Addresseseseses

If you have to have to send me something. don't i'll be fine for at least 2 years :-)
Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo UT 84604


Pouche service.
please use pouche service for sending me letters. if you are wanting to write me a letter, write it down, fold 3 panels evenly and tape it shut. no envelopes.
please use this service when sending letters.
Elder James Paul Woods
Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150
USA

if you want to send me a package
please use US Parcel post only.fedex DHL i will hae to pay an extra fee. then fill out a small list and amount the items cost that are inside the box.
Elder James Paul Woods
Guatemala Guatemala City Central MissionApartado 921-A Zona 9
01009 Guatemala City
Guatemala
Telephone 502-2331-8609

Called to Serve

I LOVE MY FAMILY AND THE GOSPEL

Today was the last sunday before i left. i woke up and went to go say goodbye to my nephew. the little guy is a hand full. but is so smart and funny. i love him as if he was my own son. maybe not quite as much but i love him a ton. i was taking him to his dads house. asking him what he thought about church. he did not know who heavenly father was. he understood we should love jesus. he knew who god was. but simple concepts LDS children know. it can be heart breaking to know someone you love who is young and innocent doens't know. usually i was upset by it. but i talked to him. i told him that we should grow up strong and smart. thats God's plan for us. we should learn about our selves and heavenly father. the more we know about those two things we can find happiness. i realized a huge blessing in my life. if i can teach the people in Guatemala as if i was teaching it to a child. and help them understand then i could be a great teacher. that is so often true in our lives. when things are hard they prepare you for the future. i told my nephew that today was a special sunday cause we had to think of heavenly father and our own dads. so he got excited and was saying "yes james it is special we need to get my dad a card. we need to stop at the grocery store." this little 5 year old told me how to get to the grocery store. he went inside and picked out a card. although his mom and dad are not on best terms and divorced. what a wonderful opportunity to show christ like love. so he got his dad a card. and such love was felt by anyone who can hear it.

so i left him and i had to fight back tears. not just for him but because of what the savior has done for us all. i love my savior so much. i love it when people convey their love for family and god through song. this song is for Aiden. i'll miss him so much.


i love music. i realized how you often can make awesome amazing music the more you understand yourself and culture. i noticed watching this movie and video of this band called Sigur ros. its truly beautiful music.

their music fits the wonderful landscapes of their home Iceland. i hear it and i can see where they get their motivation and feelings through their music. you can see their creativity and love flowing from voice and instruments. music is a thoughtful prayer to heavenly father. so this goes back to understanding and learning about ones self. learning about life, where we come from, and where we will go. the more we know about ourselves and about heavenly father the happier we will be. music is one way to show it. prayer is another. teaching is what i am attempting to do. hopefully i can convey the spirit to others. only hours away and i'll be a full time missionary.
thank you to my family. for all the kind words that were shared. thank you to the laughs and smiles. i will miss you.

Being Close to Jesus Christ

Tonight was a blessing. I love the promises that are in my patriarchal blessing. they come true every time. As I was got done eating, the elders came over and read me a scripture. I am not one to except help easily but this made me feel so great. The help and encouragement i have received humbles me so much. I can't be more blessed. I can't explain how much I feel the saviors love. Some how and in some way the almost impossible task for me to leave is almost here.
I am called to serve the Lord. It is the greatest thing to happen to me in my life. Its the most humbling. For all those who have helped me in anyway possible (good and bad) i thank you so much. You are in my thoughts and prayers so often. i hope the best for you and yours. God Bless.

Guatemala Maps

into the wild

i love my failures as much as i love my tears. some how it has been hard to except things in my future because i regret the past. its a shame to let past failures and troubles slow you down. it seems easier said than done but how wonderful it is to feel the past failures be your strength. it is true. it is more important to feel strong than to be strong. i think finally tonight i am at peace with who i am and will be. i have been forgiven as i have forgave others. the confidence i have is based on my faith. as i leave in a few days. hellos and goodbyes are pleasantries but are no further than timestamps. i'll love you all at any point in time.