Good News, the Couch is Comfy

June 03, 2020

Good News, the Couch is Comfy

Monday, May 25th 2020

So the fact that I'm writing this email either means I had a fabulous week at home, or that I have been given the green light to go back on my mission... I think it's safe to say it's the latter;)

Wow! Within a week I was given the news I was finally going to go on my mission. I packed up my things, and made it to the California Ventura mission.

The second airport goodbye was worse than the first, and that's saying something, but God's timing is the best timing.

I have the opportunity to serve in Newbury Park. I was blessed with two amazing companions, Hermana Evans and Hermana Giddings. That's right, we're in a trio! The irony is that my Aunt's niece who got reassignd here was their prior third person, but I came into the picture and she got transferred to a new area. Small world! Now I have a cute note from her that she wrote for the new incoming sister, aka me! Now my companions- Hermana Evans has been out for 15 months and she's the Mom in the group. She understands Spanish grammar better than I know English grammar. It's opened my eyes of how much I have to learn. And it's a lot. I'm in awe with the Spanish language, it's so beautiful and so complicated. I have been confused as a reassigned missionary quite a few times because I came into the field and my Spanish was better than was expected. Now I just need a solid shot of confidence to speak. I think God is just giving me an extra dose of help because I had to come home for a minute. Hermana Giddings is an equal powerhouse. She helps keep me sane and we laugh a lot. Both are incredible examples to me already.

We have some doorbell ditchers who frequen our apartment door often telling us pizza is here, one day I will catch them. Within eyesight of my companion, of course.

One thing I've learned this week is that Latinos like white girls who speak Spanish. We've been catcalled several times, and I'm learning words I didn't think I'd encounter.

One thing that's been surprising to me is how busy missionary work still is. All day we have a busy day, full of finding people via Facebook and reaching people at appropriate social distance lengths. People have been surprisingly receptive to messaging random strangers back on the internet and setting up video calls to learn about God. It's the best! I'm so happy to be here and so grateful for God's timing. We find so many ways to get out. We've made cookies for families, drawn happy messages with chalk on busy sidewalks, so many fun ways to still spread Christ's love.

We stopped by the ward Bishop's home to drop off some cookies and we all chatted in camp chairs outside their home, I had forgotten I still had my mask on, but quickly remembered when one of his litle boys grabbed my face and goes, "I want to see your face!!" It was so unexepected and funny, it melted my heart.

This weekend we were given permission to start street contacting once more and I am thrilled to have the chance to fuse online contacting and face to face connecting to further progress the work.

It's odd to think that I had my three month mark while only on my first week in the field, but I know that God has everything in control. I needed to be home when I was, and I'm need to be out while I am. God knows!!

Dios te ama y yo te amo,

Hermana(Again!) Udy

Mosiah 24:14-15

1. Me, Hermana Giddings, and slothy boi!

2. Hermana Evans, me, and Hermana Giddings

3. Leaving the mision home!

4. We got heart attacked by a YW group

5. Bishop's lil daughter drew us three hermanas!

6. Chalk messages!

7. When in Cali, you get In-n-out!