Photos (1/27/14)

At Cape Bojeador Light House

Planking at Kapurupuruan

Yes, we are missing a flag.

At Hannah's beach resort

To Buguey... and Beyond! (1/27/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Transfer week and this time I am involved! Yes I am being transferred! After 10 Months in the office, I will be leaving Laoag City and going to Buguey, Cagayan. I am going to be a Zone Leader for the Gonzaga Zone. It the the farthest zone from Laoag and the mission home and it has been a pattern that the long term office Elders end up there. My new companion is Elder D and I will be the only foreigner in the apartment. I am super excited. my Tagalog will get much better now. I am now in a smaller district, with only 8 missionaries. I have been in one district my entire mission up until now. It has just some how changed around me. Really weird, but hey, how many missionaries can say that about their mission? Elder S is taking over as finance and my replacement is Elder W, who is the batch before me.

This has been a hectic week getting ready to hand off all of the finance stuff to Elder S. We were able to teach a few lessons, including to the Anc family twice. The last time was to Sister Anc, R Anc and his girlfriend Ly. They told us that since we have started teaching them , missionaries from two other churches have also been trying to teach them. But, they told us that we are the only ones that they like to listen to. How amazing it is that the Lord can trust the restored gospel to 18-26 year old young men and women. Man it is so true! I love this work and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he is our Savior and that he has paid the price for our sins.

This is going to be brief since my time is a bit short. We have a meeting with President Barrientos in a few minutes. We just finished another office day with President up north and I will attach some pictures. I got to travel quite a bit this week, including to the North and South in the same day with Elder P. It was then that President told us that we were being transferred. The ironic thing is the apartment we were setting up and furnishing was his new apartment.  

Anywho, thank you all for your support and prayers. They have been a great help as I have been serving in the office of the Philippines Laoag Mission. Now I will need them again as i help out Gonzaga zone. I have only heard good things about Buguey, like it is "Zion", and there is not much out there. Bukid and ocean here I come!

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood

Pictures (1.21.14)

Happy New Year from the Philippines Laoag Mission Office!

P-Day fun at Tacos del Norte

(1/20/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week has been a hectic one. As I write this I am trying to figure out what has happened since the last time that I wrote. With the weird Pday last week, my schedule is off. I got to do so much this week, including teaching to Al, the security guard and Sister Te, the mission home house help. They are both members and Sister Te asked Elder S and I to teach them. It is great to hear their stories about how they came to know the truth. I was part of Alex's conversion, but until we taught them I didn't know Sister Te. She used to hide from the missionaries, but eventually warmed up to them and was baptized. A few years later one of her sons served a mission, just like he wanted to when he was baptized. She is working on her family history and has run into a few obstacles, mostly just with the records of the Philippines which aren't the best. I have come to see on my mission how much the gospel of Jesus Christ really blesses all people. Lives change when the gospel is involved.

We got to teach to the Anc family on Sunday. We taught to six of them, as the others kind of wandered off as we arrived or shortly after. They see how important it is to have a prophet on the Earth and we introduced them to President Thomas S. Monson. I know that he is a true prophet and he holds all of the keys of the priesthood that were restored through Jospeh Smith. We gave them a Book of Mormon and invited them to baptism. They accepted but not a set date. That is our goal for them this week. As we were shaking hands, I noticed that Jerry, the husband of one of the daughters of the family was reading from a random spot, but it turned out to not be so random. He had opened to the page where Nephi testifies that the Lord will reveal the truth to all those who ask, in all ages and times. I pray that he took understood and that the Spirit touched his heart as he read those words. I know they are true.

Short funny story from this week. On Thursday, us office Elders and the APs were playing basketball in the morning, like we usually do. But this time, we had a visitor. This guy wandered over to the main gate of the mission home compound and started watching us. He also started to commentate and do cheers. I don't know if he was drunk, crazy or what but it was hilarious! when President pulled up to the gate in the van, the guy jumped aside and saluted as he pulled in. He then guarded the gate until it shut completely to make sure no one followed President in. I wish one of us had had a camera on us to film it. I don't think I have ever seen anything as funny. 

I want to share a short thought with you all from my personal study this week. I am in the Isaiah chapters of 2 Nephi. I just read the prophesies of what was going to happen to the tribes of Israel and in the last days. After telling the people that the Lords anger is not turned away, Isaiah adds that His hand is outstretched still. There is always the chance for repentance. The Lord is always waiting for us to reach out and take his hand which is extended in mercy. That is why Jesus Christ came to Earth, why he completed the Atonement and has restored his Church in the last days. Even in times like these, his hand is outstretched still. I know that it is. I have taken it and he has raised me up like I never could on my own. If there is anyone who reads this email who has not yet accepted his hand, I plead with you to do so. Do all that it takes. It will be worth it and it is never to late. God loves us all and with him all things are possible to those who believe.

I know that this work is the work of salvation and the Lord is it's great author and director. The Church is true and God loves us. Remember that.

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood

I get to... (1/14/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has come and gone here in the Philippines Laoag Mission. We are currently in the middle of a mini-transfer. There was apparently some sort of issue with the exit visas of a bunch of the missionaries and so they are going home now instead of in 2 weeks like it says on their release dates. All of us in the field got a two week extension back when they changed the MTC times to adjust to the new arrival dates. So the 4 now leaving are on their original release dates, but the word from the travel office in Manila is that this is the only time that this is going to happen. The missionaries have been asking us every time they see us what their release date really is. It is nice to know that really we don't have to worry about that since it is all taken care of by the Church. The Church has made sure that it is easy for the missionaries to focus on the work. 

This week has been once again full of office work. It is so hard to strike a balance sometimes, but we work hard at it. I have come to realize the importance of having the right perspective on the trials and difficulties that we all face in life. A few transfers ago I was talking with some of the trainers about things that I had to do that day. Mostly it was office errands and traveling and it was looking like it was going to be an exhaustive day. It was one of those days that I felt I just had to get through so I could rest on the other side. As I started to list off all of the things that were on my To Do List, one of the missionaries stopped me and said "You don't have to. You get to." I realized how right they were. Everything that the Lord gives us is an opportunity to learn and grow. The difficult and the easy, but most especially the difficult. We are to learn while in this time of probation and how can we learn without the learning experiences. In the pre-Earth Life, I am sure that we all had the "I get to" outlook and not the "I have to" one. We got the chance to choose our Savior and prove our faith and loyalty to him the war in heaven. We get to come here to Earth and receive a mortal body. We get to have families and have the Church in our lives. And we get to help others to receive those blessings also. Through our love and efforts, others will one day get to return to our Heavenly Father. That is the whole purpose of the plan of salvation. No one had to, we had the choice and we made it in favor of the plan presented by our Heavenly Father. To get to is one of the greatest blessings that our Heavenly Father has given us.

So this week, I got to teach two lessons, both on the same subject though with very different outcomes. The topic was missionary work and in the second lesson, which was to Sister F, the Spirit testified to her of the importance of missionary work and the great blessings that it brings to the lives of all of God's children. She was willing and eager to take the new copies of the Book of Mormon and look for those around her whom the Lord is preparing to hear the message of the Gospel. She has already had some missionary experiences, and is excited for more. The first lesson was to a less active member and they were unfortunately less receptive to the message of helping all people hear and accept the gospel. We now know what direction we need to take our lessons with him now, so the time is not far when he will be willing and ready to help us.

I know that the Lord is with all of us. This is the final dispensation before the second coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ and now is the time for us to push the work forward. The results are astounding when the efforts of full time and member missionaries are combined. That is how the work was designed to work and it is the only way it can work. So I want to invite you all to pray for a missionary experience the night after you read this and then look the next day for when that experience comes and take it. You will be amazed at what happens and the Lord will bless some one through you. Mahal kita! Keep the faith!

Love,

Elder Ryne Wood

(1/7/14)

Dear Family and Friends,

So it is now 2014 and it came in with a BANG! Even more so than last year, since this year I was closer to the fireworks and actually knew what was coming. There were fireworks right in front of the apartment  and from the in-progress Mitsubishi dealership next to our apartment. There were also people driving in their tricys up and down the street shouting. I picked a bad title for the email last week, since I did almost see a person blow his foot off with a firework. It is sad to hear all of the stories for the madness that happens here. Gilbert, one of the recent converts in the ward who is the head nurse at the hospital in Laoag told us about some of the cases that he saw and even worked with in the emergency room. That is why we have to be in early and keep distance from the fireworks and stuff. They are still lighting them off in some places.

So we had a rocking week this week in inviting others to come unto Christ, It started on Monday night when we met Sister F's nephew, Ju. He is from Elder S's last area in Ilocos Sur and was just here on vacation. We started teaching him on Monday and we committed him to read from the Book of Mormon. He did, so on Wednesday we committed him to read from the Book of Mormon again and to pray and ask God if it is true. He did and he told us about his experience on Friday. We then invited him to be baptized, but didn't give him a date since he is from Cabugao. Saturday morning though, we got a text during personal study from Sister Fernandez. She said that Jun had told her that he wanted to be baptized that afternoon. I know right! As much as we would have loved to be missionaries like in the 1830s, the Area Presidency has set Standards for Baptism and it includes attending church 4 times and receiving all the lessons. We taught him again about the importance of preparing for baptism and committed him to pursue baptism in Cabugao. He has been well prepared by the Lord and we are praying that the Elders in Cabugao will be able to follow up with him and help him make that sacred covenant.

The other amazing miracle of this week happened Sunday night. We were walking through Buttong heading to teach the Sim's when Elder S called out to a man washing dishes on his balcony. We started talking with him and he invited us up. he and his wife live with a bunch of their children and their families. We started getting to know them all and one of the sons began to gather all of his siblings to meet us. We got to teach them and that is 3 new families. I know that the Lord is preparing people all over the world to receive the Restored gospel, and the easiest way for anyone to find them is to simply open their mouths. They do not know the truth only because they know not where to find it. That is why we have all been placed on earth at this time, to help others find the path that will lead to eternal life. We like Lehi have tasted of the fruit of the tree of life and we want others to partake of it as well. The gospel will bring the greatest blessing possible to those who receive it. Find them!

I have made a lot of resolutions for this New Year. how about all of you? During district meeting Elder P trained on setting and achieving goals. It motivated me to make some changes and to begin to set better goals and make better plans. I agree 100% with what Elder Ballard says about goals setting, that that is how we can achieve our potential in life. I realized that setting goals for personal improvement is a part of repentance. Repentance is a process of changing to become, so we must change and that takes effort and time. With goals and plans set and made with our eternal progression in mind, we can receive the help of a loving Heavenly Father in using the Atonement of Christ to become. I know that we are all God's children, created in the image of the Only Begotten Son and we are loved more than we realize. Remember that always and let that drive you to become better. I know that God is with us. Mahal kita!

Elder Ryne Wood

Photos (12/31/13)

North Zone

South Zone

Laoag 2 Zone

Office Staff

Having a laugh with President Barrientos

Happy New Year! Don't blow your foot off! (12/31/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

It's that time again. New Years Eve Lock Down! The Philippines is crazy with its fireworks, so for safety reasons, all the missionaries go into lock down in the evening. We started at 5 today, though Elder B and I were driving for President, so we were out around Laoag for about an hour and a half after lock down, taking some stuff to members in the ward. It must be a big shock for the members to have the mission president show up randomly at their house. It is great to see how President interacts with the members. Everyone is a brother and sister to him. We are all so blessed to have leaders all around the world who are called by God to lead his Church in the latter-days. 

We are currently waiting for President to give us a call for dinner. We will be eating with him and Sister Barrientos. I didn't have the chance to email this morning since we had a lunch with some members in the ward. It is the same lunch I was at with Elder Onate exactly a year ago. The Daquioag Family hosts it every year for the missionaries in the Stake and there are now 56 of us. It was great to see everyone and spend time with them. It is funny to think how out of the missionaries there, I was among those who have been serving for over a year. Time has flown so fast. Bro. Daquioag was the Mission President in Bacolod Mission when Mitch Wade (my cousin) served there. If anyone who reads this is in contact with him, please tell him that President and Sister Daquioag would like to hear from him.

So last week was a bit rough teaching wise with Christmas, but this week is shaping up to be much better. We already have more lessons this week then all of last week. We got to teach to Ab yesterday, as well as her brother and some of her cousins. They are so prepared to accept the Gospel. I know that Heavenly Father is preparing his children everywhere to hear the Gospel. Abby is the one who was waiting for us when we showed up at her house the first time. Yeah I love this work so much!

So we have the final number on the Philippines Laoag Mission goal for baptism for 2013. Drumroll! 822! We ended up just short of our goal of 100, but we are on track to hit it next year. We had 129 baptism in the month of December. The Lord is with His servants in this work, no doubt about it. Elder S and I are on track to start getting some baptism in the coming month. Not only that, but the work is moving forward with those who have lost their way after receiving the Gospel. We made contact with one of our focus less active members this week. She is actually a daughter in one of the families, who has been having a hard time in the past months. She has a son and she wants him to grow up in the gospel. She has decided that she is going to start coming back to Church, with her 2 year old son, even if it only them out of the entire family. I have been teaching this family for almost 10 months and the Lords is now opening the way for their return to his fold.

This work is the best thing in the world! I can't describe my love for the work of the salvation of men. It is the work of the Lord and we have all been called to be part of it. No matter how unqualified we think we may be, the Lord qualifies those he calls and he has called all of us to this work at this time. I am so happy as a missionary I can barely contain it. This happiness lies in store for all of those who will join in! I know that for a fact, for I have seen it in the lives of others. Keep praying for and looking for missionary opportunities. They are there, we just need the faith to recognize them. Thank you all for your support of the missionaries all around the world. Keep it up! Mahal namin kayong lahat!

Elder R Wood

Maligyang Pasko! Naimbag nga Paskua! Merry Christmas! (12/24/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

After the title in Tagalog, Ilocano and English, Merry Christmas! The time has come again and it is definitely different every year. For example, I just returned from playing Santa Clause with my companion for all of the missionaries up north. There was lots to deliver but we did it gladly. It is great to see so many happy faces. 

So since last weeks letter was the Christmas letter, I will do a quick update in this letter. I am no longer with Elder M. He is now serving in Vigan and I am serving with Elder S, still in the office and now past my nine month mark month here in the office. As far as I can tell, by the end of this transfer I will be the longest missionary to serve in the office in a while. One more transfer and I will be pushing a year. President Barrientos has given me instruction to begin to train Elder S for Finance though, so I will be out of here in not too long. I love it here though and I am going to miss the service opportunities when my time here is done. Elder S is great and I am excited to be his companion. He just stepped down as zone leader, but we met in the MTC. He arrived 3 weeks before I came to the Philippines. His Tagalog and Ilocano are great and he is super diligent. He will whip me back up to proselyting standards in no time. Haha. Just kidding.    

So we had the Ward activity just this past week and it was fun, but it went a bit long. We had to hurry and eat at the end to make it back for curfew. The eight of us missionaries in the ward did a musical performance based on Luke 2. It was good, but we should have cut it shorter. It is nice to spend time with members and investigators> I really love the Laoag 1 ward.

Most of this week was spent in the office getting the end of month and end of year financial stuff done, but it is basically done. Just a few more things to do. IT is hard on Elder S to be stuck in the office so much, but he is coping well. We wont get out tonight, due to lock down, but we are looking forward to a good few weeks in the coming transfer. We were able to find a new family, or add to one. We began teaching the family of one of our current investigators on Sunday. Families is a big focus for the mission right now. We are getting set to spring into next year, with the goal of 1000 souls again. We got close this year, around 700 or 800 yata. I am excited to be part of the work and to give my all to help the work.

Just real quick in word of tesimony to close. I love the savior. I am glad for this time to celebrate his birth and his life and atoning sacrifice. I know that he is the Only Begotten of the Father and that he came to Earth to to be our Redeemer. He lives. I know he does. I have that witness though the Holly Ghost and that is the greatest gift of knowledge that I have. I know his Church has been restored and that we have a living prophet now. I love this work and am glad to have so many blessings. Merry Christmas to you all! Mahal kita!

Elder R Wood

The Dread Pirate Robers Leaves No Survivors... (12/9/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

I don't know why that quote came to mind. It has nothing to do with anything that happened this week. It is just one of those really random Elder Wood moments that we all know and love. 

So since I last emailed, which I believe was on Wednesday, not much has happened besides office work. Christmas Zone Conference starts tomorrow! We have been working like crazy to prepare everything for it. I have done errands in preparation everyday of the week except for Thursday and i will get into the events of Thursday in a little bit. I am super excited for Christmas Zone Conference. It is funny that I am basically in the same Zone I was in for my first Christmas 

So on Thursday after District Meeting, I had exchanges with the Elders in my district. Until now, the only Elders in our district were the office elders and assistants, so it is always kind of hard to schedule normal exchanges.So this was my first time being the host of the exchange and itwas great. Elder M is a great missionary. We Found 4 new investigators, all about college age and we taught them about the Restoration. Later that night one of them texted us thanking us for sharing with them, but never responded to our text asking if they read and when would be the best time for us to come again. I learned loads from Elder M and I have been trying hard to apply the things that I have learned, especially on OYM (Open Your Mouth). Just like Elder Ballard said in his talk in October, if we open our mouths more we will have more people to teach. And just as it says in Preach My Gospel, nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach.

In some other great news, Sister F is going to the temple for the first time tomorrow. I have been teaching for almost 9 months and she has come so far. She is going to the temple for the sealing of a member of our ward and she will receive her endowment at the same time as the bride and her mom. So cool! I wish I could go the temple. It has been a long time, but I know it will a very joyous experience to be able to go again with my family and friends in 10 months. 

As for the Sim family, we think that we may be on a course with them that will end in baptism this time. They told us that they wont be able to make their goal of December 28, because of the money it takes to get married. They were so sad to tell us that. We then had an FHE with them and some ward members on Saturday and Sister M said she will help them get together everything that they need to be married and listed off a bunch of members that work for the government that can help them get all of the paperwork done. Once Sister Simp finds her birth certificate, we will get them started. The Spirit was very strong during the FHE as we had a testimony meeting and everyone had the chance to share. Then the whole family came to church! But Th wasn't able to.

So that is about it for the week. I am adding on a picture of me in the Christmas Zone Conference Shirt that we made for the Zones. We made a different one for the office staff and President and Sister and I will send pictures of that next week. I just want to share to you all again how much I love this work and how much I love the Savior and am grateful for this opportunity to be one of his full time missionaries. This really is a once in a life time opportunity and we are all so blessed to live in this time. I know that Christ lives and we have the beautiful opportunity during this season to celebrate his birth. Mahal kita! Kita Kits!

Elder R Wood

 

 

Back to Bacarra (12/3/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

Okay. Were to begin this email. I am writing it on Wednesday since we only took a 2 hour mini p-day on Monday (long enough to get haircuts) and then traveled to Sta. Ana and back on Tuesday. We are still getting everything ready for Christmas Zone Conference and we will hopefully be ready by Saturday, since it starts on Tuesday and Monday is P-Day. We designed an awesome shirt for the the APs, President and Sister Barrientos and us office Elders. At least the design looked really cool. We will see how the finished product is. It is going to be a great activity. I remember last years Christmas Zone Conference. I had only been in the field about 3 weeks and I loved it. We did service at one of the hospitals, painting and weeding. This time it's sports and I am more involved in the preparation and carrying out of the plans.

We contacted the French man on Saturday, Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the French Book of Mormon had arrived, so we didn't take it to give to him. We went by his house after running an errand and he was at home. We just talked with him at the door, or i should say, Elder M talked with him at the door. I was able to follow the conversation, kind of, but I missed the part where he told Elder M that to him there is no God. Ala! So we didn't teach him, but we have decided that when we are in the are we will go by and say bonjour. I managed to introduce myself to him in French, which Elder M didn't teach me, but I picked it up when he said it. I pray that the Lord will soften his heart so that one day he will let the missionaries share with him.

I also had exchanges in Bacarra with Elder P on Thursday. It has been almost nine months since I was assigned there, and the area is now flourishing. It was nice to get to go back and see people again. We worked with R, my recent converts I's uncle. Bacarra has come a long way from being only Elder Wood and Elder O to now having 8 missionaries, four Elders and four Sisters.

Th came to church with the Sim family on Sunday! She wanted to last week, but got sick and wasn't able to. She also wants to come to a baptism, which will hopefully be in the next few weeks. The gospel is really clicking with her and she is progressing well. Sister Sim is still dragging her feet on getting married. The first step is done, getting her birth certificate, but now she can't find it and she isn't looking for it, no matter how much we commit her to. I don't know what we will do if they don't get married this time.

This one is going to be short since my time is rather limited. I know that this is the work of the Lord and that he is directing it at every move. There is no other way that this work would be successful, and just look at how successful it is! I love being a missionary and I have learned so much in the past year and three months. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he lives. Nothing can take that from me. Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Elder R Wood

Je sais que le livre de Mormon est vrai (11/25/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

Yes the title of this email is in French and I will explain it in a minute. This has been a really good week. I guess that this week was thanksgiving week, but it has really slipped my mind. They don;t celebrate it here in the Philippines, but last year I arrived her on Thanksgiving day, so we had Thanksgiving dinner on our first night here. I really do miss it, but I have been so caught up in the work of the week that it didn't bother me too much. I will be glad to celebrate it next year with my friends and family at home.

We had interviews with President this week though my interview will happen at a different time. Since we are with President almost everyday, he does the interviews for the office and APs after the interviews of everyone else. I missed the training of the APs since I had a training via teleconference with the Legal Department on signing apartment contracts. I learned a lot, though I have already signed up 6 contracts just based on watching Elder B sign them. We then had a health and safety training from Sister Barrientos. Time to start up the old 72 hour kit! We then planned out our skit for Christmas Zone Conference, since our original idea fell through. We are doing a version of the Christmas Carol about a trunky Elder Scrooge. I am... a tree. The zone decided that since we have both an Elder and Sister Wood, adding scenery "wood" be easy. I am excited! After modifying the classic tale for the skit, I get to become one with nature. Our dance is also coming along well. Itik-itik is what it is called, or the duck dance. 

G told us earlier this week that he was going to be moving. And he did, though it may still be in our area. We are trying to find him again, but it is not an easy task with out any specific address and no one knows him since he is new in the area. We will find him though, this week. We also finally managed to contact a referral we have been looking for for over a transfer, Ab. We found her with the help of a less active (Bro. S) and the barangay officials he is close friends with. And as we approached the house, everyone seemed to know exactly why we were there and Ab was waiting for us. So we will go back this Saturday, with Bro. S or his son as fellowshipper.

The Sims all attended church this Sunday, though none of the other people we committed to come were able to. we found out last night that Th has been sick for a few days, which is why she missed the baptism on Saturday and Church. M, one of my former investigators that the Sisters in our ward have been teaching got baptized on Saturday! The Sim family is set on December 28 for their wedding and baptism. Please keep them in your prayers.

So to explain the subject of the email, Elder M and I are going to start teaching a French guy. The Elders in our district found him, but of course they can't teach him since he only speaks French. Luckily, Elder M is from Quebec and knows french, so president has given us permission to teach him. So I am trying to learn how to testify in French. I can't teach, but i will try my best to testify so that the Spirit will testify to him that the message is true. 

Well that is about all I have time for. We have some things to look for today in preparation for Christmas Zone Conference. I just want to end with a word of testimony about the power of the Holy Ghost in testifying of the truth. There is no greater source for gaining knowledge, for it is so personal that nothing can take the witness of the the Holy Ghost. It will testify to all humble seekers of the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of all Mankind and that Joseph Smith was his prophet. That is what is different between this message that any other message, is that we can promise that an answer will come to those who seek. it has come to me, over and over.

Elder Ryne Warren Wood

Zone Activity Pictures (11/18/13)

(11/18/2013)

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a very polar opposite of the past week. For me it is a testimony of the love of our Heavenly Father and the importance of being patient in all things.  Just as was told to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he was in Liberty Jail, all things shall give us experience and be for our good. Joseph also once said "Every wave of adversity has only wafted me closer to divinity". I can testify of the truthfulness of that, not just in the past weeks but throughout my mission and my entire life. 

We taught this week! We had six lessons, so almost more that the past two or three weeks combined. We had a good mix of investigator and member lessons and I have so much that I wish I could tell you about all of my experiences, but if I did there might not be an end to this email, so I will hit on a few parts.

First G came to church after we invited him and taught him once. he really came with the intention of looking at the job openings posted by the ERC, but once he got into class, that seemed to leave his mind. He participated in all the classes, although I didn't get to see that since I was doing a baptismal interview during Gospel Principles. He and one of the sisters investigators (R) seemed to hit off well and I think that R explained to him some things about church that he didn't understand. He loved the experience so much. But as we found out last night, he is moving this week, still in Laoag but not in our area. He still wants to be taught by the missionaries though. He is one the path now and the Spirit is moving him.

Next was the Sim. We taught them 3 times this week are are planing to teach them daily. They have been struggling to keep their commitments, so we taught them about repentance, and we could see the Spirit testifying to them of the importance of repenting and trying to do better. And they have been! They have been doing their reading and praying and are coming to church all 3 hours now. T has made sure that his schedule at work does not have him working on Sunday. The Sister missionaries in our ward told us that during Relief Society all the sisters in the ward were telling Sister Sim how much they love her and want her to have the blessings of marriage and baptism. There was lots of tears shed during that lesson they said.

In connection with the Sim family is our new investigator, Th. She is the neighbor of the Sim family and they invited her on Sunday to sit in on the lesson. We taught the Restoration and she loved it! She is going to be joining in every lesson, so we have the interesting challenge to teach lessons that will apply to all the different needs, since that is going to be 2 long time investigators, 1 newer investigator and 3 recent converts in one lesson. With the Spirit it is possible though, as was shown last night. We focused on N and T and taught fasting. At the end of the lesson Th said she had never heard of fasting and wanted to try it. So we committed her to fast to know our message is true this coming Sunday and committed her to baptism on December 21.

Last quick notes before I close, we had an office meeting the other day and President basically told the APs and us that we are in charge of everything but food for Christmas Zone Conference. So we got to work and have planned out almost the entire thing. Super excited! And yesterday our zone began learning our folk dance for it, which is Itik-Itik or the Duck Dance. We also went sand boarding yesterday to close our activity and that was a blast! I will include a picture of our zone at the dunes. 

I know that this is the work of the Lord and that He is guiding and protecting all of his servants. My experiences are a testimony of that, as are all of the missionaries from the Tacloban Mission who are being reassigned due to Typhoon Yolanda. None are coming here, but all are accounted for and well. I love the Lord and his work. Nothing means more to me right now than my calling to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and he knows all of our trials, pains, sorrows and needs. Thank you for all of your love and support! Mahal Kita! Kita Kits!

Elder R. Wood

Photos (11/1//13)

Elder Oso, our office mascot ( Elder T's bear)

Driving in Vigan

The arch at Lasam after the Halloween typhoon

Home sick, Training Sick, Sick Sick (11/11/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

The title of the email sounds ridiculous, so I will get to that in a minute. It is how the other office Elders described my week. I want to start this one off by thanking everyone for the prayers and concerns for all the missionaries here in the Philippines. Luckily for us in Laoag, Typhoon Yolanda hit down in Visaya, so it is far from us. We did get some nice rain though, and I got to travel in it again. I love traveling in the rain. Is for fun. I know that your prayers helped protect those of us missionaries here in Laoag and that the people who were effected by the typhoon will be blessed by the prayers and faith of all those who keep them in their hearts and minds. Thank you all.

So this week was transfer week. And it was crazy! As transfer weeks are to be. I think I used that right. Anywho, I didn't do much with the actual transfer day itself (it helps when that is our p day). But it was with the Arriving and Departing missionaries that things got crazy. It started with the departing on Wednesday. My district had district meeting in the morning since we cant really swing it on Thursday and to combine with the other district means to have the entire zone together. Then we worked in the office until it was time to take the departing missionaries to the airport. Elder Bul and I sat in the back of Presidents van with the departing and I felt at first like it was my time to go home. Home sick. Then we ran a few errands and went back to the airport to pick up the arriving, only to find out their plane was delayed by an hour. When it landed, one of the first person off the plane was a returning missionary, who ran straight to his parents in tears. Homesick again. But it was gone when the new missionaries got off the plane

I love getting to see the new missionaries arrive every six weeks. They are all so excited and energetic about the work. They all come from such diverse backgrounds so it is awesome to see how they are all here with the same purpose, to assist in the work of the salvation of men. We all sat in Thursday night when the trainers and trainees found out who their new companions were. And I realized how much I miss being a trainer and want to have the opportunity to train again. Training sick. Then that went away as the power wen tout and I went with the APs to turn on the generator for the mission home.

I had a headache Friday and Saturday, but that is easily cured when you are traveling and just sit in an air conditioned car for 6-8 hours a day. It was raining pretty hard in Cagayan and some areas there still don't have power since the typhoon two weeks ago. Elder M drove most of the way, since he now has his license. 

One last quick piece of news for this past week. We didn't get out to teach because of transfers, so i am sad that I have nothing new to report on those I teach. But we had an awesome service opportunity yesterday. It was MLC and President asked Elder Bul and I to come up with some parlor games for the Zone Leaders and Sister Trainer Leaders. That was so much fun. Everyone was laughing so hard. I will see if I can send some video, Especially of President Barrientos, who could not stop laughing. It was great. 

Once again that you for all of the prayers and support you give to all us missionaries around the world. Sorry this letter is a bit odd. It was an odd week. At least I didn't have dengue. It was a great learning time and I feel that I have come out of it better. Maraming salamat po ulit sa inyong lahat!

Elder RWood

Typhoon-1 Mitsubishi -0

Elder Wood sent this picture with his family email from the Typhoon the week of Halloween. This is the sign from the Mitsubishi car lot behind his apartment building.

BAGIO!! (11/4/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a week never to be forgotten, mostly because of what happened on Thursday. It was Halloween, but it was a Halloween like I have never experienced before. Late Thursday afternoon, we had a Bagio move in. For those who don't know Tagalog we got hit by a typhoon. **Note from ABICE-NOT Typhoon Hiayan/Yolanda** And it was strong. It actually hit Laoag in the evening and I have never experienced wind so strong. The power went out Thursday night and didn't return until Friday around noon. It was rather difficult to sleep with the wind howling outside and throwing things around. We discovered Friday morning that the new Mitsubishi sign for the dealership being build next door got torn down by the wind. I am including a picture. The damage wasn't too bad here in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, but Cagayan got ripped by the storm. I traveled there Saturday to look at an apartment, and the damage there was bad. There were power lines lying the the fields, fields were flooded, houses and signs damaged everywhere. The biggest I saw was the damage to the arch at Lasam. It had been torn in half by the wind. I will include a picture next week. None of the missionaries were hurt, though some apartments have been flooded or damaged. President and Sister Barrientos were in Manila for the Mission Presidents Seminar with Elder Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, so us and the APs were the only ones here in the office during the bagio. 

This week was full of work in preparation for the transfer. I looked at 5 apartments and signed one. There are so many changes being made this transfer. President is opening up new areas, including one that has not had missionaries assigned to it specifically yet. The work of the Lord is moving so fast now. We have 29 missionaries to arrive tomorrow and 5 departing. I wonder what will be the next step in hastening the work? Only the Lord and his Prophet and Apostles know, but we are all excited to see it when it comes. 

So we had even less time to work this week with lock downs, but as the Zone Leaders noted, somehow Elder M and I had more lessons than the last week. Two of our past lessons have been to Al, our recent convert mission home security guard. And he taught us. We lest him reading assignments about the Fall of Adam and Eve and then Life On Earth and after one question "What did you learn from the reading?" he taught us both lessons. He understands so well what he reads and he sees and understands how it all connects together, like how he connected our life on earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ last night. It is amazing how far he has come since we began teaching him. The Spirit has truly worked in him and in his family. Every night we come to the mission home, he is studying in the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel and Gospel Principles. We actually talked with his temporary replacement Sunday night, since Al had the day off. We gave him the restoration pamphlet and then left two other pamphlets and a Book of Mormon on a desk for him. he texted us around 10:15 and asked if he could take them. Next time he is here, we are going to teach him about the restoration. 

That is the greatest thing about being a missionary, seeing the lives of others change as they become converted to Jesus Christ and his Gospel. I have seen it in members, less actives, investigators, and so many people. God loves all of his children and has given the way for us to come to a knowledge of the truth and receive all the ordinances that we need to return to live with him. His hand has been at work since before the world was and it will until all his children are redeemed. That is why he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to atone. That is why he restored his gospel in the latter days. There is nothing sweeter than the love of God and there is nothing that has more to testify of it. The Spirit will testify to us all of the truth and that will become part of us. It is part of me that cannot be taken or separated from me.

Mahal kita! Kita Kits!

Elder RWood

4 Days, 4 Contracts (10/28/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

So this past week was not as bad as it seemed when I wrote last week. Elder P and I traveled all the way to Sta, Ana (the furthest area in the mission) and back on Wednesday and Thursday. We were doing mail drops and contract signing. Since we had to go all the way to Sta. Ana, we didn't arrive in Lal-lo until almost 7 in the evening. President doesn't want us to travel that far back at night, so we stayed the night in Allacapan with the Zone Leaders. We needed to get back to Laoag for district meeting though, so we  woke up at 3:30 and headed back. We got back to Laoag around 7 and had district meeting.

Later that afternoon, all four of us Office Elders traveled to Vigan to sign a contract. That was easy, since the owner of the apartment also owns 2 other apartments that we are renting for missionaries. We were in Vigan until late, since we went to the Hospital with some of the missionaries in Vigan to comfort a recent convert of the Sisters whose new born child had just passed away. I wont go into the details of the incident, but I will say that that hour in the hospital was one of the most spirit filled hours I have ever experienced.How blessed we are to have the restored Gospel in our lives. It is because of this that we know that there is a life after this life and those who pass on, whether young or old, are not lost but are now waiting anxiously to be reunited with their loved ones. And as for young children who die while still young, I only have to quote the words of the prophet Abinadi in Mosiah 15:25 "And little children also have eternal life" and the words of Mormon to Moron i in Moroni 7:22 "all little children are alive in Christ". Because of the Atonement of Christ, little children inherit the celestial kingdom. What a great comfort that is for those who must pass through such a trial! There will of course still be pain and sorrow, but Christ will take that if we let him. That is why he is our Savior, that is why he did all that he did. I know that with all my heart.

So in teaching news, the Sim family is on the course for marriage and baptism in December. The sisters in Laoag 1 ward are also working with two of their investigators towards marriage, in fact it is two investigators that I once taught. We had a meeting with Bishop Agustin, who will solemnize the marriages when the times come, and he instructed us on all of the things that we need to do to help them. It isn't to hard of a process, and we will be there with them to help them. Sister Sim seems to be more on-board this time then ever before, so we are positive that this time will be different.We are going to teach them later tonight since Tat was not there for our last lesson. We also just found out that one of our investigators is in Tarlac, but should be back next week.

Next week is transfer week, so everything is getting set for the increase of missionaries. There is going to be 24 new companionships, so we have a lot of work to do. It is going to be an eventful week. But nothing as tough as weeks that have come and gone. I love being part of this work. Keep it up with your own part in this work! Mahal Kita! Kita Kits!

Elder R. Wood

Certianty of Death, Small Chance of Success, What are We Waiting (part 2) (10/12/13)

Dear Family and Friends,

The title is a reference to this coming week and not to the past week. This past week was great. We had 9 new investigators, almost all of them found through our own efforts. The best of our new investigators though was a referral from the trainers and trainees during their Book of Mormon Placing activity a few weeks ago. After getting punted around on Wednesday, Elder M and I decided to give some referrals another try. One was Mar and when we texted and asked if we could come over, she said sure and we set for 6 pm. We arrived at 6 just as vehicle was pulling up to the house and a lady looked out at us and asked "Elder Wood?" It was a bit of a surprise but we went inside and started teaching. Turns out a few months ago Elder B and I talked with her and some of her employees during p day (one of her employees is a member). When she talked again with the missionaries a few weeks back, she could remember my name but not my face. So we are now teaching to them twice a week and she has a baptismal date for November 23. Just goes to show that the Lord blesses us for sharing the gospel anytime, in his own time and in his own way.

This coming week is going to be full of office work, hence the title of this email. I have to travel to both the north and the south and then do lots of finance work. The transfer is almost upon us again and this is going to be another big one. Tune in next time to hear more. I have been doing so much as a servant of Jesus Christ that I never expected to do. Driving, signing housing contracts, working at a computer. But just as President Barrientos is constantly reminding us, all of this is part of the work of salvation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is no small thing and the Lord needs willing hands and hearts to move his work forward in every way possible. And that is the beauty of this work. No matter who receives what assignment the Lord is with them as they do his work. The scriptures, both modern and ancient are full of promises from a loving Heavenly Father to the laborers of his vineyard and all of them will be fulfilled. I have seen it in my service and there are countless other examples of it. As Elder Dube said in General Conference " Never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do."

So in short, it has been a great week and the next one is looking up to be also. I love this work. I hope everyone had taken the messages from General Conference to heart and have set some goals and made plans to follow the teachings of the living prophet and apostles. There is one that has been mentioned by President Barrientos often in the past few days and that concerns Elder Ballard's talk. So I am going to leave this as my commitment to you all, to read or listen or watch his talk again and take his challenge. I promise you that as you do this the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out upon you and the way will open for you to take his counsel and challenge. Even if you do not see the way now, it will be opened for you. Mahal kita! Kita Kits!

Elder Ryne Warren Wood