Work Hard

Yep, the great secret to missionary work is work.

As I have been working in the Lord's vineyard, I have discovered that hard work is something that is difficult to do. It's almost a habit you have to make, and some people never really catch onto it.

I'm not saying that to point fingers - there have been plenty of nights where I have laid down and thought to myself, "Man, there's a lot I didn't do today."

The best way that I have found to motivate myself is by doing a nightly inventory with God. My workdays improve as I kneel down at night and ask myself this question - "Am I better now than I was this morning?" There have been plenty of nights when the answer has been no, and there have been a couple of great nights when I can definitely say yes, but more often than not, I find myself saying, "Lord, I don't know if I'm a whole lot better, but I've tried my hardest and I felt the Spirit working through me today."

As we work hard, it is easier to be obedient and to love every aspect of the work. If you keep on that path, before you know it you'll be an effective missionary - a consecrated missionary. That's the missionary I want to be, and I'm starting today :)

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

 All is well.

Random pics from the Mission

Be obedient

Obedience is the first law of heaven, and it is by obedience that we guarantee for ourselves any and all of the blessings promised to us.

When I was growing up in the church, I didn't understand why commandments and rules were so important. I felt that God was restricting me - not that I thought drugs or R-rated movies would make me happy, but I felt like I was living in a fenced in, grassy lot that kept me from learning for myself or possibly getting hurt or taking any kind of risks.

In essence, I thought we had commandments because God didn't trust us.

Brothers and sisters, that is not the case. God does trust us - that's why we have agency. He gives us commandments to show us the way He would like for us to live, and then allows us to choose for ourselves.

This next statement is not justification for sinning - let me be clear - but it is necessary for us to break commandments. If we never broke a commandment or transgressed in any way, we would not be exercising our agency, which would eliminate the need for our Savior, which would make the Atonement futile, which would void the Plan of Happiness and God's purpose for us.

That is the way Satan works - he has not varied from his original plan. Before the foundations of this world were laid, Lucifer told Heavenly Father that we did not need to choose to follow Him - who not just tell us where to go, and then all of God's children would make it home! God knew we would each need our agency in order to become like Him, and when Lucifer still opposed that eternal truth is when he was thrust from God's presence.

Satan wants us to believe that if we follow the commandments God gives us, we don't have any choices. Sound familiar? On the other hand, if we choose to fall into the pit of sin, Satan will convince us that we have no other choice than a perpetual downward spiral. Familiar?

When we break commandments and strive to overcome the results of sin, we are probably closer to God than we ever have been before. Now, why would we talk about repentance in an email about being obedient? Because obedience is the most important part of the repentance process:

1. realize we have sinned

2. stop sinning

3. confess our sins to the Lord (and serious sins to our preisthood leaders)

4. make restitution

5. FORSAKE our sins, or obey the commandment we previously broke.

If you have not broken a commandment yet, this process is not necessary to be exactly obedient, but everyone will eventually commit sins, and everyone has hope to overcome it.

Contrary to popular belief, though, asking forgiveness is not easier than asking permission.

As I have been obedient to the laws of God and the rules of my mission, I have come to see that the fence of commandments only restricts me from the danger of sinning - I have a whole countryside to explore under the loving eye of my Shepherd. It is the same for all of God's children.

My friends, let us be obedient so God can continue to bless us.

Love you all!

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

 All is well.

Doris' baptism!

Sister Walton! Gonna miss her...

Sister Hunter! My final companion!! Just took this like five minutes ago haha yay for selfies.

Love Everyone‏

When I was a brand new baby missionary, everyone tried to give me advice. 

It was all great. 

I really wanted to remember all of it. 

My brain doesn't work that way.

​I was pretty stressed because I wasn't really sure how to take it all with me, but I was able to fit it all under a couple of simple headings. The first one is very simple and extremely difficult: LOVE EVERYONE.

Love is the greatest motivator i​n the world. Because of love, two people were married in the summer of 1991. Because of love, a baby girl was born in November of the next year. Because of love, her parents didn't kill her even though she was a pain. Because of love, a family went camping every summer for 22 years and priceless memories were made. Because of love, mission papers were sent in. A missionary left home, then another. Because of love, I have received countless letters and emails and support from countless incredible people.

Because of love, a man died on a cross. Because of love, the atonement was made.

A world was created. A plan was presented. A Father chose a Son. We shouted for joy.

Love plays an integral part in missionary work - when we love our investigators, we teach them and help them change. When we love our fellowman, we talk to everyone we see. When we love our companion, we serve. When we love our leaders, we follow their counsel. When we love our Father, we are happily consecrated and obedient to the rules He has set for His disciples.

And, with that, I testify of our Father's love, and our Savior's love. It is real. It is oh, so real.

I love each of you :)

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

 All is well.

​check out what's in my area!​

A couple of bullets and a dead mule. Not what it sounds like.‏

This is the part where I do a bulletted list of my week to show you that I've done things but I don't know how to put them into funny phrases and silly sentences.

• Had some good heart-to-hearts with my companion and now we're as tight as peas in a pod.
• Scared the crap out of my companion and miraculously we're still besties.
• Found two awesome new investigators this week.
• One of them is going on vacation and the other is moving.
• Tracting on Memorial Day = most awkward thing ever (the Missionary Handbook LIED to me...holidays are terrible finding opportunities).
• Went to an expensive museum today, the best part was the dead mule on display. Poor Lawrence.
• After the dead mule, the coolest guy ever made my burrito and I took a picture of him with it to commemorate.
• Realized I only have two months left.
• Had a heart attack as a result.
• Just kidding. Heart attack, no. Migraine - yes.

In order to prevent the pathetic bullets happening again, I'm going to break down my last couple of emails into a spiritual structure so that they will be fulfilling. The next three will be all of the advice I received before my mission lumped under three main headings.

("Oooooooooh, AAAAaaaaaah...")

AND FOR MY NEXT TRICK

Ha just kidding.

Seriously, though. This mission stuff is the best thing in the world. Two months isn't long enough. If anyone reading this is wondering whether or not they should go, allow me to make up your mind - GO (Mormon 9:22).

I love you all!

(the pic is Lawrence the mule...the only casualty on the Steamboat Arabia when it sank.) 

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

 All is well.

Playing with puppies :)

It flash flooded haha

We killed the snapdragons you sent us...

First chigger bite of the season!

the wheel's not from the Arabia, but some of the rotors were. Pretty sweet!

piece of the Steamboat Arabia, the museum we went to see today :)

Poor Lawrence

"Gratitude is the mother of all virtues."‏

Brothers and Sisters, my heart is full because of the goodness of my God in giving me so many indescribable joys this week. That sounded like the beginning of a scripture, but I mean it.

The first of my blessings is Brother Sheffer, the kind chiropractor who has helped me with my migraines. After going to see him, my headaches have been much more manageable - I haven't had a bad once since the Saturday before Mother's Day.

The second is Doris, who had a small setback this week and will not be baptized on the 24th. Despite her weaknesses, her determination has doubled and she will be baptized on June 7th. Every time we talk to her she tells us she's going to conquer Satan and bears her testimony of the truthfulness of this Gospel and the Book of Mormon.

The third is my dear companion, who is so very patient with me and laughs at all of my lame jokes and doesn't say anything rude when I run over curbs.

Fourth is my mission president and his dear wife, who have been such great examples to me and will be finishing their mission soon. I have been so lucky to learn under their careful guidance and watchful eye.

Fifth - the temple. Our entire mission attended the temple this Tuesday and Wednesday, and I love literally every part of being in the temple. No matter what happens, you can't have a bad day when you're going to the House of the Lord.

I am absolutely obsessed with every part of being a missionary. I love sharing the Gospel. I love wearing a nametag. I love representing my Savior. I love testifying.

To quote the Missionary Handbook; "How great is [my] calling!"

I love this and I love you all :)

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

 All is well.

El dia de los madres‏

IT WAS ALMOST AS GOOD AS CHRISTMAS AND CONFERENCE.

There was singing and laughing and praying all around haha after I got off skype (kudos to my family for helping me get off on time - Woot! Woot!) and joined the rest of the world, Sister Morris said, "Isn't it great how after you talk to your family, you're obsessed with them?" And I have to say, she's right. I have the BEST family IN the WORLD.

Also, I can't wait to get home and play with Mom's new camera.

So since I just talked to my family on Sunday, I'll just fill you in on our star investigator DORIS!!! She is officially getting baptized on the 24th! We are SO excited. And, thankfully, so is she. I just want to testify of steps of faith, brothers and sisters. As soon as we make a decision and step into the unknown, the Lord rewards us by building our testimony. I am SO excited to see her baptized!

You know what else? I am REALLY bad at taking pictures. And writing emails. By the time I get home, my emails aren't even going to be in full sentences anymore.

eating gud. Seeing miraclez. Al is whale.

Love, s. rog

Haha just kidding. Mostly.

Also, I think my companion and I (mostly me...) are jumping on the healthy food train. Any tips and/or suggestions would be appreciated. (Nat? You gotta help me out on this haha you're like my health guru).

Anyways, I'm off to buy a blender for my morning health smoothies :)

​I LOVE YOU ALL

​All is well.​

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

Isaiah 49:16

  Look at this cool store that we found!‏    You better believe I got some souvenirs up there!

"How do you like the humidity, Sister Rogers?"

NOT. AT. ALL.

That's right, folks. It's warming up in Zion and I am sweating like a toasted cheezer. The transition from cold weather to warm weather is not going well, especially in the shaving legs department. I am NOT missing my tights though haha little five year old me on the inside is like NO MORE TIGHTS.

But the missionary work is picking up! This week we had FIVE investigators come to church....two of which were BOB AND SUE! The Restoration branch couple we've been working with! This is the first time they've come to church in the 6 months they've been investigating! Also, during Relief Society, our other investigator, Dorris, told us that she wants to be baptized on May 24th! We taught her the last of the commandments yesterday and we are good to GO!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I have become obssessed with wearing my nametag...I'm seriously going to struggle when I get released because I just love that people can look at me and know that I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I LOVE this.

This email is so short but you should know that I'm loving it out here!

#alliswell

​LOVE YOU!​

-- 

Sister Annika Rogers

Isaiah 49:16

Myriah and Charlotte's baptism!

I tucked my companion in just like mom used to do for me!