We’re late because of our awesome week!
Had an awesome week this week...I have been on an absolute Spiritual High!
We had an awesome chance to have a fireside with Alex Boye in Ventura. He told his conversion story and sang a couple of songs. The dude is funny, and kinda weird. But it was wonderful missionary experience.
I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. Ran into some people this week who REALLY didn't like us. One guy even called me a "Pretty boy"...(My brother Parker is probably like yeah, he right). So we ran into 2 pretty sticky situations when it comes to people bashing with us. I know every situation is different and we are to act as we feel so inspired to. The first experience came on exchanges with Elder Powell. We tracked into a family where the mother and father right away started to argue and say a lot of nasty things regarding Joseph Smith and the church. They denied sincere testimony along with every thing they had to offer. The spirit was not there. And they were very active in what they believed. They were very hostile with their language and approach. We took every different angle we could, and things were getting worse.
The second one came last night at a lesson with Elder Johnson and Elder Longi. We were teaching our investigator named Ann outside of a public library. We were wrapping up and then a man walked up and started to warn Ann that ‘we were of the devil and teaching false doctrine’. This was a lot worse than the firsts experience. He was loud, very hostile, and said a lot of horrible, horrible things. We were respectful, kind and loving. But there is a fine line with that, and then defending our faith. So we all stood up. We didn’t say anything rude, or anything we would regret. He wouldn’t stop, and talked about, ‘how it was his job to take people out of the Mormon church’. Then he started to walk away and told us to never come back. And if we came back then he would come to our church and ‘preach’. So we told him when and where church was. (Keep in mind our investigator is watching all of this). He kept yelling as he walked away, so we just apologized to Ann and finished up our lesson.
We also had a mission tour with Elder Schweitzer and Elder Wakolo of the Seventy. Man it was POWERFUL. I was able to receive some insight from the spirit which made it even more special.
To let you know what they said, in closing I would like to bear my testimony of Joseph Smith. That he was a wonderful man. A man of God. More importantly I bear witness that at the age of 14 this young boy knelt in a grove of trees not far from his farm house in Palmyra New York…and prayed to our God who then showed himself to this boy. Along with his Son, Jesus Christ. And over time through this boy prophet the Lord himself restored to the earth the FULLNESS of what the Father would have for his children while here in this preparatory state. I bear testimony that to stand for this transcendent event Joseph Smith was led to a record on golden plates. And by the very Power of God I bear testimony that Joseph Smith translated this record. Into what we have now...The Book of Mormon. I testify of this Book. That it is of God. That it is indeed the most correct of any book on earth, and that no man would get closer to God than by abiding by it's precepts. I know that a consistent study of it brings renewal, and that our ability to resist temptation will increase. I testify in the name of the Lord that because of the RESTORATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we have the fullness. I know that as we live the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ the lives of our families will be blessed. And that through sacred Covenants made in the Lord’s house...We have the Authority to bind on earth and also in Heaven. Jesus is the Christ, the Author and finisher of all that is and is to come. The Savior and Redeemer of the World suffered, lived, and died. And on the 3rd day He rose again. I know because of that we will all live again.
I speak from personal experience when I say that God over time puts certain people in our path to test us, to teach us, and some times even reveal to us our progression. And I know that in the midst of those moments as we "Look unto him in every thought", we realize that God's Hand is involved...That we will be fearless. And that God never forgets, nor forsakes. He just molds and makes. I will go ahead and close in the name of him whom I get to walk with every day, even Jesus Christ, amen.
Love, Elder Judd
P.S. We are offically a "Full technology mission”. Starting within the next couple weeks ALL MISSIONARIES will be getting their own Smart phone. You will be getting an email shortly about the details from president. Wow it's gonna be amazing. Each missionary is to but their own phone and that stays with them. But only one comp has the Sim card and it stays in the Area come transfers.
That's awesome right?!
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