Hey Everyone!
It's good to finally hear from everyone. I'm glad things are going well with everyone. Sounds like everyone is busy with all sorts of stuff. I'm so jealous. I'm busy doing the usual. What's the usual you might ask? Oh it's missionary work! This week was ok. Different things happened, but it was not the best. So Lets start.
This week we had almost all the investigators we found last week, drop us. Sad day. That's not fun. We still have one we're working with who is doing great and coming to church. This week as well there was leadership training in Leeds. So My companion who became district leader, and Elder Caine (The mighty South African from my group) who is training, both had to go. So Elder Caine's greenie, Elder Porter from Toronto, and I had to work between both areas. So the whole city of Bradford! It was tough. We lost quite a bit of time travelling back and forth, and basically this week didn't go well because of that.
So we limped along after that. got one investigator to church. Then we met another person last night while finding. We walked with him to his house and then taught him. It was so good. He's my age and really nice. It was just a witness to me that God is working. I got really discouraged this week and was really down. Things just kept weighing on me and I let it effect my work. Well I got a letter this week from my friend Leah. We met back at BYUI. Well she wrote a lot about faith and working through hard times while explaining things that have been happening in her life. It was so great to get that letter this week because it was exactly what I needed to pick me up. I started looking at the things I was grateful for and the ways the lord had been blessing me this week. There was plenty I missed because I was down or discouraged. But I Started to notice those things more and it's really started helping last night. I got happy again and we saw blessings. Thanks Leah! This is why missionaries need post and people to write!
Elder Oviatt and I had some weird experiences this week. One of the times we were together we were walking to some investigators home. We had just got off the bus at the super market and started walking when this old lady stopped us and started talking about how they used to not have big supermarkets and stuff. How she used to work on a milk truck and crazy things. she was very upset on how England has changed. Completely random. Hmm. What else. There was that new investigator last night. We talked to him while walking to finding, asked if we could come by right then and share our message, he said sure, but it's more then a mile that way. So we walked and talked with him. That was really good. It went really well.
I think thats it for now. I'm glad Myranda is well getting ready for a wedding. I hope everyone is doing well and surviving that. I miss the Autumn season. It's one of my favorite times of the year. I wish I could be there to carve pumpkins and bake seeds and everything. People here celebrate it but not that much. They have what they call bon fire night, which a basically a night where you can have a bonfire. Whoo hoo. Very original. I think we'll carve pumpkins as a district on pday if we can find some.
Well Cheerio,


Love Elder Dudgeon

Hey Everyone,



How's everyone's day/week been? My has been good. I'm very tired though. I can barely keep my eyes open right now. It's Tuesday by the way. We have to email during our lunch time today because we weren't able to yesterday. For our P-Day we went with the whole zone to Malham. This area out in the country where you can do some hiking and stuff. It was fun to drive out there and see the countryside. It's the part you imagine when you think of England. We did do some hiking though. There were a couple water falls as well that were really pretty. I took plenty of pictures. I would send them right now but I don't have all of my stuff with me. It was great, really pretty. We climbed up the waterfalls which was amazing.


Sounds like things are going good at home. Glad to here that mom is back and that she had fun on her trip. Sorry it was wet but so was here. The past 6 days was rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun. One day it would rain all day and the next it would be sunny. Luckily it was sunny for our P-Day. It really pours here though. We were inside for most of it. But even the 5 to 10 minute walk inbetween appointments was enough to get soaked in. Oh well.


So I'm really tired today but it's ok. I'm always tired anyways. This last week has been good though. Went kind of slow. There was general conference this weekend which was great. My second out of 4 on the mission. It is a little different because we watch Saturday morning on saturday night. Then the Saturday afternoon, priesthood, sunday morning and afternoon sessions are all on Sunday. We don't get to watch the Sunday afternoon though because it is shown live here at 9pm. Too late for missionaries. But we got a couple people to watch a session. We had quite a few people confirmed to come but no one showed up or they canceled. Sad day.


Vikki, the recent convert, just got engaged. That's great. It's odd because I just here about Myranda then this one as well. Their dates are close as well. Maybe if I'm still here I can go. Well else is new... Not much really. Things have slowed down with Muna because she got a job and is very very busy all the time. But we'll keep doing our best with her. We've got a couple more people we're working with as well but not too much progress yet. We really need to pick up though. We can definitely do better in our efforts. Jason's sister is getting baptized this weekend. That's exciting. And his mum, Sue, is working on quiting smoking. It's so good.


Lets see time for some funny stories. One is the other day we were trying by a couple people in a village not to far from ours. We were walking back to the train station, and talking to people as we walked. I went to stop a person a few meters ahead of me by saying '' hey mate how you doing t-...'' then I had to correct my self, ''I mean ma'am how are you doing today?'' She looked like a man. But when I got close enough and said something I could tell she was a woman. I hate this I get woman that look like men and men that dress like women. People are weird on my mission.


Well nothing else really to report. I miss everyone though. I can't believe it's already October. Things are going quick. I say that and it hasn't even been a year. It's crazy. Anyways. Love you all.



Cheerio,

Elder Dudgeon

Hello Everyone!


Hello from the wonderfully multicultural Bradistan! It has been an interesting slow week, but good none the less. We have been working hard with the people we are teaching. The bare few. And we were blessed to find a couple more yesterday. The biggest greatest thing though was a baptism on Saturday! The Bradford 2 elders had a couple people getting baptized. I was able to perform one of them as well. You know who it was? It was Jason's younger brother Paul! Ya! Woo! It was so great to see everyone again. Jason and his girlfriend, Bryony, were there. As well as the rest of Paul's family, his mom, sisters, and a couple friends. It was wonderful. Paul and his family live up in Bradford area. While we were teaching Jason back in Halifax, he told his family about the church and not too long after he found the missionaries who serve in Bradford. He ran up to them and told them to come over to his mom's house some time. So the missionaries have been working on teaching the family and look at the wonderful blessings. We're working with our people up here in Bradford 1 area and we should be having another baptism later this month as well.


Some big news now. The wards here in Bradford, 1 and 2, combined on Sunday to make 1 great super ward of amazingness! So ya now we are combined which will be great I feel. It will help everyone in the wards and give people a better chance to grow in the gospel. It will be interesting though because we will have 2 teams for the whole ward. We'll see what the mission decides to do. It would be good to keep both teams it's just figuring out about staying in our areas and working with members and stuff. We'll see, more to come. The ward is great. There's even a few members that I think some of you have talked to through facebook. It's great to hear that members can communicate all the way around the world (plus I get to hear how you're doing through out the week )


Well I'm glad to hear things are going well at home. Glad people are asking about me and all. Glad to hear that Myranda is doing great (stressful but great) and that I'm going to get my wish! (It's ok Myranda you shouldn't mind). It's so good here. Their calling for an Indian Summer. I'm not sure what that means but it's been pretty nice this last week. Not really really hot but it's been pretty good. I love it. Well I hope everyone is doing well. I wouldn't mind some post though from people. Thanks though everyone for the support.

Yours Wonderfully and Truly,

Elder Dudgeon

Dear everyone and anyone,



Hello! How do, how do? Things have been good here. It's getting colder, though today and yesterday were quite nice. It's been freezing while knocking doors. Not too much fun, but we try our best to stay positive. It has been kind of a rough week. Not the best. We're still low on people to teach. There's a quote though that I've read recently, ''Nothing happens in missionary work until you find some one to teach.'' It's true. It feels odd to to go for a time without teaching a lesson. We have been putting forth good efforts but now it's time to do great. It's the only way. It's the doing every little thing we can to find people to teach. We did find a few people to teach this week and some potentials so that's great.


There was a protest in the city on Saturday. It had something to do with Muslims and an English Pride group. People trying to keep England the same. Really they're just a racist group. It happened a couple years ago I guess and there was a huge riot where whole BMW dealer or something got burned down with all the new cars in it. But this year police were out in force and I guess there wasn't too much that happened. But we sticked to the council of members and stayed out of the city for the day. Which was fine and easy because we don't even live in the city or needed to go down there.


Well that's it to report for now. Not much to say this week. It was bank holiday yesterday so we had to email today.


Love you all,

Elder Dudgeon

Hey Family and Friends



So transfers was good. I'm finally out of Halifax. 6 months was a long time. It was good and I was sad to go but also excited and ready to go. Luckily I'm not going too far haha. It was great to go to the transfer meeting for once and see all the new missionaries come in and bear their testimonies. I haven't been on the other side of it and it was really fun. Plus I got to see a lot of the other missionaries from my group that I haven't seen in a long time. It was great. It got me very excited and motivated.


Bradford though. What can I say about Bradford. It's a proper city that's for sure. I'm in Bradford one that covers the north half of the city and outlying areas. It's pretty fun. There are a lot, alot, alot, of muslims here. Like everywhere we go. Maybe that's why it's got the nick name of Bradistan. Most people are pretty nice though. It's a good area that we're in and the ward is fantastic. It's not too big but their so nice. The biggest issue we have is finding people to teach. There's not many right now. We have a lot of finding to do. But once we do find those people the ward will be ready to spring into action to help teach and fellowship. It is difficult to find people though because of transportation is not the best. We travel by bus and train but it's them coming on time or when we need them is the problem. We can work with it though. We just need better planning.


The flat is very nice as well. I have my own bathroom, that's neat. It's pretty big. Out on a main street with a pub on the other side. So on weekends it can get a bit noisy I found out. Luckily I can sleep basically through anything once I'm asleep (it's getting asleep is the problem).


My new companion is Elder Oviatt and he is very short. Haha it's great though he is such a good missionary. He's very obedient and focused but caring as well. It's the kind of companion I've been hoping for. He's from Utah so I'm back with an american.


So what's new. I had tea with a sister Brook (a different one) the first night in Bradford. I told her where I was from and she new exactly where it was. It turns out the missionary that baptized her so many years ago lives in Marysville. His name is Dick (Richard) Lester. I don't know if you know him mom. I had the address and phone number (It was weird to see a 360 number and 98271 area code), but I forgot them at the flat. But look him up in the stake directory and give him a call and tell him who you are and that your son just is serving in Bradford and just had tea with a Leslie Brook. I'm told he'll be very happy!


Not much to report more then that. I spoke in church on Sunday but just a small testimony. I'm looking forward to boost this are up and get it baptizing soon.


I miss everyone and hope their doing alright. I'm working on letters still (sorry) but keep sending please! Cheers!


Love,

Elder Dudgeon

Dear Family,



Hello Family, So transfer calls came in and...... I am going to Bradford 1 with Elder Oviatt. If you want to know where Bradford is. It's just north of Halifax. The bus I take to go to our flat from town, goes up to Bradford past their flat. I'm so close. So I try to get out of Halifax and I get to take a little step. It's ok though. I'm glad to get out of Halifax. It's well needed and I'm looking forward to it. It's in the Leeds Zone now as well so new everything just not very far away.


This week went well though. SOme crazy things happened. First was when I was on exchange with one of our Zone Leaders in Halifax. We went to a chinese buffet for lunch. While we were there a man came up to us and asked if we were the missionaries for the Halifax ward, who the bishop was at the time and stuff. We find out he is an inactive member who was baptized when he was about 12 or so in 1989. So the story is this. He went on facebook one day and for some reason decided to look up the missionary who baptized him. Amazingly enough he found him and sent him a message. The next morning the missionary sent him a message back confirming he was the one who baptized him and sent him pictures of when the man was baptized. The former missionary also sent him more information to get him in touch with his companion who had confirmed the man as well as some other people. That morning was the day he saw at the restaurant. It was great. Elder Webb and I have gone to see him a couple times now. And he wants us to reteach him and his family. Also him and his girlfriend came to church on Sunday. It was great because he still knew some of the people who were still there from when he was baptized.


Also on Sunday... Jason, my recent convert, had to give a talk. Just something short bearing his testimony. Well he was really nervous. The bishop talkde to him before to interview about get the priesthood and getting advice on what to say. Well Jason got up and just gave the greatest testimony ever on how we came by and were able to answer the questions that he had. As well as he knows the Book of Mormon is because of a witness he gained through prayer. It was so good and worded very well. Later I asked him about it. I asked him if the Bishop had given him what to say or if he read it off a piece of paper because it sounded so scripted. That's me showing my lack of faith. He told me that he hadn't rehearsed anything and the only thing the bishop told him was to listen and follow the spirit. I can't believe it! It's so great. This is one of the great things about going up to Bradford because him and his family live up there for the time being so I can see them on Sunday at church! I love it.


So other things that happened. We had Zone conference last week which was really good. Our new president likes to tell a lot of stories but they're so good and have a lot of lessons within them. And the even better part is they have a lot of general authorites in them because he worked so closely to them. The main story he told was about President Hinckley when he was an apostle and was dedicating a land for the preaching of the gospel. It was really good.


So how's home going? I hear that it's been pretty hot. Here it's been pretty cold. And rainy. I didn't think England would be this cold but it is. Lousy weather. Football season is starting back up. Already. So the drunks are coming back out from the short break at the world cup. That's always fun. They call me Elder Dungeon Master. How's home going. Glad that Aunt Anna came over this last weekend and all that. I miss everyone from home. So how's it been with Brad? Is he still there? Hello Brad . Haha. I can't wait to get a letter from Dad. I'm still working on his and I got a couple pictures to send him as well that he'll love. It goes with the Walls of Jericho bit hahaha! I can't believe Fono got his mission call! That's so great! I miss him. Ben Wilcox emails me now and I write letters in response. He's preping for his mission. He reports the in October I think. It's way good. I'm waiting for letters though from people other then family and whitney and carrie. Oh well I love getting anything.


So I'm sending some pictures with this. Some of me and my trainer at a mission home fireside as well as some of me and a couple investigators. Theres a picture of me eating a baby jabenero pepper (I don't know how to spell it.) but ya. Super hot. It was fun to do though. Their both really good guys and we wanted to have some fun before I left. There's a video of me as well but I don't think i can send them over email. It's pretty funny. I'm sad to go but happy as well.


Well I got to go. I love you though. I know the gospel is true. Till next week.



Cheers,

£ld£r 'Dung£on Mast£r' Dudg£on

Happy 4th of July

Hello family!



I miss all you guys. Your emails this week are great to hear. I miss you all so much! This last week has been fantastic. My companion and I have been working really hard and guess what?! Jason got baptized on Saturday! It was a great service. We had quite a few members of the ward there as well as all the new bishopric. As well as Jason's family and his girlfriend and her family were able to come out and show their support. They really enjoyed it. Jason's girlfriend and mom have been looking into the church as well. It's great. The confirmation went well on Sunday as well. Most of Jason's family was able to make it. I was asked to do it and I was so nervous. I calmed down quite a bit before though but when I started saying the prayer thet spirit was just overwhelming. I started shaking. Yesterday we saw Jason and were talking about it and he asked me who was shaking the whole time! It was funny. I'll send pictures soon


We also got to meet our new mission President on saturday before the baptism. It was pretty neat to see other missionaries and get to meet President Lindley. He seems pretty neat and fun but not the same as President Stock. President Stock was amazing. President Lindley used to be in church security and was body guards to several prophets and apostles and has been on trips with them all around the world so it will be interesting to here some stories and what he knows. NOt much I can write about about because he would prefer that these stories about general authorities be circulated around the church through the internet.


My companion leaves soon. Wednesday is transfers and thats when he goes into the mission office and stays at the mission home then flies out the next day. My new companion will be Elder Webb. He's an english bloke. We'll see how things go with him. And yes I'm still in Halifax. It's ok. It's getting way better. And I enjoy the zone I'm in. And so by the way. My P-Day is today, Tuesday. Because of transfers so don't worry everyone if you sent an email late because of the week end. I got it.


The fourth of July went by with no big surprises. No fireworks or anything. Kind of boring. Except for the part where I almost died. (Sorry mom this is the part where you can't read since I'm sending this to all 3 of you.) So Devin, Myranda, ya I almost died. (Mom stop reading!) So we had a tea appointment with these elderly couple from the ward on Sunday. They were giving us a lift to our next appointment. We were almost there driving through a more industrious part of Halifax called Pellon. It's where there are a lot of Muslims and eastern europeans. Anyways we turn at a light when all of a sudden the sister driving us puts her head down. Then she started falling over towards her husband in the passenger seat. Basically she passed out at the wheel. I grabbed her and the wheel but by then it was too late and we jumped the curb and start going for a brick wall. Luckily her husband thought quick and pulled the hand brake and stopped us! He then shook her and she woke up like nothing had happened. The even greater blessing is there was a car behind us who saw it all and it ended up being a nurse who was on her way to work just around the corner. So ya that was pretty scary. The sister is fine though we heard and nothing to worry about.


(OK mom you can read again)


Other then that things have been good. Ever since England and the US lost things have been getting better. \it was ridiculous though because even at church thats all that was talked about. Lessons lost the spirit because of people jsut talking and joking about it. Prayers were said about the world cup and just ridiculous things. I'm glad it's over. Oh it was funny because the very next day that England lost all the flags and banners were gone. England is terrible with patriotism.


Well tomorrows my brithday. I'm pretty excited. I got one package so far. Some members in the ward gave me a gift though. It was a box of cereal call Kellogs Crunchy Nuts. Their like cornflakes but with a brown sugar, peanutty, honey glaze. I haven't seen them in the states and their are so good. They got a pretty good unique taste to them. I'll bring some home.


Well I love you guys. I miss everyone. Hope everyone had a good 4th! I miss all the food and fireworks. Talk to you all next week. Cheerio!


Love,

Elder Dudgeon