Kicking rocks.(Elder Dizon's Idea) (3/23/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a really good week! Like really great! One of the highlights of the week was district conference on Saturday and Sunday. We actually hadn't planned on going to the Saturday afternoon adult session, but I are really glad that we did. Our concern (getting back to Buguey from Gonzaga) was solved when President Barrientos called and said that the  APs would be staying with us that night, so they could give us a ride back. Elder P, one of the Area Seventies, was the presiding authority and the whole focus of the conference was on hastening the work of salvation through referrals and rescuing. Elder P is from Cebu and is super funny! He is really talented at likening the scriptures to our lives. Elder D and I were also invited to join in the leadership meeting Saturday afternoon, where the topic was the plan to change Gonaga District to a Stake. It is still several years down the road, but we are all now coordinated and set to get the ball rolling. It was a great conference, even if it interrupted our usual work.

We had a break through this weekend with El! Elder D and Elder M (we were on exchanges) visited El Saturday night. During follow up, Elder D asked if he had tried praying in the name of Jesus Christ, which last time he told us he absolutely would not do. He tried though! He prayed in the name of Jesus Christ. We feel that our patience and faith is really showing him how much we love him and that we know that this message will change his life. He came to church last week, now he tried praying in the name of Jesus Christ, and this week, our goal is a baptismal date. If he gets baptized, his entire family will, according to his wife. So close. Please include them (B Family) in your prayers. 

M passed her baptismal interview on Friday! She is getting baptized this coming Saturday! We are really working with our investigators to get them to baptism. None of them were at church this week since it was in Gonzaga, so we will have to move some dates. We know that they are getting close. N has really had some turn arounds in her life and she feels the Saviors love so much more. We left her an article about the Atonement in an old Liahona after she shared some concerns with us and the next time we taught her it was like teaching a different person. I love seeing how much the Gospel changes lives. The Spirit that is manifest in the Work of the Lord is like nothing else in the world! It is so amazing and I love it. One of our new investigators, Leo, is moving along well also. His family members are all living elsewhere and he feels really lonely.He understands what we teach and has great questions. We know that as he prepares for baptism he will come to love the branch family in Buguey.

Last night, I read Elder Bednar's talk from last conference "The Windows of Heaven". One thing that really hit me as I read was how God knows exactly what each of his children needs and knows better than we do. What we all truly need are the things that will help us become like our Heavenly Father. Usually, this is simple things, like courage, patience, diligence, and faith. The greatest gifts that we receive from our Heavenly Father are the subtle ones that make us more like Christ, for "every good gift cometh of Christ". I know that God loves us all so much and that He is looking over us always. He hears all of our prayers and will answer then in his own time and way. All we have to do is remember that his ways are higher than ours and we will recognize that everything he does is in our favor. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Mediator. By his atonement, we can receive mercy as we repent and follow His Gospel. I know that all these things are true. Keep the faith everyone! Mahal kita!

love,

Elder R Wood

How do you get 32 lessons in a week? (3/16/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been busier than ever. We didn't have to do anything for transfers, so we were able to devote our whole week to just working! We got 30 lessons this week. The standard of excellence for the mission is 32, and Elder D and I are doing everything that we can to hit that standard. So in answer to my title, the way to get 32 is to plan for at least 40 lessons. We planned this week for 41. We still have lots of work to do to hit that goal, but we can do it. We are exercising our faith in every way that we can and striving to be exactly and strictly obedient. And we have seen the some fruit come from our efforts.

The one of the biggest results of our efforts is that we had 9 investigators at sacrament meeting this week. 7 of them are progressing towards baptism in the next 3 weeks and we are hoping to have a nice harvest in the coming weeks. Myra has her interview for baptism on Friday and then Ju, Mas, Ci, Cas, N and S are all moving towards baptism on April 5. They have all been coming to Church faithfully. N has had a hard time in the past overcoming her trials, but the Lord has shown her that he will provide miracles in exchange for her obedience and faith. She just had a dream that has really boosted her confidence and resolve to follow through on her commitment to follow Jesus Christ through baptism. I have seen all of their lives change as they understand and live true doctrine.

One of the not progressing ones, is El and he is the hardest investigator that I have ever taught because he believes everything that we teach,but he has one serious concern. He doesn't believe that Jesus Christ is the name of the Savior. We are doing all that we can to help him overcome it. When we taught him on Saturday, we invited him to ask Heavenly Father in the name of Christ if the Book of Mormon is true. He will not ask in the name of Christ, He contradicted himself in his explanation, but he refuses to try even once. He loves it when we teach him, but he is stuck on the name. He came to church, which we have been working for for a long time. Luckily, he doesn't try to debate us anymore.  

We also had great success in finding new investigators and working with referrals, We found 11 new investigators and contacted 5 referrals, some who will become new investigators this week. One of the new investigators that we found is Leo out in Villa Leonora. He is a barangay kagawad (like a city council member) and he knows our recent converts in Villa Leonora. We shared with him about the Book of Mormon, which was all new to him and he accepted the copy of the Book of Mormon. We also found a young man, K, who is very receptive and wants us to share with his family also. 

We got a really important referral on Saturday. One of President Barrientos' counselors was here in Buguey doing interviews and he gave us a referral. He had talked with the mayor of Buguey and the mayor agreed to have us over to share with him. Yeah! I know right! The mayor lives right next to the chapel and Elder D and I are going to try everyday to contact him. If nothing else, he will let us in just to be rid of us (Parable of the Importunate Widow), but we have faith that he will invite us in to hear what we have to share and that the Lord will soften his heart so that he will accept the restored Gospel. 

The work of the Lord is moving forward at an undeterred pace all around the world. I am just a piece of this massive rock that is filling the Earth. I know that the Lord is blessing all of his servants around the world and is preparing the hearts of his children to receive the restored gospel. We just had a new branch president called here and he is very energetic and has good plans to help the branch progress. I know that the Lord has his hand in his work. As we do as Abinadi and teach redemption, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the Spirit will touch the hearts of others and they will receive salvation through the Atonement of Christ, the Eternal Father, and Son of God. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and he has paid the price of our sins. If we will accept and live his Gospel, we will gain eternal life. I know that this Church is true and is lead by a living prophet. God bless you all! Mahal kita!

Love,

Elder R Wood

And then there was a flaming rat... (3/10/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a crazy busy week. We had ZTM then exchanges and then weekly planning then church and then... the week was over. Time just flies by so fast when you have so much to do. I am happy to say that Elder D and I accomplished our goal of having more lessons this week than the last week we had MLC. We had 15, as compared to the last time of 13. High scoring baseball game. And now it is transfer week and for the first time in a long time, it doesn't effect me personally! There are 5 transfers in our zone though, including one new Sister Training Leader and a new District Leader.

We have made some good progress with our investigators this week. Since our time was a bit limited we really focused on those with baptismal dates that are coming up. We re-extended a baptismal date to N, since she had missed church for the past few weeks. We applied the training from MLC and really focused on the doctrines of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and Repentance. It was a great lesson and she committed that she would keep the Sabbath day holy for the rest of her life. We also reset the baptism for Ju and Mas, since they are having a bit of trouble keeping the Sabbath day holy. When we talked to Ju about it, he said he didn't realize that that was part of his preparation of baptism. He said he is going to keep it holy from now on. He had a relapse and smoked 2 cigarettes Saturday, but he told us and then he gave us his remaining sticks to throw away. They are now going to be baptized on the same day as their nieces. 

We found a great new fellowshipper this week. Jo, our recent convert worked with us yesterday afternoon and he loved it. His testimony is very strong and he loves to share it. He told us that he is also excited to share the gospel with more of his friends. He just got the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday and is excited to keep working with us. He is very converted to the Gospel and he really wants to help others have the same experience.

Just as a quick side story, I went on exchanges this week to the farthest area in the mission, Sta. Ana. At night when I was showering, I heard the 3 Elders running around and shouting. They then told me not to come out of the shower yet. So I waited a bit and then they said it was good to come out. They changed their minds as I opened the door and I saw why. On the floor out side the bathroom was a line of fire, leading to a flaming rat. Not my preferred method of extermination, but I guess it works for a rat that big (almost 6 inches long).  

I just wanted to share my testimony with everyone about how the Lord really knows each of us individually and knows how to help us. The help will most likely not come in the form that we expect, but it will come. He knows better than we do, for his thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We do not comprehend all that he does, but He loves us and will do what is best for us. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and had created a perfect plan of us to gain eternal life. If we will do what he asks of us, we will make it back to him. Mahal ko kayo lahat! 

love,

Elder Ryne Warren Wood

Citius, Altius, Fortius (3/4/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Just finished with my 2nd MLC and it was so awesome. I think I have a little bit of heat exhaustion though from the sporting activity. Ayos lang, no pain no gain. The APs asked me and Elder D to  o the games for our FHE, so we played the animal game and Ninja Destruction. It was a blast and I was exhausted on the trip home. It is a bit late so this may be a bit short.

First and foremost is some great news on investigators. Ju and Mas are two of our next scheduled baptisms and they are making wonderful progress. The biggest thing is that Bro. Ju has now quit smoking. He has been struggling with it for a while and we have really been hitting on the principles of addiction recovery. He had gone from a pack to a few sticks to just one stick a day, but was really struggling to kick that one last stick. We talked about priesthood blessings and how they are a way to receive added strength from Heavenly Father. He said he would like one and we gave him one on Thursday. We weren't able to visit them the next day but on Saturday we found out that since the blessing he has not smoked! I know that Heavenly Father  gave him that extra boost that he needed to begin to be completely free of his addiction. We have also started teaching two of his nieces, who are interested and came to church this week!

I am very grateful for the power of the priesthood that was restored through Joseph Smith. I know that the keys and power of the priesthood are held today by the leaders of the Church, especially the prophet, Thomas S Monson, as they were held anciently by the prophets and apostles. We taught another of our investigators, El about the priesthood and how it has been and always will be a central part of Christ's Church. He kept trying to argue with us, but we just bore testimony of how we knew that the priesthood had been restored through Joseph Smith through Peter James and John who received it from Jesus Christ. He stopped trying to argue and just fell back to his usual default question, which had nothing to do with the lesson at all. I know that the Spirit testified to him that what we had taught him was true even if he tried to ignore it. The time will come when he will yield to the Spirit though and then his eyes will be opened and he will recognize the truth.

So the title of our email was a part of MLC this past Monday. For those who don't know the three words, they are a part of the Olympics. They are engraved on every gold medal and they are Greek for Swifter, Higher, Stronger. MLC was focused on how we as missionaries can be come move swifter, reach higher, and become stronger on our eternal quest for perfection, for others and ourselves. At the heart of it is the doctrine. As we learn, understand and apply true doctrine ourselves and then help others to learn, understand and apply true doctrine, we will see great changes take place in our work. We will be able to help more and more people to come unto Christ and through his Gospel prepare to return to live with God and become like Him. I learned a lot form MLC, which I will not be able to share here. I know understand though what doctrine is, why it is important and how I need to use it to help others prepare to live with God again.

I know that this is the work of the Lord and that He is opening the hearts of others to receive his Gospel. There is no greater work on the Earth. It is the work of salvation. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it testifies of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true Church of Christ, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Keep doing all you can to strengthen your won testimonies and help others to find theirs! 

Love,

Elder R Wood