"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

"I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!"

Helloooo Y'All, 

Wow, what a week! It was jam packed with so many things I don't even know where to begin. First off, transfers are on Wednesday and ELDER COVINGTON IS LEAVING ME *insert crying emoji here*. He's been a Zone Leader for 10 months and he's finally being released. His new companion is Elder Kuoha, one of my companions in the MTC! I'm beyond sad that he's leaving because we've seriously become like brothers! We talk about everything and have so much fun together. I can’t even begin to explain how much he's taught me. On the bright side, my new companion is AWESOME!! His name is Elder Flake and he's a rancher from Nevada. He was in rodeos and all that cowboy stuff! He started serving a transfer before me and we served around each other in my last area. So, we know each other well and we're already close. I'm so excited! 

Elder Roderick's Posterity
His father, Elder Auaea and his son, Elder Pena

            Next, my beloved, stripling warrior trainer, aka my father, aka Elder Auaea, is going home on Thursday! He's finished his mission and headed back to the Kingdom of Tonga! *insert more crying emojis*. I'm so grateful for him! He taught me how to work hard and to be grateful for everything I have! I'm going to miss him and I honestly hope that somehow we are able to see each other again!

            Our investing work this week was so great! We are beginning to see the effects of our patience and diligence because our work is starting to pay off. We have a full teaching pool right now with some solid investigators! Sister Renae Burns wants to be baptized in the third week of April, so right now her date is the 20^th, but that might change. She's so solid though! We're also teaching Russel Patterson who is the neighbor of one of our ward members. He's an older African American man who was raised as a Southern Baptist and boy, does he love Jesus! On Sunday, he came to church with us and he was all decked out in his suit and top hat. During testimony meeting he kept quietly saying, "Amen! Yes, Jesus. Oh praise the Lord" because that's just what he's used to.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is alive and well in Georgia.

            Also, this week while knocking doors we had a hilarious experience. We knocked on a door and this Romanian man came to the door. I don't know how to explain what he looked like but he basically was a Romanian version of George Costanza, without the glasses. Anyway, we started talking to him and he said, "Oh, Ya. I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! They are very good. I sing opera too." We were thinking,  “Nooo way!” So, he proceeds to say, "Ya, I'll prove it to you!" Then, he played this opera song on his phone for us which he claimed was him singing. I totally believed him, but of course I wanted to keep him talking, so I said "C'mon man that isn't you! Don't lie..." He looked at me, deep in the eyes, and with his thick accent he said, "BOY, YOU THINK I'M BULL CRAPPIN YOU???" Then he started belting opera at the top of his lungs right on the doorstep! I can't even explain how funny it was because every one on the streets just stopped and stared at this Romanian guy singing opera to a couple of Mormon missionaries in the middle of the day. It was so great!

Finally, I must give a shout out to my boys:

HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY NATE DOGG!

I hope you have an awesome day on Saturday, my man!! 

Thanks for being my best friend, who I get to beat up all the time!

I love you bro!!!

CONGRATS to my boys Sam Lohse and Max Larsen on their mission calls!

I'm so excited for you!

I'm sorry I had to be short this week! We have an 86 year-old man waiting for us at the bowling alley! That’s the LIFE OF A MISSIONARY.

Love y'all! Peace out!

Elder Roddy