There is no place like home.

I feel so blessed for the chance to serve a full-time mission. There are no words to describe all that I have felt, seen, and experienced over these past 18 months. It has been the most challenging, yet fulfilling time of my life so far. Nothing better than serving God and His children every single minute of every single day for 18 months straight. Try to top that, you can't. There's nothing quite like it. All that I have done and learned on my mission is centered on my Savior, Jesus Christ. He lives. His gospel and atonement are real. 

Short email. No pictures kasi I'll see all you lovely folks in a few days. :) 

"Jesus’s call “Come, follow me” is not only for those prepared to compete in a spiritual Olympics. In fact, discipleship is not a competition at all but an invitation to all. Our journey of discipleship is not a dash around the track, nor is itfully comparable to a lengthy marathon. In truth, it is a lifelong migration toward a more celestial world.

His invitation is a call to daily duty. Jesus said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” We may not be at our very best every day, butif we are trying, Jesus’s bidding is full of encouragement and hope: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Wherever you now find yourself on the road of discipleship, you are on the right road, the road toward eternal life. Together we can lift and strengthen one another in the great and important days ahead. Whatever the difficultiesconfronting us, the weaknesses confining us, or the impossibilities surrounding us, let us have faith in the Son of God, who declared, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”
Neil L. Andersen "What thinks Christ of me?"

Love you all and see you soon. :)

-Sister Roderick

Still Smiling

Short on time. Last week I got to go back to Baao again for exchanges with my MTC companion, the one and only, Sister Foakimeilangi Alatini. It was a blast. She's great. Love Baao. Story time when I get home kasi walang..i mean, because there's no time now. 

It was a good week. Lots of lessons learned. One thing real quick from this week was from our Relief Society lesson at church on Sunday, it was awesome!

It was about Living Joyfully in Troubled Times (RS sisters, you should already have heard this but here are some parts from the lesson again)..

-“Happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly, joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small.”

-We have no cause to really worry. Live the gospel, keep the commandments. Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. Maintain the standards of the Church. Try and live calmly and cheerfully. … Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort

-Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.

The gospel of Jesus Christ truly does bring change and true happiness to all those who are willing to accept and live it fully in their lives. :)

This week we spent SO much of our time walking and finding..apartments. Long story short, we had 2 days to find a new apartment so we practically had to drop everything and just look around all of Iriga. It was completely exhausting. I much prefer the missionary work, not so much the real estate (sp?) business. But we found one. Yay! :) Heavenly Father is truly merciful and kind. We don't know yet when we will move but its look like most of my last week will be spent cleaning out our current apartment, packing up, moving to a new apartment, and unpacking again. So pretty much the same exact thing I did at the end of last transfer. Not exactly what I was hoping to do my last week in the mission but you gotta do what you gotta do I guess. Whatever happens, I will keep smiling and enjoying these last few precious days of full-time missionary service. I will miss it more than I can express. 

Thanks for your prayers and support! Love you all and SEE you soon!

-Sister Roderick

It's Hitting It.

What a crazy week.

Tuesday- MLC in Naga.

Wednesday- Exchanges with Iriga 2 Sisters.

Thursday- Exchanges with Buhi Sisters.

Friday- Zone Training.

Saturday- Weekly Planning (longest everrrr.)

Sunday- Church and other meetings. 

This week fleeew by. But at the same time it seemed to take forever, I don't understand time.

Anywho, I gave my "going home" testimony this week in MLC and then again at our Zone Training. That's when it hit me. I have known this whole time that I would be going home eventually but it always felt like it was just something others experienced but it would never actually happen to me. Well, now its time. I've got flight plans to prove it.

As I sat in the pew at the church during our zone training, listening to my batch bear their testimonies, with my lovely MTC companion sitting on my right, it hit me. I'm going home. We both quietly had tears running down our face and heaviness in our hearts. One of the elders said something like, "we are happy to go home, to take with us the lessons learned, the strengthened faith and testimonies, to see our families, to continue our missionary work and to put what we have learned and gained to the test, but we are sad, very sad to leave those new friendships, family members, and experiences that we have been making the past 18 months or 2 years." It is so true. This might be the hardest time for me so far on my whole mission. These are going to be some tough last days, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me, and for us all.

I had the opportunity to receive a Priesthood blessing this week in which I was told that there are still people waiting for me..to hear specifically mine and Sister Ril's testimony and that because of our testimonies, they will accept the gospel in their lives and be baptized. After the blessing, I looked up and said simply to Sister Ril, "Let's go find them." Although this is a hard time for me and I will be sad to go home, the very least I can do is finish strong, endure to the end, and go find those being prepared to accept the truth. 

Quick story time: I met a lady in the grocery store this week, made conversation with her, introduced myself and the church, and then she proceeded to tell me that there is no God. I asked her where we all come from and she told me from chickens. I asked her what happens when we die and she told me nothing, we're dead, that's the end. I asked her if she prays and she blatantly exclaimed that there was no need for no one was there listening. It would change nothing...My heart ached for this woman. I am sorry for those people who have such little light in their lives. I am so grateful for the truth that enlightens my mind and gives hope to my life. What a blessing it is to have the answers to these questions and to know of the great plan of our Father in Heaven. I believe in the power of prayer. I KNOW we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father who is there for us. He is and always will be there for us, listening, loving, guiding, and protecting through all things. Don't let the simple act of prayer ever be forgotten. We must pray to Him, for He is there and desires to hear from and bless us. :)

Keep the missionaries in your prayers. :) We all need it. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church that was restored in our day through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon to be the true word of God. If you ever doubt, just pray and ask Him because He knows, and desires for us to know too.

Love you all. 

-Sister Roderick

Just Enjoy

Went to Manila this past Wednesday with my batch. It was a nice little break full of laughter and food! Golly neds, we ate at Subway, Wendys', waffles, and Krispy Kreme. I was full for 3 days straight! While in Manila we did our visa fingerprinting, walked around the Mall of Asia for a couple hours, ate, and ate, and ate more, hung out with other missionaries from different missions, and got no sleep.yikes. Thursday morning, Sister Coons and I got up early and headed to Quezon City to the MRC to just have a lil chat with the area doctor. Nice guy. Didn't get to go to the temple but I saw it and was excited beyond belief! I literally jumped up and down a little bit..as much as you can while sitting in the back of a little Toyota.

Thursday we headed back to Naga. I love Naga. Grabe. As we flew in to the airport, looking out the window to see nothing but green rice fields everywhereeee, it was a wonderful welcoming sight for me. This is no city girl.

Friday we had interviews with President and Sister Reeder. In my interviews, among the many questions I had for President I asked him what I can improve in these last few weeks. Let me just tell ya, I was not expecting that as his response. He told me, "Sister Roderick, you are a hard worker, you like to get things done don't you?..Just enjoy. Enjoy these last few weeks." Took me by surprise that's for sure but it has made me ponder much over these past few days. He told me about him and Sister Reeder..how he too is a 'doer'..when he has a list of things to do, he sees to it that that gets done..but his wife on the other hand, may have a long list of to-dos as well but the moment someone else needs her, she will drop everything on her list just to help them. He praised his wife for being the kind of person to look around her, enjoy the little things in life, and selflessly serve others. So for these next few weeks, that's my goal- ENJOY. I find joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel true peace in the knowledge of my Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ and their plan for me. I love being a missionary. SO along with the hard work this week, I am going to strive harder to enjoy the moments. We all have so much to be grateful for. Take off those blinders that so often keep us from seeing the beauty around us, and enjoy. Enjoy. :) "..in all of living have much of fun and laughter.Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

Love you all!

-Sister Roderick

Start from the Inside Out

Doing great. Smiling big. Sleeping hard. :)

President Reeder has always told us that when we leave our missions we should be exhausted..welp I am exhausted. But boy does it feel good. Somehow Heavenly Father in His great mercy always seems to just lift me right up, strengthen me, and almost out of nowhere, I seem to gain energy and excitement for the work. God truly is watching over His missionaries. :)

My companion and I had some great 'talks' this week in which we were able to set some expectations for this last transfer and what we must accomplish and of course how we should accomplish that- through faith, exact obedience, diligence, and following the Spirit. It's a challenge but we are doing our best. It feels good to go home every night wiped out with your feet aching from walking so much and mouth dry from talking to so many people back to back about the most wonderful news in all time- the gospel of Jesus Christ! :) 

We usually have church music playing whenever we are in the house but recently we have been playing Conference talks instead and it is amazing the things you can learn just listening to apostles and prophets while doing chores around the house.

Anywho, this morning while washing my laundry, I had the wonderful privilege to listen to Elder Uchtdorf's talk, "Lord Is It I?" Definnitely one of those talks that really motivates me to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ. We must simply stop pointing the finger at others and look in the mirror for a change. We all have problems, challenges, weaknesses, concerns, mistakes, and the such. We must look inward first, change ourselves and then look outward to help others come unto Christ. Ask ourselves what WE can do better. How WE can improve. Look for the GOOD in everyone and everything. :) 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/lord-is-it-i?lang=eng

I also read this story form the Liahona this morning. 

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/07/unspotted-from-the-world?lang=eng

Really got me thinking about the little things in our lives that we can change in order to become closer to our Savior, and align ourselves with His will for us. :) Life reflection time! Those are the best. Love you all and pray that we will all continue to examine our lives and determine what we need to add, or perhaps take out of our lives, to become better disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Mahal ko kayo! Take care this week! :)

-Sister Roderick

P.S. My batch and I are heading to Manila this week to fix our visas and hopefully go to the temple! So excited! Should be fun :) 

Emily's 21st Birthday!

50 OYM

I am so happy! Who would have thought that a move to a new area with new companion, and lots of change in my last transfer could make me so happy! Heavenly Father is very aware of me and what I need. He knows me far better than I apparently know my own self. I am so grateful to be here in Iriga with Sister Ril. We have had a fantastic week! We were able to talk on the bus ride home from transfer point and we pretty much decided we were going to need to be very patient, loving, motivated, diligent, and willing to go with the flow because neither of us know the area well. So far, so good. 

Sister Jenilyn Ril is my hilarious new companion. I am always laughing and smiling with her, it makes the work so much easier when you get along well with your companion. :) What a blessing to have her as my companion. Our first night in Iriga we walked into a disgustingly dirty apartment and literally could not unpack because there was so much junk and dust everywhere. It was not the ideal home welcoming but we dropped our stuff, quickly got things cleaned up and were able to make some plans for the area.

This whole week we have spent walking the streets of our area, finding houses of members/less-actives and investigators, as well as doing our own finding along the way. Having little previous knowledge of the area has actually turned out to be a major blessing because we are forced to ask people on the streets, which likewise provides an opportune chance to introduce ourselves and share the gospel! 

It is wonderful! 

We have a new goal in the Naga Mission of 50 OYMs a week or Open Your Mouth contacts..which basically means approaching someone, asking inspired questions, sharing a short message, then asking for a return appointment to teach them in their ho5me...We were able to reach the 50 OYM goal this week and are determined to keep those numbers up high. In one day we got 26 OYM contacts. OYMing is hard. It takes a lot of faith and courage but it works. It works well. It really forces you out of your comfort zone to literally talk to EVERYONE. My poor companion, haha we'll be walking down the street and she will be in the middle of saying something to me when someone walks into view and boom, I'm gone, conversation lost. We are both so motivated to talk to EVERYONE (and there are alllllways other people on the streets) so that leaves very little time for us to talk as companions when we are outside of the apartment hah but it's good. :) We are having fun.

Scripture of the week: Moroni 8:16

"Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I   fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love His gospel and know that it is the way to true happiness and eternal life. Missionary work is hard. Life is hard. But we must be bold, STRIVE to be better every day, and if we trust, have faith, and LOVE, we shall not fear. Keep smiling. :) Love you all! 

-Sister Roderick

Aspire to Something Higher

Today is officially the first P-day of my last transfer in the mission field. Holy smokes. A bit overwhelming. I feel like just yesterday I went to Nabua with Sister Prakash and now she is at the mission home prepping to go home to Fiji!! AH!

Em and Sister Prakash

This week has been one of the most insane weeks of my whole mission. No joke.

Tuesday- MLC in Naga all day. It was cool to get to discuss the Naga Mission with the other leaders and make plans and adjustments and what not to better help the work progress here. During our interviews with President Reeder, he told us the big news that our STL (sister training leader) area in Nabua would be closing and we would be pulled out and moved to another area. WHAT?! Yeah, I was a bit shocked but I think I am mostly over it now. Anywho, this transfer we have 6 sisters areas being closed down due to the shortage of sisters now sooo Nabua just happened to be one of those. The new STL area, my new area starting tomorrow, is in Iriga. In the Iriga Zone, there used to be 6 areas of sisters (now only 4) but I have now served in 3 of those areas! haha Baao, Nabua, and now Iriga 1. Naku. It will be like opening a new area again because the sisters that are currently there will be moved to another area and my new companion and I will move in and take over the area...we know verrrry little about the area BUT I have faith it will all work out and we will figure it out. 

Along with all the transferring and what not, our apartment will be shut down in Nabua SO we spent most of our nights this week, as well as all day Saturday cleaning, packing, moving stuff, and what not. I am so exhausted. 

Dropped Sis Prakash off at the mission home last night. I am now staying in Naga with 2 temporary companions until transfer point tomorrow where I will meet my new companion. 

What a week. 

It really has been a good one though. Every week is a good one. 

At our MLC and Zone Training this week we focused all about finding the faith to find. We as a mission just raised our "Standards of Excellence" for the mission to hopefully raise our efficiency, hard-work, faith, and progress of the mission. President Reeder spoke a lot about not just setting comfortable "goals" but finding the faith, going to work, and EXPECTING certain standards..not just for the mission but as individual people as well. What a great message for us all! We must RAISE our personal standards. We must tell ourselves what is expected of us and stay firm to that. Don't just set goals and let them get set aside or lowered time and time again but rather, think seriously, pray earnestly, ponder fervently, and set your own personal standards for your self, your life, and your family.

Aspire to something higher. Kaya natin. :)

Hope you have a splendid week! Love you all! 

-Sister Roderick

Batchmates at Missionary Leadership Council

Elder Simmons aka Em's Home Teacher at BYU