Week 62, March 17 - 23, 2014

Hey family!

Man I thought I wouldn't be able to send anything to you this week, The e-mail was having trouble! But I hope your all well,

It has once again been a week full of changes, Elder Pangilinan is no longer my companion, my companion is Elder Merrill. Elder Pangilinan was called on Wednesday morning to report to the mission home, he went back Tacloban, It was pretty sad to say goodbye, especially after all the successes we shared, but Im excited to be here with Elder Merrill, It really has been different to be in an all american companionship, It makes the members so important, everything is so foreign with 2 foreigners, but that member with us is what makes it a little bit more relatable.

Things are looking up, we got a new Ward Mission Leader, theres more excitement about the work each week, and weve got 5 baptisms lined up for April 13, MJ, Ika, and Adrian Vergara, and Joy and Vilma, the lord is really blessing this area, and were seeing it progress like never before,

Thanks for your prayers!

He's (Elder Merrill) is from Idaho, I was his Zone Leader In Lopez, so its been fun to talk about the good times there.

Week 61, March 10 - March 16, 2014

Im doing well, 

We have a baptism set up for this week, sunday the 16th, Bro Aldwin Pedida. He's a long time investigator, hes 18, and excited to enter into his covenant

We've really seen some amazing blessings come in to the area, whole families, that we've found that are excited to hear the message, 

9 people came to church, 

We had MLC this week, we had a really really inspiring meeting with some really really amazing insights from president about the sacrament, Me and Elder Pangilinan had the opportunity to teach president in practice teaching in front of everyone, but it was a really good experience, we had to teach the doctrine to help an investigator come to church, we really have developed a good teaching pattern and we just taught simply the plan of salvation, we taught simple truths about god and his plan for us to become like him and how this investigators attendance at sacrament meeting, is not a commandment to hold him down, but a tool to help him become. Everyone seemed to like it, its something the mission struggles with, teaching the plan of salvation, but its been a really fun experience to help other missionaries realize how simple it really is. The meeting ended, and then we traveled back, there was a really cool carnival with alot of people at our transfer point, and as we got on our second bus to get home, I noticed my pocket was open, and my camera was gone, It was stolen, and I was really really sad about it :(. Luckily I haven't withdrawn any of the money that you guys sent, so that's kind of big blow to the emotions and the budget, but its ok, I bet the amount of money they sold the camera for will feed that family for month.  

So as a result, there are no pictures to send this week :(

We keep working and the days go faster and faster, The effectiveness of our days is amazing and a blessing of consecration and obedience, and It makes me so excited to see these people change. 

The church is true,

Love you all

Elder Johnson

Yea, It'll come together, Im not worried, but that MHA seems really promising, It would be a really good chance to have a really good effect on the lives of many people. I think thats the route the Lords pointing me toward.

Well thanks for the advice, Im excited to face another week and help others see what they can become

Love You all, I gotta go

Elder Johnson

Week 60, March 3 - March 9, 2014

Im doing well, 

We have a baptism set up for this week, sunday the 16th, Bro Aldwin Pedida. He's a long time investigator, hes 18, and excited to enter into his covenant

We've really seen some amazing blessings come in to the area, whole families, that we've found that are excited to hear the message, 

9 people came to church, 

We had MLC this week, we had a really really inspiring meeting with some really really amazing insights from president about the sacrament, Me and Elder Pangilinan had the opportunity to teach president in practice teaching in front of everyone, but it was a really good experience, we had to teach the doctrine to help an investigator come to church, we really have developed a good teaching pattern and we just taught simply the plan of salvation, we taught simple truths about god and his plan for us to become like him and how this investigators attendance at sacrament meeting, is not a commandment to hold him down, but a tool to help him become. Everyone seemed to like it, its something the mission struggles with, teaching the plan of salvation, but its been a really fun experience to help other missionaries realize how simple it really is. The meeting ended, and then we traveled back, there was a really cool carnival with alot of people at our transfer point, and as we got on our second bus to get home, I noticed my pocket was open, and my camera was gone, It was stolen, and I was really really sad about it :(. Luckily I haven't withdrawn any of the money that you guys sent, so that's kind of big blow to the emotions and the budget, but its ok, I bet the amount of money they sold the camera for will feed that family for month.  

So as a result, there are no pictures to send this week :(

We keep working and the days go faster and faster, The effectiveness of our days is amazing and a blessing of consecration and obedience, and It makes me so excited to see these people change. 

The church is true,

Love you all

Elder Johnson

Week 59, February 24 - March 2, 2014

Family,

Thanks for the letter,we had our Zone P-day today, it was a good one, we went to the Shell oil refinery in Batangas City, one of the factory executives is a member so we got free entrance, there was mini bowling, basketball, volleyball, pool and darts, and a pretty cool lawn to just sit and talk with people.   I think it built some good unity, and it gave us the chance to talk to the Zone as a whole, and get united again on those goals of ours. 

The week went great, not anything too special, we really have been traveling alot, we've been working with some people in the Zone that are in some pretty far away places, Batangas City, and Nasugbu, but It was amazing to see the lord bless our area as we put our time to helping others. 'We really have been showing that video of the family featured in the "Hastening the Work of Salvation" Broadcast, the one that shows the simple ways to share the gospel, and trying to apply it to the lives of the members and this week we had a member who's a shuttle driver for the local college do something pretty great, 2 days after we showed him the video, he saw 5 of his passengers 'that he drives in each morning to school walking on Sunday as he and his wife were going to church, he asked where they were going, they said to church, he said hop in i'll give you a ride, these 5 said thanks and asked where he was headed, he said to church as well, and then he added, "well if your going to church, you might as well try ours", they agreed, and on Sunday they came to church, they were so excited about the things they learned and what they felt that when they went home they talked to their parents about it, and as we taught them last night after church, they as well as their parents committed to baptism.

The work is great here in Lemery, and its not because of anything were doing, its because of the help of each member here. Its an inspired pattern and its how god has and will ever move his work forward in the way it needs to go, through the members of the church. 

I hope everyone is well, you sound like your all busy, were coming into the end of the transfer, were not expecting any here in Lemery, but whatever happens its gonna be good. I have to go try and get my card back! I tried to withdraw the money and randomly the ATM just ate it, it didnt want to give it back to me, but im sure it will turn out fine!

Im healthy and happy, and theres no place i'd rather be!

With Love

Elder Johnson

Zone meeting!