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.