Day 18! oh babylon oh babylon!

Here is her second letter from the MTC. She heads out to Spokane on Monday! (I know I'm a little bias, but I love this girl so much. She's already doing great things!)

Mi querida familia!

Hellooooo everybody! Thank you for all your letters. I feel so loved and supported! All my elders are jealous of all the mail and packages I get but I am just really grateful I have so many people who care about me! After the first few days, time at the MTC just flies! I can't believe I'm already leaving on Monday! I still feel like the new missionary who just got here on Wednesday sometimes but I am so excited to get to Spokane! President Mullen sent me a letter with all the details for Monday and it's going to be SO great. We get in at 9:30 am so we still have a wonderful full day! President and Sister Mullen will pick us up at the airport and then we'll go to a stake center for lunch. There are 22 missionaries in my travel group and my flight is a direct flight so I think that means there are 22 of us going to SPOKANE! Isn't that crazy and great?!!! Speaking of, HELLO general conference! It was the best conference of my life. Conference through missionary eyes is seriously the coolest. Maybe it was just me, but every talk was about missionary work, right? Or becoming more like Christ and the doctrine of Christ which is pretty much all we talk about here. LOVED it! When President Monson made the amazing announcement about the new missionary age limit we were going crazy here at the MTC! I was holding my breath thinking, "he can't really be saying what I think he is saying!!" And then he said it and we were all cheering. We were just so HAPPY! How cool that I will forever know where I was for this amazing, historic announcement! I can think of like 20 people who will probably leave on missions now! I am so glad I am here being a part of this amazing work! I just feel so right where I am. I am glad that I had the two extra years to prepare and learn for my mission. I know I'm serving at the right time for me but I also know the Lord has been preparing the sisters and elders who are leaving sooner. The Lord is hastening his work! He wants it done. That's why 22 missionaries are headed to Spokane on Monday! 

ALSO, for Tuesday's devotional, Elder Bednar came and spoke! It was so unexpected and awesome! The Apostles are the super heroes of missionary work. There was an incredible spirit in the room. I listened and knew that he was an apostle of the Lord and a witness of Jesus Christ. He gave us some good advice to use in our personal study of conference and other things. First, listen for the doctrine and principles. 2nd, Pay attention to the invitation for what we need to do to follow that doctrine, and 3rd, listen for the blessings promised. He outlines every talk like this and that looks for themes and where the spirit taught him and how he can improve his life. It is something I will definitely be doing once the new conference Ensign comes out. 

Yesterday, I had in-field orientation and it was easily, one of my favorite days here. We do a lot of cool things here and I really have taken the counsel to "embrace each day" to heart. I really have loved every moment of my mission! But yesterday, all the missionaries preparing to leave gathered together for a full day of workshops. We talked about planning our days, using members as our allies, and depending on faith. My dear friend Ellie (hansen) Newell, was working a couple rooms so seeing her was also the BEST! I have loved running into my friends who work at the MTC. The whole day was really exciting and just made me pumped to get out to the field. I am a little nervous but I know the Lord has so many amazing things in store, I just can't even imagine them! I am so excited to teach the people too! I can't wait to have real investigators and love them and serve them! The gospel changes lives and I get to be a part of it! I am so happy!

My new district is great. At first, I was having a hard time adjusting. But i love my elders so much! They are good guys and they have such strong spirits and testimonies. I know they will be amazing wherever they serve. Some are a little older and it took them a little longer to get out on their missions but I am so proud of them. I just love where they came from and where they are going with their lives. They really are focused to serve. I mean, yes, a lot of times they are just a bunch of rowdy boys, but they are my rowdy boys, my dear elders and I'm really grateful I had these two weeks in the MTC as a solo sister to learn from them. BUT I am REALLY looking forward to having a sister companion again and to have more girl time. 

My roommates are super wonderful and even though people told me I'd make great friends on my mission, I am still surprised at how many friends I am making and how many people I love and want to see after my mission! 

I am nearly out of time, but here are some pictures: 

My solo nametag. Que triste, verdad? It's hard to be without a sister companion sometimes.

My district with our teacher, Hermano Erquhart who served in Dallas and Mckinney! 

 Pointing on the big map. I can hardly reach my mission!

Me and my elder companions, Elder Beltran and Elder Barrett. They are so kind and patient with me and have really helped my Spanish! They are both headed to Bolivia on Monday.

(She's wearing my shirt here. So obviously I'm a pretty good sister for finally sharing my clothes with her after all these years)

Have a great Saturday! Love you guys! Missionary work is the best! Everyone should serve a mission, EN SERIO! It's already changing my life!

Love,
 
Hermana Em

DAY 10 and I'm still ALIVE!

We got our first email from the MTC! Guess her P-days are on Fridays? Enjoy!

Mi querida familia!


I will try to write as much as possible in this short amount of time but I have so much to say! SO much has happened in the last 10 days I can't even believe it. I'll break it down into two parts because I just don't know how to explain this whirlwind experience!

Part 1: District 11C

So I got to the MTC and the first person I see when I walk towards my classroom is HERMANA BROWN! And we found out we were roommates! It was the best tender mercy ever because I really needed her help and advice the first few crazy days here. Then I met my companion, Hermana Bartschi. I knew right away we were going to get along. We both are just happy, fun-loving sisters. Hermana Bartschi is from Montpilier, Idaho and she's just a good ole' gal who loves the outdoors and being active. She is so loving and patient and we were making jokes with each other right off the bat. Heavenly Father really blessed me with Hermana Bartschi. I will forever use this companionship as an example of how I would love my other companionships to be. There were only 6 of us in our little district, Hermana Bartschi and me, Elder Scheeder and Elder Yancey, and Elder Hall and Elder Merkley. I LOVED these peeps so much. We just were a little family and we all loved each other so much. I also had a really great Zone. I was just blessed to be in the best, happiest place in the MTC and I was feeling so happy and content. My branch president, President Tyler was just so wise and kind, like an extra grandfather in my life. He is so knowledgable in the gospel and he was always spewing out scriptures and advice. It was like general conference 24/7 with him around. I knew pretty early on that my spanish was better than the rest of the class, but I was just so happy where I was! Hermana Brown assured me that I would do fine in the advanced class, and I was really conflicted. I prayed each day to know which class would be better for me. But I was still confused. I just asked that one class would stick out more to me and by Friday, I was pretty sure that I would stay for the 9 weeks. It just felt right. I felt really good and calm about it. BUT THEN, Saturday evening, one of my teachers pulled me aside and asked me if I would take the advanced test. I explained what I was thinking and how I was feeling. I told him how much I loved being with Hermana Bartschi and that I felt like I had a lot to learn still in the MTC but he told me that in missions there will always be challenges and if there is work to be done already in Spokane, Washington and I don't need more time to learn the language then I need to get out to the field. So I went and took the test and they asked me a lot of questions. One thing I found since being set apart, is that Heavenly Father really is blessing me with so many things. My tongue has been loosened here. It's so much easier for me to talk and say the things I want to in Spanish. So I spoke with ease during my advanced test and I knew I would probably move up. BUT THIS IS NOT WHERE THIS STORY ENDS. They told me they still had to check with the head language guy and they would probably get back to me on Tuesday. Hermana Bartschi and I had to warm up to the idea that we would probably no longer be companions because moving up, meant switching districts and zones so that was pretty sad. We had set goals earlier that week on being more Christlike and we were focusing this week on being more humble. One definition of humble is "submitting your will to the will of Heavenly Father" so even though I thought I had prayed and received the answer that I would stay for 9 weeks, I knew that wherever Heavenly Father needed me that is where I would go. Well THEN, on Sunday, my branch presidency called me in to talk. President Tyler knew I had been debating moving so he asked me how that was going. I told him everything that happened and he told me that he knew why I felt like I should stay the 9 weeks. And then he said, "Hermana Judd, the Lord would like you to be the coordinating sister of this Zone." All I could say was "oh? oh. oh!" Coordinating Sister is similar to Zone Leaders for elders. I attend the weekly orientation meetings and check in with the sisters each night just to make sure their needs are being met. I felt overwhelmed because I was being tugged in every direction. I mean, now I wasn't going to move to advanced?? and now I have to love all these sisters?? All the presidency and the 2 Zone leaders assured me that they had all received a clear answer and that this really was a calling from Heavenly Father. So I was just praying that I could serve the way Heavenly Father needed me to. Then during sacrament meeting, they announced my calling over the pulpit. So it seemed legit enough and it seemed like I really was staying.

Does this story already seem complicated?? Well, just you wait!

On Monday, I get a Big Brother call over the intercom in our residence hall asking me to come down to the front desk. When I get down there, they have the things ready to switch me to the Advanced class. I explained that I couldn't switch now, because my priesthood authority, my steward had called me to stay! So they call in the Big guns. The day before I left for the MTC I was joking with some friends that I would be the talk of the MTC, everyone would know me. I was kidding, obviously, but then it seriously was true! President Hummert of the District Presidency sits me down in his office and he says, "Let me draw you a picture to show you the line of authority." So it goes like this--The MTC Presidency--then 2 District Presidencies--and under each person in the District Presidency are about 10 or so Zones. So President Hummert is above President Tyler he says. And then he says, "Hermana Judd, it may be great and good that you serve as a Coordinating Sister and help the other sisters, but it is also important to remember Hermana Judd and where she is needed." So I say, ok. Then he says, "So I'm going to call your mission President and we'll see what he says." So I have to wait another day, still being pulled in every direction, and absolutely so uncertain of what I was doing and where I was supposed to be. "I'll go wherever you want me," I prayed.


Well, so you must know what happened next. President Hummert called President Mullen, and President Mullen was giddy. He said he would be delighted to have me come in the next two weeks. And just like that my PART 1 MTC experience was over. I was now a SOLO sister, I had a new district and I wasn't going to be Coordinating Sister after all.

PART 2: District 8E

I'll admit, it's been a hard adjustment. I loved where I was. And this new district was so different. 8 new, rowdy Elders, who grew up speaking spanish and so they are all a little more cocky. But thankfully I have wonderful teachers who have really helped me feel better. As a solo sister, now I have 2 elders who go with me everywhere. It's been pretty fun, actually and they help my spanish a lot. I was sad to say goodbye to Hermana Bartschi but I still see her often and we actually spent our whole P-Day together, today. On Tuesday, after I switched classes, I got to talk to President Tyler again, one last time. He said, "You know, I kept wrestling with Heavenly Father as to why I felt so strongly that you needed to be Coordinating sister, and then a small, quiet voice came to me, ' I needed Hermana Judd to have the confirmation that I trust her.'" I really needed to hear that from him. And it will be the tidbit I am going to remember and use on my mission, when I feel less adequate, like I just can't do it. My father in Heaven trusts me. Little ol' Hermanita Judd.

So, I'm nearly out of time. But I know this: Heavenly Father knew I would be in the advanced class, but he knew there were things I needed to learn in the intermediate class first and especiallly from being with Hermana Bartschi.

I will just close with this: I love being here. I am learning so much about myself and my Savior. I LOVE being a missionary. I just know this gospel is true. Missionary work is incredible. There is so much to be done and I can't wait to love and serve my investigators. I am here to invite others to come to Christ and I feel so strongly that I am where I need to be. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and I know that families are forever!

Love you all,
Hermana Judd

p.s. Let Janae know that I got her package and I am SO GRATEFUL. It was everything I needed.
ALSO, my cameras on my battery stopped working. Can you send me rechargable batteries and a charger? double AA?


OK, happy conference weekend!


Oh! P.S. My address changed too. My mailbox is #295 now and Ieave on October 15th! So make sure to send my bedding to the mission office too please! These pictures are Hermana Bartschi and me at the temple and during our service time and also me and Hermana Brown right before she left. What is Nan and Pampa's address and Jacob's too? Ok. Love you all! Miss you lots. But, my teacher Hermano Erqhart said something I've been thinking a lot about. He said, the further he got on his mission the more he realized he wasn't just homesick for his home, but for his Home in heaven. He missed his Heavenly Father too. And I thought that was neat. Pues, adios!


p.s. wasn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen when she accidentally said her "cameras on [her] battery stopped working"? OMGOODNESS precious typo!

Pictures!

Hermana Em and Hermana Bartschi at the Provo Temple

Hermana Em and Hermana Brown (Erika from back home!)

Cleaning? Who even knows. 

Besties already? Probs.

First letter from our girl!

Hey Friends!

Our dearest little Hermana Em sent us her first handwritten letter straight from the MTC! She gave us permission to type it up and post it on the blog for all to see.

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012

Mi querida familia, 

I'm here! I'm at the MTC! It's been crazy & wild & fun and sometimes I can't believe it's actually real. I love love LOVE my companion, Hermana Bartschi- she's from Idaho going to California- and we get along so well. She's tall & athletic so she's motivating me to be healthy! Our Spanish is similar- I probably know a little more grammar & vocab but we speak & understand each other a lot. We are going to see how class goes today & if we do well we might try & move up to advanced together. Pero vamos a ver.  So- guess what?!? My first (of MANY) tender mercies at the MTC is that Hermana (Erika) Brown is one of my roommates here! It's so great & crazy. We just keep hugging each other cause it's like an answer to our prayers. I'm really happy we'll always have these memories at the MTC together. She leaves Sunday though, but she's already been a big help to me. I've seen all the other McKinney peeps too so that's fun. I have lots of friends at the MTC! It's really great here. Truly- like BYU on steroids- we are ALWAYS going- boom, boom, boom. Sometimes we don't have a chance to catch our breath. But ti's the 2nd day and they say if I can make it to Sunday, then I'll be ok! Already, I've seen miracles from Heavenly Father & just felt enveloped in His spirit & love for me. It's great to be a missionary! So, I don't know if this letter will arrive before my email on P-day, but they encouraged us to write our family so you know I'm safe. This might be my only hand-written letter to y'all.  (If you want to type it up and post it- that's cool) I love this gospel! The gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives & heals hearts- I'm so excited to love the people of Washington and invite them to come unto their loving Savior, Jesus Christ. I love you guys lots! I always pray for you. I'll write more in my email! 

Heart, 

Hermanita Judd

So that's that. Isn't she wonderful? We're so excited to get the next email! And we're so glad she has Hermana Brown as a familiar face to be the support she needs. 

And if you want to be on the email list, please don't hesitate to comment on here with your email address, or send me (Hannah) an email or contact me on Facebook!