Week 64, March 31 - April 6, 2014**

Hey family, Im glad your all well!

Mom i'm not sure what my favorite talk was yet., we get to watch it this coming saturday and sunday, were ahead so the times a little off, That sounds like a pretty great story about Kyle. I know the gospel is just what he needs, I would love to see the video clip of bailee, I feel that that would be alright, Its going to be a family staple for years to come! Im excited for tucker and cooper, I cant wait to watch them next year! 

The week went well, it was SOO hot, 105 again, full humidity, I think im 2 shades darker, but its alright because the Lord is blessing us with all sorts of new investigators to teach. Were really trying to focus on less active members as well, theres about 700 on the MLS list here, I think ive only met about 140, they sent us on a new quest this past week as missionaries, it is our duty to find the lost members, there is a whole list of members that are "lost"here in Lemery, and its actually been a really good thing to find part member families as well as others who are prepared, as we walk through the narrow streets asking whoever we see if they know any of these names. Many of them are dead or have moved, and it can be a little discouraging as we walk and get to the house of a former member who died about 10 years ago, but the best is when you find that member who thought the church had forgotten about them, and see their eyes light up as they remember the teachings of the gospel. 

Time is flying, were excited to see some of these people god has blessed us with come into the waters of baptism over the next few weeks!

Yea the church is pretty unorganized, weve made huge strides here in the Phils, but its not established fully yet, its a developing country,and its hard to get those leaders who really understand everything they need to be doing. so conversion is easy, baptism is easy but retention is one of the worst in the world..

Were painting the YM presidents house, ~(the color schemes here i the phils are a little different) his father and mother are non members, and we got the chance to start teaching them through service! 

Week 63, March 24 - March 30, 2014

Bailee won an award last night. She won the Best Actress Under 18 Years Old at the Filmed in Utah Awards last night. She won for her role in The Hanging  Tree. Did you ever see that?

Bailee and Aimee went to women’s conference with Mom yesterday.

Tucker went to  Con Bro Chill concert.

Wow,

What a week for you guys! Thats pretty crazy, Everyone seems so busy! Im glad you guys are all well! DO you guys have a copy of that video from bailees student council gig? I would love to see it :)

The week went really really good for us,

The weather has made a turn for the worst, Its 105 degrees here in Lemery with full humidity, president claims its the hottest place in the San Pablo mission, its the kind of heat where you get a tan line of your tie through your shirt, but Im loving it! we had Zone Conference, It went well, President Peterson is sick, he actually is in the hospital in Manilla right now and wasn't able to teach at Zone can, but were praying for him. The heat has actually been a good thing, its helped us gain the trust of the members as they see that were ready to brave it! 

The AP's came on splits again, Elder Boyd from Hillcrest (who actually went to a dance with Elle Vawdery) worked with me, I actually went on my first exchanges on the mission with him, and it was amazing to see the changes in both of us, were so much better as teachers, and the growth in each person we taught was great to see. The work is looking up here in Lemery, people are progressing, the members are working, and we can really see the hastening begin. 

Im so excited for conference! were working to prepare spiritually for it, 

The cultural joys of this week came as the heat did, as the heat rises, people do all they can to just stay cool, and its not too rare to see a large shirtless man sitting in a kiddie pool next to his water tap. It actually has made for some great opportunities to try and share the gospel as they really cant leave. 

I love the Philippines, and i feel so bblessed for those god has blessed us with to teach here in Lemery, Things are looking up :) 

Yea, that sounds great, once I get the camera situation resolved, ill open up the Drop box account :) Ill try the card again in 48 hrs I got some pics coming from Elder Merrills camera in a few minutes..

That Con Bro Chill thing was great .. She'll get it for sure..Its hilarious :)

. was the Ordination tonight? thats crazyto think about! will he attend elders quorm until he leaves?

Yes he will be in elders quorum starting next week!  So weird... So fast.

I worry about Bailee's chances because she's new to the school and not a lot if people know her. But she wanted to try and I admire her courage

Yea, thats great, just get the name out there, and the video will be a family classic for years and years :)

That's so true:) if noting more, a great video keepsake. You sound do good zach. Are you? I love how much you love the Philippine people. I would love to come out and see it when you've completed your mission...

I hope you can! That would be great.. Im sending some pics right now.. I would love to hear maxs thoughts on the ordination!

Zach he fell asleep he is so exhausted. I will tell him you'd like to know about that. You know max, he'll love to share that with you! He was emotional and was very happy to learn that he can give blessings now. You'd be very proud of your brother and the young man he's become. He reminds me of a boy just two years older than him who is quite amazing himself;)

Yea, im excited to see him in just a few short years.. It goes so fast! Thanks so much for all you've done to help everyone to become, Its actually a very rare thing to have a family as strongly centered on the gospel as I know each of us are as brothers and sisters. The Johnson family is pretty amazing, and I sit back and im just thankful to be a part of it!

Oh my I think I'll cry. We are the lucky ones zach... To see our son become the man you've become is the greatest blessing we could ask for on this earth.

Well Im just glad we'll be able to become all we can together not just here, but in the eternities!

I gotta go! 

Love you all so much :)

Elder Johnson

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!

Week 58, February 17 - February 23, 2014

Hey all, 

Taiwan!, that's pretty cool, Im so excited for you! The world cant handle all the goodness of the gospel god can give through the Johnson family! 

So the week was great! Just another week here in paradise, Lemery Batangas, we were blessed as the heat has lessened, and the clouds and wind have come in here close to the seashore, Its been really great for the work, The weeks are just flying by, It just goes faster and faster, and the days are more effective, and more and more people come closer to Christ through our efforts to live worthy of the spirit. We had to travel again this week to Balayan, Balayan is where the former Elder Knight, and Elder Kartchner served. its got a special place in my heart, and we really wanted to help them get things moving there. Im loving the small changes were seeing everywhere in the Zone from the sessions of weekly planning were doing. Its amazing, I had the thought the other day of what it will be like to plan only for myself, and I didn't like it, It dosen't let you sit down and focus and talk about others and their growth, it dosen't allow that love to flow into your heart as you sit and plan for what you want to see happen in their life over the next set period of time, but as I was studying this past conference, I read the talk Hatening the Lords Gameplan by Elder Nielsen, of the seventy, and he has an Idea in there, he says he prys for the missionarys in his ward and their investigators by name every night, he thinks about them and their spiritual growth and he plans what he can do to help the missionarys to bring these people to the truth. Thats the vision, thats what god needs from every member of the churh, to not just pry for the missionarys not just pray that their minds will be opened to the truth, but think about them, pray for them by name, and god works through our actions, he wants us to find those for them to teach. 

Its an eternal principle, thinking of others allows the spirit to bring to mind things you can do to help them, it allows you to develop greater love for them, as Jesus Christ was suffering in Gethsemane, I know that not one fragment of his soul was ever focused on himself and the pains and suffering unto death that he knew he would endure over the next 24 hours, he was focused, with perfect love on each and every person in the human family to whom salvation and exaltation would be granted on conditions of repentance, and all he asks is for us to follow his example. 

So, family, and friends, do it! contact the missionaries, ask them who their investigators are, pray for them by name, ask how you can help and the Lord will bless you with an increased love for them and for his work. We have to help people feel the effect of the atonement of Jesus Christ in their lives, and we do it by our focus and desire becoming one with that of our Heavenly Father.

I know he lives, I know this is his work, and it cannot move along without each and every one of us giving ourselves up, as Chrsit did for the cause, The church is a kingdom, not simply and establishment, and its our duty to spread it. "After all that has been said the most important duty is to spread the gospel"

Love you all

ELder Johnson  

From Max:

Elder Johnson!!!!! I am going to be 300 miles away from you in six short months...... This week has been incredible... Holy Cow! When i got my call I was so exited.. I hear it is a difficult language and I probably still wont be able to read or write it by the end of my mission.... Then to add my friend just told me that his cousin went to Taipei and said it was hard.. only baptizing three members. But ya know what?! thats okay! Every one deserves to hear the gospel and I am glad Heavenly Father has seen fit to ask me to do something difficult. I feel so blessed and I know that i just need to gain a testimony and be obedient so that I can teach the Taiwanies people with the spirit not with my language skills;) I also know that with faith and Gods will i could baptize the whole island!! So I just gotta have some faith!! Hahaha

Yea, its true, be obedient, its the key! because thats what faith is, and the blessings will flow, man im so excited for you! Elder Knights brother was actually assigned to taiwan as well, so were just backwards, Im in san pablo first your in taiwan last, but you have the right idea, be positive, and dont take into account what others have to say have your own experience, rely on yo0ur own faith and obedience, and you'll do miriacles in the field!

Yea, times almost up! but, 1. The stuff on my6 face is baby powder, filipinos love being white, and they get shy really easy so as a punishment for the loser of the game in family home evening they got a mark of baby powder on their face that they cant rub in, it makes them see how dark their skin is, it so they feel a little shy, and the loser of 3 rounds, everyone puts a full handful on their face or arms, so I lost, and I was covered in baby powder! but they said it really had no effect seeing that im already white haha

Our area is great, lots and lots of wealth, and some poor, but the poverty here is different thatn Lopez, its manageable, they still have running water, things like that, 

Our are is a branch thats on the verge of becoming a ward, weve really sat down with every leader and member and were trying to make a push to become a ward by next year, and it can totally happen, weve seen alot more help from the members, and more cooperation between leaders the focus switched from activities in branch council, to missionary work as the main focus! Its great!

I gotta go, we have to wash clothes and such! But I love you all

Be safe and have fun :)

Elder Johnson