HEY Y'ALL!
How are you
doing?? I hope you are enjoying your summer. My life in the ATL is so great!
I'm loving every minute of my mission.
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| Elders in the Grayson Zone |
Well, this
week was eventful, as always! It's getting soooo hot down here. I have good
news, though. I'm staying in Grayson with Elder Flake for another transfer.
This means that not only do I get to remain in a place that I love, with an
awesome companion; I'm still able to drive around in a car. By the time my six-week stay is over, it'll
be August and I'll be approaching my one-year mark. So, I will have been in two
areas for the entire first year of my mission. Crazy stuff! I'm so happy Elder
Flake and I are staying together. I believe that during this transfer we will
see some amazing things happen and I'm super excited to serve as a zone leader
when President Bennion arrives, which is this FRIDAY. Holy moly.
On Tuesday I
was on exchange with one of the Assistants and we taught one of his
investigators who just got baptized on Sunday. She was having a really tough
day and Satan seemed to be hitting her from all angles. So we borrowed her iPad
and pulled up a Mormon Message that spoke about peace through the Atonement. It
was such an inspiring video and while we watched it, the Spirit filled the room.
After the video we each testified to her of the power of the Atonement and the
ability it has to cleanse us from sin and let us feel the love of the Savior in
our lives. At the end of our lesson she was a completely different person than
when we walked through her door. Since I’ve been serving, I’ve gained a huge
testimony of the Atonement and I know it can impact each of our lives!
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| Elder Roderick with the King and Dustin families |
On Wednesday
my friends from Hickory Flat, the Kings and the Dustins, came down to Lilburn for
dinnerrrr!!! I loved seeing them so much! They took us to Texas Roadhouse,
which is Elder Flake's favorite place in the world, so he was in heaven. It was
so much fun to catch up with them and laugh together. I swear those people are
like my family. It's just a testimony to me that God puts us in the areas where
he knows we can make the greatest impact AND where we can be impacted the most
as well. While we were at dinner they told the waitress that it was my
birthday. I don't know if you've ever been to Texas Roadhouse on your birthday but
it’s quite an experience. The staff brought
out a little saddle, made me sit on it, and remain sitting there while the
ENTIRE restaurant listened to the waiters and waitresses serenade me with some
cowboy song. Ha-ha. I was so embarrassed but I put up with it because it was
really just so funny!
On Thursday
we went on an exchange with the Lilburn Elders (not the APs) so I was on my bike
for the day, and let's just say that God knew to keep me in a car because I
would literally DIE out here on a bike. I was dripping in sweat from head to
toe in less than ten minutes. Ha-ha.
Then that evening, we had a really cool experience with Emoy, Kamari,
and Aaysia. We finished teaching them the Law of Chastity, which they all
understood, and we were able to teach them about covenants and how important
they are to make. Of course the discussion came to the topic of baptism, and
Emoy asked us, "Well what would be the next step for us AFTER
baptism?" Part of me was thinking, “Well, let's just focus on the first
step.” But, we started teaching them about temples and the sealing power of the
priesthood that allows us to be with our families forever. It was really cool
to see the way the Spirit touched their hearts and helped it ring true to them.
At the end of the lesson, Emoy told us that she would be more than happy to
allow her kids to get baptized, even if she couldn't right now. Kamari and
Aaysia just grinned. This week we plan to extend a baptism date to them, so
wish us luck! They have come SO far. It's truly amazing.
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| Tim & Vanessa Bronkema with Elder Roderick |
Well, Friday
was someone's birthday. Just kidding. “Thank you” to everyone for the love and
support you showed me. It was amazing! It definitely made me feel like the most
loved missionary in the world. My birthday was so awesome! I mean obviously it
was still a normal day, but for lunch the senior couples, the APs, and some
other Elders took us to lunch! We piled in this huge fan and all went to Outback
Steakhouse, so I enjoyed my second steak of the week. Yah, Baby!
Then that night we went to the Bronkemas for dinner and it was so much
fun. Wow! I love them so much! It has been so rewarding to get to know them. From
the first time I met them, we just clicked and they've been like parents to me.
Being in their home was such a fun way to spend my birthday evening. I love the
South because I’ve been blessed to meet people like the Bronkemas who love the
Savior and His light shows through them!
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| Elder Roderick with friends from Grayson Ward in Lilburn, GA |
It's going
to be awkward going back to church next Sunday because I told everyone in the ward
that I was leaving. So, that should be fun. “Surprise! I’m still here.” Ha-ha.
I guess that's a good kind of awkward though. I'm loving it in Lilburn! Thank
you for your support. I love you so much! Have an amazing week.
Elder Roddy
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