Transfers and Such!

Kia ora Whanau sorry i don't have much time! 

this week was transfers and i get to stay here in roto-vegas with Sister Namariel again!! YAYYYYYY! we are SO excited to work hard this transfer! 

Aroha is doing SO good and we're working with Khan and his partner Melody and it's going great! I LOVE TEACHING FAMILIES! 

Seriously is the best thing being able to come into someone's home, sit down, teach them the gospel, and feel the spirit stay in the home as we leave. 

i love these people. i love the gospel. i love New Zealand. 

sorry the email is blinkin short. i'll manage my time better next week. 

LOVE YOU HEAPS!!!

may the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd 

General Conference!

Kia Ora Whanau!

This week was SO good! Particularly this weekend! I LOVED GENERAL CONFERENCE! It's weird still to me sitting in the chapel for it but i could just smell the crepes from the other side of the world hahaha

I just wanted to talk about a few talks that i really liked because there isn't much to update yous on this week. Baptism tomorrow so there'll be photos next week :)

-okay first talk! I LOVED Elder Mervyn B. Arnold's talk about rescuing others. He's the one that cried heaps and knowing me that means i cried heaps as well. (it was a very emotional conference for me this year hahaha i just cried pretty much every talk) I just really liked the message of knowing that ANYONE, ANYWHERE can go to the rescue and help those that are lost. That was a very common topic this year and i'm grateful for that. We can all help someone who is struggling. it doesn't take much. it may take some sacrifice but it's worth it when they are able to return back to the fold of God. WE ALL CAN Go TO THE RESCUE! 

-I also REALLY enjoyed Elder Gary E. Stevenson's talk about the Priesthood and Priesthood Keys. That was a touching one for me especially, because the work i am doing is under the direction of the Priesthood. and nothing in this Gospel can function without it. i specifically liked what he said about boys (aka my brothers) preparing for missions. He said that it is never too early to prepare for missionary service. I LOVE THAT!! i just thought about my three brothers back home who all hold the Priesthood and who are all preparing for missions :) it made me so happy. i'm so proud of you Si and Stoogey and Hebs! You're each going to make AMAZING missionaries and Heavenly Father will bless you while you're out because of the preparation you did before! YOU'RE AMAZING! 

-I wish i could talk about more but my fingers can't type fast enough :) but i loved President Uchtdorf's talk and also President Monson's. i think that it is very fitting that the message Heavenly Father wanted all of us to know was about us and our choices. "our choices determine our destiny" That's SO true and so important to realize or remember. Everything we do has a consequence, whether good or bad. and because we know where we want to go, back to be with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families, the choices we make matter. and they don't just matter to us but to those around us as well. being on my mission has shown me that. i CHOSE to serve and no i'm here meeting so many amazing people. i have CHOSEN to let the gospel change me and my testimony has grown and i have become someone new. i see people EVERY DAY make choices that they would never think about making before just so that they can be closer to God. they CHOOSE to pray every day. They CHOOSE to read the Book of Mormon. They CHOOSE to give away things that are holding them back. and then they are blessed. their families are blessed. i have been reflecting back on what i've learned on my mission on writing it all down and i have just come to the realization of the choice i made to come here and how eternally grateful i am for that choice. i am who Heavenly Father desires for me to be and i'm not all the way there but the CHOICES i make for the rest of my life will get me there. And it all comes back to Jesus Christ. One of the last things President Monson said was "Choose to follow Jesus Christ". When we choose Him everything works out. i KNOW it with all my heart because i've seen it first hand. i wish i could express how grateful i am for the choice i made. my testimony has started here in New Zealand and the choices i make for the rest of my life will be because of what i have learned here. 

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

may the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Arohanui

Sister Judd

Temple Trip and Baptism Prep

Kia Ora Whanau! 

This week went by SO QUICK!! 

We went to the Temple on Thursday and it was EXACTLY what i needed. it was like a breath of fresh air....and breathing Rotorua everyday it was definitely needed hahahaah nah jokes. i love the smell. i actually can't recognize it anymore so it's all good. but i loved the Temple, i learned so much and it was able to help me in our area with our investigators and everything else that i didn't even know i needed help in hahaha ANYBODY WHO CAN GO TO THE TEMPLE GO! do it for me stu.....hahahaha Grinch. good times. 

speaking of the grinch and christmas...it's starting to get cold here!!! Time to bring out the thermals and electric blanket and coats!! WHOOOPEEEEEEE i'm bracing myself don't worry. 

But this week and next will be full on with Baptism prep! YES I LOVE BAPTISM PREPARATION! Aroha's baptism is on the 12th and Khan's is on the 16th. We're all just getting everything organized, staying strong, focused and loving life. I feel so blessed to be here with all of these people. i'm reminded EVERY time i feel the spirit that this is where i'm supposed to be. these people are who i'm supposed to be around. and it's the best feeling ever. i love meeting these people but feeling like we've already met before, building a strong relationship that last longer than 18 months and i love growing. i've grown so much in just these 6 weeks that i've been in Rotorua and i'm so excited for what Heavenly Father has ready for me these last 3 months. BRING IT! 

Thanks you for EVERYTHING!!!! Especially mum and dad and the rest of the whanau. i can feel your love and all your prayers. sorry again dad i have been a horrible police man's daughter...when i got the ticket i was laughing so hard after i drove away and said "i bet my dad is cringing right now!" hahahaha SORRRRRRRYYYYY! Just smile and wave boys....smile and wave. 

I LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS! 

stay safe...especially you boys! 

may the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Arohanui

Sister Judd

A Splendid Week!

Kia Ora Whanau! Sorry don't have much time spent too much of it sending photos!

but not much to say about this week! It was really good! Khan and Aroha came to church again and they love the prep for their baptism! 

Sister Pagofie went home on thursday so Sister Namariel and i are just adjusting to being just the two of us but it's good. i love my little Vanuatu, she has a powerful testimony and works SO HARD! it's the best. 

I just want all of you to know how much i love my mission. how much i love serving the Lord and doing His will. i don't know if yous can tell but i have changed SO much here in New Zealand and this country will always be a sacred place for me. I am grateful for all the times i have been prepared for my mission. For mum and dad for supporting me and trusting me and loving me throughout my life. my testimony is what it is because you two have a strong testimony and instilled it in me, in all of us kids. I'm so grateful and love yous so much. 

Continue to prepare yourselves to serve the Lord in any way possible. 

there's this new easter video that the church ahs put out and we have watched it SOOO much these past couple weeks and it has helped me ponder how Jesus Christ has given me new life. as you watch it i invite all of you to think about how Jesus Christ has given you new life and what you can do to show your love and thanks to Him. 

https://www.mormon.org/easter

I LOVE YOU!

Kia Kaha

May the force be with you

Sister Judd

Kia Ora Whanau! sorry this computer wouldn't let me make a subject but all good! :)

This week was SO good! they just keep getting better and better! 

We had 5 investigators at church and it was the best moment during the sacrament....i was praying and then i looked over ant Aroha and Khan and they were both reading their Book of Mormon and really feeling the Spirit of the Sacrament and it was just a really good moment in time. 

We had another amazing lesson with Khan on Friday. We taught him about the Priesthood and it was just really cool because the whole time we were teaching him he was holding his little son, Malachi, and it was just really REALLY cool having him tell us all the experiences that led up to him being set for a baptismal date. He is so prepared and is excited to bless his baby and hold the priesthood to bless his family and it's just great. 

I LOVE MY MISSION! I LOVE ROTORUA! 

have an amazing week whanau! 

I LOVE YOUS!

may the force be with you

Kia Kaha!

Sister Judd

BAPTISMS! and Soakin in the Love!

Kia Ora Whanau! 

This week has been MEAN AS! I LOVE MY COMPANIONS SO MUCH!! It's sad to see Sister Pagofie go but we're all working really hard until she goes next week :) she's the best! 

This week we had another MEAN lesson with Aroha and Khan the ones i was talking about last week, with the spiritual explosion. We set them for BAPTISM!! YAYYYYY!! it was an amazing experience because we fasted and prayed about when to set them and we had a couple dates for each of them and the answer came to us that we would know what day to set them for when the time came to invite them. so we had an amazing lesson set them for a week in april! Aroha on a Tuesday, it's the date that came haha, and Khan that Saturday! it'll be a great week. These two people have blessed my life so much, it's unreal how much love someone can feel fo a person they have only known for 2 weeks and i feel like only another missionary can really understand. but i love them with all my heart. when we set them for baptism i felt the Holy Ghost whisper to me that these two have been prepared for SO long just for me and my two companions. and i know that is true. These experiences that we having with them are beyond anything i've had my whole mission and it's because they are truly prepared by the Lord. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! 

Also remember Frank? Well he came to church along with Aroha and Khan. and Frank loved it! he was all smiles the whole time. we figured out how old he is and he is a whoppin 86!! But he is so flippen funny and we al realized that we are the best of friends this week. he is going to sing us the scottish national anthem before Sister Pagofie leaves, he claims he doesn't know it but that's a bowl of lies hahahaha. i've got a photo of him so i'll send it after the email. 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! I LOVE MY MISSION SO MUCH AND I LOVE NEW ZEALAND HEAPSSSSSSS!! 

Thanks for all the prayers and support, i can feel it. really i can. and i love all of you for it. 

Have an amazing week! 

may the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd

ps I GOT THE SURPRISE PACKAGE EVERYONE LOVED THE LOLLIES AND I LOVE THE CAMERA THANKS JESS AND WHANAU! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU! 

Scottish Men and SPIRITUAL EXPLOSION!

Kia Ora Whanau!

This week has FLOWN by! i can't believe i'm emailing you already! This week has been so fun! Just a couple things:

We met this Scottish man, Frank, walking down the street last sunday and he is my new best friend. (now just flash back and remember how much i love old people okay?) So he actually stopped us because he thought Sister Namariel was from South Africa hahah because of her darker cloloured skin haha and so we started talking to him and found out that his wife just recently passed away so it's just him and his dog, lucy. So we made a time to go back and see him, and let me jsut tell you folks HE IS BY FAR THE CUTEST OLD MAN EVER. yes, i have shed some tears because of his cuteness. when we went over last week he showed us heaps of his family photos and just talked and taught us so much. we sang him some hymns and he loves them. we made a day to go back which was saturday and then found out that there was a baptism going on so like 30 minutes before the baptism we went over and said "frank! wanna come to a baptism with us?" and he said "why,sure that sounds good". SO HE CAME TO THE BAPTISM! he brought Lucy and we all had a grand ol time. he says classic old man things really loud like, "wow that's a really big lady" as a lady was getting down form speaking oh man it was so hard not to laugh. and he told sister Pagofie to sit up straighter and it was just a beautiful day. WE LOVE FRANK! 

We also had an AMAZING lesson on monday night with Aroha, and Kahn. and all i gotta say is that Heavenly Father prepares the elect when we prepare for them. and when that happens there is a spiritual explosion that occurs, AND IT IS THE BEST FEELING EVER. i love teaching The Restoration and seeing and feeling the Spirit testify to the heart of the people that what they are hearing is true. and when they let the spirit in and accept it and want to change because of it? best feeling ever. 

i know i say this like every week. but  i just love being a missionary. like so much and i'm so grateful to be here serving these people i have been called to. 

Remember that there is ALWAYS light when we trust in Christ. Read Ether 3 and enjoy :)

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! 

May the force be with you

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd