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Family, Well we had a great and busy past two weeks. We have had interviews with president, zone meeting and also an awesome training from president. On Saturday me and elder Essego had an awesome baptism in Grafton. They were all sisters, 1 was about dads age the others were my age group and one 10 year old girl. We had the service in the compound. Then we broke and walked down to the waterside which is about a few hundred yards down this small hill, and elder Essego baptized them all. It was such a perfect baptism, we are going to have another one on the 22nd at the same place, we will be spending the whole week preparing them for the interview. In the training I learned something from President Roggia that I have been asking myself ever since i came on mission and kind of realized that one day I will have my own family and have to raise them. We were talking about leading with love and teaching with love. I brought up the instance of Jesus in the temple when he somehow scattered the place because they were selling and trading and the rest. Well President kind of expounded on those few verses and we came to see that in that instance Christ didn't use any kind of force or any kind of fury or rage. He simply told them to leave, he didn't even want the doves to be harmed. well then came the saying, spare the rod, spoil the child. That day I learned, and also decided that I will NEVER use beating as a way of raising my kids. We shouldn't, we simply dont need to. It doesn't do anything, when we force people against their will, they don't change, they will keep on doing the same thing. It comes by persuasion and gentleness. It was this last week that the truth of everything came and it was confirmed. We heard a child screaming, we knew immediately that the boy was being beaten for one thing or another. So we rushed over and on the way someone made a comment like that guy always beats that kid, the kid is stubborn. Well when we got there we asked the man to stop and although he was super mad he stopped and started venting to us, or giving us excuses about why he beats the boy. The boy was supposed to go buy pepper from the market and some razor blades, after 3 hours he came back with one pack of blades and no pepper. After all this venting I noticed something funny, the same boy who had been screaming and shouted like he was severely suffering, had stopped crying completely and was just standing there like well dad I won.. again. They say something in krio. Kanda Wam, Kanda Cold. that is when you are getting beat you will be in pain, but in a matter of minutes you will be fine, you aren't going to die. Because this man beat his kid so many times, the kid had learned that well, even if I do something dumb like take 3 hours to buy some blades and my dad beats me, the beating won't kill me. The play and fun outweighed the beating he would get at the end. All the man kept saying is this boy is stubborn and the rest. When you tell someone something enough times they start to believe it. I felt bad for the kid but, I really learned something that day. I will be teaching my children someday to love Heavenly Father and to love the gospel, when they make a mistake.Talk to them, and let the spirit teach them will be 100 times more effective than any beating you can give a child. The things i'm learning here are incredible, how could I ever have learned and decided how I will raise my kids if I wouldn't have decided to come to Sierra Leone for this mission. I'm loving every second of my mission its going by so fast I cant believe it, I just want to learn as many lessons about life like this as I can, I know I will be so much more prepared to face the challenges at home because of this mission. It was a awesome week and this next 2 weeks is gonna be packed full of stuff as well including the baptism on the 22nd at the same waterside. I love you all have a great week! love your son, Elder Wood

August 22, 2011

Family,
It’s been so long since I wrote but, I found some spare time and thought I’d write you a quick note. I love you all!
We had a sweet week here in Sierra Leone Freetown Mission. Elder Satati came; he’s from the quorum of the Seventy. We had zone conference and also district conference with him. I learned so much.
Pops, you told me to watch successful people in whatever field they are in and I’ve noticed one thing for sure about them….they may have a million things to do but, they know how to put the most important things first then, the rest will fall into place or it will fall out of our lives (like it said in a quote mom gave me). It’s something I’m not perfect at but, I’m also learning now. Last night I was so stressed by the things I needed to do then, to top it off I found out about two more assignments, haha! The spirit reminded me that despite all this, look at the most important, eternal things, the busy work you can do tomorrow but the relationship you have a chance to build with your fellow elders; to gain their trust and develop that love….those are eternal things that last the longest. So, I put down everything, took my journal and went and sat with my elders. We had a very nice discussion, I felt so good after. It’s just like that with kids; I know one day this same situation is going to come. I’ll have 400 things, immediate and temporal and my son is going to say, “dad I need help”. In that moment I already know what I’m going to do…..I’m gonna help my son, the rest can wait.
We just have to put the things that last the longest first, those are the most important and those are the eternal things.
Can you imagine where I’d be right now if I hadn’t come on this amazing mission? It’s crazy, it’s scary, I’m so grateful for this experience. I love it so much. It’s going to be the foundation for the rest of my life. I love you all!
Elder Wood

March 21, 2011

    Hey, guys how was the week? I know it was probably great but before anything mom, happy Birthday today. I know this won't get there for like 3 weeks but I really hope that you got my other letter I sent a long time ago. I'm hoping it's made its way there by now. I want to hear all about it today in your letter how your birthday went. Just think by this time next year you will be making all the preparations to come here and get me, time is crazy! Well, yesterday I saw that God is a God of miracles, he brought one man to church that we had prayed and hoped like crazy would come. He has some serious addiction problems and his wife is coming every Sunday with his daughter but, he hasn't been yet, personally I believe he feels unwanted at church like God doesn't love him, but to my greatest joy and surprise yesterday as I was sitting in church I was tapped on the shoulder by his daughter and as I looked, lo and behold I saw him, I was so happy. There's no way he would have come except by the help of Heavenly Father, God really is watching and knows us all by name. This Saturday we are having a baptism for four individuals. I'm not sure the details but we want to run the generator and show a small film clip, play hymns, and listen to their testimonies; it should be a great baptism. We are also combining with New Barracks branch. Anyway, next Monday I will let you all know how it went.

    There's one family here in our branch I love so much I'm sure I've mentioned them before. They have only been in the church a little over a year but, they are so amazing. I look at them just as my family. Yesterday just as we finished the day we decided to go and say hello to them, right when we got there they pulled us a seat and we sat and talked and then told us they want to feed us some food. I don't know how to describe it but, I just felt like I was at home, like I was simply coming home for Sunday dinner, of course at home it would be roast beef and potatoes and the rest and here its rice. I still felt very happy, I can't tell you the way I've come to appreciate family on my mission, you guys are the biggest blessing I could ever ask for, so long as we all have each other and are all keeping the commandments, heading toward the final goal of exaltation, then there's nothing much I can really ask for more. The gospel is so sweet, it has the power to change anyone's heart no matter how hard, cold, and the rest, the church, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone.

    I just finished the morning schedule. I brooked my cloths and then had personally study and companionship study. I'm still reading the New Testament. I want to finish it and then read the book "Jesus the Christ". I'm reading the New Testament with the student manual as well so this really is taking some time but, I'm enjoying it so much. I'm learning so much that I can apply to my teaching, to my life, and my future. Yesterday I read Ephesians so, I'm making progress. I don't know if I will read the Old Testament yet because I want to do something with the Book of Mormon, like a unique way of studying it so I'll do it first and then tell you how it goes. I'm not sure I told you but, like a week and a half ago I finished the Book of Mormon again. I love that book so much, anytime I open it, I feel peaceful and happy. If I compare the way I feel when I read the New Testament to the Book of Mormon, there's really no comparison. I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon is true. I've seen it change lives, the biggest one being myself, what other proof does someone need, a book that brings peace, happiness, comfort, truth & light in a world like this; one that changes lives, who can argue that the book isn't true. It's the people who haven't read it. I remember dad always saying how smooth his life goes when he reads, compared to when he doesn't and it's so true. When I have my own family I will do everything in my power to make sure we are holding Book of Mormon study time; a set time every day.

    This is the last week of the transfer, I really love this area now and the people are so great. We started something just two weeks ago, zone desert! So, every two weeks on Sunday all the Elders in the Zone come to our apartment and we take turns cooking different deserts. Last week Elder Bennion and their district made these things called rice cakes, imagine……more rice, for desert. But they have like rice and bananas and maple syrup in them, they are fried, they were really good to tell you the truth. This Sunday, It's our turn to do the cooking. We want to make peanut butter cookies but we haven't been able to find peanut butter to buy so, we don't know. So everyone will come over this Sunday and eat the desert and we will receive the transfer news from the zone leaders. I hope I still stay in Bo, I just barely got here so, I don't want to go anywhere yet. The rains have been falling occasionally, like one time a week but, come June it is daily. It's so nice while its raining but the sun always comes out so, then after the sweat is like 3 times as bad, but I think I like the rainy more than the dry. We got light this week 2 nights……Friday from 12 A.M. to 6:30 A.M and last night the same. The first we have received in over 5 weeks. I was so happy the fan was blowing on me and I slept so good I even felt chilly when I woke up this morning. Hopefully light will be coming more often now but you can never be sure. Tell everyone hello for me. I miss you all, it's been so long but, it's also going to quick. By the way how are my fiends doing…..Skyler, Tanner, Taylor, Jaxon, and the rest? I've written them all, and I care so much about them. Please tell them all I said hello. I love you all, mom and pops, you guys are amazing. HAPPY BDAY mom!

    Love,

 

    Elder Wood

February 28, 2011

Dear Family,

Good morning! How are you all? I miss you guys like crazy. I can't believe March starts tomorrow, it's really amazing how hot it is here right now. March is the very, very hottest month in the year here. So I just have to bear it, there's no way to avoid it. In middle April or so the rains will start coming, once in a while and then we will enter our second rainy season! I don't know which one I like better, dry or rainy season. This week no one came through by our apartment so last week's letter is still with me. I will just put them together to save a stamp. Tuesday we had something we just started, called district training. The Zone leaders teach us during it and then after we all split up in our areas and go and practice the things we have learned. I went with an Elder, he's from Nigeria, he will be going home in may so he's basically finished but, I had a great day. We have begun to do something that's been given to us as counsel from the first presidency. At the end of every lesson the head of the family or the person we are teaching offers a kneeling closing prayer. It's something I questioned at first, but I've come to see the sacredness of prayer and by kneeling it shows God we are humble. If possible we try and go inside so that we don't do as the hypocrites do, but if it's not possible we just do it right where we are and it's something I've really come to enjoy. I've learned so much myself as we have become to implement these new basic fundamentals into our work. I've come to see that God can answer us through 3 things. 1. Prayer 2. Book of Mormon 3. Church attendance. I always asked myself why I never had a vision or dream or a "wow" experience to tell me this church is true but, I've come to realize I've been answered all along, my own answer coming through the Book of Mormon. Every time I read it I'm happy and at peace with myself, I feel like there's great hope for the future, I can't describe it but I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true, so my companion said his answer came through church attendance, when he went he said he knew our church had something. So I'm just trying to see how all of this can be applicable when I get home and I've seen it.

I'm still trying to recover from the football last Monday. I really didn't even feel like I ran or even did very much but, this whole week I've been so tired, I've never slept better in my life than I did this week it's very hard to get out of bed in the mornings. I can't just do like I used to and dress quick and lay back down, haha! By the way, is Zack still professional at the? Haha. This upcoming week is going to go by like crazy. Tuesday we are proselyting and also Wednesday then Thursday we have to wake up and be at the bus station place by like 5 to take the bus to Freetown. I'm gonna be so tired. I'm not 100% sure if we will be doing anything with the Kissy chapel so I'm not sure if I will see people I know, like my people from Kissy. They said that we will reach Freetown around 11 or so and from like 1-3 we will be receiving instructions from different missionaries on the fundamentals of preach my gospel, then we are watching the movie called "How to train a dragon"? I'm guessing you probably know that movie? One newer missionary said it came out before he left so I'm sure its not a new, new one. Anyway that night we are just eating together as a zone and then Friday is the zone conference either @ Kissy chapel or @ Hillstation or Belliar Park, I'm really not sure, but elder Dixon is coming, I'm so excited and so we will have that zone conference and then Elder Dixon will be interviewing every single one of us just like Elder Cardon did. I'm pumped of course, nervous because he's and area 70 but, I read something this week that made me calm, small. It said, if we are not comfortable in front of very righteous men and women here on earth how will we be comfortable in the presence of God? We will shrink before him. One time president Roggia told us the same thing, he said if you can't even look me in the eyes how comfortable will you be in the presence of the Lord? Look at the people you feel comfortable or non-comfortable around and maybe it will show us we need to change some things or improve ourselves in such a way that we would be comfortable in front of them, just something to think about.

I don't know if I told you guys but, I'm currently reading the New Testament for my personal study. I'm learning so much from the student manual I'm reading with it. Today I'm learning about the pre-existence and like for-ordination and the rest. Since we are part of Israel, it means we made some choices in the pre-existence that were more righteous than others therefore we are enjoying the blessings that come from this inheritance and the crazy thing is there are many of us that are throwing this inheritance away, following after and chasing the vain things of the world. But we will all stand before God to be judged of what we have done with this inheritance Romans 14:12. I'm really starting to love the New Testament with tons of insights and stuff. I'm also in Ether of my Book of Mormon reading so I will be done with the Book of Mormon very soon. I want to read it again with the student manual that is when I am finished with Jesus the Christ. As for the Old Testament, I want to read it, but I'm not sure I'll have the time here on my mission but, I may try and start it.

Yesterday I gave the lesson in Elders quorum and it was on the talk in the November Liahona from the prophet. I believe from the priesthood session on the 3r's of choice. It's easier to be obedient 100% of the time that 98% of the time. If we break the Sabbath day once for something, how easy will it be to make exceptions to other things, telling ourselves that everyone does it or my circumstance is justifiable. Anyway, it went very well and I learned tons by teaching it. I'm really starting to get excited about learning everything in the church from the counsel from the apostles and prophet to deep doctrines taught. It's exciting and makes me realize that I seriously know very little about this church, the door to salvation. I love you all!

Love Elder Wood

January 3, 2011

Dear Family,

    I hope everyone had a great and wonderful week! So, 2010 is come and past and now 2011 has come, this will be the big year for us to pass through. I will not see America or you guys through this entire year, crazy huh? But just like always time will come and go and the year will pass. This week has been amazing for me, one of the best I've had yet to tell you the truth. Right now, it's the craziest weather, this place really seriously is cold in the mornings, like right now the fan is blowing and I'm freezing, yeah really I never would have guessed, this place is very dry. I never would have guessed this place could actually feel cold. When I get home I will literally freeze because it will be April; still some cold days might come and everything. Monday our branch had a branch party so, after talking to you guys we went and visited. The children sang some cute Christmas songs and they gave some small gift exchange and stuff. Tuesday we were just in Looking Town, I seriously love that place, I love the children so much. I love when we are teaching and some of the kids are fighting over who gets to sit next to me. It touches my heart, they are so cute, and I adore them. Wednesday we had a Zone meeting, I really felt like I spiritually and mentally prepared myself for this one and in return I feel like I've changed my life. Saturday I was privileged to perform three baptismal ordinances, ahh, it was great. I've seen all the baptismal candidates come all the way up, leaving their bad habits, confess them to us and put their faith in God and Jesus Christ and enter the waters of baptism; what a sweet scene to see. For New Year's Day we were invited to eat at one man's house in Thunderhill so, that was our celebration really. Of all the days of this last week now Sunday was the best I'd say, the most happened. So church now starts at 10:30 for Kissy 2 and 12:30 for Kissy 1. Yesterday we got inside the taxi and headed to church, the man was smoking that was driving so we asked him to stop. He did, we drove till we reached the chapel then I got out of the car as my companion handed the man a 5,000 note. I could sense something wasn't right. Finally the man parks the car and gets out and comes and starts screaming at us that it's fake money we are using. We say sir we are missionaries we didn't know, he says, "I'm a police man, I know fake money; tell me why you are walking with fake money?" People start to hear and before we know what's happening the whole church it seems like is there yelling and talking. The man says "no, I will not take money, I'm taking this and this man and I'm taking him to jail!" So still they argued, argued, argued, finally the man saw how mad everyone was, he took the money and left. I seriously thought my companion was going to jail yesterday. But I really saw how many people cared about us and stood up for us yesterday, it make me happy to see all those people backing us. What a sweet way to start my Sunday.

    Anyway so many people came to church yesterday, I had an absolute blast. I saw all my people and ya know, I felt something yesterday, it's been a long time since I felt it. Last week I told myself I would bear my testimony so I sort of prepared myself. Usually I'm so busy looking for people and doing this and that, that I miss the most important part of sacrament meeting which is……the spirit that is there. This Sunday I reminded myself of when I was a very small boy and I would sit and shake until I got up and bore my testimony. The same thing happened yesterday. I knew I needed to, I was even nervous for some reason but the way I felt made me smile. It took me back to Parowan 4^th ward chapel sitting there building the courage to get up. Yesterday I had one, if not the best spiritual Sundays, and sacrament meeting since I came and I know it was because of how I mentally prepared myself. Well, last night the transfer news came. It looks like I will be leaving my people here in Kissy, sadly enough some of them I won't see until we meet in the celestial kingdom. It pains my heart really but I hope maybe when you come we can pass by and meet them all, I love them so very much. I'm going to Messima Branch, It's in Bo! Looks like I've finished in Freetown and it's on to Bo. I'm excited to go but sad to leave the people. I love you all. Have a great week. Happy New Year!

                Love your son,

                    Elder Wood

January 3, 2010

I can't believe how time is flying.  I can say this might have been the best week I've had so far in kissy. We had an awesome instruction about teaching and asking heaven inspired questions in zone meeting on Wednesday and from that time now I've had some amazing experiences. President Roggia said for us missionaries to be praying for peace in the Ivory Coast and West Africa; I'll be so devastated if something happened and they took me to another mission, I'm not going anywhere I'm staying here two years.  Seriously I love it here it's the most amazing place I can't wait until you come.  My dear and amazing sister Marcouta accepted a baptismal date this week!!! Finally, finally, finally, on January 29^th she will enter the waters of baptism. And the saddest part is I won't be there.  I was told I'm leaving kissy last night.  Wednesday morning they will be picking me up. I'm all packed and ready to go. Yes, I'm getting transferred, and of course I'm sad to leave these people but, it's where the Lord wants me to go and it's just the nature of this great missionary work.  I wasn't sure if I would be transferred or not but i got the call and Elder Wood is going to BO!!!! I'm so excited it's exactly where I wanted to go! My Companion is Elder Eyinda. I know him, he's from Ghana.   I have never ever seen Bo. It's in the middle of the country and its bush, like village.  So yeah, I've never been. I can't wait to go there!  I will write and tell you all about it next week!!

 

    Love your son,

    Elder Wood

 

 

 

December 13, 2010

Dear Family,

    Hello, to my best knowledge, you will hear my voice before you receive this letter. I'm seriously so excited to talk to you all. This has been another great and challenging week here in Kissy, Freetown Sierra Leone. Monday we went and taught an investigator after I finished e-mailing you guys. Sis Hohanatu, she's a wonderful person with great faith. We taught her the Sabbath day and said we shouldn't buy on Sunday. Then I asked her if she usually buys on Sunday and she said yes but, Elder Wood I promise I will never do it again. It amazed me at how willing she was. I said we have talked about your baptism date and decided you will be baptized on New Year's Day Jan 1, 2011. She said that sounds great, I will never forget that day. It will be the happiest day of my life. It's so true these people are searching, searching, searching, to fill a hole in their hearts that they didn't even know was there. They hunger for the gospel and they know not where to find it. Tuesday we were up in Looking Town like usual. We saw many of our people and on Christmas day we should be baptizing about 5 people or so. I really pray it all works out and comes together. Wednesday as well we proselyted normal and Thursday we went on an exchange. I went with Elder Kitson-Dodoo, in my pictures it is the one you see who has body. Like if it's us four, he's the biggest one. Really I like this guy a lot; he's a great guy and very fun to be around. Last Monday we took poda poda into town and played football on the National teams practice field and seriously I didn't believe it but it was rurf. It was so sweet! There were people playing on it right when we arrived so we went and played our first half on some dirt patch, very dusty and rocky but still it was a blast. From there we played the 2^nd half on the nice field, my energy was basically gone but I tried my best, haha I had fun anyway. Friday we saw many new investigators and Saturday as well. Last week I told you about sis Marcouta and how she came to church and everything. This week right when we got there, she was reading the Book of Mormon, right when we sat down she asked us about the temple so we switched our lesson from the law of chastity to temples. We taught her about sealing's, baptisms for the dead and endowment. I shared with her how my mother is a convert and we as a family all went together to be sealed when I was young, from there I said sis Marcouta, will you prepare yourself to one day visit the Lords holy house? And she after some time smiled and nodded her head. Now that seems like a small thing I know but for sis Marcouta its huge, you don't understand how stubborn this woman is. Then with all the confidence in the world thinking this would be the day, I said will you be baptized by someone who has the priesthood authority and follow Jesus Christ's example, into the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints? She looked at me then outside then at me, seriously my heart was pounding like I was playing in the state championship all over again. Finally she said "I'll pray about it." I was very let down because I know that she knows that this church is true. She knows it with all her heart but something is holding her back. I know that her time is coming it's very near and this just requires patience. My mission president taught us that with the degree and amount of patience we show and give our investigators and other people, God will grant unto us that same amount. If we are patient with them, God will be patient with us and oh how badly we imperfect sinning human beings need God to be patient with us. But I know sis Marcouta will be baptized I can feel it; it's only a matter of time. Her husband was once a less active and now to see him come to church in his white priesthood with his wife and kids, it's a heart touching sight really. This week we worked like crazy, honestly could have been the hardest week of my life and still we were disappointed by many who didn't come to church. But such is life. It's full of heartaches and letdowns but, they are necessary to make the good times sweet. Sunday my branch president for Kissy 1 gave a wonderful talk. He said there are so many of us young people who say, if I could only have this kind of wife or husband with this and that qualities, we all want that that ideal and perfect person. He said but what we fail to do is to first ask ourselves if we ourselves are that person. It's so very true. How can you expect to marry an amazing, beautiful pure woman if you yourself are not those things? How can I expect my investigators to do this or obey that if me myself am not willing to obey or do this or that. It's so true. It starts with yourself and your example and who you are and it will filter down. But I believe the hardest thing for us to do is to look ourselves in the mirror and admit we need to change or that we really are far, far from perfection. I honestly have a testimony that God answers prayers and is always there and listening. Although we won't be together this holiday time or season let's not focus on what we don't have but, rather what we do have. I love you all; have an amazing Christmas and a happy new year. Talk to you soon.

    Love your son,

Elder wood

Monday October 25, 2010

Dear Family,

    How is everyone there doing? I'm not sure what's going on there because I haven't read the e-mail yet and its only 6:00 AM here, but if I put everything together right it sounds like the opening day of the deer hunt is passed, today might even be the harvest holiday on Monday and Zack's senior football season could be over? Holy smokes the time really passed didn't it, before we know it I'll be writing a letter saying congratulations, Zack you made it through high school; and then I'll be at my one year mark, it is unreal! Well, this week has been a good one, just packed with lessons and walking. The sun is still deciding to beat me more and more every day, but slowly I'm getting used to it. This Saturday we have a baptism with 2 candidates. One's name is Sister Adarna Taylor and Brother Sylvester Larimide. Brother Sylvester really is a converted person. The day I came I was told he was taught every single lesson and even made it to the baptismal interview where he ended up confessing a few things; he had not repented of or mentioned earlier so they postponed his baptism. In a situation like that people will do one of 2 things, they will either think on this one; it's too hard I cannot possibly keep all these commandments any longer and they give up, or they buckle down and realize this is what they want. They realize this will bring them happiness. This is what this Sylvester man chose. Every week this man comes to church and is on time even if we didn't see him for 2 weeks. The guy is there and one thing I respect about him is he's always happy, always! He doesn't have a job and things are tough, but still he's happy, such an inspiration for us who have everything, but yet finding it easy to be unhappy. The purpose of the gospel is happiness. Anyway, something else happened yesterday, we were at church standing up on the balcony because our church is in a building on the 3^rd floor. We were catching some breeze, and all the sudden one of our investigators made me and my companion's day by coming. We see her on a motorbike; her small less than 1 year old child tied in a lapa around her back and then her other little child on the drivers lap holding the handle bars. They pull up with big smiles on their faces and it just made my heart melt to see such great faith. This woman just got left by her man after he beats her, plus the land lord kicked them out of their house which is about the size of Karlee's room; it was for the 4 of them. So, they had to move down to somewhere even worse apparently, and we haven't been able to see her for some 2 weeks. Still, she is able to dress up 2 children and pay to take a motorbike to church by 9 in the morning. I was so happy; she has the cutest little girls. I have a picture with the older one and me, which is on my camera, you will see soon. She's a tiny little girl with a huge rice belly, haha. I love her! Her name is Zinab (Zie-nab). Anyway, in her new area something like creepy and wicked is happening, like every night children in that area are just dying out of nowhere. So, after church we blessed her and her 2 children to be out of harm's way and to have safety, it was a great experience. I know they will be safe and fine. All in all this week was a good one though; it seemed to go by pretty fast actually. Time is interesting, but a consistent thing I'll tell you what. Well, I just got home from town; oh it's a headache to go there sometimes. We went first to get our money out of the bank for this month. Let me tell you about how we got a car to go there. At 9:30 A.M. we were standing there with about 100 other people waiting so, as soon as a poda poda comes you have to position yourself in the right spot or you will never ever get to town. The bus comes and is turning around , people are running across the road to get to it but, they don't open the doors yet, it drives down a little bit, my companion and I had given up by now because really there's maybe 20 seats and about 50 people wanting in badly. So, it keeps driving and finally both of us just take off after this thing, we are running with everyone else in our full priesthood attire and all pushing people out of the way, I just muscled my way near the door and stuck my had in there and grabbed the bus to cut people off from getting in before me, people are pushing, shouting, and yelling, haha! I just started shoving back and somehow made my way inside the bus, they grabbed me and my companion and threw us in the very front so, I rode shotgun all the way to town!! If you want anything around here you must fight for it, there's no such thing as respect because of who you are, whether you are a woman, child, missionary or thug, you pay your dues and fight your way inside. So, we went and got the money, then I bought some things at the supermarket and I took my companion to a restaurant to eat because he just turned "one year" on mission so, we went and had rice and stew there, imagine that….more rice, haha. This has been a good week, slowly I'm feeling like I'm apart of these people, I'm beginning to think like them and act too, I know I will sob the day I have to leave them because I know I'll never see some of them ever again in my life on earth.

    Love your son,

    Elder Wood

Monday October 18, 2010

Dear Family,

Hey how is everyone? It's not even six a.m. yet, I'm writing letters now because I'm not going to have time later today at all, we are going to the beach! I'm excited because normally our P days I just brook clothes and write letters and then maybe play a little football. This P day is with the whole zone. I'll be seeing all the fellow missionaries today. This week was good, no baptisms for us till Oct 30 then 2 or maybe 3. On Wednesday we went back to the young boy I baptized house and taught him and I gave him a CTR ring you sent me. You should have seen the smile on this boy's face. He was so happy to receive it. We helped him put it on and everything. Then yesterday at church he came up to me first thing and shook my hand and I could just see he was trying to show off the ring, haha! It made me happy to see this boy so happy because when met him he just wasn't fully happy and now his entire life has changed because of this gospel, it's so amazing. So, anyway besides that the heat is getting crazy like miserable, I'm dying out here, haha! I wear the 100 SPF on my ears and nose, and I sweat all of the water I drink out of my body every morning as I proselyte. If I can get through this dry season I can get through anything. It's so hot, like sometimes we will be walking and I'll reach down and feel my bag and it's too hot to touch so, I just can imagine what it's doing to my skin. It's brown anyway, my arms don't burn anymore they just get dark. Anyway, I have realized there is a time for everyone with the gospel, you can teach someone and teach someone and teach someone and they will not agree to accept it for anything. Then you drop them or get transferred and something happens in their life, maybe someone dies or something or sometimes things just stop going well for them and all the sudden they are like okay, this really is true, I want to get baptized. Seriously everyone has their time. This week has been good, really, I've had a good one, we are getting very close with the people and I'm thinking I will be here a long, long time but, it's really good. I love these people. I don't want to leave them. There weren't any crazy stories this week, the average things happened but it's just everyday stuff, so it doesn't seem crazy anymore. When you come get me though I'm sure you will have big eyes looking around just like I did but, it will be awesome. I'm so pumped to take you guys around after my mission is complete, I know its way far off but it's at least closer to us now than when I left in April! So, our plans for today is, at 8:15 we are getting picked up by the assistants or the Neves, and heading over to #2 beach on the other side of the city, to play on the beach, it's gonna be fun, I'm excited. Then we'll come back and Ill email you guys, I'm not sure what time. Then I'll come home and wash and we will go out to FHE with a family or someone in one of the 2 branches. Then come home, go to bed, and begin another week. I think P days are my most exciting day? Really though I love every day. There just isn't much change but it's a good thing I love this gospel or this work would be impossible. The Creole is still coming, I'm trying to improve everyday but its small small coming, it just takes time and patience. I sometimes forget that these people have lived here their whole lives and have been speaking it their whole lives; that's why they speak it so well and I've only been here 6 months so, I need to be easier on myself but, I just want to be able to speak it better. Keep hanging in there and thanks for being the examples you are to me and the love you show. I will see you soon! Take care and talk to you on Christmas day!

                Love your son,

                Elder Wood

Mom and Dad, How are you guys? I hope my last letter got to you. I promise I will do everything in my power to write you some kind of letter every Monday, I know its nice for both of us to get letters. I didn't get any mail yet this week so. I don't have any questions of yours to answer so, I'll just tell you some things. My P-day's are nice but, so packed. This morning my companion and I woke up at 5 a.m., we went in and worked out for an hour, then I brooked clothes for a while, then I came in and wrote a some letters, and then we had companionship and personally study. I will have to clean the bathroom still today and then I will come email you. I'm very excited. Sierra Leone is crazy, nothing resembles or reminds me of home other than the constant rap music playing everywhere. In the mornings you fight for transportation, you literally run around the other side of taxi's and box people out to get transportation. We've had some very upset people once because this guy we know saved a car for us and these girls were MAD! I couldn't understand much of what they were saying but, I heard them say "whiteman" is all. Anyway, the people are very kind and the members of my branch treat me with love and kindness. Some of the hills we hike everyday are crazy, I feel like I do when I'm hunting with you pops. We eat rice in the morning, we don't really take lunch, sometimes we will get bread or I'll take some jerky or something, then at night we buy chicken and mango's or pineapple, and really besides that I don't eat much else. I've had potato leaf stew with rice and cassava leaf stew with rice. I love the cassava leaf stew. When we walk, if we get thirsty you stop and by a bag of water called a sachet and drink it quick. We live off $3.75 USD a day so, you have to be smart. We also use that to buy soap for washing and to pay someone to take the garbage out and things. I met a man from Utah the other day who was here on business. It was so crazy to see him, it felt weird because there are no such things as Americans here. Please keep sending dearelder letters they get here very fast and it really helps get me through the week. When I tell people we have a farm our size they cant believe it and they are totally amazed. Wow, I'm so proud of it though. We don't waste a second of any day and it's helping to learn to work even harder, It's incredible what you can get done in a day. I'm gonna help so much when I get home from my mission. I realize now how easily I could have helped out so much more! One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Corinthians 13:11. It talks about becoming a man. I love that scripture so much. This is how you say it in krio: "Da tem we mi na nin pikin (child), na pikin tok bin de na mi mot, a bin de ondastand leke aw pikin de ondastand, a bin de tink leke aw pikin de tink; but naw we a don big a don don wit pikin biznes." Pretty wild, huh? haha. Its actually not as hard of a language as it sounds. It's like English turned upside down. I know this is clear in the future and yeah but, are you guys wanting to come pick me up? If its possible it would be amazing, you will die when you see this place. It'll be a once in a lifetime opportunity so, if you could it would be so cool! Plus you would have to get shots and stuff so, it's just something I'm wondering. This church is amazing, the spirit truly is a gift and I'm learning to recognize it more and more. I've promised myself that when I go home and get a calling in the church, I will do everything in my power to magnify it. In so little time we can do so much to help out our leaders. I can see how nice it would make our jobs if just one or two people were dependable. One thing this mission has done for me is put everything into the eternal perspective. When you are living a great life doing what the Lord wants, then its so exciting to learn about the 2nd coming and things. I'm so excited I cant tell you how exciting it is to learn about eternity and all these doctrinal things. I love discussing about these things. Three years ago if you would have told me I'd be in Sierra Leone, sweating my guts out, preaching the gospel to everyone I see, I would tell you, you were crazy. But, its odd now, you can actually find peace in the struggle, If you put things on that eternal perspective you can easily with God's help get through anything. I love the church hymns, I love conference, church magazines, the Book of Mormon, and every little thing about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I appreciate you guys so much and I'm so happy you are my family. This morning we were talking about if we got to choose our family in the pre-earth life and we were given agency. So, honestly for me I think that we chose the family we were placed in, I know I chose you guys and even though I don't remember it, I'm sure there was a reason why I chose you guys and now I'm starting to see it more and more at how good my decision was. How lucky I feel that I get you for all time and eternity as long as I keep my covenants and endure to the end. I now see why you did some of the things you did and said some of the things you said, some things I said to myself, "I'll never do that to my kids!" But now I honestly can say that I want to be the parents you were to me. I know I'm gonna be doing many of the same things you did for me. Thanks for always supporting me no matter what I did and pushing me to want to be great. It made the transition to missionary work so much easier for me than a lot of lads. I hope one day you will serve a mission together. The couple missionaries out here have so much fun and love each other so much. They love us, they don't say it but, I can just feel it. As long as you stay strong in the church and close to the Lord, everything else will work out and if you have an eternal perspective, it's so easy to deal with hard times. I say this every letter but, thank you for all you do for me. Your my eternal family and I'm thrilled to say that! There is no end after this life so, we need to do all we can while on Earth. I'm doing good, you don't need to worry about me. I know the Lord will bless us more than we can imagine. I hope the farm is doing good. Tell the kids and family hi and I miss them. Hope all is well.

Love,

Elder Wood

Hey guys I am finally in freetown. We took an ecowater taxi across the bay it was wild. Ihave some amazing pictures, but they said just get on and tell your family you are safe! we had dinner with the Mission President Squires and his wife! I should be able to email monday. I dont have time to read any emails cuz everyone has to use the computer but Ghana is hot, so hot I'm sweating like crazy you cant believe it. Tell everyone hi and I cant wait to get a letter holy smokes. Talk to you monday!

Dear Family, Well I'm finally here. Gosh I miss you guys. That was so hard leaving you all. Well after I got to New York, me and four other American Elders went and got something to eat, then boarded the plane, There I got my first taste of being a minority. About 15 whites and the whole rest of the plane was blacks. That plane ride was so long! I fell asleep two times for like 30 minutes. So about an hour sleep in 26 hours! We got to the airport in Accra. (which is said like this: uh-craw) Ghana. We found our luggage really easy thanks to mom's puppy dog bandanna's she put on my bags. I've taken a few pics and I will send them with my next letter. Please send it to my address in Sierra Leone cuz I'm only here at the MTC till 2 weeks from Tuesday. Oh actually 2 weeks from Wednesday. You guys don't understand how humid it is here either. I mean I'm completely drenched in sweat all the time. When we first got here we talked to the mission MTC President, President Froerer and his wife. The African companions came much later in the day though. We played basketball for like half an hour but, none are very good, they haven't ever played. Anyway, of course I had to try and dunk the ball on a fast break and caught my thumb on the rim and ripped it open a little. (Send a pic with my next letter) but, don't worry mom, sister Froerer gave me a band aid and neosporin. There are 6 white and 14 black elders. We are all from western U.S. and they are from all over. We have elders from the following places: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda, S. Africa, and Kenya. My companion is Elder Sarpong. Hi is from Accra, Ghana. He has been a member for two almost three years and he is 25 years old. He's very upbeat and appreciative about every little thing. He said he usually slept on the ground outside at home. He is the only one in his family who is a member and I can tell he cares about me a lot by the way he treats me, he is a very special guy and I think about how much I have that I take for granted at home. It's crazy how happy these people are. They are so excited about the gospel, It's amazing. There are no air conditioners in our room but, a fan is all. I've had a cockroach and a lizard in my room already, haha! But, anyway, the MTC is good, I wanna just get to Sierra Leone cuz I know it will go much faster. I'm not gonna lie, I was extremely homesick for the first two days, I've never spent more time on my knees praying and asking for help. I can tell you the power of the priesthood is real and that I've used it many times already to put Satan behind me. He is working on me very hard getting me to think negatively and worry about home but, I've had the spirit comfort me like you can't believe, letting me know everything is okay and will work out! John 14:27 read it. I think I've read it 20 times already and it's been four days. I have eaten some pretty weird stuff. I took a picture of one of my breakfasts! So, you will get to see it when the time comes. I'm talking in sacrament meeting next week. Please send letters! I feel so isolated from the world. It would be amazing to hear from you all. I'm getting used to the climate a little bit, really using those hanky's. I'm going to the temple Wednesday and this couple from South Jordan are on a mission here with family history and all our names are pretty much done so I told her about Ryan, our cousin and she's probably gonna email you and confirm it and stuff, because I'm going to the temple this Wednesday and the following Friday and I really wanna do his work! Anyway, I wake up at 6-ish, Shower, personal study 7-8, breakfast 8-8:30, some type of meeting 8:30-9:30, then class from 9:30-12:30, 12:30-1:00 is lunch, then companion study 1:00-2:00, then study 2:00-3:00, then exercise from 3:30-4:20, dinner at 5:00, class from 5:45-9:00m then planning till 9:15, snack at 9:30, write in journal and scripture study till 10:30 and lights out! This is the first day we could write letters so don't be mad it took so long. I wear my sandals all the time too so, that was a good idea. But wow, you can't believe the humidity it's a joke. The 1st two days of my mission were probably the two hardest days of my life. Mainly having to leave all you guys and McCall. Miss ya guys like crazy. I feel like I've already overcome the world and it's my 3rd day. Its crazy cuz at home you get so distracted that you take God's love and the Holy Ghost for granted but, now that I'm out here I have no other choice but to rely on him. The poem "Good Timber" has helped me a ton in reminding me, that the person who never had trials and had to fight and never dealt with anything hard, was the person who never became anything. Yes, I'm struggling these first couple days but, when I think about the kind of person this is going to turn me into, I find challenge and joy in the struggle. Things are awesome. I cant wait to get to Sierra Leone and actually teach. I really hope all is well and tell everyone hi for me. You guys have got to come pick me up in 2 years cuz this place will amaze you. I'm learning lots but, still getting into things. I hope I get your letter mom! Make sure it's okay with grandma Beck if we do Ryan's name. I hope I told you everything about the climate and culture that I know of. Ask me anything you are curious about next letter. It's amazing how the gospel is the same no matter if you live in Ghana or good 'ole P-town. My companion loves all my American candy but, I love sharing with him, he's so grateful, and tells me I'm a very patient person because his English is so hard to understand. I know that this will be the hardest two years of my life but, it also will make me the husband and father I want to be and will lay a foundation for my life. Miss you guys like crazy and keep me in your prayers. Tell Grandma and grandpa Wood and Cavanaugh hi and enjoy your air conditioning and dry air! I'm actually getting used to it! Love you all, write back quick, PLEASE! Love your son,