Elder Michael Jason Wood

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