Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

My Areas and Companions

Pictures on the way home!

Welcome Home, Elder Judd!

Last email from the field.

Dear Family and Friends, 

3 John 1: 11-14 reads...

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

My mission means everything to me. 

 

Love, 

Elder Judd

'Even so will I boast.'

Well friends and family...It has come to this. I have one full week left as a full-time missionary. As I am sure you can imagine I am full of mixed emotions.

Until July 17th there is nowhere else I would rather be than in the Great California Ventura Mission. But when July 18th hits, I will be anticipating the moment when I am reunited with those who I love most. Determined as a disciple of the master to move this work along. 

This week was MLC. (My last one) So that was truly a blessing. I was able to offer my departing testimony along with several others so that was surreal. 

We had a great week this week with Jen! The biggest highlight of the week for sure came yesterday when she attended our ward for the first time.  The spirit was so strong and she felt it! She stayed for all 3 hours and her most favorite part was Relief Society. Our sisters did a great job at rallying around her and building those friendships. 

As I have been pondering what I have been studying in Alma 26 I can't help feel as Ammon and the sons of Mosiah, as I reach the end of my full-time service. In vs. 10 we know Aaron is gently rebuked by Ammon that his "joy doth carry thee away unto boasting." Then in humility, but with sweet boldness Ammon corrects and clarifies Aaron's innocent accusation. 

We learn from 11-37 of the "fruits of their labor" i just want to touch on vs. 36...

36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

As take time to reflect on my time in Ventura the more and more I come to understand how my heart is "brim with Joy". Ammon is a great example who labors as if all depends on him. But yet when any ounce of success is achieved, he gives God the glory. Which then enables him to look to God for the miracle. We can see clearly that throughout his service a change of heart had taken place. Which led him to say "this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting woe". 

In the first few minutes of Jen's lesson we were following up on her reading. She had been reading in Alma, taking notes on what she read, and loving it. As I was sitting there listening to her, this Joy filled my heart as I was listening to this child of God "liken the scriptures" unto herself. It was so simple but yet so powerful. I was so happy, because she was happy. Love is what I felt. Knowing I'm approaching my last week as his servant the Lord revealed to me this truth... "You are going to miss this.” 

This lesson was over Skype so Jen probably didn't notice but I was overcome with emotion...I had never received that before and it is something I will cherish forever. 

I know God lives, and loves his children. He never forgets nor forsakes. He just molds and He just makes. I bear witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the keystone to all that is good in this world. I testify that in the year of 1820 God the 

Father and his son Jesus Christ appeared to a 14 year old boy named Joseph Smith. Then through this boy prophet the Lord restored his church by his Power through this servant for benefit of his children. I testify that there indeed are prophets in the Land again. President Russell M. Nelson is his choice seer in these latter-days. Jesus Christ lives. I love him.  Through his holy merits, mercy, and grace, I have sung the "song of redeeming love." I testify that the work I have been so blessed to participate in is the work of Salvation. There is nothing in this world that is more important than it. I testify of these things as a representative of him, in the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

Love, Elder Judd 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

Well one of my all time favorite songs back home is titled the "Secret 'O Life”. In one of the verses, one of those secrets is that we need to

 "enjoy the passage of time." And that is exactly one I am doing. Trying to "enjoy the joy" as my momma would say. Missions are to short to not enjoy it. 

We had a very busy week as we attended to some of our ZL responsibilities. Just another oppurtunity to serve! We collected stake reports, which is just all the Companionship's  key indicators put together,  then we report it to the stake. We also sat down with all the Companionships and talked about their goals for the month of July. That was very busy and loooong but totally worth it! 

My testimony this week is brief but it comes from Alma chapter 25...

As some of the sons of Mosiah approached the end of their ministry we learn a little more about how they felt. 

17 And now behold, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni, and their brethren did rejoice exceedingly, for the success which they had had among the Lamanites, seeing that the Lord had granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also verified his word unto them in every particular.

As I approach the end of my service her in Ventura I love how this verse applies so well. According to my faith, my prayers have been answered and the Lord has also "verified" his word unto me. I know that as we labour in the Lord's vinyard, we are entitled to receive what we need to bring to pass his work. I have been bless to reap fruit while here in Ventura. Sheaves which the Lord through his holy "merits, mercy and Grace" blessed me with. 

What "Sheaves" has the Lord blessed you with as a result of your labours? "

Love, Elder Judd

To Know Thee

Well Hello Family and Friends,

Just another wonderful week doing the thing I love most! Because that is the case I have just been overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity I have to put on the tag every day and go to work. I have done all that lies in my power to cherish my time here in Ventura. I am so set on working harder and harder (which is good) as I round 3rd base and head for home. My President gave me some simple counsel and just reminded me, “Don't forget gratitude." A lot of the time as a missionary you get so caught up in doing your best, working hard, being obedient, etc…that you forget how you got there. And that is when you must remember Grattitude. If done sincerely, that then causes deeper humility, and helps us rely upon the Lord  even more for the blessing. 

We had the wonderful chance to find some solid potentials this week! One of them came late Friday night. We were visiting some members in a local complex and just were walking past a smoking station where there was a bench. I was moving pretty swiftly and I almost missed her...Out of the corner of my eye I saw one middle aged woman sitting by herself. I kinda just walked straight for her and sat down right next to her! Shook her hand, and said "Hi I'm Elder Judd what's your name?" And then my companion did an awesome job at introducing who we were and what we do. As soon as she did that she kind of turned to the side to hide her cigarette that she was smoking, I then asked about her tatoo on her ankle and she then bashfuly twisted her legs up to hide it and said that "this was one of those 18 year old decisions". (She regreted it) She then went on to tell us that she had talked to us before and that she was interested. We left her a BOM with a focus on the introduction, got her phone number, and set up a return appointment! It was a great contact thanks to my companion. It's Little things like that keep us going. 

Going off if that, in closing I would just like to share something I learned as I have been studying this week. (I LOVE THE HOLY WRIT) As I have been feasting upon the missionary chapters in early to mid Alma I have been learning a lot more about King Lamoni and his father. I just wanted to highlight one verse in Alma 22...

Up to this point we know that Lamoni's father was a king who has a bitter enmity towards the Nephites. Aaron who is one of the sons of mosiah, had to come to the Lamanite Nation to bring them the gospel. He went to the Kings home and subsequently engaged him in a gospel discussion about the purpose of life. Once the king became receptive to his message, Aaron taught him about Christ, The Plan of Salvation, and the possibility of eternal life. This message hit him so hard that he eventually asked Aaron: "What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou Hast spoken". Aaron in a summary instructs the king to pray in Faith, and repent. The king did so and in verse 18 we learn what was said...

18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. 

I have experienced this for myself, therefore I bear my testimony that it is impossible to really know Christ, and not surrender our sins. I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we are able to surpass these ideas and beliefs about who he is, and use our faith which is in Christ to turn it into an actual relationship. As one person more and more becomes like him, that is when one can say "I know him." As we do this our understanding is enlightened, our Joy is illuminated, and desire to do evil is no more. 

I know that this is the church of the Jesus Christ. This is his work, we as missionaries need him A LOT more than he needs us. This is true. 

Love, Elder Judd