January 2nd

Kamusta Pamilya!! Man, I'm missing you guys! But don't get me wrong. Nothing could get me to leave this place. I feel like I have come SO far in such a short amount of time. I can't really explain how my concept of time is here. The weeks fly by but the days are like 100 years long. Before I know it, I'll be leaving here! I only have 10 days left and tomorrow could possibly be our "flight-plan-friday"! Can I just say I'm sorta geek'n out. In some ways I feel like this is what I signed up for as a missionary.. to be at the MTC. Thank goodness there's something more out there:)
It sounds like you all have had a week that you'll never forget. My heart hurts when I think about the Shurtleff family. When my companions asked who he was I told him he's my uncle. You Shurtleffs are family and I'm praying for you just the same as I would for my own family! I hope that everything goes well on Sabado (Saturday) with the funeral. Dad, you'll go great. Mom, takes notes for me! Gwen, let people know how much I wish I could be there.
I had an experience this past week with my companions that was such a tender mercy. My companions and I were in a computer lab emailing our Branch President with an Update as Sister Training Leaders when a guy walked by and stopped in the doorway. He asked us what language we were studying (usually the missionaries are studying language through programs through the MTC- which we had just finished doing). We told him a little bit about ouselves and where we are called to serve and he randomly asks "So you like worship Joseph Smith.. right?". The question was so random to us as he had just recently started investigating the church and didn't really understand the Restoration. We invited him to sit down as we answered his questions. The conversation moved from subject to subject when we started talking about prayer (pagpangamuyo). By the way his name was Jose and he's fro Guatemala. Speaks really good English with a really thick accent. He shared a story with us about why he doesn't feel like God answers all of His childrens' prayers. As he told us about his Sister-in-law's sudden passing away, leaving behind 3 small children including a 7 month old, he explained how he knows his brother prayed for Heavenly Father to save his wife. He cried as he told this story and it really touched us. He was so sincere and was begging for us to give him some sort of hope from what we believe. Sister Snow and Sister Tiroba just looked at me as he was done telling his story and I knew that my testimony that has been strengthened this past week of God's plan of Happiness for His children was what Jose needed. I told him about the letter I received on Monday about Brent passing away and how hard it is to deal with the passing away of someone that you love. But death doesn't mean the end. And it certaintly doesn't mean that God doesn't love that family as much as any other. In life we are tested and tried. It is through those trials that our faith is tested as well. We can't ever let Satan make us think that we aren't loved by our Heavenly Father. We can't let him think that our prayers go unlistened or unanswered in any way. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. It's as simple as that. That's is WHY Christ suffered the infinite and eternal sacrifice for man (Alma 34:10). Without this we cannot have eternal life because paagi sa pagpasag-uli (through the atonement) we will all be resurrected and all have the opportunity to be forgiven of our shortcomings and sin. I know that Brent is with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that Jose's sister-in-law is with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And I know that we will see them again! He continued to cry (with me) as I told him all of this and he said "that's beautiful". I knew that Heavenly Father needed me to strengthen myself by reaching out to Jose and sharing with him with a surety what I know. I told him that this knowledge will give him peace and as I told him that Heavenly Father gave me peace. This experience wasn't happenstance and I just hope you all know that Heavenly Father is aware of you! He loves you SO much and you can feel paghida-et paagi sa pagpasag-uli ni JesuCrsito (peace through the atonement of Jesus Christ).


I hope you all had a malipayong bag-o nga tuig (happy new year)! It didn't feel like new years here at all.. but we did watch some fireworks from our residence window (we live on the 4th floor so it was a pretty perfect view). The new year bring so much opportunity for change! I want to change this new year as a lose myself in this work. Find ways that you know Christ would want you to change. Even if it's something as simple as getting to know your neighbors or smiling more no matter what your day is like. Those small changes will change you and they will help someone else. (And they are much more meaningful than those pesky 5 pounds that we all want to lose).
LOTS OF LOVE!!
Sister Judd