First email from Jennings - "2 Week Summary"

Hey everyone! Sorry, I couldn't write last week. Flying down to Houston and everything kinda messed up our schedules. And we don't have Wi-Fi in our apartment so I couldn't write when we got there. So I'm just gonna kinda summarize my last week in the MTC as well as my first week in the field!

Okay, so our last week in the MTC had a lot of mixed feelings. Tuesday was P-day and Christmas. MTC Christmas was way fun-- we had brownies and gave gifts and everything. Then later that night, we had our devotional and Elder Oaks and his wife came to speak! That was super cool. After the devotional we had a district review and Elder Davies was super sick so McBride stayed with him. So when the President’s wife asked who was in charge everyone looked and pointed at me... So, I led the meeting. It was all good though. Everyone's testimonies were super strong and I love my district. "We are set apart from the world, so we can make a change in the world."

The next day we were supposed to meet our new teachers but one of them didn't show up... I also saw Elder Krey Harris for the first time! There was rumor that the hurricane was going to go back to Houston and we might be re-assigned. We didn't want that at all...

Jonah, Krey Harris, and Jake Osborne

On Friday we had infield orientation. Oh man, it was a 9 hour class... We learned really good things though. On Saturday we had our last TRC and he wrecked me and Elder Horikami. But later that day we saw him walking down the hall and he broke the fourth wall, he told us he was sorry for going so hard on us, but he just wanted us to have a more realistic example and that we really did do great. We had cake and practiced our district song for Sacrament Meeting on Sunday because we were leaving so they have us do a musical number. I also got a haircut. And to any future missionary, make sure you cut it right before the MTC because you don't want it to be cut at the MTC... trust me.

MTC haircut

Sunday was our last day at the MTC. We went to sacrament meeting and as soon as I sat down I knew I was going to be picked to give a talk. Sure enough, my name was called. So I winged a talk on the Holy Ghost. After singing and the meeting was over, I was able to give a girl in my district a blessing because she was super sick. It's always a cool experience to let the spirit work through you. And I think that these experiences I've had at the MTC will really, really help me through my mission and life. We had to say goodbye to our district. It was super sad and we had our last testimony meeting. And we went around and said things we like or appreciate about everyone. Oh man, I didn't think I would get so attached to everyone. They all have such strong spirits and the example they all set for me has changed my life. Before we left we went and left notes for the sisters who were staying until Wednesday and left them in our classroom for them to find the next day.

Jonah, Elder Horikami and Sisters from the district

MTC District

That night in our residence, some Elder came in and he had a humming bird. It was hurt, I took a look at it and its wing was dislocated. It was moving around and seemed fine other than the fact it couldn't fly. I wished I wasn't leaving the next day so I could have tried to help it. They named him Elder Hummington. And then we went to bed, knowing that we would wake up at 2:30 to leave for Houston!

"Elder Hummington"

Elder Jones and Elder Wood

Okay, so we got up super early and got on a bus to take us to the airport. Once we got there we went through security and such, and it’s a mission miracle! I made it through without them stopping me! Haha but then once we got to our area, they let us make calls. So I got to talk to my mom and dad and even my brother Nathan for a little while. They had lots of questions and I only had a little bit of time. ;p It was nice to hear everyone's voices again though. On the plane I sat next to an Elder from Hawaii. He slept 90% of the time and took up 90% of the room. Haha it wasn't a very comfortable flight but I got a window seat so that was nice. When we landed we were met by President Hewlett. He immediately welcomed us with a huge bear hug. He's such a good guy. He has a strong testimony and faith in his missionaries. We went to a stake center in Houston for lunch and to take pictures to send to our parents to let them know we are safe. Having lunch there was a testimony builder. It was the first real food I’ve had in weeks. I don't even really know what it was, but it was good. I met my trainer, his name is Elder Jones. He's from Kaysville, Utah. He's been super cool to be around but he's a Utes fan. And he's always making sure I know what school is better.

So, I'm assigned to the Jennings, Louisiana area. It's a 4 hour drive from Houston. So, after we ate dinner we headed out to leave around 8:00 p.m.. Two hours into the drive we hit really bad traffic... a tanker had blown up so all the highway was blocked off. We had only driven a mile in an hour and a half... we weren’t even half way there or even into Louisiana yet... So we decided around 12:30 to turn around and head to Vidor, Texas, where the zone leaders stay. We got there around 1:30 a.m. and just crashed in our church clothes and everything. The ZL's only have a two room apartment so it wasn’t very comfortable and I didn't sleep much. But the next morning we got up early and headed out to Welsh where our apartment is. The next day we went shopping and got some stuff. Elder Jones is already out of money for the month and my missionary card didn't work so we had to pay for everything out of our own pockets... that kinda sucked but it's alright. I don't have any money though, so it looks like I'll be living off cereal, corndogs, and ice cream for the month ;p

Something cool happened that day, we were going tracting and Elder Jones told me that in order to find where to go, we had to be led by the spirit. So we said a prayer and then he told me to open up my map and let the spirit pick a street. And then hopefully both the streets we pick would be the same. I was kinda doubtful at first but realized I just have to trust in the spirit. So after a minute or two we both said at the same time the exact same street... It was crazy! Granted, we didn't find anyone there, but it was cool anyways.

So here's a little about my area, think in your head what Louisiana looks like. No matter what you're thinking, you're probably right. Almost immediately when you cross the Texas border into Louisiana it changes. It's kind of weird to be honest. Lots of porches and lots of Bayou people. Also, Elder Jones and I cover an area with 40,000 people in it. Just me and him. And we have one branch in the whole area with only maybe 20-30 people who come to church and only like one family who's actually active. Our Branch President doesn't even come to church. Our Branch mission leader isn't active either really. And he doesn't do his job, so we don't ever have any meals or anything. Almost zero member support for the missionary work. And when all those prophets and apostles talk about how important member help is to missionary work, they weren't lying... ;p but hey, we got lots of work to do! There's a different church on every street down here. And everyone "loves Jesus" but no one really knows who he is. It's like the first vision. They talk of Jesus, but their hearts are in the opposite direction.

We were tracting and finding all this week. We cover such a large area but it's fun to see everything! It's so different than Utah that's for sure! Haha a lot of places here are kinda sketchy, people getting arrested and shot at, witches and "priestesses", everyone drunk or high, it’s great! Lots of teaching opportunities ;) We've had a few good talks with some people but nothing seems to stick. We are going to keep trying though!

On Friday we had a district meeting. We are with the Elders and Sisters from Lake Charles. They are super nice and it was good to see some other missionaries. We also went into south Jennings which is the "hood area". In the day there are some friendly people out, but they all tell us "Y'all betta not be on dis side of da tracks when it gets dark" or "Honey baby, it’s getting real late for two nice looking young fellows like y'all to be out here". So, guess that means we just gotta convert them all so they'll stop shooting each other! ;p


On weekends we go down to Vidor and Orange to do service. It was a nice change of pace. It's good to serve but also kinda sad to see all these people lose everything. We have to tear out their whole house. Anything that was touched by the water had to be destroyed. So we go in, rip apart everything and all the walls and take it out to the streets in big piles hoping the city will come pick it up. It's hard work and the stench is almost unimaginable. But it's so good to work with everyone and get something done in a few hours that would have taken them weeks or months by themselves. But another church got super upset last week and said that we were breaking a law by talking about the gospel while we do work... So to not get the LDS church banned from doing service, there's a new rule that we can't even mention our church unless the people ask first... which is super lame because there is no greater opportunity to share our message than now, when these people have been humbled. But, they were upset we were converting so many people I guess...

We went to Orange and did a house then in the afternoon we went to Vidor to meet up with some other missionaries to do work there, and then, out of nowhere, ELDER RASBAND pops out of a house right next to me! He walked up to me, shook my hand and said, "This is where the Lord needs you." So that was kinda cool I guess ;)

After a few pictures with him (That I'll hopefully get soon) I went to work at a house and I ran into Elders McBride and Horikami and it was so nice to work and catch up with them. After working for a while we went to President Ross's house and took a quick shower and all of us missionaries headed down to the high school. We directed traffic for three to six thousand Mormons coming from all across the United States to help with the Mormon Helping Hands for the weekend. It was so cool to see so many people working and getting together for one cause. That night, we stayed the night at Elder Ross's house. That's where McBride and Horikami and other missionaries have stayed this whole time. They say they've done service everyday which is cool but they are super tired. But it was so fun to stay with other missionaries and work.




On Sunday we had a Sacrament Meeting at a high school in the auditorium. Everyone was wearing their work clothes and we sang hymns like Count Your Many Blessings and Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel. It was a really cool experience. Then we went and worked all day. The first house we went to we only cleaned stuff on the outside but the second house was one of the Texas country mansions. On man, it is huge! So we spent the rest of the day working on that house! Lots of hard work, I've never sweated more in my entire life but it was so good to see the spirit touch these people.


We headed back to Welsh that night. And that's how my two weeks have gone! Lots of hard work but it's so, so worth it. I already love these people and this work. I love and miss you all! Keep me updated on everything! Have a great week!

- Elder Wood