Bom dia!
It has been a really good week this last week. We had a lot of really cool miracles happen. We went on two exchanges, had Mission Leadership Council on Friday, and had stake conference. It was just a really solid week all around.
On Tuesday, we had a good talk as a companionship about things that we could do as a companionship to keep sanctifying and consecrating our efforts to the Lord. We came up with some really good ideas to move forward with. We had some really cool miracles happen as we have tried to find new people to teach, and I attribute that 100% to our redoubling of our efforts. There is always something more you can give, and when you consecrate yourself, the Lord will then consecrate your efforts.
I have a bunch of good tracting stories from this week - stories of people that were really open and familiar with the church (watching 6 hours of this last general conference), following promptings, finding Brazillians, and being in exactly the right spot at the right time. My favorite miracle was a hometown connection.
We were knocking doors in this massive apartment complex. It was a really nice one, as well. After about 45 minutes, we met this guy named Mike. He was super cool. His best friend for the last 40 years has been a member of the church that recently passed away. We had a really cool contact with him. Right as we were testifying about the Book of Mormon and the Spirit started to get really strong, we saw a security guy come down the hallway out of the corners of our eyes. This complex was super nice, so he had a badge, uniform, walkie talkies, and was pretty much a police officer. He waited and let us finish testifying. After the contact, we went and talked to him. He said that the office had received a call complaining about our knocking. We were bracing ourselves to get kicked out of the complex, like what usually happens. We gave him our names, and he wrote them down. Then he said, "I can see what is going on. Keep doing what you are doing. God bless." He proceeded to walk away and leave us stunned. We were pretty shocked. We knocked two more doors, and then we knocked on Josh's door. He opened up, and we started talking to him. He is a super cool young Christian guy. He is probably about 28. We talked for probably 2 minutes, and then he said, "yeah, I just moved here. I was going to school at Liberty University." Elder Ludgate and I immediately freaked out!!! I'm pretty sure Elder Ward was really confused at first. We told osh that we were both from Virginia. Elder Ludgate is pretty much from the city that Liberty is in, so that was crazy. We kept talking about Virginia, and then we figured out that he is from Chesapeake!! Josh graduated from Oscar Smith!!! That is the high school right next to the one I went to! It was the craziest thing because he went to college in the town Elder Ludgate is from and high school where I am from!! The chances of the 3 of us meeting in the way we did are so small!! It was definitely a miracle!! I know it was the Lord that touched the security guards heart and let us keep going. Josh is going to come to church with us, and we are going to start teaching him the gospel!!
I also loved Mission Leadership Council. I always learn so much. One of my favorite things this time was as we talked about beginning with the end in mind and always picturing everyone that we contact and teach in not just baptismal clothes, but in temple clothes. I really liked that. I think that one of the promptings that I got dring Mission Leadership Council was to just study the basic, pure doctrine of Jesus Christ. It is so simple, and nothing else is really that important. That is what was restored to the earth 200 years ago, along with all the priesthood keys and authority necessary to follow the gospel.
We also had stake conference. It was awesome. President Sowby is the Sammamish Valley Stake President, and he is so cool!! He spoke on not looking beyond the mark, which goes exactly along with the impression I had during MLC. President Sowby specifically addressed following prophetic priorities. He listed all of the things that President Nelson has invited us to do. I really loved his talk. I love when the Lord shows us exactly what we need to focus on in our lives.
We still really need prayers that we are going to be able to form this portuguese branch. Please also pray for us to find some more Brazilians to teach!! It has been really hard to find them so far. We had some cool miracles this week, but we are still looking for the one - the one that is ready to immediately embrace the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scripture of the week: DC 42:61
61 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.
I love representing the Savior in Brasil and Washington, 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!
I love you all!!!
Elder Warren Matthew Dudley
Photo 1- The mission leadership council
Photo 2-4 - One of the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen
