Cerritos Is Zion (Week 11: Cerritos)

This has been a CRAZY week. This was also the last week of the transfer (we only had a 5 week transfer)  I am so happy I am staying with Hermana Midence in Cerritos! She is literally the best missionary & trainer ever. And I love all the friends we've made here! 

Here are some highlights:

-We had exchanges with the STL's which was an adventure. All 5 of us Hermanas ended up sleeping at the STL's apartment, we woke up early the next morning to take Hermana Murdock to the temple because it's her last week, and got to stop by Costa Mesa on the way to see my MTC comp, Hermana Young, which was so fun! Afterwards, we had lunch at a local burger place in Huntington Beach that was sooo good! And I got to see the Pacific ocean for the first time. BUT, when we got back to the STL's apartment around 1, we realized our car got TOWED and we had to go to the sketchiest place in Santa Ana to pick it up. After that, there was no point in continuing the exchange so we went back to our own area.

-Our walks with Hermana Casco! The sweetest lady in our ward. We walk with her a couple times a week. She hasn't been to church since COVID, but we hope she will feel comfortable enough to come back soon. We had a lesson with her and her husband, who is the Pastor of a different church.  

-Julie's baptism! Julie is an 18 year old who was taught by Elder Jepson and Elder Harrison. They asked us to come to play the piano & conduct the music and also to teach the message of the Restoration in ENGLISH (and I will just say, my comp is amazing. I have never felt the spirit so strong while teaching then when she was testifying of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon at the end). And we were happy that Brenda came too! She loved it and felt the Spirit! But something CRAZY happened at the baptism. Right before the baptism, Julie ran out of the building and ran to her car. She was about to leave because she was scared. The Elders were in the bathroom and I was playing prelude, so Hermana Midence ran after her with one of Julie's friends. Julie was crying because it's around the same time that her brother passed away a few years ago. But Hermana Midence testified that this step would allow her to see her brother again. She listened to the Spirit and was able to resolve her concerns. So Julie ended up coming back and getting baptized. And afterwards, Julie gave such a powerful testimony. It was such a special baptism and I'm so glad we were able to be there. 

we've been blessed to see so many miracles from God this week!

-Brenda! She is progressing so much. She had two really good lessons, went to institute (where she gave the spiritual thought), came to church, went to the Newport Beach Temple grounds (SHE asked us to take her), and went to Julie's baptism! We are having a lesson again with her tonight. Amazing to see the change the gospel of Jesus Christ is bringing to her life. 

-Yarita! This was just our third lesson with her. Our lessons are short and a little hectic because she has 4 little kids who are a lot of work. We had planned to talk about something else, but at the last minute, the Spirit told us to share 3 Ne 27:20 and we ended up talking about baptism. She told us that she wants this in her life. So we invited her to be baptized on May 4 and she accepted.

-Delia and Felix! A few weeks ago, we saw the same middle aged couple walking twice in one day. We didn't talk to them because it would have been awkward, but afterwards we felt bad thay we had ignored the prompting to talk to them. So we prayed for forgiveness and that God would give us another chance to talk to them. We went back to the neighborhood we saw them in and walked around for like an hour but didn't see them. Then God gave us a third chance! When we were driving to a lesson with Brenda the other day and Hermana Midence had a prompting to go a different route. And then we saw them walking! We parked the car, ran after them, and got their number, we haven't gotten in contact with them but we hope we can teach them a lesson soon. God is good!

Although it's our job to do everything we can, these miracles are not the results of our efforts. It is impossible for us to make these changes in people. These changes only come from our Savior Jesus Christ. It is amazing to see how God uses us, imperfect, ineloquent, non fluent in Spanish (in my case) young adults to teach his perfect message. He uses us as instruments in his hands to accomplish His great work. I know that this is His work and these miracles come from Him. 

I love what Ammon says in Alma 26:12 when telling of the miracles that occurred on his mission. "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever"

I know that miracles are real and still occur on the earth today. I invite you all to follow the invitation from President Nelson and seek and expect miracles in your own lives. 

I love you all and am praying for you!

Hermana Dudley

1. I love my comp! Walking to a lesson in Bellflower :)

2.when we got towed..

3.with Hermanas Armstrong, Jackson, and Midence outside of the Newport Beach Temple while Hermana Murdock was inside

4.Julie's baptism!

5. at the Newport Beach Temple with Brenda

6.Zone Devotional. I love my zone. So sad that so many of them are getting transferred. Cerritos is Zion!

7.with the STLs in Newport Beach!

8.when we went to surprise Hermana Young & Hermana Rivera

9.The Newport Beach Temple is sooo beautiful

10.Lesson with la familia Casco