In Memory of Donald Hastings Wood (11/27/12)

*Side note* Elder RWood's grandfather passed away on Sunday, November 25. Grandpa had been very sick the last few years and Elder RWood knew Grandpa would not make it until RWood's return home. Grandpa and Grandma Wood also served in the Philippines back in the last '90s.
-ABice


Dear Family and Friends,
 SO I have officially been in the Philippines for five days and I love it here. In Manila, it didn't feel much different than parts of the US like California (except for the traffic. They are insane drivers here!) WE got to Manila on Wednesday morning and since we didn't fly to Laoag until the next morning, we got to go to the Manila Temple. It was a great experience. We arrived in Laoag Thursday morning and met the APs and President and Sister Barrientos. They are amazing, loving people. WE got to go out and place some Book of Mormons first thing after we arrived, which was tough but a great learning experience. WE had our interviews with President Barrientos and then had a Thanksgiving dinner which was amazing and very different from any thanksgiving I have had before. The next day we got our companions and areas. I am serving in the Bacarra area with Elder O. We are just a bit north of Laoag city. It is a very pretty area and the members are very helpful. In Five days I have had more foreign food that I have had in my entire life and I love Philippino food. The work is definitely not easy but is is very rewarding. I'm sorry if this email is not very long. I've discovered that I am not very fast or good at typing but I am going to get better (hopefully) and I am a bit overwhelmed with everything that has happened and I'm not entirely sure what all so say. I love the Philippino people and I have felt the had of the Lord in my life very much, both since I began my mission and since I have arrived in the Philippines. I know that He loves all of us and is watching over us. 
I'm going to miss you Grandpa Wood. Thank you for all that you have taught me, for your great example of missionary work and love. I know that you loved the people of the Philippines very much and you enjoyed your time serving them. We will meet again. 

Thank you all for your prayers and faith, not only for me but for all of the missionaries and their families. Thank you for all of your great examples and love. God be with you all!

More photos and SNOW (Utah snow)

I'm sorry I don't have names or captions for these pics...dork-fish didn't send any. ABice :)

Letter 11/13/12...He leaves MONDAY!!

Dear Pamilya at mga Kaibigan,

This last week has been amazing. Very possibly the best week yet here at the MTC. Being my last completely normal week I'm glad that it was so awesome. The awesomeness started with the Devotional on Tuesday. Elder Zwick of the Seventy and his wife spoke. The spoke about having our hearts in the right place and being a disciple of Christ. Elder Zwick told an amazing story about Elder Maxwell. It was an awesome Devotional.

 

On Wednesday we had our first Skype lesson. It was a bit nerve-racking but it turned out great. Elder B and I didn't have any Tech problems and were the only companionship that didn't. Out investigator is BJ. He lives in the Philippines around Manila. He doesn't have any specific religion but he has been very open to accepting the Gospel. He has a bunch of really good questions too, which as missionaries we love. His questions so far have been mostly about prophets. When we told him that there was a prophet on the Earth today, he asked if the prophet was Mitt Romney. We explained that Mitt Romney is not the prophet, that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet God has called to lead his Church at this time. He likes the idea that God still talks to us and has read a bit out of the Book of Mormon. We have taught him three times since Wednesday. Our other investigators are doing awesome as well. I haven't talked a bunch about them, but I have really come to care for all of those that I have taught. Some may take a bit longer to warm up to the gospel that others, but through the Spirit all people can come to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and that His Church has been restored in these latter days.

 

We also hosted on Wednesday. That was a blast! It's crazy to think that nine weeks ago that was me stepping out of the car and looking completely lost. While it is a bit sad to see families break down completely, it is great to be able to reassure them that their sons and daughters will be taken care of and they are beginning the Lord's work. I don't think my family was in quite as bad of shape as some of the families that I saw. We get to host again Wednesday and this time we get to welcome almost 800 new missionaries. No missionaries come in on Thanksgiving and so two weeks worth arrive on one day. It'll be quite the day soon when the 19 yer old sisters begin to sweep the MTC. We may need a bigger one.

 

We got our flight plans on Thursday. We leave the MTC at 4:30 PM on Monday November 19. Our plane leaves Salt Lake at 8:30 and we arrive at LAX at 9:30 (I am taking into account time change). We leave form LAX for Hong Kong at 12:30 and arrive at Hong Kong around 7:30 on the 21st. Then we have a three hour flight to Manila and then a flight of unknown duration to Laoag. Luckily our entire district is together the entire time along with at least three other districts of missionaries. Time has flown so fast. I can't believe that I am already 9 weeks into my mission. If the time continues to move like this I'm going to be home in the blink of an eye. Scary thought! I haven't even left the MTC left.

 

So last quick note we got lots of snow last week. I sent some pictures and hopefully I will have more to send on my first P-Day in the Field. Thank you for all of your faith and prayers. Mahal kita!

 

Mahal

 

Elder Ryne Wood

He's been out for 7 weeks!! (11/6/12)

Dear Pamila at mga Kaibigan (friends),

This are starting to speed up here at the MTC. I'm so excited! We get out travel plans in about three days! I'm kind of stunned at how fast the time has flown. I was always told that the mission would fly by and has it ever here at the MTC. In two weeks I'll be in the Philippines at the mission home. Ah! I love it here at the MTC though and I'm sure I'll love it even more in the field.Yesterday my district found out that we get to host the new missionaries tomorrow. It's crazy to think that it is our turn to help introduce the new missionaries to the MTC when it feels like it was just a few weeks ago that I was a new missionary, but it has been about a month and a half, 7 weeks.

Tagalog has really picked up. Yesterday (Monday) during class, we covered about 8 or 9 different random Tagalog grammar principles and basic ideas and usage things. We did it mostly because there were only two companionships in the classroom for about half of class. The Skype lessons began yesterday, but Elder B and I don't teach until tomorrow. I'm so excited! Those that taught yesterday dais it went well aside from a few technical difficulties, but that is to be expected when communicating via the internet over the Pacific Ocean. I hope that this is something that the MTC administrators implement for as many missionaries as possible. This will be a great way to be introduced to the language as spoken by native speakers since not many of the teachers are native speakers. Stay tuned to hear more.

This past Sunday was Fast Sunday, and here at the MTC Fast Sundays are great! Fasting has come to have a whole new meaning for me as I need the Lord's help more and more as I am striving to teach His Gospel. I hope that you all took the chance to fast for something specific and show your faith. I know that the Lord will bless you with whatever it is that He knows you need, since what we think we need and what He knows we need are not always the same. Fast and testimony meeting was awesome. Since our branch is currently very small, about half of the missionaries got to share their testimonies. Everyone form my district did and that was amazing. We hadn't planned it or discussed it, but we each felt impressed to use this our last fast Sunday at the MTC to share our testimonies with our fellow missionaries.

I want to share a real quick story from teaching this week. Elder B and I teach R and he has been having trouble with reading the Book of Mormon. Over the past week, we have been trying to figure out what we can do to help him. During the workshop on Saturday, we talked about using the Book of Mormon and saw clips form Elder Hollands Devotional in February about it. Yesterday when we went and taught R, the Spirit was super strong and he has committed to really read and think about the Book of Mormon. I have come to have agreater love and understanding of the Book of Mormon while I have been at the MTC. It is our most powerful tool in conversion. It can answer any question because of the Spirit that it carries. It has answered many of my questions. I encourage you all to use it. Live by its precepts and you will draw closer to God. I've been working on using it more and it has been an awesome experience.

I've been a bit sick with a cold and cough, but the doctor prescribed me and antibiotic and a nasal spray and I'm feeling much better that I was earlier. I hop you are all safe and healthy and that you are turning to the Lord for help. He will help you. I can testify of that because he has helped me so much. Thank you for your letters and especially your prayers. Mahal Kita!

 

Elder RWood