Letter #4

Dear Family and Friends! May 17, 2010

Oh how I love missionary work! I love the people, the spirits of excitement and also the promptings and disappointments that teach me how to handle the future.

1. got my 1st door slammed in my face....but because I am how I am about 10 minutes as we passed the street again I saw her in her garage smoking with a friend (smoking...BIG problem here). So I walked up to her as my companions stood with opened mouths. I tolled her about her neighbor who got hurt, and to be aware of her and sweetly talked for 5 minutes we smiled and laughed. Then went on my way. My companions were in awe. THEY ARE GREAT!

2. I LOVE our less actives when they are finding that light of Christ again, It is truly remarkable and exciting. Ok I can only pick one: PEAVLERS....Jac, Becca, Amber-3 and their little boy Dillin-5. They were my first lesson and I remember because I told Jac the father that he needs to support his wife and his kids need the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. It's his responsibility to be the father and priesthood holder. Going to church wouldn't be a commandment if it was not important ya know. Well I asked: " Will you come to church this Sunday?" and he chuckled and said "yes". Well you guessed it, they weren't there last Sunday. BIG SURPRISE TO ME, because I can read people pretty well, and I knew they were not trying to pull my leg. So this Thursday we went to teach them their weekly lesson and they immediately said they had planned on going, their clothes were all set up, and they slept till 12:47 (church started at 12). They both said they woke up and my face was the 1st thing they thought about. How disappointed I would be in them... which I was :(....they followed by promising they were coming this last Sunday...WHICH was yesterday....guess what?...they were there!!! :D oh they looked beautiful and happy all together. They are fantastic.

3. Jac Peavler the father of this family tolled us Thursday that he has a friend whose name is Tony.... who has been asking him hear and there about his church and everything. He is catholic, but Tony agreed to come to the missionary lessons this Thursday with us. :) I wish you could have seen his eyes. Bright and excited and scared...and yet full of hope and a faith. He is nervous because he doesn't think he knows enough to teach Tony, but he has been raised in the gospel, and even though he fell away around 18, he still always knew that it was true!!! He knows God lives and loves him and all his Children and he has a plan: the Plan of Happiness and I bear testimony that is all you need to know to teach. After that through faith and PRAYER the Holy Ghost will testify all things. I know that is true because it's a promise from OUR FATHER! And God, our father, CANNOT LIE!

4. Breezy and Jonathan and she's got 3 adorable kids, came to church this Sunday too, she had a jerk of a husband for 10 years just got married 2 months ago, Jonathan needs to live up to his priesthood responsibilities ( I'm so grateful my brothers strive to live up to their priesthood responsibilities and temple covenants and or strive to receive them soon, I'm so thankful to you DAD for setting a GOOD example, your not perfect yes, but you have always set a good example of a worthy priesthood holder and honorable father and husband to mom. thank you for that).

5. We contacted many people through a production the youth was putting on kind of like dance festival!! :D how fun!!! It’s called Camorah's Hill! AMAZING...U-tup it! So many less actives and investigators came it was astounding. I was able to meet and mingle and teach many. The spirit was so strong!! I wonder if that is how it was with dance festival, mom do you remember. WOW!! This really works the spirit that is.

GOD LIVES.....I know he loves his children and so we will also live and through the healing power of the atonement we will live ETERNALLY WITH HIM!!! TOGETHER as a FAMILY! :D I love you all so much!!!!

Love you all from here to Heaven!

Sister Judkins

Letter #3

Heylo family!! and friends,

Personal Apt :) (send packages here the office is 1 hour away!! :( .. :) k.... LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Janna Judkins

2150 Katy fort bend #1027

Katy, Texas

77493

This is my direct mailbox to my apt. :) but be aware that I might get transferred in 4 weeks... ??? I'll keep you updated!

So here is the mission office address: if you send letters here it takes an extra 2 days to get to me, but during transfer time send mail here!!! Send packages to my direct apt. except during transfers every weeks) I'll tell you when I get transferred and when I stay!!!

Sister Janna Judkins

16623 Hafer rd

Houston, TX

77090

My apt is awesome a great pool I can just simply look at, great room and family area. when I walk outside it feels like I have gone swimming!!! ha ha!!! :D so funny!! I am in a bike area and got a bike helmet... I look moy moy LOVELY!!! No I really love it, it's got blue flames.... we went shopping today and I got food!!! No more MTC food... yeah!!!!

I am in Texas I told you a little already, I'm in a 3-sum. Life in the MTC was much different then life is here in the field, with companions that have done this for 4 months and 1 year. I'm 1 month out. Sister Smith is 4 months out and Sister Davis is 1 year out. I've been learning a lot.

I had an amazing time on Wednesday!!! I went tracting with the hermanas and I went up to a woman cutting her plants in her yard!!! She had this HUGE CHAINE SAW...I was like "Uh....really....ok" a little silly walking up she guarded herself with this big toothed monster. ha ha!!!

She WAS AMAZINGGGGG!!!! Her name is Francis. We talked for 45 minutes about how she was and what she was doing and all that (to break the ice) and she was so sweet to us, her little son was working or rather running around playing in the hot Texas sun. Then she explained and opened up a little more about how she loves God's creations and her family and how blessed she is to have Ilijia, her son (5 years old). She expressed her gratitude. Oh she was so sweet!! It couldn't have been more set up to talk about how we know that families can be together forever as families living in heaven with God, who is our father. :) Oh WOW!!! Amazing!! We talked of Satan and how he is real and wants us to be unhappy and lonely and depressed and God just wants us to be happy. I explained a little about the plan of happiness.

I asked if we could back another time and talk with you more about God's Plan of Happiness for his children? She said nicely... I'm pretty firm in my religion, I have been doing good and teach'n my kids, and I think I am ok..." Anyone that knows me knows what I was thinking. She told me of her older son and daughter (19 and 24) that have fallen away and are just so hard for her to think about, because I could see how heartbroken she was and how much her little 5 year old means to her. I explained how God must feel. She bore her testimony of what she believed in and OH MY WORD....THIS IS MY FAVORTIE PART!!....when she had finished I looked at her with loving eyes and said "I want you to know something, everything you have said today that you believe in....WE BELIEVE!" her eyes already red with tears stared with wonder and she said.... "really?". So amazing she has truly been prepared to hear the gospel of the Lord and is such a beautiful daughter of God that lives her life the best she can.

I got her information gave her a Book of Mormon encouraged her to read 3 Nephi 11 with her family together and promised she would see the hand of God more fervently in her life has she continued with faith and read and prayed together. :) WOW!!! She said ok and instead of saying she was too busy after I said " and I know you are busy and life is hectic and you have a lot on your plate right now, I know that what we have to share with you will not only help, but bless your family forever!" She explained what a blessing it has been to have met us and maybe this is a blessing from God. I told her read, study and if you don't call, we'll call back in a week and then next week possibly come by and answer any and all your questions you have. She smiled and said "ok".

Isn't that AMAZING!!! I love missionary work!!! I love the people, I DO!!! I can't help it!

Oh and I forgot that May 5th was my day for the 40 day fast for missionary work!!!! KEEP GOING WARD....I can't tell you how much I love you for doing this, I know it works. God knows us each and I know he is pleased with the work our ward and FAMILY and friends are doing.... so DELIGHFUL!!! I love you all so much...send letters to above addresses!!! ;)

THE gospel means "Good News" did you know that!! I am a messenger from the Lord to share GOOD NEWS to his Children... and I'm not going to force anyone to believe but I will find those who are looking and longing and hoping for the gospel. Oh wow I absolutely love the Lord. I cry to him and he comforts my heart. One night I was crying and I wrote another verse to "A Child's Prayer".... this is what I will end my e-mail with today. I love you!!!

Heavenly Father, Yes, I'm really here

and I come to you with heavy heart in prayer

Father, I feel so, unprepared

I'm sorry that my face with tears is smeared

But Father in Heaven, I feel warm inside

peaceful and calm with no intent to hide

I know it's true that thou lovest me

Father through prayer my heart is ONE with thee.

God loves me, I'm doing well, all is well, I am never alone (physically or spiritually) :) God will lead and guide me every step of the way, you too.

Please send letters that I get in actual mail with an actual stamp :)

FAMILY WARD: I love you!!! I feel your support, keep praying send letters :) I'll write back

Love you from here to HEAVEN!!!.... -Sister Judkins

God is my delight!!.... Love is POWERFUL! Share it.

Letter #2 Form Sis. Judkins

This week has gone by so fast. It's crazy I'm so excited I only have 5 real days left till I can leave FOR TEXAS!!! EAHAHAHAHHA!! So excitedJ I have made many friends and met people that are wonderful examples to me.

 This week Sister Peterson and I have made some GOALS!!!

 1. Read the Book of Mormon in a Week!  I am in 2nd Nephi and Praying like a mad man to try and finish before we leave!!! I would encourage you to read to Book of Mormon this next month too. I cannot tell you what blessings will come from reading this Testament of Jesus Christ, HOW AMAAZING the gospel is.  I love it.

 2. I was in the RC (Referral Center) where we call people that have ordered something from the church off our commercial.  A women named Roberta answered her phone and I was confirming her delivery of the Bible. She said she got it and was grateful. I said do you have any questions and would you like to have them answered, we have some representatives in her area that would be happy to come over with a copy of the Book of Mormon. She said, no, right now life is really crazy, I'm taking care of my sick parents (86 yrs about) and it's really hard for her to focus on anything else really right now. She said I couple possibly have time for that. I told her I knew how she was feeling, my BF grandma is 93 and dying, and it's been really hard. Sometimes you feel alone, like no one is there to help you. I told her that if she would the message would truly help her and her family and I shared a scripture about Jesus suffering for our sins and our sorrows. I explained that Jesus Knows her and her family and their struggles and will never leave her comfortless. I said the missionaries could tell you more. She again said....I don’t know, I'm so busy....I said Roberta, I promise you, that if you take time to hear the missionaries and the message the have to share you will see the hand of God in your and your families life, that he will lift your burdens and you will be blessed...She was silent....my heart was so calm, I felt peace...."Ok" she said. She continued to say that maybe this has been an answer to prayers, and it would be nice to have the missionaries come to her house instead of trying to go to bible study when life is so hectic. I was thrilled. My heart jumped! J I started sharing scriptures and bearing testimony of Jesus Christ and the Missionary work we are doing. She said she was so grateful for me calling and said I was her angel today. I told her I am blessed to have talked to her, I told her that I know she has strong faith and that everything will be ok, that God will bless her and loves her and that she is amazing and I was grateful for her. She asked if she could get my number to call me back and my first and last name if she needed to talk to me. J I can't even explain how thrilled and excited I was... I placed a Book of Mormon and had the missionaries come over!!! OWOOOWOWOWO!!! Right!!!

 

3. Memorize the Articles of Faith again. We have 1-4 done and a few others, we have been focusing more of reading J ha ha! BOOK of Mormon in a week at the MTC is practically impossible!!! Everyone says "ya right"....which pushes me even further. Just 100 pages a day... or 110.... :) I can do it.

I love the Lord, my savior, the Prophet. I Know My heavenly Father loves and knows me, that the gospel is true and that the Word of God is on the earth. I AM READY!!!! I am ready to serve and ready to fight for God’s kingdom. Texas doesn’t know what’s cumin’ but in a few short days....the Texas Tornado is a- will be there is full force!

OH YEAH YA'LL!!!!

 

Love you all from here to heaven!!!!

 

-Sister Judkins