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