We Dropped Her Like A Rock!

Hello everyone,                                                                                          

I’ve counted down another week in the city of Atlanta and what a fabulous week it was too! Wow! I don't think I ever remember being this busy on my mission. I probably say that every week, but that's really how it feels. Elder Flake and I had so many hilarious and amazing experiences this week. I swear, each day with that kid gets more and more fun. Every missionary deserves to enjoy a cowboy, from the middle of nowhere, as their companion!

            To start off the week, on Monday we played soccer with a ton of missionaries at a park near the mission office. We split into teams and played for hours. When we finished playing, I took off my shoes and saw that I had blisters on every toe, which didn't make walking around this week very fun. I realized I probably shouldn't have played four hours of soccer in white high-top converse. But hey,  I thought we'd be taking pictures and Elder Roddy always has to look good. Ha!

            We met so many amazing people this week and had the opportunity to teach some inspired lessons! We met a girl named Alicia Hernandez and had the opportunity to teach her. She lives with her family in a trailer park in our area. She had a lot of thoughtful questions and we committed her to be baptized on the 17th of May! A girl in our ward picked her up for church this week and Alicia had an awesome experience.  She loved it! She is still figuring out exactly what she's doing and we have a lot of teaching to do, but her baptism looks promising. We also had a great lesson with Patrick! On Thursday we committed him to be completely done with smoking! He said one of the most sincere prayers I've ever heard. He asked his Father in Heaven for help and then we took the remaining five cigarettes he had and crushed them up and threw them away! He was doing great and hadn't smoked for about two days and then he left on a road trip. His phone doesn't work so we have no idea how he's doing. This will be the real test for him so we'll see what happens when he gets back.

            Remember the family we found late last Sunday night? Well, they're doing great! We didn't actually teach them a lesson this week but we took them to the ward Scout Court of Honor on Wednesday and then to the Ward Talent Show on Friday night. And, guess what? Brandon (the boyfriend), and Kamari (14) participated in the talent show. It was so awesome!! Brandon performed acrobatics which means he did flips around the room. It was so sweet! They are getting fellowshipped like crazy because everyone loves them, and of course, they love Elder Flake and me. Also, we've been taking Kamari to play basketball with us every morning. So, hopefully this week when we meet with them we'll put them on date for baptism and commit them to live the law of chastity!  Ohhh, the topics I have to deal with!

            On Saturday we were knocking doors and met a priest from the Anglican church. His name is Father Vaughn and he invited us inside. When I walked inside I was thinking to myself, "Great, here we go… a priest." However, our talk actually turned out to be a good experience. We sat down and he literally spent the first ten minutes telling Elder Flake and me about his religious degrees and how much schooling he went through to get to where he was. I was thinking, "Ya, that's great! My little brother is a Priest too and he's only sixteen years old!" Father Vaughn didn't seem to like that very much. Anyway, he spent the next hour quizzing us with skeptical questions and I think he was expecting some long, elaborate answer for each of them. However each time he would ask a question, we would simply bare testimony of the Book of Mormon and you could see the Spirit change him word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence. Between the two of us, we probably bore testimony thirty times. That poor guy might think twice about letting missionaries in again and hopefully he will read the Book of Mormon like he promised while he thinks about it!

            On Sunday, we enjoyed eating dinner at a member family's house and their oldest daughter was home after completing her first year at BYU Idaho. When she told us that's where she was going to school Elder Flake sarcastically said, "Oh that's sweet! So when are you getting married??" Well, the girl put down her fork and held up her hand to show us a big fat diamond ring and responded, "In June".

............................................................................oh...................................................................................

Elder Roderick, Sister Burns and Elder Flake 

The highlight of the week was definitely Sunday morning! Sister Burns was BAPTIZED and it was SWEEEEET! We held the baptism immediately after church and the ward supported her so well! Most people didn't even know her and they came anyway! She invited eight of her non-member family members as well as her less-active husband who hasn't set foot in a church in at least thirty years. When we were walking into the water she started freaking out because she was so nervous. But, we calmed her down and I DROPPED HER LIKE A ROCK.  LOL! It was soooo cool! The program was amazing too. Everyone was crying because the Spirit was so strong! I wish you could've been there.

            On a different note, over the next couple of days Atlanta will be under watch because of tornado warnings so everyone needs to pray that I don't get swept up. Your thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I love you all. Thank you for your endless support.

Peace up, A-Town DOWN!

Elder Roddy

"I WAS ALL UP IN THIS BOOK!"

WASSSSUP EVERYBODY,                                                                            

"Do you understand the challenge I face?"

HAPPY EASTER! I hope everyone had a special weekend celebrating with friends and family. It was an amazing week here in Georgia because all of the churches focus on remembering the Savior's Atonement and everything He sacrificed for us. For once, all the people that claim to have been "saved" actually attend church! YAYYYYY!!!

            Let me just focus my thoughts this week by addressing the fact that today is my eighth month mark in the mission field! It's been the fastest eight months of my entire life! I love how everything goes by so quickly when you get lost in the service of the Lord!

            Even though I wasn’t able to find any homies to play ball with this week, Elder Flake and I saw some amazing miracles! I don't think I've ever been busier than I was this week! The Lord is blessing us with tons of people to teach right now and it's amazing. Let me tell you about a few of them. 

           One of our investigators, Patrick, has been smoking for the last twenty-one years and he wants to get baptized but he can't until he stops smoking. So this week we taught him about the Word of Wisdom and set up a plan for him to quit. I was able to give him a blessing to help him have the strength to quit and it was such an awesome experience. The next day we went over to his house again and Patrick had reduced from twenty-five cigarette's a day down to just three! For the last couple days he's been smoking under five a day, so he's making huge progress! Please keep him in your prayers!!

            We also found a lady named Sophia Johnson who was taking the missionary lessons about six months ago, but she was going through a lot in her life and couldn't really handle it at that time. Sophia is African American and she's like your typical Southern girl. We went over and taught her this week and she expressed how excited she was to start going to church again and take the lessons while her life was under control. She pulled out her old Book of Mormon and said, "See, I bet I didn't even get to read this. That's how busy I was." Then she started looking through it and saw that she had actually taken a ton of notes and had read quite far after all! I wish you all could've heard her reaction to looking at her Book of Mormon. She started yelling and said, "OOOOOO LOOK AT THIS BOYS!!! I  WAS ALL UP IN THIS BOOK! YEAAAA BABY!!!" I'll never get tired of the Southern people and their enthusiasm!

             In the Georgia Atlanta North Mission we have to try and make seventy meaningful contacts a week (that’s ten a day) outside of our teaching appointments. On Sunday night Elder Flake and I needed five more contacts. So we started walking around our apartment complex and talking to as many people as we could. At about 8:58 p.m. we needed one more!  Just then, we saw this African American guy in a tank top walking across the yard, so we started sprinting towards him! I have to say, I was scared out of my mind because he was LITERALLY TYING HIS DU RAG AROUND HIS HEAD when we approached him. We learned his name was Brandon and that he was actually looking for a church to attend.  So, he invited us to meet with him last Saturday. When we went over to his place we met his fiancé, Emoy, and her two kids, Kamari and Aaysia. We taught them about the Restoration and it was SWEEEET. Then, less then twenty-four hours after meeting with them, they all came to church yesterday.  It turns out Kamari and Aaysai know several of the kids in our ward from their school. It was so perfect! They also committed to attending the ward talent show this week and Brandon and Kamari are going to perform in it! I can't even tell you how ready this family is for the gospel! The only problem is, (Do you see the pattern? There is always a problem.) Brandon and his fiancé, Emoy, aren't married yet and they're living together. So, if they're not willing to get married then we're going to baptize the kids before them. But we're hoping they are willing to have a quick little marriage ceremony at the church because everyone in Georgia knows that Elder Flake and I would put together the best wedding ceremony and reception they’ve ever seen! The flowers, food and décor would be from Walmart and the total cost wouldn’t exceed our monthly budget. Ya, baby!

Elder Roderick models his "Eye of the Tiger t-shirt."

            On Easter Sunday our ward had an amazing service which was focused on the Savior and His Atonement. The choir sang some gorgeous songs, and instead of individual speakers, a family in our ward narrated the ministry and Atonement of Jesus Christ throughout the program. I wish you all could've felt the spirit that I felt! I'm so lucky to be able to serve right now and experience that spirit every single day!

            I love you all! Thank you so much for your support.

Have a great week,

Elder Roddy

“He's Got Da’ LAWWWWD On His Side”

Hello Everyone!                                                                                          

I had an awesome week here in the ATL and it went by so fast. I can't even believe it! Seriously, I feel like it was just yesterday that I was reporting about my new companion and my Romanian friend. I love it! Next week will officially be my 8th MONTH mark, which means I'm already 1/3 into my mission. It's crazy!! Time as a missionary goes by SO much faster than at home!

Elder Coleman and Elder Roderick 

My week officially started on Tuesday when I had my quarterly interview with President Wolfert and it was great! I really love that man! Afterwards, was a downer though because Elder Flake and I had to inspect everyone's car and it took forever! Such jobs are one of the unfortunate things about being a Zone Leader. We went on exchange that day with the Assistants and I went with Elder Coleman to Lilburn. We had a great time! Elder Coleman is 23 and he's such an amazing missionary. I learned a ton from him! A lot of people think we kind of look alike so during the exchange I wore my glasses and parted my hair so I would look like him. I tried, but I don't really think we look alike.

On Thursday Elder Flake and I had the most hilarious experience. Oh my gosh! I wish you could meet the people here in Georgia because they are all so unique.  I’ve had to learn how to interact with all types of people.  So, we had an appointment with a potential investigator named Rihanna. When we arrived at her house she wasn’t home, but her family was! There were five huge African American dudes just chillin’ outside playing ball! One looked exactly like Gerald Wallace! I'm not even kidding. We tried to talk to them and they were cool to us, but they were just way too caught up in their basketball game. So finally, I said, "Hey! If I beat one of you in a game of one-on-one you guys have to listen to us. Deal?" They paused for a minute then said, "Naaa. We're too tired but we'll play you in HORSE!" So I started playing against a kid named Dee Dee and MOMMA YOUR BOY WAS HOTTTT. I literally made eighteen shots in a row. Baby! After about my eighth shot, one of the guys yelled, "Aye fellas! Do ya'll realize dis’ boy here hasn't missed a shot yet?" And, then another one said, "It's cause he's got da LAWWWWD on his side, brother!" Well pretty soon they stopped playing HORSE and just started rebounding for me and every time I would shoot they'd yell, "FOR JESUS! AHHHHHH!" Oh, my!  I WAS DYING. Just imagine a bunch of laid-back African American dudes just laughing and going crazy in the driveway while I shoot hoops. So, of course it ended up that they had to listen to us and we taught them for a while but they weren't really interested. I guess it was worth a shot!

On Friday I went on exchanges with Elder Price, a missionary from Draper, and he's such an awesome kid! We took one of our new investigators, Patrick Hutzell, on a church tour. Patrick was in the marines and 10 years ago he had a stroke so he can't use his left arm. He's on date to be baptized the 10th of May and he came to church this Sunday and loved it!  Like all of us, Patrick has a few things to work on but he’s on the right path. Sister Burns is also getting prepared for her baptism, which is schedule on Easter Sunday. Even though she's in a lot of pain nothing is stopping her from taking the step toward baptism. It's so awesome! Pray for her please!!

On Saturday morning Elder Price and I provided some service for the Bronkemas family.  We met them while we were tracting and they are the COOOOOLEST people. They’ve met with the missionaries in the past and they really aren’t interested in changing their lifestyle or their beliefs but they love to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They've invited us for dinner a couple times and we provide service for them in return. So, after we finished working, Tim, the father, said "Hey Roderick, Come over here. I've got something for you." So, we followed him into the garage and he pulled out a 1929 BOOK OF MORMON! It's so sick!! Apparently his wife received it from her great grandma and they just gave it to me! Then, he told us that his side job is working as a spotter for NBC and the Golf Channel! He showed us all of the souvenirs he has from tournaments and he has notes attached to them that remind him about who hit which club, on which tee at the US Open. It was all pretty sick too!

Following church on Sunday afternoon, we experienced a miracle with a member family named the Watkins. We made a family mission plan with them and at the end of our discussion we got on our knees together and prayed for the opportunity to find someone to teach in their home within the next month. Then, we left and when we were walking to our car we saw their next door neighbors moving some rocks from their driveway to the flowerbeds. So, we went over and started to help them. While we worked, we talked to them and when the rocks were moved we asked if they would like to learn more about the church. They immediately said, “Yes!” Then we asked if we could meet with them for some lessons in the Watkin's home and they replied, "Ya! We love the Watkins!" So we scheduled the lesson! Immediately after we offered the prayer, it was answered. Miracles happen!

BEAT the EASTER RUSH! WORSHIP NOW! 

As you can see everything is great and I'm loving my life as a missionary! I couldn't ask for a better time to be serving than right now! Everyday I realize more and more that this is the perfect time for me to be serving and I know my service will continue to bless my life when I get home. Thank you for continuing to support me! I couldn't do it without you!

Elder Roddy

"Are we sleepers, observers, or workers in the Restoration of the gospel?" President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

HELLLOOOO EVERYONE!!!                                                                      

It's been such an amazing and busy week here in the ATL!!! I'm still alive, so I can't complain!

Robert Reid and Elders

All right, where do I even start? Last Monday, on P-Day, Elder Covington and I went bowling with a man from one of our neighboring wards.  His name is Robert Reid and is 81 years old. Robert was baptized two years ago and he knows Elder Covington so he drove over to our area to go bowling with us! Oh my gosh! It was so much fun to watch this guy bowl and in the process, fall over every time. That sounds horrible but he would just bounce back up and crack a joke. I couldn't stop laughing. I never thought I'd have so much fun spending time with the “old folks” but I guess that's just what being a missionary does to you!

On Tuesday we had an interesting situation that put Elder Covington and me in Stone Mountain Park for the day! We got to spend the day walking around the mountain and talking to all the people there and to say the least, it was so much fun! The mountain is huuuuge! There's a carving on the side of the mountain that depicts three Confederate generals riding their horses.  The carving is so gigantic that two school buses can fit inside of one of the horse's nostrils! Crazy stuff!

Elder Roderick and Elder Covington at Stone Mountain

               Wednesday was transfers! I always hate transfers because I've loved my companions so much! It was a bummer saying, “Goodbye” to Elder Covington but I'm going to be friends with that kid forever! It's crazy how close you get to someone in just six weeks! I've decided that a companionship is like marriage, but without all the eternal blessings.

My new companion is Elder Flake and he's a cowboy from Ely, Nevada. Elder Flake entered the mission field a transfer before me and we were trained in the same district. He was the first person I ever went on exchange with and now we're companions! Pretty cool, huh? We get along great and have so much fun together! I don't know why I’ve been so fortunate to have such amazing companions.

General Conference this weekend was like a little slice of heaven for all the missionaries.  Nothing could be better than ten hours in a cold, dark room relaxing and watching the Lord's prophet! As a missionary, Conference takes on a new meaning and it is so much more impactful than before I was serving. I have a totally different view on the messages.  Words and feelings stand out to me that I don't think I would've ever noticed before in my life. I loved the talk about gratitude from President Uchtdorf.  My favorite, however, was his talk during the Priesthood session where he spoke about how the Restoration is STILL happening and it's not a past event. He asked, "Are we sleepers, observers, or workers in the Restoration of the gospel?" This question really made me reflect on myself as a member of the church and on my service as a missionary. All of the talks were so good! When President Monson got up to close the conference it just hit that I know he is definitely a prophet! There's no way to deny it!

            This weekend we had the most amazing lessons with Sister Burns, our top investigator who is getting baptized in a couple weeks. She is such a strong woman and I wish you all could just hear her testimony! Satan hits her hard every week but she bounces back every time! After battling cancer for five years she has just been told it is in remission but now she might have a compressed spinal cord.  Even so, nothing is stopping her! I wish you all could be in the room when I’m with her and feel the spirit she has!

Finally, do you remember my Romanian opera-singing friend from last week? Well, on Saturday night we were driving out of a restaurant parking lot after some members took us to dinner and I saw him walking on the sidewalk!! I yelled, "YOOOOO, HELLO MY FRIEND. COME OVER HERE!" So, he came over to our car and serenaded us in the middle of the parking lot. Ha Ha! I swear, it’s only on a mission will you meet people like that.

Life is good!

I love you all!!

Thank you so much for your support!

Elder Roddy