You've had some
incredible experiences with people who didn't end up joining the church (yet).
Who are some of those people whom you will never forget and hope to stay in
contact with?
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Wrapping it Up - Countdown Question #3
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
The Best Two Years
Hello Y'All!
 |
| Elder Barney, Elder Roderick & Elder Johnson |
It was another great week here in good old Canton,
Georgia! I can't even tell you how much I love this place. Every week I get
closer and closer to the people I'm working with and I love them even more. On
top of that, seeing the Hickory Flat Ward every week just makes me feel more
and more at home and at this point I feel like I'm more part of the ward family
than anything else! I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing but I just
love them all so much!
Our week
was filled with meetings, which made it go by really fast. Basically, every
single day we had a meeting that was held near the mission office. The meetings took up most of our time, so the
little time we had left was spent with Julius getting him ready for his baptism
on Saturday. His baptism was, without a doubt, the highlight of my week! June
27th will be a day I will always remember as one of the most spiritual
experiences of my life. I wish each of you could have been at the baptism to
feel the Spirit that was there. Even before he was baptized, Julius had a light
about him that I had never seen before. When he came out of the water I
literally saw a different man: one with a whole new countenance and a new life.
I can honestly say that Julius is not the same man he was three months ago! It
has been absolutely amazing to see him change from someone plagued with
addiction and sadness to someone who is happy, peaceful, and clean.
During
the baptismal service, while Julius was changing out of his wet clothes, I decided
to have Elder Bacon, who was the Spanish Elder who initially met Julius, stand
and share the experience of meeting him from his point of view. He told about
meeting Julius, late on a Sunday night, while Julius was walking home with a
beer in his hand. Julius approached him and his companion and asked if he could
pray with them, and expressed his desire to make some changes in his life. By
the time they were done talking, Julius had poured out his entire beer and
thrown it away. Elder Bacon said he had never seen someone with so much desire
to repent. Then Elder Bennett, who was here in Canton right before me, stood
and shared his experience of beginning to teach Julius, Joyce, and Angel. He
talked about the changes they made and the progress he watched them make. When
he was done, I got up to end the program and before I began speaking I noticed there
wasn't a dry eye in the room. The spirit was so strong! I shared my experience
of being able to finish teaching Julius before his baptism, and the courage and
bravery he showed as he abanodoned his addictions and turned his life over to
Jesus Christ. I know that hearing it from the point of few of the missionaries
really helped Julius and Joyce, because it helped them see how far they both
have come and how much potential they still have to grow.
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| Elder Roderick & Sister Craig |
To top it
all off, when I arrived at church yesterday I saw one of my favorite ladies
ever, Sister Craig from the Hickory Flat Ward! Then, I walked into
the chapel and guess who was sitting in there on the back row? My Georgia grandmother,
Opal!! I love that sweet lady so much!! She heard I was back in Canton so she
came to church for the first time ever, just to see me! After church we were
talking and she gave me a little wooden cross, then she said, "You know, Matthew,
I mean Elder Roderick, I don't know if I'll ever change religions. I think I'm
too old for that. But, I hope you know that you missionaries literally saved my
life two years ago when I was in the deepest sorrow I have ever experienced,
and for that I'll always love each of you." She is doing really well now
and she is so much happier!
I'm so
grateful that the Lord has given me this opportunity to work with people like
the Mays family and be an instrument in His hands to bring eternal happiness to
others. I wish I could express how much happiness it brings me to be a
missionary. It is the hardest thing I've ever done, so it makes it that much
better when I see miracles happen and work being done. It just makes me that
much more grateful, because I know that if I weren't a missionary then I wouldn’t
be able to have some of these experiences that I've had and meet the people
I've met. As I watch others change, it has changed me. I now know
why serving a mission is often called, “the best two years of your life!”
Well I hope
y'all have a great week! Love you ALL!
Elder Roderick
Monday, June 22, 2015
Wrapping it Up – Countdown Question #2
What are some of the most “Southern” experiences you’ve had?
My most
"Southern" experiences? Hmmm… that's a loaded question! I would definitely
say that two of the churches I visited in Cornelia provided quite the experiences.
There was the rock n’ roll church with the clapping and praising and then
another church where they were speaking in tongues and all that good stuff.
That'll open your eyes! Eating squirrel was definitely an experience I'll never
forget too!
Happy 20th Birthday
 |
| Happy 20th Birthday! |
Hey Y'All!
Happy
Father's Day, Dad! You're the man, at least until I get home and once again,
become man of the house. I'm just kidding! I'm grateful for everything you've
taught me in my life! You've been an amazing example to me and I can honestly
say I wouldn't be serving a mission if it weren't for you! So, thank you!
 |
| Elder Roderick's Birthday Banner with notes from home. |
Thank you
for everything you did for my birthday! I hung up the banner you made me above
my desk and that cake is delicious! It's hard to believe that I hit the 20s
this week. The people in Georgia treated me very well and we had amazing spiritual
experiences on Saturday, which made my birthday all I could asked for!
 |
| HotRoddy is lovin' Hotlanta |
It was
another great week here in Canton! We're continuing to find people to teach
which is keeping me busy and focused. Elder Detmer is pushing me like a mad man
too and I'm grateful for it! On Saturday we should be having a baptism service
for Julius! We had a really good week with him and his family. It was definitely
up and down but he's going to be ready. On my birthday I had one of the most
spiritual experiences of my mission with him. That morning Satan was working
really hard on Julius by trying to confuse him about his decision and make him
have second thoughts about it. It caused him to relapse on his old habits. We
went to his house and when we got arrived we had a really good conversation
with him. His biggest concern was that if he got baptized, and the rest of his
family decided not to for whatever reason, that it would tear them apart. We
helped him see that the gospel has only brought them closer together, and it
would continue to do the same after his baptism. After our lesson we went
inside and gave him a priesthood blessing, then afterwards we all got on our
knees, and Julius prayed and covenanted with the Lord that he would do
everything within his will and power to permanently change his life, to remove
his addictions from his brain, and always try to follow Jesus Christ. At that
moment, I had never in my life seen someone so humbled before the Lord. It
reminded me of Mosiah 4 in the Book of Mormon, where we’re taught that we
should "always remember the greatness of God, and your own nothingness,
and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble
yourselves even in the depths of humility…." That is literally what I saw
with Julius. As I watched him pray, he taught me so much and at that moment and
the Spirit was SO strong. I've never seen someone come such a long way to be
baptized and confirmed. It's been such a great experience to be a part of!
Hopefully all goes well this week and he makes it to Saturday. I love that man!
 |
| Elder Roderick and his best friend, Allen Dustin |
Everything
else is going well! We found some sweet new investigators on Saturday, and the
mom of the family is Venezuelan and they're feeding us dinner tonight! Yeaaa, Buddy!
I'm lovin’ it! The weeks are going by faster and faster. Thank you for
everything you do for me! I'll see you soon!
Elder Roderick
Friday, June 19, 2015
Wrapping it Up – Countdown Question #1
Who are your top favorite companions and why?
That is a good
question you asked but I couldn't possibly identify a top favorite
companion! So, I'm just going to list my companions and tell you
something I learned from each of them!
Elder Auaea- I learned true humility from him! He
grew up in the most humble of circumstances and he is grateful for everything
he has.
Elder Gilliat- He taught me the importance of diligent
study. Before he left to Brazil he studied Portuguese for an hour every morning
and it definitely paid off.
Elder Pena- The kid had the most-tender heart of
anyone I've ever met. He could talk with anyone and find love for them.
Elder Covington- He taught me the importance of working
with members and how to balance the fun with the seriousness in missionary
work.
Elder Flake- He taught me how to work hard and that
being a cowboy isn't all that bad!
Elder Larsen- That kid can find laughter in anything
and it helped me relax in times of stress.
Elder Johnson- That little squirt can literally pin
anyone in wrestling. So, the moves he taught me are worth more value than anything
because I can use them on Nate when I get home! J
Elder Gosar- That kid worked my butt off, and from
him I learned the importance of exactness in all things.
Elder Cottle- I learned from him how to connect with
people and make them feel important. He did that with everyone we taught.
Elder Detmer- I've learned the importance of
preparation from him. He prepared for a long time to serve a mission, and I can
tell you that it's already paying off.
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