August Appreciation for July

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Dearest Family,

The past month has been remarkable because we have been able to spend time with all of you. Thank you so much for your efforts to be together. We love each of you uniquely because you are you! The Carters got home safely and have been busy ever since with doctor appointments and therapy. Wednesday Neal and Daniel had birthday cake and ice cream waiting for Katrina when she and Anna returned from Buffalo for Anna's hearing tests. Anna's tests were inconclusive because she was so tense even though she fell asleep promptly at 2:30 for her test.

Saturday night John and I had a delightful evening with Mark, Kristilyn, and Mark's parents having dinner at Benihana's to celebrate Mark finishing his education and becoming an attending physician. Phyllis Eliason is here for 11 days to help with the twins so Mark can study for his national boards next Thursday and Friday in Arizona. That is a blessing because last Wednesday morning Kristilyn spent from 2:00 AM until 7:00 AM in the emergency room with Grant who was having trouble breathing like James did the previous weekend when James was in Primary Medical Center. Joe Eliason flew in for the weekend and all the Eliasons were able to attend the last day of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Openhouse the last day, August 1. The twins were every good, especially with the threat/promise that if they didn't cry, they would get a cookie at the end of the tour. Benihana's was a real treat for us, especially with Mark and Kristilyn as our attentive hosts and their experience in Japanese cuisine. The chef put on a fascinating show as he grilled our dinners in front of us. The twins were home with a babysitter.

Today was a red letter day for the branch. John did not have to help with the sacrament because members of the branch did every thing! This is the first time this has happened since we started attending the branch. He is out collecting fast offering right now. He is an excellent teacher for the Sunday School class. I shared a missionary moment about having a family who joined the church in Germany because the wife started attending RS then the couple started attending church. Eventually they received the missionary lessons, were baptized, and went to the temple a year later. I also told about the curiosity of the neighbors in our stairwell in Frankfurt because I'd borrow chairs every week for Relief Society. Eventually they felt very free about asking questions about the church. Though none of them ever joined the church we were able to clear up some of the misconceptions they had.

This week is my turn to give the thought for the devotional in the Training Zone. I'll include some of my thinking in an attached file.

We've had a more relaxed week at the training zone in that we finished with our students at 2:00 everyday then had Friday to attend the temple and to do research. Usually we train/teach until 3:30 then have reports, research, and our assignments to do in addition. When we're done with students at 2:00 we have meetings, in-service training, person research afterward. We had a very spiritual time at the Jordan River Temple on Friday. John has found wonderful English census records for the Steads in England back to 1841. He also has found pictures of grave markers for most of his Rogers relatives complete with dates and some pictures. The next three weeks will be very busy because we have 36 Church Service Missionaries (CSM) this next week and probably the same number of Full-Time Missionaries (FTM) the following two weeks. We only have 20 regular trainers so we will have 16 "rent-a-trainers" from other zones to come and help. The training zone will be packed and that is what we like because numbers have been down significantly since the first of the year and every zone is hurting for missionaries to help. We are sad to be losing five outstanding trainers at the end of August who are going home--the Cranfords (Sis. Cranford was my trainer), the Willards (assistant zone leader), and Sister Hinckley. I guess that is the hard part about the mission--saying good-bye to people you deeply respect and love and wondering if your paths will ever cross again.

Thank you again for your love and support. We appreciate your visits, calls, letters, blogs, pictures, prayers, and all that you continually do for us! We are so grateful for your example of living the gospel. We cherish the Christ-centered home you are creating and your desire to keep the commandments. Continue to care for one another with love and kindness.

Love,

Mom and Dad Rogers