Monday, January 25, 2016

Another Week in the Life of a Missionary


Hey Everyone!

This week was pretty good. There were quite a lot of things that happened. First off we went over to this less active members house looking for his brother Toa who is a potential investigator but he wasn't there. Instead his brother gave us a Thrasher Shark that he had just caught the day before and told us exactly how to cook it. So wee took it and since it was like 10 lbs of meat that we knew we would not be able to eat by ourselves, we took it to the BBQ the next day. We prepared it and cooked it exactly how he said and it turned out to be so delicious! I was very impressed and so was everyone there. We also got to pet some llama's at dinner last night which was really cool. Thankfully they didn't spit on me.

The only sad thing that happened this week was that our investigator, Angel, dropped us because he has been talking with this pastor friend of his. When he told me that, I was heart broken, because I know he has felt the Spirit before, but I know that he will one day come to know of the truthfulness of the things we teach.

We did, however, get to teach the Restoration to these three guys on the street and one of them committed to baptism. That was such a great experience learning that the Lord really does put people in our paths, so that we can teach then about the Restored truth.

We also were able to teach a man named Sean, who is in the military, and he is such a a great guy with such a desire to know the truthfulness of the things we teach.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve here and those that I am able to meet and help them come to know how they can live a truly happy life. I know that God will only give us as much as we can handle, even if it seems like we can't handle it sometimes. If we pray to him and ask for help, He will answer our prayers and give us the strength that we need.

I hope you all have a great week!!

Thank you for all of your love and support!

Love,

Elder Rudd

Thrasher Shark... it's what's for dinner. 

This definitely wasn't his Momma's recipe.

The Elders visiting the llamas.

The Emperor's New Groove.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Hey Everyone,

There were quite a few things that went on this weekend! First off Angel sadly did not get baptized because of something that came up but he is still taking the lessons with us and progressing towards baptism an January 29th. 

I also got a new companion this week who's name is Elder Urey. He is from Seattle, Washington and he is pretty cool. We are getting along pretty well.

We also are teaching a couple of new investigators now named Xavier and Acey who are both on date and are progressing towards baptism. 

This week we also got chased by a dog which was pretty fun. And picked up a chicken!

I know that this Church is true and I know that as we live by the standards of the gospel, we truly will be blessed.

Love,

Elder Rudd

 

 

The district at FHE

More of the District

(Serving in Vista YSA Ward & Vista 10th Ward)

Elder Urey & Elder Rudd

I'll never look at chicken the same way!

This sidewalk makes no sense?!?

 

Monday, January 11, 2016

Hey Everyone,

This week was AMAZING!! First off we had some crazy flash flooding at the beginning of the week! Like the sidewalks were completely under water and we were driving through over a foot of water at some points. Being boys it was very fun!

 

So another crazy thing that happened was when we went to a potential investigators house and their dog started chasing us. Then it bit at our feet, I am glad I was wearing my waterproof shoes because I stuck my foot out and it just bit my shoe. Haha.

 

We also got transfer calls on Saturday and I am going to be staying in the Vista YSA training a new missionary as well as being a DL (District Leader). Elder Miles is going to Murrieta.

 

So now the most exciting news of all!! We met with this man named Angel this week and had a couple of lessons with him. At the end of the first lesson we asked him to specifically pray to know if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet and in his prayer he said that he knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon was true. Then we committed him to baptism first for the 22nd of January and then as we were leaving we realized that he had been to church 3 times already and in order to get baptized in our mission, you have to go to church at least twice. So we prayed about it and felt like we should ask him if he wanted to move his date to the 11th and he said yes! So today at 6 PM Angel is going to be baptized! I am so excited that I was able to have the opportunity to help Angel enter into the Kingdom of God.

 

I know that as we pray and ask our Heavenly Father for things with a sincere heart he will bless us. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve here and all of the people that I am able to meet. I know that as we truly ask to know if the Book of Mormon is true, we will receive the answer that it is!!

 

I hope you all have a great week!!

 

Love,

Elder Rudd

 

 

 

That river was dry before this week

 Flash Flooding in the Area

 Flash Flooding in the Area

  Flash Flooding in the Area

 Flash Flooding in the Area 

Cool Aquarium at Bishopric Councilor's House

I'm guessing Elder Rudd was missing the show "Tanked"

 

 Glow in the Dark Volleyball

Monday, January 4, 2016

Miracles are So Real

Hey Everyone,

This week was an amazing week.

 

New Years was pretty fun and we had some great things happened this week. The miracle that happened this week on Saturday was when we were able to contact quite a few people. It all started in the morning when we were able to get our SOE (Standard of Excellence) by 12. That like never happens. So Elder Miles and I look at each other and then say we are going to beat the Fallbrook 1st Ward sisters who recently got 65 contacts in one day. Then by 3 we have about 80 contacts and then we look at each other and say, we are going to get over 100 contacts today and so we say a prayer and ask that we will be guided by the Spirit and we truly were. We were able to get 101 contacts in one day and 3 of the people that we contacted we were able to set up lessons with. 

Then at the end of the day when we were biking back I got in a crash which was actually pretty fun since I am okay and so is my bike and watch. There were so many people honking and waving which was pretty fun.

 

We also were able to go up to Camp Pendleton to teach some of the recruits there. That was one of my best experiences because of the fact that they are so humble and ready to hear the gospel. I had one lesson with one of the recruits and everything made sense to him and he said he would get baptized in a couple of weeks. 

 

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the same Church that Christ established when he was here on the Earth. I also know that as we heed to the promptings of the Spirit, the Lord will work miracles in our lives.

 

I love y'all so much and am appreciative of all of you love and support.

 

Have a great week!!

 

Love,

Elder Rudd 

 

 

Cool Wall Art

 

 

 

 

New Years Eve Tradition

Sparkling Grape Juice

Heading to Camp Pendleton to Teach the Recruits

 

Monday, December 28, 2015

Hey Everyone!

I hope y'all had a great Christmas and are enjoying this holiday season.

I had a great week and really enjoyed Christmas. We were able to have a Mission Christmas Party, I mean devotional which was so much fun. There were quite a few of the missionaries that had some awesome talents. I also went on exchanges with one of the missionaries the day before, so I was able to bring up all of the Christmas presents and packages with him, which was A LOT!! It filled the entire back of the huge van we were driving.

 

On Christmas Eve, we went out Christmas Caroling with some of the other missionaries in my District. That was so much fun and really brought the Spirit to those we sang to. The first person we sang to was this lady that had come up to the church asking if we were having "Mass" that night.  We told her no, but that if she would like, we could sing to her and her little daughter. It was such a spiritual experience, which helped me realize even more the true meaning of Christmas. 

 

Then on Christmas Day we went to the Norris' again and also Skyped home at my Ward Mission Leaders home, which was really good (even though I was pretty nervous to do that).

 

As far as investigators go, sadly Dulce dropped us on Saturday. She said she was too firm in her own religion. We were both very sad, but we know that the seed was planted and it is only a matter of time before she comes to know that the things we were teaching her were true. We also kinda picked up an investigator named Thalia.  She is very interested, but her cousin that lived with her is a bit anti, so it is a pretty delicate situation. 

 

We also got our mini-missionary this week on Saturday. His name is Christian Nettles and he is doing pretty good so far. 

 

I know that my Redeemer lives and I know that as we work our hardest to share the gospel, then we will be blessed and so will those that we talk to. I know that this church is true and that we have a living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson that leads and guides the World today.

 

I love y'all and hope y'all have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Rudd

 

 Santa's Little Helper

(Delivering Packages to Other Missionaries)

 Missionary Packages in the Mission Office

On the road again

Skype call home for Christmas

Skype call home for Christmas

Monday, December 21, 2015

Hey Everyone,

This week has been a pretty good week. We have been able to continue teaching Dulce. She has such a desire to find the truth and it is just a matter of time before she will be ready. It was great to have one of our ward members there, because she speaks Spanish and when she bore her testimony in Spanish to her, her whole demeanor changed!

We also were able to teach this guy named Gilberto, who we have been teaching off and on for quite a while, but he seems to be much more humble and ready to learn now. 

During FHE this week, we got to make Snowflakes, which was pretty fun. I love being in the YSA, there are so many fun activities.

I hope y'all have an AMAZING Christmas and always remember the real reason for the Season.

I know that my Redeemer lives and that because of Him, each and everyone of us has the opportunity to go back and live with our loving Heavenly Father. 

I love y'all!!

 

Love,

Elder Rudd

Making Snowflakes

A California plant "On the Move"

Enjoying Banana Bread from Home

In the Apt by the Christmas Tree

 

 

Monday, December 14, 2015

Hey Everyone,

This week was a pretty good week. We were able to go to Tiffany's baptism which was really neat. Tiffany was the YSA Sisters' investigator. We knew her pretty well, since she has been coming to church and other activities for the past couple of weeks. The Spirit was so strong at that baptism. I have not felt the Spirit that strong in a really long time. It was especially great that the Spirit was so strong, because we had an investigator there that said that he felt the Spirit too. After the baptism we were able to teach him The Restoration. 

We also picked up a new investigator named Deluce, who is amazing. She is 19 and was passed off to us by the Spanish Sister Missionaries, who thought that she would do better in a YSA Ward. She has already been taught the first four lessons and she is really solid. She loves learning about the church and understands and says that she will keep the commandments. I can't wait to meet back up with her this week and see how much she has progressed.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us, even when we mess up. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore Christ's church back on the Earth today, and I know that our current prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, is called of God to lead and guide us in a world where there is much confusion. 

I hope you all have a great week!!

I love y'all!!

 

Love,

Elder Rudd

 

Christmas Ornament made at FHE

Foggy Day - Outside the Apartments

Foggy Day - Outside the Apartments

 

"The mist of darkness."

Where is the iron rod when you need it?