Dear Family,

 

I am so excited to be emailing you from the Keighly library right now. We have had a great week. I really love my new companion a lot. His name is Elder Cumming and he is from the north of Scotland. Yep he's a highlander! He is so good though. Very diligent and hard working. He is very young on his mission though but he acts more mature and is better at teaching the doctrine then me! His accent is the best. I keep making fun of him for it and we all just laugh. It's words like book and took that are really different. SO when you say like the Book of Mormon, I start giggling. I had to stop myself Sunday because we both had to give talks. He'll correct me though if I don't say it in a scottish accent sometimes. It's funny and we get a long great.

 

A bit about Keighly. It is pronounced, KEEF LEE. Ya I know. Quite strange. It is a bit like Bradford. There are more muslim people here then Pontefract but definitely not at much as Bradford. It's surrounded by beautiful hills and valleys that are green and filled with fields and trees. There's even a steam engine that rolls around for tourists. Makes you feel a bit like Harry Potter huh?!  It's not a big area here. There's little villages that all around, but they have a good size ward and we have a decent size teaching pool. We have a few people we are working with who are making good progress but we need to a lot more finding too. We've already done quite a bit this past week with just a lot abuse but we shall press on!

 

All the people I've met so far are great. I hope I've made a good first impression. I got in on Wednesday and that night I got a call and asked to give a talk on Sunday. It went well and I was really excited to do it. It was on ''The Worth of Souls''. I hope the ward enjoyed it. It was nice for me because I got to see all their faces and get to see everyone.I have already seen a few members from the Bradford ward or people from the take that had visited there. It's been neat to catch up and hear more about people. We live with members here and have a nice flat in the attic. The members are really sweet and nice. It's probably one of the nicest member/missionary houses I've been in.

 

So ya Pontefract is closed down for the moment. They had to close down 5 areas but with this next transfer I hear they are going to open 8. So all the ones plus more. That's pretty good. I got to see a couple members from the ward on Sunday. They were stopping by because of a little holiday they had been in on. It was so nice to see them. I just looked down in the congregation and saw a familiar face and I got a big smile in return. I hope Pontefract stays strong and that the new missionaries they put in there cando some good work. Keighly has a lot of ties with people in Pontefract. The former bishop here has a son who was our bishop in Pontefract. There's a few more things so it was pretty neat. I like that many of my areas have been close. I think there are stronger connections that way.

 

Well I don't have much more to say. I'll write to you next week. thanks for all the emails.

Cheerio,

Elder Dudgeon

Dear family,

 

So we let me tell a bit about my week. Had a good birthday. A member from the ward came by and droped off a cake and a big bag of marshmallow mateys (the off brand of lucky charms). She's American and I have been telling everyone that it was my birthday. So that was nice. Both the cake and cereal were amazing! President called as well to wish a happy birthday. He told me I was getting old. I gave him a sarcastic thanks. Through the rest of the day I had different cards and gifts from the ward members. I got a package from whitney too that day which was epic. We had tea with some members that gave me some soft licorice that was oh so good. We had line dancing at the church and were able to get a couple non members there. I got more cards and they sang happy birthday. SO it was a good birthday but it just feels kind of weird. I was like mom as well. I had to write a few dates down on things and it was hard not to write 7/7/90 haha!

 

This weekend as well we had a missionary musical fireside. For a few months now the sisters in the district have been planning and putting together a program called 'Truth Restored'. It was all about the life of Christ to the restoration. So it was something our district did, so 4 missionaries and the zone leaders. We practiced a few hymns, 'Come Follow Me' and 'Praise to the Man' and 'Joseph Smith's First Prayer'. It was pretty good. A big part for me was one of the sisters asked to do a duet with me on a short hymn, 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God'. So that was the first time for me to do something like that but it turned out really well. The biggest thing was President and Sister Lindley were there. President gave the closing remarks. He is powerful! Very powerful testiomony. He had all of us stand up and testified of what we were doing and it was just a great moment. So that was good this weekend.

 

So the even bigger news is this is my new address

 

74 Manville Road

Keighly

BD22 6AT

UK

 

Ya we got our transfer calls last night. Elder Taylor and I were waiting and waiting and waiting. Finally we get a voicemail from the zone leaders. Some crazy changes happened. I was freaking out like all last night. First of all, I am moving to Keighly to follow up train Elder Cummings from Scotland. I am still district leader but now I have of district of 2 teams of elders. So I little bigger and no sisters. I am sad. I love the sister missionaries. They are always so happy and excited. Well, the other news is Elder Taylor is going to Middlesbrough. Yep they are taking us both out of the area. They are temporarily shutting it down! Yikes! They are actually shutting down 5 areas total because of so many missionaries leaving. I am excited to go to Keighly though because it is close to Bradford and it is in the Leeds zone so I can go there on P-Days! And, Elder Ashby, my favorite old companion is moving to Leeds 2 area so we'll be close to eachother again. It's exciting transfers. They called 3 new APs. Yep 3. We now have 2 travelling APs that will go around and help the different areas. So that's exciting. A lot of new zone leaders and district leaders and trainers this transfer. It's going to be huge.

 

Thanks for all the support I have been getting from everyone lately. It's been a hard time to stay excited. This area is difficult. The ward here is great but it's just been a struggle after awhile. I have been going back rereading my journal this week and found a lot of the problems I have been facing here were ones faced there. For some reasons they just looked different. I started reading the Docterine and Covenants this week too. I felt impressed to and have been putting it off. But I have found I really enjoy it and how powerful it is to us. I have a manual that I found in the flat that helps to give background information and that just makes the revelations that much more powerful. So it's really helped me out a lot this week. I love you family. You stick with me through my rough patches.

 

Well I got to go now but I love you and miss you. Make sure to send that address around and DO NOT SEND ANY MORE POST TO PONTEFRACT AS THERE WILL NOT BE ANYONE AT THAT FLAT TO PICK IT UP AND SEND IT BACK. ta.

 

Well Cheerio family,

I miss you,

Love Elder Dudgeon

Dear family,

 

Hey so this week was a great because... WE BAPTIZED! It was so good. We've been teaching this lady for the whole transfer and finally on Saturday she got baptized. It was a great service. A lot of member came out which was great. The talks were amazing and everything jsut seemed to go smooth. Elder Taylor did the baptism which was good for him. He had to do it twice though because the first time she didn't go all the way under. The next day on sunday was good as well. The confirmation went great. There was a lot of people there for a baby blessing and for other reasons so it was a packed chapel for once. She is so good though. She lost her husband about six years ago. But she talks about how the gospel has brought her such peace and happiness and she feels it in her heart. Isn't that great!

 

We haven't really found any new investigators yet. We need to do better with it but it's difficult sometimes. We have been helping support some returning members. We've been seeing this man named John for a little while and he is great. He was baptised about 4 years ago. We've been working on him to come back and he really wants to as well. Well after the baptism he was having a birthday party because he just turned 60. We didn't have a lot of time till we had to get home and  travelling by busses is difficult. Well we went out there and saw him still. Even though we couldn't stay long I was glad we went to show our support. It was at an old gospel hall and the was a lot of older people doing different dances because John loves dancing! Well he came to church yesterday and bore his testimony thanking us for what we've been doing. He's gone through a hard time lately because he lost a good friend recently. He asked us for a good verse from the Book of Mormon to share at the funeral and so we gave him Moroni 10:34. He said it was perfect and a lot of people there talked about it to him afterwards. In all it's just great to see the fruits of your labors and love for someone blossom in such way. He is a great man.

 

So things are going well in some parts and not in others. I'll keep plugging along though. I would send some pictures but the computer here is being dumb. I hope all is well at home with everyone. I got a lot of letters to write and send off today. I'll talk to you next week though.

 

Love you Bye

Elder Dudgeon

Dear Family,

 

Hey sorry but this has to be a quick one. I have to catch a bus to go to the doctors office. I'm just getting a quick scan because I have not been feeling well lately. It's all been in my side and stomach like back before when I was in Billingham but it's been worse. It may be just more from me feeling stressed out or not I'm not sure. Hopefully it will all go well today. I'm sure it will. I think things may be more muscular then anything but of course I get the doctors with funny accents who don't listen to me.

 

Good news though is that the lady we've been teaching got an interview for baptism on Sunday and passed. It was right after stake conference which was a broadcast. Elder Perry and President Monson spoke. The best talk though was from Elder Kearon who's a seventy. So she should be gettting baptized this weekend which will be great. Also we got our transfer calls last night and Elder Taylor and I are staying together here. It's nice but I would've liked to move somewhere new. Oh well. Elder Taylor is struggling to adjust to missionary life I think. He still holds onto the idea that he has any sort of right out here. He also still acts like a hick. I keep telling him that he's not a hick or a cowboy out on a mission. But a missionary serving the lord. He's got a short temper thats hard to deal with as well. I hoping work harder this next transfer and if he complains then it's on him. It's how the work is.

 

Well I got to rap up. It was so good to hear from everyone this week. Sorry last week was zone P-day and never had a chance to email. We had to travel a couple hours just to get with the rest of the zone. But I'm glad for all the updates about people and things from home. I hope everything continues to go well.

 

I'll talk to you next week,

 

Love Elder Dudgeon

 

PS adress stays the same

 

7 Shakespeare Crescent

Castleford

Pontefract

WF10 3HE

 

PPS: For my birthday if people want to send me some sweets like Butterfingers or Nutty Buttys or anything like that. And money too so I can start buying souvenirs for everyone. ta.

Dear Fams,

 

Hey how have things been going? I hope everyone is doing well. Sounds like it for the most part. I can say how great it is to be getting emails once a week. I haven't really gotten any post in awhile and that starts to get at you. Hopefully I'll get some soon. I did get Dad's letter by the way. So tell him thanks for that I really enjoyed it. I liked all the pictures too.

 

Well an update from this week. We had zone conference on Tuesdays which was great to see everybody. Our train got canceled though due to vandalism on the tracks. We had to get the zone leaders to come pick us up. They weren't too happy but what can you do? I really enjoyed hearing from our mission president and his wife. Everything they talked about seemed to be just for me. It was also nice because I got to see my trainer, Elder Eggleston, once more before he goes home and as well as Elder Ashby. I miss him. He has been my favorite companion and one of my best friends so far. So that was neat and that's when I got Dad's letter. Make sure he sends me things to my current address. Not my old one.

 

We've been teaching a lady and she's come to church twice in a row. She's great and has been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy. She should be getting baptized at the beginning of this next month. It would be the end of this month but there is a stake conference. And it's not about the date but her. So we've been doing a lot of finding as well and found a few new people this week. Some strange and some normal. We have a few more this next week to go by so that's great.

 

The district has been struggling lately. The sisters and us haven't been getting much success. I have a district meeting to prepare this week and hopefully it'll help us all get back in the groove and just work through this difficult time. It's hard because I know we're both working really hard and it's not the most inspiring when all you can say is to keep going and endure to the end. But I think I have a good meeting planned.

 

Elder Taylor is doing good. He's improving everyday and I learn a lot from him which he probably doesn't even know. He'll  be a good missionary though. It'll be strange  because I won't even see him hit his year mark. Ya thanks mom for reminding me how much time I have left. It's scary to think about. I was actually listening to Christmas music this morning (I just wanted to hear a little Josh Groban is all).

 

Well I miss you all. I hope you're all doing well. Thanks for every one's email. If anyone wants to send me anything for my birthday that would be great. If not that's ok. Money isn't bad so I can start buying more souvenirs for everyone.

 

I love you all,

Elder Dudgeon

dear family,

 

Hey so big news this week. The calls came down the line and the word is I am going to be training this next tranfer! whoo! I am very excited to train. we won't know who it is till tomorrow though otherwise I would've told you his name. there are only about 4 or 5 of us training so it will be exciting.

 

Things have been progressing with the ward this week. We had 4 people at church this Sunday which was great. The Senior couple, the Bowens, gave their departing talks. They are going to be missed a lot in this area. They've helped quite a few people. We have a baptism planned in a couple weeks which will be great. He's been inviting everyone to his baptism. All of his family and friends. He has made great progress since we started teaching him.

 

We've worked a lot with some different members and are seeing a lot of results. The sisters in the district are staying the same and they are doing well in their area and just recently scheduled as well so it makes me very happy as a district leader. It's great to see success. not because it comes from us but to see the ways the Lord works through us. Many times I feel like I'm wandering around with my eyes closed. I have no idea what I am doing but the Spirit whispers, ''I do.'' Like following the instructions from a master when you are an apprentice. Just follow the instructions and you may not see how it works but it will and it has.

 

Well I am really sorry this is short we don't have much time email this week.

 

I love you all though and will send some pictures next week.

 

Much love,

 

Elder Dudgeon

Dear family units of the great United States of America,

 

 How art thou? Things are good here. We have an investigator who's progressing towards baptism nicely. He's such a nice guy and is a pleasure to work with. His understanding is not the best but he is learning. We're planning on the end of this month for him. He came to church yesterday and to our mission home fireside which was great. Every first Sunday President Lindley puts on a fireside. It was yesterday though because of GenCon the week before. Usually you have to be reaching standards to go but this time he opened it all to everyone. So we got to go with our investigator. It was so good to see all the other missionaries and some old friends. I got to ask about some old areas. Like for instance in Halifax, a recent converts uncle has decided to get baptized. He is a great guy and someone I remember while I was there. I also got to see the old ward mission leader from Bradford. He is such an amazing guy as well. He has been the best WML I've had on my mission and is someone I learned a lot from. It was nice just being able to catch up and talk with everyone and to see other people improving and getting advice from some as well.

 

This week has been a lot of finding efforts. Had a couple meetings in York and I don't remember if I told you, but we are ways from York. Like we take a train into Leeds and then another to York. It takes about an hour and a half to two hours by train then plus walking to the chapel. It takes a lot of time. Have had a few good experiences this week though. Got to talk to a couple nice people on the trains. It's a great missionary opportunity because they almost always ask what we are doing in England. I don't how much comes from it but it's nice to give a pass along card out or a pamphlet. We have to go to York again tomorrow for interviews with President and a zone meeting. I'm looking forward to that.

 

This transfer is almost over which is quite strange. It's a five week transfer instead of six and there are going to be a lot of changes going on because some zone leaders, district leaders and one of the assistants are going home. It's exciting to see what happens. So next week I believe we are emailing on Tueday with transfer calls on Monday. I'm pretty sure I'll stay.

 

It's great to hear that everyone is doing well. And the sounders winning! I'm appreciating getting emails from everyone. Sounds like Devin and Sarah and K are having fun and have some changes. Myranda seems to be enjoying Idaho for the most part. And married life haha. It was neat because the world report they show at conference was showing the BYU-I centre. Neat to get some videos of that. Mom sounds like she is doing good and hoping to get the garden started. I would like to do some gardening actually. There are all these things that I miss doing that I never thought I would miss doing. This week will be good though because we get to do some service for a lady we knocked into. She's a llittle elderly and needs help. Her front garden was the only one not done on the street. So we are getting our investigator to come with us and help garden.

 

Well I hope everyone is doing alright. I miss you all. I have an assignment though. In D&C 4 it talks about ''the field is white, already to harvest.'' Can someone tell me what it means by being white? Like how good was a field when it is white. Just a curiosity thing. Thanks.

 

Well I miss you all. I'll talk to you next week though and Mothers day is coming up. I'm looking forward to calling.

Cheerio,

Elder Dudgeon