We really need to get potatoes today- Elder R (05/26/14)

Dear Friends and Family,

Whoa it has been quite the week! I will start with the best part of the week though, MJo's baptism! I have attached pictures from it below. It was a very nice, simple baptismal service. We had 5 investigators there (almost all of them are related to MJo or close friends). Bro Da, the second counselor in the Branch Presidency performed the ordinance. He has been fellowshipping with us a lot and is related to most of our investigators. Elder R and I also put together a musical number and sang. Good thing there wasn't many people there. Just kidding. It turned out really well and everyone felt the Spirit the whole time. 

We also found a few new families this week. We were finally able to make contact with a referral and ended up teaching the whole family. The Su family is awesome and have really been well prepared for the Gospel. There are 6 of them total, and the youngest boy reminds me of my little brother (Yes Ty that means you). He is just that goofy funny kid who makes everyone laugh all of the time. I guess every family has one of them. They are committed to baptism, but not on a set date yet, since Brother and Sister Su wanted to talk about it. We will be going there again on Wednesday and we will reextend o them a date for baptism.

On Wednesday we had exchanges with Sta Ana A, one of the district leaders in the Zone. I worked with the DL, Elder Ru, in Gonzaga. Elder Ru is hilarious! We had great success, especially in teaching to another family, out in Sta Clara. We have taught the mother of the family before, but this time, we also got the father to sit in on the lesson. We got him in because his wife told us that he had a question about what happens after Resurrection. Score! We taught about the Plan of Salvation and how God wants all of his children to have eternal families. They all agreed to a return appointment and we were going to go back on Saturday, but there was some extenuating circumstances that prevented us from going. Really sad, but there was nothing we could do.

We have also started to look for and teach more less actives. We have found some, and almost all of them have been less active for a long time. As in over 10 years. So we have some hard work ahead but we know that the Lord will soften their hearts and will open the way for them to come back and resume the path they begun to eternal life. Some of the reasons that people have for going inactive here just do not make sense at all to me. I know that God loves all of His Children though and never gives up on them. I never will either. It will not be easy, but to see them again enjoy all of the blessings of the Gospel will make all of the struggles worth it. That is where I find great joy and after the trial comes the witness. 

I know that this is the work of the Lord. I have never done anything in my life that is more rewarding and fulfilling than serving the Lord by inviting others to come unto Christ. I have learned that there is always more to learn and more to do and ways to improve. We are to become as our Heavenly Father and that requires constant action and faith on our part. It is possible in the end because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know he lives and he is the Only Begotten of the Father. He is the Way to our Father in Heaven. I look forward to the coming weeks and months and love eery second of this work. I know that we will all find great joy in doing whatever part we have been given in this work, no matter how small it may seem to us. Thanks for all the support and prayers!

Love,

Elder R Wood

Did you see those Huns? They just popped out the snow. Like daisies! (5/18/2014)

Dear Family and Friends,

Hmm. Where to begin for this past week? I guess with the best part of the week and of every week, the Work! Elder R and I were working hard this week to hit the standard of 32 lessons. We were close with 29, but the numbers don't mean much in comparison with the people that we taught and invited to come unto Christ. First of is MJo, who passed her baptismal interview yesterday and is going to be baptized on May 24. She is super ready and Elder D was really impressed during the interview with her. Well, she was coming to church and reading to Book of Mormon on her own before we ever met her. It is funny when we follow up on her reading and she basically says everything we were going to teach her or asks a question that is exactly what we were going to share. She is also referring lots of people to us, friends, family every one.

People have also began to refer themselves to us though members. The people who live around MJo and the Da family (Active Members), keep asking them if we can teach them too. We now have many baptismal dates in that area and 6 of our investigators from there came to church on Sunday (2 before we had even met them). They all just came in a group and loved it. One of them, CC, who we met last Sunday, just asked if we can move her baptism forward. We may consider it if she keeps coming to church. The Da family is really helpful also. Bro. Da is the second counselor in the branch presidency and he comes with us several times a week and they have also opened their home for us to teach there. June is going to be a big month in Gonzaga.

A few sad things that happened this past week. Two of our recent converts just moved for unknown amounts of time. We  have heard from different sources that they will be gone for at least a year, but we have had no sure word from them. One of them just moved in to the APs area in Laoag and Elder T told me that they are going to teach her and try to figure out if she will be going back to Gonzaga soon. The other one went to Bicol on vacation, but now may stay there to finish school. One of our investigators is also getting ready to join the military, so his progression has basically halted. I know that the Lord is looking out for them and will continue to provide the way for them to progress.

Well that is about all for this week. Nothing very out of the ordinary has happened in a while. Which is a big surprise, since here in the Philippines odd things always happen. It is really beautiful here. Almost every night we see lightning storms of in the east and we almost always get to see the very beautiful sunsets. Yesterday I read Alma 30, and I love the part where Alma cites all of creation as evidence that God exists and loves his children. I know that that is true and that all creation happened for one purpose, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. I know that we have a Heavenly Father, who every action is because he loves us. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins so that we may return to him. The way has been provided, but it is up to us to walk that way by obedience to the gospel. I know that the blessings of the gospel exceed our comprehension and that one day we will truly understand all that God does and we will all exclaim, "My God how great thou art!" Keep up the work you are doing and always look for ways to give more! Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Love,

Elder R Wood

"Hi, I'm an American. Do you need a ride?" (5/06/2014)

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week have been awesome and I will describe it throughout. And I will explain the title, since it is one of the craziest, coolest experiences that I have had on my mission. Right now we are all waiting for our bus to go back to Cagayan. MLC was yesterday and once again, it was amazing. The focus of this month is increasing expectations through faith in Jesus Christ. The mission here in Laoag as a whole is doing really good, but as President told us (quoting the President of the Philippines) "Good enough is not good enough". We had almost one hundred baptisms this past month, but we should be at almost 200. There is much that we have left to do to improve. We are really going to be pushing this month to have all of the missionaries hitting the Standard of Excellence by increasing and exercising our faith in Christ. One thing that I have learned on my mission is how powerful faith really is. There is nothing that is the will of God cannot be done though our faith in Jesus Christ. Elder R and I later gave the FHE lesson (almost on the spot) about how our faith requires work to bring the desired results. We are super excited for ZTM and the chance to pass the trainings from President and the APs on to the missionaries in the Gonzaga Zone

Our area in Gonzaga is doing great. We found quite a bit on new investigators this past week and some really solid potential investigators. One of our new investigators is a man named Al, who was taught by the missionaries years ago. He is now married and has a young family. He was excited to visit with us again and was wiling ti have us come back. But when we went back he had gone to town to get some stuff. We are trying to get to him again this week. We also taught the brother of an member, Vin, who has been taught on and off for several years. He is actually reading the Gospel Principles manual and we know that through the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ he will come to know the truth of the things that he has read and become converted to the Savior. 

MJo is also making good progression towards baptism on May 24, She got sick and couldn't come to church on Sunday, but she is still on track to be baptized before the end of May. Currently she is about the only investigator that we have that is making good progress. We don't have very many investigators with baptismal dates currently. We have plans to go out to an area that has been worked in the past and is prime for the Harvest from the sounds of it. The last sisters were not allowed to go there since it is very far, but President has given us permission to go in the mornings. We are still working to get the work of the members under way. There are lots of priesthood holders in Gonzaga who are willing to work with us, we just need to coordinate with them better. We are looking to have big weeks for the rest of the transfer. 

Now for a story to explain the title of the email. On Sunday we were traveling to Laoag for MLC with the Sister Training Leaders. We got off the vehicle at one junction and went to get on another one to head to the place we catch the bus when some one walked up to us and said "Hey, I'm an American. Do you guys need a ride?" The man's name is Av, he is an African American from Portland, Oregon who is here with his wife for the rice harvest. He is an Army reservist and he and his wife drove us the 25 minutes to the junction at Magapit. He was super friendly. When we got to Magapit, we gave him a restoration pamphlet and he swapped numbers with the Sisters whose area he and his wife live in. Hopefully we will hear more about him next month and he will accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God works in mysterious ways and that  he works through many different means to prepare His children for and introduce them to the gospel. I have seen and met countless people here and I know that God is constantly at work preparing them to receive the restored gospel. So to close, I just want to invite you all to take the opportunity this week to share the gospel with some one you meet for the first time. I know that as you do this God will open their heart and they will feel His love and begin their journey to live with Him again. This is his work and we are all a part of it. 

Thank you for all of the prayers and support!

Love,

Elder R Wood

RETURN OF THE ELDERS- NOW SHOWING IN GONZAGA, CAGAYAN (4/28/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Week one in Gonzaga has been great! Elder R and I didn't get there until Wednesday and didn't get out working until Thursday, but we have gotten much accomplished and are well set on our way to baptisms in May! Elder R is on his last two transfers and is really hoping that I will be his last companion. I am hoping so too, partially because I don't want to go through another transfer in 6 weeks.We found our this week that we are the first Elders to serve in Gonzaga in almost 6 years. (Hence the title of the email). All of the Melchezidek Priesthood holders and a bunch of the youth are very excited to get to work with us. We are white washing the area, but it was a well set area. We have only been to about a third of our area but we have already had great things happen. 

We actually have investigators who are preparing for baptism just appearing in front of us. Almost literally! On Saturday we were walking along in Minanga with our fellowshipper and we had someone call out to us. It was a member whose sister (who was asleep beside her) had told her that she wanted to be baptized. We said we would come back in an hour and we did. MJo was waiting for us and we started teaching. We found out she was taught a long time ago when there were still Elders in Gonzaga and she has recently decided that she wants to be retaught and baptized. She has now come to church twice and is in Mosiah in her personal reading of the Book of Mormon. She has been super prepared by the Lord! She is getting baptized on May 24. 

We also had another investigator just appear when we were walking along to invite a family to church. Bro. Al, our fellowshipper who knows everyone in Minanga said that a member lived near by, so we stopped to day hi. We didn't meet the member, but we met his fiance who has now moved from another town and has a baptismal date for May 10. They will get married on May 9, so she will be good for baptism on May 10! We also have two investigators in a far out part of our area that are coming to church, on their own, despite not being taught in over two weeks. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord greatly in Gonzaga. 

We have some really great fellowshippers in Gonzaga. One is Bro. Al in Minanga, who is the SK President (essentially Mayor over youth and young single adults). He knows literally every one where he lives and is willing to work with us almost anywhere. There is also Bro. Mah, who is interestingly enough is my trainer's trainer. He trained Elder O on his last transfer in Sta. Ana (not far from Gonzaga) then came back and married a member in Gonzaga. He is a great fellowshipper and still has all of his missionary skills well polished and ready to use. Many others have told us that they want to work with us and we have much to do!

I don't have much time left. I just redid the record of all of the baptismal dates for the zone and it took a long time. I just want to bear my testimony of the power of the Atonement in helping us over come trials. I love the talk from Elder Bednar from Conference in April. I know that the Lord gives us the load that we need to become all that we must become to return to live with him. No matter how difficult it may seem, there is a reason for all things that happen to us. Because of what Jesus Christ did for us, we can lift any burden and overcome any trial. He is with is as we turn to Him. I know that is true for I have felt Him lift me to more that I can do on my own. I know He lives.

Thanks again for all the prayers and support. Keep the faith and fight the good fight!

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood

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