Tour of Oakley

I got this back in October and just figured out how to post it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyPac7tV5MI

Elder Papa Woods

What is up my friends?

I hope all is awesome. My week has been absolutely insane. Literally the craziest week in my mission. Don't believe me? Check this out.

On Saturday, Jeffery R Holland came and spoke to our mission. (told ya. crazy. haha). It was absolutely amazing. He is the funniest/most intimidating guy ever. But I was basically crying laughing the whole time. But on a spiritual plane, oh my goodness...he's amazing. I learned SOOOOO much.

That same day, was transfers. It makes sense because the entire mission was together so we just kinda switched. EXCEPT, I was getting a new missionary and they didn't come in until Tuesday. That meant I was paired up with Elder Chain in Fruitland (ya, it does sound gay) and we covered both areas. It was crazy. Since we had two areas, we kinda just decided to do 2 dinners instead of cancelling. We only did this once, since the meal was the EXACT same! Down to the drink options. hahaha. Pretty funny.

On Sunday, I spoke in Payette 2nd ward. I find speaking to be a crap load easier and actually enjoyable now. (I'm hoping he used his "church words") pretty tight. Anyways, on Monday, the assistants came and picked Elder Chain and I up and took us to Boise where we stayed the night and waited for our new missionaries. We got them Tuesday, and they are way good. My new comp is Elder Forsyth. He's WAY cool. He's a total drummer. Winter drum-line/drumset, the whole thing baby! Way tight. So I decided to get some very cool members (the Berrymans) to hook up a tight "greenie" dinner. Notice the picture. Very very cool. Pears, broccoli (I don't know how to spell that), green drink (not juice...drink. haha. Sugar, water, green), and other green things. It was way cool.

That basically brings us to today! Yesterday we were wicked busy with district meeting in Council and stuff. But I'm way excited. He's an awesome kid and is totally prepared. Next week I'll have pics and stuff.

Thanks again for all you do.

Love ya! -Elder Woods

Up to McCall - Big Buns and Bigger Dragons

Hello!

So today was pretty crazy. We made the LONG drive up to McCall today as the AP's came and picked up most of our zone to go to the McCall ice festival. These are some of the carvings. It was pretty insane! That's not even half of them. (The theme was dragons. I'm not obsessed with dragons. haha). There were some slides and crazy stuff made out of ice. We than went to a place called the Pancake house. Famous for there large portions. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and was like, oh look, a "giant" cinamon roll is only like $2. I'll get that too. We wait a while for our food and the waitress brings out the most massive cinimmon roll I or any othe the other Elders had ever seen. They all busted out there cameras and took pics. ITS WAS HUGE!! As Jim Gaffigan would say, 8 pounds of cake. But I did finish it and paid the price. haha.

We had interviews and it sounds like Elder Reese is leaving. I'll get back to you more when I learn more.

Ok, so I have to share this before I gotta run. Last Sunday in Payette 1st ward, we had an entire meeting on missionary work. It was extremely powerful and brought a new excitment. We felt and saw that this Sunday, when we received 44 names to visit! Holy MAN!! So awesome. So we should be pretty busy for the next good while.

Well, I hope all is well for you.

Love ya all!

-Elder Woods

P.s. Hell didn't freeze over because the Cardinals didn't win, but Idaho still did. ugh...haha

Exactly inbetween the equator and the north pole.

Busy=awesome!

Hey everybody! How goes life?

So, I want to start by talking about an "inversion". Ever heard about it? I hadn't either. But to sum it up, I haven't seen the sun in a month. No joke! haha, its super crazy. People here say you have to go into survival mode. So we've been trying to entertain ourselves, as you can see in the pictures. haha.

Well Payette is awesome other than the lack of sun-shine. We've got a lot of work rolling in Fruitland and Ontario. This up coming week is pretty crazy. We have interviews tomorrow, exchanges with Mccall (3 hours away), district meetings and stake meetings and a whole bunch of other stuff. I'm pretty stoked. Busy=awesome!

The other day we were tracting (yes, I went tracting. ugh...), but we met a man named Clayton, who invited us in and wanted to here our message. After hearing it, he wanted us to come back and give him more. He's awesome. He's a way good guitar player and we're looking for a place to jam sometime. haha. He's way cool.

Well, I hope you all have had and will have a great week. Enjoy the nice sun! haha.

Love ya!

-Elder woods

Idaho's not the only thing freezing over!!

Hello one and all!! So first off, lets get this out of the way. Cardinals are in the Super-Bowl?! The team that hasn't won a play-off game in 30 years is now in the Super-Bowl?! haha. Thats sooooo insane! I think its the fastest I've ever jumped on the band wagon though. haha. Well the work here is good. Actually, its really good. Maybe even great! haha. We have a lot of work rolling in Ontario, which is cool because I get to go to another state. FYI, you can't pump your own gas in Oregon. Just in case you wanted to know. I pulled up to a gas station and was getting out and this random guy came up and asked for my credit card and stuff, I thought he was just a really nice mugger. haha. Pretty awesome. In other very random news, 1 year ago Sunday (the 18th), New York was attacked by the Cloverfield monster. I love that movie. haha. So that was way random, and probably means I should go. haha. I love you all and hope all is well! -

Elder Woods

p.s. Picture 1, this amused me. Its literally icicles on icicle lights. haha.

#2 is me with a tiny puppy. awwwwww...

Brad went to the temple today after throwing up all morning. Now that's dedication.

FLDS?

Hello Friends!

How is everyone? I hope well. Payette is amazing. People are all really cool and friendly, and its not near as cold (or windy) as Burley was. We have a TON of great work going on and its really been a blast. Just Sunday, we had a HUGE multi-stake missionary meeting. It was for all the bishops, stake presidents, high councilors over missionary work, and ward mission leaders...and we came too. haha. Our Mission President was there along with Elder Walker of the 70. It was really great. Alot of great things are happening and its really cool to be a part of it. Well, my time is very short today, but I did throw in some pics. The first is the stuff my fam sent for my birthday. It was kinda crazy because Payette is literally known as "Home of the Pirates". I'll take a picture of one of the signs to show ya. haha. The second is one of our wards in Fruitland, I just couldn't miss such a great photo opportunity. haha. And the last one, we went to a dinner and the family was concerned about us getting spaghetti sauce all over our white shirts, so we got to wear these beauties. haha. It was pretty sweet. Well, I gotta run. I love you all and hope all is well!

-Elder woods

Happy 20th Brad and 1st Blog of the Year

(I'm sure Brad would have picked these pictures if he were here - haha)

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

It is officially 09 and I am officially transferred. I am now in Payette Idaho. Its right on the border of Idaho and Oregon. In fact we do all our shopping in Ontario Oregon. (no sales tax! ya! haha) Its a sweet little town with a TON of potential. My comp is Elder Reese from Glendale AZ. He's a pretty cool kid. We went to a ward party for New Years and it was alright. Yesterday was my birthday. I finally turned 15! yay! haha. No...I'm 20...I am no longer a teenager. But its all cool. Well, I gotta run. Sorry there is no pics, I forgot my camera, but you should be getting ALOT more pics soon when I send my camera home. Love ya all tons and thanks so much for all you do!

-Elder Woods

These are the questions I asked this week and Brad's answers. He only answers if I ask specifically and he doesn't elaborate.

How's your new companion? New comp is cool.

How is being a follow-up trainer? Follow up trainer is ok

How is being a senior companion? Senior comp is ok.

How is your new wards? Wards are WAY cool. Love missionaries.

How many wards do you cover? We only cover 4 wards.

Anyone to teach? We do have people to teach and they are all pretty close. Way cool.

How's your new apartment? Apartment is cool

How is your new town? Town is cool, I liked Burley a little more. But Ontario is pretty tight.

How was your Birthday?Birthday was good. I went to Taco Bell. This is the 1st area I've been in that's had one so I haven't been there in a while. Way good. haha.