Jan 6

Happy New Year everyone!!

Hope you all have had a wonderful break and are enjoying the new year!

As I said last week transfers were on Tuesday. New Years Eve. The ultimate change to start the new year as a missionary. Im not gonna lie, it was pretty rough. It was so hard to say goodbye to Sister Fullmer. We had become so close (I guess that happens when you spend 24/7 with someone for 4 months) and had things figured out. But we knew things couldnt stay that easy forever. We went to transfer meeting, got our new companions and were off! My new companion is just fabulous! Her name is Sister Heidi Spiel. She is from Idaho Falls, Idaho. She has been on her mission for 9 months and is.. normal! Yay! Even though she is just great things are always hard the first couple days. You have to get used to each other and the schedule, she knows nothing about the area or the members so I have to explain every thing, we have to blend the way we both have done things together all while getting to know each other! Oh and dont mind if I throw in, as sister leaders, we had to give a big lesson to our whole zone less than 24 hours later. Whew, I am exhausted! But a quote I have come to love so dearly that our mission president wife always says is "There is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone". Things might be hard and a little uncomfortable but I have already learned so much! I am grateful for this fresh start and for the new year and for the wonderful friendship I will develop with Sister Spiel. Yay for hard things!

We got a new investigator this week!!! Its about time! Her name is D and she is just fabulous! She is a single woman about 45. Loves dogs and has the kindest heart. She has been church hopping for the past couple years and hasnt been to a church more than twice. She had no where to go for Thanksgiving so her friend in Utah called up the elders and told them about her. They found her a members house to go to and she had a great time! She came to church about 2 weeks later but because she was in the middle of moving we couldnt find time to teach her yet. Finally she has got settled in and we were able to have an official lesson with her. She loved it so much and we look forward to watching her progress. She accepted to be baptized if she found this to be true. She is reading the Book of Mormon and hopefully she will make it to our church more than twice!

We had a great experience this weekend with some Jehovah Whitnesses. They've been going to a member in the wards house every otherSaturday and she kindly welcomes them in. Well she wanted us to come over this past Saturday to help discuss some of the things we believe. They were a little surprised to see us but we had a great visit. We discussed our different beliefs on the Fall and also talked about many of the beliefs we share. 

The member shared a personal experience with how she came to know the Book of Mormon was true. The spirit was so strong as she was talking. When she finished they said they had to leave and pretty much ran out the door. My bets are that they wont be knocking on her door anymore. But it was great to see two ladies who are also so passionate about what they believe and are willing to sacrifice their time to share it with others.

We also had the experience of teaching a lady this week named M. We were at a members house for dinner this week and the father, J,  started sharing this story with us. He and his brother have a favorite mexican restaurant they go to all the time. A very friendly family owned shop. Well as they were eating there this past week the wife of the owner, M, comes up to them and starts explaining that the week before Christmas her husband passed over dead right in front of the shop. He left behind M, their 2 teenage daughters and a son. J and his brother tried to talk to her and bring her comfort. J then said he went home and was just up all night thinking about her and knew he needed to do more. He knew that the best gift he could give her was the knowledge that she will be able to see her husband again and that families can be together forever. J then asked us if we would be willing to go over and teach her a bring her the most wonderful gift, The Book of Mormon. We of course agreed but there was only one problem. J didnt know where M lived. The next day after our dinner appointment with his family he went to the restaurant to find M. He then told her how he was so worried about her and just wanted to help her and said he had a wonderful gift that he wanted to send 2 girls (us) to bring to her and share a message. She agreed so on Sunday we went to teach her. My heart just broke for her as I looked into her tear-filled eyes as we testified to her and her daughters that they will be able to see their father and husband again. That this life is not the end and that they can be an eternal family. We were able to share some scriptures with her and help solve her questions. It helped me to see how blessed I am for the knowledge of the gospel in my life and that I know that everything will be okay in the end! If you would like, M and her family could use a lot of prayers in their behalf as they go through this very difficult time.

Things are going great! It has been the coldest week yet hitting 28 degrees. But today its in the 60's. Life is great here in North Carolina and life is even better when we live the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

Thanks for all your love and support! 

Love,
Sister Judd