Zions Camp-From Buguey Centro to Pattao Junction (2/10/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

I am back in Laoag writing this email. MLC is tomorrow and President allowed those attending from Gonzaga Zone to travel down this morning. Hence the title of the email. We decided with the STLs to take the early morning bus, which starts at midnight. No worries right. WE talked to a tricy driver who agreed to take us to the junction to wait for the bus at midnight, but we couldn't get a hold of him or wake him up. So we walked for about an to get to the junction and then waited for a while for the bus. We made it safely to Laoag. Personally, I slept most of the way. The bus got packed!

This last week was a great week. Every week is great as a missionary, but each week just seems to stand out more and more. This week, Elder Dizon and I taught 26 lessons and surpassed most of our goals. I know that the Lord has greatly poured out his blessings upon us. Exact Obedience Brings Miracles! We found a new family this week, the Mamaspas family. They are a young couple and they accepted a baptismal date after the first lesson. We found them just walking around and they are super excited for us top come back again.

This coming week, we had two baptisms planned, but it looks like there is going to be a slight snag. J and F are supposed to get married and baptized on Friday, but the Mayor of Buguey is not available to perform the wedding. Ouch. We will most likely have to schedule it for the next week instead. This is the couple that lives a good 30 minute walk out of town, but they are super prepared and got all of the paperwork for their wedding ready on their own.

We have also made some really good progress with our other investigators. N is close to resolving her concern about coming to Church and M now loves Sunday School and Young Women's classes. For N, she had an epiphany this week that one of the reasons her life is hard is becuase she is missing the blessings of attending Church. She read the story of the people of Alma in Mosiah and that really boosted her faith. She and her kids came to all 3 hours of church on Sunday.

It is ironic that we had so many of our investigators attend all 3 hours of Church when we had to leave after two. On of the district leaders in our zone has some baptisms coming up and we went to Sta. Ana Sunday afternoon. FOr those of you who don't know, Sta. Ana is the very tip of the island of Luzon. We got there around 230 after a couple detours and set backs, and then found out that the last transportation leaving Sta. Ana leave at 3. Luckily the branch president has a car and helped us get home.

So much has happened this week and I can't tell it all, though I wish I could. One day. I know that this is the work of the Lord and that he is our Captain and King. He has redeemed us from the Fall and through our repentance we can be cleansed from our personal sins. I know he lives and he loves us. Remember that always! Keep up the faith and works!

Love,

Elder Wood