Aloha everyone!

It's been the hottest week of my mission yet! So much heat! So much sweat! So much... Change.

This past Tuesday was the last time I get to see Elder Durrant in the mission. It was a very hard transfer to be sure because we got along so well.  It didn't really hit me just how much I liked being his companion until he had to go. He's going to be finishing his mission in the Mililani zone, which is where I started my mission! This means though that maybe I can see him at zone conference, so that will be great! I'll definitely be visiting him when I get home! And home, as it turns out, is getting closer and closer by the day! This week will mark my 1 year anniversary of missionary service! That's crazy you guys! I'm so pumped! But aside from any of that nonsense, let's talk about this week.

Elder England and I have been working very hard this past week, and thus far, all that work doesn't seem to account for much really. Lots of people either not being home or not being interested. We got dropped by a few investigators this week, which is always rough, and absolutely nobody came to church yesterday, which just sort of poured salt in the wound, but we did have a great fourth of July on Wednesday. We all had to be in by 6:00, so we decided to get on the roof and watch fireworks together! It was such a blast! (you get it? Because, you know, fireworks explode and such)

Anyway, taking over the area has been pretty stressful, and even though Elder England is very patient, I probably try his patience a little too much. Especially when it takes me forever and a day to plan. Speaking of planning, we have a new way to refer to people in planning! How great is that? (this should explain the title by the way) Our area book app has been updated. It's now extremely politically correct, and that means words like "investigators" just can't be tolerated anymore in written form. Now they're called "people being taught". In fact, all the missionary terminology has been, well, terminated by this new update, so here's a little update dictionary for you so you can have a clue what I mean

Members: People who have been baptized.

Investigators: People Being Taught

Inactives: Less Actives

Less Actives: Returning Members (why they can use 'members' here and not in the members section I have no idea)

Potential investigators and former investigators are now held within the same group, which is called: "People with interest" I think this is dumb because only half of the people in this group "have interest". The other half of these people have no interest at all, which is why they aren't being taught anymore. Thanks for destroying the system everyone! Politically correct! Yay!

...if you can't tell already, I absolutely despise the area book app and all of the problems that come with it.

One of these "people with interest" told us to quote: 'Go sell crazy someplace else' this week. Words of encouragement I thought, because we ended up doing exactly what she told us to. We went and tried our luck someplace else, and that's how we met a super cool family named the Taylors. Sister Taylor isn't a member, but she grew up around them and seems to be curious. Her home is beautiful, and her husband is LOADED with cash. It's probably rude to say that, but the house, the three motorcycles, and the actual literal MONSTER TRUCK in the driveway kind of gave it away. I was surprised at how nice they were to us, and we will most likely be visiting them again soon. So I guess for all of the blood sweat and tears shed this week knocking doors and working our brains out, SOMETHING good is coming of it. `\(-_-)/` eh, whatever I guess.

Although it's been a rough week I want you all to know that I can feel your prayers giving me strength and I want to thank you for that.  I feel very distinctly that I am being blessed by the prayers of others.

Well, that's our week in a nutshell. Until next week everyone! 

  -ELDER ROGERS-

Me in the pine tree forest on our way to visit a potential invest- I mean uh, "person with interest"

I accidently got on the roof of an apartment complex.  I figured since I was up there I may as well get a picture 

We decided to walk instead of drive this week.  I was very unprepared for rain that day, and we both got soaked. This is what rain and humidity does to your hair.  

The funniest road sign I've seen in a while.

4th of July

Poison dart frog