Week 15--Philippines Cebu East Mission

Kamusta mo! Just 3 more weeks and it'll be transfer week! And I will have been on my mission for 6 months! Oh man. I've never been away from my family for this long before. It's just crazy how much the time is flying by. Everyone told me it would go by so quickly, and I didn't believe them until it started happening. They said it'll go by even faster once you get the language down and can speak well. And so far, the language is slowly coming along.. So! Here is my week so far:

On July 14th, Tuesday, we had our zone conference. All of the missionaries on Bohol Island got together in the Tagbilaran church. It was such an awesome Zone Conference. Before President Tanner talked, we had opening exercises and I was supposed pick a Christ-like attribute from the Preach My Gospel book. I decided to choose "patience" and talk about how we need to be patient with our companions, with investigators, and with ourselves (especially while learning a new language).

Towards the end of the conference, President Tanner showed some videos about "The Gift of Tongues." There were members of the Quorum of the 70 talking about the gift of tongues and how we can be blessed with it. Before the video started, one of my STL's, Sister Legaspi, called my name and said, "Sister Johnson, pay attention, this is for you." Then after the videos, President Tanner got up and started talking about the videos. He then looked at me and said, in front of everyone, "The language will come Sister Johnson. Just be patient. I promise, it'll come." I just had this big smile on my face and everyone looked over and started giggling. He knows how much the language is frustrating me, and is always trying to help me be patient with myself. He's a very nindot Mission President. You can just see the love in his eyes every time he looks at you. You can really tell he has been called of God to be the Cebu East Mission President.

On Thursday, July 16th, I went on splits with Sister Sumiaran, our new STL, and I led my area while my companion went with Sister Legaspi to Valencia. It was such a productive day! Sister Sumiran just spent the night and we had personal and companionship study together. After our studies we got ready and went to our appointments. It was a pretty crazy day. We had 8 lessons, (which is kind of a lot considering you have a couple of hours of study time in the morning/lunch, and then you have to be home around 7:30/8 p.m.) and had gotten 3 new investigators! I was very nervous at first to lead with a new STL, but towards the end I was warmed up and just felt really confident with myself. Even though it was still hard to understand/speak the language, I still had a lot of fun and at the end of the day, I didn't feel guilty because I knew I was obedient and had done what the Lord wanted me to.

On July 17th, Friday, Sister Orzal and I were trying to find Sister Jessa/Brother Marty because they had moved. But we couldnt find where they lived, so we decided to start tracting. Sister Orzal and I saw this man sitting down and Sister Orzal just gave me this look that I was going to be the one to start the conversation. So I went right up the the man and started talking, and then we asked where he lives, and he pointed to the house behind us, and there were two girls sitting outside. We went up to the girls and introduced ourselves and then asked if we could share a quick message with them. They were a little hesitant, and seemed like they were going to say, "No," but then their mom, Sister Besenta, came out in a hurry and said (in a loud voice), "Dayon," which kind of means "come in." She then turned to the girls and started speaking in English saying, "We have guests and you don't invite them in?" haha.

We then all sat down and started introducing ourselves and talking, and then Sister Orzal turned to me and just gave me the look that I needed to start the lesson. It was a pretty good lesson, but sometimes in the middle of it the mother would start sharing some stuff and say, "Sorry, I just like to share my beliefs as well." The asked us lots of questions like, "Why are you called Mormons?" Sister Orzal explained why, and I got out a Book of Mormon and started explaining where it comes from. I then told them that the Book of Mormon doesn't replace the Bible, that we believe in the Bible as well, but the Book of Mormon completes the Bible. After I said that, one of the daughters of Sister Besenta, Sister Herlene, said, "Well if the Bible isn't perfect, and the Book of Mormon will help us to more fully understand it, then I want to read the Book of Mormon." My heart just kind of dropped and was thinking, "Wait.. what? You actually want to read the Book of Mormon on the first visit??' It was crazy! We then ended our lesson and gave them a pamphlet and the Book of Mormon to read. After Sister Orzal and I walked away, I turned to her and said, "Did that really just happen?" She started laughing and said, "The born again Christians are very curious and open people. They'll listen to anyone about their religion and are very open to investigate. It was a pretty awesome lesson!

After we taught them, we finally found Sister Jessa's new house and taught her, and her brother Marty (who is our new investigator). After we taught them, and were about to leave when her father showed up, so we started talking with him. Sister Orzal then asked, "Do you want to listen to our message?" He then quickly said, "Yes, I do. I really want to investigate the Church. I'm just so busy with work because I work from 7 in the morning until 3 at night a lot of the times." It's so crazy how the Lord can change the hearts of people. Before, Brother Jamero didn't want anything to do with missionaries, and didn't want his daughter to be baptized. But now he always comes up to us whenever we see him, and starts talking to us about our religion. He is always asking us if we're going to go over and teach his daughter and son, and always asks how the lessons are going with his son, Marty. When we start lessons with him, and WHEN, NOT IF, he gets baptized, he and his family can be sealed together for eternity!

Also, on July 19th, Sunday, Sister Orzal and I had 3 of our investigators come to church! Sister Faith and Sister Lavigne Berendez, and Brother Marty Jamero (brother of Sister Jamero). we had invited brother Marty to the church before but he'd never come, and this Sunday he finally came! We were so happy when we saw him and Sister Jessa walk into the church before Sacrament. I'm hoping I can witness their baptisms on August 22nd!

I love this mission! It's so frustrating and crazy all at the same time! I know that this mission is really going to shape me into the person the Lord knows I can be!

Love,

Sister Johnson