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