Thursday, June 26, 2014

One Year Aniversary of the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission

Dear Elders and Sister                                                   June 20th, 2014
It is hard to believe that the Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission will be one year old July 1st, 2014.  The time for us has been wonderful.  What we have learned from the wonderful missionaries that we have met the great members and the wonderful people of Argentina has blessed our lives. We arrived June 28th, 2013. In preparation for the mission Sister Rogers and I both were very busy up until the final week before are departure I performed may last ankle reconstruction 3 days before we went to the Mission President Training. Sister Rogers conducted her last PTA meeting the same week.  I was pretty sure we might miss our plane to get here.  However we did arrive at EZEIZA. There was a baggage strike. We waited 3 hours and finally got our bags and headed to the area offices for orientation. That night we were here in Comodoro Rivadavia. We met with President And Sister Lovell for a short time and we were off for this great adventure.

We quickly realized the size and diversity of the mission. In the first two and half weeks we were in every zone and met every missionary.  We drove from Trelew to Rio Gallegos.  We flew to Rio Grande and Ushuaia to begin the work. When we got back to the mission home and realized the quality of missionaries that were working here we felt blessed.  Also the great training they had received from good mission presidents and the strength of testimonies that each had would help the new mission to get a quick start.

In the past year we have traveled more than 200,000 km, had 8 district conferences, 6 stake conferences, 2 missions tours with area presidency members and 10 zone and interviews conferences with missionaries.  Whew!!!  There have been 300 baptisms many lessons and great spiritual out pouring. We have gone through 6 assistants.  There have been or are 214 missionaries 4 have gone home early. We expect 61 in the next 3 months and only 10 will leave. We will then have our full complement of missionaries at 200.
Elder Sirrine's most recent Zone Photo

As part of the mission we want to give each of you a remembrance. Your zone leader will give that to you we would love to give it to you in person. It is a privilege to serve with you in the best place in the best mission in the world.  Let's make the next year even better.

The World Cup is in full swing please be careful. When there are big crowds do not join in the celebration avoid the crowds in the streets.  Make yourselves aware of the schedule. The first rounds began last week and the final are on Sunday July 13. The further Argentina advances the larger the crowds will be.  It is after the games that it is most dangerous. We are missionaries first not fans.

I think it is important that while we are now serving full time as missionaries that we realize the responsibility that we have.  Elder Nelson said we are the fulfillment of prophesy.  Prophets from all generations have looked to our day.  They foretold of our iniquity, our lust of self, call good evil and evil good. They saw wolves in sheep’s clothing ready to tear down goodness.  They saw lovers of wealth, unnatural affection, they saw communication from the roof tops they saw our wars and rumors of wars.  However above all of that they had hope in us that by way of the Savior and the restorations of all things that every knee would bend and every tongue would confess that Jesus is the Christ.  It is an unbelievable privilege to serve at this time. History of world has never had so many missionaries serving full time.  You are part of that history making force.  The challenge that is in front of, each of you is to give all (D&C 4). God wants all of your heart might mind and strength not part but all. I want you to go home tired with having worn out yourself in the work.  I want you to have no regrets.  The measure of your success will not be in the numbers of lessons or less actives activated or baptisms it will be in your satisfaction of your service.
Now is your time to serve and now is the time of The Lord.  Christ is our leader.  We are His righteous force. We are his voice.  He will sustain us. I am honored to be your mission President, we will have miracles.

With Love
President Mark Rogers

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