June 27, 2016

Hey, sorry this is late.  We had a zone activity today so we did that first and now we're emailing. We went to this big mansion and it was pretty sweet! The main house looks like the White House and it has a lake in the front yard that you can go boating in, and a big rec center building, which is where we spent all of our time. The thing had an indoor basketball court, racquetball court, a ping pong table, a pool table, a couple dart boards, some gym equipment, an above ground pool filled with balls, an ice cream and soda machine, and a pool. I played basketball most of the time though. It was pretty fun though.

We went to the temple on Thursday. It was a great experience. I got to do initiatories instead of the endowment session because I had gotten a pair of pants that was way too small so by the time I got it all figured out I was too late for the session. So me and Elder George (another guy who missed it) went and did initiatories, and getting to hear all the blessings in there was really empowering. I feel a lot more confident in myself and in God and it's really refreshing. 

We haven't made much progress with the people we've been working with but we picked up 2 new investigators this week, and both of them want to involve their families so we might be teaching two families which would be awesome! Of course I might be leaving next week so I might not get to see anything happen. Oh the Mahoneys who know the guy in search and rescue came to church yesterday for the first time! So they made a step in the right direction. I love that family.  It would be really cool to see them accept the Gospel. 

That's all I got. 

Love you guys!

Elder Sherwood

June 20, 2016

hi

I am dying

it's hot

I'm doing good though. my nose has been kind of acting up lately, not as bad though. We are not really getting anywhere with our investigators but we changed the way we're doing dinners. So we have one of the ward missionaries call less active and part-member families and have them set up dinner for us with them. It worked pretty well this week.

It was 117 yesterday. I'm done with the heat. It's supposed to be hotter today so good thing it's P-day. I'm kind of blanking on what else I could write about. I'm reading the Book of Mormon for the third time. I'm really enjoying it. I crawled through the New Testament but I fly though the Book of Mormon. I might read the Old Testament after I finish it but I hear it's a really frustrating process reading it the first time. I guess we'll see.

Love you guys! 

Elder Sherwood

June 13, 2016

Things are good here. Kind of slow. No one came to church. We had a cool lesson with Angelita though. We taught her the Word of Wisdom and she's already living it. So that's cool. We have some referrals that aren't that solid but hopefully something will happen with them. I'm starting to lose weight again I think. I don't have a scale but I feel skinnier and I can play ball longer. So I think I'm doing something right. I am super tan huh? The family who took that picture was just visiting town and we ran into them on their way out. They said to come by the family they were staying with so maybe something will come from that. I am starting to feel that I really need to learn to be patient and content with what I have. I think without those qualities I'll never be satisfied in life. And by content I think I mean more grateful. It's kind of like this scripture in Alma 29.

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump‍ of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come‍ unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
 3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
 4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

The work is slow and it's frustrating, but God's plan is perfect not just for me but for everyone, and it's selfish for me to try and rush his plan. I love the Book of Mormon. I know it's true. I don't know why it's so hard to get people to see this but I just got to have faith and trust in God's plan and it will all turn out ok.

Oh I forgot to tell you last week. Someone parked in our spot so I parked somewhere else and we ended up getting towed. I ended up having to pay for it so I had to take like 220 dollars out of my account... So it sucks. 

That's all I got.
Love you!
Elder Sherwood

June 6, 2016
It's going pretty well. it hit over 100 twice this week so I'm about ready to head back to the beach. This week has been ok. We set up a bunch of appointments with new people this week but none of them have panned out. We have one today and tomorrow that will hopefully work out. We also have an FHE that Mike is going to go to. So that'll be fun. I've almost finished reading the New Testament so that's cool. I'm in Hebrews 11. There are a lot of Christian radio stations out here and we listen to a couple. Every time one of their preachers comes on and starts talking about something in the Bible it literally just strengthens my testimony in the Restored Gospel. I learn more from an average speaker in Sacrament than most of these preachers. One spent like 6 minutes just talking about this verse that says they went up to Jerusalem. He went on and on about how you never go up to Jerusalem because it's on the top of a mountain. "SO REMEMBER You go UP TO Jerusalem or DOWN FROM Jerusalem" The Gift of the Holy Ghost is so essential in preaching the Gospel it blows my mind. Anyway enough of my rant. I wish I had more to talk about.Haven't taken any pictures in awhile, sorry about that. I'll try and find some stuff to send.

There was a pretty big fire over here too. It lasted like half a day and only burned trees I'm pretty sure but half the city was filled with smoke and ash.

Love you guys!

Elder Sherwood