My last email as a full time missionary serving in the Philippines

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. 

I want to testify to you of the work of the Lord. It's real, it's true. I know that Jesus Christ died for us. He suffered, and He lives. I'm so happy right now though. I've done my best, and I know that because of the person that God has made me in these past 2 years as I've labored in His vineyard as His instrument.

I can't wait to see y'all!! I'm filled with JOY!! See y'all in like 2 days haha. Love y'all so much!!

Love,

Elder Johnson

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!!

Guess what.. we baptized MARY ANN!!! After almost 2 years of waiting to be baptized, it finally happened! She got married on Friday, and she was so happy. When she bore her testimony she was just so grateful. She bore a very simple and powerful testimony of the truths of the restored gospel. It was amazing. I feel so blessed!!! The joy of the work :)

We also baptized Claudine and Clyvhin :). It's just been a blast here in my last area. I'm so lucky that the Lord just continues to bless me tremendously. It's incredible.

Last night we experienced the powers of Heaven in our work. I'll have to tell you all my special experiences in a few days!! The mission is simply the best. The spirit is literally everything in this work. Heavenly Father will bless us and give us His power if we desire, call upon Him, ask, and if we are willing to sacrifice and do everything to be His instrument. I just love it.

I'll send some pics. I love y'all so much.

I want to testify to y'all that this church is true. I know it. i know that Heavenly Father loves us and knows each and every one of us. I know that the Spirit is the real teacher and is absolutely necessary to have in order for us to be  powerful and successful in the work and harvest in the Lord's vineyard. The spirit is everything. It's so true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love, 

Elder Johnson

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 :)

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!

The craziest thing is that we are teaching the same investigators that I found almost 2 years ago.. do y'all remember Mary Ann? and the Sales Family? Mary Ann still isn't married, so what we are figuring out a plan to get them married asap. She's still been coming to church all this time, shes basically a member, we just gotta get her in the water. President Abrea is the man though so this week, we need your prayers that we can get everything sorted out and get Mary Ann and her asawa married.

The Sales family is who Elder Pedrosa and I found ages ago.. they also have not been baptized yet...they go to church weekly, have been taught all this time.. but again, kulang sa binyag.. so Thursday night when I arrived we went straight to their house and gave them a powerful lesson. On Sunday we fasted with them. Their problem is that their Dad who is abroad isn't very open to mormons, so they're afraid that he'll say no if they ask him if it's okay to be baptized into the church. He'll be calling this week and we committed them to fast and pray with faith so that his heart will be softened and he'll allow them to be baptized in August. They're more than ready. We need your fasting and prayers this week fam!! It's a huge week ahead of us.

Another absolutely wild thing is that President Abrea (Branch President) took us up to a new area which is really far from the bayan where a member family lives. Yesterday we did a special sacrament. Pres is planning to create a branch up there, which has been prepared truly by the Lord. This member family is awesome, there are like 10 of them and all their neighbors are their kamaganak.. and 10 of them joined the special sacrament and they are willing to be baptized and help start the branch!! It's an absolute miracle! Pres. Abrea and us will work together, visit them sometime this week and start teaching them as families.. there are like over 20 investigators who are willing to be baptized.. its insane.. We plan to baptize them all in August. I don't even know how many it could be, lets just say marami!! haha we had 15 at church yesterday... the members I missed so much, I love them all so much.

It feels surreal and like a dream that I'm here. But I testify that I've been called to serve these last few weeks of my mission in Sablayan for a reason. I know it. 

P.S. I'm not coming home... ;) sorry

mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat!!

Elder Johnson

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!

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

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

AP Week 9- Vince is baptized!

We just baptized brother Vincent Arnaiz Lapena!! We just came from the service at the church kanina. It went so well. The ward showed great support, especially the YSA. Even President came! Vince was so happy, he couldn't express his feelings. His testimony was true and sincere. He's so excited to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He expressed his love toward Heavenly Father and the things that has built his faith in Jesus Christ. This is the joy that my companion and I get to have here in the Philippines.  It's indescribable. :)

Next week naman! We have plans for this next Saturday as well to baptize Brother Abby Duterte, Jellian, and Mariel. Cubao Ward is excited to be a part of the harvest! 

We just got back from Mindoro last night. It was another special trip. We worked with the ZLs and had zone conference. The Santos family is active again :)

The flame of faith in the PQCM is our motto right now, we are harvesting and urgently teaching repentance and baptizing converts. We don't have time for anything else kundi to do the Lord's will. I know this is His work. 

I'm so grateful to wear this nametag and represent my Savior as His full-time missionary.

Love,

Elder Johnson

AP Week 8

My loving family,

I feel a sweet spirit right now emailing to you. I thank you for your words to me. You make me happy. We are so blessed to have the gospel as a family, and I can't wait to talk with y'all (in 2 months!!) about the wonderful experiences im having in the Philippines. I feel at peace at this moment, I love you all :)

It's been a joyful week for Elder Benosa and I. We have been able to work our area more than ever, and the Lord has truly blessed us. Our progression of our investigators has increased rapidly. It's beautiful to be a part of. 

Guess what!? We aren't going to baptize in June, but our July is looking to be one of the successful months I've ever had as a missionary. Heavenly Father has answered our prayers and is granting the desires of our hearts. Which is to baptize converts. There's nothing more sweet than this work.. ah i love it. 

Vince Lapena has come out of nowhere again and is preparing to be baptized on July 1! President will interview him this Monday, so we are in need of your prayers that Vince's baptism will go through! 

We have weekly baptisms lined up for all of July and we couldn't be more excited. July 8 Brother Abby Duterte will be baptized. Man we had a crazy experience with him this week (let's just say his faith is stronger than I've ever witnessed an investigator have). Jellian and Mariel are also preparing for July 8 (Sister Jellian cried in our lesson yesterday because she realized that she needs to be baptized, the spirit was strong, the members are on fire here!!) We are teaching the kids of brother Orlando who is an RC. Their names are Rebecca and Felly, and they're awesome! They'll be baptized on July 15. 

Have a great week family, mahal ko kayo!

Love,

Elder Johnson

AP Week 7

Mayong udto! (magandang tanghali in Hiligaynon- the language of my companion Elder Benosa!)

We're doing well! We survived transfer week, and managed to get out and work in our area quite a bit and also have some exchanges so it's been great! As of now, my companion and I are kind of stressed because of the situation with our investigators. We had 6 at church last Sunday, and many more miracles that the Lord has prepared for July, but for June we don't know if Abby and Rod will be able to be baptized. We haven't been able to contact them all week. It's been frustrating, but we know Heavenly Father is preparing a way for the next week for us to baptize someone. We think it might be sister Mariel (referral ng member). We actually are unsure right now, but that's the beautiful thing of being on the Lord's errand.. He'll prepare a way for us, as long as we are doing our best. I know that to be true. 

iyan lang muna for this week, I love y'all so much! ingat po kayo..

p.s.

Maligayang Araw ng mga Tatay!! 

Maligayang Kaarawan sa akin Ama!! mahal kita Dad

2 months na lang :) 

Love,

Elder Johnson