I'm Not Stuffed ...Week 33 in Lapeer

     Our week has come and is now gone but it was good. We went to Great Lakes Crossings Outlet. While there I ended up buying another tie and another Elder bought a rain coat. I almost caved and bought one myself but I didn't. 

     We had the opportunity to serve on Tuesday and then that night we were planning on going to visit less actives for cookie splits but instead we ended up being tied up at interviews because president was tied up. We got there at 5:30pm and left at 8:30pm. I didn't get in till 6:40ish. My interview with president was short due to the fact that my exit interview will be in 2 weeks. Elder Weinand had a 40 minute interview the longest I have seen in a while. Usually it is like 20 min max, so with that we had to cancel cookie visits. 

     District Meeting was good, we discussed our take aways from Zone conference. 

     Thanksgiving was great! We went to a members home and I ate lots but "I'm Not Stuffed" for those who dont understand some members in Monroe told me that when she was on her mission that when people would say they are "stuffed" it meant they are pregnant. So hence "I'm Not Stuffed", just was very full. I tried 4 types of pie that day, Pumpkin, Chocolate, Apple, & Pecan the only one I didn't like was the apple. This apple pie was different from most but don't ask me what because I'm not sure. Another fun thing that happened was I went on exchange with a zone leader, and that was chill, had fun and learned. 

I want to ask a question to all that read this letter and please send me any thoughts you have about these questions in a SEPARATE EMAIL! 

1) how you recognize the spirit personally 

2) how has it been an influence in your lives

3) a cool story you have with the holy ghost. 

email bradley.rodgers@myldsmail.net 

I MAY USE SOME RESPONSES IN MY HOMECOMING TALK. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

(homecoming talk will be Dec 31 at 11:00 am at Mt Heights Chapel)

Lots Of Love 

Elder Rodgers 

Elder Weinand, Rodgers, Elder Lauracilla

Elder Weinand's homemade pumpkin pie

A little big for the back seat!

Lockdown In Lapeer? ...Week 32 in Lapeer

     This week was good. I forgot to mention last week but the Bluewater Elders have been staying here with us since the 8th and they left on the 18th (their car was in the shop and so they bunked with us) so preparation day was good. I got my haircut, then a Chinese Buffet and then games at the apartment. We cleaned the car also in prep for zone conference the next day. 

     Zone conference was great, it was full of great insights, including the need to invite people to be baptized in the first lesson and then to help them if they say "no" and find their needs and address them. We also talked about setting meaningful plans throughout the day and then talking about being more obedient in the mission. This was also my last Zone conference as a missionary  but that's alright that means I'm almost finished . Tuesday night I went on an exchange with Elders Jones & Elder Quick.

     The following day we got a call from the zone leaders saying that we are to follow these rules (they gave rules) and that we are in a "lockdown" My next thought was "lockdown in Lapeer? There was an incident in the mission boundaries that caused some us to be in a "lockdown". Not all the mission was in "lockdown" just some certain areas, president wanted to keep us safe, part of our area was in the affected county, so since we had the other Elders there we deep fried potatoes to make fries and played board games. It was a really great day but it all came to an end when we got a call from the zone leaders. Sadly there was no real action. 

     Since we didn't finish the exchange Wednesday, Thursday we finished it. The Bluewater Elders thought they were going to get there car back today but nope they did not! 

     Continuing the week, we served Friday at the food pantry, and since the other two Elders for most of the week were on bikes Elder Jones and I biked that evening to our soup kitchen service and then contacted that evening around town. Today in the late afternoon like 4 'ish' they got a text from the driving coordinator saying they can get there car tomorrow. 

     So Saturday we contacted and ate at another Chinese Buffet  they are so good my weak spot.

     Sunday a less active we saw during the week came to church that was great and then that evening we had a member dinner. It was real good, cranberry chicken. That was something I have never had before but like I said.. real good!

Love 

Elder Rodgers 

New haircut

Making Fries!

Elder Jones guarding the fries!

I may..or may not...have broke my chair

Its the the final countdown! ...Week 31 in Lapeer

     We changed things up on preparation day and we went to a pizza hut buffet instead of a Chinese buffet. It was still great. It's been a long time since I've been to pizza hut. For the remainder of Pday we played some games. 

     Highlight of the week are as follows...  Tuesday we had service at the food pantry and that was great. As I have been working on "my plan" (missionaries who are close to going home do this program) I have made a decision to find somewhere in the community to serve when I am home!! I'd like to invite all who read this to do likewise, service will help us focus on others and not just ourselves.

    The next highlight, we had a lesson at Brother G's home. It was good but I still had a headache that I had most of the day. Later that night transfer calls came.... and results are we both stay in Lapeer but we gain a third member, making this the 5th trio of my mission! Now It's the the final countdown! My 17th transfer.

     Next highlight was after district meeting we went to a Chinese buffet. We had to take the other Elders to a car repair shop (their car needs a little repair) and when we got there it had just closed so we came home and finished with a little bit of contacting. 

     The best highlight was Thursday. We drove to transfers and Weinand and the new Elder, Elder Quick went to the Bloomfields area to contact and I stayed at the mission office for lunch! After we went to the Cleveland's home and President gave us a departing chat on what to do when we go home. We concluded the night by going to the Temple with all departing missionaries and missionaries from my transfer so 8 in total. After the Temple my companions were there to take me home (that's why they were in Bloomfield, that's where the temple is) 

     The last highlight was Friday. We drove the other Elders to the shop so they could get their car done and we then went to so some service at the food pantry. All 5 of us and then the soup kitchen as well, all 5 again. Later that night and on Saturday we were just contacting.
 

Lots Of Love 

Elder Rodgers

Final Temple trip on my mission 

Halloween Scare ...Week 30 in Lapeer

     On Monday our preparation was great! Once again I come to the realization that my mission "P-Days" are limited..... but soon they will be unlimited! We went to the Chinese buffet #yummy and then we went to Great Lakes Crossings Outlet for a fun mall trip.

     Tuesday, Elder Myers and I exchanged. It went good but the highlight was that evening we ended the exchange, it was a highlight because I didn't want to exchange and it was over now.  Elder Jones and myself wanted to go checkout some graffiti so we drove down the big lake in Lapeer.  We walked to the path that leads to the graffiti and we were not sure if we should go but being missionaries we felt tough, so we walked further and then we felt an impression to leave, so no, there was no Halloween Scare tonight! So we went back to the apartment and in the morning we went back and felt better about being there. 

     Another great part of my week was district meeting. We discussed how to begin teaching points. It was helpful. Then I did some "my plan" (my plan is what missionaries going home do to prepare for the world) and that was FUN. 

     Another part of my week that was good was Friday we had service at the food pantry and the soup kitchen. I love it! The opportunity we have to reach out to the community is such a blessing, we have so much doing that. 

     Saturday was fun. We had a thunderstorm while we were in a Lesson with a less active family. The thunder was loud, but our lesson went well with the family. Unfortunately, they still didn't come to church. A spiritual highlight I had was... I was in the isle at Walmart and walked by a lady and her child and felt prompted to talk to her so walked back and shared my testimony of the Book of Mormon. We set up an appointment to see her Sunday afternoon but when we showed up no one decided to answer. The moral of the story was that I needed to act on the prompting, even though nothing came of it physically, spiritually I gained the Lord's trust. 

Lots of Love, Laughs and Lolipops
Elder Rodgers

On the roof of the tunnel

Graffiti