Week 20, May 27 - June 2, 2013 Joel, Kathy, and Eden baptized! Rainy season begins....sheets of rain

Hey everyone,

This week was great, Elder Sembrano is awesome, my tagalog has gotten so much better in just the week alone, he dosent speak much english, Im trying to help him, But really no complaints, hes a good guy. This week it was the baptism of Joel Kathy and Eden. The 3 investigators that Elder Knight and I started teaching. It was great. Everything went well. We had the Sister missionaries from Tayabas there, we had some members of their families there, We wanted to have more investigators there, we invited everyone, we called again the day of, but something always seems to come up and their not able to make it. It was a good service, we felt the spirit. You could see the change in their countenance. I know they'll be great members. It was a long time that we spent teaching them, But its good because I know their truly converted. They're converted because of the teachings of the church, not to the missionaries who brought them to them.

But the funny part is yesterday, before the confirmation, we realized that Kathy's real name is Katrina. I said kathy in the prayer, so luckily, inspired by the Lord, I had left my baptismal clothes there at the church to dry overnight, bishop hadnt drained the font, and there was an extra set of dry baptismal clothing that Kathy fit into, so we had all we needed to get it done before the 3rd hour when Kathy was confirmed.I know the Lord knows when we make mistakes, and for something as big as the ordinance of baptism, he'll provide a way to get it done, but boy did I feel sheepish, Bishop Alpuerto, the Lucban Bishop was a little bit upset with us, but as time went on He just laughed about it, boy was it a crazy sunday! This is just one of the Life lessons im learning here in the philippines, gods a god of order and his records are there for a reason, they are truly important to the work!!

Im jealous of al the family out for the wedding! I miss you guys,

The rainy season is starting here in the phils, Its like nothing Ive ever seen, just sheets of rain that can tear right through your average umbrella and soak through any bag! But I love it. Everyone here is walking around with a big jacket and a sweatshirt, but it still feels like a summer night in utah to me ha,

I know the gospel is true and Im thankful for it,

Read the Book of Mormon!!

Love Elder Johnson

Week 19, May 20 - 26, 2013 A new companion, Elder Sembrano, Eden, Joel, and Kathy scheduled for baptism

Hey Family!

So Elder Knight is home, and I'm here with my new companion, Elder Sembrano. He's Bicyan, from Mindanao and he's a really cool guy. He is taller than me, and really slim, which is different from alot of the fiippinos i've been around.He's a really good teacher, he's been in the mission a year and a half, so he'll be finished with his mission here pretty soon. He's got a strong testimony.

The week went well, I enjoyed working with Elder Mendoza, I learned alot working in a different place and being with a different companion. It makes you better. The work in Lucena is alot different than here in Lucban, Here in Lucban the wealth distribution is relatively the same. Everyone has that 2 story concrete house. But in Lucena there are 8's and 9's (we rate the houses here in the mission from 1 to 10, for tractng puroses and establishng he church, you want houses between 4 and 10, but you rarely see a 10) everywhere, but then you'll have a whole barangy of houses behind those 8's and 9's where there are dirt floors and a rickety lean too houses all clustered together. Its different, but it was good to see how the gospel message is the same to everyone who hears it, regardless of your situation. We have three baptisms coming up his week, Eden, Joel, and Kathy. Its been a long process with these 3 but I know they are ready now. We are inviting everyone we can. We have told them to invite all their friends and family, and the Ward Mission Leader and Bishop here are great, so hopefully everything will run smooth.

Im excited for that, transfer day was cool, everyone in my batch looks a little older already! It's crazy how many missionaries are coming into the mission and 60% are sisters!. 31 total missionaries in this next batch, and 25+ in the next 4 or 5 so president says he needs people to train. Hopefully next transfer I can!

The work is going good, l'll keep working hard, I hope everyone is well!

The gospel is true, I love you all,

Elder Johnson

Week 18, May 13 - May 19, 2013 Elder Knight heading home, Zach's new companion, Elder Mendoza, 13 investigators at church!, Joel and Kathy commit to baptism

Hey Family!

So this week is pretty crazy, It was the Pahiyas festival, I got my camera stolen, I finished my training, Elder Knight is on a plane home, I have a new companion, Elder Mendoza, the ZL here in Lucena, and transfer day isnt until thursday, so i guess ive stepped up to Zone Leader for a week!

Lots of change! but its good, change means progression. I'll meet my new companion on thursday. Hopefully he's Filippino, My tagalog is getting alot better just in the 2 days ive had with Elder Mendoza. Hes Bicyan, (from the south) so he speaks so fast, you wouldn't believe it. It is the coolest thing when he talks as fast as he can. I dont know howhis tounge can form all the words! Hes a good guy, and a great leader. His Dad is a District Leader in Mindanao and Elder Mendoza will definetly go on to do great things to establish the church here in the Philippines.

The work was a little bit pangit this week, we didnt get too many lessons because of the festival. Many people were out, but the lessons we taught were good quality. We taught with power we had prepared good lesson plans and it was a great feeling to have the spirit be so strong. It was a testament to obedience, and sunday was even more of a testament as we had 13 investigators at church, 13! That never happens! We committed Joel and Kathy to be Baptized on June 1st. They will be great members, Im looking forward to that. The work is moving forward here in Lucban pretty well.

The MTC is 60% Sisters and 40% Elders, the mission will be that way soon. We have 21 incoming missionarys, 11 sisters, and 10 Elders!

It makes me think I might be transfered and Lucban might become a sisters area. I hope not, but I know its all in the Lords hands.

So thats the week, Elder Knight worked hard until the end. I was proud of him! I gave him my info, i'd e-mail his mom to get the homecoming info!

Im feeling blessed,

Love you guys

-Elder Johnson

In answer to some questions we asked him, he responded:

Elder Mendoza and Elder Haws were the Zone leaders, but Elder haws became the new office elder, hes being trained right now in san pablo, and Elder Knight is in san pablo for 2 days before he flys home wednesday as well so its me and Mendoza whos been here a year and 8 months as Zone Leaders until Thursday. I hope im not transfered! But if I am its alright, It would be col to have Elder Mendoza as a companion here in Lucban.. We wont know whats happening until thursday.

Of the 13, 3 are deaf. It was pretty amazing to have that many there, and it gets the ward excited about missionary work.

I can translate the sacrament meeting from tagalog to english sign language now, its really helped my understanding of the language, now I just gotta work on the speaking.

Great pic of max and tuck at the temple. tuck is sooo tall now!

Week 17, May 6 - May 12, 2013 Mother's Day Call Home!!

Today we heard from Zach for Mother's Day (6 p.m. Utah time). It was so special to see his face and hear him laugh and to know how comfortable he feels in the Philippines. He feels at home and we could tell how much he is loving his mission and the people there.

Week 16, April 29 - May 5, 2013

Hey family!

Im sorry we didnt get to go back and forth, we had Zone P-day! It was the BOMB! I went to the coolest beach ever! It was so clear and the water was so warm, it took just about all my will to not take a swim, It was a beauty! Im glad to hear your doing well! Max, How big can a guy get! 2nd in the state! Thats awesome dude! Tuck, sorry for the loss, Wrestling is a good sport, youll like it. Elder knight was a state champ at Mountain Crest high in Providence.I hope the rest of you in plays are doing well!

This week was great! All our investigators are back and attending church, it seemed as though they plateaued for a little while there, with church being in Lucena for Stake and General Conference, but they're back, and still excited to feast upon the word. We have been working hard with our less actives. We are working our way through the Ward directory here in Lucban. Its a little rough if we cant get a member to work with us. The addresses are fairly vague and with so many people that have the same last name in one Barangy, If you don't have someone who knows them personally like a member, to help you in finding, it becomes quite the task. It seems like we ask and ask and many times when we arrive at the house were told that they've either moved, or are deceased. But as soon as it gets a little rough and I'm starting to wonder if we've wasted our time, that's when we find someone, one of the lost sheep that hasn't had anyone from the church come talk to them in years. and more often than not they are willing to talk to you.

We sit down and get to know them and then slowly through that Inspired Teaching Method they open up and we can share a little bit, and get a feel for where their testimony is at, but the first thing we do is read. Many of these less actives don't even know where their Book of Mormon is! forget reading it, they haven't even seen it in 10 years! Its like President said, not reading the Book of Mormon is the reason that they become inactive, so it makes sense that the only way for them to make that change, to develop that testimony again, to remember the spirit, and to act in faith unto repentance is through doing the opposite, that is, reading the book. Elder Knight and I have read 1 Nephi 1 and 2 probably over 100 times with different investigators and less-actives who haven't read, but each time, the spirit is there, and if an investigator is having a problem we ask them to look for the answer as we read, and every time we come up with an answer within just those two chapters. The scriptures are amazing that way. The past few weeks have been the greatest in my life in strengthening my testimony of that book. I have been reading a blank copy the past few weeks and marking the verses according to the topic in mind, the topic of repentance and the stories have never been clearer. Repentance isn't the same anymore. Every chapter god urges his people through his prophet to repent through his sons atonement. To act in faith unto repentance. Its simple, yet so profoundly important. Repentance isn't just a principle to me anymore. Through prayer and reading, its become a part of me and its an amazing thing.

Thanks to your prayers, we found 4 new investigators and they're soo great! But we have to get them reading! This week was Zone interviews. Those were fun. Presidents kind of an intimidating guy. My interview went good but Elder Knight said that the first thing President said to him was "Elder Im disappointed in you." he said that he isnt making my mission hard enough. He says all my letters ave been upbeat, they say that the work is good, that the ward is good, that I understand the language. "Where is the pain, wheres the hurt?" he asked Elder Knight. He wants letters saying that the work is hard, that its so hot, the food is bad, that I cant understand anyone, but he hasn't heard anything like that from me. He didn't really know what to say, and neither did I, I've wanted to do this my whole life, and I really do understand people, the work really is good, and its such a good place here, once you realize what message you have to bring its hard to complain. I like president, and Sister and I hope they like me too.

It was a good week, and next week we get to skype! I set up an account!

Really work on that connection and make sure you have skype set up! I'll be on at 8 am monday here thats 5pm sunday night your time!

I love you guys! The church is true!~

Elder Johnson

Week 15, April 22 - April 28, 2013 Taught a youth workshop in Tagolog! And surviving rides in JEEPNEYS

Hey Family!

So not too much news this week, It was just another week of working hard with our investigastors. They are all progressing really well, but its hard because we cant baptize them unless they come to church for 4 weeks straight, Its kind of tough to get people to church if its in Lucena every other week like it has been for general conference and stake conference the past few weeks, its a good 60 pesos for each person to get there and back which even though its $1.50 In the US, is quite a financial hit for many people here, but now that church is here in Lucban, we shouldnt have any trouble getting them there! Hopefully at the end of 4 weeks we'll have all these investigators who are ready to finally enter the waters of baptism.

This week we got a call from the stake president of the Las Pinas stake in Manila. They were having their youth conference close to Lucban and he was wondering if we would come give a workshop. So we prepared a workshop, but as we got there he told us that we would each be teaching a different workshop, and it would be in tagalog. So I was terrified, there were about 150 youth there that we each had to teach, so I was speaking in my broken tagalog about how to use the scriptures in our teaching. But thanks to the spirit and the few jokes ive learned in tagalog, I think they were both entertained and got the message! It was a good experience.

The thing I learned this week is that sometimes the best teaching tool is just being a friend. We had a less active come to church who hasnt been in 10 years, just because slowly but surely weve been visiting his house, asking how hes doing and he felt that spirit once again, he remembered the truthfulness of what he once knew and he wants to come back to it. Thats what its all about is seeing that change, I love it!

Ill keep working hard Thaqnks for all the support!

Love Elder Johnson


The teaching is good! We have about 6 progressing investigators who are wanting t get baptized but just havent made it to church for the 4 weeks straight. But in the next four weeks we should have all of them baptized, but that will be after Elder Knight gets home. One of them is a couple and they are golden! They are so excited for the temple and I hope they can make it there within the year after their baptism! we are working hard on finding. Weve gotten alot of referrals, but they arent really progressing. The members give referrals but they dont really prepare them, everyone thats progressing right now is who we tracted. Its kind of been a slow decrease in the numbers, but were still working hard. We mostly walk, its hard on the shoes, theres open gutters here in the phils and the roads are pretty rugged. Sometimes if were leaving the main bayan we ride in jeepneys, their basically big tin cans that roll down the road! Their made of aluminum and they try to squeeze as many people into them as possible! The driver goes about 40Kmh over the speed limit and sometimes you think you might not live through it! Its like the indiana jones ride every time your on a jeepney!
we also have tricycles that get you places, their just a small 550 ccf motor with a side car on it. Theres only two areas with bikes, and only tw areas with a car, so its mostly just walking for us!


Elder Knight has 21 days left. pretty crazy! and I think my next companion will proboably be Filippino! I just heard imagine dragons and flashed back to home for a second! Pretty crazy how music can do that!

I think the only things I really miss is you guys and Disco skate! If a song has been catchy in the last 50 years, they still play it to this day in the phils. SO I think Ive heard every song they play at disco riding around in the jeeps or trikes or blaring from the speakers at peoples houses! I love it here and I hope you guys can come back and experience everything with me some day!

Week 14, April 15 - April 21, 2013 - 1st baptism - Michael is baptized!

Hey family, I'm feeling the love! Thanks for all your e-mails!

Its great to hear how everyone's doing! Props to the new Attorney General at Alta High!

This week was pretty great, guess what, through lots of work and through faith, We got a baptism! Michael was baptized on Saturday, and I had the opportunity to perform the baptismal proper, It was so great! He's one of our deaf investigators. The service was simple, but beautiful. The spirit was strong, It was so great to see that glow in him afterwards. Its fun to be able to talk to him in sign language and see how he is feeling. Hes a good kid and he was so prepared. I gave him a polo and a tie and he was looking sharp when he got confirmed on Sunday. I really don't think I've felt as much Joy as I do right now in my life. It just feels good to share this happiness, the absolute, unvarying, truth of the gospel with other people. It just feels good to do good. That was the first of hopefully many opportunities I'll have to see someone commit to god, and make that change. Thats what its all about, a change of heart. Through hearing the word of god peoples hearts are changed and "they have no more disposition to do evil.. but good continually" I love It!

Were teaching a man who is Muslim. I was a little sketched out at first because here in the Philippines, the people of Islam aren't usually regular Islamic followers, they're radicals who aren't too open to other faiths! But we called president about it and we've been teaching him for awhile, hes read a little bit in the Book of Mormon, but its rough because he dosent have that strong belief in Jesus Christ. But on thursday we stopped by his house and taught him Lesson 2, The plan of salvation. We had the focus on Christ and his atonement. We read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and explained that absolutely everything we teach hinges on that book. We promised him that if he read it he'd get an answer. He says that he knows he will, He said he knows the plan of salvation is true, It makes sense, he said. Its been so great to see him open up little by little, and see that faith in christ that he didnt have before, become planted, and start to grow.Its a beautiful thing!

Those are kind of the spiritual highlights of the week!

We havent struggled with spiders much up until now, but this week it was terrifying! There was a wolf spider or gumba in tagalog that was as big as two of my hands! Elder Knight is terrified of spiders, and im not going to lie, we wouldn't go up the staircase for about 10 minutes until we finally got the courage to run up there and shut the door to our room behind us. After another 10 minutes of wondering what to do about it we decided we'd leave the light on on the back porch and open up the screen door a little bit and hopefully it would be attracted by the light and slowly move out! When we woke up in the morning it was gone, but now I feel im paranoid that its going to crawl out when im using the bathroom! but its alright, this is the philippine! Im just glad to be here!

Tagalog is coming great, the accent dosent bother me anymore, and I love talking with people! I keep learninjg new words to improve my teaching, but it feels good to finally be conversational.

The gospels true and the book is blue, If you havent read it, please read it and if youve read it do it again!

I love all of you so much

With love from the Philippines,

Elder Johnson