Monday Message: December 29, 2014

Well it is finally over and it was pretty good! The New Year is come and that means the days are winding down! i was thinking about my goal to read all the standard works by the time i come home and that means a lot of dedication but i have made a chart that tells me how much to read each day and it is accomplishable. I just hope that i will be able to make it! 

Other than that we had a good week but it was also a little rough because of how hard it is to hang up a skype call. i could have just talked for like 5 hours but we know that isnt the best! its true what they say about how a call home doesnt only last for the call itself it last for hours after as well!

We didnt have much that stood out this week. we have recommitted ourselves though to work twice as hard to see the success that the area really needs. I know this area has so much potential but its just working hard enough to deserve the Lords blessing and so he will lead us to those that are prepared. Elder Barlow also had a stomache virus that kept him in bed for a day, but he is better now and we hope that we can stay healthy to finish off the transfer strong! 

So i was reading the other day, when i was thinking about my desires and mission, in Alma 31 and i had a spiritual moment when i realized i was guided to that chapter. It is talking about Alma's Prayer for the Zoramites and how he had such rightoues desires to see them recieve the gospel and also the success of his brethren. i thought to myself is that how i am and how can i become like that. I have had some great pondering moments lately and i love them. i learn so much from the scriptures and i hope that you are all reading them and taking the time to ponder about them! I am sending a letter home that i hope you accept the challenge i gave to you and keep it.

I hope that next week will be more eventful so i have something to talk about. Have a great week and please be safe on the roads and anywhere! I would love to hear back from you all and letters will be nice i will write to anyone who writes me, but they are much apprieciated and wanted. I love you so much! 

Love 

Elder Nathanial Woodruff

Monday Message: December 22, 2014

Sorry this week has been crazy long and the email situation is being weird so i dont have much time to email this week but my family will be able to tell you all on christmas how things are and next week i will write more for sure! have a great week and please be safe! and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!

love Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: December 15, 2014

So Breaking News!! Effective july 1,2015 The West Indies Mission will be no longer!! But it will now be split into two missions. The Trinidad, Port of Spain Mission which includes trinidad and tobago, suriname, guyana, and the ABC islands off the coast of venesuala! and the Barbados, Bridgetown mission which includes all of the islands from the West indies mission and french Guyana. we are not sure if new islands will be added yet but we will see! I will be able to say i served in two missions if only for 3 months but still that is exciting news!!!

This week has been good i realized that my time is dwindling down further and i am getting close to 9 months left. i feel sad that it is going so fast. i know that is the opposite of what i used to say. even though i want things to go fast and to come home i also love being a missionary and everything. some days i feel like i am going to be a missionary for ever and others it is fleeting fast!

So i have seen the Lords hand many times this week. it is so crazy! We were led to many people who we believe are prepared and also accepting to us. i just hope that i can be a tool to help them reach the path and the Gospel. We taught a lesson this week that almost brought me to tears. The spirit was definately there and i cant deny the fact that it was the one teaching. The girls name is Meagan and she lives next door to us in our complex and she has been busy a lot so this was the first time i saw her. we went over at8:30 to just talk and get to know her but we ended up staying till 10 teaching.(Yes just a little apostate but that was worth it i believe it was the spirit) But she was so close to tears as well and she was understanding us and we understood her. It was like we could answer any question she had and there was no doubt. i was on a spiritual high the whole time and night it was great. i Love the Lord! and am grateful for the Spirit. 

That was my week in a nut shell and i hope that you have a great week and please be safe i would love to hear from you and pictures are always nice! I LOVE YOU!!!! 

Love 
Elder Nathanial Woodruff!

Monday Message: December 8, 2014

52 Rendezvous Ridge #5
Barbados, West Indies
Well it has been about a week since i got to barbados and it is way
nice here. I am in a major reverse culture shock and I honestly want
to go back to Guyana so bad! nothing is the same here. Even though i
can get everything i need whenever i want i dont like the feeling of
leaving my home! I miss the Kirton Family so much and when ever i
think of it i want to cry! i do like barbados but at Zone conference
this past week i was talking to Sister Mehr and she said i came from a
place where we teach the most simple lessons to a place where it is
more complicated and honestly i loved the simple lifestyle. People are
more humble and not as prideful as here in Barbados!! But for my first
week i am doing good! when i got here i found out the work wasnt being
done so its like blanking the area but elder barlow is ready to start
to work again and we are going to be exactly obedient and have great
success! He is great and our apartment is so nice nothing like im used
to and i have hot water with out bucket showers. i was so used to that
for 6 months though i miss it sometimes haaha! So this week we are
going to have a great week of hard work and get the areaa going again
so that we can reach a goal of 2 baptisms this transfer! it will be
great just take some patience! i love you all so much and i hope you
have a great week be safe and always trust in God! oh and Momma i
loved the Story of prayer make sure that you write that down so that i
can put it in my scrapbook. when i read that i started to cry because
i had an experience with prayer this week. we had set a goal to meet 3
new people to teach and we hadnt got it yet and it was last night at
7:30 so i prayed that God would lead me to a family who would accept.
and the next house i went to was a family who said we could come back!
i have found out that God does things in his time and if we ask him
sincerely and that was a great lesson! i love the Lord! i love you so
much and please be safe dont break anything like me breaking my toe on
a dang brick! I love you!!!
Love
Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: December 1, 2014

well this week has come to an end and i am happy to say that a change is coming my way! Although im not happy that i have to leave the Kirtons and all the other families that i have come to love over the past 6 months right before christmas. i now realized that i will have to meet all new people right before the holiday but that is ok it is what it is! 

So this week went really good we had the baptism of two girls named Venus Lewis and Gatesha Daniels! i have been working with them for the 6 months ive been here and they finally took the step closer to our heavenly father. they both were so happy when it was all over! i am so happy for them! i just hope that i will have this much success in Barbados!

So the story of the day just happened and it made me somewhat vexxed actually because it could have been prevented but elder mitchell doesnt use his head sometimes! we were riding our bikes down the road and he decided to take the wrong turn and cut right in front of  me. it threw me off my bike onto the road and i skidded pretty far down the road. but oh well i am fine and that is all that matters. 

Sorry that this week is so short i just have had a boring week other than what i told you already! I will talk to you next week from barbados and it will be great i love you so much!!!

Love 

Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: November 24, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving to all haha. i almost forgot about the whole holiday can you believe that? All up untill yesterday when Sis. Kirton told me that the turkeys were out in the back yard at home. i am so glad that i have someone who can give me updates through out the week it is great! The weeks have really started to speed up sometimes i dont even remember what day it is and then all of the sudden it is monday again! I am feeling a lot better than i was last week and the pain has gone away from my chest. everybody is a big help to me and i can see that they really care for me. Pres Mehr even has given me tips on what to do haha!

So I have a sweet experience that im not sure anyone else really caught but the spirit really touched me when we had our last branch counsel! So Pres. Kirton asked us ( me) to teach something to the Leaders of the branch so we chose to teach about becoming a self reliant branch and so we will work towards not having to use out of area tithes and offerings to run the branch. im not going to lie we have a ways to go but it is a goal and it is possible. But as we were teaching many of the leaders were telling us as missionaries about how we havent done our job and we havent helped them. This usually makes me upset and i have learned to hold it in ( really practicing humility haha) but this time i had to be bold and told the members that we are only here to help them do the Job that is really theirs and we are going to do everything possible to benifet the branch but that means that they must help too. i was told that i was wrong and we havent done our job but i just taught a little doctrine and then closed the lesson. then i didnt think much of it anymore and i wasnt expecting any apology or response, but then Sister Kirton stood up for us. She said (in my words because i cant speak the guyanese slang as good and you wouldnt understand) These missionaries are doing a great job. we have seen a low and now are seeing the high of attendance but we cant blame it on them it is blamed on us. as members we havent really done our part. Before ishe said she never realized how hard the mission is. but since her daughter has been out and she gets the letters of discouragement and hard ship but also the letters of happiness and success it has really changed her outlook on things. she said it is hard for these two to be here and we arent making it easier for them inless we help them. she almost started to cry i think and so did I! I am so grateful for her wonderful testimony and also her husbands. they are the so great and will always have a place in my heart. I do love this Gospel and i continue to learn everyday! i will never stop learning or reach a point that i know everything there is to know. everybody can learn and continue to learn. please study and pray. I love you so much and please be safe this week. i will do the same! 

I LOVE YOU!!!

love 

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: November 17, 2014

Hey how are you doing? i feel like i dont ask any questions about back at home and i want to have answers haha! I hear the weather is freezing? guess what it is here in Guyana today! yupp Hott and Sunny haha sorry had to rub it in. But if it makes you feel better i really miss the snow and cold i want to snowboard so bad right now! Ive been thinking a lot about all the things that i use to do back at home and that is one thing that comes to mind! other than hunting and baseball of course! I played cricket with some young men this week and it just isnt the same. Baseball is by far the better sport out of the two, dont get me wrong though i do love to play cricket!

This week in church youll never believe me but we had 83 people and it was packed. i was so happy to see that many come. Pres. kirton says that usually happens around the holiday though and we will see if it stays. i sure hope it does! 

Can you believe that i have been in Guyana for almost 4 transfers now. doesnt seem like a lot but this is the longest i have been in one area! almost 5 months now close to 6 by the end of the transfer. i dont know if i want to leave or stay. some days i feel drained from the area and others i never want to leave! I do feel like i will be leaving the area though and idk if i want that right before christmas but we will see!

So dont worry about this next part everything is ok. I talked to Sister Thompson who is the new mission doctor and told her that i was having a hard time catching my breath and my heart was racing. Not anything really big just taking a precaution and she said to just take a rest for a day and see if it calms down! so i did yesterday and it worked. she also said she thinks it was just anxiety and that if it happens just to take a minute and breath and then go and solve the anxiety or stress. so i am fine and doing good! no worries! I hope that you have a great week and be safe! I love you! 

Love 

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: November 10, 2014

Well this week is over! i dont know what more i can say about it! it was a pretty slow week with not much going on. we had an ok week of lessons even through the sickness. i dont know what it is but we cant go a whole week without one of us being sick! the forces of Guyana are getting at us haha! We have just finished week 3 of this transfer and i feel like it is slow. i feel like i will probably be leaving guyana this time or at least a change of scenary! we are doing good but it could be better. Obedience is a big issue on things. and if someone from the caribbean doesnt want to change they wont. but we are still working and trying to get past it!

Right now i feel like i am trying to teach three different things all from my companion, the branch and the investigators! I am working with the branch at trying to gain unity and work together to help them grow, but they arent realizing that it is their job and we are just the help. we cant do everything even though we try our best! The Branch Councel meetings that we have are so crazy sometimes. THey last an hour or more and nothing is settled or done. Sometimes i miss the structure of a bigger ward but then again i like to help them get to that point! I have seen this branch go from 85 members all the way to 26 and then slowly climb up to the 70 that we had yesterday! that is a big range. I also have like 3 callings that i fill in for people who arent there! i am a pianist, secritary/clerk/1st couselor, plus elders quorum teacher! i guess all those years of being a leader in the young men has helped me a lot! I love teaching but sometimes it is hard when they dont under stand the basics so we spend a lot of time on the basics! and i want to teach more than that. But it is good! 

Im sorry this week was so short. i also didnt take any pictures this week but i will do better at that! next week will be more! i promise! have a great week. and thank you for all of your prayers on my behalf! i love you! Be safe!

Love 

Elder Nathanial Woodruff!

Monday Message: November 3, 2014

So this week has been full of plenty ups and downs! Elder Mitchell and I were sick at the start of the week, and also the end! but we still forced through it and went to work. Guyana is great and i love it but it sure likes to make you feel bad throughout the days! i feel like it is really trying to get at me but i wont allow that to stop me! We have been really focusing on our Investigators who we feel are the Elect this week and many of them are on their way to baptism. and they have accepted dates! i am so excited to see them continue to grow. We even have an investigator who is from Nigeria and he is so ready for the Gospel the only part that is hard for him is when we talk about the priesthood being lost for the apostacy and he said that if he can just understand that it was really lost he will know everything else is true! I know that that will only come when he knows the Book of Mormon is true and so we actually found a Book of Mormon that is in his native language IGBO and it is coming for him. i cant wait to give it to him and see the converting power of the Best book ever!

So also today i have had a spiritual witness about the lord having a hand in all things! We were traveling to Georgetown for a Zone activity. We were almost out of gas and looking for a place to fuel up, but none of the gas stations had the gas yet for the day. We had pulled over for a split second to ask a guy about it and he just waved us on. We hadnt stopped for more than 10 seconds before we left. Then just a few miles down the road we were coming up to a turn and an on coming car was coming at us in our lane around the turn but instead of making the turn it kept going and crashed into a light pull about 20 yards in front of us and came to a stop side by side with us! by that time we had pulled over to the other side and stopped to see what just happened. I honestly feel like if we hadnt stopped to ask that man something the car would have hit us right at the turn. I feel the Lords hand so much in the work but never that much in protecting me. but now with this experience and the experience of falling of the balcony. I know that he is protecting his servants. I am so gratefull for the Holy Ghost and also the Lords Hand in all things.

So that was basically the week all wrapped up in one day! the area is good and growing from the little drop off that we had. I hope to see it come back to what it was with some more added! It will be great we will just see what this transfer and next transfer have in store! i love you so much! have a great week and be safe. Drive safe and dont text and drive and always wear a seat belt i believe that is what saved the two people today! Especially this holiday season. i want to see you when i get home! I love you!!

Love

Elder Nathanial Woodruff!

Monday Message: October 27, 2014

So this week has been a long week. Both Elder Mitchell and myself have been sick and dont have any idea what it is! we are also left without a phone at the moment because ours broke yesterday afternoon! We worked as hard as we could this week but we were so tired and sick that things didnt feel as good as they could have been. Even though we were sick i believe that we had a good week and it ended up better than we had expected it to be! I still love it here in New Amsterdam and the people are so amazing! The struggle that we are having though is our church attendance. many of the members have been offended in the past couple of weeks over different callings! Things that can be resolved though. It will just take effort and their cooperation in listening and understanding the Gospel and the reason we have callings in the church! We know that God is a God of Order and so we have callings, President Kirton understands that so he has been filling up all the callings in the branch but the members havent quite understood that and got Offended when they were released! I believe things will pick up soon and we will begin to see the members come back and the attendance increase! i just want to see it like it was when i got here in june with 70 + members again! it has so much potential here we just have to find out how to bring it out and help the branch become self reliant on the things that run the church organization!

So other than that this week has been ok. i got an email back from pres. Mehr about shivanie being baptized he said not to worry about it to much it was a small mistake! and just to help the family understand about moromni 8 and how she can be rebaptized in a year when she is 8 years old! he was really helpful about it and made me feel a lot better about the situation. it relieved a lot of stress from my shoulders! 

I hope that this week goes a lot better and that things will begin to speed up again! i am thankful for all of the support! oh and thanks for all the hunting pictures! they made me trunky but also happy to see all the fun pictures there was! i love you so much!

Love

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: October 20, 2014

So this week has been a decent week! We had a lot of road blocks in the way though! and many things that could have worked out a little differently but that is just how it had to happen! I am working really hard to build back up the area to how it was. Its not as easy as i thought though i am working as hard as possible to be A+ obedient and i just hope that i will be able to be the example to Elder Mitchell as well! I believe if we can do that the area will grow and prosper once again just like the Book of Mormon Promises us! If we keep the commandments we will prosper and i know that the white handbook is commandments that i must live right now for the two years! I am upset and feel horrible about a huge mistake that i made this transfer that is a disgrace before God and i know i should have been more careful! but i made the mistake when i Baptized Shivanie Herecharran and i didnt look at the birthday and it didnt even cross my mind to check it. turns out that she was born in 2007 which means she is only 7 years old! I have had this weight on my shoulder ever since i found out and i cant get rid of it! i feel like i have not only disappointed everyone here but also the Lord! i have prayed so hard to gain a forgiveness but i dont know what to do! i know it is not a good thing that i allowed to happen! What should i do?
So i want to tell you what i have learned about and from the Book of Mormon. This past couple of transfers that i have been reading it again i have gotten so much out of it. i also cant wait to read it from the beginning again this transfer. The Book of Mormon is a powerful tool. just like we are taught. lately i have seen so many people begin to change as the read it, it also is so powerful that if we can only get the people to read it it solves all the contention and bible bashing that people come at us with! i even have had the chance lately to see how it will work with one of our investigators who is from nigeria! he told us it would be great if we could get it in his language IGBO. i thought to my self we will never find it but it turns out that the church has that language i cant wait to get it to him because i know that his life will change because of this book! i have also seen such a big change in my life. i have found so much comfort from the words in alma about the Plan of Salvation as well as the many parts that we can see the christlike attributes! i love to study about how christ was and is! i cant lie the Book of Mormon is great at chastising you as well. i have found many things that i must work on in my life because of the way i feel reading the Book. as well as the faults it points out to me, but my attention is always brought back to what moroni said in moroni 10:32 that we can come unto christ and be perfected in him. we will never be perfect before but only through christ can we be perfected! I have found the way to find true happiness in this life and what i must do to reach it! its not in the world in money or fame or power ,but it is in Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Eternal Life is promised to those who follow christ and keep his commandments. He is on our side, but so many people are left out because they havent learned about the Book of Mormon. That is my Job and i want to fill it to the best that i can! That is why i am here because of the Book of Mormon and that is What i want to share with others! This book changes lives it has mine and i know many others! i love this book!
I will be in guyana for another 6 weeks which will bring me close to 6 months in the country! crazy huh! i will be close to christmas as well. things are coming up fast i hit the 13 months this week and keep going from there! i hope things can be good this transfer and that we see success once again! i love you so much and hope that you have a great week! till next week
Love
Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: October 13, 2014

So this week has been a good, but long week! it started off really well and we had some great success. then in the middle of the week it slowed down and i think it picked back up again! I dont really want to admit it but i think i let myself fall into the hump day slump haha! i have caught my self though and realize that the work isnt as fun or easy in that matter if things are going slow at the apartment! it has been hard to wake up and excersize when no one is pushing you and they want to sleep all the time. i need a work out partner to be pushed. and because of that i feel that my studies havent been what they use to be but i am working hard and bringing them back to what they were and even better! so i will get out of this slump and have the joy once again!

So yesterday we had a good experience and an experience that really had to test my patience! So at church we are really working hard for Real Growth in the branch and have been working with a lot of Less Actives and they all were doing really good and we did all we could to get them excited for church and thought they were coming and none came! we also did the same with our progressing investigators and still nothing! i was so upset we only had 43 people attend yesterday! That is no where close to the 100 that pres. kirton has set for the branch! we are working so hard with him to get that but it is struggling right now! But we have faith and i believe it will reach that goal! The other struggle is that we tried to have a meeting with the leaders of the branch to set up a branch mission plan and put it into play, but everytime we tried they turned it on us as missionaries saying that we havent done our part to allow them to do their! im sorry to say but maybe i wasnt in the best mood and it made me upset to see them blame it on us that the less actives werent coming. and also that they werent fellowshipping because we didnt introduce them! i think i held it in and we worked it out the best we could without being overbearing. and took the blame but the hour that we were there we only got to goals and the members were talking bad behind the others backs so we just stopped the meeting and we as missionaries plan to work with president kirton on the goals and actions and then present it to them at the branch counsel! But on a spiritual note! we had a great experience last night as well. we finished a lesson a half hour early and had no where to go but we felt impressed to stop by Pres. kirtons home and when we got there he sent us to the bhola family and said his wife and daughter were already there but they needed our help. When we got there we found out that there had been an argument between the parents and one of the daughters who is seventeen! it was over texting and talking on the phone to much to a boy from georgetown and she wasnt getting anything done!( Sounds like me back in the day huh!) It went to the point that this girl felt all alone and didnt want to be apart of this world anymore. When we got there Sis. kirton was talking to both and asked if we could help. but of course we are only 19 and 20 and have no idea what it is like to be a parent but we do know what it is like to be a teenager. All that we could do and that we were impressed to do was say a prayer, and then we sang "I am a child of God". That brought the spirit so much and tears to my eyes. our main goal was to help the daughter know that our Heavenly Father loves her and the he parents were trying to help. we also took what sis kirton was saying and helped the mother know how the youth feel. i believe that it was a starting point for them to solve the problem and i am so grateful that the spirit lead me there to experience that opportunity!

So that is my crazy day yesterday! also we met a man from nigeria this week and he is awesome i have pictures that i am sending home he is the black man in the white shirt with us! his accent is awesome and his name is Chideny but we call him Chidi( Like Chidi Chidi Bang Bang haha!) we are teaching him and really see potential with him! he is a catholic but super smart he is a science lecturure in the college here! so smart! I hope that your week goes great and that you have a safe week as well! hope to hear back from you soon! i love you!!!

Love

Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: October 6, 2014

Well One more conference down on my mission only one left how crazy is that? seems like they are coming faster and faster each time. just know the next one will be here and then only 5 months after that haha! sorry had a small trunky moment there! but on the serious note i hope  that you really listened to conference and all of the wonderful talks that were spoken! i know that they were answers to my prayers and questions which really gave me strength. i love our prophet and apostles they are truly called of God!

So this week was a slow week for elder mitchell and myself it felt like we couldnt get anything going and nobody had the time to meet with us. but we still pushed and we will for sure be doing more this week. I never want a week like this one again! We are still focussing a lot on the real growth of the branch but we still want to see a lot of investigators so it is just trying to find the balance between the two! I just hope that i can be a true example and leader to help this area progress and to be a blessing not a burden!

So something that i thought was really cool that i have learned recently is found in D&C 50:24. Do you remember the Saying "focus on the next 200 ft". As i read that i just thought instantly about baseball and all the mental training that we did! it applies really well! in a car at night we only see roughly 200 ft ahead of us but when we reach that 200 ft there is a next 200 ft all the way until the "perfect day" or in other words the sun comes up and we have the whole road visible infront of us! the same with the gospel, we gain more and more light as we continue in God. But if we stop we lose light and will never gain the next "200 ft" or more light! untill that perfect day which is the day that our Savior and Redeemer will come and reign personally upon the earth! I am truly grateful for baseball and football and all the things that i learned at controling what i can control. the mental game is as much of a part of a mission as it is in sports and i am so happy i was able to gain some of the mental training before and i continue to work on it still out here in the mission field!

That was basically my week hopefully a better working week for me but it is still good! im on the down hill slope still working hard! i love you and hope you have a great week!
Love your Elder
Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: September 29, 2014

So it is done! i am finally on the down hill slope of the best to years FOR my life! i am happy and sad that this year has gone the way it has! it is different to think a year ago i wasnt at home any more i was on my mission! Crazy! 

So this week we had zone conference and we woke up at 3:30 then I went to suriname on the 25th and woke up at 3 after falling asleep at 12 so only 3 hours of sleep! can you say tired? i am so drained but it was a good thing to do on the year mark ha! i love it here in guyana and i am so greatful to be on my mission! I have made the most of it i hope and there is much more to come! 

So right now in the branch we are focusing a lot on the Recent converts and less active members so that the branch can raise the attendance and have real growth. so we are really working with the members for this project! the members are the most important thing to the work and we are seeing that right now! 

I am sorry this e mail is so short i just ran out of time. but one thing that i want to get across this week that i have learned is that God has total control of our lives and he places us in places to not only help us in trials but also to be an example and help to others! He knows us and our situations so never forget to turn to him Alma 37:37. also i love the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 6:36. he is in control of my life and i pray that he is in yours as well! i love you so much and have a great week! i will talk to you more next week! 

Love Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: September 22, 2014

 So this week has been pretty crazy to say the least! well actually it was saturday that made is so crazy! so the fun story of the week is Saturday we started of the day doing service for some members who needed us to fetch some dirt from the front of the house to the back. so we spent a little over 3 hours doing that in the mean time i got sunburnt and everyone was laughing at the white boy who is now pink haha! So after we went home and changed to go out and teach, also one of the members brother offered to take us crab hunting so we went back and changed again but when we got there he stood us up which made us go back and change again! so by the end of the day i had taken 4 showers haha that is how hot it is! But to add to the day i had my first death threat! (mom dont freak out the man was drunk and couldnt even catch me if he tried) so i just smiled and gave him a thumbs up and laughed haha! then to top off the craziest day of my life. i was racing elder mitchell home on our bikes in the pitch dark( not the smartest) luckily i had just tightened my brakes earlier! When out of the dark this dog came out of no where head on and i hit it! i had just enough time to lock up my brakes and skid a little out of the way. but i still hit it pretty hard! i have never laughed so much in my life at how scared i was! (dont feel bad for the dog it is fine) and plus the dogs here are gross to no body takes care of them and they are disgusting! i am fine as well nothing happened but a small cut on my leg from when i kicked my handle bar! but it was by far the craziest day of my life!

Other than that the week has been normal. not much has gone on. we are preparing for zone conference tomorrow and then it is HUMP DAY!!!! on thursday! this year has gone by fast! I also get to go to suriname for the first time on thursday as well to get a stamp in my passport to allow me to be legal in the country for at least 3 more months!

I hope that all is finding you well back at home. isnt it about to get cold? here it is getting hotter each day! have a great week and be safe! i will do the same as well. i hope to hear from you next week!'

Love

Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: September 15, 2014

This week has been a good week but also a scrambled week! With Elder Brown leaving and Elder Mitchell arriving i have been trying to juggle everything and make sure that we dont leave out any of our investigators and that we make the transition as smooth as possible. i believe that Elder Mitchell and I are beginning to work together pretty good and we are learning to teach in unity! This past couple of days i have learned a lot about myself and about how much i actually understand about the gospel! Everything is starting to work together in my mind so that i can link the doctrines together. i have been working really hard to learn and better my teaching skills and it is beginning to help a lot!

One success that we had this week is the baptism of Shivanie Harracheran. She is the daughter of one of or investigators named Riya. Riya is waiting for her birth certificate to be married and she is also planning on being baptized! i am so happy to have been apart of shivanie's teaching and we are going to continue to help her and her family to live the gospel.

Other than that my week has been good and hard. with learning to live with a new person and having to adjust, To dealing with a sore back that i hurt while moving an investigator to a new house! who knew that i would be able to carry a whole stove by myself up some stairs haha:) i am fine though and doing great.

Being a senior companion is a big change though! it has helped me and scared me as well i just hope that i can be a good example and leader and then soon it will all pay off. i do feel like i have grown so much even in the past week and i hope that i continue to grow even more over the next transfer! the only thing is getting used to serving around a non american again because of the different cultures but it will be good and we will get along good. it is improving day by day!

I hope that you have a great week and sorry it is a short one this week i dont have much to say! but will have more next week! just remember Moroni 10:32 my favorite scripture right now! I LOVE YOU!!!! Be safe!

Love your Elder

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: September 8, 2014

This week has been full of different surprises! I am happy to stay here in New Amsterdam and to be able to lead the area. but i am sad that Elder Brown has to leave. i loved working with him and he is such a great missionary i know he will do great as a Zone Leader. I am a little worried about leading the area but i know that i can do it with the help of the Lord. I just hope that i can live up to Elder Brown and help the people as much as he has! i have learned so much from him and he has made me grow and become a better missionary . I am who i am today because of him!

A success that we had this week was a boy named Ronaldo Adams. he is 17 and is really prepared to hear the Gospel and to change his life. he has a baptismal date for the 27th of September. We are also teaching a group of kids and their mom/Aunt who have all accepted baptism for the 20th of september and they are preparing. they are great and really understand and ask questions! the only problem is that with them all together it sometimes has small distractions that we have to keep under control. I am excited to be able to work with Elder Mitchell. I have been praying and pondering about a baptismal date Goal for this transfer and i will pray for it with Elder Mitchell as well but i feel like the lord has accepted a Goal of 7 this transfer! i am going to do all that i can in my power to help our investigators gain the testimony of the Book of Mormon and then i know that everything will fall into place! Lately i have been doing extra study from the Doctrine and Covenants and i have learned so much! Elder Brown has taught me how to improve my studies so much!

So i am doing great and i am happy! i have truly come to love the Book of Mormon so much and it is a huge tool in my life! i was just thinking to myself today at the life that i have a head of me and what i have already accomplishes in the year that i have been out. i have definately had my good days and my BAD days. and it has been quite the roller coaster ride in the past year. but looking back at it it has changed my life and attitude toward life completely! i remember the nights that i layed awake just wondering if i wanted to serve and the nights that i dropped sleep so fast because i was certain i would serve. now i have nights here when i lay awake wondering what more can i do and nights that i am so tired i can barely change close before falling asleep. i can tell you that the mission is the most rewarding yet challenging thing in my life. some days i wish i could be here for the rest of my life and not worry about anything but the Lords work, and other days i wish i could be home and start a real life and go to school. yes i miss school crazy right. you might want to save that so i will remember i said it haha;) i just dont know what school i want to go to i am thinking of probably UVU but who knows? that is what scares me is having to choose! but i came across a scripture that settled my mind and really taught me a lesson that i wont forget i hope. Its found in The Words of Christ when he appeared in the America's in 3 Nephi 13:33-34 " 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." i just realized that if i focus on today and on serving the Lord he will take care of tomorrow for me and everything will work out for me and fall in to place. therefore trust in the Lord and he will direct our paths! i hope that you have a great week and that everything goes well. I LOVE YOU!!! please be safe and happy!

Love
Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: September 1, 2014

Well this week has been good! we had the baptism of Bryan Linde on Thursday and Sonia Bhisundial on Saturday and they were both confirmed yesterday. That was a great success for us this week. But we had a struggle at meeting with some of the other investigators this week and so we had a bit of a slow week. That is the past though and we have good plans and goals set for this week so it will get us right back on tract and hopefully we can have another baptism of a little girl named chavanie. we have been working with chavanie for awhile now and we were just waiting for her mothers permission, and she finally said we could this week! Her mom is an investigator as well that we have been working with, but she is waiting for her birth certificate to come from the lawyer so that she can be legally married and then baptized!

I also got to go to a Hindu Wedding yesterday. some of the members took us and it was so fun! all the people were wearing their saries and the men the indian wear. i love this culture and all the things i am able to experience! the people are also so nice to us and we had so much food given to us. we got to eat the 7 curry out of a leaf and with our hands it was so fun! and i was so stuffed afterwards haha! i am now beginning to love any food i get because everyone feeds us and if i dont eat they get offended so i love food haha!

I had a little bit of a scare for me this week though. idk if i should say because it really isnt anything big so dont worry. but the place where i got my shingles on my chest well it scared so you can still see where it is but one night i came home and felt a pain right there and looked at it and i honestly thought i had shingles again! but it was a false alarm and just a pimple so i am fine and healthy. the only problem is that people say the mosquitos like my face because i have a lot of zits and marks from the hear but other than that i am great and doing well.

i am coming up on my year mark! and it is so crazy! just yesterday i left and now i am halfway through! i am about to complete the D&C just like my goal was to before my year! then i will start on the New testiment and i should finish that just before my 18 month mark! my goal is not just to read them to read though i want to take this time that i have to study and to really get things out of it so that is what i am doing! i mark like crazy and try to memorize things that will not only help me here in the mission but also in real life when i get home!

I hope that you have a great week and that you are safe and dont do anything stupid!! i will do the same! I love you!!! and have a wonderful week:)

Love
Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: August 25, 2014

This week has been pretty good! We had a great day on Saturday with the baptism of Romario Peters. He is 15 and one of my favorite people that i get to see and teach! He is really down to earth and wants to know about the Gospel and be apart of it! he will be a great Priesthood holder and strength to the Branch! Also this week we have been preparing Sonya Bissundial, Brian Linde, Derrick Edwards, and Aleaha Blair for there baptisms that we hope to have go through this week! we are really working on helping them understand the Book of Mormon and they are really excited and we are happy for them! i hope that we can help them in anyway possible and that i can do my part as their guide to help them make and keep this promise!

So i have to say that this week has been a little bit of a trunky one! but i got past it and i am hoping to be able to focus back for the new week! i guess it is probably the 11 month mark and i have been looking forward to the year mark for so long that i just realized its still only 11 months and i still have a month left haha! oh well! i am doing good here and really working harder and harder on my teaching skills. me and elder brown are really working to hit our 10 baptism goal but we have a lot of catching up to do!

So everything is going good. just trying to avoid getting sick with all the sickness going around like the Chickengoonya ( however you spell it). i am staying pretty healthy i think the only thing is my face has decided to break out like i am going through puberty haha and i have zits and scabs all over my face! Everybody points it out to its pretty bad and embarassing but oh well! they always say is that mosquito bites? ha but other than that i am surviving and doing good! i hope that you are to! and have a good safe week! i love you!

Love

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: August 18, 2014

This week has been pretty crazy, slow, and tiring. Elder Brown had to do some visa things this week so he was gone on wednesday from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm and then on thursday from 4:30 am to 4:00 pm. which means that i had to wake up at 5:30 and then 3:30 both days so that he was ready to go! then on wednesday i stayed with Elder Laufette because he was sick and Elder Hendry had to go with Elder Brown. and on thursday i worked here in New Amsterdam with Elder Palavi. We are still working hard at reaching our 10 baptism goal, but every time it comes to the week of the baptism the people bail out and we are having a real struggle finding out their concerns! I caught myself wondering if our goal was really by the spirit but than i changed my mindset because we know that if we dont have Faith than God cannot do any Miracles (Ether 12:12). So we are working really hard to find their concerns and to help them have a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon, because once they know that than nothing will stop them from accepting the Gospel and then Baptism!

So i had a great testimony builder yesterday! And i have had many but the one yesterday really made me think a lot about myself and it made me do a little self examination and soul searching!  We met a lady who is seventh-day adventist. And we know that they usually like to fight with us and use the objections of the Ten commandments mainly the 4th to keep the sabbath day holy! so we were answering her questions and usually when someone is bashing with me i just bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith ( usually after i have to stop my self from getting angry and bible bashing with them!). so i did and i told this lady that  " I Know the book of mormon to be true because i have prayed and fasted and pondered and studied it over and over. So I KNOW IT TO BE TRUE!" and then she did something that made me truly think.and it wasnt anything big but she asked me " Do you really know that?" i said "YES" and she said "are you positive?" i said "YES" and then she said " Really? truly?" and i said "YES" but after the lesson when i took a minute to reflect i asked my self those questions again. and thought what if i couldnt answer  those? what if i really didnt have a testimony? and i thought for a long time. I am grateful for the testimony that i have gained about the BOM, and for the witness that God has given to me! and i am grateful that i was able to look Her in the Eye and say " I KNOW IT IS TRUE WITH ALL OF MY HEART" i am also grateful that i listened to the spirit and didnt get into a bible bash with her because we all know that that leads to no where and it just drives the spirit away! and i hate when the spirit isnt there it makes me feel uncomfortable!

So this coming week we have a planned baptism. we actually had 5 but 4 didnt come to church and 1 of the 4 is still struggling with a small word of wisdom problem! but we are super excited for the 1 his name is Romario Peters and he is 15. he is awesome and will be a great priesthood holder and young man to strengthen the branch! our little branch is growing and we are working with a lot of the less actives and they are starting the process of reactivity in the gospel! we are so happy for them and they are such amazing people! i love it here and i love the gospel.

I hope that you have a great week and to hear from you soon! Please be smart and safe!

Love your Elder

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: August 11, 2014

This week has been pretty good! we had a great day on wednesday and we
taught ten great lessons! it was such a busy day for us we had an
appointment every hour and the Lord helped us by guiding us to the
people that were home and ready to see us! We have some great people
who we are teaching right now and many of them are progressing towards
baptism! we also had 10 of them attend church with us yesterday! we
are really trying to work hard in achieving the goal of 10 baptisms
that Elder Brown and I set for ourselves this transfer! we hope to
kick it off on the right foot this coming weekend with the baptism of
Nickola Greaves. her mother is a member and she has been a former
investigator who we just picked back up and she is prepaired! also we
have two other families who are coming up in the coming weeks and they
are great i love when we get to go and see them because they always
have great questions and are easy to talk to and teach! i love this
area! This week we also met two girls whose last name is Woodruff! it
was so weird to see someone from guyana with that name! who knew huh?
So other than that it has been an ok week. just depends on the day
that im on! now that i am getting closer to the year mark things are
slowing down again but the week seemed to go by somewhat fast! it is
also hard to see people getting home AKA Skylar haha;) He is one lucky
boy haha! just now i will be like that though so im in no rush! i have
been studying D&C and i hope to have it done by my Year mark! if i
read 2 sections a night i will finish right at 1 year which means that
i will make my goal to have finished it in the year! next i will read
jesus the christ and the new testiment! i am improving or trying to
improve my studies as well so that its not just reading it but i am
actually gaining knowledge of the gospel and i love it when we dont
get to study the full time some days i feel like something is missing
and it sucks. crazy how the "hood rat" can say that huh? haha i love
the gospel and i love you! have a great week! i cant wait for next
week! be safe I LOVE YOU!
Love your Elder
Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: August 4, 2014

Well this week has seemed to fly by pretty fast. I almost forgot that it was monday today when i woke up i thought it was a normal day and was getting ready to go out to work haha! i have truly began to love the work and have been trying really hard to improve my people skills and be able to talk to anyone! we have been teaching a lot of new people and we have set a goal Elder Brown and I to baptize 10 people this transfer! so we have been working really hard to reach that! But i think the Lord humbled us a little and showed us that its not on our time but his time. we went out on friday and it seemed like everything that we had planned for fell through and all of the people that we have set a baptismal date with couldnt meet with us for one reason or the other! and all of them had some unexpected thing come up the night before church to the point that they couldnt make it to church. for example one of the kids of the gilbert family fell off the steps and broke his femur (he is only 2 years old) and so there aunts and uncles who we are teaching had to go to the hospital and werent able to make it to church! but that is only a minor set back they are gaining a testimony of the gospel especially the Book of Mormon. and they have accepted baptism for the 30th of August. We are excited and plan on striving to work with the lords timing and not forcing our timing into things!

Other than that it has just been pretty hot. it has rained off and on this week but not anything really to talk about. just flooding. Haha jk no floods here as of now! I am really getting along with elder brown and i think that we are seeing the success of the unity that we have together. i have never felt the presence of the spirit in my work as i have with elder brown. we strive to be exactly obedient and even when we are dead tired we push each other to get better. The good thing about our relationship is that we both have played sports and know the importance of hard work. we dont settle for anything but the best from each other, so the time that one of us wants to give up and turn back the other is there to back them up. so that helps and we are both striving to meet the same goals we arent divided in what we want. so i am having a great time with him. 

I am getting closer and closer to 11 months and soon after 1 year it is crazy that it has gone by so fast and yet slow at times too! i use to wish that i could just be done by now but as i have been here in Guyana things have really changed! of course i have still hit a lot of challenges and yes i have had MANY challenges so far in the past year but i can honestly say that i wouldnt change it for anything in the whole world! i almost wish that i would have realized how much of a learning experience this is earlier on! i have ran out of time for the things that i wanted to accomplish before my year mark. i wanted to read all of D&C before and to do that i just started the other day and now i have to read 2 sections a night and some of them are supper long haha! i dont go to sleep till like 11 sometimes! and i also have started to read "jesus the christ" it is a huge book but it is so helpful in learning things! i wish i could study all day sometimes! also sleep all day to haha! but i will make it and then i will set new goals at 1 year such as read the bible and The infinate atonement. i love the gospel and studying it i cant get enough of it. i incourage you to always study and pray it truly brings the spirit and that is what makes us happy. doing evil can only bring happiness for a season then we realize that we have wronged and wish to change. Wickedness never was happiness. Do all you can to have the spirit is my prayer!

I love you so much and hope that you have a great week! Be safe and pray always! love the Lord with all of your heart! And REMEMBER I love you!!!!

Love Your Elder

Elder Nathanial Woodruff

Monday Message: July 28, 2014

I am writting this letter at the end of a very long and tiring week of hard work! this has been one of the longest, hardest, yet rewarding as well as tiring weeks of my mission! i spent plenty of sleepless nights waking up and sitting in my hammock to just ponder about my life and mission right now! who knew that at this point of my mission i would have been through the fiery trials (as president mehr put it) that i have at this age! he spoke to me and told me that he was proud of me and how i am able to handle adversity! he says that i am the youngest person that he has seen go through so much stuff in such a short time and still be able to smile through it and move on!! i told him that there are plenty of people out there that are younger and have gone through more than me! i truly am grateful for the trials that i have been through because they have turned me into the person that i am and that i am becoming! of course it hasnt been the easiest road and yes there has been tears and prayers offered up! i know that is the only reason that i am still out here because without the love of the lord and president mehr i will be honest i wouldve come home a long time ago and been doing something that wouldnt benifet anyone like the mission is! i am grateful for your support! i have also reflected on the story of Job lately and it has reminded me that my trials are nothing so why complain! It will all work out and be worth the struggle!

So this week we had 1 more baptism and 2 confirmed! that makes 4 in all the last two weeks and we are happy for all of them they truly have the desire to learn and follow Jesus Christ. also this week we have been finding many more that are prepaired to hear the word and they are preparing for baptism! i am so happy for them and i love teaching all of them! they are what keep me going and sharing the good word! this week at Zone Conference i learned so much about how to use the Book Of Mormon more in my teaching which i think will better my teaching skills as well! i always love zone conference because the spirit is so strong and is able to teach and touch your heart! we have been working really hard with the members in our area as well and we are seeing much success in having them help us! I love this work! 

other than that we have been riding alot on the bikes and it seems like every other day i have to fix something on them! they suck! the other day i had to replace the tube on the back tire of mine and then the very next day what happens? The dang front one pops on me as i am going down the road! i was pretty far from my appartment to so i rode all the way back to it on a flat tire! it was not fun at all! so that was basically my week! i know that you are all cheering me on! and i am doing better! thanks for the support it is much apprieciated! I LOVE YOU!!!! and dont forget it! have a great week!

Love your elder!

Elder Nathanial Woodruff

Monday Message: July 21, 2014

What a week! we had 3 baptisms this week end! we had Onika bentek and Nigel Gilbert on saturday and Shanta Sookdeo on sunday! they all went great! we did have a small struggle with onika because she is terrified of water! she did not want to go under and it took about 30-40 minutes to calm her enough for elder brown to help her all the way under! that was quite the adventure ha! and even better is that we have met some amazing new people this week they are so prepared for the gospel and have accepted baptism for the 16th of august! we have seen great success! we also have some for the 2nd and the 14th coming up! it is so nice to have such amazing people to teach and share this message with! the lord is truly preparing the people of New Amsterdam to hear the gospel!

So this week has been a good week! i also played the piano for church on sunday! can i just say yikes haha! it was ok but i got stage nerves and messed up a little but oh well. practice makes better right? so we see that satan works in many ways to destroy the work of the lord. just as we start to feel better and good about something, he turns around and attacks you in a different way! of course it makes me sad for things like this but i know that this gospel and this work has the answers! i will not turn my back on this work and the lord! i am out here for a reason and i am going to fulfil that purpose! there is nothing that will stop me from going forward and working! only death can do that haha and the mission has already tried to kill me many times! more than are mentionable;) 

i am strong and we all know that " What doesnt kill you makes you stronger" haha i miss county music BAD!!! so zone conference is this coming thursday and i cant wait. who knew that i ELDER WOODRUFF would ever be excited to sit still for 8 hours in a meeting and read scriptures! but it is true i love it! i love learning more about the gospel and missionary work! it is so great to learn from leaders and apply it in my life! this is the second best time of the mission right behind General Conference!!! 

i hope that you are all doing great and that you are all safe! i love you and i always will no matter what happens or goes on in this life! God LOVES US!!! and i KNOW that this Gospel is true! i have seen many miracles in my life and i am seeing many more! no matter what trial is placed before us we can over come it through jesus christ! i love you and have a great week! 

Love your elder!

Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: July 14, 2014

All i can say is what a week! haha! this week has had some interesting points to it. but all are pretty good and i can say it was a Great week! 

So it started off last monday night. we went to teach a lady and the lesson went really well i could feel the spirit and everything. but just as we were about to close she told us something that hit me hard! she had said that she felt like something was following her and that she was never alone! so we tried to put her at ease and say that the spirit can comfort us through these feelings, but then when elder brown offered to give her a blessing and that we had the authority to get rid of the evil or uncomforting spirits, she immediatly said that she felt sick and that it made her uncomfortable that we were there with her! when she said that i had this horrible feeling hit me right in the chest and i can honestly say that i have never felt the presence of satan so strongly in my life! it was a scary feeling and it is still hard for me to talk about it know! i never want to experience that again. 

After that though i will say that the week got a lot better and happier! we worked our butts off all week and we even had a moto! " if we start off strong and end strong than the middle will take care of itself" i can honestly say that that came true! even though some of the days in the  middle were slow and not a lot of lessons. the middle took care of itself and we met all of our goals and even exceeded many of them! we had 72 people attend church this past week and that included 8 of our investigators! 4 of those 8 are those who are prepairing to be baptized this week! i am so happy and i can see the lords hand in our work! i can say that i have seen it more and more as we strive to be as obedient as possible and it is so great!

Other than that it is still hot but we have been getting a little more rain lately but usually only at night! and i have been working harder on memorizing my scriptures and that is really improving my teaching! i love this work and i love the Gospel! i know that no matter what happens, i will be blessed and i have a strong belief that my patriacle blessing will come true no matter what as long as i am faithful. I am really relying on those blessings right now and i have been pondering a lot lately on what they mean! i am so grateful for that blessing it is a huge comfort to me! i love you!! and i hope that you have a great week. be safe and always put your trust in the lord! he is their for us! remember what he did for us in Alma 7:11-13. and remember God loves us 1 john 4:7-9 and i love you!!!

Love your elder

Elder Woodruff!

Monday Message: July 7, 2014

Yay! i am healthy again! and i am finally out of that DANG apartment! i got to come out of coruntine ( however you spell that) on wednesday and then after that we had a great week! we had two days where we taught 8 lessons each day and that was so much fun! i love when we actually get to sit down with the people and have a spirit filled discussion! i am having a much better time here in Guyana it is just so much easier for me to relate to the people here. they are so nice and willing to listen! The field here in Guyana it truly white already to harvest! i am striving to thrust in my sickle with all i have! Elder brown is helping me so much! i have grown a lot since i have been with him! i feel my teaching has greatly improved and i owe it all to him! i know that i still have a long way to go but he is helping me out a lot! i feel that i just about hit the bottom while i was in st lucia and i just felt like i was a failure and couldnt teach at all and i realized that when i got here that i couldnt teach anything and i was really down and stressed the first little bit because i felt like elder brown was doing everything and that he was upset with me but he has truly taught by example and i feel so much love and respect for him! i still have a long way to go in my teaching skills and i hope to improve more and more and be able to say that i am helping people learn the gospel so that is my goal for the week!

i have been thinking a lot lately as well about life and what i really want to do! i mean being a police officer is something that i want but just thinking a lot about it makes me question sometimes! i know i shouldnt think about that because i still have a good time to go but all i can say is that the time is going really fast! just yesterday i was leaving and now i am getting close to a year mark! all i can say is i havent accomplished half the things that i wanted to up to this point! i cant believe it is going so fast! just dont let the time go by without doing what you want! the most important thing in life is to be happy and to choose the things that you like! dont ever let anyone choose for you! life is ours not anyone elses and i have truly learned to do what i want and that i dont have to worry about others and what they think as long as i am doing what the lord and i want to do!! other than that i dont care what i look like to others or if they like me that is their choice i am here for one purpose and that is to share the Gospel with Gods children and that is what i am going to do!

so guyana is great i love it so much the people are great and our apartment is getting better we are trying to clean is so it will be up to states regulation haha! but it is good i am comfortable and happy! i am so greatful for all of your support it truly helps me get through the hard days that come and i love you so much!! i hope that you have a great week and that all is safe and calm! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Love your elder

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: June 30, 2014

Today is a special "Monday Message" because it's Nate's 19th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER WOODRUFF!! We sure love and miss you and are sorry that you are spending your day with the shingles! **Yes if you haven't heard, Nate has the shingles. And since they don't have the chicken pox vaccine there, the mission doctor quarantined him. He is bored out of his mind and we just hope he will get better soon!

Well week two in Guyana is in the books and i have almost spent as many days in the apartment as out of it! i think that Guyana is trying to kill me. it doesnt want me here at all! from the pouring rain the day i got here to the stupid shingles! i never knew that something so little as a small rash that i thought was nothing could turn out to be so painful! i am glad that i decided to call elder smith when i did and to get things figured out! i never knew that having to stay home as a missionary could be so boring. i thought every missionaries wish at some point was to stay home and get a little rest but i tell you what! its not anything that i ever want to do again! i would rather be out in the sun talking to people who want to punch me and spit on me than i would to be stuck in the apartment anylonger that i have to! i dont care if it is hot or raining and i have to walk through a flood. all i want to do is get out of the dang apartment haha!

So i want to thank you for caring so much about me and wishing me a happy birthday it has truly made my whole day so much better even though i have to go back to the apartment to be bored again i know that you love me and that you are praying for me! i love you so much! and i always pray for you!

I have to say that this will be a birthday that i probably will never forget haha! and probably the most painful yet happy one of my life. painful because of the shingles yet happy because of all the love that i have been shown! i truly love you and your support! i hope that you have a great week and please be safe!

So a little about my area! it is in the town of new amsterdam but we focus mostly on the outskirts of town! we have a lot of great people and they are so kind to me! we even had two baptisms on satudrday but i didnt get to go:( but it was great i heard! we have a couple more coming up and i am excited! the people are really accepting the only struggle is trying to help them read but it is giong good! so i am happy and i love Guyana it is great! I LOVE YOU!! and have a great week. i will try to get better and make sure i stay better so you dont hear anymore phone calls that you arent suppose to haha! i love you!!! I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!I LOVE YOU!!

Love your elder

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: June 23, 2014

Well i have made it to Guyana the land of many waters. and i love it here! it is a third world country of course but it is such a great experience! i have only been here for 5 days but it already feels like home! the only thing that i have to get used to is the good old bucket showers that i have to take and the smell of the trenches but it is great! i feel like i am on a big camping trip! the only thing is i have to dress up everyday ha! i love elder brown already and i know that we are going to have a lot of success together. we have two baptisms set for this saturday and then more in the coming weeks it is really progressing here and i am really happy and excited! 

So this week has been a long week for me but only because of the transfer and everything that went on! i ended up staying at the airport for 5 hours because while it was pouring rain and the senior couple that came to pick us up the husband left with the key to our car and so then we had the other senior couple bring the spare but when they got there they had the wrong spare so then we ended up waiting another 1 1/2 hours for the third senior couple to bring the right key so it was a nice waiting game haha! what a great first impression of guyana right? but it actually reminds me a lot about home minus the third world feel. the feilds and farm animals are just like home. but because we are below sea level it is super wet and muddy here and so there is always standing water on the ground! but it is great! i think that i will love it more and more as time goes on! the only thing that isnt good is i dont have as nice of an appartment like i have before but it is still liveable and nothing is wrong! i am happy and know that everything will be ok! im to blessed to be stressed and tonya always says;) i love you!  i hope that you have a great week and that you are safe! I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

Love your Elder 

Elder Woodruff! 

ps my new address is: 

243 cedar courts

lamaha gardens 

Georgetown, Guyana 

just send packages and letters here because idk about the one for new amsterdam. but if it is sent here i will get it sooner or later but it will work!

Monday Message: June 16, 2014

Well as you know this was my last week here in st lucia. i can say it was a bitter sweet week. i will miss my mission family but i wont miss all the stress and trials that i have gone through! i will say this i am not the little young missionary that came to the small island of st lucia only 4 1/2 months ago! i have grown so much and i know that i was sent here not to help someone but to help my self grow! the lord truly does know us and he knows what we need just when we need it! i know that he really must have wanted me to learn patience because that seems to be the thing that all my trials have taught me here. Also he has taught me to trust in him and others. we cant do it all on our own! we need help and strength from others! so i can say that st lucia has been a huge part in my life and i will never forget what i have learned here. but missionary work goes on elsewhere and i am off to the land of many waters to see what the lord has in store for me there! i am so greatful for this gospel and i hope that i can continue to learn and grow and by the time i get home i will be what the lord wants me to be! dont worry i havent lost my sense of humor or personality but i have gained so much more that i hope you will love! 

i hope that you have a great week and i love you so much! please be safe and do all you can to trust in the lord! HE WILL PROVIDE! I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

Love your elder 

Elder WOodruff

A few pictures from St. Lucia

Nate's Message: June 10, 2014

**It was a holiday on Monday so this week Nate e-mailed on Tuesday. He had a nasty fall this week off a 5 1/2 foot balcony. The doctor said he will be okay just has a concussion and is sore. He is getting transferred next week though which will be good for him. Guyana is where Elder Telga is so if he is able to see him every once in a while I think it will help him stay focused and not miss home so much! **

So you have heard about my fall but i will tell you more about it! so i was over at the sisters apartment with the district and we were cooking for the members that always feed us and the sisters have some cords by the railing where they can hang up the clothes! and of course i am the person who is accident prone and sometimes i dont think i guess! i was sitting on the railing and held on to the cord but the cord broke and i fell backward 5 1/2 feet. but i fell on my shoulder and head! it was scary cause when i hit i couldnt feel my legs for a couple seconds! but after a little it went to normal but my shoulder really hurt. but i talked to doctor smith and he said it could be a minor concussion and just bruises. he also told me my back will be ok just a little sore! but all will be ok just sore for a little!

So i just got my e mail from pres mehr and he told me my transfer already! he is sending me to Guyana and so i will be getting transfered this next week! so that means no more st lucia i guess! wow that caught me off guard a lot! but it will be great we will see what happens! i dont even know what to say! i love you so much and i hope that you have a great week! be safe and i promise that i will be safe as well! i love you! I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

love your elder

Elder woodruff!

Monday Message: June 2, 2014

Well this week has been good and long. it is so hot here these days so it is super draining i wish for snow somedays but i know that wont ever happen but its worth the shot! So this week we had a lot of the members come out teaching with us and we taught modeste( the man who quite smoking in a week) with brother hippolyte. i still feel like he doesnt trust me just the way he talked but he loves elder fauchier. which is good and he really helped modeste and they hit it off instantly! they are a good match i hope that we can have him more often at the lesson. then we went to give service with a man named francis jackman he is a bee keeper he says he is online everywhere! but it was fun we went into the bush and helped him with his corn and he gave us a bunch of fruit and food it was great and the farm is so peaceful and nice to be at! but other than that our week has been slow all the people that we were teaching have just stopped! its like we hit a wall and nothing is going our way! it is stressful at times because i am the one who has to lead the area while teaching elder faucher the area. but he is learning fast and he now knows how to get around! our main goal right now is finding new people and areas because the parts that i have worked are exhausted and i am getting that way to! i just hope that we can find new people soon before i go insaine and lose my mind! who knew this could be stressful? i am surviving and doing my best. i just pray that i can be Gods tool and help these people! 

I am doing good here so dont worry about me! i am trying to be happy and the days are good and some are fast and slow but it is good. i have always been told i can do hard things and the other day i was looking through the nov. ensign that is Gen. Conf. and i came across the saying "You can do hard things" and i know i can! this is Gods test for me and i know i will recieve blessings from it! i have been told that the first 6 months goes by slow and fast and it seems hard but then the true test comes from the 6 month to 1 year mark of the mission. the hill gets harder and steeper but i just know that once i get over that year hump it is all down hill from there. i know it is bad to say but i do want to be transfered i dont know if i can handle this place any longer but i know that i can do hard things with the lord! all will be well! i am good! this is where i am suppose to be and what i am suppose to be doing! i love the Gospel! i love you so much and cant wait to hear from you! have a great week and be safe! always pray and read the scriptures! I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

Love your elder

Elder WOodruff

p.s. YOU are amazing! i love you!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

Monday Message: May 26, 2014

So this week has been long and hard i am still trying to readjust to everything! it is slow and our area isnt really progressing like it should be it has just kind of hit a dry patch and we are trying to work really hard to get it to progress but that means that we are in the blazing sun for at least 8 hours everyday and that can be a killer! i think i had the starting stages of heat stroke the other day and yesterday at church i was standing up and i almost passed out. luckily people saw me starting to sway back and forth and told me to sit down! they made fun of me because i got so pail that they call me the white boy again! haha. but dont worry i am doing good now and drinking a lot of water! other than that all is good but i do have a feeling that i will be transfered next transfer because the members have been saying that they dont trust the 3 of us missionaries that have been here for a while so we will see what happens ha!

I guess we will see what happens in 3 weeks! im not sure if i want to be out of this place or if i want to stay. it is growing on me but then again i am tired of all the drama that is going on! they took prez nicholas out and made elder gubler the senior couple the new Prez. so i hope that things get better. we did have a really good sunday yesterday and there was a good spirit in the building which was so nice to have back finally! i just hope that the branch can get back to running like a real branch and ward should! 

i hope that all is well there and just remember that i love you so much and pray that you are doing great! please be safe and send lots of pictures! i love you and dont ever forget that! this is the true gospel and everything is in Gods plan! trust in him and he will direct your paths! I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

Love your Elder!

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: May 19, 2014

i am so thankful to know that we have the true gospel and that we know about the plan of salvation! it is truly the best and that is the focus of my studies most of the time!

I realize that my true happiness can only come through this gospel and knowing that has really change my attitude on life today! i do love this gospel and this work! i realized today that i never am happy when i am back at the apartment! my happiest moments of my mission have been out in the field! even though the work is draining and when i come home i am completely exhausted and i cant feel my feet! that will be the things and times that i will cherish forever! This is how we find true happiness and i know the lord is blessing me and all of us! The work of God is going forward and no one not even satan can stop it! this is the truth I KNOW IT!!! with all of my heart! This experience has change my life and my whole mission! This Transfer and the rest of my Mission is for my aunt Glenda! I promise not to let a moment go by that im not doing what im suppose to! this isnt for me its for the Lord and i know that he can do everything! I love you so much!

I want you to feel of my love even though i am thousands of miles away! i am praying and fasting for you! i hope that you can feel my love and support! i realized that i was thinking more of myself and not truly losing myself in the work! but that will change this is the only time that is completely for the lord! i love him and know he Lives! i am doing ok and my week did get better last week! i have been working a lot lately and have found happiness! i love the work! my comp is better it was more of my fault and i just was judging to fast! he is a great missionary and a great friend! even if  he still does little things to bug me! i am probably the same way! i realize that i can be annoying to some times and im sure all of you can say that about me to! we all have our faults and that is our true test in this life to become more like christ! we shouldnt point out others slivers that they have in their eyes before we get rid of the motes that are in our eyes! this life is to serve God! ( and get married!:) haha) this is our test and I KNOW that we all can pass it together and it will be the best to see us all accomplish it together! i love you and hope that you are doing great! dont worry about me i have realized my purpose and what i want in this life! i want you in it!!!  I LOVE YOU!!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

I love you! have a good week and dont ever forget to pray! it helps! i love you! please be safe! i love you! 

Love your elder

Elder Woodruff

Monday Message: May 12, 2014

I love you so much! i just wanted to start off by saying that and i want you to know that i love all the support that you give to me! it is seriously the best to know that i have you who loves and supports me! i love you! so i am so glad that i got to skype yesterday! it is the best thing in the whole world who knew that 1 hour would go by so fast! i thought the email went by fast! just remember i love you!

So i have to say that i am in a little bit of a hard time this week! i thought that things should just fly by and be easy but that caught me off guard this week! i almost forgot all that i had been working on the past 7 months! i feel like i am drained out of all that i have! i just have the desire to sleep all the time and it is a drag to get out the door! i am trying my best to help the branch and the whole area that i am in but it is a huge challenge! im not going to lie it is a struggle for me! i want to work and i am still happy! but there is still the day that i just cant get the depression out of my mind! i know that i will be fine and just being able to talk today has made it twice as good as it has been! i will be ok i think and i pray that things will be good and i know it will! 

Dont worry about me i will be great i just have to get back into everything! just pray for me and things will be great! i love you and hope that you are great! i am happy and i hope you are happy! have a great week and stay safe! i KNOW this is the true church and its just satan trying me but i am good i will survive and i love you! I know everything will work out for us in the end and that the wait is so worth it!! i know that the 2 years is short and will be over be fore i know it! i love you and have a great week!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!I LOVE YOU!!!

Love your elder!

Elder Woodruff