speak from the MTC.  I am in the laundry room.

                This is by far the worst part of the week as I come down to the laundry room.  Doing laundry is easy, the hard part is finding or fighting for a machine to use.  I am done but Elder Hoare’s clothes have a few minutes. 

                Another good week at the MTC.  Today again is P-Day.  We went to the temple early this morning.  Then went to service, it was fun!  We took big hoses and sprayed down the bathrooms.  We took scrub brushes on a handle and followed the hoses.  It was like ice skating and we did 8 bathrooms in l hour.  We also sang hymns as we worked.  It is so nice not to be in class, that we look forward to service.  This probably sounds like what girls or sisters would do but we sang manly songs: “Ye Elders of Israel”, “As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days”, etc. 

                This week we went to a devotional on Tuesday night and listened to two great talks.  Elder Robert K. Dellenbach spoke about the Book of Mormon.  Joseph Smith translated the B. of Mormon in approx. 63 days and now days it takes 4-6 years to translate the Book into a new language.  Next was Elder Earl C. Tingey who talked about the acquisition that the LDS church was not a Christian Church.  It is a great talk especially if you were a missionary going to the Bible Belt.  Afterwards I shook Elder Tingey’s hand.  (for real this time).  It’s like General Conference here every Sunday and Tuesday night.  Elder Tingey said that he new who was coming on the 10^th and that we are in for a treat.  I would love to hear from a member of the 1^st Presidency of Jeffrey R. Holland, or Robert Hales.

                Also this week I watched a talk on video from Apostle Holland.  It was about covenants.  The best thing he said was this: “ If we lived each day by the way we felt in the morning ( some days are better than other) we would never make it to the celestial kingdom.  If we live each day according to the covenants that we have made, we will make it.”

                I know this is true for me.  Some days I have to really force myself to have a good attitude to stay awake in class.  To get through hard times.  I try to remember why it is I am learning the language, all the blessings I have, all of you supporting me, and my desire to be a good missionary.

                Wednesday night I went to the TRC again and this time met twice with a man who spoke Cambodian.  He was an RM from the Denver Colorado Mission attending BYU.  Elder Hoare and I went in and tried our Khmae skills. The first time we went in talked a little about who we were and where we were from and family etc.  Then we cut to the chase.  The situation was that he was a member and we needed to share a scripture, or short gospel topic, bear testimony, and help him feel the Spirit. 

                The first visit went well except we ran out of things to say and left before our 20 minutes were up.  We went in again and Elder Hoare and I decided that we wanted to practice with Khmae.  So we talked for awhile, asked if he was going to school, where he served, about his family, told him we were going to Cambodia, etc.  It was fun even though we couldn’t always tell what he was saying.  We usually caught enough to piece it together.  Then we talked about Joseph Smith and bore testimony.  We were felling pretty good and I wanted to accomplish our goal of identifying the Spirit.  After bearing testimony I asked how he felt about Joseph Smith.  He said good and that he knew he was a prophet.  Then the best I could in Khmae I tried to identify the Spirit by saying:

“Happy heart came from Holy Ghost”  .  I smiled, Elder Hoare smiled, our volunteer smiled.  We then asked if he would say the prayer.  He said, sure and showed us the goal that someday we hope to reach in our language ability. 

                I feel good about the language.  I know there is a long way to go and everything will be different in Srok Khmae but things are going well.  I’m slowly learning to read.  I  take sentences out of the Book of Mormon Reader and crack it like a safe in about 10 minutes.  If there is time after journal writing and teeth brushing (                                      ) I try to crack a short sentence. 

SAMPLE:

                I love the challenge of cracking these.  There is a middle step I did not show you though.  I translate the script into Romanized and then into English. 

                I hope everything is going good with the family.  Thanks for the full report Jon. 

                Thanks for the letters and the care packages.  Elder Fairbanks says his great uncle is Aavard Fairbanks.  That means that he and Uncle Justin Fairbanks would be cousins.  No more news on Elder Fairbanks condition, he leaves for tests on the 10^th. 

                It usually takes 2 days for letters to get to me.  I write on Sat or Sun.  and mail on Monday morning.  Sometimes I get some letters mailed out on Sat.  It is real nice to get mail and I appreciate everyone’s support.  I do not have time to write back to everyone though.  Thanks Mom for spreading the letter.  I especially enjoyed the family home evening packet---that was really great!!!

                Dad I look forward to your good letters and the special incites due to your experience as a language learning missionary.  I also enjoy trading scriptures with you.  We had a priesthood lesson on D&C 84, some cool promises for diligent missionaries.  Also count me in on Elk Meadows 2000 ski trip—It sounds good!

                A goal that Elder Hoare and I accomplished this week is we bare our testimonies in Khmae each day to an Elder or Sister, Teacher, or Temple worker ( Sat in the Temple) It was fun and a good way to practice.  One of us would interpret as the other “niyiuy” ( kind of  like snock auf duetch)

                My travel plans are still unsure.  Most Elders are flying on the original date and if there is a change it is because of visas.  I will let you know the official word ASAP.  The day draws closer to when I see what waits for me in Cambodia.  Every now and then the Auzie’s and I talk about what it will be like as a missionary in Cambodia. 

                Thanks again for your love and support.

                                                                                Love your Missionary, Son, Brother,

                                                                                Elder J. Clinton Rogers  

Letter #4

1/25/98

Dear Dad,

                I think I’m going to be fat, I keep getting care packages and they feed us 3 buffet style meals a day. 

                Thanks for your letter and sharing your missionary journal with me.  I have written in mine everyday.  That’s about all I have time for at the end of the day is to quickly write in my journal and jump in bed before 10:30 p.m.

                I really enjoy Sundays here at the MTC.  It was a nice day today and we went for a walk around the temple and back.  Also we have some good speakers and a fireside later tonight.  It is nice not to have to go to class today. 

                I’m working hard on trying to learn the language, to strengthen my testimony, and to be a good missionary.  I am very tired at the end of each day and barely fall asleep when the alarm goes off in the morning.  I also attended my first temple session in Provo yesterday afternoon to end P-day.  P-day goes from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. when I have class. 

                The celestial room in the Provo Temple is very beautiful, and as we came out , the sun was setting and it too was beautiful.  We just stopped there on the front steps for about 10 min. enjoying the view, the freedom, and the lingering feelings of the temple.

                We had a good church today.  I gave the opening prayer and my companion gave a 5 minute talk.  Pres. Jex our Branch Pres. gave a really good talk.  He started out with Exodus 4 and Moses’s feelings of inability for his call and then ended with Doctrine and Covenants 50:24.  The more obedient and working hard we are the more light we will receive as missionaries,  It was a great pep talk for all of us. 

                They encourage us to write goals about our mission and what we want to accomplish here.  I wrote an MTC list of goals in the front of my missionary handbook and a two year list in the back.  I also wrote down a good scripture : Mosiah 4:27.

                I really like this scripture and especially the part about ” being diligent that I might win the prize!”

                Thanks for the letters Dad I enjoy hearing from you and your advise and encouragement. 

Tell everyone I love them.

                                                                Take Care,

                                                                Elder J. Clinton Rogers

                                                                                                                1/31/98

Dear Rogers Kromkruasaa,

                How is everyone?

               

Thanks for the care package and letters and for sending my Cambodian Scriptures.  We are getting serious about learning how to read Cambodian script.

First let me tell you a little about my week.  Monday was a normal day of study.  Tuesday was very special as we were visited by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.  Most of my district was able to get a seat in the gym where he spoke.  Lots of missionaries sat in the other rooms and watched it on TV  It was great!  Sister Ballard spoke first and talked about how neat it was to see all of these missionaries and then said I know each of you have a good Mom who is home praying for you.  She then took a couple of minutes and described how a mother prays for their missionary.  I know I feel a lot of love and support from home.  Especially from you Mom.  Thanks, I love you!

Elder Ballard then gave the best missionary pump up talk I have ever heard!  He talked about how important it was as a missionary to give the Lord your best each day and then report in with prayer each night.  He made some great promises about how the Lord would use us and how it would prepare us for the rest of our lives if we gave it our best for two years.  This week I have really tried to put that into practice.  I came away from the meeting with a strong desire to be a better missionary and was amazed at what a powerful man Elder Ballard is.  At the end of the meeting he had us raise our right hand in the air and then shake it.  “There you can all say that you shook hands with me tonight.”  It was cool!! Rumor has it the Prophet is coming to the MTC in May. 

The next major thing that happened was within my own district.  Elder Fairbanks has what I think is called a degenerative heart valve.  He has had open heart surgery once or twice and now they are worried that he has out grown the valve.  He left the MTC Thursday afternoon for a doctor’s appointment at the Uof U Med. Center.  He is really worried that he won’t be able to complete his mission and he doesn’t want to have surgery again.  We met Wed. night as a district and gave him a blessing.  Elder Mihu his companion gave the blessing and all nine of us bunched up and participated.  It was powerful and brought us together as a district.  He came back Thursday evening and reports that he is staying until Feb. 10^th.  He then has to go in and have the wire run up from his leg into the heart to test the pressure in his heart and see how the value is.  The decision will them be made about surgery or staying on in the mission.  It is a sad thing and we are really trying to support him.  I am thankful for my own good health.  Health problems are scary.  We put his name on the temple prayer role earlier today and as tomorrow is Fast Sunday , we are going to have a special fast. 

I have had a good day today.  Today is P-day, and it is just as busy as a normal day.  I got my laundry done first thing and then went and played ball at the gym from 9:00a.m.-10:15a.m.  It is fun.  I especially like to hoop it up after a long day of study.  Service was at 10:30 a.m.  Last week Elder Hoare and I dumped all the trash from the 4- floor dorm.  This week I swept out each bathroom on the 4 floors.  It’s work, but it is a nice break from sitting on a chair all week.  Then up to the temple for the 1:30 session.  It was clear full and I set on the back roll.  The lady at the desk on the way out said that they had done work for 2200 names already and the last session was at 6:00 p.m.  It is busy. From 3:30-5-30p.m., I have free time, then dinner at 5:30 p.m. and class from 6:30-9:30 p.m.  Bed at 10:30 p.m.  Then Sunday my favorite day of the week to wake up to. 

I am doing good.  I feel good.  I’m tired at the end of each day and sleep feels like it lasts ten minutes.  My health is good, no problems.  I also hit the weights a little after playing ball each gym time.  My companion and I are having fun and working hard.  I like his Auzie accent and daily we find words or things with different names, that we say different.  Like:  trash can in U.S. = rubbish bin in Auzie land.

Candy = lolly.  It is funny.  I try to use them when I can, my companion and Elder Williams get a kick out of it and so do I.  I think I missed the outgoing mail so I will continue.                  

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                2/1/98

Wow!, Sundays are great!  I have been in a MTC mission conference meeting this morning.  There were some great speakers and some good songs.  We sang ”Faith in Every Footstep” and “Army of Helaman”

it was awesome.  There were some talks from the MTC leadership, and they even called 3 missionaries from the crowd to come up and bear their testimony.  They have these mission conferences every Fast Sunday.  MTC Pres. Williams said something really interesting.  The entire missionary division of the church met on Tuesday under the direction of the Prophet.  NEWSFLASH:  Starting soon all newly baptized members of the church must be confirmed in a sacrament meeting.  This is to help with member retention.  So if you don’t know this already Dad it is coming soon.  I thank it is a good thing and that it will help. 

                My most favorite talk was about the importance of dreams.  Dream about what you want to accomplish out of life and then go and do what is required.  I have many dreams and many goals and desires that I want to accomplish.  I dream almost every night here at the MTC.  I wonder if it is because I concentrate so hard that my body is exhausted and my head is still going 100 MPH .  Dreaming is important but then the kicker is to work hard, be obedient, and learn from the example of others.  Also nothing that is worthwhile is accomplished easily.

                Thanks so much for your love and support.  I love all of you and think about you each night as I look at the family picture hanging up and write in my journal.  Keep up the good work.

                                                                                                Your missionary, son, and brother,

                                                                                                Elder J. Clinton Rogers

Jan 24, 1998

1/24/98

Dear Family,

                Well, how is everyone?  Things here are great.  Thanks for all your letters and support.  It is really fun to get mail as a missionary.  I think it is because you don’t have to concentrate to read mail and it is fun to hear from everyone. 

                I especially enjoyed your letters ( the letters with the sweet rolls, Mom your good letter, Lisha, Dad)  You all have lots of questions, but first let me tell you about my dream and my week. 

                I got mom’s letter and I think everyone else’s in the first half of the week.  It is hard to remember because every thing runs together here after awhile.  But I went to bed wondering how I was going to answer everyone’s questions and was thinking about the fam.  I fell asleep and had the best dream of my life and it seemed so real.  I came home for Sunday dinner in full missionary garb and we sat around the big table and just talked.  I saw everyone’s faces and just tried to explain all that has happened at this place.  I just woke all of a sudden to the alarm but it was great and I just felt really good.  I love you all and miss you but I am learning so much and enjoying this opportunity I have to be a missionary.

Elder Hoare and I went to the Training Resource Center (TRC) You may remember from the video that this is the place where you practice giving a discussion in a room with a volunteer investigator and video camera—where you can later watch your performance.  Elder Hoare and I were prepared to teach the Doctrinal Overview of the First Discussion, share a scripture, and pray and bear our testimonies in Khmae.  ( Like I said we have learned quite a bit) However there were no volunteers who spoke Khmae that night so we had to teach in English.  It was kind of hard because the things that I had memorized had to be quickly translated and spoken in English.

We came in greeted them , and then started to build a relationship of trust.  How many kids do you have?  What do you do ?  I am from St. George blah, blah, blah.  Then the goal is to share the doctrinal overview of the lst Disc. ,hopefully have them feel the spirit and commit them to let us come back and teach the complete 1^st Disc.  We also have a 20 minute limit time limit.  The spirit was so strong  as Elder Hoare bore his testimony of God’s plan of Happiness, and then I had the investigator read Alma 38:9 and bore my testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon.  It was powerful and I then asked them how they felt and told them that they were feeling the spirit.  Elder Hoare then asked “May we come back and teach your whole family the 1^st Discussion?”  We made an appointment and closed with prayer it was great!  I was surprised at how strong the spirit was, maybe it was because Elder Hoare and I treated it like it was real even though it was members who were teaching. 

Maybe the members needed to feel the spirit, or maybe we needed the experience to remember what missionary work is all about after this language training.  The next appointment was good too however they had some questions for us about what a prophet was and did and we ran out of time.  That was another thing about the first appointment.  After teaching I looked at my watch and twenty minutes had passed by but it didn’t seem like we had been through 5 minutes.  I think it was because of the Spirit we were feeling and our concentration on presenting the message. 

Time has a way of playing tricks on you here at the MTC.  There is a saying that is pretty true about the MTC.  “ The hours last a week and a week last an hour. “ 

I have got all my laundry done this morning.  It is a real rat race.  You fight Elders and Sisters off with one hand and try to get your dollars in with the other.

Let me also tell you about some other things that happened this week.  Monday we had morning, afternoon, and evening class.  Tuesday I had morning, and afternoon class, and then went to the gym for the first time.  I played basketball and ran around the track a few times.  I also weighed myself.  I weighed 191 pounds.  I last weighed in at 186 pounds  before I left. Tuesday night General Authority Hugh Pinnock visited the MTC.  He gave a great talk about missionary work and we sang “Called to Serve” , all 2700+ missionaries.  Awesome!  I really enjoyed singing the hymns.  We sing a hymn to start and end each class. 

Wednesday I had morning and afternoon class and in the evening went to TRC.  Thursday was a normal day with morning, afternoon and evening class.  Except during Gym and personal study time we attended a meeting and watched President Hinkley’s “An Ensign to the Nations” and sang “Faith in every Footstep”.  It was all the missionaries who came in on the 14^th and are learning a language.  Friday was a morning, afternoon, evening class day.  Saturday is P-Day.  I have done my laundry, will get a hair cut, go to the temple, have evening class at 6:30p.m.-9:30p.m., and I also have a service assignment at 10:30 a.m.

Then tomorrow, Sunday, District meeting at 7:00 a.m. free time or interviews with Branch Pres, 10:00 a.m. is Priesthood mtg., 12:00 lunch, free time, 3:00 Church, ( sacrament mtg. ) 4:30 light dinner, free time, 6:30 fireside, 8:00or 8:30 gospel study, 9:30-10:00 p.m. free time, in bed at 10:30 p.m.

                That has been my week in a brief overview.  I have 3 language teachers.  Two served in Cambodian speaking missions in the states.  Brother Proeun is a native born Cambodian.  He does not know his birthday and never knew his parents.  He escaped to America ( Rhode Island) at age 11 with his older sister.  He says he thinks he was born sometime between ‘73-76 in Cambodia. That date may explain a few things.  He says he is going to tell us his story as we get closer to leaving the MTC.  I am sure it is one of many sad stories that I am going to hear. 

                All 3 teachers attend BYU and then teach at the MTC part time.  Each takes a shift:

           8:00-11:15                        12:15-3:30                                6:30-9:30  

           Bro: Lilly White                Bro: Proeun                             Bro: Martin

           Seattle Wash Mission        Korea Mission                         LA Mission

                                                     He speaks 3 languages

                I have finished my first roll of film and I am enclosing the pictures. Hopefully some of your questions are answered in the pictures. 

                Here is some Cambodian for you.

                Thanks for all your letters and your support.  I hope that you can get through this dccp (10) page letter.

                I am learning a lot about myself and the gospel, and the Khmae language.  You’ve got to stay positive and continue to work hard and sometimes that is hard to do.  I am learning more and more that nothing in life is easy and that your attitude makes the difference.  You can cry about it or you can go to work and get it done.  Mosiah 4:27 really means a lot to me.  Heavenly Father is going to help us but that doesn’t mean it is easy.  The prize talked about in the scripture for me is, to be able at the end of this two years to honestly say to  Heavenly Father , myself, my mission pres., and my family that I did my best everyday. 

            I love you all very much!  Thanks Mom for the care packages, pictures, and love.  My homemaking skills are good, and my clothes are clean and taken care off,  I know I can’t machine wash my suit coat, but what about my suit pants?  Feel free to share the letter with anyone interested.  Especially my TRC experience. 

                Thanks.  Love

                                Elder Jeffrey Clinton Rogers  

Jan 16th 1998

Jan 16, 1998

                                                                                                10:02p.m.

Dear Jon

                Thanks for being my first companion.  I have this badge for you to make it official. 

                Mail really is a high light for me and the other Elders.  We have limited time to write back, but it sure is fun to hear from family and friends and receive encouragement. 

                The best scripture I have read is out of my missionary handbook: D&C 50:13-22.  It talks about the role and call of a missionary,  We really haven’t gotten into much gospel study yet. 

                My companion, Elder Hoare, and I are doing great.  We take turns saying companionship prayers in the morning, at meals, and in the evening.  Sorry this letter is so short but I need to be in bed at 10:30 p.m.  We get up before 6:00 a.m. and have classes 8:00-11:00, 12:15-3:15,  6:30-9:30 personal language study and gospel study is done in the classroom from 3:30-5:30p.m.

                I love you all, thanks for your support, and keep up the good work.

                                                                                             Your son, Brother, and Missionary

                                                                                                Elder J. Clinton Rogers

                                                                                                1/1898

                                                                                                8:05 a.m.

Dear Family,

                It is Sunday here in the MTC.  Things aren’t as scheduled and we do not have language classes today.  We have really learned a lot in the last 3 days. 

                Cambodian , as you know, is written in script.  We first learn it in Romanized form.  We use English letters to describe the sounds.  We learn the Romanized sounds first and about week four we will use script.  I said a prayer in Cambodian to end our language class yesterday.  When you look at the prayer remember that when you see letters that are not used in English it means it is a sound that the Cambodians use and we don’t.  A question mark is in a word also stands for a sound.  Khymer is said truly like this Ka-my.  This was my prayer.  

Farewell talk and Letter 1 Jan 15th 1998

Farewell Talk

“I’ll go Where you Want me to go Dear Lord” violin solo by Erika Rogers and Heidi Shakespeare

                                                                Accompanied by Lisha Rogers

Elder J. Clint Rogers

                Well I guess it’s my turn.  Thanks Lisha and Erika and Tammie for that good music.  It has been fun to come and listen to that on Sunday nights when they have gotten together and practiced that. It has been really neat to hear that.  I just want to tell my family how thankful I am for their talks and the effort they made today.  I thought that I always liked to go to farewells, but now here I am at mine and I am not so sure.  I want to thank all of you for coming today, especially my extended family and those of you who had to travel, our family friends that came down from Salt Lake and everybody here.  It means so much to me.  I am very thankful for your love and support and for this opportunity to share this farewell with you.  I really want to thank my scout leaders, my school teachers, my Sunday School teachers, my coaches and all those who have had a big influence in my life.  I want to thank my Uncle Curtis and my Uncle Richard for the great opportunity I had to work with them.  They taught me a lot of things we worked really hard, it was tough, but we also had fun.  It helped me to realize that hard work is important.  I want to thank Bro.  Wittwer and Bro. Ryan and also Bishop Jennings and the Priest Quorum .  I really enjoyed my time there the last little while.  I want to thank Bishop Jennings for helping me get ready for this.  I want to thank my friends.  We have really had a lot of fun times the last little while.  It has been fun as I have been preparing.  I know that I have some serious stuff to look forward to, but It has been fun to go and do some things with them.

 

Now I would like to share with you a little bit that I have prepared.  These are some of the things that have helped me as I have begun to prepare for my mission.  I am talking especially to you future missionaries and hopefully it will do some good and I think it will be good for all of us.  As I have begun to prepare there is a couple of things that have really helped me.

 The first one is to read our scriptures daily.  I have really found a lot of  strength in the scriptures.  I really enjoy at the end of a hard day sitting down and reading in the scriptures.  It helps me put everything into perspective.  It helps me to know that everything is OK, that Heavenly father is watching out for us.  There is really a lot of great power in the scriptures.

And right there with the scriptures is the second one daily prayer. There is a Seminary master scripture that I learned; D&C 10: 5. 

                Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

                If we are readying and praying and doing the things that we should then we are going to be able to avoid those temptations that would get us. 

                The third thing is to obey all the commandments.  A lot of times we obey the major ones, but one of the things that has helped me is watching out for the little ones:  being completely honest, honoring your parents, and always looking for ways to help others.

                #4 for me is regular Temple attendance. There is a lot of power there in the Temple.  I had  good examples.  Some friends got me started right off and they had goals of weekly temple attendance. As  I began to prepare for my mission,  I kept that goal of weekly Temple attendance.

                #5 Accept and look for opportunities to serve.  I have really enjoyed being able to go on splits with the missionaries.  I have also enjoyed teaching lessons and preparing lessons and helping out with Family Home Evening.  These things are all good helps as you are preparing for your mission.  They are also ways to practice teaching. I know that you feel good when you do all of these things.  You will feel that quiet confidence when you know that you are doing the right thing and you will know that Heavenly Father is pleased with you. 

                The last little while as I have prepared for my mission I keep repeating in my mind the line from the scripture D&C 82: 3.  It is the first line and it says:

                For of him unto whom much is given much is required.

                I have been blessed with many blessings. I have a great family who loves me, my extended family and my family right here on the stand with me. I have goodly parents who love me and love the Lord. I have good friends.  I have a lot of things that I have done and enjoy.  I have been given a lot.  Now it is my turn to give some back. I can not wait to share the gospel with those who are searching  for the truth in Cambodia.  I know that this is what it is all about. Everything in my life up to this point has been for this mission.  I know that it is going to be a hard thing.  It will probably be the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life.  Maybe I can feel that or something.  I just knew that I was not prepared and that I had to get ready. I know that I still have along ways to go to be a returned missionary, but I feel like I am off to a good start.  I hope that I can do well on this mission. 

                I want to tell my family how much that I love them, especially my good parents, and especially my Mom as she has worked so hard to get me ready both by getting the check list checked off  and also just being there for me and always being concerned about what I am doing and what is going on in my life.  I what her to know how much I love her. I what to tell my brother and sisters how much I love them.  I have tried to take them one by one lately and just do fun things with them; practice basketball with the twins or go on bike rides with Jonny or hang out with Lisha and Erika and talk about cool things and see what is on their minds.  I am really going to miss it and I am really going to miss them and I hope they know how much I love them.

                I just want to bear my testimony to you that I know that this church is true.  I know that the mission is a good thing and that it is important for these young men here and my self and all of us to prepare to go on a mission. I would like to thank all those who have gone on before.  All the good friends that are out there serving right now, and for there good example.  I want to challenge these guy on the front row to keep working towards it and I can’t wait to get to the MTC. I know that this Church is true.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Christ. I know that the scriptures are true and that the Prophet is true. I would like to thank all of you for being here today and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.    

  

Jan 15, 1998

                                                                                                                                9:10 p.m.

Dear Family,

                Word from the MTC!  I hope you are well and doing good.  I hope Lisha made it home in time for her game.

                This place is amazing!  There are numerous concourses of Elders and Sisters here, all wearing missionary best and practicing their many languages.

                Let me tell you some of my feelings.  I was sad, happy, worried, excited, and everything else on that ride up the state.  However, as I sat through that opening orientation meeting, I began to feel the spirit, realized that everything was going to be all right, and although I would miss all of you, I am doing the right thing and what the Lord needs of me at this time in my life.  Since our parting, I feel as though the Spirit has never left me and I love the good feelings I feel here. 

                I have a great companion, Elder Hoare.  He is from Melbourne, Australia and I really like him.  He goes with the flow and doesn’t let much bother him, kind of like me.  We pray together, shower together, sleep, eat, study, write letters, everything is done together.  Elder Hoare and I share our room with Elder Burton from Logan and Elder Williams from Brisbane, Australia.  Elder Burton is headed for the Cambodian Boston Mass. Mission.  Elder Williams, Elder Hoare, and myself are headed for Cambodia.  There are two other elders in our language class, Elder Woodbury, and Elder Reimschussel, both are headed for the State of Washington.

                We have already jumped into our language class.  I can greet you in Cambodian and use other phrases and questions but do not know how to write anything yet so I can’t share.  We are really busy.  So much has happened already today and yesterday that it feels like more time has gone by.  Everything here at the MTC is up to you.  You decide how much you want to study, what rules you want to obey etc.  They do not spoon feed you and everyone is on a different level.  This is also the beauty of the system, because each person and companionship must do the best that they can. 

                Monday we start our real schedule.  We have attended several meetings with all the missionaries who came in on the 14^th.  We met and had interviews with our branch president tonight.  We met as a branch, each Elder or Sister stood up introduced themselves, told about their family and bore their testimony. 

                It was really neat.  Then the Branch councilors talked with the group as one by one we each took our turn with the Branch Pres.

                Thank you for your letters, cards, and encouragement and love.  It was really fun to get the first pile of mail in the MTC, and it really gave me a boast.

                I am doing well, the days are long, the spirit is strong, the food is pretty good, it snowed today, the language is tough, and I am doing hard to do my best.  The Elders that I share a room with decided that we are going to strive to be obedient.  We made a pact of obedience. 

                I am happy and trying to keep up with all the new things being thrown at me.  I love you all very much . Thanks for your cards and notes.  Thanks for getting me ready.

                My P-day is Saturday, but I will probably get a chance to write again on Sun or Mon.  Take care and be good.!

                                                          Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary,

                                                                  Elder J. Clinton Rogers

PS I have seen Elders :  Ward, Blake, Andrus, Staheli, Hyer, Bryant.

PS There is an Elder in my room telling us his testimony in Portuguese, wow.       

                                                                                                

Journal entries

Journal entries:

                                                                                                1/13/98

                Well here I am.  I was ordained as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tonight by Pres. Randy Wilkinson.  My family was there to support me:  Grandma and Grandpa Hafen, Grandma Talbot, Aunt Michelle, Mitch, Taylor, Uncle Craig, Aunt Marcia, Nick, Curtis Rogers, Adam Mathews, Jaren Scott.  Pres. Wilkinson gave me a great blessing.  Promising me to obey the mission rules, and I would be protected,   when I get homesick to work harder, that I would be a great help to my Mission Pres. , and that there was people waiting for me in Cambodia.  He also left a blessing on my family, and that we would have a safe trip to the MTC.

                Today has been a hard day as I have had to pack up my room, say good-by to family and good friends, and deal with the feelings of uncertainty, excitement, fear of the unknown, and all of the mixed emotions that come as I enter the MTC.

                I cried hard as I hugged Mitch, and Taylor.  I love both of these future missionaries so much!  It was especially hard with Mitch as he will leave before I return.  I really love my family and good friends.  I am going to miss them all very much.  I am well supported and loved by them I hope to take their strength with me.  I am excited yet scared as I leave now on my mission.  I want so badly to be a good missionary.  I want to be totally obedient.  I want to have the spirit as my constant companion, and I want to be a wise and profitable servant of my Heavenly Father.

                                                               

                                                                                                1/18/98

                Today is my first Sunday here at the MTC.  I have really enjoyed the nice day outside and looking at the mountains.  I was pretty tired and kind of feeling down after the long days we have had going to classes and everything since Wed.  However I realized I am being selfish and that I can do better than I am doing.  I want to be a good missionary.  A missionary who is in tune with the Spirit and can be used as an instrument in God’s hands.  I need to do quite a few things to get to that point but here is my list right now. 

1)       Be humble and teachable.

2)       Work Harder

3)       Look only at the good in others and love him.

4)       Make study productive and often.

5)       Work on my testimony.

               

                I have decided that I need to have a better attitude about things.  I also need to have more faith.  My companion is setting a good example for me and I am helping him out with the language.  We are a good match.

                                                                                                                1/19/98

                Today we attended normal class and then had an hour and ½  to wash our clothes.  Elder Hoare and I teamed up and got everything washed and ironed.  I used Mom’s ironing 101 instructions and got my shirt’s ironed and tried to help Elder Hoare with his. 

                We were kind of tired today as the fire alarm went off at about 11:30 p.m. last night.  I think someone pulled it. and we had to sit outside in the cold until the building was checked out.  Then we went back up and tried to go to sleep. 

                I really enjoyed our Book of Mormon share again tonight.  The Spirit was really strong tonight.  Elder Hoare started us off expressing his feelings of inadequacy and that he was struggling.  He read Heleman 5:12 and was pretty emotional.  We were all trying to think of something that would help comfort or encourage us.  I thought of the scripture that I read this morning as I was having kind of a bad attitude.  It was perfect for the situation and the Spirit was really strong as I read, I too became a little emotional.  Alma 31:31-32.  I really like this scripture and love the Book of Alma because of all the good missionary scriptures it contains. 

                                                                                                                2/5/98

                Today was another good day.  I feel pretty good about the language.  I really can say quite a bit.  I know I have a long way to go before I am able to hold my own in Srok Khmae, but I am learning. 

                I really felt good today as I talked about everything the Holy Ghost can testify about.  I was talking to Elder Williams and I just about cried.  It was neat.  I have really tried to have a good attitude this week as I learn.  Trying to be happy, excited, and paying attention no matter how I feel. 

                I went to the gym today and played some rough ball.  First and Elder tried to sink his teeth into the side of my forehead as I dribbled past.  Next I look down and my left hand is bloody from a cut on my pinkie finger.  I think someone was wearing a ring.  It was fun and I hit a game winning jumper. 

                                                                                                                2/6/98

                I had a good thought today that I wanted to share.  I was reading in 3 Nephi 9-11 and had this thought. I thought about how much I love my good parents and what a great day it will be to come home after successfully completing a mission .  It will be really special.

                Then I compared this to Jesus Christ and his mission.  Coming here to Earth.  Setting the example and paying the price of sin for all mankind. How hard it must have been for both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but what a great event it was when Heavenly Father and others welcomed back Jesus Christ after he successfully completed his mission. 

                I know that my experiences are not quite the magnitude of Christ’s but thinking about it that way helps me better understand the sacrifice it was. 

                                                                                                                2/7/98

                A busy P-day.  The highlight was spraying down the bathrooms and scrubbing them with scrub brushes on rake handles.  It was really fun. 

                Tonight we taught the first discussion.  Elder Hoare knows the gospel and leads the way in discussions.  He is great and has a strong testimony.  He is a good example to me. 

                When teaching these discussions I realize that I need to increase my testimony, and make sure that  I am learning about the gospel as I learn this language. 

                I ‘m trying to be humble and to be more Christlike. “ A humble man has confidence in his ability but does not always think about himself.”  I do have confidence in my abilities but I also compare myself to others and think about myself too much. 

                I know that it is very important for me to be on this mission.  I’m thankful for this opportunity to work on my faith and testimony, and become a good servant of the Lord.  It is work.

                                                                                                                2/8/98

                I just came from a great lesson on pride.  It was our Sunday night gospel speaker.  He talked about how pride was the universal sin of the world, and as he talked I could certainly recognize areas in my life where I needed to get rid of pride.  He talked about how Jesus Christ was the exact opposite of pride.  He showed the example of perfect humility. 

                Many times I show pride when I compare myself to others and worry about what the world thinks and not  what God’s will is.  “ Pride is easy to see in others and not in ourselves. “

                There is so much that I need to work on as I evaluate my self at the end of the day.  I’m trying to work hard and develop better Christlike qualities and be a better missionary. 

                I also enjoyed the talk about prayer. He talked about how to truly communicate with God and I need to work on this too.  Two years will be good to improve in these areas.  “What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be”

                                                                                                                   

The return Las Vegas Airport Dec 23rd