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