Everett, WA (transfer 12 coming up) - Week ending June 15 (8 months and 5 transfers left, but who's counting?)

Just me.  I'm the only one counting.  Chris has expressed several times that the time is going by too quickly.

On Monday, June 16, Chris sent a letter for the blog along with a note that he was not being transferred.  Then I got a note from a member of his congregation who has gotten to know the missionaries that he is being transferred to Ferndale.  He had very little notice to pack everything up, so I imagine it was a very late night, and then a long drive.  Ferndale is north of Bellingham, about 20 miles south of the Canadian border. We will learn more about his new area next Monday.

If you are friends with Chris on facebook, please check out the hilarious videos the mom/member posted.  They have a great dane named Atlas, and Chris and Elder Young (his most recent companion) really enjoyed their time with Atlas.

Here is this week's letter, written when he thought he was staying.

From: Christopher Udall
Subject: Weekly letter

We are not teaching too many investigators in the ward I am in right now BUT we are having awesome success with the members! We (Elder Young and I) had an awesome experience a little while ago. We were trying to find a way to help the members here because they help invite others to events and even to meet with us but then, for whatever reason (whether too timid, or fear not saying it the right way to have the spirit touch the friend, OR the people just don't want to listen) the friends don't come.  So recently, we had an awesome experience with personal revelation for this area. We, with the help and thoughts given to us from our Father in Heaven, wrote down a "member teaching record". This plan is not for us to teach the members the lessons but to teach them how to invite and go about it! :) It has been REALLY cool to see it working with members! Hopefully will really grow soon!

I've been in Everett for one transfer (6 weeks) and I'll be staying. So it's a new transfer (2nd 6 weeks) and same area but I feel like a new missionary.  It has been good to look at my own life and see the knowledge and experience I have gained. I have been able to grow closer with my mission president the past couple weeks. He is an amazing man with such a sincere desire to help and serve. 

The past week has been absolutely wonderful! Specifically Sunday!  I mean every Sunday is good because we are able to go and partake of the sacrament where I am able to renew my covenants with my Father, but especially this week because it was fathers day, and the primary children sang the Father song!   :). Also, I was able to focus on those promises I have made to God, my Father who is in Heaven. 

I love and am grateful to ALL the men that have been good examples to me. I am grateful to ALL of my Grandpa's!  Most importantly, I want to thank my own earthly father and let him know how much I LOVE him and what he has done for me. Also I can not explain the love, kindness, and mercy my Father in Heaven! :)

Have an AWESOME WEEK!

Love,

Elder Udall

Chris also asked me to post this video in honor of Father's Day:
 Earthly Father, Heavenly Father

Quick story to share from the same member that let me know about the transfer:

Elder Young and Elder Udall stopped by to look up some addresses one evening and Elder Udall needed to use the bathroom.  I didn't think anything of it, but a few hours later I needed to go as well.  I was 38 weeks pregnant at the time, and had my bathroom routine down pretty well, meaning I don't look when I sit.  That caused a lot of issues this time as Elder Udall had left the seat up.  I'll just let you imagine how all that played out.  He felt awful and wanted to make up for it.  So here they are helping me refinish the furniture I'd gotten for the nursery.  They were troopers and really helped a lot!  Couldn't have finished everything without them!