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