first year poem

It’s “hump day” on your mission.

            There are lessons to be learned.

            Evaluate the good times

            Let the bad things “crash and burn”.

            Remember as his servant

            There is much you still can do.

            The past twelve months are over

            The next twelve months are new.

            This camel carries heavy loads

            But knows his masters hand

            Will lift them at each long days end

            And thus you’ll understand.

            Submit, as does the camel

            To your Lord, on bended knee,

            He’ll bless you with his spirit’s power

He’ll lift cares and help you see.

That missions can be challenges

            But place your trust in him…

            No matter what you’re called to do

Like the camel, you will win.

            It’s “hump day” on your mission

            There is so much to be done:

            Work hard. . . Love life. . . There’s little time;

            The best is yet to come!

                                    V/Ann Ludlow

Jan 4 1999

Clint mission #51                                                 1/4/99

Dear Family,

                Wow, where did 1998 go?  Almost a whole year in the mission field! Vern will probably have his mission call by the time that you get this letter.  ( He does it is Figi leaves 4/28/99) I am going to have to write fast and furious tonight.  We bought real doughnuts from the bakery and watched Beauty and the Beast for Family Home Evening it was great fun!!

                Friday for New Years, we went out for lunch at the Inter Continental Buffet.  Grandpa Hafen would have loved it.  They had crab and boy you should have seen the size of the shrimp.  I did not have my special fork with me so it was difficult to get to the crab.  There was a German family/group at the restaurant.  I could understand them and thought about specking with them, but I opened my mouth and Khmae comes out.

                At the start of the week, we thought that were very full with appointments, but we had so many set backs and people who had to quit studying:  IE  The guy from New Zealand decided that while he is here he should take a wife home. . . .he quit –although he has the name of the church in English to find in New Zealand and a copy of the Khmae Book of Mormon.  Sit a neighbor of ours down the street has been an investigator for about 2 weeks and has already read the Book of Mormon once.  He got word a friend is sick up in Siam Reap and he headed North to help. 

                So we have been trying to find some more people to teach.  I worry about Sarum.  He is the golden incredible man with a wife and family who we have been teaching since Sept.  He has been on a ten day business trip to Siam Reap.  I want so badly to see this family make it to the waters of baptism.  What a privilege and a test of patience it is to meet with this family once a week Sunday Night.

                Elder Badger and I had a good P-day today and as we talked and got to know each other a little better we found out we had something in common. . . .R.E.M.

                A really special fast Sunday.  I really felt the Spirit strong as ( written in Khmae ) a young woman of strong faith bore her testimony.  After her another good testimony and then a pause, a pause that grew longer and so finally I stood up. I didn’t really know what to say but I know that everyone there had felt the Spirit and tried to identify that.  Afterwards I had the privilege of staying right there at the mic and translating for Sister Johnson.

                Well I’m out of time.  I can not wait to here Vern’s call.  Here is my guess for you Vern----Phnom Penh Cambodia!  Word! 

                Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary,

                Elder Rogers

Dec 28, 1998

Clint mission #50                                                                 12/28/98

Dear Family,

                The Nativity Party was a bit rough as the members didn’t quite get as prepared with the actual play.  The costumes, decorations, etc. was great.  We had a huge turnout, mostly young people.  So many people that it kind of turned into a policing even for us Elders.  The play was performed twice.  The members did a pretty good job, but are not so familiar with the Christmas Story and also could have used just a bit more polish.  After that the costumes came off because they too wanted to socialize.  From that point on we were really policing as someone traded music from Babylon and the kids started throwing powder on each other.  Needless to say it was more of a learning experience for everyone.  ( Branch leaders, Elders, members) The thing that was the best for me was to see two people very inactive come to church.  The one lady hadn’t been to the Church in over a year or so for any activity.  Also some of our investigators made it. 

                We meet with people and need to share scriptures often.  One scripture Elder Badger likes to share is 2 Nephi 1:23 about putting on armor and how we choose everyday.

                Elder Badger and I both spent our first Christmas in the Mission Field.  It was awesome!  Definitely the most Spiritual Christmas and Christ centered of my life!  After our great phone call the Badger Family called, then we went out for an hour and talked with some inactives, went to the President’s for a good lunch, gift exchange, and a little testimony meeting as each stood and told what they wished they could give the people.  I wanted to give a Book of Mormon but someone took that one so, I said when we give them that Book that they can forget all distractions and honestly read and pray.  Give it a fair chance.  I was very impressed with Elder Brooking as he emotionally expressed how he wished he could give the people a peek of the future of the Church in this land. 

                However I think the highlight of the day may just have been the last appointment, a single school teacher about 50-55 and her 20 year old son.  We talked, explained, and read Luke 2 and other  scriptures as they never had heard the Christmas story.  She especially liked as we read to her the announcement to Mary from the Angel Gabriel that she had been chosen to do a special work.  It was special to tewll the story on Christmas day, a story that means so much to all of us, to two people who had never heard it.  No better way to celebrate Christmas than that!

                I hope you had a great time in San Diego.  I’m glad Santa still found me there at 578 Cambridge.

Thank you again for a great Christmas!

                Love ,  Elder Rogers 

Letter 48 and 49

Clint mission #48 and 49

Letter #48 was just pictures.  I think this is letter #49.  However the one year mark is Jan 14^th, so who knows. 

                                                                                                Dated 12/21/98 received 1/8/99

Dear Family,

                Merry Christmas, Merry Holiday School Break, Happy New year, and STS  ( Ski the Slopes)

                I look forward to your call on Friday. 

                You asked how Christmas was here.  First of all from my situation I have a little tree set up on my desk, a few presents, someone ( The Johnson’s the couple downstairs) is playing 12 days of Christmas with a daily present ( candybar, fruit, soap, etc.) .  On Friday all missionaries are going to the office for lunch and gift exchange from 12pm to 2 pm, and on Christmas Eve we will meet with the Johnson’s and read Luke 2, sing songs, and have a treat. 

                The Branch had a “ ward dinner” complete with a visit from Santa (me). This Saturday we will perform a small pageant at the Church for people to come and learn of Jesus Christ.

                Some of the stores in town have some Christmas decorations up but that is the extent of celebrating unless you belong to a Christian Church or want a good excuse to party. 

                The Mission Home is really decked out inside with Christmas decorations it is fun to be there. 

                Right now the weather feels like summer and will be hot the rest of the time.  However right now it is not humid.  This past week however I wore my suit coat for two days because it was cool.  There was a real cold wind, no rain just cloud cover. 

                One comment on the Bill Clinton thing, it is nice to know very little. 

                The highlight of this past week was a great mission conference.  It is always great to meet once a month and get blasted with tips, talks, goals, and most important motivation by way of the Spirit. It is always very strong at these meetings.  We set a goal many months ago when Elder Cook visited the mission to finish the year with 225 baptisms.  We humbly rejoice as it looks like we will finish the year at close to 260!!! We were truly blessed especially with help from the District Missionaries!!

                This past Sunday (20^th), Navy a 17 year old girl was baptized from mine and Elder Badger’s area.  We began teaching her in Nov and she was baptized yesterday by a District Missionary Seehea.  She was very excited and it was great teaching her and to see her be baptized!

                I think I will close with that for this week. 

                The mission thing is like a dream.  Much like life in General, I guess.  I still must pinch myself as I wake up in the morning and tell myself in Khmae “Another great day of spreading the Gospel”.  I am amazed at the blessing of health and strength, speaking Cambodian, and seeing others gain testimony in another language that I receive everyday.  It is crazy how well I know, understand, and am familiar with these people.  I love this work!! I am excited to teach of Christ on his birthday.  I continue to try and personally know my Savior.  I have heard that from Missionaries” I came to know Christ”.  I’m working on it.  I know he lives.  I know he loves each one of us.  I know he knocks at the door for each of us. 

                Merry Christmas

                Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,

                Elder Rogers

               

                The District Conference was at the 5 star Inter-Continental Hotel, 600+ people in attendance.

Dec 7, 1998

Clint mission #46                                                                 12/7/98

Dear Family,

                Well no mail today!  I think it is due to Thanksgiving.  I am glad that E-mail came through.  Dad you’ve got the move pegged.  ( Elder Brooking moved back to the house with all the water and power trouble and Clint, Johnson’s and companions live in the new place still. ) From day one of the move Elder Hoare and I have been working closely with our new companions.  We went shopping for bikes together, orientation meetings, etc.  Elder Walker, who came in the group before Elder Hoare and I, and just happens to be in the first group called officially to the Cambodian Phnom Penh Mission, before they were called to Thailand, is the new D.L.    It is nice not to have to be D.L. and the trainer. 

                This has been Elder Badger’s first full week in the country.  It has been a great one. He was asked, along with Elder Stewart, to bear his testimony in Church yesterday as a new arrival.  The members perk up and get ready to giggle as the new Elders struggle with the language.  They were disappointed.  Elder’s Badger and Stewart have a good start.  Working together this week Elder Badger and I committed Sophiap and his wife to baptism Jan. 3^rd and a college student Naarith to baptism on Jan 10^th.  Some more contacts through members, inactive visits and meeting with new members.  It was a very productive full week.  Elder Badger is from St. John’s Arizona and is the middle child of 7.  He is also the first in his family to serve a mission.  He sleeps like a bear.  We bought him an alarm clock today and picked the one with the loudest alarm.  Like I say he is good with the language and the people understand as he teaches.  He has the first discussion halfway memorized.  He is good with the scriptures.  He is struggling a bit with the traffic.  It gets pretty crazy sometimes with motos, cars, people, bikes, handcarts, etc. all on the same road.  He also reminds me to be careful.

                Today Elder Hoare and I planned a P-day activity.  We visited Toul Slang the school turned into a prison.  It was fun because our whole District went: Elders Walker, Pruett, Hoare, Stewart, Badger and Rogers.  However the things seen there are not fun and there is a bad feeling there.  It is much like what happened to the Jews in the Regime of Hitler.  Just like a concentration camp with the walls of pictures of those who died at the school. 

                This week has brought several experiences with other Christian Churches here in Cambodia.  There are many.  We met with some young people who were members in another church, they said that they wanted to study with us.  Things started out great we gave them copies of the Book of Mormon and they just fizzled out.  We have not seen them back since.  How can you follow Christ and not believe in the Book of Mormon?

                Thanks for taking care of me!

                Love your Son, Brother, Missionary, Elder Rogers

Letter # 47

Clint Missionary Letter #47

Dear Family,

                Word.  Man it is cold here! This past week the sky has been overcast and there has been a real cool wind. The Cambodians are freezing. We Elders are a bit cool too. It is probably only 60 -70 or maybe 55-65 degrees but it feels cold here.

                A good week. Let me tell you about it: Sunday we were a little disappointed to see only 61 in attendance. However this group of 61 was very focused. It was amazingly quiet as the Sacrament was passed. The Spirit was strong!. The Branch President didn’t want to break the silence to continue the meeting and tried to whisper into the mic. This doesn’t always happen. Sunday usually takes lots of energy and patience trying to help things go smoothly. This Sunday talks weren’t prepared somehow and the Branch President called on people from the audience to speak. I happened to be #4 on the list. I tried to give somewhat of a Christmas message and shared Mosiah 3:8, and Alma 39:16. I then concluded with a challenge/encouragement to spread the “glad tidings” by inviting friends and family to our Nativity Play on Dec 26^th. The members are dressing up and putting on a play of Luke 2, and singing Christmas Songs. The goal is for a fun activity and most especially a good missionary tool. I’ll tell you about it.

                Saturday we had a ward Christmas Dinner/ Party. The members spent much of the day decorating and making food. The girls came dressed up in formals and the guys were dressed up too.( Not for Church, but for a party). I didn’t really get to see the food cause I was busy providing the highlight of the party. I was Santa! It was quite fun as I got to dress-up and hand out gifts. I also shot 36 pictures with people who wanted a picture with Santa. It was funny because about half of the members and investigators did not know it was me until after I took off the beard.

                Today Elder Badger and I went with E lder Hoare and Elder Stewart and the Young Men/ Young Women caroling to an orphanage here. We went and sang Christmas Songs to about 22 disabled orphans. Elder’s Hoare and Stewart do service there each week helping feed the children and they organized the event. All of the children were severely handicapped and it was kind of a hard place to visit. I think they all enjoyed listening to the 4 Christmas songs we sang. I talked with a young guy who could not walk but he was smiling there just as happy as could be. They are all special spirits. It was a good caravan of young latter-day Saints on bikes and motos headed for service at the orphanage.

                Nary was sick this past week and has some other difficulties. We had to put her baptism off from the 13^th to the 20^th. Also, we can’t visit Sophiap and his wife anymore. They have studied up to the 4^th Discussion.  They live with a brother who has a job and Sophiap’s wife is the maid and cook. Sophiap builds wood stands for the flower business of the brother’s wife. The brother provides roof and food with his salary and Sophiap and his wife do all the housework. Sophiap and his wife are really excited too. Now however the brother says that they can’t or they have to find a new place to live. So we are done until they can find  their own place or can get permission from the brother.

                Sarun and his family are still coming along good, and we just have committed two college guys to baptism. They were invited to attend District Conference by their member friends. Their names are Naareet and Voun and should be baptized Jan. 10.

                We’ll I’m out of here. I’ve got my Christmas tree up and enjoyed your Christmas cards! I can’t wait to see the “hut”. Sounds like quite a project. Can’t wait to talk with you on the phone. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! 21 years! And many more! Thanks for the e-mails. I like to hear about your past and present missionary experiences Dad.

                Love your Son, Brother and Missionary.       Elder Rogers

Nov 23 1998 #2

Clint Mission #45                                                                                ll/23/98

Journal entries:

                I enjoyed a birthday breakfast at the LeRoyal Hotel here in Phnom Penh with Elder Harmon, Pruett, and Brooking.  It was good stuff. I especially liked the juice bar.  I received a package today from Melanie, inside was good looking stationary, a music tape, and a box of soft batch cookies.  Between the 4 of us we ate the whole box. 

                We also met with two guards at the Chinese Wood factory Headquarters.  They are half way through the 3^rd discussion but can not commit to being baptized or coming to church.  I think that they know the gospel is true.  We talked with them and they like to read from the Book of Mormon and tell us that they have felt good as they have prayed and agree that they have felt the Holy Ghost.  However their families are opposed to a change from Buddhism.  Vee and Vanna say that they can not give up these traditions and make their families upset at them.  “I will be the only one.” It is really tough.  I sure wouldn’t want to go against my family.  However if we know the truth we must follow.  In the scripture reading I read about Amulek giving up much in order to go be a missionary with Alma.  In the institute student manual it talks about the gospel does cause division and cited Matthew 10:34-36 and also showed what happened to Amulek in Alma 15:16. ---Amulek gave up everything his gold, land friends etc. for the gospel. 

11/24/98---

                Happy Birthday to Me!!!! 20!! I am an old man!  I wore my favorite blue pants, my favorite tie, smiled as I knelled with Elder Brooking to pray as we left the house, I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from having a good day!  I had a great day!

                Sister White brought over a birthday cake which the Johnson’s hid from me until dinner time. They cam in the kitchen with the cake all lit up and sang Happy Birthday!  I had purchased some ice cream and we Elders all had cake and ice cream.

                I gave my last DL lesson tonight in DDM on the importance of presenting the message clearly.  This boils down for us = memorization after that we can worry about good teaching skills.  My commitment was to recommit to the language memorization goal made with President and to use good teaching skills in an appointment.

                Elder Harmon just came in again back in 43733 days we arm wrestled and I beat him.  He started exercising and challenged me to another dual in November.  I said why not my birthday.  We agreed.  We quietly wrestled off again tonight.  He lost again right arm and left arm.

1125/98

                Today was an inactive visiting day, we were able to meet with Sovin, Somnaang, Neangsey, and Boonton. We were especially lucky to meet with Sovin as he just disappeared for about two months and we haven’t been able to catch up with him, although we have tried many times. 

                Tomorrow “ Moves the Game” (Clint includes a list of all the new Elder’s assignments. )

                I will meet Elder Badger for the first time fresh from the MTC.

11/26/98

                It was a killer waiting in the office for President and Sister White to make it back from the Airport with the newly arrived Elders.  They pulled in the drive with the van and the new Elders got out and shook hands with Elders Hoare, Hadley, McCormick, and Heywood( the new AP’s) Elder Hadley is training Elder Bullard the new Viet speaking Elder.  Elder Hoare is training Elder, and I am training Elder Badger.  It is fun to be going through this new experience on training with my MTC comp and good bud, Elder Hoare.  Elder Badger thrust out his hand and gave a real powerful handshake.  Elder Heywood said, “Now that’s an MTC handshake.”  This afternoon that powerful handshake has surprised a few Khmae members like Mec, Phalla and Sim Son.  Usually a handshake from Khmae is a “dead fish”.

                The major project of the day after a good lunch of sandwiches, chips, and fruit, was to buy a bike.  We went to the home of the Japanese Red Rider but they were all out of stock.  We then went up to Odersay Market and talked to a man who has promised to provide three “ California Cruisers” like Elder Daniel’s old bike and Elder Hadley’s.  However he won’t have them until mid day tomorrow.  A quick trip to Lucky’s for food, then home with about 15 minutes left .  We went to Phet’s house and shared a scripture with Phet and Sim Son.  I was impressed with Elder Badger’s language abilities, especially his prayer was very good. 

                The best was to be reminded of my first day as they took mission photos with President and Sister White, a photo with the trainer, and a group newcomer shot, all to send home to family.  It seems like just a few minutes ago I was doing the same.  Also it was funny to see the crowd of white people we made as we put the three new Elders in cyclos and us trainers leading the way on bikes. 

1127/98

                Great Day today!!  It started out with an orientation meeting conducted by the AP’s Elder Heywood and McCormick.  It was mainly for the new Elders but had good reminders for me too.  Also we met as trainers for a few minutes and went over our trainer packet.  We talked about example, attitude, tips and past experiences that would help.  After this meeting we had maybe 20 minutes before lunch and we each shared our testimony.  The spirit was strong there as we bore testimony of the fullness of the gospel and the importance of this work.  Elder Bullard shared an experience about leaving his family and getting on the plane, he was nervous.  He said a quiet prayer and from that moment he has been very calm.  I too felt the Spirit strong and was grateful to share my testimony.  A great lunch was served afterwards and it was fun to visit with the White’s.  I finally figured out what President White did for a living by asking him today.  He has a doctorate degree in anthropology and did research for the Federal Government for 16 years.  He was researching to see if they could use radiation to change to genetic make up of a parasite worm which caused damage to apples.  ( I want to know more about the specifics)

                We purchased a finer-used California Beach Cruiser for Elder Badger for $40.  I needs some attention from the monkey boy on Monday to be in top shape but it is a good sturdy bike.