9 Months Wahoo

Whats up fam? I hope all is well. I still love being a missionary and I love my area and my companion and just everything. 🙂 Plus I've finally been able to email my mom so BLESSINGS!!! Isn't she just amazing? 🙂

The beginning of this week was kind of slow but then Wednesday came. Lemme tell ya. We had dinner at 6:30 in Radford (VA) and it takes us 30 minutes to travel from Dublin to Radford. So it was 5:30 and we already tried all of the people we could think of so what do we do? Tract. That's right folks. We started tracting and nothing happened and it was going to take us about 10 minutes to go back to our car and it was like 5:45 so we decided to knock on one more house. We knocked and this crazy dog runs up against the screen door and starts barking SO loud I thought it would burst though the door and eat us. But then this older lady comes to the door and starts telling us how she is a Southern Baptist and how she ONLY reads from the Bible and that she wasn't really interested. We hear that like 7/10 door approaches and we learned that we just testify hard core. So we did. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and then we got into the Plan of Salvation. She began to ask really deep doctrine questions about the Millennium and all that jazz, we testified more. We noticed that her heart began to be softened and she excepted a Book of Mormon, we left her with Alma 40 to read and we are going to teach her again on Wednesday! I can't wait I am so excited! People are so amazing here.

To my fellow missionaries I would like to share something that my Mission President shared in his email. He shared the scripture in Matthew 15 about the Disciples giving the multitude the 7 loafs of bread and a few little fishes. President said that Jesus only asked for the loafs of bread but the Disciples gave Him the 7 loafs of bread AND a few little fishes. They gave Jesus everything they had and because of that, Jesus took what they had and turned it into a miracle into the multitude. We need to be like this as missionaries. We need to give everything we've got into this missionary service. This includes the members of the church as well. We are ALL responsible for doing missionary work. I know that if we seek out an opportunity to share the gospel, Heavenly Father will give us that opportunity, even if he people say no, Heavenly Father will still consecrate our efforts for trying. I know that doing missionary work will bless the lives of those around us and because of that we will be able to bring our brothers and sisters unto salvation.

This week Sister Van Tassell gave me french chocolate and then later Sister Niel gave us European chocolate. Chocolate from other countries is truly a blessing lol.

On Thursday we had a scripture study in Radfod, we normally don't go unless we have an investigator that is going to be there. This week Sister Bandy (our 80 year old German Investigator) came with her friend Sharlet (I don't know how to spell that name lol). The scripture study was spiritual and great. The adventure however, came after the scripture study. We where traveling back to Pulaski (where our home is) and we just casually got 2 flat tires along the way. No one got hurt or anything but we pulled over into a low-key sketchy gas station and they said that there might be a leak in two of her tires. So what they did was they pumped air into them. They pumped 50 (literally 50) pounds of air into the tires when the tires where only suppose to get 32 pounds. So we had to deflate it a little. And then we made it safely home...at 9:30pm. Its all good though. Car problems are not fun, right Sister Van? 😉

We had interviews on Friday, that was awesome, I love President Lindhardt. Then we went to Panda Express (blessed).

Sunday was super duper awesome. Relief Society was my favorite because Sister Kimble taught the lesson! She is a super fun, outgoing and talks really fast kind of lady. Her lesson was based off the talk by Elder Bednar called 'Return and Receive' Her main focus though was making goals and plans. She said that our goal should be to return to live with Heavenly Father and to receive blessings of making and keeping covenants. Our goal should not be to get married or to have a good education. Those are short term goals. Our goal should not be to be perfect either, sorry but that just isn't going to happen. We need to do what we need to do in this life so that we can return to live with Heavenly Father. Whether that is reading the Book of Mormon or going to the temple. Whatever it is, do it.

Sorry for the super long letter. I love you all so much and thank you for all of the love and prayers you have given me.

Love always,
Sister Rodabough

Mission Wide Meeting

Okay so first of all we are going to be gathering as a MISSION! We are going to have a conference with Quentin L. Cook. (Read that last sentence again). Guys, I can't wait. Our mission (the West Virginia Charleston Mission) is the biggest mission globally, so the fact that we are gathering as a mission in Charleston is huge. There is going to be a lot of missionaries haha. I have waited my whole life to be able to meet a member of the 12. And now I only have to wait till September 9 haha. Another cool thing is that he (Elder Cook) CHOSE to come here on that day and time. It is on a weekend so he can do whatever he want but he chose to come to my mission! We unfortunately are not aloud to take pictures with him (sorry mom). But I'm still just as excited! Blessed.

Here are the highlights

On Monday (PDAY) we played chair soccer with our district and I am starting to LOVE soccer! It is so much fun! Sister Van Tassell (my companion) accidentally hit Sister Lambert (my best friend) on the head with the ball. It was so funny but sad at the same time. Good thing she is a tough girl and that it was only a four square ball and not a soccer ball lol. We also had dinner with the Morgans (my favorite family) so that was quite fun.

On Thursday we had dinner with the Smiths! They are a middle aged couple and they told us all about their trip to Africa. Thats the sad part about being a missionary is that people tell you about all of the adventures and vacations they have and your like, "I can't even leave this small town for the next 3 months...." But all is well because we have our whole lives ahead of us! So when I get back the Fab 5 (my group of friends) is going to go to Africa and Paris and California and New Hampshire and Hong Kong:)

Saturday was a good day. A while ago we got a referral from a member and they wanted us to go see a Less Active member of the ward named Sister Greene. We planed a dinner appointment with Sister Greene (the Less Active Member) and the Vances (the Active Members). We where expecting it to be a casual dinner and have hot dogs or something. Nope. They fed us five star Mexican food (my most favorite) and you know it was fancy because they had appetizers. The appetizers where those mini hot dogs wrapped in bacon and spinach tarts. Super fancy huh? It was also fancy because their house was like 15 years old but they still made it look contemporary and they had cool platters and plates. It was just so fun. Also in their back yard they had a big piece of wood with an ax stuck in the middle and I was like "Um What?" But they said that they just practice throwing axes so that's dope. Super fun day.

On Sunday (yesterday) Sister Morgan spoke in sacrament meeting! She talked about living within our means. It went along really well with the new Self Reliance Program! She talked about the following:"Money itself is not evil, its the love of money that is evil. We should not confuse our wants with our needs. Do not spend money upon that which is of no worth (that is somewhere in the book of Jacob) Do not spoil children. Simply teach them to deny themselves. Live modestly. Spend less then you receive and save. Be generous to others. Give more than we can spare."

Brothers and Sisters, I cannot express my love enough for this Gospel. I know that it is what brings true happiness to our souls. I know that we always need to rely on Christ and we need to have unshaken faith in Him. I know that missionary work is the most important work we can do. I am grateful for this time I have to be a missionary. I am grateful for trials because they make me stronger. I am grateful for a loving family and wonderful friends.

Thank you all for your constant love and support. Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Rodabough

All we do is FIND FIND FIND

Whats up family? I sure hope all is well back in Utah (and NM). I am so thrilled to see all of my best friends and cousins serving missions. Its truly the best isn't it?

This week was super slow at first but at the end of the week we found a total of 6 new investigators! I am so excited that the work is progressing here in Dublin. The people here are amazing. They are mostly crazy but still amazing. They will offer us water and food all the time. I have never been rejected in a rude way on my mission. Yeah, they are that nice.

Here are the highlights of the week:

Tuesday: We had our first Zone Conference with President Lindhardt and wow I just love him so much. He is SO funny. President Lindhardt and President Salisbury are two completely different Mission Presidents but its cool because they hold the same keys and the same love for us. I am so grateful to have two different Mission Presidents. At Zone Conference I learned that I really need to do better at being bold. Because as a missionary you can't be a softie about things. You have to tell people that, "We are the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and we share a message that this is Jesus' full and true gospel on this earth and that this church had been restored through a Modern-Day Profit named Joseph Smith..." And then they will feel the Spirit and be baptized. Simple huh? (um no)

Wednesday: We have Sister Bandy (our German investigator) her German Book of Mormon and she is SO excited to read it! We also found Jamie and she is a new investigator. She has cancer so she is kind of depressed but good thing that this gospel is a message of peace and hope right? She said that she would continue to learn if her husband approves...:/ 

Thursday: We had a rockin companionship study where we role played door approaches. It was a lot of fun because we would dress up and pretend to be a different person each time we would knock on the door. It was lots of fun:)

Sunday: We had an awesome Sabbath. In Sacrament meeting, Brother McCoy gave a talk about faith and here are some things that stuck out to me: "Faith with out works is dead. True faith is focused in and on our Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to action. The great test of this life is obedience." After church we went out and found 5 other investigators. They are all so prepared and ready to hear the gospel.

I love you all so much. Thank you for your continued love, prayers and support. Also welcome home Sister Frame! I love and miss you!

Love,

Sister Rodabough

Best Week Ever!

So...where to start. First of all, hello! This week was a BLAST! Lemme tell ya.

On Saturday we had a fire with the Morgans and we had marshmallows and hot dogs...all the good stuff. It was so much fun. I also got a much needed Priesthood blessing and that helped me a lot. I am so grateful to have access to the Priesthood even as a missionary away from home. 

Today at 8:00 we went FISHING!!! It was so perfect because it was raining and warm. It was so much fun! I only caught one fish but hey that's still pretty good. Then I gutted it and cut it head off and all of that cool stuff. It was such a good time. After we went fishing we went up to Sister McCoy's house and she fed us amazing Mexican food! We had this thing called Mexican cactus. Holy cow best food ever. I have had so many fun adventures as a missionary. The members just spoil us and its so fun.

We also had exchanges this week! I went with Sister Allen and she is just an amazing human. And I already asked if she was related to my Allen's in Utah and she said that she is not because she is from Arizona. It was so fun because we found them 3 investigators and Sister Van Tassell found 2 investigators! It has been a fun fun week!

Wow I just don't know what to talk about now...awkward..the weather here is nice...rainy and warm. Just nice...

So we recently found an investigator named Sister Miller and she is so dope! She is really excited to read the Book of Mormon and she knows to only ask God about truth which is a blessing because that means she wont be looking on google about Mormons (don't do that kids). We have not been able to meet with her sense because she has a busy work schedule however, in due time the Holy Ghost shall convert her.

I just love being a missionary. It is the best time of my life by far. I have learned so much already and I've only been out for almost 7 months. It is also the hardest thing I've ever done. I am grateful that it is hard because it wouldn't be as fun without the challenging times. I just love every part of this work. I am especially grateful for a wonderful supporting family that I have. Thank you for all of the love, prayers and kindness you have given me.

I hope y'all have a great week!
Love always,
Sister Rodabough