Dear Family,
Well, this week was quite an eventful week in the way of news. Ten hour of conference made for an exciting weekend, filled with inspiration and revelation. I'll try to get down some of the parts of conference that I enjoyed the most and a bit of what I learned, after the biggest piece of news for the week. Transfer information is in, and despite my belief that I was gong to stay in Edinburg North, I'm actually getting moved to Laredo, tomorrow. I'll be in the south part of Laredo, (aka the ghetto) in an area called Larga Vista. I wasn't expecting to move, but I will admit I'm thoroughly excited to go to Laredo. I've always heard good things about that area and hopefully I'll be able to find someone there that I was sent to teach. My companion that I'm leaving, Elder Arens, will be training a greenie in this area. This is starting to make a weird pattern, considering that the last two companions I've left have trained. I'm excited to get to Laredo. I'm sure I'll have some good stories to tell soon, as I've already heard quite a few from that area. For example, Elder Figueroa, another Elder that lives with us was there and has a video of him eating chicken feet stew. Hopefully I won't have the same story to tell, but I'm sure I'll get something soon.
This past week we found a couple of new people to teach that I guess I will be handing off to the new missionary when he arrives. One lady we have been teaching, Nora, is a single mom with 7 kids under the age of 10. Needless to say, she is very stressed. The noise in the house often reminds me of growing up with many other little Bedlamites (yay, Elder Holland). She wasn't able to attend Conference this weekend not due to any fault of her own. Hopefully, she'll be able to attend this next week. The investigators that I am really sad to leave behind are Jacob and his wife, Brenda. They are the brother and sister-in-law of Alex's mother-in-law. Jacob has had some really powerful experiences with the Church before, such as witnessing healings by the power of the priesthood and has often felt the spirit that surrounds his sister's family. Jacob does struggle with serious depression and has trouble motivating himself to act for himself. Because of that, he has had trouble deciding to join the church because his wife, Brenda, struggles with a family commitment to the Catholic church. Jacob has trouble doing anything that Brenda doesn't do. However, this last Sunday, Jacob came to Conference and said he is ready to start doing what he wants to do, such as coming to Church and being baptized--even if Brenda doesn't support or follow him. We promised him that what he was doing was the right thing and that if he follows through with it, Brenda will see a change in him and his great example and will soon follow him by making steps into the Church. Sadly, I won't see the end to that story, but I intend to follow up with Elder Arens and whoever takes over for me in this area to find out what happens with Jacob.
Well, I'm starting to get low on time to write, but I guess I can write down a few things that I remember from Conference. I loved Elder Christofferson's talk on "divine chastening". I've heard the story about Elder Brown and the bush before from our mission president, but this time it struck me with a bit more force. I'm planning to make myself a quote wall from Conference on some things that I want to remember and apply while I'm in Laredo. One of them will be, "I am the gardener and I know what I want you to be!" (In my mind that's being said with a dramatic Elder Christofferson voice) as well as some others. I especially liked Elder Oak's talk about desires and actions determining who we become, as well as the role that they play in our priorities and our choices. One talk that I plan to print out and study is the talk Elder Bednar gave on receiving revelation. I thought while he spoke about the investigators that I have had so far in the mission and how some have gone through both processes to gain a witness of the truth of the Church. Some have had lightbulb moments, where direct and specific revelation comes to them, while others have been through a long course of study and learned line upon line, precept upon precept, until they finally realize that the sun has risen, and it's a new day.
Be sure to give my best wishes to Khand at her wedding, and make sure Dad keeps Mom from stressing out too much. Oh, and for Dad as well, I did meet with Gustavo for a little while during this week and we had an altogether positive exchange. Sadly, I will be moving to Laredo and be out of the valley, so I will not be here to take him up on his offer to tour the station. If you can, please express to him my gratitude for the time he took out of his schedule to show me around. He is a very kind and very impressive man, of that I have no doubt.
I hope that everyone has a great week and that Mel and the baby do well also!
Love,
Elder Wood
