Kicking rocks.(Elder Dizon's Idea) (3/23/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a really good week! Like really great! One of the highlights of the week was district conference on Saturday and Sunday. We actually hadn't planned on going to the Saturday afternoon adult session, but I are really glad that we did. Our concern (getting back to Buguey from Gonzaga) was solved when President Barrientos called and said that the  APs would be staying with us that night, so they could give us a ride back. Elder P, one of the Area Seventies, was the presiding authority and the whole focus of the conference was on hastening the work of salvation through referrals and rescuing. Elder P is from Cebu and is super funny! He is really talented at likening the scriptures to our lives. Elder D and I were also invited to join in the leadership meeting Saturday afternoon, where the topic was the plan to change Gonaga District to a Stake. It is still several years down the road, but we are all now coordinated and set to get the ball rolling. It was a great conference, even if it interrupted our usual work.

We had a break through this weekend with El! Elder D and Elder M (we were on exchanges) visited El Saturday night. During follow up, Elder D asked if he had tried praying in the name of Jesus Christ, which last time he told us he absolutely would not do. He tried though! He prayed in the name of Jesus Christ. We feel that our patience and faith is really showing him how much we love him and that we know that this message will change his life. He came to church last week, now he tried praying in the name of Jesus Christ, and this week, our goal is a baptismal date. If he gets baptized, his entire family will, according to his wife. So close. Please include them (B Family) in your prayers. 

M passed her baptismal interview on Friday! She is getting baptized this coming Saturday! We are really working with our investigators to get them to baptism. None of them were at church this week since it was in Gonzaga, so we will have to move some dates. We know that they are getting close. N has really had some turn arounds in her life and she feels the Saviors love so much more. We left her an article about the Atonement in an old Liahona after she shared some concerns with us and the next time we taught her it was like teaching a different person. I love seeing how much the Gospel changes lives. The Spirit that is manifest in the Work of the Lord is like nothing else in the world! It is so amazing and I love it. One of our new investigators, Leo, is moving along well also. His family members are all living elsewhere and he feels really lonely.He understands what we teach and has great questions. We know that as he prepares for baptism he will come to love the branch family in Buguey.

Last night, I read Elder Bednar's talk from last conference "The Windows of Heaven". One thing that really hit me as I read was how God knows exactly what each of his children needs and knows better than we do. What we all truly need are the things that will help us become like our Heavenly Father. Usually, this is simple things, like courage, patience, diligence, and faith. The greatest gifts that we receive from our Heavenly Father are the subtle ones that make us more like Christ, for "every good gift cometh of Christ". I know that God loves us all so much and that He is looking over us always. He hears all of our prayers and will answer then in his own time and way. All we have to do is remember that his ways are higher than ours and we will recognize that everything he does is in our favor. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Mediator. By his atonement, we can receive mercy as we repent and follow His Gospel. I know that all these things are true. Keep the faith everyone! Mahal kita!

love,

Elder R Wood