Week 25

September 19, 2016

This week was adventurous as always. We were getting ready for district meeting on Wednesday (normally, we skype here in Port Antonio because the other half of our district is like 2-3 hours away) and found out that President Pearson was bringing Sister Pearson and the other half of the district here, and I was in charge of it. Anyways, I enjoyed it and I hope that my district was able to learn from it as well. Right after that we prepared bags for the kids that can't afford school supplies.  Many hands make light work.  We were able to prepare 100 bags in less than 2 hours. We were than able to talk to a lot of youth and a lot of adults as they came for the bags on Saturday. I love kids (even though they can be a bit hyper at times) because they know things so simply. That brings me to my spiritual thought. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is incredibly simple, it's us that make it complicated. If we focus on becoming Christlike and helping others we will be blessed and everything will either fall into place or fall out of our lives. That's not to say that life is easy, i am nowhere near perfect but I have a long while to work on that. I hope that you are all able to have a wonderful week, and I can't wait to see next week's emails.

---Elder Wood---

Here we are helping distribute school supplies to the children.

Week 24

September 12, 2016

Man time just flies so fast. Let's see, this week I got smoked in a game called Ludi because the rules are different in every parish and I didn't know one of them. I also busted up my front tube and got 4 holes simultaneously (I have gotten really good at patching tires). It also rained so much yesterday that the front yard of the church had like 6 inches of standing water.

 

Now for the important bit. I also received an increased testimony that our Heavenly Father does indeed answer our prayers. I was able to have a personal conversation with him and receive answers that I would not have thought of on my own anytime soon. I am so grateful that he can do that. I hope that you all continue to develop your personal relationship with Heavenly Father.

 

I will email y'all next week.

 

---Elder Wood---

 

My companion and I traded cameras and so there are more pictures of me this week

 

This is Jahmari, one of our investigators,
he made a bush broom.

 

My companion found a pine tree as we were walking up the hill after
I got the flat, he says it is the first one he has seen in Jamaica
(he is heading home this transfer, so that tells you how often pine trees are.)

Doing a repair to my front tube
I slipped off the road and got 4 holes all at once

 

Week 23

Morning everyone,

This week went by so quick. We woke up at 4:00 in the morning on Thursday to take a bus to Kingston so we were able to be on time for zone conference. Which was with our new Area President whose name is Elder Gonzales. He is an awesome guys and taught a wonderful zone conference, one thing that he emphasized was finding common ground. I found that a very cool principle because no matter how different we are, we all have common ground somewhere.

We then did a trade-off with our zone leaders in Kingston and were able to learn from them.

We had a wonderful first Sunday with the most people in attendance that I have seen so far.

Heavenly Father wants us to return unto Him, His hand is always reached out to us, even when we think it isn't or that we aren't worthy of it, if we want to change, He is there.

Write to you next week,

---Elder Wood---

My 2 Zone Leaders



Elder Craig who I did a tradeoff with and my
tie is tucked in because I am a "new" missionary

Elder Gordon and I being strange.

 

Week 22

August 29, 2016

The Olympics did not affect the areas that I have served in very much, in fact the only reason I knew they were over is because we heard the closing ceremonies playing at somebodies house. As for the new changes for me being in my new area, its different. Port Antonio is a very beautiful place and there are some really converted members in our branch. Oh, BTW, I am branch clerk and my companion is the branch president; so that's new. Oh, my companion's name is Elder Pulsipher.

The gospel is a bit funny in a way. Although the situations change, the location changes, the people change, its still the same answer. Although there are unique situations for everyone, the answer is always the same, and its simple too. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy, He wants us to keep moving back towards Him. Its our choice to follow his path. I hope the best for all of you, and I can't wait to email y'all next week.

---Elder Wood---

The Francis Family

My new companion, Elder Pulsipher, and I.

Week 21

August 22, 206

Hi all, its been a productive week here in Ochi, as well as my last one. As of tomorrow I will be transferred to Port Antonio. We were out on the road when the 200 finals where on and it was dead quiet, and then lots of noise, Usain did it again, We didn't even have to watch it to know what happened. While thinking of what to write home, the Jamaican part of me wrote the following phrase below.

"Greeting all you Americans and other countries. I am sorry to hear that Usain Bolt took all 3 gold medals in the events he competed in, I hope that after he retires, you will actually have a chance at winning the gold again. I wish you all a fine day."

As for the work here and as for the Lord, He never retires. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I have learned that the spirit will also reveal to us only as much as we ask for and as much as we plan on acting on it. I hope you all have a fine week and I will write to you next week.

---Elder Wood---

Week 20

Morning,

This week was really good. We were able to do a trade-off with the Zone Leaders over in Montego Bay. I was with Elder Jones and we had some really good lessons. Meanwhile in our own area we are having some amazing families progressing towards baptism. We also have an investigator that loves to feed us, we also go over there and play Ludi every Monday (she calls herself the queen of Ludi). Even with her, she can distinctly tell that there is something different with what we teach and how it is making her happier. I enjoy the work out here so much, especially when they see it within themselves. The Holy Ghost is awesome, When we are humble and listen to it, it can make just about any lesson blossom. We are currently having an investigator's heart being softened because of the divinity of the Holy Ghost. I am so glad that I am out here, and ! hope to maintain this relationship with my Heavenly Father for the rest of my life. I encourage all of you to continue strengthening your relationship with your Heavenly Father, even if its just an extra phrase in your prayers, he will show an increase of blessing to you.

You guys are all awesome,

---Elder Wood---

A beautiful sunset and my companion.

Week 19

8/8/16

These weeks fly by so fast. I could have just sworn I sent off my last email not too long ago. Anyway, the storm missed Jamaica so all the excitement was for nothing. My companion is continuing to expose me to different foods. Last night we had chicken back with dumpling.  I need to learn how to cook these dishes for home.

Last week, Monday was Emancipation Day, which is why emails came out Tuesday. Saturday was Jamaica's Independence Day, so the branch had a celebration which was awesome (btw, I was a white rasta, i will have to see if i can send a pic of that in next week's email, remind me :P). I am not going to send too many pics of those home being the fact that i have 12 gb of pics and videos of it.

As I see people act on the message we share they continue to learn, especially in there families.  I can truly see a difference with them. I hope that they will all continue to progress, whether or not I am the one that is there, but i do hope that they will continue down this path to eternal happiness.

I think you are all awesome and everyone here in Jamaica is awesome, I love talking to so many awesome people. I need to go now so i will talk to you all later.

--Elder Wood--

Branch President dressed up as Busta Mantee

My companion dressed up with me in the background

Branch member Jody