Fun Finding Activities

Last transfer we did some fun finding activities, to get our good name out there and invite people to learn about our church. We did a couple runs and also commentated an english a 3 on 3 basketball tournament with a famous polish rapper.

Transfer Review

Elder Kriser and I will be staying together for another transfer here in the Capitol!! I don't know if I ever described him. He is from Florida, there he lived on a big farm with his herd of cows. He has six sisters(5 older, 1 younger). He also went to BYU-Idaho for one year and did some sales during the summer break. He is a very loving, calm missionary, very in-tune with God and his will. It has been a pleasure to serve with him and learn from him, and I am glad that I have 2 more months to do so. 

We spent the last two summer months really gaining our contacts and finding lots of people who are interested in the restored gospel and started teaching them. Many of which express a good interest in our church and a desire to find the truth from God in their lives. These next two months should be filled with lots of teaching and baptisms. Also we have really gotten close to the YSA and some less-actives and part-member families in the Ward and it has been great to work beside them and be lifted up spiritually together as well.

At the beginning of the transfer I made a new friend. She lives on the Polish-German border and studied her in Warsaw. She had been investigating the church for a few years and she decided to take the next steps leading to her Savior and be baptized and confirmed. It was humbling to be a part of the process and to see the difference the gift of the Holy Ghost made in her life, after she made the big decision. Her testimony is strong and her spirit is bright. She is an amazing example.

Also, in the past four months there have been 3 different general authorities come to the mission. This weekend Elder Mendoza from the Area 70 came and shared his knowledge, advice and spirit. It was great because at Dinner, Elder Kriser and I sat next to him and were able to ask him some questions and the words which he spoke and the spirit which we felt were perfect. We are excited to implement his counsel into the work in helping to bring to pass God's glory," the immortality and eternal life of man."

So an interesting scripture he shared was Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 " And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things."

So let us all remember to always keep God's goal in our sight, because if we do and then lose ourselves in the service of those around us, we will always know what to do and will make it back to live with our Heavenly Father his son Jesus Christ again, helping our fellow brothers and sisters along the way. Life is amazing. Our divine destiny is true. Of that I give my word in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love, Elder Wood

Yes, I'm alive ;)

Sorry I haven't updated you all for so long and I really don't know what to say, or how to release my thoughts and summarize all that has been going on the past few weeks.

We had to take the missionaries returning home to the airport at 3:30 in the morning last week. That was kinda hard not because we had to get up early but because I had to say goodbye to all the sisters that were in my MTC group as we all came out into this mision thing together. It finally dawned on me that I only have 6 months left and that gave me some weird feelings because it's going to be so hard and say goodbye to everyone and everything. But yeah, not really gonna think about that anymore because I have way too much to accomplish before I come home and see you all again!

We also went and did some service work a community severely damaged by a massive storm this week. We did manual labor in gathering and burning fallen destroyed trees, cleaning parks and farm work from 8 to 21 for a few days but it seriously felt like a vacation from normal missionary work! ha it was so nice. Then a miracle, just by seeing how nice and happy we were all these super strong Catholics wanted to find out more about our church and read the book of Mormon so we handed out a lot with "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and they said that once they read it all they would pass it to their families and other members in their community! It was so neat. Then the next day we went and helped a member of our ward on her farm and it really softened the hard, skeptical hearts of her family and neighbors. By the end of it all she was tearing up. We literally felt like we were in paradise :) The results in the lives of others of heartfelt service is amazing. Let us always serve others with selflessness and the pure love of Christ and look for the miracles, healing and increased love that follows.

Also, We will have 11 new great missionaries coming into the Poland Warsaw Mission tomorrow which we are super excited about!

Elder Kriser and I are personally are working with a lot of investigators who truly are desiring to come closer to Christ, We have about 9-10 legit investigators making progress with more than half of them coming to church consistently. They want to be baptized and progress according to the gospel but some of them are just waiting till the time is right so we continue to teach true doctrine and watch their confidence and faith grow each week. 

I guess that will be the spiritual message this week. I have been interested in psychology and human behavior for so long and so this quote has always been on my mind but then when Elder Sabin came and gave us some training he shared it as well. "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. … That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel” Elder Boyd K Packer

It is truly amazing to see the change in peoples lives and the happiness, peace and joy they receive when they come to know that they are truly sons and daughters of God. They learn true doctrine from God himself through study prayer and revelation and cast of the philosophies of men,  then realize who they are, whey they are here, where they are headed and what potential they have, and the blessings and growth and development that awaits them as the follow the path walked of the Savior. We truly are joint heirs in Christ, he not only is our Savior, but our perfect older brother continuously, lovingly, encouraging us to follow him in our journey back to our Father in Heaven as more developed, mature, intelligent, purified beings. We are all here for a reason and we have so much to look forward to and work towards with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.The Church of Jesus Christ is on the earth again in perfectness and has all truth. Jesus Christ in all reality stands at the head and leads his church still today. I Know that and Testify of that in his name,  Jesus Christ, amen.

I love and miss you all

Love, Elder Wood