Lucky Numba 4

Okay, let me essplain something to choo.

Here in the Missouri Independence Mission, we have this thing called "The Standard of Excellence." The Standard of Excellence pertains to the Key Indicators for conversion, which are simply the things that each investigator needs to progress in this Gospel. There's an entire section on it in Preach My Gospel - look it up :) So our Standard of Excellence only pertains to six of the Key Indicators, and they are as follows; 1 investigator baptized per month, 2 investigators with a baptismal date per week, 3 investigators at sacrament meeting per week, 5 lessons taught to an investigator with a member present per week, 2 new investigators per week, and 2 reactivated members per month.

Ladies and gentlemen, with the help of the Lord, Sister Ewell and I reached all of the standards except new investigators.

And overall, we exceeded most of them! This week, we taught 26 lessons. 76 lessons so far this transfer - we have a goal of 100.

The most impressive Key Indicator, the real miracle, was that we had FOUR investigators attend church this week! That's right - FOUR. Kelsey, John, Renee, and Bailee (yes, she's back on our radar!) were all at church! As well as many of the less actives that we have worked with. And blessings in disguise -  our ward mission leader was home sick this Sunday, so we (the missionaries) taught the first lesson! Which was what we've been meaning to teach Renee for a long time!

I don't think I explained about Renee let me essplain something else to choo.

There is a gentleman in our ward named Roylee Perkins.. He's kind of like Grampa Ellis, but with a handlebar mustache. (forgot G. Ellis shaved it off...guess the word "mustache" could have sufficed) Brother - or as the Elders and myself have taken to calling him, Uncle - Perkins is one of my favorite people in the Olathe 2nd. I say one because really they're all my favorite, but he and I have very similar senses of humor. He feeds us about twice a month, and its always a party. When he does feed us, he typically brings his friend, Renee. They've kind of dated for a while, and I'll be honest - I really want them to get married. So that's how we found Renee - through Uncle Perkins.

Renee is the classiest lady I think I've ever taught. She works in Real Estate and is generally just a wonderful woman. We asked her to read the intro to the Book of Mormon last time we ate with her and what did she do? MIRACLE ALERT - she read that AND the first 5 chapters!

The next time we teach her, we're going to invite her to be baptized :)

Just wanted to give you a referral for some awesome reading - Our Search For Happiness. Easy read, great spiritual boost.

I'll be sending pictures ASAP. Thanks so much for all the letters, especially from the Girls' Trip - so good to hear from everyone.

Okay, I have homework for you folks...remember S. Gifford Nielsen? Used to play for the Y? Spoke in conference? No, he wasn't the one that had the fly land on his face...anyways, he gave an invitation at General Conference that I don't know if you've heard. Well, I would like to reiterate that. And I have some advantage to this - I know each of you personally, and I'm set apart as a minister for the Lord Jesus Christ, so this invitation has unique and individual gravity for each of you, so pay attention to it -

I want everyone who reads this email to invite one nonmember to a Gospel-centered activity, whether it's in or out of the home.

Mutual, Institute, Christmas programs in Sacrament, Halloween parties, Family Home Evening - the list goes on and on. Anyone can do it, and I know you all well enough to know that you will do it. If you are active, then great - consider this your chance to follow Lehi's example in sharing the Fruit with those you love. If you are a less-active member, then you better dust off your testimony, because nothing will strengthen it like missionary work.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is Jesus Christ's work. I have gone through far too much and am still going strong - there is no way that it could not be. If you want to know for yourself, I want you to examine this itinerary:
Missionary Daily Schedule*

6:30 a.m.
Arise, pray, exercise (30 minutes), and prepare for the day.
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast.
8:00 a.m.
Personal study: the Book of Mormon, other scriptures, doctrines of the missionary lessons, and other chapters from Preach My Gospel, the Missionary Handbook, and the Missionary Health Guide.
9:00 a.m.
Companion study: share what you have learned during personal study, prepare to teach, practice teaching, study chapters from Preach My Gospel, confirm plans for the day.
10:00 a.m.
Begin proselyting. Missionaries learning a language study that language for an additional 30 to 60 minutes, including planning language learning activities to use during the day.
Missionaries may take an hour for lunch and additional study, and an hour for dinner at times during the day that fit best with their proselyting. Normally dinner should be finished no later than 6:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
Return to living quarters (unless teaching a lesson; then return by 9:30) and plan the next day’s activities (30 minutes). Write in journal, prepare for bed, pray.
10:30 p.m.
Retire to bed.

This is the schedule that every missionary every day holds. Pretty demanding, huh? Let me tell you frankly that I can not keep this schedule, BUT because I am a servant to the God of Adam & Noah & Nephi & Ammon, I can do ALL things - even work a 16 hour day. He has assisted me in this, He will assist you in your missionary endeavors.

I bear you this witness in the name of my savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

P.S. S. Gifford Nielsen is this guy ----->http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/hastening-the-lords-game-plan?lang=eng&query=s.+gifford+nielson 

-- 
Sister Annika Rogers

Isaiah 49:16

I just wanted to brag - I sketched this out for my companion and she's cross stitching it. What a boss.

Hey, I've gotta compete with the cow skin. (Talking about what Braxton is eating in Africa)

I'm loving Halloween. We can't dress up, btw. Bummer, I know. (mostly because I was trying to talk my Zone Leaders into being a Nephite and a Lamanite...Sister Ewell and I were going to be Loki and Thor, respectively...even if she didn't want to).

Guess what.

Fall.

In Kansas.

SO MANY TREES.

SO MANY COLORS.

SO LITTLE MEMORY ON MY CAMERA.

A few miracles!‏

Again, I was too busy reading my little brother's email and now I'm short on time.

Let me tell you of a great miracle that we saw this past week. Last week while I was emailing, a gentleman sat down next to me and introduced himself as Dave in Despair. He'd read my nametag and had talked to missionaries before. So he sat down and started to talk to me about pretty much everything, telling me all of the many struggles he's had lately and how he feels very distant from God. We gave him some resources to help with some of the issues he'd described and then gave him our number and told him to call us. Not going to lie, I didn't really expect a call. But he did call us! And we set an appointment - which I didn't expect him to hold. But he did! We had a really scattered but good first lesson, and invited him to church. He latched onto the idea of our church functioning more like a family than a congregation. MIRACLES. He didn't make it to church, but we have his phone number and actually just saw him a few minutes ago. You can't get rid of missionaries that easily :)

Kelsey, who we invited to be baptized, is doing good. She still needs to establish a better pattern of communication with her Dad before she can be baptized, but she came to church and we're seeing her again this week to teach her the plan of salvation. Hopefully I'll still get my wish of having a baptism on my birthday!

Well, I've got to go...sorry this is so short again. I love you all! Thank you so much for the letters, everyone!

LOVE YOU

PS ALBUHKIRKEE!!! Just realized I can't spell that.

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

Yep

We volunteered in an old schoolhouse!

In our true character :)

WE SAW A BLIMP

A Letter I Received from Kansas

Dear Julie,

I had the opportunity of meeting your daughter, Annika, in August at our local County Fair here in Kansas.

I have very dear friends in Bountiful, UT and their sons have been on mission trips, so I know that communication with the family is rather limited while they are in the field.  Therefore, Julie, I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with Annika.  Although the time that I had to visit with her was quite limited, it was very rewarding to talk with such a nice young lady.  And, as a Mother, I am sure you will be happy to know that she looks great!  She is a very kind and polite young lady; one that any Mother would be proud to have as a daughter.

What a kind lady.  She made my year! :]

Is it Christmas yet?

I just get really excited about Christmas.

Hey, family! I love you all! Hopefully this finds you well.

This week has been really good - we put an investigator on date and have done a LOT of service. Just know that I love you all and it's so good to hear from you :) Sorry I'm so brief - I spent all my time writing my baby brother. At least you got pictures haha

Thank you so much for the letters, and for the electric blanket, Mom...It's like magic.

LOVE YOU ALL!

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

Isaiah 49:16

found this in the back of a book at a member's house. loved it.

My comp finally finished her cross-stitch! FINALLY!

Even though there's no Costa Vida here, I still love mexican foods...yummeh.

My zone leader with this huge burrito he got...it was like a foot long. And he ate it all.

Thank you for doing your best. (letter)

Mom & Dad,
First off, let me just thank you for doing your best to raise us in the church. I know you don't always feel like you've done it right-Mom, you told me that repeatedly, usually as a result of some game station experience-but you've done great. :)

Think of Alma Sr. He's the prophet and a revolutionary.  He led a group of dissenters from the captivity of their own corrupt government and then endured captivity under the Lamanites' for a couple years.  Finally he and his people find themselves in a situation where they can worship God freely, and what happens?

Alma Jr.

When the angel struck his son dumb, Alma Sr. was relieved because he know God had heard his prayers.  What kind of a father prays that on his son?

Maybe a contractor with 4 other kids and an awesome wife?  (You can only imagine what Mrs. Alma Sr. was like.)

So Alma Jr. gets his life back on track and then decides he's going to serve a mission.  By that time, Alma Sr. had passed away.  But I imagine him overjoyed as his son forsook his old ways of destroying the church and took his repentance to the next step by doing his best to build the kingdom back up.

What I'm trying to say is, don't worry about me or Braxton.  You've taught us well, and we have the Lord on our side.:)

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE

Guys, this weekend was the BEST.

Saturday was a.) my companion's birthday, b.) Addison's baptism, and 3.) GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Just for the record, I've been with two of my companions on their birthdays, and I've observed something...PEOPLE FEED YOU SO MUCH ON YOUR BIRTHDAY. Seriously. I felt ten pounds heavier when I laid down that night. Blegh.

Addison's baptism was the best! She asked me to speak on the Holy Ghost, and I had this sweet visual using my suitcase, a bottle of Clorox with bleach, an astronomy textbook, an old GPS, a fire alarm, and a blanket (the functions of the gift of the Holy Ghost...pretty clever, eh?) The spirit was so strong and it was so great to be a part of it. When we're baptized, we begin a new life of commitment to Christ - this new life was for her whole family :)

It's finally starting to cool down here! The leaves are taking FOREVER to change, though. When they would show clips of temple square, Sister Ewell and I were dying - "Why are the leaves already changed there?? Why can't the leaves here do that??" Summer here lasts much longer. UT gets snow on Halloween? Yeah, here it doesn't snow until after Thanksgiving, and then it stops snowing in April. don't these people know I need more winter than that?? Ridiculous.

OH, and we got transfer calls this week :) I'm staying in Olathe 2nd with Sister Ewell! It's awesome! Three transfers is the max that we can stay with anyone, and considering that we only get four transfers out of the VC, one of us will probably go back to the VC or Historic Liberty Jail in mid-November, but I'm not worrying about it yet :) Too far away. Transfers full-proselyting is way different from the VC. In the VC it's like the Reaping (Hunger Games, anyone?) We all just walk around totally on edge..."who's gonna go? Who's gonna go??" I think back and I'm like, "What a fool I was..." Full-pros is the BEST.

Guess what's coming up soon.

CHRISTMAS.

We went to Hobby Lobby to get some stuffs and they totally have their trees on display. AH I LOVE IT!

Go back and listen to your favorite conference talk! #homework

LOVE YOU ALL

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

Isaiah 49:16

our district :)

Me'n my trainer, who is now serving in Inde 2nd!

Found it.

@ Addi's baptism!
 Her stepmom, her dad, Addi!, her mom (Abby), me and Sister Ewell!