Zone Conference 8/31/2015

Dear Family,

I had a good and crazy week as usual! We got to have some meetings with great members and investigators. I could really feel the Spirit this week in the lessons so that's always good. Also we had an awesome Zone and District Conference this weekend!

So let's see! First I'll tell you about our District President here. His name is President Verway. He is supppper solid and only 26 years old. His wife is 23 and so cute. We are good friends. They have a baby who is almost 1. They are awesome and super solid. We have fun with them. We went there this week and did a challenge with them to find people to meet with the missionaries. Hopefully it works out. President Verway talked at District Conference about the scripture in BOM about how Lehi dwelt in a tent. He compared it to leaving your success and following God. He also included how the Apostles of JC left their job just after they had so much success to follow Jesus. It was a really cool talk and a good metaphor.

Probably the best lesson of the week was with Consuella's Boyfriend. He is interested in the church too. We had such a powerful lesson. He is so prepared to change and willing. I asked him what he wants for his future and he said he wants to get married, and raise his children in the church so they are on the right path. Good answer! I have heard that sometimes they can be wishy washy but I hope this time they are for real. He said this is my third and last chance with the missionaries. Consuella came to the Saturday session of conference. 

Suriname Sisters at Zone Conference

Matilda and her family are doing well. Matilda is not married soooo, yeah. We did start teaching her Boyfriend though and we had a really good first lesson. I don't know, we will see what happens. They didn't come to church this weekend because their grandpa died. We had some good lessons with them this week though. Hopefully they continue to progress!

SO. we had Zone Conference this weekend with Elder Martinez from the 70. It was awesome! We had interviews on Friday with Pres. Egbert. They were really good. It's funny. I love how much he trusts me.  He talks a mile a minute- haha.

Zone Conference on Saturday was awesome! I can't even begin to summarize all that was said. All I know is that is was awesome and made me want to be better. I really, really liked Elder and Sister Martinez. I had fun with them. Mom, they told me to tell you thanks on their behalf for making me take piano lessons. 

All the district conference sessions were really good too. I had so much fun seeing all my members from Wanica! I really love the members here too. Everyone said they missed me in Wanica which made me feel good. Sunday after church we went to the Ibrihim's. We had such a fun time there. It's always great there. 

All of us after District Conference

In the youth session on Sunday night in the middle of Elder Martinez's talk to the youth, he called me out to come up and bear my testimony on D&C 4. Ha- I think it was good...I saw people crying, but I don't think my Dutch was very good cause I was nervous! I think the spirit delivered my message-hopefully! Haha. And it's a good thing Elder Martinez can't understand Dutch...But it was a cool experience. 

My companions are both doing great! I love them and we have fun. I really want to keep working hard and I want to find someone really prepared. It's a struggle but I have to find more faith!

Thanks for all the support and I love you all!

Love,

Elizabeth XOXOXOXO

Chantol's mission call opening.  She is going to
Salt Lake City West Mission!

A Birthday Like None Other 08/25/2015

Dear Family,

Well the week started off with my Birthday on Tuesday! Thanks for all the Birthday messages. It was not a normal birthday but it was fun. My District leader made me a cake which was very nice. That day we went to the Ibrihim's and they had cake and ice cream for me. It was wonderful! They made me very happy that day. I gotta say it's a little sad to have your birthday away from your family. I wasn't expecting that, but later in the day everything was good!

Wednesday we shadowed our District Leader, Elder Van Den Herik. He's from the Netherlands. He's pretty cool and a good missionary. I never really served with him before now. We had a good shadow though. I love shadowing in other areas but I hate shadowing in our areas. It feels like a mob together especially now with a trio in the mix! Haha.

Thursday we had a busy day but got to see a lot of great people. We had some great lessons. I have to say it's been a miracle seeing my Dutch really coming along. I never could imagine being at the point that I am. I know it was only through God that this is possible. 

Friday we were supposed to shadow the Zone leaders so we had nothing planned. Of course something had to go wrong and they had to cancel. That meant we had to throw together a day last minute, haha. It turned out pretty well.

Saturday most of the day we helped out with the YM car wash they were doing at the church to raise money for camp. They had us there to talk to people about the gospel while they got their cars washed. It was a lot of fun. I had a blast talking to people and it made me feel really confident in talking to people. Everyone kept asking me how long I had been in Suriname. I say almost 8 months and everyone was soo surprised that I could speak Dutch. It was fun! We met some cool people and got some contacts.

I've gotten to know more of the members here. They are awesome! A really fun branch. We are in the branch now that is the biggest and meets in the actual church building. It's really a great branch. I was super impressed this past Sunday. The talks were all really great and the lessons were all amazing! 

So, now about some of the investigators! I'll first talk about Matilda and her family. Matilda is mom of three kids. Her two youngest are the most interested. I especially love her daughter Sheyenne. She is solllllid. She already knows the church is true and is so excited to be baptized. They have some family in the church, which is always good. They have baptismal dates for October 10.

We met a woman named Raquel this past week. She is super solid and super nice. I'm really excited about her. She has great questions and just is legit. Only problem is that she is going on vacation for a couple weeks so our next appt is not until September 22.

We have an investigator named Consuela. She has investigated before and we picked her up again. She is really a sweet woman. I think she has a great testimony. Not married though...not surprised. She came to church on Sunday. All the members know her and so they were great.

My companions are awesome! We are having a blast together! Sister Walsh is hilarious and so funny. She's crazy but in a good way. Sister Jorgensen and I write down her "walshy moments of the day". One of my fav things she has done: there is this soccer field we go by and all the boys always yell "Sexy!" So, one day Sis Walsh said, "It's Sister! Not Sexy!!" Now every time we go by they all call her sexy sister. We always get a laugh! 

Well, everything really is going great here and time is flying by. Training has been going great. Sister Jorgensen is already getting the hang of it all.

Love you all soooo much! Pictures are from the zoo today and how sweaty I look when biking....enjoy :)

Love,

Elizabeth

Where Am I??? 8/17/2015

Dearest Family,

Well here I am in my new area! Man, I don't know where to begin. This week has felt very long, probably with all the change.

So let's see...I had a great last couple of days with Sister Christiansen. We had fun as we went and said goodbye to members and such. Our apartment was crazy as we were both moving. Don't worry,  it was sparkling by the time we were out. It was really hard to say goodbye to the members in Wanica. I know I will see them again at activities and such but it's not the same. I also need to let go because currently I have my feet in both areas and it's not going to well- haha. 

Wednesday/Transfer day was fun. First of all because Sister C and I got to spend one more day together and then that night we got to go and pick up our new companions from the airport that night!  I was nervous but mostly sad just that change was coming. My new companion, Sister Jorgensen is very sweet and really cool. She is from Draper Utah. The three of us together I know will have a good time. It's guaranteed!

So of course transfer week is crazy and we have so many meetings and things to do. I don't know how many times I had to say to Sister Jorgensen, "I promise this is not normal!" haha. 

New companionships!

Thursday we had to go to the visa office and we got food and that sort of stuff. We met some of the investigators here. They have some cool people here. It's interesting being the person in the companionship that can speak the most Dutch. But it's good! It's given me more confidence. 

Friday we had zone meeting. I taught some of it over obedience. I told the story of King Saul and Samuel and talked about some examples of disobedience and results. It was interesting. I like using the old testament. We did weekly planning that day and also we had branch council. 

The dynamic duo!

Sunday was my first time in Tamengha. It definitely was different than Wanica but everyone is still great. I knew lots of the members so that was good but I have a lot more to learn. I bore my testimony in church. Different from the first time I bore my testimony in Suriname that's for sure! That night we went to the Branch President's for a visit. He's awesome! He was just called not too long ago and he's been a member for about 4 years I think. He's really nice and his wife is awesome too. I felt a lot better about my new home by yesterday.

We are going over to some of my favorite members in Surniame tomorrow, the Ibrihim's. They are in Tamengha Branch, but I know them pretty well. Sister is like my Suriname mom. She's awesome. 

Elizabeth was robbed a couple of weeks ago.  Her
purse was stolen, but an investigator found the
important things in the bushes and she was safe!
The story made the paper!

I'm feeling good about everything else and am excited for this next transfer. There will be great things!

Thanks for the love and birthday wishes!

Love,

Elizabeth

Time to Say Goodbye! 8/10/2015

Dear Family,

One thing I've learned as a missionary is that nothing ever goes as planned. My weeks and days that are planned out rarely don't go through. But Heavenly Father's planned days always work out. It's his work...I'm just along for the ride. 

Sister Christiansen and I were expecting a change this transfer and so we have been soaking up our time together. However it was broken up with another two day exchange. Sister Johnson came to Wanica again with me to see some more members before she leaves. We had a fun day biking around and seeing some great members here. All is well with Sister Johnson. I truly will miss her and she's had a big impact on my life. 

Sister C and I had MLC this week. It was all about exact obedience. Because of the mixture of new missions into one we want to make sure everyone is on the same page. Nothing new was really addressed but it's good to be reminded on doing better. 

Saturday we had a movie night in our branch. We watched Meet the Mormons. It was my first time to see it. I loved it! Naturally! It's fun to see members throughout the world. It doesn't matter who you are--the gospel makes you happy. It makes life better. I'm so grateful for that knowledge I have. I don't think I'll be as extreme as Stephen but I really don't have a desire for worldly things. I gag every time I see people here putting on a show with their things or the selfies they take. The people here don't have a lot of things but everyone pretends that they do. I'm just sick of fake. The world today man...haha.

SOOO we got transfer calls on Saturday. I'm going to be moving to Tamengha and will be training while being in a trio with Sister Walsh. I'm excited to be training. I think it'll be really fun. I just went to being one of the oldest sister in Suriname. I don't know how! And I got the second best Dutch. Sister C takes the cake :) I'll still be STL with Sister C.

Dobyen is now in the Netherlands! We will pass her info on to missionaries there and then we will make sure to get her when she's back! She's awesome and I'll miss her!

Kosviello is doing good! He is going through a hard time right now because he failed is grade (like I said before not uncommon) but he's never failed before. He came to Meet the Mormons and loved it. He also got a blessing after to help him feel better from his neighbour Lucien. He didn't come to church on Sunday though so that was sad.

Everyone else is good. Don't have much to report because I mostly saw members with Sister Johnson. 

Being a missionary is not easy. I know everyone says I'm always to positive but the truth is even when bad things happen during the day, by the time I get in bed that night I can't remember the bad things only the good. I always go to bed happy. I feel at peace being here and serving. I always want to be striving to do better. I know I need to. We all have a role to play in the work of salvation.

This is Sister Rama.  We love going to see her!

I know I have angels protecting me and the Lord knows who I am. This is the place I'm supposed to be. I've already seen so many miracles. It has not been a smooth mission ride for me--it's been really hard! But like I said before after the bad things are over you almost forget they happened. Almost...haha.

I love you all and am grateful for your support and love. Next transfer will be a whole new adventure.

Love,

Zuster Elizabeth Wood

Nearing the End of an Era 8/4/2015

Dear Family,

Well in the words of Dad...It's hotter than hell here! I think we are heading into the dry season. It should be interesting. It's a lot hotter this past week. Getting a nice tan. 

Um, this week!  Hmmmm- we went on 2 day exchanges with Sister Johnson and Sister Walsh.  I got to see a lot of our members in Wanica with Sister Johnson because she wants to see them before she goes. I love the members in Wanica. They have been so good to me for this year. I will miss them a lot. We get transfer calls this week. I'm 99% sure that I'm leaving Wanica. So that will be sad :( Serving with Sister Christiansen has been a blast. It's almost like not being on a mission. When we are together it is just like an adventure with your friend. It'll be a hard adjustment next transfer.

We had a mini missionary with us this week. Sunshine came with us for the weekend. She absolutely loved it. She didn't want to go home. I know it was a step up from her usual living situation. She was so cute and did great. 

Kosviello is still doing great. We are pushing his date to the 15th now. We want to talk to his dad. We never see him but he should be there next wednesday or something. I'm not worried. I know he'll be baptized soon. He came to church this week with his brother.

Dobyen is still doing really well. She's reading and coming to church too. She leaves for the Netherlands this week. It will be so sad! I hope she will get baptized when she comes back. I'll make sure she gets seen even if I'm not in Wanica. That's a good thing about staying in Suriname is that you can always still see members from other branches and check up with other missionaries.

Lucinda, Sunshine's friend is awesome! She's been reading and she came to church again. She is planning on getting baptized in September. She is solid! She lives only with her dad. But most of the time her dad is in the interior working. She's all alone! I think that's so sad. I know the gospel will help. 

Background on the Baker's. They are originally from southern alberta. We are related somehow. They knew our family right away. They live in BC now near kamloops. I think they are very wealthy. I'm pretty sure His brother is on a institute mission in winnipeg now. They're awesome! I've only met them twice but we had the canadian bond. You should write back. 

Today for P-day we went to this cool river place. We played lots of volleyball and it was fun and really pretty. Nice to escape! 

Also earlier this week we did a lemonade stand for contacting. We got a lot of contacts. It was fun!

Mom! I'm glad you are learning to make Philippine food. Exciting! Love you all!

Love,

Elizabeth