Gathering of the white hairs

February 29th 2016:

How do you find Spider-Man?
Search the web.

Do you believe in coincidences? I sure don't. Friday was a day full of tracting, and it was a tad bit chilly. We taught a couple of lessons, but not too much came out of them. Sister Morgan and I were really excited because that night we were going to watch the restoration at the church with the other missionaries in our ward, their investigator just completed the stop smoking program so they threw him a party. Our investigator Gabby was suppose to come, but she never showed up. So we left because it wasn't productive for us to be there, we both were kind of sad because we had been so excited and looked forward to it all week. Sister Morgan and I prayed to know where to go, and sis M felt prompted to walk down 4th St. So we headed to 4th street, keep in mind it's dark and cold. We prayed with a couple of people, but they walked away right when we ended the prayer. We were about to cross the street, but then we saw someone pushing a stroller. We went over to talk to her, and in my mind I'm thinking "oh she is totally the one!". Right when we end the prayer she tells us how she has wanted to go to a different church, and how crazy it is that we ran into her, because she was just thinking about that today. She asked a lot of questions, and I told her we could walk to the church and give her a tour. I was a little shocked when she actually said yes! We walked about ten blocks to the church, and while we walked we taught her the restoration! Talk about killing two birds with one stone;) When we do what the Lord asks us to, he blesses us. I'll be honest I did not want to go street contacting, because it was cold and dark, and the only people on the street at that time are drunk homeless people. But we went anyway, and the Lord put someone in our path!!

The Elders had a baptism this week, which just so happened to be on the same day a year ago that my sister Naomi was baptized. It reminded me of the sweet tender spirit that was felt at her baptism. The spirit is an awesome feeling! As I was sitting their pondering the gift of the Holy Ghost, and what the Holy Ghost has done for me, I could just feel my testimony strengthen and my conversion deepen. I KNOW this church is true. I know it with all my heart! I have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and as I have kept my promises I made at baptism, God has kept his. I challenge you all to ponder what the Holy Ghost has done for you in your life, and if you don't have the Holy Ghost. Email me, I can fix that. ;)

This week we went to the festival of praise at the Presbyterian  church, and Mack Wilberg (Mormon tabernacle choir director) conducted a choir made up of neighboring church's. It was really cool to go to a different church and see the inside, and gather together to celebrate the common belief of our Savior and Redeemer. It was a really neat experience :) Thanks to Sister Smith for providing my caption of the week, there were a lot of more experienced people at the festival of praise. The chapel was dotted with white heads :D it was great.

We went to Stephanie's play!

My pals!

The one and only Mack Willberg!

Why did the turtle cross the road?

Sister J

Does anyone even read this anymore? ;)

February 22nd 2016:

Sorry I don't have any time today. I just thought I would send a picture and a joke so you know that I am still alive and well! I also wanted to let you know that I am staying in the same area, and I am still with Sister Morgan!

Why did the poodle turn on the air conditioning?

So she wouldn't be a hot dog.

1.Awe... how precious;)

2. Is this not the biggest dog you have ever seen?

Have an awesome week!!

Sister J

Blondie

February 8th 2016:

What does a lion use to check its hair?

A Mir-roar 

I am noticing a pattern. When ever we meet people for the first time they think our last names are our first names, and that is because Sister Morgan sounds like a first name. So everyone thinks Judkins is my first name. It's pretty annoying. But they never remember my name anyways so I just get called Blondie. Me and sister Morgan are referred to as "Morgan and Blondie". It happens all the time! 

Stephanie had her interview this week for her baptism. The Elder that interviewed her walked out and said, "where can we get one of her." I told you she is awesome! He said she pretty much quoted word for word the answers in preach my gospel (preach my gospel is our missionary guide.) a member made the comment that she just lights up when she comes, and it is very true. She just has this light about her! The lord truly is preparing people, and they are all around us! People you would never expect. 

Stephanie was baptized on Saturday and then confirmed on my birthday at church! It was the best way to spend my birthday! There is nothing more powerful than watching someone make their first covenant with the Lord. 

Yes, my birthday was this week. I wasn't the most excited to turn 20, but thank you to Sister Morgan and a package from home it was a good birthday. And if you forgot it was my birthday I'm still accepting letters ;) 

This last week I have been studying about Joseph smith and how he was raised. His parents were both strong in their faith, and the children had Christ in their home but they were encouraged to seek out the truth for themselves. Joseph smith was confused about which church to join, so he went to the bible!!! And the scriptures is what led him to truth and what gave him the faith to receive an answer through prayer. What 14 year old boy goes to the scriptures for help? He did, and he did because of how is parents raised him. It makes me wonder if he wasn't raised like that would the restoration have happen through him? 

1. How I feel about being 20. Ew.
2. She is baptized!!! 

"St. Pete, load up we are going to the south side"

February 1st 2016:

Why did the cactus giggle? 

Because it was prick-list. 

Busy week and no time. I just want you to know that there is SO much that happens in a week on a mission, and it is almost impossible to pick one thing to talk about. So I apologize for the boring emails. But hey everybody just looks at the jokes and pictures anyways. ;) Stephanie is on schedule to be baptized on Saturday. Right after we taught her tithing, actually while we were teaching it, she was getting her money ready to pay tithing to the Bishop. Like who is she? She is so prepared.  I am so excited for her! I know I was sent here to find here. Just pray that everything goes as planned. 

Here is a little spiritual thought for you. :) Alma 53:5 And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.

 These Lamanite prisoners had to build their own prison. We see this all the time in today's world. People build their own prisons, they become captive to something that seemed "fun" at first, but soon sucked them in and they have no idea how to get out of it. The commandments have been given to us to actually keep us free, sin and addictions keep us captive, and when we sin and disobey God we build our own prisons, and become prisoners to sin. But thanks goodness for the atonement so when we do mess up, and it's important to remember we will, we can turn to our savior and be forgiven of our sins. 

We all loaded up in Sister Wests mini van and headed off to the hood.  Where I experienced some real southern cookin, you are all missing out. Auntie Joan can make one mean dish of Mac n cheese and fried chicken. 

I hope y'all have a splendid week! If you find some spare time, you can put a pen to the paper and send it my way :)

  5714 Calais lane, St Petersburg FL 33714 

1. This was before I realized there was a hole in my rain boots.
   
2. And this is when I realized there was a hole in my rain boots. 
   
3. I just couldn't resist...
   
4. But then they offered to take a group picture :) so it all worked out. :D

Sister J

Are You Picking Up The Phone?

January 25th 2016:

What do you get when you cross a legendary water creature with a criminal? 

The Loch Ness "mobster". 

Well this last week was crazy, crazy and some more crazy. But that's a mission :) I pretty much came to the conclusion, that on a mission is really the only time you can even some what experience Christ like love. You grow such a deep love for those you meet and teach. You love them and you just want to throw them into the baptismal font! Thank goodness that Stephanie is pretty much throwing herself in. She is one inspiring 16 year old! Whenever we teach her something you can just tell it clicks in her head and she know it's true. She tells us that it just makes sense, and it does! The gospel truly makes sense. Her baptism is coming closer and closer and I can't even wait! It will be the best birthday present ever! 

Prayer is the worlds best phone company. It's free, it's wireless, and you always have service! Now who doesn't want that?! During my studies I was reading about prayer, and the thought came to my mind that prayer is like a phone, and whenever we call he answers. I thought a little deeper, do we call him or does he call us? He calls us!  In fact he is ALWAYS calling, and the battery never dies! But are we answering? We are His kids, and like any Father he wants to hear from us, in fact he is just waiting for us to talk to him. Here is a poem about prayer that really just sums it all up: 

 I know not by what methods rare, But this I know, God answers prayer. I know that He  has given His Word, Which tells me prayer is always heard, And will be answered, soon or late. And so I pray and calmly wait. I know not if the blessing sought Will come in just the way I thought; But leave my prayers with Him alone, Whose will is wiser than my own, Assured that He will grant my quest, Or send some answer far more blest.

On Wednesday we had the opportunity to gather as a whole mission to watch a worldwide missionary broadcast. All 75,000 missionaries got to watch it! We heard  from several leaders who are apart of the missionary department, including Elder Bednar and Elder Oaks. And let me just tell you it was AMAZING! I came prepared to the broadcast and got exactly what I was needing. I came with a question, and sure enough my question was answered! It made me think back to sacrament meeting before my mission, I'll be honest I thought it was pretty boring. And on my mission I have come to understand the importance of coming prepared to meetings, so I can get out of it what the Lord needs me to. I challenge you to come to sacrament meeting with a question, and I pinky promise it will be answered! :)

Shrimp, Shrimp, and more Shrimp!

A spanishfork friend!! 

Sister J

"I skipped the formula and went straight for the T-Bone."

January 11th 2016:

What do you get when you burn a bagel? 

Holey- smoke. :) 

Thank you Peggy for this weeks caption. Peggy has been a member for about 3 months now, and she is so smart. She studies the gospel 24/7, and I mean studies it! Her questions are so deep that I have never even thought about half the things she asks. Our lessons with her pretty much consists of Sister Morgan and I searching the scriptures and using our lovely gospel library app. This last week she got in some deep doctrine stuff, and when the gospel says "Line upon line, precept upon precept" they aren't kidding! You can't skip the main course and got to the desert, because then you can get sick. Peggy explained her experience last week like this,  "I skipped the formula and went straight for the T-bone" You have to take one step at a time with the gospel, or you aren't going to understand it, and it is going to take even longer and longer for you to progress in the gospel. 

 There is a question I have been asking myself a lot recently. That question is- What if I didn't come on a mission? I know that God truly sent me to Tampa Florida to find specific people. People that I was sent here to find. And what if I didn't come? I would have never met or found them. It makes me think of the sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. They asked their selves that same question. And in Alma 26:9 is an example of them questioning the same thing. 

      9 For if we had not come up out of the land of Zarahemla, these our dearly beloved                       brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God.

 If they didn't leave their families in Zarahemla they would have never converted the lamanites, and the lamanites would have continued to live their lives in endless torment. That sounds miserable. If I didn't follow the prompting I received over a year ago to come on a mission, I would not be here today. And I would have not learned the things I have, I would not have witnessed the miracles I have, and most importantly I would have not come to know my Savior like I have. If their is anything that you get out of this email, that is to please follow the promptings you receive. I have witnessed pure miracles from acting on the spirit. 

Here is an example of a miracle. This last week we went Tracting in the big houses by the bay, we just wanted to try it out, plus the lord prepares everybody not just the People in more humble circumstances (which some missionaries thinks that's the case). We knocked on a beautiful home and a 16 year old named Stephanie, answered the door. She told us she lost her mom 6 Years ago to cancer, and she has been really struggling recently. We prayed with her and testified of eternal families,and that she would one day see her mom again! You could tell she felt the sprit, and truly believed it! We got a return appointment and have had a couple of lessons with her. She told us she had been praying for peace and comfort, and a couple of days later we knocked on her door, and she said she knew God listened to her prayer and sent us to her! She expressed to us that the peace she has felt, is what she has been searching for. We set a baptismal date with her forFebruary 6th! She was pretty excited when we asked her to be baptized, you could tell it's something she has been wanting to do for awhile. I am amazed time and time again of the miracles I witness every single day in Florida. And I most definitely don't believe in coincidences. These miracles are proof that God is very aware of us, and listens to every single one of our prayers! There truly is no greater work. 

I am staying in the St Petersburg Ward for another transfer!! Which means my address is the same, and my mail box has been collecting dust. I would appreciate it if you put a pen to paper, and sent some love my way:) Just in case you forgot what my address is: 

5714 Calais Lane St. Petersburg FL 33714

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

1. We went to a Lao Refugee day celebration thing.

2. I ate a fried banana! 

Sister J

Happy New Year!!!

January 4th 2016:

What do you call a sleeping cow?
A bull-dowzer. 

I did not write an email last week. There was so much to write about that I couldn't just pick one thing! So here is a quick summary; I went to the temple for the first time in 9 months, and it was amazing. It truly is a house of God! We had a Christmas devotional, the spirit was really strong. Christmas Day we went to my favorite members home for Christmas morning. Taylor even filled our stockings, and attempted to make us snowman pancakes.;) They were delicious! We always have a lot of fun with Taylor. We skyped our families at the Smiths house, and had a yummy lunch. Later that evening  we went to the Erbals home for dinner.  It was a wonderful Christmas! I truly came to a better understand on why we celebrate Christmas. It's about the greatest gift of all- our Savior and Redeemer.

We had a lesson with a media referral named Rob. He said something that really touched me. His point was Heavenly Father wants us, he doesn't need us, he wants us. He kept saying that Heavenly Father doesn't need us, in my mind I was thinking no he does need us. He was right though, he is perfect. He can do everything and anything he wants and he doesn't need us to help him do it. Rob mentioned how he wants his wife to want him , he doesn't want her to need him. It made me think uh yeah! I want someone to want me, I don't want them to talk to me because they need something. Heavenly Father wants us because we are his literal children. It all makes sense in my head now! It was an ah ha moment for me.

On missions you can have some pretty crummy days, days where you are homesick and done. But then I meet someone who doesn't have the knowledge of the Gospel, and I realize the blessing it is to know that there is someone in Heaven that is my Father and he knows who I am. Not even that, but the knowledge that he has a plan for me, in that plan includes my family. And let me tell you my family means the world to me. I miss them like crazy, but I get to spend eternity with them and I know that. Friday night sister Morgan and I went tracting. We knocked on this ladies door, and asked if we could pray with her. She was holding back tears as she said yes, she then goes to explain that tomorrow is the 19th anniversary of her daughters passing. For 19 years she has been in pain, 19 YEARS!! I asked if her daughter had been baptized, she explained a little more of what happen, and that she died right after birth. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father guided me and sister Morgan so that we could tell her about the wonderful chance that we have to go to the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity, and to tell this sweet mother that she could be with her daughter for eternity. There are no words to explain the spirit that was there. It was so strong, and I know that she felt something stir inside her heart. There truly is no greater work. I know he sent us to her house. Gosh I love being a missionary. These are the moments that make all the bad days worth it!

Ps. Don't send me any mail. I could be getting transferred, I'll let you know next week! 

1. Taylor made us yummy salmon! :) she is a keeper! (Taylor is the one closest to me) 

2. Temple!! 

Sister J