Week 23: Cerritos

Happy 4th of July!!!!

I am so grateful that we live in a country where we have religious freedom that allowed the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to take place. 

This week has been such a good week!! We have seen lots of miracles in Cerritos! 

☆God led us to two new people to teach! They are in the same apartment complex as Familia Perez (so now we're teaching 11 people in that apartment complex and the Elders teach about 5 there so I think everyone knows us now). One day last week when we were coming out of a lesson, we saw Mellissa sitting at the top of the stairs outside her apartment. We asked her if we could share a special message about Christ. She said she was cooking but to come back another time. So we went back on Thursday. We didn't know which apartment was hers so we knocked on the door closest to where she was sitting and Ofilia opened the door. She didn't know Mellissa, but we were able to teach her about the Book of Mormon. On Saturday, we went back and were able to find and teach Mellissa about the Book of Mormon. Mellissa is from Honduras and has a strong belief in Christ. She committed to read 3 Nefi 11 and I am excited to go back to teach her again this week! 

☆Yarita finally had a church tour! We've been trying to get her to the church for a few months. It went really well and although she didn't come to Sacrament Meeting, it was definitely a step in the right direction. 

☆We taught Alfredo the Word of Wisdom yesterday and he accepted it as a Commandment of God and decided to give up coffee and tea! Alfredo has strong faith in the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We are praying that he will be able to get work off on Sundays. We feel like he is definitely progressing to be prepared for his baptism August 20!

☆We had a really Spirit-filled lesson with Brenda on the grounds of the LA Temple. She wanted to strengthen her testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. On the way there, we listened to a talk about Joseph Smith. Then on the grounds, we talked about the blessing of temples and that we have them thanks to the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith. We talked about the sacrifice the saints made to build the Kirtland Temple and read part of the Kirtland Temple dedication, the first time a House of God was on the earth in hundreds of years. At the end, we listened to "The Spirit of God," which was written for the dedication of the Kirtland Temple and the Spirit was so strong. I am so grateful for the sacrifices Joseph Smith made so we can have a temple on the earth today that allows us to make covenants that bind us to Christ and our families forever!

☆Brenda wants us to teach her 10 year old Jovani more. Jovani is a truth seeker. Recently he asked us how we get to heaven, so last night we were able to have a lesson with him about the gospel of Jesus Christ & the atonement of Jesus Christ that allow us to return to live with God. 

Recently I have been thinking a lot about Finishing strong. We talked about this in Zone Conference, how lots of times we start off really strong, but at the end (of the day, week, transfer, mission) we run out of gas. I never want to be that way. 

I remember in high school when I played tennis, my dad would always say: "Play every point like it is match point." Every point is so important and this reminded me to fight and give my all into every point. I like to think of every street contact and lesson like it was match point. What if this was the last time that this child of God had the chance to hear about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in their life-the key to their salvation? Did I teach restored truth? Did I share my testimony with conviction & power? Did I invite them to make changes in their lives to come unto Christ and promise blessings as His representative? Then I can know that I did everything I could and have no regrets. 

Sometimes it is tiring for this match to be all day, every day where I have to be giving my all. At zone conference, Elder Black said "I'm always working. I'm either working or I'm sleeping. There are no days off."

But I can feel joy in consecrating everything to the Lord. I am working with Him and He is strengthening me. 

In his talk "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary," Elder Callister said "For a consecrated missionary there is nothing more to give at the end of the day…When consecrated missionaries are exhausted and nothing is left, they rely upon their faith, and the reserve tanks of energy somehow carry them through the day." 

As followers of Christ, we are often asked to do things that stretch us. Things that we are not capable of doing on our own. But these times can become beautiful, sacred times in our lives when the Lord changes us and gives us the strength we need. 

Love you all! Hope you have the best week.

Hermana Dudley

1.With Brenda at the LA Temple

2.LA Temple

3.Brenda's baptism invitation. Please keep her in your prayers this week!

4.Morning walk w/ Hermana Casco

5.Hermana Carranza & Nicole took us to In n Out this week. They're the best!

6.Our friend Ivania who we are teaching

7.ZLs, Julie, and Zion