Monday, December 30, 2013

Christmas and Normal Stuff

Hey Everyone!

I hope yall are still full from Christmas dinners and all the festivities. I know i am.. It was such a blessing to be able to skype with the family!! even if you guys eat in front of me. thats okay.. :) 



this week really is a blur. i sit here and i cant remember much of what happened.. We had a fun time on monday night with the branch, we had a FHE activity with a family that came back to visit us. that was amazing! so much fun! It was a blast!  Christmas was amazing :) we had a great time with the Cassidy family. She cooks for an army, even though it was only 6 of us there.. haha. But that just means more for us to take home :)  Christmas night, we went over to the Alexander's home. Kenneth is such a good man. He is one of our few active Priesthood holders. and I made a decision that would change my life forever..  I had a tablespoon of a ghost pepper hot sauce and then i had a dried ghost pepper at the same time.. wow.. not such a smart idea, but hey, memories.  



on saturday, we organized a basketball game with Kenneth and some kids around. and of course, when the day comes, it starts to rain, but that didnt stop up. we pushed forward. we thought about stopping before we even started, but then it slowed down so we played.  i stepped to the side, and realized something.. i was the only white kid there.. awesome. i've gotten used to that feeling. But it was a fun time we had!  



Church on sunday was a great experience.  Cordele is a group, and we had 9 people at church. but it was amazing. I love how the spirit can just bear simple testimony of the power and truthfulness of the church.  i love reading my patriartical blessing every morning. It really helps out a lot and i have come to understand more of it, bit by bit.  It truly is inspired.  

Well, with the new year, comes new goals in life. im setting it a goal to be the best Elder Kevin Bodily in the GMM.  I love the gospel and the changing power of the Atonement in our lives.  I hope yall have a Happy New Year! 

love
Elder Bodily

Monday, December 23, 2013

I guess in light of the holiday season i should wish you all a merry christmas from the south. where there aint snow, but we are getting rain, and instead of snow, i rake leaves. 

He's still a kid at heart!


This past week was a party though. With us saying goodbye to our fellow elder that has now died. we had his funeral at district meeting. haha it was a good time.   With him going home, i was transfered to Cordele. I love it there. I already know the members so its easy to work with them. i had a testimony builder of prayer this week. i prayed for an opportunity to provide service. and lo and behold, later that day, we were going through a neighborhood and my companion stopped me and we helped a man rake his yard. now this man, he is a pastor at a baptist church down here, and the missionaries met him like a couple weeks ago. but he is super nice, after we finished he invited us in and the wife went to get food for us.. so we talked about how he got into the pastoring business and evertyhing, he is a great guy. the food came back, she got us Captain D's. Boy, that fish was so good. it made me miss Grandpa's fish and tarter sauce from back home.. oh well. but boy. my stomach wasnt too happy with me the next morning hahaha.  

We had some really good experiences finding new people this week. I love Cordele because it is in the Grid system, so it actually makes sense.. but the town doesnt have a mayor.. so weird.. haha. oh well.  we found this family, the Culpeppers.  We knocked on the door and the daughter answered, and we introduced ourselves and asked if there would be a time we could come back and share a message, she said one second. she went and got her dad, and he came out and we thought, oh boy, here we go. but then he was super nice and talked with us and told his whole family to come out and talk with us.. but it was only him his wife and daughter, than 2 younger kids, but they didnts really stay, just came out and sayd hi. but it was awesome.   

we also had a lesson with an investigator named Tomario. Man. he is so elect!!!  It sucks that he is on probation and parole, but that just means he is more spiritually strong than most people, because he has changed his life around. while we were there, he practically taught himself.. thats how powerful the spirit was and how awesome he is.  

another investigator we have is named Sister Lulu, she is a hispanic lady that would be baptised and join if there was more of a stronger youth program for her daughters.. its hard.. but she is wonderful. we go over and her husband was there, he didnt speak much english but she translated for us. but she just cooked up some tacos with shredded beef for us. boy it was delicious.. and a tomale. golly the hispanics know how to cook. everyone does. and with christmas, my companion and i are going to get fat, especially since he likes to play jokes and tell everyone that i love whatever food they cook.. so we have a possibility of like 5 dinners on christmas.. joy..  but anywho. i am excited!    

its been raining pretty hard here the past couple days. i love the rain.. 
Merry Christmas to everyone that reads this. and just remember, in light of the Holiday season. If you trust in the Lord, you will be made fat. Proverbs 28:25.
I love you!
Merry Christmas!
Elder Bodily

Kevin is on the far right.  His new companion is the one with darker skin.

Pretty sure this pic is for his buddies from home - Pipe envy?

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Week Flown By

I really don't remember what happened this past week.. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.. all I remember is Christmas parties..  


We had our zone Christmas Conference! That was a blast. It was pretty much an all day thing. We were in Columbus by 12, and then we didnt get back to our apartment till about 1030.  it felt so good though, the drive is an hour and a half. yeah.. open road and a 2014 chevy cruze.. But it was a good time. We watched Ephraim's Rescue. That movie is about the rescue of the Martin Handcart company and that whole thing.. but it was a really good movie.. and then President Cottle read us Christmas stories! yay! haha.  and then on saturday, we had our branch christmas party, "Breakfast with Santa", that was fun! i sat on santa's lap! but it was a good time. 


At the party, our branch president cooper asked if i would speak on sunday.. boy, less than 24 hours to prep, i loved it though. It got me more comfortable with christmas though. the true meaning for me.. i talked about the different memories i have and then certain things that christmas has. It was a good time.. weird that this is my first christmas away from home.. oh well. sounds like you guys are forgetting about me quickly with dad getting a dog for trevor! whats up with that?! oh well.

well, with an elder in our district going home, there was to be some changes. and im moving areas this week! Im excited for a change, but its also sad cuz its right at the holiday season.. oh well!  Its part of the life.  for anyone who would enjoy my new address it is as follows,
Elder Bodily
1018 24th Ave East Apt. B
Cordele GA 31015.
Im just moving 30 miles up the road, so its not too bad.
I hope you all have a wondeful week! 
Love,
Elder Bodily
ps. the picture of the little boy, That is Jace. He is one of my favorite kids out here! He has down Syndrome, and is one of the coolest kids in the world! 



Kevin's new hobby - taking artsy pictures of ornaments . . .


Monday, December 9, 2013

A Changing Moment

This week has flown by. We had some really great lessons. We were able to actually sit down with Otisteen and talk with him and have a lesson. The spirit was so powerful there. His biggest struggle is being around friends that smoke and they offer smokes to him and he takes them. but we really helped him out this week.  

we also had a great lesson with a less active, Bill Wisham, we had a lesson on his anniversary of his baptism, that was no coincidence. it was really powerful. he feels terrible for leaving and wants to return, but feels bad for now leaving it to come back.. crazy dude.  

anyways, life changing, humbling beyond control experience happened yesterday.. more humbling than last weeks. if no one wants to read about me watching someone practically die, don't read on... as we were leaving our apartment, I grabbed my oil off the desk, wasn't exactly sure why at the moment, but I did, as we went to our first man, Brother Smith, (different Smith family.) He has had a lot of medical issues in his life. We started right away and gave him the sacrament. as we sat down just about to talk, it happened.. his breathing went weird.... well. nvm. I don't wanna talk about the details. sorry.  but as soon as it happened, we rushed over to him, I took the oil off my shirt button and we gave him a blessing, my companions blessing, well, was by the spirit. he blessed him to be comforted and then he just stopped. and then closed the blessing.  this man's 9 yr old grandson was there and got on the phone automatically and called 911 and got the oxygen for us for him..   well the ambulance came and took him, and we, shocked, went to the Branch President's house for dinner.. after dinner we went to the hospital to find out what happened.. a nurse came out and pulled us aside and told us he didn't make it.. my heart dropped...   

It is definitely a changing moment.. The last thing this man did, was renew his baptismal covenants and received a blessing.. He is in the Lord's hands now, and that's what matters.  Its sad to see though, his family aren't members.. I am so grateful for what I know about the Plan of Salvation and how I know where he is.

A better, up beat part of this week, it was the annual Americus parade of Christmas floats. the branch did one and I was one a wiseman.. about time I am one. but it was such a fun time. good thing I was on the float, because the generater ran out of gas and so I was able to put gas in it and start it again. phew.. haha.

well. Hope ya'll had a good week! May the Lord bless you as you love for Him in all things.
love,
Elder Bodily

The tree meets his approval rating!

Look closely . . . this is really cool!

Kevin?  A Wise Man?  Well . . .  

Not sure about the guy in red and white . . . gnome or St. Nick?

What a great looking bunch of young men!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

7 Months and a lot of service!



This week was a great one. A lot happened that cant be expressed. Oh who am i kidding. of course i can express it all. IN MY JOURNAL! so ha, ya'll dont get it all. 

This week i was on exchanges with a Zone Leader, Elder Faleao. He is such a great missionary. Its awesome. He is so calm with sharing the gospel and talking with everyone. He really knows how to convey the importance of our message. We got a couple new investigators and a family! so it was fun! 

On Thursday, we helped the Pearce family move two big pianos about 20 or so miles.. It was fun! haha. 



That was pretty much an all day thing, and then on Friday we helped them out again by painting their house. They are expanding and renovating their trailor they live in, it doesnt even look like a trailer anymore. Its so much more. So we painting their whole house, in the mean time, im getting harassed cuz im a cowboys fan and they are all Steelers fans. Oh well.. but we were joking saying next month they are just going to repaint... yeah, that was on friday. Yesterday at church they said we are repainting today so we are going over to help them out. haha. Giving service is so much fun, expecially when we are able to be there when I shoot a deer! just kidding, but really. i love the south. but you really think i would shoot a deer on my mission? yeah... 




I have come to know one thing, the gospel is the same everywhere you go, and the love that it brings to families, i feel so at home with them. Its wonderful. 

Warning, I say this not to bag on anyone, just.. yeah.. hahah  On Saturday, i was having a hard morning, my thoughts were wandering, and i was sad. I went into the room and said a prayer for strength and help.  then there was a knock at the door, not 2 minutes later,  a 15 year old girl was there and passing around Jehovah's Witness pamphlets. I nicely declined and closed the door. went back down and laughed. I guess my life could be worse, so my day got better after that. ahah.

I love this gospel and the opportunities and blessings that missionary work bring to our lives. 
Love yall.
Elder Bodily

ps. those are our chickens from a couple weeks ago! and the boy 10 year old boy in that picture is actually the one who shot the deer.. :( 





A Trio, Thanksgiving, and a Trip to the ER

What a week it has been. Its just been so powerful really to give thanks for everything. That was a challange from our mission president to say at least one prayer a week just giving thanks, and it really helped me out a lot. 

We had a lot of good experiences this week. I shall start with our experience Monday night. We went to a members home so that Elder Cawley could say goodbye to them. Well, they were fixin up some squirrel and dinner. Oh boy it was good. not gunna lie. gotta love the south. 



On Tuesday It was transfers and i found out my new companion! and i got 2 of them! Its exciting. Elder Call is right from the MTC and from Butte Montana, and then Elder Lynch from Pheonix AZ. Its a blast. I really am excited to work with them.  

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had dinner at the Hayes' sisters' home. They are wonderful. They are such good cooks. I really ate so much. I have lost my appetite a little i think. its scaring me.. oh well..  






Thursday night we also swung by our investigator Otisteen's house. His wife fixed up some boxes for us.  On Friday, we were out visiting some people, and we stopped by a less actives house. we got there, and the wife was on the phone, she is related to otisteen's family. well, his wife's family. yeah. their families are all connected.. anyways, she tells us that Liz, Otisteen's wife was in the ER. she had an asthma attack and went down hill. we were visiting with the family and my comp. elder call, the greenie, said that we should go and see her. but we continued to talk a little, then a couple minutes later, we got a call from a grandkid of theirs. so then we took off. as we were leaving, elder call expressed his emotions and how he prayed for another way to come that we might go. and it did! wow.. so we went and she was in the er. they whole family was pretty much there in the waiting room.. but we went in and gave her a blessing.. it was so powerful.. i love the priesthood., the next morning, we get another call from a son of Liz and Otisteen, and said she was in the CCU and wanted us to come by, so we did. They were pulling the tubes out and she was doing better, we gavve her another blessing and then talked with the family. but what touched me the most, was after church on Sunday, we went over on behalf of our branch president, but like 10 other people were walking in as we pulled up, it was cool. so we went and talked to her, and then we talked with her, and she said something so powerful. She was sitting in a chair and alert. With otisteen right there and all of us, she said I know that God has let me live more so that Otisteen can get baptized and we can go to the temple.. WOW! so powerful. Otisteen is close, so close to quitting smoking. i hope this kicks him into gear.   

And last night, we were up in Colombus for a Stake Christmas Musical program. I sang in our branches choir, that was a good feeling.. Its weird to think that two years ago, i was in Washington DC for Close-Up at the NAtional Cathedral at the First Christmas Advent.. crazy how time flies.. 

hope everyone has a good week!

Elder Bodily

Trevor sent a package to Kevin all on his own . . .

he included Kevin's Dallas Cowboys' Christmas hat!  Apparently, Kevin appreciated the gift!