Letters To President

Wow! I love training! I'm sure I'm not the best there is but I have been learning so much! Sister Ritter is so great. Poor thing, I've been working her so hard. She didn't even get to fully unpack until Friday. It's been wonderful. We've seen so many miracles together and I know that is because Heavenly Father takes training very seriously. There are always miracles. On her first day we taught 3 less active lessons and 2 member lessons. We found an unknown less active by randomly knocking on his door and we contacted a lady that had just been praying to God. It was so powerful! :) "I love being a missionary," words both of us have said a few times this week. We taught 17 lessons last week, which was good. We finally had someone come to church! Leslie came and I think she enjoyed it. There is a lot we'll have to help her get used to but the Gospel really sells itself. We're still working to find new investigators and help our investigators progress and keep commitments. Our companionship goal this week is to powerfully follow up on commitments. We're excited because we know it will make a big difference in our ministry.

 

I've been reading in Alma this week and I've learned a lot about teaching and how important our image is. In Alma 22:3, King Lamoni's father was so impressed with Ammon's "generosity and greatness of words" that he insisted that they administer unto him. :) Every missionary's dream. That really hit me though. There is so much good that can be done simply by how we conduct ourselves. I have also learned alot about Heavenly Father's plan for us. A less active that we have been working with finally talked with the Bishop on Sunday. It was so great to see how the Spirit was working on her. We're reading from the Book of Mormon with her to help her better understand what is going on and truly gain a testimony and be converted for herself. This is a marvelous work.

Im Expecting!

Dearest Family,

 

I'm Expecting. There you have it. I am training. I'll pick up my new greenie tomorrow morning! : I knew this day would come but I'll be the first to admit that I should be nervous...but I'm not. I think the stress and emotions of the last few days have made me feel unable to really react. I had to say goodbye to Sister Ah Chookoon yesterday. She has been a wonderful companion, friend, and sister. I never imagined we would be companions or that we would stay together that long but I know that I must have been on Heavenly Father's good side for that one. I'm so blessed! She was there through so much and really strengthened my ability to exercise patience and faith. Mostly though, she taught me to love openly and receive love freely. It was exactly what I needed. I feel like a more whole person and more capable representative of Jesus Christ.

 

When she had departure activities she accidentally took our phone with her and so yesterday we were laughing about how funny and unfortunate it would be for her to accidentally take it to Samoa w/ her....guess what ended up happening? Yep...our phone is currently in New Zealand...probably buried at the bottom of her purse. So great. I hope she doesn' cry when she finds it.

 

Things are going well. We are working with a handful of people and a couple of them are really starting to be converted by the spirit. It is just a matter of them exercising faith and taking control of the situations that they are in to make it happen. Dulce is so so sweet. We've had powerful experiences with her as we've taught from the book of Mormon and then connected it to her life and her experiences with the Lord. It is really amazing. She is so excited to read. We need to be better at following up. If we don't take it seriously, they won't take it seriously. Family, I know I'll be in greater need than ever of your prayers and faith. Please don't hold back in the blessings you invoke from Heaven in my behalf. ;) I love you all and I am so excited for all that is happening in this great world. The Lord has important lessons for us to learn and sometimes they take a lot of patience and carefuly accumulation of the little flecks of gold to have a heavy pouch of gold. As I look back on my mission, I can see how those flecks have truly added up. I'm so grateful for the gospel and for the powerful ability the spirit has to change us. Thank the Lord for the Comforter by listening to His voice.

 

I love you!

 

Love, Sister Hudson