Even the Stake President is Mocking Me... (8/10/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

So just to explain the title of the email, the closer that I get to finishing my mission, the more jokes I hear about how soon I am going home. It happened all throughout MLC, and whenever I see the missionaries in the Zone. And then in our meeting with the Stake President on Saturday he also dropped a "missionaries soon to go home" comment. It wasn't specifically directed at me, but all of the other Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders directed it at me. I now can say that I regret making jokes at all of the missionaries who have gone home before me. What we sow, we reap. 

So since I emailed last Tuesday, it has been a pretty normal week. I have new glasses now though, just as a random fun fact. I miss contact lenses though. There was so much to do this week with all of the meetings that we had. We had Zone Training Meeting on Thursday and then Stake Correlation Meeting on Saturday. Through all of that on top of a full proselyting load and what do you get? A very busy yet happy Elder Wood.  I really love all of the work that I have been called to do as a missionary. I love the feeling of being busy in the work of the Lord and the busier I am the easier it is to forget myself. I love the quote by President Benson in Preach My Gospel "I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work” (PMG pg 121). 

So the work in Pinili is still rolling on. We were a bit reduced on our week last week due to all of the meetings, but we are looking forward to a better week this week. Sher is still doing well and has not smoked in two and a half weeks now. He didn't come to church yesterday, since some of the people he is planting rice with came and took him to go inspect the last field that they are going to plant. He has been coming to church consistently for over a month up until now. We are going to make sure that he understands tonight why he needs to keep church as a priority on Sunday as part of his preparation for baptism. He is doing really well and the members are all super supportive of all the people we teach.

We have a couple of really great investigators that I think I have mentioned in the past that I will mention again. One is A Pagdi. Elder Seum and I found her a long time ago, but only recently have we been able to teach her. She is really interested and always has questions for us. She is active in her church, but she is learning much as she is reading the Book of Mormon and listening to us. We have high hopes for her. The other is Ferd B, who is like A in that he is super interested with great questions. Yesterday as we taught about Heavenly Father he asked us to explain and clarify about the Godhead. He said that he felt there was something missing in his knowledge that he could seem to find in his church. We did and it clicked for him. He was super happy with his new found knowledge and was super receptive and attentive as we taught. 

We are getting lots of help from the members also in Pinili. We have almost all of the Melchezidek priesthood holders working with us at least once a week. We are also getting some referrals, which are turning into some really good investigators. We just got a referral for a family this week, who turned out to be a part member family who has had some great contact with missionaries and members in the past. I have really seen the blessings of the Lord poured out upon me and the members here in Pinili. It has come along way from where it was when I got here. transfers is in a few weeks, so who knows what will happen to me? I am grateful for every chance that I get to serve no matter where it is that I am and no matter what my responsibilities are. God needs us all working together to help "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man " (Moses 1:39). ANd with the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can all do more than we think we can and all God's children have the potential to gain eternal life. I know that all of these things are true and we are all blessed to live in a time where the fullness of the Gospel is on the Earth. Let us never forget what that means to each of us.

Thanks for all of the support and prayers in behalf of those I teach and me. Remember that there is no greater cause than this!

Love,

Elder R Wood