Hey Mom,
So I made it! i'm alive and well. The MTC is great, about 5 minutes after you dropped me off, I had someone yelling at me in tagaog, I walked in to a computer lab to do an orientation and I heard not 1 word of english!, my teacher is Brother Langer. He served his mission in manilla, for every 3 hour period that he teaches us in class, we hear about 2 words of english. I am completely immersed in tagalog. It is such a blessing, but it can be frustrating at times too. I know that the lord will bless me as i put in the workin trying to learn it.
The mission is hard. Nobody said it was going to be easy, but these past few days have been some of the most emotionally, and physically draining ever! The MTC is a crazy place, \for every frustrating experience, the lord has blessed me with a good one. We are already teaching discussions in tagalog to an investigator. His name is Daniel Cook. He dosen't speak a word of english! We were in class two days when Brother Langer explained to us that we would be teaching a real investigator. It was quite the shock! Me and my kasama (companion), Elder Diamse went over the basics we had learned in class that day, We learned basic phrases and how to introduce ourselves, but alot of it was just reading straight from Preach my Gospel as well as the phrase books we have. It was really a learning experience being one on one with an investigator. Its so frustrating, because I know what to say to him, and when I cant say it in tagalog, I feel so helpless, I feel like I have this happiness that i'm trying to share with him, and I can't. after that first discussion, Elder Diamse and I decided to rededicate ousrselves to study. We started praying in tagalog, baring testimony to one another, speaking it at lunch, as well as speaking it to others. We went into the second discussion a little bit better prepared. I felt better about how we taught, but it still wasnt what we wanted as a companionship. So yesterday, we went and taught him for a third time. but there was a kicker. After only 5 days of learning the language, we had to teach out of what knowledge we had in our heads. No notes of any kind. I was worried, we had studied hard, but I didnt know how I would don it on my own, but then I realized, I wasnt on my own. So I turned to the lord. I knelt down and offered a prayer in tagalog, I knew that with the lord, and some pananampalataya (faith) I could do it. I knew that it would be a good lesson. We taught Daniel the importance of heavenly fathers plan, and how baptism is the first step to eternal life. We invited him to pray about being baptized, and asked if we could come back.
He said he would love that. It was my turn to offer the prayer. I was still a little shaky on the wording, but the most amazing thing happened. Through the gift of tounges, the lord helped me to remember the word I was to say. Never have the words of a prayer come to me like they did in that lesson, regardless of the language I gave it in. It was amazing.. truly amazing.
I appreciate the support from home! I love getting letters, they really give you a pick me up after a long and frustrating day of learning tagalog! I know that as we pray to the lord, and live in righteousness, he will grant us the desires of our hearts. I love this gospel and im thankful for the chance I have to wake up each morning and feel of my saviors love for me.
Remember obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles. I need a miriacle if I have any hope of learning this language by February 25th!
I love you and hope to hear from you soon!
Mahal Kita Tayo (I love you all),
Elder Johnson
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