Let the feasts begin and a kidnapped investigator!

This week was an amazing one! And that isnt even including the 2 feasts we already had Saturday and Sunday!  We had one in Cordele, where a group extention of our branch meets. its 30 miles away. That was a fun time, so many people in a small house haha. and then on Sunday, the 15 Cordele members came and surprised us in Americus and after church we had a big feast. That was a good time! Even though some of the less actives only came for the food, they were touched by the spirit. no doubt about it. especially when the primary sings "My Savior's Love" and then 2 missionaries bear their testimonies. It was so powerful.  

We had transfer calls on Saturday and found out that my companion and 1 of the elders in Cordele are being transferred. So its an exciting time. 

Tuesday we had district meeting. One of the elders, who goes home in 3 weeks, gave a training on what he was going to do when he gets home.. oh boy.. haha. Romans 16:16. It was great.

After district meeting though, we had a great experience. we were driving back to the apartment, when we saw a gator we hadn't seen in awhile, so we flipped a u-turn and stopped and talked with him. apparently he had been kidnapped and assaulted by some white guys. We were shocked. so we then went by his apartmenton friday. We caught him. such a miracle. He let us in, and we talked... He was supposed to be somewhere a half hour earlier, but decided to stay home.  He said, "God sure does work in mysterious ways." 

Now some background on James Dodson. He is an older black gentlemen, who is practically homeless and washes windows on cars at a local gas station.. He is so humble. He hardly had anything in his apartment, too.. But as we talked, he spoke gently, but so powerful. he said how it must be gods will that this happened. that it is part of God's plan for him. He has no hard feelings against the men. Which is amazing! As we were leaving, he said come back as often as you can.. He is great. Now he just needs to gain a more solid testimony. 

i sure am excited for this week! Thanksgiving in the South! Oh boy.. haha.  Pecan pies all over the place!  And Dad, you should be proud, i threw together one of those orange fruit salads! it was quite good!   

That is cotton bales. So much money right there.. 

and then there is me and Bowen at the feast.. He is so funny. 

I love you all! 

Elder Bodily

Just another week flown by!

Its easy to feel happy and content on the mission when you have some of the most beautiful scenery around.  Saturday night, we had one of the most beautiful red skies i have ever seen. Cameras cant really capture the beauty of it all.  Saturday was just a great day.  Our plans in the morning all fell through, but we kept pushing trying to talk to people. No avail. So we decided to head up the a members home and help get their son more prepped for his mission when he graduates. we get there and we play some bball with the younger boys and Elder Cawley talks to him, Garrett about PMG and studying "The Doctrine of Christ" In the book of mormon.  He then asks us if we could help with some service that night. we said sure. as we were about to head off, he gits in his truck and takes off. then his family comes out. yeah, he was off to be a friend's sidekick at a cheer competition. haha. but we had a great time. we filled like a 50 foot Uhaul. so much stuff. it took practically all day.. 8 hours.. haha. oh well. it was good. HA! yeah, this member, he gave us a full box of clay pigeons and a thrower.. not sure what we are going to do yet. maybe make friends with our neighbor.. 

we had an amazing lesson with Otisteen Smith this week. We talked about the power of prayer in helping him  quit smoking. Its was a good lesson. its awesome to have like our whole branch helping out, because practically all of them have been inactive for a while and then come back, and practically all of them have smoked before, so it helps Otisteen out a lot.

Well. i guess thats it for this week. Just another week in the life of a missionary.. 

I suppose i'll end with a quote by President Kimball. 

"How can you say the door cannot be opened until your knuckles are bloody, till your head is bruised, till your muscles are sore? It can be done."  

This can apply to anything in life! 

i love you all.

Elder Bodily

I have no idea . . .  Guesses, anyone?

Somebody's pet?  It is Georgia, ya' know.

Beautiful Georgian sunset!

Happy Elder with new toys - clay pigeons!

"If only . . ." he's thinking!

Mission humor!

Chicken Farm and Mtn. Dew

This past week made me realize something, time is flying. Wow. Halloween this transfer, and then next transfer we have thanksgiving and christmas! wow. 

This week we had some great experiences of finding some new people. we cant quite call them new investigators yet, but they are hopefuls! We are excited! 

Last tuesday we went out and helped our Branch President on his farm. They were getting chickens. He raises them for Wendy's and Tyson. Oh it was fun! haha. He said that we moved 23 Thousand chickens! It was amazing. We helped with his family and other friends. Our president's brothers and father arent members, but they are open to us. kinda. haha. dont wanna be taught, but they are friendly. I think that this softened their hearts.  Their dad called our president up really early the next morning, he was so concerned that he needed to pay us! The blacks down here dont really understand the concept of Service.. its for free! i was just thankful when he oped the cooler full of drinks and there were no beers but there was mtn dew.. oh boy.. 

Halloween was a party.. not.  we had to be at the apartment at 6 pm. wow. downtown Americus was poppin. kids and their parents everywhere. There is a main road called South Lee. Everyone and their dogs were walking down it trick or treating.  It was crazy.. gotta love the south. i had my window down and there was a black kid walking on one side of the road, and then on the other, a guy dressed up as Lucifer. So.. the boy yelled, "Lucifer! Mah Niggah!"  oh boy, i couldnt stop laughing.. 

i suppose i should end on a spiritual note.. Im reading through President Kimball's book, The Miracle of Forgiveness. It is so powerful. I love it. I try to apply something i learn everyday to someone i meet. 

I hope all is well back home. I love you all! 

love,

elder bodily