Having Office Elders in your Districts is good for mail... (1/13/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a really awesome week here in Bacarra and in the Philippines area. It always seem that somethings that I really want to write about happens not long after I write the email on Monday, and I have to wait to write about it the next week. That's okay though because it gives me something to think about and plan for the next email. 

So Monday evening, Elder O and I went to teach the V Family. Bro. F is the employer of one of our other investigators who we have sometimes taught at his work during his break and F has listened in to our lessons. WE have taught F once and have set several appointment s to meet and teach his family but they have all fallen through until now. After our first lesson with him, about the Book of Mormon and how it can help us in our trials, he was really excited for us to teach his family. And apparently so was his wife. When we went Monday night she welcomed us warmly and was really excited. We taught basically the same lesson that we had taught to Fidel, using Mosiah 23-24. The Spirit was so strong in the lesson and Sister C was really touched by it. She was crying at the end of the lesson. They are our second family and they actually know a lot of members. WE arranged to bring one family with us who they know well the next time we taught, but had to reschedule our lesson. They are still excited to learn though and are very accepting of the gospel.

On Saturday we had the 2013 Philippines are Broadcast with the Area Presidency and it was awesome! Elder O and I weren't sure if we would make it. but lessons were canceled and rescheduled, so we figure that the Lord really wanted us to be at the broadcast. And it was great. The Presidency shared the goals for 2013, which are the same as for 2012, but with some new specifics to help focus the work. The Philippines area has made great progress in the last year but there is still room for lots of improvement and the Area Presidency is very focused. I also got some great personal advise from President Teh's talk. Much of it will actually be a great help both in my mission and after my mission for the rest of my life. 

Our first Baptism is coming up on the 26th of January. M is going to be baptized and she asked if i could be the one to perform the ordinance. I am really honored to be able to perform this ordinance and am grateful that the Lord is trusting me with this duty. SO I want to tell you a bit more about M asking me to baptize her. We asked her during our lesson of Saturday who she wanted to baptize her and she looked at Bro. C, Elder O and me in turn. When she looked at me she got this huge smile and pointed at me and said "Ikaw" (You in Tagalog). It's a great honor to perform the baptism, but it pains me a little that her father will not be able to baptize her. Perhaps this will be motivation for him to be ready and worthy to baptize his other children. Speaking of baptisms, that's awesome that P (from Elder R's home town) is being baptized. And on the same day I am performing baptism in the Philippines. that is no coincidence. Tell him congratulations for me.

Transfer week is not until February 27, but I already know that I am going to be staying in Bacarra to train. President Barrientos told me on Saturday that I would train and sty in Bacarra for another 3 months. I'm excited to have this opportunity, but I'm really nervous too. Bacarra is the district leaders area so I'll become district leader and trainer. I'm really going to need the Lord's help and lots of faith and prayers from me and from everyone. I feel very inadequate for this responsibility that is going to fall on my shoulders. I've only been here for less than three months. But I know the Lord will help me. 

I got the letters that were sent to me by the Wades, Prices and G'ma Morrow on Saturday. This is the reason for the Subject of the email. Thank you all for your letters and also for your emails. I wish I could respond to you all personally by email, but I can only write to my parents by email. So I'm going to try to write to everyone that sends me a letter or email a letter, even if it;s just a short note. Thank you all for your prayers and faith. May the Lord bless you as you fulfill your callings and serve Him. Mahal Kita!

Elder Wood