May 4th

Hello family!
I can’t believe I will be skyping you all next week! I will also be sending an email about this same time as well and then we will travel over to where we will skype. So this week we had another baptism! Brother Julius! He is probably one of the happiest kids I’ve ever met! We actually met him one of my first weeks here because we were trying to contact his less active family members but he was the only one there.. he was SO shy and wouldn’t even answer our questions he was like terrified of us! Then out of nowhere a little over a month ago he approached us and said that he wanted to be baptized! So we started teaching him and he’s just the best! He’s 13 years old and lives with his aunts. His mom passed away but I’m not sure how long ago.. and his dad is not in the picture. I don’t know if he also passed away or is working somewhere or something. But anyways he is so awesome and has friends his age that are active members so it’s really awesome for him. I absolutely LOVE the spirit that is felt at baptisms. I can’t even explain how amazing it is! I love the opportunity that I have as a missionary to be a part of the work of the Lord and the work of salvation. Next month is my 6 month! I can’t believe how fast it is going!! I have to say again that I am serving in the best mission in the world! The vision of missionary work is incredible and the people and this country is absolutely amazing! There’s so many times throughout the week that I for a split second sit there and think “wow this place is amazing”. Sometimes it’s the glimpse of the ocean through someone’s home (through their wall.. haha), sometimes it’s the overwhelming kindness of the people here, but despite how challenging it is I am so grateful for this opportunity and for the experiences that I am having here.
The other day we were walking from an appointment with a recent convert and saw a woman laying on the floor of her home reading a restoration pamphlet. We automatically recognized the picture and text that she was ready so we stopped to talk with her. She didn’t know who we were and was actually really frightened at first because we really surprised her but she was laughing by the time we were able to explain that what she was reading was the message that we have to share with her. She invited us in and started telling us how her son had come home with the pamphlet earlier and he didn’t even know who gave it to him… someone before they got on a jeepney handed it to him and so he brought it home to his mom and they read it together. When we saw her she was re-reading it a second time. She started crying as she told us that she has been praying for help because of certain challenges that they are facing as a family right now and that she cried when her son brought home this pamphlet because she felt it was a direct answer to her prayers. WOW!!!!! And then we just “happened” to walk by at the exact time she was reading it facing it in a way that we couldn’t miss it! I was just blown away. Sister Cruz and I were so humbled and like every new investigator are excited to continue to teach her and her family!!
So random things- THEY USE CHARCOAL IRONS HERE! As in exactly what the pioneers would have used… metal irons with hot coals in side. And it weighs like 20 pounds.. crazy huh? Also I keep forgetting to mention but they play 80s music EVERYWHERE here! It’s like everyone’s favorite.. and it’s all English! Sometimes I just laugh imagining dad getting his groove on to “eye of the tiger” or “grease lightening”. So awesome. OH YA! And get this!! Sister Cruz named her dog after me!! How awesome is that! I didn't even tell her to! Haha the dogs name is "JUDDO" because that's what 90% of the people call me here! I was like so surprised and flattered and then thought it was hilarious when she told me how her mom is begging her to think of a different name because it's this cute little white fluffy girl dog but her name is JUDDO! haha So therefore I vow to name my next ido (dog) CRUZ! :)

Random question: Where did Aaron Judd serve in the Philippines? Also are we related to a Kevin Judd? My Stake President here right now- his missionary was a Kevin Judd and he was so sad that I wasn't confident that we are related. He said we have the same face even.. but they feel like Americans all look alike. Yeah right they all look alike! haha backwards. But anyways if we are related I would love to be able to tell him about it! He even named his first son Judd. And in Stake Conference this weekend he called me out at the pulpit as he told his conversion story. Also I have met 2 people now that said they served with a Elder Judd and I'm dying to know if it's Aaron! Both the brothers looked to be about the same age! Small world if so.

Pictures: CHEESE ICE CREAM! With Ube flavor as well as mango. It was so so so so good! I had eaten more than half when Sister Cruz told me it was cheese flavor and she was so happy that I liked it because I told her I don't like the cheese here.. but I guess I do? Maybe because it was paired with Ube and Mango. Ube is my favorite!! (the purple color) they cook lots of different kinds of breads with this fruit and I actually tried the fruit just plain one time and it's way good!

CHICKEN INTENSTINES! One of our recent convert's mom fries up chicken parts for work on the street in her purok (neighborhood) and she gave us this as a snack. I think I mentioned before that it's sister cruz's favorite. Well it's tasty!! It took me a second to get past the chewy-ness and the fact that I was eating intestines but I would definately eat it again.. tastes like chicken! (name that movie)

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! Can't wait to see your faces over skype next week!!

Happy Anniversary mom and dad!!!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH LIWAT!
Sister Judd