Alone

March 30, 2015

Well hello y'all. First thing is first... I am in Mount Vernon. So yes, I am alive and no, I am not lost.  This has been a little bit of a really stressful week.

Last Monday Sister Covington got her results back that she did in fact have mono again. It was hard for the next few days to get up by myself and exercise and do studies alone. I really just wanted to go back to bed because she was sleeping but hey, I did it anyways. Yes, I am bragging a little. I was able to go on exchanges on Wednesday so I could actually go out and work. Once Sister Covington found out she was going home I started to get a little homesick so I was kinda missing home this week but it's okay. I was so busy I didn't have time to think about it. I did see a really cool painting this week in a member’s home. It was called, "Come Follow Me" by Liz Lemon Swindle and it was really comforting. I really liked it. Before my mission, I would have found 0% pleasure in a painting.

 

So here is what happened. I had to clean the whole apartment on Thursday from top to bottom as well as pack for myself and help Sister Covington because she didn't have a lot of energy. Luckily the sister training leaders (who are my new companions- Sister Kennedy and Sister Wilkins) came and helped for a little bit. We had to be in Millcreek at 7:30 AM on Friday. I went to bed at 10:30 Thursday night and got up at 5 AM.  Yes, I am more tired than a regular already tired missionary. But all is well in Zion, folks.

C came to church for all three hours on Sunday which is perfect because her baptism is next week. Her baptism will be great but it is kind of a crazy time for it. I mean I am the only missionary really doing her baptism and it is the day after transfers next week. Life is a little hectic but if it wasn't hectic I would be more scared. I was able to teach Young Women's in the new ward yesterday as well as mission prep! So yeah... that's life.

Oh yeah, this week we were late to the women’s broadcast.  So mom, can you print those talks off and send them to me? Send them to the mission office and they will forward it to wherever I am.

Hope you all have an amazing Easter and general conference weekend!

Sister Rodda

The BEST!

March 23, 2015

This week has been AWESOMEEEE. Yesterday was probably the best day of my whole life existence. lol. But I will start with Monday. 

Last Monday we emailed and then had to get our oil changed. We are pretty pampered here on the mission. We just drive our car somewhere and the guy who works at the auto shop talks to our vehicle coordinator and then they pay for it. It rocks. But while they were changing our oil we went with some other sisters to the Tulip Festival, which is so incredibly cool. It is just fields and fields of tulips and they have a "garden" which has all these different types of flowers. I got a pin!!

On Tuesday we went on exchanges with Sister Wilkins. I'm not gonna lie - I hate exchanges so much because 1. I feel like they are judging me the whole time and 2. You have to sleep in the same room (but different bed- missionary handbook) with a stranger. But anyway, we got to teach about family history and it went really well. I learned so much. In the meantime, Sister Covington and the other STL, Sister Kennedy, found a new investigator in our area. Her name is Erica. I haven't met her yet. I will meet her tomorrow but if we get her whole family there is 6 that could be baptized. I learned something really cool this day. I now believe in agency, unconditional love, and eternity. You have to allow people to make their own choices, love them no matter what, and you have to believe that anything can happen in the eternities. 

On Wednesday, we had district meeting. I love my district. Sister Covington and I had to give some instruction that went really well. After that we went and did service at the Bishop's Storehouse. I don't mind doing service but I cannot handle all the hoarders here in Washington. I don't mind the stuff- because I have a lot of stuff- but I can't handle the smells. Then we went to mutual that night and played games with one of our formers. It was really fun and I am a lot more competitive than I thought I was. I like to win. No questions asked.

Thursday we had to travel to Seattle. No, Seattle is not in our district, nor is Seattle in our zone. And no Seattle is not even in our mission. But I had to drive in the craziness of Seattle traffic to take Sister Covington to a doctor. She has been really tired lately and she thinks her mono (which sent her home for a transfer) is back. We get the results tomorrow I think. Don't worry I am doing everything in my waking existence to not get it. Let's just be grateful we made it through Seattle traffic in one piece. Car and person. We also had a really cool lesson with a less active family about the plan of salvation that night.

 

On Friday we went and taught a lesson to our recent convert Harvey Vogan. Man, if only y'all could meet him. He is a crack up and there are no words to describe him. lol. Then we went to the Relief Society activity.  Since Sister Covington took multiple naps this week I thought I would use my nonexistent creative skills to make a "hat" for the Relief Society garden/tea party. I will send pictures but I made two flower crowns (?) I don't know what to call them but they turned out really cute. We got a really pretty flower arrangement from a wedding last week and I destroyed it to make these things. Yes, I did it all alone and yes, they are real flowers. Feel free to be impressed. 

On Saturday we visited a lot of potentials and less actives that were either not home or VERY uninterested. It was a little discouraging but at least we had something good to look forward to… that night there was a special fireside with Elder Oaks for missionaries and investigators. You could only go if you brought an investigator so Mya said she would go. We were so excited. We got a member who could drive us. They traveled like 15 minutes and the daughter even missed her basketball game to go and as soon as we got to the door Mya canceled. It was really disheartening and it made us sad. But hey, it is A-okay. I believe in agency, unconditional love, and eternity now, lol. 

Sunday was the best day of my whole existence. First we went to a special stake conference where Elder Dallin H Oaks, and Elder Christensen came and talked. Also President Bonham spoke. It was an awesome meeting. I even got to speak and have a conversation with Elder Oaks. He was happy to see sisters. After that we went to a potential’s home that we found earlier in the week. and GUESS WHAT?!  We got a new investigator! She is so solid and I am so happy that she is willing to learn about the gospel. Right after that we went to a lesson with Caylen (a former investigator who dropped me and Sister Wawro).  We had an awesome lesson and GUESS WHAT?! She is getting baptized April 8th!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited. 

So just in case you lost track that was 3 new investigators this week! We fasted yesterday to find people to teach and look what happened.  Prayer and fasting works and they go hand in hand. Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. I know he does! We are currently teaching 8 investigators and we are hoping to find more! I love being a missionary and sharing the gospel and my testimony with everyone that I come in contact with! 

I love you all and I hope you all have a wonderful week. xoxoxo

PS: This week we found another pal. He was a snail. His name was George Washington. He was a cutie pie. 

Love, Sister Rodda

Patience Please

March 16, 2015

Howdy Folks,

This week has been quite swell. Here are some things I learned this week:

1. There is a beach in our area! LIKE WHAT?! We did some seashell hunting, some gull watching, some wave catching (in our cameras of course)

2. I am never having a wedding reception. We spent 8 hours doing service there. Yes, it was productive with tons of nonmembers. No, I will never curse anyone with that job of working with me as Bridezilla.

3. I am not as patient, loving, kind, patient, and patient as I used to think I was.

4. Using the excuse of "I saw you two somewhere the other day with my girlfriend and pointed you out to her and she was pretty upset with me that I didn't tell her that you were young, attractive girls. She was under the impression you were older ladies like the Jehovah Witness ladies that would come around"  is not an effective drop reason.

helping at a wedding

Besides getting dropped by one of our investigators this week was pretty good.  We had lots of lessons and we were able to do a lot of productive things. I am really grateful to be a member of the church and the knowledge I have of being together with my family forever. It is sad to me that people think that once you die it's over. But in reality the party is just starting.

Something that seemed to be on my mind a lot this week is that we (as members) are constantly "on call".  We always need to be ready to help someone in need, share our testimonies, and/or react to a certain situation. If we are not prepared Heavenly Father will not bless us with opportunities to share the things we know or the talents we have. We need to constantly look for opportunities to serve, share the gospel, and be an example. People watch you far more than you think. Girls in long skirts riding bikes and dudes in white shirts and ties seem to stand out a lot but so do members of the church because they carry the light of Christ.  We just have to look for ways to share our light with others. 

About the I learned I am not very patient thing... we will just leave it at... I am not very patient... in general... I need to work on it... prayers would be quite appreciated.  My prayers for patience are not gonna do the job alone.  I need lots of help.  Persistent patience.  That's all.  Just persistent patience.

welp, thanks for listening. tune in next Monday at 10:45 (WA missionary time) for the next update.

xoxo,

i love you all.

SICK!

March 9, 2015

This week was a good/bad week. I got kinda like really sick and I had to stay inside ALL DAY for 3 days. Sorry mom and dad I had to pay to go to the doctor. ;) I am feeling much better and I am excited to actually go out and work this week. Sister Covington was so patient and she never complained about having to stay in. Back home it was almost fun to get sick. You could just play on your phone all day and it was almost relaxing. I liked being "sick" at home. Here in the mission field though you just get to lay in bed all day. It's not fun. It's actually quite boring. The first day though I slept the whole day. Literally. I woke up at 6:30 am, prayed, and then called the Tates (our medical missionaries) and then went back to bed. I woke up at 4:30 pm, ate a little, and didn't really do anything and then went to bed at 7:30 pm. It was fun. 

We didn't have very many lessons this week because of my little sickness but the lessons we did have went awesome! Sister Covington and I teach really well together and our lessons just click. We both just follow the spirit and we are able to teach with power. Personality wise we have some differences, but spiritually she is awesome and it is unified!

Right now I feel like I am learning so much every day. I heard a quote yesterday that I had never heard before. It was, "The Holy Ghost must really love us to give up His body to fulfill his calling." That is amazing to me. I always thought about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ loving me but it never crossed my mind that the Holy Ghost loves us all too. His calling is all service. Touching the hearts of those learning about the truth. His role is crucial and I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost in my life and the safety, comfort, and knowledge he brings to me. I am grateful that I can rely on the Holy Ghost whenever I am in a time of need, confusion, or in any situation. And I'm grateful that I am able to have the knowledge I have because of the Holy Ghost.

I think that's about all. Not too much information because we didn't do much but yes, missions rock!

Love,  sister rodda.

Practice It!

March 2, 2015

This week has been crazyyyy. First full week without my good old trainer Sister Wawro.  I miss her stinkin’ guts but surprisingly I think I am doing pretty well.  I know the area a lot better than I thought I did.  Sister Covington and I are really good at teaching with each other.  We got a new investigator this week and we are hoping to get his whole family.  Mya was supposed to come to church... but didn't.  Ya know, that's just mission life.  Canceling 2 minutes before. You never expect it but it always comes. lol.  I am working really hard. I can see my testimony growing and it is insane. I bore my testimony yesterday in sacrament and all the sudden I shared a story I never planned to so I will share it you:

I was really into soccer back home and my dad was always on my case about not practicing. He always said, "every day you don't practice you lose 15% of your skill."  It's true.  Every day we don't exercise our faith or read our scriptures or say our prayers, we lose that 15% of spirit, guidance, help and strength.  Everyone came up to me afterwards and loved that part of my testimony BECAUSE IT IS RELATABLE.   But I know now why I never had motivation to practice soccer... just so I could share this experience with others and motivate them to pray, read, and exercise faith.   LOL, okay maybe that isn't exactly all the reason I didn't practice as much as I should have but it is a good excuse.  But FYI:  every morning when we exercise I juggle and do drills with the soccer ball.  I think I am better now than ever before. Hahahahaha.

I am really grateful for the gospel and for prayers. I know that prayers are real and, boy, does Heavenly Father answer them!  When you pray for patience, he definitely gives you some experiences to make you patient. 

That is all for this week. I love you and I miss you all. Hope all is well.

xoxo

sister rodda.