The Best Times Are Still Ahead!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

Love You!

Love Elder Wood

Naughty Bars

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. 

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

Love Elder Wood

Jakarta!

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?

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!  

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!  

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!

I did get your Halloween package last week!  Thank you!  It was a lot of fun!  The Count Chocula is delicious!  

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!

Well, glad that things are all good back at home.  And I hope all goes well for Brenda!  That is scary.  

Well, hope you all have a great week!  I love you all so much!  

Love Elder Wood

November 2, 2014 Last Week in Tangerang!

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.

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!

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!"

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!

Love Elder Wood

October 26, 2014 Another Baptism!

Wonderful day!! Mama V and V's baptism

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.

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. 

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!

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.  

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!

Love,
Elder Wood

Elder Wood and Elder Troff (Jake is wearing the tie Elder Troff crocheted for him)

Baptism!!

Brother W's Baptism - with special guest, Elder W baptizing his dad!

Hey!!!

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!  

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!  

Love Elder Wood

Love this area!!!

Man, those pictures you are sending are amazing!  Don't make me too trunky haha!  Just kidding!  But I do miss those fall leaves and utah mountains and scenery!  Looks like you guys are having a ton of fun!

This week has been pretty good here, too!  We have been busy and have been seeing some good success!  We were able to get 4 investigators to come and see conference!  And all of them felt the Spirit!  It was such a great opportunity and a blessing!  And I loved the spirit that I felt and the many things I learned!  A few interesting things were: 1)At one point when they were showing the organ pipes I had a distinct thought/feeling of remembering Grandpa Cal, and I felt him with me for a moment.  That was cool!  And 2)  As I heard the speakers, I had an undeniable feeling and witness of the truthfulness of this church!  It truly is led by Prophets, seers, and revelators, and there is no way I can deny it!  It is so true!  What a blessing!

Brother W is still on date for next week!  So that is super exciting!  No problems there!  But I do hope that you can meet him and his family someday!  They are probably one of my favorite families that I have met here in Indonesia!  And they are doing missionary word!  They have found a girl named M that is here for college and have invited her to learn about the church!  We teach her at their home, and they bring her to church and everything, and she is starting to really progress and think about baptism!  It is so cool to see them working through the process themselves, and to be helping someone else at the same time!  They are awesome!

Mama V is awesome!  She is on date for the 26th of October!  We really weren't sure about her for a while.  We thought she was just doing it because she liked us because we weren't seeing any real changes in her.  but the last 2 weeks or so have been totally different.  She told us that at one point she was done.  She was ready to give back her Book of Momron and be done.  But, she decided to pray and ask about it one more time.  And, she got her answer!  And now she is already past Mosiah 24 in her reading!  And she absolutely loves the Book of Mormon!  She says it has helped her change so much for the better!  She can recognize the change, and so can we!  And several members have also commented on seeing the same changes in her!  So that is awesome!

J is doing well, too!  We finally figured out a little bit of what was going on with him and have helped him recognize more of how the Holy Ghost works, and he is receptive to it now.  He was going to come to conference, but that morning his grandma got hospitalized, so he couldn't come.  But luckily she is ok, and he is still wanting to learn and come hopefully next week!

There are a few other investigators as well, but these are the main focus right now.  

Transfers:  Transfers are actually not until November 1st or 2nd I think.  I am glad, because I will still get to see Brother W and Mama V get baptized.  But I still am not ready to get transferred.  I want to stay here at least another month or 2.  Especially because that transfer they are adding 2 more companionships to Tangerang, so it will be a bigger district, which will be fun!  

Speaking of bigger districts, that has been stressful for me this week haha!  I have been having to look at dividing the area and other logistics.  And I have gone house shopping!  I was drawing on my inner Grandpa Wood Realtor skills this week!  But I found a great house and negotiated the price down to within budget and got them to throw in an air conditioner!  So I bought my first house this week!  (I guess rent is a better word, but still).  I joked with my companion, though!  I told him that this first house buying experience was supposed to be shared with my wife, but that he was taking her place haha.  He just laughed.  But It has been an interesting go here in Tangerang!  I have gained a lot of good life skills!

Well, I think that's about it!  I love hearing from you and hope you have a great week!  Keep having fun and sending pictures!  I love you so much!  

Love Elder Wood