WHAT A WEEK

Kia Ora Whanau! This week has been a lot better than last week :)

We have a baptism this week and we are SO STOKED! Can't wait to tell you all about it.

I am so grateful for the blessing of being pulled and stretched to become the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be. Sometimes I think or say something and then I think "who are you sister judd?" hahaha and i'm so excited to be this person. to be the person Heavenly Father has made me, on my mission and off as well. this week has made me reflect on something jess said when she was still on the mish and I think was about at the same place left that I do and she said that she has to remind herself to just keep swimming and because of that I've had dory stuck in my head allllll week. and i'm grateful for the reminder that if we just keep swimming, kicking, stroking, we will make it. if we stop, we sink. we lose the race. we don't make it to the end. and I want to make it. and I want to be stronger at the end of it.

PEOPLE I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! AND I LOVE YOU!

May the force be with you

Just keep swimming :)

Kia Kaha

sister Judd

it's been a SCORCHER

sorry whanau this email is going to be short but this week has been full of trials that have been testing my faith and miracles mixed in.

Everyone who has served a mission knows that rejection is hard. they know that pain that comes from it when the people who feel like family tell you to not come back. they know how it feels like a part of you is gone when the door gets shut. and that's what our day was yesterday. it's hard but I gospel is true and I need to stay strong for the other people that Heavenly Father has prepared for me and my companion. But when trials come if we are faithful miracles follow. We set one of the little girl in the pictures I sent, Shekainah, and she is so excited to be baptized. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Have a fun Superbowl

enjoy the beyonce concert

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS

May the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd  

"...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same"

So this week has been so fun! We got a call on Wednesday telling us that we were to drive up to Auckland on Saturday to see Elder D. Todd Christofferson!!!! WHAT? So that happened. We drove up and got to hear Elder Kevin W. Pearson, his wife and Sister Christofferson and then Elder Christofferson spoke last. IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!! Before the conference started all 400 plus missionaries (from our mission and also the Auckland mission) got to go up and shake his hand! it was such a cool experience. Something that really stood out to me as Elder Christofferson was speaking was that we all he's got jokes hahahaha he is SO funny! He was there because the flight that they were going to take to go to one of the islands got cancelled so they said "what should we do?" so they decided to come here and see us! :) it was an amazing day.

Something that i loved from the conference was the fact that we ALL knew Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father before we lived here on earth. We knew them personally. We walked and talked with them. and because of that it means that we have ALWAYS had a testimony of the Saviour and his Gospel. We just have to remember. He said, "don't ever think that you don't have a testimony....you do!" So we need to remember, we need to feel the spirit and let our souls speak to us as we serve others and read the Book of Mormon. i love that! whether we're going through a hard time and our faith is tested, or we might think that we don't have a testimony at all.....we just need to remember or learn that it doesn't matter that you feel like you don't have a testimony right now because you already have it! You've had it since the premortal life! that's something really special and makes me cherish and treasure my testimony even more.

Also something that we did yesterday at church was go over the goals for the Pacific Area. The goals that the Area presidency has made for us is

1. Honour the Sabbath Day at home and at church

2. Increase Spiritual and Temporal Self--Reliance

3. Hasten the Work of Salvation

4. Seek the Blessings of the Temple

I actually really love these goals and something that the Area Presidency invited everyone to do was to hold a family council and discuss these goals and then make goals and plans to achieve those goals as a family. i really wanted to be with yous so that we could do this together but yous can still do it! :) hold a family council and find ways that you can do these goals as a family. i know that if you do the unity of the family will grow and you will be able to feel the spirit in greater abundance.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE MOVE! have fun packing :)

have a good week!

love yous!

May the Force be with you

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd

Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts

Kia Ora Whanau!

Not gonna lie, this week has been long and rough but still had so many miracles!

This week was MLC (Missionary Leadership Council) where all the Zoe Leaders, Sister Training Leaders, Assistants, and President and Sister Rudd get together and talk about the needs and concerns of the mission. We call it Jedi Council. it was my first Jedi Council and it was amazing. It was so cool to be there representing the sisters that I have responsibility over and going seeking for ways to help them. We talked about so many different things, like you do at a Jedi Council, but one of the main things we discussed was the culture of our mission. And how as leaders we have to own the culture in order to change it. and I was thinking about that n terms of life. We each have our own "culture", the way we live our lives, and if we want to change it we have to own it and take a stand. But there may be some who like the way their culture is going, so we need to take a step back, look at it from Heavenly Father's point of view and decide if it needs a few changes here and there. If we own our culture and become what we want it to be then we can help others along the way as well.

Along with the Jedi Council we had a worldwide broadcast for ALL missionaries from the missionary department. And they talked about what our mission culture should be which is to "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts". All the different things we, as missionaries can do to fulfil that. In 3 Nephi 11, Christ has just appeared to the people in the Americas and really the only things he talks about in that chapter is repenting and being baptized. it actually talk about baptism 13 times in the one chapter. That's what Christ wants us to do. Bring people to repentance so that they can be baptized.

Life is good people. Hard. But Good.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

stay cool

may the force be with you

kia kaha

Sister Judd

Have Miracles Ceased? I Say Unto You Nay!!

Kia Ora!

Brethren, let me be clear: there is nothing noble or impressive about being cynical. Skepticism is easy—anyone can do it. It is the faithful life that requires moral strength, dedication, and courage. Those who hold fast to faith are far more impressive than those who give in to doubt when mysterious questions or concerns arise.

But it should not surprise us that faith is not valued by society. The world has a long history of rejecting that which it does not understand. And it has particular trouble understanding things it cannot see. But just because we cannot see something with our physical eyes does not mean it doesn’t exist. Indeed, “there are more things in heaven and earth … than are dreamt of” in our textbooks, scientific journals, and worldly philosophies. The universe is filled with wonders profound and astonishing—things that can be comprehended only through spiritual eyes.

When we choose to believe, exercise faith unto repentance, and follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, we open our spiritual eyes to splendors we can scarcely imagine. Thus our belief and faith will grow stronger, and we will see even more.⁹

Brethren, I testify that even in the toughest of times, the Savior will say to you as He said to an anxious father on a crowded street in Galilee, “Be not afraid, only believe.”¹⁰

We can choose to believe.

For in belief, we discover the dawn of light.

We will discover truth.¹¹

We will find peace.¹²

Because of our belief, we will never hunger, never thirst.¹³ The gifts of God’s grace will enable us to be true to our faith and will fill our soul like “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”¹⁴ We will experience true and lasting joy.¹⁵

Therefore, my dear friends, my beloved brethren in the priesthood of God:

Have courage to believe.

Be not afraid, only believe.

I double testify to what President Uchtdorf has said.

this week has been so fast and so great! heaps of emotions but we're all goods!

this week was transfers and Sister Flake got taken away from me :( it was a sad couple of days but I know that she is going to do MIRACLES in her new area. My new companion is from Samoa and her name is Sister Moli. she has been out for 6 months and just left her first area, which was my first area! Manurewa, Finlayson Ward. happy little coincidence there :)

This week we had....wait for it.......TEN INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH! Don't ask me how it happened because I really have no idea. I do know that we have been accessing the Lord's power so much more lately by fasting twice a week and I can feel and see the changes it has brought. Just the differences in the people we were seeing before and now has blown my mind.

one of the miracles this week was with a less active member Paremaemae (have fun pronouncing that haha). she has a non member daughter who wants to be baptized but recently Paremaemae realized that Tewai wouldn't be able to be baptized if her, as the mother and support wasn't active and was still smoking. she told us her desire for Tewai and to stop smoking and we told her that we would do the 15 step program with her and she is ready. keen as and ready to make this step closer to Heavenly Father not just for her daughter but for her. it was SO cool! because missionaries have been working with Paremaemae for ages and she's finally ready to make this step. i'm so proud of her.

I love yous HEAPS and hope you have a great week!

May the Force be with you!

Kia Kaha!

Sister Judd

ps one of our members told me some spoilers about the new star wars movie!!!! OH MY GOODNESS

pps GO CARDINALS!!!

BIGGEST WEEK EVER!!

Okay so this week was the coolest and most miraculous week of my mission. So much happened so I'm just going to pull a Kylee and just list everything.

1. We found 12 new investigators this week! TWELVE! Everyone that we talked to were just SO prepared and ready to learn about the Gospel. it was just so fun to be a part of all of those miracles!

2. Our investigator Tammy is set for baptism! She is so ready. I don't know if I shared this before but she helped her sister get baptized and then she didn't think it was her time and now she is even more prepared! YAY!!!!

3. We have a Part Member family, Derusha and Villi, and we have been meeting with them for ages now. Villi is not a member and has met with missionaries for years. He is Tongan and really converted to the Bible, his main concern is the Book of Mormon. So we had a really good discussion with him and the spirit was really strong, and now he's set for baptism! I don't know how it happened but it did and we are SO excited :)

4. We had an amazing experience with Jessica's mission hahaha we went to go see two less active members who haven't been to church in AGES and they never let the missionaries in. she is from the Philippines and turns out she was born and raised in the mission jess went to! and the husband served there! so they were about to kick us out until I told them that my sister served there and nek minute we were sitting in their house and they were telling me heaps about the Philippines and giving me stuff to give to Jessica. it was a huge miracle. Jessica serving there has even helped people in New Zealand! It's so cool the way the Lord works!

5. We also had 2 nice visits with a Less Active slash Part Member family who we had just met and we really bonded with them. We invited them to church because the parents haven't been because of different reasons that have kept them from church for YEARS and on sunday sister flake leans over to me and whispers "don't look now but he's here" and it was on of the happiest moments I have had.

6. we had a less active and her non member partner come to church as well. we saw them walking in  during the opening song and we were freaking out with joy.

7. Leah, our recent convert, spoke in Sacrament Meeting. She is on FIRE and so ready to help us and work with us. we love her.

8. Tammy and her three kids were at church as well!

As you can see it's been an amazing week. those are just SOME of the miracles that I have time to write down but I am just so overwhelmed with this week. When I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting surrounded by all the people whom we had invited I had this impression "Heavenly Father is showing you all the work you have put into this area and loving these people. He is proud of you. You are working hard." I know that I am supposed to be here for a reason. Here in Tauranga, here in New Zealand, here at this time. This work is so amazing. I am obsessed with it.

I love you!

I Hope all is going well!

May the Force be with you!

Kia Kaha!

Sister Judd

Baptism and Attack of the Birds

Kia Ora Whanau! WHAT A WEEK! So much has happened! 

Okay i'll start with the baptism. We had Leah's baptism on Tuesday and it was SO GOOD!!!! The spirit was very powerful as her non member family members were there to witness the baptism. They were able to feel the spirit and truly see why Leah made this decision. It was a super amazing great day. it's all in the photos so just look at those hahaha :)

Tuesday was just a busy day in general. After the baptism we went over to Kate's house for her little girl's Frozen themed birthday party. It was the one form last week when we're making snowflakes and such. and the party was so cute! We met heaps of people and had fun with all the cute little kids. just imagine how fun i had if you remember how much i love Frozen hahahaha :) 

then later that night we went to an American Family's house for dinner and it was super yum. Sister Flake and I feel at home there because of the little kids running around everywhere, the american food, and just being with them. So, story about this evening at the Preston's house. It was after we all ate and i was sitting with one of the little boys, Owen who is being potty trained, and we were playing on those magnetic boards where you can draw on it and then wipe it away. anyway i was showing him shapes while Brother Preston and Sister Flake were having a conversation. while i am listening to them discuss pros of living in New Zealand i feel this warm trickle run down my leg. so i silently look down and see his pee going down my leg....so i just stare at for a good 30 seconds while more pee gets squirted on me. so finally i just look up with fear and raise my hand. when brother Preston looks over to me i silently say "uhmm i think your son just peed on me". Owen and i will always share a special bond now. So there you have it kids. Sister Judd got peed on this week. (pictures will be included with this email.)

This week we also had our cute little family come to church. Tammy and Naomi came and they were asking us heaps of questions about baptism and the temple and it was just really great. We are going over to their place tomorrow and talk more about baptism. it's amazing how quick Heavenly Father is moving the work along here in Otumoetai. We love it. There are always people to teach and always ALWAYS miracles. 

okay one last funny story, and with this story you have to remember how terrified of birds i am. We were at a Less Active's home, Aunty Dulcie. And Aunty Dulcie lives on heaps of land and she has chickens and birds and sheeps and any other wild thing that decides to wander around her property. She always has her doors open and she lives practically outside anyway and last night we were with her and this bird came into the part of the house that we were in and i flipped out man. so then this little bird just decides to perch on the TV and taunt me and then it flies around the room and i'm just sitting there trying to keep my cool but doing a good at all and then it 'flies' out the door but actually just flew right into the closed part of the sliding door and just falls to the ground and i'm flippin out man. so aunty dulcie goes over and saves the bird like the cute little mother nature that she is and lifts it and it flies away. my heart was beating so hard and my hands were sweating. it was a traumatizing experience for me. 

So as you can tell this week has been very interesting. 

I love you all!!!!!!!

Remember who are and what you stand for! 

May the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd