Brazilian Adventures

May 4, 2010

2010-05-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

Familia,
I am pretty sure that this will be my very last e-mail that I send. I just need to let you know that when I call for mother´s day (3days before I arrive at home) that you will need to buy a longdistance calling card to be able to return the call and there is a certain number that gets you into brazil, perhaps you already know, or the calling card will tell you but the number is 0115564 that should make it a bit easier. There isn´t anywhere that I can buy the card that i used last time, only in Goiania.
This last weekend we were extremelly blessed. Our Presidente gave us a faith challenge and sister Riggsa and i accepted. The challenge was to baptise and confirm on sunday. We have a couple investigators that have already been to church at least two times, but no one who had accepted a baptisimal date, but we accepted and prayed a lot that Heavenly Father could help us and help our investigators. We invited the most hopeful and he rejected the date. We went back the next day though and invited him another way and he said that he would pray and that he had 4 days before he would give us his answer. (he had shown forth fruits of repentance, but was worried about enduring to the end) On friday he told us that he had descided to be baptised and that this was what he really wanted! YAYAYAYYAY! It was happy! What a merciful god we have! I am excited to see you all again! I love this mission!

I will call 7:00pm here in Brazil and I think that is about 3-4:00 there, if you are not home i will assume that you have church 1:00 and call later.!

April 27, 2010

2010-04-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

Family,

Last week I didn´t have the opportunity to write, because I had a wonderful opportunity to go to Goiania and be there with Elder Nelson, Elder Costa, and Elder Ellis, and all their wives! What a miracle, we found out that Presidente had changed his mind and let us come Sunday night and we left Tuesday. It was so wonderful and we had been preparing and hoping for a miracle.The Lord hears and answers our prayers. We also had three miracle baptisms last weekend. More answers to our prayers. presidente sent his 2 assistants to do interview a couple of wonderful and special people. Maria da Conceição, Carlos, and Samuel who will serve a mission.He is 19 years old and a hoot! He makes us laugh a lot!

I have to tell you all something sweet that was a sweet sweet experience! I had the opportunity to translate for Sister Nelson when she spoke! Neat! She is amazing, she asked me to write my address and phone number so if you randomly get a call or letter from sister Nelson you know why! It was very neat. I felt privileged even though it wasn´t perfect, the spirit helped me.

When Elder Nelson spoke it felt as though he was looking straight into my heart. What a man of faith! Heavenly Father is so good to us, we are so lucky and blessed to live in these last days with prophets and apostles! What a blessing!

Thank you all for the e-mails. I loved reading them, and I am happy that you all are excited for me to get home. It makes me a little more excited even knowing that I will be leaving a large portion of my heart here in Brazil, But I am excited too to come home. I am pretty sure that I am not trunky which is a great blessing. I received my flight plans that I will send to you all.

Remeber how much I love you and look forward to seeing you all soon.

I think mom that I will stay around in St. George for a bit, don´t worry I will find a job.

I think that I will need to go to the doctors when I get home I think that I probably did something to my foot, because it has been about a month that it hurts and is not getting better, but it doesn´t help to run Sunday morning on a broken foot to get people to church...I am super happy. I would go to the doctor here, but I really don´t think that they can do much, because I have already been walking for over a month on it.

Thank you once again for your e-mails and support. You have no idea how much they brighten my day and my heart! I hope you will all get a new sister Judd out of this deal!

Love Sister Judd

Kami's Flight Plans

2010-04-27T22:57:00.000-07:00

Tobias

Vaguiner C.

President

Brazil Goiania Mission

Pictures from Kami!!! 4/13/10

2010-04-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

We bought these popular pants here in brazil that rock! I love it

April 13, 2010

2010-04-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

Familia,
Mom, I think that I will be home the 12th, but I too am not sure. I will have the opportunity to call you on mother´s day just one or two days before I get home which is kinda funny, but we will be able to resolve all of the little details.
As of for right now, I am trying my best to keep 100% focused on the mission. I have so much more to do, and with Heavenly Father´s help I believe I will be able to accomplish my goals from my mission.
We have a couple of investigators wwho are progressing to be baptised this weekend, one that has been taught throughout the last three months, he was the elder´s investigators, but after they left we took him on and he readily accepted to be baptised. I am happy for him, he loves the book of mormon.
I love the mission. I had a moment of shock and bittersweet heartache this week when I thought of all my beloved irmãos in Hidrolandia. I started to cry. I love this place and the people who have made a real impact im my life and my personal salvation. I realize I am really nothing, but that the Lord has and continues to work mighty miracles through me. How wonderful to love His children here in Brasil.
It is interesting as a missionary that you are forced to look at problems and work diligently to resolve them. It is great when you can look and see a little bit of what your work has done and changed. I lvoe the lord in him my soul delights. This week I have been studying reverence and virtue. I know that, and have to constantly remind myself that God loves His children with such a perfect love and that he has so much mercy on all of us. I loved General conference and the ways in which I was called to repentance. I invite you all to be a little better do a little more and love a little more too. I am excited!
We have a little thing in our district that every transfer whoever baptises the most gets something. last time it was shakes at the Chichino and let me brag a little and let you konw that Sister Riggs and I were the lucky hardworking winners :) this transfer it is pizza, real good pizza, so we are shooting first of all to please our father in heaven and gain our own salvation, but I like pizza too.:) Love you all and pray for you too!
Sister jUdd

April 6, 2010

2010-04-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2010

2010-03-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

Family,
this week we worked hard to help a few people be confirmed. I am so happy for my recent-converts here and am excited, there is so much to do and the field is white already to harvest.
Presidente Tobias came and we had a meeting, it was great, a call for repentance. There is so much to do, but we can´t get discouraged, Heavenly Father will help I am sure.
I believe I have the bestest family in the whole wide world. Or at least the best parents who write every week. I will be eternally grateful for your support!
Mom don´t feel too bad, I will show you Brasil one day I hope! I love this beloved country, with all its differences and beauty.
It is hot, and rainy and I am loving all of it! Seriously we thank heavenly father for the rain that refreshes us from the hot hot sun, and then for the beautiful sun that makes it so we don´t have to walk all day with sloshy shoes and brings the people out to the street so we can talk to them and invite them to be baptised.
We had a family night last night with Celia and Tiago and invited some recent converts and an investigator. it was really fun! I love my companion Sister Riggs, she is different than me, and I love the differences we laugh a lot and she helps me be calmer:)
I know God lives and that He loves us and that He is constantly on our side when we need him! I think I will use the rest of my time to send pictures! I love you all! I have one more transfer is all. 6 weeks crazy pants! Congrats dad on your car sales! that is so awesome! Becca for the scholarship!
Sister judd

March 30, 2010

2010-03-30T23:16:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2010

2010-03-23T23:21:00.000-07:00

Family!
This week perhaps the greatest miracle happened of my whole mission, it is weird comparing miracles, but this weekend we had 4 baptisms all at the same time. Our family that is super special and a great blesssing from the Lord was baptised along with two other men we have taught Carlos Henrique and Antonio. I love this family to much. We, my comp and I have been praying for almost a month that we could find a family to baptise in March! Thye are so amazing that they had a baptisimal date for the27th, but they wnated to be baptised before and happily had been to church enough times to be baptised SUnday! It was way beautiful and fun and adventurous because the church here didn´t have water so we had to call the elders in the other area to fill the font there and our mission leader of our branch used a 16 passenger van to help bring poeple to the other chapel! It was awesome. I love the Lord and this work I read today in d and c that if we are not willing to give our lives for the kingdom of god we are not worthy to be called disciples of christ. WOW pretty heavy stuff huh? I love this work with all my heart. My feet have been killing me these last couple of days, but my comp prayed for me and they feel so much better. I think what hurt them was the last 3 days running home to get there before 9:30. What you won´t do to teach lessons. Don´t worry or send anything, I am doing great now!
I received a letter from my Silvia, she was baptised and I was transferred so I wasnt there to see the confirmation, but she said she had a course for ther

March 16, 2010

2010-03-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

Familia,
This week we saw miracles happen and they continue! My companino and I since we arrived here have been praying to be able to find and baptise a family. I know it is possible, and on SUnday there was a guy who came to church that was in jeans, he said it was his first time at church adn he was with another member. I thought that teh elders had brought him to church, but when I sat next to him in Principles of the Gospel, he said he didn´t know them, immediately I took down his address. He came to church with his wife´s uncle. We went there yesterday and it was one of the neatest and amazing experiences of my mission as Selia his wife told of their story that she prayed to go to the place where god wanted her and where she could learn about the truth and she and her husband in faith moved to Rio Verde. They have been here less than two months and before we arrived at her home she had a dream that the missionaries came to her home. They are full of faith and accepted gladly baptism this month. They are so special and have a great understanding about obedience and doing what is right. It was a great miracle for us, wow the elect! They will be baptised 27 March 2010! Families are what it is all about! I love the Lord, He blessed us this week with Terezila´s baptism. What a beautiful baptism it was too. She is so happy and there were 9 investigators there to enjoy!
Awesomeness! I am so happy!
We also brought 9 people to church!
i too am happy extra happy because today I read lots of letters! Alisha hughes got married. I still need to know where Becca decided to go to school, or if she got accepted, adn how was prom? who did she go with?
I am happy as a lark that Rachael is Pregnant!
thanks marci for the pic of eliza and sean david darling.I have the cutest nieces and nephews!
Dad that is great that the business is going to well! Congrats! Good luck with the diet.
I saw a little black boy this week that reminded me of austin and that was I think the first time and last time that I thought just two more months. :)I think I almost cried.
love you all so much!
Sister Judd
Oh and I need my membership number asap. if you could find out what it is for me I would really appreciate it!

March 9, 2010

2010-03-09T23:23:00.000-08:00

Familia,
Mom and Dad,
I think I had a wonderful lesson on Tithing, and offerings yesterday. I have learned much about these things here, but yesterday after I had studied them we went to the home of a recent convert named Maria aparecida she is so awesome, but for some reason hadn´t come to church and I thought, let´s stop by and see what she needs. It was amazing what I learned.
I already knew somethings about her for exemple I know that 5 of her references have been baptised and that a few Sunday´s ago she took 7 men to church. I know that she loves the missionary effort.
SO we went there and sang a hymn for her, Bruna she daughter had told me when we visited some people together that her favorite hymns are israel jesus is calling and count your many blessings. We sang count your many blessings and she started to cry and said that during the song she had an answer to her prayers and then told us a couople of things that when she entered into the church she didn´t have a job, and didn´t have much of anything, but even then she wanted to give to the church and really wanted to make lunch for the Elders she asked how she could do it and was put on the list to give lunch one time a month, but as the day was arriving she didn´t have anything to give just rice, she kept praying for some way and one day before her lunch appointment she took her daughter´s cell phone to sell it to buy the food. The store she went to didn´t want the phone so she sold hers instead and kept the older one. She bought food. The next month she still hadn´t found a job, and said that she cried while she prasyed to be able to pay tithing and give lunch. She found some clothes that she never used and sold them. SHe said she had sold various sthings to be able to feed the missionaries because it was something so important to her. SHe continued to pray to be able to pay tithing and the same week was offered a job, infact a job that paid her one salary before she had even worked giving her the opportunity to pay titihings and buy what she so needed and her family. They are doing a lot bettter now, but i cried as she told a few stories of how she had helped others. SHe is wonderful I don´t think I have ever known someone with such a great heart, but then again my parents are amazing in this respect, I thought wow I need to be so much more grateful for the wonderful irmãs that give us lunch! They are so amazing.
This weekend Leilson was baptised he is awesome and wants to serve a mission! I am proud of him.
Annalyse I love you girl and am excited that perhaps we shall have one morew semester of adventures.
Grandma yes I receive your e-mails and love and treasure them
I do know elder korth he is great he was in my zone before I was transferred I would have talked to him about that if I had known before now I don´t have contact with him, that is really cool.
I love you all! JEnny I still need your measurements please!
Love you all!
Sister Judd

March 2, 2010

2010-03-02T23:23:00.000-08:00

family,
I already wrote what I thought was a great letter and then it got erased because the program sometimes does that which is really annoying, but I wanted to tell you all that I am doing great. We had our first week here in Rio Verde and it went well. Some of the members are really excited to have sisters here it has been a long time, but it was pretty sweet sunday we took 7 men to church. it was kinda fun and funny to be walking in the street with seven men following me. I am pretty sure that I know a few things that Heavenly father wants me to do here in Rio Verde. I am super happy to be here and to know taht SIster Chaves and Sister Gonçalves baptised a family that we had been teaching in Parque Amazonias. They are so special.. Worley, Genildes, and Paublinny. I am so happy for them it will change their lives forever to have the gospel of Jesus christ. I love the lord. I am so excited to find a family here and to realize a challenge and goal to baptise a family this month. Heavenly father is blessing us so much!
Sister Judd

February 24, 2010

2010-02-24T23:24:00.000-08:00

Familia,
So I finally made it to Rio verde yesterday night and I am excited, my companion is a little sick and the house was a mess, but I am here, cleaned it up, went to district meeting this morning, and visited a couple of members here. We are excited to work the elders are helping to get everything ready in our house. We don´t have anything, but last night when we got there we bought a bunch of stuff to clean, and stuff to eat that we don´t need to cook or refrigerate. I had no idea that this category is so limited. Presidente Tobias will be coming next week to bring us several things for our house a washer, dishes, micrwave, stove i think, tomorrow our refrigerater gets here. I am excited I am a little overwhelmed because this has never happened before and I am having to rely on the Lord 100% and the area book of the elders that were here.

Oh, but the news that is most important, or at least the most beautiful was that Sunday we had 2 baptisms. Silvia and a woman named Gilvania. I know I have already mentioned Silvia because last week I realized that I was in Parque Amazonias because I needed to baptise Silvia. I have felt this a time or two where it was sister JUdd that needed to be the person to help baptise, but this time was by far the strongest feeling of this that I have had. Perhaps because she too felt this. She said when I went to say good bye to her you came back to Parque Amazonias to baptise me ànd now your task is complete and you can calmly go to your new area knowing that God´s purpose was completed. I too know that this is true. When I began to get impatient about being in an area that wasnt mine anymore, I asked Heavenly Father why I was still there and immediately I thought about Silvia. She needed me. SHe was ready to give up and had prayed so many times, received a lot of answers, but not the answer that she wanted. I know that I had to excercise a lot of faith, but because of our prayers and one prayer in particular that she said with us that she decieded to be baptised. The spirit was so strong and she began to cry a lot and she knew. She was baptised sunday and hte service was beautiful. She had already been baptised 3 times, but I loved what she said after her baptism. She said This is true happiness. Gilvania said wow I feel soo good. I don´t know Gilvania as well, but she is super special adn the elect! I love the mission. I know Heavenly Father will help us here in Rio Verde!
Love you all.
Jenny... YOu need to send me measurements exact. Please send them asap all body measurements for the dress. in cm okay.

February 16, 2010

2010-02-16T23:24:00.000-08:00

Familia,
Jenny saved you all this week because she was the only one that e-mailed, yes i am calling you all to repentance. I loved receiving all your letters the last couple of weeks. They help me so much! I love you all so much and hope that all of you are happy.
Mom, I sure do love you
Dad you too!
I love you all, we are still working here in Goiania, and we will continue to work here until the transfer. I am excited to go and baptise more!
I am loving working with my new companion greenie, she will help me work hard until the end.
Wow I sure hope the desire to come back home will grow in me, I am trying to get used to the idea already because it will break my heart, I need to be mentally ready for it. I love home and all the comforts that I have there, but there are oh so many things that I will miss about Brasil! And especially about being a missionary. This is an experience of LIFETIME!I have loved every minute of it!
I have better details in my journals. Love you all and ask for your prayers!
Jens, I feel so happy for you. Yes, the temple is the only choice! Keep that in your heart and mind! It is the house of the lord and the most important thing you could hope and wait for! I can´t describe the sacredness of the temple, but you will surely feel it when you get there.But not everything ends with the temple we have to keep going to learn what more we must do... There is more! Heavenly Father has so much for you! I won´t even think about htat you talked about going to the temple with him. Love you
SIster Judd

February 9, 2010

2010-02-09T23:25:00.000-08:00

Familia,
This week I had a great surprise and truly it was great. the lord blessed us tremendously and answered our prayers and 4 of our missionaries that have been waiting for three months in the mtc in provo got their visas, they got here thursday and I have the great opportunity and the Lord has put his trust in me to train SIster Riggs from Dallas Texas. I am so excited, but what is huge as well is that we will be goign to Rio VErde to open a new area for sisters! I am stoked. Everyone on the mission always talks like rio verde is the best ever! I am very excited when Presidente told me I was with the assistents Elder Casey and Elder Viera, and I was on high heaven. It is a great place to baptise, It is a place like Hidrolandia, the church is starting there, but they want to be able to make the first stake there this april, so I will go and do what the Lord has commanded! I know that I will need HIs help. We are just waiting until they have the house there ready adn we will be moving out. We are just working with the sisteres in Goiania until everthign is taken care of. What a priviledge teh lord has given me! I am happy as a lark! A little anxious as well!
Love you all and pray for you all everyday!

...

I am writing more, I thought my time was up, but I wanted to write we are learing about confidence and how important the confidence of the lord is. This work is all about confidence and i feel as though the lord has put a lot of confidence in me to do this work.
I have loved working with Sister Olsen and we cried a few times knowing the great blessings we received here and that the Lord has a different errand for us now! I will miss her a lot, she is a great friend. I feel like we achieved a lot of unity. I hope that I will be able to feel this unity with my new companion as well!
I will miss many here in Parque Amazonias, but I am ready for a new adventure! I hope sincerely that a few we are working with will be baptised, Silvia for exemple. She cried a lot when she found out I would be leaving. I believe Worley Genildes and Paublinny will be the family that sister Olsen and Sister Chaves will baptise! i love them so much, I cried a little this area required a lot from me. I love the lord in HIm my soul delights!
SIster Judd

February 2, 2010

2010-02-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

Mãe Pai e familia,
Wow this was an interesting week. I worked in Setor Universatario, which is a different area because some of the sisters were needing some help to baptize. I learned a lot while there. I am sure that the Lord loves me and that he desires that I help his children here. I love Brasil so much and I already miss it and I haven´t even left it yet. But just the thought sometimes is sad.
But I am happy as a lark here. Worried and everything because Everything is not perfect in Zion, but than again I have to help this happen.
I love the Lord In him my soul delights.
This week we ran literally after our baptism, but like what sometimes happens you do all of your part and sometimes free agency of others doesn´t permit a miracle from happening. But I feel hopeful for the sisters there, we found some good new investigators.
I feel happy to have received a letter from VErle today it was the first that I have received, but eu fiquei bem feliz! Thank you! Thank you for your prayers your support and everything else. I also received a package with some goodies thanks mom! Love you lots1
Sister JUdd

January 26, 2010

2010-01-26T23:27:00.000-08:00

Family!
This is a week of miracles! Seriously! I love the mission. I just spent a bunch of money buying a new outfit for conference with Presidente tomorrow! I actually felt proud of myself. All my clothes were getting sooo old, so it will feel good to go in something beautiful.
So this week we baptized an excellent man named Iris! he is so awesome and it was an answer to many prayers we are doing something super neat as a mission we are all praying for the missionaries who have not baptised this month, by name and a miracle is happening. I was on the list, but we baptised, thanks to heavenly father and all the other prayers of the missionaries here, but right now we still have a week and there are only 5 companionships who have not baptised, one companionship of sisteres and I will leave tomorrow to work with them this week while my companion works in my area with Sister Chaves and We baptise this weekend with sister Almeida and Sister Romero! I will go with lots of prayers in my heart! I am so super excited with these miracles!
I love life I just received some really good news. I am super happy! It´s rough, tough and amazing!
Sister Judd

January 12, 2010

2010-01-14T23:27:00.000-08:00

Familia,
This week was super awesome, but super different as well, I went to Uberlandia like I said and was able to visit some of my recent converts, including the milton, and andrea family. They are as beautiful as ever. They started not coming to church because of a few things that happened in the ward with some of their really good friends and leaders in the ward, but they have resolved to come back into full activity and want to actively prepare for the temple. They will go to the temple in São Paulo in Feb. to check it out and I think that will help them out a bunch. I love them so much.
But, we also had another miracle as we helped the Sisters there. It had been a good while since they had baptised and we added our faith to theirs and helped them teach and close a baptism. He was baptised the day we left! It was really neat. I also found out yesterday that SIster Gonçalves and Sister Wells baptised Maria the cassio´s mother and wife to Antonio, my first baptism in Hidrolandia, I was so happy for her. I think I invited her a thousand times to be baptised and actually I had a split in Dec. with sister Gonçalves and invited and pretty much told her that she would be baptised the first week in Jan. and she was!!!! What a blessing! Now it is just about a complete family that can more actively prepare for the temple. Wow we worked so much with her! I think I also wrote about another baptism Irmã Iracie. She is a wife of a recent convert as well who we worked a ton with. I am happy to have pictures with both of them. Lots of work, prayer, love and help from heavenly father! Fruits of our labors even after we leave the area.
I know I have already written about MAria before, nad that grandma wrote saying that she needs to know that she can´t wait too long to be baptised and that Grandma was praying for her. I told her that too. She is so special and even said to sister Gonçalves... Sister Judd will be so happy to know that i got baptised. It is true! I am happy as a lark! We are helping a young man named william prepare to be baptised this weekend. he is really neat! and received an answer about J. Smith and the book of mormon.
So yesterday was transfers and not too much changed, well that is not true pretty much everything changed, but nothing with my companionship. But now there will now be 2 sets of missionaries here in Parque Amazonias, and it will be sister Chaves and a missionary that will serve for two months because we are uneven right now. Sister Wells stayed the night with us and sister Gonçalves and sister chaves as well. We had a great adventure on the bus because we helped sister chaves and sister almeida move their stuff, but it was crazy because in one terminal sister chaves and i got off the bus just to help the sisters a second and the bus left with out us and with sister olsen my american companion. It was so crazy sister and I started running after the bus screaming for the bus driver to stop, we ran for two bus stops and a guy on a motorcycle asked us why we were running we told him to stop the bus, he asked what it had on it and sister chaves yelled breathlessly Americana! he totally stopped the bus and yelled who is the american woman on the bus? He saveed us and a young man helped her and then paid for another bus pass for us and we returned home safe and sound, but it was a good adventure. I am grateful that heavenly father sent angels to help us last night. WE presented him with a book of mormon and all of us wrote in it to our angel that helped my companion. He willlbe baptised adn said he would come to church next sunday!
P]What you won´t do for a missionary experience!
Sister Judd

January 5, 2010

2010-01-05T23:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the unique opportunity to be invited by Presidente to a cousel. It was with all of the Zone Leaders and a few district leaders. It was amazing, but a little weird since the only sisters there were me and my companion sister olsen. Presidente asked me to come with her because we reviewed a lot of information about the mission and he taught a few things that he would like me to pass to the other sisters. It was really great to be with great leaders, even missionary leaders, but who you know will be great leaders returning home as well.
Something kinda interesting is that elder Casey, chad casey, is one of the assistants to the President. It is fun working with them. I love the mission it´s in my blood. This week Renata and ROberto were confirmed, it was beautiful, and another lady who has been less active for about 7 years who wwe have worked with came to church. it was great!
Another thing that President asked me to do was to go to Uberlandia, my first area to work with the sisters here sister hatch and sister santos. They are both great sisters and I will be visiting some really beloved people in the next couple of days. I am hoping to visit my recent converts tonight, I am not sure how it will be, but I am positive it will be wonderful! So this morning i took the long 6-7 hour busride to uberlandia to work for 2-3 days. I am hoping that all will go well in my area.
We left an investigator named Fransisco. He came to church for the first time last sunday and enjoyed it. Our 2nd visit to him before he came to church he gave sister and I a present a box of chocolate bon bons! It was so sweet of him. He truly believes that it was the lord that put us in his life and surely it was!
I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has changed my life. I have learned some really great things and a couple I think I will share with all of you all. I don´t usually do this, but I think it will be something different that you might enjoy.
just some food for thought about adam and eve. Yesterday an elder asked why did GOd give adam and eve commandments that couldn´t be kept? when in Corinthians i believe 10:13 it says that GOd will provide an escape before the temptation. I had already asked this question and thought of a few really neat things in the temple. I believe that it is true there was no other way that adam and eve could have children with out partaking of the fruit, but who´s to say that they had to partake when satan offered it to them. Eve asked of satan a question very interesting and he gave one lie and a truth, you´ll remember. there must be oposition in all things, this is something that I have learned well on the mission, but if eve had not partaken of the fruit, perhaps like what happened with Abraham and Isaac could have taken, and in my mind most certainly would have happened. WHo did she ask the question so important is there no other way? Satan and what did the father of lies tell her?
Well, just some food for thought. I read moses today on the busride! My love has grown for the scriptures and the ensign words of the prophets. I challenge all of you to take better care of the scriptures, don´t put them on the ground, they are sacred. I have learned some other very personal things that show our respect for the things that GOd has given us and for the temple! I love you all and hope that all is going well! I feel sad because I was so excitedto have received letters last week and then I left them in GOiania. Oh well! We have transfers next week I will let you all konw what happens.
Sister Judd

December 22, 2010

2009-12-22T23:30:00.000-08:00

Familia
Well this was a rough week I am not gonna lie. We had 2 baptisms that fell through. We found out that One was not married and the other was no where to be found the day of her interview and we haven´t gotten ahold of her since, we had a Christmas dinner for our ward which started late so we had to leave when it had barely began. It was okay we also had many miracles we had a special fast with a lady named Isabel that has been coming to church for the last two years but her husband doesn´t want to get married, but after the fast she talked to him again and they will be getting married in Jan. 2010 I am so happy for her she is such a neat person.
By the way I will be calling christmas day around 2:00 here which I think is between 9-10-11:00 in the morning there! I am so excited to talk to all of you I will already tell you that I have 30-40 minutes at the most okay! I sure do love you and thank you for the package I received this week. Thanks aunt nancy and uncle wayne. Thank you becca for the sweet picture you are so beautiful! I love you all tons!
We had the special experience to have ELder Zwick and his wife come here and do a mission tour. It was great and very uplifting and inspiring. It was also the very first time I have seen my Presidente Tobias be brought to tears. He is a fantastic man and I feel so blessed to have had so many wonderful men and women in my life! I love sister Tobias as well. I feel like I need to be a better woman so that I can be worthy to marry a wonderful man and priesthood holder.
I have felt a great anxiety my last months on the mission. I want to be absolutely the very best that I can that the lord may accept this mission. I love Him so much I know he loves me too. he is so patient with me.
I love my companion she is maravilhosa! She helps me a lot and we are very excited for christmas!
I would like to ask you all to pray for Roberto and Mauricio they are our baptisms this weekend!
We went caroling with our ward and visited 9 families and a few investigators t was fun! My companion sings really well in fact we have sung a lot lately, for the ward party for church and a member invited us to his apartment complex to sing for their party which was cool and spiritual. I said sister Olsen, we sing for food and references this is so awesome! I hope I will stay with her for a while yet!
It was great to hear about the bsptisms of Wyatt, Amanda, Verle I pray for all of you and love you all!
SIster Judd
I am not sure what we will do to make our christmas awesome!

December 15, 2009

2009-12-15T23:33:00.000-08:00

Familia e amigos!
I love dia de preparação! Wowsie it is tiring to be a missionary sometimes, well pretty much all the time... But there are sweet rewards like in everything that is worth anything in this life! I love the work I feel so happy serving my father in heaven and I know He has been helping me.
I love this area. We have some amazing people we are working with, we had a stake conference this weekend so a couple of our baptisms need to wait a bit to hop in the water, a bit like this weekend. The sweet Fransisca 68 year old and Luanna 16 will be baptised this weekend. We also have a couple of activities planned with the ward with a dinner ect... that should be fun.
I am learning so much.
As for the training, it is going well. I love all the sisteres here in my mission so that helps and when they baptise it is such a great joy to me. I had a split with sister Gonçalves my baby girl that I trained and it was so great to see her. I love her so much. Some friendships I am pretty sure were planned in the Pre- exisitence and this is one. I love her so.
My companion is the bomb! She is great to work with and really easy to live with. I think about marriage and how great it is that you get to chooose the one that you will live with and love forever. I am sure the mission is helping me prepare for marriage. I was thinking about how awesome that it is to every week have an companionship inventory. There are many things that I would like to apply in my marriage and one is inventory where we tell of the others strengths and then how we think they could improve. We are thinking about our temple covenants and making a sacrifice, increasing our obedience, and consencrating something everyweek for the bettering of the work of god. it is amazing and I know that the Lord will bless us here quickly!
Some of the sacrifices we have made include special fasts, negative words,and english, and 30 min of sleep to read o Livro de Mormon. Some obedience has been in inviting 140 people to be baptised every week ect... it hasbeen great. I am happy and excited for christmas I will see what I need to do to get a phone card I can use! I love you all!
Sister Judd

Dec. 8, 2009

2009-12-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I have plenty of time to write a nice e-mail today and it was wonderful that some of you decided to repent and wrote to me. Thank you so much.
I can use your prayers.
I am loving the mission and the people here. We have just a couple of hold ups with the baptisms because one needs an interview with our President and the others need to come at least one more time to church. Fransisca is awesome still and in progressing. It was great when she came to church and everyone just loved her. This is what members are for. I love working with the members but to do so a person has to be patient and loving and really careful!!!! I am not sure if I have to explain what that means, but it is great. We planned an excellent activity these days for allthe returned missionariesin the ward, we thought of how we could baptise a family every month here in our ward and thought that we needed the help of the members to do this, so we thought of a couple of ideas and thought that there already exists in our ward people who know how to do missionary work... returned missionaries.. So we made invitations and withthe help of the ward mission leader we asked them to bring there name tag, pictures, and an experience to share, and wife or husband, afterwards they would go out to eat somewhere.. it was a success, after the most spiritual part sister olsen, who has pretty much the best voice of all time, and I sang Que manhã maravilhosa. Oh how lovely was the morning and presented our plan and asked for a reference every month from them as a couple. they all accepted the challenge and I believe it will work. It is so great to use members. It is so important to be worthy of their confidence.
We had transfers but I am staying here thankfully with my wonderfully wonderful companion Sister Ginger Olsen, I think I will name one of my daughters Ginger so no one take my idea. and NO I am not trunky!
I felt a little sad to hear that it may not be possible for mom to pick me up. I want you to know whatever happens it is okay, but after about 3-4 months on the mission and especially after 9-10 I thought wow what a wonderful thing itwould be. If it works out that would be the desire of my heart. I will finish the mission May 11, 2010. Merrry christmas to all you all!
SIsster judd
I love you all and ask that you all pray for me!

December 1, 2009

2009-12-01T23:35:00.000-08:00

Family that is so beloved. I want you all to know that anyone can e-mail but I have to respond to everyone by letter okay. just for you all to know. I am happy happy happy. Our baptism this week needs to wait a little bit more time but the lord has been blessing us with others who are solid and we are hoping for many baptisms. Today was transfers but I am staying with my Companion sister Olsen, she is wonderful adn I am loving it! We will be together for christmas and that should be a whole bunch of fun. I was happy that a member invited us to have christmas with them, it should be good.

Renato is ouir baptism and he is so awesome really intelligent and is very religious already I know that he will be a great help to the church and the church for him as well.

We also have a lady named Fransisca who is pretty sweet as well she is 69 and is getting excited for her baptism. She is really great!

I am learning and growing and will be planning to go on splits with all the sisters this transfer! I love all these gals they are some of my best friends and I will enjoy working with and serving them in this new calling as sister trainer.

I am learning how to plan and make it so my plans work, before the mission I did this, but I think that I will be even better after the mission. I love missionary work!
Marci I am not sure if mom did this, but I doubt it if you could send me a CTR ring that has the spinny part in the middle, I am sure that you have seen one. You can take the money from my account like normal it would be wonderful! I love my companion and my old comp. sister goncalves she asked for one and I would like to get it for her.
Thank you tons!
The other day I started singing horsy horsy on your way and sister olsen totally started singing with me! It was so awesome!
Sister Judd
Hope all is well with all you all!

Pictures!!! November 24, 2010

2009-11-24T23:37:00.000-08:00

November 24, 2009

2009-11-24T23:00:00.000-08:00

hey family!
Much love! This week Presidente Tobias called and called me to be a sister Trainer. This will be a great experience, yesterday I did splits with sister Martins. It will be a great opportunity.I feel blessed be the lord. I will send some pictures of the baptisms we had this weekend. It was Rita and her daughter Sara.It was beautiful, no one ever knows the work put into a baptism. I love you all and ask for your prayers it is not easy, but I love the challenge and I love the Lord.
SIster Judd

November 17, 2009

2009-11-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Familia
HEy these last couple of weeks have been great, but a with out a lot of result as far as baptisms, but we have a really neat lady to be baptised this weekend, she is awesome her name is Rita, she is reading the book of mormon and loving it. She accepted our challenge to read it before christmas as we are doing now.
We are preparing for a mission tour with Presidente Soares. It should be excellent. We are preparing as a mission and as individuals that we may truly be blessed as a mission and receive more blessings from the lord.
We are working a lot trying to find families which is the newest challenge from our President it has been a challenge, but I know that the lrod will bless us abundantly.
This week I gave a talk about missionary work in sacrament meeting. How wonderful is the gift of tongues. I believe that really I only said one word wrong in 15 min. Truly the lord has blessed me. I was praying and praying to know how to say exactly what I wanted and I told a story about a miracle that I have had on the mission which was about Cledson, it was touching. I will love to tell all the miracles that have happened here, but it would just take a year.
Something funny is that I am starting to do something that I have never done befoer and that is to talk in my sleep. But it is always about the work, many times I will be teaching. SOmetimes I wake myself up from it, but sometimes it is just Sister Olsen that wakes up, my poor companion. Well, I am not sure maybe this just means that I am immersed in the work, but it is kinda funny! I love you all and pray for you all. Please keep me in your prayers.
Mom I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT IF YOU CAME TO PICK ME UP! just know that okay! I hope that you have the opportunity to real this and konw that it is true! There are many people here that I would love you to meet, people that have helped me learn and grow and develop christlike attributes! I am forever grateful for Brazil!
Sister JUdd

November 10, 2009

2009-11-10T23:35:00.000-08:00

Familia
Heythese last couple of weeks have been great, but a with out a lot of result as far as baptisms, but we have a really neat lady to be baptized this weekend, she is awesome her name is Rita, she is reading the book of Mormon and loving it. She accepted our challenge to read it before Christmas as we are doing now.
We are preparing for a mission tour with Presidente Soares. It should be excellent. We are preparing as a mission and as individuals that we may truly be blessed as a mission and receive more blessings from the lord.
We are working a lot trying to find families which is the newest challenge from our President it has been a challenge, but I know that the lrod will bless us abundantly.
This week I gave a talk about missionary work in sacrament meeting. How wonderful is the gift of tongues. I believe that really I only said one word wrong in 15 min. Truly the lord has blessed me. I was praying and praying to know how to say exactly what I wanted and I told a story about a miracle that I have had on the mission which was about Cledson, it was touching. I will love to tell all the miracles that have happened here, but it would just take a year.
Something funny is that I am starting to do something that I have never done before and that is to talk in my sleep. But it is always about the work, many times I will be teaching. Sometimes I wake myself up from it, but sometimes it is just Sister Olsen that wakes up, my poor companion. Well, I am not sure maybe this just means that I am immersed in the work, but it is kinda funny! I love you all and pray for you all. Please keep me in your prayers.

Sister Judd

November 3, 2009

2009-11-03T23:42:00.000-08:00

Well,
it´s a good thing that other people e mail me because my family doesn´t really like to very often, but that is okay I really prefer the letters to the e-mails!
I love you all very much! I have thought a bit about everyone, maybe it is because I am hitting my one year mark in in these next couple of days which of course is really weird, but neat.
I know that i must do more in the next 6 months than I have done in the previous 9! I have goals I need to accomplish and I know that the Lord is the one who will help me in doing so! I think about you all very often, even if I don´t write as often as I should I want you all to know how much I love and think about you all!
I am liking this area a lot! There is a wondeful lady that we are teaching named Rita, she is so good to us and I think that she should be baptised here soon, she came to church the last three weeks and is liking it a whole lot. We are seeing what we can do to help her daughter be baptised this weekend. It should be great! HEr name is sara and if you´d like I would appreciate your prayers in her behalf! Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and I want to know how your talk went annie! I love you all so much! Congrats witht he dance stuff who´d have thought?
Sister Judd

October 27, 2009

2009-10-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

Family and Friends,
Well, I didn´t write last week it is true because we had transfers and I have the great opportunity to once again train a new missionary, two in a row! She is awesome her name is Sister Olsen, I think that we will be stayingtogether for a good time, I think probably three months! I had an interview with Presidente tobias, he is such an excellent man and truly called of God to head this mission.
This week was crazy as was the other, I thought about not writing it, but I think that i have to, you know there are somethings that missionaries shouldn´t tell their folks, and Marci is you think mom will flip don´t show her the e-mail okay, well we were assaulted this last week, it was a really interesting story, but I am not sure that I have the tuime to tell the whole thing, they stole our stuff, and right now it doesn´t seem like as big of a dfeal as it was at first, but they only took 12 reais worth of money or like 6-7 dollars and all our stuff, but we received everything back when a lady found our stuff and called a member in the planner, it was awesome and a miracle that I hadn´t taken mycamera and bank cards with me to the zone conference, I know that the Lord is with us guiding and directing our path! In a way it was a but funny. Adventures I love them!
But this week was awesome the first week in the field for my american companion Sister Olsen and we baptised Euripedes and Anderson, sadly Divino moved, but we are looking for more baptisms! I know the Lord will bless us! He is so good to us. The baptisms were wonderful and now we need to help them stay strong in the gospel, this is the hardest part in every mission, Anderson is a young man of 11 years adn we are teaching his mother and aunt and cousin, who I hope will all be baptised here shortly. I love this family they are sospecial, I love especially Rita, she is awesome adn loving the church, I am not sure exactly what she needs, but we are willing to do what it takes! I love the Lord in HIm my soul delights!
Mom I wanted to ask you if you could pretty please use my money to buy a CTR ring for sister Gonçalves, it would be a size 7.5 I think or 8 and it has to be the kind that says CTR in the middle and spins. It is more of a manly make but the one that she really wanted and that they don´t have here in Brazil!
I am happy healthy, in fact I think that I have gained 1-2 pounds here:) but really that is the least of my worries! It is getting realyl hot again here yikes! Love sister judd

October 13, 2009

2009-10-16T12:37:00.001-07:00

Family,

Well, I am loving my new area, it is really great, but without a doubt I miss so many wonderful people there. Yesterday we had a miracle occur, it was pretty sweet! I made a contact with a man and now on the mission we are inviting everyone that we meet to be baptized! It is amazing, but I invited him and he accepted, but he didn´t know the address of where he lives but explained where, we marked a day that we could visit him and left, he in one direction and we another, well we continued on and decided to pass by where he lived to know where to go the next day to meet with him. We passed by found out where it was and then I invited another young man to be baptized, about 5 minutes we talked with him and after we heard someone calling us, we turned around to find Divino the man we had made a contact, he said I was going to the mall, but when you spoke to me it touched my heart what you said, I had taught a short lesson so that we could count him as a new investigator,I thought perhaps tomorrow isn´t good for me and I thought if you´d be willing to share this message with me now I would really appreciate it. Of Course we went with him and taught him, before the lesson started he began to cry and tell us a few things, but the spirit was there really strong as we testified of the Restoration of the church and the Book of Mormon, he was really excited about the Book of Mormon and invited himself to church. It was really a neat experience to see the Lords hand in the work. HE followed the spirit. I think he will be baptized here in 2 weeks! Yipee! HE also said that just 6 months ago he was able to stop smoking after 35 years! I know the Lord has been preparing him for this encounter!
I love the Lord!
Happy Birthday youall! Brent and Becca, I wrote a letter, but i lost it in the transfer, it had I think 4 pictures but I will send others!

Love you all and hope that Mac is feeling better I fasted for him and my Brazillian Comp as well. I know the Lord will bless him. It was funny to hear her say his name in the prayer!
Sister jUDd

October 6, 2009

2009-10-06T23:48:00.000-07:00

Family!
I am excited I finished early with all the other things that I needed to write and read all my e-mails really fast so I have a little time to write and tell you a little about Brazil.
I am loving Brasil certainly! It is very beautiful and green. You know the drive from Grandma Alma´s to our home in St. George, pretty dry and boring, but the mountains are beautiful I will give it that, but here it is wonderful to drive around, really gorgeous with jabuticaba everywhere. Jabuticaba is a fruit that grows here and it is delicious. The trees are chuck full. It is interesting the fruit grows on the tree trunk and on the braches and everywhere. It is fun. HIdrolandia is called the city of water and jabuticaba. There is a man who has something like 31,000 trees.
Speaking of Hidrolandia I have some news as of yesterday I am not there anymore. I was transferred all of the sudden when I was minding my own business I received a phone call from Elder and he said I would be transferred, before the conversation was over I was bawling like a baby. I was so sad, I knew that I would be transferred, but I thought that at least I would finish the transfer in Hidrolandia, but I guess Presidente has something in mind. I cried thinking about all the people I came to love in HIdrolandia the 12 recent converts that I left in the hands of the members and other sisters to take care of. I hope everything will go alright. I know it will. I cried thinking that I would not have time to visit them all. I did visit Adriana, and Washington, we baptized him and helped Adriana become reactivated. She cried. It is wonderful to know the people that we have helped really feel a great love for us. I know that Maria will cry as well, I didn´t have time to go to the cidade das aguas where she lives.
My poor companion, She is the best ever! I love her so much Sister Gonçalves. She was crying pretty hard as well. I am her trainer and we had so many good times. I think she was a little scared, but I am confident that she will be okay I did my very best to train her in truth and righteousness. She is amazing and has a lot of faith. WE had 3 baptisms in 3 weeks. The Lord blessed us immensely and now he desires that I baptize here in Park Amazonas. No Annie I think that the address is wrong. You should send letters right now, or this week to the Mission home.
I think this will be way different; I am now in a large city, and finally serving my mission Brasil Goiania, in Goiania.

It has been raining here which has been a huge blessing because it is so stinking hot, before it rains it is much hotter, but the rain cools it down. They say that Goiania is hotter than Hidrolandia so we will see. I still don ´t think that it is hotter than St. George when the sun gets really hot, but we don´t spend all day out in the sun when it´s like this and everywhere has air conditioning which is pretty much the greatest invention ever. Here no one has ac and it makes it a little more uncomfortable, but I am not complaining. I definitely feel like the luckiest to be in Brazil serving a full time mission and I pray that the Lord will continue to bless my immensely like he already has.

Jandre is a recent convert that is so special. He amazes me. HE came to conference with us. He will be a great leader one day I think. He is searching. I love conference and all week I was so excited to hear from our wonderful prophet! I received a lot of personal revelation and hope that All of you as well received what you needed.

I love you all
Sister Judd

Sept 30, 2009

2009-10-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

Familia,
Greetings from Hidrolandia again,
This was a very awesome week where we witnessed miracles, yes real live miracles Tuesday night we received a telephone call from our leaders saying that we needed to baptise three people over the weekend. My immediate non faithful reply in my mind was WHAT! Is my Presidente crazy, but i knew this was not the case and i said okay elder we will work hard. We, Sister Gonçalves and I worked our little tail ends off, and prayed prayed prayed and fasted fasted fasted and I felt that we should contact all the people who had the possibility of being baptised, had already had some lessons ect, and we looked in the Area Book I felt that we should visit a lady that Sister Galvão and I had taught, but the day before her baptism decided not to be baptised and we went there and told her that we had been praying to baptise 3 people Sunday and would like her to be one of those people. She said she would pray and we prayed with her in the moment. We checked up with her and you know what, Luzia and Isabel were both baptised this weekend, I know that with faith and revelation and inspiration and the help of my companion that although the tribulations were tough, the baptisms were beautiful! I thank my Father in Heaven every day for these great blessings and know that he has helped the small an dthe simple do extraordinary things. He is helping me in every moment, I plead for your prayers and love! Thank you for all the letters! Congrats SIssy Rebecca on Homecoming Royalty! YOu are absolutely beautiful inside and out! Hope all is well with all you all!
SIster Judd

September 29, 2010

2009-09-29T23:44:00.000-07:00

September 22, 2009

2009-09-22T23:49:00.000-07:00

familia,
MArci, first I need you to clean out my mailbox again if possible. Thanks babe.
So This week was great, I am loving my new companion and novinha! Sister Gonçalves. We laugh a ton which is way important!
This weekend we had a baptism. Miguel was baptised, he is a man 56 year old, and Sister Galvão and I had already worked with him a lot, three months in fact, but he smoked and was having a real rough time quitting, but anyway we made some real sacrifices this week and he quit, and was baptised! I´m not sure if you know it, but I love being a missionary, and I love baptising! It´s awesome! I love the Lord!
Thank you for all the Birthday love and marci I would like it if you could send some of my e-mails to Wyatt Faylor. I gotta go! Love you all and pray for your success!
By the way I found out that really anyone can e-mail, but I can´t respond to anyone except family.
Love love love from Hidrolandia Brasil.

September 15, 2009

2009-09-15T09:08:00.001-07:00

Familia,
It was so good to hear from all of you in letters and e-mails, I am doing really well!
Like I said I am training now, and it is a humbling, and yet really amazing opportunity! I love it! You get to teach someone everything that you have learned on the mission it is sweet! And it is better yet because my novinha, or greenie is awesome stuff! She is from São Paulo and has a good head on her shoulders! I love her a lot! Her name is Sister Gonçalves! I am praying to the Lord a lot that we may have some good successes working together! I love the Lord in Him my soul delights! I LOVE THIS WORK! Thanks dad and mom for the great letters! Definitely the mission brings blessings, one of them being that each week I get to hear how awesome my parents think i am and sibilings too. It rocks! I love you all and have to go!
Sister Judd

September 8, 2009

2009-09-08T23:51:00.000-07:00

Familia,
This was a really packed week we had two baptism and the Lord blessed us immensly. I was really happy, Sister Galvão and I made a goal to baptise 3 people before she left, this was three weeks ago. We were blessed to have these three baptisms in the last 2 weeks.
One thing that I have learned a lot on the mission is that Sacrifice will bring forth the blessings of heaven. Surely this was the case these last weeks.
SIster Galvão left today for her home. It was a happy sad time. She will be missed. So, with her gone changes occur.
I will be training this transfer in HIdrolandia, a new Sister from either Fortaleza, or São Paulo. I am excited, but at the same time a little nervous, I will pick her up tomorrow. I feel like the lord is placing in me a lot of confidence, I hope that I can help her gain a missionary vision, and learn to love serving in the Lord´s vineyard.
I will be staying in Hidrolandia and this will make 5-6 months there. A lot of time, but it is fantastic. We have helped many come to the knowledge of the truth, and Our baptism Sunday was a young man 25 years name Jandre, he is so neat. He is always reading and sharing with us what he has learned it is wonderful to teach him and see the ways he is chnaing and how the gospel will help him chnge even more. I am very pleased with his baptism.
Cledson was finally baptised this weekend as well. After 4-5 months working with him and helping him. It was great that hefinally made the right choice.
I love the Lord in Him my Soul delights! I didn´t receive much news from home, but I am sure happy for Emma and her mission call! It will come faster than you think! Love you all and I ask that you all will keep me in your prayers because I will be entering into a new adventure being a senior companion and a trainer.
Love
Sister Judd

September 1, 2009

2009-09-01T23:52:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all!

I know I know!! We had a conference last Preparation day and I was not able to write. It was really great it was a special one for all the sisters. A sister Conference with Sister Tobais and than with Presidente. they listened and answered any question that we had. it was great.
Just yesterday we had a zone conference and it was the last one for Sister Galvão so she bore her testimony. She is leaving the 8th of September, I will miss her. She is a great friend.

We had a baptism this week it was amazing and almost had two so it was a little sad too, but the 2nd one Cledson passed his interview and wants to be baptized Saturday! We are planning Saturday for him. He is a great guy, I just think that he was way nervous or something, but we read some great chapters in the Book of Mormon with him and he said the last prayer and thanked heavenly father for us and prayed that everything would go right so that he could be baptized.
Washington was baptized and it was a beautiful baptism. We helped his two children learn ''When I am baptized" to sing with the Primary children at the Baptism. It went well and what is best about it is that we completed a family. His wife is a less active, but they are returning to church and it is wonderful, their next goal is the temple! What joy we find! We did a family night last night with them. They have so much to learn, but are on the right track now! I love the gospel!
I have got to go but I love you and yes, I received Aunt Gayle's package I think I already said that and thank you all so much for everything! Continue to pray for me okay!
Sister Judd

Pictures!!! August 18, 2009

2009-08-18T23:57:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2009

2009-08-18T23:54:00.000-07:00

Okay my beloved Family and friends,
SO this was a tough week. I was given the assignment to speak in sacrament meeting about hope, I should have known that the week would feel hopeless sometimes it just works that way. It was a bit of a tough week as every single one of our four baptisms fell through. We have so many people so close to being baptised. A few really broke my heart, but I have a lot of hope. I believe that 3 of the four will still progress until baptism. And I have learned that if we are faithful wehave the right to continue in our hope. I know that the Lord will be true to all His promises.
We are seeking inspiration and revelation because we have worked in just about all the neighborhoods here in Hidrolandia, many times when we make contacts we ask if we have already talked to this person before, and usually the answer is yes. It is kinda funny sometimes, but at the same time it can be a little frustrating.
I received a package from Aunt Gayle, thank you so much! It was all perfect.
I wish I had a little bit better news to send you all, but I send my love and the things that I am learning even through out the hard times are so valuable and good that I think that it is all worth it!
Send my love to Emma, it will be fun to find out where she will be serving!
Ruffin, thanks for the sweet letter! I love to hear about your sweetest little girls
Austin love you!
Matt, I sent a letter to you, but I sent it and after realized that I hadn´t put the letter in the envelope, sorry I will send it soon. I am losing it!
I love the Lord I know that he is with me especially in my times of need, and I know that he desires that I have the desires of my heart, just as he desires that you all have the desires of your hearts as well.
Send my love to Grandma Alma.
I need Davita Graham´s address.
Love you all
Sister Judd

August 11, 2009

2009-08-11T23:51:00.000-07:00

Oi minha familia amada!
I am doing so good! I thank you all for your letters it is so good to hear from you all and it sounds as though things are going pretty good for all of you there! Dad I am proud to hear of your success!
Austin you made me laugh when mom said that she calls you her little chocolate candy and you call her your white candy. I love you forever!
Sounds like you are all busy! that is good keep being, but remember what is most important and don´t allow the not so important things get in the way of what is doing what is most important.
I am happy we have 4 baptisms planned for this weekend and with faith they will all be able to be baptised. Their names are Ricardo, Miguel, Cledson, and Cristiano. We have seen so many miracles it is amazing to watch the Lord´s hand in His work. I don´t know all things, just as Nephi says but I do know that God loves his childen.
Cledson we have been working with since I arrived here in Hidrolandia, he is awesome and a great friend, he has a lot of questions and has really spent sometime really thinking about what he would like to do with his life he has been coming to church for quite sometime and he is often found in the home of members. HE knows he needs to be baptised and he accepted he will be baptised this weekend. I am very happy with him. We have been helping Miguel to stop smoking, he hasn´t stopped completely and he received a blessing, we will continue to pray and fast.
Speaking of fasting I have a much stronger testimony of what a fast can do to help people and onesself as well, never in my life have I fasted like here on the mission. It seems weird if we have a week with out a fast, but I know that this is why The Lord is blessing us so abundantly! I love the Lord in HIm my soul delights.
Take care all you and thank you for the package and all letters and love. Keep it coming.
I am so proud of you Jenny Keep up the good work and I know the Lord will continue to bless you for your missionary efforts. You have my prayers always I am so pleased, I know that you are doing something that will bless your life forever! Keep it up!Happy late b-day matthew! I love you! Happy Father´s Day daddy! I am so happy to hear such fabulous news from alll of you!

Sister Judd

August 4, 2009

2009-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Marci the camera came all safe and sound thank you so much, we used it and I will try to send you a little information about our house here in HIdrolandia! My companion was stoked! It is wonderful and we changed the language to Portuguese. love love
Sister Judd

July 28, 2009

2009-07-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Family,
What a wonderful preparation day to have many letters because we had a conference with Presidente Tobias and they always bring our letters. I receive so much strength from all your letters and it was fun to have a couple new people write! I loved all the pictures and all the letters brought smiles to my face. I read them on the way to Goiania because my companion and I brought some new shoes. They were a bit expensive and I hope that I have a little money in my account?:?)
But, I have wonderful news! really! We had a beautiful baptism on Sunday for Silvio! He is so awesome and full of faith! It was beautiful and we asked a couple in our branch to sing and they sung and it reminded me a little of home because here in brasil usually you never hear the 2nd part in the music. I cried a little.
I love you all so very much! I love being a missionary as stressful as it is and with all the worries that one has. I will be staying here in Hidrolandia for the next 6 weeks and I am staying with my companion Sister Galvão as well, this means she will spend her last transfer with me!
We have a new challenge here on the mission. We were challenged to invite 20 people everyday to be baptised. Surely this will help us identify who the Lord´s elect very quickly!
Keep me in your prayers!
We are planning this weekend the baptism of a man named Welhington. HE is a man who breathes art. It is so fun teaching him, he is very intellectual and it is always a treat as he tries to try our patience. He has so much to learn, but he will be a great addition to the Lord´s kingdom! Yes, I received all your letters and thank you so much! YOu can send them directly yo HIdrolania for the next few weeks ok!
Love you tons!
SIster JUdd
It was fun to hear all your exciting news!

July 21, 2009

2009-07-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

Family,
Well, the mission is an amazing experience, I asked my President if there was any way to let high moments last longer, or that the low moments pass faster. Everyone said that the mission is full of highs and lows, but here I am experiencing the real deal. It is amazing and amazingly difficult sometimes, but than again everyone says that it is a great preparation for marriage. Wow!
I was so excited to hear from my family today. I received a letter in one week, it was amazing! I love you all and your letters make me laugh sometimes!
About my coldsores, yes Grandma, I brought a whole bottle with 250 pills of L- lysine, and it is a good thing you can´t really overdose with it.:) No I am kidding, but yeah I have been taking them. They do help.
I am happy! We are frequently called to repentance by our mission president and this helps one stay happy. Repentance hurts, but when you are through you are always a better and happier person.
The Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful people. I am frequently awed at the trust He has given me and will work to be more worthy of this trust.
I am happy for my mission. Missão Brasil Goiânia. The missionaries here are working very hard to exercise more obedience and the Lord is blessing us tremendously. We are in 4th place for baptisms in the 27 missions here. I do not want to have pride, but it is an amazing blessing to be a part of such a marvelous work.
We are planning the baptism of a wonderful man named Silvio. He is awesome and is keeping commitments and doing just about everything to receive an answer. I know tthat the Lord will bless him. It is great because this is a small city and he knows several members and is good friends with some of them. This will help him to stay active. Please keep praying that the Lord continue to bless me, and all the missionaries worldwide! I thank you for your prayers.
We have been blessed so much to meet many wonderful people, some who are ready right now, and some who need to make a few changes, but people who recognize us as servants of the Lord and are will ing to do whatever we ask, because they know it is for their benefit. People who are anxiously waiting for us when we knock on their door. It is absolutely an amazing feeling. I thank the Lord everyday for it!
You all remain in my prayers.
I am sorry to hear of the Loss of Davita´s brother. I will keep her in my prayers and that she can know that I love her very much and feel for her at this time.
Sister Judd

July 14, 2009

2009-07-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Familia,
I think about you all the time. I am grateful that Parker was not killed in his accident and that Aunt Marci seems to be doing well. I love you all and thank you all for the notices. So I hear that Phillip is engaged and that a ton of other crazy things are happening. It´s amazing what happens and I am sure I will find out millions of other things when I return, so Andrew is going to Romania! That is so crazy!!! But way awesome!
My news is that we had a baptism this week, I was a little sad that the baptism of Luzia fell through, but the Lord saw fit in His infinite goodness to bless us with a different baptism the baptism of Deusimar. He is 30 years old and if the member here take care of him all will be well.
I have one thing to ask well a few, but I would like 5 one dollar bills. I know that sounds interesting but more than one person has asked to see the dollar bill. I only have higher bills. This isn't of highest importance.
I also received a wonderful package mom and thank you for the blistex chapstick. I am not one that loves chap stick, but I had ffffiiiiivvvvvvvvveeeeeeee cold sores that week, truly you were inspired, and I think I have plenty of contacts to last now! Thank you so much! It was fun to share a few things and my companion asked that in the next package send sunflower seeds.
I love you allsooooo much and pray for your well being! tchau!
Sister Judd

June 30, 2009

2009-06-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

Familia Amada,
Wow! This week has been amazing. Truly the lord is blessing us abundantly! We have some investigators who are very special already! I want to tell you about one family. the mother is a single parent with three children, her name is Sabrina. She is very cool and I know that they will be great additions to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We met her children first and then a few days later we met her in a totally different neighborhood, and when we went to visit her children we found her again. She and two of the three children will according to our faith be baptised this next Sunday.

We also have a special young man of 29 years named Cledson who we have been teaching a bunch, it is a special experience with him because we always teach him in the home of a member. He has been to church several times and are planning to have his baptism this weekend as well.

No grandma, sadly Maria has not accepted a day as of yet, but she will I know it! She will be baptised in the next two weeks, she cannot afford to wait it is true, thank you so much for your prayers and your strength.

We have so many wonderful people, and just need the wisdom of the Lord to know how we can focus on all of them and expand our limits!

Thank you all for your letters they boost my spirits!
Happy Birthday to everyone this month of July, I am sending birthday letters today, but a couple won´t make it until after the fact, but love you all the same!

I am so happy for all my cousins and loved ones who are making righteous choices and continue to do so! I know the lord will bless you with all the righteous desires of your hearts! Love you alll!!! I am excited to know that upon my return I will have more neices and nephews and cousins and all that fun stuff! What a beautiful plan our heavenly father has for us!

Marci let me know if you are able to do the camera thing. Perhaps you already have done so, if so that is wonderful!
SIster Judd

June 23, 2009

2009-06-23T15:54:00.001-07:00

Ola familia amada!

Well, this was a week of miracles for us here in Hidrolandia, like I said I am still here after the transfer, I think a part of me wanted to leave this area, but the Lord had different plans, and now I can see what He was planning. I love when He lets me in on his wisdom sometimes.
We had the baptisms of Lara, Julio Cesar, and Vitor this weekend. It was beautiful. It was interesting as well because all of them are children, but the Kingdom of Heaven is children, right? Vitor only is eight years old, and Lara 10, and Julio Cesar is 11. But they were beautiful baptisms.

The members are helping us so much and it is wonderful! I am really loving this people here in Hidrolandia.

I just got some really happy news today from my old companion Sister Da Silva, she said that one of my baptisms Adrea who I love so much is now the Secretary of the Relief Society in the ward there. I am so happy I know she has so much to offer, and that she will help the church so much. I love that family soooo much!

This weekend we hope to have one or two baptisms. We continue to pray for Maria, she is a wonderful simple and humble woman who is the mother of Cassio, a recent convert, and wife of Antonio, our recent baptism. She came to church again and says that she wants to be baptised, but she wants to choose when to be baptized. Cassio says it won´t be too long for her, and I hope not, she is such a special person. I have pictures.

I am so glad to be a missionary! Keep praying and being obedient. I just read the other day in the Ensign that when we are obedient we have the guarantee that our prayers will be answered! I know it is true! I love to see a few ways in which I have changed! I love you all so much and pray for you always and hope that you will continue to pray for me!

Sister Judd

June 23, 2009

2009-06-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

Ola familia amada!
Well, this was a week of miracles for us here in Hidrolandia, like I said I am still here after the transfer, I think a part of me wanted to leave this area, but the Lord had different plans, and now I can see what He was planning. I love when He lets me in on his wisdom sometimes.
We had the baptisms of Lara, Julio Cesar, and Vitor this weekend. It was beautiful. It was interesting as well because all of them are children, but the Kingdom of Heaven is children, right? Vitor only is eight years old, and Lara 10, and Julio Cesar is 11. BUt they were beautiful baptisms.
The members are helping us so much and it is wonderful! I am really loving this people here in Hidrolandia.
I just got some really happy news today from my old companion Sister Da Silva, she said that one of my baptisms Adrea who I love so much is now the Secretary of the Relief Society in the ward there. I am so happy I know she has so much to offer, and that she will help the church so much. I love that family soooo much!
This weekend we hope to have one or two baptisms. We continue to pray for Maria, she is a wonderful simple and humble woman who is the mother of Cassio, a recent convert, and wife of Antonio, our recent baptism. She came to church again and says that she wants to be baptised, but she wants to choose when to be baptised. Cassio says it won´t be too long for her, and I hope not, she is such a special person. I have pictures.
Speaking of picture Marci, I have a big favor to ask of you, my companion asked if I could ask for her a digital camera. She doesn´t have one and I would like to buy one for her. I have the money for it in some bank account I am sure. But, when you send it send it in a box like poptarts or something like that that looks like it really is what the box says, because of the mail problem here sometimes things are stolen. If you could look into it and find a good buy and send it to Hidrolandia. Right now we are together. I am more than happy to pay the price, just ask mom to send you the money! Thank you so much Marci, I know that you will take care of everything really well!
I am so glad to be a missionary! Keep praying and being obedient. I just read the other day in the Ensign that when we are obedient we have the guarantee that our prayers will be answered! I know it is true! I love to see a few ways in which I have changed! I love you all so much and pray for you always and hope that you will continue to pray for me!
Sister Judd

June 9, 2009

2009-06-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

Familia,

Wow things sound so great there at home, like there are many changes and everything. That is good! Sounds like some of you are real busy, but I hope you are loving life and all.
This week was interesting and parts were tough and others really good.
This week we had a conference with Presidente Tobias and Sister Tobias, it is always really great to strengthen our testimonies and remind us of eternal truths, but most of all to remind us that our purpose is to baptize. No one else in the whole world has this purpose to baptize. If we want to see the church grow we must baptize, if we want to be blessed we must baptize and all that jazz! It is true but it hurt a lot knowing that we have not been able to baptize for the last 5 weeks straight. Finding the elect this week was a little problem. But things will turn around I just know. I wrote a letter to Emma today in which I tried to explain how I have grown on the mission and what I have learned. It was difficult and truly I have learned and relearned and experienced a lot. It helps remind me sometimes of the simpleness of the gospel, and at the same time how much we have to do to change our desires and actions to show that the Celestial Kingdom is our goal, and our very deepest desire.
Amanda Doty is going to Russia!!!!! WOW That is so crazy! I am so happy for you and all my good friends who are making wise choices and getting married, or serving missions, and showing forth their faith.
Marc, and Sean are moving to St. George wow interesting. Good luck with everything! I love you and can´t wait to see my new niece and nephew!
The food here is wonderful! I love rice and beans, :) it is true too which is the best part of it. HOnestly I feel like something is missing if we don´t have beans and rice!
I am learning so much here, and hope to be a much better person on my return, but don´t think about that for another year okay! Don't get trunky fam. I love love love you all! I loved your letters today that I read. Brent I have written 2 letters your way so don´t be too upset!
I am so happy for Verle!
Dad and Mom you are so special to me and I will forever be in your debt. Thank you for everything and most importantly showing me how I could gain the most precious gift I feel like I have in this life, my testimony, I love MY god lives and loves me and I this feeling becomes stronger and stronger each day with each new experience. Everything that is important to me is important to me, and has worth because of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life!

Sister JUdd

June 2, 2009

2009-06-02T13:17:00.001-07:00

Family,
Oh how I love you all! it was great to get a few e-mails, and last night I received good news that there are letters waiting for me tomorrow when we will have a meeting with our district. What a pity I don´t have them today though because it is P day and we get to read letters on Pday.
It is great that throughout the hard times we are able to learn so much.
I am learning and learning, Sometimes I wish to quit learning:) because sometimes learning hurts and it requires a lot of humility and the natural man in me resists, but I know this is not part of the lord´s plans. We have many fantastic people here. People who are very funny, and I am learning how to work with members. I love and pray for you all!
Love Sister Judd
Sorry it´s another short one, next week I will hurry with my letter to Presidente Tobias.
Dad I sure wanted my dad this week. I thought of how fortunate I am. Thank you for your counsels.

May 26, 2009

2009-05-27T11:50:00.001-07:00

Familia,
My new address is
Rua Carajas Quadro 12 Lote 16,
75340-000
Centro Hidrolandia- GO
Brasil
I am hanging in there. :)
This week in truth was a little difficult, we are searching to have investigators firm and strong and find the elect. We are teaching like crazy, but not having a whole ton of result, but the lord will bless us.
It is interesting that no one likes having tough times, but I sure have learned a lot here throughout this dry time, or time with out baptisms. We learn that truly to trust in the arm of flesh is not what we are to do, we are nothing without the Lord. It is such a pleasure to study the scriptures. I am coming more and more to treasure them. I already had a great love, but my love has grown, and will continue to grow. What a fabulous time in our lives! I am happy to be living, loving and breathing. I know that things will get better, and i just need to look for the solutions and look less at the problems. BUt, indeed we must look at the problem a little to understand how we can make up a solution.
One truth that has stuck in my head this week is something that i learned in the MTC. My companion told me I am pretty sure it was Bruce R. M. that said something like this, that the only way we will be able to have reach the celestial kingdom is when this is what occupies our mind, motivates our actions, and is the greatest desire of our hearts. Anything less than this my dear family just isn´t enough. I am doing some real soul searching out here, and I know that what i am learning here is a treasure I will have for all my life. I am thankful for this opportunity. Pray that the Lord willbless you all!
Sister Judd

May 19, 2009

2009-05-19T11:15:00.001-07:00

Marci, I finally found out the address, but I forgot to bring it with me to the lan house, sorry.
I love you all so very much.
This week was good, but a little sad, our baptism fell through he needs to take care of a few things, but he said he will remain faithful and continue coming to church and everything so that is good.
This area is way different from where I was. A lot of times we make contacts with members, or when we are knocking doors we find a lot of inactive members. I have found some new challenges. We are working, or need to work a lot more with the members here, and need to help those lost sheep, members return to church and feel of the love of the Savior. Some council that I received though from Presidente Tobias he said don´t get discouraged, and baptize! So that is what I will do. Sometime it is a little difficult to not be a little discourages visiting a lot of people who had testimonies, and already have experienced the joy of the gospel, but have gone astray. It is a new challenge, but I have two goals in this area, the first is to leave this area with the chapel full, and the other is to leave this people with smiles on their faces and more excited.
We have a new Presidente of the branch and we are hoping for his help in changing a few things. This chapel used to be full, and now it is only about half full, we are hoping to bring many souls back, and add to them by baptizing. My favorite thing to do by the way:)
My companion is great and we get along. She helps me a lot with the language which is great and at the same time really humbling. I wonder if I would do a few things different with Maelee and Kristina in helping them learn English, but somethings are just necessary. It is never real fun to corrected a hundred times a day, but I have worked a lot on being humble, and this has helped a lot. A lot of people help me and give me comfort telling me that i am speaking really well, but I still have a ton to learn.
I am loving this time to study the gospel, and make more goals for my future life and family! What a great opportunity! Pray for me and for Bruno, he is our baptism this week that we are praying and fasting for. He is awesome but making some difficult and life altering decisions. I know the Lord will bless him.

Sister Judd

May 12, 2009

2009-05-12T00:10:00.000-07:00

Familia,
Yay! At least most of the time I can count on this via of communication to work. I hope so at least. It was horrible to try and call and have all sorts of havoc, but I heard my mommy´s voice, and that was good enough for me, I said to my companion after, you know maybe it was better to just talk for about five minutes I only had to cry for 5 minutes and not 45.
It is interesting to hear familiar voices and especially in English. It is weird, but it was a little bit difficult to find my thoughts in english. BUt, next time mom it will be a lot better, I found out that i can buy a card to use for 9 reais and can talk for 40 minutes, so next time i promise i will be more prepared okay!
I would have loved to hear from everybody some of the things that I wanted to ask maybe you will all answer.
Dad, how is the car business coming along
How in the heck is my brand spanking new baby neice Lucie?
What is Becca up to?
IS brent back in school?
What new things is Tyler saying?
Is my little Sean David as cute as ever and chubby?
Gracee and Emme haven´t forgotten me....?
I know that my little buddy Austin hasn´t by the way he kept asking when i was coming home. Kami when are you coming home. Well, to answer that I will just say that my 6 months mark has passed by and that I only have a year left.
I would loved to have talked about some of my friends and the differences that are taking place.
i would have loved to ask about my best grandma.
I would have loved to hear some counsil from my father.
I would have loved to ask the names of Verle´s baptisms.
i would not like to hear brent´s voice, i´ll explain why, because just the other day when i was reading his letter i could hear his voice, and i started to cry.;)
is ruff still planning on moving to St. George?
What is Sean up to?
What is Jenny up to? still working at Kiss and Make up?
BEcca???????????? Long time no letter? What is with that?
How is your Spanish coming along Matt
Melissa, I can tell you are exactly the same with your strong personality.
Maelee, what´s up girl? and hear... I´ll show you what´s up girl!
Kristina, volleyball??????? Keep it up please you have such talent.
Daniel oh how i wish i could talk to you now and excite you for a mission.
I love you all and hope that all is well, like i said it was great to hear your voice mom and dad and austin. I will call again in December:)
Don´t be too trunky okay. YOu will have to repent! I love lovelove youa ll and tell everyone to pray for me and that i love them!
Sister Judd
i AM IN A NEW AREA THAT IT WAYYYY DIFFERENT BUT WAY PRETTY AND SMALL AND WE WILL BAPTISE SO I AM HAPPY

wE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK HIS NAME IS LEANDRO AND IS SO AWESOEM AND WILL SERVE A MISSION I HOPE HE IS19 YEARS OLD

May 6, 2009

2009-05-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

Famila,
> I had a whole week full of miracles! It was so awesome! I wrote a whole long letter to Dad about what happened, but suffice it to say that we had a glorious baptism Sunday of a man named Lindomar, or what i like to call him Lindomaravilhoso! I wrote all about it in the letter and I have a few that I wrote the week before that you will receive in a couple of weeks because i haven´t sent them yet.
> I will not write too too much because I don´t have a ton of time, but I was transferred yesterday and I am now 5 hours away from my other area in Hidrolandia, so I left Uberlandia, for Hidrolandia, kinda funny. My new companion is Sister Galvão. I hope to have a lot of success with her. I was really learning to have success with Sister Da Silva. We together worked a lot on having 100% obedience. There are so many ways not to have complete righteousness that are so far away from real sinning, or what we call sin in the natural world, but in the world of missionaries when you have a purpose very different, what is sin is a little different.
> Lindomar is the most elect person I have ever worked with! He is so great! I am a little sad that I will not be able to see him stay strong in the church, but he will certainly! He was so prepared to become a member of the church. I will tell a little of the story, but I hope to make a copy of my journal to tell the whole story. We met him on Sunday the 26th. He came to church with a member in the ward Davi. We got his address and asked if we could visit him the very next day in the house of the members, he said yes, and we visited the next day!
> We taught and invited him to be baptized the next Sunday the third of may, just 6 days. He accepted, and we taught him everything in the next week and he was baptized Sunday! Amazing!
> 2 months before he drank and smoked, but one day Sister Ana Paula said you should stop smoking and drinking, and he did that very day! Miracle! He was so prepared to hear about the gospel and the be baptized, he just needed an invitation. He is 43 years old, and now has a huge family of ward members that will help take care of him.
> I am a little stressed about this new area, it is so different, we have a branch here, not a ward, but it will all be alright I just know it, and we will have success! Please continue to pray for me!
> I love you all!
> Mom I will be calling on Sunday and will try to call Saturday to tell you when I will be calling okay!
> Sister Judd

April 28, 2009

2009-04-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Familia amigos e todo mundo,
I hear that pretty much everyone and their dog receives these e-mails. I guess that is good?
This week I have started on the path of changing my vision! It is necessary to have a point where you will not, or will do things because they are right. My vision has increased, and with it the sacredness of the calling as a missionary too has increased. I am so grateful for Sister Chaves who showed me that this needed to change.
I love being a missionary. Righteousness is the start of all miracles, because to have faith one must be righteous, and with faith all things are possible, this includes miracles!
We had a miracle this week, and are in the process of continuing this miracle! We received 260 references from members this week. At the last stake conference, President Tobias did an activity where he had all the members who were there take a sheet of paper and wirte all the names of friends, neighbors, etc and then he picked them all up and we received them, 260 people to visit, overwhelming a little, but a great blessing it is.
The members in our ward are really excited. one member brought his friend to church and we got his information, lastnight we visited him in the home of the member and he accepted to be baptised next Sunday! Wow! We are way excited and will need to have perfect righteousness this week to be able to realize this miracle. I know it will work out. HE lives pretty far about 20 minutes on the bus, but it is a prviledge to get to teach people so prepared to hear and receive the gospel.
The family who brought him to church are way excited as well, and they helped prepare him truly. HE stopped smoking 2 months ago because Irmã Ana Paula said he needed to. It is so great to be in the service of god!
This week I received more of your letters and it was wonderful to read them! I love to hear from all of you although I did cry a tinsy bit to hear that Tyler is walking and almost talking, and everything! SO great!
Thank you for your prayers and concern. You are all in my prayers as well and I know that the Lord will take good care of you!
I love being a missionary! It is very difficult sometimes, but with the Lord all things are possible!
Love lvoe love!
Sister Judd

Oh yeah the name of the man who will be baptised this week is Lindomar, if you would like to include him in your prayers I know that will all of our faith he will be baptised and remain strong in this glorious gospel!

April 21, 2009

2009-04-21T10:08:00.001-07:00

Moose e familia!
Oh yes it was a week full of miracles! We had three baptisms! It looks like Verle and I are having similar successes! How wonderful I am so happy for him! It is so great to be here and serving at this time. I love the work.
This week we have had the privilege of having Sister trainers here with us, sister Chaves and Sister J. Lima. They are wonderful and they have helped us a lot. It has been wonderful to see the change in Sister J. Lima especially for me. She is a way better missionary now.
I am so grateful for repentance. This week I have been thinking a lot about this and have been repenting a lot. When we really think about our call and all that we are doing and could be doing that we are not, we realize how very much we need to repent of.
This week we had 44 new investigators and a lot of baptismal dates set. in our teaching we always invite people to be baptized. Just about every time. It is interesting and I am not sure that all missions are the same, but it really puts a lot of responsibility on the teaching part. If we teach clearly, people will understand the need to be baptized. It is awesome! We always invite after giving the first vision. My testimony sure has grown about the restoration of the church because just about every time we give the first vision i am able to feel the Holy Ghost! What a blessing the gospel of Jesus Christ is.
Mom I hope you are doing alright! I sure love you and a part wishes that I were there to help you right now. I know after i had my wisdom teeth out it was pretty hard because you were out of town and i was alone with Austin! but God will provide! I know you are being blessed.
I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my testimony. I think that of all the gifts I have in this life my testimony is the most precious, this is confirmed over and over.
Yesterday we had a conference with our President and his brother who is one of the seventies. It was great he talked a lot about goals and what we should be doing to be better parents and it was interesting because usually it is more mission related, but amazingly one could apply all the principles to missionary work. He talked about being the type of person we want to marry. Being the type of companion that we want to have. I know I have a lot to work on, because I want someone marvelous that is for sure!
One thing that happened in the conference like always we practice teaching and my companion and I were called on to practice teaching the first lesson in ten minutes in front of everyone. My strongest point of all lessons I believe is my testimony. I just want you all to know that I know My Savior Jesus Christ lives, and that he loves us with more love than we can imagine. I know God lives and that he wants us to return to live with Him. I know Christ is the way we will be able to accomplish this. I know that President Monson is the prophet called of God to lead us today. I know the Book Of Mormon contains the word of god and that we are closer to our heavenly father when we read and apply the instructions it contains. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet that had a vision of God and Jesus Christ and that through him something more important than anything else happened in my life. A transformation in this world, a light is now here and that we have the fullness of the gospel of Christ to enjoy and share! I love the Lord, in Him my soul delights!

April 13, 2009

2009-04-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hello familia!
Meus amores! I amo vocês! I am so happy this week was truly a week of miracles! A week of dreams for missionaries who really love the work. To enjoy the fruits and to be able to find more of them! i will send some more pics right now!

April 7, 2009

2009-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Family!
Wow what an awesome week and one with a lot of changes and crazy stuff going on! First of all I have to chastise a little Brent says he only sometimes gets my e-mails, and that he only knew that I had had one baptism. I have had three and will have three more this week! Alexandre, Ernani, Lenir, and this week a miracle family who I hope to see in the temple Milton, Andrea and Mirela! They were a reference from Bishop and they are gold! They finally accepted a baptismal date for this week! Thursday! SO we have more to teach really fast, but they are so awesome and are way excited about the temple! My dream mom and dad would be (if you two still have any plans to pick me up) to go through the temple with them in one year. Almost exactly when I will be headed home. The temple in Campinas! WOW! What fruits! They are wonderful and I sent pictures I think, actually no, but I will! Thank you for the pictures candy and other happinesses! Sweet Aunt Nancy and Uncle Wayne sent a package that was awesome! Thank you! Love you all!
Brent I will send a letter!
We now have an area wayyyy huge to cover and are praying for inspiration to know where to focus our time and we would love to have references from members because they are so much more effective! I loved conference, I only got to watch one session in English the last one and certainly the best, probably because I could understand everything, but it was beautiful and all of you need to find someone for the missionaries to teach! All of you! The work for us is so much more difficult when we have to do all the finding, and nearly impossible! Help1!!!! Every missionary in the whole wide world would pray for this, and Many people pray for the missionaries which is great, but exercise you faith, do something about it! Pray and then search for ways to bless the missionaries! That is my advice for the day! I love you all so much and ask that all the family read my e-mails, I don´t have teh time to write real letters each week, but this I can do and hope that the whole family will be able to hear what is happening here in Brasil!
Our mission has for the last 5 months baptized over 100 people each month! A blessing to serve here at this time. Our goal now is 200, last month we baptized 150 people! Surely this is the work of the Lord! Surely with out a doubt! What an opportunity to be a part of this miracle! When President Tobias arrived here a year and a half ago the number of baptisms was about 47. Imagine it has tripled in the last year! and will continue to raise! Amazing! So Many people are ready for this wonderful news of the gospel, but so many need to be found! So help okay!
Love you all with all my heart!
Sister Judd

March 24, 2009

2009-03-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

Minha familia querida!
OH I love you all! Thank you for all the loving and kind words of encouragement! They help so much. Thank you grandma!
Mom, for you, please don´t worry about me too much. I am doing just fine, and i just learned how to use my card here, honestly I haven´t had to use it because the mission money has been sufficient, but this week I had to for the first time. We get reimbursed for things like medicine, water and things like this, but I really would like to buy a new pair of shoes, sandals. My shoes are great, but for everyday i think it is better to have some good sandals and i can buy them here, honestly i think things are just fine, and the dollar here is worth 2 raise so it is great! If you want to send money, put it in my fund, like Jim did, and now i know how i can use it, but don´t worry i don´t think that i will need it. I had to have some work done at the dentist, this is why i needed a little extra money this time.
But I would like recipes. With all this Portuguese in my mind recipes for the most part have escaped, i am only remembering about half. I think I would like recipes for cookies, and banana bread, and i don´t know what else is important in life! :) Life is good!
I am loving, living! happy. Interesting though something that happened just yesterday for the first time on my mission. I taught a lesson and was clearly rejected, but for some reason this made me really sad. I get rejected all the time, but this time it was a different feeling. I had been happy, but seriously I started crying as we walked away. It was such a strange feeling. my heart yearned and agency prevailed. My companion was sympathetic. Interesting and I remembered my setting apart and how President Doty counseled to not become too discouraged when people rejected.
I am enjoying the work. It is difficult to feel like I am doing the very best I can, but I know that it makes a difference. Many times people will say the difference our message has made in their lives, and i have honestly made friends with some of our investigators as my prayers, and an increase of vocabulary have been working in my life! Yay! I am feeling a little more comfortable with Portuguese. I love this ward and area, We have transfers next week and i hope i will not be transferred. I would love to witness the baptisms of the people, my friends, that we are teaching now.
This is a scattered e-mail, sorry!
You are all in my thought and prayers! Not a day passes when I don´t think about you all!
I am so grateful for the trails I have especially when we visit others and hear what life is like outside the gospel. It is amazing that these things happen in the church to people, but with Christ things have so much more hope. So much more bearable to bear our cross with Christ. So many don´t know this. I love being a missionary to bring this hope to all the world!
I love you all!
Sis Judd

March 17, 2009

2009-03-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Olá familia!
OH how I love you all, I am sorry last week the internet went down and this is why I was not able to e-mail, but I am happy that now I can.
Well, I just ended a week that was for some weird reason difficult for me. But it was good and we always learn from hard experiences, it was a difficult week for our entire district, but I know that this week will be better. In our district from example 9 baptisms that were planned fell through. But we have encountered some of the elect for sure and I am really happy about some that we have!
Caeser, he is a young man 27-28? but we taught him for the first time the other day, we were batendo portas, (clapping doors) and he was very receptive, the spirit was very strong when we taught and he said he would come to church with us this week.
Lenir, She is a wonderful woman we met she can´t hear very well, and really didn´t understand me very much at all, so the first couple of times we taught there sister j. lima taught basically the whole lessons. I bore my testimony knowing that she wouldn´t understand, but hoping she´d feel the power of testimony. But, the first time we met her she accepted baptism too, and told us that her son died 8 years ago due to a drug overdose. Very Very sad and now she deals with depression. She couldnt come to church because she was depressed a lot, and her medicine was gone, but we called three members to give her a blessing and it was wonderful, we taught the plan of salvation and felt the real power it has!
This work is heavy a lot of heavy people who have real problems really real problems, and this helps me to thank my heavenly Father for the way I grew up and the things I had that so Many others don´t have and also have questions like why was I so Blessed? I know that we all, all that have this wonderful gospel were given these blessed opportunities because we can be the tools to share with others and help others to hav the happiness we have! What an incredible experience!
Milton,Andrea, and Mirela- Yay a family! This is the first time I that I have had the opportunity to teach a whole family! It is awesome! This was a reference from Bispo. This is a wonderful family! They live way far from where we work, but it is so worth it to visit them. We have only taught twice , but with members always and the members were so awesome and helped us a lot at church with them! Adilson is awesome member who sat with them and explained everything. He has been home from his mission for only 7 months, and the whole milton family loved him!
We have a baptism scheduled for this weekend, but are not sure if it will happen, we found out some information we have to work with. Oh Please keep the commandments!!!!!
Sandra- Way awesome! I love her a lot! She definitely recognized us as representatives of Christ and it is so great to visit and teach her.
I love you all, my time is gone, but here was a little about the people we are helping and teaching right now, hoping to have baptisms, Thank you for your prayers, I need them!
Love love!
Sister Kami Kaye Judd

March 3, 2009

2009-03-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Familia,
I am a little sad because I had no e-mails from my family to read today, but last week was wonderful and so thanks for all the sweet e-mails, and today I will get to rewrite what I wanted to say last week!
First of all i hope everyone is well and life is going great!
I am so happy to hear of successes. I wanted to say to Marci that I fasted for you and for your baby, without knowing that anything was wrong, but I just felt like a fast would be a good idea for you! I am so glad the lord knows us, whether we are in Brasil, or any other place in the world!
WE had a baptism this week.We thought we would be having two, but one fell through. Monique I hope will be baptized soon, but Hernani was baptized this week and confirmed! It was wonderful! Alexander has been helping us visit him which is great because we need to see Alexandre more too. He bore his testimony at the baptism, and walked with us with Hernani for the baptism. Wonderful! The only thing that was sad was that Monique was not baptized with him. Her sister wants to be baptized as well, so we hope in the next couple of weeks to have their baptisms together.
Very interesting to have a Brasillian companion. Sometimes interesting to try and explain what you are thinking and feeling in another language and culture, but I can tell that she has helped me a lot. Just the other week I realized that I was saying my prayers for the most part in Portuguese. My thoughts were coming in Portugues! Way cool! Always pray with others in Portugues but in my own personal prayers most all the words and thoughts and feelings I wanted to express are coming!
I am learning the lessons a lot better too, and learning other words and examples to help investigators understand.
We have a couple we are teaching right now who are so awesome and we hope will accept a baptismal date. Janesio e Alesandra. They are very cool. His father and mother were baptized but are inactive now. HE attended church a lot with them, and he and his wife came to church. They are awesome! And they are married really married which eliminates an obstacle. Here people have to wait a long time, or pay a lot of money to get legally married. interesting!
I sure love you all and want to know how things are going for all of you! I hope you are doing well mom! I can´t wait until we have a meeting with President Tobias because he will bring the letters you all have been writing. Yay, I will make sure to send you my address next week! And I will send pictures of the baptism of Hernani! He is awesome!
I love the lord. In Him my soul delights!
Sister Judd

February 17, 2009

2009-02-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

Alexandre was baptised on Saturday Feb 14 2009! Happy Valentines Day to me!!!!!!!!! I was so thrilled! HE received the Holy Ghost the next day in sacrament meeting and will be making visits with us now. This is so good because it will help him stay away from the evils of the world and remain worthy! I recorded his testimony and will send an invitation and pictures of the baptism very soon! Very happy! This is the Lords work!

The very day that he received the Holy Ghost I had to give a talk. The missionaries in the ward are in charge of the talks the third week. nerve wracking. You thought that giving a talk was hard try giving one in a language that is not your own. BOy! Anyway sister Chaves helped me and it was okay I think about obedience.

I am absolutely loving the area here. I can say that freely now because we just had transfers and I was not transferred, but my dear companion was sister wells is gone. Really now tchau Ingles. BYe English. It was so nice, but this will be so good for me I know, and I hear that my new companion sister JotaSilva is powerful! Good because we have a powerful work to perform, I am just learning about the power of this work!
I received the advice from Sean that I should remember that the lord sent Kami Kaye Judd to Brasil Goiania, and I want you to know that I think about that all the time. I had no idea how much it would mean to me, but I am starting to really know how much power Sister Kami Kaye Judd has. I never knew I could do this. I saw it in dreams but never knew that I could actually become this type of missionary that talks to 20 people in the street asking and teaching and inviting for church and getting addresses to visit in homes all day everyday! What a marvelous work. I can´t explain it, but I feel like yes this is the Sister Kami Kaye Judd that i am. And I am realizing how sacred this time is. Really. this is not my time. This time is for my God. This changes my desires so much and I truly can say that my heart is here with the people here and I long for their acceptance, not of me really, but of our Savior Jesus Christ!
I know this is where I am to be. I know that I have a great work to perform and with the mercy and help of my savior this is what I intend to do. So yes, I remember who I am and am realizing who I really am, and remembering who I really am and learning to use the things that have helped prepare me for this great work.
I have another person that we think will be baptized for sure this month as Well his name is Hernani! Very cool! It is interesting how God puts people in our path and he truly has helped us find some very elect people.I love you all
sister Judd

February 10, 2009

2009-02-10T09:22:00.001-08:00

Familia Grande-
Eu amo vocês muito!
This was a week of miracles (although every week is) I love being a missionary for the Lord!
We found out Wednesday that our president was going to be coming to a city pretty close to ours for a zone conference ( which was really good and makes me want to kick myself in the pants, but be a better and more faithful!!! missionary) but this was great news for us because Alexandre needed an interview and all that and we wondered if this would be able to happen, and it did! My family it did, I think that some of you prayed and that is good! Alexandre passed the interview and remains faithful right now! He will be baptised this Saturday at 4;00! MY very first baptism of my mission, but I have some very high goals for the baptism I want to have and I am working on the faith and getting the Lord involved, he helped me with the number and I know he will help me to know how I can do it. Honestly it was one of the happiest times for me when He passed the interview! We´planned a very special lesson for him this week and are either visiting or calling every day to ensure that with the helps we gave he will stay away from the things that are against the W of W and we made him sign a contract which he did with trembling hands. Now we just need to trust in the Lord to provide for this great miracle.
I thank the Lord everyday for the miracles we witness, sometimes typing them doesn´t feel right, I feel like they are sacred, but I have a few pages in my journal that explain some and I will copy those and send them today for you all at home.
Marc tons of people ask me about the blog missionaries who say my mom said something about a blog you have or stuff like this. Um pouco scary, but I trust you. :)
This week I had my first experience making a data marcarda in the street. Setting a date for baptism after teaching in the street. We needed a lot more datas and so I asked in the rua, or street. and the very first time I tried the man set a date. He was smoking a cig, so we have work, but I think it worked because I had to follow the spirit 100% and the spirit was strong. I knew before he knew that he would say yes when I asked him to prepare. So awesome!
I also had my first experience with cockroaches here I took a shower, wrapped my towel around me and screamed! Hahhahaa yeah grande roach on my back. EWWW.. but I think I am the most courageous of the sisters in my house because I was the only who was not afraid to kill the stinking roach. NO in fact I get great satisfaction from killing a bug that made me scream. Anyway!
We met an elect yesterday. I mean all people are the elect, but sometimes you jusdt meet a ´person and can tell that he/she is ready really ready! His name is Sabastain. he accepted a date in the street as well! This is great because the goal for my comp and I that we are praying and fasting for this month is 4-5 baptisms! I know we can do it too! Please pray your prayers are heard and answered! I love you all soooooooo much!
Sister Judd
I will send pics soon too I hope!

February 3, 2009

2009-02-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

Familia-
It was so good to hear from you all again! It just makes my day! I have thought about you all this week! I feel so lucky to have such an awesome family with additions all the time!
This week has been great! We have more people to teach and more people with baptismal dates this month my comp e I have a goal of baptizing 5 people. This will be challenging, but after much prayer and fasting this is the number both of of had in mind. We are willing to make the sacrifices necessary and have decided to fast every Sunday this month for this milagre. Really! We didn't have any baptisms this month, and I want to baptize, I know Heavenly father will bless us!
We had another girl come to church with us this week which was amazing! Her name is Monique! It was fast and testimony meeting and you know that sometimes that is interesting, but it was perfect, and the members were all so inviting, after the meeting as we walked home with her she said that she really liked it, and that she wanted to return and she wanted to participate, she has a baptismal date for the 15 of this month. She also has a sister and her father are listening to the lessons, we want to baptize them all, she was the only one awake though and she was the only one who came, but we hope next week the entire family will come with us! They are beautiful girls, 17 and 15 and Monique has such strong faith. The family read the Book of Mormon together after our lesson and she says that she felt that the book was true when they were reading. She also received an answer about Joseph Smith! We need to have them all attend church at least two times and then they can be baptized, we pray that all will turn out well! Alexandre is still awesome and we continue teaching him! Can´t wait for our visit from Presidente Tobias.
So I heard news last week from an Elder in my district that now sisters will have the chance to serve for two years, I still have not heard from my president about this, but I think that I have the funds to do so, and I think that I want to do this. Let me know please about this, I think it is a miracle that I just happen to have the funds available for this, and what a great blessing and opportunity this will be. A great work is continuing to take place!
We still live with the other sisters in the area, and we have so much fun.
I taught the law of Chastity for the first time in Portuguese, I was all worried, but I know Heavenly father blessed me! Oh he is so good to me! I love this work! I know this is the work of God! I feel so lucky that I have known these things my entire life, and I have never had to suffer the pain and guilt that comes from these types of sin!
Thank you for your prayers! I know that they help me! Please continue!
I miss you all like crazy, I guess this is why I want to serve 6 months more huh!:) I do love you all and thank my lucky stars!
Dad congrats on your new calling! You will do so well! I think it fits you perfect! Oh what a blessing you will be in the lives of those boys! You are the bestest ever!
I love you mom!
e familia!
Sister JUdd

January 27, 2009

2009-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Oi minha grande familia,
Oh I am so grateful for all your letters I finally got this week! It was so fabulous and I was so thankful! We can only receive letters and read them on pday. Today! It was so refreshing. I hadn´t had mail at all for a month about.
I am just about three weeks in the field, and it is great, I am getin gused to the missionary life still, but it is nice. Please continue to pray for me to help me learn Portuguese! I can always use your prayers!
Oh I was so excited to hear about the new addition to our family in Baby Sean Scott! What a treasure! We are so lucky, and it sounds like you did great Marci! What a great opportunity I had to be there for Eliza, but you must know that I have been praying for you so much. For Liz too! Oh babies truly are a gift from god in our lives are they not!?//
Oh and thank you for the pictures! He is huge! Oh I am so happy for you all! Take good care of him and remind him that Kami Kaye is his favorite aunty okay! I will feed him all the candy in the world when I get home okay! You let him know that!:) I am not sure if you remember that conversation marc! Oh your letters were wonderful! 14 letters I had what a blessing a thunderstorm after the draught!
Oh and speaking of thunderstorms it is so rainy here right now. It is summer and it rains a whole lot in the summer here. And it is hot when it is not raining.
I think I told my companion, and dad I thought I told you about Dave miz. I was so sad that I didn´t get to see him, but it was awesome non the less that my district got to see him. I will try to send pictures sometime, it is difficult, I am not sure how to do it on the computer and it takes a long time, which I don´t have, but I will try to print some one of these days for you all”
Our circumstances this week are really interesting because we had to move for several different reasons one of which is that our kitchen rains a lot. I will miss the house, but for this and other reasons we are living with 2 other missionaries sister Chaves and sister Carvalho! It is so much fun to live with other sisters and I love them so much. They are in our same ward, but they live about 45 min. walk from our area, so we usually take the bus I hope we find a house soon because it will get expensive, we walk sometimes but lose time for working when we do.
We have many new investigators and are praying for them a lot! We need people to come to church with us so that they can be prepared to be baptized, we taught two girls Monique and Mariza yesterday and the spirit was very strong, both accepted a baptismal date and we are praying that they will keep it. Both want to come to church this week so we will pass by early Sunday morning. It doesn´t really help that church starts at 8:30, but I guess this heklps us know who the elect are right.
W e also are trying to do better with having the members help us. If you have any ideas tell me!
Oh marci I just looked again at your beautiful baby! Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
Brent And Rachael thank you for your letter! I cant believe Tyler is walking amazing! You give him tons of kisses for me okay!
Liz, it was great to hear that the baby is alright and what a miracle you all had.
It is so great to see the miracles every day here on the mission. I started with my companion to write a miracle list every night and we do and it is so great! Truly this is the \Lords work. Sometimes the miracles are small, like the rain waiting to pour, or being able to achieve our goals, but everyday there is something that happens that is a miracle. Look for them and thank god for them.
Keep sending letters to my mission home address not my other one that I wrote on the letter because we will be moving soon.
Oh I can´t even express how much I love all of you! SOOOO Much!
If you would like to pray for the investigators here please! Alexandre is so awesome! We hoped that we would be able to baptize him this week because our mission president came here and spent the day with us, but for some circumstances in the life of Alexandre, he needs to wait until next month to be interviewed. But he remains firme! Steadfast and immovable! He said I will wait!!! What great faith he has. I want to record his testimony! We taught him about temples this week so awesome!
The food is great so far nothing too different and I like it all. Thanks I love y ou all!
Sister Judd

January 13, 2009

2009-01-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I have so much to write and so little time, I had to re-write to my president of the mission and that took quite a bit of time, but I am in Uberlandia, and Marci has probably already had her baby! Oh my goodness!!! You have to let me know. I am grateful for the updates about the funeral, I love you all so much and think of you and home a little more right now,

But I got to Goiania finally on January 6! I met my president and he is so awesome so faithful! We have huge goals. The next day after interviews and stuff, we were sent to our places. I am now 600 miles south of Goiania in a place called Uberlandia. You will not believe who my companion is... There are only two missionaries in the Goiania mission from America, me and Sister Wells - Caralee Wells -, from St. George Ut, nonetheless, and I played volleyball with her in Club a little. She was on Red Rock. And she is my trainer, which is really weird and especially because she has only been here for 6 months, but I know that the Lord knows what he is doing because I have already learned a lot from her, and honestly if I were with a different sister I would be so frustrated at not being able to say what I needed to say! I love her she is great!

Also this is really awesome place. I love it! SO different from anything I ever imagined! But, wonderful at the same time. We have a lot of work to do here a ton!!! Especially right now we are working with this young man named Alexandre, the sisters that got transferred and one who went home, 2 Americans went home when I got here sister Buckley and sister Shirley. we had dinner the very first night with them and all those who were leaving. That is why there are only two white American sisters here now. They helped a lot and gave me some advice, I was still a little nervous though I must admit, but I am sooooo glad to be here. Please pray for me!!! I know you do, and I am so glad for this. Continue to, because I need that strength. I know that I can learn this language, but it is so difficult some times. It helps to have Sister Wells so much, and we definitely use our language study time here!

The people here make it worth it! Yesterday I was quite proud because I made 20 contacts. This is when you stop talk with people get names addresses and stuff. We also taught about 5 first lessons and a few other ones as well.

SO this is a little mixed up I know, I will explain more about Alexandre now. He is the perfect investigator, and a person that the gospel was made for. He has made significant changes in his life, and is continuing to come to church each week! He is awesome! Golden! We have many others too that we are teaching too. He is ready for baptism, we are just waiting for the mission president to interview him, because in his case it is necessary, but we pray for him every night! Wow he has made some great choices life altering choices! I am so grateful for the gospel in my life especially right now! When I partook of the sacrament this last week I truly felt the love of my savior. What a precious and beautiful thing the sacrament is for me. I am learning more and more of its´ significance.
I can´t wait to be able to speak better.

Oh, one last story. We met this girl, asked if we could teach her, but she was in front of a store, so we asked if we could come in and teach. She said yes, but the man who owned the place didn't want to hear. We started, and his wife came and told us to leave. I felt a little bad, but she said okay just come to my house, so we went there and we were able to teach her whole family - 2 brothers and her mom. They were all older too - in their 20´s maybe 30´s, but they were so interested in us. A lot of people are. And they are always surprised that we like Brasil and all. It is great, but I have to go. I will write a letter with more info. I love you all and pray for you all.

Kami Kaye

*We will post Kami's letter as soon as I can get a hold of it and type it up.* for the record, I have NOT had my baby yet.

Kami's Last CTM Day

2009-01-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

We are so thrilled with all the pictures that Irme Maite has sent to us. Here are a couple she recently gave us of Kami's District on their last day at the CTM.

New Pictures

2009-01-03T15:15:00.001-08:00

These were sent to me from Maitê (Irme - Sister) Araujo. She has been Kami's language trainer there at the MTC or CTM as she calls it. She will only be there another day or two before heading off to Goiania. WAHOO! Good Luck Sister Judd; we can't wait to hear from you. Enjoy the pictures!

December 30, 2008

2008-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Family!
Happy New Year! Christmas here was a real blast! Seriously! I mean even just being able to wear casual clothes was so nice! Way fun! They did a lot to make the day special for all of us! It was too. It was really different, but really good at the same time. I will maybe tell you more later, but not now!

So I just have one last week here at the ctm. Mixed feelings about that! I love it here, but I am so ready to not be learning sitting a chair all day everyday! i think that I am ready to be in Brasil Goiania.

We went proselyting again and it was good. I know that is not the detail you are looking for, but it was great. I am excited to talk all day everyday with People of Brasil, but really a little worried at the same time, but this week I am making sure to study extra hard faith! I know that if I have the faith necessary that it will be okay! I sure love you! I was glad to hear from Grandma Alma, I love her so much, very sad to hear about Grandma Judd, and I will keep all the family in my prayers. I sure love her I am eternally grateful for the great opportunity that I had tot be with her this summer. What a great woman. What a unique experience to have both grandpa and grandma die while I was hear at the CTM. But, when I was at the temple today I felt them with me, even though I didn´t know at the time that Grandma had passed away! I hope that I will be able to feel their presence while I am here in Brasil.

I am a little sad to leave people here. I absolutely love Irmã Maitê. I feel like we are kindred spirits. I will miss her. She took sister Morrise and I out for lunch today which was a treat and a change from the CTM food. I love it, but it is the same taste, and it was nice to have a little change today! She will miss us a whole lot too. She is sad. But, I LOVE the blessing to know that we will see each other again even if not in this life! I have been really grateful for that blessing a lot lately for some weird reason:)

I get to e-mail Verle yay!!!! love you all so much

Eu te amo!
Sister Judd

December 23, 2008

2008-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you for everything, and Irmã Maite did a great thing by having mom write that little thing! She is the best, and I totally cried, as did all the elders which makes me really happy!
Oh it is so good to hear from you and about people and everything. I cannot believe that I have so little time left here at the CTM. I can´t believe that in two weeks from today I will be out there teaching real people in Brasil.
Okay so you want more of the story about the man. Well, we were in this super busy place in Saõ Paulo, and there was a beautiful beautiful theater, the best infrastructure so far I have seen in Brasil other than the temple, and there a a bunch of statues there too they all have life jackets on. All the statues in Brasil have the same thing because people weren't paying good enough attention to them, so the city or something put bright orange life vests on them, so one has to notice them. It is funny. But, there are so many people!
We met him fairly close to the theater and by a bridge. It was awesome. Yes, I was able to get my message across, it just takes a lot longer and has to be in the words that I know. So, I didn't write it in the other e-mail, and you can erase this too if you want, but the first time we went proselyting a man jumped off the bridge. Definite suicide. Yeah, I am glad that we weren't anywhere near when it happened and only found out after we had left, but our elders were really close by. Yuck!!! SO I need Verle´s e-mail so that I can e-mail him, I guess he may not be able to e-mail while in the MTC.
What a great story about Daniel. [I wrote and told Kami of Daniel praying for Grandpa to live a couple more days so the Judds could see him when they went to take Verle to the Provo MTC December 10th. Grandpa Juan died Dec. 11th at 8:00AM]. Oh the faith of a child. What a great example to us all.
I would like to have a copy of the funeral if anyone has something like that. I so wished to have been there. I will remember grandpa everyday on my mission. I love love love him! Tell grandma that she needs to stick around for a good long time, that may sound selfish, but I need her! I will come home from my mission and I will take care of her! I have often felt like she and I are kindred spirits!
I am so excited for Christmas here at the CTM. I am really excited!!!!! It will be, and has been a little sad without all the kids and all the family traditions. I missed going to Pine Valley to get the tree that is for sure, but my companion is awesome on the piano seriously awesome, she plays the Brasil National Anthem. That is how good she is. You should look it up; it is so cool! We sing it every Sunday, and my goal was to be able to sing it before I leave this place! It is fast and hard.
I am so excited to go to Goiania! There are a few elders and now one brasileira sister who are coming with me and every time we see each other we are like "Yea! We are going to Goiania!" And then we high five and stuff! It is so fun!
SO, last week at the temple Dave Miz was there [Dave Miz is one of Kami's High School buddies also serving in Brazil]! I didn't get to see him though. I came out of the temple and my elders said we just met an elder from St. George who said he knew you and he wrote his name for us. I couldn't believe it! I wish I could have seen him! He was in the same place as me!!!!! Crazy!!!
I still love it here and am loving my learnings. This week will be packed with milestones. We have the third lesson in Portugues this week. WOW! Then I will be able to teach 3 lessons in Portugues! Continue to pray for me; I realize this is the only way that I am able to do this! Miraculous. Teaching with scriptures and all! 20-30 minute lesssons! Of course I only really know my part, and could struggle through my companions part, but it will come I am getting better at my part. Our brasilheira sister roommates left today. They are teh 2nd set that we have let go. They are awesome!
MMMMMMEEEEERRRRRRRRRYYYYYYY CHHristmas!!!!!!!! HAVE SO MUCH FUNN! Eu amo vocês! !! SOO much! I miss you too! Love love love!!!!
SISter Judd!

December 17, 2008

2008-12-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is an email we received from Sister Irme Maite. She sent it to all the parents of Kami's MTC district missionaries a week or so before Christmas. We absolutely LOVED seeing all the pictures she sent with the email from the MTC. We haven't received any from Kami yet.

Hello,

I am Sister Maitê, your missionary's instructor here at the MTC. For christmas i would like to surprise my students but i need your help. Would you please write down the attributes you see in your missionary and what kind of missionary you think they are. As stated earlier, i want this to be a surprise so please don't tell your missionary.

Thank you in advance.

Merry Christmas

Sincerely

Sister Maitê

This is what mother sent in response:

"Sister Kami Kaye Judd

missionary attributes Kami posesses -
cute and bubbly personality
interested in others
always wanting to serve
loves good humor and to smile and laugh with friends
great leadership skills - it's easy for her to be in charge - she always gets things done promptly when she is
tender heart, filled with compassion for those less fortunate
very very practical and prudent

Kami loves the gospel with all her heart and wants others to have the joy that she has. She is a great missionary and has always loved to be a part of sharing the gospel with her friends - member and non-member alike. She is a great example of service to our family.

Thank you SO much for sending the pictures Sister Maite!

Love,
Mary Judd (Kami's mother)"

*From the next letter Kami writes, we understand that Irme Maite did something really neat for the missionaries with this, but we have yet to know details. Hopefully Kami or some others in her mission inform us soon.

December 16, 2008

2008-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

I just got the news that I was planning on receiving this week, news that I knew would come and yet that I dreaded getting. I will miss grandpa so much what an incredible man he really is and was. I think by now maybe the funeral is over, or perhaps soon. I am sorry mom, and everybody, because I know tha Grandpa had a special place in all our hearts, it is kinda weird to be here in Mr. Cheneys Cookie and crying with lots of elders around. I guess maybe I will get used to it. Well, I wrote a whole long e-mail last week and the internet went out, and so I was not able to send it and I apologize for that. I know that a few people have asked that I share stories, oh my goodness I have been filled with stories lately here at the ctm all our instructors have great mission stories.

BUt, I have a good tender mercy story. We get to go proselyting here three times before we leave. It is so cool, and a little scary. But, something really cool happened. We went for the 2nd time and usually your district goes to a different place every time, but for some unknown reason my district went to the very same place that we went our first time. It is a super busy place with muitos pesoas. Last time I gave out a book of Mormon which was really neat, and it was great to be able to pray for the man and the family that I had given this book too. He was really interested and said he would call the number. Well, we were just about done, we had given out all our cards and our time was just about up, but we had not given out our Livro de Mormon yet so we went down one more street, mostly just for fun, but as we were turning to go back the man who we gave the Book of Mormon too came up to us and started talking. We asked if he had read, and called, and if anyone had come to visit him. It was awesome, he wanted our names he had thought that we would be coming to visit him and his family he said, and was a little confused, but he said that he had been reading the Book of Mormon, and that he was really liking it and I think that he said the missionaries had come over. I was so excited, and had prayed a few time for him since giving him the book because he just seemed so ready for it. I knew that the spirit had told me to give him that book, and he was ready. I keep praying for him.

I am happy! Way happy! At the same time a little somber because of grandpa. But, I will do as Annalyse said and let grandpa live on in me. Hope that the Holidays are going well, and that the family is making it okay with out mom at home and all that. Know that I pray for you! I got your package with Doritos and Cheetos and all that fun stuff! Thanks I love it! And mom you know me and my blueberry thing! I sure love you all so much! I know that I missed Kristina´s Birthday, and I am sorry about that! Happy Birthday! I hope that all is going well for Liz and Ruffin and their family. I haven´t heard anything yet.

Marci you are getting close! I am praying for you too, I wish that the letter that I sent last week had been sent before the internet went down. I love you so much!

I guess that Grandma Judd is hanging in there. I haven´t got any other news.I love her and sent her a note just the other day.

Lucy I love you too, I am not allowed though to send e-mail to anyone other than family, but Stringfellow e-mailed me so will you let her know!

I can´t believe that I only have 3 weeks left here at the ctm. That is a great, and yet kinda a scary thought. We have so much to learn and memorize and do this week in our classes. The lord is blessing me though, and my Portuguese is getting better, and I am understanding a lot more, yet I would say that I barely know anything.

Brasil never ceases to amaze me. It is awesome and so different, and just awesome is the only word I can think of to descibe it. I love my instructors here at the Ctm. I especially love Irmã Maite. She has helped me a lot with portuguese and is crazy go nuts, so of course I love her.

The food is something else here, but I like it all for the most part! I have class so much and spend so much time with my district, and it is fun most of the time, we have a great quote book that is for sure! The lord has already blessed me in so many ways and the more that I am here the more I feel how lucky a girl I am for what I have in so big a city one sees a lot of homeless and hungry people and people living on the street, but we have it so good. I know that the gospel helps us so much, but never take it for granted okay!

Daniel I just thought of a memory that I have of you when you Prayed that it would snow last Christmas, and I thought oh no. What have you done in praying for something impossible like that, but you are so faithful and the Lord showed his love for you and it snowed the next day! Amazing. I know that I get to witness many answers to my prayers while I am here in Brazil and look forward to every minute of this mission.

I think of my nieces and nephews all the time. I love you all and pray for you daily!

Eu ama vocês sempre!
I love you always!
SIster Judd

December 9, 2008

2008-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

My family, I hope I get to send this one today.
I just want to write a few things that happened this week that you might be interested in. I can teach the first lesson with my companion it is really awesome. In Portuguese, and we did it for members who come to the Ctm and pretend like they are real investigators. It is really cool. WE got to watch ourselves teach after we had taught.It is so cool that you can feel the spirit even when you are only pretending to teach. MY testimony has been strengthened and that makes me happy.

I am so excited for Verle, and I need his address so that I can write him e-mails. Let me know as soon as possible please.

I heard some news about Grandpa just now that he isn´t taking anymore platelets. Wow, I am so sorry and know that I mourn his loss too.

I am half way through my MTC experience and that is happy. I love the CTM, but i am ready to go to work. I guess that I will get a real kick in the pants when i realize how much portuguese i don´t know, but it will be good too. I have written an e-mail every week, but I guess that are not getting to dad, and I wish that they would, but maybe if Melissa checks hers she will get it.
Hey family! I wrote last week to Melissa´s e-mail, but the e-mail was for the entire family. I hope you got it. But, I just wrote all of you a real letter, and it tells lots of good stories about my life here at the CTM centor de traning for missionaries. I think that is the gist of CTM. But i wonder what everybody did for thanksgiving. I hope it was really good. It was sooo good here, although they don´t celebrate thanksgiving they did at the CTM< and it was soooo good. Like definitely the best meal here so far. They had the works all except pie, but they did have cake and ice cream.

So I am not sure if you can, but i need a few things and I don´t get too much money here to wrok with adn can´t use my own, i am wondering if you could send me a few things.
lets see i could use tweezers, more ped socks, sunscreen, just a little for Goiania, bug stuff, and contact solution just the cheapest stuff at Wal mart would be just fine, I think it is something like three dollars, and here it is about 25 reias or 15 dollars so i thought that would be worth it to me and you if you wouldn't mind. I could also use hairspray. I mean I hate to be practical and all that, but these are things that i need. lotion might be great too. I sure love you guys and look forward to the letter okay it is like 8 pages and tells all about my experience street contacting this last week. Totally awesome I love being a missionary.

The other day here they had a big little ceremony for the turning on of the Christmas lights at the ctm. it was so fun we sang Christmas songs and had real ice cream bars with chocolate coating! SOOO good. Chocolate is basically the best thing ever! I sure love all of you and hope that all is well. Remember you will be blessed while we are gone.

Youare all probably getting Verle all ready to leave and stuff. Oh he is in for a real treat, but we probably leave the MTC at the same time. Weird.

My bazilleria roommates just left this morning at 4 for Londrina for their missions. They were so cute. They only stay for three weeks. It is hard to believe that IO have been here almost a whole month now. Sometimes it feels like forever.

I am getting better at Portuguese, and almost cried tears of pure happiness when my Teacher Irmã Maite promised us that we would be fluent in Portuguese on our missions. I think though that we have the best teachers and especially Irma Maite in the whole ctm. She is so great and loves us so much and all that, and she is a great teacher and everyone says that the missionaries that have her as a teacher learn the fastest and speak the best Portuguese. I feel like I am in good hands.

I love my district. They are gfreat although i must say it is hard sometimes being in the same classes with the same people all day everyday. But they are really good elders and i think that we help them. Not too many districts get to have girls, sisters, so they are lucky I think. Verle good luck. I love you so much and wish you the best mission ever. And I want to give you some money I think Dad or mom can do that for me. 150 okay. You work your heart out, and remember your love for the Lord is why you are doing this great work. It will bless your life and the life of your future family so much I know it. and It will be a great blessing to our family as well. I think they will more than recognize these blessings. You are doing more for your family while you are gone than you could if you were there. I know it sounds weird, but it is soo true.
People tell me that Goiania is muito quente, and muito baptisms. Awesome can't wait.
SIster Judd

I wrote this last week, but I can´t seem to get anything to send to you at this address. You should know though that I am not supposed to e-mail, nor receive e-mail from anyone outside of my family so do not give this address to anyone else please.
love you

December 2, 2008

2008-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is a story posted by Emma Fristoe - one that Kami wrote to her about, sharing many details about one man she and her companion contacted and gave a Book of Mormon to on the street. Kami references this experience in a couple other letters, and we felt that this one gave more information and details about the actual day she had the first contact with him, so I am posting it here for all of us to enjoy.

"I love it here in Brasil. My heart has been here for so long i think. We get to go to the temple every week and it is a great experience.
We were able to go for the first time proselyting on Friday. WE went to a really busy place and it was a little, okay more than a little scary at first, but it was really great too.
It is really weird being in a country with so many homeless, people and such. I am not sure I was really, or could really have been prepared for this, but it is great, and just new, it hasn´t bothered me mostly except that it makes me feel really blessed and feel bad for those who don´t have what I have. Why am i so lucky? I guess so i can share with others how they too can be so blessed as i am. But anyway... WE gave out all our pass along cards and two Os livros de Mormon. Really great story too that one is. I saw this guy and he was pushing a stroller, and that means family information card to give out.. so we approached him, and gave our shpill in Portuguese and he acted really interested. I was excited. So after committing him to call and such, I turned back around, and he was still there looking at the card, and I knew that he needed a Book of Mormon, i went back and gave the Book of Mormon short lesson, and basically said everything i know in Portuguese, which took about 30 seconds, no i am kidding, but it was awesome, he was asking how he could learn more, and we showed him where to call to have missionaries come and tell him more, and bore our testimonies in Portuguese about the book of mormon, and how it could bless his life. It was awesome and we committed him to read and pray, and call the missionaries to come. Then we left, and he said God bless you and good luck. It was awesome. I know that things ARE going to be great. We were only rejected probably five times, which i don´t think was normal, or at least not with the elders who said that for every card they gave out they were rejected at least once."

November 20, 2008

2008-11-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Familia,

I was very excited to get a reply, but I am still unsure as to whether or not you got my long e-mails from the last couple of weeks and I know that at least someone got the message that I sent so I may include a copy of what I wrote before, so if you already got it... I am sorry.
Oh I love you all! I so appreciate your prayers! I got your first letter just yesterday. It took I guess about 13 days to get to me which is so long. I think that normally it doesn't take that long though. 8 days is normal, or so that is what they say. Packages take upwheres to 3 weeks though.

Today I was able to do some real missionary work, at least a little which was really fun. Our instructor Irmã Maite gave us each about 6-7 pass along cards to give out today on our p day.
When I got your letter mom, iI was in class with my district, and i did something that I shouldn't have done, I opened it, and saw gGrandma´s handwriting, and I just started crying. I shouldn't tell you that except that it was so funny because all the Elders in in my district reacted so funny!!! I was laughing/crying. the elder next to me ELder Johnson, who I want to set up with Rebecca when he gets home

(just like Aunt Kaye) was using his hymn book to fan me. Hilarious! I was laughing so hard. But, no worries, it didn't last long, and that is the first real cry I have had, so I guess it was good, and worth it just to see how all these boys had no idea how to react to my tears. i explained a little about Grandpa, which I think is why the tears came.

SO 1 more funny story though. I bought a scripture case cover thing that has my name and mission, and a Brasil flag on it, and they spelled my name Sister Gudd. I thought it was so funny though that I don´t think that I am going to have them fix it.

We are working so hard on learning the language and doing all that we can in any extra minute to learn Portuguese. We go to choir, memorize on Sunday etc... I feel best about my testimony though. it is really great to be able to express my testimony to people here and feel the spirit.
I memorized the first vision in Portuguese and we are working this week to learn the first lesson medium in Portuguese. we have done it a million times in English, and it is very cool. This is a crazy week because we have so many milestones to pass off to out instructor this week. we have to have the med. lesson in Portuguese, the second short lesson in Portuguese and the second med-long lesson in English. But we can do it, lots of brain power, i never imagined i even had.
SO mom, all these my district here says that you should get on to missionarymoms.net I think. All their moms are writing and keeping tabs, so if you are interested, in all your extra time and all.... right... Thanks again for your beautiful letter.

Dad I found something out, and you have to read Jesus the Christ page 37 or 39. I talks about Adam and Eve and their partaking of the fruit literally and Talmage is very outspoken about it. I loved it.

SO I am trying in my own study time to read the book of Mormon while at the mtc so far so good.

Well, I need to go, but I am loving it here, and the food is excellent every few days they make something like American food. The other day we had Doritos, and I don´t think that I have ever loved them as much as I did then.. Tender mercy sometimes. Rice and beans every meal everyday. I make something like a cafe rio salad everyday which never gets old.. Yummm....

Love love you
Sister Judd aka sister GUdd