Week 24: Cerritos

Yesterday, one of my best friends, Brenda, was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was one of the most joyful days of my life as I watched her make a promised to always remember Christ, be a representative of Him, and keep his commandments. And in turn God promised her the gift of the Holy Ghost & the gift of life with Him as she stays faithful to these covenants.

I remember the first time I met Brenda. She was so sad and closed off. She never smiled, was stressed about her kids, and didn't want to pray.

It has been a miracle to see the change that Christ has made in her.

She loves going to the temple grounds, reads Scriptures and speeches from our apostles every day, smiles and laughs, prays with her kids, and loves church.

Yesterday, she brought all 3 kids (Darlene, Jeovani, and Alex) to church for the first time. She bought them all cute outfits to wear. It was adorable to see Jeovani and Alex in their white shirts & matching ties.

The baptism was beautiful. She was a little nervous beforehand that it wouldn't be the experience she had anticipated. She's actively attended two other churches in her life but has never been baptized because she always felt like she wanted to wait to be baptized in the true church of God and stay there her whole life.

The Spirit was so strong during the baptismal service. Right before she was baptized, we played a special musical number called "The Miracle." Her journey has truly been a miracle. I got to play the piano, Hermana Young played the violin, and la familia Lopez from our ward and the other 5 Hermanas misioneras who were there sang.The Spirit was so strong.

Then watching her be baptized by her friend Enrique and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ was a moment I will always remember.

She was so happy. She told us she was imagining God looking down from heaven smiling at her.

Her 9 year old, Jeovani said watching has mom be baptized he felt like he was so happy he wanted to cry. We taught him that this is the Spirit speaking to Him.

It was a day I will never forget.

I am a witness of Christ because of Brenda. I am a witness to the power of His atonement to change. She is a new person in Christ and I am excited to see the changes she will continue to make this year as she prepares to make more covenants with God in His Holy Temple.

Recently I read Elder Holland's talk "The Greatest Possession." In it, he paraphrased CS Lewis.

"In his characteristically memorable prose, C. S. Lewis imagines the Lord saying to us something like this: 'I don’t want … your time … [or] your money … [or] your work [as much as] I [just] want You. [That tree you are pruning.] I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want … the whole [thing] down. [And that tooth.] I don’t want to drill [it], or crown it, or [fill] it. [I want] to have it out. [In fact, I want you to] hand over [to me your] whole natural self. … [And] I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my … will shall become [your will].' "

I have seen this in my life & in my friends lives here as a representative of Jesus Christ. His atonement changes people. As we learn in the Bible, they are truly able to become new people in Christ.

I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I witness that He is our Redeemer. He lives. I wear His name over my heart every day and have the wonderful opportunity to testify of Him and watch as He changes people's lives.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

I love you all!

Hermana Dudley

1. Brenda and me

2.All the Hermanas at the baptism (Hna. Jackson, Ayala, Dudley, Midence, Brenda, Young, Rivera, Reed)

3.i got to see Hermana Midence

4.Brenda dressed in white

5.Brenda holding the painting Hermana Young made

6.Hermana Young made this painting of Hermana Midence & Hermana Rivera) Brenda and their "hijas" who baptized her

7.w/ my two comps at "follow up zone conference" (aka mission conference). Hermana Midence gave her departing testimony

8.The Hermanas went back to Brenda's apartment afterwards for dinner

9.Cerritos Zone at Camp Zion