Weeks 70 & 71: The Best Week Ever

Bunny Island - Ōkunoshima

Taking it from the top, because this week was something else!

Last Saturday, Sister Wright and I prayed specifically to find a family, which is something I have not done before. We had an image of what this family would be like. So we set off searching, chasing a vision that--with righteous desire--God would lead us to the family. Every person we talked to in the coming days was amazing, because we truly believed that those people might just be the family we prayed for.

But also on Monday we went to this sublime little piece of heaven called Bunny Island, and frolicked with herds of wild bunnies, and that gave us the energy and hope to keep going, keep going even when we were tired and just not sure...
Because when we returned home from Bunny Island that Monday, we realized I had made a huge mistake. We had left our bikes in a place where, if you don't return in 30ish minutes, they get whisked away to a bike lot that's a 2hr walk away. Little bit awkward, because we kind of had an appointment in the next hour. But we remembered Bunny Island and kept going. We decided to board the trolley and that would be a temporary travel solution just for the appointment we had. Well, we got on the trolley, and TWO MINUTES later the lady called and said, "I can't meet tonight. Come again --this time, this day--." We got off the trolley at the next stop, laughing about how ridiculous the whole situation was. Then, we prayed and felt like we should go knock the doors of this apartment right in front of us. Well, we found a family in that apartment that was:

-3 people
-liked English
-one of the parents was a foreigner

Just like we had imagined. So just 48 hrs after our prayer, we found the family we wanted. The dad was Japanese, and said, "Yeah come on in!" The mom was from Vietnam and made us sandwiches. The 13 year old daughter was good at English and wanted to continue learning. When we walked away, we were dying. God answers prayers! And even when we make mistakes, God can make it work for our good and turns out the whole bike situation might just have been part of the plan, right? Pretty sweet.

This week, we also met with two kinjin (golden people, aka people that want to be taught) Chinese families. One of the moms named Suwenwen is progressing so well. The last lesson we taught her she said she would read the BOM and if she received an answer from God, she would receive baptism. When Sister Wright and I stumbled away from that lesson, we just looked at each other in shock and agreed that was the best lesson we've taught on our missions. I attribute it to the fact that we used passages from the Book of Mormon to back up everything we testified about.
So, because of prayer, we didn't get just the one family we asked for, but two other families! We have had friendly interactions with the dads in these two other Chinese families, so the future is bright!

Today, we got transfer calls... I will be STAYING in Hikari Hiroshima with Sister Wright for my last transfer, and I could not be more excited! We were like jumping beans and eggs when we got the call. hehe We have decided to make this transfer the best transfer yet by participating in a spiritual 40 day fast challenge. It's not fasting from food or from water. Please look up the article and join me!

The church is true. The book is blue.

Love,
Sister Rogers

Weeks 67, 68, & 69: Connection is slow and time is short...

 Sister Wright is ✨💥🌊 and I love her for it, haha

It has been a great couple of weeks. My connection is slow and time is short...

I am so happy in Japan. This week we found two grandpas that are interested in learning about the gospel. We went to the Hiroshima Bomb Museum. I almost got creamed on my bike. Sister Wright and I made up an elbow dance. We role-played how to invite someone to baptism with a member that is fluent in both Japanese and English. This coming week we are going to the Mazda Museum. We will be meeting with a lady from Peru. I will begin revising my Missionary White Handbook into a Life White Handbook, and we are going to make cookies for members.

Sorry my time is up.... HAVE A GREAT SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!
Sister Rogers

Indo curry in Fukuoka

Hiroshima Bomb Museum

Hiroshima Bomb Museum

Hiroshima Peace Park

Hiroshima Peace Park/Museum

Our district

I eat fermented soy beans most mornings. Legend has it that it improves your Japanese.

 Peach Coca-Cola 👌

If we were guys... haha!

Weeks 65 & 66: A little different email...

New Years has people at the shrines in lines like it's Disney Land.

Something I'm learning on my mission is how important it is to always
show love to those that are closest to you. Why is this important? I
look to the example of Jesus Christ, and I think: How can I not try to
love others better, after knowing how much He suffered for each person
individually? Jesus Christ has engravened each of us on the palms of
His hands. He loved those and suffered for those that may never love
him back... Surely, then I can find more ways to love those that have
supported me, helped me, and encouraged me.

Isaiah 49
15....yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls
are continually before me.

If Christ is the reason for what we do, complaints and doubts can be
replaced by gratitude and conviction. Jesus did so much for people who
ultimately, in return, can do so little. He is my strength! I want to be
a better person to show gratitude to Him for that.

This gospel of Jesus Christ uplifts, informs, and inspires me. It
gives me a lifelong goal that extends beyond what the world sees. I
want to measure up to a standard that's engraved on my soul. When I
pray, I can see glimpses of my divine potential. There's so much more
than this mortal perspective. Sometimes it's so hard to think beyond
it, but this week try reading your patriarchal blessing and try to
imagine the person God wants you to become.

Christian philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said,
“Life must be understood backward. But … it must be lived forward.”

Maybe it seems overwhelming to be the person God wants you to be. I
think as a missionary I've never tried so hard to align my life to the
Savior's...Following Christ is no easy task. In fact, I'm always
falling flat on my face. But I know we can do it to the point that we
would feel comfortable to dwell in God's presence, because of Jesus
Christ. Jesus Christ is always walking beside us.

Isaiah 49
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun
smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by
the springs of water shall he guide them.

Please read "Always Remember Him" Elder Gerrit W. Gong. This talk has
been my life line!

Have a wonderful week. I love y'all. hehe

Sister Rogers

Fog on the mountains

Goodnight from Hikari Shimai >:)

These are everywhere for New Years.... looks tasty.

She drew us

Sister Sakura has the best smile!

A pillar of light above the brightness of the sun...

We made 75 valentines cards with a member 😅

My new comp Sister Wright!! She's drop dead gorgeous right? She's single too. hehe

Weeks 63 & 64: There are no Coincidences

Sayaka-Chan

We were accidentally biking up a mountain a few days ago and about half way up there were some promising looking apartments. We'd worked pretty hard to get to that point, so why not stop there? But nope. We had to keep going, even though neither of us knew why. When we got to the top of the mountain, we were greeted by the heavenly sight of a random vending machine, and it felt like we were on the right track. After walking our bikes through rows of houses, we parked and began knocking on houses at the edge of the neighborhood. On the third door, I pushed the intercom button. As I started to say, "Konbanwa," I was cut off by a woman through the intercom saying, "Rogers Shimai!" The door opened and it was a cute young mom that comes to our English class with her two kids. She was just as surprised as us, because, wow, what are the odds of finding someone like that in a city? We had no idea where Ai-san lived, and yet God had led us right to her. She gave us a bag of tangerines, and in exchange we gave her the Book of Mormon. It would have been the perfect night except on the way back down the mountain in the dark, there was a wild boar right next to the road. Needless to say, we were kind of terrified. I got a video, but it looks like a Bigfoot clip. We chased off the boar and were able to make it home safely (but maybe a few minutes late). Just another day in Hikari.

Ai-san's daughter and Sister Yagai

Ai-san's son

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! The greatest gift I received was the letters from my family and extended family. Thank you so, so much for your love and support. It means so much to me.

Sayaka-chan received baptism!! I was a wreck that day, but I am just so grateful my companion and I had the opportunity to teach her about the church. Whenever I can recognize just how much the Lord is guiding us to people as I did when we met Ai-san, I am reminded that God loves all people, and He has a plan for each of us. There are people we were friends with from before this life that need our help. We can find our friends. I know this is God's work! Everyone has a part.

Happy New Year!!
Sister Rogers

Baptism day!

Christmas Fort

Kiribayashi family

My sweet companion

Tanaka family

Red-eye correct 😂

Weeks 61 & 62: White Christmas

Comp! ❤️

 Hello from Hiroshima!

In our mission, we have been given permission to use Facebook. Because of my calling as a missionary, I won't be using it to browse around and catch up with people back home right now. Please feel free to send me a friend request though. :)

This week was very miraculous. We might see baptism this Christmas; please pray for Sayaka-chan!! She is an angel.

Merry Christmas!
Sister Rogers

The special pizza prayer

Teaching at the doorstep

The time I accidentally dyed my hair blue  😬

Sayaka-chan!!

Using Line for the first time. Heh

Children in English class

Weeks 59 & 60: Hiroshima

Sister Sakuma and me with Coco-like holding water!

I am now in my dream place, Hiroshima.

For the four-hour bus ride from Fukuoka to Hiroshima, I was sitting next to Sister Bradford who would be my upcoming sister training leader in the area. As we saw the city lights jump out against the dark night sky, Sister Bradford said, "This is all yours."

In a moment, across the bridge, all the lights and the tall buildings were passing around us. The city was alive. I gazed out at what what would now be my new home and found myself thinking, "Haven't I been here before?" I was overwhelmed by a fleeting sense of familiarity. I couldn't see anything through the tears except the street lamps that looked like stars. I am so grateful to be here now.

Let's light the world this Christmas season!
The kanji for light is 光 (hikari). The bottom half of this kanji means "human legs." (ninnyou). The light is within us. There are people everywhere that need our light.

My new companion is Sister Sakuma. She is wonderful! She is from Osaka and before the mission, she attended BYU for a year (her dad is a professor there), taught English in Japan, and was an editor in Tokyo. She reminds me a lot of one of my previous companions, Sister Sakamoto. She has a bright light!

I love you all! Thank you for your support and love. It means a lot to me.

Sister Rogers

Nakaima family dinner

Waiting in Fukuoka... some random Korean people wanted a pic

Traveling through Fukuoka

Getting unpacked....

Sister Sakuma and an old friend of hers.

 Coco-the cutest dog ever❤️

Yankee Squat lol

 First Costco meal in Japan ✊

Weeks 57 & 58: " My wife is like a tsunami"

Visiting a Shrine

  Hi there.

Happy thanksgiving. 🍁 For Thanksgiving, because there is not really much turkey in Japan, I'm planning to cook up some spam stir fry. Try it. It's delicious with the right sauce.

So we're teaching this one investigator English.
"Let's practice with writing a letter in English to your wife."
"My wife is like a tsunami. She is scary."
"Well, for the sake of this letter, when you miss your wife, is there anything that reminds you of her? Like a flower or a bird?"
"A nightmare."
Well, we helped him remember, "smile" and "curry" and you can see the final result turned out alright in the picture below.  He almost wrote "sweatheart" instead of "sweetheart," but it worked out and he was very happy with his letter.
"This is English that is alive. It breathes. I want to learn more English like this. Not textbook English." I really liked that comment. I can say the same for Japanese.

The English letter

These past two weeks, with the appearance of wreaths and tree ornaments around the local mall, I've asked people on the street, "What do you think the meaning of Christmas is?" Girls wear their school uniforms with the plaid skirts, button up jackets, and the long socks. Some of them wear hospital masks for colds, and their eyes dart around as they consider the question. They pause as the monorail above us races alongside a cool breeze and then say, "God?" "Jesus?" and the most common: "I don't know." I share the video "Light the World" with these people on the streets, and it feels like just yesterday when I first came to Japan and was doing this same thing.  Amidst vibrant red candy canes and glittering Christmas trees, will this message about celebrating Christ's birth shine brighter? Just one person at a time learns a little bit more about Christmas. It doesn't feel like a lot, but it's still something.

"Heavenly Father, I am grateful for your eternal presence.
I am learning to be patient and that you are really there.
Sometimes I am afraid and I know that's lacking faith.
But I am beginning to understand that for me you have a plan." ("My Little Prayer")

I know God has a plan for the people of Japan. The church members in Japan are incredibly kind and devoted. I could write so much just about how they have helped us time and time again these past two weeks. I am so grateful for them.

Sister Rogers

We went to Shuri Castle again

Beautiful Crane

Elder Segura

You'll have to be observant with this picture... :D

Companionship goals

Shuri Squad

Best buffet ever

 The mom said, "when we can't come to the English class, my daughter cries because she always wants to come!" :,)

When everyone draws one facial feature to create your face... wrecked

Our District