Week 31: Raymond

Wow, this has been the craziest, busiest week of my life!!

This transfer, I am in a new area with a new companion and have new responsibilities to be able to serve the other missionaries. 

From the moment that I dropped off my bags at our apartment, we've been busy. 4 of our Hermanas are training new missionaries, so we were helping all of them get ready, and then we got to pick up the new missionaries and hang out with them before it was time for them to go to the mission home. We've had a lot of meetings this week which has been exhausting, but something that's helped me a ton is thinking about Jesus Christ there sitting next to me in the planning meetings and in the trainings. 

We also were able to witness many miracles as our friends made choices to come unto Christ! 

We met Brenda and the Cerritos hermanas at the Newport Beach Temple on Friday and were able to watch as Brenda (from my old area) performed baptisms for her grandma and other close family members. It was very special. 

Then on Saturday, Carlos and Noemi were married and then Carlos was baptized! They are so happy to work towards being sealed as a family next year!

Later that day, we has a church tour with one of our friends Norma. We had scheduled the church tour but when we called she said her grandson couldn't take her so she didn't have a way to come. We felt strongly to call a member who hasn't been coming to church very much (Hermana Tiran) and she was so willing to bring Norma! And then we had such a spiritual church tour. Norma met Obispo and told him how she was truly searching for Christ's church and how she had felt something special when the Hermanas first knocked on her door. The next day, Hermana Tiran picked Norma up for church and Norma had the most amazing experience!! We were so happy :))

I am so excited to be serving here in the Fullerton area, but I definitely miss Cerritos. 

Change is always hard, but it is the way we grow. God is really good at putting us in situations that stretch us, but He doesn't leave us alone. I know He is with us and He is strengthening us. 

One day, Hermana Cordova (my amazing comp) shared a story with me from Elder Ciro Schmeil. Shortly after he was called as a Church leader, he had the opportunity to eat lunch with the Prophet. He asked the Prophet for counsel and guidance in his new responsibilities. President Nelson's guidance was very simple: "Elder Schmeil, you are called for what you can become" ("The Faith to Act and Become").

God didn't give me these assignments because of who I am right now but because of who He can refine me to be through the atoning power of Jesus Christ.

This brings me comfort. Even though I have a lot of flaws, I know the Lord qualifies those whom He calls and I trust Him that He wouldn't set me up to fail.

I am excited for the opportunities I will have to grow this week and the miracles we will see!!

Love you all :))

♡Hermana Dudley

1.Saying goodbye to Brenda & Jeovanni

2.Saying goodbye to Hna. Young at the mission office

3.w/ Brenda, Hna. Young, & Hna. Jackson at the Newport Beach Temple

4.Early morning bball with Santa Ana West Zone (SAW)

5.Took the new trainees to Joe's to get snow cones!

6.w/ Hna. Cordova at the Temple

7.Zone Council with Santa Ana East Zone (SAE)

8.Went to Matiki's with the Hnas after the baptism. Free food for missionaries. Literally one of the biggest miracles this week