3 Nephi 11:11

3 Nephi 11:11   And behold, I am the ^alight and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter ^bcup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in ^ctaking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the ^dwill of the Father in all things from the beginning.

Good Morning Everyone!

Life is amazing right now. The work here in Owasso is really picking up. When I arrived here several weeks ago we had zero investigators. Not one person willing to learn about the Gospel! We worked so hard to make something happen here and it is paying off! We found SXXX, JXXXX, ZXXXX, CXXXX, the LXXXX's, and SXXXX! All people willing to hear our message. All people we are doing our best to help come closer to the Savior. I have a testimony of hard work. Literal blood, sweat, and tears. That is the only way to do missionary work. For me at least. I'm not smart enough to do it any other way! haha. All I try to do is my best. And the Lord HAS filled in the rest.

Elder Welburn is awesome. He's from the Salinas Valley in central California. I can't remember if I already told you that haha. He's a great missionary already! He is an amazing teacher and I learn things from him every day. He's pretty quiet, but what he says, he says with power. It's amazing.

We have been tracting a whole lot since we got here, and that is one of the most interesting things about missionary work. It's so interesting to see the different socioeconomic levels of neighborhoods and the relationship to their receptiveness to our message. Generally it’s the mid to lower class level neighborhoods that are the most receptive. They are humble. They are searching for things in their life. Things that are not material. They are the meek, the lowly. They are those who will inherit the earth. That is who we should all try to become. There is power in humility.

I feel so blessed for the opportunity to serve the people here in Oklahoma. There are so so so many good people here. It gives me hope for the human race to see so many good Christian people. You should hear the way they talk about California. It's not pretty haha. The gospel of Jesus Christ is real. It really helps us in our day to day lives. It really gives us strength. It really gives us comfort. And it is all made possible through His Atonement. He is the only way.

I hope my emails are enjoyable haha, If you have any questions about anything please write me! I will do my best to answer! :)

Gotta go! I love you all so much! I so much look forward to your letters! It seems that i always get them when we are having a rough day. They always lift me up :) thank you so much :) I will keep Sean in my prayers! :) Love you all!!! :)

Love,

Elder Sherwood

Luke 6:31

Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Good Morning!

This week was great. On Thursday we went to transfer point at the Tulsa East Stake Center at 6:30 in the morning. I dropped off Elder Koetting and picked up my new companion and trainee. Elder Welburn. He's from California too! He lives in XXXXX, it's down in the Salinas Valley! I love getting the California kids haha. He's 19 he went to college at Chico State for a year before he came out here and he's awesome. He's quiet but he's an amazing missionary already. He is light years ahead of where I was when I first came out. He knows how to teach and talk with people. He's smart, obedient, and willing to work hard.

It's been kind of a rough week however because we are still trying to build the area. When we arrived there was literally no investigators. So we have just been trying to find some people to teach! We tract so much and find a lot of people that are interested. It's just really hard to follow up with them. People are busy we understand that, but this stuff is important!! Anyways, we will continue to do our best.

Have I told you about XXXX yet? XXXX is another investigator of ours that was being taught by the Sisters in Skiatook but he was  transferred over to us because he lives in our area. He's awesome, he's the boyfriend of this girl in the ward and he wants to be baptized. He reads the Book of Mormon and he loves learning about the Gospel. His girlfriend, XXXX, told us that after the lessons with us he always says "I just feel so good!" Learning about the gospel changes peoples lives for the better. I have seen it happen so many times. The gospel of Jesus Christ is real and it can help you. That’s why I love teaching people about it and helping them come closer to the Savior.

On Thursday we were able to give XXXX a tour of the chapel! He said that he would come to church on Sunday and we reminded him on Saturday, but he was a no show. I feel like this has been the story of my mission so far. I'm put in areas where nothing is happening and it's up to me and my companion to make something happen. It's so hard!!! Sometimes it’s so discouraging. But it makes it so much sweeter when you can look back at everything you've done and see all the progress that you were able to make. I know it's not my strength, or my smarts, or my skills in missionary work that make it all possible, because I don't have any. I know that the Lord is helping me. I know he can help us all through ANYTHING!!! It's true!! I've never had to rely on him more than on my mission because this work is so hard. But I know He's mindful of all of us and He wants to help us! 

I love you all!

Elder Sherwood

Recent Pictures

Elder Sherwood said, "Every missionary that serves in Bentonville takes a picture of the companionship and hangs it on the wall in the apartment. This is the one we left behind."

"These two kids are so awesome haha, both of them have been baptized recently. We would go to lunch with them alot and go on exchanges alot too."

"A recent convert who got his mission call to Uruguay! Really awesome kid."

"A family in Bentonville. They were so good to us missionaries. such and awesome family."

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Moroni 10:32

Moroni 10:32  Yea, ^acome unto Christ, and be ^bperfected in him, and ^cdenyyourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and ^dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be ^eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Good Morning!

This week was great! Elder Koetting and I worked so hard and good things happened. We tracted a whole lot and found several people who are interested in investigating the Church. One of them we are really excited about. It's this kid named XXXXX, we are giving him a tour of the church on Tuesday night and then he is going to play basketball with us and some guys from church. It should be way fun!

Owasso is a great town. We had a car this week so that made things a lot easier, haha. We live with the Stake President on a little farm. We try to feed the donkeys every once in a while but they hate us. They run away every time. It's awesome to live in a home with a family. It gets lonely sometimes living in an apartment with just your companion. On Tuesday we had exchanges with the traveling assistants, Elder Prestwhich and Elder Vanroosendahl (van-rose-en-doll). Elder Prestwhich is so awesome. He was my district leader back in Bentonville. Being a missionary is also awesome because you get to meet a ton of new friends! I really hope to stay in contact with these elders when we are all back home.

This week I got to do two baptismal interviews. For those who are unfamiliar with the process, those who are ready for baptism must be interviewed before they enter the waters of baptism. They were so awesome! I LOVE seeing people take that crucial step of faith and coming closer to their Father in Heaven. It was so awesome to be a part of that process.

So on Saturday night we got our transfer call from the Zone Leaders. We are being split up!!!! Elder Koetting is going back to Arkansas. The Springdale zone, Marshallese 2nd Ward! (people from the Marshall Islands!). And I will be staying here in Owasso, and I will be training again! I'm so excited! Training is so much fun. It's so hard, but it's so much fun. I will meet my new companion on Thursday at transfer point!  I will miss Elder Koetting. I love that kid so much. I am excited to train again though haha. I'm glad president and the Lord trust me with this responsibility.

Serving a mission is such an amazing experience. In her email, Taylor asked me if I have any difficult days. The answer is absolutely. Serving a mission has been the hardest thing I've ever done. Missionary work is not easy. It is physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding all day every day. It requires every bit of energy and focus you have to be the most effective you can be. I don't remember what it feels like to not be exhausted. And that is the best feeling in the world. All the Lord expects out of us, out of anyone, is our best. That 'best' is different for everyone. And that 'best' is different every day. Some days it's not so good and you wish you could be better, you feel inadequate, but it's in those moments that you must remember that the Lord is willing to make up the difference, if you are willing to try. We have a partnership with the Lord, he strengthens us. He builds us up as we build on Him, He is our sure foundation, our rock.

Love,

Elder Sherwood

Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10  ^aFear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Hey!

SUCH a crazy week. How did you know we moved! Anyways, I will tell you the story.

Tuesday Elder Koetting and I had just left an appointment with a less active family when we saw that we had a missed call from President Shumway. So we called him back and he said "Elders, I'm gonna make your dreams come true." He then told us that we would be leaving Bentonville and going to Owasso Oklahoma, and we would be leaving in two days! And that the missionaries in Ranch Creek needed to emergency transferred out and we were going to be transferred in to Ranch Creek. So we packed our belongings, quickly said our goodbye's, and left for Owasso Thursday morning. We arrived to an area with no investigators. Elder Koetting and I got to work doing what we do best. It was a whirlwind several days only to find out Friday night that I am also the District Leader for the Owasso district now!

So, to recap Elder Koetting and my adventures together:  We were shotgunned into Bentonville Arkansas, 6 months out, my first time training and my second area. Then we were emergency transferred in the middle of our third transfer together (which is unusual on its own) only to shotgun a new area where I begin my first assignment as district leader.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!

We are just gonna work our tails off and try to turn this area around. The members are super excited to have us here and we are excited to be here. We live in the Stake President’s home which is awesome. The area kind of combines Stockton and Bentonville, you’ve got your farmland as well as your super nice housing developments i.e. Nottingham Estates.

We are in a car share with the Elm Creek Elders which means we switch off every week with the car. So every other week we will be on bikes.

This work is so exciting and crazy right now. I love it. And I'm so glad to be going through all of this with Elder Koetting. He is such a champ.

Any questions?! haha

Love you all! 

Elder Sherwood