Dear Family,

 

Hey I am sending some pictures. We had transfer calls last night. Elder Cumming is moving to Leeds 2 so he is still in the zone which is good. I am staying in Keighly and am getting Elder Jestice. I don't know much about him at all. His been out a bit longer then Elder CUmming but not over a year yet. It is really strange because this next transfer is the start of my last 4. I was just thinking about it and it hit me last night. It was weird and kind of scary.

 

Things have been good this week. The Skipton Elders really stepped up and excelled and reach their goal for the week. We did pretty good too. It was great because my ne leader didn't come down on me. And when we reported in the goals and plans and actions on Sunday it went super smooth. It was quite strange and opposite of the week before. It's how it goes sometimes.

 

I'm excited to get a new companion. Elder Jestice and I will probably be together for the next 2 transfer. So far for my mission it has followed the pattern of being with my compainon for 1 transfer then 2, then 1, then 2, then 1, then 2, then 1, then 2, then 1. So ya it'll be interesting to see what happens. I hear Elder Jestice is American so that'll be good. No more racist scotsman. I'm also getting another missionary from my group going to be serving in Skipton. So that'll be neat. I am just sad I won't be able to go to transfer meeting and see the sisters I came out with leave. Oh well. That's what email is for.

 

Well I can't think of much to write this week. Thanks for all the support. It's nice to hear that you think I am growing because for me it's hard to see. It's probably more gradual then anything. but ya.

 

I love you all

Elder Dudgeon

 

The pictures are one of me with a samurai sword. That was funny,

 

Then 2 are from the baptism. Me elder CUmming, Colin and his sister who introduced the chruch to him.

PS: I can't believe I forgot this. Colin who just got baptized has been on Dialasis for a long time. he's already had one kidney transplant. It takes a lot out of him and he has some really hard days. He's just been waiting for a kidney. Well we got a call on Tuesday moirning from sister Dean saying that Colin got a call from the hospital to come in straight away, they got a kidney for him. It was so good. So He has gone in for the transplant and just recovering in the hospital. So great!

 

The last picture is one of me and a recent convert named Michael. Michael is an artist and does a ot of landscape paintings. I asked him if he could do a tree of life painting for me. He did and signed it and gave it to me. It's like my favorite gift I've gotten my mission so far.

 

that it. bye

Dear Family,

 

Hey, I didn't get to hear much this week from people. It all seemed kind of short. That's ok though I understand if you're all busy. I'll tell you a bit about my week.

 

This week I got to go on exnchange to Leeds with one of my zone leaders. It was really good and I got to learn a lot from him. It' helped me a lot to know what I need to do to be a leader and to stay more organized, but as well how to more effectively help the other missionaries. It was a long exchange though, from Monday to Wednesday. Some fun parts though, last P-Day got filmed a little bit playing basketball because one of the missionaries has a film crew following him making a documentary. I love it that some P-Days we get to go play basketball in Leeds. On the exchange I also got to meet a player for the Leeds Rhinos rugby team. He's a member of the church and is really nice. He fed us lunch. Elder Horner my other zone leader was with Elder Cumming in Keighly and was jealous that I got to go. He thought that we were going to barbecue but we didn't.

 

The rest of the week has been fun and a learning week. We have a baptism this week here in Keighly. We got to take him down to Bradford this weekend though to see one that was going on there. It was neat because I got to see some old ward members there that I haven't seen for almost a year. It was so great. I love this area. But ya we have a baptism coming up which will be great this week and we have a lot of new people we hope to get investigating this week. Elder Cumming and I have really been working hard on "keeping it real". To be more natural and friendly with people to help them feel that trust and Spirit from the very beginning. Hopefully it'll get us out of patterns that we sometimes get into while finding. It's a really good skill that I am already seeing good results in and will make the rest of my mission epic as I learn to master it. Elder Cumming has been getting on my nerves this week a little bit. He gets really down on himself. If I try to give him some feedback he just takes it really negatively so I working on that to make him more positive. We have a focus this week to study charity and love.

 

Well I hope everything is going good at home right now. I've been getting a lot of questions and advice lately about what I'm going to do when I get back. Come on I got 6 months left! That's forever right? No I know I need to think about these things but I'm not dwelling on it too much. There's a few things I need to get sorted out, but I'm looking forward to the next 6 months and finishing strong. So ya no worries.

 

I miss you all

Love

Elder Dudgeon

Dear Family Units,

 

Hey how goes it this week? We had a good week for the most part. We are working with quite a few people towards baptism and should have a few this month which is great. The ward here is doing great. I love it. I am a little tired the most because I'm not used to my new bed anymore. I left Ponte on a queen size now I have a single. Not that I am complaining but it's just quite funny trying to fit on it.

 

This week I went on exchange up to Skipton to help the Elders up there and get to know their area a bit better. It's a very pretty area and has a lot of beautiful country side. They have a small branch there that just started last year when I was in Bradford. They used to be in the Keighly ward but it's a long way to travel. It's full of tiny little villages that are pretty neat. While I was there I ran into a guy with a blue and green football top on and I immediately realized and said "that's a Seattle sounders jersey!" I think the man was quite frightened of me and I was a bit flabbergasted, but I got that he was from Paulsbo and married a woman from Skipton. It was neat to run into someone from close to home. While I was there I also talked to a lot of heathens. Well that is how they introduced themselves to me. It was quite funny. They got all offended that I believed in God and said we should believe in the earth. Quite a silly thought though. One kept yelling down the street which was funny because all I said was really hello to him and a short approach.

 

So I don't really know what to write about this week. I can't write anything too serious because the church has sent out a warning to all the missionaries to watch what they email home and that it's not sensitive to people. Like contains their names or events that they are going through. So I'm trying to watch myself with that.

 

I hope you are all doing well though. Lot's of good things are happening here. We should have a baptism next week which will be great.

 

I'l talk to you later though,

Cheerio,

Elder Dudgeon