Week 21 (Rosamond)

Leading off with the exciting news, transfers are coming up this week, and Elder Wood will be leaving Mojave and the Rosamond ward. His new assignment is in Lone Pine, California, just east of Mount Whitney. Sadly, missionaries aren't allowed to climb Mount Whitney, but hopefully he'll meet some good people there in town. The actual transfers will take place on Tuesday, when all of the missionaries involved will go to the mission office (in Bakersfield), meet up with their new companions, and then head to their new areas. We'll look forward to hearing the report on that next week. For now, we know that his new companion is Elder Haney, and that's about it.

In other news, they got snow in their area this past week (although with the rest of Southern California, it sounds like). He said that it was fun, and there was an appreciable amount, but that it didn't really cause many issues because it melted so quickly and didn't ice up on the roads. I think he enjoyed the different experience, though! It's been colder lately, but it'll be even colder in Lone Pine (but apparently not as windy, so that should help). We told him he's got his timing wrong - you're supposed to be assigned to Lone Pine in the summer, when it's broiling hot in Bakersfield itself. But maybe he'll stay there for long enough to take advantage of the cooler weather. We'll find out.

In missionary work, their finding streak continues, so he was a perfect 18 for 18 during his weeks in Rosamond. It may be harder in Lone Pine, though, with a much smaller population. The current group of friends they're meeting with regularly will take some more time to be ready for baptism, if they choose that, so he'll hand them off to Elder Erickson and his new companion to continue shepherding. He did say that the area will have a baptism relatively soon, since a previous member of the church who left many years ago has chosen to be re-baptized. But again the others will work with him and Elder Wood's adventures will continue in Lone Pine!

We had a fun experience in church this week. Our bishop was speaking and said he wanted to let the ward hear from each of the 5 current missionaries who are from our ward. So he read a short few sentences from each of them - and we realized that we didn't recognize the quote from Elder Wood - apparently the two of them had emailed each other to share his testimony, and they'd kept us in the dark so we could be surprised. What fun! So, to finish up, here is Elder Wood's spiritual thought that he wanted to share with everyone: "I testify that God is a God of efficiency and order. He gives us no teaching, no organization, and no ordinance that isn't absolutely necessary for the salvation of the children of men. God loves each and every one of us and will provide a path for us."

Saying farewell to one of the Rosamond ward members.

Another farewell photo

The latest photo of the district all together

Proud of a photo he drew illustrating the restoration of the gospel

Snow!

Neat light coming through clouds, and a glimpse of some of the many windmills in the area

This one made me laugh. He isn't sure how the dog got on the roof but he had to document that he'd seen it.

Bird photo: He finally got a really nice shot of the blue heron

One more bird photo - a robin who is hopefully heralding the coming of spring

Week 20 (Rosamond)

This week again was not especially unusual, but Elder Wood reports that it was good overall. It's gotten a little warmer there, so he occasionally is able to take his coat off, but there are also cold spells. They also had some days with a lot of wind, apparently hitting up to 40 miles per hour.

The missionary work continues to go well in their area. They found 3 new people to teach this week; I believe his companionship has found at least one person every week of his mission so far. I asked for updates on the people he's talked to me about. There isn't really one on JC, but Luis (the former drug addict) who has decided that he would like to learn a little more about the church and has decided to read the Book of Mormon. Hopefully he will enjoy it!

They also had encounters with inactive members of the church. One was very sad; they went to visit someone and it turned out her husband had just died unexpectedly that day. She was obviously very sad, but it sounds like she did appreciate having someone there who was willing to support and listen to her. Another member has just moved to the area;  he was apparently recently baptized, but is now living with his girlfriend. Elder Wood thinks he just didn't get the message that the church really advocates for marriage before living together.

We didn't get any photos, but apparently for their Preparation day today, the district went to a golf course and used the driving range. Elder Wood took some swings, but confirmed that he's definitely not a golf player and prefers miniature golf on the whole.

Quite a few fun photos this week!

Showing how windy it was that day

So windy it knocked the street signs off their pole

Not really a bird photo - someone they visited had these wooden decoys (the unpainted one is apparently from Egypt)

Sticker on a car for the Mojave Desert Beach Club :-)

They tried the new flavor of Pepsi ("Peepsi" he thought it should have been called). He said it was fine - he wouldn't buy it again, but it wasn't horrible.

Bird photo - he spotted a great horned owl (well camouflaged in a tree)

One more bird photo - Canada geese

Week 19 (Rosamond)

Elder Wood reports that the missionary weeks tend to kind of run together, so he didn't have a whole lot to share with us. When we asked him about various items, we learned that the finding continues, so they have been busy with lots of people to contact and talk to, but not a lot of success in inviting people to come to church and see what it's about.

The one exception is their friend JC, who (not surprisingly) was introduced to them by his friend, a member of the ward, and is about ready to choose a date to be baptized. So it's great that he is doing well and continuing to progress in his knowledge and understanding.

Elder Wood has now been in the Rosamond ward for about 4 months, and says that he knows most everyone in it, at least that attends regularly. (There are plenty that don't, which gives them more people to visit!) He doesn't really know what to expect during the next transfers, which are coming up in 2 weeks. He may stay for a 4th transfer, which isn't uncommon, but he may also head elsewhere.

The weather in the Mojave area where they are living and working is getting a little bit warmer as winter winds down. He says that he removed the liner from his coat, and only wears his gloves sometimes!

Spiritual thought for the week: Only by partaking of the Sacrament can we complete the repentance process. This is why it's crucial to go to church each week. Yes, the talks are nice. Yes, you might learn a thing or two in Sunday school. But at the end of the day, our church meetings, just like the rest of the gospel, are focused on one thing. On one person. Our church meetings are about Jesus Christ.

Playing a game of Uno on P-Day, but apparently it's also been joined by the game of Dos!

His missionary district

Playing Kubb on P-day, an outdoor game

Bird photo: A wandering peahen(?) (The fence in the picture doesn't actually enclose anything)

Bird photo #2: A Corvid

Week 18 (Rosamond)

Not as much to report this week, says Elder Wood. He did get an opportunity to visit and attend the Los Angeles temple, and told us that he enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences to the other temples he's visited before (Portland and Provo). Sounds like once his mission is over he may want to become a temple tourist!

They continued to do their work of finding and teaching. Their new person (J.C., mentioned last week, the neighbor of a current ward member) is doing really well and has been coming to church every week. It sounds like he will likely choose to be baptized; they are just working through the rest of the lessons and concepts they have to teach with him.

I also asked about the previous drug addict that he'd mentioned to me in the past. He is doing very well in stabilizing his life - he seems to be off drugs and is looking for a job, which is great news. He isn't necessarily interested in learning more about the gospel, though, so they may end up letting him continue his life until he reaches out wanting to know more in the future. But they feel good that they've been able to help him and have shared a lot of the ideas and materials that the church has in its addiction recovery program, so it's nice to hear that things are going better for him than when they first met.

Spiritual thought for this week: Moroni 8:25 reads "And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;" This scripture tells us that the remission of sins follows repentance, as you'd expect. But here, the one doesn't immediately follow the other. There are steps in between. According to Mormon, we must first repent, then we must be baptized, then we must fulfill, or obey, the commandments, and only then are we redeemed.

Apparently there's an Oreo collecting hobby - here are Elder Wood and Elder Erickson with their latest find.

Combined District Council - the entire zone together, which in this case is made up of two districts

Using the zoom on his phone to get a picture of the angel Moroni statue on top of the Los Angeles Temple

Bird photo: These tiny yellow birds are new; apparently they're only about half the size of your fist.