Monday, February 27, 2017

Week 3 Quezon City

Maayong buntag, (bisaya language)
We had a solid end to our week. Mark is getting baptized on Saturday! He's amazing, he cried during his baptismal interview because of how excited he his to become a Mormon haha. Also, we gave a baptismal date to his friend Rollo for March 25! He came to church yesterday. We had 9 investigators which was a big improvement for us here. The members are seeing that we are baptizing and bringing people into their ward so they are getting excited. We continue to visit them like crazy, like I'm talking every day we have at least 1 appointment with a member. We are gonna bug them and help them get on board to this wonderful work of the Lord. We've got some power houses in our ward. I've never experienced this until now where the members are experienced, a little mayabang haha because there are former stake presidents, area seventys and mission presidents here. It's awesome. 

Elder Bednar came to the Philippines and we heard his broadcast the other day. It was so powerful. I was able to talk in sacrament yesterday about it as well. 

My companion Elder Enari and I couldn't be doing better, really though. It's been fun leading this zone with him.
Love y'all. have a great week :)
Love,
Elder Johnson

Monday, February 20, 2017

Week 2 Quezon City

Kumusta na kayo?
I dont even know how many times the Spirit has guided us to Heavenly Father's children this week. More than ever before on my mission, I've felt the most spiritual promptings to stop, turn back, and talk to the person we just passed by. We've talked to less actives who haven't been to church in years, former investigators, and people that are prepared to receive the restored gospel. All because we listened to the still small voice of the spirit. It's been incredible. I can't really put into words what has happened to us this week. We have been used as the Lord's instruments, and the Holy Ghost has been working through us. There isn't a better feeling. It all hit me this week. I can't describe the joy this work has brought to my life.
I had the opportunity to study a talk in the Liahona (church magazine) about the Spirit and one of our greatest examples in the BoM; Nephi! I studied and pondered the things that he did to be led by the Spirit. I've been applying these 4 things in my life and I invite y'all to do so as well.
1. Desire 
2. Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ 
3. Prayerfullness
4. Obedience.

These things will help us be sensitive to the Spirit and prepare us to return back to our Heavenly Father one day.
Our work has been solid. We've visited basically all of the members in our ward this week and have been doing our best to help them exercise their faith in the Savior. its coming along.
Brother Mark (our miracle) is going to be baptized on March 4. We are also working on his friends. My companion and I are doing great, we turned to each other and said "man missionary work is hard." (because nothing has gone our way) and then we realized that it's not about us, it never was. It's about God's children. It's about His will, not ours. We've been struggling with that a little bit, but we are helping each other.
I've never felt more power as a missionary. I've been striving really hard for this, and it comes to the righteous. I truly understand that I can do nothing without the Spirit, but according to how clean I am, I have spiritual power. It's been evident this week.
I love y'all, pray for me and my companion Elder Enari and for our investigators. Pray that we can get and teach some referral families from some members :)
Love,
Elder Johnson 

Monday, February 13, 2017

Week 1 Quezon City

Hoy!
My first week in Quezon City, Bago Bantay area was awesome! It's been a blast working with my new companion Elder Enari! Hes a stud. 2 foreigners teaching the restored gospel in the Philippines...nothing much better than this. We have a lot in common. Best of all, we both understand our purpose and have a burning desire to serve the Lord. Our zone needs some work, but we are excited to be together and to be able to change the culture here in Quezon City.
Our miracle this week was incredible. The Lord blesses those who are righteous and obedient! So, I had a feeling to buy a drink from a tindahan on Thursday as we were walking to one of our appointments. As we stopped, this 12 year old kid came up and asked us "Are you mormons?" We were surprised because 1. He spoke fluent English and 2.He sounded like he's been waiting for us. He then talked about how his Lola (grandmother) is Mormon and that when she used to live here she would take him to church every Sunday (she now lives in America). He told us, "Ya I've been waiting on you elders to come and visit me, but none ever came.  Then, "I want to become Mormon." haha. We were shocked man. We then went to his house and talked to his yaya and his legal guardian. They are super nice and have no problem with kuya Mark coming to church and becoming a member of the church. 

Anyway, on Sunday we picked him and his yaya up and took them to church. They met some friends and we are going to try and baptize Mark on Feb. 25. This will be a miracle baptism and a solid start to me and Elder Enari's transfer.
My companion and I both have the mindset to baptize weekly, and it's gonna happen. We met with the stake president this week, had a missionary fireside with the stake and are planning to visit all the members of our ward and help them get fired up about missionary work. A lot of good things are happening. I'm excited to let y'all know about the miracles the Lord will be working in our area and in our zone.
We baptized brother Jubert this past Saturday (he's a part member). There are a lot of part members here in our area that we are going to try and get baptized in the next month or so. The area isn't hard (I don't believe in that) but it is different. The way to find new investigators is going to take more effort on us working well with the ward. Tracting isn't effective here so we are working on doing some unique finding ways :)
Ingat,
Love,
Elder Johnson



Monday, February 6, 2017

After 6 months in Pasig..I'm going back to Quezon City!!

My dear family!!

After 6 months in Pasig, I'm going back to my 2nd area- Quezon City!!! If y'all remember, I was there with Elder Petilla for 2 weeks and then got emergency transferred to Antipolo Cogeo. I'm not in that same area like last year, I'm in Bago Bantay! I don't really know what it's like, but my new companion is Elder Enarie! He's Tongan. I've never had a foreigner companion so this will be a cool experience for me. I'm still a Zone Leader, now over the Quezon City zone. I'm excited for the miracles that we'll experience! It's gonna be awesome. 

I'm gonna miss these people here in Pasig. It's been a life changing journey for me here. I've grown the most here these past months. I can't even describe my happiness for this work.

I couldn't be more excited than to serve the Lord the absolute best I can these next 7 months of my mission. It's truly incredible to be a full time missionary sharing the restored gospel to these Filipino people. It's so special. It makes me sad to think that my time is coming to an end soon. But, this is just the beginning. I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I love y'all so much! This work is true, the church is true. Let's follow the commandments of our God and experience the joy of this sweet Gospel!

Love ,
Elder Johnson