BUSY WEEK!! 7

   I Fixed dinner #2 for the Institute. Bro Patrick ( he is our boss)  came in before he had to teach Thursday night and asked how everything was going, I told him it wasn't to bad . He said well you have accomplished 2 of the 43 meals that  you will cook while you are here and both of them have been really good. Those were  nice words of encouragement. He did give the dish the OK, so maybe I will make it through.    The dinner was a 4 pasta beef bake, green salad, bread sticks, and lemon squares.After the dinner the YSA had to help clean the church house yes they even have to take a turn  at it,and yes it is hard to get them to do it. Sounds like everyone else though at cleaning the church it is hard to get total commitment. That being done, they went  into the gym to play a rousing game of volley ball.  We were the cheer section. I still can't believe 43 meals for 40 people every week!!!

  

White Sand

White Beaches 

Elder Judd at the  beach

Seagulls coming in for a chip

We went to the Fort Desoto beach Saturday it was a beautiful beach with white fine fine sand. Joel told a little more about that experience.  It was a great afternoon..







Church is at 1 pm and very very reverent, not a pin drop could be heard.  It sure gives one time to reflect on the Savior and the  Atonement.   The YSA numbers are different every time especially in the summer. We have met some really great young people.


    May 24, 2014  Elder  Judd's words:

This week began with my second class on “Isaiah and the Latter Days.” The student attendance increased by about six and three of them were graduating seniors from a local high school. Two of them are members and they brought a non-member friend of Jewish descent. Our discussion centered around Isaiah’s call to the ministry and the appearance of the the Lord to him in the temple. Renada, the Jewish non member, was very much interested in our discussion and told her friends that she wanted to come again. I felt that she felt the Spirit.

On one of the days this last week, Marsha was making some bread sticks for the dinner on Thursday and the Sister Missionaries came in and asked if she could go with one of the Sisters to take a student on a building tour. The sisters were in a threesome and two of them were teaching Antonio, a young man who came into the building last week looking for his lost keys.  Now the sisters are teaching him the gospel while the third sister directs a building tour with Marsha.  Marsha was asked by the sister missionary to explain some of the pictures around the building. So even though Marsha does not want to teach, she is having her opportunities to bare her testimony  and teach.  She has also sat in on a couple of missionary discussions with the sister during which she has born her testimony. We have both felt the spirit of the work and it is very strong.  What a great experience to be here in this particular capacity.

The two sisters who were teaching Antonio asked me if I would give him a blessing of comfort in as much as he was struggling emotionally with some challenges of life. With another young Elder, I had the privilege of laying my hands upon his head and giving him a comforting, lifting blessing in the name of Christ. It was a  great experience.

Yesterday, while do some preparation for an assignment I was given, Elders Lloyd and Milmont came and asked if I would join them with Jaimee, a student of USF, to help explain Jacob’s writing of Enos’ Allegory of the Olive Tree. For the next hour we all sat together reading the last 27 verses of Jacob 5. It was a great experience to bare my testimony of this great witness in the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful to have studied and taught this chapter several times over my career and then help an investigator catch the spirit of its message. At the end of our discussion Jaimee commented that he was excited to learn so much that made such a difference in his appreciation of the Book of Mormon

Saturday we went to the Fort Desoto beach off the St. Petersburg peninsula.  as you look at the map it looks like a V and it is the one of the last of the islands off that peninsula.  We had to cross one long bridge and causeway that has a  four lane highway This area has bridges and causeways all over the place. As we drove to the Fort De Soto area we were struck by the wide expanse of water all around us. We would drive for miles on narrow cause ways with the huge Tampa Bay all around us. On a map it looks like we are driving right out into the middle of the gulf. Once we arrived at the meeting place we found thousands( it sure seemed like that many) of people all set up in gazebos preparing, eating or cleaning up after a meal. While looking for our YSA group we ran into an LDS group of the older generation saints in one of the gazebos. It took us a few minutes to realize this was not our group. But they were very nice and welcoming. It took us over an hour to find the YSA.

The Fort De Soto North Beach is a large, white sand beach with beautiful blue water which was about 80 degrees in temperature. The Gulf does not have big waves like the Pacific or Atlantic seaboards. The sand feels and looks like white powdered sugar.  It was gorgeous and marvelously soft to walk.

We talked with many that were there, had a burger and chips and sat in our new beach chairs on the beach and enjoyed talking and taking in the view of sand, sea, sky and sun. With a pleasant breeze from the gulf, even though the sun was hot, the breeze was great and took the edge off the heat.

After sunset we all packed up and headed home and got home about 9 pm.

WE HAD A GREAT WEEK 6

      We have been one busy couple!  Elder Judd started out teaching on Monday with  Isaiah and the latter days. He had about 5 students attend hoping that more would come --maybe next week.  (After all these people do not know how great he is.)  I listened in as he was teaching  and of course it was fantastic.  I really think that the word will spread and after all this the summer semester  and a lot of students come and go during the summer time.  Thursday night he started a mission prep class.  He said that it is a lot like teaching Sunday School because these young people need to learn how to teach. He is having a great time teaching anything ---he loves it.
      I started to prepare our first meal for Thursday night.  I choose a chicken pasta salad for a crowd.  It feeds about 30 people with one recipe.  Not trusting the knowledge I had about this recipe I decided to make 2 batches of it now it feeds 60 It just kept multiplying. We only had about 25 students so we had a lot of salad left over. A great lesson learned--Summer does not have the students like fall/winter. It was a success and I am grateful that  the first week is over.

Sister Compton is helping set out the food!

We added a roll and a cookie it was really good!

On Saturday we had the privilege of going to  the Orlando Temple with the YSA. That is one beautiful temple.         The temple grounds were so peaceful and beautiful--it was like we were in heaven.  We were able to take 3 YSA members with us and that was a fun experience getting to know them Steve Compton and Melissa Compton (brother and sister) and Jacob McNeal.
I think that the inside of the temple is built much like the Mt. Timpanogos Temple  the celestrial room was especially wonderful.

After the temple was excursion was over we went to the Lakeland ward to a devotional just for this age group. There was a strong spirit as Elder Christofferson and Elder Rasband give great council to the YSA youth.  We felt the love he had for this age group.  It was a long tiring day but well worth it.

GOING TO THE INSTITUTE --- EVERYDAY!!

MAY 10, 2014                                            5

We worked  hard learning what we needed to do all week long.   Joel spent a lot of time working on his Isaiah in the latter days class-- it will start on Monday  at 5pm.  I know that some of you wanted to hear him teach Isaiah again so come on down!!!   He will be teaching a mission prep class later in the week. I have been looking over what kind of meals I can fix for  $82.oo. It will be a challenge but Sister Compton--the S&I Secretary said I can do it. Thanks for all  the cooking ideas everyone gave me, they have been really helpful.  I will have to go shopping Monday or Tuesday to do the cooking, so that will be the next challenge--finding the stores. !!  All the stores are hidden in the trees --really you cannot see any stores on the side of the roads, you might be able to see a little sign designating that they are there.  CRAZY!  just hope that the GPS will work right.  I NEED MOUNTAINS for my guide points.!!

I was able to sit in a discussion with the sisters the other day. The man had some interesting questions. They did not know that he had emailed them the questions so they were going to research the answers for the next visit. It was my first sit down lesson with an investigator.  It was very interesting how the sisters asked the questions that would lead into a discussion  they were great.

The institute is located on the corner opposite the University of Southern Florida. The institute  building is attached to the main building where 3 wards ( one of the wards is the YSAward) are housed. Next week the mission offices will be moving in at the other end of the building.  It will be a very busy building when that happens.

ELDER JUDD
 

Saturday, May 10, was our first real “P-Day”…  we slept in a little and then started our day with exercise and breakfast. As we sat at the table after eating, Marsha check her iphone for messages and discovered that Veronica, the YSA R.S. President had just sent a message that she was all alone at the church cleaning for Sunday.  We rushed over to help. It turned out to be a great experience getting to know some of these faithful young single adults who are so committed to serving.  By the time the building was cleaned, we had 8 or 10 show up and all pitched in to get the job done.  As is the case when ever the Lord’s work is being carried out, the Saints get to know each other. This effort turned out to be a great opportunity to get to know several of the YSA.  I worked along side of Joseph, a great young man for North Carolina who joined the Church three years ago. He is the only member in his family. He is committed to the Gospel and gives the Lord credit for his successes and happiness. Joseph (his real name is McKinnley Joseph) is training to be a firefighter and paramedic. We also met Travis, a very sharp young man who takes a leading part in the YSA ward. He was born in Guam to a military family.

It is an exhilarating experience to work with the Young Single Adults. As has been stated by many, working with the young people keeps a person young, at least at heart.

In the afternoon we decided to drive to the beaches on the Gulf coast, which is suppose to be about an hour away. With all the traffic it took two hours.  It was bumper to bumper the last five miles. What we saw was beautiful but the press of people was too much.  We saw powdery white sands on the beach but we couldn’t stop because of the heavy traffic so we turned around and headed back to the apartment.

LOOKING AT TAMPA BAY

 

PALM TREES ARE IN THE BEACH AREA -CLOSE AS WE COULD GET

WE ARRIVED!! 4

      We made it to Florida, YEA YEA YEA!!!  That last leg of the drive was the longest, wetest, and windyest.     
    We arrived late Friday right in the middle of the torrential rainstorm only to find out from the regulars  that was a normal rainstorm. Well I was the one driving and could not hardly see the cars in front of me so I did not believe them. They all said just wait and see.  We missed the tornados-- we had a lot of wind and more wind and a lot of rain but nothing that the people in Mississippi had.

      We found our apartment and started the move in.  It is not so bad of an apartment --- carpets were clean, 2 bedrooms, 2 small bathrooms, 1 very small kitchen, 1 sofa, 1 love seat, 1 chair, 1 dinner room table and a dishwasher-clothes washer and a dryer.  All in all we are in a good location with palm trees all around, ducks walking around, alligators in retention ponds, 2 tennis courts and  2 swimming pools. Our apartment is one of  25 buildings with  about 16  dwellings places   It is huge!  and to think we have been fighting against  multi-dwelling units in Pleasant View~!!  

    We of course had to find a grocery store --Walmart did the trick and Costco too.  We had to buy sheets,a couple of rugs, soap, food .  By the time Saturday night we were exhausted .  

  We live in a 25 building complex with about 10-15 units in each building. Lots of palms and tall trees with lots of moss hanging from the limbs(I think that the moss is killing the trees  sad!).  It has 3 med. swimming pools (when everyone is gone to work or school I will get in), 2 tennis courts, 2 retention ponds (they told us not to wade because of alligators--that is what they said and I believe them).  4 sets of missionaries live in the complex which is nice to see them in their white shirts and ties and the sisters looking so good too. It is a quiet place--- except for the building's air conditioners are set right under our bedroom window. Everyone turns them up at night too.

  Sunday we were privileged to go to the Fort Lauderdale Temple dedication. We went to the Tampa Bay ward building.  Pres. Uchtdorf did the dedication and it was very delightful.  He let about 8 children help in setting the corner stone and of course they were thrilled.  Doing the hosanna shout is always a thrill to be a part of.

  Monday we met with the Mission President, it was an interesting meeting. He thinks that the CES Support Missionaries would be able to handle more responsibilities. He does not know how hard Joel works for the lessons he teaches.  Well we think that we might be helpful in some way for him to see how important CES really is for the youth of this church.  He is a nice man with lots of responsibilities on his shoulders.  He came into the Tampa Mission with just 150 missionaries 9 months ago and now he has 245 missionaries.  The church is really moving along. We then met with the area director for the S & I program, and found out that we have more programs and responsibilities than we thought we would have.  I do not think that we will have much time left to do anything else. We came to the institute building on Tuesday and met with the secretary (who I think is really the person in charge of  everything) and found out what we will really be doing--a lot!!!!!  

  While at the Institute yesterday, I was asked to sit in with the sister missionaries while they gave a lesson to an investigator. It was a good experience.  He had some interesting questions for the Sisters. The spirit was definitely the teacher here.  It was good to be apart of this.!!

  I think that we will enjoy this experience especially after all the encouraging words we received from everyone. Oh, everyone answers with a Yes Sir or a Yes mam that will take minute to get used too.

  Love and Blessing to you all ,      Marsha (dang I forgot again) Sister Judd

Elder Judd:
At about 3:00 pm we decided we better make another run to Costco and Walmart to pick up additional items that we need to settle into the apartment. While at Walmart I had two interesting experiences with people and my Missionary badge. I was waiting in line to return something when a lady just started at my badge. So I told her I am a missionary for my church. She said she first thought it was here church but then realized it was not. I asked her what church she belonged to and she said that she was Methodist.  I then said that we have a lot in common and that we both love Jesus Christ. She smiled and agreed.  Then while walking down an isle looking for Marsha a young, smart looking black man starred at my badge and thought I was an store worker.  Then he realized that I was not he looked closer and said, “Oh, you work for Jesus!”  I responded, “Yes, I do!”  “That’s good” he said and continued down the isle. My thought was that it is good to wear the name of Christ and represent Him.  As a duly set apart representative of Him, I truly do work for Jesus.