RETURN OF THE ELDERS- NOW SHOWING IN GONZAGA, CAGAYAN (4/28/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Week one in Gonzaga has been great! Elder R and I didn't get there until Wednesday and didn't get out working until Thursday, but we have gotten much accomplished and are well set on our way to baptisms in May! Elder R is on his last two transfers and is really hoping that I will be his last companion. I am hoping so too, partially because I don't want to go through another transfer in 6 weeks.We found our this week that we are the first Elders to serve in Gonzaga in almost 6 years. (Hence the title of the email). All of the Melchezidek Priesthood holders and a bunch of the youth are very excited to get to work with us. We are white washing the area, but it was a well set area. We have only been to about a third of our area but we have already had great things happen. 

We actually have investigators who are preparing for baptism just appearing in front of us. Almost literally! On Saturday we were walking along in Minanga with our fellowshipper and we had someone call out to us. It was a member whose sister (who was asleep beside her) had told her that she wanted to be baptized. We said we would come back in an hour and we did. MJo was waiting for us and we started teaching. We found out she was taught a long time ago when there were still Elders in Gonzaga and she has recently decided that she wants to be retaught and baptized. She has now come to church twice and is in Mosiah in her personal reading of the Book of Mormon. She has been super prepared by the Lord! She is getting baptized on May 24. 

We also had another investigator just appear when we were walking along to invite a family to church. Bro. Al, our fellowshipper who knows everyone in Minanga said that a member lived near by, so we stopped to day hi. We didn't meet the member, but we met his fiance who has now moved from another town and has a baptismal date for May 10. They will get married on May 9, so she will be good for baptism on May 10! We also have two investigators in a far out part of our area that are coming to church, on their own, despite not being taught in over two weeks. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord greatly in Gonzaga. 

We have some really great fellowshippers in Gonzaga. One is Bro. Al in Minanga, who is the SK President (essentially Mayor over youth and young single adults). He knows literally every one where he lives and is willing to work with us almost anywhere. There is also Bro. Mah, who is interestingly enough is my trainer's trainer. He trained Elder O on his last transfer in Sta. Ana (not far from Gonzaga) then came back and married a member in Gonzaga. He is a great fellowshipper and still has all of his missionary skills well polished and ready to use. Many others have told us that they want to work with us and we have much to do!

I don't have much time left. I just redid the record of all of the baptismal dates for the zone and it took a long time. I just want to bear my testimony of the power of the Atonement in helping us over come trials. I love the talk from Elder Bednar from Conference in April. I know that the Lord gives us the load that we need to become all that we must become to return to live with him. No matter how difficult it may seem, there is a reason for all things that happen to us. Because of what Jesus Christ did for us, we can lift any burden and overcome any trial. He is with is as we turn to Him. I know that is true for I have felt Him lift me to more that I can do on my own. I know He lives.

Thanks again for all the prayers and support. Keep the faith and fight the good fight!

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood

Bagong Kasama, Bagong Area, Gonzaga Zone Leader pa rin (4/20/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

The title of this email should just about explain what is happening to me this week. It means "New Companion, New Area, Still Gonzaga Zone Leader". The Gonzaga Zone Leaders are being moved from Buguey to Gonzaga. It is a nice move as it helps us with exchanges and everything. Buguey is the furthest west area in the zone, so travel for exchanges and everything is long and pricey. Now we will be right in the middle of the zone, so our zone leader duties will be easily accomplished. I am sad to leave Buguey of course. I have learned a lot here and I love the people here. They are in good hands though. My new companion is Elder R, who is coming out of the mission office, just like I did in January. I worked with him over a year ago in Bacarra when we were both waiting to train. I am excited to get to work with him again. I will finally have a companion taller then me!

This was a great week of work in Buguey. We have made some great progress with our investigators. Helping others to come unto Christ is not an easy task, but I know from personal experience that the joy that comes from the work is indescribable. I was reading yesterday in Alma 7 and I love how Alma tells the people of Gideon that his joy over the people of Zarahemla has come after wading through much tribulation and sorrow. I know personally that often, wading through affliction and sorrow is prerequisite to having joy. Thus we came to an imperfect world to be tried and tested before achieving the fullness of joy. Compared to the joy, the hardships are nothing. 

First news is El. He prayed in the name of Jesus Christ on Saturday! After 12 weeks of trying over and over and over again, the Lord softened his heart enough for him to be willing to try, It was such a great prayer and the Spirit was so strong as he prayed. He told us he would do it if we would try praying using the Hebrew name for Jesus Christ. We did and there was nothing. Compared to his prayer in the name of Jesus Christ,it wasn't even a prayer. He is super receptive and is so grateful for our patience with him. Before teaching him, I did not have as much patience as I do now. 

Next is D. She is still struggling to understand the answers that she is receiving, but she is getting answers. Part of it is that she is being taught by another church who is just confusing her and basically bullying her into believing them. She received and answer and knows that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, but she is having a hard time following that answer. On Saturday we gave her a chapel tour and she came to church on Sunday.

We also taught to two of our other investigators at the Chapel on Friday, Ro and Do. They are both 14 and are super receptive and excited. They came to church yesterday and loved it! They even brought one of their friends we hadn't met before with them. The Lord is really preparing them and they will be great missionaries one day. They are excited for baptism on May 24 and are well on the way to being ready for it.

We also had exchanges this week with two of the District Leaders, Elder D and Elder I. I worked with both of them here in Buguey and I learned much from them. They are both diligent and hard working. I am grateful for all of those that the Lord has put in my mission from whom I have learned. I don;'t think there is a single missionary I have met that I have not learned from.

In closing, I want to share my testimony of our Savior Jesus Chirst. With Easter yesterday, I have thought much on the Atonement and what it means to me and how important it is in the lives of all people. I know that the entire plan of salvation hinges on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Without it, there is not use to life. I know that because He died and rose after three days, so will all people who have ever lived. He is the Only Begotten Son of God, The Lamb of God who was without blemish. He is the only one to whom the consequence of sin, death, was not due, yet He gave his life so that we all may live, and have eternal life too, if we will follow his Gospel and commandments. He loves us. He lives. He will come again. I know these thing for my self, for the Spirit has testified of them to me. And I say them in His name, even Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Love, Elder R Wood

Don't Sleep through the Restoration! (4/14/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Another General Conference has come and it was amazing! I realized on Saturday while eating lunch between sessions that this is my last General Conference that I will watch as a full time missionary. When October Conference comes, I will miss both the live in the USA and rebroadcast in the Philippines. I decided that I will download it and listen to it on the flight home. 10 hours of Conference! This was such an uplifting and inspiring conference. We are so blessed to live in the time of the ongoing Restoration. We have a living prophet and apostles on the Earth who receive the word of God through revelation and then teach and guide the world toward the Savior. I know that all of the messages that were shared were from our Heavenly Father and each one has doctrines and principles that we all need.

This week has been a good week of work in Buguey. Elder D and I have been working hard to try to hit the standard for the week. We fell a bit short, 6 lessons, but it was the most lessons that we have had in a week this transfer. Transfer week is next week and one of us may be transferred, so this coming week is going to be packed! We have exchanges with the district leaders in the Zone and have lots of lessons planned. We have 17 investigators that we are preparing for baptism in May. Including El. We are getting so close to resolving his concern! He asked us a question in our last message to him that really showed us that his heart is softening. He asked us why the Book of Mormon prophets teach about the Savior as Jesus Christ before he was born. Yes! When we begin to teach him the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Spirit will change his heart and show him the truth. 

D is also doing really well. She is still being taught by the other church, but we have begun to teach her the Plan of Salvation and she is learning much that she never knew before. I have seen the power of the message that we as missionaries carry to the world in her, El and so many others. One insight that I gained our of General Conference was how beautiful and perfect the massage that we share with the children of God are. The Message of the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ combined with the commandments are the perfect weave and combination to bring others unto Christ. There is no one message that we share that will change others. Conversion comes as others learn and apply all of the doctrines of the gospel to their lives. I love how simple and beautiful the truth is! 

Another investigator that I will briefly mention is Ro, who is 14. He and his brother were part of a group of boys we taught a few weeks back. Ro is very receptive and is preparing for baptism in May. He is also helping one of our recent converts become less shy and recognize the things that she learned before baptism. N is also progressing, as well as H, who I talked about last week. The Lords hand is moving powerfully in Buguey, Cagayan.

I have felt the great joy that is promised to faithful missionaries in the letter we received from the Prophet when I was called. It was really amazing on Thursday and I loved it. We were walking home from our recent converts and as I looked into the clear night sky with the moon and stars casting their light to the world, I could feel Heavenly Father's love filling my whole soul. It was describable . Then We ran into one of the investigators of Elder D and Elder M. He is progressing well and wants to serve a mission. He fellowshipped for us the next day also. Seeing hte joy in his life that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ just topped off my joy/ While life as a missionary is certainly not easy and not perfect, it is such a great blessing, privilege and responsibility.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers for us missionaries. We need them, we feel them and they are answered. I know that is true. Jesus Christ is the Savior and he Atoned for our sins. Easter is coming and let us remember what he did for us. He lives and is our Redeemer. I know that with all I am. Mahal kita!

Love,

Elder Ryne Warren Wood

Sa kabilang banjer (At the other (Tagalog) other (Ilocano)) (4/6/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for a no email week last week. President Barrientos surprised us all by announcing the morning after Zone Conference that MLC was a week early. In all of the craziness of traveling I was unable to send an email home. I will be sending some pictures next week, since I forgot my camera and flash drive today.

So it has been a packed past two weeks. We have had Zone Conference, MLC, ZTM, and a correlation meeting with the leaders of the Gonzaga District. So many meetings! I have received a lot of personal revelation in the past two weeks of things that I need to do to improve in the next and final six months of my mission. The monthly focus for our mission is qualifying for the Spirit and helping others to receive a witness of the truth through the power of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is so critical in this work. I testify that without the Spirit nothing happens in this work. I have seen the Spirit change the lives of so many people over the past 18 months and I know that by the Spirit the lives of millions around the world are changing.

Some quick updates. M got baptized on the 29th of March.It was great to see her finally enter the waters of baptism. She used to have some interesting concerns. but by the power of the Holy Ghost and the atonement of Jesus Christ she was prepared to make that covenant with Heavenly Father. I will be sending pictures of the baptism next week.

We found a new investigator last week, H. He is a former investigator from another town in the zone, but he hadn't been taught by the missionaries since he move to Buguey two years ago. We actually met him once before at the church where he was playing basketball. He is super receptive and accepted a baptismal date for May 24 on the first lesson. remembers about Joseph Smith very well and he makes the connections of all of the doctrines. We have given several of our investigators baptismal dates and we are preparing to have a large harvest in May. In March, our mission had 141 baptisms! We are well on our way to our goal of 1000 souls by the end of the year. I am hoping that we can hit the goal before October, since that is when I will finish my time in the Philippines Laoag Mission.

On the bus to MLC last Sunday, I had the chance to talk with a man from Fiji who is here with his fiancee. He is Jehovah's Witness and of course the discussion turned to religion. He was very knowledgeable of the Bible, but there was a big difference between us. For me, my knowledge comes from the source of all truth, even God the Father through the power of the Holy Ghost. I had the chance to testify to him repeatedly about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love bearing testimony to others. That is the most powerful way for us to invite the Spirit into the lives of others. I left the bus with a new friend and I pray that he will have the chance again one day to hear and accept the Restored Gospel. We are so blessed to have the Book of Mormon and a living Prophet to guide us in these last days. There is no greater source of direction than revelation, both personal and through the living prophet.

Speaking of a living prophet, it is General Conference time! I am super excited to watch conference this weekend. I love hearing the words of the prophet and apostles. I know that God has called Thomas S. Monson to lead the true church at this time and that we have living apostles who bear witness of the Savior even Jesus Christ. I know these things with all my heart and soul.

There is so much that has happened in the past two weeks and I cannot even start to share it all. My time is running short so I will just end with my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. He lives. He loves us. He is our way back to our Heavenly Father. He will come again to the Earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. By His Atonement we can re reconciled to God by obedience to the Gospel. I know these things are true and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thanks for all the support. Mahal Kita!

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood