Sept 99 Journal Entries

Journal Entries:

                Today I attended a District Development meeting.  Elder Williams my MTC roommate was teaching the lesson.  The lesson was on enthusiasm.  As a missionary that is really important.  In his lesson he made a statement, Paraphrasing D&C 4, he said “ Can we serve with all our heart, might, mid, and strength if we do not have enthusiasm? 

                No! You can not.

                Sister White talked a little in Zone Conference about the word enthusiasm.  The meaning of the word in Greek mean “ God in you” A great definition!

                The past 2 days President White and Elder Folsom and I have been interviewing all missionaries.  The interview is broken up into two parts.  Performance and proselyting skills is talked about with the Assistants, personal and attributes are talked about with President White.  Each session is 15 minutes. And scheduling interviews 15 minutes apart we are able to do the whole mission in about a day and ¾.

                When we interview a missionary we first sing one verse of an enthusiastic Missionary Song.  Last month the song was “Called to Serve”, this month our song was “Go Forth with Faith”.  We then kneel in prayer and one of us Assistants says the prayer and makes a point to pray for that missionary.  We follow up first on past goals and they score themselves and then we help them set new goals for the coming month.  Goals include: Discussion, proselyting skills, language acquisition.  This past interview session we tried to ask every Elder two questions:

1)      What proselyting skill do you want to focus on this month as a result of zone conference?

2)      Do you make your bed each morning?

We found that  75% of the mission  did not make their bed.  Some missionaries need a little

 persuasion but most committed themselves to make their bed each morning on their own. 

               

                Two very historic events took place yesterday.  The first one was a special assignment from President White.  President White ask us to choose 6 or 7 members and have them come to the office.  We are in the final stages of buying land for a stake center.  However foreigners can not be the owners of Cambodian land.  A corporation must be formed of shareholders on paper the church will own 49% and 3 Khmae citizens of the church will be shareholders of 17%.  They volunteer to be shareholders so the church can build a stake center.  They don’t make or loose ant money only serve the church.  Those in attendance were: Chan, Soriya, Chany Hang Bo, Phanith, Pen Vibol, Peeh Sophouk, and Um Son.  I think that some were a little puzzled about it but they were all so excited to hear that we are working towards building a stake center. 

                The other major historical event was Elder Folsom  and I took the car down to Ta Khman to scout out possible proselyting Elders moving there in October. It was hard to see the layout of the city, just by car we needed a map, but they didn’t have one for us.  We went into a government building.  I think it was the bureau of Land Titles or something and we sat down and talked with two nice older men.  The one guy was all rushed and gave us some statistical information but we explained that we did not come for stats.  Elder Folsom led the way in a good conversation about why we were there and why we hopefully plan to be in Ta Khman.  Elder Folsom astounds people with how clear and well he speaks Khmae.  He sounds just like them and has an amazing  vocabulary.  I realize I need to work harder on my language. 

                We are not sure that we are ready to head off to Ta Khman with 4 Elders.  We felt just like we were in Phnom Penh while we were there, just father away and the attitude of the people is more relaxed.  We have to ponder and pray about weather or not it is time to go.  Before the trip yesterday in my mind I was saying yes go, but I didn’t feel strongly either way as we were down in the city yesterday. 

                We met with President White yesterday to discuss what to say at Zone Leaders Leadership training meeting.  He told us to be careful and avoid the shotgun effect.  The shotgun effect is hitting lots of little points but not developing any of them, the result is those in the meeting don’t benefit from what is said. 

Sept 13 and Sept 20 1999

9/13/99

Dear Family,

                Wow it was good to hear from you, sounds like you are all excited about the Dec15th and also the results of the Canada fishing trip. Dad and Jon, thanks for the good written report but now I want pictures. I didn’t hear anything about the food there, that is an important detail, how was it? I am assuming not as good as what’s her name in Alaska, because I haven’t heard anything at this point.

                Mom and Dad your travel plans sound great! Bring an “elephant pattern” street tie from Thailand for the 50 Elders who will be here for Christmas. Please tell President White of your travel plans. Please refrain from any time countdowns in letters. That’s all I have to say about that.

                I have enclosed what I call my masterpiece, my final Assistant’s message for this month’s Zone Conference. It is going to be held this week and will be my final Zone Conference today as an Assistant to President White. I talked with Elder Hoare today, he said it is great to just sit and listen in a Zone Conference. Just some background on the A.W.A.K.E. acronym. We were trying to think of an acronym which would capture some of the traditions and attitudes we wanted to have in the Mission. That was a month or so ago. The theme for this week’s conference is Alma 7:22-23.

Alma 7:22

 22 And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.

Alma 7:23

 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

At the end of a companionship planning session this past week as Elder Folsom and I kneeled in prayer.  I had this idea about AWAKE from verse 22. As soon as the prayer ended I jumped up, grabbed the marker and wrote on our tile wall. A. (AIR) W.(Work) A. (CRA) K. (Kindred Dead) E. (ESP).   I can’t force a Mission motto on anyone nor do I think that we necessarily need one but I sure liked my acronym for the message and as a way to put into words how I fell about this mission and the work here.

                Elder Folsom was busy most of the day with our other big project. We had the assignment to fix the translation of the document, The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Elder Folsom did most of it as he is the language champion. But I helped. An earlier translation had been done by someone in SLC but it was not quite good enough. Elder Folsom and I fixed it up because it is going to be presented to the King of Cambodia by President Creel L. Kofford and President White when they visit him this Saturday. President White secured the visit through one of his connections we have over here. President Kofford will be in Bangkok already so will swing over for a good will tour. President Kofford will be coming back to Cambodia Nov. 6-7 for District Conference. He is the only one of the Area Presidency we haven’t personally met yet.

I want to share a scripture with you to close. First the background info. We had a run-in with the land lord at one of the houses. It was the very first house I was ever involved in, and we chose to exercise after 6 months the termination option in the contract. Well after doing so to make a long story short they were not expecting it and were upset. I thought we had lost all hope of maintaining a good relationship and the good name of the Church with them after our first visit about the problem. Well I prayed about it for extra help before our next meeting. Alma 33:4

Alma 33:4

 4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.

Turns out that we cut a deal with them by paying some money, and got things smoothed out. They were happy and so were we. ( Dr. Woolsy from Hong Kong had condemned the house due to bad living conditions, it was a little older but had a great location.) However better than that the landlord asked me where does your church get its money? Well I took this question and ran with it and Elder Seare, a senior missionary, helped me out. Before we knew it the Spirit was there and we were bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as a Second Witness. I guess I just lack faith as this was a different outcome than what I had expected. A great blessing came as an answer to prayer. We placed a Book of Mormon with them this week. I found Alma 33:4 after and thought it really applied. See also Alma 33:8

Alma 33:8

 8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

Thanks for all your prayers.   Love your Son, Brother Missionary

PS Dr. Woolsy is a former OB/Gyn Doctor from SLC.

Dear Family,                                                                         9/20/99

                I just got back from down the street.  Remember the little Mormon Community we set up on our street here?  Well Elder Sorber made a big pot of curry today and invited us down for a little sampling.  It was good and fun to have a little get together.  It reminded me of the Sunday curry we used to have back when we had maids.  Also he made a pot of a Cambodian banana dessert.  Good stuff! 

                Hello to all of you!  Sounds like everyone is good and busy with school.  Thanks Dad for the good report on the trip.  Maybe we could meet Dr. Woolely in Hong Kong.  I’m pretty sure his name is Woolely.  He has been here twice.  The first time he came and looked at Health Care facilities like the hospitals and drug stores.  He then gave his approval to Pres. White.  Recently he viewed all missionary housing and then went to Siam Reap to evaluate the medical stuff there.

                The Family Proclamation took us about 1 and ½ to 2 days.  We did not translate it cold.  We took the Salt Lake Translation and helped it then we had local members proofread it.  It was still quite a project and Elder Folsom is mainly responsible.  But it is a big event for us too.

                By the way the visit to the King was a success!  President Kofford flew in and he and President  and Sister White went to the Palace Sept 18^th.  They were meet graciously by his majesty and the Queen of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk. They were met by a big Royal group and the King and Queen rushed out to greet them.  And surprisingly enough, both King and Queen can hold there own quite well and need no English Translator.  They visited for almost an hour in a state room, and exchanged gifts,  President White and Sister White received a 3 piece silver vase dish thing in a Royal Blue Official Royal Seal box. 

The box is cooler than the vase . We gave the King the Family Proclamation, Bronze Wagon Sculpture, Book of Mormon and an inf. book on the church.

                The King reassured our representatives that the Church would always be welcome.  Sister White said that at first it was very formal and hard to know what to talk about, but she said later the Spirit came in and the tightness and uneasiness was gone.  They describe the King and Queen as very sweet. I watched President White study the Family Proclamation a little this week.  I’m sure he quoted a bit.  President Koffard talked with the King about his health and also explained about the Priesthood.  Then asked the King if he would like a Priesthood blessing.  The King replied, “I honor your God . . . .” but then declined.  President White and Sister White received pictures from the King’s photo people today they were fun to look at.  President Koffard, President White, and Sister White with the King and Queen.  President White is very curious and wants to know why we were not allowed to come and why were they so gracious?  Another interesting thing was the King and Queen were familiar with the history of the church.  Also the King didn’t read the Proclamation right then and there.

                Other news of the week was two great Zone Conferences.  Elder Folsom and I taught our lesson about personally preparing to accomplish our duty as per Alma 7: 22-23

Alma 7:22

 22 And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.

Alma 7:23

 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

                We talked about 3 area’s of Personal Preparation 1) Weekly District Meeting ( skill train)  2) Splits with Zone leaders 3) 30 minutes of Book of Mormon study each day.

                We are planning for October.  We are sending troops to  Ta Khmane today met with the Land Lord for the house of the Ta Khmae .  Today we met with the Land Lord for the house of the Ta Kamane 2 companionships.  That will go into effect come October as the new Elders get here.  Plans include a smaller proselyting area for the Assistants now that expansion is less hectic and splitting of two area that are big in size and investigators.  We passed a rule this week that no more English will be taught by Elders at the Church.  We are working on getting all survive out in the communicating focusing on family people not sponsoring youth club.  The calls are supervising daily seminary classes which help provide for the social and spiritual welfare of all our youth .

                The youth hear are a chosen generation and are the strongest part of the church here.  Reports are that seminary in Cambodia has the best results in the Asia Area.  When I say chosen generation I mean you can see how righteous they are, you can see the light in their eyes, and they will marry and have church families and will be the foundation upon which the Lord will build stakes and a temple here in Cambodia.

                I have been teaching and helping to train the teachers in both Primary and the Deacon’s Quorum.  I can’t wait until October when I will be out on the front lines again.  I have learned so much and put so much effort into this Assistant stuff.  I love it, but feel like all this physical stuff is not like teaching not bringing souls unto Christ and long to be out in the middle of  an area, any area will do.  Put me with someone who wants to work and lets go work.  I’m good at handling all these physical details and my memory is amazing sometimes, i.e. I can tell you all house numbers, companionships, area, phone numbers, etc.  BUT  I want to be more spiritual and want not to be so caught up in the physical.  Sometimes it is hard to slow down the mind to ponder and pray.  Yet I am happy and love to be surrounded and engulfed in Missionary Work.  Remember Mosiah 3:17.

Mosiah 3:17

 17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

                Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,

                Elder Rogers

Letter #36

Clint Mission 99 #36

Dear Lisha,

                 Word, thanks for the E-mail last week I received after preparation day so I was unable to answer back.

                It was really good to hear a first hand report.  Sounds like you are struggling a bit but it will be a good growing experience for you.  No pain, no gain right?  Elder Folsom my new companion is very great and very spiritual.  I excel at the physical details, his strength is spirituality.  Anyway we were talking one time and said it would be awkward to get married and never have been on a mission because we have learned from both good and bad times how to live with a companion.  ( Reason # 1097 for why to serve a mission) I have had to learn to be a better communicator.  I use to like to walk around the house and not say anything.  As an assistant we are always planning or teaching together as a team and it requires constant open communication. 

                Elder Hoare is training Elder Kieng in the middle of the city.  It is a tough area and Elder Kieng  is having a hard time adopting to missionary life for lots of reasons but Elder Hoare is just what he needs.

                I’ll share a secret with you. You asked about homesickness. After the first Mother’s day phone call, after I hung up the phone and let the tears flow a bit and in the MTC I was so worried about it I was righteous enough to be a missionary that I didn’t worry about home. I think it would be easier to go on  a mission then to leave for school. The spirit helps us so much when we lose ourselves in the work that I don’t think much about home.

                Also to answer your question I know Maron Christenson and remember her. I consider her a friend. We talked often back in the Middle School days.

                I include you in my fast Lisha, to help you settle in. have you received any special help? I love you and know your doing great. keep it up. Here are some scriptures for you. Doctrine and Covenants 122:7 and 123:17

                                Say hi to Melanie, Megan and Ashley for me!

                                                                                                                Love Clint.

Dear Family,

                Hello to my dear family! How are all of you? Bood-funk-a-rama congrats on the big royal promotion. I never did hear who your date was. I’m sure you’ll tell me in the letter your going to write soon. Dad and Jon, I want to hear all about it. Mom Thanks for the good education week notes and good E-mail earlier in the weekend you probably had a busy one. I will try to have my collage stuff sent next week. Thanks again for all the support from home! Sounds like the Habans are a neat family. Ang and Ani, Wow I got some 1^st day of school pictures. Nice new clothes, fashionable haircuts and works! 8^th Grade. I would like to hear about your teachers and classes and other events. Good luck.

                Well let me tell you a little about my week. As I think back there are the 2 major events. First it has been kind of a tradition that when a assistant leaves Pres. and Sister White take him out to dinner as a reward, appreciation, and Thank you. We went out this past week. Pres. and Sister White, Elder Hoare, Folsom and I. We had a great evening. Good company and good food. However the best part was at the end before we left the hotel  we went outside down on the lawn where Pres. Hinkley dedicated the land of Cambodia. We just stood there and quietly enjoyed the peace and calm of the night and the significance of the spot. Then Sister and Pres. White began to tell about some of the blessings they have seen come as a result of that prayer. 2 blessings were the stabilizing of the political situation and out growing missionary and member force.

                If I could, I would describe  a little of how Pres. and Sister White  are in a social situation. In the car or around the table Sister White is the person who creates conversation or leads out with a good question that gets a good conversation going. She is very good at it. Pres. stays quieter but he adds comments or answers questions. Sister White is an incredible hostess. She guides the conversation so that we learn more about the guest of honor and makes the guests feel good.

                The 2^nd event of the week was an opportunity to use the priesthood. I was on a split with Elder Hoare  for the afternoon. Elder Hoare was asked by a woman  in the 4^th Branch to come and give her niece a blessing. I was Elder Hoare’s companion and was able to go. we went to the hospital  that was built by the Russians. (Hospitals in Cambodia are a sad story and so many people are sick) we went right up to the 3^rd floor and into the Intensive Care Unit. There we found the sister of the 4^th Branch member who was standing at the bedside of her daughter who was in a coma. The daughter was a young 14-16 year old teen whose name is Meav Vichakar. To be honest, she looked scary she was so sick. I don’t think I ever seen someone in a coma. She was sick with a fever before, the tripped over or just collapsed  one day and was in a coma ever since. Well needless to say the mother was almost with out hope and she had faith in the Priesthood. We talked to the mother who is not a member or Christian but explained that the blessing was dependent  upon out faith in God. She desired the blessing and said she had faith. I had anointed the Elder Hoare scaled and confirmed the anointing and gave her a blessing. It was a special experience. Elder Hoare blessed her with a miracle and that she would be healed and she would have faith in God and always remember her miracle. Afterward we visited for a minute or 2 and gave the mother a Book Of Mormon and encouraged her to continue to talk to her daughter.

                I didn’t realize that we were in the intensive care unit until after we walked out and I looked on the wall. I was surprised with the ease with how we just walked right in and it hit home again the severity of her condition.  I included Meav Vichalkan in my prayers and also my fast after proselyting on a split Sunday I came home and got a call from Elder Hoare “Hey Elder Rogers she come out of the coma, she’s not all the way better but she came out of the coma” Wow what power there is in faith, prayers and the holy priesthood. The phone call made my whole day!
                Well that’s about it for me. We made the decision to go to Ta Kaman so this week Elder Folsom and I will head down to find a house for the 4 missionaries who will serve down there. (south of Phnom Penh)  Thanks again for the good letters and pictures. I got pictures of Home Sweet Home in Cedar City. It looks really nice! Have a good week and Much love from your son, brother and missionary,

                                                                                                                                                Clint

                Thanks for the good missionary stories last week dad!

                also mom, Elder Forsom and I really enjoyed the Tuna

                Pasta this past week, which I was saving for a day

                                 it didn’t rain. Thanks. 

Aug 30, 1999

Clint Mission 99 #35                                                                           8/30/99

                Word to all of you it has been a great week.  I am 100% healthy.

                Last Monday Lucky’s had Pop Tarts from America.  I bought a 12 pack and went eager to buy again this week but they were all gone.  Lucky’s is strange like that every now and then they will get a good American shipment and we missionaries jump all over it. 

                This past week we accomplished two full days of interviews and other projects.  I felt bad for the short letter last week and so I included some copied journal entries to help fill you in. 

                As you can see Elder Folsom and I got in the van and drove to 7 kilometers to Ta Khmau a smaller city south of Phnom Penh.  We may expand there in October, it was a good adventure to go down and scout it out and talk to two good men.

                We are going to have to start getting ready for the October new comers, eight more missionaries making our total 48 missionaries.  Elder Folsom and I will need to arrange for 3 new houses, and must help make the decision whether or not we go to Ta Khman.

                We have been working hard to prepare a training meeting for our Zone Leaders tomorrow.  Saturday we met with President White about it and had a really good talk.  I have learned so much from working with President White.  Combined with his spirituality and strong faith he is a strong worker and a problem-solver.  He is a great role model.  At the end of our Saturday meeting President White took Elder Folsom and I out to lunch.  We took the opportunity to find out more about President White. 

He started out wanting to be a Neurosurgeon but really enjoyed lab research work and switched.  He began working at South Dakota State but had too much teaching time and no time for research.  He then got a job with the US Government for 16 years as a researcher before switching to Agriculture/ Biological project stations.  He lived and worked in Government Posts at Guatemala, Holland, and India.  He is strong in Biology and especially in entomology and would help with pesticide control.  He and Sister White both know Spanish and he served as a sealer in Guatemala Temple.  An interesting life he has had.  A good lunch but better than that was the conversation. 

                Another good experience that Saturday was interviewing members of a family of 6 who had been taught by Elders Walker and Chbean.  Elder Folsom interviewed the father and I interviewed the mother.  It was a tough situation as the Mother was a little shaky on a few points of doctrine, yet her commitment and desire and faith were strong.  The situation became a little difficult as she confessed of a sin which was of nature that I needed to talk with President White before making a decision whether or not she could be baptized.  I finished the interview but before letting her leave I excused myself and told her that I needed  to talk to President White before I could make a decision.  President White counseled with me how to handle the situation.  He also had a great idea how to help the mother doctrinally.  I helped her better understand the process of repentance and also how Christ helps us through his atonement.  I shared Alma 34:31 and I love the word immediately.

Alma 34:31

 31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. 

                After taking care of that I then called her husband in, following the council of President White, and we talked together and the husband helped his wife understand better and remember the points of doctrine she was shaky on.  It was a great experience.  I am so grateful for the atonement to see it work in the lives of others, and the miracle of repentance and conversion.  Baptism interviews are a wonderful experience.  I am also grateful for such a worthy Priesthood holder as a Mission President. 

                Sunday the family of 6 was baptized!  There was 117 people at the church, and it is awesome to see the families there in church.  Sam Sophon and family leading the way.

                I have some news.  I talked with President White this past week about what day I would go home.  The MTC is only sending even numbers of missionaries out and in our group leaving Elders Hoare, Williams, and Rogers an odd number.  So it works good for the mission to have someone go home early to avoid a threesome.  You can come pick me up in Phnom Penh on December 15^th or 16^th.  President White says that day is pretty sure and that you could go ahead and reserve the tickets. 

                Wednesday or Thursday----pick me up.

                Then 2 days in Siam Reap   either Thursday/Friday or Friday Saturday

                Then back to church on Sunday and then fly to Hong Kong. 

                I hope this is enough notice, you will have to get going on your plans.  I’ll be home for Christmas.  It is scary how much time I have left.  I have got to raise my performance, effort and spiritually.

                Thanks for the good letters and support!!!

                I love you all very much!!

                Love your Son, Brother and Missionary       Elder Rogers

PS Check put Alma 7: 23-25

Alma 7:23

 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Alma 7:24

 24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Alma 7:25

 25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out

Aug 16, 1999 and Aug 23, 1999

Clint Mission 99 #32                                                           8/16/99

Dear Family,

                Hello and word-up from the best mission, for sure.  We received an increase of 25% this past week, 8 new missionaries:  Elders Cluff, Springer, Nelson, Kieng, Sorenson, Baird, Van Brocklin and the New and Improved Elder Bullard!!!  Yes, Elder Bullard is back.  It is a real miracle it is against church policy and habit to allow missionaries to return back to their original place of service.  However he is invaluable to us!  President and Sister White rallied us into a mission fast and prayer and would not let us change or make any back up plans just go as planned and exercise faith that he will be back.  It was extra special to be at the airport and welcome him back along with the pickup of our new Elders .  We rented a little bus to get everyone rounded up.  There is a special excitement to see missionaries come in especially when it is 8 Elders!.  It is mind boggling to think at what that addition of 8 more does to our work here.  We spent Wednesday helping deliver luggage to the houses and helping where we could to get them set up .  Those suitcases are so big and so heavy when they first come in country.  As I was putting an exceptionally heavy and  big suitcase in the van, Elder Fulsome says, “ I didn’t know that being 6 foot plus and able to throw around luggage was part of the job requirements.”  I laughed, size does help on move days.  Elder Fulsome is smaller physically but inside is a spiritual giant. 

                Elder Folsom and I are still in our apartment but I switched from the top bunk to the bottom bunk for a change. 

                On Sunday in church the first branch was packed with families it was great.  This past week Elder Folsom and I went to visit Sam Sophon and family.  They are doing great!  They referred another family of 5 and a cousin , and also Sam Sophon’s mother is going to study.  They know that she has seen the great change in the family and she joins them for prayer and things.  They ask her things like “ Grandma do you think you are ready to be baptized?  She agreed this week.  Laen also stood up and bore his testimony, he is the oldest boy.  It came right from his heart!  He likes to help prepare and pass the sacrament each week.  Also Ottung the oldest twin spoke he shared                                                                    Alma 34:27Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

and talked about how prayer in his family helped them receive blessings.  Again another excellent talk. 

                This week is going to be busy .  It is zone conference week!  For the first time we are going to have two sessions. 

                Until next week, I love you all

                Your Son, Brother and Missionary    Elder Rogers

8/23/99

Dear Family,

                It has been a great week here in the CPP mission.

                This week has been extremely busy and enjoyable as for the first time ever Zone Conference was held in two separate sessions.

                This week started out a little rough as I woke up sick on Tuesday.  ( Diarrhea and terrible stomach cramps) I barely made it to the office on time and endured through a Zone Leader/ Assistant/ President meeting.  After which I asked for a priesthood blessing.  President White anointed and Elder Folsom my companion gave me a blessing.  It was a good one and I hit the fluids and took a few hours rest right there in the mission home and then went home on my bike that evening.  There was just too much to do this week to be sick.  I know the Priesthood blessing really helped.  The conferences  were great.  Fill you in next week.

                Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary,

                Elder Rogers 

August 9 1999

8/9/99

Dear Family,

                Phew. . . . !  The move is over!  Today was one busy day!

                How are all of you?  Thanks for the letter everyone.  I really do appreciate all the letters, support, prayers and packages.  I appreciate all of your great strength and I don’t mean to neglect any of you with the post.  Thanks so much for all the packages! 

                Today I received Lake Powell Pictures and I’ve got to say Word - up to Powell 2000!

                I have a new companion, Elder Jacob D. Folsom.  He is from the Wasatch front, and he is

a language master 2000 and a spiritual giant.  He is 2 months ahead of me and just an outstanding

missionary.  Our focus is going to be on helping missionaries increase their skills and thus bring more

 souls unto Christ. We have some of our physical work out of the way after today.  I look forward to being

taught by Elder Folsom and learning from his example.  We have had a special experience together

already as he was fighting a cold a bit and also newly called as an assistant and asked me if I would give

him a blessing.  I was grateful for the opportunity and again it was special for us both.  And from that

point on we are off and running.  All of our work for the last little while came to the big dramatic finish

today as the mission move day took place.  We made a small switch on Aug 6 to get  Elder Brooking,

 Pruett, And Hoare in their new areas so that they could be ready to train new Elders from the MTC come

Aug 11^th.  So Elder Folsom and I started from the 6^th and Elder Hoare is a free Elder.

                We moved everyone else today and also moved into 4 new apartments ( small 4 man houses)

Elder Folsom and I were in the car from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We only stopped for a quick lunch at the

 Dog Restaurant.  The rest of the time we were coordinating moves, using our van like a pick-up, and just

 solving little problems.  Things went very smooth overall.  I am enclosing the move logistics that Elder

Hoare and I put together. 

                In the move Elder Lowman had some personal belongings mis-placed and was really worried.

  We worried that they were going to be permanently mis-placed.  He first asked the middle of the day and

 we referred him to the home where the truck went before the stop at his house.  The next time that we

 saw him it was late almost time to go in 6:00 p.m.  He still did not have his things.  We got on the phone,

 made the special trip and got Bro. Sears, one of our missionary couples and a good friend, also Phnom

Penh District President, so we could go out after 6:00p.m. We found the bags and then took them back to

 Elder Lowman.  His look of relief made the day all worth it.  I love to help our missionaries!

Mosiah 2:17

 17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

I love you all!

Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary Elder J. Clinton Rogers  

August 2 1999

Clint mission 99 #30                                                                           8/2/99

Dear Family,

                Saturday, July 31^st there was a great big district Pioneer Day.  The young men and Young women have been practicing pioneer square dancing.  The Khmae Young Women performed a traditional Apsara Khmae culture dance, the Vietnamese performed a culture dance too.   The children had a little march and in English they sang “Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked and Walked.”  They sang only that one line over and over and over.  It was awesome.  One of the Branch Presidents, Nou Hoan, wrote a poem and shared it for the event.  There was a little narration performed that talked of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and the Pioneers.  Elder and Sister Bryan Richards made a quick trip from Hong Kong to see the event.  It was great to see them again.  They were very excited and stressed that the 500 in attendance were modern day pioneers.  It was the first real big excitement I have seen in the leaders they did most of the preparations.  They united and worked together and put on a district activity that was very impressive. 

                Elder Hoare and I also had a 30 min. opportunity to sit down with Elder and Sister Richards and report about how much our mission has changed since the last time he was here and this has come about mainly by following ideas and counsel from them.  Elder and Sister Richards praised and encouraged us and as we left Elder Richards gave both Elder Hoare and I a big hug.  Like I said a month ago Elder H. Bryan Richards is my favorite General Authority.  I hope he speaks in Oct General Conference so you can meet him too! 

                In a small devotional after Pioneer Day, Elder and Sister Richards spoke to all missionaries.  The thing that stuck out to me was a question, “ Why do you choose to ride a bike, sweat, study, and be a missionary? Or to relate the message to all of my clear supporters reading this “ Why do you choose to serve in the church, pay tithing or live the gospel?  What is the reason behind our sacrifices?  Elder Richards then shared Helaman 5: 12

                Helaman 5:12

 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Christ is the one sure foundation upon which if we build we can not fall.  If this is our reason for living the gospel we will stay on course and be able to overcome all troubles, and weakness on our way back to him.  We can’t have any other motives or reasons we must be focused on Christ.  I have thought about this much since then.  I what this to be my reason for my mission and the rest of my life.  Our actions must be motivated by sincere faith in Christ.  Ether 12:4 comes to mind especially the line “ Always abounding in good works”, if our motives come from faith in Christ.

Ether 12:4

 4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

                A sad thing happened too.  Elder Michael Lonnie Bullard went home to Salt Lake City to be treated for kidney stones.  He passed 6 stones in the past 2 weeks.  Elder Hoare accompanied him to Thailand and saw him off, Elder Hoare was his companion over night.  I spent a day and ½ working with Elder Burnham who is Elder Bullards’s companion.  Pres. White cried with the loss of one of his Elder’s but news from SLC is good.  We hope that we can get him back here in our Viet zone. 

                Thanks again for all of your love an support.  I hope that you can all feel of my love for you

and also my love and testimony for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints!

Love your Son, Brother and Missionary—Elder Rogers