Philippines Mission--Week 47

Maajong hapon! Here's the past week and a half for you all!

February 29th, Monday, Sister Delos Reyes, Sister Hagedorn, Sister Nalbog and I traveled to the Hideaway Beach resort for our p-day to spend one last fun p-day together. The Hideaway Beach resort was so awesome! We took so many pictures (which I will probably have to send on Monday because the internet isn't really good right now), and it was SO hot that afterward I ended up looking like a lobster. I kid you not, I was SO red, but then it slowly turned into a tan. March 3rd, Thursday, We had our zone training meeting and that was the last time that I was able to see Sister Canar (my 3rd companion) before she went back home from her mission. We had a sister's meeting before the ZTM to discuss the needs of the sisters and come up with some implementations that the sisters can act on to help strengthen the companionship. After the ZTM, we went to Sister Jolina's, who has a baptism on March 26th! We taught her about the Restoration. She's so awesome! She's really excited for her baptism coming up. March 4th, Friday, Sister Delos Reyes and I went to Canhabagat and taught one of our investigators, Sister Lian, about the Restoration. We had taught it to her before, but we felt like we needed to reteach it to really help her understand. Sister Lian would kind of compare the Catholic church to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she had so many questions as to why we don't worship Mary and why we don't have idols in our homes. After reteaching her about the Restoration, she really understood everything. At first she wasn't so big on baptism, but after reteaching her, she started thinking about baptism. She's so awesome! I love her! After teaching in Canhabagat, Sister Delos Reyes and I went to the dockside with Sister Hagedorn/Sister Nalbog to have a little KHE (kabalay home evening). We bought some food and just walked around talking/relaxing. March 5th, Saturday, Sister Delos Reyes and I went to Canhabagat again but early in the morning to help Sister Inot with her yard. We cut up some bushes, cut out some weeds, swept the porch, and then burned some garbage. Even though it was in the morning, it was SO hot. It was so funny because people started gathering around and staring because they saw an American outside in the sun cutting up some bushes. They kept saying, "Sister, you'll ruin your hands doing that." I'm guessing they're not really used to seeing Americans work hard! haha. After helping her out for a while, we went over to the Arnaiz family's home (investigators) and helped them out with their chores as well. They own a lot of pigs/chickens/goats, but we just washed some dishes/clothes because the boys fed the animals. After helping them out, we returned to Sister Inot and changed so we could eat some lunch and teach her a bit before returning back to the Arnaiz family to teach them. We taught Sister Inot and her family about Temple work and what they can do to prepare to enter and be sealed and do some family history work/baptisms for the dead to help out their family members that aren't baptized. We then taught the Arnaiz family about Joseph Smith and showed them the Restoration video. They really liked watching it and learning more about Joseph Smith and what he did to restore Jesus Christ's church. I love this family! March 6th, Sunday, Sister Delos Reyes and I couldn't find a different companion to split up and go to church in Medellin/Canhabagat, so we both just went to Canhabagat together and went to church there. It was awesome being able to go to church because a lot of our investigators came! Some of the Arnaiz family came to church and stayed for Gospel Principles class. It was fast Sunday so it was time to bear testimonies and I'm really glad that the Arnaiz family came because I think that a lot of the testimonies helped them. It was also good that they stayed for the Gospel Principles class because it was about the Holy Ghost and His role. And I think that really helped them to understand how they can receive answers to their prayers about our messages.

After church we went to the Arnaiz family's home and taught Sister Lian (daughter in law) about the Plan of Salvation. Afterwards, we hung around and talked to them a bit. I talked to one of the older sons, Arnel Jr. about what he thinks of the church. Every time we teach him, he always mutters under his breath and acts like he wants to say/ask something to us but he never speaks up. I asked if he had prayed about the Book of Mormon/Joseph Smith/the church and he said that he always prays about it, and that he's always reading the Book of Mormon. I then asked if he wanted to be baptized, and he told me that he really wanted to be baptized but wasn't sure if his father would agree. He's over 17 and can make his own decision to be baptized, but he really respects his father. I'm really hoping that he talks to his father soon and can be baptized, because he's so awesome! I loved being able to talk to him and really get to know him and what he wants. I really felt the Spirit just talking to him. We then returned to Dayhagon and had a little birthday party for Sister Delos Reyes because it was her birthday today! (On a fast Sunday). One of their sons brought some pizza from where he works in Cebu and they made some noodles and coconut milk drink. It was so good :)

March 7th, Tuesday: It's Transfer calls! Oh man! Sister Delos Reyes and were freaking out. We didn't know what to expect. The transfers now are kind of weird. Some people only stay in their new area for 6 weeks and then randomly transfer, so I was pretty nervous that I might transfer after training Sister Delos Reyes. The workshop was about the many spiritual gifts that we can receive and how we can receive them. I'm so thankful for the many spiritual gifts that Heavenly Father has blessed me with here on my mission to try and help others draw closer to Him. Even though I'm not completely fluent with the language, Heavenly Father has blessed me with the gift of tongues to be able to speak the Cebuano language in just 10 months. It's crazy because I studied French for a whole year and could barely speak a sentence, but it's only been about 10 months that I've spoken this language and can have a conversation/teach people. I love it!

After the meeting, everyone moved to another, bigger room, and there we received our new transfer calls... Dun, dun, dun... Sister Delos Reyes will be transferring to Liloan and be followed up there. I will stay in Medellin and become companions with Sister McMaster (another American). Sister McMaster and I were in the same Zone when I was in my 3rd area, Valencia, Bohol, and she was trained by my follow-up, Sister Orzal. She's from Idaho and is pretty nice. I'm pretty excited to be companions with her and get to know her a little more.

"More them, them, them. Less me, me, me..."

I love you all! Amping!

Love,

Sister Johnson