Back to Laoag Again (6/30/14)

Family and Friends,

This is going to be a bit scattered and probably short. I am in Laoag again for MlC and I don't have much time. President surprised us all again by having MLC a week early and we have the activity tomorrow, which is going up in the northern part of Ilocos Norte to see a bunch of tourist sites. it is a once in a life time opportunity and we are all super excited. Even getting up at 5 am won't kill the excitement. 

Quick update on the work in Pinili. Sister Aqu and her two kids are set for their baptismal interview next week and her husband, Sher, accepted a baptismal date for August 30. He came to church for the first time yesterday and he really enjoyed it. He had to leave early since he was sick, but he was welcomed very warmly by all of the members and wants to go again! He said all the people that he passed on the way to church with his family were shocked to see him going to church. He is now reading the Book of Mormon and is doing great. He is determined to follow his family into the waters of baptism.

We also found a few really solid new investigators this week. One, Ne, started talking with us while we were walking near his home and he opened up to us and basically shared his life story with us. We shared a short message with him and his niece and he really wanted us to come back and share again. He said he feels that the message of the Restoration is the way that God has prepared for him to receive help for his trials. Sadly he wasn't there when we went back on Saturday. We also contacted Ap, the daughter of one of our other investigators. She is very receptive and really wants us to teach her entire family. We had one of our recent converts as a fellowshipper for that lesson and he shared a really great testimony of how the gospel has blessed his life and how he came to know that he had found the truth. It was a very powerful lesson and we are excited to go back on Thursday.

I was not in Pinili for over 48 hours last week due to exchanges with our District Leader in Callaguip and then the APs in Laoag. I learned much these two exchanges and especially liked working with Elder T in Laoag. We were in the MTC together and we had a great exchange, even with the pouring rain. Hooray for members with cars! We found this one house with many new people, some of them on vacation from Italy (all are Filipino though). I was super tired by the time I went home from the two days, but I think mostly it was from the great spiritual experiences I had.

MLC today was great, focusing on working with members and being Christ like leaders. The more that i have been studying the more that I realize that the whole point of our life on earth is to become like our Heavenly Father through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. President Barrientos explained the Atonement really clearly in the perspective of missionaries and overcoming trials and challenges. I am so grateful to have a Savior, even our elder brother Jeusus Christ, who opened the way for us to become like him no matter what we face in life. 

Time is ticking gone and I have to run. Thanks for the support and prayers. Keep doing everything that you can to move this work forward in whatever wya you can!

Love,

Elder Wood