4 Days, 4 Contracts (10/28/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

So this past week was not as bad as it seemed when I wrote last week. Elder P and I traveled all the way to Sta, Ana (the furthest area in the mission) and back on Wednesday and Thursday. We were doing mail drops and contract signing. Since we had to go all the way to Sta. Ana, we didn't arrive in Lal-lo until almost 7 in the evening. President doesn't want us to travel that far back at night, so we stayed the night in Allacapan with the Zone Leaders. We needed to get back to Laoag for district meeting though, so we  woke up at 3:30 and headed back. We got back to Laoag around 7 and had district meeting.

Later that afternoon, all four of us Office Elders traveled to Vigan to sign a contract. That was easy, since the owner of the apartment also owns 2 other apartments that we are renting for missionaries. We were in Vigan until late, since we went to the Hospital with some of the missionaries in Vigan to comfort a recent convert of the Sisters whose new born child had just passed away. I wont go into the details of the incident, but I will say that that hour in the hospital was one of the most spirit filled hours I have ever experienced.How blessed we are to have the restored Gospel in our lives. It is because of this that we know that there is a life after this life and those who pass on, whether young or old, are not lost but are now waiting anxiously to be reunited with their loved ones. And as for young children who die while still young, I only have to quote the words of the prophet Abinadi in Mosiah 15:25 "And little children also have eternal life" and the words of Mormon to Moron i in Moroni 7:22 "all little children are alive in Christ". Because of the Atonement of Christ, little children inherit the celestial kingdom. What a great comfort that is for those who must pass through such a trial! There will of course still be pain and sorrow, but Christ will take that if we let him. That is why he is our Savior, that is why he did all that he did. I know that with all my heart.

So in teaching news, the Sim family is on the course for marriage and baptism in December. The sisters in Laoag 1 ward are also working with two of their investigators towards marriage, in fact it is two investigators that I once taught. We had a meeting with Bishop Agustin, who will solemnize the marriages when the times come, and he instructed us on all of the things that we need to do to help them. It isn't to hard of a process, and we will be there with them to help them. Sister Sim seems to be more on-board this time then ever before, so we are positive that this time will be different.We are going to teach them later tonight since Tat was not there for our last lesson. We also just found out that one of our investigators is in Tarlac, but should be back next week.

Next week is transfer week, so everything is getting set for the increase of missionaries. There is going to be 24 new companionships, so we have a lot of work to do. It is going to be an eventful week. But nothing as tough as weeks that have come and gone. I love being part of this work. Keep it up with your own part in this work! Mahal Kita! Kita Kits!

Elder R. Wood