HI!!!
I finally
made it!! We left the MTC at 3 am on Wednesday morning. I'm sorry our phone
call was short and probably not as in depth as you all would have liked. But I
realized that sooo much has happened and it’s hard to get it all out in a short
amount of time. Also as I talked to you, I started getting kinda sad because I
miss you all. But it's ok!! I miss you but remember "missionaries are
people who leave their families for a little while, so that other people can be
with their families for eternity".
So I sent
you a letter on Thursday but I'm not sure if you've gotten it yet. You might
get it today. My companion’s name is Elder A! He's a really nice guy. He is
from Montana. In about 3 days he will hit the one year mark. He comes from a
HUGE family. He has a background in the FLDS church (fundamentalists). Don't
worry, you will hear about them in a second. He is a convert to the church when
he was about 16.
I was
called to the xxxx, Missouri area. Look it up. You won't find it. The
population of this town is 1,819. And I kid you not probably half of the people
here are cousins. There is this place called "xxxxxx". It is an
FLDS community, where everyone knows everyone and everyone is family. Including
my companion. He has cousins, aunts, and uncles that live on "xxxxxx". It's literally a ranch in the middle of the woods, with dirt roads
that wind endlessly through miles and miles of a thick forested area. My
apartment is a trailer home on the property of a member in the ward. Literally
a trailer home. They are doing construction on the bridge you take to get to
the house, so we take these dirt and gravel back roads that take us on a 20
minute journey through the wilderness to get home. It's awesome.
The
family who lives in the house next door to us and owns the trailer we live in,
is the P….family. They are really really really awesome. They are so
cool.
We teach
fundamentalist families all the time. Many of which are related to my
companion. And this is what I have realized:
They do
not teach you this stuff in the MTC. There's no section on how to teach someone
who already believes everything you believe, has a stronger testimony of more
principles and doctrine, has more knowledge on the subject, and lives Plural
Marriage.
I'm having
a hard time teaching right now because of this: When we go to teach a
fundamentalist, their knowledge already surpasses mine. I don't have any
doctrine or principles that they don't know or have a testimony of. The thing
is, the Spirit testifies of the truth. And the FLDS church is 95% true! So I'm
not really getting the experience of going in to a lesson with a person who
doesn't know the restoration or plan of salvation. So I’m not really getting
better at teaching those lessons. When we visit a fundamentalist it's usually a
discussion or question and answer session on things that I am just not well
versed in. So I find myself thinking of more questions about what is being
discussed, than helpful insights or points to make myself. I feel rather ineffective
in those situations. But I will NOT let it get me down. I know that if I can
get good at this, I will be SO prepared for the rest of my mission. I'm looking
at this trial, as a blessing. So, Dad, if you have any advice on this matter,
it would be MUCH appreciated.
My first
night here, we went to teach the A…family (my companions cousins) and we taught
them the doctrine of Christ form 2 Nephi 31-33. We ate dinner with them as
well. Deer meatloaf that one of the cousins hunted and killed with A BOW AND
ARROW. HOW COOL IS THAT! First day of my mission and I had freshly killed
venison meatloaf. Awesome. So awesome.
Ok so a
couple days later we were knocking on the doors of some potential investigators
and former investigators and we knocked on the door of D S. He is this little
old fisherman, who has this super high voice. He's one of the nicest people I've
ever met. We talked with D on his doorstep for a few minutes and then he
invited us in and we taught him the restoration!!! It was SO COOL!! My first
time actually teaching a REAL person in their home. Ah it was so sweet. We left
him with a Book of Mormon and invited him to read it. I was so nervous at fist
to start talking, but it's so true, if you are obedient, have faith and have
treasured up the words of life in your mind continually, all you have to do is
open your mouth. It was a really awesome experience. We visited him the next
day and answered some questions he had about the introduction to the BofM. We
have an appointment with him tomorrow! I'm so excited!
My most
recent favorite scripture is Alma 57: 19-21
I will
stand firm and undaunted and I will obey with exactness, because my mom taught
me that way. Brother S a member of the branch presidency in the MTC always
said, "your mothers didn't raise you to be average missionaries. They are
back home telling people about Elder Sherwood, the exceptional
missionary".
I
promise, I'm doing all I can to be an exceptional missionary. Because that's
how you raised me. Thank you :)
I know
that it might sound like my concerns and struggles are getting me down, and
they kind of are. But regardless, I am absolutely LOVING this. I love being a
servant of the Lord. I love teaching. I love having a very specific purpose,
and I am very happy :)
here is
some of my favorite scriptures from recently:
2 Nephi
31: 20
Luke 9:
62
Alma 55:
6
Alma 56:
44-45
Isaiah
52: 1-7
John 15
Helaman
3: 26-30
I have
finally finished ALMA and I am in chapter 6 of Helaman. The homestretch!! I'm
going to try to finish the whole Book Of Mormon by the next time I email you.
Pray for my success please :) I would also ask you to please pray for D S, We
are going to invite him to be baptized in our next lesson. I can't wait!
Well that’s
pretty much everything. I love you All SO MUCH!!
Elder
Sherwood
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