OK, so whomever it was that told me to prep for chickens everywhere.... There really aren't that many chickens. I've seen like two so far. It's not really a huge deal over here. Whomever it was that told me to bring a rain jacket... It has only rained once so far, and that was only for like 3 seconds. I'm in Kekaha. It's the hottest and driest and least green place on the island. And from what people keep telling me this is the only area on the whole island that doesn't have wifi or a car. And that makes email or external contact a real [friend]. So if you needed me for anything that was an emergency, sorry to say but I can't really help you out with that one. Not having wifi I can live with, as missionaries we don't really use it much anyway, but not having a car is going to kill me. Our area covers HALF OF THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF KAUAI. And we bike it, with help getting around from the one and only Kauai Public Bus system. We're the biggest area on the entire island, by a long shot. And because we don't have a car, elders in an entirely different area, who DO have a car, cover part of our area for us because we are physically incapable of getting there.
That about does it for complaints. I find with a place as incredible as this, it's just easier to list off what I don't like, because that list is short enough to fit into an actual email. As for the list of things I like, it's incredibly long and hard to describe the feelings and thoughts that I have for this wonderful island. It's kind of on the rural side, so in terms of fast food, there's none. Like, none at all. I think I've seen one McDonald's, and that was at the airport. We have a P.O. Box because our actual house is a tiny shack with no real address that is right next to the church building. Kauai is gorgeous though, and the people here are super sweet and friendly. We've already had a baptism for a girl named Ipo, and we met 3 new investig-I mean um... "people" this week, and they all seem super interested and excited about learning more. Other than that, my new companion is Elder York and he's just the best around. His sense of humor is awesome and we have been making the most of every day as companions and as missionaries. He's been out for a little over 3 months now, and he already knows so much! He manages to teach me something new everyday, and I'm grateful for his support. Truth be told, this is the first time I have ever had a companion that is younger than me in mission age. In actual age though, he's still older than me. He was born January 21st 1999, so he's 19 as well, but he chose to go to college at BYU for a year first. He's from the one and only Las Vegas, and yes he's more than worthy to be serving a mission. We get along really well and have been working really hard this week. I'm exhausted, and so is he, but it's a good exhausted and I hope it keeps up for the remainder of the transfer. As the "older" companion and the one with the most experience it's my job to kind of be a follow up trainer and a guide to Elder York, but I'm convinced he's already got what it takes to be a Zone Leader. The guy is an incredible missionary. That said, making sure I'm setting the right example for him and the others in my district (more on that later) is keeping me in line and diligent in my new surroundings. It's a lot of hard work out here, and I'm very busy all the time, but I'm still grateful for the chance to serve with him, and I hope I can be his best companion. Whenever I get lost or feel like I'm having a tough time, I ask my self "What would Elder England do?" and I try my best to live up to the legacy he left for me to carry on. I'm convinced that if every elder was as good as Elder England, the powers of Hell would tremble in fear. Needless to say, I love that man.
Now then. There's a lot that is happening in the mission, and all of it is going to shock you guys. Especially this next part. Starting now, missionaries can no longer eat dinner with members. Yes really. It's not allowed. The previously free and emptied schedule that allowed us to follow the spirit to find, and work with members through dinners, (which is how we found Solomon AND Maiko by the way, was through dinners) is gone. 4-5pm is now dinner. During dinner missionaries will eat at their apartments, by themselves, and are not permitted to eat with other missionaries. Monthly payments will not be changed, so we must now budget to make sure we have enough food money. (Please do not send food or recipes or anything like that. We have already received supplies and will be fine). In addition, missionaries are now only allowed to talk to those missionaries who are in their own district, and are not permitted to spend time with those in the other district, even if they are a part of the same zone. We may only talk to others in our district, and it is only allowed on p days or at district meetings. No exceptions. Needless to say, this is a big change, and has been extremely difficult to get used to. Especially because on Kauai, even the streetlights turn off at 6:30pm, and it's pitch black outside. We actually ended up bumping into each other just because we couldn't see each other at all! Tonight we are going to use flashlights, and I think that will help. We also had zone conference and interviews this week, which happen on Kauai in the first week, so that was exciting. I tried to get us a car. We shall see how it goes.
I also got the wrong boarding pass and nearly missed my flight because of it. But that's another story for another day.
Have a great day guys!
Aloha!
-Elder Rogers
Pictures: There are tons of geckos on this island. The small one is in our house. His name is Jeremy. The other picture is outside, where the front door is. The sunset picture houses a view of the island of Niihau. The last one is a picture of Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles. During zone conference Sister Bekker asked if we were really feeling it when we teach, and Shulk's catchphrase is "I'M REALLY FEELING IT!" so I tried to draw him and we put it on the door so we can always remind ourselves to really feel it when we head out for the day. Thanks, Shulk! Seriously though Xenoblade Chronicles is like one of my favorite games, and I want the 3DS version someday. The Wii U edition is different because it's a spinoff. But I still love Xenoblade Chronicles X too. Anyway, lastly the pun regarding the cute island is because the Japanese word for cute is kawaii. I mean, I guess it could also be 'moe' but kawaii is more common because moe is a term for more Anime cute.
Elder Rogers' new address is:
P.O. Box 719
Kekaha, HI 96752
That about does it for complaints. I find with a place as incredible as this, it's just easier to list off what I don't like, because that list is short enough to fit into an actual email. As for the list of things I like, it's incredibly long and hard to describe the feelings and thoughts that I have for this wonderful island. It's kind of on the rural side, so in terms of fast food, there's none. Like, none at all. I think I've seen one McDonald's, and that was at the airport. We have a P.O. Box because our actual house is a tiny shack with no real address that is right next to the church building. Kauai is gorgeous though, and the people here are super sweet and friendly. We've already had a baptism for a girl named Ipo, and we met 3 new investig-I mean um... "people" this week, and they all seem super interested and excited about learning more. Other than that, my new companion is Elder York and he's just the best around. His sense of humor is awesome and we have been making the most of every day as companions and as missionaries. He's been out for a little over 3 months now, and he already knows so much! He manages to teach me something new everyday, and I'm grateful for his support. Truth be told, this is the first time I have ever had a companion that is younger than me in mission age. In actual age though, he's still older than me. He was born January 21st 1999, so he's 19 as well, but he chose to go to college at BYU for a year first. He's from the one and only Las Vegas, and yes he's more than worthy to be serving a mission. We get along really well and have been working really hard this week. I'm exhausted, and so is he, but it's a good exhausted and I hope it keeps up for the remainder of the transfer. As the "older" companion and the one with the most experience it's my job to kind of be a follow up trainer and a guide to Elder York, but I'm convinced he's already got what it takes to be a Zone Leader. The guy is an incredible missionary. That said, making sure I'm setting the right example for him and the others in my district (more on that later) is keeping me in line and diligent in my new surroundings. It's a lot of hard work out here, and I'm very busy all the time, but I'm still grateful for the chance to serve with him, and I hope I can be his best companion. Whenever I get lost or feel like I'm having a tough time, I ask my self "What would Elder England do?" and I try my best to live up to the legacy he left for me to carry on. I'm convinced that if every elder was as good as Elder England, the powers of Hell would tremble in fear. Needless to say, I love that man.
Now then. There's a lot that is happening in the mission, and all of it is going to shock you guys. Especially this next part. Starting now, missionaries can no longer eat dinner with members. Yes really. It's not allowed. The previously free and emptied schedule that allowed us to follow the spirit to find, and work with members through dinners, (which is how we found Solomon AND Maiko by the way, was through dinners) is gone. 4-5pm is now dinner. During dinner missionaries will eat at their apartments, by themselves, and are not permitted to eat with other missionaries. Monthly payments will not be changed, so we must now budget to make sure we have enough food money. (Please do not send food or recipes or anything like that. We have already received supplies and will be fine). In addition, missionaries are now only allowed to talk to those missionaries who are in their own district, and are not permitted to spend time with those in the other district, even if they are a part of the same zone. We may only talk to others in our district, and it is only allowed on p days or at district meetings. No exceptions. Needless to say, this is a big change, and has been extremely difficult to get used to. Especially because on Kauai, even the streetlights turn off at 6:30pm, and it's pitch black outside. We actually ended up bumping into each other just because we couldn't see each other at all! Tonight we are going to use flashlights, and I think that will help. We also had zone conference and interviews this week, which happen on Kauai in the first week, so that was exciting. I tried to get us a car. We shall see how it goes.
I also got the wrong boarding pass and nearly missed my flight because of it. But that's another story for another day.
Have a great day guys!
Aloha!
-Elder Rogers
Pictures: There are tons of geckos on this island. The small one is in our house. His name is Jeremy. The other picture is outside, where the front door is. The sunset picture houses a view of the island of Niihau. The last one is a picture of Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles. During zone conference Sister Bekker asked if we were really feeling it when we teach, and Shulk's catchphrase is "I'M REALLY FEELING IT!" so I tried to draw him and we put it on the door so we can always remind ourselves to really feel it when we head out for the day. Thanks, Shulk! Seriously though Xenoblade Chronicles is like one of my favorite games, and I want the 3DS version someday. The Wii U edition is different because it's a spinoff. But I still love Xenoblade Chronicles X too. Anyway, lastly the pun regarding the cute island is because the Japanese word for cute is kawaii. I mean, I guess it could also be 'moe' but kawaii is more common because moe is a term for more Anime cute.
Elder Rogers' new address is:
P.O. Box 719
Kekaha, HI 96752
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