Letter #52

Friends and Family,

MOM, DAD, KATIE, kids..... YOU ARE SO SNEAKY! Y! Y!!Y!Y!Y!YY!

I HAD THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! THANK YOU FOR THE FLOWERS AND PACKAGE OF GREAT SCRIPTURES THAT LIFT ME UP EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THEM.

I read and got the package and SUPER GOOD cake at Rabevera's house (Sister Little's daughter) we've become really close with this incredible family!!! They are so involved with missionary work. sister little brought out the package and I was like "WHAT!??" and then my mom's writing was on it, and I was like "you sneaky mom"....yes mom she loved the soap...I'm loving it too and all my good perfect things you spend so much time putting all this together all the Scriptures and quotes. Thank you, I loved all of it. I love that you spent so much time and you worked so hard on it for me. Thank you!

You will be happy to know that I followed the directions!!! ha ha! Everyone got a BIG laugh out of that mom, that you had written directions for me, Rabevera said "wow, your mom knows you".... yup....she does. Thanks mom, dad, Katie. I love the flowers they are so beautiful, I took lots of pictures, but I forgot to bring my cord, I'll send them tonight. I just cried, because none of you have any money to be doing any of this, and this 22nd birthday I will NEVER forget this birthday. The day when everyone sacrificed to make my day special! Thank you. I am truly SPOILED!!!! Ya’ll are so incredible and kind. thank you for the letters, Tasha, g-ma and mom and dad for the videos and packages, the roses of the rainbow, the crown and uplifting words and cake it really did make me feel a lack of words because I've never been so spoiled on my birthday!!! The lord must be pleased with me to send so many of his best to be in my life!!! Thank you. My birthday was the BEST!!! You sneaky things!!! I really had no idea you would send it to sister little and have it in front of everyone at Rabevera's at FHE (with our investigators etc.), had no idea!! It was cool because I got to share this experience with those I have taught, and they saw 1st hand a missionary that had a birthday without family, but how god provides for his servants.

GARY SAID SATURDAY THAT HE WOULD BE BAPTIZED!!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! He is AWESOME!!! Came to church 2 Sundays now and he is so incredible!! He said when he read the Book of Mormon and after taking missionary lessons and praying he prayed and asked "is this church true" and said he felt warm and peace, and he knows. He will need to change things in his life, but in a world where peace is hard to feel, he knows that the church is true and God's plan of happiness is not a mystery anymore. His father that passed away last year can be with him forever after this life he will be his dad. He doesn’t understand all, but he knows enough to know it's true.

Mom your letter was perfect for our last lesson. The foundation to live before you can truly live the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have to follow 3 things as a foundation
1. Read Scriptures EVERY DAY
2. Say prayers EVERY DAY
3. Attend church EVERY WEEK.....I have learned a new importance of church attendance, that's when you know an investigator is progressing, when they are attending church. And on the other hand when someone is becoming less active and losing that foundation it starts with forgetting to do these 3 things.

the sacrament is so important, God knew that we would need reassurance and a new start as often as we could, and so he provided a way where Jesus Christ could suffer for us physically so we could remember his broken body and know that our own body will be resurrected at the resurrection, but then we take the water and this is in remembrance of his blood. What does that mean?

"He was bruised for our iniquities, "

And when he was at the place, he "fell on his face crying, Abba...father if it be thy will let this cup pass from me, but not my will thine be done"....

"...Surely he has born our grieves and carried our sorrows"

The blood is to remember and take his name upon me and remember my covenants that I've made when I was baptized. To bare others grieve and sorrows. Are we not promising to repent of our sins and become clean again through the savior, so that we can take that step and in a very small way become a savior for those around us. Become like Christ?..."I am the light and life of the world"..."ye are a light,...{the salt of the earth} put it on a candle stick and not under a bushel"...."come unto me all ye that labor...and I shall give you rest"..."reach out to the hands that hang down"..."become as a child submissive meek and mild"..."father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and purified those whom I have chosen".

"for God so loved the world that that he gave his only begotten son, that who so believes in him, shall not parish, but have everlasting life" -john 3:16

Going to church is the hardest thing for investigators to commit to. And same with those who have been offended and those members who are fallen away, going back to church is the hardest for them, because they feel others will judge them... "How oft have I gathered you....how oft would I gather you...how oft will I gather you....as a hen gathered her chicks.....

....and ye would not....

"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" .......verily....if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will com, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me...behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God." -3 Nephi 9:13-15 -

Wow....my heat is so full when I think of this "if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life..." here is our savior, he just was beaten, scourged with a leather whip with bones braided in, having just suffered all the pains of every damned soul that would ever live. yours and mine included which caused him to bleed from every pore, they nailed huge nails into his hands, wrists and feet, and stabbed him in the side blood drying down his face from the crown of thorns the mocking soldiers had crafted as they laughed and gambled at their savior......and then the words are spoken...."Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"....

"I will be my brother’s keeper, I will show a healers heart to the wounded and the weary I will show a gentle heart. I will be my brother’s keeper, Lord, I will follow thee"....

I know this church is Jesus Christ's church which he organized almost 2000 years ago, and the priesthood has been restored to the earth through the power of God and his great merciful plan of happiness. Through resurrection beings we have the priesthood that gives us the authority to pass and bless the sacrament and baptize and perform temple work to fulfill God's merciful and perfect unstoppable plan. We have a living prophet of the world. His name is President Thomas S. Monson. He has been called by God and because we are literal spirit children of God, and we lived with him before he loves us enough to all way sends prophets and apostles to teach his children because he cannot be here physically. But the end of the plan of happiness is this "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"....to live with God our Heavenly Father and with our families together united with those that have died also. God has a way for mothers to be with their daughters and families to be together forever. This is what we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know to be true!!! how many of our dearest loved ones and friends are ready to hear the message that all is not lost, but those who have never heard will hear and "if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the holy ghost, and by the power of the holy ghost ye may know the truth of ALL THINGS". -Book of Mormon (Moroni 10-4-5) "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God....but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering" -James 1:5

To those of you who receive the truth hold fast to it, ask God. I would ask those who want to know truth.... read the Book of Mormon, and then ask God.....is the Book of Mormon true? You will receive an answer as you ask with a sincere heart and real intent having faith that God will answer you! My heart burns as I share this, I wish with all my heart that I could read with you and join you in your fervent prayer to know. I love you with all my heart.

-Love you my dear family, brothers and sisters.

From here to home ( Heaven) -Sister Judkins

Letter #51

Hello....

So I had something HUGE to tell about a lady we tracked into and she called and sounded like a golden investigator...BUT ...the Hermana's and my companara LIED to me! it was all a trick...this morning we came to the chapel to "practice a song for zone conference" and all the elders in our zone and district had decorated the conference room with balloons and streamers and silly string and all of that great stuff and sang happy birthday, I had no make-up on or anything....it was great...then they tolled me the investigator at 2pm for her lesson (Megan Smith) was a fake!!! UGH....that stunk....but they all felt really bad...so all is well, they woke up at 4am to get this all prepared for my birthday!!! THEY"RE THE BEST!!!

Mom....I need your help. You are going to be my buddy in recording my goals for when I get home, so I will remember the inspired things I want to do ok!!! You my buddy...I miss you!!!

1. Work at the gym, so I can get a free membership and get my family in cheap.
2. Become a workout instructor
3. WORK OUT LOTS...get in REALLY GREAT SHAPE (stay active)
4. Help mom with garden, canning and preparation
5. Every week make time for FHE and 1 other day in the week for me and one sibling. (Date night)
6. Temple EVERY WEEK with one sibling (older and younger) /mom/dad/friends. (Baptisms or endowments, session)
7. Continue my personal study and companion study with siblings and scripture study with family
8. No TV Face book "MY TIME IS VALUABLE" doesn’t waist it.
9. Date night with a sibling each week!!!! BONDING TIME ;)
10. Work with "Robin's Scents & Soaps”: D and Saturdays at OFW with dad!
11. Sing in POMC with mom
12. STRENGTHEN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FAMILY = my #1 goal....
13. Oh yeah, and go shopping with mom and buy a new wardrobe. (We share when I get skinny) I have so many ideas for your cute little tinny skinniness mama! You gunna be look'n super stylish! : D so save your money till I get home, so we can go get you so great outfits. Ok mom!!! Ask dad to help you save your money. YOU DESERVE THIS MOM!!! This is my BIRFDAY WISH ...k?! K! :D


I'm ALMOST 22!! Tonight at 10pm...YEAH!

Well this week has been great! Really there are miracles happening all the time. Other than our "fake" investigator! Ha! Still so sad though! We have run into and been inspired with lots of ways to further the work on the earth.

On Sunday my companion and I were asked to speak. She spoke on following the prophet and the youth speaker talked on how God answers prayers. And I felt inspired to talk on how God answers our prayers through living prophets today! What a blessing. It was very heart felt and we had GARY come to church (even though he was really sick) I bore my testimony on how 3 weeks before I left on my mission dad went in for a "procedure" for his back, and then I receive a text message from mom stating that "pray for dad, he just suffered from a massive heart attack"...I ran home and was bawling, it was hard for me to drive home, I began my talk with the simple words of a children’s' song "Heavenly Father, are you really there?" at this point I shared"

"While I was driving home I thought this to myself "Heavenly Father, are you really there? And will you answer this young child's prayer?" I was so heavy with a weight. because managing one of my dad's stores, our relationship had become very close through working together and I was feeling so confused and upset...I stayed in my truck longer when I got home and then I received a phone call from my best friend Katie, who read a scripture to me, that I have now hanging on my mission plaque...Matt 11:28-31

28¶aCome unto me, all ye that blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you crest.
29Take my ayoke upon you, and blearn of me; for I am cmeek and dlowly in eheart: and ye shall find frest unto your souls.
30For my yoke is aeasy, and my burden is light.
I felt hot tears flowing down my cheeks as my dear Heaven sent sister read me this passage of scripture. I needed to know that in times of need I could pray and come unto Christ.

"Heavenly Father, are you really there" I then testified that I know he answers prayers and related the 2nd verse.

'Pray, he is there....speak, he is listening....he loves the children, the children of heaven..."

I learned something from this scripture, as a always do each time I read it. Christ is teaching us a sincere gift. "Become as a little child, submissive, meek, and mild" in this scripture he explains how he himself is truly the perfect example because he himself is explaining that he is meek and lowly in heart. Is he not telling us that he has become as a little child. And if we take his yoke upon us, we will find rest.

I had them look around the room at the beginning and said "I want you to take a second and look around the room at the children in here, how blessed we are to have them in our presence.”Children, the kingdom of Heaven" tears began to flow in the congregation and I felt such a warm feeling of love. As I spoke slowly and as I would if I were truly praying. "Heavenly Father, are you really there?" I know he is really there, for me and my father, for those who are struggling now, for our brothers and sisters all around the world, in Japan. And he does answer prayers. In fact from the very beginning he has called and ordained prophets.

This is true evidence of God's love for his children. We have a living prophet that leads and guides us today, and I hope that you each know that he's not just "our" prophet....President Thomas S. Monson has been called to be a prophet for the world. To receive revelation for the world. and in such a time of need as this from the devastation in Japan and warring in Egypt there is no better time that we need to let our friends and family know that they have a prophet. I know he lives and he is evidence that God loves us so much that not only does he ask us to have faith, but he doesn't expect us to walk alone. We have a living prophet. I know this church is true. I love it. And in 2 weeks he will speak to us, let us prepare ourselves now and share with everyone, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

It was powerful to me to speak on such a subject.

I love you all. Thank you for all you do, prepare yourself for General Conference, invite your friends, LETS NOT KEEP THIS SECRET ...It’s THERE PROPHET TOO!

Love you from here to Heaven,

Sister Judkins
(Birthday girl)

P.S. Thank you for all the letters, e-mail’s love notes, $, and prayers. You are wonderful!!!

Letter #50

This week one of fewer actives that was very bitter towards the church from bad experiences, said she will come to church next week and 2 weeks after that go to the temple to be baptized for her mother. HUGE!!! So cool.
We found another FAMILY the LAVALAIS family. They’re so great. Very sweet. Tracted into them after dinner at a members that said "they are really nice" so member referral. Latasha (17 yrs old) said their family was looking for a church. We contacted again Sunday with a member after church and then the Duerdens (the members that live on that same street, which the Lavalais know) drove up and we talked.

Tony (the investigator, dad) said "ya know, I've always wondered the difference between Baptists and Latter-day Saints. So I'll ask you, what's the difference?"
I was thinking "where do I start"...then the spirit spoke through me, as we testified of God being are literal father, "we lived with him before we came to earth, and we were spirit children of him. He has a plan for his children and part of that plan is having prophets. God called prophets from the beginning of time, and we believe he loves us so much that he would never leave us alone. We believe in a living prophet today!" his brow furrowed and he said ok. the spirit was strong and we asked to say prayer with him, this is when the members came up, he repeated his question and said "the sisters answered my question really good, self explanatory" ( not sure why he used that word, but the gospel does 'make since' doesn’t it?) we had prayer and he said "yeah, ya'll are members of the same church the sisters said, yeah, we're going to meet with them sometime this week" Tony said. We were practically leaping to our next apt. family of 6 2-17yr olds 9yr old and 5 yr old. The Lord knows his children.

I love this work!

I love you family!
Love Sister Judkins

Letter #49

WOW!

I love my mission. This week I have been diving into the scriptures and PMG and wow! the gospel is true, and it makes sense! I love it!

Well I have been really into preparation also, physical, spiritual and mentally! FOOD STORAGE and preparation for uncertain times. It's time now to be prepared. We had an "expanded pantry" class held at the church on sat and guess what!!! There were 15 members of the church there! Out of the STAKE!!! But you know there were 71 non-members there. WOW! It that's not a wake up call, I don't know what is. Where are the latter-day saints when our leaders have said for over 100 years to BE PREPARED! And we only had 15 to represent what the prophets have taught. Wow! Walking into that meeting I felt overwhelmed with this heavy weight of all these non-members that are trying to understand what to do during these scary economic times. They need what we have and we let 15 members including 2 missionaries and the teachers represent the spirit that we carry with the one true church on the earth. WOW!!

It really woke me up, as a missionary we are trying to prepare people for baptism and living their life to endure to the end. But wow! this has really changed my thought process, our prophets warned us over 100 years ago of these economic times, and maybe that’s why we are "kind of" prepared with our 1 year food storage etc. but really we were warned early, now the rest of the world, our brothers and sisters are rushing to get prepared But why aren't we sharing what we know of canning, and food storage, how to cook with it, water supply, and for those people who know how to prepared themselves, this is a time were non members are hungering for knowledge to prepare themselves, we have it! We’ve been warned, prepared and taught. we need to teach all who will learn: how to can; meats, chilies, jelly's, snacks, potatoes, beans, rice, etc. how to cook and rotate your expanded pantry, and not spend all this money and let it all rot and go bad! We need to be prepared and use these last days of uncertain times to teach and invite our friends and family that want to know and many that aren't members into our homes and while they are learning they will feel the spirit in our homes and they will want to know what the spirit is that they feel in your home. Let’s not keep it in, let’s share this incredible knowledge of the restored gospel that we have a prophet today, living and living scripture! INCREDIBLE!!

This has really been weighed heavy on my mind lately. Mom when I get home, I want to learn everything from you!!! I've been learning a lot here and the spirit has been strong. This is the time, you won’t see me UN prepared, and everyone that knows me, will have the opportunity to learn everything I know to be truly prepared for these times.

Plus you SAVE MONEY doing an expanded pantry;

1. BUY when ON SALE (in bulk)
2. Rotate your expanded pantry to your regular pantry (eat out of it)
3. Can your foods you bought on sale and rotate food

So when the grocery prices go way up (like now and soon to be) you have meats and foods from 1 or 2 years ago that is cooked and still good, eat out of it. Then when prices go down and on sale, you buy again, can and replenish your expanded pantry!

You save money! And are following the prophet! I believe the prophets words, I know we have a prophet on the earth today and he has just as all other prophets been called of God to do 3 things:

1. Keep the purity of the gospel. (Which they receive for all the earth through revelation just as all prophets of old).
2. Authorize Ordinances like baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost through the priesthood authority which they hold and have a direct line of authority given to them through Jesus Christ; Eph 4. (We have this again through the young boy that Jesus Christ used to restore all his truth and authority for the last time Jacob 5 last 2 verses.
3. Conferring the Priesthood authority which they hold on all those that are worthy and will follow Jesus Christ and his True and pure gospel.

NO MORE CONFUSION!!!

I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church that has the fullness of Jesus Christ's teachings of how we can return to live with our families forever with God our literal father. I know this is our message we share, and there are millions right now ready to receive the spirit and want to know what we know. And our time is valuable so let us truly use it with value!

I love you miss you!

This week has been AWESOME!!!! THANK YOU FOR THE LETTERS MOM and BEST FRIEND!!! : D big smile!!!

Love you all from here to home!

-sister JUDKINS!!!! aHAHAHAHAHA I LOVE MY MISSION!!! IT"S THE BEST!!!



listen to this:
you-tube: We Believe, Kenneth Cope, EFY Music (LDS Mormon Church Welfare System)