Family
Thanks for the email, everyone seems to be doing well, I like tuckers date, she seems genuine. Your an example of courage to me Tuck, way to just go for it, Maximo looks like a young Johnny Depp, Handsome devil, woof haha I hope you guys had fun.
Wow, I just realized yesterday I only have 12 more letters, 12 more updates, 12 more weeks in the best 2 years. Its really been strange, We've had to do a few drives over the past few days, many to Lucban, and back through Tayabas where I had my first district meeting , I got a few letters from those in past areas in the pouch system talking about how great the blessings of the Lord have been since their conversion to him and his church, and it really got the nostalgia going, I thought of how truly amazing the past 2 years have been, I thought of how many people the Lord has placed in my path that have changed me, and I really thought of how small my roll was in his work, but by really trying to do my part no matter how small it was, how much I have grown. I saw how true the saying by Jeffery R, Holland was in conference, He said
"A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city. He said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had. “What we do is nothing but a drop in the ocean,” she would say on another occasion. “But if we didn’t do it, the ocean would be one drop less [than it is].” Soberly, the journalist concluded that Christianity is obviously not a statistical endeavor. He reasoned that if there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety and nine who need no repentance, then apparently God is not overly preoccupied with percentages."
If we think of how small of a statistical part we all play in our influence on the world at large as one person, the numbers are laughable, so why then with so little physical results do we continue to get the reassurance that God is pleased with the work we are doing? I came to the conclusion that God really dosen't care about how you are emulated in his service, but what he does care about is how his service is emulated in you.
I can bare testimony that his holy arm is manifest in every nation, that the stone cut out of the mountain without hands continues to roll forth, and it will continue to roll forth regardless of our participation or lack there of in it. Its absolutely amazing to see what he is brewing in this amazing land of the Philippines, all we need is the patience to see it all play out. I was reminded of a quote I read by Neal A. Maxwell, He said.
"When the veil which encloses us is no more, time will also be no more, Even now, time is clearly not our natural dimension. Thus it is that we are never really at home in time. Alternately, we find ourselves impatiently wishing to hasten the passage of time or to hold back the dawn. We can do neither, of course. Whereas the bird is at home in the air, we are clearly not at home in time—because we belong to eternity. Time, as much as any one thing, whispers to us that we are strangers here. If time were natural to us, why is it that we have so many clocks and wear wristwatches?"
I've often thought of that, the church here in the Philippines is not perfect, many times things don't function, often I've been in tears as I thought of how much more I thought people could benefit from it if it was perfect, If it did function, if they just did a little bit more, I looked for the bad, but immediately as I changed the way I was looking, as I developed true patience, I understood that It wasn't my church, that it's Gods and that he's been at the head of it longer that anyone else, I began to see the good, I thought of fathers that had been in the bondage of vile sin that had been freed by the atonement in their lives, I thought of priesthood quorums, and of families sealed in the house of the Lord, and all of the hours of service that had been exerted and the many many lives that had been touched by the spirit in the short 50 years the church has been here.
If we think of statistics, time is often included, we know God is not concerned with it in the slightest bit, We are strangers in it. When faced with problems that seem daunting, Gordon B. Hinkley often said, "Don't worry, things will work themselves out". He had learned patience,
Patience is what helps us to look at the world with new
eyes.it makes the seemingly menial everyday actions of Church membership no longer menial, but exhilarating and preparation for an eternal inheritance, Times of trial only when viewed from beyond the bars of time can be viewed as a blessing.
I know its true.
Those are just a few thoughts, I've grown to love pondering.
The word is I'll finish up my mission here in the office, Im still with Elder Talanoa, He is doing great, Its a blessing to be with him, the Morans are coming along and learning their responsibilities with ease.
I'm happy and healthy. trying to do more to get as big as Tucker, as well as to help ELder Talanoa lose some weight (we even tried bench pressing the bed) we rode bikes this morning around the lake, Thank you for your prayers I can feel them, they strengthen me.
Im so thankful for all your influences, collectively and individually on me. Our family is litteraly
the best on earth. Remember that.
I love you all
Elder Johnson ii
We are going to look at an apartment for some sisters, Im in the middle of my extremely extensive and detailed report of the week, I'll finish it when I get back and email it to you with some really really awesome pictures.
Max keep going, keep enjoying it, dont just endure, but enjoy. Write down all the weird stuff you see, because eventually it dosen't seem weird anymore, I promise. Love each moment,
I love you both
Elder Johnson
