Visitor's Centre and Winter

Kia ora Family!!

WOW i feel like we were JUST skyping like a few days ago. it's terrifying how fast time goes by here. 

Well i told the family during skype but i'm just gonna say it again because i didn't really explain everything very well and i love this news but anyway, I got transferred to the Visitor's Centre!!! (yes that's how they spell it here it's weird i know) 

but i love love love love it here! the sister that i serve with are amazing! the senior couples that i serve with are amazing! being across the street from the temple is amazing! IT'S ALL JUST AMAZING! one of the super amazing things that we get to do as VC sisters is chat online and call people from ALL over the world! i chatted with a girl from the Philippines yesterday and it made me so happy knowing that my seester was somewhere in that country haha. it's just a neat and beautiful experience. 

I LOVE MY COMPANION! She is from American Samoa and she is hilarious. i can definitely be myself with her and she doesn't judge (well she does think im an idiot bc duh but she still lets me be an idiot) we sing ALL THE TIME and dance around our flat every chance we get. she's kinda amazing and i kinda love her alot. 

winter time is fast approaching and my body is terrified. but no need to fear. i use my beanie every night and we have a nice heater that we use. but the rain everyday is something i am for sure not used to. it's so weird always having water falling from the sky. like what? that is not a thing in arizona but it's nice because i don't have to spend so much time on my hair every morning now. what a blessing. 

I've just been getting to know the area and all the people this past week so it's been really fun and my brain hurts trying to memorize streets and numbers all over again. but one of the members that i ABSOLUTELY love is May Gullivar but we call her aunty May. We should probably be calling her nana may because she is 80 but she is adorable. every other day we go over to her house and download mormon messages and write her emails for her because she doesn't know how to use her computer. we answer her voicemails and do all sorts of things for her. we also pick her up from her house on Sunday and walk to and from church with her. (the chapel isn't very far just up the road) she is so lovely and we're gonna have a baking night with her this week and she is going to teach us how to bake heaps of yummies. she is absolutely the cutest old lady and everytime she speaks i laugh bc she is just so fancy and old. i'll send pictures of her next week. 

speaking of service and aunty may it reminded me of the new mormon message that just came out last week. i don't know if yous have seen it but it's called Lift and it is SOO good. it'a all about how serving another affects not only that person but yourself as well. here's the link 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/lift-the-power-of-service?cid=HP_WE_5-13-2015_dPTH_fMM_xLIDyL1-A_

i really love it especially because as a missionary we are CONSTANTLY doing service. and that is the best way to show our Christlike love to others. i hope each of you strive to serve as many people as you can each day because i can promise you that it will not only help those people whom you serve but it will also change you. 

I LOVE YOU ALL and i'm sending pictures right now don't worry mum

Kia Kaha 

Sister Judd

ps Elder Quentin L. Cook is coming to my mission on May 30th and I AM SO FLIPPIN EXCITED bring it on Elder Cook!  

Bronchitis and Parallel Parking!

Kia Ora my amazing family!! i hope yous all had a wonderful week! 

My week has been amazing! it started out with us going to the Doctor's because i've had a cold for ages and it wasn't going away and we came to find out that i have bronchitis AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT. but it's all goods i'm on medicine and Heavenly Father is looking after me. by the way i have been waiting ALL week to tell yous just so i could tell the bronchitis joke that really only the boys and maybe jess will understand. hahaha boys go show the video to mom and dad. "i went out to get me a cold pop" oh good times. 

ANYWAY! we have an investigator Erina who is so excited to be learning from us. we are actually teaching her sister as well who lives down the street but they weren't getting along so we had to withhold the information from erina that we knew her sister so that we could continue to teach her but yesterday we went to go visit her and who do we find in her house? HER SISTER STEVEE THAT WE ALSO TEACH! We were so excited!!!!! We know that Heavenly Father's hand has been in their lives and now that they're getting along the teaching is moving along as well! it was such a miracle to see both of them in the same home and getting along. i love the way Heavenly Father works. 

Something funny that happened today was escorting a drunk lady to another drunk lady's house. we met her on the street and we made sure she was staying safe hahaha. as we were walking back from her drunk friend's house she told us that we were angels sent from heaven and that she was glad she decided not to drive while drinking. me too random lady, me too. :) 

Speaking of driving GUESS WHO'S DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD? Sister Judd is that's who!! i got certified by the church to drive a couple days ago! it was so fun and i feel so accomplished because i had to learn how to back into a parking space and also how to parallel park. i kept thinking "dad would be SO proud of me right now!" so now i'm driving everywhere and i love it! it's so weird being on the other side of the car like the gear shift is on the left and the blinkers and windshield wiper thingys are on opposite sides. so getting used to that was fun, you should have seen me the first couple times the windshield wipers were going off like crazy every time i went to indicate. it's so much fun.

i hope yous had a wonderful Sabbath day and i can't wait to skype soon!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL STAY SAFE 

Kia Kaha 

Sister Judd

Tender Mercies and Electric Mowers

Kia Ora Whanau!

this week has been CRAZY! but first i need to just comment on how in sync jess and i are. LICE? man....at least it isn't fleas. that's what we have in our flat. and on tuesday during district meeting the spirit was so strong and nek minute this HUGE AS rat comes running through the room and everyone freaked. even the elders! it was so funny! and the crispy pig skin from last week? too crack up. it's so much fun being out on my mission at the same time with my seester. i know that the Lord is blessing us and all of you back home and it's so exciting to be sharing this missionary spirit with her. GO SISTER JUDDS! 

But this week has been a crazy roller coaster! good thing i love them! we had to push back Terri's baptism because of a death in the family but it will be next week and she is very very excited! as are we! she is so good and i'm so glad that she has finally made that step and commitment to follow our Savior Jesus Christ. This work is truly amazing seeing people change and make life changing decisions. 

On Friday we went and did some service for one of our investigators, Erina, and we mowed her lawn and helped clean up her house. it was interesting because the lawn mower that she had was electric so it had a long as chord that we had to plug in and so as we mowing we're making sure we're not running over the chord hahaha. bu i was fun! serving others truly makes me feel like disciple of Christ. living my life by his example is how people come to love Him and see who He truly was. i invite all of you to serve t least one person this week and show them that Christlike love that you have for them. i promise you that as you focus on living your life like He did and showing people how much you love Him by helping them you will be able to feel closer to Jesus Christ and those people you serve will see that Light of Christ in you that shines so brightly. 

I'm so grateful for the tender mercies that the Lord sends to me each and every day. a couple days ago we were walking back from an investigator's home and it didn't at all the way we had planned and we were so bummed. as we were walking up the road we heard someone playing Love at Home from their garage and we stopped and listened to them play the whole song and as we kept going we felt so much better ad i could feel the spirit so strongly. and i know that that little moment was sent from Heavenly Father to make us feel better an and keep going. 

i love this work and i love all of you. i can feel the love and the prayers you send my way and i am so grateful for it. 

stay safe and Kia Kaha! 

Sister Judd

ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDIO YOU'RE THE BEST AND I LOVE YOU STAY COOL 

Prayer miracles and Pig on a spit

Kia Ora Whanau!

The weeks are going by quicker and quicker! i feel like i JUST emailed yous yesterday! not much change over here except with the weather!! it's just getting colder over here i have pictures of me in a coat to prove it! :)

But this week has just been plans for Terri's baptism and helping her get ready! we are so excited for her and i know that she has been an answer to my prayers. i know that the Lord is mindful of me and everything i say to Him and He wants to help. and He does!! 

Yesterday we didn't have a ride to church and it's really far away so we got a ride with members who take a taxi to chruch! it was so fun being in a taxi, not many missionaries can say they rode a taxi to church! hahah it was so fun! 

we also went to a giant tongan feast yesterday and we walked up and they had a full pig roasting on a spit! it was massive! im sending pics right after this don't worry! we had HEAPS  of food and it was soooo good! 

sorry this email is short but i just want to end with a reminder to read and pray EVERY DAY EVERY DAY EVERY DAY! i know it works and you will be able to see the hand of The Lord in your lives! 

Stay safe and don't have too much fun!

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd

ps stooge i hope your face doesnt hurt too much. you can do it! love you!!! 

General Conference and American Night

Kia Ora!!! 

 

This week has been so good! Fist of all General Conference! i loved the theme of families and marriage it was so special! one of my favorites talks was by President Pearson, it was really special seeing him at the pulpit for conference because he is in the area presidency for my mission and he was here just a little while ago giving us a training and he is so amazing! he was the one that said "Stay by the Tree" and study the Book of Mormon "EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY" he is so good! i also loved President Monson's talk on temples. It was such ad amazing week, just very different than watching it at home in my pj's that's for sure! 

 

We have such a crazy week! we have an investigator, Terri, and she's been taught by HEAPS of missionaries for almost a year and a half now and we set her to be baptized on the 25th of this month!! she is so excited and so ready! it is such a blessing and i know that Heavenly Father has answered my prayers this week with Terri. she also came to sunday conference and she loved it. she is so excited to go to the temple next year and be sealed to her kids. she understands the blessings the temple can bring her and she wants it as soon as she can. i love terri and her kids, they are so special and i know Heavenly Father loves them too. 

 

Earlier in the week we went to Stevee's house and had 'American Night' i made fried chicken, fried pickled and soft pretzels and they mad a Maori traditional called boil-up. it was so much fun! nobody had ever had homemade fried chicken or even eaten pickles (except for on a burger from macca's) and didn't even know what pretzels were so it was so much fun watching them bite into the crunchy pickles and chicken. thanks so much dad for the frying tips they all loved it!! i also put some of grandma's seasoning in the flour and it was so good! they were blown away that grandma made it all herself hahaha i told them that we put it on everything back home and they thought it was magical seasonings. it was so fun to have that little piece of home here in new zealand, it was just weird being the one to do it all make sure it was all perfect. i now know how dad feels when he does all the frying hahaha go dad!! 

 

it's April now and that means cold season! it's SOO weird being opposite over here but it really is getting cold. it's been raining all day and im wearing tights and two jackets hahaha everyone makes fun of me because im a chicken with cold (thanks for that dad) and the weather is SOO different than AZ. it's weird actually having seasons! and rain! but i love it! 

 

i hope yous had a wonderful weeked and i love love love love love love yous!! 

 

Kia Kaha!

Sister Judd

Easter, Daylight Savings, and Miracles

Kia Ora Whanau!

This week has been so crazy! First of all Daylight Savings is a thing and we had to turn our clocks back an hour saturday night and it was SO weird! everyone was making fun of me because it was no big deal for everyone but us Arizonians don't do that so it's been an experience. it's lighter earlier and darker way late. it's weird going into may and having the weather get colder! i'm not used to it at all! but it's been fun doing everything backwards! 

I LOVE EASTER! This holiday is truly so special and i definitely took it for granted back home. it is so wonderful and as a missionary it is such a blessing to share the message of Jesus Christ to anyone we meet. we had SUCH a good sacrament meeting yesterday and yous have been on my mind all week because i am SO jealous you got General Conference already! we are watching it next week and i and so excited! We just watched the Women's session this week and it was so good! i am so glad that i get to be with yous for eternity! we're gonna get up to no good :) haha

We have had a miraculous week with Terry. She has finally received a testimony of the Book of Mormon and she is praying for the 25th of April. she is so special and has been prepared by HEAPS of missionaries and i am so glad to know her and help her progress. 

WE GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE TOMORROW!! man i miss the temple HEAPPSSSSS! we are so blessed to have the temple in our mission and we get to go to twice a year and general conference times. i miss the temple and feeling so close to Heavenly Father. such a blessing. 

I will send pictures next week but i ate some new stuff this week. Tua-Tua which is sea food. they find it by letting the waves come up and then those little bubbles are the tua tua. so yummy!! we also had Hungai (hung-ee) which is heaps of meat cooked in the ground with some veg and sea food. sorta like the pit that we used to have but more islander.. it was SO GOOD! 

thanks so much for all the prayers and love i can feel it always. yous are so amazing and i know the blessings i receive is from the support of all of yous! 

i just want to leave a quote from the Woman's session from Sister Stephens and she says, "We need to boldly defend our families and our home" our families are so sacred and we need to protect them with all we have. i love yous SO MUCH AND THINK ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME 

stay safe and have fun

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd

March 30th Transfers and Easter

Kia Ora Whanau! 

 

Wow 2 months cam on went and i'm starting my second transfer now! I'm still in Manurewa but i have a new companion! Sister Clarke went down to the visitor's center in Hamilton and my new companion is Sister McFlinn! she is from Brisbane, Australia. She is so cute and so much fun! 

 

I am SOOOO excited for General Conference! Because they don't have the channel we have to watch it a week later than yous but I can't wait! it's gonna be weird not waking up to dad making crepes but we're gonna have our own that morning :) Next week is Easter and i can't believe it's April already!! We're so excited to bring our investigators to church on Sunday for the special Easter program. This is such a great Holiday to talk about and invite people to learn more about Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. 

 

 I just love this are heaps and i know i am supposed to be here. one of our investigators, Terry, has been taught by HEAPS of missionaries but i really do feel like this is her time. she has been prepared so much by the Lord and we're working with her to feel ready. She is so great and her kids are the cutest. She is so receptive to the spirit and she knows that the church is true, she just needs to take that leap of faith now. and that's why we're here; to help her take that leap. 

 

Marlene WILL get baptized i have faith in her. she just needs to have faith in herself.keep her in your prayers. :)

 

sorry it's short today but this week has been crazy just trying to get Sis. McFlinn introduced to everyone and the area but i'll have more next week! and more pictures too! stay safe and have fun!! 

 

GO KYLEE (or shall i say Sister Smith) BOLIVIA IS WAITING FOR YOU!!! 

 

Kia Kaha

Sister Judd

 

ps the dogs here are INSANE and i may or may not have been almost eaten and have a tooth scratch on my leg to prove it. but moony is a good defense. she's got my back :)