Elder Wood's Mission Adventures: Week two in Jennings!

Elder Wood working with the Helping Hands group and Elder Rasband last week

President Hewlett, Elder Wood, Elder Jones, and Elder Rasband last week

Hey everyone! I've loved hearing from you all and I hope you had a good week! I heard it is starting to get colder back in Utah, haha I've almost forgotten what cold weather feels like ;p

So during the week, we had a few return appointments. But only one of the guys was actually there. We got a few new investigators so that was nice! We talked to Brother Billeaudeaux about starting to set up meals for us so hopefully that will be getting going soon! :)

On Wednesday, Elder Jones and I were driving around and we found the bayou! Well, part of it. It was actually really gross. Nothing like it was in Princess and the Frog... although, I have seen lots of frogs! Not so many princesses... ;p

The Bayou

These little frogs are everywhere! This one's name is Jefferson

Barbed wire fence at the Elementary School in Crowley

Also, on Wednesday, we were going to this little town called Estherwood. It was a small town and we stopped and donated a Book of Mormon to the local library and talked to a less-active who wasn't interested in coming back at all because he was too busy with his new donkeys. But while we were out there we got a text saying that someone from Crowley wanted a Book of Mormon. So, we looked up her address and she lived deep in west Crowley, right where a member police officer had told us never to go because of the gang violence. But, we gotta deliver the good word! So we went. Crowley is a very interesting place. On the outside and on Main Street it doesn’t seem too bad. But there are just certain details that make it seem off. Like there are barbed wire fences around elementary schools. But the fences aren't pointed out to keep people from coming in, they are pointed in to keep kids from getting out... just little things like that. We found the lady’s address and we gave her the Book of Mormon. She was in a rush to get somewhere but she was so thankful for us coming to give her the book. She said, almost in tears, that she would love for us to come back. So I'd say it was worth it!

Isis Snow Shop in Crowley

Friday was district meeting. The zone leaders Elders Anderson and Storey came down for exchanges so they were there with us. The meeting was super good. We talked about knowing the real Christ and teaching about the real Christ using the Book of Mormon. It was really good. Then after, we went to lunch at a place called Raising Canes. It's so good! I hope they put one in Utah someday. Then for the rest of the day, Elder Storey was with me and Elder Jones for Zone Leader exchanges. We went back to Crowley because that was Elder Storey’s old area. He showed us around and we talked to a few people. He bought all of us these things called cracklings. I'm not sure what was in it but it can't be good. They tasted good to me but Elder Jones almost threw up. I think basically it's just pig fat and skin boiled or fried together with seasoning on it. That night we headed down to Vidor to stay at the Ross's again for service over the weekend.

Saturday we did service all day again. It's nice to work but each week is another week that houses are sitting unopened, just kinda cooking all the crap inside. The first house we did was almost 100% made of wood... the flood had hit to the roof. It wasn't good... It's frustrating that we can't teach people while we serve or even just say a prayer... all these people have been so humbled but unless they ask we can't say a word. We all pray that they will feel our spirit and desire to want to know our message through our actions instead of our words. But it takes the people to open their mouth and ask. And that doesn’t happen very often... That night we directed traffic again. It was just as cool as the first time to see all these good people coming together to serve. I don't think I've ever had to tell so many people where I'm from ;p

After, we went to Wal-Mart to pick up some things. While we were checking out, the lady asked me if we were from a church. I told her we were missionaries for the LDS church. She then went off about how she was a single mom who had just moved down her with her kid to try and find her father who she hasn't seen in forever, and she was looking for a church to join to raise her kid in. She practically did our job for us and said, "Here I am, baptize me!" It was a super cool experience. She lived in another area though so I had to send her to the missionaries down there... but still, it was super cool. That night me, Elder McBride and Elder Horikami celebrated our 1 month mark by playing Liar’s Dice.

On Sunday we woke up super early to go to Sacrament Meeting at the high school. Which again, was super cool. But then our district headed down to the church to get our assignment. But no one had a place for us to go. So we waited until another sacrament meeting was done and a lady came out who had a friend she wanted us to go help. So we went down and her friend’s house didn't get hit too bad, but under the trailer house all her insulation was wet. So me, Elder Jones and Elder Mote all got to wear full body suits and masks and crawled under her house to cut and drag out all the insulation. Haha I've never seen and felt more spiders in my entire life! It was a super dirty job and each time you cut open the insulation water and muck would fall on you and it kinda felt like the whole house was collapsing on top of you. But after we got the job done we went to President Young’s house for dinner. I got my first real gumbo! It was super good. But then President Young told us about how he had talked to the lady that owned the trailer and found out that she had felt with all that was going on in her life (she is a single mom with an autistic son) and then the flood, that God had abandoned her. She was super close to giving everything up but then we showed up. She said she knew we were sent from God. She's a Catholic woman but I'm so glad she was able to receive help from our actions. Things like this are what make this mission worth it. Bringing others closer to the true Christ and letting them feel Heavenly Father’s love.

Well, that was my week. I'm slowly starting to get into the flow of things. The spirit here is so strong and I can feel all your prayers for me. To everyone thinking about coming on a mission, even if it's just a thought, do it. It's so, so worth it. But if you are thinking about it, you need to make sure you are worthy and ready. It's so much better to be worthy to serve the Lord before you come out. I've only been here for a month and I've already seen too many missionaries seriously struggling just because they have one or two things that hold them back. "If you live worthily in God's eyes, and use the atonement, anything is possible." - Zone Leader Elder Anderson.

Love and miss y'all! Can't wait to hear from you. Have a spectacular week!

Love,
Elder Wood