I'm GREAT and all is WELL

I'm doing great mom!!!!! Everything here is great!! love it and time is flying bye!! I'm glad Elder Johnson is doing good in North Carolina!!! That's amazing!! It made me so happy to see and hear that!! He's an amazing Elder!! AND Brother!! (on him opening a new area) But not much new this week except James "investigator" finally can be baptized!!!!!!!!!! He and his friend will be baptized December 13th.   He could this week but it's his birthday December ...so we changed it to then.  His problem was here they have scholar students who randomly get picked for school.  If they are selected, they get free rice for a week and water.. but usually they can't join any other churches but the catholic here.  I share your conversion story a lot. They can relate and know that prayers are answered. Because we are all sons and daughters of Our Father in heaven and we are one big family. The dad "less active" knew the intent of his son and he talked to the school coordinator in behalf of his son.  And the said he can be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!! It justs makes me sooooo happy talking about it!!!!! We are so close.. and he is 12 haha but my transfer day is December 12th sooo... hopefully i'm not transfered.. but it's The Lord's  will.  So, whatever he does I will be happy! 

Cant wait to see you December 25th via Skype! Hopefully, we have a "white christmas" here!! ... "baptism on christmas"! We have one scheduled but we will see how it turns out!! 

 President Lopez is amazing no? He and I have gotten very close and he really helps me out! love you not much going on this week except we have follow-up training this week!!! tomorrow.. but the language is great!! Everything is amazing! 

Part of his last email:  Thank you mommy!!! I'm great here and safe!!:) In The Lord's hands!! He will take care of me!
Love Elder Johnson

MP Specialized Training

Another Storm

UZORAIDA TYPHOON UPDATE: Tropical Depression (TD) [ZORAIDA] continues to rapidly accelerate and is now along the coast of Surigao Del Sur...will make landfall over Surigao Del Sur this morning and traverse Agusan Provinces. Its rainbands will continue to bring wet weather across most of Mindanao and Southern Visayas. 
TD Zoraida is expected to continue moving quickly west-northwest to westward throughout the forecast period. On the forecast track, the core of TD Zoraida will make landfall over Surigao Del Sur later this morning...traversing Agusan Provinces...and will be over Gingoog Bay, very near Camiguin Island around 2 PM this afternoon. Zoraida will then move across Bohol Sea this evening...passing over Siquijor and Southern Negros very near Dumaguete City between 8 to 10 PM...and will emerge over Sulu Sea by early Wednesday morning. By Wednesday evening, it will cross Palawan...passing just north of Puerto Princesa...and will be over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday early morning.

TD Zoraida will likely maintain its strength within the next 12 to 24 hours...but will intensify once the system reaches the West Philippine Sea. Advance Intensity Forecast (AIF) shows its 1-minute maximum sustained winds increasing to 75 km/hr by Wednesday morning.

Continued Prayers!

TYPHOON ZORAIDA UPDATE (We were not affected by this typhoon- All missionaries are safe!) 
Tropical Depression "Zoraida" weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) after making landfall in Mindanao on Tuesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
The agency said in a bulletin issued at 3:30 p.m. that the weather disturbance was last located in the vicinity of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur or at 40 kilometers west northwest of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
All public storm warning signals are now lifted with this development, PAGASA said.
But it warned that moderate to heavy rainshowers are observed over Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Central and Eastern Visayas, the regions pounded by Super Typhoon Yolanda last week.
PAGASA said the rainfall is expected to continue for the next six to 12 hours. Light to moderate rainshowers are also expected to persist over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao.

Such a relief to hear from Cody

Yes you will hear from me! haha but i am doing great!! It wasn't bad at all in Pulupandan area.. we just stayed in ourapartmentt we weren't allowed to evacuate to the church. It wasn't bad at all in Pulupandan! It was very windy and rainy alot more than the US but... not like horrible!! It was way bad in Cadiz that is up north by the ocean we weren't close to it.. we only had one and half days of rain and wind.. President Lopez was texting us that he would update you all on facebook and I said.. that's probably my mom that is worried. but all is well.... no damage, no injuries, no deaths, no house damage in Pulupandan so all is well here. Don't worry and I am doing great!!  It really wasn't bad at all in our area!! We did service that next day and just brushed leaves because they were everywhere and all over the place!!! Tell everyone I am perfectly fine! Just a normal rain storm in Pulupandan, but up north it was WAY bad I heard! Not sure tho!! We weren't allowed to go out for three days tho because of the warnings and just incase it happened! But I am good!

Well I've noticed lately how important it is to have Christ-like love and charity. That is the most I have been praying for.. It is sooo important that people feel your love. That is the source of where everything starts, if you are warm and caring or if you are not. Like Jacob, I have been praying to feel the pains and trials of the people I teach! I want to know exactly what they feel and suffer with them! That is the only true way that we can become perfect like our Savior, to love those around us. The first commandment is "Thou shalt love the lord thy god and second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as unto myself. " There is a reason that these two are the first two commandments. That is because they are the MOST important! We need to love those around us and treat them how we would want to be treated... If you were in the middle of the hardest times in your life. That is my testimony and I know that as we love those around us and become more Christ-like we will find more opportunities to reach out to those around us! And will see many miracles in our life!!

Love you mom!!!

Love Elder Johnson

This is mom:  I was so relieved to hear from Cody.  We weren't sure if he was one of the ones without power.  There is still a lot of the Philippines that won't have power till later this week and some till January, they say.  

After talking with Cody, I realized that he didn't know the reality of things.  He had heard that Northern Negros Occidental  was hit hard.  And it was ...but he had no idea about Leyte or Iloilo... Nor did I go into detail.  I asked him what he did for three days.  And it was just like I invisioned... Studying, drawing, and eating candy corn (he said the snack are all gone).  And why my package got there in two weeks... Tender mercy ...no other reason!

I'm just beyond grateful he somehow weathered the storm and thought .... This isn't too bad! Looking at the storm pattern, I'm just overwhelmed that the typhoon didn't slam Bacolod or Pulupandan. It very well could have and I don't ask why...just beyond grateful.  I will echo what the mayor of Bacolod said, "It is a Miracle!" It was a nerve racking few days, full of emotions, tears and waiting for news.  He has no idea ... And from reading reports a lot of missionaries reporting to parents they are not aware of the panic.  Amongst all the devastation and destruction ... All missionaries in 21 mission as have been accounted for and are safe.

What a HUGE blessing from The Lord. I included some pictures below of the Phillipines ... It is crazy how it can touch one spot and miss another...not all of these are in Cody's Assigned Mission but are from various areas over there. He will be amazing when he gets home and sees all the destruction and his area was spared.

Miracle that Bacolod has been Spared

--TOP officials of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City enjoined their constituents to come together in prayers and attend a thanksgiving mass as Typhoon Yolanda spared the province and the city from devastation.

Public storm warning signal number 4 was raised in northern Negros Occidental, including Bacolod, but the so-called super typhoon did not make a landfall in Negros.

Yolanda made its fourth landfall in Bantayan Island, Cebu, skipped Negros Occidental, then made its fifth landfall in Concepcion, Iloilo.

However, the hardest-hit in the province are the northern cities of Sagay, Cadiz, and Escalante and towns of Toboso and Calatrava towns.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. called on Negrenses Friday to continue their prayers.

The governor also appealed to affected families staying in different evacuation centers not to leave unless advised by authorities.

Puentevella said it has been a miracle that Bacolod has been spared by the worst effects of Typhoon Yolanda.

The thanksgiving mass of the City Government will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday.

“It’s a miracle, the power of prayer worked,” the mayor said.

Moreover, Puentevella also called for more relief goods for the displaced city residents.

He said the City Government needs assistance from the private sector, civic groups and individuals to supplement the relief supplies they procured.

The mayor said that among those needed are ready-to-eat foods, blankets, sleeping mats, medicines, clothing and drinking water. 

--Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said the city had been spared from greater damage that could have been caused by the storm.

He said it was “unexplainable” that Yolanda seemed to have split around Bacolod contrary to earlier forecasts, which showed that the city was on the path of the storm’s full force.

“We have to be thankful for what can be described only as a miracle,” Puentevella said as he pointed out that City Hall had been preparing for massive evacuations since this is the first time in recent years that Bacolod had been placed under Storm Signal No. 4.

WE SURVIVED

UPDATE FROM MISSION PRESIDENT: WE SURVIVED THE SUPERTYPHOON! All missionaries are accounted for and everyone is safe and in high spirit. We are preparing and planning for our community service tomorrow. Missionaries are staying home tonight- there is no electricity. They return to their homes and proselyting areas tomorrow morning. As soon as internet services become available, missionaries will email their families beginning Monday. Together with our couple missionaries, we will tour the entire mission tomorrow to check up on missionaries and members. We appreciate your prayers and your faith in us! Aloha!

UPDATE FROM MISSION PRESIDENT: Goodbye Yolanda

UPDATE:  

Report on Missionaries and Members Visit: All missionaries are safe. We had a mission-wide community service all day Saturday. Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos zones are the hardest hit. They do not have electricity- electric polls are all down. It will probably take a few days to a few weeks to restore power. Phone towers are also down in these areas. Couples assigned in these zones will make regular visits to deliver water and evaluate situations. Missionaries in these zones will not be able to email families- all internet services are down. We are having Mission Presidents Specialized Training this week in groups of 3-zones beginning Tuesday until Friday. These trainings will all be held in Bacolod City and will give our missionaries the opportunity to email their families. Living conditions will become more difficult ahead of us but our missionaries are powerful and dedicated servants of the Lord. We appreciate all your prayers!

The Storm Haiyan

Here are some statistics about the Typhoon approaching the Phillipines:

--The western Pacific storm Haiyan has intensified without interruption since Sunday and is now a dangerous Category 5 super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds exceeding 160 mph.  It is on a path due west, and landfall Friday in the central Philippines is inevitable.

-- Thousands of people in vulnerable areas of the Philippines are being relocated as the strongest storm on the planet so far this year spins toward the country.

--Packing sustained winds of 280 kilometers per hour (174 mph) and gusts as strong as 335 kilometers per hour (208 mph), Super Typhoon Haiyan was churning across the Western Pacific on Thursday toward the central Philippines.

--Its wind strength makes it equivalent to a category 5 hurricane.

--The destruction is expected to be catastrophic. Storm clouds covered the entire Philippines, stretching 1,120 miles -- equal to a distance between Florida and Canada. The deadly wind field, or tropical storm force winds, covered an area the size of Montana or Germany.

--The storm, known as Yolanda in the Philippines, is expected to still be a super typhoon, with winds in excess of 240 kilometers per hour (149 mph), when it makes landfall Friday morning in the region of Eastern Visayas.

--The storm is so large in diameter that clouds from it are affecting two-thirds of the country.

--Haiyan is probably the most powerful storm on the Earth this year, according to meteorologist Ryan Maue of WeatherBell.

--Haiyan, which is the Chinese word for a petrel seabird, is referred to as "Yolanda" in the Philippines, Masters said. It is the 28th named storm of the 2013 western Pacific typhoon season.

--The biggest worry is the possibility of mudslides... There is an eerie feeling of anticipation amongst us: excited but scared, because at this time there is total calm that we know will not last.

UPDATE AS OF THURSDAY:

All missionaries are safe as of Thursday.

UPDATE AS OF FRIDAY:

Friday AM Update: All 234 missionaries are safe! They are well secured in their homes. Missionaries from the mountains and along shorelines were moved to safer missionary apartments since Wednesday. Members were evacuated and moved to our chapels. I cannot give any detailed information from other missions. We might loose power soon. I may not be able to respond to all your specific inquiries. I will keep everyone updated through my FB. Keep us in your prayers!

Friday Noon Update: Most of the island has no power. I am using my cell for this update. We are still 2 hours from direct hit but the wind and rain are incredibly so strong! All zone leaders have reported to me that all 234 missionaries are safe. A few we have to move to another place because of flood and falling trees. Visibility due to rain is almost zero. Wind is still intensifying. I have submitted our noon report to our Area Presidency. We are on typhoon signal number 4 now.

Typhoon Update as of 4:30 PM: we do not have electricity, cable and Internet. All 234 missionaries are safe. We are currently going through the other side of the eye wall and later on the tail of the typhoon. Rain is extremely heavy and wind is super strong! Members and non members are packed in all our chapels. They are collecting water from rain for drinking and food preparation. Our missionaries have sufficient water and food supply. Our branch presidents and bishops are also monitoring their safety. Everyone is calm and planning all night for our weekend community service. Our prayers are intense and our faith is full!

Typhoon Warning

TYPHOON UPDATE: 2-DAY FORECAST OUTLOOK*

TS Haiyan is expected to continue moving slightly westerly during the the next 24 hours...with a west-northwest turn through 48 hours. On the forecast track, the core of TS Haiyan will passing just to the south of Yap State on Wednesday evening.

TS Haiyan will gradually intensify within the next 24 to 48 hours as the system moves over the warm open waters of the Western Pacific Ocean...and could become a well-developed Typhoon on Tuesday. Advance Intensity Forecast (AIF) shows its 1-minute maximum sustained winds increasing to almost 200 km/hr on Wednesday afternoon.

The following is the summary of the 2-day forecast outlook and an extended 3-day forecast on this system:

TUESDAY EVENING: Strengthens into a Typhoon (Category 1) as it heads for Yap State...about 665 km east-southeast of Colonia, Yap [8PM NOV 05: 7.2N 143.7E @ 130kph].
WEDNESDAY EVENING: Becomes a Category 3 Typhoon as it passes to the south of Yap State...about 105 km south-southwest of Colonia, Yap [2PM NOV 06: 8.6N 137.8E @ 195kph].
THURSDAY EVENING: Moving across the Philippine Sea as a Category 4 Typhoon as it dangerously approaches Eastern Visayas...about 670 km east-southeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, PH [8PM NOV 07: 10.3N 131.4E @ 215kph].

SUPERTYPHOON UPDATE: All missionaries are instructed to stay home. We are taking all precautions to keep our missionaries safe.

HAIYAN approaching Super Typhoon (STY) status as it rapidly gained strength due to the emergence of a pinhole-sized eye a few hours ago...now poses a serious threat to Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao. The initial potential landfall area of this typhoon remains along the Samar-Leyte Area on Friday morning, November 08.

This typhoon is similar in track and strength of Super Typhoon MIKE (RUPING) which passed across the Visayas in November of 1991 and devastated much of Metro Cebu. Residents living along the eastern seaboards of the Philippines from Northern Quezon...Bicol Region...down to Northeastern Mindanao should closely monitor the approach of this potentially destructive typhoon. Plans for emergency situations and/or disaster management planning must be implemented beginning today as the storm is only 3 days away from hitting land.

The following is the summary of the 2-day forecast outlook and an extended 3-day forecast on this system:

THURSDAY EARLY MORNING: Enters the P.A.R. at Category 4 strength while passing close to the Republic of Palau...moving over the South Philippine Sea...about 160 km north-northeast of Koror, Palau [2AM NOV 07: 8.7N 134.9E @ 250kph].
FRIDAY EARLY MORNING: Strengthens to a Category 5 STY as it prepares to make landfall over Southern Samar...about 290 km southeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar [2AM NOV 08: 10.7N 127.9E @ 260kph].
SATURDAY EARLY MORNING: Moving across Mindoro Strait after traversing Northern Visayas...weakens to Category 4...about 60 km north-northeast of Coron, Palawan [2AM NOV 09: 12.5N 120.4E @ 215kph].

After all our Zone Training Meetings this morning, missionaries are instructed to buy food for at least three days, water, candles and load-up their cell phones. I’ve instructed those missionaries who live up in the mountain to come down and stay with the missionaries in the city- in case there is landslide and the road become impassable. Missionaries who are leaving their house are asked to secure their belongings left behind. Those near the shoreline are also moved inland. Sisters are well secured including our couples. Starting this evening at 6- all missionaries are expected to be home and remain indoor until after the storm. No one is allowed to go outside. I’ve instructed missionaries that we will assist only after the storm and not during the typhoon. I’ve also instructed our San Carlos District to cancel their temple trip to Cebu tomorrow. I have cancelled all interviews, appointments and visits until after the storm. Every companionship will report to their district leaders on their safety. District leaders will report to zone leaders and all zone leaders will update me tonight and on a regular basis. FYI.

Several tropical storms and typhoons have crossed the Philippines this year, but Haiyan promises to be among the most intense if not the strongest. (Utor crossed the northern Philippines as a category 4 storm in early August.)

“Haiyan will likely be the most dangerous tropical cyclone to affect the Philippines this year,” writes Wunderground meteorologist Jeff Masters. “This is particularly true since Tropical Depression Thirty dumped heavy rains over the central Philippines Monday, which helped saturate the soils.”

Tropical storms and typhoons to impact the Philippines this year (Brian McNoldy)

AccuWeather discusses Haiyan’s likely impacts in more detail:

Rain totals along the path of Haiyan could top 200 mm (8 inches). Mudslides are a serious concern in the higher terrain, where localized totals of 250 to 300 mm (10 to 12 inches) are not out of the question.

The expected track of Haiyan will take it directly over the areas hardest hit by a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 150 people in the middle of October.

Haiyan will also produce a severe and inundating storm surge, especially along the eastern coast of southern Luzon and Samar islands.

Typhoon Haiyan, roughly 48-60 hours from a dangerous encounter with the Philippines, is rapidly intensifying.

We are still bracing for the big hit! All missionaries are staying home. Everyone is calm and studying and planning all day. Office staff staying in the mission office for emergency landline calls only. We appreciate all your prayers!

Calm before the storm...picture from a Mission Presidents Wife in the Phillipines. (Thursday Morning) they are expecting impact Friday.

Apostle Neil Anderson ...AMAZING week!!

This sums up this week!!!! I got Grandma's package!! But this week was absolutely amazing!!! We heard from Elder Anderson, President Whitney L. Clayton of the Seventies Presidency and Elder EchoHawk, Second Councilor of the Philippines Area! It was so spiritual! My favorite part in each were Elder Anderson said, that times in areas will be expanded so not as much transfers because we need to get to know the people.  That takes time and get them comfortable with who we are! Also he talked about the Merits the Mercy and The Grace of Christ.  How without that we wouldn't have had the atonement. He said,  We Don't Fully Understand How the atonement happened.  But we definitely know it does what it does. Only he, could do it ...Only Through the merits, the mercy and the grace did it happened.  And be able to endure what he had to go through. Any other man would have died... and he wouldn't have been able to endure all that Christ did.

My favorite from Elder EchoHawk was when he asked the congregation if they believed in angels. Then asked a recent convert to come up and said, "I would like all the full time missionaries to stand up. ". These Brothers and Sisters, are Angles called and sent by a Prophet of God!  Sent here to the earth and The Lord is hastening his work through the age change.  We as members need to help the missionaries.   We are all called to hasten the work. See this sister. She is the work of angels.{after she bore her testimony and baptized october 31} 

Elder Whitney L. Clayton really talked about Alma 23:5-7 and it was amazing! 

"5 And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down even to the present time.

6 And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them--yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.

7 For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren."

I love those scriptures! "Do we have any weapons of war holding us back from our true potential?" It was truly an amazing week! I couldn't have had any better! but the picture was the sisters baptism but they needed me to baptize them! they are a great family!! All is well here! I ca talk finally and people understand what I'm saying! And I love it! The work is slowly coming! We have baptisms set on November 30th, so hope we can get those three families ready! 

Out side the church in is area.

A raining day...missionaries are starting to arrive.

A full house.

Mission President and his wife

Departing missionaries...what a site!

Waiting for rides back to their areas!