August 25, 2014 (Prayin in a Methodist Church.)

Hey Fam.

     I still cannot even believe that school has started again... I hope that Mal and Bryce had a great first day at the High School!! I cannot believe that Murray won their first football game of the season! That just blows my mind... hahaha Good for them! Man... It will always be weird for me to think that Mal is a senior and that Bryce is a sophomore... I am excited for all of these people leaving on missions! Man... It makes me kinda sad... I have now been out for over 8 months and I just want to be a missionary forever... hahahaha Besides seeing you guys that is! (: Being a missionary is seriously the greatest thing EVER! I am so grateful each day for the opportunity I have to be here in Jersey! Even if it gets a little crazy sometimes! haha 

     So this week was pretty much the same ole' same ole'. BUT we did find a new investigator this week! Her name is Esther and she is so sweet! We were asked to take some food to her from the Food Bank because they said she had absolutely nothing at all. Come to find out she lives really close to where we live! Anyway, we took her the food and we got to go inside and visit with her for a while. She is really struggling right now with different things and she really didn't have ANY food in her fridge. It broke my heart. We were able to share a scripture with her and talk a little about the Restored Gospel before we had to get back to the Food Bank. She told us that she would love it if we came back so we will be seeing her sometime this week hopefully! It was really cool to see something come out of doing service for others! That has been something that our new mission president has been really trying to focus on! Then, on Thursday we were volunteering at a soup kitchen at the Methodist church and we got to read and pray with them!! We chose some versus out of the Bible, but it was such a neat experience to be able to pray in a Methodist church to about 30-40 people and then to pray with them! You definitely don't normally get that experience on a regular basis! We actually aren't allowed to proselyte near other building or other faiths. Which makes complete sense! So to have the opportunity to pray in a Methodist church and to read from the Bible and to talk about Jesus Christ was a really neat experience for me! So things are definitely happening here in Hightstown, NJ. They may be a little slower, but they are definitely happening! (: We had family home evening with Elizabeth and her husband Nick at a member’s home last Monday and it went really well! It was seriously the perfect Family Home Evening! It was awesome! haha (: Nick seemed to enjoy being there! A few days after Family Home Evening Elizabeth told us that she and Nick have been doing their "Gratitude Journals" and that on Monday night Nick told her that he was grateful for Family Home Evening!!! I was so excited!!! Nick is definitely coming to learn more about the gospel and you can tell you likes how family oriented it is! I just know that he will accept the gospel, but it is going to be in his own time, which is okay! (: Elizabeth is such an amazing example! Oh, by the way!!!! ELIZABETH GOT HER TEMPLE RECOMMEND YESTERDAY!!!! Man. She is so great! She also received a calling yesterday! I am so excited for her! She is such an example to me and I just love her so stinkin much!! (: My companion, Sister Trias, goes home in less than 3 weeks now... I keep telling her that I will still see her after the mission, but she keeps telling me that she isn't coming back to the states... all she says is, "I'll see you in the eternities"......... It just makes me wanna hit her!! hahahahaha I love her so much and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to be companions with her! I have learned so much for her! 

     I just want to share with yous the lyrics from "Have I Done Any Good?" 

 "Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone's burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, "Sometime I'll try,"

But go and do something today.

'Tis noble of man to work and to give;

Love's labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something helps others to live.

To God each good work will be known."

Remember to get out and do something good today! (: I love you guys SOOOOO much and I am so thankful for everything you do for me every single day! THANKS for all of the letters in the mail! That was such a great surprise! I loved it SOOO much! Made my entire week! (: We have the best family in the whole wide world! Have a great week! 

LOVE YOUS TO THE MOON & BACK! WE GOT THIS!! 

Love, Sister Woodland

August 18, 2014 (Pics)

You know... Just bein a mish!

This lady gave us fake candy cigarettes... hahahahahaha

Holdin a little kitty! awwwwwww

FAMILY HISTORY!

Softball Tournament!!

This is Yamani! She was the first Laurel on our 24 hour missionary experience that they are doing in our Ward! It was fun to have her as our 3rd comp for a day! (:

August 18, 2014 (Gratitude.)

Hola mi familia! (Sometimes I wish I could speak Spanish...)

     Well first off I just want to say that I am like a tad bit jealous of the reunions... hahaha BUT I am sooo glad that you guys had such a great time! Aww man! It sounds like both reunions were so great and that they both had really good turn outs! WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT FAMILY. I mean really people. (: Secondly, HOLY FLIPPING COW. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO beyond grateful that Mallory and Megan are okay! Holy Moly. That is soooo scary! Aww man. Definitely a blessing! That made me cry... I am so thankful that everyone is okay and that the guy is okay as well!! Lastly, I cannot even believe that Mal and Bryce start school on Thursday! The summer went by SO quick. I cannot even believe how old Mallory and Bryce are now... Blows my mind. AND they will be even older when I get home... hahahaha SHOOT. It sounds like everyone is doing so great though! That makes me so happy! 

     As for my week this last week.... IT WAS SO BUSY. haha I know I say that all of the time, but I really was completely exhausted this last week. For some reason EVERYONE AND THEIR DOG kept calling us to do service. So this week was full of different service opportunities and they were actually hard service opportunities... like people really put us to work! FINALLY. haha I feel like because we are Sisters, people tell us to organize their pens or something... But this week members have actually put us to work, moving heavy items and getting dirty. We were moving these cement bricks for a member because she is pregnant and can't lift and they were infested with spiders and crickets! There were like a million crickets and every time you moved a brick they would jump everywhere! hahahaha I kept screaming and her son kept screaming with me.... hahahahahaha But we got the job done! (: Something that we have decided to do to help us continue to earn members trust is we made them each gratitude journals! We got some small composition notebooks and we covered them in cute paper and wrote their family names on them! Then we printed off the quote by President Utchdorf from this last General Conference that says, "How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?" We have committed each member to write down 1 thing each day that each family member is grateful for all the way until Thanksgiving! The members seem to really like the idea and have told us how much this is going to help them with the things they are going through or how much they really needed something like this in their lives right now. It has been a really cool experience so far. As we have been doing this with the members I have been studying gratitude more and more and how come to learn how much more thankful I need to be every single day. Especially during this time that I get to be a missionary. Sister Trias showed me this little poem/quote thingy and I loved it! It is for missionaries and it has helped me to remember to ALWAYS ALWAYS be thankful for the things that are going on whether they be good things or bad things. It says:

"Be thankful that you can stay on your mission -- for serving the Lord is a PRIVILEGE!

Be thankful that this mission is tough-- thus preparing you for life and eternity.

Be thankful that you were chosen-- for "ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you."

Be thankful that you can bear testimony-- it is recorded in heaven... and your sins are forgiven you.

Be thankful for "hard" companions-- for they are thankful for you, too! Expect accelerated growth!

Be thankful for talking with everyone-- because you are doing what Christ would do.

Be thankful for learning exact obedience-- as it is the first law of everything!

Be thankful for being homesick at times-- because it means you love and are being loved.

Be thankful. for a cultural experience-- because it expands your horizon.

Be thankful for opportunities to face your fears-- because fear in gospel settings numbs faith.

Be thankful to be drenched and freezing at times-- it helps you appreciate the comforts of life.

Be thankful for disappointments and frustrations-- for they teach you patience and faith.

Be thankful for being pushed out of your comfort zone-- for that is victory over the natural man.

Be thankful for daily cardio exercise-- for sweat is weakness leaving the body!

Be thankful for rejection and ridicule-- for art thou greater than He?

Be thankful for the mission rules-- for you can't love God without loving His laws!

     I just want each of you to know how truly grateful I am to be a missionary! There are good days and really hard days, but I am grateful for all of it! I am grateful to be here in the New Jersey, Morristown Mission serving in the Hightstown area. I am grateful to be a representative of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but here! I am so grateful for the gospel and I am so thankful that I have come to know of the truthfulness of it for myself. I now can say more than I ever could before that Jesus is the Christ, that the Atonement is REAL and that Christ suffered so much for each one of us so that we may return to live with him again. I know that God really is my loving Heavenly Father and that He is very aware of my needs and desires. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that because of his sacrifices we now have the Restored Gospel and the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is truly Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know that families can be together forever and I am SO grateful for that! I know that this church is true and that it really is our only way to eternal salvation! I love you guys SOOOO much and I am so grateful every day for all you do for me to love me and to support me while I am out here! It means absolutely everything to me! I am also soooo grateful that God is watching out for yous every day! I hope you have the best week ever! Have a great first day at school Mal and Bryce! (:

LOVE YOUS TO THE MOON & BACK! WE GOT THIS!!! 

Love, Sister Woodland     

August 11, 2014 (Family History!)

Hey Peeps.

     This week was a slow, but a fast week...Does that make any sense?? haha We have been really trying to work with less actives and finding new investigators. We are going through our new ward list and figuring out who everyone is. So it has been a big guessing game... Sometimes it is a little awkward because we aren't sure who the person might be so we decide to stop by and figure it out and they end up being active members... So we just have to play it off smoothly! (: haha I have a lot of anxiety when it comes to talking to less active we do not know! Some of them can be really mean... :( That makes it really hard. We contacted a less active a couple of days ago and she asked how we found her... We told her that her address is in the Ward directory and then she asked to be removed from it... That is THE hardest thing to hear from people. It really just breaks my heart into a million different pieces! Even though I don't know these people, either at all or not very much, it is so hard to hear that because I know what they are missing out on. I know that they once had a testimony of the gospel, but that something over the years has happened. I just want the very best for these people, but it has to be their choice... That’s why we have free agency, right? Man... free agency can be so hard sometimes as a missionary! I have really had to learn that I cannot force people to listen to us or keep commitments that we leave with them. I cannot force less actives to come back to church and to find the testimonies that they once had, but I CAN love them! I can love them into the gospel or love them back to the gospel! We aren't here to force people to listen to us; we are here to invite them to come unto Christ! And one of the best ways that I have found to do this is to just love them! (:

     We did the family history booth this Friday and it was so much fun!!! It actually went really well! I thought that no one would want to listen to us, but almost everyone that passed by took a card and talked with us for a little about family history work and their ancestors! It was neat to share the gospel in a different perspective and I think people were more willing to talk to us because they didn't feel so threatened by Family History! So we will be doing it again this upcoming Friday! We haven't gotten any return phone calls or set appointments to meet with anyone, but we will keep trying and see how things continue to go! (: It was SO funny... I was back behind the booth and Sister Trias was standing out in front with cards in her hand, and this older man walked by. Sister Trias asked if he was interested in Family History and He said No... So she asked Why not and his response was "I don't want to know which of my family members were hung." hahahahahaha We were NOT expecting that kind of an answer... None of us knew what to say back to that so we just said okay and then we all just laughed uncontrollably! You just never know what to expect out of people’s mouths sometimes... hahaha 

     Well, I am so glad that you all had a fun time at the reunion! I am sad that I wasn't able to go, especially to the rodeo... (; hahaha I can't wait to go to rodeos again when I am home! hahaha It sounds that it was really fun though! I am glad you guys have had a great week! Thanks again for all the love and support! You guys mean everything to me and I am so grateful for each one of you! (:

LOVE YOUS TO THE MOON & BACK!! WE GOT THIS!

Love, Sister Woodland

August 4, 2014 (Pictures)

We are going to be doing a family history booth at a famers market every firday night! I am really excited about it! (:

This squirrel would not let go on the water bottle... squirrels are sooo weird here... hahha

August 4, 2014 (Bed bugs are my faaaaav)

HEEEEY.

     I hope that all of you had the greatest week ever!! This last week was a pretty good week! I feel like I was a little overwhelmed with trying to get things organized and ready for this next transfer. Speaking of this next transfer.... I AM STAYING IN HIGHTSTOWN FOR A 4TH TRANSFER. I have now been here for over 4 months! It is crazy to think that it has already been 4 months because it sometimes feels like I just got here! I have been struggling with wanting to be here.... but I know that there is a reason that I haven't been transferred! This area can be soooooo hard, but I know that being here for a 4th transfer will help me to grow and become an even better missionary! I have so many things that I need to improve on and fix, so I am grateful for each opportunity that I have to grow. This last week we basically were focusing on getting the area ready for this new transfer! I am trying to get my life more organized so I can work SOOO hard this transfer! I am ready to work until I absolutely can't anymore and then to just get up and work some more! (: It is good for me to finally feel this way because when I first came out I was always so nervous to get out and work, but now I have to be outside and working or I will go crazy! haha This really is my life now and I love being out and doing missionary work! One of the sisters who came out 6 weeks ago was talking to me the other day and she told me that I was old.... WHOA. hahah I still feel like I just came out on a mission... Like I just got into the field yesterday! Man. That was the first time I have ever been called old... I didn't like it! haha so let's talk about being rejected... haha it is ALWAYS a good time. Sister Trias and I contacted these two guys on Saturday and it was really crazy... hahaha They are both from Ghana and one of their names was Minister Daniel. He literally yelled at us for like a good 10 minutes before we could even get a word in. Normally when we approach people like him I either just bare my testimony or thank them for their time and walk away. As missionaries we are never supposed to argue with them because...well.... that drives the spirit away. But we decided to just listen to what this guy had to say and we followed the promptings we received from the Holy Ghost. By the end of our 45 minute conversation he told us that he loves us.... hahahahahahahahahahahahah Sister Trias and I just looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh a little. I wanted to say back to him.... 'And this is how you treat the people you love?!' hahaha But I didn't, don't worry! (: The craziest part about the whole thing though was that he kept telling us that Mormon is a demon... It was crazy... Then we found out yesterday from some members in our ward who are from Ghana that he was talking about mammon in the bible. Well mammon is a bad spirit in the bible, but we were talking about Mormon and he was so upset about it because the word "Mormon" is on the cover of the Book of Mormon... hahaha Anyway, you just never know what to expect when you talk to random people on the street! I love it so much!! (: Random note... I think we have bed bugs again... hahahaha Man. At this point I am just going to make them their own little home and invite them into my bed! (:

    Anywho, I got the stuff you sent with Sister McCready! Thank you sooooo much for sending all of that stuff I loved it!!! It is funny that you sent an "Adjusting to Missionary Life" book mom because I actually have one. About 6 months ago they made all the missionaries have one and study from it... I actually study from it every single morning! BUT, thank you for sending me another one! It is seriously the best book ever! It is so helpful whenever I am stressed out about something or if I need help with something. So you should definitely give chaddy boy one! It has seriously saved my life plenty of times on my mission! Especially when I had surgery and was going through all that stuff!! (: Also, I think it is sooo cool that you guys are training for a 5k!!! YOU GO GUYS. (: I mean seriously! That is awesome! Well, thanks again for absolutely EVERYTHING that you do for me! You guys are the best! I hope you have a great week! (:

l LOVE YOUS TO THE MOON & BACK! WE GOT THIS!!! 

Love, Sister Woodland