Dear Family and Friends,
Well, where do I start with this email? At this point I still don't feel like I'm going home, at the moment we are in the mission office getting ready for our last testimony meeting. Today has been mellow, but I was sick this morning with a high fever, but all is well now. Its hard for me to think that I'll be leaving such a wonderful place. I remember that a while ago I sent home a group message about some things I was looking forawrd to in the Philippines, like mangos, rice fields, pretty flowers and other things. I have found many thing so much better since I've been here. I've found a testimony of Christ, I've found the world's happiest people, I've found the other part of my family, and there are many more blessings that I've come to receive. 2 years is long, but its not long enough. The past few nights have been full of mixed emotions. The people I've met have been the some of the sweetest additions to my life, and it makes me sad to see them go. I feel like I did when I left, I'm leaving my family again. From Binalonan, to Lingayen I've seen how the Lord works and blesses His children. This last week has been the fullest one of my mission, we had meetings and other things, and it went by too fast. But I have learned how much Heavenly Father loves each of His children. walking home one night, I took a moment to look at the people who were going about their own business, and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of love. I know Heavenly Father loves them, and the spirit confirmed it this week. This email is my last as a missionary, so its only fitting that I leave you my testimony. I know that Heavenly Father is a real being, and I know that He is in the very details of our lives. I know He knows everything about us, our names, our birthdays, our fears, our joys, and each are important to Him. I know that the Atonement is the only way for each of us to feel any lasting happiness and peace in this life, and I know that as we trust Christ, as we love Him, that we will come to know Him. I know that plan of Salvation is God's plan for each of his children to be happy, and I know that because His plan I have been richly blessed and comforted through the hardest parts of my mission. I know that families are forever, and that the most beautiful thing in this whole world is a family that loves each other. I can think of no other thing more important or happier than a family. I'm excited and nervous to all of you again! See you soon! Mahal Ko Kayo Lahat, Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The Weirdest Missionary You Know) Dear Family and Friends,
This week I have another animal friends to add to the list. Some people found a Filipino Gecko, he wasn't very happy, but we got to hold it and check out its feet for a while. Little guy bit me, but nothing happened! This week we woke up to find that our bathroom had a bunch of baby frogs that had crawl up through the drains. All in all, this week our house seemed to be an amphibian zoo. Things are going smoothly, all engines are still going, there are no breaks! The Lord's house is getting closer, and he's preparing more and more people. This week has brought a bunch of pondering about how personal the Atonement is when I came across a verse in 1 Nephi 21:16 quoted from Isaiah which reads : "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;" This has had particular significance to me especially when I spent a week with my Grandad learning the basics of engraving. Engraving is a very precise process, and in a lot of cases uses a microscope to make sure the useen details are correctly made. Isaiah could ahve used words like "slashed", or "written", but I think the point he wanted to get across was the fact that Christ's Atonement is not just for the big things, but it works in the very details of our lives. We have also heard the phrase "I Know it like the back of my hand!", well in a way, Christ knows each of us, "Like the back of His hand". Heavenly Fatehr knows what we need, and when we need it, we can trust Him with anything. I know He works in the details of our lives. The time is slowing down, and I have very mixed emotions about this next week. I hope each of you know that your prayers have helped in ways I can never express, thank you so much for all the letters of support, they've helped me, an they've helped the people here. Mahal Ko Kayo Lahat! Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The Weirdest Missionary You Know) Dear Family and Friends,
This week we are finally seign mroe and more rain, and wearing our rain boots is getting more an more fun! The street we live is very flooded, enough that there are fishes swimming in it, some of our neighbors cook them! This week I have been really touched thinking about the blessings that we have received because of the sacrifices of others that have gone on before. I had a harder day the past week, and in my head I was murmuring. I hit a point where I needed to say a prayer, and when I did, my thoughts turned to Christ, and also the Mormon Pioneers. What a blessing it is to come from the roots of people who, in the face of extreme pain and difficulty, were able to bear their trials without complaint. We are so blessed everyday, the blessings we receive on a daily basis are more than we can count, and bigger than most of can see. One thing that has helped me on my mission is remembering that all of us have access to the biggest blessing in the universe, the Atonement. The Atonement gives each of us a way through anything, and it can give light to any darkness. I know the Atonement is real, and is the only way for any lasting peace because I have experienced its effect more than once. I know that because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead that death is simply a phase rather thatn an end. It weird to be this close to going home, I'm excited to see you all again, but also sad to leave this beautiful place. Thank God for the mission. Mahal Ko Kayo Lahat Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The Weirdest Missionary You Know) Dear Family and Friends,
This week was flood week. Jeepneys and Tricycles turned into boats. And there was no such thing as a dry foot for miles. We got permission to use knee-high rain boots, and they are serving very well. By now most of the water is dried up, but the floods I wrote about last week are nothing compared to the ones this week. My companion and I have both been caught sleep "preaching", and its evidence to us that even though we are close to going home that we are still focused on the Lord's work. This I have been thinking a lot about the biggest things I have learned on my mission. One of the biggest things I have learned is in the words of Joseph Smith: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” Of course God is all powerful, of course He is all knowing, but he is also ALL happiness. Heavenly Father is a happy being, He is a being full of joy, and all He wants is for us to become like Him, happy. The rewards of the gospel are eternal, we receive a lot here on Earth, but the blessings here are .00000000001% of the joy and happiness the Lord promises as we live the plan he has given us. If you aren't happy, live the gospel. There is no other substitute for the pure joy that the restored gospel brings, and the best part is that its all free for those who receive it. Mahal Ko Kayo Lahat! Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The Weirdest Missionary You Know) Dear Family and Friends,
Well according to rumors and "leaked info", I was transferred this week on Tuesday. I'm still a Zone Leader but I'm in Lingayen, the capitol of Pangisinan. What a beautiful place, it has really strengthened my testimony that Heavenly Father is a real being, the flowers, the beach, the birds and the people are evidence of His reality. Its impossible to be an Atheist here! Now in one of the pictures shows a man with an air rifle at the bus terminal, let me try to explain what was going on in that picture. There were some pigeons on the power line that he was aiming at, not sure if it was for food, or because it buzzed his tricycle, but he wasn't a really good shot. His goal to shoot the pigeon caught some attention, and it slowly turned into a carnival game, "Who can shoot the pigeon?", one by one people would line up and try their hand in shooting the pigeon. We like to call it "Urban Hunting". My though this week is about how the Atonement can help us to remove the barriers between us and our goals. I have loved the past few months because it has really shown me how simple the gospel of Jesus Christ is when one honestly lives it. If your life is in tune with the gospel, the barriers are gone on your path to return to Heavenly Father, but even when we mess up, Christ will always provide a way to make it back to him! The path is rarely convenient to the world's standards, but for the trying saint the gospel is a need and a drive to improve, whatever the cost. I listened to the conversion story of Glen Beck this week, and I liked what he said about God and how he wants us to try Him and His commandments. The Lord gives us success, but are the barriers all gone so we can handle the success he will surely give us? I know that the Lord wants us to be happy, as we draw close to Him, happiness is the promise. Be happy, the Lord lives! Mahal Ko Kayo Lahat! Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The weirdest Missionary You Know) Dear Family and Friends,
Well I have another animal friend this week, and he is literally the biggest bug I have seen in my life. In one of the pictures is a Rhino Beetle. They don't bite people, but they do ruin the coconut trees here, so many people here are hostile towards them. As it turns out, they make a good tie pin as long as they don't move too much! Gossip in the office says that I will be transferring this week to Lingayan, still not confirmed but I will let you know next week if its true. I will miss Urdaneta if I do transfer. I will miss working around the temple everyday, but I am happy that with or without me that the temple is coming! This email goes along with last week. This week has left me pondering some things, mostly why bad things happen to the best of us. This week I have gained a better testimony on the reality of life-after-death and how life, the gospel, and almost everything we do is a matter of faith and trust in Heavenly Father's plan for us. I was listening to a talk by Elder Eyring, and he shared his experience of the day his mother passed away. When his mother passed away, Elder Eyring's father simply said "A little girl has gone home to Father", and afterwards went out to thank all the nurses and doctors that took care of his sweetheart. He mourned the death of his wife, but also saw the opportunity as a time to rejoice in the Plan of Salvation because he saw death as an important part of our purpose in life. The world teaches that we should live for the next hour, that we shouldn't waste our time for a future that "doesn't exist". There is more to life than life on Earth, we shouldn't waste time on hour to hour activities that bring temporary joy because we are scared of "leaving" tomorrow, be brave and work for the things that bring joy to others, and our lives will be richer, our love for one another will grow, and joy will linger and last instead of come-and go. I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us, he doesn't give trials to merely "toughen us up", but to teach us how to be happy. Its weird to think that I'm starting my last transfer on my mission, but I'm excited for the experiences that will come! Mahal Ko Kayo Lahat! Trev Dear Family and Friends,
We saw some really heavy rain this week, so there was much rejoicing by me and my companion when we finally had our shoes soaked all the way through! Speaking of shoes,my funny story this week is about a shoe thief. We visited a returning less active sister this week and we left our shoes outside, when we came indie and sat down the sister flipped out and asked "did you leave your shoes outside?" we responded yes, and the sister replied "Not again!", wondering what she meant we looked outside and found that my right shoe and my companion's left shoe were gone. She then organized her family to find the shoes "before the dogs take them to the rice field!". Don't worry, the shoes were found and rescued, but other Elders have not been so lucky, one such Elder had his brand new shoes eaten down to the soles. Lesson: Take your shoes inside! "Everything happens for a reason" is a phrase that is said too much and understood too little. We often use this for hard times that happen to everyone as part of our lifer here on Earth, but we often think of it as God's way to "toughen us up" or to "teach us a lesson", too often we think that temptations and trials the adversary give us are the result of weak faith or not doing enough. I heard this quote once from a talk I heard that says "Satan don't kick no dead dogs", this was something that Jack R. Christianson talked about in his talk titled "The Mortal Christ" (I highly recommend this). There are trials that come and go, but they are all part of out loving Heavenly Father's plan of HAPPINESS. In book of Mormon terms Lehi states: "thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.' or in other words, everything that happens, good or bad, is to help us be happy in the long run of things, if we hold to the teachings of the gospel. Things do happen,and some things are so hard that only the Savior would understand, but even after the Savior finished the Atonement, we don't need to even question if Christ is happy for what He did. Happiness is the end, if we endure well. I hope you all have a great week! Keep things as happy as Heavenly Father wants them to be! Mahal Ko Kayo Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The Weirdest Missionary You Know) Dear Family and Friends,
What a great week to be alive! we thought that this week was going to full of rain, but its been pretty dry actually. I love the heat as much as the next guy, but some rain would be very welcome! This week more miracles have happened and it always impresses me how the Lord blesses us if we open our eyes to His work. On my mission I have seen time and time again that the people who are the happiest are the ones who work for the future, not just for the "Here and now". The world we live in is all about the "Now" and how we can be happy "now". Have we ever tried to ask the Lord for bigger vision, not just bigger blessings? We can sometimes pull ourselves into a pit where we pray and pray and wait for blessings to come, when the blessings have been there the whole time. Sometimes we can act like the "Sign seekers" in the Book of Mormon and say "I will be happy when you bless me". Being happy is being content that what you have is what the Lord wants you to have. Being happy is not all about waiting for the Lord's blessings, but also being able to see what he has given us. I've done this, and it has greatly changed my mission, and my life. In the Lord's plan there are no coincidences, if you are struggling, be happy about it, the Lord is strengthening you to become like Him. If you want to be sad or upset, take a second and consider these things: 1- Does feeling sad make me feel better? 2- Does feeling upset help me and others? 3- Will I remember this in a few minutes? An hour? Week? 4- Am I thinking about my blessings? If we answer "no" to any of these questions, we have reasons to be happy, we just might have forgotten the "happy" things! Missionary life is so amazing, and it always reaps blessings, if you want to feel how amazing life is, try sharing the gospel! It always works! Mahal Ko Kayo! Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (The Weirdest Missionary You Know) |
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