Nov. 2, 2015 Pict. with Elder Holmes

Hello Christi!!!!

  Iºm so glad that you liked my email! I get hammered from members of the ward and other missionaries and my companionºs mothers that I do a terrible job at emailing you but that isnºt the reason why Iºm going to be improving it is because you want more details. Haha, Iºm not sure exactly what details you want from me though.

  You can send me a list of all the questions that you have for me that week. Then you can also send a list of things you would like me to include in every email such as best part of the week, worst part of the week, etc. Thanks sweetest mother!!!!!

  

Hahaha, my companion doesnºt even eat that much, haha. I actually eat a lot more than he does. Ecclesiastes 5:12 explains well enough, haha. And yeah, weºve talked about the kunzelmanºs, haha. 

  Also please pray for Ronisia. She is an investigator that is in a pretty tough situation, because she wants to be baptized and is sooo ready but she has had a child with a man she used to live with (the kid lives with the grandma) but the man has a bunch of other women in his life but she wants to marry him anyway even though the man doesnºt want to marry her at all he just wants to continue living with her. Itºs even more complicated than that just know that she needs lots of prayers! THANKS!!!!!

  Iºll make sure to let you know on the packages when they come. Haha, you know I donºt even need anything material because I already know you love me but it is greatly greatly appreciated sweet mother!

  

Can I just say how excited and happy I was to hear that you got the job! Parabens!  Iºm still praying like crazy for Dad and his job.

-I love teaching the young menºs quorum every week. There are only three in the whole branch but the lessons are so spiritual with their great comments! I love being able to participate and watch the Lordºs loving care over these choice young sons of God. 

-Sis. Kendrick emailed me and told me that I am very similar to my mother. It was honestly the best compliment I think I have ever recieved while on my mission. It made me SO happy!

Well, I love you and hope you had a wonderful week (and halloween) and that this week is even better! 2 cor. 5:6-7

Elder Judd

October 26, 2015 Crazy storm Experience

Best part of the week

Seeing lots of miracles yesterday. I met a lady from Praia and I miss the island of santiago so much!

Worst part of the week

The computers are broken and so I only got 10 minutes to email my wonderful family!

I loved your email!!!!!! Iºm soooooo soooooooorrrrrryyyyyyyy but next week will be a novel, alright? Okay, I love you more than life itself. Iºm praying like crazy for you and dad to find jobs!

October 19, 2015

Yeah, Iºm still set on USU, I feel that it is the right place to go. I also just want to let you know that I most likely will be extending my mission a little bit. Just so that it doesnºt come as a surprise to you. I miss you all so badly and I know that the Lord will bless you very soon with those things our family needs. Whether that is more frequent family nights or more job opportunities or something else, I donºt really know. 

  Guess what? I love you! We are having computer problems and so I decided that Elder Holmes needed to email more than I do so this is the only email Iºm sending this week. It is his first week and his family really appreciated it so thank you sweet mother and father for your understanding. (I didnºt even email any girls first, hahaha, Totally Kidding!)

  My ºsonº(trainee) is super amazing! And he already speaks Portuguese amazing for only studying it for a month and a half! Anyways, I will send you much more next week! Everything is well though

  

I love you all so very much and I want you to know that from the bottom of my heart: I love you!!!

October 12, 2015

Sweet Mother!

  Elder Karl is feeling a lot better. Iºve had such amazing health lately, it is so great! Haha, if I take it for granted then Iºm bound to get sick though, haha. He isnºt coughing at all anymore and so he has made a full recovery just in time to be transfered to Brava! An island that has had only sister missionaries on it for years! Now it will only have 2 Elders on it. I will miss him a lot but I am super excited being Iºve been so blessed with the opportunity to train!!! Iºm sooo excited! His name is Elder Holmes, from the US, and will be getting here by the end of the week. Iºll be traveling to Praia to go and pick him up. Here on the mission the trainer-trainee relationship is described by the words dad-son (or mom-daughter in the case of sisters). When I get a picture with Elder Holmes Iºll make sure to send it home.

  Iºm still absolutely in love with Santo Antao! And yes, we had a baptism this week. A few weeks ago we had 14 people with dates marked for this past week but one by one they fell until only 1, Catia, was baptized. She is so amazing though! We will still be helping our other friends to get back up though by taking Christºs outstretched hand.

  Well, I just want to thank you so much for the email this past week! It made my day! It touched my heart! And it reminded me to be grateful for the perfect family I have. I know they arenºt without flaws but I say perfect because with no other family could I be as happy and learn as much. I love you all! 

Elder Judd

Oct. 5, 2015

Hey, guess what?

...I love you!

  This past week was such a blast! Elder Karl and I have been working as hard as we could. Haha, good ol Elder Karl is such a trooper! He was super sick but he wouldnºt complain at all...nor even mention to me that he was in a lot of pain. (He is like me in the fact that he doesnºt like taking medicine) So when I finally took his temperature and saw that it was 104º F I made him stay inside and get some much needed rest! We finally went to the hospital after all the members yelled at me for doing a bad job of taking care of him, hahaha. I even made him icecream! Except he has no apetite so I ate it all.

  The worst part of my week is... I donºt know. I canºt think of one. 

  To be honest my companion and I have not had a single baptism here on Santo Antao yet. This Saturday though, we are going to be having three! And I am soooo excited! They are the best! One is a 19 year old girl, named Katia, that lives almost 2 hours away by car. One is a 19 year old girl, named Carmen, that lives just up the road. And the other is a 23 year old woman, named Ronisia, that lives in a neighboring city. 

  Then outside our church building before we went in for Conference I get a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to see Antonio!!! A great great friend from Boa Vista! He is actually from Santo Antao but living and working in Boa Vista! We helped him return to church activity while in Boa Vista and one of the first meetings he went to was conference 6 months ago and now 6 months later I got to see him again!!! He just reminded me how crazily bad I miss everyone from Boa Vista and Santiago!

  I didnºt get to watch all of conference because we left to go get investigators. We have seen conference before but this will be their first time!

  Carmenºs mother past away 2 months ago (that is how we found her and began talking with her). I had a distinct spiritual impression that her mother has already accepted the Gospel in the spirit world and is anxious for her daughter to do the same. In conference she was deeply touched with Elder Hollandºs talk. As was I. Mom, I love you. When Elder Holland was basically implying the messianic role of mothers I couldnºt stop crying. 

  Dad, As Elder Renlund (what a great new apostle!) spoke of Chadºs death and his fatherºs eyes I couldnºt help but think of you dad. You are such an amazing example to me. Period. Enough said. You are my hero!

Note to Isabelle: Please stop it, stop growing. I think I saw you in Monsterºs University, oh wait... that was the librarian. Well, you are as tall as that lady now!

Tchau!

Elder Judd

Walking into a small home with dirt floors and feeling how it is a house of prayer, a house of fasting, etc. and to see that even though it had no lightbulbs the ambiente was as bright as the temple in recife brasil. Even though they wonºt have the money to go for many more years the future is as bright as their faith. 

  You lucky duck! I miss the temple soo bad! But instead of being temple trunky I try to help members truly understand its importance.

Sept. 28, 2015

Yeah, thatºs a centipede... in my hair.

 Things here are super great! The best part of the week was a leadership training that I got to go to on a different island. Iºm trying to be so much more loving and Iºve seen a little bit of progress but, hahaha, Iºve got a looong way. Thanks for your example though. You amaze me! Iºm trying to wear perfume every day as well so that I can have a lovely day (see attached image, haha, this was in the quote book you gave me)

  Tell Harrison to email me back! Haha, the only things that I hear about harrison are from you, hahaha.

  Sorry for how short this email is you are the second person Iºve emailed. Dad is the first. I only have 2 minutes left because the computer was having some serious problems but Iºll try and send a letter/package soon. 

  Christi mother, I love you soo much! I miss you like a lot, and the thought of you only inspires me to work even harder and enjoy life even more. 

  

 You are all in my prayers!

Elder Judd

 Dad, It warms my heart to hear that you are praying for my investigators. That may seem like a simple phrase but I love them so much! I miss my old investigators in other areas. I love it here, dad. 

  You are the best dad in the world. I hope you know that! All the time that we spent together was more valuable than gold to me. Even more valuable than time at a concert with my buddies. Why? Because you are the Buddy that I always get to have as my dad!

Sept. 21, 2015 Pictures!

Love you more than words can say
Love you forever like you for always

WOW! Did you make that up? It kinda rhymes!

Anyways Family,

  Life is all around going super incredibly well! This past week my companion and I worked just about as hard as we could and it was sooo rewarding! We havenºt had a single progressing investigator in church for months and months and then yesterday we had 4! It was a miracle!!! When the Lord really wants to bless someone He does His job really well!

  Well, Parker, you havenºt let anything stop you from being a trooper so Iºm not worried about you. You are a boss!

  It is great to hear about your homecoming! You are so good looking! It looks like youºve been putting on a little bit of muscle lately, nice! Your date is also cute and those decorations on our house! Way cute too! Nice job, Mom! I got you a pinterest follower this past week (jose or jesse carlos ... or something like that. Hahaha, youºre welcome)

  Elder Karl and I got to do a lot of service this past week too and it was so much fun! The best part of some service projects is doing it in secret! We got caught though! So we may or may not have lied to get out of it, haha. No, we didnºt lie, donºt worry.

  Well, I love you all! Tchau!

Sept. 14, 2015

to mom:
I love you I love you I LOVE YOU! Iºm very healthy. Iºm actually lifting weights daily and so I can finally pick up a can of tuna now. bye

To Dad:
This past week we have been really focusing and just families and though we have had a good amount of hard days we have also been so blessed with this focus. It seems to make everything go better! This past week we had 59 people at church!!! It has been going up and we plan to keep it that way. We have investigators that are willing to come to church and progress. Praying for them has been such a blessing for us as we can have our eyes opened to better ways to help them. 
Elder Karl and I are improving on obedience and our companionship study as well. This past week we have been struggling on getting member present lessons because many of the members that we normally use were not available. This week we will try and branch out more (with the plans weºve made) with the members because we feel that this will be beneficial to all. Asking for references from everyone has been helpful to find families that are prepared to hear this message. I know that this next week will be a really successful week for us.
Weºve been mostly focusing on the main city instead of going to the other zones a lot. We will try some zones we havenºt gone to yet where some references live. 
Being district leader is still an amazing blessing to me and Iºm learning a lot from the zone leaders as well. In our district meetings it has been good to see that the zone plans and goals are being implimented better than they were last month. It has helped focus the work on how to truly receive Godºs blessings. 
 May the Lord recieve all glory for all that is being done around the world and on these blessed islands of Cabo Verde.

Elder Judd

Sorry! This week they made us do this super long survey! 

  It seems like you are learning a lot these past weeks. It is really cool to see how teachable you are Dad. God has a lot of confidence and trust in you. It is cool to see. Love you! Praying for you and mother!

Elder judd

September 7, 2015 First Hurricane in Cape Verde since 1892

From Kennedi's email:

My companion almost got knocked out by a giant crate in the hurricane but miraculously it blew right over his head! Donºt tell mom that, she will probably start crying really badly, hahahahaha!

To mom:

The hurricane was nuts! We were out trying to teach anyone but because of the really strong wind and rain it didnºt really work out. The wind got really strong to the point that it was too dangerous to stay out any longer (because things were blowing off of rooftops and would have really hurt if they hit someone). That night the wind got even louder and stronger. The next morning the streets were covered in dirt and rocks and a couple houses had their roofs blown off. Nobody got injured though, besides some coconut trees and banana trees in the Farm of one of the members here. 

Your Forever Son,

Elder Judd

August 31, 2015 Hurricane is coming

...Wait, there is a hurricane coming our way?? I canºt believe it. Oh hold on, whatºs that?? The wind just started picking up! Ahhhh! Iºm having to hold onto the table with one hand and the other one is typing this final message!

   Just kidding. I probably shouldnºt kid around about that because people could get injured but it wonºt be bad here. They did close down all planes and boats just in case. That is the only thing Iºve heard about it. It really messed up travel plans because lots of people just got transfered so they will have to wait until tomorrow.

 I got the card, sweet mother. Iºll be fine in the hurricane, you donºt need to worry about my safety at all, President Ivins blessed me that I would be perfectly safe on my mission. To worry is to doubt. (: Iºll be super fine and I love rain! It is a blessing actually because we need rain really bad here or so many crops will go to waste. 

  No, probably not 30 miles away. The roads are just so steep and windy it takes a while. 

Sorry for the short email. The cybers all closed down because of the rain so Iºm in our church building right now. Right now is time to go proselyting though. Iºll write you more this week! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Judd

August 23, 2015 Elder Drawe is home!

Just wanted to share a quick story with my favorite mother....

This past week, while we were doing weekly planning, someone knocked on our door. The lady wasnºt there to give us our water bill or anything, she was there because she needs help spiritually. She lives about 35minutes into the mountains by car and so the following day we made the trek up there. We only knew that her name was Casimira and that she normally lives in france, not much to go off of. 

  We made it to her house by a miracle, and were able to talk to her and give her a blessing. In the blessing it was guided by the spirit to heal her hands and feet (which have really bad problems) and to help her sleep (she only gets 1.5 hrs of sleep per night and no drugs even help her sleep more than 2 hrs.) It was an unforgettable experience. It was worth it to spend half of our day traveling to give that blessing. 

  It is always worth it to help someone. That is something you have taught me mom.

Hola Daddio,

Yo tengo mucho vontadio de aprender espanol. Yo hablo un pocito y sou mucho bien. Chino lobo.  

  I am so grateful for my companion, Elder Karl, (the Canadian!) and how he is willing to follow the small promptings of the spirit. Night had already risen and we were

briskly walking to our next appointment and as we wave to one of the local old ladies (sitting on some stairs) my companion said ºlets go talk

to herº. ºSure!º I said. As we walked up to talk with this nice old ºsenhoraº we quickly noticed that she was crying. She explained that there 

was a party that night and that there were dozens and dozens of people that had to walk right past her and none of them said goodnight to 

her. She cried even more because we stopped to talk to her, and as we went inside she couldnºt stop telling us how we are ºcristaos de veraº

which means ºtrue christiansº,ºtrue christiansº, ºtrue christiansº she kept repeating. We almost had to yell because she is hard of hearing,

but she loved talking to us. She is turning 99 years old pretty soon. She was walking up and down stairs with no need for help and she still

has a sharp mind. She had to hold on to my hand to try and stop herself from crying. Those tears, a mixture of sadness, gratitude, and water

made the experience for me unforgettable. Her name is Luz, which means light. What a perfect name.

Following the spirit can save lives or can just make old women kiss you on the head a lot, haha. Either way, itºs worth it!

Elder Judd

August 17, 2015

Jonathan,

How was Your week? I really hope that it was as great or even better than mine! Iºm totally settled in now and I LOVE my companion and my area! The most beautiful area so far! Our apartment has everything! Hot water! Even water period is a blessing! Also it has a fan and it is really big and beautiful. From our window we see out over a good portion of the city and all the sheer cliff faces on either side of us. Plus we can hear the ocean if the parties die down, haha. 

  The rains have kinda started. Driving from the highest point of Santo Antao down we literally were above the clouds and had to drive down through them. They were full of water and really cool. The sisters in the district were freezing, haha. 

  I canºt wait for you both to meet Elder Drawe, he can tell you some amazing stories! He is an incredible, basically legendary, missionary. (haha, that dream is kinda funny)

  While you are in the US with that trial I am over here with 6 weeks (consecutive) where not one investigator has come to church. It is kind of unheard of for someone to not have ANY investigators on any given week let alone 6 weeks in a row. To be 100% honest, I am Perfectly content with the work we did this past week to find prepared people and bring all our investigators to church and so even if our number was zero, Iºm happy. 

  As long as you are doing what is in YOUR circle of control than you should be happy, even though Iºm sure it is super tough. Dad, you are the number one example of hard worker. I love you so much and canºt wait to see you cry after our next ping pong game, haha.

Your son Forever and ever,

Elder Judd

August 10, 2015 Cute outfit

Christi!

  You know how I always call you by your first name? Christi! Few people call their parents by their first name but you know why I always did? Because I know that you are the most Christlike person that I know. I love you. Iºm trying to develop my Christi-like qualities every day. My Patriarchal Blessing tells me the rather obvious fact that I have been born unto a King and Queen of the most High God. It blows my mind to think that I got placed under the care of you, how did I get so lucky? The blessings also tells me of the blessings that will come from getting to know you and the stories of your life better... I definitely could and should do a better job at that, but that is why it was sooo wonderful seeing those pictures you sent me. Haha, they were really touching both to my heart strings and my laugh box, haha. 

  My companion and I are working really hard but we havenºt had an investigator come to church, not one, in over a month. Before this area Iºve always had investigators show up and now it has been a month without them, haha, but the Lord is blessing us with the excitement and happiness to keep going and working even harder. If we get down on ourselves where is the fun in that? ... Iºve tried looking for it but have never found it, haha. 

  FYI, I have forgotten how to speak english as well. I have to have my comp type my emails for me. 

  Haha, short little story: We were traveling back from Zone Meeting to Santo Antao and we missed our boat. The next one was supposed to leave at 5:30 but didnºt leave until almost 9 o clock. So we finally got to the island but after that a 1 hr bus ride to our area persued. We got home at almost midnight. Hahaha, on the bus ride a boyfriend and girlfriend got in a hideous fight and the bus driver had to stop the bus to break it up. The whole bus chanted to kick them off the bus. He then had the descision to let them stay or walk into the night. He chose to be merciful and not listen to the crowd, unlike Pilate. The rest of the drive ... no more time. Love you

August 3, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER AND ISABELLE!!!

  I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAYS ARE WORTHY OF ALL CAPS!!! I WANT YOU BOTH TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE BOTH BEDJU! WHICH IS CRIOULE FOR REALLY OLD! I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!! EVEN THOUGH I AM KINDA FAR AWAY I CAN STILL CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! AND GOOD JOB ISABELLE AND BEING A GENIUS AND GIVING YOURSELF A PARTY!!! 

  I CANºT BELIEVE HOW OLD YOU ARE BECOMING! YOU ARE GROWING UP TOO FAST!

PARABENS!!!

ELDER JUDD

MORE July 27, 2015

Daddy!!!

  Iºm in a strange land where I donºt understand the language! I have just been transported back to my first transfers, haha. The crioule here is the hardest crioule in Cabo Verde and Iºve only been on islands that speak Bidyu (there are 2 types: bidyu and sanpajud, both of those were spelled incorrectly, fyi, aahaha) and now I am trying to understand the other one. Haha, it is great though, I canºt still handle myself easily enough though. 

  I am ABSOLUTELY LOVING it here!!!!!! I absolutely loved my old area but this area just canºt be beat!!! It is so different and so beautiful! Well, to answer your question... everything is different about this island! It is going to be getting real green when the rain comes here shortly. Boa Vista has peoples from all over africa but Santo Antao is just people from Santo Antao (there are very few jews and muslims here though) The church is basically the same island to island in regards to the way they believe, haha, but they are so different at the same time. 

  I am working with a branch that has about 20 people and is really struggling but the people are super awesome. My companion is super awesome as well! He is just getting out of training and has a good desire to work and is humble enough to learn the large amount he still has to learn. His name is Elder Karl and he is from Canada. Yes, he does say ºehº a lot, haha. But even though we have sooo much work ahead of us here in this area we are so grateful for the Lordºs loving guidance, eh?

  I was just reading in the war chapters of Alma and in Alma 56:27 I was instantely reminded of you, Dad. You are my support, the reason Iºm still going. I am not afraid in this battle against evil, why? because of my parents examples. I know you know that God exists and he will protect our family. It is hard to see siblings break off from the righteous traditions of their fathers but the modern prophets have taught us the sealing power due to righteous parents is stronger than we can now comprehend. I love you sooooo much and pray for you constantly! Haha, the Lordºs will is always done and it is always a good will, well, actually a perfect will, haha. Love you!!!

ELder Judd

July 27, 2015

Pictures by Isabelle

Hahahaha, that is super great!!!!

I was in English Class a couple weeks ago and an investigators little daughter (who reminds me of Isabelle) made me... no, she Forced me to draw this hand house just the way she wanted it, hahaha. So that is such a coincidence that now our whole hand family can move into the new hand house, haha. 

  Also Isabelle, I just wanted to say that I heard the song ºLove is an open doorº a few days ago. That is our song! Our duet was so great!!! Do you remember when you fell of the table and wouldnºt sing with me more? (: I love you sweet Isabelly!!!

Dear Christi Judd,

  Haha, tooooo many things happened this first week to tell about them all. Iºll tell most of them in these next weeks though. 

  The card wasnºt in the package when I first quickly looked but I can look again really well just to double check. It is crazy to hear about Elijah and Treven! I can barely believe it really!

  This next package would be super great if you achasdkf as kfajskdf asdjkfja liwej. If you could send that for me I would be SOOO happy!!! I mean I just love alksdj asd kj!!!! Haha, but really it would be super appreciated if I could get a small picture of Christ getting baptized. (an investigator stole my picture I used to use). And maybe an updated photo of the family with a picture of stefano included. (or if you can find a picture with all of us and stefano that would be ideal) Haha, because I only have one picture of our family and it is getting a little dirty, haha.  

  Mother, I love you so much! You can read dadºs email too. Anyways, there is a man named Antonio that said he really needs our whole church to pray for him these days and so that reminded me of the prayer roll in the temple if you could put in Antonioºs name that would make all the difference in the world. Thanks! 

  This past week we took a truck up and over the mountain to another little town where quite a few members live and it is really green and lush up there. So as we were walking we decided to go down this tiny little path that most people would have not noticed because the foliage was blocking the entrance a bit. We decided to go down this little path for a little while until we found a house with some people outside. We began talking to them... of course. Anyways, I asked the younger woman there if she was a teacher. She was caught completely off guard and replied ºyeah! Why??º ... I had known her in Tarrafal (santiago). About 8 months ago I was a little young missionary and we were walking in the street and decided to talk to a lady, she said she was from Santo Antao and so I understood nothing else that she said... until she started talking in english because that is what she teaches. Anyways, she was really great but after a while of trying to teach her she moved houses (out of the blue) and we were never able to find her again in Tarrafal. Then in the most random, deep, unlikely place in all of Cabo Verde and we find her again. It was super incredible! We then helped for the next hour carry sand (it is black here in Santo Antao) and dump it by their house. We carried it on our shoulders while the little girls were carrying WAY more on their heads! Anyways, in the attached picture she is on the far left. 

  Haha, in church on sunday the branch president came up to me during the sacrament hymn and told me that I would be giving a 20 minute talk on ºFastingº because the speakers didnºt show up. Haha, I gladly gave it but just thought it was really funny the way he asked, haha. Anyways, whether there are 200 members or 20 members church is still such an uplifting experience. Mother, you are doing a great job. You need to be told that more, much more. You are doing a fantastic job at motherhood. You will always be a mother and for that fact I will always be grateful for you and will always love you. 

Bigger and more gigantic hugs!!!

Elder Judd 

July 20, 2015 Santo Antao!!!

Mother Dearest!!!

  I have just traveled for the past two days and have just now got to my new area here in........ Santo Antao!!!!!! My life has completely changed, hahaha! I am in Ribeira Grande and President told me that it is his favorite area in the whole mission... which makes sense because it is absolutely incredible here! (I canºt figure out how to send pics from this cyber so maybe next week)

  I told you that this next email would be a really long one and I plan on keeping my promise! So back in Boa Vista my companion and I had become absolute best friends (Elder Hughes and I) and then he got transfered to Fogo and I got transfered to Santo Antao (another of the islands that most missionaries never get to be on, which I feel really blessed to be here in Santo Antao)

  While I was in Praia yesterday I got to do a division with my last companion, Elder Fontes (from Assomada, Santiago) and while we were out in the back streets of Praia, wondering what we will eat tonight for dinner, a pomba (dove) fell from the sky and landed right in front of us. The owner was nowhere to be found and so there was nothing to do but take it. We later went home and killed the dove and cooked it and ate it. Even though it didnºt have a ton of meat it was enough for us.

  I got the package that you sent dear mother! Thanks doesnºt even cut it! Double thank you! TRIPLE thank you!!! Just what I needed right when I needed it.  

  Well, I feel like the most blessed person on earth. The best family in the world, the best mission in the world, what more could anyone want?? I could never be grateful enough to my parents, siblings, and to God.

I was just thinking the other day about how you always cared so much about me to make any sacrifice for me. All these memories came flooding into my mind in that moment. Swimming lessons, piano lessons, tennis lessons, soccer teams, act prep, school help. You have giving me anything I could have every dreamed of.

Love you ALL!

Elder Judd

July 13, 2015 It's a monkey!

I. Canºt. Believe. It. SORRY!

  The computer has been acting weird and so I donºt have the time to send you and Dad the emails that you both so incredibly deserve. I just want you to know that I have been praying a lot for you to find a job, dad. Sometimes I have to be really careful to not boast in my parents but instead to boast in God. 

  Next week, without a doubt I will send you the longest email that you have ever recieved!

  I had my 1 year mark this past week and it was literally just like any other day. I may have been out for over a year but it still hasnºt caught up yet. Well, I have to go. I love you so much!!!!! I wish I had more time!

I love you Parker, Kennedi, Harrison, Stefano, Sadie, Charlie, Isabelle, Christi, and Jonathan... and anyone else I forgot.

-Elder Judd 

(Here is me with a beautiful monkey from Brasil. She even has her ears pierced, haha. The dudes name is Jonathan and his brotherºs name is Harrison... how weird)

July 4, 2015

Dear Family,

  I have decided that Iºm finally going to send you the email that you all so greatly deserve, haha. I am also so appreciative of your wonderful emails, I mean, I get at least 2 from both my parents each week, how incredible is that!? 

  I take comfort that many hearts are going out to the Simmonºs family, (as well as the Packer and Perry families). That really is heartbreaking. I know that he will have a great mission nonetheless. Mom, it is heartwarming how others can be such great supports through difficult times. Mom and Dad, you really have absolutely no idea how much you have supported me to help me through my most difficult times. Not only that but also to make my most wonderful times so special: Thanks. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

  This past week has been such a rich week for me, I feel like Iºm able to see such needed progress in me having more patience with people. I just feel that Iºve just kicked all my patience out the window these past couple months, so it was good to see it coming back little by little, haha.
  With one of Godºs investigators, Silva, I learned a really important lesson: donºt doubt what God tells you. We had a baptismal date marked and he was progressing practically perfectly. One day we were praying for Silva felt like he should be baptized on a later date ºbut he is preparing perfectlyº I thought, (plus we are recieving huge pressure from our leaders to baptize him). The date drew near and the service was already being prepared. While we were talking to him a few days before the date we just felt inspired to tell him that he would be baptized on a later date, which came as a surprise as those words left our mouths. We learned in a few minutes the reason the Lord wanted him to be baptized on that later date, it became apparent. If we had given in to peer pressure, even from good people, we would not have followed the Lord, found out His reasoning, or felt His peace. Yeah, that is kind of a generic experience when you first think about it but it does not feel generic to us.

  We also have dealt with a lot of flood control this week. Saturday the church building flooded really badly so it was fun to help to care of it alongside with these great members. We thought it had been resolved until we were in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday and water started creeping under the doors... haha, that was an interesting experience. The water did not smell like water nor like popcorn. 

 One of the funnest days of this year was the 4th of July with my Awesome companion, Elder Hughes! It was so much fun to make so much american food! (as you can see in the attachment that there was a lot of food, yup, for just my companion and I, haha. We have been eating a lot of cheap bread and rice these days to save up some good money.) Elder Hughes make some super great fried chicken and we had been given a water lemon from a great investigator family, and Elder Hughes taught me how to make ice cream. 

  Then the day after was the 5º de Julho: Cape Verdeºs independence day! So to celebrate we ate CusCus, one of the traditional dishes here.  (traditional food from Senegal in the second picture)

Have an amazing week all of you!

Elder Judd

June 29, 2015 He stinks!

  I stink! I litterally smell sooo bad, haha. This past week we have been without water, plus our reserve has already gone dry too. Soo... Today is the first day Iºve showered in 4 days.... Yes mother, I know what you are probably thinking, hahaha. Donºt worry though, Iºve been using deodorant!

  Hahaha, everything has been going really great though, Iºve been finding a lot more happiness lately after realizing that Iºve kind of just been in the missionary mode. It was almost like coming out of a daydream. There is no real excuse for falling into that rut but Iºm repenting at least, hahaha. Caring more about the people than caring about the pressure being put on your back to reach the numbers. Always staying awake to what truly matters is pretty important, well very important, well actually essencial. You can loosely connect it to when the apostles were fishing on the boat and couldnºt catch anything. Hours of no success to have someone say try the other side. Haha, the ocean is huge and the boat is tiny so you could ask any fisherman and they would just laugh and say it wouldnºt matter but these apostles tried anyway. We can do the same thing in two ways, the exact same thing with 2 different results: 1. keep living or... 2. Start truly living as we follow the Lordºs command to fish on the other side (no difference at all just a different understanding, a different attitude)

  This past week an Area Seventy from Europe spoke to the islanders of Sal which was then broadcasted to Boa Vista (Yay for technology!). He said a lot of interesting things of course. Iºll share something this next week. Got to go, Iºm sorry again that this email still is not good!!!

I love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had a revelation come to me! I canºt believe that I didnºt think of this before! Good thing God is perfectly smart so he can help those who are perfect at forgetting things, like Mother and I.

  I could send you a part of my email to President so you can get more indepth of what is going on in the work. Weºll try it out and see how it is. 

(President Mathews,

This past week a lot of heavenly gifts have been given from our loving Heavenly Father. Even if we pray all day and night to Him we would still be unprofitable servants for everything that He has given us, haha. One of the most obvious miracles this past week: we have gone from only 4 dates marked to 17, and it has been great to see how our faith has increased. It has been something we have needed to repent for: caring more about what investigators would think of us rather than truly caring about what God thinks of us. As we have been trying hard to reach our goals we have been given more people that have been prepared by the Lord. It was great to see an increase in church attendance. We will be focusing on teaching these progressing investigators in the homes of members that can help them even more. We should begin to see baptisms again in the area of Barraca. The division with the APºs was a great way to ºwake upº the area and we will do our best to continue going in this direction. Do all within our circle of control and be in a spirit of prayer and fasting for the things outside of our control.
I had the opportunity to talk to Elder Biddulph today and he has really helped me understand the enemy and understand the weapons that God has given to me and so with this knowledge we have decided that our little calls our done but if I need to call him for extra support than I can. It has been great to recieve the support from you as well, President. We also enjoyed your talks that you and your wife gave at the District Conference.
Elder Hughes is also doing better and we are teaching with a lot more unity recently. Everything is going in a good direction and so I will try extra hard these days to pour out my heart in gratitude to Him, our loving Teacher.

Elder Judd)

June 22, 2015

Iºm so sorry that this week Iºm not able to send a big email. I spent a lot of time with a couple people that really needed it. I love you. Iºm doing great! It is so great to here from you. I hope you get the journal soon. Iºm sorry again about the email. I promise though that next week will be better! I know I suck, ahaha.

Ate proxima semana!

Elder Judd

June 15, 2015

DAD!

HAPPY EARLY FATHERºS DAY!!! YOU ARE LITERALLY THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD!!!! AND I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!! I just wanted to tell you that because I mean it with all the bones, fibers, and fat in my body! I wonºt even trash talk you in this letter is how much I love you! 

  Dad, I wish you could just see yourself from my eyes, when I say you are the best dad in the world I literally mean this: I donºt know how God blessed me enough to put me under your loving care while we were in the premortal existance but I could literally work all my days for you and would still be an unprofitable servant. There are great people in the world but I would trade my dad for the world. Literally the whole world doesnºt even compare. Thanks Dad!

ELder Judd

Mother Dearest!

  Her drawing is super great! She is getting more and more talented, haha. You all look so different in the house picture, haha. (oh by the way I sent my journal home a little while ago but it was sent to our old house. So if they owners of the house have my stuff then thatºs why.
  It was so great to get your emailS this week! That sounds like more craziness with the new house! Sheesh! Iºm grateful that I donºt even have to deal with weeds! 

  To answer your questions: 1. well (haha, just kidding, Iºm doing better than just well! This last week was really great!)

2. This week was a miracle week so I kinda am biased towards the miracles, haha. We have just been working as hard as we can with success not as much as it should be in the eyes of the world, haha, and in our own eyes a bit too but God placed some people in our path to help increase our faith. We had a less active lady, Mina, that came to church that we had never heard of before and so when we tried looking for her the next day the Lord has something else in mind. We went to the place where she told us to go and so when we went there we began to ask around where Mina lives, everyone pointed to this one house so we went there and when we knocked on the door she told us to come in. We had brought a big warm peice of coconut bread to say ºsorry we are a little lateº (we were waiting for a member to come with us to help teach the lesson). It was kind of dark in the house but this lady still didnºt look like Mina. After 30 seconds she told us that she isnºt the person we are looking for because Mina doesnºt even live around there. She continued to explain that her name is Onisi and that she had been praying for God to send help to her because she was in serious need of support. All while she was talking you could tell that she had just been crying a lot. She then pulled out her book of mormon out of the dust and told us that she promises to start reading. She says she talked to missionaries a long long time ago. She was so grateful for the small visit. I was grateful as well, that I was able to follow the spirit and get that delicious coconut bread for her, hahaha. Truly all was in the plan of God. All glory to Him.

  The next day we passed by her and listened to her tell us what had just happened that day. She decided to pray for guidance before she picked up her book of mormon to read a little. Right as she began reading in the book she was interrupted by a phone call... it was the bank manager saying that a miracle had just happened and they were able to resolve the problem with a very large sum of money that had been in question. She has been trying to resolve this problem for many many months by this point. She is able to send enough money to her child in Praia so they can live without hunger. She bore the sweetest testimony about how she knows the love of God for His children.

3. Some investigators are passing through txeu kuza. Or in other words, are really struggling. We struggle right along with them because it is so hard to see and watch them turn to the things of the world rather than to the things of God. Don, right before his baptism got in a really big fight with his ex-wife and is now back into drinking and smoking. A member offended him so he says he will never come back to church. That is just one of the many examples of things that are just so heartbreaking to see. 

4. Yes, of course I know you love me soooo much! You all do such an incredible job of not just telling me but showing me. I can feel it everyday, I hope YOU know that. I love you all as well. I love you so so much! To the moon and back a billion times. 

  I had a moment while reading Mosiah 2, 3, and 4. I realized how absolutely and disgustingly ungrateful I have been to the sacrafices that you and Dad have made to make it possible for me to be out here. Paying for over half of my mission and paying for any other fees that occur. That is not all because it is dwarfed by the level of sacrifices that you have always made for me before the mission. It blows my mind, especially with how willing you both are in making these sacrifices. I know you donºt want me to apologize but Iºm sorry that I wasnºt more grateful before the mission. Always asking for money to go on dates or be with friends and  probably never turning back while running out the door just to say a simple ºthank youº. So if it isnºt too late, I want to tell you with my whole heart and soul: Thank you Mom and Dad!

 

Iºll pray for the Robertºs family. Also, how did Parker like Kodiak, did he go? Is he doing, okay? He is such a nice Brother, he always tells me how Iºm his hero and it makes me feel so much love from him. I love him so much. I Even if the progress is tiny it is still progress. Iºve been doing good though, I am so much more patient with myself which is a really wonderful blessing from God. Even when I wasnºt as patient with myself I was still really happy, which sounds weird but it is true. I am even happier now, telling the truth and being open about it really helps.

Love, Elder Judd

LAST house picture

June 8, 2015

....Wow.... That is so much going on! How can you handle it all?? Haha, I guess that you have a lot of practice... A lot!

Iºm so glad that Parker had such a great time at conference. He looks like a European, hahaha. I see a lot of tourists that look just like him, haha. I met a Nigerian named Harrison, it caught me off guard, haha, because that is so not a Nigerian name. Well, Iºm so sorry that I donºt have much time to send you an actual email, You should get my journals in about a month. 

  Haha, it is cool that we wonºt be in such a big house. I would literally not be able to handle it when I will get back. I sent a longer email to your husband this week so you can all read that one as well.  I love you so much sweet mother. I pray for you all specifically multiple times per day and the Lord has blessed me with the ability to never let my love for you all turn into longing to get out of the mission feild. 

(Do you remember the talk from this last conference where he compared everything to instruments and music? That one was super good)

Thanks so much for all your loving support! I love you forever Iºll like you for always as long as youºre living my mommy youºll be.

Elder Judd

This photo was taken at the perfect moment to capture my true natural beauty, haha.

oh also, Elder Conway, my super amazing MTC comp. just got transfered to Fogo. It has been so fun to be on such a tiny island with him for so long. We have become best friends! I already miss him because I probably wonºt see him at all for the rest of my mission but it was such a blessing to be on Boa Vista together again.

and... Elder Drawe, will be having his homecoming in a couple months in Saint George and so you are all invited to that, haha. It is obviously super far away but he said he will talk about me in his talk, haha. He will come up and visit you guys a little while after he comes home, I just wanted to let you know. (:

Have a maybe less crazy week!

Elder Judd

My great Dad,

  Hahaha, please donºt apologize for not writing me this past week. Thanks. Because where was my email to you last week? Doesnºt exist, haha, and I understand how crazy life is these days. Iºm sorry that I havenºt been giving the weekly emails to update about everything like I used to. Well, it was so great to get your email! It had such timeless wisdom and priceless advice in it.
  Everything has been going great out here. In terms of my happiness, Iºm really really happy. It is bittersweet how fast the time flies by though. The work was quite hard this last week. We havenºt had a baptism in a long time and our super solid baptism fell shortly before his baptism. His ex-wife just randomly moved back in with him, it literally came out of nowhere. But we are happy because that just means there is a possibility of helping them get married and then baptized. Life is so much better when we think outside the box in a positive way. 

  My companion and I will be together for at least another transfer and I am so grateful for it because this last week is when we really became great friends. He is a lot happier lately and it is fun to be friends rather than just companions. I have so much to learn from you, Dad, I love and appreciate your advice so much. I hope you know that. To be honest, I took you so much for granted but Iºve really been seeing lately the life lessons you have taught me that are helping me out so much! 

  Elder Drawe, my first companion in Cape Verde and best friend, is going to be opening up a new area here in Cabo Verde. A city that has SOOO many people in it and has always been mysteriously kept closed... for no apparent reason. Well, now my trainer is opening it with the last AP, super great news!

Well, Dad, I just want you to know without a doubt that I love you so much, Dad. Donºt ever doubt that for a second. Love you!!!! (: 

Elder Judd 

June 1, 2015

This week was so much fun! We are still working as hard as we can but I love every second of it! My companion is doing sooooooooo much better! It makes me so happy to see! The branch will be having a baptism this next week for a wise nigerian man named Don. God led us to him only about a week and a half ago but he is so humble and ready to follow God. He recieved his answer that the Book of Mormon is true through his dreams (which is the way 75% of people recieve their answer from God here in most African countries, it is very interesting) and he reads everything that we leave for him. I know a lot of Nigerians here and so I am asking how to say basic phrases in their tribal language of Ebu...(I donºt know how to spell the name of the language)

  I hope that everything is doing alright back at home, I pray for you all multiple times a day. I will be sending my journal home either this week or next week so you will get a ton of information (still havenºt missed a day yet). I love you all with all my heart and hope that this week goes wonderfully. I canºt believe it is already summer! Parker is going to be a Senior and Kennedi is in High School! I just have a quick question.... and I feel terrible asking it: what day is Dadºs birthday again? I could make up some excuse why I forgot my own fatherºs birthday but regardless of anything... I still forgot it. 

  Love you, Mother!

Elder Judd