Elder Michael Jason Wood

Sao Paulo Brazil West Mission

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  • First Update from Elder Wood

    It’s that time!!!! Oooooo São Paolo!!! Estou Aqui!!! (In Brazil instead of knocking on people’s doors you wait at their gate, clap, and shout “Ooo Joao!” Or whatever their name is”

    We are finally here! I get to be a missionary! To bless and serve others as an official representative of Jesus Christ! This is gonna be epic!!!

    My trainer is super cool, his name is Elder Kelly, he’s a white guy from Utah who is super personable and really good with people. He used to be a Cowboy like my last companion, Elder Ussery. The ward members love him, his Portuguese is muito bom, but he says when he started it was worse than mine, so there’s hope!

    Being a missionary feels like being a celebrity. People want to talk to you because your an Elder or because you’re American. Actually they only think Elder Kelly is American until I talk. Apparently I look Brazilian. Hopefully I’ll sound Brazilian soon 😂

    I have been very blessed this week to participate in the work of the Lord!

    I had the privilege of baptizing Adriana! She has been taught by the missionaries for the past 3 months before she decided to get baptized. 

    -Lìvia accepted the invitation to be baptized! She is 15 years old, knows 3 languages, reads the Book of Mormn every day, and is pretty much the coolest 15 year old I’ve ever seen. 

    -Mateus also accepted the invitation to be baptized! He’s like 30 years old and super kind and friendly.

    -Pedro and his family are amazing. They are wealthier and super kind. They have 6 kids, the oldest is 16. We went to their house to teach them and they had so many questions! They were super receptive. They came to stake conference and we are going to teach them at the Sao Paulo temple visitors center this week

    Making my own food!

    Overall, I love it here! I can drink the water because everyone has filters, I have a WARM SHOWER which is incredible, and the food is just so so good. I just need to make sure to avoid the dogs, ticks, and motorcycles. There are a lot of motorcycles, and the roads here are very fluid, people drive like they are water droplets on a windshield. The lanes are definitely treaded more like suggestions. The upside to this is everyone is super aware of people, so crossing the road is pretty safe, unless a motorcycle some racing out of nowhere. I’ll be ok, I’m on the Lord’s errand, and He is protecting me.

    Living on my own hasn’t been so bad so far. I’m learning new ways to cook chicken and crack broiled eggs! It feels nice being accountable for the things I own, and doing my dishes well, since we don’t have a dishwasher, or a clothesdryer. After a couple of hours of hanging the clothes dry out just fine. I’m learning to budget, because even though things are SUPER cheap here, I still want to live off as little money as possible.

    I almost got stung by a hornet, almost got bitten by ticks, and was given a ride by a dude with a gun. He’s cool thought he’s part of a shooting club and wanted to show off his pistol to Elder Kelly. I’ve been keeping very clean to make sure I don’t get any diseases, but it seems more or less okay here!

    I love the language, it’s hard but fun! God has been helping me, I often have a hard time voicing my thoughts, but when the moment is needed and the spirit is string, I can feel the words enter my mind, sometimes words I didn’t even think were correct but were perfect for the situation!

    One thing I studied this week was Alma 40-42, how Jesus Christ is our mediator. We all fall short of justice due to sin, but Jesus paid the price for our justice and offers us mercy if we accept him. I testify that NOTHING has brough me more joy, peace, and purpose than Jesus Christ and His restored gospel

    There is a video I love that talks all about this. It is old but it’s so good. It’s called The Mediator, here is the link below.

  • Arriving at Mission Home

    SÃO PAULO — After months of preparation, Elder Michael Jason Wood of Keller, Texas, arrived in São Paulo last week to begin his two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    “The people are warm and the food is amazing,” Elder Wood wrote in a message to family members. “I already feel at home here.”

    Wood will spend the first several weeks studying Portuguese and serving in local congregations before being assigned to a permanent area. His mission focuses on teaching, community service and faith outreach.

    The city of São Paulo, one of the largest in the world, is home to nearly 12 million residents.

    “We’re proud of his courage and commitment,” said his mother, Veronica Wood Blair. “It’s humbling to see him serve with so much faith.

    ”From: Kendra Broadbent
    Date: Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
    Subject: Elder Wood
    To: <woodvero@gmail.com>

    We got your wonderful son! We love him, he’s going to be great in our mission!
    Love President and Sister Broadbent

    Elder Michael Wood
    President and Sister Broadbent with Elder Michael Wood
    Missionaries arriving in Brazil October 8, 2025

  • Last Day at Mission Training Center

    PROVO, UTAH – This is it! The last day in the missionary training center! My last full day in the United States of America for 2 years!!!I am heading out to Brazil tomorrow!!! I’m so excited!

    I don’t want to think about being nervous, so I just forgot about the nervous parts! After two 7 hour flights, I’ll meet with my mission president and then immediately start working in the field! We hit the ground running and don’t stop for 2 years! I love this gospel, I have gain so much peace and learned of my nature as a child of God. I testify that you are a beloved child of God, and through the atonement of Jesus Christ, you can recieve of the incredible joy that I have been so blessed to recieve. I am so excited to share this joy with my brothers and sisters for the rest of my life!!!

    We’re gonna eat all sorts of foods! Lots of beans, rice and fisuada, as well as chocolate pizza! Apparently it’s a thing to make pizza and have chocolate on the crust. I dunno about you, but I’ve been saying this from the beginning, Chocolate on italian foods is delicious! Just… not too much.

    There will be monkeys and all sorts of fruits and probably a mugging or two. If I do get mugged, then they get to take a Book of Mormon! Even better! I’ll make sure not to get zapped by the showers! I’ve heard that can happen. I’ll make sure to eat all the foods, and if the spirit tells me not to, I’ll make sure I do my best to avoid it and stay healthy!

    I won’t have a car, or a bike. Wherever I go, it will be walking and the occasional uber in between areas. We’re going to be doing a lot of cardio! It’s going to be awesome!

    I’m going to miss my district, the 16 Elders I have been blessed to spend this time with have been the best. We have all gotten super close and united. My companion Elder Ussery has been the best. Super kind and Christlike. Even though a lot of the sisters think he’s the hottest man on Earth, he stays humble and keeps focused on our missionary purpose

    I’m going to miss my teachers. Brother Pond is such a fun and awesome teacher. Brother Stone was really good at helping us become independent in our study of Portuguese. Brother Eyering had such a kind soul and reminded us that we are representatives of Jesus Christ. He is actually the grandson of Elder Eyering who gave a fantastic message about how trials strengthen us in General Conference yesterday!

    Speaking of General Conference, it was incredible! can testify that those men and women at the pulpit were called to be prophets and leaders for the world. I can feel their power and I have had questions answered by virtue of the holy spirit of God. I invite you to watch their inspired talks. Rewatch them, and ponder and pray about them. This general conference I especially feel had lots of important words for navigating the near future and preparing for the return of our Savior Jesus Christ.

    The world is getting darker and more confusing, we need to focus on the light and good things in our lives. I invite you all to take a social media fast. Take a week, 7 days, of just staying off the news, staying off social media. Plan ahead! Find other wholesime things to do. I can promise if you do this, you will have a greater capacity to see God’s blessings in your life. You will have added peace and clarity of mind. You will have a greater capacity to truly see others and their needs. I promise this in the name of Jesus Christ

  • Leaving Home for the MTC

    KELLER, TEXAS – Today began quite early with a farewell group sitting for Elder Wood and his brothers. Then, off to the airport with Mom and Richard, who escorted Elder Wood to Salt Lake City, where they were joined by Grandma and Grandpa Wood, cousin Angela, Aunt Janica and her children, as they toured Salt Lake City and Temple Square before taking him to the MTC.

  • Brazil Night Celebration

    KELLER, TEXAS – To help Elder Michael Wood prepare for his mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Mathis Family held a BRAZIL NIGHT featuring appetizers, dinner and dessert, with recipes exclusively featuring the cuisine of Brazil. The Blair/Wood and Mathis families were also joined by the Duke Family and Collingwood’s. Elder Miles Collingwood has calso been called to serve in Brazil.

    A large, detailed map of the Sao Paulo Brazil West Mission was revealed and featured all of the ward and stake boundaries in addition to different zones and key attractions. The map, provided by Danil Minnich, will be used to track Elder Wood’s experiences while serving and will be mounted on the wall at the Blair/Wood home.