Hello Family!

 

Great week this week! It has been a really busy, fun, FAST week! Holy COW it feels like Yesterday I was just on emailing home! Elder Jacobson and I have been really focusing on member present lessons because our mission president wants us to. We have been working really hard to get exchanges to come with us. We taught 4 mpls this week which is more than usual! But what really shocked us was usually we get about 5-8 other lessons a week. This week we got 12! I guess as we weren't so worried about turning every contact into a lesson, the lessons just came naturally as we just relaxed and went with the spirit! So that was pretty interesting! 

Our ward missionary in charge of the meal calendar has had an increased vision as far as our meals recently! This week we were able to eat with 2 LA/PM families! He is really do a great job creating opportunities for us!

Shelly wasn't able to come to church this week. We saw her on Saturday night at like 8:30 and she said she would come. But then got called into work Sunday morning. We are trying our best but that agency has really been a big factor in all this haha.

 

Grady had work also this week and Kenny was sick... so yeah kind of depressing Sunday! It was good to be able to focus on myself and recommitting to be more Christlike and repent. 

Me and Elder Jacobson have been working on unity more and more which is going well I feel like. There is some repenting I need to do with being more agreeable, but other than that it has been a great 1 1/2 transfers! Transfers are on Feb 4 just an FYI.. I really don't want to leave this area!! The only other ward I've ever lived in is our home ward! so I've like totally re-attached myself to this ward and I don't wanna leave!! haha but I will probably end up leaving. Such is missionary work I guess. It's just hard to picture being anywhere else!

 

We had a service opportunity for a part member family this week and I got to go on the roof and take down Christmas lights for an hour which was SO fun! I was happy to be doing "the fun stuff" on a roof again! haha

 

A little spiritual thought I had this week. I think I have been focused a little too much on " preaching" a mission rather than "serving" a mission and I have been working on serving others. It was cool cuz I heard shortly after I realized this someone say, the best way to serve God is to serve his Children.. That's so true cuz God's labor is to bless his children! That was deep to me.

 

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support! I have really felt like I have been relying on them a lot this week so thank you all.. seriously SO MUCH!!! 
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

 

Elder Tanner Judy

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Tanner Judy

 

 

1/19/15

 

 

To: judycoldsteel@hotmail.com

Awesome thanks dad!!

 

I had a pretty sweet experience with prayer this week.  I was talking to him (my companion) a little about homesickness and I was sympathizing with him saying I miss you sometimes and then he said "and being with you all the time just.. sucks".... and I was REALLY offended.. like can I tell you?? and I had just this huge grudge against him cuz it really depressed me..  Like I figured it was true anyways.. but then that stab in the back just HURT so I was depressed and angry at him for a while, but all the while I was trying to let it go! Trying to just shake it off. But it was hard!! I didn't say anything to him cuz I didn't wanna retort with anger and drag something out. But finally we went in for lunch and I went into our room and started praying.. and I said " Father please help me forgive him... I don't want to hold a grudge"  As soon as I said "I don't want to" I just felt this.. soul piercing weight lifting peace..... ah... it was beautiful. I really just had my testimony confirmed that the Savior loves me and wants me to become like him. A son of God and will stop at nothing to help me overcome my weaknesses as long as I stop at nothing to learn to rely on him.... it was cool. Pour yourself into him, and he will pour himself into you. The only thing he doesn't have is our desires. I need to actively give them to him and let him make of them what he will. Pretty cool.

 

Hows work? What's the update?

 

I love you too dad!!

 

Love Elder Tanner 

To: Tanner Judy

Just know that the Savior is the very best example for everything that happens to you.  Look to Him in everything that happens and I promise that He'll help you with it.  His example of patience, forgiveness, love and charity are there for us so that we can deal with people who say and do things that are hurtful.  I'm so glad that you turned to Him in prayer in the moment!! I know that expression of faith in Him allowed Him to come to you and heal you.   
Work is going well.  January is always kind of a down month because people have a new deductible to meet and are trying to recover from Christmas so they are less willing to have surgery if they can avoid it.  That's why many surgeons take vacation in January and February (aside from the fact that they want to go somewhere and warm up a bit during the winter).  I'm starting to go to Preston to help them out while their usual surgeon is out with some shoulder surgery.   I'll fire this off because I just saw that you're still sending stuff.  Love you!

Elder Tyler's letter 1/19/2015

Dad! 
　
　
Ok! Everyone! :) This week has been the hardest week of my whole mission. Being as such, it has been the most rewarding experience of my entire life!!  I have learned soooo much and have obtained much knowledge in the workings of the spirit, that I can't give anyone, or anything else the credit but our Father in Heaven. This is truly His work and His glory and His name be glorified forever!!  I wish I could share the smallest part of how I feel, but I can only express what the weakness of my fingers can communicate, and the rest is up to the spirit in each of you, and your sensitivity to the Spirit of the Lord, I pray that He be with all of us. 
I would like to share with you one or some of the rewards I have seen these passed few hours of trial.  The first thing that comes to mind is my understanding of other people's agency and the beautiful and integral part it plays in the Plan of Salvation. I want everyone to come to the gospel period. It doesn't matter what their history is, who their parents are, or if they really did kick the neighbor's dog. Everyone deserves the peace that is so freely given and provided through the great Mediator of all men, Him visiting his people in so much mercy, and love, that He sacrificed his moment to shine and to progress for himself and gave his life for ransom for all of us. Every human that ever has or will live should come to this knowledge! But they can only feel what they want, and they can only do what THEY want, not what I want, or even what the Savior or our Father in Heaven wants! If this were the case that I COULD control what they want to be what I want them to want, or want for them, then Satan's plan must surely come to pass. I have applied this not only to people, but to my companion as I realize that he has his own desires for righteousness, and I have my own. Difference doesn't compare one to another. Our desires are no less valuable than the others'. When we can unite our desires, then weaknesses truly become strengths, and thy God shall faithfully be thy strength. 
The hardest transfer of my mission just turned into my favorite transfer of my mission. I feel like this has come through prayer. I have a firm testimony that in any circumstance, in any place at any time, prayer can truly "change the night to day." Prayer has changed my "night" of a week into a "day" of a week. Anyways, just random insights, but I felt like I should share them! 
We went on an amazing hike!! It was more of an area to explore. It was filled with all these cliffs, holes, caves everything!!  It was soo fun to just loose your mind and worries in all the tunnels and caves! Climbing these cliffs was very dangerous. This place was all hardened sand, so NOTHING was stable. Not even rocks, because the sand around them would give way! So I was really bummed I didn't get to let loose the monkey/mountain goat (that I'm thoroughly convinced is my spirit animal). But it was so fun! The Lord really took care of me by showing me in a vision I had while praying of me falling off a cliff! ...in explicit detail.... It was through no fault of my own, a "secure" foothold gave way and I, having no other security, fell. When I came to the same scene at the place as in my mind, I found that 2 other Elders had climbed it before me! The temptation was really strong.  I thought " wow, if they could do it, then me, being far more experienced (pride) can do this!" But I decided to listen to the promptings of the spirit, and be forced to humbly run around the whole mountainside to find the trail I could easily (and with pansy-like representation) climb back to the top. The only injury I was able to acquire is when I instigated a HUUUUUGGGEEE bee's nest and go stung in the eyelid, inside of the thigh, and twice in the right arm.  IT WAS SOOO FUN!! and SUCH a rush when I hit the nest!!  I had to run like crazy, jumping across huge 45 ft. deep holes, slide down skinny passages, and thoroughly enjoy myself :) hahah 
As far as people go, we have a new baptismal date we set!! This man is Justin, and he is definitely ready to accept the gospel and be baptized! He is set for the 21st of February! He could use your faith and prayers! Also, Frank has set his date for the 28th of March! woooo!!! and Shea, a 21 year old nut-job, is set tentatively for the 7th of February! They are doing so awesome! I'm so proud of my little nuggets :) 
Thank you all for your love and support!!  At random times throughout the week, I'll say to my companion, "Wow, we have SO many people praying for us!"  I really can feel all your prayers, and they are appreciated!!  I pray for as many of you as I can by name!  The rest go in a group-text to be blessed, so I hope the Lord, in his mercy, visits each and every one of you with tender mercies!! :) 
I love you Dad and Mom! I know I wouldn't be here, being the person I am, having the knowledge of the gospel I do without your faithfulness and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord!  You truly have blessed my life by living righteously.  Much love and prayers!! 
Love, 
Elder Judy

Elder Dallin's email 12/2/2014

Elder Dallin's email 12/2/2014
Dear Mom, 

    Hey!!!!! I love you so much!!!! :) Just to answer some of your questions, that picture was taken at our house when Sis. Ward came to our house and gave us a tiny little Christmas tree! Sister Ward calls us all the time and gives us rides every where! She's totally awesome! 

   Anyways!!! We had a pretty fun Thanksgiving! We had a GREAT time playing a turkey bowl on thanksgiving morning! We all had flags and when someone tried to take off my flag, and they TOTALLY ripped my shirt! It like ripped in a circle all the way around me! Hahah! It was pretty funny, but then it happened again, and my symbol was barely being covered, so it was pretty scary!! But we had SO much fun!

     I showed all my missionary friends those pictures you sent me!! I loved them!!! SO MUCH!!!!

I don't have a whole lot of time, I had to catch up with writing some other friends as I have not written back to in a while. 

But I do want to say that everyone's faith and prayers are being answered. With not a shred of self credit or pride, I have been able to teach some of the people that have been taught for a long time in this area and have helped them progress more than ever before. I have been able to bring the Spirit into discussions more than ever before, and I believe it is totally the faith and prayers said by all you guys. Whenever I feel tired and I want to take it easy, I feel sick and selfish, therefore, I forget myself and go to work. When I feel I have wasted any amount of time, I have to repent and do my best to be more focused. And I am SO thankful for the prayers!!! PLEASE keep praying!! I'm really going to make a huge push this week to be the best missionary I can be this week. I'm out of time, but I love you guys!!!!!! I will record a voice message next week and send it!!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!

-Elder Judy

Dear Elder Tyler, 
 
 I'm really sorry that I missed writing to you last week!  It feels like it's been forever since I've written to you.  I was working in the ICU last weekend and it's impossible to be able to write to you on Sunday like I can otherwise (like tonight).  It's pretty wild working there; it really takes a huge amount of time to be there.  I'm glad to be able to use some of the stuff I did in fellowship, just to stay fresh with it.  It's just that when I'm there I pretty much have to stay actively working on stuff with patients so it pretty much aces me out of being able to write on those few sundays when I have to be there in the ICU.
 
Dallin was transferred from Porterville (where he's spent a YEAR of his mission) to Visalia this week.  He's excited to go somewhere new and have new challenges.  His greenie and him really got along awesome.   I don't know the details about his new companion, so keep him in your prayers.  He's not training or in leadership at the moment, so he's just doing the work.
 
Tanner is training right now!! We're still waiting to hear much of anything about his new companion, but at first blush it sounds like he's a great guy.  I'm glad that he's finished with his trainer.  Now he gets to show someone how to be a missionary like only he can.  I'm really excited to hear how things are going.
 
Britney got a JOB!!!  She's working at Carmike!  She got hired as holiday help, but I think it may be more permanent if she wants to stay on after the holidays.  I'm not so sure that she wants to, it's pretty late hours so it makes it kind of hard to get going very early in the mornings for school.  I think when rugby comes back around she's going to tell the theater sayanara.  She gets in to movies free, though, anytime she wants to go.  And she can bring a friend for free as well, so she's pretty happy about that.  She has to work every day this week from Tuesday through Saturday so she and I are going to be here for Thanksgiving while Mom and the girls are going to Utah.  Deana and Kevin and their family are going to be there and they really wanted to spend the holiday together as Mary and Auria are going to be leaving on their missions soon.  

 

Oh, yeah, Mary is going to Houston and Auria is going to Brazil Fortelese.  Brie Schmidt is going to Moscow Russia, rumor has it that Danny Rasmussen is waiting for a call.  
 

 

Mom just said that she's probably going to miss emailing you today, but will get a handwritten letter in the mail.  We've been working on a little something for Thanksgiving to drop in the mail, so watch for that. 

 

Highland won state in football this week!  They played in Boise so we watched it on the internet.  It wasn't as much of a challenge as the game they won the week before to get to state.  I think the score was 56-14.  Ethan Williams in our ward got a pick 6 which was pretty cool.  It came at a critical time and really put Highlands foot to their throat.  After that it was just a matter of sealing the deal. 

 

I can't tell you how proud I am of you and all that you're doing as you serve the Lord right now.  I know what you're doing is the absolute best thing you could do with your life right now and I'm so glad for the experiences you're having.  Serving the Lord is such an honor and is an amazing opportunity to declare your dedication to righteousness for your life.  There are more people than you now know who will be eternally blessed for your work that you are doing.  Generations after you will be blessed for your efforts both directly and indirectly and only after we leave this life and when all things are made known to us will you realize the full magnitude of the work that you were able to accomplish.  Our high priests lesson this week was on proclaiming the gospel and I used some of your experiences as part of the lesson.  I'm sure you wouldn't mind, but I wanted to let you know, you're blessing more than just the lives of the people you work with directly.  There are so many people you are helping indirectly by your example and by your faithfulness.  Not to give you a head trip, but to remind you of the unique and influential position you hold as a missionary to the Lord.  He exalts everything we do in His name as we perform everything we do in His name. 

 

Love you tons!!!

 

Dad

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Elder Tanner's letter 11/23/2014

This week was the most amazing week of my life... for sure.. I only hope I can type the spirit I felt this week.

 

I want to tell you the long of it to bring the spirit that I felt a little better.

It started out Thursday, when my companion and I cleaned our apartment VERY well for inspections.  It looked really good and the spirit was there.  Then, we planned and had a great experience, but didn't set comp goals for things we could work on together.  I realized this on Friday morning, so we erased a section of our board we didn't use and put our own goals as well as comp goals and had a very open honest conversation.  That afternoon we had planned for 2 hours of "spirit tracting" where we said a prayer to find the elect and went off the feelings we had, so we did.

At the conclusion of the prayer I had a mental picture of a bend in a street 30 mins away from where we were.  Not wanting to waste time, I shrugged it off and we tracted the street we were on with no success.  That picture came back again, so I decided we'd go.  as we came to that particular spot, we saw a man in his garage reading.  A little dumbfounded, we went up to him and committed him to read and he said he would and we'd follow up in 2 weeks.  We were THRILLED.

We said another prayer, this time another street location popped into my head, also 20 mins away.  Remembering the experience we just had we decided to go straight there.  There was no one there so we pondered for a moment, until my comp said "lets go into that park" just ahead of us, so we did. 

While riding through the park we found a lady who told us "I plan on joining the church, but it's not my time yet."   We bore solemn testimonies on faith, and found out she was not in our boundaries, and proceeded to tell her we'd send the correct elders to her and she gladly accepted.

This happened one more time that day, with praying about finding someone else and being led to a house. This guy didn't have time to talk but was excited to talk to us again.  

We are just tickled pink about this.

The same kind of thing happened the next day, Saturday.  We had planned to see two or three people and they all punched including Bhavish.  Undaunted we prayed, got the feeling to turn around.. so we did and sure enough there was a man in his garage that we ended up also committing to read the BOM.  after, he told us he had stopping smoking cold turkey, he said he needed to go to a church just not sure where.  After that we prayed again and I had the feeling to see Bhavish again.  We went over there and she answered!  She OPENED up to us about how she feels the importance of church in her life having a new baby and wants Bhavish to be baptized.  Pretty amazing.

we realized that these experiences happened because of our repentance, when we found out we had not been being EXACTLY obedient we repented cuz we wanted the spirit with us and our hearts were in it.  we knew that following rules and doing everything right would help.    we were amazed by the spirit that was with us.

These experiences had prepared our hearts for the best advice I've ever received.  Our ward mission leader talked to us for and hour about how "that's the way it is for the rest of your life.   If you do all the things your supposed to do you'll be blessed and led by the spirit for the rest of your life.   In raising children, in your job, everything.   Everything will be overwhelming for the rest of you life, but if your focused on the right things you'll be going the right way cuz the only way to grow is to be willing to continually be put in the refiner's fire."

 

We are only led when we are exactly obedient and have our hearts in it.   Our hearts NEED to be in the gospel for the reason of wanting to change to become like the Savior.   Our hearts will be in everything later on (kids jobs etc)  if we train them to be so NOW in the gospel.   The gospel will allow us to have that.

 

I have received too many answers to my prayers and too many spiritual experiences to deny what I now know. I don't know it all, but I know that obedience brings miracles.  I know that for myself.  Living the spirit of the law as well as the letter of the law are both needed.  The spirit of the law meaning our hearts are in it too.

 

I wish I could impart of more of the spirit!  but like Nephi, I am weak in writing haha.

 

I love you all! Hurrah for Israel!!

 

Elder Judy

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Elder Tyler's email 11/24/2014

Dear Dad,

Oh my gosh I wish I could email all day! did you read Tanner's email?!  holy crap!!  that was freakin awesome!!! ...Britney getting a job?!?! ...all the mission calls?! ...HIGHLAND FINALLY WINNING STATE?!?!   holy.. I need to calm down.  Now I know how Alma and Nephi feel when they said that their joy was so exceedingly full unto the consuming of their flesh!  my heart is burning, and my fingers are trembling!! hahah

Oh man.  I just can't get enough of mission life!  it's tough, but that's what makes it fun!  you can see yourself grow if you look around.  it's soo important to not compare yourself with others, but to compare yourself to yourself.  when you do that, the growth is undenialble, and you become motivated that your efforts are availing to something!  Track was (is) one of my favorite sports because you can see week to week yourself take two steps forward, one or two back, but then two more forward, and it's so thrilling, and driving!  this realization is probably one of the greatest tender mercy revelations I've received so far on my mission!  it had helped be to see past other people's numbers  (my comp is the district leader, so I see them all)  and focus on mine,  my personal goals of becoming more chirst-like, and continue to grow in grace!  I'm not saying this to boast in myself, but to show that comparison to others is an effective tool of the adversary, and decreases your spiritual effectiveness.  when you can see change in yourself, your testimony of the Atonement grows, and you have a greater respect for it's power and an increased desire to share it with others!

I really appreciate what Elder Judy said about obedience!  I recently (this morning) re-studied the story of the stripling warriors, and found out that their exact obedience, and the desires of their hearts were the things that manifested the power of God in them.  In alma, it says that none were lost, but EVERY one of them suffered MANY wounds.  This I believe was to testify that it wasn't in their strength that they did this, because were it up to them, they would have died due to these injuries.   but despite their injuries on battle, their faith was unshaken, and they continued in their desire to protect their fathers and families.  sometimes in the work of the Lord we receive many wounds.  this isn't because you were doing something wrong, it's so that the power of God can manifest itself in you, and to other people.  though they never fought before, and their inexperience may have lead to injuries, their unshakable trust in the Lord provided the miracle.

I want to share an awesome experience!  I thought before my mission that the "fun" times and the "awesome experiences" would be in doing something crazy.  I was right only in that it's through following the spirit that this happens.  we walked passed this group of people eating at our apartment complex, and I got the crazy impression to go offer to them a blessing on the food!  I told this to Elder Roper who grinned in reply, and we turned around.  when we offered to say the prayer, it started with introductions for everyone, handshakes all around, and a warm welcome. one young lady said "I already ate, so you'll have to bless my stomach." so I offered the prayer over their food, and blessed this young woman's stomach and the contents therein to nurture the body. it was such a fun experience, and it left me smiling the whole rest of the evening!

I love being a missionary! I can't get over all the awesome opportunities that are put in our path to share the gospel, to be the message of love, and to show others the happiness the gospel brings.  

I love you too Dad!! thank you for your faith and prayers!   I wouldn't be where I am now with the attitude I have now without them!  same goes for all that read this letter!  thank you soo much for your faith.  I'm overwhelmed at times when I pray to thank Heavenly Father for all the prayers in my behalf.  Thank you again.  They are the reason I can press forward with a steadfast faith in Christ!  I love you all so much!!

Love,

Elder Judy

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Dad!!!!! Hey!!! I miss you so much!!!! Give mom a huge hug for me k? But you have to sneak up on her and slightly surprise her if it is truly coming from me. 

   But Visalia!!!! It's SSSSOOOO crazy to finally not being a trainer or a leader. It's definitely a little weird and is taking some getting used to, but it's coming! I'm with Elder Madsen right now!! He's from Nauvoo, he loves theater stuff, and he's super energetic! We're still kinda figuring each other out, so I hope it gets a little more comfortable soon. I've never been transferred to a new area with someone that knows the area better than me. 

But it was really pretty hard leaving Porterville, lots of people were shocked! I had a few members come to our house and visit right before I left to give me things and presents, which was very touching to me. I got a lot of calls and texts from people too! I'm really going to miss that place.

    But I guess the Elder that I replaced was here for 15 months!! So there were a lot of open wounds on people here as well as far as what happened with transfers. But I'm pretty sure as soon as they start to get to know me, they'll warm up to me.

   But I was actually welcomed to Visalia in a very unique way! We were talking to a member in a very sketchy part of town, and she was busy and couldn't talk, but this drunk guy walked up to us at the  door and started to argue with us and the member let us hide in her house for a few minutes while he left, and when we came back out, someone had stolen the back light on my bike. I was SO angry, but we have a spare in our house, so I was good.

   But I love this area so far!!!! We have a lot of members that really love missionaries and really help us! It's very awesome!!! And I don't know what it is, but finally being out of my comfort zone, I have this HUGE desire to have the Spirit with me and to help us and for him to be the main teacher. My companion is kinda like Brian Regan when he teachs, he likes to be very unserious and joke around a ton. 

I made a trivia question this week!!!! Here it is: You see the star, the sign of Jesus' birth, in the East. Who are you? Are you the Nephites? Or the wise men?

But the news about Britney getting a job was quite the surprise!!!!! I can't believe that!!! I'm SO impressed with her stick-to-it-ness with everything that she has been doing lately!! She is probably like a totally different person from the Brit I knew when I left!!

And all those mission calls are totally awesome!!!!!! I had no idea that that many people were serving!!! This is wild!!! I'm going to go home to an empty town!! Haha!!

Oh!! And my companion had an ingrown toenail fixed today. I promised myself to not only clip my toenails right, but to also never be a foot doctor. Holy. Moly.

Anyways, I had a really cool experience this week, but I'm running out of time. We were in dinner, and I bore testimony of sharing the gospel and told the members how we as missionaries all hit our knees at 7:55 every morning and pray for our members and to help them have the courage to share the gospel with their friends. Then I told them how much I love all their comments. And as I was speaking, I felt this force enter the room, like I've never felt before. I felt it right when it came, and right as it did, the mother of the family started to cry. It was incredible. I know that God won't leave us hanging and won't leave His promises undone if we just obey His commandments. It was a spectacular experience that I will remember forever. It came because I have had a controlled obsession to get the Spirit and to be worthy of His guidance. 

Thank you SO much in advance for the package!!!! I can't wait to get it!! I have literally starved this week because the last Elder didn't get any food for me when he left. But no big deal, I've got food now!!! I love you guys so much!!!!! I hope you guys are always happy and have all the happiness you can possibly have!!!! Have a great week!!!!! Thanks again for all that you do for me!!!!! I LOVE being a missionary!!!! 

-Elder Judy 

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