I had the best week!

What a spiritually overwhelming week indeed!

First, the best part:

The week goes to Jordan Jones! He was baptized by Elder Ballantyne on Friday, and I was so lucky and blessed to be able to confirm him on Sunday. The service was absolutely wonderful. Both of the talks were inspired, and so well done. Both of the speakers were converts who joined the church in their late teens just like Jordan! Truly the Lord does guide and direct his work. And the best part about it was that his whole family was able to be there. His parents are divorced, and his mom had such a wonderful experience. The spirit was so strong, and so many tears were shed. 

Leading up to his baptism, Jordan was nervous. Very nervous. I read him this scripture the night before the service:  

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

I then asked him to pay attention to how he feels as he comes out of the water. We promised him that all of these thoughts and feelings of inadequacy, and doubt would disappear completely. And that these nerves could actually be a good thing.  After the service was over he was very emotional. And him and I shared a sweet moment together. I put my hand on his shoulder and he looked right at me. Before I could get a word out he said: “They're gone.”  He was referring to those feelings. 

2 days later he was confirmed, and ordained to the office of a Priest in the Aaronic Priestood. Wow.

Little does this boy know that he is literally starting over. The Lord has nothing but big things in store for Jordan Jones. But doesn't He for all of us? I testify that He does. But I testify that those ‘big things' require an eternal dose of FAITH and HUMILITY. 

We have 4 Baptisms coming up plus the wedding of Patrick and Nicole!  Their official Wedding date is May 4th, and their baptismal date is the 6th:) 

Becca, and Megan are the 6th, and the 8th of April as well!:) 

General Conference is referred to by us missionaries as "Christmas." Certainly we focus on celebrating Christ and being filled with gifts of the spirit. 

Also, if you want to have an amazing enlightening study of the scriptures, go study Moroni 7 and Ether 12. Holy Cow. 

I hope you all have a great week!  Please send me letters, and like packages or something good, because we are out of money for the month.

Love Elder Judd

Still Lovin' Lompoc!

Another grand week here in sunny Lompoc. Lots of great things happening and faith being exercised as we do so!

Baptisms/Weddings coming up:

- Jordan Jones the 1st of April (Patrick’s younger brother)

- Becca Jones; the mother of Megan will be getting baptized on Thursday the 6th.  Her whole family is very anti and it is very sad. It will be a very-low key baptism. That is part of the reason why she can't share it with her daughters. 

- Diana Fuentez the 7th of April

- Patrick and Nicole's wedding the 7th as well!

- The baptism of Patrick and Nicole Powers on the 8th of April

- Megan Jones will be getting baptized the 8th as well!

-  Travis Topete a 9 year old will be getting baptized the 13th:)

So many miracles, and so many opportunities to love this scripture more and more!

34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.

35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?

36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?

37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.

38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.

You want a miracle? Show faith!

Love, Elder Judd

Baptisms comin'!

Hello World! 

To say it has been a really really really good week that was full of spiritual experiences, and miracles out the wazzoo would be a HUGE understatement...:)

Long story short...We have 5 baptisms lined up in the next 4 weeks! Jordan Jones who is 19 has his this Saturday the 18th, the following Saturday will be Diana who is an elderly Hispanic lady who is just so cute. That is the 25th. Then the following Saturday after that, is Travis Topete who is 9 years old. He comes form a less active family who are now coming back into activity. (not over yet...:))

Then the following Friday the 7th, Patrick and Nicole will be getting married and then baptized that Saturday, the 8th! Patrick is Jordan's older brother! (still not over yet...:))

And in the month of April we have a mother and a daughter who have committed to be baptized! And we are planning on setting them with a date this week!! SOOOOOOOO COOL!

I don' know what the "New trends" back at home are...(don't care) But being a missionary is just cool! Like real cool! Seriously, like we walk into a store or restaurant and everyone just stares. 

It's amazing. Like we are just cool! ( Even though we both know they weren't blatantly staring at us just because we are "cool") It's just fun:) And cool!

Momma, first of all I love love love love love love you!!! You are too good to me. Why are you? You're amazing. I was not expecting my package so soon and so perfect! I am so excited about the vitamins and can already notice a difference! THANK YOU!!!!

Hey by the way I live in a HUGE Air Force town and we are right next to the Vandonberg AFB. Guess I just can't get away from Grandpa...:) I see people all the time in their blue uniforms, and it makes me think of him often. I love it. There are a lot of people in my ward that are retired and currently serving! 

Here is a great quote by a hall of fame NBA coach: 

"In today's world, if you don't win the whole thing, whether it's football or basketball, or this and that, people have a tendency to paint you as a loser or act like you just robbed the cookie jar. Well that's baloney.

"It didn't happen for us, but is everything going to go your way in life? You think you're on the Earth and everything you want to happen to you is going to happen to you positively? The measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn't go our way

"Because you were born to these parents or this area geographically, or this situation, you deserve more than somebody else? ... That's the most false notion one can imagine.

"But I think a lot of people forget that. They think that they're entitled to what they have... So we talk about those things all the time. You have no excuse not to work your best. You have no reason not to be thankful every day that you have the opportunity to come back from a defeat, because some people never even have the opportunity."

Ether 12:27…

 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

What a great scripture to go with this quote. I testify that every time we fail, or ‘ lose’, all it is, is a chance to grow.

Love, Elder Judd 

Lovin' Lompoc

Hello People!

What a record breaker for a week!  Lompoc is absolutely amazing, and I love it so so so much!

My new Comp is Elder Ballantyne! He is from Utah and went to Viewmont HS. What a small world huh?! He is so hilarious and we have so much fun!  We are so busy because there is so much work to be done...as there should be!

The Lord really does work in mysterious ways, and it is just cool. I mean let's face it guys, he's just COOL.  Who I love so much, and am getting to know more than I ever have in my life. 

WE HAVE 5 INVESTIGATORS WITH A BAPTISIMAL DATE!  And 3-4 that are on the fence. Our vision is 9 for this transfer and it is so possible! We are always busy, and always happy because of it:) 

The ward is full of just a bunch of old people who are hilarious and I love them. The old guys are all my homies.

I am having so much fun here in California and the weather is beautiful! It is about 65-75 degrees here every day and sunshine.  :)  Mom told me about your blizzard.

 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

 30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

What a great few verses of Scripture that I have found so much comfort in them.  I hope you do too.

Love, Elder Judd