Forward this To President Chugg
Mom note: Our stake president asked each of the missionaries in our stake to send him 5 of their favorite mission pictures and also some words of advice to the priests and laurels in the stake who may be thinking of serving a mission. I decided to share Caden's response here because I enjoyed reading it.

Elder Rogers presents his top 5 mission pictures with notes as to why they are his favorite. (presented in no particular order)

#1 Me in front of the Jurassic Park Jeep

It's cool to find something you enjoy doing has somehow managed to make its way into your mission. If I could give any advice based on this image, it would simply be that no matter where you are called or where you find yourself on your mission, do not leave behind your personality. Over the course of my mission I've been able to use my favorite movies and games as conversation starters, usually to great effect. It breaks the ice incredibly quickly. You are where you are because God knows people who need you specifically, and that includes your personality. In your quest to be as obedient and efficient as you can be, remember that at the end of the day God expects you to be you, and he expects you to use your hobbies and talents to help the work in ways only you can. Never forget that.

#2. Elder England and I outside in Hurricane Lane

There are lots of crazy, unexpected events that you'll face on your mission. Some of them are easy to be happy about, others are less likely to provoke smiles. For me, one of those things I wasn't looking forward to doing was proselytizing in a tropical storm. In moments like this you are the one that decides what makes an enjoyable time and what doesn't. My companion Elder England had the most positive attitude about the mission, and that made him a joy to serve around. I now look back on this day as one of the best days of my mission, despite my opinion on the subject at the time. Let yourself enjoy your mission. Take it seriously, but let yourself enjoy it. Attitude makes a huge difference, and you have a lot more power over that than you may think.


#3. Solomon Family Baptism picture

Baptisms are a rare and exciting opportunity that you will be able to have regardless of where you serve provided you have faith in miracles. I have been especially blessed to see many baptisms over the course of my mission. It is difficult to describe the feeling that one experiences when these kinds of things happen, but it is the most joy filled experience you can imagine. It is a great honor to have Heavenly Father bless you with chances to share the gospel, and as you serve its important to remember that when it gets hard (I won't kid you on this, I'm in Hawaii so it's pretty nice here as far as missions go I think, and I still have challenges that seem impossible to overcome from time to time, so yes it is going to get hard for you at some point) remember that you are there for more than just yourself or your parents. You are going to be blessed for overcoming the challenges ahead of you, and you will also be blessed for having patience and humility. Think of those you can share the truth with, and think of how important they are to God. Many of us are blessed to be raised in the church. Many more however, never know the peace that Christ's gospel can bring. The point is, remember your purpose and try your best, and you will see miracles that will allow you to see beyond yourself. That is a promise.


#4. Elder Durrant and me in front of the temple

Some companions are difficult to get along with, and some are more akin to an instant best friend. Elder Durrant and I became instant best friends when we met in Makakilo Zone. One thing I want all of you to know is that getting along with your companion may or may not be a challenge for you. This factor all depends on the person. But what I can promise you is that as you love your companions and seek to be the kind of companion you would want to have, you will come to find that not only were you called to be an important factor in the lives of non members and members, but you were also called to be an important part of the lives of other missionaries. Be willing to learn from your companions and you will be amazed at the friendships you will make. Elder Durrant is home now, along with many of my past companions, but we still keep in regular contact and we plan on hanging out a lot after I return in July.


#5. Elder Campbell and I

The first obstacle any missionary faces is that the MTC is nothing like the mission field. At all. Your trainer will require a lot of patience from you, but I guarantee that you will require a lot of patience from him/her as well. You don't know everything and neither do they. That said, God called them to train you. That means there's something that is to be learned from the experience, be it positive or negative. I loved my trainer, and we ended up becoming great friends. However, I know of many trainers who have a difficult time because their trainees are rather prideful and refuse to listen. I urge you to be humble. Confident in yourselves, but humble. That is the key to learning as much as you can from your mission in my opinion.