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