Hello Family!!
Oh how excited I am to tell you all about our baptism this weekend!! We also
were able to watch General Conference this weekend which made this weekend
better than CHRISTMAS! :) Sister Arcinas, Me, and even the Branch that we are
serving in broke a record this weekend holding a baptism of 8!!! (10 in total
for the branch counting the Elder’s baptisms) :)
Let me tell you about EACH of them because they all mean so much to me!
Villanueva Family: Brother “Bong”,
Sister RubyAnn and Brother Jason. Sister Arcinas and I found them because they
sell bbq in our area and we would walk by them at least 3 times every day and
we noticed that they would always call out to us “Maayong Hapon! Tinapay day! (pronounced
die)” But we would smile or politely decline their offer to give us their food
they’re selling and then one day we stopped to fill up our water bottles in the
peso jug next to their INASAL and we started making small talk with Sister
RubyAnn, we gave her a pamphlet and invited her to hear our message and she
gladly accepted. The next day we walked by them we followed up on their reading
and Brother Bong was now there so we were able to meet him as well. The first
thing he did was ask us for another pamphlet to read because he and his wife
couldn’t read the one that we gave them at the same time. (He was even kind of
upset). We handed him a couple pamphlets, so surprised that he was so excited
and worked up about reading the message that we had to share! So we set an apt
to teach them and taught them at their home. Well it turns out that after we
taught at their home that one day it caused a huge conflict between RubyAnn and
her mom. Her mom is devote Catholic and would not allow us to come back to
their home. It was disappointing because RubyAnn’s father and her younger
sister were also very receptive and accepted the invitation to be baptized but
we aren’t able to continue teaching them. I’m sure there will come a time
though that they will meet missionaries again. We started RubyAnn and Bong at
their INASAL (as people buy and pass by and stare at us like we’re aliens hehe)
and at the church before it started. After a couple weeks they opened up that
not only did they change their “day off” for bbq from Monday to Sunday, but
they wake up at 4am on Sunday to be at the church by 7am (after they cook their
breakfast and lunch for after church and walk to church) and are there about 3
hours early literally THE ONLY ONES THERE that early other than the person that
opens the church. And SOMETIMES THEY GET THERE BEFORE THE KEY PERSON!! Haha It
worked out perfectly that their son Jason turned 8 4 days before their baptism
so he was baptized with his parents :) Despite how hard it has been with Sister
RubyAnn’s family, they have stayed so strong in their desire to follow what
they FEEL is right as we have taught them about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Brother Bong has really come a long way in his life and has been so prepared!
He has come from his past of drugs, rehab, prison and much more- and now… the
change is immeasurable and remarkable!
Sister RheaMae and RhomelaMae: We
met them because we found out that their grandparents are long time less
actives. Oh how special it has been to see a their family change! The grandparents
went from hiding from us and always drunk to now Brother Autencio gave up
alcohol again, they are coming to church again and want the rest of their (I
don’t even KNOW how many.. a lot) other grandchildren to be taught and
baptized! Sister RheaMae is the oldest of 5 and last year their mom passed
away.. their mom was a member of the church and it was so sweet to hear sister
RheaMae’s testimony at her baptism of how she knows her mom is happy for their
decision and how she will continue to strive to be a good example for her other
siblings. Their grandparents take care of them now and they just mean so so
much to us!! (16 and 15 years old)
Brother Kinneth: I’ve taught Brother
Kinneth for a really long time now. He’s 15 years old. He’s been taught by
missionaries for a really long time now. It’s so special to me that I was still
here when he was baptized! He was a referral from his best friend Brother
Justine who is a recent convert. They are so humble and are 2 of the 3 or 4
students that attend seminary! So strong!! He shared with us that he’s on a
quest to really change and has made up his mind that he WILL serve a mission
one day!!
Sister Princess: She was a referral
from the Relief Society President (who also served a mission). She is Sister
Mercy (the RS president’s) niece! Her parents are not members but she has off
and on been coming to church since she was young. She is so close with so many
of the Young Women in the branch (they’ve known each other since they were
young) and her mom attended her baptism! It took Sister Arcinas giving away one
of her favorite dresses… but we were so happy
that she came to support her daughter and someday I know that she will follow.
She also used to be taught by missionaries when she was Sister Princess’ age.
Sister Princess is 12 going on 18.. haha she’s a crack up!
Brother Jun-Jun: He was ALSO a
referral- from a member who just left on his mission! His cousin Junggar was
just baptized last week and in he shared with us that he is so grateful that
Heavenly Father has given him the chance to change. He says before meeting the missionaries
he didn’t know where his life was going he would just work and drink and was so
unhappy but he said he has felt real peace and happiness in his life as he is
reading the scriptures and learning about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!
He is 22 years old and is hoping to have the church help in enroll in high school
and finish his schooling. He also wants us to meet his family and start
teaching them too!!
Sorry this is so long! But I just want you all to know all about these people
and how much they truly mean to me! I would never change this opportunity to
teach these people and get to know them for anything in the world! That’s how I
feel about ALL of the people that I teach on this beautiful island..
I love being a missionary so much!
Since I’ve shared the most important things I will just add one of my favorite
quotes from conference! “He is no stranger to his servants.” –President Boyd K.
Packer
He will “strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand” (hymn #85). This was an answer to some of my questions
that I pondered before General Conference and I was so grateful to be reminded
how much The Savior loves each and every one of us and is patiently waiting for
us to DO OUR PART to come unto Him and feel His love, support and help in our
lives! He literally will LIFT US UP spiritually, emotionally and even
physically (Gwen, get lots of rest before you enter the MTC because being a
missionary is really tiring!) :)
Good luck Storm on the mission!! I look forward to writing you when I get
home!! You will be such a great missionary!!
For all those who missed conference, make it a priority to watch, listen and
read the talks on the internet. Even those who are not “mormon”.. the opportunity
to listen to the living prophet’s voice and His apostles is one of the greatest
blessings that we have!
I love you all so SOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!
Sister Judd!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
He Knows Best, Good Lookin Monson and Hold Tight for Next Week!!
Hello Family!!!
What a wonderful week this has been!! (October is a GREAT MONTH!!)
What a wonderful week this has been!! (October is a GREAT MONTH!!)
Let me tell you about our baptism!! Sister LabLab, Sister Joy and Brother Junggar! They are all 3 referrals! (Referrals from members are the bbbeeeesssssttttt). Brother Junggar is 23 years old and is cousins to Brother Mark (who just left on his mission). He is such a rock and really really changed!! He used to drink almost every day after work and we would always walk past him (before we met him) and he was always drunk. When he was finally introduced to us he was so shy and sooo humble! He was so willing to change and gave up drinking right away! He's so awesome and has already given us referrals of his friends and family members that he wants us to teach!
Sister LabLab is 20 years old and is the sister of our recent convert (Sister Lilibeth)! She has been going to school in Manila for a couple of years but decided to take a break and moved back home. She has really come a long way and her life has made a complete 180 as she has such different dreams and desires and ambitions from learning about and finding out this church is true! She has the funniest personality and is such a joker... I feel like she's one of my siblings we've really grown so so close to their family!!
Sister Joy is 16 and is Sister Lilibeth and Sister LabLab's niece. Her grandpa is the one that had that crazy awesome dream about the Plan of Salvation! She started coming to church with Sister Mariel and Sister Lilibeth (our recent converts) and just loved it! She was baptized in 4 weeks after coming to church and she LOVES to read the Book of Mormon! She has a rough family situation and she says that it really helps her cope with her problems to just get lost in the Book of Mormon. She's already almost half way done! She's such a rock and we just had a wonderful weekend celebrating these ABSOLUTELY AMAZING converts!!
I have learned so much this week and a highlight was definatley the Women's General Meeting! Highlights: "Make it your hearts desire to live the gospel joyfully." This is only possible if it is really our heart's desire! It's not enough just to fake a smile and list blessings without our heart's genuine gratitude for all the blessings that the Lord showers upon us- of the most important is His Atoning Sacrifice, The Restored Gospel and Eternal Families!! I have been learning a lot about how much JOY the gospel brings through serving a mission!! I cry a lot... and it's not from being sad. It's from this unreal joy that I feel!!! Another Highlight: President Uchtdorf made a funny comparison between a young child sitting in front of a big plate of vegetables.. we all know how unhappy that child is to eat that plate of greens and how persistent the parent is. We should not be like that young child sitting in front of a big plate of the commandments of Our Loving Father in Heaven. Let us understand that HE KNOWS SOMETHING(S) THAT WE DON'T KNOW. Just like the parents that refuses to let the child down from the table until he/she's eaten the vegetables... that parent knows it's only for that child health! Unlike that loving parent with right motives, our Heavenly Father does not force us. But His greatest desire is for us to CHOOSE what's BEST for ourselves. And how much more great will that be if we enjoy it at the same time :) Our attitude about obedience should be a joyful one because the commandments are from Our Father in Heaven who loves us and wants what's best for us!! And LAST Highlight: "Discover your best self." Let us not overlook our potential! When we give into the temptation to be grumpy, rude, negative and all other things unkind, we lose the opportunity to find our best self! Through the Savior's example, we can choose to become more like Him and realize that that is the BEST thing we can do in our lives! I'm so grateful for the Savior's example in my life and I hope we are all finding joy in this journey to return back to live with Heavenly Father again! I want to find my best self and I'm so grateful that He loves us enough to help us along the way!
Oh how I can't wait to write next week! We have big big big plans for this
Sister LabLab is 20 years old and is the sister of our recent convert (Sister Lilibeth)! She has been going to school in Manila for a couple of years but decided to take a break and moved back home. She has really come a long way and her life has made a complete 180 as she has such different dreams and desires and ambitions from learning about and finding out this church is true! She has the funniest personality and is such a joker... I feel like she's one of my siblings we've really grown so so close to their family!!
Sister Joy is 16 and is Sister Lilibeth and Sister LabLab's niece. Her grandpa is the one that had that crazy awesome dream about the Plan of Salvation! She started coming to church with Sister Mariel and Sister Lilibeth (our recent converts) and just loved it! She was baptized in 4 weeks after coming to church and she LOVES to read the Book of Mormon! She has a rough family situation and she says that it really helps her cope with her problems to just get lost in the Book of Mormon. She's already almost half way done! She's such a rock and we just had a wonderful weekend celebrating these ABSOLUTELY AMAZING converts!!
I have learned so much this week and a highlight was definatley the Women's General Meeting! Highlights: "Make it your hearts desire to live the gospel joyfully." This is only possible if it is really our heart's desire! It's not enough just to fake a smile and list blessings without our heart's genuine gratitude for all the blessings that the Lord showers upon us- of the most important is His Atoning Sacrifice, The Restored Gospel and Eternal Families!! I have been learning a lot about how much JOY the gospel brings through serving a mission!! I cry a lot... and it's not from being sad. It's from this unreal joy that I feel!!! Another Highlight: President Uchtdorf made a funny comparison between a young child sitting in front of a big plate of vegetables.. we all know how unhappy that child is to eat that plate of greens and how persistent the parent is. We should not be like that young child sitting in front of a big plate of the commandments of Our Loving Father in Heaven. Let us understand that HE KNOWS SOMETHING(S) THAT WE DON'T KNOW. Just like the parents that refuses to let the child down from the table until he/she's eaten the vegetables... that parent knows it's only for that child health! Unlike that loving parent with right motives, our Heavenly Father does not force us. But His greatest desire is for us to CHOOSE what's BEST for ourselves. And how much more great will that be if we enjoy it at the same time :) Our attitude about obedience should be a joyful one because the commandments are from Our Father in Heaven who loves us and wants what's best for us!! And LAST Highlight: "Discover your best self." Let us not overlook our potential! When we give into the temptation to be grumpy, rude, negative and all other things unkind, we lose the opportunity to find our best self! Through the Savior's example, we can choose to become more like Him and realize that that is the BEST thing we can do in our lives! I'm so grateful for the Savior's example in my life and I hope we are all finding joy in this journey to return back to live with Heavenly Father again! I want to find my best self and I'm so grateful that He loves us enough to help us along the way!
Oh how I can't wait to write next week! We have big big big plans for this
Recent Converts are on fire & UGA is delish (Sep28th)
Hello Family!! What an amazing week! It is all explained in my pictures.. I'm kinda worried right now because I really don't have much to say right now!! But let me first tell you about our baptism: Brother Rodel and Brother Eulysis! We met these 2 brothers through one of our long time investigators (Brother Kevin). One time we were teaching Brother Kevin and Brother Eulysis walked by and started listening in the doorway, we invited him in and he showed so much interest! Then Brother Kevin invited Brother Rodel to come to church with him one Sunday because he was too shy to go to church by himself. That was the first time Brother Rodel came to church and he enjoyed it so much! They both haven't missed church since, have come to numerous Family Home Evenings and Branch Activities. They both come from very humble circumstances and I am so inspired by their happiness and positiveness! They both have a huge desire to serve a mission (ages 18 and 17) and plan to receive help from the church to finish High School (a common concern for their age). I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to meet this young men. They have really made a mark on the branch wearing their new white polos and ties- even Brother Eulysis sang in the Branch Choir yesterday :) They have so so much potential and I just pray so hard for the help of the members so that they remain strong and active in the church!
I know that I have mentioned the last couple of Mondays about our investigators at church but it just keeps getting more special and more special each and every Sunday! Sister Lilibeth's mom came to church for the first time yesterday! And we had even more than last week at church yesterday. This area is so great! October is looking to be one of the greatest months since I've been here. Oh how I look forward to these next couple of weeks! We have A LOT of people to help as they prepare for baptism! If only we had more hours in the day.
Mom you'd be so happy to know how often members are feeding us! (it's like a hit or miss each week) but this week- phew! We've eaten sooo much! You better believe I'm making great use my new jumprope that Kort sent me! :) I think I mentioned "UGA" one of these last weeks- well I finally got a picture of one kind of UGA. It is so yummy! But it smells like feet. It's very different, but it's really a favorite here. One kilo of the kind of UGA that I sent a picture of is 500 pesos per kilo... whereas the "normal" UGA is like 5 pieces for 5 pesos. I don't know if that actually means anythings to you all or makes any sense but I'm trying to explain how "fancy" this dried fish is that to us is stale fish left out in the sun that smells like a football locker. I don't know if I'm just used to it here or what but I really do like it! If only I could bring some home for you all to taste.
Sister Manwaring is home now! She went home last week. Man did time fly fast!!!! I feel like she's still here on this island with me! I can't wait to catch up with her when I get home!! You'd think we were able to do "catching up" serving here in the same mission- but we never saw each other enough to actually talk! Love you TONS megs!! You're such a great example to me and I hope you're there when I come home next summer! :)
I am so glad that you're all doing so well at home!! I so look forward to your emails each week!! Thank you all for your love and the many prayers! I feel your support and encouragement even though I'm way over here. The greatest joy that I have is knowing that you are all continuing in your faith and enduring to the end! I love this gospel and am so blessed to have such an amazing family and friends. I know that this church is the true and restored church of Jesus Christ and this is the way to true true happiness in our lives. Heavenly Father loves us all so very much- that's why He has given us the way (and only way) to return to live with Him again: through the Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that He died for me and for each of us so that we can repent and live again! Do we realize how eternal and great these blessings are? This is why I am excited to share this message to the people here in the Philippines. It is the message of peace, happiness and purpose in this life with the hope and confidence for life eternal with our Loving Father in Heaven. I hope we don't take advantage or take lightly these eternal truths. Love you all so much!! :)
Sister Judd
I know that I have mentioned the last couple of Mondays about our investigators at church but it just keeps getting more special and more special each and every Sunday! Sister Lilibeth's mom came to church for the first time yesterday! And we had even more than last week at church yesterday. This area is so great! October is looking to be one of the greatest months since I've been here. Oh how I look forward to these next couple of weeks! We have A LOT of people to help as they prepare for baptism! If only we had more hours in the day.
Mom you'd be so happy to know how often members are feeding us! (it's like a hit or miss each week) but this week- phew! We've eaten sooo much! You better believe I'm making great use my new jumprope that Kort sent me! :) I think I mentioned "UGA" one of these last weeks- well I finally got a picture of one kind of UGA. It is so yummy! But it smells like feet. It's very different, but it's really a favorite here. One kilo of the kind of UGA that I sent a picture of is 500 pesos per kilo... whereas the "normal" UGA is like 5 pieces for 5 pesos. I don't know if that actually means anythings to you all or makes any sense but I'm trying to explain how "fancy" this dried fish is that to us is stale fish left out in the sun that smells like a football locker. I don't know if I'm just used to it here or what but I really do like it! If only I could bring some home for you all to taste.
Sister Manwaring is home now! She went home last week. Man did time fly fast!!!! I feel like she's still here on this island with me! I can't wait to catch up with her when I get home!! You'd think we were able to do "catching up" serving here in the same mission- but we never saw each other enough to actually talk! Love you TONS megs!! You're such a great example to me and I hope you're there when I come home next summer! :)
I am so glad that you're all doing so well at home!! I so look forward to your emails each week!! Thank you all for your love and the many prayers! I feel your support and encouragement even though I'm way over here. The greatest joy that I have is knowing that you are all continuing in your faith and enduring to the end! I love this gospel and am so blessed to have such an amazing family and friends. I know that this church is the true and restored church of Jesus Christ and this is the way to true true happiness in our lives. Heavenly Father loves us all so very much- that's why He has given us the way (and only way) to return to live with Him again: through the Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that He died for me and for each of us so that we can repent and live again! Do we realize how eternal and great these blessings are? This is why I am excited to share this message to the people here in the Philippines. It is the message of peace, happiness and purpose in this life with the hope and confidence for life eternal with our Loving Father in Heaven. I hope we don't take advantage or take lightly these eternal truths. Love you all so much!! :)
Sister Judd
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