Week 29: Cerritos

I just love Cerritos so much. And I love Hermana Young so much. God knew exactly what he was doing when he put us here together. We have gone through so much but I know that God has made us stronger and better through it all. 

Miracles

☆We had two amazing lessons with Jeovani (Brenda's son) about baptism! He's still not ready, but he came to a little girl from our wards baptism on Saturday!!.

☆On Tuesday for the "car fast," we planned on using the bus to get to our lesson with recent converts in Bellflower. We didn't realize we couldn't use our cards, so the 5 dollars we had in cash between us both got us on the two buses to get to Norma's house, but we were stuck there! Norma fed us the best chicken Alfredo and then we had a lesson on the Plan of Salvation with her mom, Catalina. Thankfully, Brenda came to pick us up and we ended up going to institute with her. It would have been a looooong walk back. 

☆We went to teach our friend Irene who we found last week. Irene works at the laundromat that we go to. When we went to teach her, she had her two teenage daughters, Janet and Antonia, join in the lesson too so now we get to teach them!! They are so cool! 

☆Exchanges! Hermana Jackson came here to Cerritos! We decided she is my adopted mission mom now that my mission mom has gone home (love you Hermana Midence) We definitely saw miracles, especially when we went to visit Fedra. Fedra is a member whose boyfriend Christian is being taught by the Elders. We talked to Fedra for awhile and just got to learn a lot more about her life and understand how to help her family more. We are planning on going with her family to the temple this Saturday!

☆We met THE MOST AMAZING family from COLOMBIA!!! The Elders taught the first lesson but since it was a single mom, they referred them to us. The mom's name is Lucy and she has a son named Juan who is a freshman in high school. They moved here 3 years ago and they are so intelligent and have pure intent! They sought out the missionaries on their own from Facebook and Lucy is especially excited for Juan to come to youth activities. Also Juan is amazing at the piano. He played the Padre Nuestro for us. I am so excited to keep teaching them!

Spiritual Thought

It was definitely inspired that we went to institute this week because we were able to answer a lot of Brenda's questions! We talked about the priesthood and the temple from President Nelson's October 2019 address to the women of the Church "Spiritual Treasures." I would really recommend all of you to go back and study that!

As a missionary, I've realized that the one thing that sets us apart as a Church is priesthood authority. 

The priesthood is the power of God which he gives to man to act in His Name. The same priesthood power that Christ gave to Peter, James, and John, which was once lost from the earth, was restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

President Nelson taught: "Because the Melchizedek Priesthood has been restored, both covenant-keeping women and men have access to 'all the spiritual blessings of the church' or, we might say, to all the spiritual treasures the Lord has for His children."

I believe with all my heart that the priesthood has been restored because I've seen these blessings in my life. 

Because the priesthood has been restored, I was able to be baptized. I was able to make this essential step to be able to return to live with my Heavenly Father.

Because the priesthood has been restored, I have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. When I keep my baptismal promises, I will always have the Holy Ghost to teach of truth, comfort, and guide me. 

Because the priesthood has been restored, my family can be together forever. As President Nelson taught, "Wishing to be together forever will not make it so" ("The Temple and your Spiritual Foundation, October 2021). Only through priesthood keys can our families be bound together for eternity in Holy Temples.

Because the priesthood has been restored, miracles exist. Miracles of healing, comfort, forgiveness. I am a witness to these miracles as a missionary for Jesus Christ. 

I invite each one of you to learn more about and seek your own testimony of the Restoration of the Priesthood. 

I promise you that as you do so you will see the promises from President Nelson fulfilled in your life that "your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase" and "you will find yourselves better able to help create eternal families that are united, sealed in the temple of the Lord, and full of love for our Heavenly Father and for Jesus Christ."

I know that this is the Lord's work! He lives!

I'm praying for each of you. Love you all!

Hermana Dudley

1.I just think this ones funny

2.Hermana Reed is a legend! She was Hermana Midence's last companion. She is going home next week

3.We went to Blaze Pizza two weeks ago

4.Last picture with Alfredo from two weeks ago

5.Bus day

6.I love all the beautiful trees here!!

7.Elder Farr just got back all his film pictures from thus transfer so this one's from zone devo.

8.Teaching Fedra and her cute kids on exchanges w/ Hna. Jackson

9.W/ Obispo y Hermana Luque. They're the best!!