Transfer to Casper

Greetings from Casper, Wyoming.
I have arrived in Casper, Wyoming and have been here for about two hours. Very crazy! I have been called as a Zone Leader over the Casper Zone. We cover Casper 1-8, Douglas, Wyoming & Glenrock, Wyoming. I have been called into the Casper 1st ward. So i am sticking with Sheridan 1st, Sioux Falls 1st, Wright 1st (only) and now Casper 1st. I am very excited to be here and have alot of fun. Elder Hilbun is my companion he is from New Mexico. I served around him in sheridan. He served in the 3rd ward when I was in 1st. So we know each other and are very excited to serve together. it will be a blast. As a zone leader we get alot more responsibilities. We leave for rapid city next monday for zone leader conference. We spend two days at the mission home. Enjoy sister laytons cooking and have fun in rapid. We watch over our district leaders and each area, We are responsible to go on exchanges with every district leader every transfer and hopefully every area. So it is going to be VERY VERY busy.
Elder Hammond is very very sad. So was I. But he was not a happy camper. It was very hard to leave him. He was not happy. But he will do perfectly fine. It was very hard to leave wright though. The place I have loved so much. But thats okay. I love it but the lord needs me in Casper. I am just trying to stay positive because we have so much work to do here. Casper is awesome. THERE IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will be attending a funeral tomorrow though, our ward mission leaders daughter was killed. They were skiing on Casper Mountain and a snow mobile came and hit her and his wife. His wife is in ICU but is doing better but his 5- year old daughter passed away and we will be attending that funeral tomorrow. Very sad.
All of bishop bertanogles family is here in casper 1st ward. We have four people on date for baptism. One of them is Bishop Bertanogles nephew. It will be awesome. I am very excited to get to work here in casper.
We live in a du-plex with our own garage and all. It will be way cool. We have a huge kitchen. My own room with desk and all. I have three desks. I am such a pack rat you all know that. But Its awesome!!!
I am very excited to serve here. I know this is short. But I have a feeling that my emails will be getting shorter. Busy, Busy , Busy. Pictures will be coming I promise!
Last week in wright it got down to -35 we have to stay in two days. My eye lids froze shut. There was crystals on my eye lashes. IT WAS AWESOME!
I love the work I have to do I am very excited about that! I am very grateful for my opportunity to serve a mission. I know it is flying by. But I am going to spend every second working with the lord. He needs all of our help. I love you all so much. I will hopefully get letters out soon. But I will be as good as possible. I love you all so much. The address is undetermined as of right now send all mail to the mission office:
Elder Michael Rudd
2525 W. Main St. Ste. 311
Rapid City, SD 57702
Next week I will get the home address for you. I love you all so much. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
love,
Elder Michael Corey Rudd
Zone Leader
Casper, Wyoming Zone
South Dakota Rapid City Mission

Chello!!!

Hello Mi Familia,

Elder Michael Corey Rudd here. Sad news is I got alot more sick. But the members really take care of me here. I love it. I am feeling alot better today. Yesterday was not a good day. But this morning me and elder hammond went and played some kids in basketball. It was fun got a really good work out. Me and Hambone are really out of shape. :)Oh well. Its okay. But It was a good work out. Got to work off those dang holiday dinners. The days are going too quick! It is going to be saturday before we know it. I am not going to be happy. But I will be very very happy if I stay here in wright.

Yesterday in opening exercises. Sister Nancy Ohara was so awesome. We were talking about missionary work and she got up and said. "let me tell you how wonderful our missionaries we have right now are. They are the reason that I am back in church, I love our missionaries, Elder Rudd is the best missionary wright has ever had. :))))) How can you not smile to that?????

I love wright wyoming. I know this email is probably going to be very short. Im sorry about that. But me and elder hammond are really having a great time and really enjoyed our christmas. Always remember the true meaning of christmas. I really really really want to know who that guy is!!! I cant think of anyone who would be in mesa. Its awesome though.

I missed my family on christmas but my ward family is so awesome. I love it so much! Wright Wyoming "where everybody knows your name"

I love you all so much. If I am getting transferred I will send a quick email to let you know that I am getting transferred, But if I am not, there will be no email. I love you all so much. Momma enjoy the blessings that the lord has blessed us with. I know that work is a pain but try to enjoy it and enjoy the blessings that are in store for us for your hard work. I love you mom.

Remember to have people send their mail to:

Elder Michael Rudd
2525 W. Main St. Ste. 311
Rapid City, SD 57702

Love,
Elder Michael Corey Rudd
S.D.R.C.M.
Gillette Zone
Wright District

Martin's Cove Pictures

Me & Elder Schneider (Gilbert) found an AZ plate

The biggest blow up Snowman EVER!

Explains itself but I finally got a picture of it!

Casper Sixth's Christmas Tree made from Mountain Dew & Sprite Cans


Martin's Cove
The mission! I'm right in the middle black coat grey sweater and glasses.
Me & Elder Cooper with all the Sister's in the mission as well as Sister Layton
Random chair in the boonies in Wright. Love it!

I love Wyoming but I STILL HAVE MY ARIZONA PRIDE!

Martin's Cove

Elder Rudd here from the warmest day in wright so far i think it is only supposed to get to about 35 degrees today. So, I am wearing a t shirt and shorts. I love it.Good Ole Wyoming. What a fantastic week. Lots of work happening lots of fun and lots of memories. I want to send so many pictures but I cant because I dont have a way too. The internet is soooooo slow here that it takes hours to send one picture. Because we have been banned from going to gillette on pdays. President does not want us to have district meetings on pdays because the meaning of the day is pday not district meeting. It makes it really hard because we wont have time to do much. So, he told us that we can do district meetings on tuesdays now. Newcastle has now got a car this week. So, its all good. But I will try to get to a computer while I am in gillette for district meetings and send pictures. Because there is no way here in wright.

Martins Cove- I have lots and lots of pictures for you of martins cove. I wish I would of been able to go growing up. It is amazing. One of the most wonderful places I have ever been. The spirit is so strong there. We woke and headed to gillette picked up so elders and headed down right back down through wright and to casper. Elder Hammond got a taste of why I dont like driving any more. Our total trip was a trip to california and back!!! It was so long. As DL I was given 1100 miles for the month. I dont know how they expect me to do that with all that going on. We are already at 1003. So, Oh well. They wanted wright to drive. So we drove. I love just sitting in the passangers seat and get to think about everything that is going on. It is very very relaxing.

We had all three zones there. Gillette, Casper and Rapid City. Monday night we pulled into the stake center in capser at about 4:30. Relaxed for a while then ate some dinner. I got to see long lost elders. Elder Dahl got transferred to Rapid 2nd. So, me an dahl and woods reunited. I love it. Good times. We had a white elephant gift exchange. Elder Hammond and I did minature King James Version New Testaments in white. So we could really tell everyone that we had a WHITE BIBLE. Its awesome. But elder hammond got a little girls cap and gloves. I got a signed picture of one of the AP's, Elder Beatty ( My brother ) We had to keep it in the family, no question. So I have that sitting on my desk. It was alot of fun. They started talking about vehicle safety and of course everyone looked at me. Suprise, Suprise.

Tuesday Morning- Got up headed to Martins Cove about 50 Miles from Casper. We were the first ones there. It was awesome. We toured some of the museums first. We had about 80 people from our mission. We got taken about 2 miles from the cove in little rhynos and then filed up single file and walked two miles into the cove. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. It was amazing. I loved it so much. We were walking and You just got hit like a ton of bricks by the spirit. it was a wonderful experience. One I will cherish for the rest of my life.

After the cove me, elder hammond, elder cooper and elder boehme hopped in and took off to newcastle. I was to stay with elder boehme and do my exchange with them. I have had some problems with them because they have taken it upon themselves not to go to dinner appointments and not work with the members. I was not a happy camper when I heard about that. I reported it to the zone leaders to let them know and I handled it. Lets just say they are going to dinner appointments. I am so baffled why they wouldnt want too. Holy Moly. That is my favorite part of the day. I love being in wright because. As of right now we have dinner appointments all the way til January 5th. I cant believe why someone wouldnt want to go to a dinner appointment. The AP's, My ZL's. No one has ever heard of missionaries not wanting to go to any dinner appointments at all. We have all heard of elders not wanting to go to certain appointments. But whatever. its just absolutely stupid to me! But it is taken care of.

I am starting to get really nervous. Because the transfer is just about over. I might only have about 15 more days in wright. From what I hear from my ZL's, AP's and President is that I wont be staying. I mean I will go where he wants me to go. But I will be in tears if I leave. I am going to be so sad. I could honestly stay in this town of 1300 people for the rest of my mission and be perfectly fine with it. I would love it so much. I have told president layton to keep me here for my whole mission. I would love it. So many great people Whom I love with all my heart.

Ward Christmas Party- Oh by golly have a holly jolly christmas. It was so much fun. We had so many less active and investigators there. it was so cool!!! We had Jason and Angie Jensen There. We had the Ohara's There. we had tons. We had the Sutherlands there! It was awesome! I was so happy. Then Santa Claus came out. Brother Goodman and guess who he called to be the first to sit on his lap. Elder Rudd of course. So it was alot of fun. I love everyone in this ward and am so grateful for all of them.

This coming sunday is the Christmas Interfatith Concert. We have people from our ward in it. From the Episcopal Church, The baptist church, the catholic church and guess who is the MC, Hello! Elder Rudd here. I love to get to use my talents in the field. Such a blast. That will be a whole lot of fun. I cant wait. I think me and elder hammond are in a quartet to sing too. I tried to tell them I cant sing, but oh well. Doesnt work. So I said I would love to lend my voice It wont be a good voice but it will be a voice. So I think we are in a quartet with bishop and Brother Guseman. Yikes.

Cody Charon- We just taught her the plan of salvation friday, It was so awesome. One of the best plan of salvation lessons I have ever had. She said it was the perfect plan. She said I have never heard of such a beautiful thing in my life. So score! I love it. It should work out really well. She said that she wont be able to meet with us until after the holidays, even though she doesnt do anything. So, I told her I might be gone. So we have an appointment this friday again. Muahahaha I work my magic again. She is having a hard time finding a job. Being a fellon and all for drug possession and dealing. So the lord will continue to bless her life as she does follow the commandments. She and her step mom deb charon have a smoking problem and I think I found a way for them to quit! It might sound really really gross but I dont care they are quiting by themselves and if they really want to quit I think this will work. Maybe uncle brad, kyle, patty whoever can try this. It sounds gross but I have heard that It never fails. You boil about three cigarettes and then you drink. However nasty the thing taste you drink it. Then whenever you try to smoke a cigarette you throw up because of what is actually i there and the taste of that cigarette. It works!!!

I got all the christmas present. Thank you very much. Meant alot to me. Elder Hammond is way jealous. I am not sure if I am going to open one every day though. Me and elder hammond want to open them up all on christmas. but you guys decide if you want me to do the 12 days I will. But I will do them in order.

I cant believe my brother is a Doctor. Thats just scary Dr. Rudd. Hopefully his patients dont know any rudds. Congratulations Ryan. Wish I could of seen you graduate. I am very proud of you and all the hard work you put in. I am still never going to meet Frank your cadaver.

Mom, I am being obedient. You dont have to worry about it. Its okay. Me and Elder Hammond cant get in trouble in little wright, wy even if we wanted too.

Brother Dalton in the ward is making tshirts that say MORMONS ARE CHRISTIANS! We get some I am so excited. I want to tract with that on. It would be so awesome. But he is getting them made!! He also wants to start a restatraunt here in wright. Called Cowabunga Burger. They are from Cali. The icon would be a cow surfing. But I am excited. He wants to put a drive through in and everything. This is in the plans for real. He will clean up here! If someone puts a fast food restaraunt in. Oh my. He will make bank. So many miners want a quick snack. He is a smart man. He wants me to invest when I get done. Ha Ha.

I am getting towards the end here. Hey! I have bee trying to remember this for weeks can you send me my electric shaver in the family room bathroom. I would like that sometimes. Please.

The church is true, What else matters. Ask yourself that now and again. When you get to doubt your faith remember the testimony you have. Its true. DONT LET ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF THAT! Satan will always be after us of course. Why would he want us to be happy. Please I beg of you DONT GIVE IN!

I love you all. I am so happy to be here and to be serving my lord and savior jesus christ. I love you very much.

Love,
Elder Michael Corey Rudd
District Leader, Wright District
Gillette Zone
Rapid City South Dakota Mission

Please Keep me Updated:
P.O. Box 701
Wright, Wy 82732

Black Dots and Blessings

Hey there,

Elder Rudd here.

What a crazy week. I went on my exchange to gillette and we walked about 12 miles a day. I loved it. I love walking areas. They are alot of fun. Oh yeah news to start off with. Elder Rich our vehicle cordinator called me this week. I have received the glorious "Black Dot" I am no longer allowed to drive a church vehicle. Unless they take it away. I know dumb but oh well atleast I went out in style. If I was going to get black dotted. I am going to get black dotted dangit! So, yes Elder Hammond is excited to drive. He says well I know how to drive in the snow. So his name is chauncey. Honestly I LOVE not driving. He is starting to understand why I didnt like it. We have to drive for three hours today. But, Elder Rudd here is just the navigator and passanger. Oh man I am excited. But the black dot can be taken away but we will see. I am fine. But its all good in the wright.

Bishop Bertanogle that man and his family have soooooo much on their plate. He just had another brother pass away and the day he passed he came out with us on splits and fed us dinner. I swear that man needs to slow down. But I love that man and am so thankful for him.

Yesterday I got up to bear my testimony and looked out into the congregation and saw all my ward family looking back at me. I broke down. I told them you would think being away from home at christmas would be a bummer huh? I love it here so much. It looks like I will be transferred at the end of the month from what I hear from president. But I hope that I stay as long as the lord lets me. I love wright, wyoming and all the people here. Something I Have been trying to teach elder hammond more than anything is what my parents both taught me. Love, My mom shows more love than anyone I know. and I know she has taught me that. Service, Something my dad is a professional at. I know dad I was always the kid. Come on dad I want to sleep. I dont want to help them move. ( my whole family is nodding their heads right now ) But that is something the lord has taught me so much.

Cody Charon- We had a lesson with her. She is randy charons daughter. She is a felon she was in jail for drugs and dealing. But she wants to find a church so I said hello my name is elder rudd. We taught her the restoration. It was alot to take in for her but it seems like she understood so it went well. I was happy for that. We have a lesson with her on friday at 3. It will be great. I gave her chelseys book of mormon. Thank you chels.

Tommy Mills- My man tommy. Mr. Redneck. Way cool guy. It is so hard to get him to understand what we believe. He is always fighting with us about pentecostalism. Man, I have had to do some re search but alot of what we believe is very similiar so it has been pretty good. But if their is something he doesnt agree with he is after us. But I gave him marks book of mormon. Mark I really appreciated your testimony it was awesome. I pray to which book of mormon I should give someone. I always tell them. This is very important to me, you are very important to me so I place it and it has helped so much for them to read those words of my family and not to take either of our words for it.

Gatenbeins- I am almost going to cry when I am typing this. The gatenbeins snubbed us for the 5th time in a row. We had to take them off of our focus board because of their behavior. It was really really sad. But, They just dont want to change. So, we arent going to make them........We had so much hope so much faith in them but, it hasnt come to fruition. Very hard but the lord will prepare a way....

Zack- The zack attack. He is so awesome. He promised us to be at church on sunday so we are hoping he will be their. I love that guy. I know how much the gospel can bless his life. I want him to understand that.

Fryes- Canceled on us again.

Josie- We finally met josie last night. We were over at the daltons for tanners bday. Josie (Kalli Daltons Friend) She wants to be a member but her mom wants her to go to a christian church. But we plan on going over there and sharing the gospel with them hopefully her mom lets us in.

My knee is ok. I am not going to talk about it anymore. its just fine. I'll just deal with it.

Wow mom sounds like you are way way way busy. I cant imagine how much work you are putting into the work. I am so poud of all you do. Keep up the good work

We are emailing right now and then in about twenty minutes we have to drive up to gillette and then pick up the sheridan 2nd elders and then drive back thru wright on our way to casper. So yeah, it will be fun. I am very excited to go to martins cove. Tuesday is when I start my exchange with Newcastle. They have moved intoa members house so they are no longer in their mansion. So that will be good. I come back friday morning and then friday night is the ward christmas party. It will be fun

The high light of my week has to be at night sacrament last night. Sis. Nancy Ohara. The oharas have been here for 15 years in wright for ten of those years they havent been coming to church. Nancy got in a car accident about three weeks ago that almost took her life. We have been working with them the whole time I have been here. But, I was sitting there at the sacrament table ready to bless the bread and here come nancy and dan ohara with her cane walking up to the stand and sitting down. I broke down in tears. As we were bearing our testimonies. She got up and beared her testimony saying how thankful she was to her heavenly father for saving her life. But, she said I am ahsamed of myself in not following him and being an "idiot" and not coming to church for so long. We will be better. It brought me to tears.

On PEC on thursday we brought down the hammer and are trying to get people at church We had a list of 15 people. 7 of them were at church. I was very emotional all day long. The lord is blessing my life.

I love this work and I love being a missionary. Thank you for your prayers. i love you all.

Love,
Elder Michael Corey Rudd

Thanksgiving

Buenos Noches,
Elder Rudd reporting from Gillette, Wyoming the weather is snowy as can be. We drove up last night and the roads were perfect. I drove behind a semi the entire way. Me and Elder Hammond jammed to christmas music the whole way. It was lots of fun. I love being an elder. The weather right now is about ten degrees outside. The low for today is 1 degree. Usually I see two zeros after that one. Not in Wyoming.
I have not heard any more about my driving priviliges. i dont think they will be taken away though. We will see. But elder hammond will definitly be chauncey and have to wear a top hat. I will sit in the back and eat some bon bons.
So guess what two weeks ago me and elder oborn made a "missionary cribs" of our place in wright. Funny huh? I love it. Its funny. OF course I am the one giving the tour. Okay so I plan on sending it to you guys but take it with a grain of salt our apartment is funny. Especially our monkey in the bathroom. I think I told you about that. Sarah Ott in the ward was making a stuffed animal for mutual and put the monkeys tail on backwards. So yeah.... its now hanging in our bathroom. I think you will enjoy it though and all my craziness. But We had alot of fun making it.
Okay mom you will never believe what I heard how to make. A cake.... But wait for it. Cooked in the microwave!!!!!!!!!!!! So elder hardwick our ZL baked this cake but! He mixed together the cake mix and milk and eggs and just plopped down a whole thing of frosting right in the middle and put it on for 8 minutes in the microwave!!!! Me and elder hammond made a red velvet cake with chocolate frosting. It was the most moist cake I had ever had. Man it was good. But I could not believe it. You just mix the cake mix with its ingredients, milk butter and that jazz then you just dump a thing of frosting in the middle and put it on heat for 8 minutes. Then let it cool off for atleast 10 to 15 minutes then use a cookie sheet and flip it over and the cake will be in the shape of whatever bowl you make it in. make sure its microwavable off course. But wow!!! Amazing. I am a huge fan! I reminded me alot of chocolate molten lava cake from chili's. You can put whatever cake mixture or frosting you want. I sliced some strawberries and threw them on top. We cut a slice and took it to sis. ott on her bday on saturday. She loved it! It was bomb! Try it. Its way good.
Everyone is addicted to my chocolate covered sun flower seeds. I love them. Way good. I can only eat them so often because as you know I am not too crazy about the chocolate. But thats okay. I like them.
I went package crazy this week. Got a big box from you guys and the lewis's and great letters. Thank you for your support. It really means alot to me. It makes the day go so much better. please continue to send letters. They mean everything.
But this week we got to help a part member family remodel build walls for rooms in their basement. Way cool. We built three walls. I hate screwing nails into the studs. I am horrible at it. It would always strip on me. I am like fine! Give me some duct tape and I will take care of it! Dont you worry. But we had alot of fun. Gaylin Porter was the family that we were helping the porters are awesome people. Brenda is a member from Riverton, Wy and Gaylin grew up in nebraska. But has had the elders come over but has never really read and prayed about much so we will change that. I really like the family. But they hold alot of grudges. Their son got hit by Taylor Nicholls if you remember ernie who went to costa rica. And the Porters are taking Ernie and Taylor to court. Taylor is 18 and completely did it on accident. But the porters dont think so. Oren the porter kid who got hit didnt have one thing wrong with him. They think he had a torn acl but doesnt. Didnt have to have surgery. They make him wear a brace even though the doctors dont want him to just incase he hurts it again and cant use it in court. It really makes me mad to see someone do that. I loved the nicholls so much and to see them make that choice killed me. I wish these people in write would forgive. "I the lord will forgive, whom I will forgive, but to you it is required that you forgive all men!" It is a concept that the members in wright, wyoming need to understand.
Jeff Fritz- A less active member that we have been on the hunt for. MUahahaha we found him. I swear we are the best PI's in the world. We have the best system. He was like how did you find me. I said well the lord put us here on this door step because of that reason. We invited him in and had a great lesson with him, we hope for him to come back to church but we will see how he and his family are doing.
Cody Charon- Cody is a felon. She is our dear friend Randy Charon's daughter. She got out of jail about two years ago. Not sure what she did. But she has accepted to take the missionary lessons and we have a lesson with her next week. I am very excited about cody.
Guess what next monday is........ MARTINS COVE TRIP!!!!!! I am so excited. I cant wait. YEs!!!! So much fun. All the Rapid, Gillette and Casper zones will be heading their. Elder Dahl got transferred to Rapid City so I will get to see my skinny mtc comp. I hope he has gained some weight. I love it. Cant wait.
Do you remember Dani Litaba that I told you we were teaching and is matt ott's friend and we got a crazy call on tuesday night about 11:30 pm. Dani ran away. On monday night at 9:30 we were sitting right by her at the drama play. But she took off in the middle of the night on monday night. Crazy.. She is now in custody of the police in CHICAGO!!!!! She traveled all the way through S.D. and through minnesotta then down through wisconsin down to illinois and got in a fender bender in south chicago (yikes) so the cops ran her name and BAM! She was put in a juvenille delinquite center in south chicago. i can only imagine the kids that were in their. No one knows exactly why she went but she is safe now. On her way back from chicago with her parents. Crazy Crazy Crazy!
Turkey Day! On turkey day we went with Gene and Nancy Hanson. They took us to Gillette to eat dinner with their family. So good. i love sweet potatoe cassorole. Oh man!! So good. We had turkey, ham, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoe cassorole. green bean cassorole, homeade rolls, about 15 desserts and so much fun. They rolled me and elder hammond out of there. The next night me and elder hammond came over to Lance Mowers house and ate with Jason and Angie jensen and lance's sister jennifer and her daughter chelsea. YEah that chelsea girl is crazy a little too flirty. Yikes. Since we do laundry at lances house chelsea is always there so we can only do it when lance is home now. They just moved in. We are not very happy. :(
We have eaten so much food. Me and Elder Hammond are sooooooo full. Its crazy. Oh yeah. Gene an Nancy bought us a blender too. They are so nice.
So we started gospel principles yesterday. It was awesome I loved it. I taught the lesson starting right from the beginning. I love teaching the gospel. it is my greatest joy in the world.
Josie-- Josie is Kalli Daltons friend who is interested in the church but doesnt know how to tell her mom because her mom doesnt want to have her listen but the lord will prepare a way. yesterday me and elder hammond fasted for her. I am excited for this next month of december.
Today I start my exchange with Gillette Fourth ward and Elder Richardson. In two weeks I start my exchange with Elder Boehme in Newcastle.Cant flip this time dont worry. Neither areas have a car so we will be doing alot of walking.
I have been recruited by the ward to host a Married Couples game night! It will be fun. I get to be my DJ again. Also, there are five churches in wright, LDS Church, Episcopal Church, Catholic, Baptist and Pentecostal. We are hosting a huge well "wright huge" christmas concert where all the congregations are invited to the building and I have been asked to host the event. it will be a great missionary opportunity. We are really excited to get people into the church and show them what it is.
I can not believe you guys went and did that black friday stuff. Holy Moly. Its insane, we had people in the ward leave to capser and left two days early just to get in line. Its crazy!!! Last year a guy was trampled to death. But I am glad you guys all had fun though. You crazy people.
Guess what I am definitly turning into Dad. I am not saying thats a bad thing dad I love you! But, I was telling someone the other day this happened and it happened two months ago!!! OH NO! I have grown to 5'11" though for sure! I cant wait to break 6' Ryan my friend you better watch out my friend.
It sounds like you guys had a great time at thanksgiving. Yes its true Derek couldnt of done a better job than elder rudd. Its impossible. Just saying. But I am glad you guys had a good time on thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many things in my life.
Mom I am so proud of you and the missionary work you do. You are doing such a wonderful job. Keep it up. Dont ever give up!! I love you so very much!!
Dad, I am becoming like you and I would have it no other way. I love it. Thank you for all you insights and love and the long letters. I know that your father in heaven is very pleased with you and the way you have raised our family.
Whit and Chels- Thank you for having an email every monday for me I really appreciate all you do. Remember to not give into temptation. Raise your families in the gospel no other choice. Keep it up and let kirk and mark know how much I miss them and let them know how much I admire them. Whitney please give cayden and riley a big hug and kiss for me. I love them so much, Tell them I miss them and love them.
The kingdom of god or nothing. Sometimes it might be easier to not but please instill in their minds the gospel. We have been blessed with parents that have done that for us. We have been entrusted with the care of these little ones and families. Raise a generation. The lord needs them. They are here on earth for a reason. I can promise you something, the world will get even worse. But I can promise you something even better, the church will continue to get even stronger, will we be on board? Think aboout that for a while
Ryan and Shannon- I am so proud of you two and your efforts to raise your family to go to school to do all your work. Its alot of work I know but you are doing such a great job. Thank you for all you do for me. Tell raegan I love her.
Staci & Reed and girls- I really appreciated the books of mormon you sent me. I loved your testimonies and want to let you know how much i love you.
I want all my siblings to know how much i love them. Staci, April, Becky, Christian, Cami, Whitney and Chelsey and that guy named Ryan. I am so thankful for all of you and growing up with all of you and all of the great memories. For thanksgiving that is what I am most thankful for. My family my parents who taught me what I needed to, so that I could be out here in the S.D.R.C.M. to teach and preach and serve. I am thankful for my dad and brother and sister christian for their desire to serve a mission and to be the example to me to go.
One last thing I am thankful for is my lord and savior jesus christ. I would not be able to have an eternal family without him. I love you all so much.
Remember to never give up. Life gets sad and down. But the lord is always there. DO NOT GIVE UP OR GIVE IN.
I love you all soooo much.
LOVE,
Elder Michael Corey Rudd
DL, Wright District
Gillette ZOne
S.D.R.C.M.

The concentration!!!

Walking through the snow in the wind.

Bridge call with the AP's. Kickin in my chair.

Staying in Wright

Hey ya'll, (I'm not in texas I just wanted to say that)
Well news news news. I bet you are all wondering. Is Elder Rudd staying in Wright, Wyoming? Is he? Is he? Transfer Calls were saturday morning about eight o' clock and the phone rang.... My zone leader was calling me to tell me he was getting transfered, because of course ELDER RUDD IS STAYING IN WRIGHT WYOMING ATLEAST TIL JANUARY 1ST!!! I am so excited. Me and Elder Hammond are way excited. I am very happy! So in two weeks we make the trek to Martins Cove down by Casper. We are way excited. I love wright and am very greatful to be here for my third transfer here. I love wright. I am so excited. Our district and zone got changed up a little bit. Elder Wilkinson went home from his mission and guess who is replacing him... Elder Cameron from Sioux Falls!! I am so excited now that Elder Cameron is in my district!!! I love elder cameron. Cameron was the elder that his comp elder gregerson left him. But now he is in Gillette 4th ward with Elder Richardson. I love it! Newcastle didnt change still Elder Boehme and Elder Cooper, elder cooper wasnt happy. Oh well. Sad news is that elder oborn got transfered :( But only to rapid city. But Elder Foulger replaced him, he's from Mesa and went to Mountain View. He's awesome. I am way excited that he is my zone leader. Because of course the best part of waking up is elder foulger, he is coming down from Sheridan. I am way excited. This transfer will be alot of fun.
Lets get to the weather. It is amazingly cold. My brother in washington has nothing on me. Last night for example it poured down SEVEN INCHES OF SNOW!!! Its crazy! We couldnt go to gillette we had to stay in wright. We helped Lance Mowers sister, Jennifer and her daughter move into lances place today we moved here from gillette. So that was our P-day! Thats why the email is a little late. We have been helping them move since seven this morning. The fushion got stuck in the snow at lances place too. We didnt dare try to drive it. I am very very cautious about that. Elder Hammond wanted to try it, I told him my dear friend, this is alot different than Utah snow. Lance drove us to Gillette today and we were passing so many little cars off the side of the road. I really wish the church would give us trucks or something to help with the snow. SO much black ice. Its crazy. But I drive no more than ten miles an hour through town. Or else we would be off the road. We had to shovel the car out today to go anywhere. I told elder hammond. Time for you to get some boots my friend. Because we will be walking most of these days. Man its crazy. Today the tempature the high is 14 and the low is -1 and wright now as I am typing it is seven degrees. This week it is going to get to about -25 with wind chill. Super cold. I cant wait til the snow goes. I like it for a while but when it comes seven inches at a time its not too much fun. So yes, weather cold. Snow stuff, I would like maybe some other gloves I have two but the cloth ones arent the best they do okay but maybe some gloves that our thin that are insulated of some sort. Both gloves are good. Just for dress some thin insulated would be nice. The boots are awesome. I love my boots. Everything from pomeroys is doing great. I am proud of my pomeroys. I am doing great with it all. I havent yet put my big coat on yet. But soon it will be time for it.
For the driving part. I am still allowed to drive since it wasnt my fault and there was nothing I could of done to prevent it. But, I am no longer going to court because it would have been such a hastle. The only reason I got a ticket was so that the county didnt get sued. But, I just paid the ticket because it was ridiculous. I just wanted to be done with it. I wanted to go to court I was pumped. But I have more important work to be done. I swear president layton is like this kid is trouble. Oh well. :) The funny part about you guys is that I wanted to send the pictures before the email. But I actually sent the email about four hours before the pictures. :) I love you guys. Okay what is with the "oh my gosh becky, look at those pictures." ?? Is it from the baby got back song? MAybe? I dont understand.
Thanksgiving, we have about 8 offers for thanksgiving. So, we might hit all of them. :) But Gene and Nancy Hanson are having us offer. We are excited for the holidays. They will be wonderful. Just to let you know we will have a WHITE christmas. Speaking of christmas. I will be able to Skype. The heimdales in the ward have two computers with skype so me and elder hammond both plan to skype. His family is going to get skype just for it. Way cool. If they have any questions let them know all about it.
I would like to commend my wonderful letter writers today for there blessed generosity. I was kinda bummed last week didnt do too well with letters, elder hammond has the greeny letter supply. But today I received a package from you guys, from kymber, letter from brynae and the lewis's and from my dear brother in washington. Elder hammond got two packages. We are so happy today. Havent opened them up so sorry cant tell you whats in them. We have decided to give service EVERY pday now. :) I love it.
We do have a carbon monoxide detector in our apartment we check it monthly. But more could not hurt. Thank you very much mom. I thought i told you that I got my sweaters, maybe not sorry. I got them. I might need a heavier one though they are pretty thin. But for now they do okay. I had to sew the grey one the pocket ripped. I plan on sewing a ER in it for elder rudd. I have become quite the sewer. I am proud of my work. Every gives me their stuff to sew. Suprising i Know. But i did a master job on one of my pants. I love it. The black pants I have had for like what 6 years they split and I sewed them up like 2 months ago have not had a problem ever. CTR Clothing. If any one who reads this wants to know where to go its all CTR clothing. I know I worked their. But more and more elders are having ctr because it withstands it all. I am not kidding.
The church will continue to persecuted and persecuted. We as missionaries will continue to be mocked and persecuted. But NOTHING can stop the work from progressing.
Remember the words from our dear prophet Joseph Smith:
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine and armies may assemble BUT the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
are we persecuted? Have their been mobs against the church? Hmmm. Nothing can stop it. DO NOT fear. Our savior is leading our church. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" Love it.
In the famous quotes of my father: "the church is true, what else matters?" I think many people in wright have heard that phrase. Live it and Love it.
I love talking to people from other religions its awesome. We are teaching catholics, seventh day adventists, jehoavahs witnesses, lutheran, methodist and a unitarian.
Mom, you will have success. Bear your testimony with the spirit. You are the lords instrument. You dont have to teach the spirit does.
We tracted into a guy named Jim Rodriguez. I know Jim Rodriguez i thought it was weird. But awesome guy an entire family. Let us right in and had a wonderful discussion. I love wright. Because everyone knows eachother! I swear its so cool. Everyone knows gene hanson and bishop bertagnole. We get into alot of doors thanks to them. :) I love it. But Jim and his wife loved our message. They are catholic and accepted a book of mormon. Jim made the mistake it was awesome. we were asking him about work and all he works in the oild fields but he was saying yeah, I have alot of time on my hands out there. I thought to myself and looked at elder hammond and in my head was like "Muahahahaha" But gave him a book of mormon and said he would read it. I love it. While we were over there some crazy pshycic lady sent them a picture of a crying blood mother mary and they were superstitous and all and didnt want to throw it away because on the back said "dont throw this away because it will be bad luck. I took it and ripped it up and threw it away. I told them I wasnt superstituous. I am the lords servant. :) But it was funny. They were so thankful to have me take it. It was creepy looking. But we replaced it with our pass along card. Its awesome. Everyone we see or less active has our pass along cards and book of mormons. We are flooding wright at least with the gospel. I love it!
I just want to let you all know, I am a wyoming cowboy. :) I love wyoming. Guess who else is coming to gillette to be a DL with me. Elder Dizzy Davis from Sheridan! Its a reunion. Elder Hilbun is in Capser as a ZL. And elder davis is in gillette. The church is true. :) I love this work so much. Today has been such an awesome day. Tonight is the high school play for the school. We are way excited. We get to see the real actors in wright. Way cool. I really love this place. I cant wait to show all you guys my little treasure. And I mean little. :)
I will be hear to the first of january. I am thinking that will be my move date. Just hearing the buzz around the mission. Sounds like that might be the day. But! I hope I can stay as long as they will let me.
I love you all so much and am so thankful for the prayers in my behalf. I know alot of us need to improve on our missionary work. We all know this is the true church. Please give others the chance to know too. I am thankful for all of you who are serving in your callings. Being in wyoming. Is such a blessing to know what is feels like to be in a ward with about 200 every sunday. We will be teaching gospel principles every sunday now to help some less actives come back. They hate gospel doctrine. So we will do it!
I know that satan is after every single missionary who is out serving. We are 53,000 strong.
Nothing will ever get me more choked up then to hear 3,000 missionaries sing loud and proud
"we are now the lords missionaries, to bring the world his truth"
I Am now the lords missionary to bring the world his truth" (Even if their is only 1300 people to bring it too) You better believe every one of those people will hear it.
I love you all very much. Know that this is the truth. If you dont. Read and Pray. Ask god the eternal father if its true. Its that simple. Know that the book of mormon is the word of god. It doesnt take away from the bible at all. Its another testament of jesus christ.
Know that I know of this work with assurety. I know this is the true church.
Be safe. And be thankful to have a testimony of the truth of jesus christ. Have a wonderful thanksgiving. I love you all. Can you put the smell of mom's rolls in a jar for me?
Love,
Elder Michael Corey Rudd
District Leader, Wright Wyoming
Gillette, Wyoming Zone
South Dakota Rapid City Mission
P.O. Box 701
Wright, WY 82732
Pictures next week hopefully if we can drive to gillette.