Hey Mom,
Were off to manage some things with a landlord at a faraway apartment, I'll try and e-mail when I get back!
Get me an update on you guys,
Love You!
Elder Johnson
Later that night....
Family,
Thanks for the update, you all sound like your doing well, Tucker's job sounds great, i'm a fan of sushi, we'll have to go when I get back, everyone else sounds busy as ever, but busy is good, I can see the Lords hand in the life of the Johnson family, thanks for your prayers for me, I can feel that blessing in my life.
Last week I sent a photo of a little lady in a green blouse standing behind me here in the office. That was Sister Hansen she and Elder Hansen have been the office couple here in San Pablo, and they left this week, They have trained us well for the task at hand over the next 3 weeks, the new couple the Morans (from Draper 16th Ward) arrive on the 29th, so until then we are doing a 4 man job with 2 of us, and once the new couple do arrive, we have the responsibility to train them on their responsibilities as mission and financial secretary. It has been a little crazy trying to handle everything the past few days, and I know there will be alot more adventures to come over the next week as we try and hold down the fort. Its been fun to see how the Lord has blessed us to be able to remember it all, each night as we plan we ask the Lord that the Holy Ghost might bring to our remembrance the things that we must do, and he answers that every time, we get down a solid list of things we know we have to do, and afterwards really just sit quietly and wait for the spirit to come and let us know what else he has for us to do. Every night in that silence thoughts and impressions come to our minds of something we really need to do, often times something that in the business of the day has slipped our minds, and then we go out each day and ask the Lord to help us in our efforts to get those things that we've planned for done.
It has involved some late nights, but somehow with his help we manage to get it all done, Like yesterday, It was a jammed pack day, we had taught some lessons to a few less active families here right after church, we came back and attended the weekly office meeting with President, which is always a good experience, we touched base with him and the assistants, on where people were going and what was happening this week, we worked out the logistics and saw how we could help one another and afterward really cracked down on the office work that needed to be done, and slowly but surely knocked off everything from the list, and when we looked at the clock it was later than we'd thought, We didn't realize how tired we were until we had to make the walk back home, but we came to appreciate the tender mercies of the Lord, It just so happens that here in the Philippines, each Barangay, or neighborhood has a shuttle and volunteer night guards and drivers for emergency response, but more often than not that shuttle is used to give a lift home to those who have had a little too much to drink and really shouldn't drive their motorcycles back to the house, so there they were at the end of the road just talking in the back of their little shuttle cab, we said good evening, and I dont know why, whether we appeared as if we were drunk or they were just feeling nice, they asked where we were going and offered us a ride. It was such a simple thing, but it made us so happy, it filled us with more energy, it honestly helped me wake up again at 6:30 because I remembered that the Lord blessed us, he'd given us that blessing after we'd done our part, so it makes you want to continually do your part, and it makes you think what your missing out on if you don't do your part. But he really helps us when we strive to accomplish his purposes.
I love my companion, he is so awesome, such a hard worker, and so nice, he's always smiling and just willing to help, he loves the people even those that are hard to love, and he is the epitome of change that the mission can bring to someone as well as the blessings that follow dedicated service. I learn alot from him each day not only about love, but about cars, computers, construction, he's a do it all guy and has alot to offer. The assistants are great, they really are working hard to get the area here in Alaminos rolling, its a really tough area, its not too often that doors are slammed or curses said against you here in the Phils. but here in Alaminos the people can be hard, but god has prepared those souls to accept the gospel, or accept it once more and return to the truths they love. Its always a continuous upward movement. I enjoy every second I get with President and hi wife, they fed us chicken quesadillas the other night, its the first one i've had in almost two years, and it was fantastic. I learn alot from them, President is so business oriented, he has been really successful in that regard. he really trusts the system and is not afraid to "growl" at some people as he calls it to enforce the system. But he shows forth so much love, and its unconditional.
The other night we were waiting for something in the car, the sun was going down and we saw a group of kids, it looked like they were starting something, so we got out and walked over to the group and all the sudden they formed a line across the road, so we just joined them as one of them counted, 1,2,3, go, and we started running down the road in a race, we got to the end and just collapsed and laughed with them, and as I looked out at the sky at the sunset, with the silhouette of the concrete houses and palm trees in front, I thought of how much i'll miss this place, Time goes fast, and if you let it so does the growth in the love we can each have for our fellow men. I love the Philippines, I love the people and I am grateful for the time god's given me to take care of them and do my small part as best as I can. Its been the best choice i've ever made.
So things are going great, The gospel is as true as ever, and I know that there are blessings in both ministering and administering to others needs and were doing alot of both right now here in the office.
I love you
Elder Johnson
Office Elders!
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