BLOG#51

BLOG #51 April 19 -24

Wow this year has really gone by fast.We have enjoyed this part of our life. I am so grateful that we have been here.We have met a lot of great YSA’s and felt that they have become ours. We know some of their challenges and desires. These YSA’s are wonderful and we love them.

We experienced the first of the summer storms last week. Just like the week we arrived. The thunder is so loud and the lighten is so close and the rain comes down in sheets for hours. Our little community of St. Croix(where we live) receives a lot and the retention ponds fill up faster and the swimming pool rises to the top and the water just before the front entrance gate becomes a   huge moat. We have to cross it very slowly—you would think that the city would have fixed the road before now--it does cause a fun spray of water if you go into it at a good speed. I am sure that will change as the city is working on the whole street of Bruce B Downs for several miles. It is a mess.

Monday was New Testament class and FHE. Elder Judd taught the trial before Caiaphas and Pilate. He said that it was really a good and the spirit was really strong.

After class, we always have the beginning of FHE in the Institute room which has proven to be a good thing- prayer, scripture thoughts, announcements and introductions. We then went to the gym for a rousing game of human foose ball. It is hilarious to watch as they have to stand in their lines only kicking the ball to hit the goal, it gets a little wild at times.. Elder Judd and I were asked to go and get the plates and forks for the refreshments only  to find that as we entered the gym all +25 YSA’s were singing “God be with you” to us—very emotional. They had purchased a fun cake with a picture of us on it. Modern technology I ate my head and Elder Judd ate his that is a good way to end the day! Everyone had a piece of cake and ice cream. Fun evening‼

We met with president Cusic for a final meeting as a missionary. We have enjoyed having the mission office here in the building so that we could associate with the missionaries. A lot of them come and stop by to tell us what is happening and where they are going. They have a great spirit about them! As usual, we ended up going to Costco and purchasing the food for the YSA dinner and the S&I in-service breakfast. We then went on to Clermont to visit with Brandon, Mandy and Rusty Judd (Elder Judd’s nephew and family.)W have been able to enjoy their company while here. Their little son, Rusty, is so cute and we have been able to get to know and play with him for this past year. Cracker Barrel is a good meeting place and good food too.It was a late night coming home- it takes about 1 ½ hours to travel to see them.

We have had a great week meeting with friends and family,having some wonderful lunches and dinners.We went to Cracker Barrel again with the Severinson’s for the last time. This couple is a wonderful senior couple that was here when we started.They will end their mission next September (they will have served 2 year mission) their assignment has been office/Orlando Temple/ MLS. Busy, Busy people. We have loved all the seniors couple but have not had very many to know. In this mission we only have 6 couples and they are really spread out.

 Elder Judd:  Wednesday night’s class had about 16 students in class along with Tara. We also learned from Tara that her and the missionaries had fasted last Sunday that her mother’s heart would be softened so that she could be baptized soon. On Monday for the first time her mother said nothing negative about Tara’s involvement with the Church and told her to say high to her friends at the Church. Needless to say, Tara and the Missionaries were surprised and elated at the change in her attitude. In another discussion with her mother at the beginning of the week, her mother told Tara that she would meet with the missionaries to get to know them instead of just hearing about them. As Tara told us about these abrupt changes she bore her testimony of the truth of the Church and the hand of the Lord in what had happened. I will never forget the look on her face as she told us that her testimony of the Gospel is stronger now than ever before because of what she has been thru in the past year. And with all of this, she is bringing some of her friends, who will come to the institute and church for the missionaries to teach. She volunteers for prayers, offers comments and bears her testimony in class frequently. I have kidded her that she is a Dry Mormon to which she replies that that is going to change, and she hopes soon. She has set a baptism date for about May 31.

I made dump cake Thursday it is so easy and everyone loves it. All you do is purchase a pie filling, yellow cake mix and butter. Assemble and cook and it is gone before you know it. Some one asked for mac‘n’cheese again so that is what I fixed. It is a great crock pot recipe and only takes about 3 hours to cook. The students really loved it.

For the in-service meeting early Saturday morning, I fixed tator/tot breakfast casserole, Monkey bread with nuts in a 9x13”pan, a lot of strawberries and grapes. We have been apart of this group now for 1 year and have started to know the people. They are always eager to learn how to teach their young people. 

We started our packing this week. Packing is not fun and where did we get all this stuff and how did it fit into the car the first time? Elder Judd is great, he has vacuumed the floor, cleaned the extra bathroom, and packed a lot of the things into the suitcases that will be shipped home. He has really helped me get things done, I appreciate that. After I read this it makes it sound like he did all the work—I did help .

Saturday night was a special night we were honored to be witnesses for a private wedding of two of our YSA at the Institute. Kenneth and Shauna Prettyman. They were married by Bishop Harris. It was so special that they would ask us to do this. They are sweet kids and very much in love. They have plans for a temple marriage in a year and I am pretty sure they will make it. After the ceremony and a few pictures, Bishop and Sister Harris invited us to dinner at the Outback restaurant. We all had a great steak dinner and a good visit. It was a nice finish to a busy and productive day.We came home and watched a netflix movie. What a day‼

Elder Judd: In Sacrament meeting I looked around and thought about how nice it has been to enjoy Sacrament in a quiet setting. It has been wonderful to be a part of this generation’s YSA. We have come to love them, rejoice with them, cry with them, laugh with them, teach them and just be a part of their lives at this juncture of their lives. Marsha and I have learned and grown so much .

This is the last week of being here in the Tampa Bay YSA. We have been busy with the normal thing of preparing the last lessons and the last dinners and the last reports and the last of saying good-bye.  Thursday we were invited into Bro Patrick’s class and was given a plate that had been signed by all the students and missionaries. What a great going away gift. One of the greatest gifts was ‘Bro. Hopegood’ coming to help with this last dinner. We do love this man and his wife. They are such good friends.  They will be coming to Utah so everyone can enjoy them too. We will miss everyone.

We will be on our way home in a day or two. So excited to see the family and friends.

April 24: Now we have everything in the car and it  is jammed packed,We  have started our drive home. We will be following the Interstate 10 through Texas. It is so we can stop and see the St. George granddaughters. We figure it will take us about 5-6 days with all the stops. We will be excited to be home again.

BLOG #50 APRIL 6-12

                      BLOG#50 GOOD WEEK  APRIL 6-12

MONDAY  We had to go to Staples  and pick up a banner that will be used for the Bull Market(promotion for clubs on campus) on Wednesday .The banner identifies the institute as a on campus club  It is important that we are recognized so that missionary work can be there.  In the process, we met a young couple that had a flat tire that needed some extra help in taking of the tire. Joel was ready to help them and had the tools to do so. We ended up going to 2 different places to try and fix the tire, but they ended up having to purchase a used tire to fix it. While we were driving around doing this the young man asked us a lot of questions about what we were doing   here and what we believed. After the tire was put on Joel bore his testimony to them. They thanked us for the help and told us that they would accept the call from the missionaries to learn more about Christ. We felt that we had done a little missionary work  here in Tampa.

Tara Hartman came back. She is the young lady that last summer was going to be baptized but would lose her families love and support if she joined the church. It really put her into a tail spin when this happened. She loves her family deeply so she backed off for a while keeping her testimony but not being baptized. Almost a  year later, The situation is still the same and she feels the same about being baptized, but I do not think that she will be able to go through it yet. One day on the Lord’s time table she will be baptized and she will be all the stronger. We will just keep praying for her.

Tuesday we worked all day -- Joel did a test proctor in the afternoon and I did reports. We were hoping to finish earlier in the afternoon, but did not finish until 5:30pm.  We were hoping that we could leave the office about 4:30pm to pick up the Hopegoods for a dinner appointment. Well we made it later than earlier and  all was ok.  One of the students told us about a great restaurant  in Ruskin-near Gulf Port called the Sunset Grill.  It was a great dinner with us eating and sitting and watching the sunset with such great company.  The food was really good by the way. I had a Blackened Chicken pasta with parmesan cream sauce, Joel had a half a chicken with a special rub of spices on it called Jerk Rub , then we had Key Lime Pie. It was so good. We went outside to take some pictures of the sunset and beach with the Hopegoods and us. They are such great people we will miss them greatly.

ELDER JUDD: We wanted to spend an evening with Jean’s one more time and rejoice over the blessings that we have been given to associate with those I baptized them fifty years ago this month in New Hampshire. We had nice visit with Bob and Jan Jeans, their son Rob and his wife Leni, and their granddaughter, Gillyn, and husband , Chris,  and their children: Pheobe, Liddia and Anchor. The children were the fourth generation of members of the Church since Bob and Jan were baptized fifty years ago on April 4, 1965. Visiting with all the family that night was a great experience and we rejoiced in the blessings that we all have enjoyed because of the Gospel in our lives. Literally hundreds of souls have been blessed by Bob and Jan joining the Church. Many missions have been served, many temple marriages, many converts made and many children born to this choice family. I reminded Bob that our association would go on forever and never end because of the blessings we enjoy. We enjoyed their company and ate a rotisserie chicken dinner with baked potatoes and salad that we had brought with us to treat them. It was a great evening. On the way home, Marsha and I stopped at Culver’s for a late night ice cream sundae.

Saturday was spent relaxing a little and gathering up some of the things in the apartment in readiness for packing. Then we were off to the Brandon Stake center to watch the YSA play a challenge game of Ultimate Frisbee with the YSA of  Sarasota. It was a very warm day but with the refreshments and the association of these great young people, we had a good time. On the way home I decided that Marsha had had enough cooking for the week so we stopped for a burger at a local Steak & Shake (not Steak, Shake and Bake as Marsha demands that it is named). In the evening we watched a couple of movies

Sunday, April 12, 2015, we headed off to Church for the baptism of Ami Dunn. Ami is another YSA convert in our ward. Her conversion came thru the efforts of Kenneth Prettyman and Shauna Bowman.

                                                                                                                     

BLOG #49 MARCH31-APR5

BLOG#49March 31-April 5

Just some thoughts for this week’s events.

            I had to go to a clinic to see what the matter was with me. I had the same symptoms for 8 days, and  it was getting  worse I would sit up in a chair for most of the night so I would not cough as hard. The  Doctor’s Assistance told me I had acute Bronchitis and sinusitis- -a double whammy.  I guess I was not feeling well -----no I knew I was not feeling well- the work just needed to be done anyway so I continued  to come into the office and accomplish what was needed to be done and then I would go to the mother’s lounge for a nap.. She (the PA)loaded me down with a lot of medicines for the next week to start the process of getting better.  I still coughed for a long time after but it will get better. I know it will. 

            The missionaries had a new assignment on Thursday. It was decided that all  missionaries would be on bikes, walking, or rides from ward members.  The idea behind this was to make the missionaries more accessible to the public and hopefully get more contacts. When  we saw the sister missionaries we had to run out side to take of picture of them as we had not had seen them before. They laughed at us as we all took pictures. Good sports. We are praying that it will work for them some elders and sisters have not ridden in a long time.

            We had tator-tot casserole  and cinnamon pull aparts this week.  I fixed a lot but for some reason the number of students were down  and I had one tator/tot casserole (9x13) left. I froze it hoping that I would find some one that really needed it in the near future. Monday Sister Hopegood told me of a family in her ward that was in need of a meal because of illness in the family, so that meal went to a great place for a great cause.

Elder Judd: On Friday we took Lacho (Horatio) Palomo to the Orlando Temple for his Endowment prior to his departure for his mission to Mexico. It was a great time to serve as his escort in the temple and assist him thru his first experience there. Wesley Lind, Cat Hunter and Taylor Grave Douglass came also. It was a great experience for him and us. These YSA are much more prepared than I was for this experience and he really enjoy it. When he came into the Celestial room of the temple, his eyes got as big as silver dollars. Upon leaving the temple, we all went to Olive Garden for dinner.

We watched the Saturday sessions of conference at the Institute with about 12 YSAs. One of the YSA brought a crumb cake and we ate it during the afternoon session. It was such a nice thought for her to share. Being in the presence of the YSA is always so uplifting.

            Sunday Morning, we went over to the church for Conference ( still like it at home  better but the messages  are still great no matter where). The conference attendance here at the church  is small when you think this ward building  has 3 wards. I  thought it was interesting that several families brought their children  dressed in Sunday clothes ready for church  it was great to see how they handled them during the am sessions. We also had a lot of YSA and missionaries come too. The afternoon session we watched at Alex Patrick’s home with his family. That was nice to be in a family setting. His children are very pleasant to be around and enjoyed conference too. We had the best roast beef  and potato dinner, then we walked over to the Indian Shores beach so a picture  could be  taken and sent to their son on his mission, so I was able to take a picture of the sunset and us too.  It was a very relaxing day after not feeling well for so long these past several weeks.

BLOG#48 SPEAKING IN CHURCH--OH NO!!!

MARCH 22-28:

WE WERE ASKED TO SPEAK AT BISHOP PATRICK WARD ON SUNDAY. I KEEP TELLING EVERYONE THAT I AM NOT THE SPEAKER IN THE FAMILY—I AM THE SUPPORTER. ANYWAY I DID SPEAK WITH THE YOUTH SPEAKER AND TIMED HER ,. SHE TOOK LONGER BY 3 MINUTES THAN I DID.  SEE I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO AND IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE SHORTEST TALK. ELDER JUDD’S TALK WAS REALLY GOOD AND MAYBE YOU WILL HEAR IT LATER.

THIS WEEK WAS A DIFFERENT WEEK IN THAT I WAS NOT FEELING WELL. THE FIRST BAD AND ONLY COLD  THAT I HAVE HAD THE WHOLE TIME WE HAVE BEEN HERE. THE COUGH ATTACKS ME AT NIGHT AND I STAY UP HACKING AND COUGHING MOST OF THE NIGHT. WHERE DO YOU  GO  IN A 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT  TO STOP THE NOISE FROM GOING IN AND WAKING EVERYONE ELSE UP?. I DON’T KNOW THAT  ANSWER YET. 

MONDAY I DID  PRETTY GOOD AT THE INSTITUTE UNTIL FHE  AND THEN MY BODY WENT INTO COLD CHILLS. WE CAME HOME EARLY AND LAYERED ME  WITH BLANKETS AND OUR  CORN WARMING PACKS. ELDER JUDD HAD TO PROCTOR A TEST TUESDAY AND I DID NOT FEEL GOOD SO OFF HE WENT AND LEFT ME SLEEPING  OFF THE SICKNESS. IT HELPED BUT DID NOT GET RID OF THE COUGHING.  THE WHOLE WEEK HAS BEEN LIKE THAT COUGHING AND SLEEPING. I WAS GRATEFUL  FOR THE MOTHER’S LOUNGE IN THE CHURCH I WENT AND SLEPT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND  THEN BACK TO WORK.

ELDER JUDD’S CLASSES SO FAR THIS WEEK HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD. THE STUDENTS ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT THE SAVIOR AND HIS LIFE.  THURSDAY NIGHT WAS ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT WHICH HE CALLED THE LEHI CONNECTION AND THE BABYLONIAN DESTRUCTION. HE HAD ABOUT 12 STUDENTS COME . ELDER JUDD ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB OF TEACHING.

ELDER JUDD:

SISTER JUDD  WAS ABLE TO PULL EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR THE MEAL. SHE MADE SEVERAL LOAVES OF BANANA NUT AND POPPY SEED BREAD AND THE MAIN COURSE WAS A CROCK POT CHICKEN TACO PLATE THAT HAD BEANS, CORN, AND RICE WITH SALSA IN IT. AS USUAL, THE YSA LOVED IT AND I DID TOO. SHE KEPT SAYING HOW AWFUL IT SMELLED AND LOOKED, BUT EVERYONE ELSE DISAGREED. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE MORE SHE COMMENTS ON HOW BAD SOMETHING LOOKS AND SMELLS, THE BETTER I LIKE IT.  THAT IS TRUE, ANYWAY, WITH THE MEALS SHE MAKES THAT ARE MEXICAN IN ORIGIN. SHE MUCH PREFERS A LESS SPICY FOOD THAN I DO.

AT THE END OF THE MEAL, ALEX INSISTED ON SISTER JUDD AND I LEAVING FOR HOME WHILE THEY ALL CLEANED UP AND CLOSE UP SHOP FOR THE EVENING. IT WAS WITH GRATITUDE THAT WE FOLLOWED HIS SUGGESTION AND LEFT FOR HOME SO THAT SHE  COULD GET SOME WELL DESERVED REST. AS WE LEFT, OUR KITCHEN/OFFICE FILLED WITH HELPFUL STUDENTS PITCHING IN TO GET EVERYTHING CLEANED UP.

WEDNESDAY AND TUESDAY WAS REALLY A BLUR AS WE DID NOT DO THE REGULAR THINGS. WE DID A LOT OF PREPARING HERE AT THE APARTMENT. IT HELP ME  TO FEEL BETTER.

BISHOP PATRICK ASKED ELDER JUDD AND I TO COME AND PRESENT A FIRE SIDE TO HIS WARD ON FRIDAY THE 27^TH. THIS TALK AND SLIDE PRESENTATION WAS ON “JERUSALEM-TESTAMENT OF OUR SAVIOR AND REDEEMER: WALKING WITH JESUS CHRIST IN HIS FINAL HOURS. 
THE FIRESIDE HAD ABOUT 75 PEOPLE THERE AND IT WENT VERY WELL. ELDER JUDD  HAD SPENT TWO OR THREE HOURS FINE TUNING THE PRESENTATION AND, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LORD, THE SPIRIT GAVE HIM  CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE AND THE ENTIRE HOUR AND 35 MINUTES WENT VERY SMOOTHLY.

IT WAS A BUSY WEEK AND WAS MADE EVEN LONGER BECAUSE OF HOW I WAS FEELING!  I THINK THAT ELDER JUDD IS COMING DOWN WITH THIS COLD . WHY NOT‼!

BLOG #47 GREAT WEEK!

BLOG #47WEEK OF MARCH 16-21:

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT WEEK.  DOING WHAT? GOING TO COSTCO ON FRIDAY FOR MORE FOOD AND FIXING MEALS OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER. WOW THAT MAKES IT REALLY EXCITING! I THINK THAT THE COSTCO WORKERS ARE STATING TO CALL ME BY MY NAME AS I ENTER THE BUILDING.

WE HAD TWO MEAL PREPARATIONS THIS WEEK.  SATURDAY MORNING THE 21Tst WAS THE INSERVICE/ BREAKFAST MEETING. THE BREAKFAST WAS A SLOW COOKER OATMEAL MEAL ., APPLE CINNAMON FRITTER BREAD, AND STRAWBERRIES AND PINEAPPLE.( REALLY GOOD TOO)   THIS IS A HARD MEAL TO FIX BECAUSE EVERYONE USUALLY WILL HAVE EATEN ALREADY AND WE ARE BEING CUT BACK ON BUDGET .  BRO PATRICK IS TEACHING HIS SEMINARY AND INSTITUTE TEACHERS HOW TO BE BETTER TEACHERS DURING THIS TIME. HE SPENT ABOUT 2 HOURS GETTING THE TEACHERS INSPIRED TO TEACH CORRECT PRINCIPLES AND THEN TAKE IT ALL THE INFORMATION BACK TO THE  STUDENTS. IT WAS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. THEY THAT COME ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING—FOOD SPIRITUALLY AND FOOD PHYSICALLY.

ELDER JUDD DOES A LOT OF PREPARATION FOR EACH CLASS AND IN ADDITION TO THAT HE PROCTORS TESTS . WE THINK HE HAS PROCTORED ABOUT 40 THIS YEAR.  A LOT‼

MONDAY, DURING ELDER JUDD’S EARLY AFTERNOON CLASS A YOUNG MAN CAME INTO THE OFFICE. AND STARTED TELLING ME ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE HE WAS HAVING. WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS: HE IS NOT FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT. HE SAYS HE IS CONFUSED WHEN OTHERS SAY HE IS WRONG  AND THEY ARE RIGHT. I SPENT ABOUT 45 MINUTES WITH HIM ANSWERING QUESTIONS—IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT I HAD THE ANSWERS OR PART  OF THE ANSWERS. AS WE FINISHED OUR DISCUSSION I REMINDED HIM THAT HE WAS NOT PRAYING, READING THE SCRIPTURES OR BEING OBEDIENT. I TOLD HIM THAT WE LOVED HIM AND ASKED HIM TO TRY TO DO THESE THINGS AND HE WOULD SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN HIS LIFE.

THURSDAY WAS ANOTHER HARD TRANSFER DAY: I NEED TO NOT THINK  ABOUT THESE YOUNG SISTERS AND ELDERS as mine , WE DO COME TO LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEIR HEARTS ARE PURE. THEY ARE PREPARED TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD BUT IT IS MY HEARTSTRINGS THAT IS PULLED AS THEY LEAVE THIS AREA TO ANOTHER. WE HAD 11 NEW ELDERS AND SISTER COME INTO THE TAMPA BAY AREA AND ABOUT 13 LEAVE FOR HOME.

ELDER JUDD:  EVEN THOUGH MY OLD TESTAMENT CLASS IS SMALL, ABOUT 7 TO 12 STUDENTS ON A GIVEN DAY, IT IS A JOY TO SEE HOW THE OT IS SUCH A POWERFUL TESTIMONY TO THE LATTER DAY WORK. THE STUDENTS LOVE IT TOO BUT THE CLASS STARTS TOO EARLY FOR MANY MORE TO COME (4:45 PM). BROTHER PATRICK TEACHES THE LATER CLASS, 6:30 PM AND ABOUT 45 COME TO THAT CLASS AFTER WHICH WE SERVE THE MEAL THAT SISTER JUDD PREPARES. TODAY  IT WAS PULLED PORK, CARROTS, CHIPS,  COOKIES. AS ALWAYS, THE MEAL WAS A BIG HIT AND MANY OF THE STUDENTS RAVED ABOUT HOW GOOD IT WAS. IT ALL DISAPPEARED, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD!!! WE DID NOT GET HOME UNTIL ABOUT 11 PM BUT IT WAS FUN TO SEE AND HEAR THE YSA SIT AROUND, TALK, LAUGH AND PLAY POOL AND PING PONG. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL YSA GO INTO THE GYM AND PLAY VOLLEY BALL. SEE I TOLD YOU IT WAS A VERY LONG DAY.

BLOG #46 3-14-15 BACK TO THE WORK

Blog #46 3/14/15 

This past week has been one different day after another. Some good and some not as good. I guess we have all these types of days in our life.

We had classes:  The Life and Teaching of the Savior on Monday and Wednesday and the Old Testament on Thursday and Bro Patrick teaching the Last half of the Doctrine and Covenants. The students walked out of class grateful that they have had the spirit teach them correct principals. It is hard to teach classes during the early evening because so many are working or going to class, but those that are able to come really enjoy it. Thursday is a very busy day with the two classes, one right after another, and then dinner. After that, we played volleyball—where do they get all that energy? That is the main question. It makes for a very long day, but we enjoy talking and mingling and watching the interaction of all these special YSA’s. They are so wonderful  and we know that Heavenly Father loves these young people.

Thursday was a fun dinner.( In addition to being fun at night I only had to spent 2 hours purchasing the food this week  now that was fun) We had Chicken Roll Ups with gravy, beans, and lemon, key lime, chocolate icebox cakes. We made over 128 rolls ups and they enjoyed every one of them. I had one of the elders come  up and said I have not had any of these since I left  home “My mom used to make these all the time, Thank you so much.” I thought that was so special that he would say that. We had about 50 YSA tonight. We were thinking that when the weather changes we always have a few less people but so far we are doing ok—each week is different.

We have been blessed to have the missionaries come by every day. Since this is the building for 3 wards we have at least 4 sets of elders and sisters, plus all the other missionaries from the mission office and all the other meetings that bring in missionaries. The Institute rooms are on the back section of the building and our office is on the corner of the classrooms and the back entrance of the building. So that is why we have a lot of missionaries come by. It is fun to ask them if they are having a good day, who they are teachings or where they are going, etc? The YSA has two sets of missionaries –Elders Hawks and Lloyd and Sisters Torres and Foderero. Both do a great job and find great joy in finding people to teach the gospel to. 

Elder Judd: Thursday began with a busy morning of students and missionaries. A pair of sister missionaries came in to talk with us and seek some counsel on a concern they had. Sister Judd and I had a great experience encouraging them and feeling of their dedication and focus on doing the right things. That has been one of the great joys in this service for us. We have the privilege to see the missionary work first hand and to feel the power with which these great young people do the work. We also are able to see first hand the fruit of their work by meeting and getting to know those they teach and baptize. One such young man is Syd. He was so typical of many YSA who have been dis-enfranchised by today’s organized religious groups that focus on social and political issues. He had not found fulfillment in their teachings and focus and so wrote religion off as not important or helpful. Then he met the missionaries. Right away he felt something very different and so he wanted to know more. It was awesome to see the light come on in his eyes when he felt the Spirit testify to his soul of the truth of the Restoration of the Gospel. Since then Syd has been coming to Institute and is excited to be a part of the discussions and learning. I have seen this kind of thing happen many times while here on our mission. It truly is one of the highlights of our experience.

 Elder Judd and I have been working with a Young man who will be moving to Utah to live with his grandfather for a while. He will be working and hopefully going to school. He is one of Heavenly Fathers children that is without guile. He has a love for everyone and the gospel. He is always so positive and giving. We look up to him although his height is only 5’3”.He knows his scriptures front ward and backwards. Elder Judd helped him complete his federal income taxes today and was so appreciative.  We wish him success in his new adventure. It is great to know these young people. They  reminds us of our own grand-daughters that are growing into that YSA age. We hope that someone will love them too.

BLOG # 45 3/7/15 SPRING BREAK

BLOG #45 SPRING BREAK

Spring Break   No USF, No dinner, No Institute, -- well we did have one class. A couple of students missed their Old Testament class last week and wanted Elder Judd to do a makeup class on Wednesday night so they would not miss what was taught. It interesting these two put the information out on face book that he was re-teaching the Old Testament class from last week and we had about 7 YSAs come.  It is so fun when the students want to be taught. This is why we are here.

We went to the Plant City (about 15 minutes from here)Strawberry Festival on Tuesday with Bro. and Sister Hopegood. We were able to see how strawberries are grown commercially which was very interesting. After the strawberries are basically finished growing for the season the workers take everything out of the ground and let it rest for a planting season.Then in the fall they start the planting again with new plants. At home I always just keep the plants from year to year. I guess that is why they have big strawberries and I have small ones.  Good thing to know‼ We had a great time walking around seeing all the different ways to use  strawberries—shortcake, cake, smoothies, on bacon, chicken, drinks, and just about anything else you can think of. These  strawberries are so good, big and flavorful. Makes my mouth water just to think about them. ( Tricia do you remember the Israeli Strawberries? these are that good‼). A big thanks for the Hopegoods for taking us.

We had 2 early morning seminaries that we were assigned to visit this week. One was in Lakeland about 45 minutes east of here and the other was about ½ hour west of here in Odessa(boy I am finely getting the names right in the areas we visit it has only taken about 10 months). The early morning teachers are wonderful, they get up early teach some very tired young people and then they go to their own jobs for all day. Hats off to them‼

Friday was a great day—we decided to go to the Orlando Temple and then on to the YSA Regional Conference at the church’s Deseret Cattle and Citrus Ranch. It started late Friday night with getting everyone set up in tents (boys) or cabins (girls).Then snacks and an outdoor dance-cowboy style. We chose to go to a Melbourne hotel about 25 minutes away for a nice bed and shower—greatly appreciated too. It was a long day, but we were up early for a quick breakfast and back to the ranch. The day was cloudy and had a chilly wind.  We were not prepared for this type of weather. What has happened to the Florida sunshine? Of course they say it is unusual for here—well this is not the first time the wind has been chilly here in Florida—now we know better—bring Winter jackets..

Elder Judd:

Saturday we spent teaching five classes with another couple, Elder and Sister Martin from the Gainesville Institute. The theme was on a talk by Pres. Monson: “We Never Walk Alone” given in 2013 at the Women’s Conference. Following introductions, Elder and Sister Martin started off each class by emphasizing the importance of prayer from the talk and then I felt impressed to lead into my part by talking about the importance of agency and that if we expect the Lord to walk with us.  We must take the first step by inviting Him to come to us as we come to Him. I used D&C 88:63  “Draw nigh unto me and I will draw nigh unto you.” I testified that if we make the effort to invite Him to be with us, He will truly walk with us. The spirit was strong as we taught. We felt like it was a great experience for us and the YSA who were there. While we were teaching this class every hour, other activities were going on thru out the gathering area like soccer, quiditch, volley ball, shooting, board games etc. The food was great for every meal and the organization was very good. In the early evening, one of the directors of the ranch spoke, telling us about the size of the ranch and what was produced on it. It was very interesting to hear how the church has been blessed to have this huge area to help other people, then one of the singers from Jericho Road, Abe Mills and  his family, sang and  spoke on the Conference theme. They did a great job presenting through song and word how to not be alone in this world at this time.  In the evening we had a great BBQ pulled pork dinner, of course another  DJ took over for another dance.  I could not get Elder Judd to dance , oh well I think that there is another dance sometime down the road- here in Tampa—I will try again.  We stayed around for a while and mingled then left to go back to Melbourne for some much needed rest.   Oh of course I need to tell you what Elder Judd did. After the meetings and dinner, the ranch provided horse rides for the YSA in the rodeo arena. When all the YSA had had enough they let us old folks ride if we wanted to. He did and had a great time riding around the area for a few minutes. It was nice to be on a horse after so long.

Sunday began early too. We arrived at the ranch for an early morning breakfast. It was nice to see everyone in their Sunday best.  The wind had died down and the sun came out which made it better as we sat in the bleachers of the rodeo grounds. We had a Sacrament meeting with 24 priesthood bearers blessing and passing the sacrament. What a awesome site to see these young men performing this ordinance with such reverence to the 500+ people that sat there. Chris Elton of our YSA Ward spoke along with a YSA Sister from Orlando, President Holladay of the Lake Mary stake, and President and Sister Cox of the Orlando Temple presidency. It was a great meeting. Relief Society/priesthood  followed  which was also great. After lunch was served a Devotional was given by Brother Taylor of the Church Media department , who heads up all media adds for the Church. He was very informative as to the process of missionary media that the Church is doing. He showed several examples of their work--#sharethegift, #you  and the new one coming out in April.. It was a great ending to a wonderful YSA Conference. Everyone was very uplifted and left wanting to do and be better. I know that I did.