back ground

May 26, 2014

Its wonderful

At church yesterday we had a visitor from Provo Utah who came to Denmark to follow the history of his ancestors.
I was talking with him after sacrament meeting and he asked "So is this a hard mission?"
Well before my mission people were always warning me that it was going to be really hard to serve here. And its been said that the Denmark Copenhagen mission is the 2nd hardest mission out there. (According to measurable statistics like numbers of baptisms.) 
And you know what.... they were right. This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. And maybe we don't have a lot of statistical success here in Denmark.
When he asked if it was a hard mission, I couldn't say no. But I didn't want to say yes either.
So I just told him how I really felt. 
"Its a wonderful mission.

I'm completely convinced that every mission is hard. It doesn't matter if you serve in South America where you see hundreds of baptisms a month, or if you serve in Europe where you might see 1 or 2 baptisms a year. It doesn't matter if you serve in a country where people are friendly and happy to talk with you, or if you are sent to a place where people tell you you're wasting your time and slam the door in your face. 
Missions are hard. 
When you put on your name tag and represent Christ, you can expect it to be difficult. Christ suffered more than we can comprehend.... and if we are representing Him and doing His work, that means we are going to have to suffer as well.

But just because its hard doesn't mean it can't be wonderful.

It makes me really sad whenever I talk to people or hear about people who don't enjoy their missions. Because I know that "the attitude you have toward your mission experience is a reflection of your love toward your Heavenly Father and His Son" (PMG 151).

And I would go so far as to say that same thing about life in general... 
The attitude you have toward your earthly experience is a reflection of your love toward your Heavenly Father and His Son.

I'm completely convinced that every life is hard. It doesn't matter if you live in a nice house and have tons of money, or if you live in a crowded apartment and struggle to pay the bills. It doesn't matter if you are perfectly healthy or if you are fighting illness and disease. 
Life is hard. 

But just because its hard doesn't mean it can't be wonderful.

We all have challenges and trials. Life throws things at us that we have no control over.
But we do have control over our attitude. Happiness is a choice. 
The more I've grown to love my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, the more I've loved and enjoyed my mission.
And I'm completely convinced that that goes the same for life as well.

That being said...
I had a wonderful week and I hope you all did too! 
Sister Pearson and I took a train on down to the lovely city of Esbjerg to work with the sisters there. 
I got to spend a day with the fabulous Sister Rigby and we had a grand old time. We took a bus through the country side to a nice little town where we had an appointment with a member in the ward. But when we got there we were 15 minutes early. So we decided to take a stroll around the block to kill some time, and I said a little prayer inside that the Lord would guide us to someone who was prepared. I glanced in a window where I saw an older lady doing dishes. The thought that came to my mind wasn't "Aha, she is prepared to hear the gospel!" It was actually more like "She looks really sweet and probably won't slam the door in our face." So I told Sister Rigby I had a good feeling about that door, and we went and knocked on it. 
But guess what. She was prepared for the gospel. 
She immediately recognized us as Mormon missionaries and we ended up having a 10 minute conversation where this sweet woman told us all about how she knows God loves her. She had met and talked with some elders a few years ago, and she even went to a ward party at the church once. We even said a prayer with her on the doorstep and made plans to come back another day. 

I LOVE being a Sister Training Leader because I LOVE that not only do I get to serve the people of Denmark but I get to serve the missionaries of Denmark as well. I love being a Sister Training Leader because MIRACLES happen on splits. I get to witness those miracles and sometimes I even get to help make them happen. 

On another day this week the beautiful Sister Tew and Sister Henderson joined us for splits here in Horsens. And it was a day packed full of miracles and tender mercies! Sister Tew and I were waiting at a bus stop and started talking with a woman who was waiting there as well. It was neat because she recognized Sister Tew from a few months ago, and she recognized me from the bus a few weeks ago! She told us all about her family and all about her faith. When we all got off the bus together we asked if we could pray with her. She didn't even say anything- she just immediately reached out to hold our hands as she bowed her head. It was so so sweet. 

I've realized that the miracles don't usually come in the things that we as missionaries actually plan... The miracles are found in between the lines we write in our planners. We make our plans and then we put them in the Lord's hands. If we do what He expects of us and follow the promptings He gives us, then He blesses us more than we can imagine.

Well things are going GREAT here. Its been an incredible week as always! I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to think about anything other than lessons and investigators and meetings and all that missionary jazz....
But don't you worry! I didn't forget about all the AMAZING things happening back home!
CONGRATULATIONS
to my awesome brother Joshua who GRADUATED HIGHSCHOOL THIS WEEK! you rock!!!!

to my gorgeous little sister who is turning FIFTEEN on Thursday! happy birthday Tia!!

to my fabulous friend Ali Cali who is entering the missionary world the day I leave it! (boo i don't get to see you for 3 whole years) Chile Santiago East Mission is getting the most fabulous sister missionary EVER and I AM SO STOKED ABOUT IT.

and last but not least to my alle bedste veninde Amanda. Who is living her own fairytale and getting married in the temple this week. I can't even put into words how happy I am! 


I love you all. You mean the world to me. Have a beautiful day and a beautiful week.
Remember that even though life is hard, its wonderful.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sister Breanna Rogers
 Sister Vige and Sister Rigby are the sweetest!

And we just had a great time with Sisters Tew and Henderson!

 
district picnic in the parking lot.
#selfie 

May 19, 2014

Enjoy to the end

I wish I had  one of those magic quills that Rita Skeeter uses in Harry Potter. That would be fabulous if a quill (or a computer) could just take all the thoughts and feelings of my heart and all the great experiences I'm having and lessons I'm learning and just turn them into words on paper faster than I can even think about them. Ah. If only.

This week was jam packed with awesome things. If I had a magic quill I'd tell you ALL about it. But I don't have one. And I'm feeling too lazy to do it myself. So I'll just tell you about 3 of the highlights...

Starting with the BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR.

I'm gonna tell you about this wonderful event in scriptural form....

(Alma 17)
1 And it came to pass that as Sister Rogers was journeying from the land of Horsens southward, away to the land of Sjælland, behold, she met with the missionaries journeying towards the land of Copenhagen.
2 Now, these missionaries were with Sister Rogers at the time of the MTC; therefore she did rejoice exceedingly to see her brothers and sisters in the Lord; yea and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were missionaries of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught they taught with the power and authority of God.
4 And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of thirteen months among the Danes, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth.

My MTC family means the world to me. We entered into the missionary world together! We learned SO much with each other and from each other. With 21 missionaries, our group was the largest group of missionaries to EVER enter the Denmark Copenhagen Mission. We had all responded to the call of the Prophet, and our extra large group was a manifestation of the hastening of the work in Denmark. 
And now, we make up over 1/5th of the entire mission.
SO. President Sederholm called us ALL together. On May 14th 21 missionaries flooded into Copenhagen from ALL over the country. We hugged each other and we laughed and we cried and we rejoiced exceedingly. It was AMAZING to all be together again. 


We had a special meeting with President and Sister Sederholm and the assistants. I felt like every word that was said was meant for me. It was answers to my prayers, even prayers unsaid. It was the guidance and direction and love that I needed from God. And EVERYBODY else felt the exact same. It was truly a hallowed experience. 
We've been missionaries for over a year. And I think we've all gotten to a point where we're kind of just going through the motions.
 We needed a reminder to have fun. To be happy. To stop and smell the roses. To not just endure to the end, but to enjoy to the end.
Check out this wonderful video: 
We would ALL do well to slow down a little, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.

Moving on to highlight number 2. 
We had SEVEN investigators come with us to institute/family home evening on Thursday
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL.
Two of those friends are from Romania, and we hadn't even invited them or reminded them about the class... they just showed up. It was interesting, because as I was talking with them they told me how they both had a really terrible day. They'd gotten the news of the war going on in their home country, and found out they might be drafted into the military. 
They were feeling distressed and worried and afraid and down.
And so, they came to our church.

Highlight number 3.
Sister Pearson and I went on exchanges with the sisters serving in the gorgeous city of Odense.
And we had SO much fun serving with Sister McVey and Sister Bishop for the day! Sister Pearson and I wanted to do something FUN to help us all get pumped about missionary work.... 
So we had a SCAVENGER HUNT. 
Before we went out to work we made a list of people that we were going to talk to throughout the day:

someone in a red skirt
someone with a red hat
someone named Rassmus 
someone named Greg
someone with Awesome shoes
an African
someone with Faith in Jesus Christ
a family
someone wearing a cape
someone with glasses
someone with sweet tattoos 
a baker
someone listening to headphones
etc etc etc

We had SO much fun talking to people on the streets as we went throughout the day, and by the end we checked off almost EVERYONE on our list!
Sister Bishop and I even met a guy named Rassmus! 
We even talked to someone wearing a cape.



Make that several people wearing capes. 
You better believe we talked to those guys! Who could pass up an opportunity to contact a canoe full of pillaging vikings?!

Missionary work can get crazy and busy and stressful and overwhelming. 
Life can get crazy and busy and stressful and overwhelming too.
But God didn't send us here to get stuck in a rut. He didn't send us here to walk around and go through the motions like a bunch of zombies. He sent us here that we might have joy.

So have fun! Be happy! Stop and smell the roses. Don't just endure to the end, enjoy to the end.

I'm going to extend you a commitment today. Because that's what missionaries do. 
Here it is:
DO SOMETHING FUN TODAY. 
Do a cartwheel. Eat a snow cone. Make a wish on a dandelion. Talk to someone in a cape. Better yet.... wear a cape.
Just do something fun! Take a break from your crazy busy stressful life and do something fun.

I love you guys. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Thanks for your prayers. 
TTYL. TTFN. HAGS. WWEBD. KOR. 

xo
Sister Rogers.
hollansk waffles at the international market in Odense
 Our best friend Ankhaa comes from Mongolia and she ROCKS
 Tulip garden in Odense. I'm in love with springtime.

May 12, 2014

I GOT TO HANG OUT WITH MY FAMILY AND MY BEST FRIENDS YESTERDAY AND IT WAS SOOOO FUN.
I'm so thankful for Skype. Skype rocks my world. 

Well it was another busy busy busy wonderful week!
On Wednesday Sister Pearson and I got to travel down to the beautiful city of Fredericia for a Zone Training.


And then we went up to Århus on Thursday for another one!


The missionaries in the Denmark Copenhagen mission are FANTASTIC. I love serving with them and I love serving them. I love getting to know the other missionaries and I love hearing about the miracles they've seen here. 
I also love playing capture the flag with them. 
Missionaries rock.

One day this week we had a lesson with one of the less active members we've been working with. He's like 25 and way chill. He just doesn't know if He believes in God or Jesus Christ, and we're trying to help Him with that. So this week we brought the young women from our ward to go visit him with us. We talked about how having faith in God and Jesus Christ helps us understand who we are and who we can become. Then all the cute 14 year old girls said the young women's theme-

"Vi er vor Himmelske Faders døtre. Han elsker os, og vi elsker ham. Vi Vil Stå som Guds vidner til alle tider og i alle ting og på alle steder, mens vi bestræber os på at efterleve Unge Pigers værdinormer, som er: Tro, Guddommelighed, Personlig Værdi, Kundskab, Valg og Ansvarlighed, Gode Gerninger, Retskaffenhed og Dyd. 
Vi tror, at dersom vi vil acceptere disse værdinormer og handle derefter, Vil Vi Være beredte til at styrke hjem og familie, indgå og holde hellige pagter, modtage tempelordinancerne og nyde ophøjelsens velsignelser."

And the Spirit was SO strong that it almost brought tears to my eyes. The faith of the beautiful young women here in Denmark is incredible! They know who they are. They know they are daughters of God and that He loves them. They know it and they live it and their testimonies just shine.
I know that our friend felt the Spirit that day too. He even came to institute with us the next day!!! It was a miracle. 

Speaking of institute. All of our college age investigators love to come with us to institute and family home evening. And they love to bring random friends along with them! Its AWESOME. Our investigators are basically missionaries! 
One of our new investigators (Who we started teaching because one of our other investigators invited her to institute) came to church on Sunday and brought her brother! And they both LOVED church. 
See guys. Missionary work is so easy and fun that even investigators can do it! If they can do it, so can you!!

I'm LOVING my new area of Horsens. Its SO so different than Copenhagen... The way of life in this town is just a bit more relaxed and not so fast paced, so people are more willing to stop and talk with us and they have more time to actually meet with us. On Saturday we had six different lessons with people on the street or at the park or just around town! It was awesome. 
Yesterday we met a way neat guy named Benjamin. I thought he was way neat because he had the same name as my dad and also because he used to live in Boston. We talked with him for like 30 minutes about faith and Jesus Christ and his beliefs and our beliefs, and the whole time I was trying to figure out how I knew this guy because he just seemed soooo familiar! After we left Sister Pearson and I turned to each other and said "have we met him before?!" We were both thinking the same thing and it was crazy!
Well we still haven't figured out where we know him from.... Maybe the pre-earth life? who knows. but he was awesome and we're gonna meet with him this week and teach him all about the book of Mormon and stuff.

We're gonna go hit up some thrift stores today! Thrifting is one of my favorite hobbies. 
My other hobbies include grocery shopping, chasing buses, knitting with old ladies, and testifying of Christ.
And dancing through gorgeous golden fields.
Have a beautiful week!
Sister Rog
 castle sweet castle apartment where Sister Pearson and live
Fun exchanges

May 5, 2014

I just wanna start out by saying
TILLYKKE MED FØDSELSDAGEN til min lillebror Kolby!!!


One year older and wiser too... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU 
I love you Kolbster! YOU ARE SUCH A STUD. I love you and miss you a ton!!
Just 5 more years and you'll be a rockin missionary.
:)

This week FLEW. Time flies when you're having fun! It also flies when you are too busy to breathe....
We have been soooo busy with appointments and lessons and investigators out our ears! We've had lessons and meetings back to back to back with no time to stop and breathe in between. One night this week we accidentally had TWO dinner appointments.... haha. it was great.
Speaking of great... Horsens is great! Missionary work is GREAT. The weather is GREAAAAAT (the long awaited day finally came..... I went TIGHTLESS this week!!!!) And all of our dozens of investigators are just so so great. This lovely place is actually a college town, so almost all of our investigators are college age which is wayyy fun. And most of them are study abroad students... We have friends from Bulgaria, Romania, Africa, Italy, Mongolia and more! 

One day this week my gorgeous companion Sister Pearson and I hopped on a bus that took us clear out through the countryside to a little bitty town. We had made an appointment with a less active member of our ward, but when we showed up they had forgotten about it and canceled. So there we were, out in this little bitty town, with a 30 minute wait until the next bus would be driving back to Horsens. 
We decided to knock on a few doors while we waited. 
Its moments like these when we go about our day the Nephi way..... led by the Spirit, not knowing before hand the things we should do.
A sweet older lady opened up the third door we knocked on. We stood there and talked with her for maybe ten minutes, just about her life and her family. She seemed very lonely and quite sad, and I could tell it meant a lot to her to have someone to talk to. We asked if we could come back some time and share more about our message with her. She said yes. Before we left we said a prayer together, and I could feel the Spirit pouring down on that doorstep as I listened to the word's of my companion's sweet prayer. When I opened my eyes I saw tears in the eyes of our new friend. She hugged us and thanked us before saying goodbye. 
Sister Pearson and I couldn't find words to express the feelings in our hearts as we hurried back to the bus stop. It was such a tender experience and we knew we had been led by the Spirit to someone who needed to be reminded of God's love.

I'm so thankful for God's love. It means SO much to me to know that God is my Father and that He loves me. My testimony was strengthened that day, when I saw how God cared so much about one of His daughters. He cared enough to lead two young missionaries across the Danish countryside to the door of one of His precious daughters who needed to be comforted and reminded of His love.  

God loves us. We matter to Him. And He will do anything for us.

In testimony meeting yesterday a man stood up and said "I would like to share with you a spiritual quote.... John Wayne said "Life is difficult. And its even more difficult when you are stupid." 
At first I was just dying of inner laughter. I thought it was quite hilarious that He stood up at the pulpit and quoted John Wayne!!
But then he shared his testimony about God and the Book of Mormon,  boldly saying that if we don't follow God's teachings and don't take advantage of the Book of Mormon by reading it and applying it daily, we are living in stupidity. 

Its so true. 
Life is difficult. Don't make it even more difficult by doing stupid things! 
Incorporate the Book of Mormon into your life. It makes life easier.
Let God into your life. He makes life better. 

Before I run off to the grocery store I just need to tell the world how much I LOVE MY MOM. 
My mom is my best best best friend. She is everything I am. She is everything I want to be. 
The fact that God blessed me with such a beautiful, selfless, loving mother to raise me and teach me and support me and hug me and encourage me and love me and be my best friend is the greatest evidence to me of God's love. 

Not a day goes by that I don't think about my beautiful mother and how much she means to me. I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE HER IN 6 DAYS. Skype is the best invention ever. And mothers are the best blessing ever.
So don't forget to tell your mother how much you love her. And if you are so lucky to see my awesome mom, will you pleeeease give her a HUGE hug for me?? Thanks :) 
Happy Mothers Day!

Have a beautiful week everybody!
Share your testimonies. Live them too.
Take John Wayne's spiritual advice and don't be stupid! Read the Book of Mormon.

lots of X's and O's
Sister Breanna Michele Rogers
 Mission Leadership Council 
(AKA great big sleepover at President Sederholms house + lots of yummy Sister Sederholm food :) :) :)