I LOVE Being A Missionary! (MTC Week 1)

Hi everyone!

I can't believe this week is already over! It has been one of the best weeks of my life! On Sunday, I was set apart as a missionary. I kind of expected to feel completely different as soon as I was set apart and put on my tag, but I didn't. I felt peace, but I didn't feel an overwhelming presence of the Spirit. However, as I compare myself today to myself a week ago, I have changed so much! Each day that I've been a missionary, I've felt the Spirit more in my life. I've felt my Savior changing my heart to love others more. Most of all I've been SOOOO happy! President Nelson taught us: "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." I have truly felt joy this week as I have focused on my Savior. 

The MTC is so amazing. I am always busy. I have zoom classes from about 10 am-8:30 pm each day, with a few hours of breaks in between. During the breaks, I do personal study, companionship study, and study Spanish. My teachers, Hermana Carvajal and Hermano Marquez, are so kind, patient, and energetic. And my district is great. All 10 of us are going to Spanish-speaking missions in the United States. We are all very different from each other, but we are bonded by our desire to share the gospel. My companion, Hermana Young, is awesome. At first, it was a little hard to get to know each other well over zoom, but I feel like we have a good friendship now! And the cool thing is she is also assigned to California Anaheim too!

My favorite part of this week was our workshop on the gift of tongues. I learned that we have to pray for it, have faith, and work for it. We watched a really inspirational video on missionaries serving in Bulgaria that were transferred to Turkey when the Church was first allowed to send missionaries there. They learned Turkish in 2 months with the Lord's help! They learned 100 new words a day and used the language as much as possible, and the Lord magnified their efforts and blessed them with the gift of tongues. This really inspired me to work harder and pray harder for this gift. I know I can't learn this language and be an effective missionary on my own. I need to rely on Him, and trust that if I open my mouth, He will fill it. Elder Holland said "We would hope that every missionary learning a new proselyting language would master it in every way possible...Stretch yourself in the language, and you will gain greater access to the hearts of the people." I am trying to speak in Spanish as much as possible, and I am making a lot of mistakes, but I trust the Lord that He will accept my offering and magnify my efforts so I can communicate with the people that He needs me too in Spanish. 

I am excited to work harder this next week and become a more dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Love you all!

Hermana Dudley