To the Font

This week has been absolutely incredible!

So much has happened I cannot explain it all nor should I. But really the Lord lives and he loves his children and provides a way for them to return to him again.
Elder Vojahn and I went park contacting this week to find investigators. We talked to a ton of people but we found a couple who was walking and they were happy and we stopped and talked to them. It turns out they were looking for the church and wanted to find the missionaries but they couldn't. We gave them a ton of information and got theirs as well to send to the missionaries in their area.

I learned that I live really close to the clubs home field and they have games a lot so traffic is always busy.

A few days ago we were walking out of an appointment and this guy came up to us and he was seeming a bit off and kinda weird. We talked to him for a bit then he asked us to pray with him. I asked him who he wanted to pray and if he wanted us to pray for anything specific, and I kid you not, we were in the middle of a little private drive road, and he grabs our shoulders, bows his head, and starts saying the Lords prayer. Right there in the middle of street. And then he pauses and just starts saying weird things in the prayer. then says amen. I tried my hardest not to laugh, and my comp has no idea why it was so funny to me. He didn't see any angel billies though ;) (ask my dad to tell you this story if you don't understand)

Later that evening we had a lesson with one of the families we've been teaching for a while. I felt impressed to ask them to all be baptized. The mom asked each of her kids and they all said yes! Then I asked her again, and she thought about it and also said yes! So now I have my first 5 commitments to baptism! And I couldn't be happier! 

We taught a lesson with a Cuban yesterday, and let me tell you how fast Cubans speak; If Mexicans speak as fast as someone on a bike, Cubans are like Jet Planes. Breaking the sound barrier. Mock 8 practically. Basically my comp and I had no idea what he was saying really. But the Lord provides a way. The gift of tongues is real! I somehow pieced together what he said and was able to provide relevant enough responses to teach our lesson, AND commit him to sacrament meeting. 

For dinner with one of our beloved members, we had papussa and they were almost as good as Beatriz cooks.

I also got to go through the Mesa AZ temple! It was wonderful and so peaceful. It's a really small temple but it was amazing none the less.

I love you all so much! The church is true! Thank you all for your support!

-Elder Hodges

One Week Down, 111 to go.

Buenos Familia!

I don't have a spanish keyboard anymore so it's tough to type in correct spanish.

     These past few days have been awesome! I've taught so many new people and have already learned so much. I have a huge desire and rush to do everything I can and all at once. We taught two boys yesterday, Jose and Corey. We taught them about the importance of prayer and I could tell the spirit was upon us really strong. We invited him to pray and he did. His friend is a member and helping us out a lot too. 

     I started riding my bike everywhere and it isn't that bad--yet. Summer isn't even her yet....heaven bless me. It's already getting pretty hot. We studied a ton these past few days. I have a ton of study time these next few weeks as a new missionary. Elder Wojahn and I went to a planned house but they weren't there so we knocked a few doors. One of the doors was an LDS Family and they took us in. We prayed with them and blessed them that because they took in the servants of the Lord, they would have what they needed. It was and amazing experience that brought tears to her eyes.

     We also taught a man named Adan (Adam) and he agreed to come with us on sunday to church. The last house we stopped by was a members home to get a referal. We visited and imparted a blessing as well. I feel so much more work can be done here than is being done. I plan to do my all to make that happen. 

     The next day we had dinner with an Hermana at her home. We've been blessed to have dinner with members every single night and have them scheduled throughout the months. Yesterday is the first day out of 5 I had a true mexican meal. All the other nights have been pizza or take out from members. Anyway, with this Hermana, (Hermana Sanchez) I talked with her about her life and how it was for her before she had the gospel in her life. She cried as she talked about how rough it was for her before the gospel. Then she cried with tears of joy as she spoke about how her life changed and how much she has been blessed after becoming converted. She spoke really fast spanish but I understood most of it. I testified of how God blesses us and how Jesucristo knows exactly how we feel and what we are going through.

     We couldn't find anyone to teach the past two days though. Everyone we had planned cancelled or wasn't home. Success is slow and people don't want to talk to us much but the mercies of God are evident in our lives. We talk to a lot of people but many are content Catholics--or english speaking. We're not really supposed to teach english speakers or proselyte in English areas which is hard for me to not share the Gospel with everyone. 

     Yesterday was also my first ever full spanish church. It was wonderful to talk with all the members and to experience the church in another language. The talks in church were on loving your neighbor and not judging other people. In gospel doctrine class we talked about the Holy Ghost and by priesthood I was kinda falling asleep. :/ It has been a long week. 

     We met a few more people that hold much potential and seem like they have the willingness to listen. We met a family playing ping-pong outside and talked with them for a while. They invited us back in a few days. I'm really looking forward to teaching them and feel really good about this family.  

     My companion and I were riding our bikes and Elder Wojahn decided for some strange reason to go off into the rocks, then turn, then totally eat it. :) it was funny and he tried to smoothly shake it off :)

     I love you all and miss you all! I thank you for your prayers and your concern over me. The church is true. I know it. I testify that the Lord loves each and every one of you. Yo se que esta evanjelio is verdadero. Y yo se que el espiritu santo ayudar los sentir el amor de Dios. Esta trabajo is dificil, pero, con el poder de Dios, y porque Dios quiere todos sus hijos a regresar a El, Dios daria me y todos los misioneros a buscar y mirar personas al ser bautisado. Dios ama nos todo. Esta iglesia es el solomente camio a regresar a Dios. La iglesia es verdadero y El Libro is azul. (The church is true and the book is blue.) Hurrah para Isreal!

-Elder Hodges

Cold as Rain

     Hello Everyone!

     I've made it into the field! Finally I'm here serving the wonderful people of Scottsdale Arizona! I arrived on Wednesday after a crazy night in Mexico and at airports. I got assigned my companion the next day and his name is Elder Wojahn (Vo-yawn.) He's an incredible missionary that I feel I will be able to learn a lot from.
     I taught my first three lessons yesterday, two completely in Spanish, and they were amazing. The Lord truly gives the gift of tongues and the gift of the spirit. I love the people here and I've only been here for two days. The members here have so much strength and there is soo much work to be done here. I'm in a wonderful little ward (that I cannot disclose for safety) but it's incredible here.
     The day I got here it was poring rain and 56 degrees. It's been freezing cold here in AZ of all places. Matt's theory of global cooling is coming true!
     Getting here I had a ton of meetings. I tried my hardest to stay awake. President and Sister Sweeney fed us really really well with homemade food and snacks. It was all amazing. The next day we had more meetings, a drivers test, transfer meeting, and three lessons.
     I taught a family with an investigating daughter and a mother who grew up catholic but doesn't want organized religion in her life. I bore my testimony of the book of Mormon and taught her the history and purpose of it. The spirit was incredibly strong and she teared up. We have a baptism date for her daughter.
     We taught another boy with a baptism date and his friend who's a member. We played volley ball in his mutual afterwards. We taught another man off the street in his home about faith.
     Things are amazing here! I cannot wait to get more investigators. The Lord has a lot in store for the people here I can feel it! I will update you next week with pictures hopefully!
     I love you all so very much! I miss you all. If you want to send me an email my email is austin.hodges@myldsmail.net   now, I cannot promise you that I will respond personally as I don't have much time, but I will read it and I will be grateful! Thank you for your support. I can feel your prayers and love. Thank you for your fasting about missionary work. There is so much to be done. Please please Brothers and Sisters of the 6th ward, help the missionaries as much as you can! Get them as many referrals as possible, and offer to attend lessons with investigators. Learn as much about missionary work as you can. The work is just as much yours as it is mine.
     I love you all. The church is true. The Lord lives. I promise you this.

-Elder Hodges