December 26, 2016 - MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL - Medina, NY

Howdy!

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, what better of a way to celebrate the savior's birthday than on a day we worship him! So awesome! Love this gospel!

Monday was just another plain Jane P-day, we played some basketball with the zone and just chilled. It was fun. But Monday night we came back to Medina and had an appointment with Melissa and Dustin. Elder
Marks and I had tracted into them a transfer ago! And we haven't taught them till now. And they are honest seekers of truth. They are so awesome! We taught them the restoration and they both want to be baptized, along with their daughter Journey! They are way cool!

Tuesday, the landlord came and inspected our apartment... haha missionaries before me were pigs... I'm not a mess I promise! But the apartment was dirty, so she was a little mad with us. But we had been trying to clean it as much as possible! She came and after she left we took a couple hours to just dejunk the place. We ended up taking out 10 gargbage sacks full of stinky blankets and trash out of the apartment! So it was pretty cluttered up! We taught Jeremiah the laws of fasting and tithing. He is kinda steering in the wrong direction as of
progressing in the gospel as of now. But we are working with him. We saw Susan and Marques! Last time we were there Susan was telling us she had concerns about race and the priesthood, so we addressed it the best we could. Then today we had an article we were going to read and she said she didn't want to read it because the problem is in the past and that she has moved on and it doesn't bother her anymore. And now they will be baptized January 7th!!! So awesome!

Wednesday, we taught Jackie Pletcher about the plan of salvation, she loved it! But we will end up dropping her cause she doesn't come to church. Then we had exchanges, Elder Jaynes came up to Medina with me!
And we had a really good time! Elder Jaynes is so cool! We went to the Bible study at the Gateway to Heaven again, and they showed us their baptismal font... haha it's like 10' deep! It was crazy! I couldn't help but laugh!

Thursday, Elder Jaynes and I had a good day of tracting! We handed out 4 book of Mormons, and our goal was to have a lesson with every Book of Mormon! We met it! We had a lesson with every Book of Mormon! It was so sick! Then we had district meeting!

Friday, we taught Mike the Word of Wisdom, he has some problems with it but he said he will be willing to give it up if he gets to become a member because of it. Mike is so awesome! I love going to their house! They are so nice and so inviting. I know he will overcome his stumbling block. He's a great guy.

Saturday, Christmas Eve! We went to Pittsford! We had a huge mission Christmas conference! It was a lot of fun! Got see everyone in the mission, it was a really good time! Had a really spirit felt devotional at the end. It was a really good conference!

Sunday, Christmas Day!  We opened presents in the morning and had an hour long church! Then spent the rest of the day at member's homes! Then at 6 o'clock I got to FaceTime home! It was awesome to see my family! It was just what I needed! Missions are literally the best! I'm loving mine!

I love you all! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Hope you had a great week and one to come!

This church is so true! The knowledge we have of prophets and apostles is amazing, only if people knew what they are missing out on. Haha!

Love,
Elder Judy

December 19, 2016 - Merry Christmas - Medina, NY

Howdy and Merry Christmas!

This was great! I learn and grow every second of my mission! I love it so much! The week started out with Pday spent at the Amherst church building which is that stake building. We played lots of basketball and hung out, it was a lot of fun. We had dinner with bishop biesinger and his family, we also burned a suit for verdine, since he was leaving, And served his 23 months.

Tuesday was every missionary dreads... it was full of finding and door knocking. Oh man so much fun! Haha we didn't get one new investigator... so that shows how effective tracting is. But that's about all we can do in small town Medina in the winter months. Haha Wednesday we woke up and went straight to a less actives home to help her move out a couch and move a new one in. It's a miracle we didn't get bed bugs from her house... hahah we had district meeting also. And we finally got in contact with Susan McFarland. It had been 16 days
since we talked to her last.... and Cordel moved out! So Susan can be baptized when ever now. But she has one thing holding her back... and that's blacks and the priesthood... frustrating but we are taking baby
steps.

Thursday was the first day I wore my Klimt boots! It had snow a bunch over night! We had a lesson with Jeremiah and we taught him the sabbath day and word of wisdom. He said he would live the word of
wisdom but he's not sure about the sabbath day cause he thinks the sabbath day is Saturday. So hopefully that doesn't keep him from baptism. Haha Jeremiah is a great guy! We went shovel tracting... that's when we grab our shovels from our apartment and pretty much shovel everyone's driveway in return for a message. We shoveled about 10 driveways and shared 0 messages. Haha people are ignorant.

Friday we drove down to Amherst first thing to drop off Elder Verdine! I had to say good bye to my trainer. Kinda crazy, I didn't think I was going to cry but I teared up a little bit. He's home and doing well now. He's a great guy. I love Elder Verdine. He helped me through a lot of hard times on my mission. I've asked myself a lot this week, "how ami happy while doing this?" Haha we walked a lot in the freezing cold. And got rejected more than excepted. That's how it goes tho and being selfless brings the joy into our lives. That what makes me
happy, is being selfless. Just giving yourself to the lord and doing all you can to help the people that I'm around.

Saturday we did a lot more shovel tracting and we got antied again. Haha this time I couldn't help to laugh while the guy was yelling at me. He pretty much said we don't Neil e in Christ and heaven or anything like that. This all happens off a street contact. After he said that we don't believe in Christ I looked at the front cover of

the Book of Mormon and read it out loud to him, another testament of Jesus Christ. Then he talked about how the Book want true and those things, so I was  just blunt with him and asked if he has read and prayed about the Book. He kinda shut up and walked away slowly. It was hilarious. We had a less with Rebecca Hetrich, a less active in our area Saturday night. We got there and we were talking with her and having a good talk. And her husband came out and some how they started talking about there past and things like that. Well I shared Alma 32 with them and we talked about faith. Well mike then soon asked us what the difference is between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. That's when I pulled out 2 nephi 29 and we read some versus. And that's when
he said "teach me more." So we sat down and taught the restoration. Mike told us that he would hang out in the kitchen while we were there every other time because he wanted nothing to do with us. So the
spirit has been working in him a little bit every time we go over tell finally he said teach me. He wants to learn more and accepted baptism!

Sunday was a great sabbath day! I felt like I needed to fast so I fasted. We didn't have a lot go in we drove up to lyndonville to visit some potentials and former investigators. Had dinner with President Pace and his family. I love sundays in the mission. There a lot of fun.

Anyway, I know this church is true. No doubt in my mind. I love this gospel and the opportunities I have to share it with the people of western New York. I can't wait to see what the future has to bring. #20moremonths

Love y'all much! Miss ya tons! Hope y'all have a great Christmas week!
Elder Judy

December 12, 2016 - Another Week in Medina - December 12, 2016

Hey y'all!

Hope all is well in Idaho! Hope all of you had a great week!

Monday was just another Pday but it was full of goodbyes to the missionaries that were being transferred. Elder Larson, my first zone leader. Got transferred to be AP! We got super close, it was kinda sad
saying goodbye. Haha but other than that we played some basketball and got to talk to all of you! I got a package from home and it was fullof letters from the judy family! It was awesome, defiantly made my
week! Loved it! Thank you so much!

Tuesday we drove down to Amherst to pick up Elder Hahne! Got to know him a little bit and then we had some lessons and we got to introduce him to some of the members of Medina! Elder Hahne is pretty cool, he's super quiet. He's from Toole, UT and has been out a transfer longer than me so we are both pretty new. So excited for this transfer. Wednesday, no more 12 week training for me. All done! Imma big boy now! Haha after having 3 baptisms here in the promise land of Medina the waters of Mormon are starting to shrivel up into a drought. The
work hit a brick wall last week. We went from 15-18 other lessons a week to 7 this week.... we did a lot of tracting in the cold snowy weather. We tracted for about 1.5 hours today, we invited every person who answered the door to be baptized on there porch. We extended 7 invitations and no one excepted! Haha so sick! We are trying so hard and working our bums off but no one is having it. Kinda depressing. Thursday elder verdine had his exit interview and elder hahne and I went and tracted some more. We don't wanna waste anytime. We had no luck again. The lord will eventually answer our prayers, I know for a fact he will. It's on his time we just have to have faith and trust him, he won't give us anything we can't get take on. As we stay exactly obedient he will bless us even more. We had lunch with President Pace and president Evans! It was awesome! The 2 most
spiritual men in western New York and I had lunch with them. It was an awesome experience.

Friday we taught Jeremiah the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah is 22 years old and an honest seeker of the truth. He's so cool. He's on date for January 7th. I know for a fact he'll be prepared for that day. He's so solid. He's like the only person that we are teaching steadily right now as well. So once he gets baptized we are really
going to be hurting! Haha! Jeremiah is the man, he always asks really good questions and always addresses his concerns, like he had a concern that the Book of Mormon was altered version of the Bible but then I said let's turn to 2 Nephi 29 were it talks about the 2 testimonies one being the Bible and the other being the Book of
Mormon. And that cleared everything up with him. So awesome! We also had the Lockport Ward Christmas party! It was a lot of fun! Saturday we woke up to a blanket of snow! It was awesome! We met with
a couple less actives, just  trying to help them not get offended again, that's a huge problem with the Lockport ward. Everyone gets offended so easy. It's weird. We contacted some member referrals, they weren't interested at all! Haha and we also knocked on this sketchy house and this girl opens up and let us in and we just set up an appointment and got out of there cause all 3 of us didn't really have a good feeling about the house! So we set up an appointment for next week with them at the library! Haha!

Sunday Jeremiah was at church! He loved it! Said that Mormonism is looking better and better for him! We also had the buffalo stake Christmas concert in Amherst! We rode down with Stake President Pace. He always blows our mind with scripture. Love that man so much. He tells us his mission stories all the time and there so inspiring! He's a man I look up to! We had a conversion story testimony meeting in his car in the ride home, Cause the roads were bad from the snow and he was driving slow so we had like an 2 hour drive just sharing each other's conversion stories and how we've seen the gospel in our lives. It was so awesome!

Well there's my week! Medina is good. Loving my mission more and more everyday. Don't wanna come home. It already seems to close and I haven't even been out 4 months! Haha these past 3 1/2 months have changed my life. I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life, I'm grateful for all of the support you guys give me. It makes life out
here a lot easier when I hear from ya! I want y'all to know that this gospel is true! The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and it really does change lives. I've seen it happen in 4 people's lives, 3 of my recent converts and myself. Im grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to use my agency to use the atonement everyday to become more like Jesus Christ, cause that's all this life is about. Earth is a state of time were we should prepare ourselves to meet god. I know that everything about this
gospel is true without a doubt in my mind. I say these things in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, amen.

Love,
Elder Judy

December 5, 2016 - Transfer Week! - Medina, NY

Hey y'all!

First off, I'm staying in Medina. And I will be in a trio with Elder Verdine... and Elder Hahne! Elder Verdine goes home the 17th so we will on be in trio for 10 days. Hope you all had a great week and life is treating you well!

Monday was like any other p-day! It was so nice to talk with people back home! We had a crepe eating contest at bishops house again, except we were on exchanges so Elder Shaw was with me! It was a lot of fun! We had a really good time together!

Tuesday Elder Shaw and I had a super solid day. We walked every where cause we were short in miles so that was the only down side. We taught a couple lessons but we taught a lesson to a recent convert, Daniel 
Zimmerman! The first question I asked him is if he has been reading and praying. He said "nope" that was depressing. So we kinda tried to give him a pep talk. We read 2 nephi 29 with and showed him a Mormon
message about prayer. 2 nephi 29 is the chapter that has changed my view of the Book of Mormon 180 degrees. It's an awesome chapter. And some how we ended up talking about general conference and we showed
him the most recent conference talk by president thomas S. Monson! He said he had chills and shivers down his spin while watching so we immediately testified of that he was feeling the Holy Ghost. I can't stress the importance of daily prayer and scripture study in our lives. It's so important. Wednesday we met with sister Gardner! She is an original member of the Medina branch! So awesome! She gave us a ton of referrals! She is the sweetest old lady ever. We went to another false churches bible study! it was fun! The gateway to heaven. I'm just waiting for them to allow us a little time to preach at the end of the Bible study! I have the faith one day they'll let us! Thursday we had a really good lesson with Jeremiah! He's a guy we met street contacting in the ghetto of Medina! We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ at Levi paces house! Turns out they were friends in high school! Pretty cool! Haha Jeremiah is still studying with JW's we are trying to tell him nicely tell him to stop... haha he's on date for the 17th but most likely we will push him into January.

Friday we did weekly planning, we deleted 12 week from our days... we have so much open space. It was so hard to fill that extra hour with things to do! I'm just saying we have to tract a lot more now... haha didn't ever think I would be doing that a year and half a ago. We have a goal to tract an hour a day. And I have a feeling we might have to extend that to more than an hour. Haha we were walking to go see a potential investigator and we walked past this house and a guy comes out and asked us if we were Mormons we told him yes! And he said that
his masonry group has been wanting Mormons to speak at there meetings! So we set up a time to go talk to him this coming week! We tracted into his fiancé a little bit ago, so we will start teaching them! Saturday was mainly a service day we helped an old couple in the ward move across town from Lockport to new fane. It was a big disaster. Haha 

Thursday I was super ready for change within my companionship.Elder Verdine only talks about home and nothing else. Even in our lessons. My best lessons this week were on exchanges cause me and Shaw are pretty new still and home is way to far to even think about but Verdine talks about going home with investigators. It's really
frustrating. Happy I'll be in a trio. Haha should be good! 

Sunday we had church of course! Scott smith, my first baptism! He received the Aaronic priesthood!!!! So proud of that kid. It's literally the best. Such a great example to me. But fast sundays are different in Medina! Why? Because we get to go to the Medina branch! They have sacramenting and Scott got to pass the sacrament for the first time! and gospel principles and then a big pot luck at the end of the day! It's so much fun! Absolutely loving my mission.

Just want y'all to know how grateful I am for this gospel in my life. I'm grateful for "goodly parents" that raised me in this gospel. I love having the knowledge that death has no sting and life does not end at the grave. We are so blessed. The Book of Mormon is the most correct book of any book upon this earth. That is so true. I've read
the Book of Mormon and took the promise at the end that Moroni gives to all men. I prayed and the feelings and emotions I had I can not deny that the Book of Mormon is a another testament of Jesus Christ. Prayer is our only communication to our Heavenly Father... why wouldn't we talk with him everyday or countless times a day? Prayer is the passport to peace. If we want anything and we have the faith we can get it, all we need to do is pray and ask, miracles are brought through prayer. I've been in the sacred grove multiple of times... the feeling that is there and the experience I had there in the past has convinced me that god the father and Jesus Christ did appear to Joseph Smith and they did restore the gospel of Jesus Christ back onto the earth through him. This church is so true, and I love being a representative of my savior Jesus Christ.

Love all of you! Know that I miss you tons! Have a great week! God speed.

Love,
Elder Judy

November 28, 2016 - 3 Months - Medina,NY

Hey Y'all!

This week was awesome! Hope it was good for all of you!

Monday we went to Niagara Falls and chilled in the freezing cold. There was like literally no one there. It was so nice not to be shoulder to shoulder like last time. We only spent an hour there cause it was pretty chilly. So we came back to our ward building and played basketball with our district! Had dinner with bishop and his family!
There's a old widow named Sister Venille in our ward. She was super sick on Monday so we went after dinner to give her a blessing. Afterwards our appointments fell through... so we just walked but I kept having the impression to go over to Susan McFarland's house. I brushed it off like 5 times till it finally hit me like a truck. So I told Verdine we should go see them. We walked all the way there and they didn't answer.... so we called them and they were just upstairs so they came down and got us. Susan was completly different. She was so much more happy than usual. It was awesome. The first thing she said to us was that she had good news to tell us! She said the landlord is going to get a new apartment for Cordel to move into by the 1st of December! And their baptism date is December 3rd! And Susan said she wants me to baptize her! So awesome! I have prayed everyday of my
mission night and day for this day to come. When she told us I was speechless and full of joy!

Moroni 7:29
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

Tuesday we had interviews with president! They changed interviews from every 3 months to every transfer! So stoked about that! Get to see President Evans more! We are in like the northern tear of the mission. No
other missionaries talk to us, we are in our own little mission out here! Good ole Medina!  Daniel Z. got interviewed for baptism! He passed! He told Elder Larson that he was going to get rid of his coffee pot!
Daniel is the man! We had district meeting with the zone leaders!

Wednesday we met with Jeremiah again! He was telling us how he's making a cartoon and he wanted a character in it to be Mormon... so I have my doubts about him being serious.. I feel like he is just meeting with us to learn more about the Mormons for his character instead of to learn for himself... hopefully that's not the truth. But he's a great guy! He's pretty cool! He's on date for December 17th. We also got invited to go to a false churches bible study! Haha it was awesome! The Gateway to Heaven! It was a bunch of black people. They give you like a worksheet that you have to fill out. It was way intense! It was a lot of fun! We are going to start going every week! It was a pretty cool experience!

Thursday was a great Thanksgiving! We had it with Zoltan and Sue Kolzar! They are so sick! We played football with the Biesingers and a bunch of other families! It was pretty awesome! It ended with a kids tooth going through his lip into Quinn Biesingers head cause they smacked heads. It was pretty awesome! Haha the kid had to get
stitches! Then we went over to Susan's and had a little dinner with them and helped her clean up then asked her the baptismal interview questions just to see where she stands and what we need to teach her before her baptism! It was a great Thanksgiving in the NYRM!

Friday we got the new CHRISTMAS VIDEO! It's pretty awesome, if you haven't seen it go look it up! #LIGHTtheWORLD  25 ways in 25 days. And do the challenge it has! It will bless you to be happier and more
joyful throughout the Christmas season! We went tracting and we tried to show it on people's door steps and no one let us, literally no one. It was depressing. Some lady told us that the Book of Mormon was an alteration of the the Bible. We told her no and explained that we read the King James version of the Bible. She said oh well it's still not true. Elder Verdine asked her if she's prayed about it! Haha she said no I'm 57 years old and Pat Robinson told me it's not true. I wasn't taking anymore crap from her so I said "Pat Robinson isn't God. Have a nice day." I was ticked. I never thought I would be like this. Missions change you for sure.

Saturday was Daniel's baptism! It was awesome! The spirit was so strong and touching. Daniel was baptized by Quinn Biesinger! Daniel is the man. We had the Parade of Lights at 6 o'clock! It's a parade that people light up their floats with Christmas lights! It was pretty cool! We wrapped a bunch of Book of Mormons in Christ as wrapping paper and went and handed them out! It was pretty fun!

Sunday Daniel was confirmed by Bishop Biesinger! It was awesome! Right  after the block was over bishop pulled Daniel into his office to interview him for the priesthood. That's how ready Daniel was. He was so prepared for the gospel of Jesus Christ it was amazing. Scott Smith also got interviewed for the priesthood! Both of my converts getting the priesthood! Then Sue Kolzar got put into the young women's presidency! All 3 of them are performing well in the church! So awesome! We met with Susan and she told us that the possibilities of baptism are slim again... the landlord is backing out and not really helping anymore. Man the things Satan does... makes me mad. I have faith and I will pray fervently  that they will be baptized on December 3rd!

Well I hope y'all know that this church is true. And always remember the reasons behind Christmas. God sent his only begotten son for all of us. We need to always remember that. God loves us so much. It's amazing to know and feel that. I want y'all to that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I've read it and taken Moroni's
promise and prayed. The feelings and emotions I felt made me speechless and teary eyed. There's no doubt in my mind that this gospel is true. It's the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ back on the earth.

Love always,
Elder Judy

November 21, 2016 - Hello from NY - Medina, NY

Howdy!

Man what a week! This week was by far my most successful week as a missionary. Heavenly Father definitely answers prayers. I love hearing from y'all as well! Love the support!

This week started out just like any other p-day. We played basketball at the stake center with everyone and hung out for a little bit. Then we had dinner the Biesinger families. (Quinn Biesinger is the guy who sent you the text mom.)  The Biesingers are so cool! They're from Utah! They're just like our family and Justin and Carleen -  2 brothers living next to each other. And they're both in the bishopric! Haha we had FHE and a really good time with them!

Tuesday we had zone conference! The main topic was being unified as a mission. So President Evans had all the companionships set goals to quit gossiping and spreading rumors, that's a big problem in NYRM. And he told us about his mission president training and how Elder Gong said that he knew for a fact there is more baptisms to be had in the New York Rochester Mission. So we had a new set of Standards of Excellence, which is: 1 baptism every other transfer, 2 investigators at church services, and 3 new investigators a week. Doesn't sound like much but it will be a little bit of a challenge in Medina! Haha zone conferencewas an amazing experience!

Wednesday we went tracting and I've been trying to master my 3-5 minute door approaches about the restoration. Well Wednesday I put it to use. I knocked on this door and this lady named Jackie opened, she came out and stood on the door step and I introduced ourselves and gave her a Book of Mormon and she carried a conversation about her church and one thing led to another and I found myself reciting the first vision to her and bearing my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. For some reason every time I open my mouth and testify of Joseph Smith seeing God the father I tear up, it must be the Holy Ghost bearing witness to me that it's true.  I know without a doubt that it is.

Thursday we got antied again. Elder Verdine told this guy about the Book of Mormon and how it's another testament of Jesus Christ. And  the man said "I'll have to disagree with you on that one." And he asked us if

we have the Bible, and we told we have them on our iPads... and he said "well I encourage you to read the Bible more than that stupid book." Oh man I haven't been more fired up in my life. Haha I kept my cool and Elder Verdine bore testimony and we kinda walked off. It's these experiences that make us stronger and strengthen our testimony for sure!

Friday we did some service for a less active in the ward, I got up on his roof and rolled tar onto his sun room cause he had a leak he wanted stopped before it snowed. He told me Santa would be getting me something nice. I love the Kolzars they're way cool! His wife was actually the first baptism I had participated in. Her baptism was
about 3 weeks after I got to the field! Now they are coming to church more and gaining faith slowly but surely. We taught Tessa! She told us that she might have to quit smoking for real, we asked her why. She said she might be 2 months pregnant. So I hope she is cause then she will quit and be baptized. That's her biggest hang up. Other
than that she's ready for baptism!

Saturday was a really slow and crummy day. We knocked a lot of doors and everyone was home but we didn't hand out a single Book of Mormon all day. It was discouraging. But at the end of the day we got to teach Jeremiah. He's so cool. We put him on date for baptism for December 17th. He is an honest seeker of truth. He's the man. We met with a couple less actives and that was about all that happened.

Sunday was good! We met with Daniel to get him ready for his baptism this Saturday! We asked him the baptismal interview questions and just got him prepped for the zone leaders interview! So excited for Daniel he's so cool! Scott Smith, my first legit baptism/ recent convert got interviewed for the priesthood today as well! So it was a good day! And it snowed like 2 inches! Haha a high councilman from the stake spoke in sacrament meeting and said that he had waist high drifts in his driveway when he left! He lives south of Buffalo so he gets pounded by the lake effect!

This week was a testimony building week. The lord truly does answer our prayers. As long as we pray with real intent, the desires to act upon the answer we get. And we are praying for the desires of our hearts the lord will always provide a way. That is something that my eyes were opened to this week. If there's anything you take away from this email it's that god loves us enough to answer our prayers, but first we have to have the faith he will answer them and that he will provide a way. I know that god loves all of us. Jesus Christ is our savior. I'm very grateful for the knowledge I have of this gospel!

Love you all!
- ELDER JUDY

November 14, 2016 - What A Week! - Medina, NY

Hey Y'all!

This week was a blur, can't tell if it was fast or slow! It was great tho! Grateful for everyday that I have to wear the lord's name on my chest and testify of him and our father in heaven.

Monday was another great p-day! Loved hearing from y'all! Such a motivator to work harder for all of you back home! Not much happened Monday just another P-day in New York and we had family home evening with our bishop and his family the Biesingers!

Tuesday we met with Donald and Tessa, we got the news that Tessa is having a really hard time trying to kick smoking and coffee. That was depressing. So we are working on that with her but she won't be baptized anytime soon. She doesn't have the support she needs from her fiancé Donald, which is sad cause she wants it so bad. We helped them see a vision and set a goal for smokes free by December first, so that means Tessa has to cut 2 cigs out a day for her to be having no cigs after December 1st. Praying she will keep pushing through. Other than that it was a pretty slow day! Haha

Wednesday we had exchanges and I heard Trump was elected, don't know if that's good or not. Haha! I went on exchanges with Elder Marks and I took over Medina for the day for the first time! It was awesome, we tracted and taught a couple less actives! We handed out 12 Book of Mormons! It was a solid day! Love this work.

Thursday was a windy cold day!!! We tracted a little bit and no one, literally no one answered the door. It was a punch to the face. Haha but as we were walking back the lord always provides for the obedient to his promptings, we were prompted to tract Hedley Street and we did and nothing came of it. But as we walked back to the apartment the lord put Shiela in our path! She accepted a Book of Mormon and gave us her name, phone number and address! It was awesome. We had ward correlation Thursday night and we went and visited Sister Kramer and
she had knitted mittens for all of us elders! She is the sweetest!

Friday was an interesting day! We "broke up" with Scott F. Haha he was playing games and did something really uncalled for and we just decided it would be best if we told him to back off and let us do our work. It has been so nice to not get a text message every 10 minutes. Then we talked to bishop about some concerns we had and he addressed them and helped us out a lot.  Bishop Biesinger is the man! Love him so much! We also had weekly planning...  so boring but makes the week so full of fun and effective things. We also taught Daniel the law of chastity  and word of wisdom! He is so sick. Daniel is the man and he's will be baptized in November 26th. I'm so excited for him!

Saturday we had some service we did the the stake president, President Pace! We chopped some wood and stacked it for a member in the ward! Then we went to his new home that is being built and helped out with some
things there and then he decided he would take us out to this plot of property he just inherited right in the Oak Orchard River, which is suppose to be the best bass, salmon fishing in western New York and his land is at the mouth of it! And he told me that I could come back and hunt his property! President Pace is a spiritual giant! He is
so cool. So humble. Defiantly a big example to me out here in Medina. We also had the adult session of stake conference! It was good and Sister and President Pace spoke, they are literally the coolest people in western New York!

Sunday we had stake conference and we had 3 investigators and one recent convert! And it was over an hour drive! Donald and Tessa were there, Daniel was there, and Marcus, Susan's son was there! And Scott, the 18 year old who was just baptized hung out with us like all day! Scott has opened up a lot to us since he was baptized!
He will be getting the priesthood soon and wants to go do missionary work with us! He also told us today that he has thought about going on a mission! So cool! Love Scott so much he is the man.

Well that is my week! Love you and I know the our lord and savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father love us too. There's no doubt in my mind, they did appear to Joseph Smith in that grove of trees in Palmyra, New York. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of these latter days. The Book of Mormon is truly the most correct book of any book upon this earth. It is the only way to true conversion in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Read it. Love it. Ponder it. These steps have changed my life for the better in these past 2 months. I love this gospel and I'm grateful for the opportunity to preach repentance to everyone I come in contact with.

Love,
Elder Judy

November 7, 2016 - Howdy! - Medina, NY

Hey Y'all!  Hope everyone's week went great!

Happy late Halloween everyone! In the NYRM for Halloween we went to our stake building and hung out with most of the zone! We played volleyball and basketball and had a good time!

Tuesday we went and did some yard work for a less active and then we had district meeting. But for lunch our district went to go get the warrior burger. It's a burger with grilled cheese as the buns! It was good but my stomach has shrunk a lot so I didn't finish it! Which is probably a good thing, heart attack on a plate! Haha!v We didn't do ward correlation this week because Brother Rylander was so busy! So we went to our families home, Susan's and watched the restoration video with them! They loved it!

Wednesday we visited with a couple investigators. One was Ruthy Coffey! She is so awesome and is progressing pretty well. It's hard to catch her cause she is always at the doctors... but we've been able to to teach her a little bit and she loves it when we come over! We saw Donald and Tessa. And we also got to teach 2 new investigators, Amanda and Rhonda! They are so cool! I recited the first vision, I was over whelmed with warmth and love... I asked them how they felt and all Rhonda said was warm... I was blown away and testified that she was feeling the Holy Ghost. I love that feeling and strive to feel it more and more. Elder Verdine says you get numb to it. I don't believe him. I will never be numb to the prompting of the lord and the love he gives me.

Thursday was an okay day. We offended a couple members because of the meal calendar. I didn't know feeding the missionaries would be such a drama centered subject. It's like the biggest problem in the Lockport Ward. People get offended if their names are crossed off or anything it's ridiculous. It's like we are babysitting. But we got to see Scott Smith and it was the first time we saw him since his baptism! He's loving life! He's the best! Love Scott! He was suppose to be leaving for college soon but the ride he had down to Florida fell through so now he is stuck here and doesn't know what to do! So we are teaching him till he leaves! We saw Susan and Cordel again! We shared Helaman 5:12 with her and watched a conference talk by Jeffery R Holland! She loved it! She teared up a bit! It's the talk about tomorrow brings greatness or something like that, it's a great talk!

Friday morning was Elder Marks birthday, he's a missionary in Lockport so we drove down and made pancakes in the morning! It was a lot of fun! And the day was full of appointments that eventually fell through! But we did get to see Johnnie! He's a guy we met the first week I was here and we finally got to talk with him and teach him the
restoration and we invited him to be baptized! He will be baptized on December 17th! So excited. Then I got to do what I love! Haha we helped the Biesinger family install some sub flooring in their home before they put floating hardwood on! It was a lot of fun! Got to be back in the old glory days of working!

Saturday was a topical day spent tracting and doors closed in our faces. Not a lot went down. Sunday was good! A less active family that hasn't been to church in a very long time showed up! I was so excited cause I've been wanting to meet them for awhile and just have never made it over! So it was really good! And it was Sunday where we have Medina meeting! Medina meeting is always fun! There was a pretty good turn out this month too!  

Well everyone that was my week! I love you all! Don't forget you have a father in heaven you loves you so much. And a savior who paid the price of all of our sins, Jesus Christ the son of god. And read the Book of Mormon and keep the sabbath day holy and I promise you will be blessed in every aspect of your life. I know these things to be true.

Love,
ELDER JUDY

October 31, 2016 - Week 9 - Medina, NY

Howdy!

This week started with my 2 month mark! It's been a 2 month roller coaster! So much fun! Haha! Monday I learned that serving a mission is literally the best thing I could be doing in my life, the joy it brings to me and others is priceless. I love it!

Tuesday was spent trying to find a kingdom building family! We walked around all of Medina to all of the really big nice homes and tracted them!  There's was only a few... and we had no luck! We are praying for a family that will help the Medina area grow and expand to the best of its ability! It's really hard to wake up at 6:30... the sun
doesn't rise until 7:30ish and it's freezing and you want to stay in bed! Haha! But we are being exactly obedient! We have received so many blessing from it! Tuesday we also carved pumpkins with a the Biesinger family! They have 10 kids and make up like half the primary here! Haha! they are way cool!

Wednesday we drove to Middleport with a member.  We drove out there to contact a potential and didn't have any luck... so we were driving to Lyndonville  to contact a referral and stopped at a Amish store that sells HUGE donuts for 50 cents, can't pass that up! Haha!  The address we had for the referral wasn't right so we met a strong baptized woman. She was interested in what I had to say. We helped the AP's move the senior couple apartment out of Medina. We did the move then they came with us to our dinner appointment. After dinner we got to do something really rare! We got blitz Medina! I got to go tract with Elder Aloha! He's from Finland! We got 4 new investigators off of one street! It was so fun! Usually the AP's don't do anything with missionaries unless there zone leaders so it was a really cool opportunity!

Thursday we taught Jackie! Scott came with us to the lesson cause we usually meet with her outside but it's been to cold lately! She is set to be baptized for November 12th! We had district meeting and ward correlation! After all the meetings the Buffalo YSA elders came and exchanged with us! Elder Lawrenz and I went to Buffalo! It
was so cool! We were in the MTC together! So we didn't really know what we were doing! But we figured it out!

Friday Elder Lawrenz and I went to Canal Side! We did some street contacting there and we handed out 9 book of Mormons in an hour! We came in contact with some really cool people! It was a lot of fun! It was a big change of gears going from a tiny town to a huge city with a bunch of people! Our exchange was a lot of fun! We got to figure a lot of things out by ourselves!

Saturday, was the best day of the week!!!! Scott Smith was baptized! Brother Rylander baptized him. I was so happy! So proud of Scott! He's the man! He loved it! The service had a really small turn out but it was so great! He felt the spirit so strong he teared up... he told his eyes were sweating! Haha! I love Scott so much! We also taught Donald and Tessa! Donald is a returning member and Tessa isn't a member but is so excited to be baptized! She loves going to church! She's changed a lot since we started meeting with them!

Sunday, we had 4 investigators at church! And Scott was confirmed! I had the privilege to confirm him! It was so awesome, it's so amazing to hold the authority of god and to speak for the spirit. I love this work! Scott said he feels renewed! So happy! Couldn't be more proud! He loves coming to church also! Tessa was at church and
she was talking to me and she said Margret Pace told her to pick her favorite missionary, she told me to guess who. And so I said Verdine? And she was like, "no it's you judy"! Haha! She's so awesome! Love them so
much! This week was a great one!

Well everyone, this work couldn't be progressing as much as it is if it weren't for the lord behind it all. I know this church is true. No doubt in my mind it's not. I love this work. I may not be the best at it, but I'm surly trying my best. And that's all the lord asks of us, give it our best and things will be okay. Every time I get discouraged
I read D&C 31, it refuels me! Restates why I'm here and the blessing I will receive from doing so! I know the Book of Mormon is the true word of god! Read it! It will bless your life! I promise! Don't take it from me, take it from the 3 witnesses and the 8 witnesses in the Book. Jospeh Smith is the true prophet of the restoration. And god loves all
of us.

Love and miss you all!
 - Elder Judy