April 14, 2014

Dear Mom,

We had exchanges this past week. I was with Sister Dickerson. It was great! I got to go on exchange with her once when I was an STL so it was fun to be back together again for a day! I got to hear a lot about how Jessamine was doing, my past area when I was an STL. I don't know if you remember the sister that we taught there. It was a cool miracle that we found her. She was a less-active in our area and her records were with another ward. But we found her and got to get to know her. She started coming to our ward and we got to have dinner with her and her non-member husband. Her husband ended up getting baptized while I was in Olney! I may have already told you that but it was cool to hear from Sis Dickerson how they were doing. It sounded like they were doing well and he sent a "what up Sister" from Sister Dickerson to me haha. It was great to hear how my past area had really taken off since I'd been there.

We got to bike A LOT these past couple of days. President just announced that everyone is required to get a bike now by May 1st and we have to bike everywhere within 2 miles of our apartment. I'm happy I chose to get a bike at the very beginning of my mission cause if I would have held off this long and had to get one now.... that would've stunk. But thankfully I've put some good use to my bike! Since that rule came into action we had to bike to the bishops yesterday that's literally like 1.9 miles away, over a few GIANT hills. Oh man. And we were fasting when we were riding there. It was a good workout for sure. Good 'ol black stallion, my bike, got me there pretty awesomely. I do love my bike. This whole bike thing will help me get in great shape by September. It's great!

I liked what you did for 3 Nephi! (For seminary, I blacked the room out and we listened to 3 Nephi 8, 9 & 10 and at the firsts of chapter 10 we sat in silence for 3 minutes--) That would make it feel a lot more real. I love 3 Nephi when Christ comes. My favorite verses are probably when Christ introduces himself in 3 Nephi 11. I love reading 3 Nephi 14:7-8 about receiving revelation. Getting that communication back from God. We have to ask, seek, knock. We ASK God a question in prayer. Personally I think the more direct the better. And we can talk to Him about it of course. It's important to let Him know our deepest feelings and thoughts. Anyways, Then we have to SEEK an answer through diligent scripture study, church lessons/talks, more prayer, etc. I think it's cool how an answer doesn't necessarily have to come from what someone says, but how we feel. And those circumstances allow us to feel the spirit. Then we KNOCK. We act on the answer we receive. This usually takes a step of faith. Doing something scary. Taking a step into the dark. Even if it means doing something we felt was right all along. I connected this a lot to Joseph Smith's experience. He ASKED God in prayer. I like to think he prayed a lot about what church to join before the first vision. He SOUGHT an answer. Found it James 1:5 after a lot of seeking. He then KNOCKED. He went into a grove of trees and did as James directed and got an answer.
 

If you can send some peppermint beadlets too that would be awesome! And I only need one set of shampoo and conditioner to last till I get home for sure.

Thanks for the prayers :) I pray for the family too of course.

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!

Love,
Sister Hodges

 

Eagle Lake

 

Writing home on a Monday. 

 

April 7 2014

Apr 7 at 9:26 AM

Dear Mom,

 Conference was AWESOME of course! We got to watch it with some awesome members. Sister LeFevre and I were a little more excited than they were the whole time haha. But I loved it! So many good talks! It was hard to take in all of the awesome gospel wisdom in just a few sittings! I really liked that 4 minute talk. It was a cool perspective analogy thing. Really puts into perspective how important this life is and how short it is to make those important decisions. It's interesting to think about the overall theme of conference. Sounded like a lot of eternal perspective and enduring trials well. It was great. It was cool to have questions and as I went back through and connected the answers how each question was answered.

This past week one of our investigators progressed a lot! He and his girlfriend went to church on Sunday and this past week we've been able to meet with them more. We taught him about prophets on Saturday and connected it to priesthood authority and it clicked for him! And he's been reading the Book of Mormon and loving it! And he's noticing a difference from reading it more. It never ceases to amaze me how awesome the Book of Mormon is. I've been able to see first-hand how not only does it strengthen me, but people who aren't even members yet can feel and notice a new strength in their lives when they read from it consistently. It's just awesome and proves to me how important it is to read from it daily myself.

Dad sent me a picture with is Morehead State shirt on haha, Bro Curry let me know that he sent him a picture too, He said he was "styling and profiling" lol. That's my dad! Oh man he's awesome.

That's so awesome about Brett's call! Mickie e-mailed me so I got to tell her how exciting that is! He's going to love it there. It's more south than me so it'll be even more south people like. More accents and everything. I'm sure he'll love it!

Well, I hope you keep feeling better! I'm so happy I got to hear how y'all were doing! I LOVE YOU LOTS! Have a great week!

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!

Love,

Sister Hodges

Reppin UK today!  

Soaking wet from good 'ol Kentucky rain!

A hollow tree!

The Easter basket Uncle Bob sent me!

just hangin out in our super cool t-shirts 

March 31, A Day In The Life Of The Amish

Last Monday Sister LeFevre and I had a pretty awesome P-Day. We got to spend the day with the Amish! The church here does blood drives with them and the missionaries were able to befriend an Amish family, the Gerod's. We drove down to Owingsville and I got to meet the whole family. The parents and half of their kids still live at home, they have a total of twelve kids. After we socialized for a bit and they fed us some delicious homemade brownie cake stuff, we helped them feed about 130 calves. We gave them buckets of milk and then Susie took us for a horse and buggy ride! It was sweet! We rode to her sisters house and chatted for a bit. After that we had to head home for the rest of our day, but it was so great meeting their family! They are such kind people!

Later this week we got to visit a newer investigator at the hospital.

Kentucky most definitely beat Louisville! That made everyone relax a bit. Now they're up to the final four! Aww yeah!

Overall, things are going well here in Morehead. We had a young college couple come to church yesterday! They seemed to enjoy it a lot and made it through some pretty deep stuff...and they got to hear me give a talk!

Hope y'all had a great week and are as excited for conference as I am!

Sister Hodges