A De-sanctified Catholic Church and a Baptism!

hey yall! 

this week was great. last monday we had a great p-day. we went up to Augusta and walked around downtown and the river walk, and then got a tour of a de-sanctified Catholic church. That was incredible. 

the rest of the week was pretty regular, nothing too huge.  we spent quite a bit of time tracting and trying to find new investigators to teach. 

we had a neat experience on friday. i was on lds.org maps and i saw a name of a lady in a neighborhood we had previously tracted. At that particular house before was a middle 20's poly guy who was high. haha. this time, it was a lady who was so happy to see us. she is a member and has been out in hawaii for a couple months. she is connected with some other polynesians we know in the area and the other elders have been working with. well i asked her if she knew a polynesian family down in Hinesville. Oh she was smiling! She definitely knew them! We talked for like 10 minutes about them and how i served down there almost 2 years ago, and she stopped, looked at me and said "I knew you looked familiar!" wow.. she had been down there when i was down there! she asked about the luau they had, and i said i got transferred right before it. It was so wonderful to find a connection like that.  

Saturday was a beautiful day. We had transfer calls, and I will be staying in the Waynesboro ward for my last 6 weeks. I am excited! lets just say, The masters is the last weekend of my mission :)  

We had the baptism of a young large black family in Waynesboro that another set of missionaries have been working with. we have 3 sets in this ward. Its going to be great for the ward cuz they live in the town of Waynesboro. So incredible. On Sunday, the other set of missionaries had a baptism of a 12 year old they have been working with!  That was great too. The work is really moving forward in this ward. Everyone is excited! in a week we had 6 baptisms in the ward!  

well everyone.   i love yall!    have a good week! 
elder bodily

Walk around Augusta downtown ~

A Baptism, a Nuclear Plant, and Pigs.

Hey yall! 

It was a good week. A couple highlights from this week were a trip we took to Macon on Wednesday! President is starting a new thing with the greenies and trainers where they go to the mission home and get trainings. It was a good time. It helped my companion out a lot to see all the missionaries he came out with! I was the oldest missionary there.. more and more often there are times where I realize how much time I have left and it scares me! no bueno..  

On Friday we had a neat experience. we were out and about, it was a slow day, and I remembered in conversation with someone last week about a member who lived in a certain house. Well we drove past that house and saw some people going up the ramp into the house, so we pulled over and got the roster out and looked them up. Bingo! It was a lady in her late 70's and her daughter that lived with her. I knew that she was on dialysis throughout the week so before we went in, I told Elder Sutton to make sure he had his oil on him. As we went in we talked for a bit, it was wonderful. I just love visiting old people.. come to find out she had a heart attack 2 weeks ago, and still is on dialysis, so she asked for a blessing! It was just a wonderful feeling to know that I listened to the spirit. 

Saturday we spent most of the day at the horse ranch helping out!  2 of the other elders came with us. One of them had actually met the lady who runs the place before! Small world, she apparently had a Mormon boyfriend up in new Hampshire where she came from.. crazy! But we built us a horse corral! I was impressed! usually you put 4, 20ish year olds on a job and it won't get done, but it was awesome! She was very impressed also.  It just felt so good to be out there and working hard... getting muddy and horse poo all over, and pig blood! (sorry for the graphic words haha) One of the pigs was pregnant and about to pop! So we had to wrangle her up! That was fun! haha. 

Golly I'd be fine with working out there everyday.... but I know that people like Michael Long need the gospel. He is our investigator that got baptized yesterday! It was an incredible service. He didn't want it to be a big huge thing. He is a very quiet, to himself kind of guy, but we had a full crowd! The family he married into is very family oriented, and it was such a spiritual moment when his wife and her son sang "I love to see the temple".  So incredible.   After church, a member was driving us back home but decided to take a detour and drive past his work and the new house his family is probably gunna buy.  He works at Plant Vogtle. a nuclear plant here. That was incredible! Those stacks are huge!! They really made me feel small.   

Michael Long and his Forever Family

Plant Vogtle

(*Mom here - I had to search for what Kevin was referring to and found it quite interesting!  Learn more about Plant Vogtle:  http://www.southerncompany.com/about-us/our-business/southern-nuclear/vogtle.cshtml )

Last night a rain storm came through and on our trailer I could hear every drop! Usually rain helps me sleep, but I just couldn't sleep last night, I haven't been able to for a bit.. just comes with the work I guess. 

Well everyone, I love yall!
Elder Bodily

Greeted With a Gun . . . . And a 91 Year Old Golfer!

First off, I found another source of happiness this week. It came in the form of a 50 gallon drum. The member who lives behind us got it for us. Ah. i love it.  

The joys of simple mission-redneck life.

That's his home for a few more weeks.
He was right when he described it as being in the middle of nowhere!

This week, while Elder Sutton and i were out and about, we were tracting this one neighborhood. The second door we knocked, this old lady answered and came out and talked with us on her porch. She could talk for days if we let her! funny things.. We introduced ourselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she said something but just kept talking. well we went inside and let her talk more and more.. come to find out she is 91. she still lives on her own, drives a 7 series bmw.. and she loved/loves to golf.. she was the Georgia state senior champion many years in a row, and she has done a lot with golf haha.. so we left her with a plan of salvation pamphlet, the next day we went back and we talked and grabbed the pamphlet and said, i read your book, i know where im going when i die now! and that was about it.. i was like, uh.. okay? haha. but we just let her talk more and more. i said something about her reading the book of Mormon and went off on polygamy and "them Mormons" and stuff.. well, i just let it go.. my heart was broken. this nice old sincere lady hates the church and us.. well, i felt inspired for her to say the closing prayer, so we stood up and got by her chair and this frail woman stands up and we hold hands and she prays.. what i heard was one of the most genuine and heartfelt prayers ever.. she was so grateful that we came into her life and that she is able to talk with us, how she is so alone and grateful for us.. and then after i asked her to give the Book of Mormon one more chance, she said something about them Mormons again, and then i said, Ms Dodson,, you know we are Mormons, right? oh she about fainted! haha not quite, but her reaction was priceless.. she still loves us anyways! haha. 

Another exciting moment in our lives! We went to contact a less-active part-member family, the wife had been taught before by sisters, we knock, its about 8 oclock at night, so its dark.. well the door opens and a shirtless man is there, mid 30's and ripped. you could tell he was military. and his arm behind his back.. yeah i already knew.. haha. i apologized for scaring them and it was just us, the Mormons.. he shook our hands after putting a little something into his waistband and said he was gunna go put a shirt on.  we had a very good talk with him, getting to know him and his families situation. well, as we are about to leave, he asked, "are yall allowed to hunt?" ah. i love this man already. 

Yet another great experience from this week, an older gentleman, Brother Garvin, called us up and wanted to take us to lunch with 2 of the other elders. we so rode with him up to Augusta to a place called Ryans. a more southern version of Golden Corral. So good!! afterwards, he took us on a tour through Augusta! it was incredible. he showed us the "Pillar of Prophesy". that was real interesting! go look it up, i aint got time to talk about that today!   

Things are just going good here for us in the country. we are finding new people everyday to talk with and help! i hadn't even mentioned that we spread horse manure in a garden for 3 hours one day! i love getting off the white shirt and tie and getting dirty. :) 

i love you all!! i cant believe i only have 9 weeks left.. so crazy..

elder bodily

This boy can find a fishing hole anywhere!

Augusta National Golf Course and Blessings

Hey yall, I aint even gunna front, this past week was the hardest week of my mission so far. new area, a greenie who is older than me by a couple of years, a wreck of a trailer and hardly any work, and separation issues! its weird being in a trailer with just one other missionary and not seeing other missionaries on a daily basis.. its been almost a year since I've lived in just a 2pad. We decided to fast on Friday to help us out, and now looking back, with Sunday and what happened on Saturday, I can see the blessings from fasting.  The previous missionaries left us with a handful of people to see regularly. its a good start I guess. we have a lot of work before us though haha.  

Friday I had probably a life maker. you know that moment you have dreamed of but never really thought it'd happen. Last year my hopes were dashed, but this year they are kindled again! My area is just south of Augusta, we don't cover the city, we mainly cover a lot of the country and then some nice neighborhoods.. hard to describe. but anywho. Friday Elder Sutton and I had to get a tire fixed, we found a nail in one of them. so we headed off to Augusta. Well, on my GPS I noticed a golf course symbol.. uh, you already know! we drove past the members only gate into the Augusta National Golf Course.. oh man. my adrenaline was rushing!! My dreams were a turn away! haha.  

Saturday was an amazing experience. The church building here was built last year, and they had the open house and dedication on Saturday! Oh my goodness, that was an incredible feeling. The way it is built, is so that they can add on to it later when the membership grows and grows! We took people who came in on tours around and just talked about the building. one cool experience I had, I was out on the highway corner with one of the youth waving to cars passing by, and we saw the car pull over and park and this man get out, well me and the 14 yr old walk over to him and start talking, he was going to look at this abandonded house across the road cuz he is a realtor something or other.. ya know, fix it up and sell it.. well he was new to the area from Chicago, and he is working on the power plant that is up the road a bit. we invited him to the open house and then he asked if we had coffee and donuts in there.. haha I laughed and said nope, he didn't know much about the church at all.  well he had to go and wasn't able to come. and unfortunately I didn't catch his number before he left.. shoot.. oh well. So as I left my 14 yr old companion on the corner with some other youth waving, I started walking back to the church, I had left my companion with our ward mission leader and the other missionaries., and as I was walking back to the church, a maybe 50 yard walk, I turned my head and saw President and Sister Cottle driving by! haha, oh it was funny. the one time im walking away from my post!  We had a good laugh about it. But oh, you should have seen my greenies face when I walked in the door behind President Cottle. haha!  

After that, we helped a family move. That was a neat experience. The family who we were kind of helping move had ties back home! to Logan, Smithfield, and Lewiston! it was awesome! it was a weird situation. we moved a family out of a house to their new one a couple streets over, so that the members could move into this one. we were able to make a good friendship with the lady who isn't a member. she had lived in Nicaragua for a while and fed the missionaries there! so cool! where we moved her into was a neighborhood which elder Sutton calls the heart of our area.. its a nice big neighborhood with a lot of potential. it doesn't help me though that it is on a golf course! haha. so nice.   

Sunday church was great. We have a young part-member family that we are working with the husband, such a good guy, he has come regularly since October when they got married! after church we had a really good lesson with them! It was Elder Sutton's first real lesson and we committed Michael to baptism! he has been ready for a while!  I am really excited about this area, even though it was difficult at first, well that's an understatement.. it was more than difficult at first, but I have already grown to love the people here.. for some reason it just is natural for me to be able to connect with people and want to help them.. I suppose I shouldn't say 'for some reason', it it just another testimony to me about patriarchal blessings... I have read mine everyday this week and I know of its power, also prayer and fasting.. it truly does work.  

If you feel like you are slowing down and are all alone, read Mormon ch. 8.. its never that bad for us. so smile :) I love you all!

-Elder Bodily

Transfers and Goodbyes

hey yall,  sorry this email is getting to ya on Wednesday. a bit later than usual.  SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK. I got transferred again, which was a shock to all of us..  

I got the package from ivy, I loved it! Teancum is grown up so much! I cant wait to see that kid. 

Saturday we went over to a members house and may or may not have joined him in the woods hunting down squirrels. now that dear season is over, he wanted to show em who is boss! so we did! it was great! haha.  we then went back and skinned them! since I got transferred, I wont be able to taste of them.. 

Saturday night we ate at a members house, and while we were talking before dinner we heard and felt this loud BOOM! it literally shook the house. so crazy.. but they didn't even worry. as we were sitting down at the table for dinner, I looked out the front window and saw like 4 sheriffs go by, yet the fam still didn't worry about it. haha, life in the country I guess.  

Sunday was just.. well, incredible.. one of the girls of my family down here spoke, that was awesome to hear on my last sunday. also David White from the Pearson Ward spoke.. I've missed that man. he gave the same talk as when we spoke together last year for Easter. it was so powerful..  one of the hymns we sang was 'Put your Shoulder to the Wheel'.. David doesn't like that song.. that song to him is like, Love at Home for Dad.. just doesn't happen. so as we were all standing and singing, we made eye contact and laughed.  

The rest of the day was filled with goodbye's and heartache. started with Brother Hampton, the man who reminds me so much of grandpa Harold.. As we walked in, he already knew the news, and I could see on his face he was pretty sad.. In their backyard I noticed their well pump was spraying water.. that's not good! 3rd time in 2 years they said. dang.  next we swung down to see Sister Willie Mae Simmons, the 86 year old that was baptized. She had moved down to her sons house.  We didn't warn her we were coming and she had no idea about transfers, but she was understanding. I love that woman so very much.  

Next we went off to the Burton's. They were having a karaoke and kindof goodbye party I guess. but it was planned before we all knew.. we went over and their power was out! oh bless it..  so we went out and took pictures! it was awesome! so much fun.. Thank you Sister Burton!  we went back to the house, and power was still out, so we all loaded up and went over to the Warren's and did the karaoke! so much fun..  

Monday wasn't any easier though we were relaxed when we got pedicures. don't judge. it felt AMAZING! Haha, probably one of my new favorite things. I aint even gunna front about that. haha.  We went to the Warren's again to say our final goodbyes.. Ugh. That is my family! We got there in time to finish splitting some wood they were doing. Inside we talked a bit and just kinda dragged out saying goodbye. no one wanted to.. all my emotions were kept inside.. I just wasn't able to cry on the outside.. I don't think that is a good thing. not at all.  

well transfers happened! I am now in a area called Waynesboro. there are 6 elders in this ward and 2 sisters, but we all have our separate areas.. My greenie is Elder Sutton from SLC. We whitewashed this place.. talk about adding stress to the situation.. and talk about adding more, when we got back, the members whose trailer we live in, yes we live in a single-wide trailer out in the country! apparently the last missionaries left it a mess and so the member cleaned up as much as he could. but the paperwork wasn't really upkept either.. so joy..  I am excited though.. through all the stress, from my study this morning and talking with president yesterday, I know this is where I need to be.. out in the country with my greenie for the last 3 months of my mission.. the Lord sure knows how to humble me to help me stay focused.. 

I love you all. here is my new address!

Elder Bodily

1038 Bennock Mill Road

Augusta GA 30906

Random is right!

I cant believe that it is already another p-day and i have to email yall! oh i mean, i have the priviledge.. haha. just kidding :)  this week was full! spiritual experiences, and lots of fun times too! this is just gunna be a random assortment of things that happened!

Friday our order was ready of some shirts that we made. i got the logo from some other missionary but we finally put it on a shirt! its pretty awesome!! The Dirty South! 

 Thursday night elder beckman and i were out in a neighborhood tracting. it was cold and late, and we were both dressed in our black rain coats. we knocked this neighborhood for like 2 hours.. we meet a lot of people, but the final house the guy opens up and talks with us, then says, yall want some hot chocolate? well sure! anything to get us in the house! haha. it was great. we didnt teach a whole lot, but it was good to connect and feel their spirit. sitting in their home, i couldnt help but feel the spirit. a simple home but the spirit was strong already. the hot chocolate wasnt really that hot, it was luke warm at best. haha.  of course, now its Monday and i've had a cold ever since then! haha. oh well. 

Saturday was just great. We had a meeting in Macon with Elder Neil L. Andersen. It was incredible. words really cant describe the emotions felt there and everything that he taught. It was just so powerful. afterwards practically the whole mission, so 230 or so missionaries went to the macon mall. wow.. haha. so many white shirts and ties and dresses. it was great though. to be able to see my old missionary friends. Towards the end we all gathered together and sang a couple songs! it was pretty awesome.  

Afterwards we came back down the interstate and stopped in Adel and swung by a members house. he was chopping wood. well, using a 22 ton log splitter.. haha. so awesome!  after that we took a Krispe Kreme donut to a part-member family, he is like 75. oh he loved that! haha. he is a hoot. a stubborn old man that reminds me of grandpa harold! 

Sunday night, elder beckman and i had one of the most spiritual lessons i've been in, in a long time. it was with two people we had previously met, just hadnt caught them lately..  once again, words cant describe my emotions there. we were able to bear testimony of everything in the gospel.  they had prayed that very day that someone would be sent to them that would guide them and answer their questions! It was incredible.. it truly was a miracle.  

well everyone.. we have transfer calls this weekend.. i cant believe i have only 3 months left.. time is flying. 

 i love you all! 
Elder Bodily

He did say this was random . . .

New Years and Teaching President and Sister Cottle

Hey yall! 

i hope yall had a good week! Mainly for me, the turning point was New Years. It got me thinking, a lot. DANG! i leave my home here in 3 months and go back to my old home! So much has changed this past year, and i know that this year will just bring more and more changes! Crazy to think about.. I hope everyone came up with some resolutions that they will try to keep and accomplish this year. it comes around every year, yet we always seem to be taken by surprise! 

this week, i sent up to Tifton on exchanges. it was a good time to see a different scenery, but one day was enough for me. I was happy to get back to my 4 pad in nashville. 

New Years Eve was amazing. We went over to a members house for dinner and then he gave us some of his old air force camo stuff! totally scored!! it was awesome! all of us were freaking out haha. He also sells duck calls! totally gunna score here!! 

On New Years Day, we had the opportunity to go and teach President and Sister Cottle. it was fun! we taught them one of the principles that is on a teaching record, then they chose a random one and we had to teach it to them. Short and sweet, it was good!  Afterwards, we over to the Warren's, a family in Adel, and ate lunch with them and chilled and talked.. oh my goodness. i havent had mexican cheesecake before.. so good! They have an 8 yr old daughter that hadnt been baptized yet, but my comp told me last night that they had scheduled it! i must have missed that conversation.. haha. oh well! I am so excited for them!

Sunday here was amazing, as always. I walk into the chapel and i saw the White family from Pearson.. ah i was so happy!! Church was packed, it was a good feeling. The spirit was so strong there. It aint no joke that Sunday's a day to recharge our spiritual battery. I always feel so energized afterwards.  It is incredible to hear about Vlad bearing his testimony. I cant wait to see him when i get home. Well, the library is filling up with a bunch of people! gotta go! i love you all! elder bodily.

on the pic, for those who notice, yes i know i was cross-branching. oh well. :)