EXPERIENCES OF THE WEEK#24

September 21, 2014#24

  SUNDAY THE 14TH: I WAS ASKED TO TEACH A LESSON FOR RS CAN YOU IMAGE ME TEACHING -- HAW‼ IT WAS ON RAISING CHILDREN ON TRUTH AND LIGHT LESSON #16. IT WAS A GOOD LESSON AND WENT OVER WELL I THOUGHT.

 CHURCH WAS GOOD WITH A LOT OF YSA’S COMING BACK TO SCHOOL. AND TO CHURCH.  AFTER CHURCH ELDER JUDD HELPED WITH THE ELDERS QUORUM PRESIDENCY MEETING. WE CAME HOME AND HAD DINNER, NAPPED FOR A MINUTE, THEN BACK TO THE INSTITUTE FOR THE BYU DEVOTIONAL. ELDER D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON TALKED. AFTER THE TALK WAS FINISHED WE SERVED ROOT BEER OR ORANGE FLOATS FOR REFRESHMENTS—THEY LIKED THEM. WE HAD ABOUT 20 YOUNG PEOPLE WHICH IS APPARENTLY A GOOD NUMBER. WE CAME HOME AT 10:30 PM. IT WAS A LONG DAY!

ELDER JUDD:  I was invited to come and sit in with Sisters Goodman and Hansen as they taught an investigator/YSA fellow by the name of Andrew Allen. The week before I  had met with these same sisters as they taught him.  At the end of that lesson, Sister Hansen invited Andrew to pray but he declined saying that he didn’t feel worthy. I suggested that Christ’s atonement was made for us because of our sins and that He loves us and invite us to come to Him. He thought about that for a moment and then gave the most humble prayer I have heard in a long time. He thanked God for us, the missionaries, and for His love for him, and for the opportunity to be taught the truth of the Gospel. That prayer really touched my heart. This time, following a short lesson on how to make what we read in the Book of Mormon apply to our lives, Andrew closed with prayer with only the invitation to do so.  Again his prayer was touching and very sincere and humble. He thanked God for the love he felt and the truth that he was being taught.  It is such marvelous thing to watch these young missionaries follow the Spirit and teach with such power.  I love to be a part of their efforts.

THURSDAY WE HAD THE NORMAL CLASSES WITH ELDER JUDD AND BRO. PATRICK. WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ABOUT 60 THIS WEEK.   ELDER JUDD: we had a great experience discussing our connection with Abraham and  our responsibility to carry forward as his descendants the promised blessings given to him. As I was preparing for this lesson, I had a very strong impression to start with J.S.H 1:39; “and he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers…” which Moroni quoted to Joseph in September of 1823.  I taught that “those promises” included the one given to Abraham that thru him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Of course that refers to those descendants of Abraham in the latter days that would carry the Gospel to people all over the earth.  I asked why that was important to us. One student who will be leaving on his mission to Mexico in just four weeks answered that he had been praying to better understand what he would do on his mission. The Spirit was felt strongly as we talked about his charge as a descendant of Abraham. I knew that he was given an understanding that he had not had and a connection to the covenant of Abraham he had not made before. I testified to him that the Lord had heard his prayers and this was part of the answer. I also testified that he would understand even more about this as he served his mission. I said that the Lord did know who he is and the desires of his heart and they had been answered in this class. Everyone felt the Spirit testify of that truth. The student’s name was Brody Patrick, the son of the Director of the Tampa Institute of Religion. Brody had never been to this class before.

I STARTED TO WORRY THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO SERVE EVERY ONE.  ELDER JUDD DECIDED THAT HE WOULD GIVE EVERYONE ONE LADEL FULL AND TELL THEM TO COME BACK AFTER EVERYONE HAD HAD ONE HELPING. WE HAD CHICKEN AL A KING WITH BISCUITS; DESSERT WAS REALLY SIMPLE ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE AND CARAMEL SYRUP THEY ATE IT ALL-- DOWN TO THE LAST MORSEL AND ENJOYED THE COMMERADERIE WITH EVERYONE. IT IS CALLED A JOYFUL NOISE. ELDER JUDD PLAYED PING PONG WITH JOSH CROSBY AND SOME OTHERS AND HAD A GOOD TIME BATTERING BACK AND FORTH. OH WE DID HAVE ENOUGH BARELY..

WHOSE HANDS  DOES IT BELONG TOO

THESE ARE THE HANDS OF THE UNKNOWN

TOM, MADILENE, MARISSA, JOE

INSTITUTE PING PONG

CHICKEN AL-A-KING AND THE LINE IS LONG

ICE CREAM IS ON THE TABLE

SIERRA AND SISTER HOWARD

YEA SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING THE DISHES

THIS SATURDAY IS THE SEMINARY AND INSTITUTE IN-SERVICE MEETING THAT BEGINS AT 8AM IN THE MORNING FOR THE TEACHERS.  ONLY IT REALLY BEGINS AT 6AM FOR ELDER JUDD AND I.  I AM ASSIGNED TO MAKE SOME BREAKFAST DISH FOR ABOUT 35 PEOPLE.. TODAY I PREPARED A MUSHROOM AND SPINACH QUICHE, SAUSAGE-BREAD CASSEROLE, AND A BACON POTATO CROCK POT CASSEROLE. WE ALSO SERVED A HUGH FRUIT BOWL, MILK, JUICE AND DONUTS (WHICH BRO PATRICK LOVES). BRO PATRICK TAUGHT ABOUT ALL THE MATERIALS ON THE INTERNET THAT THE CHURCH HAS PUT OUT TO HELP THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. IT IS AMAZING THE GOOD THAT IS OUT THERE.

WE WENT TO A BAPTISM LATER THAT NIGHT FOR A YOUNG LADY FROM INDIA BY THE NAME OF NEVEDAH,. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. WE TRY TO GO TO ALL THE BAPTISMS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR WARD BUILDING.

WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE A MESSAGE FROM TRICIA AND STEVE THAT WE COULD STREAM THE OGDEN TEMPLE CELEBRATION.  WE HAVE FELT SO FAR AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND EVENTS THAT WE WANTED TO BE APART OF. THEY GAVE US THE LINK AND SO AFTER THE BAPTISM WE WENT INTO THE INSTITUTE ROOM, TURNED ON THE INTERNET AND STREAMED IT ON TO THE BIG SCREEN—LOOKING OF COURSE FOR OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS AND ANYONE ELSE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN.  DID NOT SEE A SOUL THAT WE KNEW BUT THE PROGRAM WAS FANTASTIC.  WE POP SOME POPCORN HAD A FEW CANDIES AND ENJOYED THE SHOW.  IT KEPT BUFFERING A FEW TIMES BUT THANKS TO MIKEY WATKINS CHANGING SOME SETTINGS ON THE COMPUTER(WHO KNOWS WHAT HE DID) AND THEN IT WORKED GREAT  AFTER THAT.  WE WERE SO AMAZED AT THE WORK THE CHURCH PUT ON FOR THE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE TO ENJOY SINGING AND DANCING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE TEMPLE DISTRICTS.  TOMORROW THEY WILL DEDICATE THE OGDEN TEMPLE AND  IN SPIRIT WE WILL BE THERE.

A NORMAL WEEK#23

September 16, 2014 #23

I DECIDED I WOULD JUST DO A DAILY SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEKS BLOG:

  MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8^TH:   JUST A BUSY DAY IN THE OFFICE, JOEL IS PREPARING LESSONS. I AM FIGURING OUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO EAT AND WHAT TO BUY FOR THE NEXT TWO THURSDAYS, WHEN I REMEMBERED THAT WE HAVE A BREAKFAST IN-SERVICE MEETING NEXT SATURDAY MORNING. OF COURSE I NEEDED TO HAVE THE RECIPES AND INGREDIENTS TO FIX IT.(IT IS HARD TO THINK OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF BREAKFAST WHEN ELDER JUDD AND I NEVER HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN TOAST, FRUIT AND RAISIN BRAN.)

  FHE: CHRIS ELTON LED US IN PLAYING “GUESS WHOSE FEET AND HANDS WERE WHOSES.” IT WAS FUN TO SEE HOW MANY WE GUESSED CORRECTLY. THE MAIN ACTIVITY WAS LEARNING HOW TO DO CPR ON AN ACCIDENT PERSON.THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 20 YSA’S. WE NEED MORE AND WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING MORE TO COME. WE THEN HAD A GREAT DESSERT MADE BY SISTER FRENCH(2^ND COUNSELOR’S WIFE)..

  TUESDAY:   I HAD A DENTIST APPOINTMENT WITH DR SCOTT STAFFORD--ALEX PATRIK RECOMMENDED HIM, IT WAS CLEAR ACROSS TAMPA LONG WAYS TO DRIVE.  DR. STTAFFORD IS A NICE MAN, HIS MANNERISM REMINDS ME OF DR. JESSE JENSEN--HE WAS GREAT MAN AND DENTIST I WORK WITH WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.  ELDER JUDD FELT HE HAD TO GO OVER WITH ME, HE DID SAY HE GOT A LOT OF STUDY TIME IN. HE SHOULD HAVE IT WAS A 2 HOUR APPOINTMENT.

  WEDNESDAY: ELDER JUDD: Wednesday began with an early start by going to the USF campus to get set up for Bull Market. Bull Market is an outdoor event where all the clubs on the campus of the University of South Florida set up tables and canopies and vie for new sign ups of the some 40,000 students who attend here. It is a great opportunity for our missionaries to get on campus and have access to them. It is a gold mine for them for contacts to teach. The missionaries can get enough referrals to work with in three hours than they can get in over several days in the normal way. We pass out flyers on the Church and the Institute and Sunday meetings. .ELDER JUDD HAD TO PROCTOR A EXAM IN THE AFTERNOON AND I WENT OVER THE ITEMS THAT I NEEDED TO DO TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT COOKING DAY AND ALSO WORKED ON ATTENDANCE CHARTS..     ELDER JUDD CALLED AND TALKED TO OUR GOOD FRIEND--DOUG SPENCER ABOUT HIS WIFE, GLENDA.  SHE IS NOT DOING WELL. WE JUST WANTED HIM TO KNOW OF OUR LOVE FOR THE BOTH OF THEM. 

I HAD A HAIRCUT APPOINTMENT ABOUT 10 AM AND DURING THIS TIME FRAME I RECEIVED A LITTLE TENDER MERCY FROM HEAVENLY FATHER. THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE: DURING THAT HAIRCUT, I WAS SITTING TALKING TO CINDY DAVIS (HAIRSTYLIST) ABOUT THE GOOD WEEK WE HAD WITH OUR JUDD GRANDDAUGHTERS. I THEN TOLD HER ABOUT BAYLEE’S ACCIDENT AT THE MOSI MUSEUM ON THE 9^TH OF AUGUST.  SHE IMMEDIATELY ASKED IF WE WENT BACK TO MOSI AND TALKED TO THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. I HAD TOLD HER NO AND THAT WE DID NOT SEEK MONEY TO GET GAIN.  SHE SAID TO ME IT WASN’T THAT WAYAND THAT MOSI HAD INSURANCE FOR ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED WITHIN THE BUILDING. SHE TOLD ME THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.  AS SHE TALKED TO ME I KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE A BLESSING FOR BOTH RYANAND JENI TO CHECK INTO THIS. LATER I TOLD ELDER JUDD ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION AND HE SAID LETS GO TALK THE MOSI OFFICE AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY.THREE DAYS LATER THEYAGREED THAT THEY COULD HELP US WITH THE INSURANCE CLAIM.  SEVERAL DAYS LATER THEIR INSURANCE ADJUSTER CALLED US AND SAID THAT ALL THE OUT OF POCKET FUNDS WOULD BE PAID FOR COMPLETELY,SO AFTER THE INSURANCE PAID FOR THEIR PART MOSI INSURANCE WOULD PAY FOR THE REST. WHAT A BLESSING THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT FOR RYAN AND JENI TO COME UP WITH.  I WAS SO THANKFUL THAT CINDY INSISTED THAT I TALKED TO THE MUSEUM PEOPLE. I CALLED CINDY BACK AND TOLD HER OF THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD AND THANKED HER FOR HER INSISTENCE OF VISITING WITH THE MUSEUM PEOPLE. THIS WAS JUST A LITTLE TENDER MERCY TO HELP OUR GRANDDAUGHTER OUT.  HEAVENLY FATHER DOES LOVE HIS CHILDREN.

    THURSDAY: I DIDN’T EVEN START FIXING THE STUDENT DINNER UNTIL NOON. IT WAS CROCKPOT SPAGHETTI, BREAD STICKS AND LEMON AND CHOCOLATE CRINKLE COOKIES. DINNER WAS REALLY GOOD AND THE STUDENTS LIKED IT A LOT. FOUND OUT OUR GOOD FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR IN OUR NORTH OGDEN WARD PASSED AWAY. GLENDA SPENCER WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT COULD LIGHT UP THE ROOM WE WERE IN ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT. WE COULD FEEL HER SWEET SPIRIT WHEN WE WERE WITH HER. WE WOULD OFTEN LAUGH TILL WE OUR SIDES HURT.  SHE WAS THE BEST AND WE LOVED HER.

  FRIDAY: I DID THE ENTIRE ATTENDANCE ROLLS AND ALSO THE MEAL BUDGET AND THEY ARE NOW UP TO DATE. I STILL WORRY ABOUT OVER SPENDING.  RIGHT NOW I AM WITH IN THE BUDGET --GOOD FEELING.  JOEL ALSO TALKED IN A NIGHT RELIEF SOCIETY MEETING. THE SUBJECT WAS ABOUT‘JERUSALEM THEN AND NOW’. IT WAS FANTASTIC-- LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES. WE WENT TO DINNER AT A PLACE CALLED SONNY’S BBQ PIT. JOEL HAD BABY BACK RIBS AND I HAD SLICED PORK IT WAS GOOD, BUT THE ATMOSPHERE WAS NOT THE BEST. IT WAS IN THE TOWN OF NEW PORT RICHEYABOUT 45 MINUTES FROM OUR APARTMENT. WE HOPE THAT ELDER JUDD WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPERTUNITY TO DO THIS PRESENTATION.

  SATURDAY:  A COMPLETE CHANGE FROM THE REST OF THE WEEK, IT WAS A CLEAN UP DAY--WE WASHED OUR CLOTHES AND CAR AND WENT TO SAMS CLUB.  WE CAME BACK AND WATCHED TWO MOVIES – THE BOOK THIEF AND 3 WISHES (HAD TO WATCH TWO BECAUSE WE HAVE NO TIME IN THE COMING WEEK.). JUST A SIDE NOTE THE POPCORN WAS  BAD SO WE MADE A DIFFERENT KIND AND IT WAS GOOD, GOOD WEEK‼! YEAH

SEPTEMBER 7TH #22

September 7, 2014

Monday was Labor Day.  We had the day off and decided to do something a little different. At first we were just going to go to some different malls and walk around. Then Sister Compton told us about Tarpon Springs. This little Greek community is about 45 minutes from our apartment-right on the Gulf of Mexico. What makes this special is the sponges that they harvest in the warm waters of the Gulf. The Greeks came years ago bringing a lot of their countrymen to begin a new career here in the United States. The day we were there the city was having a craft show and fair, closing off most of the main street.  We walked a while seeing the sights of the home made articles and sponge shops.  We then went on a sight-seeing bus that took us down to Clearwater, Danedin, Palm Habor. It was a nice 2 hour ride. By the time we came back it was lunch time, so we stopped in to the Parthenon Restaurant for a wonderful gyro full turkey beef vegetables etc.  We were grateful we could learn about sponges and the cultural. We also found that Denedin was a Scottish community.  This is a state of many culturals. 

Elder Judd:Tuesday I spent the day preparing for my New Testament class and putting up the new pillar banner to replace the vertical “INSTITUTE” banner that Sister Judd and I did not like. One student even agreed with us calling it “tackey.” We agreed and finally prevailed on Brother Patrick to let us get another one that would fit better. Well, I got it and put it up. When Brother Patrick saw it he said that we were “right, it did look better!!!” Sister Judd got her hair cut today and she came back to the Institute looking really cute. She found a person here in Tampa that will cut it short likes she likes..  

Wednesday we had a busy day starting at the  very beginning. I found a dentist by the name of Dr. Scott Stafford.  I broke a back molar and guess what I have to have a crown WHY NOT?‼ At the same time Elder Judd went to the Bull Market-

Elder Judd: On Wednesday we got up earlier than usual and headed for the Institute so I could meet the Elders and go with them to prepare for Bull Market. Bull Market is a USF campus thing where all the on campus clubs vie for members and support for their various interests and pursuits. The missionaries use this day each week to meet new investigators. We were there for three hours in the heat, but we had a great canopy for shade which really helped. We met several students who were interested in hearing more about the Church. This is a gold mine for the missionaries to meet new people. So I will be supporting this effort and making sure things go well for them. This is a great effort and helps our classes as well.. I taught my NT class on the Savior’s birth at7pm. It went pretty well and I had a few more students. I love teaching the life of Christ!!! 

 

Thursday I start preparing for the late evening meal. I was excited about this meal—pancakes, syrup and fresh fruit.  Elder Judd,  Lisa Lundberg,  Kayla Holloway and I  flipped pancakes and served them to the students    It was not to hard and they seemed to like it.

Elder Judd: Saturday was a low key day wherein I spent most of the day preparing for a presentation on New Testament Jerusalem for a Relief Society Group and their husbands at the Hudson Ward in New Port Richey. Sister Jan Jeans asked if I would do something like that and I told her I loved to talk “Holy Land” anytime. Sister Judd went shopping to get a few things for us and some few things for the next Institute dinner. In the Evening we picked up Jacob McNeal, a YSA, and traveled to Brandon to our Saturday evening Stake Conference session. There were two talks by a young man and a young lady who talked of their experiences with sharing the gospel and the successes they have had. They were great talks.  President Cusick spoke about using the new tools we have to do a better and more efficient job. He used his own experience as a young man working in cement as a great example. Stake President Howell is a great leader and scriptorium and speaker. He challenged us to listen to Elder Bednar’s talk on the use of social media the Lord’s way. He gave this talk at the Religion Week at BYU in August.

Elder Judd:Tuesday I spent the day preparing for my New Testament class and putting up the new pillar banner to replace the vertical “INSTITUTE” banner that Sister Judd and I did not like. One student even agreed with us calling it “tackey.” We agreed and finally prevailed on Brother Patrick to let us get another one that would fit better. Well, I got it and put it up. When Brother Patrick saw it he said that we were “right, it did look better!!!” Sister Judd got her hair cut today and she came back to the Institute looking really cute. She found a person here in Tampa that will cut it short likes she likes..  

THE DAYS ARE LONG #21

 AUGUST 31, 2014

Well   we were glad that we had one quiet week because this week was work, work, and work . No time to bring our heads out of the water.

We started out this week with a new Institute class—The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ. Elder Judd taught this just before Family Home Evening so it makes for a very long day since we start our day about 7:30 am (actually Elder Judd starts at 6am) and ended at 10:30 pm. The turnout for the class was very small a little disappointing but at the same time we realize that USF is just beginning today and that might make a difference  for the coming weeks after school really begins.  In addition to the preparation for the class Elder Judd also worked on a new banner that will read vertically instead of horizontally, we ordered it through Staples and should have it hanging by Tuesday. It will make a great difference on the look of the building. People walking by will know who we are and what goes on in this building.

Elder Judd: FHE also had only a few show up but the activity was a well planned one with a game called “Extreme Spoons.” This was a game that used face cards that had to be lined up with a certain hand. Once that hand was achieved the person who got it would run to the other end of the gym to grab a plastic spoon off of a table. That was the queue for everyone else to run also. Each time a few were eliminated until there was one winner.  It got crazy and loud each time someone got a hand that set them off. This went on for several rounds until the students had had enough. We all enjoyed the refreshments which consisted of frozen fruit juice bars and ice cream sandwiches

Wednesday and Thursday were busy day,  I went to Costco and shopped for 2 meals for the next 2 Thursdays. I must tell you the recipe I  made for the students it was pretty good if I don’t say so myself and Elder Judd loved it.  It was a baked quesadilla- I put shredded chicken, cheese, rice, chilies, and hidden valley powder and stirred it up and just before class ended I put it on the tortillas shells and baked it for about 10 minutes – which was not long enough to melt the cheese (recipe called for melting the cheese) but it was warm and they loved it and I had enough for them to eat..

Friday I had a lot of reports to do and I set the goal to leave the office at 4 pm. We seemed to have a lot of interruptions and did not meet the goal of leaving.. darn‼--Brother Patrick had two interviews for the new support specialists that we need in the next little while, he wanted us to meet them, and then I was asked to go into a phone lesson with Sisters Goodman and Hansen. The lesson was on the Law of Chastity. I felt the powerful message that was given to this sister and heard her commit to living this law.  It was a great experience to be a part of. W e left at 5pm.

Elder Judd: Saturday was spent washing and cleaning up the apartment, helping the YSA clean

the church for the last time this month, doing some needed shopping and finally attending the baptism of Mindy Pettis who was taught by Sisters Howard and Benson. The baptism was special because Mindy is confined to a wheelchair with MS. She has a strong testimony and we could see and feel her soaring spirit as we chatted with her before the baptism. Afterwards, she told us how thrilled she was for such a blessing that has come into her life. The Temple Terrace Ward did a great job making her feel welcome. There were about thirty people at the baptism.

 Elder Judd: Usually after fast Sunday we have a fast feast dinner but because so many were going to be gone out of town we were invited to an outdoor barbeque at Tara Hartman’s apartment building after Church. There were several missionaries there as well as five investigators. One young man came to the church because he felt the need to be a part of a church and just walked in and found 2 missionaries. Two ladies came because a  friend invited them.-one of which did not believe in Christ and now is praying and asking for help in learning about him, Jamie Leggett brought a friend who is interested in the church and we had a chance to talk to him and all the others who are being taught by the missionaries. It was an enjoyable time for both of us.

It was a very busy week but very rewarding‼