Week 77: La Rosa

Hola familia y amigos!

I am really grateful for the experiences I've had this week! There were highs and lows, but it was just a reminder that my motivation is because I love God. When things get hard, I just think about Him. 

Updates

-Lucas is not getting baptized for now. He hasn't responded to us for a week:( Please pray for him. 

-Heydi didn't come to HB yet. Theres a chance she will come this Saturday but we are not sure. 

-Noel is out of food and money right now until he gets paid. He is doubting his belief in God because he doesn't understand why God would let terrible things happen to good people. He needs extra prayers!

-Edgar is the same. He did come to church yesterday. Please keep praying for him!

Miracles

-Last Monday night, we had a sweet lesson with Cathy and Hermana Chacon in HB Central Library Park. It was a beautiful conversation about the Plan of Salvation. I felt God's love so strongly. At the end, we asked Cathy if she wants this to be true. She says it's so special, she does want it to be true, but at the same time, she's worried about what she'll have to give up. We told her that we'll be praying for her to find her answer and I know she can use prayers from everyone!

-Someone just handed Noel a $100 the day he ran out of money and he got a stable job...but he wont get paid til the second week of August.

-We had a great lesson with Enrique at the Quesadas house. He is an honest seeker or truth! He commited to sincerely read the Book of Mormon and pray, and he says when he receives an answer and feels prepared, he will be baptized. 

-Hermana Young! I am so glad we've been able to serve together from start to finish. Last week we gave our departing testimonies at zone conference. Just being up there on the stand and realizing how much I was going to miss these missionaries and thus precious time serving the Lord made me cry, but Hermana Young was a real one and got me a box of tissues. I love her so much!

-Seeing so many of the sisters I've served on the mission at zone conference. I love them!

-Being in the house of the Lord with my mission friends. 

-A random lady in Walmart gave us $20 to get food. 

-Exchanges with Sister Hileman! (I did some math and I'm pretty sure I've now gone on 40 exchanges with 32 different sisters over the last 11 months). We were able to bond. And we had a great lesson with their 12 year old friend Joy and some members from the ward. In the past, Joy's parents haven't really been interested but they were listening in at some parts and afterwards, we had the impression to share about family history with Joy's dad. So Sister Hileman and Sister Wheeler went back the next day and he was interested in family history!

Yesterday, I spoke in church about covenants, or promises between us and God that allow us to recieve access to His power, such as the covenant of baptism.

We promise: 

-to be willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ

-Keep the commandments of God  

-Serve God and others

-Endure to the end

God promises:

-to forgive us of our sins

-receive the companionship of the Holy Spirit

In his talk "Overcome the World and Find Rest," President Nelson quoted the scriptures about being yoked to Christ from the New Testament, which we do by making covenants with Him (Matthew 11:28-30). He then said:

"Dear brothers and sisters, I grieve for those who leave the Church because they feel membership requires too much of them. They have not yet discovered that making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth! The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God."

The greatest thing I have learned on my mission is to be a covenant keeper. I am grateful for priesthood power which has been restored on the earth and allows us to make covenants that prepare us to one day return to our Heavenly Father. 

I invite you all to consider how you can better live your covenants this week, or if you have not made the first covenant of baptism in Christ's restored church, to ask God if this is what He wants you to do. 

I promise as you do this, you will feel Christ carrying your burdens with you and receive spiritual light and power in your lives. 

I love you all and hope you have a miracle filled week!

Hermana Dudley

1. Exchanges with Sister Hileman

2. Departure group at NB Temple

3. Hermanas

4. W/ galoteras at the temple 

5. Hermana Votaw and Hermana Young

6. Hermana Echeverria

7. Sister Harding