BLOG #31

SOME WHERE ALONG THE LINE I HAVE MESSED UP ON THE DATES AND BLOG #'S. SO I WILL TRY TO GET IT STRAIGHTEN OUT-- BUT REST ASSURED ALL THIS INFORMATION DID HAPPEN.

 ELDER JUDD: This semester is quickly coming to close with only two weeks left before the Christmas break. It has been a busy week and my classes have been fun to teach. I am really enjoying teaching the life and ministry of the Savior. There are so many valuable insights that come as we discuss each verse of what the Savior both said and did. Every now and again one or two students makes and audible “Aha!” or “Wow!” or “Mmmm!” or they raise their hand with an insight that they had never had before. Then we talk about what they have discovered. Often, that insight or discovery enlightens the rest of us in the class and we all share in the light that has come as we focus on the Son of God and His tenderness and infinite love both to those He ministered to then and those He ministers to now---us. 

Wednesday was a busy day for Sister Judd as she worked on the menu for Thursday. On Tuesday, she made those famous rolls(5 dozen) of hers. Then she made a cookie that looked like a pilgrim hat, about sixty of them. She has baked two turkeys and boned them out for the meat that she put into a Thanksgiving dinner casserole. She also made two cookie sheets of a pumpkin cheesecake bar.  It all went over very well with the YSA coming back for seconds. It all tasted great and everyone had a great meal. And of course a lot of conversation…

THIS WAS OUR TROPICAL STORM

Also on Wednesday Sister Judd and I went to our first senior missionary in-service meeting with all 6 couples in the Tampa Florida Mission with Pres and Sister Cusick. From 10 to 12 we learned more about the mission and how it works. We were instructed to be helpful to the Wards mission leaders working closely with them. Pres Cusick was very informative. And we were grateful that we could learn more about this work. We then had Lunch with Olive Garden as the caterer. It was good and we were able to chat with the couples that we did not know very well = Serevinson, ,Ainscough, Smiths, Healey, and Salmons..  We then went to the afternoon portion of the meeting and learned about the Metro Training Center- Elders Hawks and Neilsen(AP) explained this portion--It is to help teach the missionaries how to approach people how, to  exercise and take care of themselves, how to manage their time, and how to prepare their food etc.. It was very informative.  They are really being trained for life in general. 

Sunday was a great day and the first one in a while that we were able to relax and just enjoy the spirit.  NEXT WEEK IS THANKSGIVING!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

ONE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING#30

THURSDAY I REALLY WANTED PIZZA ,ICE CREAM AND COOKIES. I TRIED TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT WAYS TO PREPARE IT MAKING IT HOT, GOOD AND OF COURSE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE BUDGET I HAVE. THE ONLY WAY I COULD MAKE IT WAS WITH FRENCH BREAD (WALMART SPECIAL $1/LOAF) CUT IN HALF AND THEN INTO 8 PIECES, PIZZA SAUCE, CHEESE, PEPPERONI, HAM AND PINEAPPLE. ELDER JUDD AND I MADE AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF INGREDIENTS AND THEN I WOULD RUN IT DOWN TO THE OVENS. ( THE OVENS ARE IN THE MAIN PART OF THE BUILDING JUST ACROSS FROM THE GYM.IT IS NOT FAR FROM THE INSTITUTE ROOMS SO THAT IS WHERE I DO ALL OF THE BAKING.  LOTS OF  WALKING, GOOD FOR ME‼!)) WE MADE IT A FUN MEAL FOR THE STUDENT. THEY ATE ALL 11 LOAVES OF PIZZA BREAD. IT IS AN EASY WAY TO MAKE IT –I THINK THAT WE WILL BE HAVING PIZZA  FRENCH BREAD AT OUR HOUSE WITH THE GRANDKIDS. 

SATURDAY WE FIXED A BREAKFAST MEAL FOR THE SEMINARY IN-SERVICE GROUP. IT WAS MUFFIN QUICHES, CINNAMON, BLUEBERRY, MORMON MUFFIN, AND OF COURSE FRUIT, MILK AND JUICE. THESE EARLY MORNING SEMINARY TEACHERS COME FROM 5 DIFFERENT  STAKES IN THIS AREA, SOME DRIVE FROM FORT MYERS IN THE SOUTH, BROOKSFIELD IN THE NORTH, ST PETE IN THE WEST AND LAKELAND IN THE EAST.  IT IS A LONG DRIVE FOR MANY OF THESE FAITHFUL SAINTS, WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR TEACHING SKILLS FOR THE YOUTH OF THE CHURCH IN THE SEMINARY PROGRAM. THEY GIVE THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO HELP THESE GREAT YOUNG PEOPLE.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON ELDER JUDD GAVE A TALK AT KODY DAHLKE’S BAPTISM. THEN ON SUNDAY HE GAVE A DIFFERENT TALK AT JIA ZHANG BAPTISM.  HE WAS REALLY GOOD TALKING TO TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE MEETING THEIR OWN NEEDS AND WHAT THEY NEEDED TO HEAR. BOTH OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS WERE SO HAPPY AND WE COULD SEE A LIGHT IN THEIR EYES THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE.

SATURDAY WAS ALSO TEMPLE DAY FOR THE YSA WARD. WE HAD ABOUT 25 YOUNG ADULTS COME AND DO BAPTISMS AND CONFIRMATIONS  FOR THE DEAD. THEY ARE SO EXCITED TO COME AND DO THIS FOR SOMEONE ELSE-SOME EVEN BRING THEIR OWN FAMILY FILE.  THE OFFICIATORS ASKED ELDER JUDD TO OFFICIATE AT THE FONT AND I WAS ASKED TO SIT IN THE YOUNG WOMEN’S CONFIRMATION ROOM. WE WENT TO THE TEXAS LONGHORN FOR DINNER AFTER. SOME WENT TO A CHINESE PLACE AND OTHERS WENT TO A SANDWICH JOINT. ALL IN ALL IT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE.

ELDER JUDD AND I WERE ASSIGNED TO GO TO A YSA FIRESIDE IN PLANT CITY WHICH IS ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF THE INSTITUTE BUILDING. OUR ASSIGNMENT WAS TO TALK TO THE YSA ABOUT COMING TO INSTITUTE CLASSES HERE IN TAMPA.  WE TOOK THE INSTITUTE PRESIDENT-JACQUI SHELTON WITH US AND ALL OF US BORE A TESTIMONY OF THE VALUE OF TAKING INSTITUTE TO STRENGTHEN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL. IT WAS GREAT EXPERIENCE.

ELDER JUDD AND I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING AN ELDER THAT WE BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH EARLIER THIS YEAR.  HE IS FROM FIJI AND HAS THIS WONDERFUL SMILE AND HAPPY ATTITUDE. HE WAS RECENTLY TRANSFERRED TO NAPLES THE SOUTHERN POINT OF THIS MISSION. OF COURSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HIM BUT WE RECEIVED A NOTE ON MONDAY INDICATING THAT HE WAS DOING OKAY AND THAT HE REALLY WAS ENJOYING HIS NEW AREA AND COMPANION. WE ARE RELIEVEDTO HEAR HIS GOOD NEWS AND CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS SUCCESS.  WE,ALSO, RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTE YESTERDAY, MONDAY NOV. 17TH WHERE HE WAS BACK TO HIS HAPPY SELF-- MAKING JOKES AND TALKING  ABOUT FOOD AND HOW MUCH HE MISSED US AND ALL THE GOODIES THAT I MADE.  WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS SUCCESS DAILY. 

WE ARE IN OUR 2ND WEEK NOVEMBER#29

WE ARE IN OUR 2^ND WEEK OF NOVEMBER#29

WE HAVE ENJOYED A DELIGHTFUL WEEK—WEATHER-WISE . WE HAVE BEEN IN THE MID 70’S DURING THE DAY MOST OF THE TIME, AND REALLY THE ONLY TIME IT IS COLD IS WHEN WE ARE IN THE CHURCH BUILDING.  I REALLY THINK THAT THE BROTHERN SHOULD TAKE THEIR COATS OFF AND FEEL WHAT WE FEEL AT TIMES THEN MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED DOWN A NOTCH OR TWO. I GUESS THAT IS MY LITTLE TIRADE, NOW BACK TO THE WEATHER.  WE KEEP WONDERING WHERE THE FALL IS. OUR SECRETARY, SISTER HOPEGOOD, CAME TO WORK ONE DAY WITH A SWEATER AND LONG DRESS BOOTS ON. SHE ASKED IF WE FELT THE CHANGE OF WEATHER OUTSIDE. WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND THEN SAID NO NOT REALLY. THE ONLY THING WE CAN TELL IS THE HOT HUMIDITY IS GONE.  THAT MUST BE HOW THEY TELL.  IT IS GREAT FOR RIGHT NOW AND WE MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY IT‼!

WE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE THE YOUNG ELDERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE IN OUR AREA.  AS WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CES PROGRAM IT PUTS US IN THE INSTITUTE BUILDING ALL THE TIME, SO WE SEE THE MISSIONARIES COME INTO THE BUILDING THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THIS AREA. SOME ARE QUIET, SOME ARE VERY TALKATIVE AND SOME  YOU LOVE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF WHO  THEY ARE.  ELDER TAKONA, WHO CAME  FROM FIJI JUST SIX MONTHS AGO, WON OUR HEARTS WITH HIS SMILE AND SWEET PERSONALITY. WE HAVE COME TO LOVE HIM AND HIS SENIOR COMPANION, ELDER NELSON. THEY STOP INTO OUR OFFICE EACH DAY AND IF WE HAD ANY FOOD LEFT OVER FROM SOME EVENT, THEY USUALLY ENDED UP WITH IT. ELDER TOKONA’S PARENTS ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND HAVE  HAD A HARD TIME WITH HIM LEAVING  FIJI TO SERVE A FULL TIME MISSION—AS A RESULTS THEY HAVE NOT WRITTEN TO HIM THE ENTIRE TIME HE HAS BEEN OUT. THIS LAST TRANSFER HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO NAPLES THE FURTHEST CITY AWAY FROM HERE.  WE WILL TRY TO ENCOURAGE HIM WHILE HE IS IN HIS MISSION. HE HAS A GREAT TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

OF COURSE IN THIS CALLING WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE CONCERNED FOR. 1.  ADAM WHO JOINED THE CHURCH SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN A DIFFERENT STATE-- BUT FELL AWAY FROM THE CHURCH, WHEN HE CAME BACK TO FLORIDA HE FELT THAT HE HAD TRY HARD TO GIVE UP HIS HABITS THAT HAD TAKEN OVER HIS LIFE AND BEGIN AGAIN TO LIVE THE GOSPEL AS HE SHOULD. IT HAS BEEN A HARD JOURNEY BUT HE IS DOING A LOT BETTER AT THIS TIME. HIS GENERAL APPEARANCE HAS CHANGE. IT IS GREAT TO KNOW HIM.  2.  ANDREW A. IS A VERY SOFT SPOKEN YOUNG MAN AND HAS A HARD TIME GETTING TO KNOW THE YSA PEOPLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO MOVE HIM INTO WHERE THE YSA’S ARE TALKING SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO KNOW HIM BETTER. IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH HIM FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE. 3. FERNANDO, OUR SPECIAL FRIEND FROM COLUMBIA, CAME AND LIGHTED UP OUR LIFE WITH HIS SPECIAL TESTIMONY AND LOVE FOR THE GOSPEL. HE HAD TO GO HOME TO COLUMBIA SHORTLY AFTER HIS BAPTISM. HE WAS HOPING THAT HIS PARENTS WOULD JOIN BUT SADLY IT IS NOT THEIR TIME FOR COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL—SOMEDAY IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THEIR SON’S TESTIMONY.  4. JAMIE L. IS ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WHO CAME INTO THE CHURCH WITH A KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL.  5. LANIEKA IS OUR JAMAICAN SISTER THAT JOINED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. SHE IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SCHOOL, BUT KNOWS THAT SHE IS BEING HELPED BECAUSE OF HER COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL. SATAN IS WORKING HARD ON ALL THESE CHOICE YOUNG PEOPLE  TO GET THEM BACK TO HIS SIDE,BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT THEY WILL DO AS THEY GROW CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER.THEY ARE STRONG AND WILL FIGHT TO STAY IN THE GOSPEL. WE HAVE OTHERS THAT THE MISSIONARIES ARE WORKING WITH. WE DO LOVE GETTING TO KNOW THEM TOO. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE THIS IS WORKING WITH THESE YSA’S.

THIS WEEK I FIXED CHILI-MAC, CORN BREAD AND WHITE AND CHOCOLATE TEXAS SHEET CAKE. I THINK THAT I JUST CHANGE THE NAME OF THE MEAL, ADD A DIFFERENT SAUCE AND NOODLE AND IT BECOMES CHILI-MAC, SPAGHETTI,  ETC. IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE… THEY EAT IT ANYWAY IT IS FIXED.

 ELDER JUDD’S CLASSES ARE DOING GREAT. THE CLASSES ARE THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF THE SAVIOR AND THE OLD TESTAMENT (FIRST HALF). HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING ALL OF HIS PICTURES FOR HIS CLASSES(HE HAS FOUND SOME FANTASTIC PICTURES ON THE INTERNET).HE HAS ENJOYED FINDING THESE PICTURES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO MUCH CLEARER AND SHARPER THAN THE PICTURES HE TOOK OF THE SAME SPOT. SOMEONE IS A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER.

THIS FRIDAY WE LEFT THE OFFICE ABOUT 4:30PM, HAD DINNER AT THE CRACKER BARREL, CAME BACK TO THE APARTMENT AND WATCHED 2 MOVIES. I KNOW BORING BUT IT WAS A GOOD CHANGE‼ SATURDAY:  UP AND BACK TO THE CHURCH TO HELP THE YSA CLEAN THE CHURCH. I NEEDED TO WASH THE CLOTHES IN THE AFTERNOON AND OF COURSE GO GROCERY SHOPPING – IT DOES SEEM THAT I AM ALWAYS FOOD SHOPPING FOR EITHER US OR THE YSA.  COSTCO AND WALMART KNOWS ME BY NAME.

WE HAD A SURPRISE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR YSA YOUNG WOMAN WANTING TO KNOW IF WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO A UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL OVER IN ST. PETE.  WHAT A SURPRISE‼  KASSIE’S BACKGROUND IS UKRAINIAN. IT WAS FUN WATCHING  THE UKRAINE DANCES, TRYING THEIR FOOD AND LOOKING AT THEIR HANDICRAFTS--ESPECIALLY THEIR FANCY DECORATED EGGS FOR WHICH THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR. WE DID HAVE A GREAT TIME.

ELDER JUDD WAS ASKED TO GIVE A BAPTISMAL TALK FOR A YOUNG LADY, KAI-LA CANCEL,ON SUNDAY. HE SPOKE ON MORONI 10:32, MATTHEW 11:28-30 AND THE CONCEPT OF BEING YOKED TO THE SAVIOR AT BAPTISM WHICH WOULD GIVE US A PARTNER TO WALK WITH THRU THE REST OF OUR LIVES. I REALLY DID ENJOY, AS I ALWAYS DO, HEARING HIM BEAR HIS TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR.

NOVEMBER BLOG #27

NOVEMBER BLOG #27

November can you believe it? It is still sunny, not quit as warm, but still really nice.   I did wear my lightweight jacket tonight as we went to the Institute for the BYU devotional. Elder Donald Hallstrom gave a great talk on building on a rock foundation. How many times do we stress this point? Sometimes at church, well maybe all the time at church they Turn the temperature up to the highest cold mark and expect everyone to be content and happy, I wasn’t I was freezing.  And then on top of that we served ice cream -- banana splits, and root beer floats   cold cold cold  oh well‼. I think that I should have served hot chocolate now that would have been great idea. Next time!    I know I am in Florida and I should be warm all the time, but we are finding that it is hot and a lot of humidity and hot and cool with humidity funny‼

Elder Judd’s thoughts:  Thursday went smoothly with my OT class, which had about 10—pretty good number for this area. We discussed the Passover and the exodus out of Egypt into the Sinai. Brother Patrick’s class had about 43 in class. The dinner Sister Judd prepared was highly acclaimed--It was South West Chicken Bake with a green salad and Pumpkin Cupcakes. The students seem to prefer just mingling after class and dinner rather than playing Volleyball the last several weeks. The net was set up later than usual and only about 10 or so went in to play.  All of that ended at about 10 pm.  We stood around talking to Alex for about another 30 minutes about various Institute issues, so we didn’t get till home about 11pm.  It was a long day but a positive one. EtienneVawters, who I baptized last week,was in attendance and I can see some real growth in him. He is a sharp young man and I believe he has a lot of potential.

Andrew Allen, who I baptized about three weeks ago has gotten into some anti church material on the internet and he has “left” the church as he puts it.  The sister missionaries and I talked to him for over 45 minutes on Monday night without any progress. His countenance has fallen and there is no light in his face. I have called him and left messages of encouragement as have the Sisters but to no avail. It is so sad to see how easily we can lose our way if we fail to be consistent in our prayers and reading the scriptures. We will continue to reach out to him. He is such a good young man.

Saturday we had it off or a P-day as they called it, but do not believe it-- we were at the church at 10 am helping clean the building with the YSA ward. Elder Judd and I washed all the door windows he was outside and I was inside which I was thankful for—the wind was blowing and it was cool. During this time frame I was asked by one of the sisters in our area to call her mother for her. The rule is no talking to parents unless it is Christmas or Mothers day! So while the sister was sitting next to me I talked to her mom. It was concerning a health issue and she needed some insurance  information.  It was fun to be able to talk and hear her mom talk to me as though the sister missionary was not around.  I did find out that this family is from Syracuse Utah and knows my uncle. SMALL WORLD‼  Shopping was next and then home for the laundry that never goes away.  We then went to the next YSA event of the day but it was about 1 hour away from our apartment .It was a outdoor event with a  HUGE BON- FIRE. I WAS REALLY WARM on one side  AND THE OTHER-side WAS REALLY COLD.  I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING WARM all night, but the some-mores were really good.