Letter #25

September 20, 2010

Family and friends,

This week has been a week of self discovery! Sister Petersen and I have been learning who we are and how we can feel confidence in which we are and not worry about what others think of us.

The talk with Brother THevanen was really eye opening. I needed it badly. And even though there were many tears, my heart felt like it could keep going and that the Lord knew me and Brother Thevenen gave me a perfect assignment: How can I feel better about myself inwardly instead of relying outward on what others say about me. I have been feeling like I lost my fire that I knew so well in me. I felt lost. Now I am finding the fire again, it comes through having faith, building others up, but as equally important to build myself up and not tare myself down, because the only person that's laughing is Satan. I am the captain of my own soul, and I choose who I am and what I am supposed to be! Slowly I am learning this, and little by little beginning to believe it.

Clark canceled on us this week.

No one came to church....except for a less active we've been working with for a long time; in fact we are having great progression with him, and his non-member wife, SHE ACTUALLY CAME TOO! She is Asian and said it was different, I told her that's ok, and it probably was because you have never come before. They left after sacrament meeting, but they came. And we are teaching them on Friday. We asked her to pray to know she is a daughter of God. That is really foreign to her and she raised her eye brow when we told her that, but she said she would, the spirit was so strong, even though her kids were screaming. She is a great mom that works really hard, her husband who is the less active seems like he struggles to balance fatherhood with work. It’s almost like he doesn’t know what to do when his kids cry. I realized that just like a companionship, a marriage if not cultivated and constantly worked at, will wilt and eventually shrivel up and die.

Brenda we have backed off a little, but last night we cut out hearts and wrote a sweet note to express our love, but most importantly her Savior's love and support! We will visit her this week, but shorter visits and no pushing, she will make the choice if she desires to. And the Lord will give us our desires.

Randy has 6 weeks to change his life and then he goes back to court to see if he gets locked up for 15 years. His mother is so grateful for our visits and constantly is trying to help us, she even said she would leave a key for her house for us to come in and do whatever if she's not home. ha ha! So sweet to offer such trust she has. She is less active and Randy is a non member (her son).

We are working on investigator Volley ball with the youth, starting small with the young women, to have then bring their friends that they want to share the gospel with and we would get together and play volley ball together and they would get to know us the missionaries so they will not be scared to ask questions. So cool.

We are looking for new finding ideas. It’s been a busy lazy week, lowest numbers this week on my mission, still met 20 lessons, but we average 28, this week we are going to work hard and find those that are ready!

All is well in Tomball the ward is incredible and sister Petersen and I are happy and ready for a new week.

----that was a letter I sent to my Mission President, I just thought I should share it, it's a little more personal then normal, but for some reason I was supposed to share it.

Well Sister Petersen and I have been enjoying our time together, thank you mom for your words of encouragement! I really and truly love hearing your voice through your words, and don't worry you don't ever have to filter what you want to say to me, I’m so grateful I have a mother that I share everything with and am not scared of her judgment, you have always lifted me up to heights I thought I would fall at. My parents I love so much. Dad you have been on my mind a lot, I need a letter from you when you get a chance ok!? I know you’re busy, but when you get a chance...I'll be patient! :)

I am so very grateful for this transfer, its interesting how up and down it has been, my MTC comp and I are having such fun together and we are eating TONS of smoothies!!! I'm talking we live off them! We have almost 4 the other day! I down sized from a court jar to 1/2 a court! YUM!!! So good. I drink my milk and put my brewers yeast which by the way mom!!! I am running low on! (I have enough for probably another 2 weeks if you're not ready for a package yet! :) I am writing in my journal really funny silly stories that I can’t' wait to read to every one, it's HELARIOUS!

Ok funny, sister Petersen and I were talking late at night after an awesome day of service: We tiled a call siding...mom I can totally do your tile in the kitchen when I get home. We're getting the back splash and John and Joe and I will whip it out in 1 day! Totally know how to do it now! Thanks to all those construction jobs I did with dad! Ha ha!

Ok but we were talking and I start screaming and lift my feet off the carpet onto my chair, ahhaahahah!!!! Sister Petersen jumps away from here and I am pointing right at her feet there was this HUGE!!!!! Cock roach!!! 3 inches, huge antennas and long hairy legs...YUCK...I start yelling and I grab the camera Sis P is freaking out and yells get the 409....I run and get it while she is trying to catch it, then after a 15 minute battle of spraying the 409 (hello totally doesn’t kill cock roaches) so we were fighting the curtains and all of a sudden the bug ran crazy fast and we screamed bloody murder it's 10:25pm by now....then I take a shoe and just start thumping it. I hear a CRUNCH....and lift the shoe and I see 2 now running.....ahahah!!!....it was like we were in Hercules movie and the heads of the monster keeps doubling!!! NO.....it was the BUTT!!! The head was dead but the butt kept moving, his legs all hairy and nasty...sister p said it's a reflex, I said "Uh uh, that is no reflex I've ever seen...that's NASTY" Oh man, I had to clean all the 409 up and vacuum the entire apt before we could get to sleep. YUCK!! I video taped it, ha ha! NASTY TEXAS BUGS!!!

Hmm....life is good, missionary work has been tough this week, but it's a new week and today we get to be rejuvenated!!! I thank you all so much for your letters, thank you again sister Cottle for your letter and the RS newsletter!! WOW!!! I'm in there so cool to know my ward back home remembers me!!! I love you all so much and appreciate all you do. Thank you thank you thank you for your letter my dear friends and family, especially mom I look for yours every Week!!! You lift me up, and I love them. And Katie ever faithful, thank you!

I am slowly writing back, but this week I am sending off a few, please write me, I promise I will write back! John, Joe, goes for you too, and Jac and Josh and Jed I kind of miss my brothers and I want you to know how much I love you and would love just to know how you are doing?

Mom!!! You PUT ME IN THE PICTURE!!!! Our family is all actually together!!! WOW!!!! I love that picture!!! , mom could you send me a 5X7 of the one were everyone of our immediate family is in it (and my picture): D my family never forgets me!!! Thanks mom, that idea made my heart jump. And then one of everyone....I guess Sam has made the family photo all ready Hugh!? ha ha! Cool!

I need good healthy treats yummy stuff to eat, mom any ideas!! I think I am allergic to pastas. ugh!!! GREAT KATIE, now I really hate NOODLES!!! ha ha!

Well I love you, I love the Lord, I love missionary work and oh dad! Can you e-mail me that song you made up on your mission so that I can sing it and make me happy!!! PLEASE!!! "so beat me and slam the door, tell us you've been saved before, treat us like a real good Christian should......please lady let us in..." ha ha!!! I am making up a song just like you did dad! To "love song" IT: S SO GOOD!!! But will you please send that to me please! :) I have such a clever family!!!! Ha ha !!!

I love you from here to Home!!!

Love sister Judkins

Letter # 24

September 13, 2010

Hello,

Thank you to all those brave men and women that have fought for or liberty and freedom and trusted in God with all there heart! Especially on this Sept 11th weekend. I truly show great honor and respect and overwhelming love towards all who have served this great country Ore the land of the free and the home of the brave! Thank you!

Well, this week we had so much happen, miracles! sad part, sister Mullins got transferred to Klein, they called sat and said everything is normal and staying the same then called Sunday night and said "this is not a joke, sister Mullins your going to Klein and Sister Judkins is getting sister Petersen....ok then I found out last night that sister Mullins went to Klein, but them she got transferred AGAIN to Katy...my 1st area! She had to pack everything up again and unpack again! Ha ha! She was really excited and irritated too! Ha ha! And I thought wow! Why is it so important that everyone got changed up!? This transfer is going to be looking to: Expect Miracles! I am excited! Exhausted, I have not slept for 3 nights, but finally yesterday I called President and straightened out some things and had him say prayer with me and he said "I feel like tonight your going to sleep, I feel peace about it" and did too! And I did sleep! And even got up about 4 seconds before the alarm went off! Ha ha, funny how that happens. We get up at 6:20am so we can be ready and awake by 6:30am! YEAHA!!! Then we've been exercising and I've been running, because I want my heart to be strong and healthy and my body to lose all its lard! Ha ha! STRONG!!

Brenda said she doesn't want to get baptized, we're continuing to work with her and pray for her, and Clark is doing great so far, last night we gave an awesome lesson! Sister Petersen started, which is really good, because she doesn't like to talk, she likes to listen and answer direct questions. This is going to be a challenge to figure out what it is we need to learn together. Patience for me! Oh boy! Why is it always patience!!! ha ha! Well upward and onward. I feel this next week is going to be a miraculous work of faith and unity with my companion and I. I can't wait! so excited to move forward in faith!

I do miss sister Mullins, it's incredible the transformation that has taken place with her and I...ha ha!....hate to love....I didn't think it would happen, but the Lord knows us so much better then we think we know ourselves and others. I've learned to not try and change others around me, the only person I can change is me, if I don't change me each day and learn each day, I've just wasted that day! But when I do learn something and implement it in my life, wow, miraculous things can happen. I don't think God is not still learning. and if we continue to actively learn each day, we will become more and more like our Heavenly Father.

Randy is 18 and we were teaching him and his mom is less active, she said she wants to come back to church, but wasn't there this Sunday! Friday Randy had a court case to decide of the years he'll spend in Prison! (Why do I always seam to get these types ha ha ) I love it! we talked with him and got Bro, Nielson to give him and blessing (after asking 8+ men to, and no one could) he did, we taught the lesson and had to leave before Bro. Nielson got there, but they had a great conversation about his drug addictions and the change of heart that needs to take place for things to happen in his life! He was blown away by the spirit that was in that home and called us and praised us for finding them and teaching them.

the next day we went over again and Arlene walked us out after the lesson and hugged me and said "you are just a shining light in our lives, and I've called so many people to come give us blessings or help and your the one that comes 2 days in a row and shows such love and concern, thank you" what a tender mercy for me. My heart was swollen with Joy and appreciation. Now she didn't come to church, but that could be because Randy went to jail, and she was sad. But there is something special with this family. Arlene said "when I got the blessing I could feel my dad with me, he's proud of my decision to go back to church". Thank you to the power on the other side!!!

Sister Davis is gone...feels weird to have her gone and what even more weird is this time next year I could be home! Wow, weird, well anyways....

I love you, and I thank you SSOOOOOO much for all the love and letters you send!

Tasha!!! I got your little package!!! WOW!!! CUTE GUY! if he's the right one I approve, if he doesn’t treat you like the daughter of God you are and the queen you deserve to be treated like then I will come home and kick him out.....but.....if he is a worthy priesthood holder and loves his family and you and June and Grace and Peter and will NEVER hurt anyone....then I can love him like my brother! I trust you big sis, I'm excited to meet him, and his kids are adorable too! Thank you for everything and esp. for your lifting me up sis, I needed it! Love you....

Mom and dad and family I miss you and love you and love hearing from you! I hope all is well, how is soap selling mom? How’s the business dad!? How are school guys? Julie and Jed did you try out for Ensemble!!?? You GOT TO! You’ll love it! I love you all and miss you all!

Love you from here to Home!

Sister Judkins

Letter #22

September 7, 2010

Ok, what a week for sure!!

I'm still in Tomball, but we got a call and said that Sister Mullins is leaving to Klein, after they tolled us she was staying, so sister Petersen is my companion again! From the MTC!!! YEAH! H! H she is awesome! We said good bye to all the members and it was sad for Sis Mullins, but I was happy because I didn't have to say good bye yet!! I LOVE TOMBALL! Sis Mullins is close by and will come on exchanges with me so it's all good.

This week it's been amazing because Sister Mullins and I got along sooooo well, we love each other and truly are friends, we worked well and were happier then ever! I'm so happy and tiered lately too, got to hear mom's voice on Monday!! :D wow, how that made me smile and my cup ran over and my joy burst out of me in tears! I can't tell you all how much I love you and miss you! So grateful for your smiles and encouragement!!

We are looking for more investigators, but loving every second on spending time and loving those around me, I love to love others, hearing my mom's voice reminded me why I have such love in who I am, because I was raised with parents and family that love was our middle name, it's what kept us going in tough times and lifted us up when everyone else tried to push us down. Love....is what brings us together today! (Name that movie) ok just totally killed the spirit, but no really thank you mom and dad for teaching me that to teach is to show love! The only way Sister Mullins and I got along is by showing genuine and true love to each other, and then we have the spirit, and if ye shall not have the spirit ye shall not teach!

It was exchanges to day, so I’m actually here with sister Petersen e-mailing and Sister Mullins is with sister Schlauter so fun! It rained so hard today, Awesome!

So a funny thing, we drove up to Brenda's house and caught her smoking a cigarette (after a week of her free) I walked up o her and said, oh hey, what are you doing!? She said, "ohhh,,,well you just caught me with my one cigarette, he offered I couldn't say no" that was so hard for me, because I'm allergic to cigarette smoke, my throat closes up and every time I am in her house to teach a lesson my throat closes up and here she is smoking a cig. She is just not having the actual desire to quit smoking yet. But I have faith that the Lord knows her and how to help her with her desires. She has no money and her house is going to get foreclosed on and her air conditioner broke too! But the Lord is aware of her.

Clark finally prayed and thought about a date for baptism Sept 23rd AWESOME! We meet with him Thursday and finalize it, he is doing great, reading and coming to all 3 hours of church and we meet now 2 times a week! we are meeting at a family we felt inspired to movie the lessons to, and he has been opening up more and having the young kids there has been a blessing, because this is an example of what he wants in his future. Not drinking and smoking and getting wrinkles. NASTY! all and all he's good.

I have not been feeling well lately physically, feeling sick, stomach and I think just changing with everything that I need to do, stress, etc. other than that I'm great! happy tiered, exercising more too and drinking more water.

Life is good, my brain is dead, I’m so sorry. Just been so very tired and no I am taking over the area with my new companion it is very draining but next week I will be better at writing and telling you about what happened. Thank you mom for the Lotions, I love them and my friend/ missionary loves the big bottle of milk and something you gave me!! She says it reminds her of Christmas, which is weird, it reminds me of BOATING!!! And the beach!!! YUM! I love wearing them every day!!!

I love missionary work, miss you, let’s do another 6 weeks!! Yes I can!!!

Love you,

From here to Heaven, Sister Judkins