October 3, 2016 My sister is the best ever

October 3, 2016

My sister Allis is so awesome! 

I got my hair cut and colored. since I couldn't have my favorite hairdresser, allis found me one in Astoria!

My baby is all grown up! Hermana Judkins is all done with training so I have no excuses to boss anyone around anymore. So they're sending me off to Longview. It was really cool to see this area grow so fast even with our little numbers. I know God has been preparing these people! I'm kinda sad to leave this place cause it's the celestial land but I'm stoked to be serving in a branch again! Also my new companion is named Hermana Eldredge! I think they only did it cause our mail kept getting messed but we'll see. Maybe some of the Hispanics will actually be able to pronounce my name if there is two of us though?

So Tuesday we had this lesson and the guy was just whipping out all these scriptures from the Bible. Not even to bash with us... just to show us he knows and loves the Bible I think? But it was hilarious cause he was staring Judkins down for some reason and would ask her questions like what did Solomon ask God in his prayer? And then a bunch of random ones you wouldn't know unless you knew where he was quoting from the Bible. And she still is learning so she couldn't really reply. Then he starts singing. Yeah, singing. "YO TENGO UN AMIGO QUE ME AMA, ME AMA, ME AMA. YO TENGO UN AMIGO QUE AMA Y SU NOMBRE ES...." and he looks and Judkins for what his friends name is and she goes... "JESUS!" (Really proudly) And he says "Si!" And keeps singing. Hahahah love being a missionary. 

Just remember that Jesus is your friend and he loves you! 

Thank you again for all the happy birthdays! I wish I had time to reply back to everyone but know that I love you!

1- post birthday barn party, blessings on blessings on blessings

2- the shyest human in the world became my best friend all thanks to cat stickers

3- Antonio, hno Nernberg, and Eduardo some of my favorite humans

Haaaaaaave you met Hermana Judkins?

July 25, 2016

Hey y'all! So I'm officially a mom as the mission slang goes and I am
training and new Hermanita! As cliché as it sounds I don't feel like
my job is too hard, she is already killing it. And kind of killing me
cause she's a marathon runner so she's quite literally running circles
around me. She likes peanut butter so we get along pretty dang well.

It's been fun to watch her grow and let her fail a little bit as we
teach people. It makes me think of all the people I've met here and
how they did the same for me. (Examples from my first transfer
discovering the whole gift of to tongues thing: telling people "as we
cook this family" in a prayer, "God has other old people that are not
of this fold", "God has a body of flesh and eggs...") But all mistakes
and failures make us humble. Humility makes hit our knees and learn to
rely on our Heavenly Father.
This week we had a cool lesson and dinner planned with a part member
family at a members home. The mom called us a couple hours before and
said they wouldn't be able to come. So we have a whole bunch of food
and some willing members but no one to teach. I sat there disappointed
and couldn't think of any of our investigators that would be able to
come at such a short notice, but my sweet companion says "So who are
we gunna get to come?" We said a prayer and a name came our minds of
this sweet old Mexican man that lives a little far off from Astoria.
We had never been able to teach him much but he answered the phone and
said he would love to come. The night went beautifully and he accepted
an invitation to be baptized without hesitation.

Sometimes we think our ways are the best ways, especially when they
are really good ways! But when we trust in our all loving Heavenly
Father, he is able to bless us with his perfect plan. The amazing
thing is that if we are doing our part, we can have full confidence in
Him that everything will fall into place in the best possible way for
us. He promises us that.
1 Nephi 9:6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the
children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of
all his words.

I love you all and I'm so thankful for all the selfies and emails you
send me here. Keep praying for my people up here! we need all the faith
we can get ❤️

❤️Hermana Audrey Eldredge

1. I'm a little obsessed with how good the view is while tracting
2. I complimented this girl's aloe Vera plant and at the end of the
lesson she gave me part of it!
3. Portland Temple trips ❤️
4. First day with my new baby
5. Sleepover with the Seaside sisters before interviews with the
president - it's very possible we didn't sleep very much

July 4, 2016 ALL A-boot Faith

July 4, 2016
Happy freedom day friends!

Nothing too crazy has gone down in the last week or so... Just a new
mission president, I'm training a brand new missionary, and I kicked
my zone leader while playing beach soccer and broke my toe. Okay so a
lot has happened. Smith is leaving me and my baby is flying in from
Mexico tomorrow and I'll pick her up Wednesday! Pray for her sanity
because she is getting a mother like me.

As for my broken toe and new mission president, we had a big meeting
to get to know President and Sister McAteer. They are converts from
Canada are pretty dang amazing. The assistant to the president got up
to start the big meeting and ended it with saying: "and that's what
missionary work is all a-boot, isn't that right Hermana Eldredge." (If
you didn't get that it's cause they're Canadian and I'm in a boot)
After President McAteer was talking about trials that come with the
work and he said "sometimes you'll have bad days! You'll get door
slams! You'll get yelled at! You'll kick your zone leader and break a
toe!" Nothing like being put on blast in front of the whole mission
and new presidency.

This past Sunday we had our 2nd Spanish group meeting, it was a
success! This week Elder Thomas (the zone leader I kicked) gave us a
talk by Gene R. Cook on faith it was an answer to companionship
prayers. We have been a searching on what to do because our first two
meetings we had no investigators and barely any members. But Elder
Cook speaks of a story of his mission where they were asked to raise
money for the new temple. They set the goal with the Lord, but they
also had a "if not" plan. They would raise the money for the temple
but if they fell short they would pay the rest of it themselves. So we
decided we would do that with the group. We would do everything
possible to get members and investigators there, but if no
investigators show we would teach the members on missionary work. We
said many prayers and worked our hardest this week and we didn't even
have to use the if not plan, because a family we are teaching came! It
was a total miracle all made possible by the Lord.

Faith is the first step of the gospel because it is so necessary for
everything we do. If we have faith in the lord over our own selves, we
don't have to worry if things don't go our way. If we are submissive
and diligent and willing to do all He asks, we need not worry about he
outcome. He makes all the difference!

Los quiero!


❤️Hermana Audrey Eldredge

JUNE 20, 2016

June 20, 2016

Hola mis amigos!

This week has been crazy and beautiful. God is blessing his
missionaries! We have seen so many miracles and God putting us in the
right places at the right time. We have so many investigators that are
really ready to change and the Spanish group is growing! Our
investigator almost got deported and is in jail but he contacted us
and might be able to stay! A lot of people he works for are fighting
to keep him here. He emailed us so we got to reply. Rocio (our member)
took me seriously with the username "el cholo" cause she didn't think
it would show (it does). We're probably first missionaries to ever
email their investigator in jail as El Cholo. The people that read
them were probably expecting something other than scriptures.. Another
investigator came to church for the first time. We had to translate
but the spirit has its own language!

We have had a challenge as a zone of who can hand out the most Book of
Mormons in two weeks. I'm not competitive or anything..... But we are
killing everyone! It's been amazing to see that book placed in so many
people's hands and to be able to testify of its greatness. Even as a
missionary I sometimes forget how wonderful it is to know what we
know. No other religions know that God has a body of flesh and bones.
That there was pre-mortal life. That we will all be resurrected with
perfect immortal bodies. That there are living prophet today. Nobody
else knows that! I love seeing the surprise when they hear it for the
first time, cause it makes sense right? The Book of Mormon just shows
me how much God really does love us. Because of that book I know that
Jesus Christ is my savior.

I wanted to share my favorite scripture of all time.
Alma 7:11-12
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled
which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his
people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of
death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to
the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his
people according to their infirmities.

I invite all of you to really think about why you know the Book of
Mormon is true. To write it down and pray for someone to give it to.
There are people living here without it. I love you all and I'm so
thankful for the prayers you are sending my way. We are feeling them.


This is us visiting the sea lions....
Sorry you can't actually see the sea lions. Just imagine them, they're
real cute.

Hermana Eldredge

May 16, 2016

May 16, 2016

HAPPY MONDAY!

I've never loved Monday's so much in my life. But Friday was pretty
close to winning my favorite day. We had una Noche de Talentos! The
Spanish branch does not mess around with events like talent shows. Our
investigator Enrique was even the usher. His talent was definitely
being in front of the crowd. We were crying laughing. And the loa
family that we are teaching even danced for everyone. I can't wait
till I can come back and learn to do all the cultural dances! We even
had to go home before it was over cause they party into the night!

We had a lesson with a girl this week and we taught her about the Book
of Mormon. At the end we shared with her Moroni's promise and asked
her how she felt. She told us she can't explain why her heart was
beating so fast like this..... Yeah that's the spirit. I love teaching
the gospel!

The dad of a family we have been teaching forever came with his kids
this Sunday. There is no feeling like seeing their whole family in
their Sunday best! Even Jared in his 5 year old suit.
When the Sacrament went around and we showed him how we take the
water. He takesit, looks at it, pauses. Drinks. Eyes wide he just
says: es bueno! And then follows it down the pue trying to get another
cup and telling all his Sibilings that it's good and to try it.

That's the most beautiful thing about Sundays. We get to be our best.
We can repent. We're trying to be better. And isn't that the greats
ring about the atonement? We get a chance every week to try to be a
little better. So that's my missionary advice for you this week
(borrowed from president hinkley) Try a little harder to be a little
better!

❤️Hermana Audrey Eldredge
Enviado desde mi iPad

9 months?? Am I even done training yet?

May 2, 2016

9 months?? Am I even done training yet?

Hi friends! Missionary work is crazy. Heavenly Father loves pushing
you out of your comfort zone and surprising you with the unexpected.
Last week I was just living my life with Hermana Alvarez and the next
thing you know we were taking a road trip up to Long View to pick up
my new companion. Emergency transfers are pretty hyped here, like
unexpected "in a new relationship" posts of Facebook. everyone in the
mission wants to know what happened and who the new companion is. But
Hermana Smith is a fiesta and a half.

Well it is my 9 month mark this Thursday. Time flies when you are on
the Lord's time instead of your own. Who knew? I have learned more than
I ever thought I would out here. I also learned how much I still need
to learn. But I wanted to give you my top 9:
1. God loves me.
2. The savior's atonement and enabling power is unstoppable.
3. God doesn't do random, he sets up little miracles all day every day.
4. Spanglish is a real language.
5. Eating cow tongue tastes better than cow intestines.
6. The gospel makes bad men good and good men better.
7. How to play scatter ball.
8. They're not going to call you back.
9. You can love anyone no matter how ridiculous they are, with god's help.

God is so great. He can make us great, if we let him.
Thank you for being great and helping me be better.
I challenge you to evaluate yourself in the eyes of our Heavenly
Father. He can show us our weaknesses and help make them strengths.
Just don't ask him to show you all at the same time (:

Los quiero

❤️Hermana Audrey Eldredge
Enviado desde mi iPad

We kinda like each other


My favorite family ever moved to UTAH!!!

Mexican nieve


P-day

April 18, 2016

Buenas Noticias 

Queridos   

This week was transfer news and I had a feeling I was leaving my birthplace. But apparently I don't have the gift of prophecy. I survived and I am staying in Vancouver with Hermana Alvarez! Usually missionaries get transferred after 2 or 3 at most, this is my 6th here but I guess I'm the exception. I'm a little worried that Heavenly Father needs me to do something that I haven't done so I'm trying to get out of the box here. But I really feel so blessed because we are working with so many prepared families and I get to see all the baptisms through!  Also there is a Jimmy John's in the area so that's probably a factor too. Heavenly Father answers prayers! 

One thing that I have learned more about this week is how He does answer our prayers. At times it's difficult for me to find balance in my prayers of what my wants/needs are and what is selfish to ask for. I know God cares about little things in our life (dance, school, work, bad hair days) that maybe won't be so important in the long run. (Alma 34 so great) But he also doesn't grant our every desire just cause we ask. Sometimes I feel too selfish asking for blessings because I already have way more than I deserve but sometimes find myself wondering why things didn't work out even if I prayed my heart out for them. I have discovered though that if we ask for godly desires and submit our will to Him, he will bless us with the strength and peace we need for whatever trial he gives us. Just like Alma when they were being persecuted by Amulon: “I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoul­ ders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" They were the happiest people and they were being treated so unfairly. So next time you have a bad hair day and are asking for it to go away, after that thank him for your hair and ask for his help to still have the best day ever regardless of your ugly hair. And he will! 

Sorry for the long email. I'm just really happy and loving my mission more everyday! I want you all to know how grateful I am for all of you and for love, prayers, emails and letters! I want you to know that I know God is our loving Heavenly Father and he wants us to be happy. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior the hope we have in this life to be happy.  I know that we have been given the Holy Ghost to guide us and help us feel that love, peace, and happiness! 

Love,

Hermana Eldredge