Certianty of Death, Small Chance of Success, What are We Waiting (part 2) (10/12/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

The title is a reference to this coming week and not to the past week. This past week was great. We had 9 new investigators, almost all of them found through our own efforts. The best of our new investigators though was a referral from the trainers and trainees during their Book of Mormon Placing activity a few weeks ago. After getting punted around on Wednesday, Elder M and I decided to give some referrals another try. One was Mar and when we texted and asked if we could come over, she said sure and we set for 6 pm. We arrived at 6 just as vehicle was pulling up to the house and a lady looked out at us and asked "Elder Wood?" It was a bit of a surprise but we went inside and started teaching. Turns out a few months ago Elder B and I talked with her and some of her employees during p day (one of her employees is a member). When she talked again with the missionaries a few weeks back, she could remember my name but not my face. So we are now teaching to them twice a week and she has a baptismal date for November 23. Just goes to show that the Lord blesses us for sharing the gospel anytime, in his own time and in his own way.

This coming week is going to be full of office work, hence the title of this email. I have to travel to both the north and the south and then do lots of finance work. The transfer is almost upon us again and this is going to be another big one. Tune in next time to hear more. I have been doing so much as a servant of Jesus Christ that I never expected to do. Driving, signing housing contracts, working at a computer. But just as President Barrientos is constantly reminding us, all of this is part of the work of salvation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is no small thing and the Lord needs willing hands and hearts to move his work forward in every way possible. And that is the beauty of this work. No matter who receives what assignment the Lord is with them as they do his work. The scriptures, both modern and ancient are full of promises from a loving Heavenly Father to the laborers of his vineyard and all of them will be fulfilled. I have seen it in my service and there are countless other examples of it. As Elder Dube said in General Conference " Never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do."

So in short, it has been a great week and the next one is looking up to be also. I love this work. I hope everyone had taken the messages from General Conference to heart and have set some goals and made plans to follow the teachings of the living prophet and apostles. There is one that has been mentioned by President Barrientos often in the past few days and that concerns Elder Ballard's talk. So I am going to leave this as my commitment to you all, to read or listen or watch his talk again and take his challenge. I promise you that as you do this the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out upon you and the way will open for you to take his counsel and challenge. Even if you do not see the way now, it will be opened for you. Mahal kita! Kita Kits!

Elder Ryne Warren Wood