Week 11 Quezon City

Ang bilis ng panahon!

On Sunday we had a miracle baptism! We baptized Alice Bajenting, the 9 yr old from a part member family. To be honest I don't even know how it happened, so crazy haha. It was cool too because her uncle, who is preparing for a mission, was able to perform the ordinance and also her extended family attended. 

These past few days, my companion and I have had a hard time with the ward, basta it's okay. We press forward, continuing to do our job which is to baptize and confirm converts. Even though it's been solely all missionary efforts, the Lord is blessing us for our hard work.

We found an absolute golden family this week: the Acebuche family :) It was like the experience with Mark where a lola came up to us and told us she's mormon and that she wants her anak and grandchildren to be baptized. Such a miracle. There are 5 of them and they have a baptism date for May. We're so stoked for this family!

We're doing our best to prepare Gemma to be baptized on Saturday the 29th. We need your prayers! She's the best :)

Zone conference was sweet this past week. Elder Enari and I gave a workshop about using the Book of Mormon in teaching- using it every lesson. There's power in the BoM, and we can only access it's power if we ourselves are feasting upon the words of Christ, pondering continually the words of eternal life! The BoM is true- I know it through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Week 10 Quezon City

Magandang hapon po!

It's been pretty wild for us this week. At one point, the Lord helped us bring back all 4 investigators to be baptized still in April, and then His will changed after church on Sunday... Rowie told us yesterday (he didn't come to stake conference) that he isn't ready to be baptized, so we moved his bapt. date to May. 

Adrian's parents got mad at us this week (because we've been persistent of course preparing their son to be baptized).. let's just say they aren't the most open people to other religions haha.  But Elder Enari and I have faith and we know they'll sign the BCR this week.. sana haha.

We found a miracle part member this week (thanks to my awesome companion who listened to the prompting of the Holy ghost) who's ready to be baptized now.  She's 9 years old, her name is Alice :)

And now.. Sister Gemma! Man, her progression is incredible. We love her so much! It makes us so happy teaching her. She's ready...she's just afraid of baptism. She loved stake conference yesterday. Especially the choir.. she's gonna join one day haha. It's makes us so happy, we can see the light that she has, she craves it, she knows it's true..we're just working on getting her to accept a baptismal date :)

We went on exchanges with the APs yesterday. I worked with my batch- Elder Fano! He's such an inspiration. He's been one of the best missionaries I've ever been with. Our exchange was so sweet! We found 11 new investigators and 3 new families! It was power! I learned a ton, and I'm so grateful for the things I continue to learn and apply. This work is the greatest. There's nothing better.

I'll never forget what the 1st counselor of the stake said to us this week (he worked with us once). He said "go all out, leave it all out on the court, "mission field". He continued by saying, "remember that you are the only person on this earth (missionaries) that have the authority to save souls! Rock Out!! "

Let us all "rock out" as we share the gospel. Don't be shy, we know it's true. This is the only true church on the face of the earth. 

Love,

Elder Johnson

Quezon City Week 9

This week took us by surprise..to say the least. As you know we were planning for weekly baptisms this month. All of the sudden, out of the blue, all 4 of our projections are now gone. We can't believe what happened and Elder Enari and I still are asking ourselves why. 

Nelia and her anak Melaine texted us this week and told us (they were out of town visiting their family) that they don't want to join the church anymore. Adrian's mom and dad do not want us to baptize Adrian, and Rowie hasn't showed us any desire to do the commitments that lead to baptism... we are now left desperate for at least 1 more baptism in April and with no investigators at this moment. It's kind of discouraging, but hey, that's the mission.. it's glorious! We couldn't be happier though, especially with the amazing general conference and with the success of our other zone mates. We are happy and as of now putting our trust in God and doing His will. I've understood that God knows best, He has a plan, we just need to be willing to humble ourselves and follow it.

We have been teaching the relative of Mark Gobrez.. (she's like his Lola but not really) her name is Gemma...she's awesome let me tell ya! Her heart is telling her to be baptized but her mind isn't. We are trying for April 29. We need your prayers! 

General conference was incredible and life changing. The church is true. I continue to ponder on the things that Heavenly Father wants for me to do as I come towards the end of my mission. I had the great opportunity to go to the temple today and ponder in the celestial room. I love my mission, I love the Philippines, I love these people. I love my Savior Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Start of Weekly Baptisms

Happy spring! (summer in the Philippines.. haha it's really hot right now)

Last monday night was so perfect...we had an FHE (Family Home Evening) at the rooftop of a condo where one of the Seventy lives (one of the leaders of our church)! Brother Pagaduan offered to have an FHE at his place where we could bring investigators. At first we thought Nelia and her anak weren't going to show up. We were praying so hard, and at 8:30 pm they finally came! It was a short, fun, and spiritual FHE where 6 of our investigators were able to experience the fun of a FHE.

We were led "not knowing where to go" multiple times again this week. It's been amazing. The Lord just continues to guide us to his children. We met Marie, who's husband worked as a driver for all the seventys, mission presidents etc. He died last year but always tried to get his wife Marie to come to church. We were led to her house this week, taught her about eternal families, and she cried with joy knowing one day she'll see her husband again.

Another time was Saturday night, it was 8:30 pm as well. We were sure the member was home, but they weren't. Elder Enari and I were so confused. We thought this was where Heavenly Father wanted us to go, we both felt prompted to go to this specific area, and all of the sudden as we walk down the stairs we walk by a less active (who usual hides or doesn't talk to us). Surprisingly he calls to us, "Elders, I need your help." Long story but this guy has been going through some trials where he feels trapped by Satan. He's done some things and he knows he needs to come back to church. We were able to give him a blessing and he came to church yesterday!

I testify of Jesus Christ's power. Through Christ's Atonement, we can be made free. We can feel forgiveness, peace, joy, and God's love for us. I know that we are all children of God, and he loves us all. I also testify that God knows us, and he has a plan for us. We may not know "why this? why that?" But God knows best. We just need to trust Him. It's been humbling this week for us. I need to trust in Him more and rely on Him more. He will lead us back to his kingdom one day if we simple let Him and follow Him.

We baptized Christian Rollo Valentin yesterday! It was awesome, the whole ward stayed and supported. Because of Mark, his friends are also receiving the Gospel. Rollo is amazing. I can't wait to see him serve a mission and be sealed in the temple one day. 

Next week we will baptize sister Nelia! 

Adrian is preparing for the 15th. We need your prayers for who will be baptized on the 22nd. We are also teaching Rowie (young men referral) and sister Melaine (anak ni Nelia) and are preparing them for April 29. It's going to be a solid month of work, we couldn't be doing better! :)

Love,

Elder Johnson

Mark's Baptism

Week 7 Quezon City

We've seen the tender mercies from the Lord in our area and with our investigators that will be baptized in April. Hearts have been softened, and things are going smoothly for now. We are going to baptize weekly for the first time since the Lord has revealed his expectations to our mission- weekly baptisms. It's been a grind, and my companion and I can't stop talking about it. We even talk in our sleep about it haha. President is waiting for a companionship in the mission to be able to accomplish it and we feel that with absolutely relying on the Lord it will be done this April in the Bago Bantay ward Quezon City zone! It'll be a big impact on the mission. We need your prayers more than ever!

Rollo was interviewed and will be baptized on Sunday after the church service. Nelia is progressing and has shown her desire by coming to church even with so many trials. She also brought her daughter and her grandchild who we are going to try and baptized on the 29th of April. Adrian and Rowie are progressing as well. We've loved being able to teach them and see their change :)

The Lord has revealed to Elder Enari and I a new goal for the month of April as a zone for baptisms...25. It might sound crazy, people think we are haha. But we couldn't be more excited for this!

Love,

Elder Johnson

Week 6 Quezon City

Dear fam,

Tuesday was one of the best days we've had all transfer. Elder Enari and I put our faith in Jesus Christ, not knowing where to go early in the afternoon. We were blessed tremendously for following the spirit's promptings. We received a referral from President who is a call center agent, who had a mormon customer from Texas refer her to us. Man, she's so ready for the Gospel. It's going to be a huge blessing for her. She cried in front of us and it was just powerful to be able to testify and tell her that she is loved by a Heavenly Father. Her name is Kathy :) We're excited for her. 

After that we contacted the referral of one of the young men, Brother Javen. His friend is Rowie has a desire to come unto Christ. He came to church on Sunday and has a baptismal date for April 29.

We are looking at 4 baptisms for the month of April... Rollo on the 1st, Adrian on the 15th (they are the friends of Mark), Rowie on the 29th, and Nelia on the 8th. we need your prayers for sister Nelia. It's a long story but just know that the members are sketching out about her. We're discerning if she has a true desire. She's great. Pray for her please!! Thanks family.

We had exchanges with the APs this week. I worked with Elder Lopez (we were kabahays in Sablayan). We had a great day together. It was awesome.

Like I mentioned last email, we are working on making history here in the mission with baptisms. Elder Enari are doing everything we can to be the instruments in the Lord's hand to accomplish weekly baptisms and to accomplish 20 as a zone in April.

By the way, it's transfer week, Elder Enari is staying here in QC! We get to go again together and it's so exciting!

Lovin' it, love y'all too.

Elder Johnson

Week 5 Quezon City

Talofa lava (hello in Samoan) (My companion is Samoan, hes from Australia),

We saw the Lords hand in our work this week, even when things weren't going as planned. He blessed us with new opportunities and new investigators yesterday which kept our high hopes up for the month of April. 

My companion and I have been blessed to have the spirit work through us as we've given two workshops this week, with zone training and also zone conference. It gets more powerful every time, and the growth we are experiencing doesn't stop. It's been absolutely wonderful. We've had chances to administer to a companionship who had a real problem that my companion and I have never faced before. This brought a learning experience which has brought us to rely on the Lord in everything we do.(D&C 6:36) The zone is doing well. We are closer than ever before, and we've set a goal for baptisms for the month of April at 20. That'll be the highest in years. We need your prayers.

As of now, we are focusing on April for these 4 progressing investigators. Rollo, Adrian, Nelia, and Cris. 

The ward is slowly getting on board with our weekly baptism goal. There has been a continued improvement which has been nice. 

That's it, love yall!

Love,

Elder Johnson