We Have Baptisms! The Philippines! Week 10

Kamusta mo!

Time is really flying by fast! We just had a transfer in June, and we're going to have another transfer coming up in July. I've been on my mission for 4 months, and soon I'm going to hit month 5! Wow! I can't believe how fast this mission is going. I gotta take it all in because it's going to fly by even faster after my training/follow up. So for this letter I'm just going to tell you all the exciting/fun things that have happened to me this past week.

On Tuesday, June 9th, we had a district meeting. This District meeting was different than others, because after the district meeting, I was going to go on my 2nd split, this time with our Sister Training Leaders. I was going with Sister Deliarte to my area (Jagna) and Sister Lagan was going to go with Sister Legaspi (our new STL) to Valencia. I wasn't nervous during the meeting, but then after our meeting, I started to get really nervous, because I was going to lead our area (which is Jagna and some of Garcia). It was my 1st time leading our area by myself without my trainer, Sister Lagan, being by my side, helping me. After our District meeting, Sister Deliarte and I went and visited Sister Angelisa and taught her about the Law of Chastity and committed her to live it.

After visiting Sister Angelisa. Sister Deliarte and I took a Rela over to my other investigator, Sister Ristituta. During every lesson, Sister Ristituta mentions, "Peter is the rock. And upon this rock I shall build my foundation, that no one can prevail it." Even if we aren't talking about Peter, she'll just randomly say that. haha. She also always mentions that when she was in elementary school she studied the Bible, and that she always asks herself, "Where is God? God the Father is behind us." Sister Lagan and I aren't sure if she's 'losing it' because of her old age, or if she just loves telling people those things. So when Sister Deliarte and I visited her this time, we were planning on showing her the Joseph Smith: Restoration video, but she didn't have a DVD player, so we just ended up reviewing Lesson 1: Restoration. She's so cute and the sweetest lady ever. She's always saying, "Sister Johnson, you are so gwapa (beautiful). I love your teeth. You have very nice teeth." She's so cute.

After we taught Sister Ristituta, we took a Rela over to some recent converts, Brother Gony and Brother Berting. We taught Brother Gony about the Plan of Salvation, and we taught Brother Berting about service/serving his friends/family. I love being able to visit Brother Gony and Brother Berting. Every time Sister Lagan and I go to their houses and teach them, they're always being silly and cracking jokes. Sometimes it's hard to understand them, but I still try really hard to connect with them and joke with them.

After teaching the two recent converts, Sister Deliarte and I took a Rela over to Sister Jessa, (our recent convert who was baptized May 30th)! We were planning on teaching her , but decided to call her brother, Marty, to come and meet us. He didn't want to come out, but Sister Deliarte and I kept calling his name begging him to come out and meet us. Brother Marty never comes out and talks to Sister Lagan and I. He doesn't even acknowledge that we are there teaching his sister; but this time, he finally came outside and met Sister Deliarte and I! The awesome part is that he was very open with us and told us of his past and praying to God and asking for forgiveness. He let us share with him a little message. Sister Deliarte and I shared D&C 58:42-43, which explains how when we sincerely ask for forgiveness, the Lord will forgive us and remember our sins no more. I loved being able to get to know Brother Marty. He was shy like Sister Jessa, but more open on the 1st visit. He let us return to teach him, so I now have a new investigator! That's what happens when you're stubborn and persistent in getting people to listen to you. haha.

Even though it was a little scary leading the area, and a little hard being able to understand the people I taught, I still had a lot of fun. Sister Deliarte said I did really well in the leading of my area for the 1st time. Sobrang kaajo kanang adlawa! (It was a REALLY great day).

On Thursday, June 11th, we had our 1st Missionary interview. President and Sister Tanner flew from Cebu Island and came to Jagna and interviewed me, Sister Lagan, Elder Robanakadavu, Elder Talan, Elder Acosta, Elder Albar (Elders that work in Duero) at the Jagna church. It was so awesome being able to see President Tanner and his wife. I love being able to talk to President Tanner about my missionary life and getting awesome advice from him on how to be an even better disciple of the Lord. My interview probably took the longest out of all the missionaries, because President Tanner and I just talked and talked about so many things. He mentioned how stressed he was because there are so many bugoy (disobedient) missionaries in the Cebu East Mission, and he doesn't know what to do in order to get them to be obedient. He's been asking other missionaries for advice, seeing if maybe they had something that can help others. I couldn't really think of anything to help him out, but if any of you have advice on how you get your children to be obedient, just let me know and I can tell my Mission President. After our interviews we all just talked about life and the mission. It was awesome being able to visit with them. It was only a short period of time because they're so busy travelling all over to interview missionaries, but that short period of time really helped me.

On June 13th, Saturday, Sister Lagan, the Elders and I planned an activity for the youth with tons of games/basketball and food. We made an obstacle course that everyone had to go through, and there were tons of prizes to give out at the end. The Elders, Sister Lagan and I invited our less-actives, and investigators to the activity, and a lot of them showed up. Tons of youth, more than we expected, showed up and participated. Not only did the people we invited show up, but they brought some of their friends as well. It was a really good idea to have an activity that involved the youth. It showed the non-members that Mormons know how to have fun! haha. Before we started the games, Sister Lagan and Elder Robanakadavu gave a talk; and I showed three, 5 minute videos about the youth/choosing the right. Then afterwards we started the games and played basketball. Even though we didn't have an actual lesson and we just played games, the Spirit was there. I loved seeing the non-members interact with the members/missionaries. It was such a fun activity.

Then on Sunday, June 14th, Sister Lagan and I traveled to Tagbilaran and got to participate in the Tagbilaran District Conference. We got to watch Elder Neil L. Anderson and 3 other people talk about how we as members can be good examples. The conference was mostly on families and how we can strengthen our family relationships. I know that families are so important. Before my mission I didn't realize how important my family was, and how much they meant to me. Always have family scripture study/prayer. Treasure your families. Strengthen them. They're the only one you're going to have here in this life, and you're sealed to them in the life to come.

This week has been really successful! Our mission implementation is 5 new investigators a week. And Sister Lagan and I had... 6 new investigators. And 3 of our investigators have a baptismal date for July 18th! And later on tonight, Sister Lagan and I are going to commit 3 of our other investigators to be baptized. A lot of our investigators are really progressing. I can see a big difference from our work this week, than in the previous weeks. We've been even MORE obedient, even MORE diligent; loving our work, and loving the people we teach. Because of that, the Lord is blessing us with all of this success. I can even see a difference in my work when I'm loving being a missionary/missionary work and not just going through the motions.

I testify that the more we are obedient, the more blessings we can receive. Yeah, sometimes it's hard to be obedient, especially in a world like this, but I promise you all, if you are obedient to the Lord's commandments, you will receive so many blessings, you won't even know what to do with them. The more you stand up for what is right, and what you believe in (even if there are others around you persuading you not to) the more blessings you will have, not only in this life, but the life to come.

I love you all so much! Remember that the Lord loves you more than you can comprehend. Choose The Right!

Kaya ninyo! (You all can do it).

Love,

Sister Johnson