Bagong Kasama, Bagong Area, Gonzaga Zone Leader pa rin (4/20/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

The title of this email should just about explain what is happening to me this week. It means "New Companion, New Area, Still Gonzaga Zone Leader". The Gonzaga Zone Leaders are being moved from Buguey to Gonzaga. It is a nice move as it helps us with exchanges and everything. Buguey is the furthest west area in the zone, so travel for exchanges and everything is long and pricey. Now we will be right in the middle of the zone, so our zone leader duties will be easily accomplished. I am sad to leave Buguey of course. I have learned a lot here and I love the people here. They are in good hands though. My new companion is Elder R, who is coming out of the mission office, just like I did in January. I worked with him over a year ago in Bacarra when we were both waiting to train. I am excited to get to work with him again. I will finally have a companion taller then me!

This was a great week of work in Buguey. We have made some great progress with our investigators. Helping others to come unto Christ is not an easy task, but I know from personal experience that the joy that comes from the work is indescribable. I was reading yesterday in Alma 7 and I love how Alma tells the people of Gideon that his joy over the people of Zarahemla has come after wading through much tribulation and sorrow. I know personally that often, wading through affliction and sorrow is prerequisite to having joy. Thus we came to an imperfect world to be tried and tested before achieving the fullness of joy. Compared to the joy, the hardships are nothing. 

First news is El. He prayed in the name of Jesus Christ on Saturday! After 12 weeks of trying over and over and over again, the Lord softened his heart enough for him to be willing to try, It was such a great prayer and the Spirit was so strong as he prayed. He told us he would do it if we would try praying using the Hebrew name for Jesus Christ. We did and there was nothing. Compared to his prayer in the name of Jesus Christ,it wasn't even a prayer. He is super receptive and is so grateful for our patience with him. Before teaching him, I did not have as much patience as I do now. 

Next is D. She is still struggling to understand the answers that she is receiving, but she is getting answers. Part of it is that she is being taught by another church who is just confusing her and basically bullying her into believing them. She received and answer and knows that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, but she is having a hard time following that answer. On Saturday we gave her a chapel tour and she came to church on Sunday.

We also taught to two of our other investigators at the Chapel on Friday, Ro and Do. They are both 14 and are super receptive and excited. They came to church yesterday and loved it! They even brought one of their friends we hadn't met before with them. The Lord is really preparing them and they will be great missionaries one day. They are excited for baptism on May 24 and are well on the way to being ready for it.

We also had exchanges this week with two of the District Leaders, Elder D and Elder I. I worked with both of them here in Buguey and I learned much from them. They are both diligent and hard working. I am grateful for all of those that the Lord has put in my mission from whom I have learned. I don;'t think there is a single missionary I have met that I have not learned from.

In closing, I want to share my testimony of our Savior Jesus Chirst. With Easter yesterday, I have thought much on the Atonement and what it means to me and how important it is in the lives of all people. I know that the entire plan of salvation hinges on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Without it, there is not use to life. I know that because He died and rose after three days, so will all people who have ever lived. He is the Only Begotten Son of God, The Lamb of God who was without blemish. He is the only one to whom the consequence of sin, death, was not due, yet He gave his life so that we all may live, and have eternal life too, if we will follow his Gospel and commandments. He loves us. He lives. He will come again. I know these thing for my self, for the Spirit has testified of them to me. And I say them in His name, even Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Love, Elder R Wood

Don't Sleep through the Restoration! (4/14/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Another General Conference has come and it was amazing! I realized on Saturday while eating lunch between sessions that this is my last General Conference that I will watch as a full time missionary. When October Conference comes, I will miss both the live in the USA and rebroadcast in the Philippines. I decided that I will download it and listen to it on the flight home. 10 hours of Conference! This was such an uplifting and inspiring conference. We are so blessed to live in the time of the ongoing Restoration. We have a living prophet and apostles on the Earth who receive the word of God through revelation and then teach and guide the world toward the Savior. I know that all of the messages that were shared were from our Heavenly Father and each one has doctrines and principles that we all need.

This week has been a good week of work in Buguey. Elder D and I have been working hard to try to hit the standard for the week. We fell a bit short, 6 lessons, but it was the most lessons that we have had in a week this transfer. Transfer week is next week and one of us may be transferred, so this coming week is going to be packed! We have exchanges with the district leaders in the Zone and have lots of lessons planned. We have 17 investigators that we are preparing for baptism in May. Including El. We are getting so close to resolving his concern! He asked us a question in our last message to him that really showed us that his heart is softening. He asked us why the Book of Mormon prophets teach about the Savior as Jesus Christ before he was born. Yes! When we begin to teach him the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Spirit will change his heart and show him the truth. 

D is also doing really well. She is still being taught by the other church, but we have begun to teach her the Plan of Salvation and she is learning much that she never knew before. I have seen the power of the message that we as missionaries carry to the world in her, El and so many others. One insight that I gained our of General Conference was how beautiful and perfect the massage that we share with the children of God are. The Message of the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ combined with the commandments are the perfect weave and combination to bring others unto Christ. There is no one message that we share that will change others. Conversion comes as others learn and apply all of the doctrines of the gospel to their lives. I love how simple and beautiful the truth is! 

Another investigator that I will briefly mention is Ro, who is 14. He and his brother were part of a group of boys we taught a few weeks back. Ro is very receptive and is preparing for baptism in May. He is also helping one of our recent converts become less shy and recognize the things that she learned before baptism. N is also progressing, as well as H, who I talked about last week. The Lords hand is moving powerfully in Buguey, Cagayan.

I have felt the great joy that is promised to faithful missionaries in the letter we received from the Prophet when I was called. It was really amazing on Thursday and I loved it. We were walking home from our recent converts and as I looked into the clear night sky with the moon and stars casting their light to the world, I could feel Heavenly Father's love filling my whole soul. It was describable . Then We ran into one of the investigators of Elder D and Elder M. He is progressing well and wants to serve a mission. He fellowshipped for us the next day also. Seeing hte joy in his life that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ just topped off my joy/ While life as a missionary is certainly not easy and not perfect, it is such a great blessing, privilege and responsibility.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers for us missionaries. We need them, we feel them and they are answered. I know that is true. Jesus Christ is the Savior and he Atoned for our sins. Easter is coming and let us remember what he did for us. He lives and is our Redeemer. I know that with all I am. Mahal kita!

Love,

Elder Ryne Warren Wood

Sa kabilang banjer (At the other (Tagalog) other (Ilocano)) (4/6/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for a no email week last week. President Barrientos surprised us all by announcing the morning after Zone Conference that MLC was a week early. In all of the craziness of traveling I was unable to send an email home. I will be sending some pictures next week, since I forgot my camera and flash drive today.

So it has been a packed past two weeks. We have had Zone Conference, MLC, ZTM, and a correlation meeting with the leaders of the Gonzaga District. So many meetings! I have received a lot of personal revelation in the past two weeks of things that I need to do to improve in the next and final six months of my mission. The monthly focus for our mission is qualifying for the Spirit and helping others to receive a witness of the truth through the power of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is so critical in this work. I testify that without the Spirit nothing happens in this work. I have seen the Spirit change the lives of so many people over the past 18 months and I know that by the Spirit the lives of millions around the world are changing.

Some quick updates. M got baptized on the 29th of March.It was great to see her finally enter the waters of baptism. She used to have some interesting concerns. but by the power of the Holy Ghost and the atonement of Jesus Christ she was prepared to make that covenant with Heavenly Father. I will be sending pictures of the baptism next week.

We found a new investigator last week, H. He is a former investigator from another town in the zone, but he hadn't been taught by the missionaries since he move to Buguey two years ago. We actually met him once before at the church where he was playing basketball. He is super receptive and accepted a baptismal date for May 24 on the first lesson. remembers about Joseph Smith very well and he makes the connections of all of the doctrines. We have given several of our investigators baptismal dates and we are preparing to have a large harvest in May. In March, our mission had 141 baptisms! We are well on our way to our goal of 1000 souls by the end of the year. I am hoping that we can hit the goal before October, since that is when I will finish my time in the Philippines Laoag Mission.

On the bus to MLC last Sunday, I had the chance to talk with a man from Fiji who is here with his fiancee. He is Jehovah's Witness and of course the discussion turned to religion. He was very knowledgeable of the Bible, but there was a big difference between us. For me, my knowledge comes from the source of all truth, even God the Father through the power of the Holy Ghost. I had the chance to testify to him repeatedly about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love bearing testimony to others. That is the most powerful way for us to invite the Spirit into the lives of others. I left the bus with a new friend and I pray that he will have the chance again one day to hear and accept the Restored Gospel. We are so blessed to have the Book of Mormon and a living Prophet to guide us in these last days. There is no greater source of direction than revelation, both personal and through the living prophet.

Speaking of a living prophet, it is General Conference time! I am super excited to watch conference this weekend. I love hearing the words of the prophet and apostles. I know that God has called Thomas S. Monson to lead the true church at this time and that we have living apostles who bear witness of the Savior even Jesus Christ. I know these things with all my heart and soul.

There is so much that has happened in the past two weeks and I cannot even start to share it all. My time is running short so I will just end with my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. He lives. He loves us. He is our way back to our Heavenly Father. He will come again to the Earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. By His Atonement we can re reconciled to God by obedience to the Gospel. I know these things are true and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thanks for all the support. Mahal Kita!

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood

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

How do you get 32 lessons in a week? (3/16/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been busier than ever. We didn't have to do anything for transfers, so we were able to devote our whole week to just working! We got 30 lessons this week. The standard of excellence for the mission is 32, and Elder D and I are doing everything that we can to hit that standard. So in answer to my title, the way to get 32 is to plan for at least 40 lessons. We planned this week for 41. We still have lots of work to do to hit that goal, but we can do it. We are exercising our faith in every way that we can and striving to be exactly and strictly obedient. And we have seen the some fruit come from our efforts.

The one of the biggest results of our efforts is that we had 9 investigators at sacrament meeting this week. 7 of them are progressing towards baptism in the next 3 weeks and we are hoping to have a nice harvest in the coming weeks. Myra has her interview for baptism on Friday and then Ju, Mas, Ci, Cas, N and S are all moving towards baptism on April 5. They have all been coming to Church faithfully. N has had a hard time in the past overcoming her trials, but the Lord has shown her that he will provide miracles in exchange for her obedience and faith. She just had a dream that has really boosted her confidence and resolve to follow through on her commitment to follow Jesus Christ through baptism. I have seen all of their lives change as they understand and live true doctrine.

One of the not progressing ones, is El and he is the hardest investigator that I have ever taught because he believes everything that we teach,but he has one serious concern. He doesn't believe that Jesus Christ is the name of the Savior. We are doing all that we can to help him overcome it. When we taught him on Saturday, we invited him to ask Heavenly Father in the name of Christ if the Book of Mormon is true. He will not ask in the name of Christ, He contradicted himself in his explanation, but he refuses to try even once. He loves it when we teach him, but he is stuck on the name. He came to church, which we have been working for for a long time. Luckily, he doesn't try to debate us anymore.  

We also had great success in finding new investigators and working with referrals, We found 11 new investigators and contacted 5 referrals, some who will become new investigators this week. One of the new investigators that we found is Leo out in Villa Leonora. He is a barangay kagawad (like a city council member) and he knows our recent converts in Villa Leonora. We shared with him about the Book of Mormon, which was all new to him and he accepted the copy of the Book of Mormon. We also found a young man, K, who is very receptive and wants us to share with his family also. 

We got a really important referral on Saturday. One of President Barrientos' counselors was here in Buguey doing interviews and he gave us a referral. He had talked with the mayor of Buguey and the mayor agreed to have us over to share with him. Yeah! I know right! The mayor lives right next to the chapel and Elder D and I are going to try everyday to contact him. If nothing else, he will let us in just to be rid of us (Parable of the Importunate Widow), but we have faith that he will invite us in to hear what we have to share and that the Lord will soften his heart so that he will accept the restored Gospel. 

The work of the Lord is moving forward at an undeterred pace all around the world. I am just a piece of this massive rock that is filling the Earth. I know that the Lord is blessing all of his servants around the world and is preparing the hearts of his children to receive the restored gospel. We just had a new branch president called here and he is very energetic and has good plans to help the branch progress. I know that the Lord has his hand in his work. As we do as Abinadi and teach redemption, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the Spirit will touch the hearts of others and they will receive salvation through the Atonement of Christ, the Eternal Father, and Son of God. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and he has paid the price of our sins. If we will accept and live his Gospel, we will gain eternal life. I know that this Church is true and is lead by a living prophet. God bless you all! Mahal kita!

Love,

Elder R Wood

And then there was a flaming rat... (3/10/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a crazy busy week. We had ZTM then exchanges and then weekly planning then church and then... the week was over. Time just flies by so fast when you have so much to do. I am happy to say that Elder D and I accomplished our goal of having more lessons this week than the last week we had MLC. We had 15, as compared to the last time of 13. High scoring baseball game. And now it is transfer week and for the first time in a long time, it doesn't effect me personally! There are 5 transfers in our zone though, including one new Sister Training Leader and a new District Leader.

We have made some good progress with our investigators this week. Since our time was a bit limited we really focused on those with baptismal dates that are coming up. We re-extended a baptismal date to N, since she had missed church for the past few weeks. We applied the training from MLC and really focused on the doctrines of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and Repentance. It was a great lesson and she committed that she would keep the Sabbath day holy for the rest of her life. We also reset the baptism for Ju and Mas, since they are having a bit of trouble keeping the Sabbath day holy. When we talked to Ju about it, he said he didn't realize that that was part of his preparation of baptism. He said he is going to keep it holy from now on. He had a relapse and smoked 2 cigarettes Saturday, but he told us and then he gave us his remaining sticks to throw away. They are now going to be baptized on the same day as their nieces. 

We found a great new fellowshipper this week. Jo, our recent convert worked with us yesterday afternoon and he loved it. His testimony is very strong and he loves to share it. He told us that he is also excited to share the gospel with more of his friends. He just got the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday and is excited to keep working with us. He is very converted to the Gospel and he really wants to help others have the same experience.

Just as a quick side story, I went on exchanges this week to the farthest area in the mission, Sta. Ana. At night when I was showering, I heard the 3 Elders running around and shouting. They then told me not to come out of the shower yet. So I waited a bit and then they said it was good to come out. They changed their minds as I opened the door and I saw why. On the floor out side the bathroom was a line of fire, leading to a flaming rat. Not my preferred method of extermination, but I guess it works for a rat that big (almost 6 inches long).  

I just wanted to share my testimony with everyone about how the Lord really knows each of us individually and knows how to help us. The help will most likely not come in the form that we expect, but it will come. He knows better than we do, for his thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We do not comprehend all that he does, but He loves us and will do what is best for us. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and had created a perfect plan of us to gain eternal life. If we will do what he asks of us, we will make it back to him. Mahal ko kayo lahat! 

love,

Elder Ryne Warren Wood

Citius, Altius, Fortius (3/4/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Just finished with my 2nd MLC and it was so awesome. I think I have a little bit of heat exhaustion though from the sporting activity. Ayos lang, no pain no gain. The APs asked me and Elder D to  o the games for our FHE, so we played the animal game and Ninja Destruction. It was a blast and I was exhausted on the trip home. It is a bit late so this may be a bit short.

First and foremost is some great news on investigators. Ju and Mas are two of our next scheduled baptisms and they are making wonderful progress. The biggest thing is that Bro. Ju has now quit smoking. He has been struggling with it for a while and we have really been hitting on the principles of addiction recovery. He had gone from a pack to a few sticks to just one stick a day, but was really struggling to kick that one last stick. We talked about priesthood blessings and how they are a way to receive added strength from Heavenly Father. He said he would like one and we gave him one on Thursday. We weren't able to visit them the next day but on Saturday we found out that since the blessing he has not smoked! I know that Heavenly Father  gave him that extra boost that he needed to begin to be completely free of his addiction. We have also started teaching two of his nieces, who are interested and came to church this week!

I am very grateful for the power of the priesthood that was restored through Joseph Smith. I know that the keys and power of the priesthood are held today by the leaders of the Church, especially the prophet, Thomas S Monson, as they were held anciently by the prophets and apostles. We taught another of our investigators, El about the priesthood and how it has been and always will be a central part of Christ's Church. He kept trying to argue with us, but we just bore testimony of how we knew that the priesthood had been restored through Joseph Smith through Peter James and John who received it from Jesus Christ. He stopped trying to argue and just fell back to his usual default question, which had nothing to do with the lesson at all. I know that the Spirit testified to him that what we had taught him was true even if he tried to ignore it. The time will come when he will yield to the Spirit though and then his eyes will be opened and he will recognize the truth.

So the title of our email was a part of MLC this past Monday. For those who don't know the three words, they are a part of the Olympics. They are engraved on every gold medal and they are Greek for Swifter, Higher, Stronger. MLC was focused on how we as missionaries can be come move swifter, reach higher, and become stronger on our eternal quest for perfection, for others and ourselves. At the heart of it is the doctrine. As we learn, understand and apply true doctrine ourselves and then help others to learn, understand and apply true doctrine, we will see great changes take place in our work. We will be able to help more and more people to come unto Christ and through his Gospel prepare to return to live with God and become like Him. I learned a lot form MLC, which I will not be able to share here. I know understand though what doctrine is, why it is important and how I need to use it to help others prepare to live with God again.

I know that this is the work of the Lord and that He is opening the hearts of others to receive his Gospel. There is no greater work on the Earth. It is the work of salvation. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it testifies of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true Church of Christ, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Keep doing all you can to strengthen your won testimonies and help others to find theirs! 

Love,

Elder R Wood