"God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled."

Hey Family!

Transfers are this week. And I'm staying in the Samoan wards! Elder Holcomb is staying too. It will be a great transfer. 

It was a great week.

I am always amazed at how much Heavenly Father has been working here. We see miracles daily. We have been trying to plan with greater faith.

Last week, something told us to plan to be in an area in Riverside that we don't visit often. So, on Firday, we were there at the time we planned. We found that the family we went to see are actually members of the Church and attend an English ward. But, they pointed us to a Samoan family down the street (a family we had tried to find months ago, but never found). We went immediately. We knocked and knocked, with no answer. But, at the moment we decided we had knocked enough and turned around to return to our car, the family pulled into the driveway. We shared Talofa's. They were home only for a moment to switch their car. But they gave us a time that we could return to share our message.

God prepares the way. I have learned that the Lord has not lie when we promised:

I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. (Doctrine&Covenants 84:88)

I know this is the work of Jesus Christ and He leads us personally through a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson.

Alofa atu,

Elder Judd

"For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them"

Talofa family,

There is so much good happening here.

On Wednesday I went on an exchange with Elder Langi, who's serving in San Bernardino now. I love that guy. It was an awesome day. We taught Henrietta about scripture study and prayer. She's been struggling. She told us that she feels good whenever we come, but the rest of the time she feels like Satan is weighing her down and tempting her hard. She hasn't been reading though. She recommit to reading everyday, and we're arranging with some of her friends who are members of the Church to read with her during the week.

Scripture power! Keeps us safe from sin!

It's true. Life is better and we are stronger when we diligently study the scriptures.

On Friday, while planning for next week, our plans for the evening all fell through. We weren't sure where to go, so we prayed. We continued to plan, then noticed a name on one of our white boards. A guy named Peleti. He was a referral from some folks in Eastvale with just a phone number. We couldn't get ahold of him several weeks ago. So we called again and he said we could come by that evening. And we went that evening.

We caught him and some friends in the middle of a bible study, and they welcomed us in. It was a great experience. The Bible is great. I was impressed by their kindness and by their sincere desire to become better Christians. After, we spoke more with Peleti and his wife and found out they had met with Sister missionaries for a long while, but the sisters suddenly stopped showing up. They're a young couple with 2 baby daughters. And they're open to have us visit and teach them more. It's a miracle. It's amazing to think that Heavenly Father prepares and directs all these miracles.

Heavenly Father loves us so much. He teaches us how to be happy in the scriptures, especially in the Book of Mormon. Read it! :)

Alofa atu,

Elder Judd

"give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss"

Malo soifua! Manuia le Aso Tina! Happy Mothers' Day!

This week was awesome.

Something President Van Cott always says is to go forth with GREAT faith and MIGHTY prayer. And after attending a meeting on Thursday with some other missionaries, we began to have a strong desire to apply this better.

So, we decided to have mightier prayers. We began praying specifically that we would find a family that the Lord has prepared to be taught and baptized. The next day our plans didn't go exactly as planned. Something told us to go to "The Complex Full of Samoans". So we went. And we talked with Fetulima. Every time we've talked with him before he had either ignored us or wouldn't say much. But, this time he wanted to come to church. and told us we could teach him and his kids.

Mighty prayer works!

We also had a billion ward parties this week because of Mother's Day and Bishop Wendt's birthday. Samoan people love to celebrate things. And mostly, I think they love to eat. And at the beginning of many of the parties they'll have a hymn and a prayer and a spiritual thought. Listening to these people sing a Capella hymns has become my favorite thing to do, just after preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father is so good to us. I know he loves us and listens to our prayers. He answers prayers.

Alofa atu,

Elder Judd

"the Lord ... doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him"

Hey family,

Solid week.

Funny moment: 

We stopped by our Bishop's house and as his 8-year-old daughter opened the door she immediately did a jumping karate kick at us. She landed and said:

Oh! Sorry. I do that when I think it's a stranger at the door. [turned inside] It's the Elders!

She has good parents.

On Wednesday we went to see Phillip, who we met about a month or 2 ago. He's in his early 20s and he's just a genuine guy. He recently moved from San Bernardino to Riverside, where some of his family lives, but we haven't been able to catch him there. When we got to the apartment, we found out he wasn't there, but in the red car in the carport. He seemed slightly shy to see us. He told us he is homeless right now. And his phone has been off. He's been having hard times.

We talked with him. we told him of the savior's love. My heart hurt for him, and I could feel through the Holy Ghost that God knows and loves him. We shared Helaman 5:12:

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I know that there is a God. He is our Eternal Father and He is in the details of our lives. He will never forsake us.

On Saturday, Bro. Moleli spent pretty much the whole day visiting people with us. the last folks we visited were Ola and Maria. The Tongan missionaries found them a few weeks ago and told us about them. And their awesome. They're funny and they're just family people. They had a son pass away years ago. We had a solid visit with them, and they said they would read 2 Nephi 2. I know that's not much info about them, but just know that I really love these people and I'm just excited to teach them more of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all! :)

Elder Judd