The Day Elder Woodward Comes HOME!!!
Photos from sister Lewis, "From my arms to yours, thank you for letting us have him. We Love him so much. I am not supposed to have favorites but this one was hard to let go."
Checking to see if your flight was on time
The cheering section!!!
First Place you wanted to go, In N Out Burger
We made a bet to see how long before Christian could break you
The night you were released Parker had his temple recommend interview, he waited for you.
Welcome Home Elder Woodward!!! Washington, Kennewick and Yakima - Spanish
A day we will never forget watching two brothers give homecoming and farewell talks on the same day. Many gathered in our stake center including members, non-members, friends, family, neighbors and coaches. It was a wonderful site to see and hear the amazing testimonies you both shared. How grateful we are for the example you have been to your brothers. Thank you for your example of Love for the Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ and your willingness to serve so many because of Him. Thank you for giving 2 years so others could have an eternity.
Matthew 25:21
His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
The Journey towards home
First Stop The Mission Home
These shoes have miles
While at home we were preparing for your arrival!
Sign Making
My Last Email
Cant believe these last 2 years went so fast. I have been so blessed to have served here in the Yakima Wa Mission, serving My Savior Jesus Christ. Through so many experiences, I have truly come to know for myself that He does live, that He did pay the price of sin for us. I know He can lift us up and carry us home no matter how far from perfect we think we are. I know He loves each one of us. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I have come so close to my Savior by reading it and praying to know if it is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that this is the church of Jesus Christ. It has changed my life and many others. I know we have A Heavenly father who loves us and cares for us who knows each and everyone of us. He has a plan for us and is always there to help us. I love my Savior so much I am grateful for everything he has done for me. I love you all and am grateful for everything you have done for me and my family love you!
Love,
Elder Woodward
Questions and responses written between Dave and Chandler:
What have you learned the most over the last 2 years: One of the biggest things the Lord has taught me in the last 2 years is there are no shortcuts in life and to eternal life. We have to read the scriptures and pray daily. We have to do things to receive blessings. Obedience is one of the key things that I have learned especially these last 2 transfers hardest area and situation I have ever been in. I learned to always remember the importance of obedience. It made me push on with my love of the Savior. To know we have been blessed so much with a baptism and marriage this week!:) There is always blessings if we continue to keep pushing forward!
2. What would you tell Parker as he is 5 weeks away from going on his mission:
Get ready for the greatest 2 years of your life! Be ready to come so close to your Savior. Most of all, get ready to have so much fun and joy! More than you have ever experienced and can imagine.
3. What advice do you have for Jaxon and Christian: To always remember the importance of your example to your friends everyone is always watching you and so many look up to you guys.
4. What are the top 3 experiences from your mission: Lesson with the Ceja family on atonement, bed bug service experience (seeing members view change of a nonmember who was asking for help) Seeing the change in E.G.
5. What will you miss the most as you leave the Yakima mission: The opportunity to be so close with missionaries to be right there seeing change in others. Working so close with many amazing leaders and examples.
6. What would you tell your future wife and kids about your mission: My mission was the start of my spiritual journey that changed me and continues to change every action and thought that happens in my life. How grateful I am for the blessings of serving my Savior for those 2 years.
Happy Father's Dad photo from Brother Jubitz
God hears and answers our prayers!
Crazy to think time is coming down to the end. I can’t be more grateful for this amazing opportunity which has blessed me and made me eternally grateful for my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I have never been so blessed so much like I have been here on the mission.
This week was awesome we found a lot of people and miracles are happening after all our hard work. One of the most amazing miracles I have ever seen was with Argelia and Felix. Argelia tracked us down a couple weeks ago. She is a member from Vera Cruz Mexico visiting her sister here in The Dalles. She wanted to know where the church was. We gave her the direction and she came this week and brought her non member boyfriend. He did not want to be married or baptized but knew the church was true. Felix had been working in the fields and got hurt pretty bad and was really angry. On Saturday he told Argelia that they were going to leave to Mexico on Sunday. Argelia, who is a very faithful member, said no were going to church and your going to come with me and something good will happen. They came to church and a member said he is willing to to help Felix find a job. So, God answered that prayer. We were sitting in our own lesson with just us and them. We were talking and Argelia mentioned how she wanted Felix to be baptized so they could show the example to her sister here in The Dalles. Felix was not talking to much and you could see the Spirit was working on him. He finally spoke and said lets get married here. We agreed very fast! haha We talked about how we could make that happen then he said I want to be baptized as well and help my sister in law see the changes I have made. We agreed even faster to that one! It was one of the most amazing miracles God has given us. We are working on the date for Felixs baptism but it will definitely be the 2nd of July the last Saturday of mission. Heavenly Father loves us so much and is always listening to our prayers we may not see how He is working in our lives but he is everyday! I love my Heavenly Father so much and am so grateful for the opportunity to feel His love every day.
I love you all!
Elder Woodward
Training with Elder Johnson a member of the Seventy and his wife LeAnn
with 75 Spanish-Speaking Elders. Another training with the entire Yakima Mission.
Elder Johnson and his Wife LeAnn
Pictures from Sister Lewis
We had a special conference with Elder Daniel L. Johnson of the Seventy this week. He spoke to us about the most crucial principle in our religion and one that is so important in our lives. Than principal is that we have a loving Heavenly Father who loves us and who has a plan for us to become like Him. He has a body of flesh and bones. He has sent His son Jesus Christ to save us so that we can also come back and return to live with Him. It made me think, we truly are sons and daughters of God with Divine Potential. We are Royalty and no matter what happens in our life we need to always focus ourselves on that key Doctrine. Elder Johnson taught us so many awesome things and one invitation that has helped me so much is one that he promised will change our lives. It is 5 questions that we can ask in our nightly Prayer tonight. 1. Heavenly Father are you really there, do you exist? 2. Do you really have a body of flesh and bones? 3. Do you know I exist and what i am going through right now? 4. Are you my Father and am I your son/daughter? 5. Do you really love me? I did this and I felt so much peace in my heart as each question was answered with a burning feeling in my heart. I love my Heavenly Father. I am grateful for all the things he has given me to help me stay on this strait and narrow path.
I love you all and hope you have an awesome week!
Love,
Elder Woodward
We were sitting around talking about Chandler on Sunday and this picture came
across in a text from a little angle.
Josh's Baptism
Stake Conference pictures from Sister Lewis
We had an awesome stake conference this weekend. The focus of the conference was John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
The last couple words have been on my mind. While going through so many trials or thinking about things that are happening in the world we can get really overwhelmed or down. All we need to remember is everything will be okay. Just live the gospel, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and everything will be okay. Things will fall into place and we will feel peace. Satan will try so hard to tell you so many different things. We have to make sure we listen to the right voice. That voice which leads us to do good. Do the little things well and everything will be okay.
I am grateful for a Loving Heavenly Father who helps each of us know everything will be okay when we turn to Him and listen. I love the peace that comes from living the gospel. We are teaching so many people right now who are in the cherry season. They are all working crazy amounts of hours. I notice the difference with the ones that are happier. They are the ones who give their time for the Lord to teach them.
I love you all.
Elder Woodward
