This Week's Many Adventures

Hi everyone,

This week we had many adventures. It seems like Tuesday, Preparation day, is the day for things to happen. Of course it always happens after we write home. :) Well, last Tuesday we met with one of our investigators. We hadn't met w/ him in such a long time and one of our many awesome members in Green Valley got connected with him and has been an incredible support to him. They are becoming good friends! We came over after they had finished eating dinner together and we used a lot of the things we've been trying to implement in our teaching to bring the spirit. It was so awesome! He now has a baptismal date!!!!! It was so powerful!

One of our investigators is getting baptized on Saturday. We are so so excited for her! It is such a special thing to be a part of. She is wonderful and I have learned so much from her.

As many of you may have heard, there was an incident with the power on Thursday. We were at a members home when the electricity went out and we thought that it was just their house but we soon found out it was all of Poway. Not much later we found out that it was all of Southern California, part of AZ and Mexico! Whew...it was honestly so fun! We loved seeing all of the neighbors come outside and listen to the radio together and do what neighbors used to do! It was awesome! We chatted with one group and nothing really came of it but it was really cool to see that and have a hope for that neighborhood unity. We planned for the next day by flashlight. We had way too much fun with it all. We went to sleep at 10..it was great! We woke up the next day to find the electricity was working again. Sister McCloy was bummed because she liked the adventure! haha! Oh and Dad, the flashlight you sent me in D.C. is STELLAR! I love it! I'm so glad I had it. :)

During weekly planning we had a lot of breakthroughs about how to improve our service here in Green Valley. We are so excited about "our vision" of our missionary work here. We have adopted a slogan that I want to be sure and take the credit for because I'm so proud of it :) "Wear the Badge" It's like "wear the pants" because we are in charge but "Wear the Badge" is so much more meaningful...I actually do have authority and a responsibility to the people here in Green Valley. Many great things are happening. We are working hard and doing are best to make the many improvements we know we need to make but we are also having fun and have hope in all we do!

Thanks for all the love and support! Until next week!

P.S. Sami Skabelund, dear, I want to apologize. You haven't received a letter from me because it got sent back to me. :( I use the address in Provo, I thought it looked weird but sent it anyway. I'm just going to find another place to send it but if you could e-mail deena.marie.hudson@gmail.com your address I will be able to send it to you next week. Love ya!

 

Quick Note! Our mission has it's own blog!

P.S. Our mission has a blog! They are going to put pictures up whenever we have different events so check it out!

CaliforniaSanDiegoMission.blogspot.com

A late entry because My sister is lazy!

Hello from San Diego,

Time is the weirdest concept as a missionary because our schedules are the same every single day and Saturday and Sunday are just ordinary days for us except for the Sacrament on Sunday. :) Missionary life is so different than I ever expected and it is more rewarding than I could ever have imagined. It is such a blessing to have the confidence and trust that I am in San Diego at a specific time, with a specific work to do, and with specific experiences before me. What I love most about it is the way I am set apart as a missionary. I am freed from all the regular distractions in life that I will one day welcome back, but I am able to throw myself into the work and gain a deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thought reading the scriptures and studying would be hard to do eveeryday for 2-3 hours but it is so precious to me! I absolutely love it. I also have a deeper love and appreciation for the Savior and for what he has done for me and all of his brothers and sisters. It is an incredible privilage to be a part of his work and help invite others to come unto him and find true rest and happiness.

I have been anxiously awaiting a rainful and yesterday it rained off and on all day but it poured throughout the night. This is a special occasion in San Diego and I had one of the best nights of sleep since I've been here. I felt right at home w/ the windows open and the soothing sound of raindrops, not to mention the smell! It was wonderful! I've always loved rain but the thing that makes me love it so much is the way the earth is cleansing itself. There is a certain stillness that comes from a calm storm that makes me think of Jesus as he calmed the storm.

Last month we studied faith as a mission and we had a really rough week here in Green Valley. Many things were causing us to be doubtful and discouraged but in the end Heavenly Father blessed us to witness many miracles. One of our investigators is no longer moving to the other coast, which will be a huge blessing for their family. Many people were praying for that. Another of our investigators asked for time to let things sink and that scared us but she now has a baptismal date. He works in mysterious ways but it was definitely a lesson for our companionship to learn. As we had faith through the hard times we were blessed to better appreciate the miracles occuring before us. The Lord is absolutely in His work and I just have to do my part trusting that he is guiding it all.

Oh, I also found out last week that I could go home 12 Feb 2013 or 1 Jan 2013...I didn't realize that and now I know i'll have to make that decision someday. I could start up school right away because of the semester that starts a few days later or come back home later on 12 Feb and take time to "normalize" and get a job....time will tell but that's an interesting situation to be in. Luckily I have a long time before I really have to think about that. :)

Finally, I would like to extend an invitation to all that read this entry. Every time that we meet with members we extend a challenge to them and their families. Elder Ballard has promised us on more than one occasion that if we come together as a family and pray sincerely for opportunities to share the gospel as well as to recognize these opportunities and to have the courage to act on those opportunities, that we would be able to help others find truth. After extending this challenge over the pulpit, Elder Ballard one day received a letter from a woman. She was furious that she and her family had done the 90 day challenge and had prayed as a family each day and nothing had happened. They had not found someone to prepare for the missionaries to teach. He decided to call her and he said, "Hello, this is Elder Ballard from the Quorom of the 12 Apostles in Salt Lake City." There was silence on the other line (haha!) They had a chat about her experience and he asked her what she DID. They had only prayed as a family, which is certainly the first part but Heavenly Father doesn't just make things happen. He typically works through his children. He asked her to take the challenge again but to this time also talk to everyone! Make friends with the mail man, the grocer, her neighbor. Seek opportunites to share the gospel with those around us, recognize them, and act on them. She agreed.

3 months later he recieved another letter from the same woman and she explained that there was a family about to be baptized. This happened because her daughter had invited a friend to a primary activity and she really loved how she felt there. Then she told her family about it and they became interested and soon they were invited to take the lessons from the missionaries. Be an example to those around you, BE who you SAY you are. As I like to say, "Wear the Badge" sometimes I forget my calling and have to remind myself that I am a missionary for the Lord and have no reason to be apologetic about the things I know to be true. I am who I am and I don't ever have to switch hats. Obviously we still need to be respectful of others and their beliefs but never hide your light. Let your light shine forth!

I love you all! I really do. Thank you for all the love and support, I am grateful for your prayers and know that I pray for your and your families too!

The spirit is truely the master teacher.

Hello from San Diego,

So no one told me that San Diego Summers start in August and end in October...no joke. It's up in the 90s right now which is nothing to complain about unless it's been 80 all "summer long"! :) I love my companions so much! We've learned a lot from each other and things are going well. We've had a few rough patches these past 2 weeks with the work but it has taught us a lot of patience and faith. Yesterday was a great day because we were able to see that the Lord knows what he is doing in his work. It's his work and we are just lucky enough to have a part in it. :) We are in a really ritzy area and it is so hard to find people to teach, because no one is ever outside! We're trying to get creative though! :) We taught one lesson last week but it was a darn good one. The spirit truly is the master teacher. I can try to explain things in the logic of man but unless they feel peace and a witness that the things I'm explaining are true, they don't care. Heavenly Father asks us to have Faith and that is the first layer of our foundation. No wonder, the adversary always tries to attack it...and he's so good at it. I feel incredibly blessed to be here and I'm learning so many amazing things that I hope I never forget. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I'm doing my best to be obedient so I have to stop writing now. I'll try to manage my time better and write things I want to share throughout the week for next week's post.

Pray always and be believing!

New Field & New People

Hi everyone,

I made it to San Diego safely! It is gorgeous here, both the weather and the scenery! I don't have much time (5 min) so I'll have to be short but I'll give you the run down. I'm serving in 1 of the 2 areas that used to be in the Carlsbad mission. I'm in the Poway stake and the Green Valley Ward. The area is really wealthy and a lot of retired people live here. It is so different than what I was anticipating but I love it. :) We don't tract in this mission at all. We do all of our work through members and any other referrals. Its hard to find people to talk to and to teach because no one is ever outside! The people are really great and the members of the ward are so invested in missionary work. It makes me want to go back to the Ada Branch and help the missionaries! I have 2 companions that have been together since the mtc except for the first 6 weeks here while they were trained. They are wonderful and it is interesting to be in a trio but I love it. They have helped me a ton and I learn so much from them! My district is great too. One of my favorite Elders from my mtc district, elder wallentine, is in my district!!! It's fun to see him once a week during our great district meetings. Meetings are probably the biggest shock I've experienced here in the field. I can't believe how long they are and how many there are....patience.

We are teaching about 4 people right now and all but 1 are in a part-member family. It is so nice to see their families being unified in the gospel! Heavenly Father loves us all so much and he wants the best for us. I feel so blessed to have the restored truths of Jesus Christ, that we can be with our families forever and that we can return and live with our Heavenly Father someday. I love this gospel and I love this work.

times up! Until next week!

P. S. Chelsey, I need your new address! Miss you A LOT!

Bailee, I need your address too!!!!!!

We are so loved

Hi all:

I'm not really sure what to write, I feel like so much has happened but that the days are just way too long to remember anything that did. :) My teaching has gotten SO MUCH BETTER! It is insane how quickly you can learn when you are focused and have nothing to worry about but the gospel and teaching people. I love love love missionary work! I hope I keep this enthusiasm when I get home. I am coming to understand the gospel so much more and I hope that never stops. Now I understand what Elder Holland meant when he said that "you will be your first convert." I'm becoming truly converted to this gospel as I learn more about the Savior and his purpose. We are so loved. I hope everyone can feel that.

This week I have learned a lot about loving your investigators and essentially all of God's children. I have such a beautiful calling to go out and help the people of San Diego feel of their savior's transforming love. I cannot wait to have real experiences, but for now the role playing with our teachers and the other missionaries are feeling pretty real. It is also a nice assurance that I'm not teaching false doctrine to anyone real. The most important thing I'm learning is that you have to know someone and their needs before you can teach them. Everyone NEEDS the gospel in their life, a relationship with their Heavenly Father, and to read the Book of Mormon, but WHY do they WANT to? That is the true question. Sister Mattson and I have learned a ton together and I will be really sad to say goodbye to her and the other two sisters next Tuesday when I leave for San Diego. I can't believe we only have a week left! I'm really going to miss all the personal study time and the district full of people that I get along with and that are all at the exact same point that I am. It's nice to have that support.

I wish I had more to say, but honestly the days are all meshing together and I can't keep time straight. Our 16 hour days are long but wonderful. We spend about 7 hours in class a day and about 3 hours studying on our own. Yet, we have a lot of fun too! We found the magical pine tree that smells like Cream soda. Except sometimes it smells like creamscicles and other days it smells like butterscotch...no joke! The sisters have picked up on my "you little jerk" and ask me to say it all the time. :) (That was for you chels!) We checked our vents phil, nothing but a bunch of swedish fish. The Elders in our Zone have this tradition where they pass down a hannah montana laundry bag each week as an award of some sort...so funny. We also play rigorous games of 4-square every day. The elders are pretty great at taking it easy on us girls but they can get really intense. It takes me back to elementary. We find ways to keep it fun. It really is so great!

My new favorite book in the BOM is ALMA. I LOVE LOVE Alma 22 or wherever it is when Aaron is teaching King lamoni's father and he offers a beautifully hope filled prayer with real intent. He's so willing to give up all of his sins if God will let him know he is there. I love the Book of Mormon and all the other scriptures. I hope that I never lose sight of how precious it is to know what I know. I am a daughter of God and he loves me so much. He has blessed my life tremendously and I hope that you are all recognizing that in your lives as well. He loves his children (us) so much. Never forget that love. Pray to him often. Don't let the Savior's sacrifice go to waste. Let him succor you.

Love you always! Sorry this was so scattered!

P. S. What did the green grape say to the purple grape?

BREATHE!

My teacher asked for a joke, no one gave hime one, so I did and he didn't think it was funny! We love giving our teacher's a hard time...we're a big happy family.

 

So little time, so much to say.

Hey everyone!

My time is limited on the computer but hopefully I'll write something meaningful. The MTC rocks! I love it here! Our district is amazing. All 6 of the elders are going to San Diego and the other three sisters are going to San Antonio. They are all so tiny...they look like they're 16 but they are mature yet a lot of fun, which creates a nice balance for all of us. Sister Mattson, my companion for the next 3 weeks, is from WY and she is super nice. I love her already. We've had to rely on each other a lot already and it makes the work go that much easier. We are roommates with the other 2 sisters, Sister Maile from the Bay Area and Sister Camarella from Sandy. We pretty much do everything togethere because we all get along so well. It has been so fun because we all have such uniqu personalities. Sister Camarella and I are pretty open and loud, whereas the other two are a little more reserved- super friendly and nice- but reserved. I love them all so much and I know that I will be so sad to say goodbye to them in 2 weeks! It's crazy how close you get so quickly but I guess when you are all out of your comfort zone together you can't help but bond quickly! I am struggling to type with this big bandaid on my finger from when I cut a chunk of skin off with my scalpel while making a box. Forgive me if I make a ton of errors.

I love getting mail! Dear Elder has been so nice. Thank you everyone that has written me, I've tried to write back but I'm learning how difficult it is to squeeze letter-writing time in on a P-day. Monday is my P-day so to my family, please e-mail me something by next monday. It was a little disappointing to not have anything in my inbox but a note from Dad that said he was confused....awesome. :) I'm not homesick though so that is a plus. Thanks for the short notes on Dear Elder dad, they've made not calling you everyday a lot easier. The only hard thing was learning to fall asleep in a new bed and after being cooped up pretty much all day 16 hours a day. I didn't sleep well the first 3 nights but last night and Saturday night I haven't had any trouble at all...I think that has a lot to do with my Black Chamomile Pillow Mist from Bath and Body Works. It is a saving grace. Another weird thing was getting used to eating really early. We eat breakfast at about 7:10, lunch at 11:40, and dinner at 4:40. I've NEVER had dinner that early before but we got used to it really quickly. Yesterday we didn't have dinner until about 6:00 and we were all starving! Church was awesome though. We had Sister Cook from the Primary General Presidency come and speak to us about Virtue. :)

I've learned so much already. I'll never read the Book of Mormon or any other scriptures the same way. I'm finally learning to study the scriptures and not just read them! We read 1Nephi 1 together as a class and stopped if we had a comment....we stopped a lot because even CH1 has a ton to offer. I love how easy it is to relate to the people in the BOM. Our district is in a pilot program where we are studying the fundamentals of teaching in class with our teachers Brother Sanders and Brother Christensen (from the "District 2".) He served in San Diego too so he is really pumped that 7 of us are going there. "The District 1" was filmed in San Diego so it is pretty cool that we're all in the same district in the MTC. Because we spend a lot of class time talking about how to teach we are primarily responsible for learning the lessons. It's nice though because we have a lot of opportunities to study and then seek answers from our teachers. A part of this pilot program is throwing us in the water to teach right away. We got here Wednesday and we were assigned to teach our first role playing investigator "Brian" Friday. It was slightly terrifying but we survived. It was really hard not to have someone with experience in the room..I"m looking forward to having a trainer so that I can get immediate feedback and most importantly have an example to follow. We spent all morning practicing extending the invitation to be baptized and discussing the importance of baptism. We spent a long time in 2 N 31 where it discusses the Doctrine of Christ, which happens to be my mission purpose. Because of this, we thought we were expected to extend the invitation to be baptized and the other sisters did when they thought so even though the lesson and getting to know you took us nowhere, we went for it in the last 2 minutes. It was nuts! It also just didn't feel quite right because we didn't even know how to apply baptism to his life and figure out what areas he would see that baptism could help him! Fortunately, we learned from our mistakes and the MTC is the best place to learn. The teacher covered the "getting started section" in the PMG, which will help a ton next time!  Fortunately we were both blessed to see our teachers as investigators, I really can say that I love them! Well i'm out of time! I love you all and I hope to hear from you all soon (hint HINT!)

Sincerely, Rachel Hudson
P.S. The temple rocked this morning!!!!!! I Love the Temple and you should all go this week!)