Father in Heaven, I Thank Thee This Day

Family,

 

Here's the deal. This week has been amazing! I have been humbled, lifted up and taught. This week, more than ever I have been so grateful for my call as a missionary, to represent my Saviour Jesus Christ and to serve Him every minute of every day.

 

There are so many miracles that happen each and everyday. Let me start off with a couple.

 

 We left an appointment and were going to head to another appointment. We needed to go fast, because we were in a time crunch. BUT we couldn't get one of our bike locks undone!! We each tried and tried and nothing happened. We didn't dare pull it too hard because we didn't want to break the key. So, we said a prayer in faith that Heavenly Father would help us. We both felt like we should spit on the lock (I know nasty, but we were desperate!) It didn't work. I had expected the spit to work some magic miracle and it hadn't! We looked around, desperate yet again, and this time found two men walking down the street (it had been empty before). We asked them to help us, and they tried to get the lock undone and couldn't. But then the second man went back to his van, and pulled out some WD-40 which worked immediately. Some people would call it coincidence or chance, but I know that Heavenly Father provided a way for us to get to that next appointment on time.

 

The next appointment we were going to was with a elderly woman, A3, who is a referral from a member of the ward. A3 and Sister Diamond, the ward member whom she is friends with, were there and A3 was well prepared to hear the gospel! Sister Diamond bore a powerful testimony and truly was there for her. We taught by the Spirit based on her needs. It was an AMAZING experience. This was the first time I'd taught a member referral. The Spirit there was so strong, the support system was there, and I truly felt like His humble representative. This is why members are the best finders. I now understand and have an even greater testimony of member missionary work.

 

Each and every person we taught this week has been a miracle. Some lessons have gone better than others, but we have truly tried to help them feel and see the need for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.

 

Each and every day we must choose to invite the Spirit into our lives and follow its promptings. We must choose to seek correction from our Heavenly Father, who knows us better than we do ourselves and has nothing but our well-being in mind.  As we really contemplate each night before we begin our prayer how it is that we could have offended or displeased God He will help us see where we can change and improve and give us the desire and strength to do so.

 

We are each His masterpiece and we must allow Him to chip away those rough edges and trust Him. As we do this, we find great peace, happiness, and purpose. We know that all things will work together for our good.

 

These verses in 2 Corinthians 4:6, 8-10 have really taught me a lot in the past couple of weeks 6 For God, who commanded‍ the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined‍ in our hearts, to give‍ the light‍ of the knowledge of the glory‍ of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
8 We are troubled‍ on every side, yet not distressed; we are‍ perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
As you ponder these verses, your perspective on trials, peace, and being a disciple of Christ will change.

A couple of random things:
- Transfers are on Wednesday. I'll probably be getting a new companion. It will be sad to only have 1 with Sister Mohr- she's been wonderful!

- My trainer, Sister Miller, goes home this Wednesday.... WHAT? It will be sad to not have her in the mission any more. I can't believe how fast time goes.

- I wish I was better at expressing the things which I have learned and the experiences I've had.... The mission has just been such an incredible experience!!!!!

 

 Sister Mohr, Tammy, a YSA who went out teaching with us, and I.

 Picture of Wasabi peas ( an Asian fire snack). They were actually pretty good!

 

 

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Life' a Rollercoaster, Enjoy the Ride

Dearest Family,

Hello!

 

Just so you know, I'm really sorry for this email in advance, we are currently in Skegness for district p-day and we don't have a lot of time :(

 

In some ways this week has been absolutely amazing, in others, it's been a struggle.

 

I have seen satan working SO hard on others hearts this week (and, to be fair, I'm sure he's been working hard on mine too). But we know which team will win, and I fully intend to be on that side!!

 

This week more so than others the massive number of those who deny that there is a God and choose not to learn anything has been really trying me. I just can't understand why! I don't have all the answers, but to be honest I don't think they would listen even if I did have the answers.

 

One thing I do know though is that the very fact that there are over 80,000 missionaries out teaching the gospel is EVIDENCE of God's love. If he didn't love ALL of his children, then why would he send others of His children out into the cruel world to often times have our faith symbolically flung back in our faces? To bike through the pouring rain?  He is there. And he DOES care about all of his children, we just have to choose to accept Him and His son.

 

On a brighter note, I got to go back to westcotes for R5's BAPTISM! It was such a special moment! And it was so good to go back and see them together. It will not be a memory I will forget soon. What was even more amazing was that it truly was a ward baptism. There were LOADS of ward members there, and that's the way it should be!!! It filled my heart with joy to see the love and support that was shown to him!!!!!  Westcotes holds a special place in my heart.  

 

Anyways, have to go, lots of love!!!!

 

Sister Roscher

 

The Gift He Gives

This is Sister Roscher's email from July 28 :)

My lovely family (and friends!),

This week has been a wonderful experience. It seems like the beginning of it was ages ago, but that's how life goes.

Last P-day we went to Lincoln Cathedral and looked around in it. We didn't do the roof tour (I'll probably do that next transfer) but I really enjoyed looking in the main room at all the beautiful stained glass, the detail of the architechture and learning a little but more about the history of it. It was originally built in start the 1070's- that was a long time ago! It's amazing how they managed to build something so massive and detailed such a long time ago.

Tuesday we had interviews with President/district meeting, which took a long time to travel to and from. However, it was lovely to talk to President. He is an incredible man.

Wednesday we had 2 first lessons and I was just SO excited. They are both really cool. Ay is really searching for the truth and is trying to find the purpose of life and where she fits in. Im looking forward to seeing her learn and accept more of the restored gospel. She really liked the plan of salvation.

We also taught Kn for the first time. He is from Vietnam and due to the circumstances he was brought up in sees a great need for faith, for commandments, and for a society that is centered on an believes in God. As we taught him the restoration he LOVED it. When we were teaching him it was literally like he was a sponge soaking everything up.

Thursday we went out to a village we felt inspired to go out to, and while we didn't actually find anyone to teach while we were there, I know we were supposed to go out there. I was about a 6 mile cycle from our flat, and it really wasn't too bad. The landscape was beautiful as we were going through it. I have gotten to the point where I really enjoy cycling. I think it will be a life-long hobby.

Friday we went on exchanges. I was able to go up to nottingham with Sister Vance. It is always fun to go be a missionary in someone else's area for a day and I enjoyed learning from her and getting to know her better.

Saturday we did some service, went to a ward activity and had a miracle. It was getting to be late afternoon and we hadn't had a whole lot of success finding people. We were headed over to knock a road, and at the 2nd door we knocked an Albanian man answered who has never been taught about God and was very willing to listen. We taught him the plan of Salvation and he had some really good questions. As we explained to him that he could pray to God and ask if He is there his eyes got wide and he said 'really?' we taught him how to pray and then after saying a prayer, he said, he felt very warm inside and felt like he really meant the words he was saying. It was a cool experience. I LOVE being there the first time someone says a prayer. Knowing how to pray to Heavenly Father is something that will change their lives!

There have been many blessings this week. Too many to count. Something that I have thought a great deal about is that our faith must be centered on Jesus Christ and that we must be striving each and every day to be his disciples. The end result is us gaining eternal life, even all that the Father has. I really like this verse in Psalm 37:5  "Commit‍ thy way‍ unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it‍ to pass." I have a testimony of this. As we commit to the Lord by loving Him, serving Him, keeping his commandments, he shall bring to pass all things for our welfare and the welfare of the church.

Family, I LOVE being a missionary. It is the best thing that ever happened to me! Someone once told me, 'don't just go through the mission, let the mission go through you.' I strive to do this every day, and it continues to bless and educate me greatly! 

 In front of a part of the cathedral.

 Sister Mohr and I (She's great!)

 P.S: I have permission to go back to Westcotes for R5 (and hopefully P4's) baptism!!!! I am one happy little Sister Missionary! :)

Love,

Sister Roscher

Where Does the Time Go?!

Sorry this is so delayed! This is Sister Roscher's email from July 21:

Firstly, I CANNOT believe we're getting towards the end of July. I feel like I blinked and missed a month. 

The work was pretty tough this week, we did loads and loads of finding, and didn't see a whole lot from it in contact information or appointments. There were a couple people that will hopefully turn into something this week though.

 However, a few exciting things did happen.

We had a first lesson with this man named Nn, he's African, and the drummer at his church. We were pretty excited that the appointment held and then to start off he basically said 'I believe your message is a good one, and I want to hear it' and that he wants to do more for the cause of Christ. The great news? The restored Gospel is perfect for that. There is plenty of work to be done. And we need more laborers in the vineyard!

I was touched this week by multiple families we had dinner appointments with, one of which was also for home evening. As we gathered together for the lesson, I felt in a very real sense, the power, peace and protection that comes as we worship together as a family, and build one another. There is a difference between families that do and families that don't, and you can feel it! In a world that has so many stones to throw as families, this is one way we can stop it from breaking the walls of our families down.

Another funny/cool experience: We had a full day of finding on Tuesday, and one of the first people we talked to was a VERY catholic man who promptly told us we needed to do our research and realize how true and incredible the Catholic church is. His claim was that despite all of the things it has gone through, including the sale of indulgences etc., the fact that it is still here shows how true it is. He shook his head in sorrow, and said, 'I feel bad for people like you that are so mislead.' We did our best to testify of Jesus Christ's church Restored on the earth today, but he just wasn't listening. I suppose it would have been different at the beginning of the mission, but at the close of our coversation with him I felt 2 things. 1) sadness that the truth had stared him in the face and he had been unwilling to even listen to it. Much less, act upon it. 2) a great joy that came from sharing the gospel, and testifying. And also happiness that through careful study and many spiritual experiences  I know what the truth is!!  Just one of those random powerful learning moments as a missionary.

This week I played for the first time a uniquely British game called Rounders. It's like their equivalent of baseball, but there are some different rules and other slight differences. For instance, the pitcher is called the bowler. and the scores are based on how fast you get around. It was fun. Relief Society vs. Young Women, and Relief Society won! I've included a picture of the trohpy we won haha

I have a testimony that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers of faith. There have been several times this week where I have prayed for something specific and have recieved the specific answer to that prayer, through someones actions, through a thought in my mind or through studying the scriptures and latter-day revelation.  He will always answer, we just need to pray in faith and then go to work!

Keep the Faith! It will bless your life!

Sister Roscher

P.S. I just got word from Sister Appleby, who got word from her last companion in Swindon that G is getting baptized on August 2nd!! I've continued to hear word from Sister Appleby about how he's doing since she was still there for the last 3 months and working with him,  and he has been slowly progressing since March when we started meeting with him. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just thought you'd like to know.

And, as far as I've heard all the Westcotes investigators are still progressing! Hoping to hear of their baptisms soon.