Happy Halloween!

Hi friends,

I've had yet another great week in San Diego. It is still as sunny as ever and the work is going really well. Sister Davis and I are still learning loads from each other and from our time here in Green Valley. We are so blessed to have such an amazing ward. The members are incredible and truly want to serve the Lord. There is such a strong element of love and peace here. Everyone spends time building one another up and that is what matters the most in this life. I think about the times that I have been the most happy in life and it is always when I am serving others and helping someone else feel loved and cared for. It doesn't always take much but it the effect is always brilliant. I realize that Thanksgiving is 5 weeks away but I've been  thinking a lot about the power of gratitude and service. Building others up does so much. We build ourselves up in lasting peace and happiness as we help others feel of their divine worth and we also build ourselves as we recognize our incredible capacity to do good in the world. I'm challenging myself and all of you reading this to go out and do good for others so that we can build up..not tear down. :)

Love you all!

I LOVE FALL!!!

Hello everyone,

Sorry it has been a while....p-days are NOT as long and relaxed as I had imagined before my mission. It is crazy how much we jam pack into 8 hours! We went to Balboa park today...it was cool and it was fun to hang out with some other sisters. Sister Davis and I have been working really hard and she is so much fun to be companions with. I have learned loads from her and we both really want to be good missionaries. We are always working towards improving, this is such a blessing  to me. I've decided I'll have to eventually marry someone that can handle all of my "cool ideas." I get a little over-enthused on how we can make things better...obviously I appreciate the good things we are doing. :)

We've been finding a new investigator a week for the past 3 wks but church attendance is falling a lot. That used to be our best category but you can't have it all right? :) I love my area so much. Sunday was so much fun. We are doing our best to work effectively with the members and it is great to get to know them. We spent every second at church talking to people and setting up appointments. We even had some tell us about friends that are showing interest in the church. I love it when members realize how great it is to share the gospel. Members have so much influence it is insane...of course the grass is always greener on the other side. I imagine myself going home and being the best member missionary ever and then I think about how easy it is to talk to people about religion when they recognize you and what you are about before they even talk to you (...maybe I'll sport a member missionary badge..hahah!) Sorry this is so rambly...we only have 30 min to e-mail today because we  have been all over the place.

Well, I'll be here in green valley for at least 3 more weeks with sister davis but I have my hopes up to stay here for a few more transfers...I love it here and I definitely have more I can learn here.

I learn so much every single day. I have gotten "firehosed" so much...all this knowledge is flying at me with high water pressure and I'm trying  to drink it up but it is impossible to drink all of it. haha!

Today I had something finally cement in my mind. Change is instantaneous. Not changing is what takes so long. However, the hard part about it all is the series of choices that must follow an initial decision to change. We must continually walk forward on our road of change. When you decide, you've changed. However, you must keep walking forward for it to last. Happiness is a lot like this. It is a collection of experiences...I know that this is true. I've been so happy since the MTC. I've been able to be myself and enjoy every second...that is the only way to live life. We tell ourselves that the big events are what matter and bring real happiness but that is not true...it is the collection of experiences that makes that event worth celebrating in the first place. I love it! Learning is so much fun!

I really need to go but know that I love you all and that I appreciate the many prayers that are said in my behalf. Do me a favor and laugh at something small and glorious today!?

Love, sister Hudson

Lead Acid Battery

Hello hello!

Sorry it has been so long. Last week one of my companions got transfered. :( She is so great and I'm really going to miss her but I'm excited to still be with Sister Davis! We have learned a lot together this week. We have 2 new investigators, which is pretty exciting news. :)

General Conference was incredible! I feel like I got answers to some questions I've had. I love learning from the Church Leaders-from God's chosen Apostles and Prophet. If you haven't watched it yet you should check it out on lds.org! :)

I know people love to hear about stories and experiences but all I seem to remember are the things that I've been learning. For example, I've always been bothered that something seems to click and make perfect sense at one point and then the testimony of that truth seems to diminish later. In Alma 5 in the Book of Mormon Alma asks the people if they have "sufficiently retained in your remembrance the things that the Lord has done for you." How can we "sufficiently retain in our remembrance anything?" It suddenly clicked that the old adage of "use it or lose it" bears more truth than I knew. If we don't consistently remind ourselves of what we know to be true, it's importance and clarity starts to diminish and we aren't using it in our lives. The primary answers of "pray, read the scriptures, and go to church" really do say it all! Yet, it is so difficult to be consistent with these things unless we make sacrifices for  these most important things. Heavenly Father has blessed us to be able to talk with Him whenever/wherever we want and to learn of him and his son Jesus Christ from the scriptures yet the world around us can easily get in the way.

Sorry if this is preachy...just chalk it up to me being a missionary. I just want everyone to know about the things that are changing my life! :) Our spirituality and everything about our human makeup is similar to a lead acid battery (car battery). We have to have a charge or else we die. As we are continually using what we have, we can be confident that we won't lose our charge and ability to function. If we go a month without using our battery...it  takes a "jump" to get us going again. I'm not doing this analogy justice and for those of you that are still reading...remind me someday to talk to you about this great analogy! :)

Life is a precious gift and I love what I am learning each day as a missionary because I spend my time talking  to people about things that matter most. A lasting happiness that the world cannot offer. It can only come from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loves each and every one of us and is waiting to bless us with so much if we but repent or strive to change our will to match up with his. His will ALWAYS brings us more happiness than what we could imagine for ourselves.

I love you all. This probably needs some comedic relief so I'll tell you about a lady that finally let us come in last night to teach her. Last week we stopped by and her 9 yr old daughter was coming to the door and the dogs starting running at the door, past her, and trying to stop itself, the larger dog slid right into the door! The little girl literally fell on the floor laughing. It was so funny! (don't worry the dog is definitely okay) Life is full of so many little joys...

Oh and we were at a member's home and their 5 year old grandson was there telling us about how the librarian was really nice to him after some girls were really rude. She gave him a bag full of goodies. He explained that his favorite part was "...and she gave me a BA looooonn!" You had to be there but it was darling!!!

Love you all! Thanks for your prayers and letters!