So now I hit my year mark in the field. Weird. 

Tuesday was transfers! But nothing happened in my companionship, so it didn't really affect us. :) This week was kind of boring, well not boring, because really, when is missionary life boring? I told someone today that boredom was a choice, which I think is true. This week was just normal. 

We did normal stuff, taught Kevin, talked to people about the gospel, we taught English, did some service. Seriously, I think it was just like my other weeks. :) But it was still good. 

Highlights would be... 

We got to go and help a lady that lives in our zone boundaries move. She's not a member, and she really needed help. So our whole zone came together to go and help her. It was a super awesome experience, and she kept telling us how much it meant to her, and how much she needed us. It was just a cool manifestation of the fact that Heavenly Father is watching out for all of His children. We're going back tomorrow to help her again. 

We stopped by one of the less-actives in our ward, who we haven't been by to see since before I came here. When we got there, she told us that she had just really needed us to stop by and talk with her. We didn't do anything special, we just went and listened to her. It was still a really cool experience. 

We had an awesome dinner with some members this week. They both served their missions in Japan, (just like my dad and brother in law) and they made these vegetable pancakes called okonomiyaki.  (I probably butchered the spelling) It was so fun! It totally reminded me of when I had them at home, and was kind of a tender mercy. Also, you never know when things from your childhood will come in handy. I have sung a Japanese folk song, that I learned when I was young, for different people at least ten times on my mission. I've known this song since I was a little kid, and it has actually helped us contact some people and help them be more willing to hear us, simply because I knew this song. So thanks Dad. :D 

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to attend Hooman's baptism! If you don't remember who that is, he is an investigator, now recent convert, that the Elders found about four weeks ago. He is so amazing. It was so cool to see  him enter the waters of baptism. Seeing Hooman's journey, and hearing his testimony, just helped me understand even more that the field truly is white, already to harvest. It will happen in the Lord's time, and when people are ready. Sometimes we're sowers, and sometimes we're harvesters. But all are important. Both of the Elders who found Hooman went home before he was baptized. Neither of them were able to make it. But were they any less important than the missionaries who were able to see him enter the waters of baptism? No. Not at all. 

Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us I know it. :) 

My thought today comes from Elder Holland. 

"Heavenly Father is anxiously waiting to answer your prayers, and fulfill your dreams. But he can't if you don't pray, and he can't if you don't dream." 

I hope you all have the most amazing week. Don't forget to look for miracles, because they are always, always there. 

I love you all! If I can do anything, please, please let me know. Thank you for your love and support! 

Love, Sister Wood

Pictures:

We couldn't find our mailbox, so we just tried every single one until one opened. Of course, it was the second to last. :D 

Sometimes, missionaries let other missionaries dye their hair... :/ But it turned out okay. :P

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This week was really good. :) 

I'm out of time, so I'll just share the highlights. :D 

We taught Kevin! I know I talk about him every week, but he's one person that I think about all the time, just wondering about how I can help him. He's still doing good, we keep trying to set a baptismal date, but he'll do it when he is ready. On the flip side, the Elders found an investigator a few weeks ago named Hooman, who is a body builder/ model from Iran. He's super golden, and will be getting baptized in two weeks. It's so exciting!! Hooman is so so awesome. :D 

Tuesday we found the backwoods of Irvine when we went to service. We went to something called second harvest. It was super weird, super gross service, involving expired food. But we were helping ( I think), which is a plus.... But service is great, regardless of what you get to do. 

Wednesday was my birthday!!!! It was such a phenomenal day! Not a teenager anymore, but when we went to English class to teach, everyone kept commenting on how young I was... :) You win some, you lose some. :D A member who had the same birthday as me took us to Olive Garden for lunch, which was crazy fun. :) Then we went and learned how to do Family History, from another member, then we went tracting. :) We had a wonderful family feed us dinner, and we had cupcakes to celebrate. Then we taught Kevin! Sister Dinning decorated the whole house, and I felt so loved. It was such a good day. :D 

Thursday we had MLC, then did other missionary things, but at the end of the night, at 8:10 ish, we were about to go contacting, (cause it's prime pros time), but we felt like we needed to go to see a member of our ward. We went by, and she told us how much she needed us to be there that night. She told us about her life, and her struggles, about her journey into the church, and her life before and after. It was so amazing, and such a testimony building experience for me. 

Friday was pretty standard, so not much to say there. 

Saturday I was on exchanges! We had a District Blitz in Northwood, and we got so much done! I and my temporary companion handed out 5 copies of the Book of Mormon, which was cool. :) No one super interested, but lots of seeds planted. It was really good. We went and did service with our zone, and painted some ladies house. I only got a little paint in my hair, which was a blessing. We contacted some referrals, but again, seeds, but no real interest. :D It was a super busy, but wonderful day. I love talking to people in the street. :D We also got transfer calls! Sister Dinning and I will be continuing as companions and STLs in Northwood. :) I'm so grateful that I get to keep working with her. :) 

Sunday we had church and the temple music devotional! Sister Dinning sang, and did a beautiful job, I will be singing on October 2nd, which should be exciting. 

That's about it! The thought for this week comes from President Ucthdorf. :) 

"I like to think that from heaven’s point of view, there are no borders. God sees each of us as His children no matter where we live. He is our “homing impulse.” We feel drawn to Him because He is our Father, and heaven is our home.

He sees us not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees us as His children. He sees us as the being we are capable and designed to become."

I love you all! Remember that you are a beloved child of Heavenly Father. He loves us all more than we can comprehend! 

Thank you so much for your love and support! Have a phenomenal week! 

Love, Sister Wood :)

Pictures from my birthday :) 

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