Transfer 3, Week 3: Another Day in Fairfield, Montana

Hey Everyone,

       How's everyone's week going? This past week has been full of some great surprises, both good and bad.  I don't want to hold the suspense more than what we need to, so let's get started. 

       To start we had exchanges with the zone leaders this week. Elder Ritchie came to Fairfield, and Elder Lunt went to Great Falls.  I felt a little deja vu coming, suprised?🤗 It was pretty great. I learned a fair bit from him on how to improve for my trainee, and helped the Contways rope again, of course. 

         So, it is starting to get a little colder here in Montana. Sadly, Fall is here, so I bought a nice light jacket from Wal-Mart. What do you guys think? I think I'll probably need to start buying more winter gear soon, or it will be way to cold.

Elder Ritchie and I helping Br. Contway in my new jacket.

         I don't know if I mentioned this before, but training is really different. I'm used to being on the receiving end of training. So this is kind of a new experience. But I really like it, there's so much to learn, and to teach. Sometimes I feel like I'm learning more than him.

          Anyway, the rest of the week was full. After a great district meeting at which Elder Lunt and I gave the discussions, we went and had our bi-weekly lesson with Jerry. He's going back to North Dakota, until the 30th. I really hope that he actually comes back a little earlier, because if he does, and he comes to church, it's possible that he could get baptized before the transfer ends. I would love that, because you never know when you're going to get that call from president and you have to move.

         Other than that we had interviews with President Larson this week. They were pretty good. President was kind of behind as usual, but that's okay it all worked out great.

          John actually has had a really cool spin, which makes Elder Lunt and I very excited. John is reading the Book of Mormon on his own again, and is doing his best to quit smoking. This is a great for him, and I really hope that he feel so too.

           We found a new person with interest this week. Her name is Kim. And she lives close to John. She just moved in, so we're going to need to drop by again soon and see if she needs help. I'm excited to see how this turns out.

             Elder Lunt ought to feel special. I ended up crying into dinner lessons. Not because I'm sad, but because we were teaching about something I really believe in. Most of you guys from back home would attest, at least I think you would, but I don't cry very often. But I did twice this week so, I think I might be broken? No it was good. We were talking about service and learning to love people. It just made me cry and I love it.

          I know this seems kind of like a short email today but to be honest those were kind of the highlights. The rest of the week was really just same old missionary stuff talking people, no one answering doors. This week we tried to talk to different members or less active members, didn't work out too well. Oh, well.

         Well, I guess it's time for the spiritual thought. To go off what I said about the dinner lessons, A Mormon Message I found out I really like is "LIFT". It is about how a ward elders quorum learned to love to serve this older disabled woman in their ward. It really touched my heart. And I know it can and will touch yours as well. 

          I hope to hear from you all soon. Don't be strangers, and keep up the great work. As my mom said in her email yesterday, till next week...

Love,

Elder Sherwood 

Pictures....

Not many again.....

With Elder Ritchie, we saw 5 horses, just walking down the middle of the road.

Transfer 3, week 2: Firewood, Farms, and Meetings

Hey Everyone,

        This week has been pretty great. It's been full of a lot of fun and exciting times, so I won't hold back and we'll get started...

          So to start off we had the transfer dinner this week. This time it was at President Rowley's house out in Great Falls. It was a lot of fun. We had a seafood something, can't remember what it's called. We also talked a lot about ministering and helping the members to find their plus one person. The plus one challenge is something the Great Falls Stake is doing where each members asked to find one additional person to minister to whether member or non-member. I think it might be a church-wide initiative, because I remember something about that at this last General Conference. So we'll see how it goes, I'm excited.

:-)

         Surprisingly 9/11 was pretty slow, we didn't get a whole a lot done, but that's okay. There's always room for improvement. We had a decent lesson with John. And then we helped the Contways at his place again.

        Now, firewood and Farms. Wednesday morning we got the opportunity to go to the Rammells place, and help them package some firewood and then he showed us around his farm. According to him, every missionary that serves here has to try to grab a pig. I wish I got a video cuz it was funny, but I don't that's too bad :-(. But it was pretty great. I loved seeing all the animals and helping package up the firewood. Afterwards we help the youth paint a fence, and talked to the bishop about our plan for Jerry. Jerry's back, by the way.  I'm so happy. :-)

          Thursday was literally full of meetings. We had Zone conference from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. It was a great meeting, but really did throw off our schedule. We ended up having to reschedule a few things because of the meeting. But everything worked out so it was pretty good. This zone conference focused a lot on being perfectly obedient as well as understanding Christ's atonement and how we can apply in our lives, and both how to be a preach my gospel missionary and a lot on Creative finding. These last two I am planning on putting a big emphasis on over this next transfer. Because they are the key to becoming a more effective missionary.

        The next two days were pretty great. They were kind of what we would normally expect and we were nice and busy and doing a lot of stuff. One of the great things was that we got to have a lesson with both of our investigators, John and Jerry. After Jerry, we went and tried to visit some less actives, but none were home :-(. We got to see a pretty cool looking caterpillar at dinner.  I'll attach the picture below.

          And then to end the night, we did some creative finding. We had been invited to go to the home football game. It was actually homecoming, but that's not important. Anyway, we went there and we tried to talk to a few people and get some contacts. It went pretty well, we didn't get the contacts we were expecting or hoping for but it was okay we talked to a few people.

          Saturday we got to go to Augusta again. So after our lesson with John we went down to Augusta and walked around the block, before going and visiting a less active. it was pretty great. Augusta is a cool little western-looking town, and I love it.

           Well that pretty much summed up the exciting parts of this week. My spiritual thought for this week actually is more of a challenge. One thing that President Larson said at zone conference that kind of stuck with me, is that Preach My Gospel is for everyone not just missionaries. It may be directed toward full-time missionaries but if you think about it we are all missionaries. So I encourage everyone to pick a chapter in Preach MyGospel, and to read it, study it, mark it, and maybe do the activities in it. I know that it can and will bless your life, and you will find great opportunities to serve others and fulfill your ministering assignments.

        Well, I love emailing all of you. It's a great highlight of my week. I hope to hear from you all soon, and we'll see you next week.

 Love, 

 Elder Sherwood 

 Now pictures ... I don't have very many today, that's sad maybe I should do better? :-) 

Pretty cool looking caterpillars.

Transfer 3, Week 1: Some Major Deja Vu, a lot of Driving, and An Apostle

Hey everyone, 

        So, this week was pretty exciting. Between transfers and a lot of other stuff we had a lot of fun. So let's jump into it.

         So of course first things first, on Monday we got to see some dead people. One of the members of our Ward owns a mortuary in Great Falls called "Croxford Mortuary and Funeral Home". It was kind of cool we got to see some caskets and how they do viewings, as well as where they burn the people to cremate them. We got to see some a pretty sweet and really old hearse, and learned a lot about embalming. It was quite an exciting tour.

           Tuesday began the fun with transfers. Because Elder Manning was being sent to Kalispell, he spent the day packing. It was kind of boring. I ended up spending most of the day cleaning the car, apartment, and many other things. But it was worth it so that my new companion could come in and have a nice clean apartment. We got to go see Andy Watson before we left to Great Falls. Because because both Elder Manning and I have a connection with him, Elder Manning through Cove Fort, and me through Diane Smith, sister to sister Watson, Br. Watson gave us both one of his lamps. He is a potter and so he gave us both a clay lamp since we have a connection with his family. It was a rare treat.

       Wednesday and Thursday kind of seemed to blend together. We had to be in Great Falls by about 9 a.m. for transfers. Elder Wilcox and I got to hang out with River's Edge for a couple hours. Then the Zone Leaders came back, and I went in a trio with them for the rest of the day. It was good we got to go and visit some people and had a good dinner so...It was kind of weird. I felt like I was third wheeling it, which kind of made it uncomfortable but what can I do?

        On Thursday the Zone Leaders left to go get the new Elders. Yep, you guessed it, I am training. Fresh out of the MTC. His name is Elder Lunt. He is from American Fork, Utah, and has three siblings. He is a pretty cool guy, full of knowledge and is ready and willing to work. This transfer is going to be a lot of fun. But we had to wait to go back to the area, until the car finished in the shop. We had to get a tire rotation and an oil change done. 

       On Friday we have the trainer call, which is basically a big conference call, where all leadership have a discussion about the importance of training and what all of our rules are and helping new missionaries learn and grow. It was a pretty great call. Last time it went for about 2 hours, but this one only went for one. I was having a hard time hearing it, because the in-coming call volume on the phone sucks, and Bluetooth speakers don't help in-coming call volumes. So we engineered a way that I could view it, and then hold the phone to my ear for a full hour. What an adventure.

         After that call, on the same day, we went and met brother Phinney, and played chess, it was pretty good. We also had a correlation meeting while we were doing it, so I guess win win? Then after dinner, we went and helped the Contway's rope cattle again.  I love doing it. It's so much fun.

        Saturday was the big day. We got to drive from Great Falls all the way down to Billings with the Zone Leaders, to go and see an apostle, Elder Neil L Andersen. It was pretty sweet, the drive was long but it was well worth it to meet Elder Anderson and shake his hand. We definitely learned a lot, and are excited to make the changes necessary to follow his counsel.

        Overall, this week has been pretty good. I am excited to train Elder Lunt. And I'm sure he is excited to be out of here as well. This week was crazy, and now hopefully we'll have a normal week next week. Oh wait, we have Zone Conference next week, yay.

         Well, I'm running a little behind, so the spiritual thought today is going to be a little short. I've been thinking a fair bit about Book of Mormon again, about how important it is in our lives, and if we utilize it we can have the power we need to overcome anything. It is a great gift that we are given from God, to have his word in our day. We need to treasure the Book of Mormon and read it every day.  That way we can have the power available when we need it.

      This week has been pretty great. I expect this next transfer will be very exciting I can't wait to find out what will happen next.

Love, 

Elder Sherwood 

Pictures ...

The Watsons

Clay oil lamp from Brother Watson

In front of the mortuary

The embalming bed

Elder Manning contemplating cremation.

Elder Lunt running the chutes.

Elder Lunt and Elder Sherwood at Sister Rushton's house for dinner.

Transfer 2, Week 6: Exchange Nightmare

Hey Everyone,
        It's Elder Sherwood, and your weekly update of the mission. This week has been a little "cloudy", but I always think that we will see more "sunshine" soon. Well, now for the action....
        We went on exchanges with River's Edge this week. Boy, was that "fun"😂. Normally exchanges you think of trading companions for a few days, Nope. We had all 4 of us here in Fairfield. It was a little hectic. I had a hard time getting things done with the rest of the Elders talking. We did have a good lesson with John during the exchange, where we talked about the importance and relevance of the Book of Mormon, and gave him a blessing. We also got an appointment with a nonmember family that is interested in the gospel. We met with the dad, and he set it up. They are the Farmers, we have been trying to get in touch with them for the last 2 transfers, and now it finally paid off. 
       Seminary has started up here in Fairfield. It is exciting. One thing that the missionaries have done in the past, is help in seminary. I'm sure that will happen in the near future. But, since it was just starting up this week, we got to go have breakfast with them. It was so great. 
        We were saddened that day when we couldn't have our lesson with Jerry. He wasn't feeling very good. Normally it wouldn't bother us, but he has now left on a 2-3 week trip to North Dakota. We gave him some book of Mormon CDs to listen to, so we're hoping he listens to them. 
        Our dinner got canceled on Wednesday, and was rescheduled to a dinner with the youth. The bishopric was thanking them for all the service and other stuff they did this summer with the Flood, so we got to go that. Waffles. 🥞
The last half of the week, Elder Manning has been having a lot of Back pain. He says that it isn't normal, and he seems to have stretch marks. I hope he feels better soon. It is hard to know what we can do, if he is unexpectedly in pain often, but everything seemed to work out.
      We got to try our a metal lathe this week. I know, these last few weeks have had some pretty crazy stuff. Bro. Dahle(?), who is a less active member, has one and we had the opportunity to try it out. So much fun.
        Sunday was the exciting day, Transfer Call day. We both had no idea when they would come, and if either of us will leave. The calls ended up coming at 10:30pm last night. Ugh, so late. But it was totally worth not going to bed early for it. But I'm not going to tell what is going to happen till next week. It'll provide a better segway into next week's email, so enjoy the cliff hanger😎😁.
       Well, this week has made me think a lot about the concept of Diligence. In preach my gospel, diligence refers to the amount of effort we put toward a goal/target/purpose. Specifically, it talks about being completely diligent toward the gospel, and to Christ. This week for me has allowed me to think on how we can still diligent to Christ even in the most trying or difficult circumstances. Where ever we are, we can choose to find something that will help us come/bring others closer to Christ. Sometimes we have to think outside the box, but we can still always do it. Nephi explained this in his famous phrase found in 1st Nephi 3:7

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them"

        The other phrase that Nephi says a lot is, "Let us be faithful and in keeping the commandments of the Lord"(1 Nephi 4:1)

        Nephi was a great example of complete diligence toward the Lord. He always strived to do his best for his brothers, and the Lord. The great thing about the book of Mormon, is how well we can relate to it. We can be diligent to the Lord in everything we do. We just need to find a way to do it. This applies to everyone, not just missionaries. We all can be an example of Christ to everyone daily, of how we act, and share the gospel. You don't have to hand out the Book of Mormon to share the gospel. But rather by just lending a hand, answering a question, or just being a friend(Ministering). We show our Faith and diligence to Christ as we accept and continually act in our assignments and Callings.
      Well, this week has been pretty great. I hope everything had gone well for all of you as well. I hope to hear from you soon. And this is Elder Sherwood, signing off till next week, have a good one.

Love,
Elder Sherwood 

Pictures.....

Working the metal lathe.

Youth dinner fun.