December 5, 2014 - Typhoon Update

Dear Philippines San Pablo Mission Family,

You are probably already aware of Typhoon Hagupit, locally referred to as Ruby, which is off of the coast of the Philippines and headed our way. We have been tracking the storm for the past few days and have been working to prepare our missionaries for its arrival. The latest projections show it is tracking directly toward our mission and it will arrive sometime this weekend or early next week. The speed of the storm has been decreasing so it is difficult to estimate when it will reach us. 

All of our missionaries have been alerted to prepare for the storm and have been given very specific instructions about how to prepare. We are working to relocate missionaries from coastal lines and areas that might be prone to flooding, mudslides, etc. We are being overly cautious and conservative in the approach we are taking to protect your missionaries. 

Given the timing of the storm, you may not receive an email on Monday, which is your normal day to hear from your missionary. Don’t panic if you don’t hear from them. In July we lost internet service for a period of time following the storm and I assume we will have the same experience with this storm. I will allow your missionary to email home as soon as services have been restored. As soon as possible following the storm, I will send an email confirming that everyone is well and accounted for and give you a brief update.

Please continue to keep our missionaries and the Philippines in your prayers. Our hope and prayers are that the storm will weaken as it reaches us and all of our preparations will have been unnecessary. We are preparing for the worst while praying and hoping for the best.

Thanks for the amazing sons and daughters you have consecrated to the Lord’s service. It is Sister Mangum and I’s great privilege to serve them and serve with them!

President Mangum

July 24, 2014? - Letter from Mission President - Typhoon Update

Dear Parents,

Most if not all of you are aware that we recently had a typhoon visit our beautiful Philippines San Pablo Mission. It arrived Tuesday evening and lasted through the night into the early morning hours of Wednesday. We had warned all of our missionaries Tuesday morning of the pending typhoon and that its path would cut across our mission, so they were well prepared and had taken cover well in advance of the storm.

Following the storm, our first concern was to assure that all of our missionaries were safe and in good condition. The storm knocked out our power, cell phones, internet, and water in virtually all areas of our mission which limited our ability to establish contact immediately. Many of the roads were closed or clogged with downed trees, power lines, etc. Our cell phone service was the first of our services to be restored on Wednesday and we started reaching out to our missionaries. Thursday morning we went forward with our transfer day as planned and about half of our missionaries were at the Mission Home that day to pick up their new companions allowing us to check on them. We have been in contact with all of our missionaries and I assure you they are safe and healthy. I am amazed at the resiliency of these great missionaries.

Much of our mission still does not have power as I am writing this message my Friday night. Power was restored to the area around the Mission Home about noon today. Tomorrow we will need to drive outside of our mission to the closest location with internet service in order to send this email. Local crews are working around the clock to restore power to the balance of the areas as quickly as possible. Each of our missionaries are well prepared with sufficient supplies and we will continue to monitor the situation from day to day and take any necessary steps to assure their wellbeing.

Depending on when power and internet services are restored, you may or may not receive an email from your missionary this Monday. If they are unable to send an email Monday, we will have them send one as soon as possible following the restoring of services.

Sister Mangum and I will begin a two week tour of the mission next Tuesday to conduct interviews with each of the missionaries as part of our normally scheduled interview cycle. We look forward to seeing each of the missionaries and being able to check on them personally.

Thanks for sending us such well prepared and consecrated missionaries. You can be very proud of them for their dedication and devotion to this sacred work of the salvation of our Heavenly Father’s Children.

Sincerely,

President Bart A. Mangum

Sister Renae J. Mangum

Return home pictures - December 30, 2014

Week 101, December 15 - December 21, 2014

Family,

Merry Christmas!!

Well here goes, next time I email you I will be 1 day from takeoff, Man how time flies.

I want to share, this week I had the opportunity to go back to Lucban and attend church there. Needless to say I was excited to see everyone, we left Saturday, we waited out on the highway and took the classic means of transportation, the 1990’s ,Mitsubishi van with faded black and pink leather seats, a van meant for 3 rows but somehow they managed to put in 4,  up into the mountains, it was great to see that view again, the green mountains with the clouds of fog running down like water, Its amazing.

We came into Lucban and It was almost like coming back home, everything looked familiar, I remembered all sorts of little moments that I shared with my companions while working there, the Bakery where we would buy asado bread, the eatery across from the house, the roads where we walked and talked with so many people, the plaza where we taught the deaf each night, It was all so crisp in my memory, It was like it happened yesterday. So needless to say the emotions were running high,

We went to the apartment first, and while passing through the door I remembered where on my second day after church as a result of jet lag and fasting had passed out on the ground out of exhaustion and sleeping for about an hour before Elder Knight woke me up and helped me up to the 3^rd floor to the bed. Elder Encinares was talking with the other Elders downstairs so I went up the steep stairs by myself to the 2^nd floor, and I turned left to our study room, there was a mirror hanging on the banister across the room, as I looked into the mirror, I remembered my first day in that room, I remember how honestly scared I was, I remember thinking I am so alone, far from my house, I can’t speak Tagalog, we’re re-opening, I don’t know what to do. I was so filled with doubt. But as I walked into the room and looked into the mirror I thought about how God had taken that frightened, doubtful 18 year old boy and over the past 2 years has nurtured his faith, increased his knowledge of the gospel and helped him to become something so much more than he could have become on his own, and when I thought of his love for me, the tears started to flow.

 I got control of myself and we were able to have the best 2 days ever, visiting with those who were baptized in my time there, seeing their lives change so much in just the short time I’ve been away, finding them active and anxiously engaged in the Lord’s work, seeing them with their family members whom they have invited also to partake of the gospel and the happiness it gives. It’s the best Christmas gift I could ask for, it gave me a glimpse of the divine.

Man what a mission it has been, Its been the best choice I have ever made, I have finished my course with joy, and I know this next week will be hard as I say goodbye to the country and people I love, but as I think about it, change is constant, It’s the only thing that really is, and I know this is just the start, and what a start its been.

I know Jesus lives, God the Father loves us, this is His Church, and he leads and guides us today through a living prophet

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Love you,

Elder Johnson ii

Week 100, December 8 - December 14, 2014

Hey Mom! Im on! How are you guys? Im reading your update right now, Its hard to believe I only have one more p-day left after this! It goes by way to fast

Family

Its really amazing to think that I'll see you guys in just 2 short weeks, It will be amazing to come down that escalator and run to give you all that big hug I waited 2 years for. For Max it'll come faster than you realize!

I was thinking directly from the airport we should go to the temple square lights! I'd love that.

Its also sad to think of all the faces I've grown to love that I'll be leaving here in the Philippines. 

Its strange I hear as you get older naturally you start to think about experiences you've had, Ive felt that way a little bit this past week, Im old in the mission, and often find myself just reflecting alot on all the experiences i've had, all the Lord has taught me and thinking how I can wrap it all up and apply it in my life after the mission. Its been amazing this week to study the atonement and realize how extremely little we really understand about that event, but realizing that as He always does the Lord has given us enough information to help us to understand, accept and apply it in our lives.

Its been fun to be out and doing the Lords work as christmas is close, last year I think the Christmas season here in the Philippines was so foreign to me I didnt appreciate all the amazing traditions they have and how even thouh its in a different place, its not how i'm used to celebrating it, the spirit of Christ is still there, its a time that binds families and boints their thought towards our savior. I love it and am looking forward more than ever to it just 10 days from now. 

The work is great, I feel good and everything is looking up. I feel overwhelmingly blessed.

If you havent yet watch the video He is the Gift on lds.org. and think of ways that you can #share the gift!

I love you all so much.

With Love

Elder Johnson ii

Hey I think i'll just do the BYU application and really give it some though once I get home, its not due until Feb 1, I think if I stay focused now and give this last two weeks to the Lord, he'll bless me with what I need to say in answer to those questions when I get home.

has it snowed in the valley yet?

Im in a pretty sketchy internet shop, so I dont want to put my card in the computer, next week i'll send alot of pictures!

Week 99, December 1 - December 7, 2014

Hey family, p-day is today! we survived the typhoon yesterday! Im on if you want to go back and forth i'm reading your letters right now.

Hey coop!

I love my new companion! I don't think theres been a companion yet in my mission I haven't loved, you can learn so much from everyone when you see the good in them! Man how I am going to love seeing you again! You guys should wait and we'll celebrate christmas on the 30th when I get back! :)) Thanks for all your letters throughout my my mission coop, I love you so  much!

Never forget that

Elder Johnson

Family!

Thank you for your prayers, we were not as effected as was forecasted by the news in the Baguio, Im healthy and safe, I am thankful the Lord saw fit that it be so. Im a survivor of two of the largets typhoons in history, thats one to tell the kids :)

Man what a week here in Siniloan 2nd Branch,. things are really looking up, the weather was fantastic headed into the Baguio, the people are kind, the house is really shaping up, there are 3 really amazing Elders in there, they all have the potential to be so great, the other companionship Elder Lopez and Elder Alos went this week from days like Tuesday, when according to Elder Encinares my new companion being up at 8:00 and out the only time they were out the door was to be at a dinner appointment at 6:00 p.m. sort of days to days where they follow the schedule and were dressed before we were, Its amazing to feel the difference in the apartment, the spirit was there in great abundance on Friday and Saturday, The first day we really spent some time cleaning the residue of the past few months from the kitchen, off the desks and on the floors. It was amazing to feel the difference, everything looked brighter, we then sat down and planned, Elder Encinares and I sat down and talked about what had been done the past 6 weeks, he openly confessed really nothing had been done besides playing basketball and the occasional lesson. We talked abut those outside of our home who were suffering because they don't know the gospel of Jesus Christ, we came to both a mutual understanding and tinge of sorrow for that lack of knowledge they had and we also realized there was a way to fix it, to get out and work. I took that moment to commit him to repent, he did so willingly and seemed really excited to go out and help others. This branch is absolutely amazing, filled with Return Missionaries and members who are willing to work and excited to see those missionaries who are willing to work with them. So this week we sat down with our branch president as well as several other "key" families and asked for assignments, we've been doing them and reporting back. I can see that slowly the trust is coming back, we are trying to make our way around to each family and get to know them, teach them Lesson 1 and really let them know were here to help. were reading Preach My Gospel and trying to draw from it a new idea that we can apply each day. Its working.

As the time continues to move forward with no hope of stopping it I find myself wringing from each personal and companionship study every drop of revelation I can, I find myself savoring even more the opportunity to help others each day. I find so much joy in doing what the Lord expects me to do. The life of a missionary is a simple one, Its repeated every day, but maybe that's what eternal life is all about, simplicity and spirit combine with good works. Its a surefire formula for success.

Im continuing to read the gospels, how beautiful life would be if each person took one attribute described in the sermon on the mount each day and tried to apply it to their life. It would be truly fantastic the change that would take place in our homes and society. I see the depth in the words of the Master more than ever.

I absolutely love having Elder Encinares as a companion and I'm so excited to continue to do what the Lord expects us to do over the next few weeks. He makes me laugh :)

Thanks for everything

I'll see you guys so soon its not even funny!

With Love

Elder Johnson ii

Week 98, November 24 - November 30, 2014

Hey Family,

I love you guys. 

The week was fantastic, I got some news, I'll be transferred on Wednesday, my new area is Siniloan 2nd ward, in Siniloan Laguna I'll be going there to finish out these last few weeks. Its amazing how God really loves to stretch us. As soon as we feel comfortable he says, my son, that's great, but when your ready to grow once more, let me know.Its 3 Elders that really have been more than a small headache to President Mangum, but seem to have willing hearts and made some strong commitments to change, and we believe they will, but president said that they need a good seasoned veteran who will do what he's supposed to there to help them in the process, so thats where i'll spend my Christmas, that's where the Lord has called me. I'm so excited to see what adventures await!

Yesterday was stake conference here in San Pablo stake, we listened to some very capable leaders strive to guide their stake here to become more established. Its amazing to listen to their council, They provided statistics and talked about goals, and their other focus was on self-reliance, its a doctrine of the gospel that is often hard to hear for a lot of the members here. According to the statistics, over 63 percent of the stake here in San Pablo is either unemployed or not making enough to provide for the daily needs of their family. It was sad to hear, and its so obviously true as you walk around. I have come to know of a certainty on my mission that there is nothing that is temporal, all things truly are spiritual, and the gospel isn't just made to lift us spiritually. but temporally, it teaches the correct principles which when applied in any field, within the church or outside of it produce a good result.Like work, Its a hard thing to do, work, but its something that fits us for celestial glory. Often the peace and spirit that was once brought into the homes and lives of members here in the Philippines is replaced very quickly by the despair and clutching grip of poverty. Its a hard thing to watch, but the Lord has provided a way to overcome that poverty, he has programs set up that aren't being taken advantage of, there is a promise from a prophet of god that if these programs are followed the outcome will be success, I think often times that desire is not there, James E. Faust said something profound he said " The first step to faith in Jesus Christ is desire or want for something more." Often times this is what lacks in each of us, greater consecration often dosen't come as contentment creates a false sense of peace, we always have to want more, in righteousness and as we continue in obedience, god blesses us with what we need and more. Its amazing to see how someone who has the desire for more in their life, when paired with the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ, can completely change. It made me want to have those righteous desires constantly, It reminded me to never be comfortable with the person you were yesterday, because if we get too comfortable we can forfeit the person we can become today and tomorrow and forever. SO choose something today in righteouseness that you don't feel content about, pick a question you don't know the answer too, change something in your personality that you know could be more Christlike, then study it out, go to the Lord in prayer for help, and today he will help you change it, and when it happens, don't be content, do the same thing tomorrow, and next day and forever and slowly through the miracle of the glorious atonement we can be fit to live with god, and stay there eternally.

I know its true.

The time is going too fast, I have 3 more letters, I can't wait to talk face to face, Thanks for the support and prayers. The lord has so much more in store for us.

Love you 

Elder Johnsonii