Hello Everyone!!!

Elder R Wood will be returning home on Thursday evening!!
He will be speaking at 1am, Taylor Street Chapel, Fallon.
Thank you all for your love, support and prayers these last two years.
I, personally, can not wait to see him and for him to met his niece.
Thank you again!!
ABice

The Road Goes Ever On and On...

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this is going to be my last email from the mission field. There isn't much to talk about this time since I am going to see you all soon. This week was a good week. We did all that we could to spend my last week being as productive as possible. And we had success, including a new investigator family and a bunch of investigators at church.

The highlights of the week though were first, Sher got the priesthood on Sunday! He asked us some questions about it on Thursday and was super excited to be ordained. He is now a priest and will start blessing the sacrament soon. The other highlight was an FHE we had with the Aqu family where another one of our recent converts brought 3 friends with her! They all loved it and even told the Aqu's that they plan to have their own weekly FHEs at each others houses. And only the one is a member!

Well this has been an amazing two years. I cannot describe in writing all that I have been through and learned and felt over the past 2 years. But all of it has brought me closer to the Savior and helped me become like Him. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that through his Atonement we can all return to live with our Heavenly Father again. The Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ were restored in these latter days through the Prophet Jospeh Smith and the Book of Mormon is the testimony of that. All of these things are true and I know it better than I know anything else. I love this work and it does not end here. It will never end until the Captain of our Salvation says it is done. See you all soon!

Love,

Elder R Wood

Pictures (9/28/14)

Sher's Baptism

Finishers Wanted (9/28/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Well we went without a bagyo this week. So Sher's baptism was able to go forward! I attached a picture of it below. It was such a wonderful experience to get to be a part of the conversion of this wonderful family. Sher's testimony was very powerful, even though he was very nervous about sharing it. Being a part of this families journey to covenants has been a great blessing to me. I have seen the power of the Atonement in their lives and it is a strong witness to me of the hope that we can all obtain through our Savior. Sherwin also had an interview on Sunday to receive the Aaronic priesthood and will be ordained next week. The whole family already have their sights set on their next goal- temple sealing in 2015.

This past week we also had some success in "completing" some of our investigator families. The Flos, one of the part member families who we are trying to get to baptism, is now all learning together. Bro. Flos used to hate the missionaries and from the sounds of it wanted to burn the Book of Mormon that they had, but when he got sick he started to have a greater interest and is now reading from the Book of Mormon. His wife really wants them to come to church, but they did not come this week. we are going to find out why tomorrow. We also have started teaching the father of another investigator family, the Mo family and we are aslo working to get them to come to church as a family.

We also finally had the chance to teach to one of our recent converts. I have been trying to teach this little girl for almost 4 months now and we just had success this past week. We went to their house and Lue (RC) and her parents, who are less active, were all there. They committed to have family scripture study everyday and to come to church, but they didn't come to church. We will be following up with them also. We have many recent converts that we are trying to help come back to full activity in the church. Most of them are part member families or less active families. The work of the rescue is as important as the work of baptizing and it is all done by the same power- the power of the Atonement.

Well I am heading in to my last week in the field. Everyone in Pinili keeps reminding me of that, but they are all very sad. There is nothing that I can do to slow time down or stop it, so the only thing to do is to use the time that I have been given to the best of my ability. There is much that I need to do to prepare the people that I am working with to continue to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the best thing for me to do at this time is to follow the example of the Savior and to push on, no matter how hard, until I can say " It is finished". I got an email form Sister C in Latvia today with a great talk by President Monson titled "Finishers Wanted". It is an awesome talk. And it came at a great time. I know that as we all follow the example of the Savior and finish the work that we have been given. As we follow the example of the Savior and endure in faith, keeping an eye single to the glory of God. we will see miracles occur. The Atonement is the way that we will be able to do that. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and His Gospel is the Way. Let us all press on in the work if the Lord!

Love,

Elder R Wood

Super Mario (9/21/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Right off the bat, I have news about Sher. Unfortunately, he did not get baptized this last Saturday. His baptism is now this coming Friday. It wasn't because of anything that he did though. It was because for the second week in a row, we...

Got hit by a bagyo! Yeah it rolled in Friday night rather unexpectedly and just tore everything apart. It was the strongest bagyo that I have experienced on my mission and some of the members say that it is one of the strongest that has ever hit Ilocos Norte. It was a signal # 2 or 3, we aren't sure which. But it tore down trees and power lines and some roofs in Pinili. We got a text from the APs at 5:30 am Saturday morning telling us to cancel all of our appointments and stay in side. That is why we call it Super Mario. We had no power from early Saturday morning until earlier this morning. I have never seen wind so strong. It uprooted trees on one of the main roads in Pinili. Luckily our apartment didn't flood, but just about everyone else in our zone did flood. Hopefully this is the last one before I go home. 

So like I said Sher's baptism will be this coming Friday. He has also asked me to be the baptizer. My last one as a full time missionary. I really love this family so much and I have seen that they have come so far in the time that I have been teaching them. They are so happy now and all have such strong testimonies that they love to share with others. I know that the power of the Atonement has been at work in their lives and that they will continue to be blessed by it. I have lost count of how many times I have taught them endure to the end, but they really have a sound understanding of the importance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a way of life.

We had zone conference this past week. This was my last got to bear my departing testimony. I will probably do it again in MLC next week. It is so strange thinking about all the departing testimonies that I have heard in the past 24 months. I loved hearing the testimonies of the Elders that were in the MTC with me and seeing how this has changed all of us. This Elders are all like brothers to me. Zone Conference was awesome. The focus was on teaching and President and Sister Barrientos both said many times that teaching is a skill that we need not just as missionaries, but throughout our lives. All of the things that we learn, whether in life or on a mission or as a family, are part of what Heavenly Father teaches us so that we can become like Him. And that is the most important thing to remember, that we can become like Him, and everything He does is to that end. That is why he sent his son Jesus Christ. All things hinge on the Atonement of Christ. That is why He is our light and life. I know that without a doubt. And that is where I sill stand my life forever, on His rock.

The work is rolling forward in Pinili. Elder Jun and I are working hard to get set up the coming months. I love this work and I love the Savior. I am excited (not trunky) to finish. but I will also miss it with all my heart. But there is still time to go! Thanks for all of your prayers and support!

Love,

Elder R Wood

Pictures (9/14/14)

Krispy Kreme in Manila

WE Thought They Said Signal 3 (9/14/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

We just had a bagyo hit the mission. It was a signal # 3 for all of northern Luzon. They rate typhoons by wind speed on a scale of 1 to 4. Signal # 3 is winds of 101 -185 kph. Yeah it is big. But we were all rather surprised that not much happened. We were on lock down for two days, but here in our zone, there wasn't any flooding, down power lines, fallen trees or such. It seemed to have lost some of its momentum crossing the island. But we did have some strong winds last night and we lost power for a while. The real question is how did the rest of the mission handle and we have no answer for that. Hopefully they held up better than last time we got hit.

So this week was a crazy busy week. But the best part of it happened on Saturday. Sher passed his baptismal interview! His baptism is this Saturday at 4. This is going to be my last baptism as a full time missionary, but I couldn't have asked for a better one. IT is going to b e awesome to see him go into the waters of baptism and join his family on their journey to the temple. We have spent the past 2 weeks reviewing in depth all of the baptismal interview questions. Elder Bont, our district leader, said that Sher is super prepared and had no trouble with any of the questions and shared very powerful testimony. I have seen great changes in this man's life and I know that it is all because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. How else could men be turned from the natural man to saints of God? There is no other way. I know the power of the Atonement because I have seen it, but most especially because I have seen it. 

I went on exchanges this week with one of the Elders in our zone. President Barrientos wants all of the zone leaders to go on as many exchanges as possible each transfer, so we have exchanges with every companionship. I was with Elder G in Batac on Thursday after district meeting. We taught to one of their investigators that they have been trying to get to come to church and prepare for baptism for a while. At first our lesson on baptism didn't go so well. We weren't being simple enough and he took one of our examples literally (so be careful how you use comparisons to fields with farmers). But at the end of the lesson we decided that we could still extend the commitment to be baptized. And he thought we were wanting to baptize him right then and there! We explained that we just wanted to set a goal with him for the 18th of October, and he said that he liked that idea! And the Elders reported that he just came to church for the first time. 

Elder Jun and I are still working hard to keep Pinili rolling. We have had some trouble with investigators at church these past few weeks,but we have some goals and plans that will help us get more of them to come and feel the power of the Restored Gospel. We had 2 come yesterday, one of whom we hadn't even taught. There is always more to do and more ways to improve in this work. WE will be extending more baptismal dates this week and being persistent in following up to bring people to church. 

Well that is about it for the week. There was a lot of unexpected things that happened that made it a crazy week, but I enjoyed it and I know that the Lord is pleased with all that we accomplished. And this week is going to be better! Thanks you for all of your love and prayers on behalf of all the missionaries around the world. Keep doing whatever part of this work the Lord has assigned to you and know that He is on our side!

love,

Elder R Wood

It’s Been a Long time since I’ve been here (9/9/14)

Dear family and friends,

This is going to be a short one.I am currently sitting at a computer shop where the key board is a bit lagged, so it makes typing a bit rough. The title of the email is concerning where I am typing this email right now. I am in Manila, the capitol of the Philippines. We all of the departing missionaries have to get finger printed at the immigration department, so all 15 of us had to get on a plane today and fly to Manila. It is definitely different from Laoag. I can't imagine serving here it is so big. We are staying in the same hotel that we stayed at almost 2 years ago. It is really odd, but kind of cool at the same time.

This paragraph is not being typed from Manila but back in Laoag. We decided to just email President Barrientos then go back to the hotel. Manila is so crazy. Everything is so big and the traffic is insane. With the exception of the short time at the computer shop, we just sat at the hotel the entire time, discussing our missions and the gospel and related topics. It felt really strange to not be out doing the usual work, but we weren't allowed to do anything but just sit and wait. It was nice to get to spend time with all of the Elders from my batch. And to eat Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 

But it is great to be back in Ilocos Norte. It was a great relief to get off the plane in Laoag again. It felt like going back home, because I was. I wasn't even gone for 24 hours and I missed it loads. 

Quick update on Pinili. Sher is having his baptismal interview on Saturday! At that point he will have gone a whole month without alcohol or cigarettes and is ready for the interview. We have been reviewing the baptismal interview questions with him and he is super ready. he has been reading and reviewing everything that we have taught him to be ready for the interview. He may be a little over prepared haha. He has really turned his life around and is now looking forward to his coming life with a covenant with Heavenly Father. And they are keeping their eyes forward to a temple sealing!

We had a great experience this week in contacting a referral. We got the referral a while ago, but they live so far away that we were waiting until we could travel with a member to contact them. Bro. Ban, our ward mission leader, worked with us on Thursday so we headed out to find the referral. We found a teacher from that area that Bro. Ban knows and he asked about the name we had. And there is no person by that name in that area. But she directed to some one with a not so similar name, who turned out to be the right person! Turns out she met the missionaries on a bus and so the missionaries had a hard time hearing her. We taught her a short lesson and we are going back this week to teach to her entire family. The Lord was watching out for us and preparing the way for us to find this family even if we had the wrong name. What a blessing!

Elder Jun and I are looking forward to continually moving Pinili along in the work. We have been losing some investigators recently, so we are going to up our finding efforts and look for more people to be baptized in the coming months. We are also giving our Recent Converts a greater focus, as part of President Barrintos goal to have all recent converts from Jan to Sept 2014 retaught all 5 lessons by the end of the year. Yeah! We have much work to do in Pinili, since there are a lot of RCs there. I am excited for this new phase in the work for the last month of my mission and to have the chance to give my self an extra big push. Here we go!!!

Thank you for all of your support and prayers! I know that this work is the work of the Lord and that there is no great work. He is directing it and He is the way that it works. I have seen indescribable blessings and miracles in the past 22 months and there is more to be part of! I love this work!! I know that Christ is our Savior and he lives. The gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the Prophet Joseph so that all families may be together forever. So let us all be a part in these last days! 

Love,

Elder R Wood

When Mormons Met, We Eat” –Elder J (8/31/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a great week of my final transfer. Tuesday We went to the bus station and I picked up Elder Jun and we headed right back to Pinili. Elder Jun is awesome. He is super diligent and positive and is a great zone leader! And we have a crazy connection. He is from Bacolod and was baptized in 2011 and guess who interviewed him for baptism? The then Elder M Wade! Yeah! My cousin interviewed my last companion for baptism right before going home! I was super excited when I found out and then I showed him pictures and he confirmed that it was Elder Wade. Small world!

For starters, Sher is doing great. He is really working hard to resist temptation to drink or smoke. He had a minor relapse but is still moving forward for baptism. In fact we can move his baptism forward a week if he keeps it up. During the combined class yesterday he said that he is ready for baptism now, in front of the entire branch. The entire family is doing really well and even Sher's mom is warming up to us and joining in all of the lessons. We had an FHE Saturday night there and Sher said that is was the first time in a long time that he has seen his Mom so happy. Yet another testimony of the truthfulness of this work and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was awesome to hear them all singing "I am a Child of God" for our opening hymn at the FHE.

I had another experience this week that really touched my heart and made me think about my relationship with Heavenly Father. We went to teach a few of the referrals that we got last week at a members home. Not all of them were there but there was two of the little girls there who come to church each week. We taught them a simple lesson about Heavenly Father and sang I am a Child of God and Teach Me to Walk in the Light with them. In the middle of the lesson, the younger girl, Ath asked us if when we get to heaven we will be able to hug Heavenly Father. We answered yes and I could just feel the truth of that answer. God is our Heavenly Father and because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we will all be able to return to live with him someday. These precious truths are so important and we are all blessed to live in the time when the fullness of the Gospel is on the Earth. 

I had the chance to talk with President Galapia (Batac Stake Stake President) on Saturday about Pinili becoming a branch. He told me that all the paper work is done and has been sent to the Area Office for approval. It is getting close now. All of the members are very excited and we are looking forward to much more success in Pinili in the coming months and even after I am gone. WE are trying to set it up for baptisms for the rest of the year.  Elder Jun is awesome and is a great help in keeping me focused and not trunky. I love always being busy and doing all that I can to help others to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I got to sing for a musical number in Sacrament Meeting yesterday and I know that the Spirit testified to all the people there of the love of the Savior and how important he is for all of us. I know that he lives and because he Loves so will we. 

Thank you for all of the happy birthday wishes. I had a great birthday, though it was not what I expected. It was great because I got to spend it doing what I love, inviting others to come unto Christ. I know that this is the work of the Lord and there is no greater work. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Love,

Elder R Wood