Hello family and friends,
This week has been incredible. For those who don't know, Christmas was last week. We made about 400 chocolate chip cookies. Probably more than I've made in my entire life before my mission. We spent most of both the 24th and 25th baking, and writing notes, then delivering them to people. Best Christmas ever. Nothing better than losing yourself in service.
We have been finding so many Samoans lately. The Lord is hastening His work. I wish I could express everything that happened this week, but here's just a taste of a few miracles:
We met another Joe! We went to a house with Deelorean that we thought a Samoan lived at, then met Joe next door. The family we were looking for had moved, but we spoke with Joe for a bit. Joe was Samoan! Coincidence? I think not. Found out he had kids in Texas. Where? MCKINNEY. My heart and soul died in half a second. Coincidence? I think not. He said we could come back to share a message about the Savior.
We also visited Uilisone with a brother from the ward who knew him. Because of this great member friend, HE OPENED THE DOOR. I saw his face for the first time in my life. I shook his hand. We hand a solid discussion. He had a great beard. The brother with us offered to fix his car for free. Uilisone opened up, literally and figuratively. This was a huge step for him. But I know that it was by small and simple ways that the Lord was able to open his heart.
We met a guy named Malaki 2 weeks ago, and we visited him again on Friday. He's older, and apparently he was baptized in the 70s in New Zealand. He sang a few Samoan songs to us as he played guitar. We read Mosiah 5 with him. He has a solid testimony, but we're trying the help in become more converted to the Lord. Basically, we're trying to help him put that tesimony to action. He's coming along slowly but surely.
Yesterday, Monday, we had a mission conference again. It was just a short notice thing that we found out about last week. Elder Kent F. Richards of the second quorum of the 70 came and trained us about teaching simply. I feel refreshed. I am so, so excited to be a better, more effective servant and minister of the Lord.
Simple stuff this week: God loves us. We are His children. When we obey Him, we prosper. :)
I love you all,
Elder Judd
