Transfer 7 Semaine 2 12/17/13

Dear family and friends, 

Forgive the day of delay! Yesterday I didnt take my P-day because we had our giant Christmas conference!:) Since the mission is so big now, we had to split the conference up into four different groups in order to cater to all 250 missionaries! and my group was up first.:) It was such an incredible learning experience, and being all together truly unified the spirit and vision of the mission. I am so especially grateful for my mission president and his wife. They are incredible. I have no clue how they do all they do. They are and forever will be some of the greatest examples and friends I will ever have. Please keep them in your prayers of gratitude and blessing. 

This first week in Versailles has wizzed by! Although I am the new one in town, I love it already and am so grateful for those whom with I serve. Since I have arrived, Soeur Stahly and I have met with several inactive members: Nadege, la famille Staikovsky, Joyce, and Laurie. Each of them are so sweet, and I am so filled with the love Heavenly Father has for them. Laurie, in particular, was a special miracle. Just before I came to Versailles, she had contacted the sisters to ask for a copy of the Liahona, and when we visited her to deliver it, we were happy to hear of all of the the experiences she has had that have pushed her to turn, once more, to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Laurie was baptised 20 years ago when she was 19 years old and just soared as a new convert. A year after her baptism, she went through the temple to make additional covenants and helped many others around her to accept the Gospel into their lives. When she got married, however, her husbands pessimism really took a toll, and since about the age of 25, she has been completely inactive. She met with the missionaries for years, on and off, but always pushed them away because of the guilt she felt. A couple weeks ago, though, at her grandmother's funeral, she felt the Spirit confirm to her the importance of performing temple work for deceased members of our families. She felt as though her granndma has desires for this work to be done. So, as a result, she contacted the missionaries, began again to read in the Book of Mormon, and is taking other necessary steps that she needs in order to enter the temple of the Lord. What a blessing she will be to those in her family who are anxiously waiting, and what an incredible blessing Laurie is to each of us! Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, especially this week, as we will meet with her again at the end of the week. 

Since my arrival, I have also been able to meet with serveral investigators: Marguerite, Marylline, and Luce. Each of these women are outstanding, and are coming closer in their decisions to be baptized. Please pray for them so they may be able to feel the Spirit tell them the importance it is to make this covenant with God. 

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I feel so much of your love.:) 

Remember that you can make a difference, wherever you are. Find someone to help and always, always remember to smile.:) 

I love you with all of my heart.:) 

Soeur Laura Lee Judd 

Transfer 7 Semaine 1 12/9/13

Dear family and friends,

Another transfer is over, and I can hardly believe it!!! Goodness! Time flies when you are having fun.:) Sadly, we all know that at the end of each transfer comes changes....and although I am sad to have recieved the news that I will be leaving Blois, I am so happy to announce that my next area will be VERSAILLES!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you read it right.:) I am moving to Versailles.:) My new companion's name is Soeur Stahley, and I am so grateful to be able to serve with her.:) She and I were in the same district when I was in Angers, and, before they had Sister Trainer Leaders (back in the dark ages...:) haha) I acually was so lucky to be able to go on my first exchange with Soeur Stahley in Cholet. She is a really incredible missionary, and I am so grateful to be able to spend this next transfer with her.:)

This week (I am so happy to tell you this) we were finally able to organize lessons with the Velija family and the assistants serving in the Adriatic South Mission! I have been praying for months and months for the Velijas to have a way to hear the Gospel in their own language, and I am so grateful to have been able to see that become a reality. Although I wasnt able to understand even the least bit of Albanian, the Spirit in the room was so strong, and the Velijas, already, are progressing so quickly. Now that they will be able to have each lesson from here on out in Albanian, we are not too involved in the teaching process anymore, but it is still quite a treat to be cheering at the sidelines and watching the Lord do His work.:) I know that the Lord answeres prayers. Please continue to keep the family Velija in your prayers. Although I may not be able to keep you very updated about their detailed progression because I will no longer be in Blois, I will let you know all that I find out about them in the future.:)

Ending a transfer and finishing time in an area sure causes a lot of reflection...and today I have been thinking so much about what I have learned and how I have grown since I have come to Blois. I am so happy to be able to say that the greatest lesson I have learned, and will continue to learn, is how to use the Atonement and to lean on the Savior for help and support. I know that He lives! There is no possible way I could ever perform the work He has laid out for us without His help. He is with us every step of the way. I know it.

Remember that you can make a difference, wherever you are. Find someone to help and always, always remember to smile.:)

I love you with all of my heart.:)

Soeur Laura Lee Judd

Transfer 6 Semaine 6 12/3/13

Dear family and friends, 

It's alrady week six! I can hardly believe it. Early on in your mission, you're always told that every transfer goes faster and faster, but I never realized how fast that could actually be!!!!!!:) 

On Sunday, Maggy was confirmed a memeber of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. Even in the one week since her baptism, her testimony has grown so much, and I know that with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost that she now has, her spirit and knowledge will grow even more. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

This week we have done all sorts of organizing through the Assistants with missionaries in the Adriatic North mission because THE VELIJA FAMILY IS FINALLY GOING TO HEAR THE MISSIONARY LESSONS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE!!!!! I am so excited.:) Hopefully this week we will be able to get that first contact with all of them through skype. I also hope that, in that lesson, we will be able to set a baptisimal date for the entire family.:) Please keep them in your prayers as well.

Remember that you can make a difference, wherever you are. Find someone to help. And always always remember to smile.:) 

I love you with all of my heart, Soeur Laura Lee Judd