JANUARY 16-22, 2022

This week’s missionary work has been busy, productive and varied! Our best week so far.  I am so happy

-Each Sunday evening we have a mission wide Zoom devotional.  Tonight Mike and I were invited to be the speakers.  We felt the power of the Holy Ghost as we shared thoughts and bore our testimonies.

-Monday we drove to the Manchester Mission Office (2 hours away) and met with all the other senior missionaries, including President and Sister Johnson, for a surprise 50th birthday dinner for Emily Mitchell, a senior sister who is the mission nurse.  She is a really neat woman we spent a few days sightseeing with earlier this month and we love to be around her.   We enjoyed a great dinner with everyone.  Since our assignment on Isle of Anglesey is far away from all other seniors (and most young elders/sisters), we really enjoy times like this to mingle with the other missionary couples.

-Tuesday included lots of driving to ‘find’ members on the Gaerwan ward list that haven’t attended church for a while.  It was a successful day…the best so far on our ‘detective’ drives!  We had a front door visit with Janis Roberts, who we had tried to find on two previous occasions, but without success.  We woke her up in the middle of the day, but she was very friendly and as we invited her to come to church on Sunday, she accepted the invitation.  We will look for her! Next, we (eventually)found Bonnie and Barry Sidebottom, an older couple who have not been to church for a while. We had a nice ‘porch’ visit.  They both have health issues and Covid concerns. They are endowed and seem to have strong testimonies.  We will check up on them from time to time until they feel able to join us at church. Next we visited Anne Kelly,about 80 years old.  Many of these Members have had hard lives..multiple marriages, abusive spouses, poverty, and most, if not all of their children are non-members/inactive and seem to ‘ignore’ their mum.  Anne is a widow who has poor health, but is ministered by the ward sisters in a caring way.  She has an infectious giggle and quick smile.  She joyfully attends church when she can.

We came home, warmed up, and went to church for youth seminary and youth meetings.  We feel love from the members and for the members, including the great youth!

Thursday and Friday we again logged some serious miles and hours in the car.  Thursday was ‘transfer day’ for the elders and sisters.  We were assigned to help transport.  It is special to see the ‘good-bye hugs’ as companionships change, and the ‘hello hugs’ as new ones form.  I really appreciate now what it is like to pack up frequently and move to a new place with all your suitcases.  If we had to do that, we would need a huge van!  We certainly brought way more with us than the young missionaries (and I’ll only confess this once, that I could have packed a lot lighter!)  After all missionaries were transported and safe in their flats, we drove to the Chester Stake Center for young adult institute which was still over 2 hours from home.  Got home close to midnight.  We had eaten an apple in the morning and nothing else all day.  Arriving home at midnight and hungry, we just walked upstairs and went to bed!

Two highlights of the transfers:  Elder Rossell and Elder Bandilli and a miracle discussion!

Elder Rossell

Thursday morning we got into the car to help transport missionaries with transfers.  As we left our flat, we specifically prayed to find ‘the one’ (Elder or Sister) we could possibly minister to.  We met Elder Rossell from Palmyra, New York a few hours later.  He had been in the Preston England MTC for the past 2 weeks.  While Mike was outside helping transfer luggage, I was in the chapel foyer with Elder Rossell.  He had arrived in the middle of transfers  and had been with a companionship to make a threesome for over three weeks and didn’t feel a part of anything.   He seemed a bit uncertain and quiet…didn’t know where he was going to be assigned or who his first companion would be.  He confessed that he had been a bit homesick in the MTC for a few days but it got better and now he was really feeling homesick.  I listened and shared I had had those same feelings when we arrived and that it gets better once you ‘get to work’!  As Mike and I got in our car, I told him about the conversation.  Mike immediately got out of the car and walked over to Elder Rossell.  I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but I saw a small smile from the Elder and a hug between both of them.  

The next morning we again drove two hours to the mission office to transport more new missionaries just arriving.  Elder Rossell was there.  When he saw us, he came over immediately with a HUGE smile and happy face to tell us of his assignment and companion. What a difference a day makes! He was ‘the one’! It is amazing to see how quickly prayers are answered as Heavenly Father watches out and blesses His young missionaries and the ‘not so young’ ones!  

(I am Enclosing a text chain I had with Elder Rossell’s mom)

Dear Rosells, We are Elder and Sister Dudley, serving in the Manchester Mission.  We are in Wales on the Isle of Anglesey!  We have helped transfer missionaries to their new areas the past 2 days.   We were able to meet your son both days.  He has a great smile and determination to serve! He looks happy. 

“Hello Elder & Sis. Dudley, we are so thankful for your help with Ryan.  Thank you so much for the pictures!  It is comforting to know he is happy.  We miss him so much even though he’s only been away for a month.  It is wonderful there are angels like you who are there along his way. Bless you for all you are doing for the missionaries!”

“You are welcome!  I would love to share a little more with you. As we left our flat Thursday morning, we specifically prayed to find ‘the one’ (elder/sister?) we could possibly minister to. We met Elder Rossell a few hours later. During all the ‘trade offs’, I was with him in a church Bldg for a few minutes while Elder Dudley was helping with luggage.  Your sweet Elder admitted to me he was a little homesick. We had a nice conversation about that since we’ve only been here 6 weeks and I miss our family too!  As we were getting in our respective cars, I mentioned to Elder Dudley about my conversation. He got back out of the car, and spoke with Elder Rossell for a few minutes - buoyed him up, etc.  Yesterday when we saw him at the mission office, he excitedly came over to us with the BIGGEST SMILE AND HAPPY FACE to tell us of his first assignment !  What a difference a day makes. He was ‘the one’!  It is so amazing to clearly see how quickly prayers are answered as the Lord watches out and blesses His young missionaries - and the ‘not so young ones!  We look forward to seeing him again.  He is terrific. 

(We think we may have met you in Palmyra a few years ago!  Elder Dudley was an area seventy and we were there on an assignment and when Elder Rossell told us about his family, particularly his dad’s training of falcons, we both seemed to remember that. If so - hello again!)”

“Oh my goodness Sis. Dudley.  You have brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.  I pray every day, all day sometimes, for Ryan to be watched over and comforted.  So you are an answer to my prayers! Ryan has had a fairly hard time with homesickness.  As well we have too with sending him away.  Every picture and every message is so cherished right now. He is a special young man with so much to share with the people of Manchester. We know this is where the Lord needs him to be and feel sure he will fulfill his service with joy and determination. Everyone tells us the homesickness will pass so we are praying it does and he will be able to do all that is required of him. Seeing his BIG SMILE AND HAPPY FACE in these photos will comfort me for a long time!  How wonderful you were both here in Palmyra!  I hope you get to come back one day so we can have you over for a meal and chat. Surely you are the Lords special servants for all that you have done and are still doing!  Thank you again so much for sharing this with us! And hello again to you!!”

Elder Bandilli

We picked up Elder Bandilli from the mission office and drove him to his first assignment and to meet his first companion! What an amazing young man.  He is from Albania, 26 years old, a convert of 2 years, and began learning English 4 months ago when he received his mission call.  His English is very good!  We loved our visit during the long drive.  We asked him what was the one thing that piqued his interest to join the church.  Without a second hesitation, he said “The Atonement of Jesus Christ”.  He is going to be a great missionary.

Kevin and Alisha Cooney

Last Sunday this couple came to church after an invitation from a young man in our ward who works with both of them.  They stayed for the whole two hours of church, met people, participated, and were so excited to learn more.  Friday afternoon they came to our flat for a discussion.  When I opened the door, Kevin was wearing a new shirt and tie and slacks, Alisha in a nice skirt and sweater…much different than the work clothes they wore on Sunday.  Their countenances were just beaming.  We had a spirit-filled hour.  All truths we taught and testified of were received with smiles and acceptance and lots of dialogue! They each now have their own Books of Mormon and committed to come to church again on Sunday.  

Today (Sunday) they were one of the first ones to arrive at church.  This time Kevin was wearing a suit coat!  From the outside-in, they are just radiating!  We will see them again this week for a second discussion at our flat.  They have two older teenage daughters we have not met… yet

Would you like to pray, along with us, for Kevin and Alisha?

Friday afternoon, we went to our chapel and filled the baptismal font for another baptism - 2nd one in two weeks!  A rarity.  Elsa Gill was baptized on her 8 birthday! Many ward members came to support.  (She and EllieRose are pen pals)

We ended our search for returning members on Saturday evening.  We found and enjoyed another ‘porch visit’ with Laura Stone.  It had been a few years since anyone had seen her.  We invited her back to church, arranged for a member to pick her up, and today she came!  We hope she felt the spirit, felt love from ward members and us and desires to begin anew!

We ended the Sabbath by viewing a broadcast from Salt Lake City for all members of the Europe area. Elder and Sister Bednar spoke and President and Sister Nelson.  It was powerful.  They promised accelerated growth of the church.  We are here for a reason!

(A few photos from the week, including lunch with some Elders of fish and chips with mushy peas near Conwy Castle, Elsa Gill’s baptism, beautiful skies)