Week 12: Cerritos
This week was the first week of the new transfer! I am so grateful that Hermana Midence get another transfer in Cerritos. I know there are still people we need to find & lessons we need to learn together here! We are trying even harder to do our best & trust in the Lord this transfer. Our zone had A LOT of changes, and we miss the missionaries who left. Our zone is a lot different now. But something I've realized is even the people who you think you'll never love, if you spend time with them and get to know them, at the end of sharing all these experiences, you miss them when they leave. I'm sure we'll come to love this group of missionaries too.
But the Lord is hastening his work here in Cerritos! We saw so many miracles. One of the most amazing miracle was that on Tuesday night, after a CRAZY day of transfers & car troubles (trial of our faith), God led us to find two FAMILIES who are so ready to accept the gospel! Here are some of the miracles:
-We found Jacqueline a few weeks ago and taught her the restoration on her porch. She hasn't been there when we've tried to go back but this time we stopped by, they were there and let us in. We taught her, her husband Carlos, and their 13 year old daughter Nicole about the atonement of Jesus Christ. And they have two more kids that weren't there but hopefully will be there when we come back. They are so open and ready to receive the gospel. They committed to read the Book of Mormon. And we have another lesson with them on Tuesday.
-Monica and Edgar had been taught in the past a little but it's been a few years and we'd been trying to get in contact with them all last transfer. We were finally able to have a lesson with them tonight and their three kids, Kaitlyn, Edgar, and Katherine participated as well. We taught them about the atonement of Jesus Christ! We are going to teach them again on Tuesday too.
-We had to go to pep boys to get our car worked on (for the 3rd time this week haha) and while they were working on the car we decided to go to the park across the street. We walked over to a lady sitting alone named Emilia and ended up teaching her for almost an hour! We shared a message about Easter and the Restoration! She was really sweet and accepting of the gospel and she's had friends who are members!! She wants us to come back to bring her a Libro de Mormón this week and today actually reached out to US to make sure that we are coming back.
-We went to go visit one of our friends (Maria #2) who we thought was back from Mexico. She wasn't but we shared a message with her daughter Kathleen. She was a bit hesitant but God really softened her heart and we shared about Christ's Resurrection. She definitely felt the spirit, and before we could ask she said she wants us to come back on Thursday to teach her and her mom. This family is so ready for the gospel!!
-Brenda came to Church on Sunday! And so did Araceli and her mom, Gabriela. Araceli and Gabriela even stayed for Sunday School:) so happy to have our friends at church on Easter Sunday!
Brenda update: still doing good but after such an incredible week, she had a few hard things happen and her progression is a little stagnant. There are some obstacles that she'll have to overcome, and she is still seeking for a sure answer. Please keep her in your prayers!
This Easter week was such a special week to be a missionary. In personal study, I studied/thought a lot about the atonement of Jesus Christ. In every contact or lesson this week, we testified of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to share the good news that Christ paid for our sins and overcame death. Because of Him we can have hope.
It's impossible to comprehend all that the Savior did for us, but I've always been able to understand the atonement of Jesus Christ, but a story I included below helps me to appreciate more the love, justice, and mercy of the atonement of Christ and my relationship to him. I hope it is meaningful to you all as well.
Love you and hope you have a great week!
Hermana Dudley
President James E Faust: "The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope"
Some years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley told “something of a parable” about “a one room school house in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.
“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with 10 rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’
“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.
“A day or so later, … the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. ‘The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.’
“As Little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’
“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, Big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.
“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.
“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. ‘Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. “Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!”’”
1. Hermana Rios Lazo, the sweetest widow in our ward. We love visiting her!
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