About Me

I have been called to serve an LDS mission in the Tallahassee Florida region. This region includes Northern Florida, Southern Alabama, and South Eastern Mississippi. I will be serve for two years. Here I will teach the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and serve the people in the area. This shows the latest about my mission including pictures, latest news, and a updated mailing address.

Elder Rogers Testimony - July 9, 2008

“I want you to know how true this gospel is. It is amazing how much your testimony grows and changes bad habits when you devote yourself to the Lord. When you are too busy doin good you have no time to do bad. It is amazing how happy I am, even though I have no worldly things around me like an iPod or computer or phone. I am so filled with joy loving other people and devoting myself to the Lord. I know he loves us, and I know Jesus Christ is our true Savior. It is unbelievable what he did for us. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God and I know that he translated the Book of Mormon. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet now just like Lehi, Nephi, and Jesus. It is weird to think of it like that, but I know he is. I love you all and will pray for you. Love you!” Elder Rogers

Monday, August 10, 2009

Sweet Experience

This week was busy with Transfers and saying bye to everyone. But with Elder Jackson we had a sweet experience. We were out visiting less active people last night, and we stopped by this one lady. She looked super sad or something. So we began talking with her, sharing a scripture with her. She looked up and said, I know you two have been sent by God to me right now. I have had a lot of things going on, I'm sick, and I had just sat down looking at a picture of Christ crying praying for something to help me. And you two showed up. She was so thankful and everything. It was sweet!

LOVING my NEW Area!

I'm with Elder Jackson now, and it is such a breathe of fresh air, wow. He is awesome. We live with two other Elders, so there is 4 of us in an apartment. It is so fun, its amazing. I love it. Probably one of the greatest times I have had on my mission. Were working our butts off, and having fun, and its amazing.

We have about 800 pounds of weights in our apartment, so every morning were are all up doing P-90X ( a workout routine) in this tiny room just pumping weight. It is awesome. I love it.

My District doing a Service Project


My District doing a service project. I like this pic for some reason it makes me laugh.
Must be the helmet??

Running Stadium Stairs at FSU


Some Elders and I running stadiums at FSU stadium.

Yea, I Love Playing Football!

What a GREAT Football Team! Not quite the Utes, but spiritual WINNERS!

Teaching Michael, Alan and Aakeem


We are still teaching Michael, Alan and Aakeem. They are doing well. We're teaching these other guys named Demitrious, Jerrell, and Teddy. They are tight. We set a baptismal date with a girl named Tiffany which was exciting. Um....not too much going on other than that. Were just working hard.

Getting Transfered Again!

Today was transfer day. I found out that I am being transferred again, going to Tallahassee 4th ward which is still the same area just not FAMU. I'm pretty excited. It will be fun I'm excited.

This week was good though, we had some good success. We taught a bunch of people. Nothing too exciting though. Sorry my emails are really lame now. We talk to so many people and its tough to name them all. We helped a lot of people move which is nice to do service.

My new address:
410 Victory Garden Dr #61
Tallahassee, FL 32309

Monday, June 29, 2009

Back in Tallahassee, Florida, on the campus of Florida A & M

Now I'm back in Tallahassee, Florida on the Florida A & M campus. I really enjoy it. It reminds me of being back at college. Ha! There are some awesome people. They are GREAT! We walk around campus all day and talk to people. Kind of weird at first, but not bad.

I have a new address:

1414 Hudsen St
Tallahasse, FL 32301

Transferred to Florida A & M-Prichard, Alabama in a Nut Shell!


Today was transfers. I am getting transferred to Florida A & M or otherwise called FAMU. It is an all black college campus. I'm going to be opening it up, so that will be exciting. We had another baptism this week and we also set another baptism date. The work is booming here. I'm bummed because we have 3 BCDS right now and I'm getting transferred. O well, it is good to see all the hard work pay off.

Okay Mom, so I'm going to send you a picture, because I am leaving Prichard I havent really told you everything about it because I didn't want to scare you, but I will send you a pic that will sum it up now that I'm leaving.

Elder Bednar an AMAZING Man!

Elder Bednar came up and gave our whole mission a 3 hour teaching. WOW! Is all I have to say. The man is amazing. I can't even begin to say the things he taught, there was so much. Unbelievable! We got to shake his hand. It was awesome. It was great seeing the whole mission too. Great Great Day!

Baptisms and Mississippi!





On Friday we drove to Mississippi, which was sweet. Then that night we had our baptisms. I baptized Leonard and Liesha and Elder Brinkerhoff baptized Aliesha. It was awesome!

Investigator was SHOT!

We got a phone call at 7 this morning. One of our prime investigators called us. He said he was in the hospital. He had been shot up, so we rushed over to the hospital and gave him a blessing. He was shot at 9 times by 3 guys and he got hit 3 times in a drive by at the gas station. Once in the belly and once in both legs. He is going to survive but it was still real sad.

We went down to the Prichard Community Center. We get there and we were the only white guys. Everybody was looking at me crazy. There was a half court basketball game being played, so I went to the other half and warmed up a little. No one would talk to me. I tried to get on tons of peoples team, but no one would let me. I saw all the people in the bleachers pointing and laughing at me. Ha! So then I finally got in and about two minutes in, a guy on my squad drives and kicked the ball to me. I took two steps and dunked it so so hard on this guy. The whole gym ERUPTED! They were going crazy! Then I hit 4 threes and they went even more crazy. It was so funny, cause after that everyone wanted me on their team. Afterwards it was so tight, everyone was asking me questions about Utah and the church. We are going back this week and teach some of them!

Body Building Competition


An investigator invited us to go to a body building competition. When we were working out in the gym, the owner, was competing in it. These guys were huge! Tony Freeman is 6'2", 300 pounds, with a 31 inch waist and 3 percent body fat. This dude is HUGE! He is competing for Mr. Olympian this year. His bicep is bigger than my head. No lie, we measured it! CRAZY!

DVD's, Pit Bulls & Basketball!



Diane Curtis ordered a DVD. So we delivered it to her. We watched it with her and her daughter Portia and Portia's kids. They loved it. We challenged them to read from the Book of Mormon. We came back two days later and Diane and Portia had read the first chapter, but didn't understand one thing they read. So we sat down and read with all of them and explained what it meant. As we read they understood. Then the grandson D'anthony and I went outside and played some basketball in the dirt cause that is what they have. It was funny, we were playing, but they had 2 HUGE pit bulls right behind us. Diane and Portia were trying to hold the pit bulls back. It was so funny!

Staying in Shape! The Missionary Way!


This week we received a bench press from a member. HA! It is so small. We went around to the other Elders Appt. and jacked their weights so we could have some. Then we found some concrete blocks and brought those, so we have some weights! Pretty funny, but it Works!

Bellingraf Gardens



This morning we went to Bellingraf Gardens. They were awesome!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Our Youngest Investigator In Prichard, Alabama!


Soon to be Missionary!
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Chillin on Daughin Island


Me and my fellow missionaries taking some time to chill on the beach.

Commitment to be Baptized!

We had a lesson with a woman in Prichard. Her name is, Arllinda. We taught her the plan of salvation and she absolutely loved it! She said, "this sounds so familiar, it makes sense." We were like YEAH! and so I asked her to be baptized, and she said she WOULD, so that is AWESOME! She has about eight kids. They are so funny. We are teaching the kids now. They are great. It's crazy tho, when we get to Prichard, usually kids ask us for candy, money or something, but these kids ask for water. They say I just want some water. It is sad. Their water is so nasty in Prichard. It is like yellow. It is so interesting to see the difference in cultures in our area; southern redneck and ghetto.

Bluegrass!

We got invited to a backyard Bluegrass concert. WOW, talk about redneck southern hillbilly. We had sausage dogs and hamburgers, and these guys played Bluegrass music for about 2 hours. Then all of a sudden the daughter of one of the guitar players gets up in front of everybody and begins clogging to the Bluegrass music. HaHa. It was crazy, but cool. It fit the sterotype of the south perfect.

Dying Fish

This was a great week. 5/4/09

We got a call from a less active member and non-member who said they needed some help at 7:30 at night. They have this pond in their backyard. It was so dirty, the fish were coming up to the top to get air. The fish are expensive and they were dying. So I got these old nasty purple shorts that barley fit and an old nasty white Florida Marlins shirt on that the member had and I got in the pond and used a fish net to catch about 85 fish from 3 1/2 feet to 1/2 inch. HaHaHa it was soo funny. I was like throwing up it smelt so bad, but it was actually really fun. I ended up catching them all!

Life Is Different In Prichard, Alabama.

We went out to eat with an investigator and member. On the way back the investigator wanted to see some of Prichard. So we went to Africa Town, then we went to the Ray Williams Projects or otherwise known as Africa Village. They were freaking out. When we were leaving a cop pulled us over. He wanted to make sure we weren't selling crack or anything. He said, "I pulled you over because you were white." It was crazy.

Missionaries in Mobile, Alabama

Here is a picture of me and my fellow missionaries in Mobile, Alabama.

Utah Fooball Fans In Alabama!


This week was hilarious. We were in Prichard at this little kids b-day party. There were about fifteen 8-13 year old kids playing football outside with us. It was a blast! All of them wanted my autograph and stuff. It was funny.
The next day we had a day of service in Prichard. So all the wards in the Mobile, Al stake came down and walked around the streets and picked up trash. We found about 10 bullet shells, shotgun shells, shotgun handles, dead fish. Just crazy stuff! It was real fun. I got one of the yellow, "Mormon Helping Hands" shirts. I was so stoked! We met the Mayor of Prichard. It was real cool, people from the city saw us and started helping us pick up trash and stuff. Really Fun!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Transferring to Prichard, Alabama!

Tuesday was a crazy crazy day. We had zone conference. President Summerhays stood up and began talking. He began by saying how in our mission we have about 800,000 people, in the whole mission. 45% of those people are black. He said that we need to start tapping into the African American culture and start getting them baptised. He told us that we are going to start doing that. He began talking about an area called Prichard, Alabama. It is the Mobile, Alabama area. Mobile, is what we call the black hole. It is 80% black there. Prichard is 95% black. It is just the pure ghetto of Mobile. It has the highest crime rate per capita in all of America he said. He said we need to change that, we are going to put missionaries there. They will probably have to bus in, then just walk around all day and talk to people. He said, we're going to buy a ware house in the middle of town so people can walk there. We're going to build up that warehouse into a church, and start a branch from scratch. It's going to be an all black church, and were going to worship to how they like to. It was crazy, the spirit was just booming there. So after we got done, in my interview with President we were talking. He said, I feel you are the missionary to go to Prichard and build up the kingdom there. WOW....I was STOKED. He said I would probably be there a while. I am so ready to go.

If anyone wants to see what Mobile, Alabama is like, go to youtube and type in leprechaun in Mobile. Watch that video. That is Mobile, and I'm going to the most ghetto part of it. I will be going to Prichard Jan. 7.

Alligator Hunting & St Marks Beach











Well, sorry this email is coming late, a member took us to St. Marks beach today and we went alligator hunting. This week was amazing. It was crazy. Some crazy stuff happening in this mission

December 15. 2008


Tuesday we went out to Monticello. We hung out at the barrel for a while. They love us there. They said they will have the drunken tree this week. The Christmas tree with the beer cans. That will be funny. We hung out there for a little while, then went to visit some less active people. That night we had a lesson with a part member family and non member person. It went well.

November 24, 2008


Our whole zone went paint balling today. It was awesome. It was so fun. I will send pictures of it. a guy in 3rd ward supplied all of the guns and ammo and everything. So that took up most the day. Also go Utes! I am so glad they won. WOW, I was gettin so much crap from the ward the whole year haha now they don't talk....

On Tuesday we ha zone conference. It was awesome. Our Mission President is unbelievable. He will be an apostle. We talked about the power of prayer.

November 3, 2008 Super Nanny

We went to Blythe's house cause we got permission to watch the Super Nanny. It was CRAZY but the funny thing is that is Exactly how it is at the house all the time. haha they are hilarious. Elspeth, the crazy little one is just like that 24/7. She is so funny tho, but it was extremely awkward because we watched it with the ex husband. ha, it was really awkward but o well. It was cool cause we were in the house where the whole episode took place. So that was sweet. Hope you all had a chance to watch it, that is in our area and were over at there house about 3 times a week. If you didn't try to watch it online.

Halloween 2008


Friday was Halloween. In the morning we went to the skate rink and painted the whole trim outside the rink. It took a while. Then we went over to mikes dance studio and they put on like a Halloween carnival. So we hung out there and helped do that. After we went home and made home made costumes. haha they are hilarious. I will email a picture of them. Elder Carroll was Zorro and I was his Mexican companion. These were all stuff around the appt. we found. They were hilarious.

Trailer Park Investigators











We went walking around the trailer park. We sat down with the guys who just drink beer and play checkers. We played some checkers with them. I took some pictures of all of us, they are hilarious.

Squirrel Hunting!




I forgot to tell yall that last week, that super southern family showed us how to gut and clean a squirrel! ha. So there is a picture of the squirrel and everything. ha hope its not to nasty but when I get home I will make you all fresh squirrel.

Pimped Missionary


Miker Bergstrem is going to be a pimp for Halloween so I dressed up in his out fit.

October 28, 2008-Zone Conference

On Tuesday we had a zone conference. It was great. President Summerhays made an awesome comment. He was talking about the Economy of the world right now and how he was so thankful the whole world is suffering. He said our generation is spoiled. We haven't faced anything, and then he said, why would the Lord come down to a generation like this? He said he is so thankful for this time because it will improve our faith greatly and the best memories are when the trying times come. It was awesome.

Elder Kenworthy Transferred

On Tuesday night, Elder Kenworthy packed up all his stuff cause he was transferred to Troy, Alabama on Wed morning we met at transfer spot and switched companions. My new one is named Elder Carroll. He is tight we get along great.

Baptisim



Saturday was Roberts baptism. We went early to prepare for it. It was so awesome. Robert is 18, none of his family is intersed just him. They didn't even want him to get baptised but when he told him they were, they said they wanted to come. So both sides of his family came to the baptism. It was sweet. It went really well I thought. I got to baptise him which was pretty cool.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

GO UTES!

Everywhere I go there are UTE FANS! Even in Florida. GO UTES!
(Look at my shirt isn't it clean? Hey mom, how do I get my shirts white again?)

Look At These GREAT Ties I Purchased for $3.00!

I got these GREAT ties at a yard sale for .50 a piece! I even got a Christmas one (on the end)! Aren't they beautiful?

Getting My Missionary Haircut!


Look How Clean My Shirt Is!

Man, do I LOVE doing service work!

A Family That We Baptized!


Turtles & Spiders & Goats, Oh No!




My First Time Cooking Chicken Wings!




Tuesday, September 2, 2008

September 2 Email- Daily & the Ute Shirt

Earlier in the week I had taken a Utah Football shirt and hat over to Daily. When I called Blythe to make sure that we were still coming over to play ball with Daily the next day, she said yeah and she told me that Daily hadn't taken the Utah shirt and hat off for two days. The producer of "Super Nanny" told him to, but he refused and locked himself in the closet for two hours. haha. He wouldn't take it off. SWEET!

September 2 Email-Bubba

On Friday went out to Brother Williams house. We did service for him. Picked up fallen tree limbs and everything else that had been blown onto his lawn. The sweet thing about Brother Williams house is that he has a huge pond outside and in the pond are two alligators. One named Bubba. So when we finished working, we grabbed some fishin poles and fished for catfish and looked at the alligators. It was crazy. Bubba got like 10 feet away from us. It was awesome!

Monday, August 25, 2008

August 25 Email-My Birthday & The Hurricane

On my birthday the power went out again and the hurricane hit us bad. I have never seen so much rain in my life. We went over to my Bishop's house for a birthday lunch when a member called and said they needed our help. We rushed over to their dance studio and it was flooded in about 5 inches of water from the rain. We were in our church clothes so we took our shoes and ties off and rolled up our pants. We went inside the dance studio and started pumping the water out, but the water kept coming in and getting higher and higher. We went outside on a road that is behind their studio. The water was up to our knees and some parts up to our waists. The water kept coming straight into their studio so we created a barrier out of railroad tracks. These tracks were probably 150 pounds each. We floated them down the road and threw everything we could to barricade the water from coming in. Four cars got stuck and we had to push them out. A Hummer was turned on its side and we had to push it over and out. It was still puring. There were two tornado warnings. We heard it rained 20 inches that day and it was still raining!

August 25 Email-Spiritual Experience

This was the craziest experience. I was driving. I drive this particular route everyday, but I accidentally made a wrong turn. We were going the opposite direction, but I couldn't turn back for some reason. I just kept driving and then I just stopped on a street. I have no idea why. I just felt like I should. It was not me driving. It was like I had no control and was just being led. We knocked on this house and a man answered. The very first house we went to. We began talking and he asked us to come in. So we sat there and talked to him for awhile. He owned his own company and when Katrina hit, he devoted all his time to go help people. He told us some stories that were crazy there. We taught him the whole first discussion and he was like this makes sense. It makes perfect sense. We watched the Restoration and he liked it tons. We made an appointment to come back next week. It was unbelievable because no one ever lets us just come in. Let alone the first house.

Monday, August 11, 2008

August 11 Email-Martin Luther King Jr Street

We went tracting on Martin Luther King Jr Street, right in the middle of the the trailers and the Hood. It really is so humbling to see these people and what they don't have. We went through there and started tracting. Every person there accepted a Book of Mormon. It was AMAZING! They were so willing to hear ANYTHING about Jesus Christ. We were walking and saw some black kids that were like 7-13 years old playing football. There was 6 of them, so we started to play with them. It was so much FUN! It was tackle football and smear the queer together. Not one of the kids had shoes on. We played with them for about 30 minutes. They were so funny. This is seriously a foreign country. Its crazy!

August 11 Email-Decision to Serve Mission Early

Blythe is having such a hard time raising 6 kids on her own that someone recommended for the show "Super Nanny" to come and help her out. Super Nanny chose her family to help! haha. So she is coming out to film on Saturday. Blythe loves us so she told us to stop by everyday and try to get on the show! So we are, and our goal is to get on "Super Nanny". Make sure when it starts you watch, so that you can see the family we found tracting. They are really an amazing family, but she REALLY needs help. We have helped tons, but she needs someone else. I mean 6 kids is crazy, all under the age of 13.

I was thinking about my decision to serve my mission early, and how if I hadn't, I would have never met this family and how perfect Elder Kenworthy and I are them. We both played sports and her son is just so happy to see us. I know I am here for her son. Just to help him. It is really amazing!

August 11th Email-Bythe & Daily


We did service for a lady named Blythe. She is a single mom with 6 kids. She wanted us to come over & play football with her son Daily who is 9. He just started playing football. So we went over to their house, played football, mowed her lawn and just talked for awhile. It was SWEET! Before this Daily has always been sad and stuff because their dad just left. His mom told us that all he did the whole weekend was talk about us coming. She said he has never been so excited before and it is a blessing.

Daily also made Elder Kenworthy and I a tie hanger from scratch. It is like wood, with a football on front and mine says UTES everywhere. It is AWESOME! Blythe said that Daily has NEVER done something like that, and she loves how excited he has been!