tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32147943955736096462024-02-07T14:26:15.664-08:00Elder Jacob Thomas WoodUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-9000981536759403172015-04-27T18:37:00.001-07:002015-04-27T18:37:48.807-07:00Golf and a Great Zone Conference!<div class="p1">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golfing in Jakarta!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caddie Girls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Donald puts one in</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Donald, Elder Barlow and Me</td></tr>
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<span class="s1">Hey! Thanks for the Birthday Money! I know it is not my birthday yet, but I already used a lot of it... Today Elder Barlow and I had the awesome opportunity to go play 18 holes of golf with President! So we got up at about 4:30 this morning and got ready and were out of the house by 5:15. We got over and had a 6 am tee time. And since we were all pretty rusty after not having played in so long, we played a game of skins--the winner of every hole gets "10,000 dollars," and if you tie the hole it carries over on jackpot to the next hole. So it was pretty fun! And amazingly I was still sort of able to hold my own on the golf course! sort of... I didn't take last place! And I kept it under 100 on 18 holes with rented clubs and not having played in almost 3 years! But it was a blast! It was just fun to be out on the course having fun together! And it is pretty cool to say that I played a round of 18 holes on my mission in Jakarta, Indonesia. And with my mission President! President Donald is the coolest mission President ever! It was fun to just hang out and relax and talk with him, too! He is such a normal guy, but has so much wisdom and experience and it was just fun to get a round in. Haha but it was pretty awkward, because at the course they make you have caddies, and they were young ladies. And needless to say, seeing some young white guys, they were all over us. So we were playing cat and mouse with the caddies trying to keep them at bay. They were constantly grabbing our arms and whatnot. And we were pretty awkward, cause we are missionaries...and President was having a good chuckle! But they were useless as caddies...they didn't know much about golf or help out on advice much. Mostly they were there as "self-confidence boosters" for guys who are into that sort of thing. But just a distraction and annoyance to missionaries haha! But it was funny! But thanks for taking me to play and teaching me when I was younger so that I could have all these cool opportunities! After golf we came back to the mission home and had some breakfast with President and Sister Donald, and now we are upstairs in the AP's office emailing. I'm not so sure what we will do the rest of the day. We're pretty tired haha! But sleeping's no good either! Too boring!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of the week was pretty good, too! We had Zone Conference all day Tuesday and Wednesday with President. So that was fun! Got to get our interviews in, play some basketball and futsal together, and have some meetings and learn lots of good things! I am excited because I am still learning so many things that I can do to be a better missionary with the time I have left! Sometimes I wish I had learned or applied it all earlier, but I guess it is all about building up and learning new things constantly! But there were a lot of good things talked about, and stuff! It makes me melancholy (oh man, that is a good word. I sometimes feel really proud when I can remember good English words, because usually I can't remember anymore. My vocabulary is terrible... don't make fun of me when I get home...) to go home so soon and stuff, but I am glad that I can still be learning and improving! We learned more about how to work more effectively with members--like going over to their houses and just having them invite friends and neighbors over, and we go over and play the guitar and sing songs together and play games and whatnot, and then share a short spiritual message and showing the members and their friends that we are still humans and fun to be around. That was something new, because up to this point we have focused a lot on being very serious and strict, but now President is encouraging us to try a bit of a more relaxed approach, and I think it will have a lot of potential for success, so I am excited to try it. But I don't remember guitar much any more...luckily my companion can play a bit. But sadly I can't sing well either haha! But we will make it work and have fun! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">We have met with D a few more times this week, also. He is still amazing! Last night there was a baptism of a member child in the English ward, and they did it at a members home. So we invited D to come and see it with us. So he came, and he invited a friend--just some random girl that he met on the street a few weeks ago who he started to talk to about the gospel, and she was interested! He is even actively doing missionary work, and is so excited about it! I am constantly amazed by him and his love for and desire to share the gospel with those around him! Even though he is not even baptized yet, I keep thinking he just needs a black name card with white lettering that says, "Elder S!" He is awesome! The friend that he invited is a Christian from Papua, and now she is really interested in learning more about the church and stuff! So cool! And the baptismal service was awesome! It was at the Prendergrast family home, where we have done several other ward activities and baptisms. And every time we do it, there is just a really powerful spirit there! It is one of those special places where you just feel at home and close to Heavenly Father. It is one of those places where you really can feel that Home is a little part of Heaven on Earth. It reminds me a lot of our home, too, because I felt that at home with how close our family is and how much love there is there! So thank you all for being such a great family and creating that atmosphere! I love you all! I hope I can have a family and home like that someday! But I know that it is something that comes from living and actively practicing the gospel together!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And Pak Ma has been coming to church again the last few weeks and we have really been hitting him hard with helping him understand that this is the one true and living church, and it seems to finally be sinking in. So he has committed himself to date on the 10th this month. So that is exciting.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And I, that member that may be coming to stay in Utah for a little while this summer, also brought a friend to church on Sunday who is also very interested in learning! So there are a lot of good and exciting things going on right now! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">So this coming week hopefully we will stay pretty busy! So that will be good! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Glad to hear that Utah has been getting lots of water recently! Sounds like it was much needed! Ya, we get a lot of rain here! But usually the storms only last for about 10 or 15 minutes of torrential downpour, and then it just immediately stops. Hearing it on tin roofs literally sounds like a machine gun starting to fire and then stopping. there is no slow buildup or stop. Its just here and gone. Its kinda crazy! So sometimes it catches you unaware, but for the most part we avoid being out in it. Probably a bit different than Leeds. And definitely a lot hotter!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Haha thats pretty funny that the missionaries stopped by. Have they been around our ward more lately? cause I don't really remember ever seeing them around before the mission, except at dinner appointments once a year... But that's pretty cool! Hopefully some people will let them in! Good job on opening the mouth! Haha I think that's the hardest part usually!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sounds like the house is coming along well! Pretty big project! But that will be exciting! Our house here is also getting a bit of work done, cause it is falling apart. Nothing too major, just repainting and fixing all the leaks in the roof and stuff. But it is looking nicer! But it is distracting doing study with a hammer pounding on the roof above you! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I am excited to go to the temple all together! That will be way exciting and such a cool opportunity! That will be a busy first few days home haha! Get home, temple, half marathon, homecoming! So much for sleeping after I get home haha! But it will be good! I am excited for it all...except maybe the half marathon...I think I might collapse...but It will be good! Oh, and thanks for getting me set up for the Lotoja, too. BTW, when is that? That will be fun, too!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I gotta go for this week! But I love you all! Thanks for the emails! And thanks for the support! I know the church is true with all my heart, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to share it with others! Have a great week!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-86520951519137701222015-04-27T17:22:00.002-07:002015-04-27T17:22:49.959-07:00Wood Realtors...back in business!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">CONGRATULATIONS SABRINA!!! LEEDS ENGLAND, HERE SHE COMES!!!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">That is so cool, and I am so excited! Thanks for the videos to be able to see it! She definitely looked excited about it! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">So this has definitely been a very different week! We worked super hard this week, and it was incredibly frustrating and discouraging at times! But we finally accomplished our purpose...and literally at the very last second!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So you may be wondering why Wood Realtors is back in business...Well, this week we became real estate agents... In order to obey the Law of Chastity, D sold his old apartment with plans that a friend would move into it after he moved out, and that he would move in with a different friend, and his girlfriend would move into a new apartment that we had found so that they could live separately. Well, things did not work out as planned. The apartment that we found for his girlfriend fell through last second...so we had nowhere for his girlfriend to move into. Then the friends that were going to move into D's old apartment decided not to, so he was going to be evicted soon. So we spent the majority of 4 days this week going around with him and searching for an apartment for his girlfriend. We had the limitations of a very limited budget and were actually faced with a lot of racism, many people not wanting a black person to live in their apartment complex. So we were constantly getting turned down. We thought it would be a simple process, but it turned out to be very difficult. So, we felt more like real estate agents this week than missionaries. But we were doing it to serve an investigator, because there was no way he could do it on his own because he doesn't speak the language or know how things work here. And we couldn't get members to spend that much time looking because they had work, too. So we helped him. Luckily we were also able to proselyte a bit along the way and found some good future proselyting areas, and also got some good contacts and hopefully potential investigators. But it was incredibly difficult, discouraging, and frustrating. We had several deals fall through last minute for unclear reasons and whatnot. And tonight was their last night at their old place... they get evicted today. and yesterday we still did not have a place for them. But finally last night a member told us about a place, and we went and checked it out, and it was perfect. So we are moving them in today! So, this week, Grandpa's business came back into business! But luckily this week it is going back out of business, and we become Elder Wood and Elder Barlow again! But we finally got things figured out.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We also got them an interview with President Donald for baptism. But sadly, because they do not have legal visas here yet, they cannot yet be baptized. We even tried to get permission from the area presidency. But that is the church's policy, and it is probably for the best of the church, because we are walking on eggshells here. So, they will have to wait a little longer for baptism. But someday the Lord will prepare a way for them! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">That was most of our activities for the week--teaching, finding apartments, and proselyting. But we are making progress and working hard. Today we are moving, then we are going to go do some shopping, then working. This week we have PLD! So that is always exciting! And ya, that is most of what is going on here!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Thanks for all the advice and whatnot! I really am trying to finish strong, because I want no regrets! The mission is awesome! I don't want to regret anything from it. And I am super excited Sabrina got her call! That is so cool! I am glad we have a good summer before she leaves, too! That will be fun!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I love you all and hope you have a great week! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
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<span class="s1">NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-47736686695621657382015-04-12T11:29:00.001-07:002015-04-12T11:29:04.423-07:00Happy Easter<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hey! Looks like you all had a great Easter down in St. George! Looks nice down there! The weather here feels a lot like St. George weather, and we've had blue skies, so it feels the same, too!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week was a good one. J got confirmed, D and R are progressing well and are awesome! D even shared his testimony yesterday in church! He said he used to be like a Lamanite, but then Ammon and Aaron (the missionaries) came to him and showed him the right way and he is so grateful! Haha so cool! He is reading the Book of Mormon enough to compare it with his own life! He is awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of this week was really busy with appointments and splits to Bekasi and whatnot. And there were the frustrations along the way and whatnot. But things ended up happy! And we had a good dinner of French toast and eggs and ham last night taht we cooked to finish off the week. Then we started this week going to a nice ice cream place for lunch! That was good! And we were busy and a little late with traffic and stuff, so I am really short on email time. So I really apologize that this week is going to be way lame! My bad! Next week will be better!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">But things here are going well and I am loving it! I am really sad that it is winding down so quickly! But there is still a month to go and make the most of! And we have a lot of good potential for the coming month! So that is exciting!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I am glad that housing got worked out! That will be fun! Thank you for all your work on that! You guys are the best!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I really have to run right now, but I love you all and am really sorry this is so lame! Have a great week! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-40739348907962247142015-04-12T11:27:00.000-07:002015-04-12T11:27:00.039-07:00April Fooled<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Well, I got April Fooled pretty hard! I can't believe you all did that to me! You were all in on it, too! I am at the mission home emailing today because I have to sign up for classes for next semester today! And I saw that and I started freaking out! I thought it was real! I didn't even realize to scroll down because I thought it was real! I told everyone! President Donald thought it was cool! Sister Donald was freaking out, and so were Elder Barlow and I! And then I realized it was April Fools, and I felt like an idiot haha! But it was definitely a good laugh! That was probably the best I have ever been april foolsed! I fell for it hook line, and sinker! And I was confused out of my mind, because that just so doesn't seem like Sabrina! So good one! Now, what is the real story?!?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week was a pretty good one! J got baptized on Sunday! That was pretty awesome! It was stressful getting the last bit of preparation done, and it almost didn't happen this week. But we were able to get it all set up and it was an awesome day! We actually had 4 baptisms in our ward yesterday! The sisters had a family of a single mother and her 2 sons that got baptized, and we had Pak J! So it was awesome! A great day!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of the week was pretty good, too. D is awesome! He has read all the way up to Alma in the Book of Mormon and he understands it all and is coming to church! And he has found a new place to live, so we are just helping him sign the contract on it and get moved out in the next week or so! So that is awesome! And he has another friend that has been following the lessons with us lately. His name is R. We thought he was just another Christian, because he is so receptive and understands so much. Well, this week he told us that he used to be Islam. We asked how long he has been Christian, and he said, "For about 2 weeks...this is the first church I have been to, because D invited me." Well, he loves it and feels the spirit and whatnot and wants to get baptized, too! and the last few weeks, they have been getting to church really late. But this Sunday, R is the one who called D at 6am to say, "wake up, lets get to church on time!" And they came on time! It is so awesome! So we are thinking we will hopefully get them baptized in the next 2 or 3 weeks!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sadly M is not really progressing right now. He is not reading the Book of Mormon very much, and hasn't come to church the last 3 weeks. He says he wants it all, but he doesn't do anything about it. So we are going to visit him this week, and tell him that if he doesn't start acting, we are going to have to drop him for the time being. That's kinda rough!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And Pak B is hard. He can't really understand or remember much, and he has no support from his family on church or anything, and lives way to far away to come, and can't come alone. So that is sad. But hopefully a miracle will happen. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, sorry, I can't write too much longer because I have spent so much time freaking out about a fake engagement, and now I have to sign up for classes. So wish me luck!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I love you all! Happy April Fools! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-89959060551267152012015-03-29T10:46:00.000-07:002015-03-29T10:46:09.855-07:00Exhausting..Stressful...I'm loving it!!<div class="p1">
Well, things here have been interesting this week. On Monday we all went paintballing! Even President Donald came! That was pretty fun! Haha and my team totally dominated!!! So that was sweet!</div>
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<span class="s1">On Tuesday we had Mission Leader Conference. That is always awesome! We talked a lot about Christ-like attributes and creating more unity in the mission. So we taught about that at Zone Meeting on Friday. On Tuesday after MLC, we had to go to the hospital because Elder Barlow had a major ingrown toenail, and we had to get it operated on. So that pretty much killed our whole Tuesday because of how long it took to get to and from the clinic with traffic. Wednesday was a pretty normal day and we had some good lessons. We met with the guy from Malaysia again, which was cool. Thursday was a long day of weekly planning and planning for ZTM. But we were able to get some lessons in, too. Friday we had ZTM, and that went well! Then we had to go back to the hospital for a follow-up visit on Elder Barlow's toe. Saturday, we had a few hours in the morning/early afternoon to go out and work. But then we had to come to the church to set up for a fireside. We threw a missionary fireside on Saturday evening for members and investigators. We watched a part of Elder Bednar's "Come and See" talk, and a Mormon Message. Then we had some cake and had some games set up -- like ping pong, badminton, futsal, and the "eat the donut on a string" game thing. It was a ton of fun and we had a lot of people show up! And most of them were investigators and new members. It was great, because the investigators got fellowshipped well and everyone had a great time! Everyone was telling us we need to do another one soon! So that was cool! That took us from the evening to the night, though. But Sunday was good! We had several investigators show up at church! We had 2 random people just show up to the fireside last night, and they came to church on Sunday and we taught them! So that was cool! And we had a member visit with Sister Bombasi from the English ward. That was fun! And good food! Oh, and we brought a new member named Ivan along with us! He is like the best friend member with the missionaries! He is the coolest guy ever! He got baptized about 6 months ago, so just shortly before I got here. He is indonesian but he speaks fluent English. He is always going fellowshipping with us, and hanging out on P-Day, and he is way cool and way strong! And, he has an aunt that lives in California. Well, this summer he is coming to visit America for about 6 months to visit his aunt and stuff! Elder Barrus and I have invited him to come spend a few weeks in Utah with us and all the other missionaries he knows, and he is super excited! So we have been getting him started on Family History work recently so that we can take him to the temple to do baptisms for the dead for his family while he is there! So we are super excited about that! I hope it is Ok if I invite him to stay at our house with me for a few days while he is there. I really want you guys to meet him! He is so cool!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As for the rest of the work, as you can see we had to spend a lot of time out of our area this week, so we didn't get in as many teaching opportunities as I would have liked. But we still had a good week. Pak J is still preparing to be baptized next Sunday! So that is super exciting! He is awesome! Sadly Pak M didn't come to church again yesterday, so he has to be delayed a week. But we went to his house and taught him the Sabbath more in depth, and I think it helped him a lot, and he committed to for sure come next week, and wants to be baptized the beginning of April. So that is good! As for Pak B--ever since his stroke we haven't been able to get ahold of him, so that is a bummer! D--our African friend--is doing awesome! He is embracing the gospel and it is awesome! He said the other day he was riding a train, and the Holy Ghost told him to testify to the blind guy next to him about Jesus Christ. So he did, and the guy was Muslim, but said that D's testimony touched him, and he wants to meet with us now! Haha so cool!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">That is most of the report on what is going on over here! It is a lot of good stuff! I am loving it here! It is exhausting! And stressful at times! But it is such an amazing opportunity! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I love hearing from you all! Thanks for the letters and everything! Haha sounds like things will be busy at home for the next few weeks! Good--you guys can stay busy so you can stop being so trunky haha!!! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">But I hope you all have a great week! Love you!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-76863387328864001402015-03-15T08:17:00.002-07:002015-03-15T08:17:40.365-07:00We Broke the Barrier<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hey, how's it going? That is exciting that some snow finally fell! Pretty late in the season haha! But better late than never! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">That will be super cool for Grandma to seal Uncle Gene to her family! So exciting! And that will be cool to be able to go and see it! That is pretty cool all the stuff he did! I wish I could be there! I miss the temple! As far as people here going to the temple, it depends a lot on their economic status. There are people that go maybe once a year, or once every two years, and there are people who have never been, and people who have been once in their lives. So a lot of it just depends. But there are quite a few who have been, which is cool!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week has been pretty good! So, our mission standards of excellence are to get in 20 discussions a week. I have done that in Solo and Manado and Tangerang. But we have never been able to get it done in Jakarta, because we spend such long periods of time stuck in traffic getting anywhere, that it has been a struggle to get it all done. The traffic is killer here! We sometimes spend 3 hours in a crappy non-Air Conditioned bus that is falling apart as it idles down the road, but we don't go very far. Haha it has been a major learning experience on patience. And it has really slowed us down. Until this week! We finally broke the barrier here this week, and got 21 lessons in! So that was awesome! We were super excited! And we had a lot of little miracles along the way!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Right now, we have Pak B, Pak M, F, and Pak J all on date for baptism this month. And D and his friends K, N, and R (all from Africa) are still learning and progressing and came to church this week and we are just trying to find a time to meet with them and renew their date, because a few things came up and they weren't able to be baptized yet. But they are all excited, too! So there is a lot of good things going on! Oh, and we got another new foreign investigator this week! His name is C from Spain. He speaks English well, luckily! But it is fun, because now on my mission, I can say I have used English, Indonesian, French, and Spanish in teaching appointments. But my Spanish is very limited at this point, and my French...I think I can say 5 words is all haha! But it is still fun to try! So we have a lot of awesome investigators at this point and a lot of potential going on!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We had a miracle to get Pak J on date. Last week he pretty much rejected us, and we just sat there, took it, and then testified and challenged him to close with prayer. We walked out feeling that we had lost him, but over the next 24 hours the Holy Ghost worked on him, and he called us back and wanted to meet! So we have met with him several times since, he came to church yesterday, and we taught him last night. But at the end of the lesson he still wasn't sure about baptism, so we again challenged him to kneel and pray specifically about it, and during the prayer he got his answer. He opened his eyes afterwards and asked who it is that baptizes him. We told him it was up to him, but that we wanted him to commit to the 29th of this month, and he accepted! So that was awesome! The Holy Ghost came through and worked hard with him! Prayers are powerful, and answered in the way of the Lord! I know that much!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Other than that, this week Elder Tufaga, one of the Elders in our house, got Dengue Fever. So he has been in the hospital since Friday afternoon. We have been doing splits with him. And Sunday was my turn, so I didn't get to go to church. That felt way weird! That was the first Sunday I have missed in a long time! And it felt extra weird to not go as a missionary haha! Made me realize how important church is! </span>But luckily Elder Tufaga is doing well and will probably get out in the next few days. His isn't as bad as mine was, luckily!</div>
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<span class="s1">Oh, and this week these guys came around our neighborhood with these smoke blower things that kill mosquitoes and cockroaches and stuff. We asked them to spray inside our house, too, because we have a cockroach infestation. Well, after they sprayed, I swept up about 50 or more dead cockroaches from off the floor around our house...It was pretty disgusting! The smoke drove them out of all the cracks and they died in the middle of the floor! Gross! But at least they are gone for the most part now...</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I think that is mostly it for this week! Thanks for the emails! I love hearing from you! and I hope you all have a great week! And get some rest! Sounds like things are going crazy! I love things here, though! I am sad to see it going so fast, but there is still a lot of opportunities ahead the next few weeks! Talk to you later!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love you!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-20102599513884113182015-03-07T17:33:00.002-08:002015-03-07T17:33:19.832-08:00I'm Loving it!!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hello! Wow, I can't believe it is already March! Time is flying by here! But things are staying busy and interesting! And I am loving it! And glad that I still have time left here! But it is going away too quickly! Trying to make it all count!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week was a pretty good one. We went on splits to Bekasi at the beginning of the week. That was fun. I got to work with Elder Canfield, and that was a lot of fun. I lived in the same house with him in Tangerang for several months. He is a great guy and an awesome missionary. I learned a lot with him, and had a lot of fun and learned a lot of things bouncing ideas back and forth with him and talking about the work here and whatnot. Fun to have a change of scenery every once in a while. But splits are always a pain, too, because they take us out of our area for a day and a half, and so we lose a lot of opportunities to spend time proselyting and finding new investigators, because we are then trying to catch up on teaching appointments. But it is good.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As far as this week goes, we had some cool experiences. We have an investigator named J. He promised us last week that he would come to church last Sunday, but then didn't come. So on Monday we went to his house. Well, he was totally trying to politely reject us and tell us he didn't need to change churches and whatnot. But he just couldn't say it. He was just beating around the bush, and we were just waiting for it. But he never really got there. So we just sat and listened and then answered his concerns the best we could, and had him close with prayer and ask God what he needs to do. Well, during the lesson, we felt we were guided by the spirit, but his attitude wasn't really changing. And we didn't feel the Holy Ghost during his closing prayer. So we left thinking that he was gone. But the next day he texted us and all of a sudden wanted to meet again. So we met. And since then, we have met him 3 times this week, and have had some awesome lessons with him, and he really wants to keep learning, and has promised to come to church next week, and almost has said he wants to be baptized. He just said that after we left that first time, he was ready to put the Book of Mormon away, but he felt a desire and need in his heart to read it, and so he has been, and he has been feeling good about it, and is beginning to gain a testimony of the truth, despite how many people around him (pretty much everyone he knows) telling him that our church is evil and a cult and whatnot. So that has been a really cool experience to see the Holy Ghost work on him and change his heart so much over such a short time! A miracle!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We have been teaching D and his friends still, too. And they are pretty cool. D is still living with his girlfriend because he hasn't been able to find a place to live yet, but he is looking because he really wants to move out so that he can be baptized! So he is awesome! And he came to church this week!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Pak M has stopped drinking coffee and is pretty much all ready, so we are preparing him for the 15th of this month! Pak B is still smoking just a little, but we visited him today and got him to give us his last pack of cigarettes and commit to stopping fully. We were pretty blunt with him and his friend that was there, too. I think his friend got a little offended, but Pak B is awesome and realizes that it really is the Lord wanting him to do it, and he wants to do it too! So he took it really well! These are really our most progressive investigators right now, and they seem to be doing well!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We had one guy that some other missionaries contacted show up at church, too, and we taught him afterwards, and he was pretty cool and wants to come back next week as well! So that was pretty good! Little miracles!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today for P Day, we ran into President and Sister Donald when we were going to get lunch, and they invited Elder Barlow and I to go eat lunch with them. they took us to a nice restaurant and paid for our lunch, and it was so delicious, and so fun to get to sit and talk with them! They are the most amazing people! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I think that is most of it for this week! Things here are awesome and I am loving it! Mom--for your questions: My companion is good, my health is good, the weather is hot and humid and the rainy season is ending, and I am good. The house is pretty good, but they are in a bad habit of talking til way too late sometimes, so we are always tired haha! We are trying to get a hold on that.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Thanks for all your letters! I love you all and hope you have a great week! </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-80018743206666613362015-02-25T20:49:00.003-08:002015-02-25T20:49:44.487-08:00Another Week in Paradise!<br />
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<span class="s1">Another week in paradise! We have had a busy week,that's for sure! On Monday we helped one of the Sisters' investigators move houses in the morning, then played basketball, and emailed,and did other stuff, then taught 2 lessons. One was with a kid named F. He is Islam. But he committed to baptism on the 14th of March! So that is pretty exciting! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Tuesday was MLC, which was awesome! President always has way cool things to say to inspire us and direct the mission in the way it needs to go! It is so cool to have the opportunity to sit in on that meeting and participate! Such a blessing! In this one we talked a lot about become full purpose missionaries--not just finding and teaching an baptizing, but also reactivating and retaining, and how to make all of those things work together to be most successful! About how doing one of those things, we can make it have a positive effect on all other aspects of our work, and that we need to focus to do all 5 of those things! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of the week we were busy with lessons, teaching investigators and stuff. And we had to prepare our lesson for Zone meeting, which was on Friday. The meeting went pretty well and I think the message got across well. The missionaries seemed to enjoy it! That has always been one of the hardest things for me--teaching something that everyone already knows, but doing it in a way that will keep their interest and inspire them to do it. I think we are getting slowly better at it. But it is definitely a good learning experience!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As far as investigators go, Pak B is still smoking a little bit. He has cut back a lot. So he is still working at it. And he went to the doctor this week, and the doctor told him that he can't smoke any more or he is at high risk of having a stroke. So hopefully that will help him to stop, because we definitely don't want him to have a stroke! But look, the gospel is true! </span>Pak M is still doing OK. He has cut back a lot on coffee and has pretty much stopped now. But there are a few other things that we are working through with him to get him fully ready for baptism! But I think it will still be happening pretty soon!</div>
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<span class="s1">D, the African guy, is awesome! He had to move this week, so we weren't able to meet with him too much. But we met with him on Sunday night, along with like 5 other friends. It was a very interesting lesson, because there were 2 people who only spoke French, 2 who spoke Indonesian, David who speaks pretty good English and French, and us, who speak English and Indonesian. So there was a lot of translating going on back and forth. And two of the people in the lesson were Islam. So we taught a simple lesson about Jesus Christ and the Atonement. And all of them liked it and are interested in learning more and coming to church. And there were a few other of their friends that we met that night that are interested in coming to church. </span>D is awesome, thought! He is giving tons of referals and still soaking everything in like a sponge! Last night, he reminded us about his baptismal date for next week before we had the chance to bring it up. But sadly it cannot happen yet, because he is still living with his girlfriend because they can't afford two apartments he says. But he promised us that ever since we gave the commitment to live the law of chastity on our first meeting, they have been chaste. He hasn't even kissed her on the lips! And he was under the impression that that would be good enough given his circumstances. It was really hard to tell him no, because we could see how bummed he was about it. But he took it well, and said that if it is God's command,then he has no right to change it! So he will wait and keep working for a solution! He is so cool!</div>
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<span class="s1">Well, that is most of the best information from this week! Elder Barlow is my companion right now. He is from Bountiful. I think his mom said she knows mom, and that dad went to high school with his aunt or something. But he is cool and we have been getting along well! Exhausted! but happy!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I love you all and hope you have a great week!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
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<span class="s1">NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-23485546090761095182015-02-20T15:44:00.001-08:002015-02-20T15:44:33.550-08:00Happy Valentines Day<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hey! Glad to hear things are going well back at home. Bummer that there is no snow! </span>That is crazy about that plane crashing on Valley View, too! Speaking of golf, my new companion, Elder Barlow, plays golf, too. And President told us he wants to take us to go play a round sometime in the next few weeks! So that will be super awesome! A round of golf with the mission President! No Pressure, right!?</div>
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<span class="s1">Haha that's pretty funny that the JW's stopped by this week! We run into them quite a bit here! They actually came to our house here a few weeks ago, too, and tried to contact us. I think they got a bit more than they were bargaining for there, as we walked in with one short pamphlet and they walked away with a 5 minute explanation, testimony, and a Book of Mormon and 3 pamphlets. Sadly they weren't too open to having a discussion. But we gave them our testimony, too. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week has been pretty good, too! Our investigator, Pak B, who is really quite old and has a hard time remembering things keeps coming to church. And he has gone the last 3 days without smoking! Which is awesome for him! He is finally starting to pick up on things and is really making the effort! It has been a lot of work with him! But it is way cool to see it be paying off!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The African investigators are doing quite well, also! They are awesome! Especially the one that can speak English! He studies the Book of Mormon, Gospel Principles, and Teachings of the Presidents of the Church manual almost every day! And he always has great questions! He is way cool! I think he will be prepared for baptism in the next few weeks along with his friends! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Pak M is coming along slowly but surely. He also has an addiction to coffee, which is the main thing holding him back. And he doesn't always do his scripture study. So his progression is not as fast as it could be. We are really working on getting him to read and study often so that he can have his testimony grow and be strengthened!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And we have several other investigators that are doing well! We had several of our baptismal dates drop this week. Not that they rejected us, just that they will not be ready by their date next week, so we will have to meet with them and push it back a bit and work harder to get them progressing and preparing.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">This coming week we will be having mission leader conference tomorrow. That is always an awesome experience! And today we played basketball for P Day with all the zone leaders that flew in! That was a ton of fun!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Um, ya, that's most of what is going on here right now. The work is progressing and the Lord is blessing us! We are finding many people to teach and several that are prepared to hear and receive! So that is exciting! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I love you all and hope you have a great week! Thanks for everything and for all your love and emails! I love reading them!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Pray for snow, and baptisms :)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love you all!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-36633916578945333912015-02-09T16:42:00.001-08:002015-02-09T16:42:34.536-08:00The Spirit Speaks in French!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Well, it has been a pretty busy week! We had a lot of cool stuff going on and a lot of neat opportunities. On Monday night, we went to teach this African guy named D, that the Sisters contacted. He has come to church in the English ward twice, but we have not been able to teach him until now because he is a pro soccer player here and is way busy. But we showed up. I was actually on splits with Elder Troff because of all the transfers and stuff. So it was fun to be with my son again. Well, we show up and he is in a tiny little apartment. He is sitting there with his African girlfriend. Then this huge other African guy that is ripped walks out of the bathroom in just a towel and starts speaking French. And another one goes into the bathroom. We have no idea what's going on, or what is going to happen. Well, we just kind of sit waiting because D is stalling on starting the lesson. Then the guy that just got out of the bathroom comes in dressed again. And they start talking in French again. Well, then D explains to us that he is the only one that can speak English really, and his friends and girlfriend only speak French. But he wants them to hear the lesson, too. We were like, “Well we don't speak French, so how's this going to work out?” But he said he would translate. So we started the lesson and taught the Restoration as simply as possible. It was so simple, and after every sentence, D would translate it for his friends. And although it was simple, the Spirit was so strong, and they all understood. They answered our questions and they asked questions and everything! And throughout the lesson, during his translation, we would notice D was saying way more than we had said, but when he stopped, he looked at us and said, "Sorry, I was just telling them that if they read the Book of Mormon, they will feel the Spirit and get peace, comfort, and direction in their life like they have never had before." and stuff like that. He is just learning for the first time, but is bearing his testimony from the little he has read and experienced at church! It was awesome! Definitely one of the coolest lessons I have ever experienced! So simple and slow, but to see D so excited to share it and translate with love for his friends was awesome! I just wished I understood more French! But at the end of the lesson, all three of them committed to baptism! And they asked what they had to do to prepare for it, and accepted all the commitments right then and there! And the friends, in very broken English, kept pointing at his heart and saying, "I feel happy! I feel so so happy right now! You are my family now! You come here whenever you want!" It was awesome! They were so genuine and so sincere! And they came to church on Sunday, and we set up the translating equipment because there is a member that speaks French, and he translated for them! It was so awesome! They are so cool!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Then on Tuesday I was at Senopati all day waiting for my companion to get in and stuff. In the evening, Sister Donald came up to the office, because there were just a few of us here, ordered pizza for us. Then we went down into their house and we got to watch Meet the Mormons with President and Sister Donald! That was a way cool experience! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of the week with Elder Barlow has been awesome, too! We have been really busy and have been working really hard. We have a lot of investigators that are doing really well! In fact, we currently have 8 investigators with a baptismal date, and several others that we are going to commit this week! So the hastening of the work is really happening! We got 16 lessons in this week, which is more than I have ever gotten yet in Jakarta, and we didn't even get to go out at all on Tuesday. And we already have 14 lessons planned for next week with a lot of other time for other investigators to meet! So there is a lot happening! We have been working on making covenants with the Lord to bind Him on blessings, and we have been seeing the results.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I probably ought to wrap up. But I love you all! I hope you all have a good week! I am loving the mission, and we are going to do some awesome things in the last few months here! Love you!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-80720594852443765542015-02-02T15:17:00.001-08:002015-02-02T15:17:15.390-08:00Not an alien!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Well, it has been another busy week! The beginning of this week was PLD--like zone conference with President. We had to teach a part of it on the role of the Spirit in conversion. And it was pretty cool. I learned a lot. And we used a fun little object lesson with oil and water. They don't mix together very well by themselves. But if you add some soap (the Holy Ghost) they will mix together a lot better and will turn white (pure). Haha so that was fun. But we forgot anything to stir it together with, and we didn't add enough soap during the actual lesson...so it only sort-of worked. But it got the point across. So that was good. PLD was good and inspiring as always!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">After PLD, we got several new Indonesian missionaries straight from the MTC. So, Elder S and I have had two of them with us all week. So we have been on splits with them, which is nice because we can get 2x the work done. And it has been funny to be with missionaries so new. My companion is still on white-person shock, so he still thinks I'm something weird and special, kind of like an alien. Which is funny, because all the other missionaries are already so over that sort of thing. But it has been fun. But we were teaching our first lesson together--his first lesson in the field with an investigator. And halfway through it I got a pretty bad random nose-bleed. And it wasn't stopping. So I just had to sit with my head tilted back and a tissue over my nose while he and a new member, who was fellowshipping with us, taught the rest of the lesson. Haha that was stressful for all of us, and definitely an interesting experience! But it worked out alright! So that was cool!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">It is transfers this week. I am not transferring, but my companion will be transferring, and I will be getting a new companion, Elder B. So that will be a lot of fun. I've met him several times and he is a really good guy and we get along well. So I am excited for that! He will be coming in tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">This week we found some new investigators. One of them is from the Congo, and the other is from India. Who'd have guessed. But they are both really cool and came to the English ward yesterday! So that was exciting! And we are going to teach them later tonight. Sadly for several different reasons, we did not have a baptism yesterday. But the investigators are still doing well and want to learn and progress. We are just working through a few things--mostly word of wisdom things. But it is progressing.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today we went ice skating for P-Day which was fun. And then we ate an italian pizza place, which was pretty good. And I think you guys are too concerned about the picture. I think it looks worse than actuality, because everyone here says I look the same as before, and I still weigh the same and eat fine. So I am ok. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I am glad that you guys have all been having a good week. Tell Kye congrats on the baptism! that is awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So ya, that's pretty much it. Hope you have a great week! And mom, congrats on winning the food challenge thing at the Superbowl party. Sounds like you've taken the cake the last 2 years!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I love you all!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-3181625983813615072015-01-20T19:25:00.006-08:002015-01-20T19:25:57.142-08:00Visitors from Utah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am glad that you got the pictures! Sister Wayment was so nice, and it was fun to talk to her! It was pretty crazy, there were a lot of people from Utah in church yesterday, actually! There was Sister Wayment (who is really good friends with the Bartons, too--the Mormon world is so small haha!), Elder And Sister Visick--the doctors from Logan, and then there was another big businessman from the Campbell's soup company who I think was also from Logan that came and visited the ward today, too! It was fun to talk to all of them, and they were all so nice! Haha and they all asked if I had anything that I wanted them to bring back to Utah. Sadly I didn't have anything with me...So I sent my love home haha! <br />
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<span class="s1">Haha as for the skinny picture...I am the same weight as when I left I think...But I am really skinny. I eat a lot...but mostly white rice. There's not a lot of protein to be had. And this whole week I have been pretty sick...I have had a sick stomach and have had pretty bad diarrhea a couple of days. So I was really glad for the packages, actually! Especially the cereal, because that is about all I have felt like eating for most of this week. So I really was grateful for that! But ya, this week I lost a bit of weight before she took that picture, just because I haven't been eating much, but I have been losing a lot.... But today I feel fine! So that is good! I finally feel like I can eat rice and whatnot again! So hopefully I can start packing it on again! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">As far as the work goes, it has been another pretty good week. As always, there are ups and downs, and we had quite a few lessons and plans fall through. But overall, we were quite blessed this week. We taught Pak M again, and he is excited and preparing himself to be baptized on Feb. 1. Pak B, another investigator, is also on date for Feb.1, and he came to church yesterday. His testimony is growing and he believes it is true. It is just a bit of a slow process with him. But he made some improvements and steps this week, so that was a blessing! We also got a media referral named Pak A, who we were able to teach this week, and he is awesome! He is very open and searching for truth, and he promised to keep learning and to come to church next week! And last night as we were on Facebook and taking stats, we were trying to make an appointment with an investigator named F. He is also very open and knowledgeable. During our conversation last night, he messaged and asked us what he needs to be baptized! So we were super excited about that, too! There have been many miracles happening this week! Oh, and that Malaysian guy I told you about a few weeks ago came to church yesterday, too! So that was cool! Oh, and about a month or more ago we contacted a couple at a mall. Well, they contacted us actually. But we lost contact with them because they went out of the country over the holidays. But they work at the same company of one of the members, and they know each other. So this week we got the member to talk to the husband at work, and talk about having a family night together, and they seemed really open to it he said, so they are working out a date! So that is awesome! Lots of miracles and blessings from the Lord! The hastening of the work truly is happening!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">C is doing well. He was out of town for work this week. The Ws are still awesome! And So is Mama V and Sister M from all I hear! So that is good!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today it has been raining pretty hard all morning while we have been cleaning the house and studying. now we are emailing. And then we are going to an appointment and stuff doing our work. Then later tonight we are going to Bekasi and playing futsal and doing splits tomorrow. so should be fun!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Tell Hailey Daniels congratulations on her call, too! And tell the Smoots all hi from me!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I love you all! Thanks for the emails, packages (or this week better known as life support), and everything! You guys are awesome! I love you! I will try to eat some more this week haha! Have a great week!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-76321932030400881592015-01-17T19:53:00.003-08:002015-01-17T19:53:58.549-08:00Raising the Bar!<div class="p1">
Well things here are going well! This Sunday, C was confirmed! So that was awesome! He is super cool! All our new members are awesome, actually! And one of our other new members, Brother E, who was baptized about 2 months ago, just baptized his son yesterday, too! That was super cool to see! And we have been getting a lot of lessons and having some good success. Pak M came again this week, and he brought his brother as well. And Pak M is still excited for baptism! Sadly we weren't able to teach his brother yet, because he had another appointment. But Pak M is excited to help his brother as well! So that is awesome!</div>
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<span class="s1">This week we had mission leader conference, and talked a lot about the goals for this year. We have a mission goal to get almost 400 baptisms this year! That is super exciting! And so we are raising all the goals and standards of excellence of the mission in accordance. Haha it is awesome, because if you had told me these goals in my first few months here, I sadly probably would have laughed in your face and said not possible, because that was just the culture here. But things are changing, and the Lord is hastening the work and everyone is getting excited. There are still a few that are pretty shaky about these goals, but they are willing to try I think, and we are seeing success throughout the mission, and it is motivating everyone! So that is exciting to see! We had to teach a ZTM lesson on it, and we had some fun object lessons to convey the point, that I think went well! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sadly today we weren't able to go paintballing. I think we will be going next month, actually. But we are looking forward to it. Today we are mostly just relaxing and stuff. We got haircuts and have to go shopping. Plus, I got strep throat this week, so I haven't been feeling to great. But I got some antibiotics and stuff and am recovering well. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I hope you guys have a great rest of your time in Hawaii! Have fun and be safe! And Happy Anniversary Trip! I love you! </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-71576403517604664072015-01-06T06:26:00.001-08:002015-01-06T06:26:18.917-08:00Welcome 2015!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hey! Well, welcome into 2015! Those pictures of skiing were awesome! I miss the mountains! But I am going to freeze when I get home, I think! The other day it was rainy at night and I woke up and it was like 75 degrees, and I felt cold. Like really cold... But oh well, I'll get used to it.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week was pretty slow actually. Because of the new year, everyone has been out of town and so we have had a really hard time getting many appointments. So we have been spending a lot of time proselyting. But it has been raining almost every day this week. Which makes it hard, because when it rains, not many people are outside to talk to, and we can't knock on doors. So it makes it a bit difficult. And we get wet. So we are just banking on the old missionary rumor that the more you proselyte in the rain, the prettier your wife gets! Hopefully it comes true! But we have been able to find a few people. And then we experienced a few miracles. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">One of them was after proselyting for several hours and having almost no success, we were walking to a members house and a guy called to us "Hey, are you Mormons?" We started talking to him, and turns out he just moved here about a week ago from Kuching Malaysia. He was baptized in 2010 there, and knew several of the people we met while we were there. I asked him and he knew about that guy that we spent a lot of time with that had adopted all those boys. And he knew Alana, and said that she is serving a mission in Kuala Lumpur right now. Sadly he didn't know grandma and grandpa haha. But it was awesome to meet and talk to him. He said he had been looking for the church here, but hadn't found it yet. So we took him to the member's house with us, and then took him to the church. He said he would come this Sunday, but sadly he didn't show up. Hopefully next week.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Then on Sunday, this random guy showed up at church. We had no clue who he was and had never met him before. But we talked to him at church, and then taught him after church. Turns out his friend gave him a pamphlet a week or so ago, and yesterday he decided to come. When we taught him, he committed to baptism on the 24th of January, and wants to bring his brother with him next week! So that was awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">On Sunday night we had a "cottage meeting" at President's house. He invited all the missionaries in Jakarta to come to his house and bring any investigators or new members who could come. We had a short devotional and then had a little dinner together! It was awesome! And that guy, his name is Pak M, came! And he seemed to really enjoy it, so that was awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today we are going to play some basketball or golf for P Day, and next week we got permission to go paintballing with a new member! So that will be awesome! (Oh and tell Sister Sheffield that we got permission for paintballing, because she tried for months and could never get it haha) </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Um, ya, I think that is mostly it for this week! Hope you all have a great week and that you get some snow! I'll be praying for it! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I love you all! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-91941375726968302452015-01-03T18:34:00.002-08:002015-01-03T19:15:57.468-08:00Christmas, Baptism, and Happy New Year!<div class="p1">
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<span class="s1">Hey! That was so fun to Skype on Christmas! You all look great, too! It was so awesome to talk to you all again! I'm glad it sounds like you all had a great Christmas! Man, sounds like the iPhone 6 is a pretty hot item right now! Fun! And Sabrina, I want to see a picture of your skis! Haha I thought someone was getting skis this year! I knew because of the Alpine Sports sticker on my Christmas box that you sent with the Sheffields ;) I was just wondering who was getting them! Sounds like Sabrina was the lucky winner! Well those will be fun for your ski class!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, things here have been good. On Sunday, C got baptized! That was awesome! We were super excited about that! He was baptized by Brother Subandriyo, which was really cool! He seemed really peaceful and calm and happy afterwards! And we had a member bring a friend to the baptism, which was cool. And the guy really liked it and wants to learn now, too! That was the highlight of the week for sure!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Other than that, not too much has been happening since we talked on Christmas. It has only been a few days. But the baptism was awesome! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I love you all and hope that you all have a great week and a happy new Year! ANd that is so exciting that there is finally some snow on the ground! So cool! Oh, and congrats on the big 25th Anniversary! You guys never told me you were going to Hawaii! But have tons of fun! I love you tons! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-87972567445585406152014-12-23T10:07:00.001-08:002014-12-23T10:15:19.149-08:003 letters - Christmas Testimony <div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>1.</b> Thanks for the emails! They are awesome! Glad you liked the nativity! Sorry, I had written a card to go along with it as well that I meant to get to the Sheffields as well to bring home, but with the way timing worked out for the rest of the week, I was never able to get it to the office to send home with them before they left. So I do apologize about that. It is now just waiting on my desk. So I guess I will drop it in the snail mail and you will get it in a few weeks. Sorry. But I guess it will prolong the excitement. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">This week has been pretty good. We had our mission tour with a member of the 70 come to speak with us. It was Elder Randy D. Funk. He actually served as a missionary here back in the early '70s, so that was pretty cool! He knew a few of the members, and some are even his own coverts. But it was a super inspiring meeting, and I learned a lot there about the gospel, about our purpose and commission as missionaries, and many other things. I don't know what it was, but it kind of became another turning point for me, where ever since that meeting I have had a hugely increased desire to study and understand so much more about the Atonement, and as a result, have also had an increased desire to share it with other people. I have just been trying to do a few more "little things" to help me be more obedient and dedicated, and to draw even closer to the Savior, and I can feel that even just a few little things have made a huge difference! It has been really cool to sort of experience!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So, we have been busy with getting prepared for the mission tour and stuff. And we have had some good lessons with some cool investigators. We have an investigator, C, who is preparing to be baptized this coming Sunday! We are super excited for him! He is awesome! We also have an investigator named Pak B who is committed to the 18th of January. We are working with him on stopping smoking. He is struggling with that, but he has a great desire to be baptized and we are encouraging and teaching him more about the gospel and the Atonement to strengthen him and help him! We had 4 investigators at church yesterday, which was awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Um, ya, that's most of it for this week! It was a good week! Oh, we have also been using "The Living Christ" as a Christmas message door approach. It is such a powerful and true witness written by men truly ordained as Christ's living apostles of His divinity. It carries the spirit so powerfully. And so we have been using it to introduce ourselves to people and share a message about Christ, and also to bridge into explaining about the Restoration, and it has been going really well. But I would definitely encourage you guys to read and review it this year if you haven't already! It is awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Thanks for all the Christmas packages and the 12 Days of Christmas! They have been so fun to open and read or use and stuff! I have enjoyed it! And everyone has loved the cookies and stuff!</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>2.</b> As I wrote to President what I learned at mission tour the other day, I thought I would share it with you as well. So I will copy and paste what I wrote to President.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Hello President,</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Man, this week has been awesome! I will try to condense what I learned at the mission tour with Elder Funk. I will start off saying that it was a major turning point in my mission for me the last few days. Most of it came through personal revelation telling me what I needed to do. I will just list some of the major points that I felt most important to me:</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>1. Know PMG as well as Elder Funk knows it</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>2. Am I always here for Jesus Christ?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>3. I appreciate your letter of love, because I truly have felt the love you and Sister Donald have for each of us, and me personally. So one thing I wrote was, "Think of the love i have for President and Sister Donald, and the love I know they have for me. That is only a small manifestation of the infinite love that Heavenly Father has for each of us, and for me personally." so thank you for your love. And know that I truly do appreciate and love both of you so much as well.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>4. Make the absolute most of the last few months I have and do everything I can to share the absolute joy of the Atonement with others. Use every hour of every minute of every day. Don't waste a second. (Effective planning).</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>5. Search myself--find out what it is--what parts of me--that I have not fully given to the Lord yet. And then figure out how to give it all to Him. All of it--lay it out on the table. All in. GO big until you go home. And then keep going.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>6. Study and gain a greater understanding and testimony of the Atonement. </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Ever since the mission tour I have had a burning desire to study and better understand the Atonement. It has only been a few days of study, but I have gained a much deeper testimony thus far, and have a great desire to understand and know more. And understanding and knowing more about the Atonement has helped me with all of my other goals and desires that I learned. It has helped me identify areas that I can give more of myself, it has helped me grow a stronger relationship with Heavenly Father through more meaningful prayer, and it has helped me have a greater desire to use time more wisely and make the most of every second. So I learned a lot at the mission tour, but most importantly I learned the Atonement, and that, as Joseph Smith said, everything else that we teach is only an appendage to it. </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>3</b>. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and emails! They mean a lot to me!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">What a wonderful time of year this Christmas season is to think of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. At this time we think of his birth, and what his birth and life mean for us. "For God so loved the world, that He sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Though far away, I just want to share a few thoughts about Christ, and a few things that I have learned and gained a testimony of throughout my life, and especially throughout my mission. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The first is my testimony of the reality of His divinity and service on earth. That He, the Son of God, came down to earth, lead a perfect life free of sin and guile, and became our perfect example I know to be true. And yet, even more, "He [went] forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he [took] upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he [took] upon him their infirmities, [and] his bowels [are] filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he [knoweth] according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12).</span></div>
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<span class="s1">His life was real, as was his infinite Atonement. And it was for you and for me. He, the Son of God, condescended beneath it all to raise us up that we, through his grace and mercy, along with our works, may be restored to our perfect frame and character, even the character and glory of God. For God said, "Let us create man in our image." (Genesis 1:26). "In whose image? In the image of the Gods created they them, male and female, innocent, harmless, spotless, bearing the same character and the same image as the Gods. And when man fell he did not lose his image, but his character still retained the image of his Maker....Through the Atonement of Christ and the resurrection, and obedience to the gospel, we shall again be conformed to the image of his son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29); then we shall have attained to the image, glory, and character of God." (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church--Joseph Smith pg. 52).</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I am so grateful for God's greatest gift to man, even His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I know that he is our Savior, and that he lives! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I love you all so much and hope that you have a wonderful Christmas! And especially that this Christmas we can remember the true meaning of Christmas, our Savior Jesus Christ and His gift to us. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-81019084116873527912014-12-19T20:40:00.001-08:002014-12-19T20:40:30.782-08:00Friends From Home<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hey! So it was pretty crazy to see the Sheffields here! That was pretty fun! Kinda weird to see friends from home. And it was weird, because it didn't seem like it had been a year and a half since I had seen them! But they said everything back home is good, that you guys are all looking good and doing well. But they said that dad, you seem the most trunky of the family to them haha! But not really trunky, just missing having another man around. But they laughed about the things you have bought. Especially the fatty bike haha! </span>But they brought the packages! Thank you so much! They are awesome! Everyone has been loving the cookies and stuff! And the Donalds were so appreciative of their gifts! They seemed really touched and said to tell you thank you so much for them. </div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week has been pretty good. On Tuesday we had Mission Leader Conference and got to sit down and hear President Donald lay down revelation for the mission for several hours! That is always a really cool and inspiring experience! I always learn a ton from those things! And after that, we met the Sheffields and talked for a while. Then the next few days were pretty normal and uneventful. Then on Friday we had Zone Conference, and we had to teach. But it went pretty well I think. We talked a little bit about the "Which Way do you Face" talk from conference, and also a lot about the Book of Mormon--back to the basics, and how we can use the Book of Mormon to help members do their missionary work, as well as to help the leaders to fulfill their duty to fellowship and involve new converts as well as to become examples in missionary work. I think it is something that can help make a positive difference, so hopefully it will go well. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Then on Saturday morning we went and had an appointment with a former investigator that we found in the area book and called up. We had a great lesson with him reviewing the Restoration and stuff, gave him the baptismal commitment, which he received! That was awesome! And then talked a little bit about the Word of Wisdom because we knew that would be something that he would need to overcome to be prepared for baptism. We didn't have time to teach the whole lesson, but we let him know what he would need to do, i.e. stop smoking, drinking, etc. He said it would be hard but that he would try because he felt that everything we were telling him about the Book of Mormon was true, and he wants to build his relationship with God. So we told him we will explain more later and help him, and he said he would start trying now. So that was awesome! His name is H, and he has a date for the 18th of January. So that is exciting!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Yesterday we had the English ward Christmas party. We had a few new members come, and we went to a members house and sang Christmas carols and ate delicious food and desserts! And we even had Egg Nog! It was awesome! And it finally helped to start feeling the Christmas season, too! And we had a member who has been working really hard to do missionary work for the last several weeks. He finally got two of his friends to come to the party and we were able to contact them and get their numbers! So that was awesome! Then he got an amazing blessing for his efforts, because he came here and married a Muslim woman, and she has been super closed off to the church lately, and wouldn't receive missionary visits. But she wanted to come to the party tonight, and a new member really fellowshipped her and got the sisters an appointment with them! So that was awesome! Her husband was shocked when he heard the news, but was super happy! So it was a great night.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today we have just been playing some futsal and emailing.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So I got a cool little Christmas service opportunity for you. There is a member here who is from the Phillipines. Her son is in the MTC in Provo right now, and we were talking about him yesterday. She was saying that it is so hard to send him packages from so far away, and that it is hard for him because he is the only one in the group that never gets packages from home. So, sorry, I volunteered you to send him some cookies or something fun for the holidays, because it is also his birthday soon as well, and she doesn't know how to get anything to him. So I got his address. It is</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Elder B</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I told her you could maybe send him some cookies and a note or something simple, and she seemed really touched and appreciative and said to tell you thank you so much! So if you could do that, that would be awesome!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Other than that, things here are going well! I love you so much and love hearing from you! Thanks again for the packages and stuff! You guys are awesome! I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas! Love You!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Elder Wood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-2770362806121216082014-12-11T14:19:00.000-08:002014-12-11T14:19:41.849-08:00Remember the true meaning of Christmas!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hey! Great to hear from all of you! Glad to hear things are going pretty well back at home! That is pretty crazy that it is 70 degrees and warm! Kinda like here! But not quite as warm... The Christmas season is still weird here. About the only time it feels like Christmas is when we play Christmas music at the house or if we go to a nice mall for P Day and they have Christmas Decorations up. But we have a small tree at the house, too, which is fun. And the mission home is decorated nice, so that is fun, too! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">That is pretty crazy that the Sheffields are going to be here so soon! That will will be fun that they will be at the mission home most of tomorrow, because tomorrow is mission leader conference all morning at the mission home, and so I will be there for much of the day as well! So I probably will see them! That will be awesome! I am excited to get the package! It is always fun to get stuff from home just because it is from you guys and packaged with love!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week was pretty good! We had stake conference this Sunday, which was really fun because I got to meet a lot of the members from Tangerang again! And the talks were all really good about how we can strengthen ourselves, but there was an expecially big focus on strengthening new members and helping them grow in strength so that they will stay active! That was good, because that is something that our mission has been struggling with is having converts come in but quickly leave as well because of various reasons. So that will hopefully begin to help! Luckily I am so grateful that Sister M and her family, Mama V and V, and Brother W are all still active! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The rest of this week we have been doing pretty well, too! We went on splits to Bekasi, and I went with Elder Tuttle. He is pretty new but he is awesome! We went and taught a contact that they had. His name is R. He has the biggest, nappiest afro I have ever seen! And the front of his house is like an unkempt jungle. And he doesn't have lightbulbs inside his house. We knocked and he came out and greeted us wearing some ratty shorts, a wife-beater, and smoking a cigarette. To be honest, I was a bit nervous to go in at first haha! But we went in and taught him. And we had an amazing lesson talking about the role of the Savior and His infinite love for us and the gift of His Atonement, as well as the Restoration of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon. Well, R used to live a pretty good life, but he got into some bad habits and lost all his money and fell away from God. He has family in other churches, but has never really been interested, I picked up. But as we explained the Restored Gospel and baptism, he was really interested and listening. And by the end of the lesson, we had committed him to baptism, reading the Book of Mormon, praying, coming to church, and quitting smoking! And then, he took us to his family's house and introduced us to them, and sat in as we taught them! It was an awesome day! It is so cool how when people are exposed to the truth and open to receive it, it can totally change their desires and help them find the way back to the path they want to be on! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">And our investigator, C, is still progressing well and receiving all the commitments and working to prepare himself for baptism! So that is awesome! He is having a hard time recognizing an answer about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, so we are working with him on that. So thank you for your email on personal revelation, dad! I think that that can really help C! But he is still going by faith!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And we had some other good lessons and whatnot going on this week. And we are still battling traffic haha! Man I miss I-15 and whatnot! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I am glad that you are all doing well! Thank you so much for the emails and love and advice! I love hearing from you every week! I am excited to get the packages from you and the fresh treats and love! Haha!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I hope you all have a great week! Hope it cools down a bit so it feels like Christmas a bit, and so that you can go skiing!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Oh, and you should really check out <a href="http://www.mormon.org/Christmas"><span class="s2">www.mormon.org/Christmas</span></a>. And share it on FB! The church is doing a big worldwide Christmas campaign thing, and it is even in indonesian at <a href="http://www.mormon.org/ind/natal"><span class="s2">www.mormon.org/ind/natal</span></a>. Check it out! They have some cool videos and stuff, and supposedly there will be new things coming out the whole month to help people remember the true meaning of Christmas! It is good stuff!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I love you all so much and can't wait to talk to you. It sounds like we will be able to skype from the mission home on Christmas day here, so at some point on Christmas eve for you guys. I can't wait!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love you!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-67732878974299405662014-12-07T13:14:00.001-08:002014-12-07T13:15:49.473-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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Thanksgiving dinner! So yummy! Prepared by Sister Lucherini</div>
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Hey! Man, that is pretty crazy to see pictures of you guys with Sister Sheffield back at home! It is pretty weird that people from my MTC group are already going home! So crazy! It makes it seem like time really has flown by and that I don't have a ton of time left! Which is kinda sad! But it is motivation I guess to make the very most of what time remains (which is still enough :)</div>
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So, this week has been pretty good! Not too crazy. Thursday here was just...Thursday. But we did have a quick streetside dinner with a couple of teenage new members after English class. So that was fun for our Thanksgiving celebration.</div>
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But Friday, that was Thanksgiving. Every Friday we have district meeting at the mission home, and after district meeting this week, Sister Lucherini, one of the senior couples, had prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and stuffing and potatoes and pies and everything! It was so delicious, and so fun to eat it all together at the mission home! So we were able to have a Thanksgiving here! Which was awesome!</div>
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After thanksgiving lunch we went out to start working, and it was raining, which always causes terrible traffic here. We headed out to an appointment on a bus, got separated and lost a little bit, and by the time we were out to the area of our appointment it was already too late to go there, and we had to head home, and were still almost late going home. The traffic was so bad and the lines to get on the buses so long that I think we traveled the total of less than 10 miles in over 6 hours!!! It was absolutely ridiculous and pretty frustrating, but also kind of a funny experience to just look at and see how crazy that was! But it was a bummer that we weren't able to make it to our appointment. But it was OK in the end, because the guy still came to church on Sunday!</div>
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This week we also got to go on splits to Bekasi, which was fun! It is a lot of fun getting to go work with the other missionaries and learn from them! And it seems like the Lord always blesses us with miracles of great success when we go on splits! Things just seem to always work out well to boost morale of the other missionaries and help them in their areas! So that is definitely a tender mercy that seems to often accompany splits! Like this week we found a new investigator and got a lot of really interested contacts and several return appointments with them!</div>
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And then on Sunday we had a small miracle happen! We have a zone goal to get have every companionship get one more baptism by the end of the year, and we were fasting for it. We had one investigator on date, but he is not doing anything to progress, and still hasn't come to church, and is now just asking us for money. So we were kind of losing hope on him and wondering where our baptism was going to come from. But, we had a fairly long time investigator come to church this Sunday again, and we met with him afterwards and had a really powerful lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we got him to commit to preparing himself to be baptized on the 21 of December! So that was super exciting! His name is C, and he seems excited, too! He has just been concerned that he will not be perfect, and that is why he has not committed beforehand, but we were able to help him understand that baptism is the first step, not the end goal to perfection, and he understood that and wants to go forward with faith! So that was a miracle and answer to our fasts! </div>
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So, it was a pretty good week here! Not too much going on! But lots of little good things! I am liking the area, though still getting used to the traffic! Sometimes we go 5 miles in the same amount of time it would take to drive to St. George, which is pretty crazy! But we try to make the most of it and get contacts on the buses and whatnot! But Jakarta is a good area and I am liking my companion. </div>
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Glad to hear you are all doing well and had a pretty good, though different, Thanksgiving! And Sunday today sounds like it was pretty fun! Tell everyone hi for me as well! </div>
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As far as FB goes, it is actually a mission page called Mormon Jawa Barat, and also Mormon Indonesia. You are welcome to follow the pages.</div>
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For treats sent from home, I don't really know what. I am kind of just getting to that point of being happy with what's here, and waiting for the rest to be exciting when I get home. But maybe a few Reeses peanut butter cups would be awesome, and if you can get it through, some home made honey! Those might be kind of exciting! And then just whatever you think would be fun! You always do a pretty good job of picking things to go into "the box."</div>
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Well, I love you all! Thank you for the emails and the pictures, and the advice and the stories! You are awesome! I hope you have a great week and Happy December! Can't wait to skype! Love You!</div>
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Love Elder Wood</div>
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Ice Skating for P-Day! Me trying to be good at ice skating...lacking in form and flexibility haha</div>
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Me and my homie Elder Jones chilling on the couch at the mission home before Thanksgiving lunch!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-40000015406855330982014-11-24T12:22:00.002-08:002014-11-24T12:22:50.220-08:00The Best Times Are Still Ahead!<div class="p1">
Haha that's crazy to see snow again! And funny, too, because today we went Ice skating at a mall for P-Day as a zone. So that was pretty fun! Our commemoration of the coming of winter!</div>
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Well, this week has been pretty good. Nothing too crazy. But it was a good one. I am sorry, though, because of traffic coming back from ice skating, I will be cut a bit short on email time, so I will have to be a bit quick. Sorry. It is also raining here today, so there was a little bit of minor flooding that made traffic slow. Pretty much happens every time there is rain...so that's a bit lame. But it felt like winter here with the rain and the ice. It was a pretty cold day. Almost down to 70 degrees I think haha. Which feels way colder than it should!</div>
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So you were asking a bit about what things here are like. Well, we live in a house of 4 Elders. Me, my companion Elder S, and another companionship of Elder M and Elder C. It is a pretty fun house and is pretty close to the mission home, so we find occasion to go there every once in a while, which is fun!</div>
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Here in Jakarta we don't ride bikes because the traffic is too crazy and the roads are too confusing. So we are all on public transportation. So that is kinda good because there are lots of contacting opportunities, but lame because it makes it feel like I get no exercise, and it takes forever to get places. But it is kinda cool to have something new.</div>
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The work here is going pretty well. We have a few progressing investigators, a baptismal commitment for the 13th of December, and a few new potential investigators. So things are exciting. Umm, other than that, things here are pretty normal.</div>
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This week we will be going on splits to Bekasi, so that should be fun. And then in the next few weeks we will be having a general Authority come on a mission tour, so that will be cool, too!</div>
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Well, I am running out of time, but I love you all! I love the mission, too, and am not trunky to come home yet, don't worry! The best times are still ahead! I hope you all have a great week and I will write more next week!</div>
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Love You!</div>
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Love Elder Wood</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-16778278501030860182014-11-23T13:09:00.002-08:002014-11-23T13:10:12.890-08:00Naughty Bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1">Man, that is pretty crazy that Sister Sheffield is coming home so soon! I have been giving her a ton of crap about it, though, and I don't think she appreciates it. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, this week has been pretty good. Not too much going on as far as out of the ordinary. The work in Jakarta is a bit slower than in Tangerang just because of how long it takes to get to places. The traffic here is ridiculous, so the average travel time to an appointment is at least 1 hour, and can often be over 2 hours to get there, and the same to get back. So that is kind of rough, and we don't get nearly as many appointments in. But we are trying to work hard and do our best. I am still getting along well with my companion, so that is good. He is a pretty cool guy.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">This week we had a fireside with some General Authorities, which was pretty cool! We had Elder Funk, Brother Gibson, and Brother John Tanner and their wives, of the Area Presidency, General Young Men's Presidency, and General Sunday School Presidency, respectively. That was a pretty cool experience! And we had a special missionary meeting with them beforehand! That was awesome! It was a pretty powerful meeting on faith and teaching skills and stuff!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Then we also had Mission Leader Conference, where all the ZLs and APs meet together with President Donald every month to talk about the mission and hear President expound doctrine and set forth revelation for the mission. It is a pretty cool experience! This time he focused a lot on the power of prayer and how prayer should often be an experience of "wrestling with God" to obtain blessings. He really expounded upon the principle and process of prayer with the scriptures and gave me a new understanding of prayer that I have never had before. It was really cool and enlightening. And I learned how much more attention and focus and effort we need to give to prayer than I ever really have before.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">This Sunday another companionship had a baptism in the English ward. That was pretty fun. THey actually ended up doing the baptism on Sunday afternoon in a members' home swimming pool during the ward party. And we all got to go, so that was awesome! The meeting was super spiritual...and in English...which was awesome. Then we had a ward dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn, and all the good stuff. And then there was dessert. There were some awesome desserts, but one totally took the cake. One of the members made...can you guess it...Naughty Bars!!! I haven't had those forever, and they were so delicious! Naughty bars are one of my favorite desserts ever! So that was pretty fun! So the baptism and ward party were definitely the highlight of the week! Mom--you will definitely have to let me know who Jenny's friend is so I can meet them! That is pretty cool!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today we just went and walked around a mall and talked and hung out and got to know some of the other missionaries in the district that I have never really met before, and there are some cool guys here. So that is fun.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Um, ya, that is mostly it for this week. It was a pretty good week! I am loving it here. Different, but a cool change. And that is mostly it. I love you guys all so much and love getting your emails. Don't get too trunky, though, haha! Hope you have a great week! Love you all!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Love Elder Wood</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-46483615420847224902014-11-10T18:49:00.000-08:002014-11-10T18:50:17.476-08:00Jakarta!<div class="p1">
Hey! Glad to hear things are all going well at home! Hope Eliza had a great birthday this week! That is fun! What did you do to celebrate?</div>
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Sounds like the season is changing! Haha I was kinda missing the snow lately! But I felt cold for the first time today! We played futsal this morning for P-Day and it was super hot and we were all drenched in sweat. Then we finished, and it started raining and really cooled down (It really was probably still like 75 degrees or hotter, but that feels cool now...). Then we went to KFC for lunch, and they had the AC cranked! Being wet and sweaty, and having it cool(ish) outside and freezing inside, I actually felt a bit cold. It made me scared for Utah winters again... But hopefully I will readjust quickly! </div>
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Well, transfers happened this week. I spent the first half of the week in Tangerang. We got a few last appointments in and got the house all ready. Then on Thursday I transferred to Jakarta. My new companion is Elder S. He is really cool and I really like him so far! We have had a good time. We haven't had too many appointments yet because we've only been here for a few days, and because it takes several hours to get to any appointment because of the traffic and whatnot. So it is a different thing to get used to. But it has been fun so far! Man, Jakarta is a huge city! </div>
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It is cool here, because we are assigned to 2 wards--the English ward and the Indonesian ward. It was kinda fun to go to a Sacrament Meeting in English again! But we don't go to any of the other meetings in English because we have to meet all our investigators and go to Sacrament meeting in the Indonesian ward. But it is fun to go. In our area, there are 3 members who have been baptized in just the last 3 months, and they are really cool! One of them was just confirmed yesterday, and that was awesome! The other one is already coming and fellowshipping with us and everything!</div>
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I did get your Halloween package last week! Thank you! It was a lot of fun! The Count Chocula is delicious! </div>
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Um, ya, not too much else has happened this week. Just a lot of changes with transfers. But it is all good and I am excited! Things will be different here just because of the pace of the city and the size and TRAFFIC! I have never seen so much traffic haha! But its all good. Oh, and I am in a district with Sister Sheffield, and she hates it because I keep making fun of her that her 18 months is already up and asking her what she is still doing here. But it is crazy that she is going home so soon!</div>
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Well, glad that things are all good back at home. And I hope all goes well for Brenda! That is scary. </div>
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Well, hope you all have a great week! I love you all so much! </div>
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Love Elder Wood</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-7556117085955041232014-11-06T08:47:00.001-08:002014-11-06T08:48:28.258-08:00November 2, 2014 Last Week in Tangerang!<div class="p1">
We did have an interesting Halloween! We spent the whole day moving into a new house! They will be adding more missionaries to Tangerang this next transfer, and so I had to buy a new house a few weeks ago. Now the contract is finalized, and we had to spend a bit of this week going around and buying new furniture and all sorts of stuff needed to furnish the house. Luckily, we had a mission couple come and take us around in their car and help us. Then on Saturday most of it got delivered and put together and we spent the day cleaning the house because it has gotten quite dirty from sitting empty for a while (and they don't do the cleaning for you when you buy a house here...lame.) Sasturday we had to move all our personal stuff into the house because we have to start living there. But there was a big leadership conference for the church in Jakarta that morning, so all the members that have cars were there, and we didn't have any way to move our stuff. So the only thing we could think of was calling a taxi, but we had too much for a normal taxi, so we had to call a luxury taxi and used what would be like the equivalent of a Cadillac Escalade taxi as our moving van because that was the only thing big enough we could think of on short notice...It was pretty funny! But it got the job done, but the driver was a bit confused... But it was the nicest moving van I've ever ridden in.</div>
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The week was good on a spiritual front as well. Mama V and V got confirmed in Sacrament meeting yesterday! That was exciting! And Brother W blessed the Sacrament for the first time and that was incredible to hear! It was so powerful! It was the most powerful sacrament prayer I have ever heard! I think it brought tears to several peoples' eyes! And he shared his testimony in testimony meeting! He is so awesome! So that was by far the highlight of the week was Sacrament meeting. I had to give my farewell, as well, though. It is hard transferring from this ward. I love it here. But Jakarta will be a good opportunity!</div>
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So, to share in Missionary Moment: Tell everyone Hi for me and how much I love them all and how appreciative I am of all their support! I don't really have too many really funny stories that I can come up with off the top of my head. But The whole experience with Brother W has been awesome! He has changed so much and become such an amazing member! And his life has been blessed in other ways! He just got a better job and so many other things! Oh, Pak M came back to church again this week for my farewell, and really loved it and wants to keep coming and I think is preparing himself to tell his old priest off and to come get baptized! Mama V's life has changed a lot--she has become a much different person in a good way--she has been blessed with more patience and she knows the peace and blessings that have come to her life through the power of the Book of Mormon. I have seen people who I had faith in, but never knew how or when the Spirit could touch them become touched and changed and converted! I know that the Book of Mormon has a special and incredible power to it that can bless anyone from reading it. The gospel is so true, there is just no way that it isn't true! I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas S Monson is a living prophet today! And I know I am right where I need to be, that this is a calling from the Lord! Missions are hard at times (so is life), but it is all worth it. We just have to follow President Monson's advice that you sent me a picture of and "Find Joy in the Journey!"</div>
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Well, I gotta run cause I am running out of time, but I love you all and I will write you again next week from Jakarta! Have a great week! Love you!</div>
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Love Elder Wood</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-10524785081721146282014-11-06T08:40:00.000-08:002014-11-06T16:54:22.935-08:00October 26, 2014 Another Baptism!<div class="p1">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful day!! Mama V and V's baptism</td></tr>
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Well, we had another baptism this week! That was awesome! Mama V and V both got baptized yesterday! So that was super exciting and awesome! They were both excited and happy and the service was nice and everyone was super supportive! It will be fun to see them grow (well, it would be if I could stay and see, but I will be moving soon...more on that later). They are still at such a baby stage in their progression, but they will grow and become stronger over time.</div>
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So, this has been a good but stressful week in getting them prepared for baptism. Especially because we only met and started teaching V last Saturday. So, from the time she started learning to the day she got baptised was only 8 days. And during that time we had a 2 day trip to Jakarta for Zone Conference. So that added another hickup to things. But we ended up getting everything taught and ready in time. It was like a race though. But luckily she was already pretty well prepared and her mom was supportive and helped her along the way so that they could both be baptized yesterday! We had to go out there pretty much every day this week to get it done, including getting up early on Tuesday morning and going out there before we went to Jakarta for Zone Conference. But we got it done. Needless to say it was an exhausting week, though. </div>
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So, that was our main focus this week. But other good things are happening as well. Zone conference was awesome! The mission is totally turning around for the better! Last year we only got 60 baptisms the whole year. This year we are already well over 100, and still going strong. And next year there is a goal to get over 300 baptisms in one year, something never before done in this mission! So that is exciting! But, something that president stressed is "don't worry about the number of baptisms. There will be many if all things are done right. So go do it right!" And that is something I have seen since I have been here. Since President Donald has been here, and in the time I have been here, I have seen a huge change in the attitude and behavior and faith of the mission! It has turned around dramatically! President Donald has inspired the mission, and the missionaries are working together and working hard, faithfully, and with the Spirit, and the blessings are truly flowing. And it is only getting better! The hastening of the work truly is happening! But it has been effected greatly by the obedience and attitudes and faithfulness of the missionaries! I am so grateful to be able to be serving at this time with so many wonderful, faithful missionaries who are helping this change to happen!</div>
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So, sadly I will be transferring next week. This is still a secret I think, but I will be moving to Jakarta and becoming a ZL. So I am excited at the opportunity to serve more missionaries and help progress the work over a different scope. But I will be sad to be leaving Tangerang! That is a major bummer! But the Lord has a plan, and everything will work out I guess. </div>
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Thanks for all your letters each week! I love hearing from you! It is a highlight of my week, too! Well, I love you all and hope you have a great week!<br />
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Love,<br />
Elder Wood<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Wood and Elder Troff (Jake is wearing the tie Elder Troff crocheted for him)</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3214794395573609646.post-15479688478946542342014-10-22T20:59:00.000-07:002014-10-22T20:59:04.212-07:00Baptism!!<div class="p1">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother W's Baptism - with special guest, Elder W baptizing his dad!</td></tr>
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Hey!!!</div>
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Well, things here have been awesome! Brother W was baptized and confirmed on Sunday! That was amazing! The service was so awesome and full of the Spirit! And it was fun to meet with Elder W again, who got to fly in to perform the ordinances and then fly back to his area! So that was pretty cool! </div>
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And we had our investigator Mama V at the baptism. And she brought her 14 year old daughter as well! And they are both on date to be baptized next Sunday! So we will be busy going out to their house pretty much every day this week to get them prepared! It is exciting and worth the 1 hour + bike ride out there, and the same time to ride home! Haha we are getting pretty good biking legs! It is hard at times, but then it seems easy compared to an IronMan or riding from Sinclair to the top of Big Mountain and back. So I use those experiences to motivate myself haha!</div>
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We have been super busy again this week! We taught J the Plan of Salvation, and he really liked it and promised to come to church, but then didn't show up. That was a major bummer!</div>
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Ibu M is doing well. But she is older and really has it stuck in her head that she has already been baptized and doesn't need to be baptized again. So we are trying to work through that.</div>
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M is doing well and seems to really like the church. She came to Brother W's baptism yesterday, too, and seemed to really like it. Then some members asked her when she was going to be baptized. She took it well. She didn't give a clear answer, but she didn't reject it. She is still thinking about it I think, but hopefully soon we will have a positive answer!</div>
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And still a lot of other things going on! This coming week we have Mission Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday which will be fun! I am excited for that! Then after that we will probably have transfers the coming week. I am not so excited for that. I don't know what will be happening yet, but I kinda think I will be moving, and I am not super excited to. But I guess whatever happens is for the best.</div>
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Well, you said details so I really worked at it and got some pictures, because those are worth a thousand words, and I don't have that long to type haha. So here are some pictures--one of Brother W's baptism, one of a throng of little kids that started following us as we were proselyting one day, and another of us golfing a few P-Day's ago.</div>
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Thanks for all your emails and love! I love hearing from you all so much! It is a big bonus to my week! Also, please tell Scott and Lisa thanks so much for the package they sent me! It was awesome and so nice of them! I will send them a letter,too, but if you could tell them thanks that would be awesome! haha they are funny, they are trying so hard to make me trunky haha! They put a picture of the house they are building in St. George, saying that we will all have to go play down there next summer, go to Lake Powell, and all sorts of stuff! Sounds like I will be having a busy first summer home haha! But it'll be fun and all in its time! But for now the focus is here! Well, I'm Glad you are all having fun and I hope you all have a great week this week! Love you! </div>
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Love Elder Wood</div>
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