Wednesday, March 31, 2010
It's here!
The day Sam comes home! We are so happy that he has served an honorable mission and is coming home to be with us again! WE LOVE YOU SAM and can't wait to see you today!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Last Letter - March 23, 2010
Hey everyone thanks for the emails. I guess all i have to say basically is see ya next week. I love you all so much and i want to say thank you for all of your love and all of your support for the past two years. I wouldn't have been able to do it if it weren't for you. My mission has changed my life and i am heart broken to leave it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Letter - March 16, 2010
Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am sorry but this email is short because you will see me in 2 weeks. This week was a pretty good week. We are working with a couple people. They are progressing very very slowly but things are starting to pick up. We had interviews yesterday and they were really good. I really enjoyed them. I learned a lot of good new things. It is still a little cold but it is warming up slowly. This work is amazing. I absolutely love it. I can't think of anything better. This morning i was studying the 43rd section of the Doctrine and Covenants and it talks about how there is only ONE person on this earth who receives revelation for everyone. That is the prophet. How blessed we are to be here on this earth and to have a living prophet. What a blessing. I know that we do have a living prophet and i know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is real. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I am so grateful for this mission experience. I will miss it greatly but i wouldn't change it for the world. I love this work. Thank you for all of your support over the last 2 years. Thank you for all of your prayers. I have felt them in my life and i am so grateful for them. The gospel is true!
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Letter - March 9, 2010
Hey everyone!! I hope you all had a good week. I am glad that it is starting to warm up over there. I am pleased to hear that Emily was blessed. That makes me very happy. We had a baby blessing in our ward on Sunday as well.
Well this week was a tough week. We tried to see Mark but we could never catch him in. We caught him in yesterday and we are seeing him later on in the week. We had a few less actives at church which was really good. In the mission right now the focus is basically more towards less actives. So i am just as happy when less actives come as when investigators come.
We had a great Zone Conference last week. It was really good. It was unfortunately my last one and so i had to give my departing testimony. Lets just say it was the hardest thing that i had to do. I told all the missionaries that at my first Zone Conference i looked at the departing missionaries and said to myself, "They are lucky, lucky, people." Then i said to them that i say the same thing today as i look out at you. "You are lucky, lucky, people." I cried through the entire testimony. I shared 2 Samuel 22:2-7 and said that is what i have felt on my mission. It was the most difficult testimony that i have ever given. I am grateful for Zone Conferences though. They are the best.
Not much else to report on. I am just continuing to go forward and work hard. I love this work. The standard of truth has come forth. No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing. Missionaries are truly sweeping every continent and all are hearing the message of the restoration. Nothing else is better. I am so grateful to be a part of it. This work wont finish. It will continue until the Great Jehovah shall come and say, "The work is finished." This is my testimony. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I love it. My mission means everything to me. Jesus is the Christ. Thank you for your prayers. I love you all and i know that the Lord is blessing you all.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week was a tough week. We tried to see Mark but we could never catch him in. We caught him in yesterday and we are seeing him later on in the week. We had a few less actives at church which was really good. In the mission right now the focus is basically more towards less actives. So i am just as happy when less actives come as when investigators come.
We had a great Zone Conference last week. It was really good. It was unfortunately my last one and so i had to give my departing testimony. Lets just say it was the hardest thing that i had to do. I told all the missionaries that at my first Zone Conference i looked at the departing missionaries and said to myself, "They are lucky, lucky, people." Then i said to them that i say the same thing today as i look out at you. "You are lucky, lucky, people." I cried through the entire testimony. I shared 2 Samuel 22:2-7 and said that is what i have felt on my mission. It was the most difficult testimony that i have ever given. I am grateful for Zone Conferences though. They are the best.
Not much else to report on. I am just continuing to go forward and work hard. I love this work. The standard of truth has come forth. No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing. Missionaries are truly sweeping every continent and all are hearing the message of the restoration. Nothing else is better. I am so grateful to be a part of it. This work wont finish. It will continue until the Great Jehovah shall come and say, "The work is finished." This is my testimony. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I love it. My mission means everything to me. Jesus is the Christ. Thank you for your prayers. I love you all and i know that the Lord is blessing you all.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Letter - March 2, 2010
Hey everyone!! I am glad that everyone is doing well. I don't know how to open my emails anymore because i feel that i start it the same every week. If i do and it has offended anyone, i apologize.
Well this week has been a good week. The snow is gone and it has warmed up a bit. Bright blue skies yesterday and today. I love it!! District meeting went well. We have a couple new really good guys to teach which i am excited about. One of them is Mark. He suffers from depression and has comtemplated leaving this life a few times. He showed us. But i stopped in the street on Friday and he didn't want anything to do with us and he was a bit upset and told us that he didn't want us talking to him. So we leave and we walk down to the bus stop and we meet him there. He comes over to us and says that he is sorry for how he acted. He just said that he was really low and felt like there was nothing else going for him. We shared Alma 7 with him and he really enjoyed it. His bus came and we gave him the Book of Mormon and we were lucky enough to catch his address. I told Elder Nylund that we were going up there as soon as we can to save this mans life. So on Saturday we went and tried by him. No answer. Sunday night we went by and he answered and said he was too busy. We went yesterday morning and he was in and he invited us in. He said that he had read the Book of Mormon and it made him feel lifted. We taught him a bit and we found out that he hadn't eaten in almost 4 days. It broke my heart. So after we taught him we left and went to the nearest shop and bought him some food. We took it to him and he said he didn't know what to say. It was very rewarding. I felt very good about it. He seemed alot happier because of it. So i was very happy for the service we were able to provide him. The gospel truly does change people. We only read one scripture with him yesterday. Mosiah 2:41. We told him that is how he can be happy. He felt a lot better. But one scripture from the Book of Mormon changes someones whole attitude. It was a testimony to me that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. This is his work!
That is about it for this week. I am off to Merthyr to play basketball against a kid in our ward who plays for the Merthyr Tydfil basketball team. He is bringing a couple of his friends. We will see if they are any good. If not i will teach them.
We have Zone Conference on Thursday. I am excited for it. We have started a thing called March Madness. It is a competition throughout the mission against the districts. There is a point system and we have to do well. We each chose American College team names. Of course our district is the UNIVERSITY OF UTAH. The best part about it is we have a couple fans of the school down south in our district. We will show them who owns who though.
Well the gospel is true. I love it with all my heart. Thanks for all of your support. Jesus is the Christ. This is his work. I hope you have a great week. I love you all.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week has been a good week. The snow is gone and it has warmed up a bit. Bright blue skies yesterday and today. I love it!! District meeting went well. We have a couple new really good guys to teach which i am excited about. One of them is Mark. He suffers from depression and has comtemplated leaving this life a few times. He showed us. But i stopped in the street on Friday and he didn't want anything to do with us and he was a bit upset and told us that he didn't want us talking to him. So we leave and we walk down to the bus stop and we meet him there. He comes over to us and says that he is sorry for how he acted. He just said that he was really low and felt like there was nothing else going for him. We shared Alma 7 with him and he really enjoyed it. His bus came and we gave him the Book of Mormon and we were lucky enough to catch his address. I told Elder Nylund that we were going up there as soon as we can to save this mans life. So on Saturday we went and tried by him. No answer. Sunday night we went by and he answered and said he was too busy. We went yesterday morning and he was in and he invited us in. He said that he had read the Book of Mormon and it made him feel lifted. We taught him a bit and we found out that he hadn't eaten in almost 4 days. It broke my heart. So after we taught him we left and went to the nearest shop and bought him some food. We took it to him and he said he didn't know what to say. It was very rewarding. I felt very good about it. He seemed alot happier because of it. So i was very happy for the service we were able to provide him. The gospel truly does change people. We only read one scripture with him yesterday. Mosiah 2:41. We told him that is how he can be happy. He felt a lot better. But one scripture from the Book of Mormon changes someones whole attitude. It was a testimony to me that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. This is his work!
That is about it for this week. I am off to Merthyr to play basketball against a kid in our ward who plays for the Merthyr Tydfil basketball team. He is bringing a couple of his friends. We will see if they are any good. If not i will teach them.
We have Zone Conference on Thursday. I am excited for it. We have started a thing called March Madness. It is a competition throughout the mission against the districts. There is a point system and we have to do well. We each chose American College team names. Of course our district is the UNIVERSITY OF UTAH. The best part about it is we have a couple fans of the school down south in our district. We will show them who owns who though.
Well the gospel is true. I love it with all my heart. Thanks for all of your support. Jesus is the Christ. This is his work. I hope you have a great week. I love you all.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Friday, February 26, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER RUDD!!! We hope you have a very special day and know that we are all thinking about you today! We love you!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Letter - February 23, 2010
Well hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I hope that Tiff and Cade aren't having too much fun in Hawaii. Thank you for all of the Happy Birthday wishes. I can't believe that i am 21. It doesn't feel like it. My body right now feels like it is about 85 years old. I am worn out. I am tired. I am physically and mentally drained. But that is to be expected i guess. I won't let it be a factor though. I want to be sprinting across the finish line. Not walking like so many missionaries do.
Well first things first. What in the world are the Jazz thinking??!!!!! I can't believe that they would trade Ronnie Brewer. Thats the worst move that Kevin O Connor has ever made. He is one of the best players on the team. So who do we have starting now? C.J. Miles? Why didn't we get rid of someone who doesn't really contribute to the team? Man thats frustrating.
Well this last week has been pretty good. We had a great finding week last week. It was the best one i have had since i have been transfered here. Last night we were tracting and it was freezing cold. We knocked on this one door and a guy opened up the door and let us right in. We taught him a little bit and he seems pretty interested. He really found Joseph Smith interesting. Hopefully he will come to church on sunday. The Powells are doing alright. It is very frustrating because appointments keep being canceled and we can't get out there. I know that this opposition is there because Satan doesn't want them to be baptized. We will keep battling though and in the end, we will be victorious.
Well church was canceled again this week. It was pathetic. It snowed about an inch and they canceled church at 8:00 in the morning. Church isn't until 2:00 and by 1:00 basically all the snow was gone and the roads were perfectly clear. It was very very frustrating and the Powells were planning on coming so that just made it even more disappointing. So that is the interesting news this week.
It is still very very cold. It doesn't really start to warm up until like mid March. But it has been a crazy winter so who knows. There is a little bit of snow. Not much but a little.
Well thats about it for this week. We have District Meeting tomorrow and then Zone Conference next week. I am looking forward to both. I hope for this week to be a big week. I have a very good feeling about this transfer. I don't know what will happen but who knows what the Lord has in store. I do know that this is his work. He is at the head of this church. I know that Jesus Christ died for us. Without this gospel i would be nothing. I would be confused. I would be lost. I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith. I love that book. I love the Prophet Joseph. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. Thomas S. Monson leads this church on the earth today. The gospel is everything and it is the only thing that will save this world. I know that its true. I love each and every one of you. Thanks for everything. I hope you have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well first things first. What in the world are the Jazz thinking??!!!!! I can't believe that they would trade Ronnie Brewer. Thats the worst move that Kevin O Connor has ever made. He is one of the best players on the team. So who do we have starting now? C.J. Miles? Why didn't we get rid of someone who doesn't really contribute to the team? Man thats frustrating.
Well this last week has been pretty good. We had a great finding week last week. It was the best one i have had since i have been transfered here. Last night we were tracting and it was freezing cold. We knocked on this one door and a guy opened up the door and let us right in. We taught him a little bit and he seems pretty interested. He really found Joseph Smith interesting. Hopefully he will come to church on sunday. The Powells are doing alright. It is very frustrating because appointments keep being canceled and we can't get out there. I know that this opposition is there because Satan doesn't want them to be baptized. We will keep battling though and in the end, we will be victorious.
Well church was canceled again this week. It was pathetic. It snowed about an inch and they canceled church at 8:00 in the morning. Church isn't until 2:00 and by 1:00 basically all the snow was gone and the roads were perfectly clear. It was very very frustrating and the Powells were planning on coming so that just made it even more disappointing. So that is the interesting news this week.
It is still very very cold. It doesn't really start to warm up until like mid March. But it has been a crazy winter so who knows. There is a little bit of snow. Not much but a little.
Well thats about it for this week. We have District Meeting tomorrow and then Zone Conference next week. I am looking forward to both. I hope for this week to be a big week. I have a very good feeling about this transfer. I don't know what will happen but who knows what the Lord has in store. I do know that this is his work. He is at the head of this church. I know that Jesus Christ died for us. Without this gospel i would be nothing. I would be confused. I would be lost. I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith. I love that book. I love the Prophet Joseph. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. Thomas S. Monson leads this church on the earth today. The gospel is everything and it is the only thing that will save this world. I know that its true. I love each and every one of you. Thanks for everything. I hope you have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Letter - February 17, 2010
Hey everyone! It sounds like it was a pretty eventful week. I am happy to hear that everyone is doing well. I hope the kids are feeling better now.
Well as you have probably guessed it i am staying in Ebbw Vale. I am not being transfered. I am still with Elder Nylund. I am glad that i am staying. I expect this transfer to be a really good transfer for us and for the district.
We did a lot of finding this last week with a little success. I think our efforts are paying off now as we have already found 6 new investigators in the last two days. We had two single moms come up to us yesterday after we got off the bus and ask us if we really believe in God. We had a good chat with them and we are seeing them tomorrow so i am excited about that.
The Powells are doing alright. The kids want to come to church so bad and they want to learn but we are having trouble with them keeping appointments. The mom always calls up and cancels. It is very frustrating and since it takes an hour and a half to get there on a bus it is very difficult for us to go by. I am just praying that they come to church this week though.
District Meeting went really good i felt. Of course we played basketball. Don't worry though i did relate it to missionary work. It was all about our purpose as a missionary. I had one team play like they had no idea what was going on and the other team didn't know that they were playing dumb. I related it to how some missionaries know their purpose and they are able to have success and score. But some missionaries never get to know their purpose and therefore they struggle to have success and they just look lost. I feel it went pretty well and i hope that i was able to help one of the missionaries.
Well that is about it for this week. Wales continues to amaze me. The ward is crazy and the people are pretty funny with their excuses. I am loving every minute of it though. The mission has changed my life completely. The gospel is amazing. I really do love it so much. If i could i would serve another 2 years. I am sad that we have sister missionaries because that means i can't work with them too much. I hope that you are helping them out mom. We really do appreciate the members help. I love all of you. Thanks for all you do. I hope you have a great week. Jesus Christ lives and the church is true.
Love, Elder Sam Rudd
Well as you have probably guessed it i am staying in Ebbw Vale. I am not being transfered. I am still with Elder Nylund. I am glad that i am staying. I expect this transfer to be a really good transfer for us and for the district.
We did a lot of finding this last week with a little success. I think our efforts are paying off now as we have already found 6 new investigators in the last two days. We had two single moms come up to us yesterday after we got off the bus and ask us if we really believe in God. We had a good chat with them and we are seeing them tomorrow so i am excited about that.
The Powells are doing alright. The kids want to come to church so bad and they want to learn but we are having trouble with them keeping appointments. The mom always calls up and cancels. It is very frustrating and since it takes an hour and a half to get there on a bus it is very difficult for us to go by. I am just praying that they come to church this week though.
District Meeting went really good i felt. Of course we played basketball. Don't worry though i did relate it to missionary work. It was all about our purpose as a missionary. I had one team play like they had no idea what was going on and the other team didn't know that they were playing dumb. I related it to how some missionaries know their purpose and they are able to have success and score. But some missionaries never get to know their purpose and therefore they struggle to have success and they just look lost. I feel it went pretty well and i hope that i was able to help one of the missionaries.
Well that is about it for this week. Wales continues to amaze me. The ward is crazy and the people are pretty funny with their excuses. I am loving every minute of it though. The mission has changed my life completely. The gospel is amazing. I really do love it so much. If i could i would serve another 2 years. I am sad that we have sister missionaries because that means i can't work with them too much. I hope that you are helping them out mom. We really do appreciate the members help. I love all of you. Thanks for all you do. I hope you have a great week. Jesus Christ lives and the church is true.
Love, Elder Sam Rudd
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Letter - February 9, 2010
Hey everyone its great to hear from all of you. It sounds like you are doing well. I am jealous for those who are going on the vacations. I can't wait to see pictures.
Well this week has been a pretty crazy week. I went on an exchange down in Swansea this past week with a Chinese speaking Elder from Hong Kong. He struggles with english but he is doing pretty well. We had interviews on Thursday and we were getting a ride from the Zone Leaders and on the way up to the chapel we got into an accident. There were two different sets of traffic lights and one was red and one was green. The driver was looking at the further ones which were green and it was too late to break and we hit a taxi. It was pretty crazy. We turned the car 180 degrees so it was a pretty solid hit. Everyone was ok though so that was good. The driver of the taxi complained about his ribs and i think his leg but we think he was just being a baby about it and just wanted attention. The car was in pretty bad shape but we were all alright. We got to interviews just fine and it was a good interviews.
Other than that we have had a busy week. It has been very very cold. No snow but very cold. The Powell's are doing alright. They didn't come to church on sunday but we are seeing them tonight so hopefully that goes well.
Transfers are next week so i will email on either Wednesday or Thursday. But that is about it for this week. We are just very busy running around everywhere. I am happy for that though. I am so grateful that i am able to serve. I am so grateful for the gospel. It has changed my life. I love it so much. I am so grateful for the Atonement. It is real. There is no question about it. I love my Savior. I love everything that he did for me. I love the Book of Mormon. The church is true. Thanks for everything that all of you do and for all the support. I love you all. Have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Well this week has been a pretty crazy week. I went on an exchange down in Swansea this past week with a Chinese speaking Elder from Hong Kong. He struggles with english but he is doing pretty well. We had interviews on Thursday and we were getting a ride from the Zone Leaders and on the way up to the chapel we got into an accident. There were two different sets of traffic lights and one was red and one was green. The driver was looking at the further ones which were green and it was too late to break and we hit a taxi. It was pretty crazy. We turned the car 180 degrees so it was a pretty solid hit. Everyone was ok though so that was good. The driver of the taxi complained about his ribs and i think his leg but we think he was just being a baby about it and just wanted attention. The car was in pretty bad shape but we were all alright. We got to interviews just fine and it was a good interviews.
Other than that we have had a busy week. It has been very very cold. No snow but very cold. The Powell's are doing alright. They didn't come to church on sunday but we are seeing them tonight so hopefully that goes well.
Transfers are next week so i will email on either Wednesday or Thursday. But that is about it for this week. We are just very busy running around everywhere. I am happy for that though. I am so grateful that i am able to serve. I am so grateful for the gospel. It has changed my life. I love it so much. I am so grateful for the Atonement. It is real. There is no question about it. I love my Savior. I love everything that he did for me. I love the Book of Mormon. The church is true. Thanks for everything that all of you do and for all the support. I love you all. Have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Letter - February 3, 2010
Hey everyone i apologize now for the late email and for this one being a short, quick email. We went to Cardiff all day yesterday and did some things down there so we had no time to email. This week has been pretty good. On Friday in our weekly planning session we had the Zone Leaders come to it and one of them brought up a part member family that was taught a few months ago. Their name is the Powell's and they have 3 unbaptized children and the father isn't baptized either. So we went out there on Monday and holy cow it was way out in the middle of nowhere. We had to take an hour long bus ride and then another short bus ride and we ended up in the middle of nowhere. But we were in the place where we wanted to be.
This place was what I imagined England to be. Out in the country and there were about 6 or 7 houses in this little village and we had to walk like 10 minutes in between each house. We were looking for this house and after a while of searching we decided to call them and ask where their house was. It turns out we were 6 miles away and we were in the area where they used to live. So they came and picked us up which was good and then we taught the children. They are AMAZING!!! They knew everything that we taught them. They were excited when we invited them to church. It really was a blessing from the Lord. Please pray for them. I have such a good feeling about them and i felt something special as i taught them. It was great.
So just imagine me walking in the middle of the country side with big farms of sheep on both sides and little country roads.
Well that is about it for this week. We are very busy. I am going on an exchange today down in Swansea and we have to catch a train very soon. I love you all. Thank you for everything. The gospel is true. I love this work. There is nothing better. Hope you have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
This place was what I imagined England to be. Out in the country and there were about 6 or 7 houses in this little village and we had to walk like 10 minutes in between each house. We were looking for this house and after a while of searching we decided to call them and ask where their house was. It turns out we were 6 miles away and we were in the area where they used to live. So they came and picked us up which was good and then we taught the children. They are AMAZING!!! They knew everything that we taught them. They were excited when we invited them to church. It really was a blessing from the Lord. Please pray for them. I have such a good feeling about them and i felt something special as i taught them. It was great.
So just imagine me walking in the middle of the country side with big farms of sheep on both sides and little country roads.
Well that is about it for this week. We are very busy. I am going on an exchange today down in Swansea and we have to catch a train very soon. I love you all. Thank you for everything. The gospel is true. I love this work. There is nothing better. Hope you have a great week.
Love Elder Sam Rudd
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