Elder Caden Rogers

Pebble or Denise?

Hello. Our p-day was moved to Tuesday this week because we had a temple trip to the Laie temple. That is why you are hearing from me a day later than usual.

Transfers up here are just about over, and most likely that means Elder campbell will be leaving. I'll probably stay here and be a senior companion, but I don't think I will be leaving Wahiawa. Transfers are on the 17th. Usually, a transfer is 6 weeks long, but this time, for some unknown reason, it's been changed to only 5. Next week at this time I will likely be with a new companion, and Elder Campbell will be gone.

It's now officially October, as it has been for a while, but now things are starting to look extra spooky in the Pad. Elder Campbell's mom sent him a pumpkin, and he decided to carve it last night, so I've included a picture of that for you. I haven't been able to hang up the decorations you sent yet, but I'll get on it tomorrow. Or maybe later today if I have time.

A couple of days ago we discovered that we have a friend who shares our laundry room. I discovered him outside on the window. I've seen him every night since then, so I guess he lives around here. I know enough about geckos to know it's a boy, so my idea for the name was Pebble. Elder Campbell thinks it's a girl gecko though, so he wants to call it "Denise" So I figured I'd send a picture and let the folks back home vote on it and the name will be decided by you guys!

Today was our temple trip, and while I'll save the details of the significance of this trip for my journal, I will send all of the pictures I took. I took one with Elder Zollinger, and when you get volume 2 of my journal you can read it to understand why I love Elder Zollinger, but either way he goes home at the end of this transfer, along with Elder Nunn, so I made sure to grab pics with both of them. Speaking of my journal, volume two is starting to run out of room, so in answer to your question of what I need, one thing would be a new journal. I was going to tell you the police escort story, but it didn't happen to me, so I'll let you find out about it when you read volume 2. It's ridiculous. I'm glad somebody can laugh at my nightmare stories. Like I said I had another one to tell, but I'll save that one for the book, because technically it happened to Elder Smith and Elder Vanshaar, not to me.

Now, I know the big exciting news of the week would be the Vickers family, and their upcoming baptism. No, it hasn't happened yet. The Vickers family who we have been working very hard on is doing well, we finished up the lessons with the kids, Rayjin (10) Rayjah (9) and Kayla (13). Their original baptismal date was for the 7th of October, but they wanted it postponed so that the Uncle who is active in the first ward can baptize them. The only available time before transfers the Uncle would be back was October 16 (one day before transfers). Therefore, Rayjah, Rayjen, and Kayla Vickers are going to be baptized this upcoming Monday at 7:00pm. So you won't get to hear about it next P-day, but the week after that, you'll get to see pictures and read about it happening. I know, I'm keeping you on edge, but you're just going to have to deal with it for now. Trust me, I can't wait either. Vickers aside, let me tell you about Tyler. He's clean again, and he's been reset for his baptism, which will happen on November 18, 2017. That means I'm going to be here for it if I stay another transfer. How great is that? Our lesson in Gospel Principles class was on Eternal Marriage, which was what interested him in the church to begin with. It really reminded him of what his goals are, and after a powerful Priesthood lesson on the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon, Tyler is basically set in stone. He's really been progressing well, and it was a wonderful thing to have one last lesson with him before he's gone for a little while. It was (most likely) Elder Campbell's last lesson with them, and we went into the atonement that Jesus Christ had provided for us. Myself and my companion were teaching in unity and with great power. This was one of the best lessons we have ever taught.

I'm glad to hear things are looking up for you all! Mitch and Connor are both in my prayers, because from what I remember the MTC was easily the most difficult part of my mission so far. So all I can do is hope and pray for their safety and strength, and that they will be able to push through with the knowledge that the mission field is far superior to the MTC. And we'll all email each other every P-day. It will be a great way to keep in touch.

Until next week, this is Elder Rogers.