When the tag comes off....

Today I started Transfer 17, of 16.
     But that’s because the secret is that missions never end! I may be only a few days away from getting released and no longer being a full-time missionary, but I can still serve full-time. When you leave the mission you leave the field, but you take the mission back with you. Because you yourself have changed your world around you seems to have changed. I probably won’t be running around in a white shirt and tie on a bike but I will still have opportunities to stand for what I believe and talk about my religion in a respectful and non threatening/pushy way. It will be a lot more relaxed, which I’m very thankful for. Fast-paced religion is so tiring😂

     This was my last week, this was my time to go way hard! But in actuality I hardly left the apartment all week. Elder Otani got sick at the beginning of the week on like Monday or Tuesday and the doctor made him sleep until Wednesday. Luckily we had Splits and I got to leave the apartment while another Elder took care of Elder Otani. On my day out of the house we went and visited Takashi, ate at the Chinese restaurant again (without hurting ourselves), and taught the English class. Tomorrow will be my last time doing that class. It will also be my last time visiting Mizuno Shimai at the top of her crazy steep mountain.
     Then as soon as Elder Otani got better.................I got a fever 🤒
So for the remainder of the week I was the one the doctor forced to sleep. It’s so boring sleeping all day until it’s time to sleep. You run out of things to dream about if you’re not creative like me. And then you just wake up. I wish I could’ve been doing something else but I think I really needed a few days to just crash and not do anything. I slept for like 3 days only getting up to eat or go to the bathroom with no problem. I did not realized just how beat I am. But hey, at least I know I gave it my all. I’m glad I got to come out and serve the Lord for a good 2 years. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t always sunny, it was cold more often than not, but it was all worth it.
     In my last testimony for the members yesterday I talked about how when we sacrifice for God it’s not even really that hard of a sacrifice. We KNOW we’re going to get blessings for it. In most people’s minds I think they imagine giving up something and getting something of approximately equal value from God. Maybe it’s like a 10 or 20% increase. I don’t know how everyone thinks 🤷🏻‍♂️. But in reality the Lord said that whatever we give up for His sake shall be rewarded unto us 100fold! That can hardly be called a sacrifice, that’s a scam! “I’ll give you $1 and then you give me $100.” Yeah. And yet, sometimes it’s really hard to give him the dollar. Because we can’t see that He’s got a Franklin behind His back. I know when we have faith and we’re able to trust the Lord that good things will come. He’s never like that one kid in 4th grade that just can’t seem to remember borrowing five bucks from you. He keeps perfect track of us and he’s always got enough to pay you back, with interest.
     I know God loves each and every one of us. I know He cares about us and takes care of us. I know He’s in the big and little things of our lives. He’s in the good, bad, and in between times if we let Him. He is our best friend and my biggest support. He is my friend and I love Him. I’m so grateful that because of my service as a missionary I feel I can say that. Because of my service here I feel that I really do have a personal connection with my Heavenly Father, and that it’s a good one. I invite everyone to reach out to Him and make or strengthen your own relationship. You won’t regret it. 

Elder Rogers