Mom Post:
I just got to talk to my missionary!!! He is at the airport headed to Hawaii. It was so great to talk to him. I found out he had food poisoning (at least that's what he called it) and was very sick on Thursday and Friday. So, needless to say, it was SO good to talk to him and hear his voice and know that he is doing ok. He sounded so happy and excited and he was able to tell me about an amazing tender mercy he had while at the MTC. Caden was able to be the host missionary for one of his friends from Japan from Mikuni International College. He is going to the MTC in Provo and then to serve in Tokyo, Japan. It was such a great experience for Caden. When I think of the odds of this happening I am amazed at the goodness of God and his tender mercies to us. No way this was a coincidence!

July 25, 2017

I went to the temple with my district for endowment sessions this morning.   The temple was great. It is better the second time. I loved it and learned a lot, though I needed some help from my companions for some of the stuff.  The temple was worth it, but it took up a lot of time, and my day has been crazy as a result.  The laundry room is packed and the computer labs are even worse.  I’m not sure how I will get everything done.  Next week at this time I will be in Hawaii.  I have a straight flight from SLC to Honolulu.  It’s going to be one heck of a long flight, but compared to the flight to Japan it should be no biggie.  I’m stressed today, but other than today life at the MTC is actually very spiritually uplifting, so really guys, don’t worry about me.

The other day one of the missionaries ate a pen on accident while trying to load ink into it.  Our area of apartment building R6 is called “the Ghetto” and there is a strange chemical raining from the ceiling, but aside from that the spirit is still strong and teaching is going pretty well.  Elder Johnson broke his hand and I went with him to the clinic.  They have a magical land there known as “Immunization Land” so that was just a blast to visit.  Yaayy!!

I am saying my prayers, speaking with respect, and studying the scriptures daily.  I started with 1 Nephi when I got here and I’m currently in Mosiah chapter 25.  So yeah, be proud of me and what not.  We’re still really good at teaching too, so don’t worry about me.  I’m still trying to be like Jesus, and learning new things every day.  It’s a little less reverent and spiritual here than I might’ve hoped.  Even so, I’m still having a positive experience overall. 

Thanks for all the packages everyone! I want to write everyone individually and thank them, but I just haven’t had time yet.  Yesterday was pioneer day so it was a 3 day weekend without mail.  I was very glad to hear from all of you today and feel your love for me. 

It’s been a really spiritual experience here at the MTC despite all the quirkiness and I love and miss all of you very much.

Elder McNeil (Preston) and I    (friends from high school)

 Me and my companions (Elder Johnson and Elder Tompot)

Mysterious liquid leaking from the ceiling

Immunization Land and Elder Johnson’s broken hand

Pens and ink are not made to be swallowed!

A little comic about a missionary and a fly

MTC Week 1

Here at the MTC, life has begun to feel somewhat normal again. In answer to your question about Sunday, and how church works, we are all split into Districts and zones. In those districts and zones we have separate wards, just like you guys on the outside do. So really, it's just the same as church back home, just not in a church building, which is kinda odd but whatever. I've decided that church is awesome when you aren’t in your home ward, because I only really don’t like to get ready and go to church when it’s our ward.

I had an experience with my companions, the sacred miracle kind of experience, but I don't think it would be right to share it through email. The whole account is in my journal, and when that gets full I'm going to send it home, so when that happens you can read it and understand why it touched me on such a personal level.

I have been blessed to serve in a companionship trio so I actually have two companions. My companions, Elder Tompot and Elder Johnson, are going to Hawaii as well. Elder Tompot is from Ohio and has a football scholarship to Ohio State when he returns from his mission. Elder Johnson is Hawaiian but he’s from California. He doesn’t say much, but he’s cool. Please let everyone know that I am doing OK in my new home. Showering is life scarring, and so is going to the bathroom, but I have the top bunk, so life in bed is cozy as ever. It’s not exactly peaceful, but building R6 has become my home, and my companions and district leaders and everybody in our district has become like a second family. It’s been strange, but I have comics to share too, you’ll just have to wait until next week to get them, because I have laundry to do.

The MTC is open for tours now, and you're welcome to come see me, but all you can do is wave at me. I can wave back, but that's all. Honestly I kind of feel like an animal in a zoo, what with all these random people coming and going and all of them looking at us like we're a different species, but what are you going to do, stab them? hehehe..... he.... ugh.

I love and miss all of you, and I was really happy to hear from you. Reading your letters and having new ones come in almost every day has given me a taste of home and hope, and I really like it when I get to hear from you. Mom's letters sound a little like Ryuji's Mom in Toradora, what with the "cuz" and whatnot, but I get a good laugh out of that, too, so I guess it's nice. The pictures really meant a lot to me. Thank you for sending them.

I've been teaching TRC's with my comps and we have already got one of them to commit to baptism... ON THE FIRST LESSON! As a group, the spirit is so strong when we teach and we have been able to make significant progress with the investigators that come here in a very short amount of time.

Although I'm now a little used to the MTC, I still mostly just wish I was in the field already, you know? Provo's nice; but Hawaii? That's where it's at. I've been teaching another elder Japanese, and have also been talking daily with the Elders and Sisters who are going to Japan. I'm slightly jealous of them, but I'm mostly exited to use my skills to teach the people of Hawaii in their own language, whatever that language may be. I prayed to have the opportunity to serve the Japanese people, and after that I decided to just have faith and go with my gut. I know that one day I'll be able to teach them, so for now I'm going to focus on what matters most: teaching the gospel to those who need to hear it. The spirit, much like the force, is strong with this one- at least right now.

Until next Tuesday, your son/friend/brother/student says hello.
.... "hello"  また来週
Things are going great here and I miss you all.
Goodbye friends, Hope to keep hearing from you! Thanks for everything.
ELDER ROGERS

One of my companions, Elder Johnson from California

My other companion, Elder Tompot from Ohio

Yes, this elder is sleeping on the floor.  No, I don't know why.  Lots of weird things happen at the MTC.

Elder LaFRanca and Elder Brooksby.  They're huge nerds like me so we get along great and I'm teaching them Japanese. 

Quote of the week: "And make sure you keep sending in letters and cards telling me how much you love me, it makes me sooo happy!  -Akira Kogami, LUCKY STAR

It begins

After a great morning doing sealings at the Draper temple and some good Brazilian Steakhouse food for lunch we dropped Elder Rogers off at the MTC to begin his missionary experience. I can't wait to hear about all of his new adventures and experiences in the MTC and in Hawaii. Exciting times.....but we're sure going to miss him around here.