"And now ... I would ask if all is done?"

Dear family and friends,

There is so much in my heart right now. It is hard to put it all in words. It has been such a great week.

On Wednesday I went to the temple with President and Sister Van Cott and the other departing missionaries. I love the temple!

This week we made another new friend. I'll call him Brad. After facing a difficult change in his life, Brad found himself chatting online with missionaries. They referred him to us, and we began teaching him. We LOVE Brad. As we began teaching him he said:

I know that it's not a coincidence that I'm here with you guys. I need this right now. I even had a dream of this moment, with a park table, and 2 guys like you, and a tree in the back, just like I see it right now.

We had a lesson with another man I'll call David, who is not a member of the church. David loves music and is great at singing, so we decided to sing "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus" with him at the beginning of the lesson. Just as we finished, we heard a surprise from the kitchen:

Another! ... 'I Am a Child of God'.

We could not hold back the smiles. It was David's wife, who has never joined us for a lesson and is also not a member of the church. We learned she had been to an Inside-ut concert some time ago and had always wanted to know how the real version sounded. We fulfilled her request; the Spirit filled the room. 

On Saturday I went to the baptism of one of my favorite people in Indio. When I asked him what his college plans are he said: I'm going on my mission first.

It was such a great, great thing to hear.

Thank you to those who have supported and encouraged me throughout my mission with emails, letters, and gifts. I have felt love from heaven through you.

Tomorrow I fly home. I am so grateful for my mission. Heavenly Father has been so good to me. I am so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Father in Heaven loves us. Jesus is the Savior of the world. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. The Book of Mormon is true. I know these things are true!

Love,

Elder Judd

"for the learning and the profit of my children"

Dear Family,

This week at church we taught the Primary children about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. We sang songs and shared stories. I think it was the first time I've been to primary since I left primary, and I loved it.

Last week we taught a man about the Word of Wisdom. He commit to live it and he said he would throw out his coffee pot that day. Surprised, his friend said: 

Really? You're going to give it up just like that?

The man turned to us:

It's a requirement for baptism, right? Then I'm doing it.

 

His determination to be clean surprised us. Several days later, we remembered how he had been on our prayer lists with this need: Desire to be baptized. Miracle of prayer!

On Wednesday we had a mission conference in which we were introduced to the use of new technology for missionary work, like mobile devices and online proselyting. There is so much good to come for this rising generation of missionaries.

At the conference, I also learned that some of my favorite people in Indio and 29 Palms will be baptized this week. It makes me so happy!

I love you all,

Elder Judd