Hey family happy new year!!! Well it was great talking to you on Christmas. I had a great time and i loved hearing from all of you. It was great that Bro. & Sister Hughes let us use their phone. I hope you all had a great Christmas.
Well i guess the big news this week is that i did not get transfered. I am staying in Rugby for another transfer. That will put me here for 7 1/2 months. Only one other person has stayed in Rugby that long from what i can tell. The other part of the big news was that on Saturday night i got a phone call from President Moffat and he was talking to me for a while and then he asked me if i would accept a call as a District Leader. I was a little nervous but i told him that i would do it. So i am the District Leader now. It is a lot of responsibility but i am excited for this new adventure. There are 6 elders in the district including us and 2 sisters. It will be a great experience and i think i will learn a lot from it. I have already had some challenging experiences so i will let you know how this goes.
Well there hasn't been a whole lot that has gone on since i talked to you on Chirstmas. We have just continued working and trying to find people to teach and baptize. Things are going well and i am excited about this upcoming transfer.
I was sad to see Elder Nordquist leave. Tell him hello for me and that the mission misses him. I can't wait until i can see him again when i get home.
Well i will be cheering for the Utes on Friday. I hope they can pull it off. That would be sweet if they did. Did the team down south win their bowl game? I am happy to hear about Kyle staying. I hope that he can keep that fire and that his teams will be able to perform. GO UTES!!!!!!!!
Well i really don't have a lot more. I love being out here and serving. It is so great. The gospel really is true. My testimony grows stronger each and every day. I love our Savior Jesus Christ. I really have come to know him during this Christmas season. I didn't really feel like it was christmas but i was really focused on Jesus Christ. I love him very much. I love all of you and i am so thankful for all of your support. You are great.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Letter - December 16, 2008
Hey how is it going?? It was great to hear from you and see how you are all doing. Wow i can't believe it is Christmas next week. December has flown by. Well i guess i better tell you guys when to call me. President Moffat said that we need to have our families call us so we don't make the members have a huge bill. But if that is ok with you i want you to call me in between 4:45 and 5:00 my time. That would put it in between 9:45 and 10:00 Utah time. I hope that works with you. This is the number you need to call. *****. If you want to you may want to call it during the week and see if it works. The member we are calling from is very nice. She feeds us well. It is like a thanksgiving feast every time we go. It is so good. I love it.
Well this week has been a good week. It has been a great week. We have had a lot of success. I will keep it short but i just love missionary work. We were tracting on Saturday and we were going to visit this guy we had stopped earlier on in the week. He wasn't home and so we walked down the street and i felt like we should knock on these houses. We went and knocked and this African family answered and invited us in. It was so great. I was so excited. We went and taught them the Restoration and it was a great lesson. They are from Zambia and their names are Mary and Illack. To make a long story short we invited them to church and they came and they loved it. We asked them to be baptized and they said they wanted to so i am really really excited about it. I will keep you updated on them and we can talk about it on Christmas.
We have our Mission Christmas Party on friday and we have a talent show and me and Elder Wright are singing a song for it. Haha. If you have the voice mail christmas cd jingles 2, which i just think we have the first jingles, listen to song number 14. Its called tracting in a winter wonderland. It is so funny. The A.P'S kinda made us feel guilty for not being in the talent show so we decided we better do this.
Well this email is short because i will talk to you next week and i don't think i will be emailing next week either. But i am absolutely loving this experience. I learn so much each and every day. I can't wait to get out and talk to people. It is incredible. The spirit works so strong. I love the gospel and i love missionary work. I love all of you and i am so grateful for all of your examples. I will talk to you next week on Christmas Morning!!!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. We watched Mr Krugers Christmas last monday night with a member and it was awesome. I love it!!
Well this week has been a good week. It has been a great week. We have had a lot of success. I will keep it short but i just love missionary work. We were tracting on Saturday and we were going to visit this guy we had stopped earlier on in the week. He wasn't home and so we walked down the street and i felt like we should knock on these houses. We went and knocked and this African family answered and invited us in. It was so great. I was so excited. We went and taught them the Restoration and it was a great lesson. They are from Zambia and their names are Mary and Illack. To make a long story short we invited them to church and they came and they loved it. We asked them to be baptized and they said they wanted to so i am really really excited about it. I will keep you updated on them and we can talk about it on Christmas.
We have our Mission Christmas Party on friday and we have a talent show and me and Elder Wright are singing a song for it. Haha. If you have the voice mail christmas cd jingles 2, which i just think we have the first jingles, listen to song number 14. Its called tracting in a winter wonderland. It is so funny. The A.P'S kinda made us feel guilty for not being in the talent show so we decided we better do this.
Well this email is short because i will talk to you next week and i don't think i will be emailing next week either. But i am absolutely loving this experience. I learn so much each and every day. I can't wait to get out and talk to people. It is incredible. The spirit works so strong. I love the gospel and i love missionary work. I love all of you and i am so grateful for all of your examples. I will talk to you next week on Christmas Morning!!!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. We watched Mr Krugers Christmas last monday night with a member and it was awesome. I love it!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Letter - December 9, 2008
Hey everyone!!! It was so good to hear from you. You are the best. I always love hearing from you and your experiences during the week.
Well our baptism went through on Saturday. It was so great to see the excitement of Jordan. He was so happy and ready to be baptized. He asked me if i would baptize him and so that was an honor for me. It was the first time i have baptized someone outside of the temple. It was such a good experience. His mom has decided to come back to church now and so Jordan's baptism didn't only bless his life but it blessed his whole family. It is incredible to see how the Gospel works. It totally blows my mind. It is brilliant!! (I thought i would throw that word in for ya cause i don't think i have said it to you yet.) haha. Elder Nordquist showed up to the baptism so it was good to see him again. I love him and i will miss him very much when he goes home. Other than that we didn't really have too much go on this week.
We did have Zone Conference this past week. It was a great conference. We really focused on making missionary work fun and not being so robotic. We came up with different ideas that we could do that will catch people off guard and that will be different then saying we are missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was really fun and very very useful. I love going to Zone Conference. We have our Mission Christmas Party on the 19th and i am way excited for it. It will be a blast. There will be loads of things that we do. I guess we are having a Preach My Gospel jeopardy game so that should be way fun. As you can see our mission has a lot of fun and we aren't just robots and serious people. President Moffat is an amazing person and he loves to have fun. He is always making jokes and making us laugh. It is a great experience.
I love my mission. I love serving the Lord. It is the greatest time of my life. There is no greater work. I feel the Spirit of the Lord each day. It works on people in more ways than i thought were possible. It is truly amazing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I love it with all my heart. Jesus Christ lives and he is real. The Book of Mormon is amazing. Joseph Smith did incredible things. My mission truly means everything to me. Thank you for all of your love and support. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well our baptism went through on Saturday. It was so great to see the excitement of Jordan. He was so happy and ready to be baptized. He asked me if i would baptize him and so that was an honor for me. It was the first time i have baptized someone outside of the temple. It was such a good experience. His mom has decided to come back to church now and so Jordan's baptism didn't only bless his life but it blessed his whole family. It is incredible to see how the Gospel works. It totally blows my mind. It is brilliant!! (I thought i would throw that word in for ya cause i don't think i have said it to you yet.) haha. Elder Nordquist showed up to the baptism so it was good to see him again. I love him and i will miss him very much when he goes home. Other than that we didn't really have too much go on this week.
We did have Zone Conference this past week. It was a great conference. We really focused on making missionary work fun and not being so robotic. We came up with different ideas that we could do that will catch people off guard and that will be different then saying we are missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was really fun and very very useful. I love going to Zone Conference. We have our Mission Christmas Party on the 19th and i am way excited for it. It will be a blast. There will be loads of things that we do. I guess we are having a Preach My Gospel jeopardy game so that should be way fun. As you can see our mission has a lot of fun and we aren't just robots and serious people. President Moffat is an amazing person and he loves to have fun. He is always making jokes and making us laugh. It is a great experience.
I love my mission. I love serving the Lord. It is the greatest time of my life. There is no greater work. I feel the Spirit of the Lord each day. It works on people in more ways than i thought were possible. It is truly amazing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I love it with all my heart. Jesus Christ lives and he is real. The Book of Mormon is amazing. Joseph Smith did incredible things. My mission truly means everything to me. Thank you for all of your love and support. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Letter - December 2, 2008
Well i have to start out this email by saying.....WHAT THE HECK DEBBIE????????? CONGRATULATIONS! I am so so so happy for you. You seem really happy in all of your pictures. Good thing i won't be at the wedding though. If i were there your car would be destroyed. You know how good i am at the car decorating. Well i really am sad i will miss the wedding but i couldn't be happier for you deb. I love you. Rick you better take good care of my sister. If not you have a year and 4 months to repent and to do better or else you will face the wrath of her younger brother. Just kidding Rick. Thank you for making my sister happy and i know you will take good care of her. Congrats.
Well this week has been a good week. Jordan came to church on Sunday and so he is getting baptized this Saturday. He is so excited. There really have been a few miracles that have happened in order for him to be baptized. It has been great to teach him. Even though he is only 10 years old his enthusiasm and his faith in the Lord are amazing. It will be a great day for him on Saturday. Well i had a lot of spiritual experiences this week. We taught a lot of lessons on the street and this one in particular was pretty good. We have this thing in the mission called 10/10/20. We have to talk to someone on the street within 10 mintues of leaving the flat, have 10 street contacts each day, and have 20 sit down lessons throughout the week. So we were leaving the flat and i stopped this girl right outside of the flat. I started talking to her and at first she seemed like she didn't really want to listen and then i saw the spirit work inside of her and she totally changed. It was amazing. The spirit was totally teaching her. I wasn't doing any talking. It wasn't my voice she heard but it was the spirit. It was pretty neat. We also were just knocking doors one night and we got to this one door and we didn't even say two words and the guy let us in. We went and taught him and he said he would read the Book of Mormon. We went back the next day and he had read it. He said he would come to church and learn more. I hope that he does and that he finds out that the church is true. Wow what a great work.
Well i guess my funny story for this week is we had just been knocking on doors one day and we ran into a bunch of old people. We got to this one house and this lady couldn't hear at all. I had to yell as loud as i could at her just so she could hear me. It was crazy. Then i got so used to yelling that by the next door i was yelling again except this was a younger lady. It was pretty funny.
Well we are going to Warwick Castle again today. It was snowing this morning so i hope that it is not too cold. It should be fun. We have Zone Conference on Thursday. I am really excited about it. I always love Zone Conference. Tomorrow is my 8 month mark. That means i am 1/3 of the way done. It is crazy. It has absolutely flown by. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I love it with all of my heart. It is the greatest thing i have ever done. This has truly been a blessing in my life. I love you all and i am so grateful for all of your love and support. The church is so true. We are so blessed to live in a day where we have a living Prophet and 12 Apostles. Isn't it great? Well you all take care and i hope that you all stay safe. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week has been a good week. Jordan came to church on Sunday and so he is getting baptized this Saturday. He is so excited. There really have been a few miracles that have happened in order for him to be baptized. It has been great to teach him. Even though he is only 10 years old his enthusiasm and his faith in the Lord are amazing. It will be a great day for him on Saturday. Well i had a lot of spiritual experiences this week. We taught a lot of lessons on the street and this one in particular was pretty good. We have this thing in the mission called 10/10/20. We have to talk to someone on the street within 10 mintues of leaving the flat, have 10 street contacts each day, and have 20 sit down lessons throughout the week. So we were leaving the flat and i stopped this girl right outside of the flat. I started talking to her and at first she seemed like she didn't really want to listen and then i saw the spirit work inside of her and she totally changed. It was amazing. The spirit was totally teaching her. I wasn't doing any talking. It wasn't my voice she heard but it was the spirit. It was pretty neat. We also were just knocking doors one night and we got to this one door and we didn't even say two words and the guy let us in. We went and taught him and he said he would read the Book of Mormon. We went back the next day and he had read it. He said he would come to church and learn more. I hope that he does and that he finds out that the church is true. Wow what a great work.
Well i guess my funny story for this week is we had just been knocking on doors one day and we ran into a bunch of old people. We got to this one house and this lady couldn't hear at all. I had to yell as loud as i could at her just so she could hear me. It was crazy. Then i got so used to yelling that by the next door i was yelling again except this was a younger lady. It was pretty funny.
Well we are going to Warwick Castle again today. It was snowing this morning so i hope that it is not too cold. It should be fun. We have Zone Conference on Thursday. I am really excited about it. I always love Zone Conference. Tomorrow is my 8 month mark. That means i am 1/3 of the way done. It is crazy. It has absolutely flown by. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I love it with all of my heart. It is the greatest thing i have ever done. This has truly been a blessing in my life. I love you all and i am so grateful for all of your love and support. The church is so true. We are so blessed to live in a day where we have a living Prophet and 12 Apostles. Isn't it great? Well you all take care and i hope that you all stay safe. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Letter - November 25, 2008
Hello how is everyone doing??? I didn't hear from a lot of you this week so i hope to hear from you next week. The weeks have flown by. I can't believe it is December next week. That is crazy. Time is really flying by. I love being out here though.
GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW I was so happy to hear that they beat that team down south. We went to a members house for dinner on Sunday and i couldn't stand not knowing how the game went so i had her look up the score on the computer. You can send me the paper. When i found out the score i jumped up and just screamed. I was so happy. I just knew that i was going to miss a good season. We better go to a good BCS game and play a good team. I hope its not another Pittsburgh game. That was pathetic. No matter who we play though we will still kick some butt. I can't believe that lousy team came out and interrupted our senior night. How disrespectful. It was probably Bronco's idea in the first place. Also i guess Austin Collie didn't pray enough this year. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best team in the country!!!!
Well this week was a pretty good week. We have had a few little miracles happen. As you know we have been teaching Jordan and he hasn't been able to come to church yet. Well he came to church this past week and had a blast. He absolutely loved it. I asked him what his favorite part was and he said all of it. He just was walking around with a huge smile on his face. What excitement for just being 10 years old. Well the requirement for being baptized is they have to come to church twice before they are baptized and the week before their baptism. Well his baptism is scheduled for the 6th of December now and we didn't think that it was going to happen because his parents are divorced and he goes to his dad's every other weekend and this next weekend he is with his dad. I was just praying that something would happen and we went over to his house last night just to say hi and see how he was doing. While we were over there his mom told us that he wasnt going to his dad's this weekend because he wanted to come to church. I was so happy!! I couldn't stop smiling. The Lord really had blessed us. We have been working really hard to get him to church and be able to be baptized. His dad is not supportive of the church at all and so he won't take him to church while he is with him. The Lord really does work in so many ways. I love this work and this Gospel. Please keep Jordan in your prayers. He will be baptized on the 6th of December.
Also another little miracle happened at church this week. You will like this one Jeff. So we had been struggling to get people to church the past few weeks. I had been praying and praying for us to be able to get someone to church. Well we walked into church on Sunday and there was this oriental kid sitting there in Priesthood Opening Exercises. We found out that he was a non member from Korea. He is over here for school. He was trying to find the Protestant Church and he recognized the style of the building and so he walked into ours. During Sunday School i tried to teach him the Restoration. It was very tough but i could tell he understood what the spirit was teaching. That really was a miracle and blessing from the Lord. I love this work and this gospel. This work is truly an amazing work. I love it with all my heart. There really is nothing i would rather be doing. This Gospel is real!!!!
Well with Thanksgiving coming up i just want to thank all of you for your support. I cannot believe it has been a year since we were guessing where i was going. It is exactly a year today that i turned my papers in. Time really has flown by. I am so greatful for this gospel in my life. I am thankful for my family. I love you guys and i hope you have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. i got the package with the beanies and peanut butter. I love it. It is freezing cold now and the wind does not stop blowing. I don't think i have ever been so cold.
GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW I was so happy to hear that they beat that team down south. We went to a members house for dinner on Sunday and i couldn't stand not knowing how the game went so i had her look up the score on the computer. You can send me the paper. When i found out the score i jumped up and just screamed. I was so happy. I just knew that i was going to miss a good season. We better go to a good BCS game and play a good team. I hope its not another Pittsburgh game. That was pathetic. No matter who we play though we will still kick some butt. I can't believe that lousy team came out and interrupted our senior night. How disrespectful. It was probably Bronco's idea in the first place. Also i guess Austin Collie didn't pray enough this year. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best team in the country!!!!
Well this week was a pretty good week. We have had a few little miracles happen. As you know we have been teaching Jordan and he hasn't been able to come to church yet. Well he came to church this past week and had a blast. He absolutely loved it. I asked him what his favorite part was and he said all of it. He just was walking around with a huge smile on his face. What excitement for just being 10 years old. Well the requirement for being baptized is they have to come to church twice before they are baptized and the week before their baptism. Well his baptism is scheduled for the 6th of December now and we didn't think that it was going to happen because his parents are divorced and he goes to his dad's every other weekend and this next weekend he is with his dad. I was just praying that something would happen and we went over to his house last night just to say hi and see how he was doing. While we were over there his mom told us that he wasnt going to his dad's this weekend because he wanted to come to church. I was so happy!! I couldn't stop smiling. The Lord really had blessed us. We have been working really hard to get him to church and be able to be baptized. His dad is not supportive of the church at all and so he won't take him to church while he is with him. The Lord really does work in so many ways. I love this work and this Gospel. Please keep Jordan in your prayers. He will be baptized on the 6th of December.
Also another little miracle happened at church this week. You will like this one Jeff. So we had been struggling to get people to church the past few weeks. I had been praying and praying for us to be able to get someone to church. Well we walked into church on Sunday and there was this oriental kid sitting there in Priesthood Opening Exercises. We found out that he was a non member from Korea. He is over here for school. He was trying to find the Protestant Church and he recognized the style of the building and so he walked into ours. During Sunday School i tried to teach him the Restoration. It was very tough but i could tell he understood what the spirit was teaching. That really was a miracle and blessing from the Lord. I love this work and this gospel. This work is truly an amazing work. I love it with all my heart. There really is nothing i would rather be doing. This Gospel is real!!!!
Well with Thanksgiving coming up i just want to thank all of you for your support. I cannot believe it has been a year since we were guessing where i was going. It is exactly a year today that i turned my papers in. Time really has flown by. I am so greatful for this gospel in my life. I am thankful for my family. I love you guys and i hope you have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. i got the package with the beanies and peanut butter. I love it. It is freezing cold now and the wind does not stop blowing. I don't think i have ever been so cold.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Letter - November 19, 2008
Hey how is it going over in Utah? It sounds like everything is great and that everyone is happy. Everything is just great over here and I love every minute of serving the Lord.
Well i found out that i am not getting transferred. I am staying in Rugby with Elder Wright. I am excited to be in Rugby still. I will be here 6 months at the end of this transfer. I love it and i love all the people that i serve around. Big things are going to be happening in Rugby this transfer. I am really excited about this time of the year. What better time to share a message about our Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is focused on him and hopefully that will make people more open to the message of the restoration of the true Gospel. I am looking forward to it very very much.
I have worn a red tie every single day this week and i told President Moffat that he should make the whole mission wear a red tie on Saturday and when the Utes win he should make all the missionaries wear red to Zone Conference. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget about your number 1 fan over in England.
Well blanket lady showed up to church again this past week. I had no idea and then when we were walking into sunday school our ward mission leader pointed her out to me and there she was walking around with a blanket on her head. She is crazy. I always feel like i need to set up a return appointment with her because if i didn't then i would be rejecting her of our message. I always ask to come see her again and i just hope that she will be in. We have an appointment with her tonight so i really hope that we can teach her. I just love sharing the message of the Gospel with people. There is nothing better.
Well this last week I was able to go out tracting with Elder Nordquist. What a great missionary!!! He is such a good example for me. I love it whenever i see him because i always learn so much from him. He is a great example to the mission and i am proud to say he is from the best stake, city, and high school in the world. Only if he were in the Sego Lily Ward he would be part of the best of everything. I hope that i can have the influence on people the way he has done throughout his mission. I will miss him very much when he leaves in 6 weeks.
Well other than that it was kind of a slow moving week. No one really new that we picked up. I continue to enjoy every minute of serving the Lord. It really has been the best experience of my life. It is going by very quickly but i am working hard at being the best that i can be. I feel like i have a very specific plan for me to fulfil while i am out here. The Gospel really is so so great. I love it with all of my heart. I have learned the importance of prayer while out here. I cannot tell you how many times i pray throughout the day but it is almost always constant. I love the Lord. I love this work and i am so grateful to be out here doing it.
I am very proud of you Dan. Good job on getting your Eagle. That is a great accomplishment and it has brought a lot of satisfaction into my life. Keep being the person you are. You are an incredible young man. I love you.
I love you all. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. You have no idea how much it helps. Thank you for being the examples you are to me. I am so grateful for all of you. I love you and hope everything goes well.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well i found out that i am not getting transferred. I am staying in Rugby with Elder Wright. I am excited to be in Rugby still. I will be here 6 months at the end of this transfer. I love it and i love all the people that i serve around. Big things are going to be happening in Rugby this transfer. I am really excited about this time of the year. What better time to share a message about our Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is focused on him and hopefully that will make people more open to the message of the restoration of the true Gospel. I am looking forward to it very very much.
I have worn a red tie every single day this week and i told President Moffat that he should make the whole mission wear a red tie on Saturday and when the Utes win he should make all the missionaries wear red to Zone Conference. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget about your number 1 fan over in England.
Well blanket lady showed up to church again this past week. I had no idea and then when we were walking into sunday school our ward mission leader pointed her out to me and there she was walking around with a blanket on her head. She is crazy. I always feel like i need to set up a return appointment with her because if i didn't then i would be rejecting her of our message. I always ask to come see her again and i just hope that she will be in. We have an appointment with her tonight so i really hope that we can teach her. I just love sharing the message of the Gospel with people. There is nothing better.
Well this last week I was able to go out tracting with Elder Nordquist. What a great missionary!!! He is such a good example for me. I love it whenever i see him because i always learn so much from him. He is a great example to the mission and i am proud to say he is from the best stake, city, and high school in the world. Only if he were in the Sego Lily Ward he would be part of the best of everything. I hope that i can have the influence on people the way he has done throughout his mission. I will miss him very much when he leaves in 6 weeks.
Well other than that it was kind of a slow moving week. No one really new that we picked up. I continue to enjoy every minute of serving the Lord. It really has been the best experience of my life. It is going by very quickly but i am working hard at being the best that i can be. I feel like i have a very specific plan for me to fulfil while i am out here. The Gospel really is so so great. I love it with all of my heart. I have learned the importance of prayer while out here. I cannot tell you how many times i pray throughout the day but it is almost always constant. I love the Lord. I love this work and i am so grateful to be out here doing it.
I am very proud of you Dan. Good job on getting your Eagle. That is a great accomplishment and it has brought a lot of satisfaction into my life. Keep being the person you are. You are an incredible young man. I love you.
I love you all. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. You have no idea how much it helps. Thank you for being the examples you are to me. I am so grateful for all of you. I love you and hope everything goes well.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Letter - November 11, 2008
Hey whats goin on? I am doing just great over here. I have a few scary but interesting stories from this past week so stay tuned. But first i have to say that i was up out of my chair reading about the Utah game. HOLY COW!!!!!! I cant believe it!!! I probably would have had a heart attack if i would have been there. WOW!!!! I love it. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well onto my scary but interesting story. So on thursday night we were tracting. It was going pretty good and we knocked on this one lady's door and she opened the door and said she doesn't answer the door after dark. (It gets dark at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon now) But we were done with that door and we walked up on to the sidewalk. As we were doing so these kids were passing and they yelled something at us. We sarcastically said yeah and then they got up in our face and told us to give them all of our money. We weren't sure if we heard them right but we said what and then they demanded the money again. They hit us across the face a couple times and then asked for money again. They then proceeded to threaten us with a knife. One of the kids came over to me and i reached in my pocket and pulled out 8 pounds and gave it to them. They still thought we had more so they just kept hitting us and yelling at us. This whole time something was telling me not to fight back so i didn't. We could have killed the guys if we would have fought back but we decided it wasn't worth it. So the exchange went back and forth and in the end it just resulted in them getting 8 pounds. We weren't hurt so you don't have to worry about it. I am doing fine and me and Elder Wright laugh about it every night before we go to bed. We spent all day Friday in the Police Station filling out police reports. It was crazy. Everything is ok now and so we are back to doing the Lords work. It was definately a journal entry moment.
We also had interviews this week and they went pretty well. I was so happy to talk to President Moffat. He is such a great example and we all love him very much. I learn so much from him every time i talk to him.
Leysa is doing well. We haven't taught her too much because of her health but she is still loving learning about the church. She is very busy but excited to learn. Jordan is doing well. He has a baptismal date scheduled for the 6th of December so we are helping him with that. We have a new lady named Joan who is very solid and she is so excited to come to church with us this sunday. I am so excited about this work and what this area is about to become. I love it so much!!!
Well before i forget i better mention that transfers is next week so no email on tuesday. I don't know if i will be transferred or what will be going on but i will be emailing on either Wednesday or Thursday next week.
Well i have to get going because we have a busy day ahead of us. I love serving the Lord. I say that every email but i absolutely love it. It is so great. The change that the gospel brings into peoples lives is amazing. I will tell you that there is nothing else like it. There really isn't. I love it with all of my heart. My testimony has been strengthened so much. I know that the Savior lives. I know that this church is the one and only true church on the face of this earth. I love it dearly. I wish i could be a full time missionary for the rest of my life!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well onto my scary but interesting story. So on thursday night we were tracting. It was going pretty good and we knocked on this one lady's door and she opened the door and said she doesn't answer the door after dark. (It gets dark at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon now) But we were done with that door and we walked up on to the sidewalk. As we were doing so these kids were passing and they yelled something at us. We sarcastically said yeah and then they got up in our face and told us to give them all of our money. We weren't sure if we heard them right but we said what and then they demanded the money again. They hit us across the face a couple times and then asked for money again. They then proceeded to threaten us with a knife. One of the kids came over to me and i reached in my pocket and pulled out 8 pounds and gave it to them. They still thought we had more so they just kept hitting us and yelling at us. This whole time something was telling me not to fight back so i didn't. We could have killed the guys if we would have fought back but we decided it wasn't worth it. So the exchange went back and forth and in the end it just resulted in them getting 8 pounds. We weren't hurt so you don't have to worry about it. I am doing fine and me and Elder Wright laugh about it every night before we go to bed. We spent all day Friday in the Police Station filling out police reports. It was crazy. Everything is ok now and so we are back to doing the Lords work. It was definately a journal entry moment.
We also had interviews this week and they went pretty well. I was so happy to talk to President Moffat. He is such a great example and we all love him very much. I learn so much from him every time i talk to him.
Leysa is doing well. We haven't taught her too much because of her health but she is still loving learning about the church. She is very busy but excited to learn. Jordan is doing well. He has a baptismal date scheduled for the 6th of December so we are helping him with that. We have a new lady named Joan who is very solid and she is so excited to come to church with us this sunday. I am so excited about this work and what this area is about to become. I love it so much!!!
Well before i forget i better mention that transfers is next week so no email on tuesday. I don't know if i will be transferred or what will be going on but i will be emailing on either Wednesday or Thursday next week.
Well i have to get going because we have a busy day ahead of us. I love serving the Lord. I say that every email but i absolutely love it. It is so great. The change that the gospel brings into peoples lives is amazing. I will tell you that there is nothing else like it. There really isn't. I love it with all of my heart. My testimony has been strengthened so much. I know that the Savior lives. I know that this church is the one and only true church on the face of this earth. I love it dearly. I wish i could be a full time missionary for the rest of my life!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Letter - November 4, 2008
Hello!!!!!!!! I feel like i start my emails the same every single week. If you have any new ideas feel free to contact me via email or via the mail. I could always use some good ideas. I am glad though that all is going well. I absolutely love you guys.
Well tomorrow we have interviews in Coventry. I am excited about it because as i have mentioned before i love learning from the leaders. Especially President Moffat. He doesn't have very much longer. It will be sad to see him leave. But the work this week has gone pretty well. We were tracting on Wednesday last week and we had a Dinner Appointment that night. Before the dinner appointment we went tracting for a little bit and we went on this street and we started knocking. It wasn't looking good. We got doors slammed in our face and then on about the 5th door this lady opened up. Her name was Leysa. (Lisa) She looked very tired but she talked to us. I started teaching her. I taught her about the Restoration and she accepted it very well. She asked a lot of questions and she said that every thing that we had said was in line with what she believed. She proceeded to tell me that she hadn't been going to church because she felt like she hadn't found the right one but that she felt like this one was the right one. It was incredible. I have never felt the spirit so strongly. I loved it. The Lord truly does prepare people. He really does. He is watching over us and looking out for us. With his help we are able to do anything. My testimony was strengthened so much from that. How great is this work!!! That was this weeks big story.
Well i sure hope Utah pulls out of that game and realizes that they need to play very well on Thursday. I hope Kyle gets them fired up. We can do it. I have confidence. We just need to play hard and keep scoring. Me and Elder Wright are having fun debating between who will get the BCS bid. Utah or Boise St. It has been fun to see the season unfold and hear about it.
I am glad Halloween was good for all of you. I missed going trick or treating with Cameron and Katie. I was thinking about how the soup was. I was wondering if mom said that she wasn't going to make it like she does every year and then ends up making it anyway. I hope everyone doesn't get too sick from all the candy that they got.
Well thank you for all of your support. I can't believe it has been 7 months. I felt like yesterday i was saying it was 6 months. Wow time is flying by. I was reading the ward newsletter you sent me a few months ago and i was reading all of the letters from the missionaries in our ward and everyone seems so much more mature and that they are growing so much. I feel like i am the same person. I feel like i am the same lazy smart alec kid i was when i left. I hope i do change and i hope that all of you still love me. My mission has changed my life. It is so amazing to see the gospel work. I know with all my heart that this is the Lords church. I know that it is the only true and living church on the face of this earth. I am so greatful for the things that i have been taught and the things that i have been able to learn. Being a missionary has changed my life for ever. I love being out here serving the Lord. Even though it has gone by fast i still look back and see what i have learned in just this short amount of time. This is a great work we are on and i love all of you. I am so grateful for all of the love and support from the great state of Utah. I feel your prayers and i am grateful for them. This gospel is so true. I love it with all of my heart.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. Happy brithday Dan!!!
Well tomorrow we have interviews in Coventry. I am excited about it because as i have mentioned before i love learning from the leaders. Especially President Moffat. He doesn't have very much longer. It will be sad to see him leave. But the work this week has gone pretty well. We were tracting on Wednesday last week and we had a Dinner Appointment that night. Before the dinner appointment we went tracting for a little bit and we went on this street and we started knocking. It wasn't looking good. We got doors slammed in our face and then on about the 5th door this lady opened up. Her name was Leysa. (Lisa) She looked very tired but she talked to us. I started teaching her. I taught her about the Restoration and she accepted it very well. She asked a lot of questions and she said that every thing that we had said was in line with what she believed. She proceeded to tell me that she hadn't been going to church because she felt like she hadn't found the right one but that she felt like this one was the right one. It was incredible. I have never felt the spirit so strongly. I loved it. The Lord truly does prepare people. He really does. He is watching over us and looking out for us. With his help we are able to do anything. My testimony was strengthened so much from that. How great is this work!!! That was this weeks big story.
Well i sure hope Utah pulls out of that game and realizes that they need to play very well on Thursday. I hope Kyle gets them fired up. We can do it. I have confidence. We just need to play hard and keep scoring. Me and Elder Wright are having fun debating between who will get the BCS bid. Utah or Boise St. It has been fun to see the season unfold and hear about it.
I am glad Halloween was good for all of you. I missed going trick or treating with Cameron and Katie. I was thinking about how the soup was. I was wondering if mom said that she wasn't going to make it like she does every year and then ends up making it anyway. I hope everyone doesn't get too sick from all the candy that they got.
Well thank you for all of your support. I can't believe it has been 7 months. I felt like yesterday i was saying it was 6 months. Wow time is flying by. I was reading the ward newsletter you sent me a few months ago and i was reading all of the letters from the missionaries in our ward and everyone seems so much more mature and that they are growing so much. I feel like i am the same person. I feel like i am the same lazy smart alec kid i was when i left. I hope i do change and i hope that all of you still love me. My mission has changed my life. It is so amazing to see the gospel work. I know with all my heart that this is the Lords church. I know that it is the only true and living church on the face of this earth. I am so greatful for the things that i have been taught and the things that i have been able to learn. Being a missionary has changed my life for ever. I love being out here serving the Lord. Even though it has gone by fast i still look back and see what i have learned in just this short amount of time. This is a great work we are on and i love all of you. I am so grateful for all of the love and support from the great state of Utah. I feel your prayers and i am grateful for them. This gospel is so true. I love it with all of my heart.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. Happy brithday Dan!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Letter - October 28, 2008
Well hello there!!! It was fabulous hearing from you this week. Once again it always gives me great comfort to know everyone is doing good. I love all of you.
Well this past week we had Zone Conference. It was a great conference and i learned a whole lot. We talked about chapter 11 in Preach My Gospel and did a few role plays and it helped me out a lot. President Moffat talked to us at the end and he was amazing as usual. He really stressed the importance of obedience. He is very worried that since the mission is doing so well that the missionaries are getting prideful and aren't being as obedient as they should be. He got his point across very clearly and i am positive everyone got the message. He also talked about the spirit and how we can lose the spirit, how we get the spirit, and how we keep the spirit. It was a very very good talk. I love hearing from him because he teaches us so simply and so clearly. He reminds me alot of dad and how dad goes about things. It is great. I love Zone Conference.
Well this week has been a pretty good week. We continue to work with jordan and his mom. She is just not wanting to come back to church. It is really frustrating but we are working with her and i have total confidence in the Lord that we will get her back to church. We have found a lot of new people that seem pretty good. The ward has just made a huge emphasis on missionary work and the bishop here is starting to do a lot for us and so i think that the work will take off from here. I love the work. It is so great. So last week we were knocking this door and this girl answered the door. Elder Wright started talking and got as far as saying who we are and then she started laughing almost uncontrollably. We had no idea what was going on but she just walked to the back of her house and was back there for almost 2 minutes. Me and Elder Wright didn't know what to do so we just stood there and waited. Finally some older guy walks out and talks to us and even though he wasnt interested he still was nice and talked to us. It was a very funny experience and we laugh about it almost every day. Well other than that we are still looking for more people to teach. The people here are very hard hearted and it is difficult to get them to listen to us but we are asking the Lord for help and we are being blessed.
I am so happy to hear about From Cumorahs Hill. I knew that it would be great. I am proud of you Dan for doing it. I wish i could have been there to see you in it but know that you are making me proud.
It is getting very cold here. The wind just blows like crazy. My face is very cold all the time. Especially riding my bike.
Well Utah better bring their A game this week. We have a target on us. Everyone will try and ruin our season so Kyle better get them prepared. I can't believe we are having such a good season. Keep it up. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that is it for this week. All is going well. I am very happy. I love doing the Lords work. I am so greatful to be on his errand. I don't even know if it has really hit me that i am here. It is crazy. Things just happen so fast. I can't believe that Christmas is less than 2 months away. Time just flies by. Well i love this work. I love this gospel. True happiness is found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing to see the impact it has on peoples lives. Missionary work is the best thing in the world. I love it. Thank you for all of your love and support. You guys are the best.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this past week we had Zone Conference. It was a great conference and i learned a whole lot. We talked about chapter 11 in Preach My Gospel and did a few role plays and it helped me out a lot. President Moffat talked to us at the end and he was amazing as usual. He really stressed the importance of obedience. He is very worried that since the mission is doing so well that the missionaries are getting prideful and aren't being as obedient as they should be. He got his point across very clearly and i am positive everyone got the message. He also talked about the spirit and how we can lose the spirit, how we get the spirit, and how we keep the spirit. It was a very very good talk. I love hearing from him because he teaches us so simply and so clearly. He reminds me alot of dad and how dad goes about things. It is great. I love Zone Conference.
Well this week has been a pretty good week. We continue to work with jordan and his mom. She is just not wanting to come back to church. It is really frustrating but we are working with her and i have total confidence in the Lord that we will get her back to church. We have found a lot of new people that seem pretty good. The ward has just made a huge emphasis on missionary work and the bishop here is starting to do a lot for us and so i think that the work will take off from here. I love the work. It is so great. So last week we were knocking this door and this girl answered the door. Elder Wright started talking and got as far as saying who we are and then she started laughing almost uncontrollably. We had no idea what was going on but she just walked to the back of her house and was back there for almost 2 minutes. Me and Elder Wright didn't know what to do so we just stood there and waited. Finally some older guy walks out and talks to us and even though he wasnt interested he still was nice and talked to us. It was a very funny experience and we laugh about it almost every day. Well other than that we are still looking for more people to teach. The people here are very hard hearted and it is difficult to get them to listen to us but we are asking the Lord for help and we are being blessed.
I am so happy to hear about From Cumorahs Hill. I knew that it would be great. I am proud of you Dan for doing it. I wish i could have been there to see you in it but know that you are making me proud.
It is getting very cold here. The wind just blows like crazy. My face is very cold all the time. Especially riding my bike.
Well Utah better bring their A game this week. We have a target on us. Everyone will try and ruin our season so Kyle better get them prepared. I can't believe we are having such a good season. Keep it up. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that is it for this week. All is going well. I am very happy. I love doing the Lords work. I am so greatful to be on his errand. I don't even know if it has really hit me that i am here. It is crazy. Things just happen so fast. I can't believe that Christmas is less than 2 months away. Time just flies by. Well i love this work. I love this gospel. True happiness is found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing to see the impact it has on peoples lives. Missionary work is the best thing in the world. I love it. Thank you for all of your love and support. You guys are the best.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Letter - October 21, 2008
Well hello family!!!! It was so good to hear from alot of you this week. It always makes me happy to hear from you. It gives me great comfort to know that you are all safe. I love all of you.
Well first things first... Best news of all the emails was.... yeah you guessed it. That team down south lost!!!!!!!!!!!! Now all the missionary fans won't have anything to say. That is always good. You would think a mission would change their thoughts and they would not be such a pain but they still are. I am happy to hear about Utah though and how well they are playing!!! GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So this week we have been pretty busy. It has been another slow moving week but we found a few people that have the potential to be pretty good. I can't remember if i told you last week or not but we are teaching a 9 year old boy named Jordan. His mom is less active but is very supportive of him getting baptized. We have taught him a couple times during the week and it has been great. We are trying to set a baptismal date with him on the 15th of November but he will be at his dad's house that weekend and so it is a little tough but we will do it. He just loves to learn and is so excited to read the Book of Mormon reader. He loves Nephi and i love teaching him. This work is great and we continue to find people to teach but they just don't seem to like to keep commitments. It is very devastating when people don't keep their commitments they have said they would. Now i know how frustrated people were with me when i was home. I have learned a great lesson on that and this wild adventure i am on right now has helped me learn alot about myself and just what kind of person i am. We did about 6 hours of tracting yesterday. It was a very long and tiring day. Not a lot of people spoke to us but we got a few people to listen to us and we have a couple people that seem interested. I just absolutely love this work. It is the greatest work in the world. I have been so blessed.
We have Zone Conference tomorrow. I am so excited for it. I always love Zone Conference because i get to learn and associate with all the other Elders. President Moffat is an amazing teacher and an amazing Mission President. I love him so much. He is such an example to me. I also love Zone Conference because we get to learn from the A.P'S as well. Elder Nordquist is an amazing missionary. I look up to him so much. He is a great example to all the missionaries in the mission. I don't want him to leave. I always try to pick up on some things that he does and apply them in my missionary work. We have become great friends and i love him.
Well England is still England. It still rains alot and it gets dark at about 6 o clock at night now. It is crazy. It is starting to get cold here and the wind blows like crazy. It just cuts through you. You can't really get warm. It is great though because we get to go out and do the Lord's work. The English people are out of control. They are so lazy. All they do is they go to work from 10 to 5 and then come home and go to the pub and get drunk. It is unbelievable. What Sister Harris' friend said is right. People are depressed over here. It makes it a little harder to do missionary work but i love the challenge. I still don't really know what i am doing but i learn something new each day. I love this work so much.
I am looking forward to hearing about From Cumorahs Hill. It has a lot to live up to from last time. Dan i am so proud of you for doing it and having a solo. Know that i am cheering for you even though i am a long way away. I love you bud.
I hope you had a good birthday Katie!!!!! I can't believe you are 2 years old now!!! I miss you and i love you so much. Keep being a good girl and don't forget your FAVORITE uncle over in England. I hope mom and grandma didn't spoil you too much. I hope to get pictures of you soon along with Cameron. Cameron i am so proud of you for going to pre school. You are such a good boy and keep loving school. You are a smart kid. I love you bud. Don't forget about me.
Well that is about it for this week. I love this gospel and i love all of you guys. You are the best family ever. I know that this work is ture and i am so greatful for this time in my life. It is amazing and the Lord truly does work miracles. The Church is true!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well first things first... Best news of all the emails was.... yeah you guessed it. That team down south lost!!!!!!!!!!!! Now all the missionary fans won't have anything to say. That is always good. You would think a mission would change their thoughts and they would not be such a pain but they still are. I am happy to hear about Utah though and how well they are playing!!! GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So this week we have been pretty busy. It has been another slow moving week but we found a few people that have the potential to be pretty good. I can't remember if i told you last week or not but we are teaching a 9 year old boy named Jordan. His mom is less active but is very supportive of him getting baptized. We have taught him a couple times during the week and it has been great. We are trying to set a baptismal date with him on the 15th of November but he will be at his dad's house that weekend and so it is a little tough but we will do it. He just loves to learn and is so excited to read the Book of Mormon reader. He loves Nephi and i love teaching him. This work is great and we continue to find people to teach but they just don't seem to like to keep commitments. It is very devastating when people don't keep their commitments they have said they would. Now i know how frustrated people were with me when i was home. I have learned a great lesson on that and this wild adventure i am on right now has helped me learn alot about myself and just what kind of person i am. We did about 6 hours of tracting yesterday. It was a very long and tiring day. Not a lot of people spoke to us but we got a few people to listen to us and we have a couple people that seem interested. I just absolutely love this work. It is the greatest work in the world. I have been so blessed.
We have Zone Conference tomorrow. I am so excited for it. I always love Zone Conference because i get to learn and associate with all the other Elders. President Moffat is an amazing teacher and an amazing Mission President. I love him so much. He is such an example to me. I also love Zone Conference because we get to learn from the A.P'S as well. Elder Nordquist is an amazing missionary. I look up to him so much. He is a great example to all the missionaries in the mission. I don't want him to leave. I always try to pick up on some things that he does and apply them in my missionary work. We have become great friends and i love him.
Well England is still England. It still rains alot and it gets dark at about 6 o clock at night now. It is crazy. It is starting to get cold here and the wind blows like crazy. It just cuts through you. You can't really get warm. It is great though because we get to go out and do the Lord's work. The English people are out of control. They are so lazy. All they do is they go to work from 10 to 5 and then come home and go to the pub and get drunk. It is unbelievable. What Sister Harris' friend said is right. People are depressed over here. It makes it a little harder to do missionary work but i love the challenge. I still don't really know what i am doing but i learn something new each day. I love this work so much.
I am looking forward to hearing about From Cumorahs Hill. It has a lot to live up to from last time. Dan i am so proud of you for doing it and having a solo. Know that i am cheering for you even though i am a long way away. I love you bud.
I hope you had a good birthday Katie!!!!! I can't believe you are 2 years old now!!! I miss you and i love you so much. Keep being a good girl and don't forget your FAVORITE uncle over in England. I hope mom and grandma didn't spoil you too much. I hope to get pictures of you soon along with Cameron. Cameron i am so proud of you for going to pre school. You are such a good boy and keep loving school. You are a smart kid. I love you bud. Don't forget about me.
Well that is about it for this week. I love this gospel and i love all of you guys. You are the best family ever. I know that this work is ture and i am so greatful for this time in my life. It is amazing and the Lord truly does work miracles. The Church is true!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Letter - October 14, 2008
Hey family it was great to hear from you again. I love hearing from you guys. You are the greatest family in the world. I am doing great over here. I love it so much. So much. I can't put it into words.
Well first things first. TRISHA WAS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. I was so excited. I really think it was the best day of my mission. It was so great to see how excited she was. When she came out of that water I'll tell you what, this incredible feeling of joy came to my heart. It was so amazing. I felt so good and i was so proud of Trisha for all that she has done. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism and then on sunday she was confirmed. I stood in the circle and that same feeling of joy entered into my heart again. It was the best feeling. I definately want to baptize more people but if i don't Trisha made it all worth it. I have thought a whole lot about Doctrine and Covenants 18:15, "And if it shall be that ye bring save it be one soul unto me how great shall be your joy.'' Wow what a feeling. Other than that we have a few potential people who look good. We had a big finding day yesterday. We knocked doors for almost 6-7 hours. Very long day. I love it though. There is nothing better in the world.
Well Elder Wright is doing great. I really like him. He is very funny and always makes me laugh. He is good though and we are having a lot of fun together. No not all people from Boise are farmers. He lives in a normal house on a normal street. No farm.
Thanks for the sports update! It was great. I can't believe the Jazz are starting again. Deron is going to get the MVP this year and we are winning the finals. I am so glad that Utah is doing so well. I just knew that i would miss a great season. It sounds like Kyle still needs to get the offense moving but it sounds like we have an awesome team. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well i hope that everyone has a great week this week. I hope that school is going well for everyone. Deb how is your class? You should have them draw me pictures and write me for art class one day. Hahaha. I can't believe Tom is a senior and that Dan is in 9th grade. Unbelievable. Keep up guys. I am so proud of you. I love you. Well thank you for all your love and support. It means so much to me. I know that the church is true. Missonary work is such an amazing work. I love it with all my heart. Don't ever be scared to share the gospel. Always find people for the missionaries to teach. It is such a blessing to be serving the Lord. There is no greater joy or happiness. There is no greater work. I love the Savior. He lives and i know that. I love all of you and i am so proud of all of you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well first things first. TRISHA WAS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. I was so excited. I really think it was the best day of my mission. It was so great to see how excited she was. When she came out of that water I'll tell you what, this incredible feeling of joy came to my heart. It was so amazing. I felt so good and i was so proud of Trisha for all that she has done. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism and then on sunday she was confirmed. I stood in the circle and that same feeling of joy entered into my heart again. It was the best feeling. I definately want to baptize more people but if i don't Trisha made it all worth it. I have thought a whole lot about Doctrine and Covenants 18:15, "And if it shall be that ye bring save it be one soul unto me how great shall be your joy.'' Wow what a feeling. Other than that we have a few potential people who look good. We had a big finding day yesterday. We knocked doors for almost 6-7 hours. Very long day. I love it though. There is nothing better in the world.
Well Elder Wright is doing great. I really like him. He is very funny and always makes me laugh. He is good though and we are having a lot of fun together. No not all people from Boise are farmers. He lives in a normal house on a normal street. No farm.
Thanks for the sports update! It was great. I can't believe the Jazz are starting again. Deron is going to get the MVP this year and we are winning the finals. I am so glad that Utah is doing so well. I just knew that i would miss a great season. It sounds like Kyle still needs to get the offense moving but it sounds like we have an awesome team. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well i hope that everyone has a great week this week. I hope that school is going well for everyone. Deb how is your class? You should have them draw me pictures and write me for art class one day. Hahaha. I can't believe Tom is a senior and that Dan is in 9th grade. Unbelievable. Keep up guys. I am so proud of you. I love you. Well thank you for all your love and support. It means so much to me. I know that the church is true. Missonary work is such an amazing work. I love it with all my heart. Don't ever be scared to share the gospel. Always find people for the missionaries to teach. It is such a blessing to be serving the Lord. There is no greater joy or happiness. There is no greater work. I love the Savior. He lives and i know that. I love all of you and i am so proud of all of you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Letter - October 9, 2008
Hello Family thanks for all the emails. They were great! Wow what an intense game a week ago. I am so happy we won. Louie for Hiesman!!!! He is so good. I am missing a great season but there is a greater work to be done than watching college football. Don't the jazz start up again soon? Didn't the season just get over like yesterday? Time flies by out here it is crazy. 6 months. Wow i can't believe it.
General Conference was amazing! I loved it. We were able to see all of the sessions except sunday afternoon. I enjoyed every session. I love hearing the Apostles and the Prophet speak. They are so powerful. Everyone who was watching had to have felt the spirit in some way or another. You can't not feel the spirit when they are speaking. I think i can apply all of the talks into my life. For the first time in a long time i really enjoyed Elder Scott and Elder Hales. They were amazing. So so powerful. I can't wait for the next conference! Everyone was asking me if it was my grandpa everyone was talking about. It made me very proud to know that my grandpa is looked up to by the Apostles and the Prophet. O how i love him. Thanks grandpa. You are a great example to me.
Well transfers happened yesterday. Elder Wear got transfered. It was sad to see him go. We had a great friendship and i got really close with him. The work moves on though and we will see each other again. I am now with Elder Wright. I am the Senior Companion and am very excited about this transfer. It will be a great transfer. He is from Boise and has only been out a transfer less than me. He is a funny kid and i think we will get along pretty well. Trisha is getting baptized on Saturday!!!!! I am so excited for her. She hasn't smoked in 2 weeks. It is incredible to see the change that the gospel has brought to her life. She is so much more happy and she is so ready to be baptized. I am so proud of her. Wow what a great work.
Well here is a pretty funny story that happened. So we went last Tuesday night to go teach a lady named Rachel. She is Rosemary's mom. She is in her 80's but has read almost the whole book of mormon. She can't hear very well and so we have to yell at her to get her to listen. It's pretty funny. Well we went and taught her and she would not shut up. She just kept tellin us story after story and i tried to get her to stop so we could teach her. Well she wouldn't so i decided to act like i was really listening and really loving her stories. She told us how she has seen 3 ufo's. I got really excited about it and just asked her a lot of questions about it. It was so funny. She continued to tell us that one day she was getting chased by green diamonds. Wow that was intense. We all started laughing right there and she didn't know that we were laughing at her. I had to get up and leave the room because i couldn't control myself. It was pretty funny. She kept referring to something and she would say well lets keep this between you me and the door knocker. I asked her who the door knocker was and she just laughed and then she proceeded to ask us if we wanted a lemonade about 5 times during the visit. It was a pretty good visit and we finally got down to talking about the Book of Mormon. Everything she was saying about it was right on. It was really wierd but that was my interesting story for the week.
I love this work. It is the Lords work. We need to do the things that we are commanded to do. I know that as we do our part the Lord will do his. '' I the Lord am bound when ye do what i have said, but when ye do not what i say, ye have no promise.'' The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is unbelievable what it does for people. I have seen it work miracles in my life and in other peoples lives. I love it with all of my heart. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of god. The Lord leads his church through him. I love the Book of Mormon and I love Joseph Smith. He did amazing things and i am so greatful for that. I love all of you. I am so thankful for all of your love and support. My time has run out. I need to go back to doing the Lords work. I love it with all of my heart.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
General Conference was amazing! I loved it. We were able to see all of the sessions except sunday afternoon. I enjoyed every session. I love hearing the Apostles and the Prophet speak. They are so powerful. Everyone who was watching had to have felt the spirit in some way or another. You can't not feel the spirit when they are speaking. I think i can apply all of the talks into my life. For the first time in a long time i really enjoyed Elder Scott and Elder Hales. They were amazing. So so powerful. I can't wait for the next conference! Everyone was asking me if it was my grandpa everyone was talking about. It made me very proud to know that my grandpa is looked up to by the Apostles and the Prophet. O how i love him. Thanks grandpa. You are a great example to me.
Well transfers happened yesterday. Elder Wear got transfered. It was sad to see him go. We had a great friendship and i got really close with him. The work moves on though and we will see each other again. I am now with Elder Wright. I am the Senior Companion and am very excited about this transfer. It will be a great transfer. He is from Boise and has only been out a transfer less than me. He is a funny kid and i think we will get along pretty well. Trisha is getting baptized on Saturday!!!!! I am so excited for her. She hasn't smoked in 2 weeks. It is incredible to see the change that the gospel has brought to her life. She is so much more happy and she is so ready to be baptized. I am so proud of her. Wow what a great work.
Well here is a pretty funny story that happened. So we went last Tuesday night to go teach a lady named Rachel. She is Rosemary's mom. She is in her 80's but has read almost the whole book of mormon. She can't hear very well and so we have to yell at her to get her to listen. It's pretty funny. Well we went and taught her and she would not shut up. She just kept tellin us story after story and i tried to get her to stop so we could teach her. Well she wouldn't so i decided to act like i was really listening and really loving her stories. She told us how she has seen 3 ufo's. I got really excited about it and just asked her a lot of questions about it. It was so funny. She continued to tell us that one day she was getting chased by green diamonds. Wow that was intense. We all started laughing right there and she didn't know that we were laughing at her. I had to get up and leave the room because i couldn't control myself. It was pretty funny. She kept referring to something and she would say well lets keep this between you me and the door knocker. I asked her who the door knocker was and she just laughed and then she proceeded to ask us if we wanted a lemonade about 5 times during the visit. It was a pretty good visit and we finally got down to talking about the Book of Mormon. Everything she was saying about it was right on. It was really wierd but that was my interesting story for the week.
I love this work. It is the Lords work. We need to do the things that we are commanded to do. I know that as we do our part the Lord will do his. '' I the Lord am bound when ye do what i have said, but when ye do not what i say, ye have no promise.'' The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is unbelievable what it does for people. I have seen it work miracles in my life and in other peoples lives. I love it with all of my heart. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of god. The Lord leads his church through him. I love the Book of Mormon and I love Joseph Smith. He did amazing things and i am so greatful for that. I love all of you. I am so thankful for all of your love and support. My time has run out. I need to go back to doing the Lords work. I love it with all of my heart.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Friday, October 3, 2008
6 MONTHS
Sam's been gone 6 months today! It seems like it's been longer, but at the same time, it seems like he just left. He's doing great as you all can tell from his letters. We know England is blessed because he's there. We all miss him and love him so much! WAY TO GO SAM!!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Letter - September 30, 2008
Hey familia how are you guys doing? It sounds like everything is going great there. I got the package you sent me with the scriptures so that was good. Thank you for that. I love them!!! Also good job Utes for pickin up the W this last weekend. Keep it up!!!!
Well this week was a pretty good week. We had interviews in Coventry and those went well as always. President Moffat once again continues to amaze me. He is a great mission president and a great example. I will miss him quite a bit when he leaves. My interview was very good and i learned a whole lot from President Moffat. At the end of interviews President Moffat came in where all the missionaries were and just yelled ''Elder Rudd, Elder Wear in my office right now.'' It scared the crap out of me and then he started laughing and said ''I got ya pretty good didn't i.'' It was typical President Moffat and so we went and talked to him and he told me that i was senior companion for this next week. He wanted me to experience that for a week and see how i did. So since friday i have been the senior companion. It has been a very humbling experience and i have learned alot from it. I hope i can continue to help this area grow the rest of the week.
Trisha is doing good. She hasn't smoked since Thursday!! It is awesome. Hopefully she is done for the rest of her life. She is scheduled to be baptized on the 11th of October so we are really pushing her. She has made a lot of progress. I am really really proud of her. She just needs to take that next leap of faith and rely on the Lord. We had an interesting thing happen in church on sunday. We were sitting in Elders Quorum and all of the sudden we see Rosemary walk in again. (She is the blanket lady.) She also had a friend. Apparently like half way into Relief Society the friend decided to try and light a cigarette. The relief society president saw her and took her outside and came and got us. We went outside and she just started to walk home. There were definately some screws loose in that head. She was crazy. We all had a pretty good laugh with that one. Other than that we haven't had to much more goin on. Just tryin to get the crazy and depressed english to accept the gospel.
I'm glad you got the memory card. Throwing those things out the window was so fun! It was a little slippery on the roof but we handled it ok. We had had a long day and it was pretty rough so we needed something to calm us down. It was very fun. Also the stuff in front of the door is the moldy bread that we threw out and it got rained on so it fell down onto the deck.
I can't believe General Conference is here again. That is crazy. I can't believe i only have 18 more months to go. It goes by too fast. I love serving the Lord and doing this great work. It truly is a great work. There is absolutely nothing else like it. I am so blessed and so honored to go and to share this gospel with people. I have come to really know that the church is true. If this wasn't the Lords work us 19 year olds would have already screwed it up big time. I love this gospel with my whole heart. I was walking down the street the other day and i just looked around and thought to myself how lost all these people are. They say they are happy but they really aren't. It just made me that much more grateful and motivated for this work. It is the best thing we can ever do.
Well that is about all for this week. Unless tiff didn't tell you it is transfers next week and i think Elder Wear is leaving so i probably won't email until Thursday. I love you all and i hope your doing well. I hope school is going well and that everyone is happy. I challenge everyone who reads this email to find someone for the missionaries to teach. Members of the church are full time finders, Missionaries are full time teachers. You don't understand how much a referral means to a missionary. I know all of you know someone who isn't a part of the church. Invite them to meet with the missionaries. I can promise you that you will be blessed more than you can imagine. I love being in the service of the Lord. I love the gospel and it really is the true church. Thanks for all your love and support.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week was a pretty good week. We had interviews in Coventry and those went well as always. President Moffat once again continues to amaze me. He is a great mission president and a great example. I will miss him quite a bit when he leaves. My interview was very good and i learned a whole lot from President Moffat. At the end of interviews President Moffat came in where all the missionaries were and just yelled ''Elder Rudd, Elder Wear in my office right now.'' It scared the crap out of me and then he started laughing and said ''I got ya pretty good didn't i.'' It was typical President Moffat and so we went and talked to him and he told me that i was senior companion for this next week. He wanted me to experience that for a week and see how i did. So since friday i have been the senior companion. It has been a very humbling experience and i have learned alot from it. I hope i can continue to help this area grow the rest of the week.
Trisha is doing good. She hasn't smoked since Thursday!! It is awesome. Hopefully she is done for the rest of her life. She is scheduled to be baptized on the 11th of October so we are really pushing her. She has made a lot of progress. I am really really proud of her. She just needs to take that next leap of faith and rely on the Lord. We had an interesting thing happen in church on sunday. We were sitting in Elders Quorum and all of the sudden we see Rosemary walk in again. (She is the blanket lady.) She also had a friend. Apparently like half way into Relief Society the friend decided to try and light a cigarette. The relief society president saw her and took her outside and came and got us. We went outside and she just started to walk home. There were definately some screws loose in that head. She was crazy. We all had a pretty good laugh with that one. Other than that we haven't had to much more goin on. Just tryin to get the crazy and depressed english to accept the gospel.
I'm glad you got the memory card. Throwing those things out the window was so fun! It was a little slippery on the roof but we handled it ok. We had had a long day and it was pretty rough so we needed something to calm us down. It was very fun. Also the stuff in front of the door is the moldy bread that we threw out and it got rained on so it fell down onto the deck.
I can't believe General Conference is here again. That is crazy. I can't believe i only have 18 more months to go. It goes by too fast. I love serving the Lord and doing this great work. It truly is a great work. There is absolutely nothing else like it. I am so blessed and so honored to go and to share this gospel with people. I have come to really know that the church is true. If this wasn't the Lords work us 19 year olds would have already screwed it up big time. I love this gospel with my whole heart. I was walking down the street the other day and i just looked around and thought to myself how lost all these people are. They say they are happy but they really aren't. It just made me that much more grateful and motivated for this work. It is the best thing we can ever do.
Well that is about all for this week. Unless tiff didn't tell you it is transfers next week and i think Elder Wear is leaving so i probably won't email until Thursday. I love you all and i hope your doing well. I hope school is going well and that everyone is happy. I challenge everyone who reads this email to find someone for the missionaries to teach. Members of the church are full time finders, Missionaries are full time teachers. You don't understand how much a referral means to a missionary. I know all of you know someone who isn't a part of the church. Invite them to meet with the missionaries. I can promise you that you will be blessed more than you can imagine. I love being in the service of the Lord. I love the gospel and it really is the true church. Thanks for all your love and support.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Letter - September 23, 2008
Hello there!!!! Thank you for the emails. They mean alot. I love hearing about everything that is going on. It makes me feel good to know that everyone is happy and safe. I love you all.
Well this week was a pretty good week. We had a baptism on Saturday. Her name was Jennifer Ferrell and she is 10 years old. She didn't get baptized when she was 8 but she comes to church every week and rarely ever misses. Since she was over the age of 9 she counted as a convert baptism. It was a great service. Also Trisha was supposed to get baptized this upcoming Saturday. President Moffat came teaching with us to her house and sorted the past concern out and now all she needed to do was give up smoking. She was doing great until yesterday. We call her at 7 in the morning every morning to make sure she doesn't smoke and then multiple times throughout the day. We talked to her at about 5 30 and then again at about 7 30 and when i talked to her at 7 30 she told me that she had smoked a couple hours ago. I was devestated. My heart just dropped and felt like it shattered into a million pieces. I told her that was not good and she said she knew. It really just broke my heart when she told me that she smoked. I honestly have not cared about an investigator as much as Trisha. She is a great lady. Me and Elder Wear both feel that way. We are going to teach her tonight with our new ward mission leader, (who reminds me exactly like Mark Hulet. It's scary. But he is exactly like him ), and we are just going to be bold with her and help her through it. It is so hard to see people not keep commitments that are so important. I want Trisha to be baptized so much because i know that it will bless her life so much. It will bless her family. I never thought that i could love people as much as i do out here. I really do care about all of our investigators. It is still hard to love everyone that i talk to because we meet some real winners and some real jerks but i pray for that help every time i pray. Also this week Rosemary, blanket lady, walked into church again. She is out of control. We didn't really understand what happened but we did not expect it at all. She walked in and then we asked her to be baptized on October 11th. She accepted and we stressed that it has to be different this time and that she needs to hold her appointments. Hopefully she will understand. We also found a guy named Lee and set a date with him on the 11th as well. Also BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! WE FOUND ELVIS!!!!!!! HE IS STILL ALIVE!!!! DONT WORRY!!!!! THE KING IS BACK IN THE BUILDING!!!! Hahaha we found this guy yesterday who thinks that he is Elvis. He goes and does shows and immitates Elvis. He played a cd of him singing which was actually pretty good but he told us that one day he will make it big. He told us that he is the next best singer next to Elvis. It was pretty funny. I was laughing and also worried because this guy was nuts. That is our interesting story for yesterday. This week should be a good week. I am excited about General Conference but i'm not at the same time. That means that i only have 18 months left. Time absolutely flies out here. I remember Elder Nordquist told me that he had 9 months left when he got here and now he only has 3. It seems like yesterday that i was sitting in the MTC watching General Conference and watching our brand new prophet wiggle his ears. It is amazing how time goes.
WHAT IS UP WITH UTAH???? DISCIPLINE KYLE, DISCIPLINE. Why are we having so many penalties? I don't get it. You are right it is a good thing i am 10,000 miles away. Kyle would definately be hearing from me. That is great though that we are ranked again. I love it. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well i think that i have gotten everything you have sent me. I haven't gotten the package yet that you sent last week but im sure i will get it soon. I haven't sent that package home that i was going to a few weeks ago but i am today. Thats about it for this week. I am loving every minute of my service. I love it so much. Alma 29:9 sums it up. I love the gospel. It brings so much happiness into peoples lives. I think i took it for granted back home but i realize now more than ever how important it is. The gospel truly is the only way to true happiness. I testify that Jesus Christ lives. He is our savior and our redeemer. I love him more than ever. Joseph Smith truly is a prophet and he did look up and see through the trees Our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love the Prophet Joseph. I know that Thomas S. Monson leads this church today. He is an inspired man. I love him. This gospel is so true and i love it with all my heart. I love all of you and i am so greatful for your love and support. You don't know how much it helps me and how much it means to me. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. i cut my own hair and we don't have too many dinner appointments. I am still starving but you know that even if i eat i am still hungry. Send me some jif peanut butter. They have jars that say peanut butter over here but it ain't no peanut butter.
Well this week was a pretty good week. We had a baptism on Saturday. Her name was Jennifer Ferrell and she is 10 years old. She didn't get baptized when she was 8 but she comes to church every week and rarely ever misses. Since she was over the age of 9 she counted as a convert baptism. It was a great service. Also Trisha was supposed to get baptized this upcoming Saturday. President Moffat came teaching with us to her house and sorted the past concern out and now all she needed to do was give up smoking. She was doing great until yesterday. We call her at 7 in the morning every morning to make sure she doesn't smoke and then multiple times throughout the day. We talked to her at about 5 30 and then again at about 7 30 and when i talked to her at 7 30 she told me that she had smoked a couple hours ago. I was devestated. My heart just dropped and felt like it shattered into a million pieces. I told her that was not good and she said she knew. It really just broke my heart when she told me that she smoked. I honestly have not cared about an investigator as much as Trisha. She is a great lady. Me and Elder Wear both feel that way. We are going to teach her tonight with our new ward mission leader, (who reminds me exactly like Mark Hulet. It's scary. But he is exactly like him ), and we are just going to be bold with her and help her through it. It is so hard to see people not keep commitments that are so important. I want Trisha to be baptized so much because i know that it will bless her life so much. It will bless her family. I never thought that i could love people as much as i do out here. I really do care about all of our investigators. It is still hard to love everyone that i talk to because we meet some real winners and some real jerks but i pray for that help every time i pray. Also this week Rosemary, blanket lady, walked into church again. She is out of control. We didn't really understand what happened but we did not expect it at all. She walked in and then we asked her to be baptized on October 11th. She accepted and we stressed that it has to be different this time and that she needs to hold her appointments. Hopefully she will understand. We also found a guy named Lee and set a date with him on the 11th as well. Also BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! WE FOUND ELVIS!!!!!!! HE IS STILL ALIVE!!!! DONT WORRY!!!!! THE KING IS BACK IN THE BUILDING!!!! Hahaha we found this guy yesterday who thinks that he is Elvis. He goes and does shows and immitates Elvis. He played a cd of him singing which was actually pretty good but he told us that one day he will make it big. He told us that he is the next best singer next to Elvis. It was pretty funny. I was laughing and also worried because this guy was nuts. That is our interesting story for yesterday. This week should be a good week. I am excited about General Conference but i'm not at the same time. That means that i only have 18 months left. Time absolutely flies out here. I remember Elder Nordquist told me that he had 9 months left when he got here and now he only has 3. It seems like yesterday that i was sitting in the MTC watching General Conference and watching our brand new prophet wiggle his ears. It is amazing how time goes.
WHAT IS UP WITH UTAH???? DISCIPLINE KYLE, DISCIPLINE. Why are we having so many penalties? I don't get it. You are right it is a good thing i am 10,000 miles away. Kyle would definately be hearing from me. That is great though that we are ranked again. I love it. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well i think that i have gotten everything you have sent me. I haven't gotten the package yet that you sent last week but im sure i will get it soon. I haven't sent that package home that i was going to a few weeks ago but i am today. Thats about it for this week. I am loving every minute of my service. I love it so much. Alma 29:9 sums it up. I love the gospel. It brings so much happiness into peoples lives. I think i took it for granted back home but i realize now more than ever how important it is. The gospel truly is the only way to true happiness. I testify that Jesus Christ lives. He is our savior and our redeemer. I love him more than ever. Joseph Smith truly is a prophet and he did look up and see through the trees Our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love the Prophet Joseph. I know that Thomas S. Monson leads this church today. He is an inspired man. I love him. This gospel is so true and i love it with all my heart. I love all of you and i am so greatful for your love and support. You don't know how much it helps me and how much it means to me. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
p.s. i cut my own hair and we don't have too many dinner appointments. I am still starving but you know that even if i eat i am still hungry. Send me some jif peanut butter. They have jars that say peanut butter over here but it ain't no peanut butter.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Letter - September 16, 2008
Hello how is everyone? I hope all is well there. It sounds like everyone is doing well and having fun. We just had our mission football (soccer) in coventry and it was pretty fun. We won two games and lost two. We should have won all of them but we just werent making our shots. It was a little disappointing but it was fun to be with all the missionaries. I scored a couple goals and people said i was one of the fastest kids there. I am going to be sore tomorrow though. I saw Elder Nordquist, Elder Landgren, and Elder Morgan. We got a picture together so you will get that sometime. So we have had a fun day.
Well this week was a good week. We had Zone Conference which was amazing and i learned so much from it. President Moffat is so inspired and i love learning from him. He puts things so simple and he truly cares about each and every missionary. The Zone Conference was on Chapter 10 in Preach My Gospel and i had to give a talk at it. We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission and finishing it before the end of the year. As we read it we are looking for all the references to the spirit. It is amazing to read the Book of Mormon. I love it with all of my heart. I know that it is true. I encourage all of you to read from the Book of Mormon daily. It makes your day so much better. Also during the week i think it was Friday, it absolutely poured. All day long it rained. It poured and poured and poured. Streets were flooding and it was not very good at all. I was so wet. I think it was the worst storm of my mission. We finally went back for dinner and i took everything out of my backpack and i took my scriptures out and they were absolutely drenched. They are not in working condition right now lets just say that. I would love it if you guys sent me a new set. I still have my small set so it will work but i pretty much need new scriptures ASAP!!!!! I don't care what color or style but i would prefer the medium sized set. I just need new ones. Also that night we were going to talk to a lady that we had spoken to earlier but we got to the house and no one was there. As we were walking away a guy was walking by and saw us and went inside and got a Book of Mormon. We taught him and he was a little drunk but i shared Helaman 5:12 with him and told him that if he gets his life in order and in line with God that satan would have no power over him. As soon as i said that he started to get tears in his eyes and we set up a return appointment. It was just amazing to see how the spirit works. I love it so much. I love missionary work. It is the best thing that we could ever do. I can't imagine doing anything else.
Thank you for the sports update. I need to have a talk with Kyle and tell him that he better get his team disciplined or else nothing good will happen. What is up with all the stupid penalties this year? Well i still love the Utes and i cheer for them every saturday. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still haven't gotten a lot of mail so if anyone back in Utah loves me i would love to hear from them. I am happy that you are enjoying From Cumorahs Hill. I wish i could do it again. I loved doing it. Well that is it for this week. I am having a great time out here. I am so happy and i love every minute of every day. Missionary work is the greatest. I love all of you guys and i hope that this week is a good week for all of you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week was a good week. We had Zone Conference which was amazing and i learned so much from it. President Moffat is so inspired and i love learning from him. He puts things so simple and he truly cares about each and every missionary. The Zone Conference was on Chapter 10 in Preach My Gospel and i had to give a talk at it. We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission and finishing it before the end of the year. As we read it we are looking for all the references to the spirit. It is amazing to read the Book of Mormon. I love it with all of my heart. I know that it is true. I encourage all of you to read from the Book of Mormon daily. It makes your day so much better. Also during the week i think it was Friday, it absolutely poured. All day long it rained. It poured and poured and poured. Streets were flooding and it was not very good at all. I was so wet. I think it was the worst storm of my mission. We finally went back for dinner and i took everything out of my backpack and i took my scriptures out and they were absolutely drenched. They are not in working condition right now lets just say that. I would love it if you guys sent me a new set. I still have my small set so it will work but i pretty much need new scriptures ASAP!!!!! I don't care what color or style but i would prefer the medium sized set. I just need new ones. Also that night we were going to talk to a lady that we had spoken to earlier but we got to the house and no one was there. As we were walking away a guy was walking by and saw us and went inside and got a Book of Mormon. We taught him and he was a little drunk but i shared Helaman 5:12 with him and told him that if he gets his life in order and in line with God that satan would have no power over him. As soon as i said that he started to get tears in his eyes and we set up a return appointment. It was just amazing to see how the spirit works. I love it so much. I love missionary work. It is the best thing that we could ever do. I can't imagine doing anything else.
Thank you for the sports update. I need to have a talk with Kyle and tell him that he better get his team disciplined or else nothing good will happen. What is up with all the stupid penalties this year? Well i still love the Utes and i cheer for them every saturday. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still haven't gotten a lot of mail so if anyone back in Utah loves me i would love to hear from them. I am happy that you are enjoying From Cumorahs Hill. I wish i could do it again. I loved doing it. Well that is it for this week. I am having a great time out here. I am so happy and i love every minute of every day. Missionary work is the greatest. I love all of you guys and i hope that this week is a good week for all of you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Letter - September 9, 2008
Hey family how is everyone? I was glad to hear from all of you this week. I don't have a lot of time on the computer today so this may not be very long so i apologize for that.
Well this week has been just an ordinary week. Not a whole lot of exciting things. We have Zone Conference on Thursday in Birmingham so i am excited about that. Trisha is making a lot of progress. She didn't come to church on sunday because her son didn't want to go and she doesn't like to leave him home alone so she didn't come but she is getting alot better and we are planning on setting a baptismal date with her again. I am confident all will go well. We still haven't made contact with Rosemary and it is pretty frustrating so we have decided not to go by her unless we are in the area or see her on the street. We will get her back though. We found a few more people yesterday that seem pretty good so this week is looking good. I am excited for it.
We worked with the Zone Leaders this week and it was really good because i learned a lot of new things. They helped us realize some things and we have really worked hard at doing the things that they asked us to do.
The computers here are messed up so hopefully we can get on to another computer and email. But we only got like 20 minutes so this one is really short. I love being a missionary. It has been a tough week and a real faith trying week but i know that the Lord will help us and we will see success. The greatest joys in my life so far have been on this mission. There is nothing greater. I love this gospel. I love all of you and i want to thank you for all of your support. It means a lot to me. I love you and i look forward to hearing from you again.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
P.S. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well this week has been just an ordinary week. Not a whole lot of exciting things. We have Zone Conference on Thursday in Birmingham so i am excited about that. Trisha is making a lot of progress. She didn't come to church on sunday because her son didn't want to go and she doesn't like to leave him home alone so she didn't come but she is getting alot better and we are planning on setting a baptismal date with her again. I am confident all will go well. We still haven't made contact with Rosemary and it is pretty frustrating so we have decided not to go by her unless we are in the area or see her on the street. We will get her back though. We found a few more people yesterday that seem pretty good so this week is looking good. I am excited for it.
We worked with the Zone Leaders this week and it was really good because i learned a lot of new things. They helped us realize some things and we have really worked hard at doing the things that they asked us to do.
The computers here are messed up so hopefully we can get on to another computer and email. But we only got like 20 minutes so this one is really short. I love being a missionary. It has been a tough week and a real faith trying week but i know that the Lord will help us and we will see success. The greatest joys in my life so far have been on this mission. There is nothing greater. I love this gospel. I love all of you and i want to thank you for all of your support. It means a lot to me. I love you and i look forward to hearing from you again.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
P.S. GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Letter - September 2, 2008
Hey family how are you doing? It was good to hear from you again as always and it sounds like all of you are doing well. It always makes me feel better when i know that you guys are safe, healthy, and having fun.
Well first things first...We were tracting on Sunday and all of the sudden i look at my watch and it said the 31st and i was like wait its already August. Football probably started this weekend. Wow time flies. It seems like it just got over. Did Asiata start or did Mack? Did Mack play and if so how did he do? Did he pick up right where he left off from? Well anyways make sure that they don't fly over to Hawaii again to celebrate and leave the practice squad to play against UNLV. They better get fired up. Are we ranked at all? Was Michigan ranked? Well i love it!! GO UTES!!!!!!!! (I will have to tell President Moffat about that one. He is a HUGE Utah fan!!!) Keep me updated on all sports.
Well on Sunday we went and heard L. Tom Perry speak in Birmingham. It was awesome!! He is so powerful. When he was just speaking normally he was just like he is in General Conference. But wow when he bore testimony he raised his voice a little and the spirit just filled the room. It was so amazing to see and hear an apostle of the Lord bear testimony of the reality of the Gospel. He is on a tour of Europe and some of the missions as well. He brought Elder Rasband with him as well and so he spoke. It was a great meeting. I loved it so much. After the meeting i went up on the stand and shook hands with Elder Rasband and told him that he had come to stake conference a couple years ago. He asked me which stake and he said that is a great great stake and he said to tell dad hi. After that Elder Perry was making his way out of the chapel and i caught him and put my arm around him and said to him Elder Perry i enjoyed your talk. It was great. Then he said are you related to the "famous Rudd" and i said yes he is my Grandpa and he said wonderful. Then he had to leave. But it was amazing to talk to an Apostle and shake his hand. The spirit just glows off of him and he is one amazing man.
Well this week was full of interesting things. Trisha was supposed to be getting interviewed for baptism on Saturday so we went and taught her on friday and reviewed the questions with her. I asked her a question and a concern came up. It was not a good one. We had to call President Moffat about it and things just didn't go to well. Our district leader came and did the interview as usual on Saturday and when it came to that question she flipped out and we told her that she had to meet with President Moffat before she could be baptized. Everything went downhill from there and she didn't want to come to church anymore and she just went crazy. So Trisha's baptism for this Saturday had to be pushed because of it. We had to go back Sunday and pretty much build our relationship back up with her. That didn't go too well. She didn't talk alot but when she did she yelled and yelled at us. We went by last night and it was alot better. She was talking to us and laughing with us so we think she has felt the spirit pretty strong and hopefully something has changed. It was pretty intense. Rosemary aka blanket lady is wierd. I don't think she realizes she needs to be taught and give things up before she is baptized. We have tried to make contact with her but no luck. Hopefully we will today. I really hope she gets baptized because it will be a great blessing in her life. Well thats about all for this week. It has been a somewhat disappointing week but the work moves on and we will try to resolve some concerns. It is great. I love it. This work is inspired of God and we have to be in tune with the spirit 100% or else its not effective. I have learned so much since i have been out here and i continue to learn and grow each day. I have learned so much about myself and just how important the gospel really is. It is amazing what missions do for people. Best time of my life. No doubt about it. I hope i am making you guys, our ward, our stake, but most importantly the Lord proud. I am working hard and working on improving every day. There is nothing greater. I love you guys and i do miss you but i love being on the Lords errand. I will forever be in debt to him. I know that we have a prophet on the earth today. I know that the Apostles are real and that they along with the prophet are the most powerful men on the earth. It is so comforting to know that. I love to see the gospel change lives. It is the greatest joy ever. I love you. The church is true!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well first things first...We were tracting on Sunday and all of the sudden i look at my watch and it said the 31st and i was like wait its already August. Football probably started this weekend. Wow time flies. It seems like it just got over. Did Asiata start or did Mack? Did Mack play and if so how did he do? Did he pick up right where he left off from? Well anyways make sure that they don't fly over to Hawaii again to celebrate and leave the practice squad to play against UNLV. They better get fired up. Are we ranked at all? Was Michigan ranked? Well i love it!! GO UTES!!!!!!!! (I will have to tell President Moffat about that one. He is a HUGE Utah fan!!!) Keep me updated on all sports.
Well on Sunday we went and heard L. Tom Perry speak in Birmingham. It was awesome!! He is so powerful. When he was just speaking normally he was just like he is in General Conference. But wow when he bore testimony he raised his voice a little and the spirit just filled the room. It was so amazing to see and hear an apostle of the Lord bear testimony of the reality of the Gospel. He is on a tour of Europe and some of the missions as well. He brought Elder Rasband with him as well and so he spoke. It was a great meeting. I loved it so much. After the meeting i went up on the stand and shook hands with Elder Rasband and told him that he had come to stake conference a couple years ago. He asked me which stake and he said that is a great great stake and he said to tell dad hi. After that Elder Perry was making his way out of the chapel and i caught him and put my arm around him and said to him Elder Perry i enjoyed your talk. It was great. Then he said are you related to the "famous Rudd" and i said yes he is my Grandpa and he said wonderful. Then he had to leave. But it was amazing to talk to an Apostle and shake his hand. The spirit just glows off of him and he is one amazing man.
Well this week was full of interesting things. Trisha was supposed to be getting interviewed for baptism on Saturday so we went and taught her on friday and reviewed the questions with her. I asked her a question and a concern came up. It was not a good one. We had to call President Moffat about it and things just didn't go to well. Our district leader came and did the interview as usual on Saturday and when it came to that question she flipped out and we told her that she had to meet with President Moffat before she could be baptized. Everything went downhill from there and she didn't want to come to church anymore and she just went crazy. So Trisha's baptism for this Saturday had to be pushed because of it. We had to go back Sunday and pretty much build our relationship back up with her. That didn't go too well. She didn't talk alot but when she did she yelled and yelled at us. We went by last night and it was alot better. She was talking to us and laughing with us so we think she has felt the spirit pretty strong and hopefully something has changed. It was pretty intense. Rosemary aka blanket lady is wierd. I don't think she realizes she needs to be taught and give things up before she is baptized. We have tried to make contact with her but no luck. Hopefully we will today. I really hope she gets baptized because it will be a great blessing in her life. Well thats about all for this week. It has been a somewhat disappointing week but the work moves on and we will try to resolve some concerns. It is great. I love it. This work is inspired of God and we have to be in tune with the spirit 100% or else its not effective. I have learned so much since i have been out here and i continue to learn and grow each day. I have learned so much about myself and just how important the gospel really is. It is amazing what missions do for people. Best time of my life. No doubt about it. I hope i am making you guys, our ward, our stake, but most importantly the Lord proud. I am working hard and working on improving every day. There is nothing greater. I love you guys and i do miss you but i love being on the Lords errand. I will forever be in debt to him. I know that we have a prophet on the earth today. I know that the Apostles are real and that they along with the prophet are the most powerful men on the earth. It is so comforting to know that. I love to see the gospel change lives. It is the greatest joy ever. I love you. The church is true!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Letter - August 27, 2008
Hey everyone how are you doing? I am doing great in England. I love it! I didn't get transferred and neither did Elder Wear. I am glad we have another transfer to work with each other. It will be fun. Rugby will have a lot of success.
Well something pretty cool is happening on sunday in Birmingham. L. Tom Perry is coming to speak to i think the Birmingham Stake but im not 100% sure. President Moffat said that we could go if we have an investigator to go with us. I really hope we can go. I am anxious to see if i can talk to him and talk to him about Grandpa Rudd. I am asuming he knows him because Grandpa knows everyone. So that should be neat.
Well this week was a little different. Not as successful as last week. We started out the week with 4 people committed for baptism. Everything went great on Monday and then on Tuesday morning we got a text from Doreen who is one of the people getting baptized and she said that her and her daughter couldn't see us anymore because they have their own church and they just came to our church to see what it was like. So that was pretty disappointing. We went by that night anyway to see if we could talk to her but she wasn't home. We were on the street visiting another person and this lady came and yelled at us and said that she better not see us up there at Doreen's house anymore and if she did then she was going to call the police. So that was the end of her which was really disappointing. So now we only have 2 committed for baptism. After we went and saw her on Tuesday we went by Eileen, the other person getting baptized, and tried to see if we could meet with her. We hadn't made contact with her for a few days and we were a little worried. When we got there we saw that she was just walking in from work. We went and talked to her and she freaked out at us. She said that we called too much and we came by her house too much and just told us that she pretty much didn't want to see us again. We were trying to explain to her why we were trying to make daily contact with her but she wouldn't listen. It was a little bit shocking because she was very excited about the church and really liked it. So it was quite an eventful tuesday. Not a whole lot happened after that until Sunday. We didn't have anyone show up for church. Not even Tricia who is getting baptized on the 6th of September. I was a bit frustrated and wondered what we did wrong. Then we were sitting in sacrament meeting and right after the sacrament ended in walks this lady. We didn't think anything of it at the time but after the meeting was over we went and introduced ourselves. Then a member told us that she had just walked in off the street and wanted to know more. Her name is Rosemary and so i went and talked to her and asked her if she enjoyed church. She said yes and she said she really enjoyed the feeling that was there. It was amazing. I was so happy for her. She seemed very nice and then after church we went and saw her. We taught her a little bit about the Restoration and then asked her to be baptized. She accepted and was very willing to do so. It was so great. I was so excited. We just talked for a minute after and she is a little wierd. She smokes big time and pretty much has no front teeth. It's pretty sick but when we were leaving Elder Wear went to go shake her hand and she gave him a big hug. I was laughing so hard. I immediately turned around and started laughing. I had to walk away because i was laughing so hard. It was a very interesting night. We taught her last night and she has no furniture in her house and so we sat on the floor and she was wrapped up in a blanket the whole time. She had it around her head and was biting it. It was pretty wierd. I can just tell there will be some more interesting stories with her so i will keep you posted. Also we have another lady who is getting baptized on the 13th as well. Her name is Thresa and she is from Zimbabwe. She doesn't read english very well and so it is a little difficult but her and Rosemary will be baptized on the same day. I am so excited.
Thanks for all your updates on the Olympics. They were great. I am glad that we got the gold back in basketball. It shouldn't have ever left the U.S. I wish i could have seen it. I am glad Deron did well.
Well thats it for this week. Thank you for all the emails. I love it. Me and Elder Wear are not getting very much mail. We have gotten two things in the last 2 weeks and they have both been from Grandma Lancaster. It is pretty sad. We have told members to feel free to write us a letter and put it through the post box. Hopefully we get some mail soon.
Well the mission is still going great. It's been almost 5 months! It's going by way way way too fast. I don't want it to end. I absolutely love it. Seeing how the gospel changes peoples lives is the greatest thing i have ever experienced in my life. Nothing else matters except the gospel. If we have the gospel we are everything but if we don't have the gospel we are nothing. I love it with all my heart. You are the best family in the world. Thanks for all the love and support. I love you guys so much.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well something pretty cool is happening on sunday in Birmingham. L. Tom Perry is coming to speak to i think the Birmingham Stake but im not 100% sure. President Moffat said that we could go if we have an investigator to go with us. I really hope we can go. I am anxious to see if i can talk to him and talk to him about Grandpa Rudd. I am asuming he knows him because Grandpa knows everyone. So that should be neat.
Well this week was a little different. Not as successful as last week. We started out the week with 4 people committed for baptism. Everything went great on Monday and then on Tuesday morning we got a text from Doreen who is one of the people getting baptized and she said that her and her daughter couldn't see us anymore because they have their own church and they just came to our church to see what it was like. So that was pretty disappointing. We went by that night anyway to see if we could talk to her but she wasn't home. We were on the street visiting another person and this lady came and yelled at us and said that she better not see us up there at Doreen's house anymore and if she did then she was going to call the police. So that was the end of her which was really disappointing. So now we only have 2 committed for baptism. After we went and saw her on Tuesday we went by Eileen, the other person getting baptized, and tried to see if we could meet with her. We hadn't made contact with her for a few days and we were a little worried. When we got there we saw that she was just walking in from work. We went and talked to her and she freaked out at us. She said that we called too much and we came by her house too much and just told us that she pretty much didn't want to see us again. We were trying to explain to her why we were trying to make daily contact with her but she wouldn't listen. It was a little bit shocking because she was very excited about the church and really liked it. So it was quite an eventful tuesday. Not a whole lot happened after that until Sunday. We didn't have anyone show up for church. Not even Tricia who is getting baptized on the 6th of September. I was a bit frustrated and wondered what we did wrong. Then we were sitting in sacrament meeting and right after the sacrament ended in walks this lady. We didn't think anything of it at the time but after the meeting was over we went and introduced ourselves. Then a member told us that she had just walked in off the street and wanted to know more. Her name is Rosemary and so i went and talked to her and asked her if she enjoyed church. She said yes and she said she really enjoyed the feeling that was there. It was amazing. I was so happy for her. She seemed very nice and then after church we went and saw her. We taught her a little bit about the Restoration and then asked her to be baptized. She accepted and was very willing to do so. It was so great. I was so excited. We just talked for a minute after and she is a little wierd. She smokes big time and pretty much has no front teeth. It's pretty sick but when we were leaving Elder Wear went to go shake her hand and she gave him a big hug. I was laughing so hard. I immediately turned around and started laughing. I had to walk away because i was laughing so hard. It was a very interesting night. We taught her last night and she has no furniture in her house and so we sat on the floor and she was wrapped up in a blanket the whole time. She had it around her head and was biting it. It was pretty wierd. I can just tell there will be some more interesting stories with her so i will keep you posted. Also we have another lady who is getting baptized on the 13th as well. Her name is Thresa and she is from Zimbabwe. She doesn't read english very well and so it is a little difficult but her and Rosemary will be baptized on the same day. I am so excited.
Thanks for all your updates on the Olympics. They were great. I am glad that we got the gold back in basketball. It shouldn't have ever left the U.S. I wish i could have seen it. I am glad Deron did well.
Well thats it for this week. Thank you for all the emails. I love it. Me and Elder Wear are not getting very much mail. We have gotten two things in the last 2 weeks and they have both been from Grandma Lancaster. It is pretty sad. We have told members to feel free to write us a letter and put it through the post box. Hopefully we get some mail soon.
Well the mission is still going great. It's been almost 5 months! It's going by way way way too fast. I don't want it to end. I absolutely love it. Seeing how the gospel changes peoples lives is the greatest thing i have ever experienced in my life. Nothing else matters except the gospel. If we have the gospel we are everything but if we don't have the gospel we are nothing. I love it with all my heart. You are the best family in the world. Thanks for all the love and support. I love you guys so much.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Pictures
Here's some fun pictures Sam sent home a couple weeks ago!
A lady he taught that was baptized
It's raining...AGAIN, or should I say STILL!!!
He hasn't lost his swing! 
His bike
Cleaning a baptismal font
Another lady he taught that was baptized
Sleeping on the job! 
Hasn't changed much, has he?
Service with a smile!
Nate Morgan and Taylor Nordquist are two Elders from Sam's stake back home
The kitchen in their apartment
Gorgeous!
Hooray for brownies...
...and basketball!
His companion Elder Wear 
Do you two ever get any work done?Letter - August 19, 2008
Hello Family!!!! I am glad that everyone has had a good week. It makes me very happy to hear that. I have heard a little bit about the Olymipcs but not what i want to hear. Yeah Michael Phelps is amazing but what about the sport of my life? WHAT ABOUT THE BASKETBALL TEAM? How is Deron Williams doing? Boozer? Lebron? All those guys. I haven't heard too much about it. I heard that they won 2 games but thats about it. So please update me on the basketball. I miss basketball so much its crazy.
Well this week has been a great week. Elder Wear started out the week not very excited and he wanted to go home. He talked to President Moffat and that changed real fast. We just told him that it was a long swim and a pretty long walk so he might as well just stay. Ever since then this area has exploded! We have 4 people commited for baptism. It is great! We had 5 people at church and i think it was my best all around week of my mission. I love it. I hit the Standard of Excellence this week which i was really happy about. The Standard of Excellence is a thing that President Moffat decides on what the goals of the mission should be each week. Ours is 2 people commited for baptism, 3 people at church, 4 progressing investigators, 16 other lessons taught, 5 member present lessons, 15 hours tracting. I was really happy i hit it but this is when the work really starts. We have to make sure that these people get baptized and that they understand why they need to be. I am so excited for them. We have been trying to get this lady named Tricia baptized ever since i have been here. She has never accepted a date but we went in on Sunday and she told us that she wanted to be baptized. It was awesome. I was shocked. All i could do was tell her how happy i am for her that she decided to be baptized. It was incredible. But other than that the week has been pretty good. I almost got in a fight with some punk last night. We were riding our bikes and he was starting to come up this little path and so i moved out of the way so he could get by and as he passed me he swore at me and i didn't say anything. Then he went across the street and said what did you say and i didn't say anything so i just said nothing then he asked if i wanted to go and i said i would like to see you try and then we rode off. But it was close. Don't worry though i don't get in too much trouble with people.
We had interviews on Wednesday and they were great. I love them. Elder Nordquist is A.P. now and he is doing a great job. He is making the stake proud. President Moffat is an amazing man. He really knows how to talk to us as missionaries and he truly cares about each and every missionary. This mission is having great success right now. As of wednesday we had 103 people commited for baptism. I am sure we have a few more now. President Moffat has changed this mission around completely and it is one of the best missions in Europe. I love it so much. It is the greatest thing i have ever done. I am so happy right now and i know it is because i am in the service of our Heavenly Father. This is the only way to true happiness. I love it so much.
I am excited to hear about From Cumorah's Hill. I loved it when i did it. It was so fun and i know it will be even better this time. (Maybe it was fun for me because i stood next to Kelly Casaday the whole time.) Dan it is a great experience. You will love doing it. Tom i know you don't like singing but this is a great experience. Go and try out for one of the acting parts. It would be a blast for you. I know that if you do it you would not regret it.
Well before i forget i should tell you that next week is transfers. I can't believe it is here again. Time flies out here. I don't want it to. I can't believe i have been gone almost 5 months. It is crazy. So i will be emailing you on Wednesday. I wouldn't be suprised if Elder Wear gets transfered so it might even be thursday but we will just have to see. So don't expect an email on Tuesday.
Well i love all of you guys and i love hearing from you. You are the best family in the world. Thank you for all your support and prayers. The church is true and it is amazing to see it change peoples lives. It is the greatest joy anyone can ever have. I love you.
Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week has been a great week. Elder Wear started out the week not very excited and he wanted to go home. He talked to President Moffat and that changed real fast. We just told him that it was a long swim and a pretty long walk so he might as well just stay. Ever since then this area has exploded! We have 4 people commited for baptism. It is great! We had 5 people at church and i think it was my best all around week of my mission. I love it. I hit the Standard of Excellence this week which i was really happy about. The Standard of Excellence is a thing that President Moffat decides on what the goals of the mission should be each week. Ours is 2 people commited for baptism, 3 people at church, 4 progressing investigators, 16 other lessons taught, 5 member present lessons, 15 hours tracting. I was really happy i hit it but this is when the work really starts. We have to make sure that these people get baptized and that they understand why they need to be. I am so excited for them. We have been trying to get this lady named Tricia baptized ever since i have been here. She has never accepted a date but we went in on Sunday and she told us that she wanted to be baptized. It was awesome. I was shocked. All i could do was tell her how happy i am for her that she decided to be baptized. It was incredible. But other than that the week has been pretty good. I almost got in a fight with some punk last night. We were riding our bikes and he was starting to come up this little path and so i moved out of the way so he could get by and as he passed me he swore at me and i didn't say anything. Then he went across the street and said what did you say and i didn't say anything so i just said nothing then he asked if i wanted to go and i said i would like to see you try and then we rode off. But it was close. Don't worry though i don't get in too much trouble with people.
We had interviews on Wednesday and they were great. I love them. Elder Nordquist is A.P. now and he is doing a great job. He is making the stake proud. President Moffat is an amazing man. He really knows how to talk to us as missionaries and he truly cares about each and every missionary. This mission is having great success right now. As of wednesday we had 103 people commited for baptism. I am sure we have a few more now. President Moffat has changed this mission around completely and it is one of the best missions in Europe. I love it so much. It is the greatest thing i have ever done. I am so happy right now and i know it is because i am in the service of our Heavenly Father. This is the only way to true happiness. I love it so much.
I am excited to hear about From Cumorah's Hill. I loved it when i did it. It was so fun and i know it will be even better this time. (Maybe it was fun for me because i stood next to Kelly Casaday the whole time.) Dan it is a great experience. You will love doing it. Tom i know you don't like singing but this is a great experience. Go and try out for one of the acting parts. It would be a blast for you. I know that if you do it you would not regret it.
Well before i forget i should tell you that next week is transfers. I can't believe it is here again. Time flies out here. I don't want it to. I can't believe i have been gone almost 5 months. It is crazy. So i will be emailing you on Wednesday. I wouldn't be suprised if Elder Wear gets transfered so it might even be thursday but we will just have to see. So don't expect an email on Tuesday.
Well i love all of you guys and i love hearing from you. You are the best family in the world. Thank you for all your support and prayers. The church is true and it is amazing to see it change peoples lives. It is the greatest joy anyone can ever have. I love you.
Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Letter - August 12, 2008
Hey there!!! How is everyone doing? I am glad that all is well and everyone seems to be doing excellent. I love the emails. Keep sending them.
Well this week was a decent week. The work is a little rough right now. We haven't been teaching too many people and we can't get anyone to keep their dang appointments. That is what we are really trying to work on and improve. I still love the work so much and it is amazing to see it work in people's lives. We had this one black guy from Ghana that we were teaching. He accepted a baptismal date but he hasn't been to church yet. He told us that he would be there for sure on Sunday. We had an appointment with him on Saturday and he wasn't there. We called him quite a few times and no answer. I left a message on his phone that said he had to be at church the next day or he couldn't get baptized. Well he didn't show up to church and the rule is that investigators have to come to church twice before they are interviewed for baptism. So he couldn't be baptized on the 23rd. It was really really frustrating. We have been calling him loads of times the past two days and no answer. If he ever answers he will get it from me because he has done this before and he promised us. So it has been a little frustrating week but that happens. We did have a lady show up to church though that we didn't expect to. I called her on saturday night and she said she would love to come. She is from Portugal and so it is hard to understand her. I am like dad when it comes to people speaking other languages. I still only pick up on about half of what the English say. Well other than that we didn't have alot going on this week. Just alot of tracting. Tracting can be frustrating but you just have to stay focused and keep in mind that the seed may be planted for a later time. I love missionary work and i love everything about it.
Warwick Castle was awesome. I loved it. It was so cool to see all the history that was there and just see all of it. We were only there for a couple hours so we weren't able to see all of it but i hope to go back sometime next transfer if i am still here. Cameron would have loved seeing the jousting and the guys riding the horses. It was way cool.
Well this past week Ms. Flynn got home from her trip to Ireland. She got back and then left again for a couple days to go to London. While she was in Ireland a couple weeks ago we did something that Ms. Flynn was not happy about. Our bread got moldy and so we decided to throw it outside to feed the birds. Well we threw it onto her conservatory that she has and thought nothing of it. Then because it is England it rained and rained and rained some more. The bread got wet and more moldy and slid down onto her door and onto her deck outside. It was not a good thing and we didn't know it had happened until she got home on Sunday. She was not very happy with us and so we spent some time yesterday cleaning it all up. It was not easy to clean up and it was everywhere. She wasn't too mad at us yesterday and we know she couldn't be because we are the best missionaries that have ever stayed with her. Lets just say we learned our lesson.
Well thats about all that happened this week. Tomorrow is interviews and i am really excited about that. I love talking with President Moffat and learning from him. He is going to be an apostle one day. His knowledge of the gospel and missionary work is amazing. I love it.
I love you guys and i love all the support you give me. You are the best family in the world. I absolutely love my mission. It is the greatest time of my life. Dad i am asking you right now to please not release me when i come home. I never want to stop being a missionary. I love it so much and i love this gospel. You guys are the best and i love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week was a decent week. The work is a little rough right now. We haven't been teaching too many people and we can't get anyone to keep their dang appointments. That is what we are really trying to work on and improve. I still love the work so much and it is amazing to see it work in people's lives. We had this one black guy from Ghana that we were teaching. He accepted a baptismal date but he hasn't been to church yet. He told us that he would be there for sure on Sunday. We had an appointment with him on Saturday and he wasn't there. We called him quite a few times and no answer. I left a message on his phone that said he had to be at church the next day or he couldn't get baptized. Well he didn't show up to church and the rule is that investigators have to come to church twice before they are interviewed for baptism. So he couldn't be baptized on the 23rd. It was really really frustrating. We have been calling him loads of times the past two days and no answer. If he ever answers he will get it from me because he has done this before and he promised us. So it has been a little frustrating week but that happens. We did have a lady show up to church though that we didn't expect to. I called her on saturday night and she said she would love to come. She is from Portugal and so it is hard to understand her. I am like dad when it comes to people speaking other languages. I still only pick up on about half of what the English say. Well other than that we didn't have alot going on this week. Just alot of tracting. Tracting can be frustrating but you just have to stay focused and keep in mind that the seed may be planted for a later time. I love missionary work and i love everything about it.
Warwick Castle was awesome. I loved it. It was so cool to see all the history that was there and just see all of it. We were only there for a couple hours so we weren't able to see all of it but i hope to go back sometime next transfer if i am still here. Cameron would have loved seeing the jousting and the guys riding the horses. It was way cool.
Well this past week Ms. Flynn got home from her trip to Ireland. She got back and then left again for a couple days to go to London. While she was in Ireland a couple weeks ago we did something that Ms. Flynn was not happy about. Our bread got moldy and so we decided to throw it outside to feed the birds. Well we threw it onto her conservatory that she has and thought nothing of it. Then because it is England it rained and rained and rained some more. The bread got wet and more moldy and slid down onto her door and onto her deck outside. It was not a good thing and we didn't know it had happened until she got home on Sunday. She was not very happy with us and so we spent some time yesterday cleaning it all up. It was not easy to clean up and it was everywhere. She wasn't too mad at us yesterday and we know she couldn't be because we are the best missionaries that have ever stayed with her. Lets just say we learned our lesson.
Well thats about all that happened this week. Tomorrow is interviews and i am really excited about that. I love talking with President Moffat and learning from him. He is going to be an apostle one day. His knowledge of the gospel and missionary work is amazing. I love it.
I love you guys and i love all the support you give me. You are the best family in the world. I absolutely love my mission. It is the greatest time of my life. Dad i am asking you right now to please not release me when i come home. I never want to stop being a missionary. I love it so much and i love this gospel. You guys are the best and i love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Letter - August 5, 2008
Hey there!!! It was so good to hear from everyone this week. Sorry this email might be a little shorter but we are going to Warwick Castle. (Pronounced Warrick) We have to catch a bus in less than an hour and so i will try to write as much as i can.
This week was a good week. Not the best but it was better than the week before. We had an investigator at church and then after that we went over to her house and tried to set a baptismal date with her. I tried as hard as i could but she wouldn't commit. She is too worried about smoking and drinking coffee. Elder Wear likes to just throw the lessons on me and not give me any warning. He doesn't prepare as well as he should but we usually have pretty good lessons. I have taught about 3 or 4 lessons just on my own pretty much. It is a good experience but a little frustrating at times. So we are going to try and get her to accept a baptismal date this week and i am just going to go in there and tell her how it is and tell her that she needs to be baptized because if she does it on her own time then it won't happen. But other than that it was pretty much just a normal week. We have an appointment on wednesday with a guy we stopped in the street and he seems pretty solid and so we are going to set a date with him as well. So hopefully this week we will get two people commited for baptism. I'm really excited. I don't know what it is about me but i swear every time i go and stop someone on the street i get either a dirty look or i get sworn at. This one lady said the f word to me about 5 times the other day. I just laughed. But thats how the english are. This country really is about 10 years behind America. Its crazy.
But last Tuesday it was Zone Conference. We had it at the Gadfield Elm Chapel. It is the oldest dedicated chapel in the church. We spent the whole day going around to a few different sites where Wilford Woodruff baptized some people and where Heber C Kimball, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and all the early missionaries of the church were. It was so cool to be there. The spirit was so strong. President Moffat took a couple minutes at each site and just talked about it and then we ended up at the chapel and had the rest of Zone Conference. It was amazing. But the sites we went to were Bembo Pond (i don't know about that spelling), and then the hills i can't remember what they are called but Jeffrey R. Holland said he used to go there when he was the area president over here and recieve revelation. I can't tell you how neat it was. I absolutely loved it.
I love being a missionary. It is the best time of my life. I can't tell you how much i love it. The work is amazing and the gospel is so true. I love it with all my heart. I know that if we put our whole heart, might, mind, and strength into this work that it will bless our lives. The gospel is the only way to 100% true happiness. I am so blessed because of it.
Well i guess i will take a few minutes and tell you about Rugby. It is a small town. Smaller than Swindon. It is a ward but only about 60 - 70 people show up to church. It rains just as much as Swindon. Asking if it rains in England is like asking if i am a boy. It seriously rains almost every day. If it doesn't rain it is hot and humid. But England is just an old country and very different. Elder Wear is a good companion. We get a long very well. I love being a missionary and doing the Lords work. I tell you that all the time but i can't say it enough. I wish i knew more and i wish that i had studied about the gospel more before i left. I love the studies i have every morning and i love reading Preach My Gospel. Every time i read it it just bears witness to me that it really is inspired and that missionary work has taken a big step forward with it. I love it so much. I love the family. I love all of you so much. Katie i am so happy that you still remember me. I love you and Cameron you will always be my best bud. I am glad you are recovering well from your fall. I hope that one day you will serve a mission just like your dad and grandpa and Cade and me and see how fun it really is. I love you bud. I love all of you and i hope that everything is going well back home. You are the greatest family in the world and there is no family that is better. I think about you guys all the time and i hope that i am making you proud. Thank you for all of your support. You don't know how much it means to me. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
This week was a good week. Not the best but it was better than the week before. We had an investigator at church and then after that we went over to her house and tried to set a baptismal date with her. I tried as hard as i could but she wouldn't commit. She is too worried about smoking and drinking coffee. Elder Wear likes to just throw the lessons on me and not give me any warning. He doesn't prepare as well as he should but we usually have pretty good lessons. I have taught about 3 or 4 lessons just on my own pretty much. It is a good experience but a little frustrating at times. So we are going to try and get her to accept a baptismal date this week and i am just going to go in there and tell her how it is and tell her that she needs to be baptized because if she does it on her own time then it won't happen. But other than that it was pretty much just a normal week. We have an appointment on wednesday with a guy we stopped in the street and he seems pretty solid and so we are going to set a date with him as well. So hopefully this week we will get two people commited for baptism. I'm really excited. I don't know what it is about me but i swear every time i go and stop someone on the street i get either a dirty look or i get sworn at. This one lady said the f word to me about 5 times the other day. I just laughed. But thats how the english are. This country really is about 10 years behind America. Its crazy.
But last Tuesday it was Zone Conference. We had it at the Gadfield Elm Chapel. It is the oldest dedicated chapel in the church. We spent the whole day going around to a few different sites where Wilford Woodruff baptized some people and where Heber C Kimball, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and all the early missionaries of the church were. It was so cool to be there. The spirit was so strong. President Moffat took a couple minutes at each site and just talked about it and then we ended up at the chapel and had the rest of Zone Conference. It was amazing. But the sites we went to were Bembo Pond (i don't know about that spelling), and then the hills i can't remember what they are called but Jeffrey R. Holland said he used to go there when he was the area president over here and recieve revelation. I can't tell you how neat it was. I absolutely loved it.
I love being a missionary. It is the best time of my life. I can't tell you how much i love it. The work is amazing and the gospel is so true. I love it with all my heart. I know that if we put our whole heart, might, mind, and strength into this work that it will bless our lives. The gospel is the only way to 100% true happiness. I am so blessed because of it.
Well i guess i will take a few minutes and tell you about Rugby. It is a small town. Smaller than Swindon. It is a ward but only about 60 - 70 people show up to church. It rains just as much as Swindon. Asking if it rains in England is like asking if i am a boy. It seriously rains almost every day. If it doesn't rain it is hot and humid. But England is just an old country and very different. Elder Wear is a good companion. We get a long very well. I love being a missionary and doing the Lords work. I tell you that all the time but i can't say it enough. I wish i knew more and i wish that i had studied about the gospel more before i left. I love the studies i have every morning and i love reading Preach My Gospel. Every time i read it it just bears witness to me that it really is inspired and that missionary work has taken a big step forward with it. I love it so much. I love the family. I love all of you so much. Katie i am so happy that you still remember me. I love you and Cameron you will always be my best bud. I am glad you are recovering well from your fall. I hope that one day you will serve a mission just like your dad and grandpa and Cade and me and see how fun it really is. I love you bud. I love all of you and i hope that everything is going well back home. You are the greatest family in the world and there is no family that is better. I think about you guys all the time and i hope that i am making you proud. Thank you for all of your support. You don't know how much it means to me. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Monday, July 28, 2008
Letter - July 28, 2008
Hello Family!!!!!!!! I am so glad that Cameron is ok! I was so worried when i was reading about that. Tell him that i am proud of him for being so tough and tell him that i love him and i miss him. Also the reason that p-day is today is because tomorrow is zone conference and we are going to the Gadfield Elm. I think that is how you spell it but it is the oldest dedicated chapel in the world so that will be pretty cool to go to. The mission goes once a year for zone conference. I am pretty excited about it.
Well this week was a tough week. It started out pretty good but then it just ended bad. We couldn't get anyone to church again and so i was pretty upset about it. I will make sure that we have people next week though. We felt like we have been doing everything we can but i guess we need to work a little harder. So pretty much our whole week was tracting and trying to find people to teach. It was a pretty frustrating week but i prayed and asked the Lord to help me and he has. I love it.
Well Mrs. Flynn, the lady we live with, had to go to Ireland this week because her sister died. So we have the house to ourselves for a couple days. She is a great lady though and i have been thinking of ways to share the gospel with her.
Well the computers are messed up here and so i don't have a lot of time left but really all we did this week was tract. There wasn't anything really big that went on. Actually nevermind here is a story that will make you throw up. So last tuesday we had a dinner appointment at this members home. He has only been a member for about 3 years but lets just say he doesn't smell very nice. Not at all. He absolutely stinks. So we were a little worried going into his house but we go in there and it is an absolute mess!! It made my room back home look like i was a neat freak. So then he brings us our food. Pizza and Baked beans. He gives us a fork and knife and he just rinsed them off but they weren't rinsed off so there was still food on them. I didn't use them and i asked if i could go wash my hands so i did and i tried to wash them but it didn't work so i just ate the pizza with my hands. The first couple bites were alright but after that i found tons of hair in it and so i stopped eating. It reminded me of dads pumpkin pie story and so i looked at my watch and i said we needed to get going to our appointment. The appointment wasn't for another 10 minutes but i got out of there so fast. Man i really almost threw up. Elder Wear got sick off of it and so it just wasn't a good night. That was definately a moment i won't forget.
Well i have to go now but i will hear from you again next week. P day should be on tuesday again. I love all of you. You are the best family in the world. I couldn't ask for anything greater. I know that the church is true. It is awesome. I love it so much and i love being a missionary. It is the greatest. I love you all so much.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week was a tough week. It started out pretty good but then it just ended bad. We couldn't get anyone to church again and so i was pretty upset about it. I will make sure that we have people next week though. We felt like we have been doing everything we can but i guess we need to work a little harder. So pretty much our whole week was tracting and trying to find people to teach. It was a pretty frustrating week but i prayed and asked the Lord to help me and he has. I love it.
Well Mrs. Flynn, the lady we live with, had to go to Ireland this week because her sister died. So we have the house to ourselves for a couple days. She is a great lady though and i have been thinking of ways to share the gospel with her.
Well the computers are messed up here and so i don't have a lot of time left but really all we did this week was tract. There wasn't anything really big that went on. Actually nevermind here is a story that will make you throw up. So last tuesday we had a dinner appointment at this members home. He has only been a member for about 3 years but lets just say he doesn't smell very nice. Not at all. He absolutely stinks. So we were a little worried going into his house but we go in there and it is an absolute mess!! It made my room back home look like i was a neat freak. So then he brings us our food. Pizza and Baked beans. He gives us a fork and knife and he just rinsed them off but they weren't rinsed off so there was still food on them. I didn't use them and i asked if i could go wash my hands so i did and i tried to wash them but it didn't work so i just ate the pizza with my hands. The first couple bites were alright but after that i found tons of hair in it and so i stopped eating. It reminded me of dads pumpkin pie story and so i looked at my watch and i said we needed to get going to our appointment. The appointment wasn't for another 10 minutes but i got out of there so fast. Man i really almost threw up. Elder Wear got sick off of it and so it just wasn't a good night. That was definately a moment i won't forget.
Well i have to go now but i will hear from you again next week. P day should be on tuesday again. I love all of you. You are the best family in the world. I couldn't ask for anything greater. I know that the church is true. It is awesome. I love it so much and i love being a missionary. It is the greatest. I love you all so much.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Letter - July 22, 2008
Hey Fam how is everyone?!?! I hope that you all had a good week. I know that i have. It has been a little different week this week. Last monday night, i think it was the 14th, i found out that i was getting transferred. We find out monday night from the zone leaders. So i just had Tuesday to pack and get everything ready for Wednesday. I was really really nervous to leave Swindon and Elder Brower but as soon as i got to Rugby, all that went away and i knew that there was alot of work for me to do here. I am loving it. Elder Wear (pronounced Weer) is from Santaquin, Utah. He has been out about 8 months, so we are a pretty young companionship. We are both really excited about this transfer though. We have some pretty high goals and we are working as hard as we can to acheive those. Yesterday we put extra emphasis on finding someone to baptize. We found quite a few people and i feel really really good about all of them. I can't tell you how strong the spirit is. WOW!!!! It's amazing. I absolutely love being a missionary.
So i am living in a house with this old lady. She is about 80 years old and has had the missionaries living with her for almost 20 years!! She is not a member of the church but she is a great lady. We just get one room and then we use the kitchen and the bathroom. It is pretty good. I like it alot.
Also this week we taught a guy who used to be the Cruiser Weight Boxing World Champion. His name is Franco Wanyama. You can go on the internet and watch him fight I think. But he was awesome and he gave us an autographed picture of him. He was the world champion back in the 90's so he hasn't fought for a while but we talked to him for a while and it was really cool. He seems pretty interested in religion as well. So that is my cool story of the week.
Also i don't know if i ever told you but about two weeks ago me and elder brower were on our way to district meeting. We were riding our bikes to the church and it was raining of course but i was in front of elder brower and i was riding pretty fast. We were on the sidewalk and this car was starting to pull out of the gas station. I thought she saw me so i kept riding but i guess she didn't so she starts pulling out and i slammed on my breaks but they just slid and so i hit the wheel of the car, flew over my handle bars and hit the hood of the car and slid off onto the road. It was pretty cool!! I got up and this lady started getting mad at me for riding on the sidewalk and wearing all black. I said what would you like me to do instead and then her mom came and was really worried about me getting hurt. I wasn't hurt at all so don't worry. It was pretty fun and all that happened was i got a little cut on my chin. That's all though. So that was a pretty fun experience.
The weather here never gets better and it rains pretty much every day. You think i am exaggerating but i'm not. It really does. The english accent hurts my ears. I don't like it. I can't understand alot of people and so i feel like dad at dairy queens squack box. But i am working hard and i love being a missionary. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life. It really does bless our lives in so many different ways than we know. I absolutely love it. Missionary work is amazing. The spirit is so strong out here and i wish that i would have done more back home to feel it stronger but i know that we can always repent and do better. The gospel brings happiness to peoples lives. It is amazing to see people change their lives around. I know that only the gospel can do that. It really is the Lord's work. It has to be. Why would anyone else send 19 - 21 year olds throughout the world away from their families to do this. My testimony has grown so much out here and i know without a dobut in my mind that this church is true. I love it with all my heart. Thank you for being the best family in the world. I love you guys so much. I think about you all the time and i know that you are doing what our Lord wants you to do. Keep it up. You guys are the best. I love you so much!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
So i am living in a house with this old lady. She is about 80 years old and has had the missionaries living with her for almost 20 years!! She is not a member of the church but she is a great lady. We just get one room and then we use the kitchen and the bathroom. It is pretty good. I like it alot.
Also this week we taught a guy who used to be the Cruiser Weight Boxing World Champion. His name is Franco Wanyama. You can go on the internet and watch him fight I think. But he was awesome and he gave us an autographed picture of him. He was the world champion back in the 90's so he hasn't fought for a while but we talked to him for a while and it was really cool. He seems pretty interested in religion as well. So that is my cool story of the week.
Also i don't know if i ever told you but about two weeks ago me and elder brower were on our way to district meeting. We were riding our bikes to the church and it was raining of course but i was in front of elder brower and i was riding pretty fast. We were on the sidewalk and this car was starting to pull out of the gas station. I thought she saw me so i kept riding but i guess she didn't so she starts pulling out and i slammed on my breaks but they just slid and so i hit the wheel of the car, flew over my handle bars and hit the hood of the car and slid off onto the road. It was pretty cool!! I got up and this lady started getting mad at me for riding on the sidewalk and wearing all black. I said what would you like me to do instead and then her mom came and was really worried about me getting hurt. I wasn't hurt at all so don't worry. It was pretty fun and all that happened was i got a little cut on my chin. That's all though. So that was a pretty fun experience.
The weather here never gets better and it rains pretty much every day. You think i am exaggerating but i'm not. It really does. The english accent hurts my ears. I don't like it. I can't understand alot of people and so i feel like dad at dairy queens squack box. But i am working hard and i love being a missionary. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life. It really does bless our lives in so many different ways than we know. I absolutely love it. Missionary work is amazing. The spirit is so strong out here and i wish that i would have done more back home to feel it stronger but i know that we can always repent and do better. The gospel brings happiness to peoples lives. It is amazing to see people change their lives around. I know that only the gospel can do that. It really is the Lord's work. It has to be. Why would anyone else send 19 - 21 year olds throughout the world away from their families to do this. My testimony has grown so much out here and i know without a dobut in my mind that this church is true. I love it with all my heart. Thank you for being the best family in the world. I love you guys so much. I think about you all the time and i know that you are doing what our Lord wants you to do. Keep it up. You guys are the best. I love you so much!!!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Letter - July 17, 2008
Hello. My email didn't work this morning so i am sorry about that. I got transferred and i am in Rugby now. My new companion is Elder Wear. He is from Santaquin, Utah so i am excited. My address is:
25 Slade Road
Rugby, Warwickshire
CV21 3AD
England
Tell everyone to send me stuff to that address. I am really upset that my email didn't work but i will update you on tuesday. I love you all and i love being a missionary. The church is true. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
25 Slade Road
Rugby, Warwickshire
CV21 3AD
England
Tell everyone to send me stuff to that address. I am really upset that my email didn't work but i will update you on tuesday. I love you all and i love being a missionary. The church is true. I love you.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Letter - July 8, 2008
Hello Family!!! It is great to hear that everyone is doing well. I was so happy to hear from you this week. This week has been a pretty good week but hard at the same time. But just so you know. I am probably getting transfered this next week so just tell people to send mail to the mission office. Not my address in swindon. Also transfers are next week and so you won't get an email on tuesday. It will probably be wednesday.
Well this past week was a pretty good week. Karen Summers is still getting baptized on the 19th. So next Saturday so that will be a great thing for her. I am so happy for her. Also our other baptism doesn't look like it will go through anymore. Me and Elder Brower are going to go over to her house though and fix it and resolve all of her concerns. Other than that no one else is getting baptized.
Interviews was awesome this last week. President Moffat is amazing. I love him. He is so powerful and you can just tell the love that he has for missionary work. We have interviews once every transfer and we go up to Gloucester for it. It is about an hour train ride from swindon. It was a great interview and i love talking with President Moffat and getting to know him better.
Other than that all we did was some tracting. Tracting is hard and i can see how people can get discouraged so easily while doing it. You just have to have the attitude that they weren't ready to hear the gospel and someone else will be. The people in England are not very happy. It seems like they hate their lives and they don't want to talk about anything with anyone. They are very reserved and kept to themselves. It is a little disappointing. I love this gospel though. This is the only way to happiness. It really is. While i have been out on a mission i have seen how much the gospel really does help us in our lives and how it does change peoples lives for the better. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with the Gospel in my life and that he has put me in a family that is so wonderful. I really do love you guys.
I am so happy that you had such a good time in Nauvoo. That is so cool that you were at Carthage on that day. Alot of things went on in that room and that building. I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he did restore the church back on the earth today. I know that without a doubt in my mind. He did so much for everyone and i love him for that. There is no greater joy in life than seeing the gospel come into someones life and bless it. I absolutely love it. This work really is the work of God. I love it with all my heart. I love all of you guys. Thank you for all the support you give me. You guys really do mean the world to me and i love all of you so much. Stay true to the gospel and it will bless your lives in more ways than you can imagine. I love it.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this past week was a pretty good week. Karen Summers is still getting baptized on the 19th. So next Saturday so that will be a great thing for her. I am so happy for her. Also our other baptism doesn't look like it will go through anymore. Me and Elder Brower are going to go over to her house though and fix it and resolve all of her concerns. Other than that no one else is getting baptized.
Interviews was awesome this last week. President Moffat is amazing. I love him. He is so powerful and you can just tell the love that he has for missionary work. We have interviews once every transfer and we go up to Gloucester for it. It is about an hour train ride from swindon. It was a great interview and i love talking with President Moffat and getting to know him better.
Other than that all we did was some tracting. Tracting is hard and i can see how people can get discouraged so easily while doing it. You just have to have the attitude that they weren't ready to hear the gospel and someone else will be. The people in England are not very happy. It seems like they hate their lives and they don't want to talk about anything with anyone. They are very reserved and kept to themselves. It is a little disappointing. I love this gospel though. This is the only way to happiness. It really is. While i have been out on a mission i have seen how much the gospel really does help us in our lives and how it does change peoples lives for the better. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with the Gospel in my life and that he has put me in a family that is so wonderful. I really do love you guys.
I am so happy that you had such a good time in Nauvoo. That is so cool that you were at Carthage on that day. Alot of things went on in that room and that building. I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he did restore the church back on the earth today. I know that without a doubt in my mind. He did so much for everyone and i love him for that. There is no greater joy in life than seeing the gospel come into someones life and bless it. I absolutely love it. This work really is the work of God. I love it with all my heart. I love all of you guys. Thank you for all the support you give me. You guys really do mean the world to me and i love all of you so much. Stay true to the gospel and it will bless your lives in more ways than you can imagine. I love it.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Letter - July 1, 2008
Well this week was a good week. We have two more people committed for baptism. Karen is getting baptized on the 19th of July and Sharon is getting baptized on the 11th of July. So the next couple weeks will be pretty busy getting them ready for the baptism.
We also did alot of tracting this week and talked to alot of people. We were walking on this street one day this week and we didn't look at the house before we almost got up to the door. When we got up there the front window was covered with newspapers full of pornography. It was terrible. We both looked at each other and ran out of there as fast as we could. It wasn't very good. But a couple houses later i asked this guy if he was very religious and he said that he was a jedi. I was so close to asking him if he was trained by yoda but i didn't. Well tomorrow we have interviews with President Moffat and i am really looking forward to that. It should be great and i always look forward to talking with him and getting to know him better.
I love all of you and i know that the church is true. I love my mission and i love serving the lord.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
We also did alot of tracting this week and talked to alot of people. We were walking on this street one day this week and we didn't look at the house before we almost got up to the door. When we got up there the front window was covered with newspapers full of pornography. It was terrible. We both looked at each other and ran out of there as fast as we could. It wasn't very good. But a couple houses later i asked this guy if he was very religious and he said that he was a jedi. I was so close to asking him if he was trained by yoda but i didn't. Well tomorrow we have interviews with President Moffat and i am really looking forward to that. It should be great and i always look forward to talking with him and getting to know him better.
I love all of you and i know that the church is true. I love my mission and i love serving the lord.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
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