I can't believe it's over. My service as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is complete. Wow, these 2 years flew by. I'm eternally grateful for this life changing experience. It's truly been the best 2 years. I love my calling more than anything. I'll cherish this the rest of my life. Anyway, writing this just makes me cry, I don't want to come home. All I want to do is lose myself in the service of my Savior.
Monday, August 21, 2017
My last email as a full time missionary serving in the Philippines
Monday, August 14, 2017
2nd to last email ata :)
9 days na lang family!!!
So crazy, I can't believe I'm coming home so soon! It's been an amazing 2 years!!Monday, August 7, 2017
2 weeks na lang :) :(
Family!!
Amazing week! We're just working harder than ever, teaching more than ever, and best of all baptizing like crazy!! Lyrick was baptized on Saturday! I was able to baptize in the dagat again! Nothing better talaga.
We are going for 6 baptisms this coming Saturday.. It's been wild this past week, a lot has happened.
The Sales family talked to the dad and long story short he doesn't want them to become mormon. They are now doubting and don't know if they will be baptized this Saturday. Of course it's not going to be easy! We've literally done all we can, and we aren't stopping. They will be baptized. Elder Young and are exercising the most faith in Jesus Christ that we ever have. It's more powerful when as a companionship we are both united and believe. I was able to study more about Faith this past week. I learned that for a specific purpose, we are in need of God's strength and extra Power. We can't make this happen, but according to our faith, we can be like Nephi and Lehi in the BoM where their faith changed the hearts of the Lamanites and they were all baptized by water and fire!
The BoM is so true, it has blessed my life more than anything. It's my guide and fires me up to do the Lord's work. I love in 3 Nephi when it talks about how Nephi testified boldly, teaching with power and authority. That's what it's about, being on the Lord's errand, being His instrument.
Also, we are still working out Mary Ann.. we are trying to get her husband to take a day off from work so they can go with Pres Abrea and get married. It'll happen this week.
Claudine and Clayven (part member ages 13 and 16) told us last night they are ready for the lubog :) So we are happy, they'll be baptized this Saturday.
In Buskad where we did the special sacrament, we taught and gave a bapt date to this family of 10! 7 of them are baptism age so we are excited for them for August 26, They're so humble and submissive, it's awesome.
Regards from the beautiful island of Mindoro, ingat.
P.S. I'm gonna just stay here and live with the Mangyans (look that up lol )
Love,
Elder Johnson
Special Sacrament in Buskad :) There is the Beltran Family..10 of them :)
Lyrick this past Saturday :)
Monday, July 31, 2017
I'M BACK IN SABLAYAN!!!!!
Hey!!
I have the best news in the world. I can't even believe it but I'm back my first area Sablayan!!! I will be dying in Mindoro! When president told me last Sunday I didn't believe him haha. It's honestly a dream come true! My new companion is Elder Young. He's from Minnesota, and he's the man. I arrived here on Thursday and we got straight to work! It feels amazing to be back you don't even know! All the memories from almost 2 years ago are flooding back.. seeing the people makes me just cry I'm so happy. It's amazing!Friday, July 21, 2017
AP Week 12
My loving family!
Kumusta?
I just want to testify of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us.. I've experienced it before the mission, and I experienced it multiple times this week. It's the little things that I love about this work. He knows us personally, and He loves all of His children. He will never let us fall, and He always picks us up.
The baptism of sister Rebecca and Felly Nicolas was different than I've experienced so far on my mission. It's basically impossible to put into words the joy that I felt as I watched these beautiful daughters of God be baptized by their father. The members made it special, and the Spirit was stronger than ever before. I couldn't stop smiling Sunday morning haha, something that I can't imagine myself leaving in 4 weeks..
When the Spirit works within us, that's when we feel successful. It's been a testifying week for me. That's all I do now! My testimony of the restored gospel is real, I know, I live it, and I love it.
I testify that there is no better feeling in the world, than to serve others like Christ did, to help them come unto Him, and to see their countenance change because of the power of the Savior. I have the special opportunity to see lives change because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I love y'all family. I only have 4 more weeks to serve full time here in the Philippines. I will be getting transferred on Wednesday (I'm getting released), but I'm not sure yet where I'm going.. kind of excited to know where the Lord needs me next :)
P.S.. I'm so close to the kamatayan ;)
Love,
Elder Johnson
Elder Enari is replacing me as AP...I was able to work with him and his comp this past week.
BINYAG
This is Rebecca Marie Perez Nicolas and Feliciana Marie Perez Nicolas being baptized by their dad :)
Got to work with my MTC comp Elder Sanft and Elder Montera again this week!
Friday, July 14, 2017
AP Week 11
Maligayang Araw! (even though it's rainy season dito sa Philippines :))
The weeks continue to fly by. This isn't going to be long, I'll just check in. This week I struggled. The mission is hard. Spiritually, it's been rough. It's difficult to describe, I don't know. But I'm so excited for this upcoming week, it's going to be great.
Rebecca and Felly are going to be baptized tomorrow!! They're amazing talaga, and we couldn't be more happy for them :) The best part is their Tatay who is a recent convert is going to baptize them! When we were teaching them last night I just felt an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. The spirit testified to me that what I am doing is true, and that Heavenly Father is proud of me and my efforts. Again, I love these people so much.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Friday, July 7, 2017
AP Week 10
Dear Family,
We're doing well here in Cubao. Last week at church was a little let down, and we had some things happen and investigators that are having problems (Jellian, Mariel, and Abby). But this hasn't shaken our faith. We continue to be tried, every baptism is a battle, it's exhausting. We had 2 zone conferences and MLC this past week.. the weeks get faster and faster. We are pretty free the rest of the transfer, so it's going to be a fun last couple weeks.
Next week Rebecca and Felly will be baptized. Please pray for them :)
I love this work more than anything. I was actually pondering yesterday about how much I'm going to miss the Filipino people. I love them so much.
Love yall din,
Elder Johnson
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