February....Already?

Monday, February 2, 2015

Buenos Dias!

You know when you hear the alarm and you think, "Just five more minutes?" Well that is how I feel with January. Just five more days of January, please. It is just insane that we are already in February, I can't believe it.

So, this week in Mexico has been great. It has been cold and wet, but great. The work continues and February is a big month because our investigators that want to be baptized but aren't married can get married for free on the 14th! So we are currently organizing a couple of weddings, ha.

So, the also changed the districts and now I am in a district with 4 people from Utah, one Mexican, and my district leader is from Ecuador. It is quite interesting, ha.

Biggest event from this week, we found a rat in our house. We had it trapped and we were waiting for the elders to get there to kill it, but our land lady came to try and kill it and it escaped. So, we are currently looking for another house. This photo is about what our faces look like every time we think about nuestro ratoncito...

I love y'all!
Hermana Dudley

We found wet cement in one of the streets.
I have now officially left my mark on Mexico. Ha.

I really wanted to catch one that looked like a cow, but they moved super fast!

Hermana Dennisse, Hermana Lizbeth, Hermana Aramburo y Yo,
Y la mama de Dennisse, Hermana Lucy!

Birthday Fun in the Mission

Monday, January 26, 2015

Hola a todos

I don't have a ton of time this week, but I have a few pictures from my birthday that I am going to send y'all. My district leader bought me a cake and it was super fun.

It has been cold, but great. Really, the people here in Anahuac are incredible. They all remembered my birthday and all hugged me and even called me and sang to me in English, ha.

I am happy here, truly happy. I hope all goes well this week for each of y'all.

Hermana Dudley

P.S. It is a tradition here to have a 'mordida', or cake in the face!

Hermana Aramburo, ME, Elder Perez, Elder Castro. 

The best district in the whole world, and to prove it, there is cake, ha. 

Anahuac y Cuauhtemoc!

Monday, January, 19, 2015

Hola a Todos,

Solo quiero decirles que me encanta Anahuac y Cuauhtemoc! Seriously, when I first got here, I was a little hesitant, and I can also say that these cambios have been the most stressful times of my whole mission, but dang, I love it here and I don't ever want to leave. Seriously.

I love it. I love the members. The other day we were working with a member and her three little girls. They love Frozen and of course so do I. So naturally we started to sing together. I taught them the English version of ´Let It Go´and they taught me the Spanish version. Really, it was just fun and is something so simple, but it just helped my love for this place and these people grow so much! And now I have three best friends under the age of 9 to sing with, ha. But really, all the members are so great. They just have this pure love that they share. They all remember that my birthday is tomorrow, even though I only have two weeks here. And today in our district meeting we are going to have cake.

This was a very rewarding week. We had a reunion with our presidente and we worked really hard. It was one of those weeks that just makes me love being a missionary even more. My companion and I are still getting along great and we have met some wonderful people that are progressing very well.

I know that Heavenly Father has a specific plan for each one of His children. I know that He loves me so much and for that reason He blessed me with the opportunity to serve a mission and even more to be here in Anahuac. One thing I have learned from the members here is that being a missionary, being a disciple of Christ is something that is forever. It is not for 18 months. Actually, we had an activity yesterday with the members and we went to a park and just talked to as many people as we could. I split up with the cutest little old lady and her testimony was incredible. She said in one instance that she cant imagine dying without first inviting everyone to know Christ the way she does. I invite y'all to think about that.

Les Amo!
Hermana Dudley

P.S. Y otra vez, feliz cumpleanos a mi mama y tambien a Elder Lopez esta semana!

These are two jovenes that work with us. Alex and Johan.
Johan´s mom is trying to get me to stay in Mexico and marry her son. Ha

And these are algunas jovencitas that love to work with us. 

Una Foto para mi mama!

Look Mom! We made you a birthday cake!

Here We Are In Anáhuac.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Hola a todos!

Happy Birthday to my sweet Mother! On the 17 she will turn another year wiser, and let me tell y'all, she is great.

This week has probably been one of the fastest, busiest, OH MY GOSH weeks of my life. I just literally don't know where it went.

We really worked so hard this week. I am kind of started to know how to get around in my area and I am starting to get to know all the members. Lucky for me I am in a branch, so there aren't really that many that I have to remember. We have a great pool of investigators and so many possibilities for these next few weeks.

I learned this week that Anáhuac means "place of many waters." We don't know what language it is from, but that is pretty cool. There is a great possibility that is will snow. Last year it snowed here in March. And well, it is pretty dang cold. So, we will see. My companion is from central Mexico and her biggest wish is to see the snow. So, I am hoping that she will get to see it. We continue to work well together. She takes really good care of me, ha. She protects me a lot. Like I said last week, I am the first American Sister here, I call a lot of attention, ha, it is the hair. But she is great.

It has been super busy and I don't even know what to write y'all. I know that I am where the Lord needs me. Honestly, Anáhuac has been a challenge. But, I am grateful for the difficulties that presents a new area. Without change and difficulty, we dont progress. We have to have trials and failures to learn. That is the point of it all.

I love y'all!
Hermana Dudley

CAMBIOS...But for real this time.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Hola a Todos,

Well first and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRISTAN! Tomorrow my not-so-little brother is going to turn 19 years old! I am so proud of you Tristan and I love you!

Okay, so I actually had transfers. They called on Friday night, completely out of the blue and I had to pack all my stuff at 10:30 and leave at about 6:30 in the morning. I am now in Anahuac, it is a tiny little town close to Cuatemoc. It is really cold here. Like, really cold. we actually didn't have water this morning because the pipes froze. Super cold. But, it is so pretty. It is more rural, wide open spaces. It reminds me a little bit of home. We walk a ton, more so than in Delicias because it is more rural here and the houses are farther apart. And there are hills. So I am getting some good exercise. It is definitely different than Delicias. It is cleaner.

Also, here I am in a tiny little branch, not a ward. Yesterday there were about 30 people in Sacrament Meeting. It is super tiny. Ha. But, I am excited to be here and to get to know everyone. We have already started working with the members and they are just great. They are all super interested in me. I am the first American Sister here. They have had gringos, but always Elders. So, I am the the first gringa. Actually, yesterday in his testimony, one of the counselors said that he had only ever seen white sister missionaries in the Liahona (church magazine) and didn't really think they existed. But here I am! ha. So, it is pretty exciting. It is a little frustrating as well. In Delicias I knew everything and everyone and here I am totally lost. But, with a little bit of patience and time I know it will get better. And my new comp is super sweet. Hermana Alambura is her name. She actually is pretty new, I have to finish 2 weeks of her training. So I told her not to worry, we would be learning together. She is 24, and has always wanted to serve a mission. She is truly just super sweet and...pure. That is about the perfect word for her. So, I am excited. Everything is different, I have a lot of adjustments to make, but I know that with change comes progress. So I am excited.

Anahuac....it really is super pretty. I hope to take more pictures this week to send, but I will send a couple.

I hope all is well and I love yall!

Con Amor,
Hermana Dudley

Happy New Year!

Monday, December 29, 2014

Hola a Todos!

Hey, so Christmas in the mission is awesome, seriously, awesome. Look forward to pictures. And New Years I am sure is awesome as well, it is just seriously so weird to think that we are already entering 2015. I come home this year, ha. Yikes, it goes by so fast!

These dates are all about family, love, and goals. We always make goals about diets or jobs or school. But I have been thinking a lot lately about what our goals should be. Mostly because my companion always asks me what my goals are and I never know. But one thing I have come to know here in the mission is that the most important thing that we can know and apply in our lives is who we truly are. If people could really understand the fact that we are all literal children of God, that we are loved beyond comprehension, and that we have a divine nature and an eternal potential, every thing would change. We are God{s children, He loves us and more than anything He want us to return to His presence. I testify of that, with all the energy of my soul. What can we do this year to prepare to return to His presence? Well, there is a quote that I love from President Thomas S. Monson.
....May I suggest a formula that will ensure our success: First, search the scriptures with diligence. Second, plan your life with purpose. Third, teach the truth with testimony. Fourth, serve the Lord with love.....

If we remember who we really are and apply this formula, we will have success. Not only the success of the world, but success on an eternal scale.

I love y'all and wish the happiest of New Years.
Hermana Dudley

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Monday, December 22, 2014

Hola!

First of all, I have a ton of pictures to send but I don't have the cable thing so I can't send them. Stupid technology, maybe next week.

This week is Christmas! I am so excited! We are going to be with La Familia Duran and Contreras on Christmas Eve and we are calling with La Familia Cruz and on Christmas we are going to be with La Familia Cabrera y ay chihuahua les amo! Seriously, this week is so packed full already with plans and citas y cenas y I love it because the people are all just a little bit more open and accepting during this time. So we talk to a ton of people and we have a ton of work to do. The initiative ´Él es la Dádiva´ is so great and yesterday we went to this big plaza with a giant Christmas tree and we started to sing and contact everyone that was there. I loved it. Really, Christmas is the best time to be a missionary. I love it!

We also had a Christmas Mission Conference, which was a blast! I have a ton of pictures with Hermana Brown and Hermana Corzo and all these people that I just love. Especially Hermana Brown, ha. And it is hilarious because everyone was like, ´Hermana Dudley, are you still in Delicias?¨ Ha. Yep. 9 months, one area, eat it up. But it was just so fun and honestly made me a little sad that I only have one Christmas here. We had a Piñata and I went first. But, they blindfold you and twirl you around so I didn't break, or really even hit it, ha.

This time of year is so special. But what I love about the Gospel is that is teaches us to have this kind of love and focus every day of our lives, not just in December. I know that Jesus Christ is Christmas. I know that I am His Representative. And I love every minute of it!

Merry Christmas y Feliz Navidad a todos! Les amo!
Hermana Dudley

Petras baptism.

The surprise party we had for Hermano Duran!

Hermana Johnson

Hermana Godinez

Hermana Geddes

Hermana Whitehead

Hermana Corzo Y Hermana De Olarte

Y Hermana Rojas, mi companera

Hermana Laguna!

Hermana Brown! She is my favorite, ha!

Elder Rojas and Elder Peralta

MTC companionship again

Christmas table

With Joseph and Mary

With Presidente and Hermana Chavez

La Piñata!

Hola!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Hola a todos!

Pues, esta semana se fue tan rapida!

Dang, it was a crazy week with cambios y intercambios y la conferencia de estaca y todo. But, it was great.

So, I am back in my first area, combined with my second area and I have officially completed 8.5 months in Barrio Juarez. It is great. We had stake conference and Presidente Chavez came. Everyone says that he has forgotten me, that is why I am still here. HA! But in reality, I know that the Lord has a very specific plan for me and I am here for a reason.

I also know that all of our callings have a purpose. I am no longer a Sister Training Leader, but I am with Hermana Rojas. She is great. She is super serious, but we are getting to know each other and every day I am able to make her laugh. I really think we will work great together and I am excited to be with her. We have a huge house and a ton of stuff because we had to bring all the stuff from the other house to this house. But, I finally finished organizing everything and I hope I have three more months here because I am super comfortable now, ha.

The mission is going to have a Christmas Dinner this Saturday and I am super excited. It is so fun to see all your friends and meet new ones and the Devotional is going to be awesome. At times it is a little strange to be away from home for the holidays, but then we start to think about which family we are going to have dinner with and which investigators are going to come to the devotionals and the call home and then we just get super excited!

I love the mission and it is even more amazing to preach the gospel and testify everyday of Jesus Christ during this time.

Testifico de Jesucristo. Sé que Él vive, que nació en una situación tan humilde y vivió una vida tan perfecta y sufrió, murió, y se resucito por cada uno de nosotros. Él es la dádiva. Descubran lo, Acéptenlo. Compartan lo.

Les amo mucho!
Hermana Dudley

It Finally Happened.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Howdy,

Well, it happened. After 8 incredible months in Delicias, Barrio Juarez, I got the call. I have cambios. I don't know where I am going or who will be my comp or anything. All I know is that I wont be here. I am excited. It is something new, I know there are new people to meet, new experiences to have and new things to learn. And I was doing just fine. Packing all my things, cleaning the apartment. But then we had to call and tell our members....and when they started to cry, I did too. La familia Duran actually came to get us and we are with them right now. We went to eat and they are going to help us with all our preparations. Let me tell you....when Hermana Duran is crying, you cant help but cry as well. I cant describe the love I have for this area, for the entire ward, but especially for this family. They have literally been with me every step of the way. They picked me up from the bus station when I very first started my mission. They are incredible and have truly become my family. And the hardest thing is telling them good bye. I am so grateful for the time that I have had to know them, to feel like a part of their family, and there is no doubt as to the fact that I will return to see them. Hermano Duran always says we have to come back to give him the hug that is not allowed right now, ha. I am so grateful...

Truly, this time in Delicias has been one of the best times of my life. I have struggled, but I have overcome so many things and I have seen not only my own progress, but the progress of the people I have taught and come to love. Delicias is a holy land.

My companion also has cambios. Actually, they are going to split our area between the other missionaries that are here. They told us at about 11 last night and neither of us slept. All night we were thinking about our investigators and converts and the members and the references we have and the appointments and the house...ha. We have a lot to take care of.

It is weird actually, I feel like I am ending the mission, because my entire mission has been here in Delicias. And I thought, man, if it hurts this much just to leave this beloved area, I don't even want to imagine how it will feel to leave the mission. I am so glad that I have 9 more months here. And when those 9 months are up, I am coming back.

I love Delicias. I love Barrio Juares. I love the Familia Duran. But more so, I love being a missionary, a servant of the Lord. And I know that He has a plan for me. So I will go where He needs me, but this place has the most special place in my heart.

I love y'all!
Hermana Dudley

Hermano Jackson

NO ME VENGA

HOLY COW!

THEY JUST CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT I AM NOT LEAVING! I AM STILL IN DELICIAS!!!!!!!!!! WWWHHHHOOOOOPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barrio Juarez....going for 9 months!

A missionary rap.

Hermana Laguna

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/come-unto-christ-2014-theme-song?lang=spa

I will actually be going to back to my first area and working with the same people that I first knew when I first got here with all the same members that I love so much! I will be with Hermana Rojas and she is a great missionary. I feel like maybe it wont last the whole transfer, but I am so excited!

HERMANA DUDLEY

de Barrio Juarez, ha.

DECEMBER

Monday, December 1, 2014

Hola!

On Thanksgiving we had tacos, ha. But, I was thankful! And actually my sweet companion and I ordered Pizza and she made me little post it notes of gratefulness, so it was good.

This was a good week, crazy fast and at times stressful, ha. First of all, Hugo and Lluvia were baptized and confirmed! WHOOP! We had some definite trials.....gosh......stressful. But everything turned out as it should. For example, Lluvia almost didn't have permission to be baptized because her uncle says we are from the Devil. But, we talked and worked everything out. Then, before the baptism we couldn't find Hugo. Anywhere. But, we prayed and waited a bit and he appeared, ha. That was an extremely happy moment. And their baptisms were beautiful. I am so proud of them and so happy for them. And they are both so excited. I cant wait to continue to learn with them. Actually, the other day something really funny happened while we were teaching Lluvia. We were outside on the curb talking and this man passed by and looked at us and then came back. And he was like, Hey, are you the Hermana that is always singing? And I was like, uh...yes. Ha. Because, really, I am just about always singing in the street, ha. So he said that he had heard me singing the other day in the street and then he wanted to know if I wanted to come to his house and record a cd for him, HA!

So, we are now entering December. These past few days have been super hot here. But, yesterday I completed 8 full months in Barrio Juarez. We have cambios in one week, I know that it is very probable that I will leave. But I am still hoping not. I just truly love this place and these people.

And, we are doing this cool thing! The Church has this initiative called He Is The Gift. and a page called christmas.mormon.org with an incredible video to help us all remember the point of this time. Please go see it and share it with everyone you know!

I love y'all and my mission! I hope all is well!
Hermana Dudley

El dia del Bautismo

And another from the baptism.

Y tambien cuando tuvimos que quedarnos
y ayudar a las hermanas a cambiar la casa. 

And Hermano Duran in a suit from Halliburton, ha.
We ate breakfast with him this morning.
I love that family SO MUCH. 

How we celebrate.

I Moved!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Howdy!

Okay, this was probably one of the fastest weeks of my entire mission! It was crazy! We moved and that is stressful but I am so happy because the new house is great. The mission helps you appreciate the little things. Like, now in the new house, we have a sink and cupboards and it is so great. It is cold here in the mornings and evenings and hot during the day. So I am glad that I don't have to wash my dishes outside anymore.

We have two baptisms scheduled this weekend, Hugo and Lluvia. Hugo is 16 and Lluvia is 11. They both are just super excited and I love them. Lluvia lives just a couple of blocks from our house and last night she came and knocked on our door just to tell us good night. These two have just become best friends and it is perfect that they are going to be baptized the same day.

My comp and I had a pretty intense couple of days due to some serious miscommunication. But, we are all good now. She is about to end her mission, and that brings up a ton of emotions, so I try to just be patient, ha. But really, we are all fine and dandy now. The mission really just teaches so much. I think more than anything I am learning humility. It is so easy to yell and fight and be selfish and blame the other. But that truly doesn't accomplish anything.

Love y'all!
Hermana Dudley

Family history fair.

Hermano Duran making his diary, ha.

The cake we bought for my 9 months. 

And  the elders after our comida.

And also, this elder is hilarious.

Today, He was wearing two different shoes.
Ah, la vida misional.  

The Girls!

Una Noche Mexicana

All the youth danced all the dances of Mexico.

And a guy that looks almost exactly like David Archuleta!