Getting Adjusted... Settling In!

Loving it here!!  Yes, everything is good...we travel sooo much!! And yes, I know the language will come! I can slowly have conversations with members ...but it's coming!!!  My tummy is doing better! Food is good and climate is good! HUMID THOUGH!! SOOO Humid!!! I'm adjusting and it is all going well.

And yes...I'm  SOOOO excited for General Conference!!! I can't wait!! We get to watch it at the church!! Yes I LOVE serving! It's amazing!! I LOVE the people here ...they are all friendly.. We have one baptismal date October 26... and one we are trying to get ready for that date.. He speaks ummm Tagolog... hahahah yes we teach "by the spirit in ingles" he understands it.  Well a little bit... but it is really meaningful simple phrases. The spirit teaches him.  I'm halfway done through the Book of Mormon again!! I love reading! I'm also half way through the New Testimant!! I do love reading and learning every time is read it.  Also the Preach my Gospel!! That is the most helpful thing ever! OHHHH! Nope not homesick! Doing really good!! And settling in.. but This Wednesday I probably prayed the hardest I ever had.. i was getting really frustrated with the language. I couldn't understand it and then I read a poem that Michael sent me.   It really helped out.. but i am doing great now!! Just always trying to improve!! Always room for improvement!  Thank you for everything! I love you!!!

Elder Johnson

Mom:  I asked him if he got an answer to his prayers.

Cody:  It wasn't for an answer.. it was for help.. it was really hard with the language.. but i feel more confident.. i just was struggling with understanding.. but it's better !!

Mom:  Good! He will always come to your aide... He knows what you need but you must do your part... And ask...so good job! I love you...so MUCH! I don't know how much time you have left... But have a wonderful week... And excited to watch conference... And see what talks you and Michael love, too! HUGS!!!!

Cody:  I know he does and I'm grateful for the knowledge I have of that! I love you too... I cannot wait till conference either!!

At least he is eating good! A member in his ward takes care of the missionaries cooks for them and washes their clothes! He sound like an amazing man!

Second Email from the Philippines

HEY!! Everything is great!! I'm doing good! My stomach was adjusting to the food ... that's all and should be good soon ...but nope "nothing will stop the work from progressing and baptizing, this is a baptizing mission" -President. To answer your question about ...if we stay in when it's raining? We go out when everyone is in and the work keeps going! Just get our umberellas and man up!, The language is coming!  Better then the first week!  Yes our p-days are crazy!!! We keep moving and there isn't any shopping places in Pulupandan, so we have to take a bus to the other places.. which takes a while.. but it is all good! We just shop and wash clothes!! Our ward mission leader is amazing!! He makes us food, washes our clothes, and comes with us in all our teachings and helps us with referrals!! He is the most helpful ever!! He is great and a huge blessing to us! His name is Brother Jhon! P-day is great! We have two meetings with investigators tonight after P-day ends ...so I hope those don't fall through!  My trainer is amazing!! He is so helpful! 

I've realized how important the Preach My Gospel is! I like this quote, "we need to be preach my gospel SCHOLARS" it has every single thing we need in there! If we have that down.. we can teach anyone and anything!! Pulupandan 1st Ward is amazing!! It's about 40 members but umm..... 300 inactive.. it's hard.. just need to reactivate them all.. they are all sooooo busy here! Alway working and running around ... They have so much to do.

LOVE YOU ALL!!  P.s.   ohhhh and mambas and oreos and starbursts and those carmels with the soft carmel in it! they don't have any american candy here!!

Love, Elder Johnson

I said during emailing with Cody: I bet you took for granite all the conviences you had here. He responded, " Yeah huh no kidding!! I miss a lot of things there...like hot showers! And a SHOWER HEAD!! We use buckets! But it's all good!"

Supertyphoon

We were not affected by the supertyphoon in the Philippines. All our missionaries are safe.

Tender Mercy

I get a face book friend request by a lady in the Philippines...come to fine out she is one of the Mission Presidents wife serving in a different mission. I have no idea where their paths crossed... But she sends me a private message and said... "I saw your boy yesterday" and sends this picture. Can I just say what angels these people are! To have a glimpse of my son...is just a piece of Heaven on earth ... I'm so grateful for people who think of us worried mothers!! I can never repay her for her thoughtfulness ... But I will forever be grateful!!

Zone Conference

First Area-Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, Phillipines

Profile

Distance from Bacolod: 31 kilometers

Land Area: 11,250.00 hectares

Classification: 3rd Class

No. of Barangays: 23 Barangays

Population: Roughly around 28,000 (based on the latest survey conducted)

Language: Hiligaynon/Ilonggo/English is spoken and understood

History

Pulupandan derived its name from the vernacular phrase “pulo sang pandan”, meaning “isle of pandan”, due to the wild forest of palms in the town during the early days before it became a bustling seaport.

Formerly a barrio of Valladolid, Pulupandan was organized into an independent pueblo or temporary town together with Sum-ag, Ma-ao and Dancalan, among others, in 1899 under the Republic of Negros when it was created  after the successful revolution of Negrenses against Spain.

In 1903, after the short-lived existence of the Negros Cantonal Government, a Re-organization Committee was created in consonance with the re-organization of the government during the American Occupation.  Ironically, however, the municipality of Pulupandan was again incorporated as barrio of Valladolid pursuant to the re-organization.  Pulupandan remained as such until 1916 when it was again segregated from Valladolid and re-organized into an independent municipality.

Pulupandan was officially created into a town pursuant to the mandate of Governor General Francis Burton Harrison as contained in his Executive Order No. 95 dated December  23, 1916.  This creation took effect on January 1, 1917 and was implemented by Resolution No. 36 dated January 12, 1917 of the Provincial Board of Negros Occidental with then Gov. Matias Hilado.

How to Get There

Pulupandan is approximately a 30-minute drive from Bacolod City by private car and a little more than 45 minutes in public utility vehicles and buses via the main highway.

Location

Pulupandan is bounded at the western side of the island of Negros facing Guimaras Strait.  Bago River on the north-western portion separates this town from Bago City.  The eastern portion is separated from Bago City and the town of Valladolid by the National Highway.  The greater portion of this municipality came from the town of Valladolid.

Places of Interest

Green Beach Liberation Stone Marker

It was in the beaches of Pulupandan in the early dawn of March 29, 1945 that the historical event of the landing of American Liberation Forces without any opposition nor bloodshed and who together with the Filipino  guerillas drive the enemy forces away from the island of Negros.

This marker standstill at Barangay Zone-1, showcasing the significance of the area’s history and valor, boosting the pride and awareness of the new generation of this rich cultural heritage of the Filipino people.

Jewels Restaurant. The place features the thrill and excitement of fishing aboard a bamboo raft. The place is ideal for family outings and business meetings.

Festival

Salapan Festival – coined from the words salap and pandan.  Salap is a native word for “fishnet” and is linked to the traditional guinamos industry. While the word ‘pan’ comes from the word “pandan” which is the basis of the town “Pulo sg Pandan” or isles of pandan.  Likewise, another ‘pan’ refers to the port or “pantalan” which is the major factor in the economic growth of the town.  The festival showcases: Regatta, Fishing Tournament, Boxing Tournament, Football Tournament (12 under), Live bands, Agro Trade Fair, Bike Race, Laro ng Lahi, Street Dancing Competition and Search for Salapan Festival Queen.

First Week in the Phillippines

HI!!!! everything is great!!! The people here are so nice!!! It's great!! Except it's like day one of the MTC ... all over again!!!  It's hard to understand because they only taught us gospel principles ... not regular day conversations!! It's going good tho!! it's soooooo humid!!!!! my first week was good taught about seven lessons I think we have one new investigator.. he is really strong in the bible but he is open and he is baptist.. we shared the restoration.. My trainer is good!! He is funny! He is really good with the language! He only has six months left!! My ward is soo great!! I love them all!! I gave a talk that day in English but all is good! It was great! But on P-day we email, shop, wash clothes "by hand" and yes it's very busy ... we are running around everywhere.. 

My first ward is Pulupandan 1st Ward just north of Bacolod. We have to go to Bacolod to shop and things.. the only transportation here is bikes, motorbikes with a cart on the side, and buses!! It's fun and everything is packed though!! Yes my P-day is today which is Monday here Sunday night there!! We get on about 9:00 every week... I haven't gotten the letter yet.. and if you do send a package make sure it's just snacks, food, and letters!! The airplane flight was sooooo long!!!! I couldn't sleep it hurt my neck!! But it was soo cool!!! Thanks glad everything is going well!!! Already week two of the Pulupandan Philippines mission!!! It's crazy!!

Mom:  Ahhhh,  so happy for you...glad your doing good and that you have a good trainer! All is well here... Got all the pictures the mission president posted too... Amazing!! You good? Not sick? Feel safe? All is well?

Cody:  I'm GREAT!!! Not sick, I'm good, safe, and everything is well!!!

First night in the Philippines. Leaving the airport in Manilla.

Hotel they stayed in the first night!

Bacolod Island 

Look how green it is!!

Snack time at the Mission Home!

Apartment

Inside his apartment ...look at all his shoes under his bed!

Already have a pet spider...Oy!

Church Building

Surrounding Houses

Sugar Cane Fields

More Sugar Cane Fields

The missionaries in his area. And two sisters aren't pictured! Six sister and two Elders!!!

Trainer's Meeting

Got his first trainer and some instruction. Form the looks of things... Will be getting his first area and excited to hear all about his first few days in the Philippines!! 

Getting ready to take the group picture

Missionaries and their trainers.  Cody is on the far left middle row and his trainer, Elder Eagan is standing above him.

Elder Cody Johnson and his trainer, Elder Eagan

Breakfast

Looks really good... Feed them physically, then feed them spiritually... Then send them to do the work!

New pillows for the new missionaries!

There's Elder Johnson's pillow!! Feeling the love!!

Orientation

Looks like they are teaching and feeding them both spiritually and physically! love it!!