Merry Christmas Family!

Feliz-Lovey-Dove! (that's how my sister said it when she little)

Christmas is in 6 days...and then the New Year! What a great day to be living, and a even better time to be a missionary:)

This week was wonderful!  Moor Park, (the college) is empty for the holidays so that's a bummer:)

It's ok, just gotta be more creative. We are in COMPLETE finding mode so that is so fun! We are talking to soooooo many people, and dropping soooo many BOM’s.  And it is soooooo fun! Sun up to sun down…contacting day in and day out! Teaching and testifying 24-7.

With Christmas coming up, the elves are watching people...and I hope you all have been very good this year!

#LIGHTtheWORLD is absolutely wonderful. We have received 0 Referrals, and have 0 Investigators, but we have the feeling that the Lord is preparing someone. We don't know who, we don't know when, we just know it will! 

I love being a missionary. The Lord truly does work is mysterious ways. 

SURPRISE: I am off my scooter and walk with a little limp. So that is so good!

I learned so much, and needed that correction. As we learn from Elder Hugh B. Brown: "God is the Gardener!" And all we have to do is TRUST.

The love I feel for my Savior grows and builds every day. In doing so, every day I receive a deeper, and deeper confirmation from the Holy Ghost testifying to me of the Love that my Heavenly Father has for me. Know where you come from, know who you are. It is my testimony that the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. Think about that please...  

Family and friends, now is the time to be bold, and fearless, because we adore Him. 

I love you all...Let us all continue to do all what we have been fore-ordained to do. And #LIGHTtheWORLD with his Love.

Joshua 1:9

Love, Elder Judd

Christmas with Elder Ballard!

Hello from the West Coast!

At the end of this Transfer I will be 6 months into my mission! Sooooooo crazy!

Momma, thank you soooo much for the Christmas CD! I listen to it every day, and it makes me sooo happy. About my foot, it’s very sore and I have to hop around a lot. Yes I’m taking care of it.

The highlight of the week was Elder M. RusselL Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles coming to our mission!!! Our entire mission of 165 missionaries came together in Ventura Stake Center early on Saturday and awaited his arrival. It was absolute bliss. 

The theme of his talk was "Let Us Adore Him" because of this great Christmas Season we are in the midst of! As members of this wonderful Church we have a lot of knowledge and RESPONSABILITY to help prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ. We must be able to teach more powerfully than the other influences in the world that seek to take over and destroy the family. 

As we talk to more people daily about the gospel, we will see more success in our work and Heavenly Father will be able to open up new opportunities. Simply because we act in Faith. "Faith is a Principle of Power", which occurs usually because we ACT in faith. 

One of the most Inspiring  things that Elder Ballard said, was for us to imagine passing on from this life. And then seeing family and friends that will ask us, "Why didn't you tell me? You had the truth and didn't tell me?!" We all have had experiences where we could have opened our mouth and testified of Christ…but for some reason, we chose not to.

You cannot die out of being a missionary. You cannot die out of doing missionary work. God has trusted you with the knowledge that I hope you all have. The ONE THING He asks in return is that you share it. 

This Christmas Season let us walk with the name Jesus Christ on our lips. And testify that He is the "true" reason for the season.

Adore him!

Love, Elder Judd

Caroling with the YSA ward

 A member sent us this picture.  If you know Benji at all, this is totally him!

Peg leg, warts, and transfers...oh my!

What's Up Everybody!?!?

Well that's a wrap for week 6 and this Transfer! Elder Campbell is headed back home to Potato Land...(Idaho)

My New Comp is Elder Whatcott from Fillmore, Utah. He was in my MTC district so that is awesome! We are going to get along so well, and have so much success. He's been in my district for the past transfer so he's always been close! 

The YSA ward is doing awesome. We have all of our ward missionaries leaving so we will need to get some more! The Christmas Devo last night was absolutely wonderful and I hope you all got a chance to watch it! It made me really excited for Elder Ballard this Saturday! 

The #LIGHTtheWORLD Project is going great here, and I hope you ALL are doing it! 25 ways over 25 days:)  What a great opportunity to live a Christ Centered life by having, and DOING Christ like Behaviors.

NEWS: So I got a really really big Planter wart removed from my foot and I will be on a peg leg for 1-2 months.  A member who is podiatrist here took care of it for me.  The biopsy comes back next week.  It’s okay though because God has a plan, and it is truly a Trial of my Faith! Ether 12:6.

I love you, and miss you all. And hope you are having just as much fun living as I am! (not possible:))   I testify to you all that there is nothing in God's plan that has more of an Eternal Significance than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Along with GIVING(most important) I hope you all take a time out and work on your own Ability to RECEIVE. Every gift you receive this year, and how you react when you receive it..is a mirror image of how you receive the Savior. Do you receive it with: Humility? Love? Gratitude? Promise that you will use it? 

Blessed be the name of our Lord!

Love, Elder Judd

Turkey day.

Dear Friends Fam and Friends,

Week 5 is down for the count.  Week 6 coming up fast:)  Transfers are next week so that it sooooo crazy.

Momma, thank you for that ADVENT CALENDAR! ...It made me get emotional.  I can't wait to apply those scriptures.  Christmas here is going to be hard. Not because of the presents, or the snow, or the traditions, but because I am without my family.  I am scared but really excited.  I am missing you guys so much.  Please have a good Christmas!  And know that I am doing the best thing in the world.

This week was full of Tender Mercies, and so many Miracles!

We have a new Investigator! His name is Ulysees. He is Catholic, but wants something "more" which is exactly what we have! Our first time we met with him on Saturday! We committed him to be baptized and he said yes! We have plans to set him with a date this Friday. 

The Lord truly does reward those who are faithful, and endure. 

The work here is tough, but with Faith, Christmas time, and most of all the never failing Grace of our Lord and Savior…we always see our fruits. 

Thanksgiving was amazing, and we got to spend it with an amazing Family from the WLV ward!  

Highlight of the Week: The TEMPLE!!

I would like to end with my simple testimony of the Blessing it is to have Temples here on Earth. I testify that it is God's home here on the Earth. It is not until you gain a testimony for yourself, that you will fully understand both the reality, and Power of that Statement.

I invite you all to attend the temple once a week, and as you do this you will receive the Spirit. A Prophet has commanded it, and We want to obey right? Do it.

We believe no Matter what happens or doesn't happen!

Love, Elder Judd

My Birfday, Thanksgivin', Christmas Initiative

Holla Como Estas!?

Yeah, my Spanish is the Best.😄

I am forced to learn a little, and pick it up because we have a lot of Spanish Contacts Haha! 

Anyways this week was Awesome...It was my Birthday so that was soooooo fun:) Birthdays are always fun on the mission. The ward is so awesome, and I love these Kids! I was able to spend a lot of time with them and a family from the Family ward so that was awesome!

The work here is tough...but so fun! I don't know if I told you about Kevin who was our Investigator with a baptismal date.  Long Story short…he dropped us. It's okay though. Back to finding mode. We have given out sooooo many referrals to all the missionaries so that is our claim to fame. It's my testimony that you don't just plant seeds by teaching them. God is in the details!

Highlight of the Week! ATTENTION: This past week I got to experience something wonderful. On Friday we got together with another zone with President and Sister Felix!  We had the annual "Christmas Initiative." We received a two hour training that was just amazing, and received the exciting news that Elder M. Russell Ballard will be coming to our mission on December 10th!!! Yeah you heard it right....Be Jealous.

If you aren't I would ask that you do all you can to come to know of the blessing it is to have Prophets and Apostles here on the Earth.

We then saw "The Video”…I can't give anything away but I gotta give you some. These 3 Things:

1. Get ready to act as Christ, and get outside of yourself and serve. 25 days. In 25 days.

2. The church has never done anything like this before

3. #LIGHTtheWORLD

The Full video comes out on November 25th. The teaser that is online right now cannot compare.

Make sure and watch closely to see who mirrors who. 

It makes me cry every time. I am so excited for Christmas as a missionary. For the chance I have to spread the TRUE meaning of Christmas. 

Thanksgiving is this week! Be sure and to thank Heavenly Father for at least one thing every day! I hope you already do that.

I am so grateful for my Family. For each and every one them. I am grateful for two loving Parents who love and Nurture their Children. They are not perfect. But they are the two most Christ Like people I have in my life. But most importantly they love the Lord more than each other. And their children.  And they put him First always. I pray that this will be a lesson for us all.  I love them all very much, and this little pup could not have hand picked any better big brothers and big sis(s) to go before and Pave the way. I thank my God for them every day. And I cannot wait for the eternities with them.

I am most grateful for Jesus Christ. My testimony is short. He lived, and he died. And he lives again. And shall live forever. And because of him, we all shall live forever. And live, and be with the people we love for time and all eternity. He is the only person who's life was completely Successful. 100%. No correction, nor Repentance necessary. Jesus Christ is at the center of my life. He will always be. I love my elder brother. And thank him every day by choosing to live the way I do. Do you?

Hurrah for Israel!

Love, Elder Judd 

The Sherwoods took me to lunch on my birthday p-day!

It's my birthday!

Hello All!!

Well week 3 is checked off, and it’s my 19th birthday. That’s so crazy to me! 

This week was full of so many miracles, and tender mercies. All thanks to our Heavenly Father, and the desire to work that these members have so much of! 

Kevin our investigator, had to move his date back due to Word of Wisdom issues but that's okay! He's ready and willing to repent and improve! Because that is exactly what we are here to do...just Repent, and improve, and keep trying.  t's my testimony that the only way to do that is through the divine love, mercy, and care of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have really been learning a lot lately about the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. "To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." God wants to exalt us!  Do you know what that means? If you don't, find out. If you do. Accept it!

That is our Father’s divine purpose. Everything He has given us, everything we are...IS NOT OURS! It has been given to us, to help us help the Father fulfill His plan! Isn't that crazy? Want to know something even more crazy?? A lot of the time, we don't want it. We don't want "exaltation"….Why not?  We are unable to realize our true and divine potential. 

I testify that God lives and wants us to become like Him. And He has provided for us a way to do that. 

 I loved the birthday package so much, and it made me feel like I was home! The Sherwoods are taking me to lunch! We helped with their son’s eagle project. They remind me so much of you and Dad and that is why I love them so much. They are so kind and loving. She reminds me of you especially. I have told her this too. 

I love you and miss you, and try not to think about you all too much. I loved every little thing in that package and was freaking out when I was opening it!:)

Love your son for the eternities....Love, Elder Judd

I love the YSA ward!

Hello All! 

Well Week 1 of this transfer is in the books!

I love my new comp and I love my new area...I love the YSA members so much. It's really cool working with a lot of people closer to your age! We set an Investigator with a Baptismal date for the 26th of November! Miracle numero uno:)  Once again I love working with the YSA members. A few of them are returned missionaries so that helps!  

We got to carve pumpkins yesterday with the 1st counselor and his family so that was a blast!

My new comp is Elder Campbell. He's from Rexburg, Idaho and this is his last transfer! It's crazy. What a blessing for me to learn from a missionary who has been around the block. He wrestles and fought MMA for a couple years as well…pretty gnarly right!?!?  He teaches me moves every night just incase I find myself in a situation:) 

I love this work and I love these people. We have a worldwide training the 5th of November so that should be awesome!

It's weird...I face a new challenge every day no matter what. So many opportunities to grow.  This is all truly a trial of my Faith. I love what Joseph Smith says: "EVERY blessing we receive comes from obedience.”  So simple, yet so true. Everyday I am learning more and more of the power and ability that comes from obeying with exactness.   We are all imperfect, and I am an imperfect missionary. But what will always lie in the balance is a choice. A choice is something that we make everyday. That choice is either good or bad. Disobedient or Obedient. 

"Selective Obedience brings selective blessing" D&C 130:20-21.

I invite you all to study the above scripture and apply it. 

I love being a missionary. It's hard, tough, and can even get you down at times. But more importantly it's fun, crazy, awesome, and everything in between. The good will always outlast the bad. It has from the beginning.   And will continue to do so for time and all Eternity.

Have faith

Work Hard

Obey with Exactness

Punch Satan in the Face

Repeat.

Love, Elder Judd