(10/7/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

Whew. Another week has come and gone in the Philippines Laoag Mission. And like most weeks, it has flown by and has been full of lots of work in the Office. I am still here. It has been a long time that I have been in the office and I still have a while to go. It is certainly a different experience here in the office than being out of the office. I love it though, especially the chance I get to serve other missionaries and work with President Barrientos.

We only had a few lessons this past week due to all of the work that has piled up in the office. One of the office Elders just had dengue, so we all had to rotate being in the office so that his companion could still get his office work done. We also did some traveling this past week, going to Vigan on Saturday to drop off furnishings at a new apartment for the new sisters there. Our mission currently has 199 missionaries and we are getting an increase of 25 in 4 weeks. man time has been flying so fast. I realized just a few days ago that I now have under a year left. That is such a crazy thought. 

WE did get one new investigator this week. His name is G. He was contacted by one of the trainers and trainees during their finding activity two weeks ago. They gave him a Book of Mormon, amd he has already read through 1 Nephi 7 and is probably even farther by now. He has a ton of questions for us and it was really tough for us to teach him when he is constantly throwing us questions. He asked a lot about the Book of Mormon, like why are Nephi and his brothers fighting each other a lot, why did Nephi have to kill Laban and why has he never heard of the Book of Mormon until he met the missionaries. We went to try to teach him yesterday, but he wasn't there. We will try again in the next few days and we have a set appointment with him for Friday. 

One of the things that I have come to love about missionary work is the opportunity to see my efforts come to fruit even when i am no longer in an area. I am still close to my first area and part of my old area, so I have been blessed to see the missionaries in those areas harvest. I have talked about P and F in Bacarra already, but there are a few more from here in Laoag that have just recently developed. Monique is being taught by the new sisters in our ward and is attending church and has a set baptismal date. Sister R attended in Laoag 1 ward for the first time this past week and has found a way to not work on Sunday. O is really into the lessons with the sisters and is reading and asking questions all the time. A missionaries and as members, we don't always know the extent of the results of our efforts to bring others unto Christ. But as we are doing the work of the Lord he has promised that our efforts will not be in vain. Imagine how many missionaries have taught and years later an investigator is baptized. how many home and visiting teachers have worked for years to help other return to the full blessings of the gospel they once enjoyed. It is my testimony that no effort in spreading the restored gospel is ever wasted. The Lord has his hand in his work and nothing can stop it. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen,

Thank you for all of your support and work. I am excited for General Conference and the chance to hear the words of our living Prophet and Apostles. Oh how blessed we are in these last days! Kita kits!

Elder R Wood