Monday, November 7, 2016

Looks Like I am Staying in the Redhawk Ward with Elder Holfeltz

Hey Everyone!

Another fantastic week has gone by! It started off pretty slow but it seems like by the end of the week things tend to start picking up. I think that the best part of my whoKia, and Cameron all came to church on Sunday and they loved it. The person teaching Relief Society told us afterwards that she actually changed her lesson plan like five times and at the end of the meeting, Kia was crying and came up to her and told her that that was exactly what she needed. Also, in Elders Quorum, they talked about Home teaching which Jeff pretty much already does with his next door neighbor that he is friends with. Jeff also said that he is going to go to the Softball games that the Elders Quorum is playing! It is so great when the members show such love and support for our investigators.


le week was that our investigators, Jeff,

Also this past Sunday I was able to go over to the Traconis' and share a meal with them and celebrate their daughter and Bro. Traconis' mom's Birthday! It is so cool to be able to get to know how awesome our members are!

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve and to be a part of other's conversions process. I know that as we work hard, we will be blessed and we will find success for everything.I know that the Book of Mormon was written for our time, I have found so many answers to my questions as I have read from the Book of Mormon and prayed to my Father in Heaven. I know that as we continue to serve others and share this amazing gospel that means so much to us, we will be blessed and things will work out. I know that this is Christ's church restored on the Earth today and I am so grateful to be a part of it!

Thank y'all for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

Harry Potter Wand 

(one of the members went his for their Birthday)

Trying on glasses...I look a little different! 

Monday, October 31, 2016

Another Fantastic Week!

Hey Everyone!

Sometimes I feel like a broken record with regards to talking about how amazing my mission is but it truly is amazing and I am having the best time of my life!

So this week started off, awesome! So Monday is starts pouring rain outside, which is a huge rarity in Temecula and we got to go out and bike in it, which made it even more fun. Now the miracle that we saw that night was that we were bale to get in and teach the James' who we have been having the hardest time getting hold of because they have a really busy schedule. That lesson went very well and we were able to set up another time to meet with them.

Also, while on exchanges, we were able to meet this awesome elderly couple and talk with them. They are the sweetest people and are always willing to share there story and help us out whenever they can!

On Saturday, we were able to find another person to teach named Jason and we were able to help him through some trials that he is going through in his life right now. I am so happy that our loving Heavenly Father has  given us scriptures that are so applicable to our lives and that we can us to help others.

I know that through our trials, we are made stronger so that we can help someone else through their trials. I also know that Heavenly Father loves us so much! More than we can even begin to imagine. That is why His plan is so perfect, is because it is all about love. I know that through Christ we can be lifted from our burdens. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that as we come to know of its truthfulness for ourselves, we will find strength in it. I am so grateful for a prophet that leads and guides us as if Christ were here on the Earth to do so.

I am grateful for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all so much!

Love,
Elder Rudd

San Diego Temple

Selfie

Zone Picture

Nametag Picture

Elder Ellis and Elder Rudd

District Photo

Monday, October 24, 2016

What a Wonderful Week

Hey Everyone!

So this week was great! So although it started off as a slow week, it ended up being an awesome week towards the end.

This was just one of those weeks where everyone cancelled, if you have or are serving a mission then you know what I am talking about. However, usually those days come to an end and you are able to see the little miracles that come as we work hard and are obedient and that is exactly what happened with us this week. So on Saturday during my personal study I felt like I should read from Preach My Gospel in the Finding section. So I did and I read one of the activities and it was to try and contact as many former investigators as possible in 24 hours and so we did! And we were able to find 2 new investigators that day and set up a return appointment with them! I was so happy and it was so great to see God's hand in our life as we were able to meet many of His children and help them tho feel of His love fot them.

Also during Stake Conference our mission President spoke and we were able to hear from him, he is truly inspired and I love how he is so up front about the importance of missionary work but he knows that it is hard so he read this scripture to us from Doctrine and Covenants 60:2 which says, "But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent‍ which I have given unto them, because of the fear‍ of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger‍ is kindled‍ against them." It is a pretty bold statement but he followed it up with saying that we each just need to find our own invitation to share the gospel with others.

Also my birthday was amazing and I am thankful to all of you who have wished me a happy birthday and have helped me to feel of your love.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve here in the Redhawk Ward. I know that the Savior atoned for all of our sins and that through Him we can become clean again! I know that the this is Christ's church re-established on the Earth again and I am so grateful to be a part of it! I know all of this because I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I know that you too can know of its truthfulness as you take the time to read from it and to ask Heavenly Father if it is true. I mean what do you have to loose, a couple hours of your time to read a book that could change your life forever and allow you to know of God's perfect and loving plan for you! I would encourage each of you to read from it and to ask if it is true or not. I know if you are sincere, you will receive an answer to your prayer.

I hope y'all have a great week!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

Crazy Halloween decorations

Cool reflection

My companion made me Waffles for my Birthday

Icecream Cake, my favorite!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Trunk or Treat and Investigators Wanting to Get Baptized

Hey Everyone,

This week was great! I learned so much and I had so much fun!

So this week we had the Trunk or Treat and we were able to get quite a few investigators out to it and help them to enjoy it. Also we are able to decorate one of the councilers in the bishoprics car and hand out candy which really helped me to learn the Ward even better.

So the climax of the week was on Wednesday when we were able to have our lesson with Kia and Jeff. So we were teaching them the Law of Tithing and at the end she was like, " so can we do the next lesson?" That was Law of Chasity and she pretty much taught us the Law of Chasity and then we were able to move on to the Word of Wisdom and teach her about that one. During that lesson, she told us that she wanted to get baptized, she just wanted to finish the Book of Mormon and get more involved in the church before she did. My companion and I were both super excited to hear that!

Also, we found out that she knows quite a few members of the church than I think she realized and they have been helping her in many ways to feel of Heavenly Father's love for her.

I know that through the Book of Mormon, we can come to a knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel. I know that Christ's chirch has been restored today to the Earth and what a blessing it is that we have that knowledge. I know that we have a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson that leads and guides us. I know that as we continue to do the small and simple things such as saying our prayers, reading the scriptures and going to church, our testimony will be strengthened and we will be blessed!

There is also an awesome video that I would recommend to anyone who would like to feel the Spirit and Christ's love for them. It is called Missionary Work and the Atonement. Just search that on youtube.

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

Corn Maze - Zone Activity

E. Cattich, E. Wight, E. Gantner, E. Ellis , E. Bunndy, E. Rudd, E. Kesler, E. Halsey, E. Patton, E. Anderson, E. Holfeltz, E. Richards, E. Wimmer, E. Parkinson, E. Yanncy, E. Denbow, E. Acosta, E. Talbot

Sis. Petterborg, Sis. Timmons, Sis. Odette, Sis. Grant, Sis. Mitchell, Sis. Watson

Elder Gantner, Elder Rudd, Elder Holfeltz

Back Row: Elder Patton, Elder Cattich, Elder Rudd, Elder Anderson

Being held up: Elder Richards

On the Ground: Elder Holfeltz

Trunk or Treat

(Our Trunk)

Monday, October 11, 2016

What a Great Week!

Hey Everyone!

This week has been great!

First off, we were able to see a miracle when 6 investigators showed up to a Fireside that our Ward Mission Leader put on. It was such a great experience and we all felt the Spirit so strong there!

Also, we were able to stop by a former investigator this week and see if we could help him out with anything and if he would be willing to start meeting with us again and he said that he would liove to and that we could come over and help him with his backyard project. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed talking with him and seeing how we can help.

We were able to go over to our Ward Mission Leaders house again on Wednesday to have a lesson with our investigators, Jeff and Kia. They are awesome and at the end of the lesson, Kia asked, "Do we have to be members of your church to start paying tithing?" and we had not even taught tithing yet! She also started asking questions that started with, "So when we are baptized...?" instead of, "So if we are baptized...?" It is amazing when the Spirit is able to testify to them of the truthfulness of the things that we teach.

I konw that this is Christ's Church restored back on the Earth. I know it because I have had a confirmation from the Holy Ghost that it is. I know that each and every one of us can have that same witness if we will take the time to sincerely pray to Heavenly Father about it. I know that conversion is a long process and that it is truly a life long journey, but I look at it this way, if it is a lifelong journey, wouldnt you want to start that journey as quick as possible so that you can come to know the Savior more fully in your life? I know that the Book of Mormon is truly Another Testament of Jesus Christ and I would continue to invite you to read it and ask if it is true!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

PS. I am glad to hear that all that were impacted by the storm are alright and that there are so many willing to go and help others that were less fortunate.

One of our members has a tortoise for a pet!

Monday, October 3, 2016

First Week in the Redhawk Ward

Hey Everyone!

This week was great! I got a good hardworking companion and I was able to go around and meet many of the Ward members, who by the way are really great and super missionary minded.

General Conference was amazing and I loved all of the talks! I will have to go back and re read the the talks in the ensign once they come out. My favorite was the talk by President Thomas S. Monson where he talks about how we can draw on the strength that God has promised is because of us living the Word of Wisdom.

We also got to celebrate my companions birthday on the 1st which was awesome and the members here take such good care of us. I feel kinda like I am in a mini Utah.

We have to bike like 3 miles to get into our area from our apartment so I will be super fit after I am done here!

So it is kinda weird riding by the casino at night! My companion compared it to Lehi's dream of us going down the sidewalk is the straight and narrow path, the Casino is the great and spacious building, and the really busy road is the river. I thought it was a great analogy and something I think about as we are going down the road.

I know that this church is true! I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve in the Redhawk Ward and to work my hardest for my Savior. I am grateful for the opportunity that we have had to watch General Conference and to hear from the prophet! I know the Book of Mormon is true and that by reading it we can each come to know of the truthfulness of it!

Thank y'all for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

Leaving Fallbrook

Gator Fans Represented

Early Halloween Decorations

New Area (Temecula, CA - Redhawk Ward)

Elder Holfeltz's Cake

Monday, September 26, 2016

The End of My Time Here in the Fallbrook 2nd Ward

Also if you haven't already heard, I am getting transferred to the Redhawk Ward in Temecula and my new companion will be Elder Holfeltz. 

One really cool thing that happened was that we were able to go to the Mormon Battalion! Which is super cool and a place that I would definitely recommend to anyone who has the chance to go! The Spirit can be felt very strong there and there is so much that the Mormon Battalion did that I had no idea they went through.

This week we also had a really cool experience where we were listening to the Spirit and we were put in the right place at the right time. It all started when we went to go and see one of our investigators but he was too tired to meet so we were walking back down the hill and I felt like we should stop by this member that lived in the same complex. At first I was like, he is active, why do we need to stop by, it is already late and then this thought popped into my head and it said, "You told me you would act on the prompting I give you." So I turned to Elder Adams and said that I felt like we should go to this house so we did and come to find out, he had just lost his job and was about to move but had a really bad back and was stressing about what he was going to do. We felt like we should share a message of hope and faith and then we offered to help him move and he was super appreciative of it. Then we went to go and see Nita as we always do and as we were walking up the hill to her place, I felt like we should stop by one of our investigators, Beverly and Christian, who live by there and so I said to myself that we would stop by after we saw Nita. So we went and saw Nita and what normally would have taken an hour took only 15 minutes because she was not feeling well. So we asked if she wanted a blessing and we gave her one and the next day she was feeling so much better. So after we left there I felt again that we should go and see Beverly and Christian and then Elder Adams told me that he felt like we should too and I had not told him that I felt that way yet. So we stopped by there and Beverly told us that she works on Sundays so she hasn't been able to come but she would love to go to Church in Escondido which is closer to where she works. We then got in touch with the missionaries there so that they can help her feel welcome. That was such a great night and both Elder Adams and I felt the Spirit so strong!

I know that if you follow the Spirit then everything will work out. I do not know what I would do if I didn't have the Spirit leading and guiding me! I know that this is Christ's Church restored here on the Earth. If you cant believe it, then ask God and I know that He will tell you! I know that God answers our prayers, it just takes us having the faith that He will answer and that we are willing to accept what His answer even if it is not what we wanted. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that through it, you can become closer to Jesus Christ and God than by any other way.  

Thank y'all for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all! 

Love,
Elder Rudd

Mormon Battalion Site

Elder Madero, Elder Sanders, Elder Sharp

Idk, Elder Arellano, Elder Patton, Elder Adams, ELder Rudd, Elder Willard

Elder Martinez, Elder Emerick

Hna. Parris, Hna. Mendez Rodriguez, Hna. Young, Sis. Thomas, Pres. Thomas

District Picture

Sis. Dailey, Sis. Froisland, Elder Winegar, Elder Castleton, Elder Romney, Elder Major, Elder Rudd

Mormon Battalion

Saying Goodbye to the Rodriguez Family

Monday, September 19, 2016

When One of Your Investigators Gets Married...

Hey Everyone!

I hope y'all had a great week!

This week was pretty good for us. We were able to go to one of our investigators, Rosy, wedding. It was so cool. And the best part is that now she can get baptized and then in a year they can get sealed in the temple together for time and all eternity!

Also this week we were able to go to this volunteer appreciation luncheon for the Fallbrook Food Pantry and we received a Certificate from the Senator for LDS Missionaries as a whole for there 758 Service hours this past year. It was a great experience being there and being able to help out so many people and get to know all of those around the community.

This week we picked up a new investigator named Richard and he is on date for Baptism on the 15th of October! I am super excited for him and I am so grateful that we were able to meet such a great and spiritual man.

I also learned something really neat in Sunday school yesterday. WE were talking about obedience and the thing that was pointed out about why we don't keep all of the commandments is because we lack knowledge. If you think about it, everything that we do and are is dependent upon our knowledge of Jesus Christ and our willingness to be like Him. One scripture that we talked a little bit about that talks about the source of our happiness in this life is in D&C 93:28. I love that scripture and I know that it is true.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission and to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church here on the earth today. If you want proof of that, read the Book of Mormon and then go ahead and test God and ask Him if it is not true. I know that if you sincerely do, you too will come to the same knowledge as I have that the Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith and that the Church that Christ established is truly here again and that it will never again leave this Earth! What an amazing thing it is to have that knowledge.

Thank y'all for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

Senator's Certificate of Appreciation

Rosy and Jose cutting the cake

In the Apartment

(Zip ties so Elder Rudd wouldn't scratch his eyes that are driving him nuts)

Heading to the eye doctor for exam & prescriptions!!

Monday, September 12, 2016

It's Been a Good Week!

Hey Everyone!

This week has been great!

We were able to find a couple of new investigators and we were also able to see quite a few Less Active members which is always nice!

This week I saw God's hand in my life in many ways, first off, we were able to stop by this great person who was very welcoming in letting us come in and talk and he talked about how he had gone through all of these trials to get to this point in his life.

We were also able to help out this man who had met with missionaries in the past and agreed with a lot of what we believed and we asked if he was still willing to learn and he said he was so we are going to go and see him later this week.

We also were able to teach one of our recent converts how to do FHE. Those same people, we had a cool experience with earlier in the week as we were going to all of these people that we thought for sure would be there but they were not and then I had the feeling that we should stop by them earlier in the day even though we were going to be going there later that night. We did and it turned out that they needed us there at that time to be able to help them through some of the trials that they were facing at that time. One of the recent converts opened up to us more than before and we were able to help him through his trials. My testimony of God's hand being in the right place at the right time is growing each and every day that I serve!

I know that this is where I need to be and that there is no other place that I can feel the Spirit as strongly and in such great abundance than on a mission. I would invite all that may be thinking about serving a mission to go to the Lord and ask Him if you should, I have a feeling I know what His answer will be. I know that this church is true without a doubt and I know that the Book of Mormon is true. If you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, I can testify that everything else will fall into place and that you will understand and agree with everything else. If you have not read and asked Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon is true, I would invite you to do so.

I hope y'all have an AMAZING week!

I love and miss y'all and am so grateful for all of your love and support!!

Love,

Elder Rudd

Biking at a nature preserve

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Dinner at Trupianos, in Fallbrook

A nice surprise for the Fallbrook 3rd Ward Elders 

from a member visiting from outside the area!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

What a Week!

Hey Everyone!

This week was awesome! We saw so many miracles!

The first story I want to share with you is a story about how I was able to grow my testimony even stronger of how God has His hand in all things. So it started off with us going to track down a referral that we got from the Fallbrook 1st Ward sisters. This referral was a bit further out in our area so we got a ride from a member of our ward. All we had was their name and directions to their house. Well we spent about 45 minutes looking for this house but could not find it, we asked the neighbors and everyone around and no one seemed to know. So our member, Bro. Erard, thought we should stop by a member that knows the area pretty well. So we went over to his place to talk with him and he wasn't there. We then called him and he mentioned a less active member who was in the area, which we had actually planned as a back up to go and see that night. Anyways, we knock on this members door and he invites us in almost immediately. We sat down and we talked with him and his wife for a little while and found out that he had never lost his testimony and had been waiting for someone from the church to stop by. He told us that night that he wanted to come back to church and that he would. He also said that he would like us to teach his wife the missionary discussions as she is not a member of the church and he would like to be a part of that as well. It was a very spiritual meeting and I am so glad that we were able to listen to the Spirit to direct us to this wonderful home!

Another miracle that happened was when we were able to meet with our investigator, Don! We have been meeting with him for about 2 months now and originally he said he would get baptized in 6 months but we were teaching him the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he realized that he didn't always have to be perfect and that it was okay to mess up because of the Atonement. After he realized that and the Spirit testified to him that he could get baptized, he turned to us and said, "You guys have yourself a deal, I will get baptized." We set a date with him for September 24th and we are excited for him!

I know that this church is led by Christ Himself. He is at the head of this church and that His hand is in all things! I know that we have a prophet that is called of God and that he is the mouthpiece for God. I know that with the Spirit, we can accomplish all things and that as we rely on it, it will help us to a line our will with God's will. I know that the Book of Mormon is true because I feel the Spirit as I read from it and it confirms to me of its truthfulness.

Thank you for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,
Elder Rudd

Monday, August 29, 2016

Parker Got Baptized!!!

Hey Everyone!

I hope y'all had a great week! I know that we did!

So this week was a busy week for us. We were able to go and have a meeting with one of the Seventy. Elder de Hoyos and it was so neat to be able to meet with him and to receive council on how we can become even better missionaries. We also like it said in the title, were able to have a baptism!

Parker is an awesome kid and has been being taught by the Zone Leaders but recently moved into our ward and decided to get baptized into our ward. Parker is awesome, I was able to teach him while on exchanges with Elder Major and also help their family out with moving. They are a really special family to me. I am so grateful that I was able to witness their baptism.

Today we were able to go to some caves and go exploring! It was so much fun, definitely one of my favorite zone activities! It is crazy to see all of the graffiti on the rocks! We had so much fun going too that!

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve here and to help others come unto Christ! I am grateful for Parkers decision to be baptized and be an example for his family. It truly is amazing to see how much people can change all because of one decision to act. I am grateful for the Spirit and how much I can rely on it to help me to help others. I know that this church is true, there is no doubt in my mind. Someone asked me if I couldn't be a Mormon, what would I be and I said, quite honestly I have never given it much thought because I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I feel as though I am blessed that I have the knowledge that I do and for the examples that I have had in my life!

Thank y'all for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all! 

Love,
Elder Rudd

Elder Rudd & Elder Castillo

(At a 4 zone meeting. Vista, Fallbrook, Murrieta, and Temecula)

Filling the font

At Parker's baptism

Zone P-Day Activity exploring caves!

The Fallbrook Zone includes missionaries serving in the following wards:

Fallbrook 1st / Fallbrook 2nd / Fallbrook 5th

Mormons Gettin' Freaky

Not sure if that was a recent addition or not???

Go Gators!!

California sunset over the mountains

Monday, August 22, 2016

Life is Great!

Hey Everyone!

This week was a pretty good week!

I learned a lot of things and felt the Spirit very strongly on multiple instances. I also learned that there must be some kind of pattern because every other day is a good day and then the other days are a bit more difficult. I guess those difficult days help us to appreciate the other days.

This week we were able to meet with many of our investigators and set expectations with them about why we are even there. We found that some of them understood and some did not. Koree and Don are the most solid investigators right now and are really progressing.

We also have a baptism this Saturday for a 10 year old named Parker Wallace who just moved into our ward and has been being taught by my Zone Leaders for a while. He is an awesome kid and I am so excited to bring our investigators to his baptism!

I know that God blesses us every single day if we will just look for His hand in our lives. Recently I started a new journal where I am writing down how I saw God's hand in my life. It is so cool to see how much He plays a part in our lives. Even from the most miniscule things. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that as we read from it, we will come closer to our Lord and Savior.

Thank y'all for all of your love and support!

I love and miss y'all!

Love,

Elder Rudd

Fallbrook Summer Nights was a pretty cool Festival. 

And we actually were able to find a new investigator when 

he came up to us and asked to learn more.