Olá!! It has been another great week here.
It was another great week here in Kirkland. Our zone is continuing to catch energy and build momentum. I truly feel like special things are happening here. Our zone council last week was absolutely incredible. We were setting our baptismal goal at the end, and the Spirit was so strong. We felt like we should set the goal as 9, and as soon as we did that, the Spirit confirmed the goal to us. Sister Callahan said a prayer to confirm the goal, and the Spirit was once again very present. It was amazing. So many miracles have happened during this last week in areas around the zone. Lots of the companionships have people on date for baptism now or have new potentials for baptism after this last week. It is so awesome to see.
We are out of quarantine! I never want to go back!
Thanksgiving was great. We got to do a lot of service and bagging leaves. We were able to bag about 50 bags of leaves, show the Light the world Video twice, and give out two Book of Mormons. While we were in quarantine, I had also made 10 pounds of mashed potatoes, so that was pretty good. We had rotisserie chicken, stuffing, and pumpkin pie to go along with the potatoes.
I've got kind of a funny story for the first time in a while. Last December, one of the members in one of my areas in Brasil made me suco de couve, which is basically just kale juice. She put a little kale in a blender with a lot of sugar, ice, and lime juice. It was actually super good. So, I decided that I was going to replicate that. I hate vegetables, so I made sure to put lots of sugar in with the kale, just in case it was different than Iremembered. I finished making it, took a big swig, and almost died. It was so disgustingly salty! I was so confused. I thought maybe kale was different than I remembered, or perhaps I had used seaweed instead. Elder Schelin then tried it, and he told me to check and make sure I had used sugar. Well, I guess sugar looks a lot like salt when it is in tupperware.
We had another good MLC on Friday. I always love the discussions that President leads there. Itake so many notes. The other missionaries at MLC are such good missionaries! I always take so many notes. I learned so much this time, and am so excited to use the things I learned with my zone.
Rosi is going to get baptized on the 27 of December! Please pray for her! We have had so many miracles as we have taught her over the last two weeks. It has been incredible.
We had the most amazing lesson last Monday with Rosi!! We were planning on inviting her to be baptized. She has progressed so much lately. However, the Spirit completely led us. It was honestly the most Spirit led lesson I have ever had. For the last few weeks, everything that she talks about is so led by the Spirit. It is incredible. This time, she started talking about having prophets today. She asked a lot of questions about President Nelson's gratitude message (which she loved). We were able to really explain about the continuing Restoration and the process of someone becoming a prophet. At the end, we asked her what all this would change for her if she knew it were true. She said, "Well, I will have to make lots of changes in my life." She is so ready!! God doesn't just want her baptized, He wants her converted. Then, on Wednesday, we had another incredible lesson with Rosi. She read 2 Nephi 31 like we committed her to, and as soon as we switched from english to the gospel, she said, "I already know what you guys are going to ask me." She then talked about how she knew baptism is important, but that she was already baptized twice. She asked why she needs to be baptized again. We were able to explain why, and she understood it! At the end, we asked her if she would pray to know if this was the right thing to do, and if the answer were yes, to be baptized on December 27. She said yes that she would be baptized on the 27!!!
We also had a really neat experience with Billy. We asked him about what he knew about Joseph Smith. He immediately started talking about a video that he saw about polygamy. We got a little nervous, but he didn't say anything negative about it. We then asked what else he read online about Joseph Smith's story. He talked a little about the First Vision. We then taught him a quick Restoration lesson. It went really well. He understood it really well. We also explained about polygamy at the end, and he honestly gave us a better response than most members would. He talked about how we can't judge things of the past through the lens of today and how the Bible also has stuff that is hard to understand. He also asked us to send him the doctrine of what we believe in, which was super cool. The best part about it all was that the entire thing was like a super normal, natural conversation. He is awesome.
Scripture of the week: 3 Nephi 11:15
And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
I loved representing the Savior in Brasil, I love doing the same thing 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
Photo 1 - Love from home
Photo 2 - The decorated apartment - Christmas lights!
Photo 3-5 - Making Thanksgiving mashed potatoes
Photo 6-7 - Rosi accepted to be baptized! This was right after the video call ended
Photo 8-9 - Thanksgiving day leaf raking!
Photo 10 - The Thanksgiving Feast!!
Photo 11-12- At the Juanita Beach dock!
Photo 13 - my parent’s gratitude post
Photo 14 - Seeing Elder Atkin for the last time at MLC
