Another week of listening to the Spirit ~

Hey yall. 

It was a quick week here. not too much happened. on tuesday the Zone leaders came down and did exchanges with us. so one came with us, and one went with the spanish elders.  We had a really good day! crazy how that happens.. the zone leader was wanting to keep it interesting and us in good spirits so we decided to have a "crazy contact", well, a lesson with a less-active family fell through and so we decided to try the house across the cul-de-sac, and a lady answered it, and the words just flowed from my mouth, "hey ma'am, we've got an awkward question for ya.. could we use your bathroom?"  and she let us in! by the way, yes, we were being serious! the zone leader needed to. and so it led to a really nice contact of a young family. She wasnt too interested as she goes to CBC, but it was very nice of her, to be so trusting! 

Also this week, we were able to help out again at Stop Hunger Now! This time it was at the high school, and a lot smaller scale. we only packed 10,000 meals, instead of 40,000. It was fun though. A member, who is a senior, was kinda putting it on! It was real neat.  

On friday night, we had a member come out with us, Ian, he has his mission call and leaves in 20 some odd days. We had an incredible lesson with Bellinda. We started off just talking about life and stuff going on, and it fit perfectly into the Restoration and how this gospel truly blesses families. she has 4 teenagers and one of them is being difficult so we were all able to bear testimony that it gets better! all of her questions fit perfectly with the lesson. unfortunately she didnt make it to church.. sad day.  church was awesome. both sessions! haha. On Parris Island, our numbers were small. we got 4 new recruits in sneakers.. meaning first week here. 2 of them are members. one of them is originally from Russia, so lately i have been speaking in a russian accent.. ahha. its awesome!! 

In Beaufort, we got a new bishop. The ward is really excited. after church we had some good times. it was getting late, real dark and raining hard and so we went to visit a less-active family. the son wasnt there, but the mom was. she answered it and you could tell she wasnt feeling too good. but as she talked with us, my heart was touched. she said that whenver she is feeling sick or not good, the missionaries always end up showing up! and how that it always is so special to her, and then she asked us to continue to try and work with her son, who i've met before, who just recently accepted a scholarship to Coker College her in SC to play lacrosse!!  and as we stood there in the rain talking to her, we ended with a prayer and she was in tears.. I just love this gospel.  

As we were heading back towards the apartment to try some investigators, a thought came to my head to go to another less-active's house. i hadnt met him before so i was a little nervous, but we went. as we knocked, he yelled, "who's there?" and i said, "the missionaries" and when he opened the door he was trying to act tough, asking why we were out that late in the dark and that neighborhood, and all i said was, hey brother hampton.  and he changed and was like, oh hey guys, come on in! haha. it was really neat. so for the next hour, we talked with him and worked on a puzzle. 

I have grown to love listening to the spirit.. I know thats a weird saying as a missionary, cuz I should be used to it, but it never gets old! 

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! It really is a special time. 

Mom, send pictures of the family :)

I love you all!

Elder Bodily

Send Real Letters, Please!

Hey yall. 

Mom you're making me sad with the pictures of snow! but thats okay! i love it.  the weather is starting to turn south here too.. thats alright though. i enjoy it. 

this week went by really quick. we had a couple days of meetings so that probably added to it. tuesday we had our regular interviews with President Cottle. That was fun. our ward mission leader drove us all over to Rincon (about an hour away). it was a good time. In our interview, president cottle pulled out the M word on me. Marriage.. come on! i got 5 months left! Aint nobody got time for that! but it was a good laughing time. he said i'd get more of it when i came into the mission home.. ahhh... not too excited about that. haha.  

on thursday we had our monthly zone training meeting. it was in hilton head. that was just a normal meeting except for the fact that Elder Turnbull (one of the spanish elders) and i did a skit on weekly planning using Harry Potter as our theme.. it wasn't as good as our Lord of the Rings one,, but i still enjoyed it! haha. 

on friday i learned a new trade. we helped put in a new dishwasher for a recent convert. that was really fun. it was only supposed to take about an hour.. 2 at the most.. well, 4 hours later, we got it figured out. the simple things never are that simple. always something that has to go wrong..  it was a very neat experience though. we grew close to the member helping us. that has been one of my favorite things from the mission, being able to see people as God sees them, His children. and being able to understand people's emotions and knowing how to help them..  really not much happened this week though.   

ah! the holidays are coming up.  President Cottle has asked that all holiday packages, if they are to be delivered before Christmas, need to be at the mission home by Dec 6. we have transfers Dec 9, and then Christmas conferences after that, but to be safe,, get it there early. and i dont know what is going to happen with transfers, so send it to the mission home address.. its my last christmas!! i cant believe it.. i love you all.  but if you feel so inclined to send me anything, letters would be nice, i will add our address here too. :) it was pretty funny this week, it was elder newby's birthday on saturday.. yeah he got 3 packages and like 15 letters.. it made us all feel like the dirt, even though it was his birthday hahah. 

mission home:

Elder Kevin Bodily

400 Northside Crossing

Macon GA 31210

now:
Elder Bodily

2205 Southside Blvd Apt 11B

Port Royal SC 29935

i love yall!
elder bodily

More with the Marines!

hey yall. as usual, words can't begin to describe how this week went. we said goodbye to the George's on Tuesday.  It was super sad.. I don't know what we are going to do now.. they helped us out so much!! definitely gunna miss them.  

Throughout the week, elder burgess and i have been working on finding more people to teach. we had quite a few good experiences with that.  On Friday we had the graduation of our now Marines.  it was so great.  as we were sitting there, a man came up to us and asked if we were the ones who had baptized Hammann, we said that we were. This man is in the Bishopric up in Wilmington, and also the father of the girlfriend, which we didn't know about!  haha. it was cool. Then he asked me if i was related to any bodily's up there, i said somehow because of the boat from South Africa, well he said, oh yes, we've heard of the boat! haha. it was cool. 

On Saturday we helped out with one of the teacher's eagle scout projects (i'll get pictures from that later.)  it was fun though! the sand gnats bit up my arms though.. it was crazy.. on 

Sunday was definitely a changing point on my mission.  As 7:30 a.m. rolled around, we were getting ready to leave for church on Parris Island, well our bishop called and said that the Mock's, who are the group leaders for the recruits, were caught behind a wreck on a bridge and had to turn around and go the long way around. so we were kinda nervous. we got over there and set everything up and I conducted the meeting. It was a humbling experience. as brother mock got there right before the sacrament, he still had me conduct. he gave the closing talk and expressed how the church is set up in such a way that a meeting can always be held by the power of the priesthood. it bore testimony to me that this church is true cuz without the priesthood power, nothing could be done correctly.  It was very powerful. 

As we ended all of church there, we went to the Beaufort ward, where President and Sister Cottle were speaking! We walked in after the sacrament, and he kind of eyed us down as we walked in and sat down.  After the meeting though, Sister Cottle came up to us and apologized that they didn't come to Parris Island!  So they did know why we were late!  haha I wasn't scared.  After church we ate dinner with them and the Clancy's. It was wonderful! Pulled pork and mac n cheese.. my two favorites..  

so yeah. this week was great.. i love you all! 
elder bodily

New Week. New Changes.

I cant believe that it is November now.. where is time going?  

On Monday we did a lot of running around and saying goodbye to people for Elder Ah Fook. It also gave me time to burn some pants finally! I cant believe that 18 months has flown by.  

Tuesday came and went. That 3 hour ride to Macon from Beaufort is so long.. haha. especially with 4, well 5 guys and 2 sets of luggage, in a tiny jeep! oh well. haha.  At transfer meeting, it was a reunion of the family. There are 5 generations now in the mission! From one man! I cant believe it. My 'father', Elder Meiling, goes home end of December, and he just got his great-great-grandson! I'm getting old..   

My new companion is Elder Burgess! He has been out about 3 months. Oh how I remember those days.. haha. so long ago. I am excited though. He is a great missionary. We have opposite teaching techniques, so it fits perfect, I talk a lot, and he will listen to the spirit and ask amazing questions or say something to bring the spirit. It's worked so well this week.  

Thursday, we had a great lesson with a lady out on her porch waiting for a ride. Patricia was very interested in the Book of Mormon and how it testifies of Jesus.  "Oh you can never have too much Jesus in your life!"   

Friday we had to be in early for Halloween. Boo.. literally.. but we were invited by a family to go over and enjoy in some chili and pumpkin carving before! It was so fun. Reminded me of home a lot! We always have chili on Halloween! But this time no bread bowls. oh well! haha. 

Sunday was amazing as always. We have 3 new people in our district. 2 elders and 1 sister. and all of us went out to Parris Island. Services with the Recruits is always a spiritual time.. We had 8 male recruits graduating this week and 2 females.  Testimony meeting was so powerful. It's amazing to see, even the nonmembers get up and talk about them coming to know God and his love for them.  The weather took a cold turn Saturday morning.. it felt so good though. It hasn't really gotten above 65. I love it! 

well, have a good week yall. 

Elder Bodily

A New Hair-Do and Trunk or Treat

This week was a good one to end the transfer on! We had a lot going on that kept us busy and not thinking about the Saturday Night phone call.

Friday was the ward trunk or treat party. That was an amazing activity! i did a new hairdue for it.. haha :)  a lot of investigators came out to it and enjoyed it! also a lady came that no one knew, but when someone went to buy MORE hotdogs and hamburger meat, they invited her and she showed up! but left before we could catch her again. all the missionaries were the judges for the bake-off.. so pretty much we gotta taste-test the desserts before anyone else. i gained about 5 pounds.. so much good food. i also made that orange coolwhip fruit salad that dad would always make! it was a hit. apparently they call it "orange fluff", i barely got any. the bowl was scrapped clean haha.  

 

on saturday there was a wedding in the ward. it was a very cool experience. the ceremony was held outside and then the reception inside. it was my first time to a hispanic wedding. and it was entertaining! haha. though noone brought the booze.. most everyone was members haha.  the sand gnats are out and in force.. dang. they are annoying. they bite and leave marks.. they dont swell up like mosquito bites, but they are there, nonetheless.   

Saturday night we had the phone call and found out that Elder Ah Fook is going to be transfered and im going to stay here atleast another transfer. i am excited. 

Sunday was a good way to end the week. We had a baptism on parris island! it was amazing as always. next week, Brother Hammann is getting the priesthood and then graduating!  its always sad to see them go. 

Sunday at church was incredible. We knew that we were going to get a new bishop, and at the end of sacrament meeting, bishop gave his talk. I was sitting up on the stand behind because the ward choir (yes im singing here..) sang Called To Serve, but i was able to see everyones faces and their reactions. it was very spiritually.. he was very humble about the whole thing. he has been called to serve in the South Carolina Columbia Temple Presidency. He has been bishop here twice, for a total of 14 years. 8 years this last time.. it was very touching. 

the rest of sunday we spent saying goodbye to people for elder ah fook. it was a full day.. haha. 

ah. also this week i finished the book of mormon for the 4th time on my mission.. i cant express how powerful the book of mormon is.. i know that it is true. i love it.  

i love you all! 
elder bodily
 

im gunna send another email of some photos of the stop hunger now and also a photo shoot we all did with a member here awhile back!

Stop Hunger Now and Baptism

what a week it has been. I dont even know where to begin! it has been amazing. on thursday and friday we were helping out at a local school where a couple members work, Riverview Charter School, we volunteered at a Stop Hunger Now drive. it was incredible. a big truck brought all the supplies, dried soy, dried veggies, rice and other things, and throughout the day on friday students from the school measured, filled, and sealed the bags, and all the missionaries were at the recieving spot and we put them all into boxes. it was amazing. each bag was 6 meals, and we filled enough for 40,000 meals!! it was huge! the drive was so organized and went smoothly. it was great. 

after all that on friday we rushed over to parris island because the sisters were teaching one of the recruits with special permission and elder haynie interview her. there was supposed to be 2 that came to be interviewed for baptism, but she couldnt come at that moment. she chose me to baptize her, because i demonstrated how to do it with one of the other elders. (unknowing to her, i had never baptized anyone before!!)  that night i was pacing back and forth so much.. i was nervous! i prayed for help and strength. i was able to fall asleep not too late. come sunday morning, we all went out to parris island. the other girl came and was taught by the girl that was able to make it, and was interviewed before services, the sister missionaries were planning on that, so they had clothes for her too. it was an amazing experience.. standing in the water for the first time baptizing someone.. it was very powerful. i was nervous that i wouldnt say the words correctly or not get them all the way under, but as it happened, i know i wasnt alone as i did those baptisms. the Spirit took over. It was so amazing. before we went into the other room, an investigator of the sisters, who is a drill instructor, walked into our room. the room went quiet and the recruits attitudes kinda changed. but when they saw him all friendly to us, they eased up a bit. It was great..  during sunday school, one of the male recruits we have been working with, was interview for baptism and, at first asked another recruit to baptize him, but he is only a deacon, not a priest yet. and so he then chose me to do it.  once again, i was humbled..  i love the marine recruits so much.. 

also this week, the spanish elders play volleyball in ridgeland (about 30 minutes away) with their spanish branch members and some of the english ward members. they play every tuesday and thursday, and a week ago, a local high school girls team went over and invited them to play them so they could prepare for state! so this picture is of them playing at the high school, where they played at. to say the least,, these missionaries and 40 yr olds kicked some butt haha. 

this week was, like i said, it was amazing.. words really cant describe everything, and im sure i've forgotten stuff, but at least i have my journals to read it over and over..   i hope yall have a good week!

Elder Bodily

Blood Moon and a Marine Graduate

I really dont know where to begin with this week.. It was all over the place.. good and the bad of everything.  

Tuesday morning we got a call from a less-active, saying that her nephew, Don, was in the hospital, and that they found a brain tumor.. it put a damper on our spirits.. so we went and visited them. he was still himself. We gave him a blessing.. he is only 31.. it was very heartbreaking, but as of today, he is out of the hospital, and they did surgery and removed 85 percent of it. so that was amazing to hear. 

Wednesday morning there was a blood full moon with an eclipse. it was awesome. 

 Thursday we had zone training meeting in Hilton Head. Us four elders were asked to do a training on proper etiquite while eating and visiting members. it was awesome!! we did it lord of the rings themed. its too big or i'd send it home.. 

Friday we went to the graduation of one of our recruits, that was such an awesome thing to witness again. someone i have seen change so much, and now he is a United States Marine. 

Saturday we had a mini mission with one of the Priests in the ward.. that was awesome. our priests name was Landon Morgan. In the morning we walked around the farmers market here. that was awesome.  afterwards we helped a guy in the ward move and then after we went and visited some people and ate dinner at the 2nd councilors house.  throughout the day i felt it could have been a lot better, like we didnt do a whole lot to show him about a mission. but Sunday, after parris island, we made it back just in time to hear him get up and bear his testimony.. it was very touching.. He got a lot more out of it than i realized. 


Sunday at parris island was incredible, once again.. Elder Turnbull came over with me. sacrament and Sunday school was just amazing. after church. recruit hammann came up to us and it made everything worth while. he said that he had thought about joining the church after boot camp, but he realized that he shouldnt put it off.. he is going to get baptized in two weeks.. Words cannot describe how i felt..  not too mention that it was my half birthday. :)  

this morning we hit up the beach to catch the sunrise.. it was pretty awesome.

anywho, i love you all.  
elder bodily