Reassignment To The Washington Seattle Mission

Dear Elder Dudley,

 

I was notified this week that you have been officially re-assigned to the Washington Seattle Mission. Let me share a portion of the letter I received from Elder Marcus B. Nash, Executive Director of the Missionary Department.

 

Dear President Beardall:

 

Thank you for all you are doing to support missionaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Dudley has been assigned to complete his missionary service in the Washington Seattle Mission. Please personally inform Elder Dudley of this assignment and communicate gratitude for his willing service to the Lord.

 

We appreciate your dedication to the work of gathering Israel and look forward to continuing our service together. Onward and upward!

 

Love,

President and Sister Beardall

Home - March 27, 2020 To May 19, 2020

Being home in the middle of these two years was something I never expected. I always planned on being gone for two years, serving the Lord. I thought I would just be in Brasil. But, the Lord had other plans. 

I loved my time at home. While at times my heart wanted to be in Brasil, I loved being with my family and having the unique opportunity to make more memories with them. They are the most important thing in my life besides the Savior and the Restored Gospel. We made some great memories as a family while being quarantined at home together. We rode bikes, played games, went on walks, and played ping pong, basketball, and tennis. After a month staying at home, we went on our first outing away from home. We hiked all day at First Landing State Park. We also went to the beach several times towards the end of my time at home. It was great! 

I especially loved participating in the ordinance of the Sacrament at home with my family. We had the Sacrament each week out by the fire pit with Grandma and Chichi. Parker prepared it, Spencer passed it, and I blessed it in Portuguese. It was a really neat experience. The Spirit was always extremely powerful as we quietly reflected and listened to birds chirping.

Another incredible moment in all of the confusion was General Conference. It was so special to be with my family for General Conference one last time. In October 2019 General Conference, President Nelson promised that this April 2020 Conference would be different than any other. It was incredible to see how many of the changes in the Church in these past few years prepared us for this time of the Corona Virus. We truly do have a Prophet of God on the earth today.

Although I was released, I tried to do my best to keep in tip top missionary shape. I tried to study Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon every day. The Church was constantly releasing new information, so my plans constantly changed. The Church ended up giving all early returning missionaries two options. The first was to return to missionary service as soon as possible in a temporary assignment and wait to be reinstated to the original mission and keep the original end date as conditions in countries allow. The second option was to delay service for 12 to 18 months and get a new end date. I ended up choosing the option to return as soon as possible. A week or two after the deadline to choose, we started hearing about missionaries receiving new assignments. After about a week, I received my new call to serve in the Washington Seattle Mission! I was to leave on the 19th of May. I was so extremely excited to be set apart to serve as a missionary again. I do and will miss Brasil, but I have no reservations about serving in any place. I will go and do.

Pictures:

#1 The airport

#2 Getting home

#3 Breakfast the next day

#4 Outdoor at home sacrament

#5 Pictures after sacrament

Pictures:

#1-2 Pictures after sacrament 

#3 Mom and I cooking pull apart rolls

#4 Tennis

#5 Basketball

Pictures:

#1 Pictures at church

#2 Parker and I eating. Dozen eggs in one sitting

#3 First Landing State Park

#4 Kickball

#5 The beach

Pictures:

#1 Hammocking after sacrament

#2 Slow cooking pork

#3-4 The beach again

Pictures:

#1 Meeting President and Sister Beardall

#2 Breakfast

#3 Pictures after church

#4 Dad’s Birthday

#5 Under the Bridge

#6 Map of the Washington Seattle Mission

Pictures:

#1 On the dunes

#2 Pictures after church

#3 Packing

#4 Washington!

#5 Sunday walk on the beach

#6 Spencer’s birthday

#7 Monopoly

#8 Parker’s surprise breakfast

Corona Transfer

Journal Entry from March 26, 2020

Well, I am unexpectedly writing this from a Marriott Hotel room in Guarulhos. We went to the airport yesterday, but apparently our flight wasn’t until tonight. Our entire mission slept in this super nice hotel last night. It has actually been the best way to end things here. I have talked to so many people that I haven’t seen in almost 6 months! Last night, President held one last devotional.  It was really special. Sister Miller bore her testimony, and then President talked about when he ran an Iron Man, and how we can’t make up the crazy stuff that happens in life. No one ever expects stuff like this to happen. Like an Iron Man, really unexpected stuff happens, and the only way to get through is if the prize is all you want. After that, he invited us to bear our testimonies. Elder Tanner, the executive secretary, bore his testimony on the miracles that happened for us to go home, and how this is for a purpose. Elder VanDerwerken bore his testimony on how he hopes that the time he spent here blessed lives of people here in Brasil and our lives and how he really felt like he was meant to serve here. I am so grateful to have met so many great missionaries here.

We then had a huge, super nice buffet dinner. I hung out with Elder Hatch and Elder Hawkes. It was super fun. My room assignment was with Elder Frehner and Elder Ellingson, and there were only two beds so I slept on the floor. It was alright. This morning, we woke up and went to breakfast. Afterwards, we played basketball with Elder Hawkes, Elder Tanner, Elder VanDerwerken, Elder Webster, Elder Bishop, Elder Zundel, Elder Lowe, and Elder Christensen. It was a blast.

I still can’t believe that we are going home. It is so crazy. I feel bad for guys like Elder Zundel and Elder VanDerwerken, whose missions are over. It is very bittersweet. I found out that the day that we found out that we were going home was exactly one year since I opened my call. One of the happiest days, and then a year later, one of the saddest days. No matter what, I will continue to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.

Saying goodbye was super hard. We had all developed such close relationships to serve the Lord and the people of Brasil. I could not believe that there was a chance that I would not be seeing some of these people again. I am just super grateful that I was able to say goodbye to so many of my friends.

Pictures:

#1- Elder Messace, Elder Tinorio, Elder Ellingson and me. This was as we left our apartment.

#2-3 Elder Pereira and me. This was as our district met at the chapel in Suzano to go to the airport.

#4 Elder Pereira, Elder Zundel and me.

#5 Elder Roniere and me.

#6 Elder Dicou, Elder Ellingson, and me.

#7 The first time at the airport. Elder Christensen, Elder Satteson, Elder Janda, Elder Ellingson, and me.

#8 Elder Bishop and me

#9-10 The view from the Marriott

#11 Elder Tanner (Executive Secretary), Elder VanDerwerken (AP) and I at the Marriott

#12 - Elder Ellingson, Elder Hatch, Elder Janda, and me. Elder Hatch trained me, and was in the process of training Elder Janda.

#13 Elder Tuttle, Elder Stewart, and me. We started together in Cruzeiro.

#14 Playing Uno in the airport as we waited for our flight. 

#15 Elder Hawkes and me

#16 Elder Webster, Elder Hatch, Elder Ellingson, and me

#17 Elder Christensen and me. We started together in the CTM, and we ended together in the airport.

#18. Sister Beck, Elder Archibald, and I on the airplane

#19 The screen showing our destination

#20 Presidente Miller, Sister Miller, and I at the airport