A little Italian for ya

Bonjourno! Itsa mia, Elder Wooda! 

I'm going to learn Italian this week. How does it sound? I really want to learn Italian because of an awesome guy we met this week, and right now I will tell you what happened:

Saturday, all of our plans fell through. We had this cool idea to do Service Finding! So we got in our service clothes and were planning on knocking doors and asking people if they had any service we could do for them, just as a new way of finding people. We walked to the metro station and both looked at eachother and said "This is a bad idea, we should not do this." So, with that powerful warning from the Spirit we went home and changed back into normal missionary clothes. At this point we had no plan, because the man we were supposed to meet with cancelled, so we decided to get out and follow the Spirit. Maybe this wasn't the smartest idea ever, because I think the Lord expects us to be a little more prepared that we were, but things worked out okay. We followed the Spirit as much as we could and acted on every thought, and eventually found ourselves in the middle of the Muslim Commune. The muslin people are really kind, the actual practicing ones, but it's bad for finding because we are not allowed to teach or contact them because if they convert, they run a very high risk of getting killed if they ever return to a muslim country. So, we were very lost. We sat down, said a prayer, and decided to walk home because it was almost dinner time. We walked passed a bar and a little Italian guy popped out and stopped us to talk. The conversation went like this:

Nico: "Bonjourno! (itallian chichiblachliblah) Mormoni?"

Us: "Oui! Do you speak French or English?"

Nico: "No. (lots of itallian) Address? Missionarios?"

Us: "Oui! Heres the address!"

In reality this lasted about 15 minutes and there was lots more pointing and Italian involved, but what we understood was that his name was Nico, he is form the south of Italy and is here working, but had been meeting with the missionaries in Italy, and he's read the Book of Mormon all completely. He even called the missionaries in Italy so I could talk to them! But we just got his number and gave him the address to the church and then went home. The next day though, on our way over to the church for Preisthood session, there was Nico at the tram stop with his friend! They came to Preisthood with us and an Italian member of our ward very kindly translated for them, and we're going to start teaching him! What a miracle, eh? 

Then this week we also had Zone Conference with President and Sister Poznanski. I dont know if I've told you, but starting in July the mission's goal was to have 100 baptisms in 2 transfers, or 12 weeks. We reached 100 by week 10, and reached 115 by week 12! It was a huge accomplishment for the mission, especially because in the past, the months of July and August have been the lowest baptising months, because literally everyone leaves on vacation for weeks on end. But in this zone conference, we fixed a new mission goal. Every companionship to baptise one family before Christmas as a gift for the Savior. Wow! We are all really stoked about this new goal, and I really believe we can accomplish it. But, what was even cooler was in General Conference when Elder Ballard said: "If every member young and old would reach out to just one, millions would feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ before Christmas. What a wonderful gift for the Savior" or something very similar to that. What a confirmation of my mission's goal and the inspration of our President! I thought that was so cool and am really excited to find this family! Pray for us! 

Seriously tons of other things happened this week, but this email would be way too long if I put them all. It's hard to chose just one or two miracles every week to share! My comp is doing so good, he's just a little boss. I really like him a lot and he's a great missionary. And he doesn't even do any weird stuff, that's me. Also, do you guys realize we were watching Conference at the same time?! And that's so cool that you were there! I actually tried to scan the crowd a little bit because I was thinking it was possible that you were there, so voila. I'm so grateful for the Prophet and apostles and for the spiritual boost they give us during each session. We got to go to our chapel and watch in English which was really nice, and members even came and watched and we all had lunch together. So fun. 

That's about it for this week! I love you guys, I'm proud of ya. The speakers talked a lot about families this weekend, and it made me very graetful to be a member of such a great one. Keep up the good work, champs. I'll talk to you next week! 

Love Elder Wood

"My Eggo is preggo"

To see a video of Elder Wood meeting his "baby bleu", log on to Facebook and search for the France Paris Mission Poznanski.  There are also lots of pictures of him!

Salut! 

How is everybody? That picture of the flood looked nuts! I'm never there when that happens. But I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing good! 

My week was really good! The transfer is over and I'm now in my 5th which is pretty cool. My thoughts are really scattered today and I cannot seem to remember very many specifics from the past week except that it rained basically the whole week. So I guess weather wise, it wasn't that good, but missionary work wise it was great! For some reason we always end up talking to the thugs that live near us. TOTO, the leader of the gang, doesn't like me that much because I wouldn't give him money, but his cronies like us because we're American. So, ya, I'm really thug. Then last night we got to go teach a family we haven't seen for quite a while, and the dad named A explained to us how he was angry with God for all the things that are happening with his family in Africa. I explained to him how we don't always have a reason why things happen to good people in life, but all we can do is continue on the path and God will strengthen us. Then Elder W used the story of Alma and Amulek when they had to watch all the people be burned and the Lord told them not to do anything. It was super cool to see A change in a matter of minutes from very angry with God, to very humbled. We asked him to pray and he gave a really good prayer asking for strength and help for his family. It was just cool to see how we could so immediately help someone. We help people with every lesson, but we don't always get to see the results so directly and plainly. It sure was a big blessing to be able to teach that lesson. 

Yesterday we had Stake Conference and Bishop Davies spoke to us which was really cool! He's the 2nd councilor in the presiding Bishopric. It was funny because all the people before him gave really well planned out and serious talks. They were very spiritual and good, but as soon as Bishop Davies got up, he just cracked jokes the whole time. The Lord must have a good sense of humor, because all his general authorities sure do. He didn't plan anything either, he just got up and started talking about his family and the joys the gospel has brought them. Every time I see a general authority, I feel like I'm the investigator and they are the missionary teaching me! It's incredible to hear their stories and knowledge and testimony and I want to know how I can have it! But how we get all that is really simple, a heart completely turned to the Savior and doing His work. No matter  our position in society or church or whatever, God promises all, if we will just give our hearts to Him and keep the commandments. Bishop Davies said something that was really interesting, he said that God has given us everything, so we should't feel like we're paying him back with like tithing or money or whatever, because he already has all that. The one thing he doesnt have that we can give him is our will. That really pushed me to always be better and continue to turn my heart completely over to the Lord. 

Also last night I got a call from the Assistants, and they told me I'm gonna be District Leader/Trainer this transfer!! Woo hoo! I'm getting my own little baby bleu!! I couldn't be more excited and I love him already!! And being District Leader, I feel, is going to be super fun and I'm gonna learn so much! I've just been thinking about my bleu all day, he's probably sleeping in the MTC right now dreaming about the field, then tomorrow he'll leave and come here and I'll meet him on Wednesday!! So excited!! 

And also at the same time, I am a bit meloncholy to be leaving my pals I made here in Strombeek. Well, I'm not leaving, but Elder W and Elder D are, and me and Elder P are gonna stay with our new comps. It's been super fun living with them for the last 12 weeks and we're super tight, but they are going off to bigger and better things now! Reminds me of the gang. Just gotta keep up the good work!! 

I suppose that's it for this week! I'm super happy to get to stay here with my amis and meet my new bleu, stoked to have some good sucess this transfer! I can't wait to get all your letters and see how you are doing. Share the gospel with somebody! I love you! Talk to you next week! 

Love Elder Wood 

Come back when I am alone

Hello Family! 

How's it going?! My week was good! Brussels is still just awesome. Transfers are next week but I think I'll stay here for another. The weather was nice. All summer, only above 80 degrees a handful of times, but as soon as September hit, it got cold! Its good though, I like it. We look super classy with sweaters on all the time. And surprisingly enough if you look classy it makes a difference in whether or not people talk to you sometimes. 

But anyway, this week was good! Kind of a dry week, in the sense that not a ton happened. I went on 2 exchanges which went well, and knocked a lot of doors! People are all coming home from vacation, so they are more often home, but this is kind of how the conversation generally goes: 

Us: "Bonjour! My name is Elder Wood, I'm from the US, here for 2 years to help families be strengthened through the gospel of Christ. Are you a believing person?"

Them: "No not at all"

Us: "That's okay! That's why we're here! Would you and your family have 5 minutes to talk to us tonight?"

Them: "No my whole family is home and I have lots of children and a wife"

Us: "Oh wow that's perfect. Can we talk to you all about Christ tonight?"

Them:"No, I told you, my whole family is here and we are busy doing family things"

Us: "Yes, that's why we're here too! To pray with your family all together tonight!" 

Them: "No. Come back when I'm alone"

Then it continues like that until they close the door haha. I've had that conversation like 150 times this week. But then sometimes we get let in and it's like winning the spiritual lottery. 

I've never been stuck on what to say! So instead, I'll just type and whatever comes out,, comes out. 

So we met this girl named Antoinette who is a member from Ghana. We invited her to church this last week and she was really excited. When we called her to see if she could still come, she said her mom wouldn't let her and she was really sad. Later on Sunday night, we ran into her on the road and talked for a minute and she just cried because she wanted to come to church so bad but she couldn't, and how her mom made her go to a different church that she knows is not true. It made my really sad and we want to help her but aren't sure how! But we've recruited the help of the sisters, so we'll see if they can help with her mom. 

Last p day we wandered around looking for a journal because mine is almost finished. During our stroll around downtown Brussels we found the 3 most hipster places in the country probably. #underground

Mom asked what I study everyday, great question! It's most important to study the missionary lessons in PMG, and the standard works. So usually I go through the day and figure out what we are teaching people then study out the lessons. Sometimes we all get a little sucked into deep doctrines, and it's really fun, but mostly I just dive into the scriptures and use PMG for all my studies. 

I guess thats all for this week! I love you guys, and I loved the pictures too! Tell everyone I said hello and I love them and stuff. Talk to you soon! 

Gros mille bisous <3

Elder Wood 

A Taste of the Glory

Howdy! 

This week was a busy one! Which is always good. I suppose I'll just start with Monday! It was P day so we didnt do a ton, but that night we had interveiws with President and Sister Poznanski and let me tell ya, they are some inspired people. Seriously though, I feel like they are my temporary parents. It's so fun to be able to talk to them. 

Tuesday was Zone conference! WOO!! I love zone conference so much. It's a 4ish hour long meeting where President and Sister Poznanski give a little formation, then the Zone leaders teach, then we have district meeting, then lunch. I guess it doesn't really sound that fun typed in an email.. but it rocked. Then I started my 48 hour exchange with Elder Adams! He goes home in 3 weeks, so I just decided I was going to profit and gain as much dino-missionary knowledge as possible. Tuesday night and Wednesday we spent in his area and Thursday we came back to mine and things really went super well. I think I can safely say that those 2 1/2 days changed my mission! It would take super long to explain the whole thing, but for real, it was awesome. We did so much work. 

Thursday night I was reunited with my good old comp Elder Wilson, who is so fly by the way. He just hit his year mark like last week and we've become great friends. Such good friends in fact that we've set a date for the ultimate Guitar Hero battle after our missions. The fruits thereof will be great, meaning that I will win, but he's still really cool. We sat down Friday and just decided what we needed to do to really get the work progressing, and we're already seeing so many of the blessings from our new plans! Things are just lookin up! Not that they were down before, but there is always room for improvement, right? 

Saurday was good, and Sunday was nuts. We went to church which was really great as usual, then ate with 2 member families! That's right folks, 2 families in one day! It was a miracle, and even squeezed in a lesson between. They were both American families, yes, but still, it rocked. The families here are such good examples of what I want to be doing in the next 10 years or so. #familylyf

Oh and on Sunday! This was cool. We were walking to the metro station with Eric, one of our amis, and this young girl ran up and stopped us. She said her name was Antoinnette and she was a member from Ghana, that she had lived in Belgium for a year but had not been able to find any missionaries or the church. She almost started to cry and just said how grateful she was to see us and that she couldnt live without the church. It was so cool because we got to help her but also because our ami got to hear a little of her testimony and meet another normal member of the church. #miralces! 

Then here we are! I feel like just going through my weeks is not the most productive type of email, but Mom really seems to want "a little taste of the glory, see what it tastes like." So, know that things are good and that I am safe and I love you and so does Heavenly Father. Miracles are happening over here! There are about 2 weeks of the transfer left and I feel as if I will stay for another here, but nobody knows. I'm off to buy myself a Bou bou today I think, and if I do end up getting one, you'll see what I mean next week. I love you!! Have a good week! 

Elder Wood

Trials

Hello World! 

Thank you tons for the letters you send. It's like finding a golden ticket in the mail every week. You guys rock so much, our family is so cool! Sometimes I just wish I could take a little clip of our life and happiness as a family and members of the church, and somehow use  my psychic powers to put that clip into someones brain to just show them how good our lives together are and how happy we are. Because, let's get real, our life is so awesome. I feel like if I could do that, everyone would get baptised because they'd know the blessings and joy that come afterwards. 

There is a story in Mosiah, about Alma and the people of the Lord. They have escaped from the Lamanites and found the place of Helam. They raise crops, are way righteous, and basically are just living the dream. Rakin' in the dough. Then, even though they are really righteous and doing everything right, the Lord allows them to fall into bondage again by the Lamanites. The people freak out, but Alma says "Yo, everyone, this is a test. If we put all our faith in Heavenly Father, he will deliver us." So, thats what they do! They pray, use their intelligence to figure out a plan and the Lord provides a way. They escape by night to the valley of Alma (I think) and all is well. My week was very comparable to this story. Last week, we were profiting in the land sooooo much and taught a ton of lessons and found a considerable amount of people! But, because the Lord must chasten his people and because he loves us, we were totes put into bondage this week. We only taught a couple lessons, and did looooots of street contacting and porting, and the fruits thereof were slim. But, like Alma said, we will put our faith in the Lord and be delivered up from this bondage! 

I actually had a really powerful experience this week. It had been two days since a lesson, and we finally got one. We were stoked, so we went and taught. Young family and everything! I taught and testified and the spirit was strong, I felt enough courage to extend the invitation to them to sincerely pray to know if the things we taught were true. I extended with love and boldness, and they said no. I thought, it's okay! I'll just re-testify and re-extend. So, I did! I explained, I testified, they liked it, the spirit was strong, I re-extended the invitation to pray and,,! My efforts were in vain. They again refused my invitation to pray. I didn't know what I had done wrong, and was heartbroken. I had testified to hard! I loved them so much, and they still would not pray. We trudged home, downtrodden. We had tried so hard all week, and the one time we had a lesson, they would not accept. Before bed, I knelt to pray. Maybe the most sincere prayer I had ever offered. I prayed for that family, and I prayed to know if my efforts had been accepted by the Lord. After several minutes of praying my prayer was answered. The comforting presense of the Holy Ghost filled my heart and I knew without doubt that the Lord was proud of me and had accepted the work I had done. I will always remember this experience and the love I felt from my Heavenly Father for me whenever I have a trial. The Lord will deliver us out of our ami bondage soon! 

Missions sure do change people. But mom, I have only gained 15 pounds, not 15 kilos. I would be a really chubby little guy if that was the case. But I also have lost about 5 since coming to Belgium, so no need to worry. I won't be ultra large when I get home. I love you all so much! I'm so grateful for our family. Stoked to get the package also! Have such a good week, keep the faith, share the gospel, etc. I pray for you always! I'll talk to you next week! 

Love, 

Elder Wood

Pictures

Pictures!

 inside the Arc de Triumph

 top of the Arc de Triumph

 statue

 the Brussels District

 Elder Wood and companion

 #win

 the boyz of Brussels

The Basilica right across the street from Elder Wood's apartment.  (sorry it's the wrong way)

Hey Family!! 

I'm so glad your home safe and had a killer time at Lake Powell. I'm way glad you had such a great time, as usual. And that's so crazy that you got to stay on the Big Dawg! I was a little taken back when I smelled this ladies sunscreen the other day...it was like my mind just went into Lake Powell mode and I just really wanted to be there. I also was thinking this week, some of the most important and meaningful memories and the times when I really just felt the happiest were in Lake Powell with our whole family. It seriously changed my life to be able to do that! We can never let this tradition die! I feel as if my career choice at the moment will be geared towards whichever career allows me to get a boat and take my family to Lake Powell every year. So thank you for all those great lasting memories and the things I learned. I love you guys! 

Transfer 3 ended yesterday, and I am officially a Transfer 4 missionary! It feels great. This transfer I'll be staying in Brussels with Elder W and the other two guys I live with. To answer the question about do I get to do other stuff because my comp is DL, yes, I do. It's not a huge deal, but I just get to go on a few extra exchanges because he has to go on an exchange with every elder in the district. But it's really fun and makes for a nice change of pace! And also since I'll be staying where I am, you guys can go ahead and send that package :) #woop! 

This week went really well, we definitely saw some miracles! In this mission we do tons and tons of finding, and we continued to do that this week. But instead of finding lots of new people we ended up getting in contact with a few old amis who are really cool. Saturday night this man named B called us asking for help, it sounded pretty urgent, so we went right over. When we got to his house he was just a mess. He was slightly drunk and smoking tons and crying and scribbling down all his feelings. He's had a really hard life and made some pretty huge mistakes, and now he's just looking for God. He felt like he should kill himself so that he could go and be with God and get rid of his sadness. It was a kind of intense situation, but we eventually calmed him down and shared Alma 7: 11 through 13 with him and explained about the Atonement. I told him I'd be there the next morning to bring him to church, and turns out when we showed up, he was sober and ready to go! He said he immediately felt something when he walked into the chapel and lots of people came up and talked to him and became his friends. Then during testimony meeting he was really touched, and he asked if he could go up and share what he was feeling. I told him yes, even though I was really scared, and he went. He gave a really short, simple testimony and just said that he has had a bad life, but he knows he will find his answers in the church. It was so cool and such a huge blessing! We're gonna keep working with him and I'm really excited about it. Also this week we found a hippy to teach! His name is M, he plays the guitar, writes poetry, has a cat and 2 guinea pigs and his house is covered in his own paintings . And he has dreads. Awesome dude. Also we got the phone numbers from a group of street youths and we're gonna teach them. It rocked. 

For real, too much happens in one week to tell you everything! But all in all, things are going so well, life as a missionary is the best and I love it. And I love you guys too! Keep doing good things! Share the gospel with someone! Have a good week! 

Elder Wood

 Studying yo!

 The Brussels District

 saying goodbye to a Sister