Hey Family,
Man what a week, it's Wednesday, not the normal e-mail day, we've had a really interesting few days, The past week has been absolutely fantastic, filled with alot of changes here in the office, Elder Talanoa is no longer here, he's been transferred to the island of Marinduque, It was hard to say goodbye to him, but I know its a blessing that he has time to get out and serve others to his fullest capacity, I'm thankful for the things he has taught me. The other change is in the Assistants, Elder Bodkin my batchmate was transfered last thursday alongside Elder Talanoa, He is going to spend his last 5 weeks in Lucena, try and get things rolling there again. Elder Burbidge, form Washington is the new assistant, he has amazing faith, a great attitude and a real willingess to serve the Lord, It's been fun to see him adjust to the roll, and see how the lord has helped him to develop charity and see the good in each missionary, its fun to talk with him each night and see how we can help the mission to develop that culture of righteousness. Elder Daduya is now my new companion in our threesome here in the office, he's a filipino, and has a n amazing attitude, he has a quiet dignity about him, he just does his job with a smile not expecting any sort of reward, he's taught me a lot already.
We had the chance to deep clean the house on Wednesday, I forgot how nice it is to live in cleanliness, all the other housemates seem pretty keen on cleanliness, its been good, it's a real principle that the spirit can be felt in greater abundance in a clean home. Its hard to maintain often but as we put forth the effort, just as in all other things, the blessings come
We keep learning and growing each day, we have different challenges that we face each day, different things come up, but were becoming better as an office in communicating, letting each other know whats going on each day, and helping one another in our various assigments. Its been fun to see how the experiences I've had the past few months are able to answer questions and be be of some assistance as we go through the weeks.
We have been out working alot the past few days, I feel that in the past there was a certain unnecessary anxiety felt over office duties that could have possibly waited for a later date for completion, Its been good to have some new Elders in here that I'm training at the position. I think the work outside the office and the work inside got kind of backwards, we've really been focusing on not letting that happen anymore, We are working missionaries, the office is just simply an added responsibility and not a career, I really want to impress upon these two new office Elders is to never get those two swapped around, We are going to leave the office every night we can to go out and teach, The salvation of souls comes before our duties in the office. I have felt that as we put studies and proselyting first, the hours in the office become more efficient, more gets done, the day seems to go by quickly and in the end you find that somehow you were able to fit it all in, There is SO much work to be done here in Alaminos ward, and were excited to do it.
There are certain days in the mission that really make you reflect on the past two years, this past Monday an Tuesday being a few of them, Monday evening we left on a bus for Manila with the 18 other amazing Elders and Sisters who will be departing on December 30th. We stayed Monday evening in the Manila Airport Hotel, we slept pretty sound after our trip to the world famous Mall of Asia. It was an amazing feat of architecture, Every single department store you can think of was there. It was amazing to think of how much money was inside of those walls, It was a bit of a shock to see how much there really is to buy and it made me think of how the mission has taught me that that even if a person had the money to buy each and every thing there that there still would be a lack of true contentment in their life. It made me think of how wealth is truly just another tool god has established on the earth to help us to learn to develop attributes like his, If we seek wealth to establish his kingdom, he may bless us with it, AI feel often times he chooses not too because he knows what effect it would have on us if he did, I saw many examples of what it can do to a person on Monday night. It was strange to think that I was already there in the hotel in Manila, that that was the 30 day mark, but nothing made me realize how close the finish is like the day after. Tuesday we woke up and ate breakfast as a group in the hotel restaurant, and took the short ride over to the immigrations office. It was interesting to see just how many people were there, every skin color on the earth was there. I talked with a chinese man who knew broken Tagalog, I spoke with a nun from a small island called Malter off the coast of Europe, I talked with an Indian Doctor who got his PhD from Oxford and was living in the Philippines. and the best part was I was able to place a Book of Mormon with a Nigerian catholic priest. It was amazing to see the blend of cultures and It made me think of how god really has a place in his heart for each culture, that there is no race he doesn't love, Its amazing to think of how he has created culture once more as a tool for each of us to overcome natural tendencies and become like Christ, to disregard common culture to conform to the culture of Christ.
After the immigration office, we made our way over to one of the greatest place on the face of the earth, the Manila Temple, I've driven by it several time in my time here in the Philippines, but I cannot describe what joy I felt at the thought that this time I had the chance to go inside. It was an emotional time as we entered in and felt a silence that I haven't felt in two years, we went back out and were greeted by some old friends, Sister Vanessa Aotriz, and Sister Malig, two former sisters here in San Pablo Mission, and after the shock of seeing those two, we saw Raymond Calling, former Elder Calling, a dear friend of mine from the mission, and lastly Elder Diamse, my companion from the MTC, I just wrapped him up so tight, Its was so great to see how much he's grown, there was just this light about him, I loved it. We entered in all together to the session, we got dressed and I enjoyed a quiet moment just looking at myself in all white and thought that there was nowhere else i'd rather be. I felt complete. The session was amazing, I listened so intently to everything said and listened as the spirit testified to the truth of the promised blessings accompanying our covenants made in the the temple. It went so fast, The best part came as we entered the celestial room, I saw Elder Diamse there, we embraced and he headed out, I went over and sat down on the chair and wathced as the sisters came in, then Elder Bodkin, I looked at him, and then over at SIster Aotriz and as we made eye contact, I was overcome with the spirit, thinking about all the amazing people I was surrounded by and the amazing journey the past two years has been, the tears started flowing,
I went in with questions about what to do when I get home, but I feel I was answered frankly, I heard a voice saying Son, finish your mission and let everything fall into place. I know that that is what is best and thats what i'll do.
As we walked out of the temple and looked out at the billowing clouds in the skies of Manila a ray of sun came through as if the heavens were literally opening, I turned around to see the smog of manila turned a purple and orange by the setting sun and I realized how much I never wanted to leave that moment, In the best place, with the best people, in the best two years of my life. It was amazing. I'll never forget it.
So that was the week, I'll see you guys so soon, and I know the reunion will be joyous. Thanks for all your prayers
Mom Thanks for your help with BYU,
Dad, Keep it up Im praying for you
Max, thaks for your excitement, keep your head up, nothing easy is ever worth it!
Little ones, Man I cant wait to see you, Know how much I love you
Thanks for the Christmas pics :)
Love
Elder Johnson ii
