(Week 104 in the mission field) True Love #79 of posts

So I've been reflecting on the last 2 years I have been in the mission and I have come to the conclusion that I am in love... I love being a missionary. I love the last 2 years I have spent dedicating myself to the work of salvation. It has been the biggest honor for me to represent my Savior and redeemer Jesus Christ. I have loved the up times and the down time. I love putting on my white shirt my tie and name-tag every day and going out looking for people that God has prepared. I love the satisfaction that I feel seeing people change and conform and obey to the commandments.

I love Mexico. They have the most genuine people in the entire world. Yes they have tons of shortcomings and things that I don't like but those things are few. I consider myself Mexican and it has been absolutely amazing to live with them for the past 2 years. The Mexican people love our Savior Jesus Christ, even though they have a different way of showing it here. They are so ready and willing to make changes in their lives, and it makes me so happy to see that the words of ancient Book of Mormon prophets are coming to pass.

I love every single one of you guys. For supporting me in the hardest 2 years of my life. Its been hard but it has blessed me more than I will ever know. I am so grateful for my loving parents who have helped me through every part of my mission experience. I have the best parents ever. best brother and sister too they have supported me endlessly too:) I really don't have to much to say other than I am super nervous to come home, but at the same time super excited to see my family and put all the things I've learned here in the mission in practice. Really has been the best 2 years of my life. 

 

A little planking and final fotos with the zone. 

Love you all 

Elder Rodabough

(102 weeks in the mission fiels) Week # 78 of posts So 2 weeks Ehhhhh???

Life is just strange right now... The fact that I now have 13 days left until I'm home didn't hit me until this weekend. Let me explain porque.

So on Saturday we had the conference with the President with like 4 zones so it was awesome. Normally I'm not to stoked about the conferences with President cause you listen for like 5 hours and President tells you how you should work, and you leave feeling somewhat crappy. But, not this time it was just really good I feel very good with how I'm ending my mission. I had a very personal experiencia. During the first months of my mission I wasted tons of the Lords time and mine. I tried having my feet in both worlds. I wasn't obeying the rules and I was trying super hard to have success as a missionary. And as I was ending the mission I was doubting that the Lord would accept my sacrifice.

In Matt 20:1-16(if you haven't read it, YOU NEED TO READ IT) is the parable of the Workers in the vineyard. President shared this account in the conference. The owner of the vineyard paid everyone the same people that worked the whole day got the same as the people that only worked a couple hours. When I share this account and meditate about it every time the Spirit testifies to me that God is happy with what Ive done. I really wish I would've worked 100 percent of the time, but I learned a great deal about who I am and what part the Atonement has in our life here on earth. 

This goes for all of you, doesn't matter whats happened in the past if you've wasted 1 month, 18 months or 18 years the lord will forgive you the same. Satan wants you to feel worthless that the changes you are making in your life don't count and that God isn't even looking or it isn't enough. It is enough and I testify that the Atonement works the same as it would for a bishop, as would it work for a drug addict of 30 years.

I know that God lives and that Christ is our Savior. He died for me and for you. Don't wait to make changes. I've made changes and it was hard but the peace I feel now. God knows us better than we know ourselves. I love you all and I will write my last letter next week. 

Love you all Elder Rody.

(100 weeks in the mission field) Week # 77 Cuantos Años Tengo Realmente

So this week in Elders Quorum I was super impacted by the lesson. The last couple of days I have really been thinking about the life I've lived thus far and what type of person I'm going to be in the future.

In Spanish when you ask someone how old they are you say "cuantos años tienes?" (how many years do you have) and people always say" I have 21 years" or whatever. But, in reality we don't have any years. We only have the amount of time that we have left to live. I feel like we focus on how much time we´ve wasted or how old we are instead of thinking about what we can do with the time we have left. 

As Priesthood holders, and all members of the church we have a huge responsibility to be worthy at all times, and to bless all around us. In my 2 years here in Mexico I have seen miracles happen on the daily, and it's opened my eyes to whats possible when we live in the moment. But, not just live in the moment, but to take advantage of every moment and live it to the fullest. 

Like I said it hit me hard and made me want to do better in my everyday life. I hope that you guys can find a way to apply it to your own lives and truly take advantage of every moment.  

 

Love Elder Rodabough  

Week 76 Miracles and more Baptisms (99 weeks in the mission field)

So our baptism was awesome with Ismael. So cool to see everything turn out. I was a little bit nervous that he hadn't stopped drinking coffee, but he hasn't for a while. He is really converted. He started crying when he got out of the water. So cool to see such a big guy cry in front of so many people. The spirit was so strong. He is really a good guy and I'm super grateful for the opportunity I have to see these miracles.

So this coming week we are going to baptize a lady named Monserrat:) her son was also going to get baptized but he isn't ready to take the commitment head on. He wants to get baptized but he doesn't want to stop smoking weed and drinking. My goal before I end is to see him get baptized cause I love the kid a lot. I can relate to him, and feel like I am here to get him baptized. But, his mom is great she is ready and will be baptized this Saturday. 

We should baptize the last 5 weeks I'm here in the mission, but we gotta keep working super hard. I am loving this area and feel so blessed to be trusted with these people in this area. We are seeing tons of fruit in the ward. The ward asistencia is going up every week and we should get to 90 this week. We started at 40... The ward is really starting to work hard and not just alone but with us. So cool. I'm hyped to see what happens these last couple weeks. Love the work and am giving it 110%. 

Love, 

Elder Rodabough

 

 

 

Week # 75 Fisico and Dread locks (98 weeks in the field)

Ward mission Leader update:

So this week we were thinking a lot about them. We decided to give them a break from their little girls, so we found a babysitter for the kids and gave them money so they could go to dinner and we bought them movie tickets to go see Jurassic world (the most romantic movie ever) to give them time to step back and see how they can have a better relationship. That all happened on Friday. Then, we had our meeting with the ward mission leader, and he and his wife looked much better. I'm sure that a dinner and a movie didn't solve all their problems, but I hope it gave them an idea of how they can follow the guidance of the prophets.

They have asked parents to take one night a week to go out and do something as a couple. Every time I think about it, it strengthens my testimony. I know that the prophets are inspired of God.

So this up coming week we are getting started with the baptisms we have lined up. The first one is a guy named Ismael. He is a physics major and is finishing his thesis on black holes. I don't know who is smarter him, or Grandpa David haha jk. But seriously so smart. At first he didn't believe in God, but he has gone to church the last 6 weeks in a row and yesterday he shared his testimony in Elders Quorum, and he knows the church is true, and that God lives. SO awesome he is like 6 foot and is a huge bear of a man. He has a huge beard and super long dreadlocks that have been growing for the past 23 years. Hes so sick. So cool to be a part of his conversion. 

I love this work and I'm so sad that it is all coming to a close. Today I started my last change. I am staying in the same area with the same companion. I love the gospel and I'm so happy that I have the opportunity of being a missionary in these last days. 

Elder Rody

Week # 74 Dreams and Interviews. (Week 97 in the field)

So this last Saturday we had interviews with Pres. Hall it was my last regular interview with him so that was weird. We joked around so much. I know I was called by revelation because of how much I've learned from president. When I look at president it makes me really think about what I want in life, and the type of discípulo (I don't know how to say that in English) I want to be.

List of important things that president says I need to do when I get home.

1. Tell my mom to find me another room in the house, so I don't fall into bad habits.

2. Tell my bishop I need a calling.

3. 30-45 min of scripture study every morning

4. Find a job that requires me to get up early in the AM

5. Give some type of service everyday.

I love interviews with president.

I had a dream Saturday night that will remain very close to my heart for a very long time. I had a dream that I was ending my mission and that I was at the airport with all the people I've taught here in Mexico, and that every single one of them was active in the church still. The joy I had in that dream was a joy that I have never felt in my life and one that I will never forget even though it came in the form of a dream. And it just makes me think of "D&C 18:15-16 "

 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

So grateful for this opportunity I've had to share the gospel for 22 months thus far. I look forward to giving it my all the last change that I have left. Like the old saying goes There is happiness in Obedience. I can testify to that cause I've lived on both sides of the spectrum and it's much better to be on the happy side.

I love you all so much, Strive to find yourself on the right side of the spectrum always.

Love Elder Rody

And always a little bit of soccer to end the week right.

Week # 73 (of posting on the blog) "Family Life" (week 96 he has been in Mexico City)

So this week was a really good week! We are finding a ton of new people to teach and it is awesome:) Me and my companion are destroying it in this area its awesome. We brought 14 people to church this week. We have found 6 new people who want to get baptized and all will be able to within 2 or 3 weeks so that's super cool. I love to see and feel the Lords hand in my daily life. He is always putting people in my path and the Spirit is always there to give the words so they can come to know the joy the gospel brings into our lives.

This week we found a lady that told us if we can heal her soul she will convert to the church. We talked with her the day after we found her, and she just bawled to us for like an hour and just explained her whole life story. She's an huérfano (idk) how to say that in English. And her kids are nuts and she just doesn't know why she cant forgive anyone. It's just a really sad thing to watch so we gave her a Book of Mormon with like 50 scriptures marked inside about forgiveness and charity and other things. Then after we left we saw her in the street, and she was crying saying she read the book and it was so beautiful and that she knows its a true book. It was so cool to see a change happen in just 1 DAY!!!!

And then last night we had our meeting with the ward mission leader and he told us he doesn't want to be the ward mission leader. He doesn't want to go to church, and he wants to leave his wife and 2 little girls. It was nuts and I wasn't gunna say anything, but then I got a prompting from the spirit super strong, and to be honest I ignored it, then it came back even stronger and I opened my mouth and the words just came spewing out and idk what I said but we all ended up crying and the ward mission leader says he is going to keep trying with his calling, and especially with his wife and family. It was so cool to see the spirit working though me to help the members. 

It's so easy to forget how hard life really is when your here in the mission, because literally I'm in a bubble and super close to my Savior. I´m protected by the rules I have, and I live off the money that I get from the church. I don't have a worry in the world. I'm sure that after the mission it will be harder than ever, BUT, I know more now than ever what it takes to keep a family together and how to check myself to see if what I'm doing is right or wrong. I will always follow the rules of the church because it is my protection, and its not going to be easy and I'm sure I will fall short sometimes, but it will protect me and it will always help me to keep my priorities straight and protect me and my family.

Choose the right always. 

Love Your Elder Rody