Happy New Year! Don't blow your foot off! (12/31/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

It's that time again. New Years Eve Lock Down! The Philippines is crazy with its fireworks, so for safety reasons, all the missionaries go into lock down in the evening. We started at 5 today, though Elder B and I were driving for President, so we were out around Laoag for about an hour and a half after lock down, taking some stuff to members in the ward. It must be a big shock for the members to have the mission president show up randomly at their house. It is great to see how President interacts with the members. Everyone is a brother and sister to him. We are all so blessed to have leaders all around the world who are called by God to lead his Church in the latter-days. 

We are currently waiting for President to give us a call for dinner. We will be eating with him and Sister Barrientos. I didn't have the chance to email this morning since we had a lunch with some members in the ward. It is the same lunch I was at with Elder Onate exactly a year ago. The Daquioag Family hosts it every year for the missionaries in the Stake and there are now 56 of us. It was great to see everyone and spend time with them. It is funny to think how out of the missionaries there, I was among those who have been serving for over a year. Time has flown so fast. Bro. Daquioag was the Mission President in Bacolod Mission when Mitch Wade (my cousin) served there. If anyone who reads this is in contact with him, please tell him that President and Sister Daquioag would like to hear from him.

So last week was a bit rough teaching wise with Christmas, but this week is shaping up to be much better. We already have more lessons this week then all of last week. We got to teach to Ab yesterday, as well as her brother and some of her cousins. They are so prepared to accept the Gospel. I know that Heavenly Father is preparing his children everywhere to hear the Gospel. Abby is the one who was waiting for us when we showed up at her house the first time. Yeah I love this work so much!

So we have the final number on the Philippines Laoag Mission goal for baptism for 2013. Drumroll! 822! We ended up just short of our goal of 100, but we are on track to hit it next year. We had 129 baptism in the month of December. The Lord is with His servants in this work, no doubt about it. Elder S and I are on track to start getting some baptism in the coming month. Not only that, but the work is moving forward with those who have lost their way after receiving the Gospel. We made contact with one of our focus less active members this week. She is actually a daughter in one of the families, who has been having a hard time in the past months. She has a son and she wants him to grow up in the gospel. She has decided that she is going to start coming back to Church, with her 2 year old son, even if it only them out of the entire family. I have been teaching this family for almost 10 months and the Lords is now opening the way for their return to his fold.

This work is the best thing in the world! I can't describe my love for the work of the salvation of men. It is the work of the Lord and we have all been called to be part of it. No matter how unqualified we think we may be, the Lord qualifies those he calls and he has called all of us to this work at this time. I am so happy as a missionary I can barely contain it. This happiness lies in store for all of those who will join in! I know that for a fact, for I have seen it in the lives of others. Keep praying for and looking for missionary opportunities. They are there, we just need the faith to recognize them. Thank you all for your support of the missionaries all around the world. Keep it up! Mahal namin kayong lahat!

Elder R Wood