February 4-Good Vibes

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San Clemente is the best I love it here! I am so happy I get to stay another transfer, I wish I could stay my whole mission here! This will be the longest I have stayed in an area so far, I am just so pumped about it! Elder Whitchurch is going to RSM with my friend Elder Arner. I am getting Elder Cox from Montana! He came in the transfer after me. I don't know him too well but I have heard he is a super hard worker and super funny, it is going to be great!

We had an amazing week! We went on two exchanges. On the first one, I went with my old companion Elder Edwards, I love that guy. We had an awesome day, we found two new people in there area! it was super cool. One of them was a homeless man who lived in a glorified ditch on the side of the rode. He was super positive about his situation and asked us a ton of questions. The other guy we met at a park and he was super interested. We taught him the restoration on a bench looking to the ocean, it was super cool. He was smoking pot, but still able to keep up with the message we taught him. It was a super good day. The other exchange I went on was with Elder Martins, he is from Brazil. We stayed in my area and met a lot of interesting people. We had an impression to visit an old seeker of truth who had to stop taking the lessons because of her health. She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. We did our best to sing a couple of songs to her and then left. She was in and out of conscienceless but she was so happy we came by. I love her and her sweet spirit.

The best part of the week was going to the Brazilian family. A couple weeks ago our ward mission leader, Brother Maready sent them the song "My Little Prayer" by my old pal David Archuleta (not really my pal, but I did give him 3 hugs the night he came to our mission, it was kinda awkward). They loved the song so much! So we wanted to do something special so we had Elder Wilsher come and sing it to them. We also had one of the youth play a couple hymns on guitar. It was an amazing night. After He sang My Little Prayer I told them that they were feeling the spirit, and that they could feel that all the time when they are baptized. Henry, the dad, said "I'm Ready, I'm ready". He is ready but the rest of the family is not fully there, but they are so close. Henry always says we, Elder Whitchurch and I, have "Good Vibes". I am not exactly sure what he means, but I know they love us coming over. This Sunday they came to church and stayed for both hours and they really loved it. The best part was that they dressed up for church! The first time they came, they did not like that everyone dressed up at all, especially Henry. But he came to church in a nice suit he has only worn once! It is so amazing to see their progression, and to see their hearts softened. It has been such a blessing to be able to teach them. 

On Saturday we went to their (The Brazillians) house so Elder Whitchurch could teach them for the last time. They asked us a question, "What is the mission for you guys, why are you here?" I related my personal purpose here to Lehi's vision of the tree of life, which was the next chapter they would be reading in the book of Mormon. I read 1 Nephi 8:9-12&15-16

9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
15 And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.

I told them that I was here because I have tasted of that fruit. I have felt the pure love of Christ in my life and all I want to do is share it with my brothers and sisters. Reading those scriptures was truly a great reminder of my purpose here. I love this gospel so much, with all my heart and my one desire is for others to partake of the fruit as well. My soul has been filled with exceedingly great joy to see that family partake of the fruit as well, it has touched my heart to see their lives actually improve because of the gospel. They have seen the change in themselves too which is the best part. I love my mission. 

always good vibes
Love,
Elder Judd










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