BEST TWO YEARS

BEST TWO YEARS

Monday, November 25, 2013

Email sent November 26, 2013: HOLY FREAKING HECK THIS WEEKEND WAS LOCO!!!!


This week is titled:  HOLY FREAKING HECK THIS WEEKEND WAS LOCO!!!!!!!! 
 
Yeah I know, I set it up right? But this weekend was just stinking crazy!!

So on Friday, it was awful. I really hated Friday to be honest. I really was just angry with Elder Galvez, our investigators and the fact that we were dropping a lot of people and we didn't have very many more investigators. That night I felt very alone. I went into our living room right before bed and honestly just cried for about 10 minutes. I asked the Lord if he actually cared about me and that if he could show me that he was there, that he really was watching over his missionaries and that I could feel his love. When I didn't feel the comfort that I was expecting, I cried even harder.

Saturday, started off with me feeling very inadequate and feeling like I'm never going to be the missionary that I had expected myself to be, to learn this language or to even function here as a missionary. Eventually Elder Galvez decided that we just needed to get out of the apartment and go work to calm down and to fill the baptismal font for the baptism of Luis.

That night around 5:30 pm we went over to Familia M's. President Wolfert had texted us a few days before saying that maybe it was time to move on from them since they'd dropped two baptismal dates and that we weren't going to "beg them to be baptized". So we went over with a team up named Hermano Castaneda (Cast an yeh da) for the drop talk. When we got there they were a little sad.  A, who's developed a crush on Elder Galvez which he totally he brought upon himself because he texts her very often, was very upset and walked away. But then something happened--Hermano Castaneda began to teach about acting on our faith and not expecting something huge to happen to make us want to change. After he finished talking Y asked if V, her daughter, and my favorite in the M family, was ready to be baptized. We said yes and asked V, age 11, the baptismal interview questions. She answered perfectly. Then Y asked if she and V could be baptized to which we responded YES!!! She asked how soon she could be baptized to which Elder Galvez responded, "tomorrow" and she agreed. We had the baptism of Luis that night and after we had the interviews for Y and V. They both passed perfectly.

Sunday after church, we had the baptism. V asked me if I could be the one to baptize her and I was so happy to do so! Right before we went into the font she asked if we could practice real fast. I showed her where her hands would go on mine and then I practiced what I was going to say. As I said the baptismal words I looked into V's eyes and what I saw was just the pure love of God. I saw how much the Lord loves her and how wonderful this moment was. She began to cry and so did I. I said her name wrong though hahahaha and after we asked President Marcos the Branch President if we needed to do it again and he said, "The Lord knows who was baptized. We don't need to do it again Elders." 

Mom, Dad, family and everyone else who reads this--the Lord is there. The Lord knows us personally, and loves every one of us here on this earth. The lord showed me personally, that he listens to me, and loves me. I know that with every fiber of my being and I cannot deny. I love this gospel so much and I love that I have the chance to spread it.

Today however, I'm a little nervous. We got a call from president at 9:40 am and he told us that Elder Galvez is going to be the new Zone Leader in the Athens Zone. I was so excited for him. He's an amazing missionary and will be an amazing Zone Leader. Then president asked to speak with me and I got scared. I'm going to be the new District Leader replacing Elder Galvez. They're splitting our zone in half since theres 50 missionaries here and that's just too many. My district will have me and my new companion, Elder Mayo, Elder Amaro, Elder Thomas and the other Spanish speaking Elders in our branch right now. The district will also include two sets of sisters in the Johns Creek area. I am nervous. I've been out here 3 months!!!!! I don't even know this language and now I have to be the District Leader for 8 missionaries!?!?! I told president that I'm not sure if I’m ready for that and he gave me some comforting words. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen or if I can really do this. But if the lord thinks I can, I will do my best.

Mom thank you for everything that you've given me! I think about you and Dad constantly every time we go on a team-up with a member of the ward.  I know that you're working hard but maybe give some other members a chance!!! Hahahaha. I am just kidding. I love you all so much. I'm so happy to hear that the family is going to be together for Thanksgiving! I wasn't expecting Bailey & Bobby, Madison & Cameron to come out! I'm really happy that you've got everyone there! Your Amazing Rodabough Challenge Race sounds really fun actually!  I love that idea! For Christmas I wrote down a list, but then I forgot to bring it with me.... Lo siento madre, discupeme.  (Sorry mom, forgive me) This next week I can send you my Christmas gift. Mostly I just want some reasonable things. I won't ask for Nerf guns, but I really thought about it!! I think this is our address.....105 Tree Corners Parkway, Norcross, GA, but I really think you might want to wait till next week to have me confirm that. You can look it up on google maps. It should be called the Domain apartments at the intersection of Holcomb Bridge and Jimmy Carter. You can type all that in and just see if that's it. We know it is Apartment 105 though hahaha

I'm sad to hear that Grandpa isn't feeling good.... :(  I hope that he can get better and have some miracles happen. I pray about him and I hope that everything ends up alright. Love you so much Mom, Dad, Bailey & Bobby, Madison & Cameron, Nick, Heidi & Oliver, Addison & Claire, Grandma & Grandpa, Lil & Randy, Gorhams, Gunns and McClellans!!!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving or a Dia de Gracias!!!
 
Elder Rodabough, the second

Monday, November 18, 2013

Email from November 18, 2013: Safe and Sound


Things here in Georgia are pretty safe actually weather wise. A little rain here and it is actually been warming up over the past few days. We hadn't heard much about the missionaries in Philippines so I'm glad to hear they're ok. I have a couple friends over there that I hope and pray are ok. I know the Lord will protect his servants when they choose to do what is right and aren't dangerous. If we stay safe, he will keep us safe. But don't worry mom I will listen to the spirit as much as I can.  I really try and sometimes I feel that I can't do it as well--that I can't hear the Spirit speak to me. But I think about what Elder Thomas told me a couple weeks ago. "You won't know it was the Spirit until you act on it." I'm not going to just blindly start acting on impressions, but if I feel that it's the Holy Ghost, I will act. It's really simple to discern actually according to President Hinckley. If it prompts to do good, it is the Spirit. But for safety, I just need to stop and think for a few moments and I know that things will be ok.

This week was pretty good. Thank you so much for the journal! I think I'll send home the other one, but I'm not totally sure.  We didn’t have any of the baptisms we were hoping to have. All of our investigators didn't keep commitments and didn't feel like they're ready and we were almost dropped by a couple of them as well.... But Elder Galvez is an amazing missionary and he testified with the Spirit to keep them reading. We have had a few more setbacks in the last couple more days as well. We do have one solid investigator though planned for a baptism this Saturday. We hope that he continues to keep his commitments and prepare for the covenant he will make with the Lord.

Oh and about that package, The Zone leaders told us to tell you to send Christmas packages to us directly at our apartments so that we can have a Christmas gift.  I don't really know our address right now. But for one package send it to me and the others send to the mission office.   I would like some Nutella because that's stuff 'is the bomb!

I'm so glad to be here as a missionary. I'm sorry if my letter wasn't as detailed as the others, but I wanted to share more about my spiritual experiences. This past Saturday I was on an exchange with Elder Thomas and I read in Mosiah 3:19. The part that stood out to me was about submitting yourself to all that the Lord chooses to put upon us. If we have hope, faith and submit to the will of the Lord with patience all will be ok. We will be able to bear all if we realize that there is a way to overcome all

Sincerely,
Elder Rodabough the second

Monday, November 11, 2013

Email from November 11, 2013: "Elder Amaro always finds the weirdest people!"

The title of this week is "Elder Amaro always finds the weirdest people."  But I'll get to that story in a little bit.  

MONDAY:
I can't remember much about this day. Had to consolidate pages in my journal hahaha. 

TUESDAY:
We went over and taught a lesson to R and A and all we did was read the scriptures with them and talk about the principles and doctrines. We then just invited them to keep reading. We brought along the other ward missionaries, Familia Soto. Hermana Soto is really getting into missionary work so she tries to come with us as much as she can. She reminds me a lot of you actually mom! It was a really good lesson and R told us she felt much more of the Spirit and happy after we left. She told us that usually when we come she feels the Spirit, but overwhelmed and a little angry every time. We realized that we've been focusing too much on getting the numbers of our baptisms and not focusing on our love for our investigators.

WEDNESDAY:
We had a lesson with Y, R's sister who's really close to baptism. We again, read out of the Book of Mormon and talked about faith and receiving answers to our prayers. Her sister a member named Hermana Abila, bore such a strong testimony.  My favorite line was, "Look, do you really think Jesus is just going to come down and say 'Yup, it's true'? NO! He's going to tell you by the Holy Ghost, so just listen!"  Y then looked at us and said "Ok, Elders the 23rd." Y and her daughter V are going to be baptized on the 23rd of this month.

THRUSDAY:
We had Zone Conference with the Roswell Zone and the Merrieta Zone. President Wolfert and his wife were there and we did trainings about talking WITH people, not talking TOO people. Since then we've really focused on making our contacts with people more happy and meaningful--really listening to everything they say (and for me trying to understand) and then really listening to the Spirit as well.  Our contacts have been really great since we started doing this.

FRIDAY:
I did an exchange with Elder Amaro from John's Creek. He's been out 20 months and is from Mexico. HE actually went to the CCM when it was a school and lived in my same apartment haha!  Really this was an interesting experience. 5 minutes into tracting we talked to these two guys. And one was just....well crazy as they come. He started talking about how these gang members he knows have put some sort of shield or force field around him to keep him controlled. Then he explained how they pray to the grim reaper. In mid conversation he would stop and stare squinty eyed at everyone that passed by. We were there about half an hour trying to say anything. Elder Amaro has lots of stories about people like that.  He finds the weirdest people!  Kind of entertaining though.

SATURDAY:
We kept up with the exchange.  Elder Galvez likes to spend a whole day and some extra time with the missionaries in the district to get to know them better. Elder Amaro and I ate with Y again and taught her about the Law of the Fast. She told us she needs more of an answer, but is ready to be baptized. We read out of Alma 17 and then talked about the power that fasting brings. I told her that I would fast on Sunday for her and asked if she and V would as well. She agreed.

SUNDAY:
Probably the most blessed day of my mission. We started out talking to a family we'd tried to get in with but always cancels on us. The wife’s sister is joining the church in Utah and she told our investigator to really listen to us and to hear what we have to say. She told us she wants to read the Book of Mormon and when we mentioned temples, she started looking us in the eye and telling about her son who we've been trying to teach as well. She really fears for him and believes that this church can help her family. She just needs to fulfill her commitments. Then when we got to church we had two more investigators there that we hadn't talked to in 3 or 4 days! We couldn't believe it. The Lord really blesses us when we fast for righteous things. The fast is so powerful and I know that the Lord blesses us with the help we need when we show our desires to him. I just hope Y gets an answer.

This has been a great week! We have two more weeks until I or Elder Galvez leaves this area and starts a new companionship. To be honest I'm a little scared, but I'm getting ready and trying to get to know more of Elder Galvez's responsibilities so I can do things when he leaves. He says I going to train a new missionary.... but I don't think I will.

Sincerely,
Elder Rodabough the second

Monday, November 4, 2013

Email from November 4, 2013: No one came trick-or-treating


This week was pretty cool and learned a ton.

MONDAY:
We had to move a member all day and didn't get to missionary work till 7pm..... And Elder Galvez was super upset but he calmed down when we started working.
 
TUESDAY:
I did an exchange with Elder Coleman, the zone leader while the other zone leader came down to our area to work with Elder Galvez. Elder Price didn't speak Spanish, but he contributed all that he could as he worked with Elder Galvez. My time with Elder Coleman was amazing!  We got a referral from some other elders and went to check it out. We met a man named Roy. He investigated the church when we was younger after his mother and grandmother passed away in very close period of time. He went to church and ended but feeling the spirit so much he bore his testimony. But after he married a woman who was very anti-Mormon, he stopped investigating the church. Elder Coleman and I stopped by, introduced ourselves, and after about 20 minutes of the story Elder Coleman asked if Roy wanted to be baptized. Roy agreed! HOLY FLIP!! The zone leaders find the most elect people....

WEDNESDAY:
I can't really remember much about this day. We taught some people, knocked on some doors—a missionary day.

THURSDAY:
Halloween!   We had to be back in our apartment by 6pm since President Wolfert didn't want us out with all the chaos. I bought some candy the Monday before and was super excited to hand it out. BUT NO ONE CAME!!!! I was super sad and Elder Galvez pretty much ate all of the candy--hahaha

FRIDAY:
I did an exchange with Elder Vance and he is amazing at speaking Spanish. He's been out 8 months and he's amazing. He's been training Elder Chilcote and they've been having some problems, but they're picking up and feeling the work in their hearts. We taught a girl named Maria. She has a baptismal date and is really prepared. We're trying to get her whole family involved, but it's difficult since they all have different schedules. But she's amazing and so intelligent.

SATURDAY:
We got dropped by a woman who we've been trying to see and teach for the past three weeks. Elder Vance and I spent an hour preparing a lesson on The Plan of Salvation and we even had a Team-up planned with a member. We were going over to talk to Familia de Mexico about the lesson, but right when we got there F, the investigator texted us about not coming over. Elder Vance asked me what we were going to do to which I replied, "Nothing, the plan stays the same." He was a little concerned but I just kept with the plan to go over. We went over with Familia de Mexico, but alas, F was not there. I was a little heartbroken to say the least, but in all things are going great.

SUNDAY:
Maria came to the English ward since she had to go to work later. Elder Thomas and I did a quick little exchange and sat with her and her member fellowshipper. It was really a powerful testimony meeting and I hope Maria felt it as well.

 
Elder Rodabough, the second

Elder Rodabough's Mission with Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Rodabough is located on the far left side of the picture on the second row from the top--fourth person in.  He is wearing a gray suit and a HUGE smile!