1 Nephi 20:10

1 Nephi 20:10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of ^aaffliction.

Good Morning! 

This week was awesome because of Christmas and everything that we were able to do but it was also kind of rough. The lessons in the zone were kinda down this week just because people are gone and busy with the holidays and such. But we had two baptisms! It was awesome, we are trying to make it to the temple with them soon! 

It was so good to video chat with all of you on Christmas! Glad to see not too much has changed since I've been gone :) I feel like I have changed so much but I'm still the same person. Like I'm still the same person but my goals and desires and purpose in life has changed. I finally feel like I'm beginning to understand what this life is all about. The gospel has a tendency to do that I think ;) So if anyone reading this feels lost, alone, confused, etc, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for you. Really it's for all of us. At all times. But there are people out there that are looking for something but they just don't know where to look. As a missionary I try so hard to find those people. The other night we were tracting. We tracted one side of a street. So much opposition. slammed doors, Jehovah's Witnesses, you name it. We decided that the neighborhood was a bust, so we left. But we felt a strong impression to go back. So we did. We continued tracting the other side of the street and again, more opposition. Let me tell you, there was no love for the Mormons on this street. Until we knocked on the last two doors. One of them was a family, they LOVE Jesus. It's awesome. They are non denominational. We talked with the dad for a while on the doorstep and asked if we could come back and share a message about the gospel and families. Our return appointment last night was really successful. We are going back later this week to teach them more! They are really interested in learning more. They are sincere and have a real desire to come closer to the Savior. Definitely worth the opposition. 

I have learned on my mission that usually before or after great spiritual moments comes the adversary's sad attempt to bring us down. In all of our lives, when miracles occur, Satan always gets his jabs in with something equally powerful in the opposite spiritual direction. It's more of a testimony builder for me now. To know that Satan exists and does everything he can to make us miserable. HE wants us to feel that way. I know that God lives and the he wants to bring us joy and happiness in this life. And He can, if we let him.

Anyways, the work in Springdale Har-Ber Ward is going great! I'm still loving Arkansas, loving being a zone leader and loving Elder Stapley. We work great together. I love you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Sherwood

Tulsa...

Of course he found a ballpark...

Tulsa Oil Man

John 4:14

 John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never ^athirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water ^bspringing up into ^ceverlasting life.

This week was awesome! I love Springdale Arkansas. I'm so happy to be back in Arkansas. I love this state. It's literally the best kept secret in the United States. Like who has ever even heard of Arkansas ya know?! I could definitely live here someday. Elder Stapley is the best missionary that I've ever met. He's 26 and he only has two transfers left! I love it so much. This area is doing so well right now. We have two baptisms set up for Thursday and we have a couple other people with baptismal dates. Also this week we found two families! One family of 5 with three teenage kids that really want to learn more about our message and another family of 4. They are so awesome. We met that second family last night tracting.

Being a Zone Leader is awesome. We haven't done a whole lot yet, just helping missionaries in our zone with random questions that they have or permission for stuff and collecting key indicators last night and reporting to the assistants. This is the first time basically since I was trained that I have been with a missionary that has more experience than me. It's awesome. I've learned so much already from him. Elder Stapley is so awesome. He is super knowledgeable about missionary work and he just knows how to get things done! I have been so blessed on my mission I can't believe it. I've had the best areas the best companions the best districts. I'm back in the same district with Elder Koetting haha. It's so awesome. I've seen him a lot since I've been here and it's so cool to see how much he has improved. It makes me proud to be his trainer haha :)

 We decided, because of all the stuff that happened this past week in the country, to canvas the neighborhood by the church with copies of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. The family is under attack in society today. Seriously this part of the country knows what’s up. That document is Prophetic on all accounts. 18 years ago when it was issued it was almost superfluous. But it now stands as God's standard on the family. God's standard. The same God that is referred to by our founding fathers. I would invite everyone that reads this to read that proclamation and live by it's principles. Sorry I could keep going but I'll get off my soapbox now. I hope I didn't offend anyone.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real! Jesus Christ lives. God lives. Truth is still truth whether or not you choose to believe it. But this life is our probationary state and we must figure it out. I know that he lives and that He loves us and is not waiting to punish us. He is waiting to bless us. And He does everything He can to do that. It really is up to us to apply his atonement in our lives. I love the Gospel. I love this work. It is the Lord’s work. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Sherwood

A Few Pictures...

Elder Sherwood with his companion Elder Bailey and I think Brother Johnson, they lived in his house.

 

Elder Sherwood and a new member of the church he had been teaching.

Snow in Owasso!

Elder Sherwood's district - He says he will really miss them!

1 Nephi 6: 4-5

 1 Nephi 6: 4-5  For the fulness of mine intent is that I may ^apersuade men to ^bcome unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.

 5 Wherefore, the things which are ^apleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.

Good Morning!

So Saturday night we were driving back from a lesson with a kid from the ward. He's about to leave on his mission to Kobe Japan. We are almost home and I get a call on our phone from the Assistants. On transfer call night that’s either awesome or a terrible. If you are loving your area, companion and district and you feel like you could stay in the same place the rest of your mission, it's terrible. I answered the phone and Elder Robinson told me that I am being transferred to Springdale Arkansas to be a Zone Leader for the Springdale Zone, with Elder Stapley.

I am excited to be a zone leader and to go back to Arkansas because I love it there, but I am sad to be leaving Owasso. This area has been so much fun. Of course with the Lord's blessing, my companions and I have built this area so much. The work is going so well now! I am super bummed to be leaving but I guess I'm needed elsewhere.

So the next couple of days are going to be crazy. Packing and visiting people, saying goodbye's. It will be an emotional time haha. That’s okay though, that’s just the way it goes when you are a missionary.

We started teaching XXXX his new member lessons! And his dad is joining in now and accepted a baptismal invitation last night! He said that a month ago if someone told him that he would be sitting around a kitchen table with us talking about this stuff he would have thought they were crazy! But the answers to prayers and miracles that he has seen lately have really humbled him and he is ready to listen to this message.

One thing that I have really learned on my mission is how prevalent the Lord’s hand is in our lives. How much he wants to be there with us and how often we get in the way! If we would just humble ourselves, ask, seek, and knock, he will be there to help us and guide us. Miracles still happen. We just have to open our eyes to see them. I love serving the Lord. I love being a missionary. This is the Lord's work. This is his Gospel. I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Sherwood

Ether 12:26

Ether 12:26  And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: ^aFools ^bmock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

This week was kind of a bummer. But also pretty cool. Thursday night we were just about to go tracting, when we got a text from the Zone leaders telling us all to go home. The snow and ice that was falling from the sky and which was covering the roads was apparently a danger to our health and safety. That night we received several inches of snow and all day Thursday we weren't allowed to drive and we were actually urged to not go out. The snow was falling pretty much all day long. Later in the day we were able to get a ride to go knock on doors and shovel driveways and sidewalks for people. That was...cold. But fun! So for a couple of days there the work was slowed down. But that’s okay because on Saturday we had XXXX's baptism!

It was so awesome. We had a good turnout! XXXX asked Brother Murray one of his friends from the ward to baptize him. It was an awesome experience. XXXX asked me to speak at his baptism. I gave the talk about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I have this poem called at the crossroads which talks about two travelers, one that uses his own judgment and chooses the wrong road and another that has the guidance of another, one who knows the roads, and leads him to victory where he "walks on the highways fair". I likened the experiences of the two wanderers in this poem to us in our lives and the ability we have to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He will show us the road. He is the messenger for the Father. He knows the roads. And if we live in accordance with the principles of the gospel, we can have his constant companionship. I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I've had to teach XXXX from the very beginning of his experience with the church. He has literally been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a new person. Walking in newness of life.

A principle that I have thought about recently is the principle that is taught in the scriptures that "no man can serve two masters". We cannot serve good and evil. In this world, that seems to be the predominant idea. We have to make a decision. There is no salvation in indifference. We are here to serve, and to love. In this world of shifting values I am so grateful for the gospel, the scriptures and a living prophet who guides us and gives us direction. I'm grateful for prayer the incredible gift we have to communicate with our Father in Heaven. I'm grateful that I can be serving the people here in Owasso. They are a tough crowd, but I love them. And I love you all too!

Love,

Elder Sherwood

Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us ^areason together, saith the Lord: though your ^bsins be as scarlet, they shall be as ^cwhite as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Good Morning! 

This week was crazy! With Thanksgiving happening it was really hard to meet with people and teach a lot of lessons but regardless, we hit the standard again. 20 lessons with 12 member presents. The perfect transfer is still intact haha. XXXX is doing awesome! He had his baptismal interview with President Shumway on Sunday and he is good to go. He will be baptized this Saturday at 2 pm! It has been so awesome to see the gospel change his life. Pictures will be forthcoming. 

Thanksgiving was fun! We went with the Baird’s, a family in the ward, to Brother Baird’s brother's house in Tulsa. It was fun. Thank you for having the missionaries over for Thanksgiving by the way. It is so nice to have a friendly family to be with on days like that. 

Elder Bailey and I are doing good work. The work here in Ranch Creek is going so well. We have a lot of people to teach which makes the days really busy. Sometimes I do miss just poundin the pavement, knockin on door after door in good ol Bentonville haha. But I'll trade that for real investigators and people that want to be baptized haha. We still tract a ton but tracting in the winter yields little success because of the freezing temperatures. No one really wants to stand on their doorstep and talk to you while it's below freezing outside haha. But that’s okay, the work must go on right? :)

I love this work. I love this gospel. Jesus Christ is the Savior. He really can influence our lives. I know, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that the gospel has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Sherwood

Some Pictures from Elder Sherwood

Elder Sherwood taught with Elder Andra on Elder Andra's last day in the mission field.  Elder Andra was Elder Sherwood's first companion back in Stockton Missouri.

             

Elder Sherwood says, "Yup. That's Elder Welburn. Yup. those are scissors."

Elder Sherwood, " This was conference morning. Makin some scones :) "

Luke 17:32

This week was a great week. Elder Bailey and I did good work. On Friday we had 11 lessons total so we needed 9 total for Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we taught 6 member present lessons. The most I've ever taught in a day. It was awesome. We ended the week with 14 member present lessons and 23 total lessons.

Also on Thursday we did the Stop Smoking Workshop with XXXX! He committed to a week of no smoking! He is getting baptized on December 7th hopefully. If he can quit smoking and stay non-smoking for these next three weeks he will be getting baptized on that date! It's so awesome! He is amazing. We were talking to him after church yesterday and he was talking about how he has always known that there should still be a prophet on the earth. The things that we teach in this church make sense! This is the way that it is supposed to be! Ours is the only doctrine that makes sense with the totality of scripture and knowledge in the world. I love sharing that message with people. And I love building their faith in the Savior.

The work here in this area is going so well. We have XXXX who wants to be baptized but is having a hard time coming to church. We are working with her on overcoming that concern. We have XXXX who accepted a baptismal date but then realized they would be out of town. We are still working on getting her a new baptismal date. And there are many really solid potential investigators that we are beginning to work with that have a lot of promise. Elder Bailey and I are trying our best to work hard and to work smart.

This is the hardest but the best experience of my life thus far. There is no greater work than this. This is the Lord's work. Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration. The tool in the Lords hand in this great and marvelous work. Jesus of Nazareth is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and He stands ready to succor each of us in our time of need. I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Sherwood

D & C 103:36

D&C 103:36  All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your ^adiligence, faithfulness, and ^bprayers of faith. 

Good Morning Family! This week was SO AWESOME!

On Thursday we had transfers! I dropped Elder Welburn off at 7:30in the morning. Then I learned that Elder Bailey wasn't going to be here until 3:30 in the afternoon so I asked the Zone Leaders what I was going to be doing all day because I didn't want to sit at the church all day and just wait for my companion. So I got to go to Cedar Ridge with Elder Andra and a new missionary for the day! It was so sweet! We got to train the new missionary for a day together. It was so fun to be with my trainer again on his last day in the mission field! Such an awesome opportunity. Felt just like the good old days back in Stockton. We tracted all day long it was so fun haha. It was cool to be with that new missionary for a day with my trainer. He had no clue what was going on but he was a champ. So much fun.

Then when the transfer loop finally arrived in Tulsa at 5:30 that evening I met Elder Bailey! He is so awesome! We get along so well! Almost too well haha. We get a little distracted sometimes because get along so well. He's been out about 6 months and he's not had he best of luck with companions in the past. He didn't get along with them too well and they just weren't super hard workers I guess. But he's ready to work hard and I'm ready to work him hard! It's going to be a great transfer. Miracles are and will continue to happen! 

XXXX is doing so great! He came to church on Sunday again and wants to be baptized. He's got some obstacles he has to overcome first before he can be baptized but it shouldn't be a huge problem. XXXX is doing great as well, we are still trying to set a date with her. 

We have hit the standard of excellence four weeks in a row now in this area. Elder Bailey and I are going for a perfect transfer. 6 weeks in a row, 20 lessons, 60% member presents. It's totally within reach. 

The work of salvation, missionary work, really is hastening. I want to quote something that Joseph Smith said at the beginning of this dispensation after the fullness of the gospel was restored, he said:

"The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent. Until it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear. Until the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say, "The work is done."

Truth has been established again on the earth. The fullness of the Gospel. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be sharing this message with everyone that I meet. It's hard. So hard. But so important. There is no greater work in the world to be a part of. I love you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Sherwood 

Romans 8:6

 Romans 8:6   For to be ^acarnally minded is ^bdeath; but to be ^cspiritually minded is life and ^dpeace.

Good Morning!

This week was a pretty good week again! Our indicators weren't as awesome as they have been the past couple weeks but they were still good! We found out about transfers on Saturday night! Elder Welburn is headed off to Monett, Missouri! And I'm staying here and getting Elder Bailey! I have no idea who he is, and everyone I talk to has no idea who he is. I'm excited to see how it all goes. I'm happy to be staying here in Owasso. Awesome things are happening right now. We have a couple baptisms coming up this month hopefully!

Earlier this week I went on exchange with the Mingo Valley elders. Our zone leaders. I was in Tulsa with Elder Rupp. It was a good exchange! Their ward mission leader is Josh Johnson's brother! Josh Johnson of the Toronto Blue Jays! That was pretty cool I thought.

This Sunday we had stake conference here in the Tulsa East Stake. It was an amazing meeting. The Stake Presidency was being reorganized! That means that President Johnson, the stake president that we are living with, is not the stake president anymore! So it is a huge change for their family. I am so appreciative of the way our church functions. We have several men that are in charge of the spiritual wellbeing of a thousand members of the church. A job that is by no means part time. Perhaps more full time than any job because they carry that mantle with them at all times. Then to see how quickly and seamlessly that position can be transferred to another member. No campaigns, no politics, no drama. Just the Lord's hand moving powerfully and swiftly. This is a gospel of service. Devotion to the Lord and the others in all things, at all times, and in all places.

I have seen on my mission, the Lord mend broken people. Heal spiritual wounds. I have seen these things happen to people around me as well as to myself. The Savior can have so much influence in our life if we will just let Him! We have an investigator named XXXX. We were in a lesson with him and a member that we brought with us. The member was describing to XXXX what it feels like to feel the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. The Testifier of truth. He described the calm, the peace, the burning in the bosom that comes when He speaks truth to our heart. XXXX said that he had felt that as he read the Book of Mormon. He said "That’s why I couldn't put it down." The Book of Mormon has so much power. We can come closer to the Savior through the people and principles that it contains. I know that this gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth in it's fullness. It must be! It is the evidence of God's love for His children, us. I love it so much. And I love sharing it with others!

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Sherwood 

Hebrews 10:35, 38-39 & Alma 48:17

I’m a little late getting these next two e-mails posted!  This one is from 10/28.

Hebrews 10:35, 38-39 

 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man ^adraw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

 39 But we are not of them who ^adraw back unto ^bperdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Good Morning!

This week was another great week for me and Elder Welburn. We didn't quite hit 30 lessons like we did last week. We got 23 lessons total 16 of which were member presents. Our zone again was not successful in accomplishing our goal. But that's ok! We were really close again! We aren't giving up. We have one more week to accomplish the goal before this transfer is over. I really hope I'm not transferred! This zone is so awesome!

This week I went on an exchange with Elder Meyer. He is a brand new missionary. This is his first transfer! I love the opportunity I get to be a district leader. I love being in a leadership position where I am just a leader over several missionaries. It's perfect. I get to know all the missionaries pretty well. And I love planning for district meetings and exchanges with the elders. When I was on exchange with Elder Meyer here in Owaso we had a cool experience. We were tracting and it was about 8:40 pm. We were with Ryan an 18 year old kid from the ward. It was dark, cold and late but we decided to knock on just one more door. We walked to a house and a guy was leaving the garage so we talked to him. Turns out he is going through a really tough time right now. He said he would like to talk to us about our message. We told him we know it can help him. He gave us his address ("Ya know where jalapeno grill is? We live right behind that.") and we left him with a prayer. We still have to follow up with him. I'll let y’all know how it goes!

One thing that I've realized about missionary work and achieving the standard of excellence (20 lessons, 60% member presents) is that it's incredibly achievable! Once we got it the first time, I'm very confident that we will be able to get it every time. I think we should approach a lot of the things we do in life this way. Sometimes we underestimate ourselves or our abilities. We are afraid to set goals for ourselves because we fear our inadequacies. We are afraid of failure. But once we set a goal, and achieve it, our horizons expand so much. And when we put our trust in the Lord we have his promise that we cannot fail. All things are possible when we have faith in Him. Even when we do fail, we haven't really failed. In the eternal perspective it's all about the growth. The striving for higher objectives, and what happens to us during that process. All I know is that when we have faith in him and try our best we grow stronger, no matter the outcome. I love serving as a missionary. I'm grateful for every lesson I have learned as well as every lesson I get to teach. There is no greater work in the world. This is His church, this is His work. And I love it.

Love,

Elder Sherwood

E-mail from 10/21/13

Alma 48:17 
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto ^aMoroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the ^bdevil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

Mornin' Y'all!

We made grits for breakfast this morning so I'm in a southern mood today.

This week was the best week of my mission.

We ended the week with 21 member present lessons and 30 total lessons!!! A new record for our area! It was such a busy week. So much fun. So much teaching. So much success. Our zone unfortunately did not all make the standard of excellence. We were super super close. I think it was only 1 or two areas that didn't make it. My whole district got the standard though! We all hit over 20 lessons and 60% with a member present. We got two new investigators this week! One of them is super solid. His name is XXXX. He is a media referral. He was curious about the Book of Mormon so he said he did some research on the internet and requested a visit from the missionaries. So we visited him. Taught him. Set a baptismal date for November 16 and he came to church on Sunday! It's funny, his story makes missionary work sound easy. It's not! BUT I believe he is a direct blessing from all the hard work Elder Welburn and I have put in to this area the past 9 weeks.

 As a district we taught 94 lessons, and 61 member present lessons. The best this district has ever done as far as I know. The zone altogether taught 312 lessons with a total of 208 member present lessons. A new record for the Zone as well! So we set a few records this week but we didn't accomplish our goal. So we are going to try again next week! Again, the goal is for every area in our Zone, 13 areas (or companionships) to teach at least 20 lessons with at least 12 of those lessons being taught with a member present. I will let you know how it goes :)

The work is hastening. I promise. And in the words of President Shumway: If you aren't along for this rocket ride you are missing out! I hope the members of the Lafayette ward are feeling this too! I hope the missionaries there are feeling it! And experiencing it! There is so much work to be done! People are being prepared to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We don't watch the news, but we hear all the time about the condition of our country. It may just be the fact that we are in the red-est state in the country (I think) but things don't seem to be going well! Our country needs the morals, the beliefs, the faith, the power, the strength, the hope, and the Spirit, that the gospel has to offer.

Ok I'll get off my soap box. I've been around too many evangelical preachers lately I guess. Seriously, if you are reading this and you have considered worrying about your kids future, and worrying about the economy, and worrying about this country, and have not considered Jesus Christ, I urge you to consider again. There is no sweeter peace that speaks to our souls than the whisperings of the Spirit of the Lord. And no calmer assurance of hope than a faith in the Savior of the world. He is our advocate with the Father. Our brother, our friend. I know these things are the truth. Because I have felt them. I love this work. It is the Lords work. And I love you all so much for your support and prayers in my behalf and in behalf of others. Thank you!

Love,

Elder Sherwood 

Alma 29:7-9

 Alma 29: 7-9
 7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

 8 For behold, the Lord doth ^agrant unto ^ball nations, of their own nation and ^ctongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he ^dseeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

I love that scripture that I put in the subject line. This week we were tracting and we met this guy named George. We got to talkin about life and the effort we put in to the things that we do. And he offered us this gem of advice. "I don't care if you're diggin’ ditches. Be the best ditch digger there is!" We laughed and noted his short quip as pithy, and witty. But upon further pondering his remark, I realized a much deeper call to repentance for many of us, if not all of us. So often do we desire more. More experiences, more responsibility, more things etc. But the Lord calls us to certain experiences for a reason. And why would we desire more than what the Lord asks us to do. I relate this to being a missionary in this way. I have been called to the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. Sure! It would be awesome to be a missionary in France, or Italy, or Brazil! But that’s not the point. The Lord called me here. He wants me here. He has a purpose for me being here. And why would I desire more than that. I will grow where I am planted. We can all learn from the ditch digger analogy. Where ever you are, what ever you are doing, do it well. "What e'er thou art, act well thy part".

This week we had a pretty funny experience tracting also. Someone called the cops on us! It was like 8:45 pm. We were just unlocking our bikes to ride home and a cop pulls up to us and says they got a call about some door to door salesman in the neighborhood. We tell him well we are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! He says "ok well, did you see any salesmen around here?" We assured him it was definitely us that he was looking for. We exchanged a few short words about our purpose and what we were doing. He then bid us a good night and made a hasty retreat to his car and we rode home with smiles on our faces, humbled, however struggling to not feel a sense of victory over what ever disgruntled neighborhood watchman saw us as a threat and called the cops on us. Please don't call the cops on the Mormon missionaries, all they want to do is teach you about Jesus Christ.

This week should be an awesome week. Our whole Zone is going for an all time OTM record! We are trying to get every area to achieve the standard of excellence, which is 20 lessons taught in one week, 60% of which have a member present during the lesson. If every area can achieve that standard it will be the first time in OTM history that this feat has been accomplished. We are so close! I'll let you know how it goes! 

Sorry I couldn't email yesterday! The library was closed because of Columbus day. We did however get to go to the Tulsa Zoo! It was pouring rain all day and the whole Zoo was empty. No people and really just a bunch of animals taking cover from the weather. But it was awesome nonetheless. I love getting together with other missionaries. This is an awesome area, awesome district, awesome zone, and awesome mission!

Love you all!

Elder Sherwood 

2 Nephi 9:43

2 Nephi 9:43  43 But the things of the wise and the ^aprudent shall be ^bhid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.

Good Morning! This week was sweeeet! We are currently as a district trying to achieve the standard of excellence (20 lessons, 60% member present) and this week we got so close. One area in the district got the standard. The rest of us were really close. In a couple of weeks our whole zone is going to try to get the standard. Every area. It would be a mission record if every area could acheive that standard. Good things are happening. The work is hastening.

I had my first district meeting as a district leader last Wednesday. It was awesome! I can't believe how much I've changed. I used to freak out about teaching Sunday school back home but now I love getting up there a teaching! It was sweet! I gave some sweet instruction on the Book of Mormon and how it answers questions of the soul. That was just one piece of instruction I did. I instructed/trained for almost 2 hours on other topics! haha! I don't have to come up with everything for the whole two hours, president usually has something he wants the district leaders to instruct on during those meetings.

(sorry we don't have a ton of time today so I'm trying to go pretty quick here)

As district leader my responsibilities are to watch out for the temporal and spiritual wellbeing of the missionaries in my district. I do this by contacting them all throughout the week and just talking to them, getting to know them, and asking if there is anything I can do for them. To instruct during district meeting, to collect key indicators (numbers) at the end of the week and report them to the zone leaders, and just to be the best example of a servant of Christ that I can possibly be!

Elder Welburn and I have been doing great work here in Owasso. We keep finding more and more people that want to learn more about our message. Seriously, the work is hastening, and if you aren't along for the ride then you are missing out! People are prepared everywhere, all around us. To be completely honest, the world is a terribly place, and there are people that fear for their families, their children. The gospel of Jesus Christ can bring peace, and hope in this life and in the life to come. I see it all the time! It's so awesome.

On another note! In 3 days I will have been out for 1 year!! It's crazy. This has been the fastest, funnest, hardest, weirdest, most awesome year of my life. I can't believe what serving a mission does to you. It really is a wild ride. I've never felt closer to the Savior in my life. He's real. He really does know us. He knows what we go through. And He wants to help! Its so awesome. Too often in this life do we get in His way! If we would just humble ourselves and have faith in him, and trust Him, the blessings and strength that He can give to us is unimaginable. I know this is true! I love you all so much for your love and support!

Love,

Elder Sherwood