Philippines-Cebu East Mission

Kamusta everyone! This letter is going to be quite long, so bear with me.

I cannot believe that I'm already into my 4th week here at the MTC. I've been here for 3 weeks and 3 days already. That's insane. Time is seriously flying by. 3 1/2 weeks down, 3 more to go. And I'm definitely not ready to leave just yet. I feel like there is still so much for me to learn and do!! But at the same time, I cannot wait to leave for the Philippines.

Here we go! Last week we got a new district, but I completely forgot to mention it in my letter! We have 2 new Elders, and 4 new Sisters. They are all such amazing people. I love them. There is Elder Ngapaku from Australia, Elder Chapple from Idaho!!, Sister Toukitoku and Sister Fotu from Tonga, Sister Su'A from Australia, and Sister Faapito from Samoa. There are so many missionaries in my zone from Australia and different islands. Elder Chapple and I are the only white Americans, but it's awesome having another person from Idaho be in my zone.

So, something amazing happened here at the MTC on Tuesday! We had a 'Tuesday Evening Devotional' and guess who got to speak for us?? If you guessed Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the 12, you guessed correctly! We usually start off Devotionals with tons of songs. We sang about 5 songs, and in the middle of singing "Put Your Shoulder To The Wheel", Elder Cook walked in and we all stood up and sang for him. It was awesome. Then we had an opening prayer by Elder Crawford who is from Boise, Idaho!

It was so awesome being able to hear Elder Cook speak, especially when I was just a couple of feet away from the stand! And what was even more awesome, was that it was streamed live to all of the MTC's around the world. So the old District that left last week got to watch Elder Cook talk in the Manila MTC.

He started off by telling us the process of choosing which missionary goes where for their mission. He said that up to 5 members of the Quorum of the 12 get together in a room, and there is a big screen with your pictures, and all of the medical information they need to decide. Elder Cook said that when he decides, he always thinks of 3 reasons to send a missionary to a certain area. 1) The missionary will work well with the Mission President and other missionaries in that area. 2) The missionary will work well with the people on their mission and be able to help change their lives or 3) The missionary needs to learn a certain language for their mission that will benefit the church in the near future, or benefit their future families in the near future. It was really cool to hear how he decides which missionary should go where.

I also loved hearing Elder Cook tell us a story about when he was dedicating a building in North Washington D.C., when he came across a Polynesian Elder and decided to stop and ask him some questions. He asked the Elder where his mom thought he would be called. The missionary told Elder Cook that his mom had a dream where her son would be called to serve in the North Washington D.C. Mission. Elder Cook then asked where the missionary's father thought he'd be sent. The missionary told Elder Cook that his father had a dream as well, but in the dream, his son would be sent to Japan because his Mission President was Japanese. When the Elder finally got his call, he read that he will be serving in North Washington D.C. and his Mission president was Japanese... Isn't that insane?! Both of the parents had visions of their son serving in a specific area with a specific Mission president. Elder Cook then told us "Don't second guess where you're sent. The Lord knows where you are needed!" That is so true. Before I got my call, I thought I was going to be called to serve in France, French speaking. But then I get my call and it says "Philippines, Cebu East Mission, Cebuano speaking" Although I was excited, I was just thinking, "Why the Philippines? Why not France?!" But ever since I've been here at the MTC and I've met and got to know the missionaries in my zone, I know that the Lord is sending me to the Philippines for a reason. I feel like I've grown so much being here. My fellow missionaries have helped me out in so many ways possible. I am so thankful the Lord has called me on a mission to the Philippines.

Another thing I really liked that Elder Cook talked about was how we as missionaries (and even those who aren't missionaries) need to continually invite people unto Christ. "If you are inviting, you are succeeding". You may think, "I invited them to church but they never came." Don't ever underestimate your invitations to nonmembers/inactives. It makes more of a difference than you think. Just saying something plants that little seed in their heart. People are drawn to you because of your light. So let it shine.

The sucky part about the Devotional was that I couldn't take a photo to show you all, but it was probably the best Devotional I've been to. It was amazing and I'm so thankful to have seen an actual Apostle of the Lord speak to us in person.

So during this week, I started to get really sick. I just wanted to stay in bed, but instead I got dressed and my companion and I went to the Elders in my Zone and asked for a blessing. It was the first time they've ever given a blessing, so they were really nervous. But I cannot thank them enough, because 20 minutes later, I felt 10 times better than when I had when I woke up.

And then I asked my Branch President for a blessing of comfort because I was struggling with not only the language, but the doctrine as well. I just felt so dumb because I thought I didn't know as much as the other missionaries in my zone. So he quickly gave me a blessing, and ever since, I've just felt much happier and everything is coming to me easily. I love blessings so much! And prayers! I think out of everything, prayers are my absolute favorite thing to do. I've never prayed at home as much as I have been here at the MTC. I love being able to kneel down and just talk to Heavenly Father and tell Him my concerns and ask Him questions. I always feel peace and His love whenever I end my prayer. It's the best feeling ever.

Also! As my companion and I were emailing people, there is a big vent above my head and it was making lots of noises like wind blowing really hard, buuut I didn't realize there was something above my head. So of course, I thought that the noise was coming from a big airplane headed towards the MTC about to crash into us and kill us all. So for a minute there, I had a little panic attack. haha. But it's all good now. I'm safe and sound here in this beautiful, blessed building.

Speaking of blessed buildings, did you know that the MTC was blessed and has Angels surrounding the building to watch over everyone? When I heard that from my Branch president, I thought it was so cool to know that we have Angels watching over us and protecting us. So of course, no airplanes are going to crash here anytime soon. ;)

Here is a quote from Gordon B. Hinckley that Elder Cook mentioned at the Devotional, "If you have more faith, you will have more success". That quote really helps me because sometimes I doubt myself and doubt what kind of abilities/ talents I have that will help the people of the Philippines, but if I just have more faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, then I can and will have more success, and will be able to bring the people of the Philippines unto Christ. Just have more faith, and you will be able to do things you never thought you could.

P.S. For those who know Spencer Oldham, I ran into him the other day! It was awesome seeing someone from my singles ward back home.

P.S. again! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYER! I love you!

Gihigugma tika! (I love you all!)

-Sister Johnson