Family,
I hope you’re well,
Thanks for the update!
Aimee and Cooper! Happy Birthday, man you guys are so big now, I can’t wait to get home and hug you both, I’ll make sure I find some cool things to bring home from here as a present, I hope you have a great day, Know that I miss you and love you both so much.
Its been a great week, full of adventures, the Hansen’s have left so the craziness continues, Its just Elder Talanoa and I swimming in the ocean of organization and tidal wave of tasks that it take to stay on top of the 4 man job as just 2 Elders, but the Lord has helped us, and amidst all the office work we managed to get in some proselyting as well.
Dad you asked about my companion, His Name is Elder Sione Filia Talanoa, He is full Tongan, of Royal Tongan bloodline I might add, but grew up in Utah until the age of 5 and then moved to Australia where he went to school, he played Rugby and was very sought after and eventualy went on to play professionally one year in Japan, before he left on the mission he was presented a 200,000 U.S. dollar per season contract with a professional team in Australia but turned it down because he knew he’d made a covenant with god to come out on the mission, he is 300 pounds of pure muscle and can run a sub 12 second 100 yard dash, He’s so nice, and has the biggest desire to help others, he’s been in the office awhile now, 6 months, and he might go 7 to help in the training of the new couple, the Moran’s , who just arrived today. Transfer week is upon us so were just not sure whats going to happen. He leaves in April, so he’ll get a good few months out in the field before the end comes.
Man it comes quick, the weeks are flying.You asked about our proselyting time, its been very limited lately as we’ve been swallowed up in things to do since the other couple left, but I think in 2 weeks we’ll be back to normal, and oh how I want to be, Imiss going out and talking with others, There’s nothing like it, and this last 6 months, that’s the good time of the mission, you finally feel comfortable with it all, Its been fun, and the office has been great, but I hope I get that last 6 weeks as a normal proselyting missionary to leave it all out on the field.
This week our great experience came as we visited a less active family, tha Carandangs who really want to make it back to the temple. It is honestly amazing how spiritually mature this couple is, they are both in their 60’s and have been members since the early 80’s, but had a time where they just fell away, but through an inspired left turn, and being in a place where we normally wouldn’t go, at a time that really wasn’t common for anyone to be outside, they were outside and we saw them and are helping them in that process to come back. This week they weren’t able to attend church, as we visited them later that night there was a solemnity in the air, we asked how their week was and they said that there niece had just died in childbirth, and neither the baby nor mother made it, we stayed silent for a moment and soaked it in, and then asked about what the plans were moving forward. They said to us that they would happily be the speakers at her funeral and that they weren’t able to attend church earlier so they could attend to the legal matters, as well as healing their family members because of the death. Nanay said, you know, everyone in my family calls me a p[positive thinker, but I know its just the gospel in my life. I feel at peace, she said, I know that if it wasn’t for the gospel I wouldn’t have made it through this trial,It seems like the trials have doubled since we came back to church just a few weeks ago, but I know god wants us to grow, so he really has given us a lot to grow from these past few weeks. She burned with testimony. It made me think about their situation, there is a whole lot of real world problems going on in their lives aside from the death in the family, but she continued in faith and commited to come to church this week, her outlook on life, and death is completely different because of the gospel, she has been changed by her testimony of Jesus and his atonement, I was glad that our visit was able to help each one of us in the room to be edified.
As I look at the Philippines, I see so much good, god has created in the short span of 50 years priesthood men and women, It is truly amazing, he can take what the world calls a foreign faith, plant it in foreign soil and in such a short span of time, using the extremely limited capacity of mortal man, produce such tremendous fruit, It’s his work, It continues to roll forth, the lords hand is brewing over the Philippines, Time is so worldly, and as we glimpse into the future, I can see this land and all others on this earth and others coming to thrive and develop because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, because of his church, and the life changing power it has.
So that’s the week, I know the gospels true, remember that.
I love you, You deserve longer letters,
Dad, Im excited to talk to everyone I can about being a health care executive. Thanks for being my number 1 fan always.
Mom, I love you
Tuck, Bay, Aimee, Coop, Keep doing what your doing, be good, and get ready to be amazing missionaries some day.
Max, thanks for serving the Lord, it means the world to me.
Love you all forever
Elder Johnson ii
No comments:
Post a Comment