(2/23/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

I always get thrown off when we have P day on a different day and then have it on a normal day. "I will try my best to not quote myself from last week. (Close quote)." Just kidding!!

The big thing this week was the baptism! Right after I send  my last email Elder D and I witnessed the marriage of our investigators J and F. It was just a small ceremony in the Mayors office, with just Jo (J's brother and our BML) and us to be witnesses. Sweet and simple. Then on Saturday we had the baptism. There were three baptisms, J and F and then one investigator from Buguey B. We were supposed to start at 5, but the clerks office was locked and guess where all the baptismal clothes are kept? Luckily our clerk was able to rescue us, even though he lives very far away. It all went well and then the confirmations were yesterday. J and F are so happy and converted. J now really wants to work with the missionaries and we are happy to have him as a fellowshipper. We have several couples that need to be married before they are baptized, so he will be a great testimony to them of how the Lord will open the doors they need opened to prepare for baptism.

I had the privilege this week of going on exchanges with the district leaders companions. The district leaders were with Elder D in Buguey, so I got to go to their areas. I enjoyed it very much and I learned much from the other missionaries and I hope they were able to learn a few things from our work together. It is great to get to see their testimonies and meet with the people that they teach. I felt as if I had been teaching them the entire time. Like one family in Sta, Teresita. I was working with Elder V there, (he is Filipino, but is basically an American) and we taught Plan of Salvation to this family. Apparently the mom had been asking lots of questions about the plan of Salvation while the Elders were teaching restoration. We asked her if her questions were answered and she said they all were. Then she started asking questions relating to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the next lesson they will teach. They are so prepared! 

Mean while back in Buguey, our investigators our moving swiftly towards baptism. M is set on her new baptismal date of March 29 and has stopped drinking coffee. Her cousin just came back from Manila and he fellowships with us. We also gave a new baptismal date to Er and El. They really wanted to come to church this week, but their baby has been sick and then Er got sick, so they weren't able to come. They have been prepared by the Lord and are now set on their new goal of April 5. We had been trying to get to Ju and Mas all week, but hadn't had success until Sunday. We found out that Bro. Ju has had a few relapses in Word of Wisdom, and Mas is feeling a little helpless. We helped them set some plans to help Bro. avoid temptation and stay strong. Sister N has been having some trials of her faith also, but when we taught her on Tuesday, we could tell that the Spirit touched her heart and strengthened her. Please include them all in your prayers.

 I really love teaching families and helping them prepare for baptism. I love to see as families come closer together and closer to our Father in Heaven. I know that His perfect Plan of Redemption is centered on Jesus Christ and is the way for families to be together forever. Through the ordinances of the Gospel all people may be cleansed from sin and return to live with God again. I am grateful for the blessings of temples and the great power that is manifest in the ordinances performed there. I know that it is the house of God and that only within the walls of a temple and through the priesthood authority of God can families become eternal. As missionaries, we want to see those that we teach in white three times. First at baptism, second in the temple and finally in the celestial kingdom, Great joy awaits all of us as we help "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). I have been studying this week about the importance of the baptismal covenant and how much we need to prepare for it. We are all so blessed to have the chance each week to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenant with God. As we receive of the Spirit again each week, we are cleansed and become a little more perfect each day until the day when we will stand pure and spotless before the throne of God. 

That is all for today! Next week is MLC, so I get to go back to Laoag City again. I am sure that there will be much to tell you next week. Keep on doing your part in the Lords vineyard. Remember that "The harvest is great and the laborers are few, but if we are united we all things can do". Mahal kita!

Love,

Elder R Wood