I am definitely not used to the climate. It is June, and it feels like a Virginia October or November. It's definitely weird. No complaints, though. I like this weather for missionary work.
Here are the best things that happened this week:
8. A family in our ward gave us a ton of food for the second week in a row. We haven't had to buy food for over two weeks!! It was great!!
7. One of the Elders in our zone loves Marvel. He sent in a list in our group chat listing all of us as Avengers. It is kind of hard to explain, but if you knew Elder Bremer, you would know how funny it was. I was Vision.
6. I put up all the photos that I had of our family up on the wall above my study desk. It is such a happy spot now. I have tons of memories hanging on the wall in front of me.
5. Elder Atkin and I bought a state park pass. We started going to Saltwater State Park a lot to study. It is so pretty!!! It goes right up to the Puget Sound. I just love being next to the water.
4. We started getting up at 5:30 and going to work out with Elder Keil and Elder Walker. They have a bench press and a ton of other work out equipment. It's pretty fun, but I have been so sore all week.
3. We went to 2 baptisms via Zoom on Saturday. The first was Benjamin's. While I was home, Emma and I taught him with the Mount Pleasant sisters. It was so cool to see him get baptized. The second baptism was of someone that sisters in our zone taught. It was awesome because it was the first week that anyone has been baptized here!!
2. I texted with Elder Pereira (one of my companions from Brasil) this morning. It was super fun to catch up with him. He is doing good. He was transferred to Vista Verde, one of my old areas!! He said that things are going really well now that they have smartphones. Even though they are in quarantine, the mission baptized 20 people last transfer!! Elder Pereira also told me that someone we taught in Suzano, Agatá, is going to be baptized!! I was super pumped!!!
1. So, I have been figuring out Facebook Finding. Last week, I set a baptismal date with David over text and taught him the Restoration. I then talked with him on a video chat, and referred him to the missionaries in San Bernardino, California. I am still texting with David, and he is reading the Book of Mormon every day. The missionaries there contacted him, and he is going to be baptized in July!!!
This week, our zone studied seven amazing talks together. I highly recommend them all.
- "Come What May, and Love It" by Joseph B. Wirthlin (October 2008)
-"The Fourth Missionary" by Lawrence E Corbridge
-"You Were Born to Lead; You Were Born for Glory" by Sheri Dew (BYU speech)
-"Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" by Tad R. Callister
- "Be 100 Percent Responsible" by Lynn G. Robbins (BYU Speech)
- "Aproaching the Throne of God with Confidence" by Jorg Klebengat (October 2014)
- "Spriritual Gifts" by Peggy S. Worthen (BYU speeches)
The talk by Elder Klebengat, "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence", went really well with this last week's Come Follow Me chapters (Alma 5-7). Elder Klebengat talked a lot about how it is Satan's strategy to make us think that we are not worthy, and that we will never be worthy to enter the presence of God. He then gave us 6 things we can do to have confidence. Alma 5 poses many questions that we should be continually asking ourselves. We have no need to fear Judgement Day if we are following the great Plan of Happiness by progressing in the Gospel of Christ. Alma 7 is one of the best chapters in the Book of Mormon on the Atonement of Christ. If we are doing all we can to access the Atonement of Christ, we should have confidence. We have been redeemed by Christ. If we but do what He asks, we shoukd have a perfect trust and confidence in "He who is mighty to save".
I love representing the Savior in Washington, I love my companion, I love the Gospel and Atonement of Christ, I love my family, and I love my Redeemer. I am ready and excited to work harder, learn more, and love better this week!
Love,
Elder Warren Matthew Dudley
Pictures:
Pictures:
1. Photo Wall
2-3. Pretty Sunset View of the Puget Sound
4-8 Saltwater State Park
