"Sister Dudley, we didn't know you spoke German!"

You got the package?!?! phew! I was so nervous! Tell me what was in it again. Was their a painting? I don't remember. Sorry about all the dumb clothes, But those were fresh out of Chinese thrift shops for some people, and I thought that would be cool. But now I'm thinking it probably isn't ha. And they probably don't fit anyone anymore anyway. I got such a good deal on that briefcase. I bought it more because I was proud of my bargaining than the briefcase itself haha. I don't know. I hope there's something nice in that box. Sorry to send dumb things home.

New York looks incredible! How fun! I tell people here all the time that I have a brother doing advertising in New York, and my street credit goes up about 1000. Because they ask where I'm from and I say America, have you ever been? And they say New York? or San Francisco? But usually New York, and then I slam them with that, and we enter into a full blown conversation and become good friends for 5 minutes until they need to get off the train at the next stop. but they leave with some church material and a good impression. Either way, I've never gotten to do a door approach, so I guess that is my equivalent. So, thanks Tommy. I love going finding. You meet so many fun people. Lately, our finding time is less than it was, but it's fun to get a few hours every now and then. And the weather is getting so nice! It's been a great week.

I have a cool story! It's going to sound like one of those awesome missionary stories, but I promise it was really quite normal, and very ordinary in all reality. But I could make it into something awesome. But I won't. Remember my friend Adam? I met him probably in April back in Sham Shui Po on the way to Sister Jiu's baptismal interview. We were at a cross walk and I started talking to him. He recognized missionaries because he had seen them back at his home. He was from Hungary. Had a very deep Christian background and knowledge, and we had a few really interesting and fun lessons with him before we passed him over to the international elders. But the other day, I saw the international elders, and asked them how Adam was doing. I guess they're still meeting with him, and he goes to church with them! Which I'm still so excited about. But then they said, "Sister Dudley, we didn't know you spoke German!" To which I said that I didn't. They looked confused. "Well we were asking why he started meeting with the missionaries and he told us of your first contact with him." They explained the contact exactly as it had happened, except apparently Adam remembers me speaking in German to him, and he was so shocked and surprised to hear someone speaking in German to him in Hong Kong that he agreed to meet again and talk some more. Now, I am completely aware that in Hungary they speak Hungarian, but Adam also speaks German. And according to him, that was the reason Adam started investigating or meeting with the missionaries. This whole time I just thought I had some awesome street contact that sparked some desire to hear more about the restored gospel, but once again, it wasn't any skill of my own. Heavenly Father had to go so far as to convince Adam that I wasn't even speaking the right language in order to fix all the words and ideas I was throwing at him ha. Anyway, I was thinking back on that, and I am positive that I was speaking English and it must have been poor enough English for Adam to think it wasn't. But either way, Adam remembers differently, and it was a good enough reason for him to start learning. He's awesome. I sure hope to know what happens to him.

This week we also taught this woman from Uganda. She is full of all sorts of power. Just fiery. Her name is Hope. It is sad because refugees here cannot work until they are a citizen. But they have to live here for 7 years before they can be a citizen. So they have nothing to do. There are several small village kind of places where groups of them will live that can be quite dangerous because they mug people or steal things. Because they can't work....they have no money. But Hope cant stand the thought of doing nothing. She says it isn't good for the soul to not work. So she goes and volunteers at the place we volunteer at. She goes every day, and they feed her, so it works out. Anyway, she is very active and wanting to learn more about the Savior and the bible. She goes to different classes about it. she grew up Christian. She says most people in Africa are Christian. which I thought that being her perspective was really cool. But we talked together about Christianity and about Christ, and we brought up the Book of Mormon, and boy is she excited to read it! "Why hasn't anybody ever told me about this! I go to so many classes and they won't read it? What's up with them?!" The volunteer place is run by another Christian group and us missionaries aren't allowed to "push our beliefs on the people there", ....but Hope was asking! So we're meeting with her. And she is awesome. She started going off on the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom, in her own words..we haven't taught her any of that yet...but she is just passionate about it. It makes me excited about my own beliefs seeing how much energy she has about it. And the utmost respect and reverence for it at the same time. It's incredible to see her balance that. I love talking to her.

This work is true! And I have been reminded this week of the eternal and sacred nature of the call to preach the gospel. It's the work of salvation and there isn't a holier or higher work. And I am grateful to get to participate in it for a few short months of my life. I have to go, but I love you!

Have a great day!

Hannah