Technology is enhancing the way people around the world experience general conference. The words of prophets, apostles, and leaders reach more people than ever before, in 93 languages. Worldwide discussion about general conference continues to increase, aided by social networking tools like Twitter and blogs.
Internet
Average number of audio and video streams (Windows Media Player and Move Player) per session: 93,133
Increase of 132% since April 2008
Average number of audio streams per session: 21,065
Increase of 89% since April 2008
Average number of video streams per session: 72,068
Increase of 148% since April 2008
Satellite
Number of satellite broadcasts supported: 6,838
Covers approximately 85% of the earth’s land mass
Enables approximately 87% of Church members to participate
Number of languages delivered in real time: 60
Twitter
Number of tweets made concerning general conference: 1,500
so i finally have an official last day in the marines, oct 26. my last working day is next Friday. one week. all my exams are done too, all papers have been filled out. my mission papers are headed to the stake. so im out of the marines, and all documentation is being prepared for leaving. on a great night of handing over the papers, once again, this is only a night i share it with myself and the savior. i sealed an anointing on one of the boys in YM, who is on the high school wresting team. i know he's a good kid, he's the bishops grandson. he has good influences in his life but once again the wonderful way the blessings work. by faith and obeying of commandments. i just have faith his injury will be healed soon. its all very humbling.
but my night was a tale of 2 nights, i told the activities chairman a few weeks ago that i would help with a Halloween trick r treating thing that has become a tradition here. the activities chairman caught me before i saw the bishop, he asked if i was going to be in the meeting for this committee to HELP. he told me that they were gonna meet after mutual. i said "sure of course."expecting a group of adults or kids old enough to organize or be beneficial to really contripute, right? i soon realized that i was not just helping, i was in charge of this event. oh yeah and the committee consisted of me and the activities chairman who soon left it to me, two 11 year old girls, one had some type of mental disability, and a 12 year old boy who was beyond hyper. i'll have to give the kids credit they had wonderful ideas for a haunted house, but guess what the budget of this event is? yup you guessed it 0 dollars and 0 cents. so this meeting consisted of the hyper active boy yelling his ideas, the mentally handicap girl talking about some boy she likes and how shes going to scare him the night of the haunted house, and the other girl wanting to just go home. while the activities chairman praised the children for being really creative(in which they were) but at the same time nothing was getting accomplished but random ideas. the only real thing that was getting accomplished was me sitting there saying to myself "how did i get suckered into this? how is it possible to actually get all this resolved in 10 days?" oh yeah not to mention i have 10 days to get all my work done to check out of the marines. somehow it will work out. i need to pray a ton or something, its gonna take a miracle!
i dont know why i get so alone here. but i really have no talks to me in a tone that we both are understood
its just another day in the marine corps. saying goodbye to someone your close to. my best friend for a good while here leaves tomorrow. i don't have buddies that i got to see everyday and grew close too. but we did have that. we would do everything together, church, food, whatever. we did it together. we haven't been close as much lately, we did have a few last kicks but now he's leaving to California. he'll be there for awhile in the Marines. you look how my luck is in the marines his was the complete opposite. he had all the luck. he met so many cool people traveled all over the place, promoted quickly. just all around loved it. i'm happy for him, it suits him very well. but it sucks he's gone now. i'll have more friends through the years but ah. just not fun. just the first of many. next one is monday. my buddy steve leaves.
i love how much the savior loves me. it truly is amazing how his arms are around us all. i love watching people who dont quite understand, embrace him back. i sincerely love being surrounded by the spirit. when the holy ghost guides me, it becomes more personal. my heart swlls with hope. i love the simple daily things, like today, my head started to throb. i said a quiet prayer that it would pass. i stood in the shower and it slowly passed. i am amazed how much i have learned about how to live my life. i'm very blessed with simple things that happens in life. like right now i ran my hands through my hair, i'm grateful to have some hair. sounds silly but its true. i really do believe what comes is better than what came before. i am grateful to love and to be loved. giving time to what is important, giving that simple moment is important.
Wednesday my papers will be submitted. i'm really really excited. i have felt the spirit so much in the past few days. things have changed in my life. but really it has been hard being back. its boring, there are so many opportunities to be lazy and be idle. it will be a huge test for me to deal with this. the spirit has been with me though. i can feel it and its showing. others have asked me about the church. since i've left Utah i have shared my testimony with 5 different people. it has brought peace and comfort to my heart. i hope and pray this place won't bring me down. i can feel it happening. i just really can't wait to find out where i'm going and to leave on that day. i love this feeling when you feel comforted. Do you know what i mean?
so the past week is coming to a close, today was not the most productive day. still i got something accomplished with helping out with my buddy Ed and his family. i spent a long while working on his roof with him and his brother.after all the kids and girls i've been with the past 3 weeks, some male bonding was fun. the kids wanted to know when i was leaving last night at dinner. i told them Wednesday and they were bummed out. which is really cute, and i think its funny. They all wanted me to to stay and they want me to come back. The little girl Kaia is taking it the hardest, her older brother Bri is making fun of her saying, "the only reason you want him to stay is cause you have a crush on him, TRUST ME I KNOW I'M 9 YEARS OLD!" as i write this all out, all three are begging me to play computer games and laying on top of me. it didn't start out easy listening to them and dealing with them when i first got here. but it HAS BEEN FUN.
Yesterday was as close to perfect as life can be. I'm trying to compare this time in my life of preparation to the Savior. He went into the desert, where he fasted and prayed to prepare himself spiritually for his ministry. His temptation by the devil was great, but through the purification of his spirit he was able to triumph over all evil. Coming to conference defiantly has helped with all that i need to do before i leave. Bring around all these old friends and sharing and being unified in thoughts with them has been so beneficial to my testimony. i will think about yesterday a lot when i am gone. as i will for many other days i have lived in my life. something special has been allowed for me to experience here. With being in this house. seeing someone I've only known for a through a computer screen. seeing a friend that made life livable in South Carolina. and mostly to be around someone that has effected my life.
its interesting how we still get along really well. she knows me pretty well but she thinks she knows me perfectly.
i will remember this, and i will buy this for my family one day. it is so hilarious.
that is some funny stuff.
so after deciding that i'm leaving on my mission as soon as possible. i'm incredibly excited to share my testimony everyday. so that the people i teach, can learn of the gospel. so they can have wonderful moments of unity with their families and friends. i truly wish to share my blessings with the world. so that they can have the same things and find the love heavenly father wants us all to have. i'm more excited to do the work and get back home. and have my family.
After i talked with my first branch president, years ago about my life and shared my testimony for the first time with someone ever. he said, "whats amazing is you are growing Brother Woods. One day you'll finish a mission and you'll find the person that's meant to be with you." In my Patriarchal Blessing it states, "You shall have the privilege to serve heavenly father in declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ. As you prepare for your labors therein and you will rejoice when you receive the letter from the president of the church calling you to serve. You shall have success in your callings, and shall have reason to rejoice in your heart with the spirit you shall possess. You shall be called upon to teach and shall teach those who want to know and understand the principles of the gospel. You shall return with honor. Upon your return from your mission the experience that you gained will be of importance to you in the raising of your family. In the lord’s due time he will bless you with a lovely mate to walk by your side in righteousness. Have patience." once i told my bishop that i have officially decided to go on a mission. he sat me down and said to me, "i'm proud of you when you get back you'll be blessed with a wife" after hearing that from 3 different sources its with out a doubt in my mind Heavenly Father telling me to do and what is awaiting me after i'm back.
I am lucky to have met wonderful people in my life. this is what jillian said about me and she is a really sweet person. even if i'm more focused on going on a mission, i know she is an amazing saint.
"this is pathetic...so don’t read if you don’t feel like hearing pathetic things.
james is amazing.
i really miss him. you have no idea....it's been such a short time, but i already feel like i'm missing a part of myself. his testimony amazes me, his smile brightens my day. his strength makes my world glow. i wish everyone could see him the way that i do. steadfast and immoveable in christ.
i am so proud of his going on his mission. he is doing the right thing. he will be an incredible missionary."
I have had a wonderful trip to Texas and Utah. I've debated of what to do with my time back in South Carolina. last night I stayed up and had a lot of time to get my mind off being so sick. I've realized a lot about myself the past 3 weeks. I have a really good understanding of myself and in where I have progressed so much with the things I've struggled with. I'm happy how far I have progressed when bad things do get into my life and how fast I get them out. I learned that I can't be at home for long, so I've prayed and decided that leaving on my mission earlier. I'll also leave South Carolina sooner too. about 10 days sooner. Its amazing you can develop your life for good and how fast it can be erased if you aren't careful. I'm happy I choose the right way and got myself out of any terrible situations fully come to pass. my heart is full and my eyes are clear with how many blessings are in my life. I hope to have this gratefulness that is in my heart now. the joy that fills my heart of how everything in my life has fallen slowly and continually into my lap when I have obeyed the commandments.
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