The Adventure Begins

hey Everyone,

     How is everyone? This past week has been  very wild and busy week for me. I had no clue how quickly they were going to put us to work. from the moment I entered the doors, I was hurried along to drop my luggage off, and quickly sent off to my first class. I had absolutely no idea what was going on at this point. I was shown who my companion is, Elder Allen, and we started class. these first few days felt like they were force feeding me as much knowledge as they could about the MTC, which didn't help with everything else that was going on, but we got through them.

      I met the rest of my district and zone that night. they are really great elders and sisters. we, Elder Allen and I, were in the same room as Elder Hellyer, and Elder Collins who were the Zone Leaders at the time. The other district in our zone is really loud and funny, they pride themselves in being the loudest zone in the MTC. but I don't think that we will be much longer, since my district is pretty quiet compared to theirs. but it is great. They all have such a strong feeling of brotherhood and friendship that I want to build. As far as the numbers in my district, there are 6 sisters, and 2 elders. Yep, Elder Allen and I are the only elders in the district.

      We day two was not any easier than the first. we had classes starting at 8am, and we didn't really have a break until 9pm. We learned a lot about our purpose and how we can begin to full fill that purpose. We even started teaching our first PI, potential investigator, aka, our teacher role playing an investigator from their mission, her name is Loren, and it was a challenging  experience to  help her understand to recognize the spirit at first. but I think we did really well. Using technology can be a great help when teaching. It really can open the eyes of those we are teaching to really begin to feel the spirit. It is amazing to see it all happen. Latter that night, we met with the branch presidency and their wives. That was a great experience of both learning, and excitement as we met our leaders. Elder Allen and I were assigned to be both district and Zone Leaders. That seemed like a lot of responsibility, but I can't wait to get started. 

     The time passes really slowly each day, but quite quickly each week. In what felt like no time at all, It was Sunday and we had our first meeting. For Sundays at the mtc, our first meeting started at 7am, which doesn't seem to bad, compared to when we get up. Everyone said that sundays are the worst day of the week, but I felt different. I thought sundays were by far the most relaxed and easy going day of the week. We had our three hour block, a few other meetings, a walk, and a great devotional about learning who Christ is. Do we really know who Christ is, or do we just think we know. All in all a great day. 

     The other district left these past two days. Some on monday, and the rest today. I am sad to see them go, but  know that they will do great things for the lord. So We, my district is all alone in the zone till tomorrow when the new district comes in, which consists of 2 elders and 8 sisters. I doubt the pattern will stop until school is out for the high schools. But until then, we will manage. 

     I hope everyone is doing really well. I do miss all of you very much, but I know that the Lord needs me here, and that I am helping to learn and bring forth the gospel to this earth. I enjoy it here, and I can't wait to go to Montana, and help the amazing people of that area. the work of the lord is glorious, and we will begin to see the love of Christ in our lives, as we understand what he wants us to do. I love all of you and I hope to here from you all soon.​​

    As far as sending me any snail mail or packages, here is my post box information. And let me know if you can see these photos

Elder Jacob Taylor Sherwood

JUN12 MT-BIL

2005 N 900 E Unit 135

Provo UT 84602

Our district

District D, the night before they left

Entering the Missionary Training Center

Jacob's Mission Call

Getting ready to open his mission call.

Montana Billings Mission!!

We meant well

To my children:

I'm sorry.  We have failed you.

We knew better than our parents did.  They we so old-fashioned.  They saw the world as black and white - like their TVs when they were young.  They couldn't relate to a technicolor reality the way we could.  Our world was in full color since the day we were born.  We were smarter than them.  They couldn't program a VCR, we created Netflix.  They invented swivel adaptors for their extra long telephone cords to keep them from getting tangled, allowing them to travel a full eight and a half feet outside their kitchen while still remaining on their phone.  We invented smart phones, and email, and texting, so that we could remain connected at all times and in all places, whether it was during dinner at a restaurant, taking a dump in the bathroom, in the middle of Church on Sunday or even while flying at thirty-thousand feet over South Dakota.  Talk about progress!

Although our parents scolded and punished us when we did something wrong, we were more loving with you.  We didn't raise our voices and tell you that you were wrong.  We instead praised your self-expression and unique perspective.  When we did something bad at school, our cruel, old-fashioned parents would give us a serious ear-chewing when we got home.  But if any teacher of yours dared to suggest you had done something wrong, we called for that teacher's removal.  If they gave you a bad grade for sub-standard work, we demanded that they change their standards to be more "fair".  If you sat on the bench in your sporting events because you weren't as good as the others, we were outraged at the coaches and demanded that they give you more playing time.  How dare they suggest one child was better at something than another?!  That's racism, or favoritism, or something-ism, isn't it?!  Above all else, we wanted you to know that you were important.  So we gave you trophies for participating.  We made your teachers grade with purple or blue pens because red markings suggested that your mistakes were wrong.  We compassionately silenced the voices of the majority so that those who were in a minority, would never have to feel like they were in a minority.

Because we loved you.

We sought to give you every advantage we never had.  Our parents were so backward, they would save for years before buying something expensive.  We had to do without so many things that we wanted because our horrible parents "didn't have it in the budget".  We swore that that that wouldn't happen to you.  We gave you everything you wanted, right when you wanted it.  After all, why wait?  You don't have to be able to afford to pay the whole price of something - as long as you can afford the payments.

Because we loved you, we sacrificed our time with you to climb higher up our corporate ladders.  We became a "two-income" family to better afford all the payments.  Our parents would never have done that for us.  Sure, we weren't there when you got home from school, but you knew that what we were doing was for your benefit.  Besides, the school and the TV were doing such a good job of raising you, you didn't really miss out on anything by our being absent.

And with all our efforts to teach you how important you are, you learned.

You learned that truth doesn't matter.  Character doesn't matter.  Results don't matter.

Only winning matters.

...And no matter the character of your results, the truth is you are a winner.

You learned that you deserve to have what you want, and somebody else should give it to you.

You learned that if it can't be said in a 15 second sound bite, it can't possibly be worth listening to.

You learned to value career over care-giving, ease over effort, entertainment over enlightenment, fantasy over faith, handouts over hard work, popularity over principle, security over self-sufficiency, and success without sacrifice.

Wealth is obscene, pornography is not.  You vigorously defend the "rights" of those who exploit women for profit.  You call it art.  You condemn those who speak in favor of chastity and family values.  You call it bigotry.

Morality is obsolete.  Gender is an opinion.  You install urinals in your Ladies' rooms, and sanitary napkin baskets in your Men's rooms.  You celebrate "choice", unless someone chooses to believe in Christ or adhere to the time-tested values of the past.  You worship at the altar of tolerance, while calling intolerant any who pray at the feet of God.

Yes, we failed you because we loved you, and you are now reaping the bitter harvest that we have sown.  The world of reason and prosperity that our parents left to us is lost, and it will not come again in your lifetime.  But maybe, just maybe your grandchildren's grandchildren will revolt against the despotism you and I have ignorantly placed upon them, cast off the shackles of the failed philosophies of the past, embrace principles of liberty and responsibility and rise up to be smarter than their parents.

Just like we did.

Transfer 5 Week 6

Hey everyone so sorry about not emailing for so long. It has been a really hectic few weeks. I have found out that my mission is Ending a little sooner then I planned. I am really sad, but I know that it is the best.

My mission hasn't been anything I expected. It has had many ups and downs. I can still remember Gillian's baptism. She was so ready, and I was happy to see her mom start coming back to church because of it. I loved working with the members and gaining so many friends.

I have always wondered why I have had so many comps and areas since being here. I sortof know why now. I think that God knew that I would need to come home, so I needed to learn what others learn in 18 months to 2 years in 8 months. :P I will be forever greatfull for this opertunity and all that I have expirienced.

As the scriptures say "God's ways are not our ways". We don't always understand why things happen. I do know though that he knows what is best for us. He knows how to help us, and if we follow him, we will be happy and recieve blessings. I wish with all my heart that I could stay till december, but god needs me home for a reason not yet known. I know that jesus is our savior. I know that he suffered so much so that we could be made perfect through him. I know that he is always there, reaching out for us, waiting for us to recieve him. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet just as Thomas S. Monson is one today. I know the book of mormon is true. I know that the gospel is here to make man happy, not to restrict them. May God bless you all and your families.

-Sister Lahra Sherwood

P.S. If you would like to stay in contact my info is:

Lahra Sherwood
8118Simpson Springs Rd.
Eagle Mountain Utah 84005
USA

lahrasherwood@gmail.com

Facebook: Lahra Sherwood

Interesting Facts about Sister Sherwood

Name: Sister (Lahra) Sherwood
Occupation... Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
I was born in... Fort Colins, Colorado, USA
My current home is... Essen, Germany
My worst job was... cleaning the bathrooms at a Machine Shop. :P
The last good movie I saw was... Legacy, or The Testaments. Before the mission Saratov Approach.
The best book I have read recently was... 1st Nephi
My favorite TV show is... His Grace. (mormon message seiries on mormonchannel.org)
My favorite munchies are... Frosties (Frosted Flakes), or Peach Rings (a Gummy Candy), or German chocolate in general. :P
My nickname is... ........ Sister Sherwood? :P (when we go bowling for p-day it's Thor, but we aren't really supposed to have nick names.)
My favorite performer is... Chris Hemsworth
My favorite athlete... uh...... the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nobody knows I... can write in Armenian while looking at an Armenian Book of Mormon.... :P
I'm a sucker for... Babies! Which is hard since I can't hold them.
A really great evening for me is... when I can relax in the bath before bed.
My fantasy is... to baptise one more person before I head home.
The best advice my mother gave me is... Love your companion, no matter what.
The one thing I like most in a person is... when they are positive.
The one thing I can't stand in a person is... No manners (burping and not saying excuse me etc.)
If I could change one thing about myself, I would... Make me less shy.
My most irrational act was... single dating in high school.
Why I think my friends like me is...I am a great listener.
What I like most about where I live now is... that there are trees again! It reminds me of New York.

February 9, 2015

I am doing ok. Htings have been really rough for me, but I am getting through it. Missionary work is going along. Our district has 5 Baptisms this month which is soooooo Awesome!!!!! We have had 4 referals form one Member in our ward who happens to live in an Elderly Home/Pflegerheim. (don't know that word in English. :P) Basicaly, She is a Member who is Great Grandma's age, who we help with her learning how to walk again, and she travels in a wheelchair. It is so cool! She is such a cool member. She is my "German" Great Grandma, and is on the list of people I wish I could take home with me. :D

Alle Meine Liebe,
Sister Sherwood