Week 4

Hey there!
Elder Nelson's talk was awesome.  Like you said I will never forget that.  I got quite a few packages for Christmas but I don't remember from who.  I know Paula and Lisa B. say that have one that has never came.  But I got stuff from you (the blanket is awesome and leatherman is stinkin sweet!), Grandma M. sent me a tie, Chuck-a journal, Grandma R. cash, Annie - oreos and snowballs, Molly and Scott a card and cookies and thats all I can remember right now.  Jenny sent me an orange and green tie - not a surprise right? :) and another tie that has a water canteen in it! Pretty sweet!  I got a whole bunch of cookies and candy and I have had to throw away or give away alot of it so I don't gain weight.  I have started watching what I eat alot more and have dropped 5 lbs since Friday.  Amazing right?  

Glad to hear that Christmas was good.  I had a blast here.  After E-mail, we had a Christmas Devotional with our district, a talent show and Greg Olsen came and spoke to us.  He is a famous artist that has some pretty sweet pics of Christ.  Look him up.  After him we had dinner and then watched "It's A Wonderful Life".  This may make you upset, but that is my new favorite Christmas movie now!  If you haven't seen it, watch it.  It's hilarious and has a great message!  Not to mention the time period it's filmed in.  

Glad to hear the Elders had fun on Christmas.  I've already heard about some of the stuff I will be eating in Mexico - as long as its not fish ill be fine right?  I'm looking forward to Skype or a phone call on Christmas Day.  

We have this thing here called TRC that we do on Thursday nights after PDay is over.  We teach volunteer members from BYU as themselves.  So it's kind of like a home teaching appointment.  Lots of fun as it is in Spanish.  There are rumors that soon our TRC will be Skyping with members in Mexico!! Nuts right? I'm looking forward to that.  

Crazy to think that tomorrow marks my one month mark and that in another month I'll be in Mexico. . . hopefully.  Sooner or later we have to take a trip to SLC to meet with a consulate.  That will be a lot of fun!

Love and miss you!

Elder Roper  

Before my hair cut

After my haircut

Below are all my Christmas gifts

Breakfast On Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning

Panoramic of Christmas Morning

Christmas Lunch - they take good care of us :)

How do I look with black hair?

My camera takes great pics . . . I love it!

Elder Tall and I on our temple walk Christmas afternoon

More temple walk pics

Panoramic of Christmas

Too cool for school pic

We were in flip flops - surprisingly not that cold

Some Elders in my zone

Snow angels

Redneck Cooler - that is the Arizona you sent!

             Might as well live up the snow because I won't see it for two years here in about six weeks!

Merry Christmas from the MTC!

Hey there!

They found us some time to email today so here comes your Christmas update so far.  

Last night we have a nativity devo and the movie A Christmas Carol.  

Today we woke up and got ready.  Opened presents headed to breakfast, and hung out with the district in our classrooms for a bit.  At 9:30 we headed to our Christmas Devotional this morning and Elder Russell M. Nelson of the 12 spoke to us!! It was a once in a lifetime experience and I'll never forget that talk.  He and his wife talked about gifts of the Spirit and how we can acquire those gifts this Christmas season.  He also talked about how to work effeciently and stay safe in the mission field.  He said that one of our best friends in the wards we serve in will be the Ward Mission Leader and how he will keep us safe and busy.  Knocking doors these days isn't very successful so now we mostly work through referrals and through ward members.  He said that if we use him effectively, the WML will keep our planners full of appointments and meetings.  That really hit me hard seeing as Dad is the WML in our ward.  So Dad as long as you have your calling for two more years, we will be connected in missionary work.  

I'm so excited for Hayden and Keaton to hopefully be able to experience this for themselves someday.  The Spirit here is so strong and we are well taken care of.  Christ Himself is near us today.  Since we are His missionaries this Christmas season, he takes well care of us.  

Thank you so much for the gifts.  The blanket put a huge smile on my face as well as the Leatherman.  All the small town boys in my Zone thought that was pretty neat.  I try to imagine what Shane did on his Christmas here and hit it me just barely that I am living through it.  Such a blessing.  Elder Tall put it this way...We are gonna miss 2 Christmases no matter what-why not have one of them be at the MTC?  Awesome insight.  Later on we have a temple walk and free time followed by a talent show and a movie tonight.  Hard to believe that a year ago today we were headed to Disneyland and now I am in the MTC.  Hopefully my letter arrived for Christmas, if not then it's on its way.  Hope the festivities in Levan were fun last night and you are enjoying the day today.  Tell the Elders that I say hi.  Take care and I'll talk to you Thursday!

Merry Christmas

Your son and brother,

Elder Roper

Week 3

Hey there!
Sorry this email is coming a little later in the morning than usual but better late than never right? :) We normally get up an hour early on PDay and get laundry done so we can get to the 8:40 session for the temple.  However, the temple is closed for the year :( So just figured we would get up at normal time and come now.  It's alot less busy right now anyways.  Come January we will get back to the temple.  

This week has been another great week and I can't believe how fast they are flying by.  The days just blend together...sometimes to a point where I can't even remember what I did on a specific day.  We are learning so fast.  My Spanish is coming together quite well although I realize I have a long, long ways to go.  Just like every other Elder I think I will have a handle on the language, and get to TJ and have a rude awakening.  I'm somehow looking forward to it though.  

So if you see Elder Wilson in the near future tell him I upped his glitch for the timers on the email.  There is a way to get on it without having a timer.  However, I do not overuse that priviledge.  I just get on a few times through out the day.  Once in the morning, once after lunch, and once right after dinner before PDay is over.  Dear Elder's are always nice to get from family and friends and are always convenient.  They come in in the evenings after dinner but don't come through on Saturdays or Sundays.  So the weekends are tough without mail but we are super busy so it's all good.  Laundry is a cake walk.  We put it in, pay for it, press a button and it's off.  As long as I get my shirts on a hanger right after they are done drying I don't have to iron them :) occasionally touch them up but that's it.  I found my long sleeve shirt so I have two opened but its all good.  They are nice to where after it gets done snowing down here and it gets super cold.  So it's dress code down here right now that you have to wear a suit coat at all times outside.  However, I tore a hole in the crotch of my pants and a small hole started to form in the middle seam in the suit coat.  So i took it to the seamstress last Monday and just barely got it back yesterday.  So for the past week and a half Ive just worn a shirt, slacks, and a coat.  It's a nice break from a suit.  

We heard the news of the Connecticut shooting the morning after it happened from our teachers.  It is terrible and my heart shattered when I heard that :(  this world is getting worse and worse everyday.  However because Heavenly Father loves us and cares for us, He is hastening His work and getting more missionaries out to spread the Gospel.  The Gospel promises hope and is the only solution for the world now.  What is happening in the world today has been prophecied by the prophets of old, but there promise is that if we remain righteous and faithful we will be okay and I know that promise to be true with all my heart :)

The studying we do here is crazy.  I hated it at first because i had never studied that much before but now it's awesome and I look forward to it everyday.  I am learning so much.  I love every minute of it.
I have heard from Mark and Jenny quite a bit but that's it.  So keep me updated on mission calls.  When I found out about Daniel's call I was so happy!  He will be a great missionary and serve the people of St. Louis well.  That mission and environment totally fits him too.  If you see him, tell him congrats or get me his address so I can drop him a line.

Glad to hear all is well at home.  Brother Call said he will honk in the future so keep an ear out.  Concerning the pictures, I'm not aware of any rules the prevent me from sending pictures.  As long as you have a card reader, and know how to do it you can send as many pictures as you want :) feel blessed in that sense.  Elder Schulte is doing very well.  Elder Heugly was excited to get out in the field but sadly I didn't get to see him before he left.  He will do great though.  Well time to go switch laundry so I'll get some more questions answered for you later as well as some pictures.  Take care and have a fantastic day!  I don't know if we can email home on Christmas, so if not have a very Merry Christmas!  I'll get something in the mail for you later today :)

Love you all and miss you as well!
Elder Roper

Just messing around in class.

Me and my bud Elder Waite.  He is from Washington state. 

Elder Conoway and I.  This Elder is a national champion street luger.  The best in all of North America, Canada, and Mexico.  Such a stud.  Also, an avid Duck Dynasty lover.

Sunset over Utah Lake on our temple walk.

Following the tradition of Mini Tie Monday...dont worry this was only the last hour of the day on Monday.  Just something fun we do.

Me in the snow.  It was coming down but fizzled out fast.  We only got a couple inches out of it.

The snow on Sunday afternoon.

Elder Rentz and I on our temple walk Sunday afternoon.

Temple walk last Sunday.

Show this pic to Paula.  That is Elder Cosper from their ward.  I was actually at his farewell the day I went down there to teach.  He is a great kid!  I snuck this picture of him on Sunday but have since chatted a bit with him.

Cool shot of the sunset.  It was so bright it made my camera go black as seen in this picture.

District picture. Top row from L to R. Rodgers, Gardner, Loveland, Rentz, Tall. Bottom row from L to R. Conoway, Gunderson, Smith, Myself, Hamm.  All are studs and I love having their company!

My boy Elder Hill.  He is from Idaho and as big as a country boy as they come.  After telling him I worked construction over the summer and fall we proceeded to talk about our favorite machinery to use on the job :) also told me he would have never guessed I was from the city.  I guess small town in is my blood!

Week Two

Hey There!
We just got back from the temple and boy it was a great session.  There is something about being in the temple that just makes us happy and recharges us for the upcoming week.  Thank you for the Dear Elders and the packages!  Also the cookies. . . mmmm :) I usually get some sort of mail every day so I hear from home quite a bit.  I have only got packages from home thus far so Mom you are in sole possession of first place ;)  I wish I could reply every night, but obedience is a must for the companionship of the Spirit. I'm trying my hardest to obey because I rely on the Spirit more than ever. 

This has absolutely flown by and I couldn't even tell you what we did each day.  We are learning so fast and picking up Spanish well.  Elder Tall is struggling so I have put him in charge of teaching the lessons from here on out so he can continue to learn.  We work and teach well together when that happens.  We have taught 6 lessons so far and they get better everytime.  TRC starts tonight which is us teaching volunteers from BYU a short lesson as themselves.  Kinda like home teaching but for missionaries.  

A quick story to make you a proud ma and pa (not cuz Im full of myself :)) but my teacher Hermana Olsen pulled out of class the other night to talk to me.  She thanked me for being a great example to the district and she sensed that the other Elders really look up to me cuz Spanish has caught like a wildfire with me.  I told her thank you, but I owe it all to God for the blessings he pours down upon us daily.  Thought you might like to hear that :)

Dad, I'm glad to hear that your calling has started to pick up.  Apparently we work alot with the WML's so its cool to know I will be working with people like you.  So glad that mission has started to pick up and the work is increasing.  I met an Elder the other day who will be serving in the SLC West Spanish mission.  Spaced his name but I told him if he is ever in the Ville to say hi :)  Another cool fact - a counselor in my branch presidency drives named Brother Call drives by the house daily on his way to work.  He commutes from Highland everyday and takes 215 out to WVC so he is literally passing you every day.  It's cool the connections we make with others while out serving. 

It puts a smile on my face hearing how serious Turkey takes his ball.  Good for him and I hope he plays well this winter! It's too bad Manti Te'o didn't win the Heisman but as long as they unroll the Tide I'll be happy.  Hearing the Utes were down this way was very tempting to go to but by Friday I had completely spaced the game...more insight at how busy we are.  Makes me laugh they gave the Zoobs a run for their money though.  I proudly wear my Utes shirts here and love the stares I get.  Ha!!  Jordan Loveridge and Dalliin Bacynski will have huge years and big impacts for the U.  

We play ball about 3 nights a week down here.  It's fun to let go and take my mind off things and play.  I have to start running more cuz I'm putting on those 10 pounds fast again.  I tried on a pair of my slacks the other day and they have to be miss-sized cuz they felt like Spandex.  All the others fit fine though.  I'll get those shipped home and if you could take those back to CTR that would be great :)  I suggest you set some money aside from my account just incase I get huge in Mexico so if I need slacks I can get them.  I hate having that thought though.  I have to start watching what I eat from here on out :(

It's so pleasant to hear of Jeremy and Nic's calls to serve.  Those two will be great and I hope to see Nic when he gets down here.  They have the rides of their lives waiting for them.  Elder Heugly and Elder Schulte are doing fantastic. 

Christmas is coming up so fast! I have heard of the excitement down here and apparently we are guaranteed an apostle to come speak to us but we are praying for the Prophet anyways :)  If anyone asks what to send in packages tell them seeds, jerky, Arizonas and not alot of candy.  My stash is ever growing and I can't grow out of my slacks.  I could use notebooks though. 

For those of you worried about the upcoming four years in Obama's office, I suggest you search 2 Nephi to see what it has to say.  A lot of cool stuff.  As long as we stay righteous, the Lord will see to it that we are protected and safe.  I'll get you come pictures later this afternoon!

Much love-

Your son,

Elder Roper

 The picture with the statue and me is Samuel Smith - the first missionary in this dispensation.  He has a sling of Books of Mormon he is taking to the world.

 The picture with the Hillcrest Elder is Elder Brey.  He took off to Peru this past Tuesday.  I played against him since my freshman year.  He is such a stud and we quickly became friends!

MTC Schedule

Hey there!

We are doing laundry right now and just about to get breakfast so this will be fast, but I'll get on later today and get some pictures sent your way.  I am doing so much better.  The MTC is even kinda fun at some points.  Our district all gets along so well and we all feed off each other.  The investigators we are teaching right now are just role plays but we got our first baptismal date set yesterday!  I was so happy and joyous- I can only imagine what it's really like.

We stay pretty busy.  On a normal day we are up by 6:30 a.m., showered, dressed and at breakfast by 7:20.  Class starts at 8 and goes for 3 hours til 11.  That class consists of learning Spanish and how to teach.  At 11 we have personal study til noon.  Lunch is at noon til 1. At 1 we have comp study til 2.  At 2 we have another 3 hour class session and we usually teach and study all in Spanish.  At 5 we have dinner.  At 6, depending on the night we have a fireside or workshop or district meetings, or gym.  It sure feels good to run around and get some ball in :) Well gotta go for now... have a great day and I'll get back to you later this afternoon! Take care :)

Love you all so much!

Elder Roper

The Stockings Were Hung . . .

We bought this cute stocking today!  I was going to fill it and send it to Jackson, but I think we would get more use out of it if we hung it here at the house for him.

I think it looks so cute!

I picked up the mail and didn't even notice a letter to Hayden and Keaton from Jackson!  How in the world could I miss that?  I brought the mail in and set it on the table.

 

The boys were so excited and wondered why I didn't say anything!  Ha - I didn't even realize there was a letter for them!  Jackson is doing well.  He says he loves learning Spanish and the MTC is starting to feel like home.

Another E-Mail and Some Photos

Here are some various pictures from the MTC over the past week :)

We went to the temple today and boy was that a great experience.  I sure hope I am able to go to the temple in TJ when it's done.  

Jackson and his companion - Elder Tall

Jackson with his buddy Hayden Heugly - these two went to school together and played Taylorsville Baseball together

To answer more questions, there are 10 of us in our district.  Elder Tall and I. Elder Smith and Elder Gunderson both from Idaho.  Gundy is going to TJ with Elder Tall and I and Elder Smith is going to Mexico City.  Elder Rentz and Elder Loveland.  Rentz from Provo and Loveland from Idaho.  Both going to Mexico City.  Elder Conoway and Elder Hamm.  Conoway is from Venture, CA and Hamm is from Fresno.  Both are going to Bogata Columbia and leave in 2 weeks for the Columbian MTC.  Elder Gardner and Elder Rodgers.  Gardner from Blanding and Rodgers from upstate New York.  Both those Elders leave in a couple weeks for the Columbian MTC as well.  We eat together as a district and most the time as a big zone.  We are all great friends and it really helps to have the positivity and encouragement from those guys.  

It is just Elder Tall and I in our room which is nice but come January we will have 4 more Elders moving in with us.  Good thing we only have to deal with that for a month.  My bunk is on the left and my bed is made perfect everyday :)  We even got a commendable rating on our room inspection which the best you can get!  

The food is alright...somedays better than others.  I haven't been hungry lately which is weird but I'm starting to adjust.  I have lost a whole 10 pounds!! Just from not eating a whole lot though.  If only it was that easy later in life right?  Ha 

Pooping has been a problem for me too, so I'm loading up on apple juice and considering the awful oj but Elder Wilson's words are still clear in my mind NOT to drink it.  

I definitely miss home, but as long as I stay busy I'm just fine.  Sleeping was rough the first few nights, but it has gotten alot better now.  

Please encourage family and friends to use Dear Elder to write me.  Its completely free and we get Dear Elders twice a day after lunch and dinner so that's super nice.  

I loved the Star Wars package and it totally makes me think of Turkey and Hayden and the fun they have with that.  It's a great way to take my mind off things and settle down.  

Thank you as well for the G's I left home as well as the new ones.  My prayers were answered in that regard! Doubling up on G's is not fun.  

Dad, thank you also for the sports updates.  Many Elders in my residence were grateful to hear those updates from the NFL and college football.  Go Notre Dame and Go SDSU ;) 

I was struggling really bad on Sunday and thought for sure I was coming home.  During our Fast Sunday devotional, our MTC President told us that if we would read the Book of Mormon for just 30 minutes a day 7 days a week, he promised us that whatever burden we had whether it be homesickness, or tiredness, or just thinking we couldn't press forward anymore would be lifted by the Lord and I can testify that that is true.  Because I have intregrated the Book of Mormon into my daily studies I have already been lifted up and are already feeling better.  

The MTC is a great place and we are well taken care of.  It's just been the biggest adjustment in my life thus far.  The Lord understands though and is with both me and you through the whole journey.  Two years seems like the longest time right now but time is already flying by faster than ever.  

I won't be able to call home on Christmas :( however when I get to the airport I am allowed to call home so I will pick up a calling card before I leave the MTC.  So expect to hear from me around the end of January.  

Well so long and I hope to hear from you soon! Have a great week! 

Take care and I love you and miss you all so much!

Elder Roper

P.S. Go Utes! I love wearing my Utes shirts around and getting all sorts of funny looks from the staff down here ha! Who am I sir a Utah man am I. A Utah man sir, I will be til I die Ki Yi!

First Missionary E-Mail

Hola from the MTC!

How fast time flies to think I have been here for a week already!  We are all learning so fast and it amazes me the Spirit that is present here with us.  My companion is named Elder Tall from Ammon, Idaho and his grandparents do live in Alpine so there is some sort of connection there.  I'll get pictures sent off later today.  We can already bear our testimonies and pray in Spanish pretty clearly.  Elder Tall and I have already taught 4 lessons in broken Spanish.  It is amazing if you will just take a step on the edge and trust the Lord, He will help you will everything including your Spanish.

Thank you so much for the letters most every day and the packages! As well as the sports updates-both from Hayden and Keaton.  I love hearing from them.  Thank you also for the garments...I felt real dumb when I had realized I left some home.  Did I happen to leave a long sleeve shirt home as well? I only have one out here with me now and it's still in packaging.  

I have ran into Elder Schulte and Elder Heugly a couple times while being here.  Both are doing well and progressing right along.  

Elder Brey that I played ball against from Hillcrest is here and in my same housing.  We became quick friends which was such a blessing.  Elder White from North Carolina's basketball team also came in the same day as I.  Such as inspiriation to see all these missionaries here sacrificing their lives for the Lord.
Thank you for all the letters and packages and please keep them coming!! They help me out so much and make my entire day! 

I love and miss you all specially Turkey ;) take care and I hope to hear from you soon!

With love,
Elder Roper

First Letter

We received our first letter from Elder Roper!  It was a complete surprise, had I known a letter would arrive today, I would have stalked the mail lady!  I guess they are allowing the missionaries to write home on their first day!  I am so grateful and was so excited to receive it!

He says he feels as if he has been on his mission for years and they will begin teaching in Spanish on Friday (that's the 3rd day in the MTC - seriously?!?!)  His companion is Elder Tall from Ammon, Idaho (he is the grandson of my principal's neighbor - my principal told me about him and for Jackson to watch out for him and he ended up being his companion!)  He says the Spirit is very strong and he gets homesick when he has "down" time so he is trying to stay busy.  We will hear from him on Thursdays - that is his P-day!  Thursdays have now been declared my new favorite day of the week! I can't tell you how proud I am of my missionary!  The people of Mexico Tijuana are going to love him!