Friday, August 4, 2017

Week 70

July 29, 2017

Evening everyone,

It is indeed the end of the week...Also the end of the month. I have been doing a lot of paperwork recently and I am glad that only one person has to worry about the housing for the missionaries. 

Transfers also happened this week. We drove up to Ocho Rios and picked up some sister missionaries. That was a fun trip.

I have also learned that if I try to "find" time to read or study, I won't find it. I need to "make" time for it, to show our Father above how important it is to me.

I love you all and wish you a good week,


---Elder Wood---




Behold!!! my lair!!!!

This is where I spend a lot of my time right now. I am trying to reorganize it so we actually know where stuff is.

Week 69

July 22, 2017

Good Afternoon everyone,

This week has been one for the books. On Thursday we decided to role play Noah and the Ark. Elder Menlove knocked some stuff over in the storage room and broke an old sink pipe. For a good 10 to 15 minutes we had water pouring out of that hole. Luckily nothing was really ruined or even damaged (hurrah for porcelain floors). It was indeed memorable though. I would say we had 100s of gallons on the floor on a lot of the office. Yesterday, I also got a phone call telling me that some of the missionaries in an area had no power. I had not yet been able to pay their bill, I was able to fix it later in the day but that was also very memorable.

Something I learned this week is always make time for the scriptures. If you don't, you won't find time for them. I have to make sure I read my scriptures in the morning BEFORE I get distracted with everything else. It really helps the day go better and reminds you of the greater purpose of what you do things for.

I have to get going but you guys enjoy yourselves this week,


---Elder Wood---




So this first picture is of me driving and my companion excellent backing-up skills. (just kidding this was intentional).

The next one is an amazing view of Kingston from the Redhills.

The last one is of Elder Menlove, Brother Hall, and myself. We come bearing fruit.

Week 68

July 15, 2017

Good Afternoon everyone,

This week was a bit different than I expected. When Elder Kirby left the office I realized that I had a lot of organizing to do. Watching over the mission while being the office makes me appreciate what a blessing it is to be able to serve a mission.

Two years with a single focus. Share what you know to be true with others to bring a new light into their lives. I know that this gospel can truly change people's lives like it has changed mine. I look forward to go out and see all the wonderful people I can this coming week.

Also, I hiked a trail this morning, it was awesome seeing Jamaica from that high up. I included some pictures in the other email.

Enjoy your evening!


---Elder Wood---


So earlier to day we went hiking. Here are some pictures of the journey.

The first one is of myself.

The second one is my companion (Elder Menlove).

The last one is a picture of Kingston.

Week 67

July 8, 2017

Good afternoon everyone,

This week flew by. While I do spend a lot of time taking care of the needs of the mission I still get to leave the office often. The pictures in the last email were of myself and my companions catching crabs after we dropped of an elder in his new area, Port Antonio. I even got to eat at the Jerk Place there.

I have learned over this week though that we all need spiritual nourishment everyday. What I mean by that is just like we eat food to fuel our bodies we need to feast upon the scriptures to fuel our spirits. If we don't eat we starve ourselves, if we don't read the scriptures we are hurting our spirits. I experienced this earlier in the week. I was not able to read for a few days in a row and I started to feel its effects of not reading like more negative thoughts and less energy (for me personally). When I realized what was wrong, I was able to start reading again and felt stronger. I hope that you will all be able to continue to grow in spiritual strength and I will talk to you guys later!

Wish y'all the best,


---Elder Wood---



The first two is myself holding some crabs we caught while we were on the road one night. The shop that we are standing in front of is Piggy's, we dropped off a new Elder in Port Antonio and we had to stop for some food. 

Week 66

July 1, 2017

Hello all,

Its weird emailing you twice in a week, but I was able to see everything that y'all have sent me. Thank you so much for all that you do.

I am now in the mission office. I help make sure that the apartments that missionaries use don't get the power shut off and things like that. I am serving with Elder Menlove and Elder Kirby right now.

I have learned that the Lord trusts us with different responsibilities sometimes. He loves us and cares for us and He wants us to grow. I know that I will continue to grow closer to Heavenly Father as I help the mission here. I encourage you all to do the same, whether through scripture study or prayer. Its the little things that let the big things happen.

I will talk to y'all next Saturday,


---Elder Wood---



The first two are some awesome water flowers that we found in one of the paths in Sav.

The last one is myself in front of the Harley Davidson place in Mo-Bay on our way back to Kingston when I got picked up. (Sorry if it looks like I am squinting, the sun was in my eyes.)

Week 65

June 26, 2017

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!! I will now be emailing on Saturdays, including this Saturday. The reason for this is because of my responsibility in the mission office. I will be going there this Thursday, so this will be my last Monday email for a while.
We also had a sacrament service in Negril yesterday. We had 32 people there! it was amazing. The story behind this is that Negril used to have its own branch (church building) but slowly people stopped coming instead of reaching out to others. The branch has been closed for nearly a year. The place where they have to go now in Sav which is over an hour away. It was amazing to see all those people gathered together. I hope that they will continue to grow stronger and help each other so they can get a branch out there again.
I will continue to work hard in Sav and I am eager for the new challenges that await me in the office.

I will talk to y'all later!

---Elder Wood---




This first three are pictures of a Sacrament service that we had in Negril. More on that in the main email.
The last one was what I thought to be some cool looking clouds one evening.

Week 64

June 19, 2017

So, I think there was a miscommunication about transfers. I did not move with everybody else when transfers happened. I will be moving at the half transfer so I can be trained by the current Financial secretary. I am still in Sav and helping those here come unto Christ more. Also there is a mission home which is where the mission president lives and then there is the mission office which is where I will be "living". And then we will still go out and visit with people in the evening.
Alright, now what I am interested in from reading your emails. A 3-D PRINTER! You now have a 3-D printer!? I want some pictures of all of this summer vacation mayhem going on. Both of the trips that are happening (also the printer) and what you guys look like.
For our branch's father's day gift was cologne. I thought it was pretty funny.
This week was pretty interesting. We spent a lot of it inside because somebody got sick (which was me). It gave me some time to reflect on what we have been working on and to converse with the Lord more and more.
I am so glad that you guys are staying busy physically and spiritually. Don't forget to take a step back and breathe every once in a while. :)
Big up yourselves,

---Elder Wood---

These are some pictures of what has been called the "Legend Wall". I am still not 100% why it is around nor how you qualify to get on it.

Week 63

June 12, 2017

So much to write in such little time!
Well this past week we were able to learn how important it is to be loving. When we show others that we care they will act not because you told them to, but because they want to be happy like we are.
As I tell everybody out here, we aren't here because we are being payed, because we are not, but because we love all of you.

That's why I am out here and why I serve others, because I love them.
---Elder Wood---



This is a picture of a cool clock that we helped fix for a member and her husband. It opens up and does a little dance every hour.
The moon was big and orange the other night. I don't think I got a very good picture of it though.
A picture of the back of my companion's head. He was suppose to take a picture of me with a lizard dangling off of my ear, but a he wasn't quick enough and the lizard got away.

Week 62

June 5, 2017

Hello All,
It has been a very fun week. We chopped a yard with machetes. That was hard to do because you had to keep the machete sharp. We travelled from Negril all the way to Belmont on Saturday. We also talked to a mad man that was on a loop.
But all of this doesn't even begin to describe the amount of Joy I have when we visit and help others grow in the gospel. Even if it was just a phone call, or surprise visiting somebody you haven't seen for a while. It is so rewarding to be a missionary. As for the rest of you, keep reading the book of Mormon, if you haven't been reading it, start now. I know that Heavenly Father will show you the way.

---Elder Wood---



I have found some old pictures that I haven't sent before.
Myself and Elder Shafer helping pour some cement for a house for an investigator in Negril. (about a month ago)
Followed by a beautiful sunset.

Week 61

May 29, 2017

Well, the rain wasn't as bad this week, although, I left my shoes out to dry on the porch and I forgot about them, this morning they were drenched again. Maybe they will dry out one day.
As for this past week, I learned that just because you are doing something, doesn't mean that it is what you should be doing. Looking back on this week were stayed busy, but we weren't too effective. Luckily, we are able to change and do better, we are never stuck in the same spot. God wants us to keep moving forward, even if that means baby step by baby step.
I love all of you guys, and I hope that you have a fantastic week,

---Elder Wood---


This is the view that we have outside of our study room window. Sometimes I like to pretend i am in the Amazon jungle.

Week 60

May 22, 2017

Speaking of weather, instead of Mother Nature getting Hot and Cold mixed up here, it has wet and dry confused. It has rained about 8 of the past 10 day, and i don't mean Seattle rain, i mean downpour. Its not stopping us, just slowing us down a bit, we have to dry our stuff out when we get in at night. 

We are staying very busy and working hard. I love the people here, they are awesome. I will send more in the mass email as always. 

TTYL,

---Elder Wood---



A rainbow leading to the church building. I just thought it was cool. Although my camera is waterproof I haven't been taking too many pictures because of the amount of rain Sav is getting. It won't stop us (might slow us down) from sharing this great message. 

Week 59

May 15, 2017

As everybody know it was Mother's Day yesterday, what some of you might not know is that we Video Chat home to our parents on Mother's Day. I was great to see them again and to be able to see how much my brothers have grown and change. They told me that one of the changes that has happened to me is my hairline.

Anyways, the rain tried to stop us this week, but we didn't let it happen. As the roads flooded and some paths were near impassible, we just walked different paths, following where the Spirit told us to be. We were able to make one of our recent converts very happy because of this. All of a sudden she hears a knock at her door at like 8:30 at night, and what does she see? Four soaked people bringing her a mother's day present, it was great.

I love that God lets us choose for ourselves so much. He lets us grow in wisdom and strength, and then He continues to help us. He will give us strength beyond our own if we exercise what we do have and seek after Him.

I hope to be able to talk to you all next week, its always a pleasure.


---Elder Wood---




Lets take a shortcut I said, it will be quick I said.

I convinced Elder Sutton that we could take a "shortcut" through some sugar cane fields. As you can see, we reached a point where there were no houses to be seen.

Week 58

May 8, 2017
So this week has been adventurous. We walked through lakes, played musical chairs with Elder placement, and everything tried to go wrong on Sunday.

So lets talk about first things first. It was not a lake that we walked through, but we did walk through a flooded road, let me show you what some other flooded roads looked like.

ok, now that we are on the some page. Elder Sutton and I walked through a good 50 feet of flooded road, our shoes were SOAKED. Luckily it dried up a lot overnight, so it wasn't as bad the next day. This also happened the day that Elder Shaffer left Sav, he had been here in Sav for 10 and a half months. As for Elder Sutton, he has been in Jamaica for 3 months, he is from Rexburg, Idaho. Yes, he does live only an hour away from my home ward. Last of all the water was giving trouble in church on Sunday. It is very much need to use the bathrooms there.

As you can see it was pretty adventurous, but all that doesn't compare to what we shared. Why we travelled through the flooded roads. We went there to see a family and share the wonderful message of the Restoration with them. It was worth it. I do have to go now, but I wish you all the best.


---Elder Wood---

Myself & Elder Sutton

My desk looked like this today.

Elder Sutton's desk.