Dear Family and Friends,
It has been a really awesome week here in Bacarra and in the Philippines area. It always seem that somethings that I really want to write about happens not long after I write the email on Monday, and I have to wait to write about it the next week. That's okay though because it gives me something to think about and plan for the next email.
So Monday evening, Elder O and I went to teach the V Family. Bro. F is the employer of one of our other investigators who we have sometimes taught at his work during his break and F has listened in to our lessons. WE have taught F once and have set several appointment s to meet and teach his family but they have all fallen through until now. After our first lesson with him, about the Book of Mormon and how it can help us in our trials, he was really excited for us to teach his family. And apparently so was his wife. When we went Monday night she welcomed us warmly and was really excited. We taught basically the same lesson that we had taught to Fidel, using Mosiah 23-24. The Spirit was so strong in the lesson and Sister C was really touched by it. She was crying at the end of the lesson. They are our second family and they actually know a lot of members. WE arranged to bring one family with us who they know well the next time we taught, but had to reschedule our lesson. They are still excited to learn though and are very accepting of the gospel.
On Saturday we had the 2013 Philippines are Broadcast with the Area Presidency and it was awesome! Elder O and I weren't sure if we would make it. but lessons were canceled and rescheduled, so we figure that the Lord really wanted us to be at the broadcast. And it was great. The Presidency shared the goals for 2013, which are the same as for 2012, but with some new specifics to help focus the work. The Philippines area has made great progress in the last year but there is still room for lots of improvement and the Area Presidency is very focused. I also got some great personal advise from President Teh's talk. Much of it will actually be a great help both in my mission and after my mission for the rest of my life.
Our first Baptism is coming up on the 26th of January. M is going to be baptized and she asked if i could be the one to perform the ordinance. I am really honored to be able to perform this ordinance and am grateful that the Lord is trusting me with this duty. SO I want to tell you a bit more about M asking me to baptize her. We asked her during our lesson of Saturday who she wanted to baptize her and she looked at Bro. C, Elder O and me in turn. When she looked at me she got this huge smile and pointed at me and said "Ikaw" (You in Tagalog). It's a great honor to perform the baptism, but it pains me a little that her father will not be able to baptize her. Perhaps this will be motivation for him to be ready and worthy to baptize his other children. Speaking of baptisms, that's awesome that P (from Elder R's home town) is being baptized. And on the same day I am performing baptism in the Philippines. that is no coincidence. Tell him congratulations for me.
Transfer week is not until February 27, but I already know that I am going to be staying in Bacarra to train. President Barrientos told me on Saturday that I would train and sty in Bacarra for another 3 months. I'm excited to have this opportunity, but I'm really nervous too. Bacarra is the district leaders area so I'll become district leader and trainer. I'm really going to need the Lord's help and lots of faith and prayers from me and from everyone. I feel very inadequate for this responsibility that is going to fall on my shoulders. I've only been here for less than three months. But I know the Lord will help me.
I got the letters that were sent to me by the Wades, Prices and G'ma Morrow on Saturday. This is the reason for the Subject of the email. Thank you all for your letters and also for your emails. I wish I could respond to you all personally by email, but I can only write to my parents by email. So I'm going to try to write to everyone that sends me a letter or email a letter, even if it;s just a short note. Thank you all for your prayers and faith. May the Lord bless you as you fulfill your callings and serve Him. Mahal Kita!
Elder Wood
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
The New Year (1/6/13)
Dear Family and Friends,
Welcome to 2013 everyone! I hope that everyone enjoyed the year 2012 and learned from their experiences of the past year. I know that I did greatly and I was very blessed to have the experiences that I did. Thank you to all of you who had a part in my life during 2012. From BYU to Aspen Grove to a few months in Fallon to beginning my mission it was all awesome! I encourage everyone to take some time to think about the events of the past year and set some goals and make some plans for 2013. And If you want some help with goals and planning, I suggest Preach My Gospel chapter 8. It's awesome!
SO This past week have been full of mixed events and emotions. We got to teach a ton, actually more than we have before, especially lessons where we have a member present. We still get punted of course, but we got punted less last week than we ever had before. Some sad news though, we went to visit MA, one of our investigators, on Friday and found that that she had moved. She found a job down in Batac and left to start just a few hours before we stopped by. We're glad that she has a good job, but we are also sad that we are not going to be able to teach her anymore. She was progressing very well and was supposed to be baptized on the 26th. Luckily, Batac is still in the Laoag mission, so we are going to make sure that the Sister Missionaries there find out that MA is there now so that they can continue teaching her.
Some good news now, S accepted a baptism date for February 16. He is still getting some stiff opposition from the members of his church, but it really doesn't seem to be stopping him. He came to Church for the third time on Sunday and he really loves church. Another one of our investigators, P, came to church. I can't remember if I've told you about him before. He is an older man who has a daughter and granddaughter in law who are members. We've taught him several times and he finally came to church on Sunday. And the ward was awesome in welcoming him. Many of them remember his daughter who is a member and they talked to him and encouraged him to keep coming.
I hope that M. Wade reads this part. Everyone please make sure that he does. On Monday, a member of the stake presidency of the Laoag Stake invited our entire Zone to come to lunch to celebrate New Year. Elder O and I got there early and got to talk to him. He told us that he served down in Baccolod as mission president from 2006-2009. I asked Him if he remembers Elder Wade and he said he did! He remembers Elder Wade tying a flashlight to his head to do laundry once and that he was an awesome missionary. SO M. Wade, President Daquioag says hi! He is now living in Laoag. It was really a great experience.
Well I had better close this letter. We are in Laoag for pday to get support money which means that our time to do other things is cut a bit short due to the travel time. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year and are super excited for 2013. I know I am. We get so many blessings every day of every year from Heavenly Father and it is important that we think about the things that he has given us. Always acknowledge his hand in all things and he will bless you greatly. Thank you for all your prayers and faith. Mahal Kita! Kita Kits!
Elder RWood
Welcome to 2013 everyone! I hope that everyone enjoyed the year 2012 and learned from their experiences of the past year. I know that I did greatly and I was very blessed to have the experiences that I did. Thank you to all of you who had a part in my life during 2012. From BYU to Aspen Grove to a few months in Fallon to beginning my mission it was all awesome! I encourage everyone to take some time to think about the events of the past year and set some goals and make some plans for 2013. And If you want some help with goals and planning, I suggest Preach My Gospel chapter 8. It's awesome!
SO This past week have been full of mixed events and emotions. We got to teach a ton, actually more than we have before, especially lessons where we have a member present. We still get punted of course, but we got punted less last week than we ever had before. Some sad news though, we went to visit MA, one of our investigators, on Friday and found that that she had moved. She found a job down in Batac and left to start just a few hours before we stopped by. We're glad that she has a good job, but we are also sad that we are not going to be able to teach her anymore. She was progressing very well and was supposed to be baptized on the 26th. Luckily, Batac is still in the Laoag mission, so we are going to make sure that the Sister Missionaries there find out that MA is there now so that they can continue teaching her.
Some good news now, S accepted a baptism date for February 16. He is still getting some stiff opposition from the members of his church, but it really doesn't seem to be stopping him. He came to Church for the third time on Sunday and he really loves church. Another one of our investigators, P, came to church. I can't remember if I've told you about him before. He is an older man who has a daughter and granddaughter in law who are members. We've taught him several times and he finally came to church on Sunday. And the ward was awesome in welcoming him. Many of them remember his daughter who is a member and they talked to him and encouraged him to keep coming.
I hope that M. Wade reads this part. Everyone please make sure that he does. On Monday, a member of the stake presidency of the Laoag Stake invited our entire Zone to come to lunch to celebrate New Year. Elder O and I got there early and got to talk to him. He told us that he served down in Baccolod as mission president from 2006-2009. I asked Him if he remembers Elder Wade and he said he did! He remembers Elder Wade tying a flashlight to his head to do laundry once and that he was an awesome missionary. SO M. Wade, President Daquioag says hi! He is now living in Laoag. It was really a great experience.
Well I had better close this letter. We are in Laoag for pday to get support money which means that our time to do other things is cut a bit short due to the travel time. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year and are super excited for 2013. I know I am. We get so many blessings every day of every year from Heavenly Father and it is important that we think about the things that he has given us. Always acknowledge his hand in all things and he will bless you greatly. Thank you for all your prayers and faith. Mahal Kita! Kita Kits!
Elder RWood
Monday, December 31, 2012
12/30/12
Dear Family and Friends,
I hope that you all had a great Christmas like I did. It really is a very different situation celebrating Christmas in the Philippines, but the Spirit of Christmas is the same. We had a great ward activity, the longest one I have ever attended. It went from 9 am to 5 pm, though it didn't start until about ten and Elder O and I left at 4 so that we could finish our studying. One of our investigators came and also came to Church yesterday for the second time. One of the oddest parts of Christmas in the Philippines is the lack of snow. We had some rain yesterday, but there is zero chance of getting snow. Ever. I;m a bit sad about that, but apparently come April through September I'll get to see lots of rain and flooding. They'll be fun!
On Sunday we had the most investigators at church that we have ever had. M, MA and S all came. This is truly a little miracle, since we were not able to reach or even make contact with MA and S this week, despite all of our efforts, yet they still attended Church. It really shows how much the Spirit is working with them and that Heavenly Father is watching over them and answering our prayers and the prayers of their families for them.
On Sunday, we had a great experience during Sunday School. We had an overview and brief introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants since that is going to be the course of Study for 2013. At the end of the lesson, we sang The Spirit of God and I was conducting the music. As we started singing the Spirit entered and filled the room. It was overwhelming how strong it was and I know it touched everyone since I could see everyone as I was directing the song. This experience really strengthens my testimony of the restoration of the Gospel and that in these the Latter Days the Lord is pouring his Spirit out on His saints and preparing for the Second Coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. I love this Gospel so much and I love My Father in Heaven and my Savior and all that they have done for me.
SO I want to share an amazing experience with you that I had this past Friday We were out in Nambaran and we found some new investigators. One of them, a man named E, is Jehovah's Witness and had a lot of questions and opinions. After teaching the First Vision he told us that he Didn't believe any one could see God. He was speaking in Ilokano so I couldn't understand what he was saying as he was saying this. But my mind went to an experience in the MTC when an investigator told us the same thing and how I responded and how he understood that Joseph Smith could see God. I didn't know why I was thinking about this, then Elder O told me that E had said he didn't believe any one could see God. I responded in the same way I did in the MTC and confounded E. I'm still not exactly sure how what I taught confounded him, but by teaching him the truth about God and Jesus Christ, he basically had to agree that Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. Remind me of this experience when I come home and I'll see if I can explain it in more detail. I know that the Spirit brought my MTC experience to mind and guided my words as we taught about Joseph Smith seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Spirit has guided me so much here in Bacarra and it really is amazing. I know that this church is true, that the Gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and and that we have the fullness of the Gospel now.
SO I want to share an amazing experience with you that I had this past Friday We were out in Nambaran and we found some new investigators. One of them, a man named E, is Jehovah's Witness and had a lot of questions and opinions. After teaching the First Vision he told us that he Didn't believe any one could see God. He was speaking in Ilokano so I couldn't understand what he was saying as he was saying this. But my mind went to an experience in the MTC when an investigator told us the same thing and how I responded and how he understood that Joseph Smith could see God. I didn't know why I was thinking about this, then Elder O told me that E had said he didn't believe any one could see God. I responded in the same way I did in the MTC and confounded E. I'm still not exactly sure how what I taught confounded him, but by teaching him the truth about God and Jesus Christ, he basically had to agree that Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. Remind me of this experience when I come home and I'll see if I can explain it in more detail. I know that the Spirit brought my MTC experience to mind and guided my words as we taught about Joseph Smith seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Spirit has guided me so much here in Bacarra and it really is amazing. I know that this church is true, that the Gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and and that we have the fullness of the Gospel now.
Just one real quick last story. On Friday Night as Elder O and I were traveling to an appointment, we were stopped by a man on the corner. He was a bit drunk, but was still thinking and talking very clearly. He told us that we need to go to his house on the 30th and teach him. He basically asked us to teach him the Apostasy and Restoration, the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement. And he said all of this in English. I was super excited to teach him and we did and it was a good lesson. He was not drunk and was speaking Ilokano this time, so I barely understood any of what he said. But the Spirit was strong as we testified of the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith and he is excited to keep learning.
THank you for all of your prayer for all of the missionaries around the world. We really do receive may blessings because of your faith and prayer. This is the Lord's work. I ask you to do all that you can to help the missionaries where you live share the gospel and bring other to Christ. Mahal Kita. Kita Kits sa 21 months!
Elder RWood
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Letter (12/23/12)
Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas. Now that it finally is almost Christmas. Here in the Philippines it is Christmas Eve, though I suppose that in the States it is still the 23rd. It is very weird not having a cold Christmas season. I've never had a December that I can remember when I was not wearing a jacket and gloves. Maybe during our three years in California, but I don't remember those years very well. It has actually been hotter here over the past week than in any other week so far. And when you are walking across rice fields from one barangay to another and there is no breeze and no shade it is HOT and that is an understatement. It is definitely not the same as Christmas in the US in the temporal things, but the Spirit is still the same. Since Christ is the center of Christmas that is one thing that will never change for me, the Spirit of Christmas. I have decided to study the New Testament and the Book of Mormon about the birth of Christ for the next few days. It is amazing to think that he came to Earth for us and that this season that we celebrate is only the beginning of the life of the greatest man who ever lived, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that he came to Earth and did all that he did for us, healing the sick, establishing his church and especially the Atonement. There is no greater gift that we can celebrate and receive than the Gift of Jesus Christ from our Heavenly Father.
I love walking past municipal hall here in Bacarra at night. there are lights, 3 nativity scenes, christmas music and it just feels ands is so bright and cheerful. After a long hard day it really lifts me up to walk past it and think about past Christmases and have my thoughts drawn to Christ. We had Christmas Mission Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was great. WE had half of the mission during our sessions. I am including some pictures from it. I really felt the Spirit of Chtist strong as we did service at the Hospital and then went caroling and had a program and dinner. It was such a great experience. Tomorrow is the Ward Christmas activity and it is going to be quite the event.
Yesterday, Sunday, S, one of our investigators came to Church for the first time. He is the first person that we started teaching and while he has been a bit hesitant he is really starting to feel that this is the path that God would have him take. His brother is a member and really wants his family to be with him for eternity. S is very humble though he is a bit afraid of what the people in his church will think of him if he is baptized. But he is over coming those fears and he is definitely feeling the Spirit each time we teach and he wants to follow Christ. Our other investigators are doing well also and we are hoping to have a big week this week.
Thank you all for your prayers and your faith. I know that the Lord is pleased with all that you do as you are striving to follow Him. I encourage you to take the time this Christmas season and think about what Christ means to you and give to others. THere really is no greater gift htat what Heavenly Father has given us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas! Mahal Kita!
Elder RWood
Monday, December 10, 2012
A Trycy? Quick, fold yourself in the middle! (12/9/12)
Dear Friends and Family,
I hope that someone who understands the quote that is the title reads this letter. This week was great. We started teaching a new investigator this week, I. He is the nephew of one of the members of the ward who was baptized a few years ago and he is super excited about the Gospel. He is only 11, but he loves to read the Book of Mormon. When we first gave him one I wasn't sure if he would ever let go of it. He read all that we asked him to read and a little more between our lessons. We are going to invite him to be baptized this week. He attended Church with his uncle on Sunday. Our other investigators are doing well also. M and L are both getting ready for baptism, but neither was at church on Sunday. We have a few other investigators that we are hoping to commit to baptism by the end of the week. We invited one of our other investigators, S, on Thursday, but he is still unsure about the church and is afraid of what others in his church will say if he is baptized.
Did you all get to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional? It was awesome wasn't it. If you didn't I encourage you to watch it on lds.org. I miss seeing Temple Square at Christmas time, but I'll have plenty of chances to see it is future years. I loved all three of the talks. I especially liked President Utchdorf's talk about being a gracious receiver. I have never really thought about that. We always get caught up in giving that I don't think we often consider how we receive the gifts that we are given, both from others here on Earth and from our Father in Heaven. I encourage all of you to take some time this season to think about that. And always remember what President Monson said about giving of ourselves. When we give of ourselves we give more than if we were to give anything else. That is what our Savior did for us. He gave of Himself completely and became the greatest Gift that Heavenly Father can offer us.
Merry Christmas to you all! I hope that you are all having a wonderful Christmas season and remember to think about the true meaning of Christmas. I may sound cliche in saying that, but it is true. Christ is the center of Christmas and the message of the Gospel and He should be at the center of our lives. I'll probably say something like this in every letter for the next few weeks. I really love this time of year, when everyone feels the Spirit of Christ greater and I pray that we can all carry that with us till next Christmas, Thank you for all your prayers and love. Mahal kita!
ElderRWood
I hope that someone who understands the quote that is the title reads this letter. This week was great. We started teaching a new investigator this week, I. He is the nephew of one of the members of the ward who was baptized a few years ago and he is super excited about the Gospel. He is only 11, but he loves to read the Book of Mormon. When we first gave him one I wasn't sure if he would ever let go of it. He read all that we asked him to read and a little more between our lessons. We are going to invite him to be baptized this week. He attended Church with his uncle on Sunday. Our other investigators are doing well also. M and L are both getting ready for baptism, but neither was at church on Sunday. We have a few other investigators that we are hoping to commit to baptism by the end of the week. We invited one of our other investigators, S, on Thursday, but he is still unsure about the church and is afraid of what others in his church will say if he is baptized.
Did you all get to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional? It was awesome wasn't it. If you didn't I encourage you to watch it on lds.org. I miss seeing Temple Square at Christmas time, but I'll have plenty of chances to see it is future years. I loved all three of the talks. I especially liked President Utchdorf's talk about being a gracious receiver. I have never really thought about that. We always get caught up in giving that I don't think we often consider how we receive the gifts that we are given, both from others here on Earth and from our Father in Heaven. I encourage all of you to take some time this season to think about that. And always remember what President Monson said about giving of ourselves. When we give of ourselves we give more than if we were to give anything else. That is what our Savior did for us. He gave of Himself completely and became the greatest Gift that Heavenly Father can offer us.
Merry Christmas to you all! I hope that you are all having a wonderful Christmas season and remember to think about the true meaning of Christmas. I may sound cliche in saying that, but it is true. Christ is the center of Christmas and the message of the Gospel and He should be at the center of our lives. I'll probably say something like this in every letter for the next few weeks. I really love this time of year, when everyone feels the Spirit of Christ greater and I pray that we can all carry that with us till next Christmas, Thank you for all your prayers and love. Mahal kita!
ElderRWood
Shaving+Thinking="Loathing" from Wicked? (11/30/12)
Dear Family and Friends,
This week has been great! I have really felt the truth of the
advise that President Hinckley's Father gave him, "Forget yourself and
go to work". That is a great remedy for homesickness and lonelyness. And
has it been easy to forget myself in the work. Elder O and I are
both new to the area that we are serving in so we have had to work hard
to get to know the area and the members in Bacarra. It is such a pretty
area too. Lots of fields and in parts it's almost a jungle. We get some
places using tricycles and jeepneys but mostly we walk which I think is
awesome.
We have found a bunch of new investigators this week. We contacted
two previous investigators. One, L, has been taking the lessons for a
while and is married to a member. We went and taught them about the
Restoration and invited her to be baptized on January 5. She accepted
and on Sunday we talked to her husband. He holds the priesthood and
wants to be worthy and prepared to be the one to prefrom the baptism.
We also contacted M, a nine year old in a part member family, who
had a baptism date but it never happened. We reset her baptism for
January 5 also. There was the Bac-Bacarra festival this week so it was a
bit difficult to contact people on some days, but that did not hinder
the work.
Finally, I want to share an experience of a referal that we
recieved. We were teaching a member in Pasiocan, a very rural area and
at the end we asked her for referrals. She thought for a bit then went
inside to get a list of people in a club she was in. She came out and
said she had thought of one, her daughter-in-law, who is not a member.
We pullled out our planners to write down the information but she went
inside. We were a bit confused until she came out with her
daughter-in-law about twenty seconds later. We taught her the first
lesson through Joseph Smith, invited her to pray to know if Joseph was a
prophet and gave her a Book of Mormon. Referal recieved and contacted
in about thirty seconds (fist pump!).
Thank you for all of your prayers and faith. You have all set such
great examples for me and helped me a lot in preparing to serve the
Lord. God be with you all till we meet again. Mahal Kita!
Sincerely,
ElderRWood
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)