BACK IN THE 801!

Here's a youtube video of Matthew's arrival:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx8Gubg8Cqk

THE END!

Well Folks,                                                                                                

This is it! It's all come to an end! Two years are done and I can't believe it! It's hard for me to think about leaving all these people I have come to love so much. But before any sob stories, let me tell you about my final week!

Weena's baptism

We saw so many miracles. I felt like the Lord spoiled me during my last week in the field. We met three people who are less-active members of the church but aren't on our records. It was like we were just instruments in the Lord's hands when we were led to them. He just put us right where we needed to be. The highlight of the week, most definitely, was Weena's baptism on Saturday! I love that lady so much! The light of Christ was beaming from her. She practically cried the entire time and the Spirit was so strong. The service was short and sweet, just how it should be. I feel so grateful and humbled that I was able to have that experience on the final weekend of my mission. The blessings of a mission are priceless!

I have learned so much over the last two years of my life! I've learned that okra is better fried than boiled, and I've learned that squirrel isn't good fried OR boiled. I've learned that football is a religion and chicken can be cooked a million different ways. I've learned that no matter how much food I eat, I'll always be skinny. I've learned that you should never forget to fill the baptismal font before a baptism, or forget to tell your convert to bring a change of underwear. I've learned from billboards and bumper stickers that Jesus loves me and He's coming soon. I've learned from those around me that the South will rise again and Robert E. Lee is in charge of the government in heaven. I've learned that not everyone wants a message about Jesus Christ, but hey, at least they'll pray for my soul. And sadly from experience, I've learned that road kill doesn't smell good or sound good when you run over it with your bike.

All joking aside, I've learned the South truly has the nicest people in the world. I've learned that prayers can be said at any time, in any place, under any circumstances. God loves each of His children despite their beliefs, culture, or nationality. He has a plan for each of us and knows us each by name. I know that when we lose our lives for the Savior, He will help us find it, but it will be in His way and in His time. I know I'm truly the happiest when I stop focusing on myself and turn to the needs others. I've learned that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. As we keep the commandments and do what Christ would do, we can become clean through His Atonement and live with our Father in Heaven again with our families forever. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I'm not afraid to tell that to anyone. It is where the foundation of my testimony lies and it always will be. Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God, and I know as sure as anything that President Monson is a prophet of God today. I'm the perfect example of an imperfect person, but thankfully the Lord uses imperfect people to guide His perfect church. I've felt His hand in my life time and time again and I'll always be grateful for the companionship He gives me through the Holy Ghost. I know that becoming one of those annoying Mormon Missionaries who won't go away was the best decision I have made up to this point in my life!

I know now why they say a mission is “the best two years.” The memories I have made are priceless. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. These experiences I've had, both good and bad, are so special to me and I'm beyond grateful that Heavenly Father allowed me to have them. They have made me a better person. I'm so grateful to each of you for supporting me and helping me have such an amazing experience. I'll always be grateful for your encouragement and examples!

As for the rest, "I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face" (3 John 1:14). "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

I love y'all!

The End.

Elder Roderick

Patience is a Virtue

Hellooo Family and Friends!                                                                                     

Jacque & Nella are baptized

f It's crazy how fast time is going! Tons happened for me this week and we've been really busy: zone meetings, miracles, baptisms, and some experiences that are probably best not to share until I see you in person. Ha ha. Sorry, this letter is going to be a little shorter than most, but I figure I'll be able to give you more details of anything you want to know next week. Right?

By far, the highlight of my week was witnessing the baptism of Jacques and Nella, and seeing all my friends in Roswell! Oh my goodness! I seriously love those people so much. Saturday night was easily one of the most rewarding nights of my mission, as we watched Jacques and Nella enter into a covenant with God. Those two are truly inspiring and they have taught me so much. It was so amazing to see them again. They were both so happy and the light of Christ was just shining from their faces. Their baptisms taught me about patience and waiting on the timing of the Lord. I can recall countless nights when I prayed and wondered why they still hadn't received their answer to be baptized. There were times where Elder Gosar and I and later, Elder Cottle and I didn't know what else to do! However, on Saturday I think I finally saw the bigger picture and I realized why we are always told to let everything happen in the Lord's timing. Now that the baptism has actually happened I know that it couldn't have happened any other way or at any other time. Heavenly Father  likes to keep our lives interesting… always waiting until the last moment… just to test our faith. But hey, that's what makes life fun.

Every kid's dream: a selfie with Ronald McDonald

After the baptism, there was a multi-cultural dinner, where members of the ward brought food from their different countries. I got to see Brian and Stacy and they are doing so great! They've recently seen so many miracles in their lives. I also got to see Cleevens, and the Jean family, and so many members of the Roswell Ward that I love. Then to put the cherry on top, the Gellis family, one of my favorite families in the world from Roswell, showed up to the Canton Ward yesterday and

told me that in a few weeks they were moving into the Canton Ward! God is pretty awesome.

This Saturday Weena Riddle will be baptized! She's amazing. It will be a good little treat for the last weekend of my mission. She has made a lot of progress and her coversion has been a positive experience for the Mays because they have been able to help teach her and fellowship her. Julius is going to baptize Weena, so the man is 3 for 3! 100% on possible ordinances performed.  For the time being, he is definitely leading the LDS Church in ordinance statistics. He's the MVP in my books! #gomormons

I love you guys! Thank you for all you do for me! I'll see you SOON!

Elder Roderick

Chicken Legs

Hey there, Y'All!                                                                                         

I hope y'all had a great week! Summer is officially over in Georgia and all the kiddos are heading back to school. So, enjoy the last few weeks of summer while you can. I know I am! This week was pretty steady and consistent; no crazy, jaw-dropping experiences. Except, I rode a bike this week and that's a jaw-dropper. More about that later.

This week we have been focusing our efforts on Weena Riddle, the friend of the Mays Family. I love her so much! She has an amazing desire to change her life. We had some really powerful lessons with her. She was brought to tears when she learned that she lived with Heavenly Father before she came to earth, and that she and all of her children chose to follow Jesus Christ before they came here. That was a really touching experience. She said, “Well, if I've done it once, I can do it again!" We had a tender mercy with her as well. She was expecting to work all week, and therefore miss church, so we moved her baptism date from the 15^th to the 22^nd.  However, on Tuesday night we got a text from her saying that she would be able to come to church! She told us that as soon as her boss heard she was moving in with the Mays family and would be working at a different Waffle House location, he kicked her out of his family's house (where she had been living) and took her work schedule away, right there on the spot. So, although her move and change of work was a little sooner and more difficult than expected, I definitely know the Lord was behind it. She was able to come to church this week and she loved it! She also texted us this morning, and said that she got a job at the same Waffle House where Julius and Joyce are working. She said her schedule has her off this Sunday and as far as she knows, EVERY Sunday! So, her baptism date is still set for the 15^th.  Now there are four Mormons living in the Mays’s apartment and three of them work at the same Waffle House. HA! That's Georgia at its finest right there.

This week one of our investigators, Todd, was going to drop us, but then he decided to stick with us instead. So, listen to this hilarious story: We learned that before the lesson, where Todd was planning to drop us, he called the Missionary Department at the Church Headquarters in Salt Lake and asked for advice about how he should stop seeing us without hurting our feelings. When I heard that, I died. Who does that? What a guy! If all people were as considerate as Todd is to the Mormon missionaries, this world would be a better place.

Stanley and Elder Roderick 

Like I mentioned before, I was on bike for a couple days this week. I went to my old stomping grounds in Hickory Flat on an exchange with Elder Oyler.  I was reminded why the Lord hasn’t placed me in a bike area on my mission....these chicken legs ain't made for that. I was huffin’ and puffin’ the whole time. We had a lesson with my man, Stanley! Ha ha! The guy hasn't changed a bit. His house, his beard, it's all the same. He just started taking a temple preparation class so he can go through the temple! It was a great experience for me to be able to teach him again. It's crazy to think that his was the first door I knocked on my mission.

Well I love y'all! Time is flying by! I can't believe it's August, and therefore, the final month of my mission! I guess that means I'll see you guys soon! I can't wait!

Love you!

Elder Roderick

That Was So Cool!

The Mays Family & Elder Roderick 

Hello there, Fam and Friends!                                                                                           

It was another amazing week! Sorry if this is kind of shorter, but I want to make it as brief and powerful as I can, because that's how this week seemed to go. It was over in the blink of an eye and it was spiritual the whole way through.

Since Joyce and Angel were baptized on Saturday, we mainly focused on the Mays this week. As we were preparing them during the week, things just fell into place perfectly.  Their baptism was one of the best moments of my mission. No doubt! In fact, it was one of the most spiritual moments of my life! Each of them were so excited and so happy. I think the best part of the baptism was that Julius was able to perform the ordinances. Man! That man is a completely different person. It has been so awesome to witness. Angel was baptized first.  Instead of sitting in the audience, I was around back behind the font watching from the side so I could give her a towel. After Angel came out of the water and was walking up the stairs, she yelled, "THAT WAS SO COOL!" Haha. Everyone laughed. It was pretty great. Then, Joyce was baptized and light just filled the room. I am so happy for the Mays family! They have come a long way!

During the week, the Mays introduced us to one of their friends, Weena Riddle, a lady they used to work with. Weena is going to be moving in with the Mays and changing jobs because her living situation isn't the best right now. Anyway, we started teaching her and she has so much desire to change her life and start following the commandments. During the week we set a baptismal date with her for August 15th, and I realized yesterday that it was the weekend before I return home. We didn't even realize that when we set the date with her. Weena really wants it to happen because she said she has received an answer that this is where she needs to be. The only hurdle we have to jump is making sure she gets to church the next two weeks. If all goes well with her job change, then it should happen, but if for whatever reason it doesn't, then we will reschedule her baptism date. I really don't mind if I'm there or not, obviously I would love to be, I just told her to do what she needs to do and let God work out the timing. When it happens it happens. Even so, it's been incredible to watch Weena’s acceptance of the gospel unfold. Seeing Julius change his life, receive the Priesthood, baptize his wife and daughter and bring someone else to the church has been amazing! The Mays definitely aren't perfect and many of their problems remain, but they are learning to handle them differently and make Christ a center of their lives, which is bringing them pure joy. After Julius received the priesthood last week, he told us it was the first time he had felt like he actually accomplished something in his life. Likewise, a few days ago Joyce told Weena, as we were teaching her, that she was the happiest she had ever been in 27 years. It doesn't get much better than that. The gospel is true!

 So those are definitely the highlights of the week! On Monday night Elder Detmer got transferred to Lawrenceville because an Elder down there had to go home for health reasons, so we lost our third guy. We have missed having him around and I'm grateful for all the things he taught me!

Have a great week y'all! Love you so much!

Elder Roderick