Letter to Michael

Dear Waay Katapusan Ka-upod
"without end companion"
"Eternal companion"

Thought I should just write a little note for my brother!!  I love this saying by Bruce R. McConkie it is titled:

 "I AM CALLED OF GOD"

 

My Authority is above that of the Kings of the earth.  By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is my Master and he has chosen me to represent him.  To stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally were ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me.  My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine is his doctrine.  My commission is to what he  wants done.  To say what he wants said.  To be a living modern witness in word and deed of divinity of his Great and Marvelous Latter-day work.   "HOW GREAT IS MY CALLING!?

 

I love that quote by him.  I carry that card where I go.  How is North Carolina treating you?  The MTC is great!!  I'm now know as "Zone little Bro!"  They say I'm like there little brother and everyone love me... hahahahah!!  Our zone is awesome!!  Keeping up the hard work?  I love in Doctrine and covenants, Chapter 4:  It reads,

 

"Serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength"

 



 

That's what I plan on doing in the Philippines.. It' crazy to think I only have 29 more days left in the MTC!!  Then off to the Philippines!!

 

Bears his testimony in Hiligaynon to his brother.

 

Love you Bro!!

Elder Johnson

Familya

Every thing is GREAT!!  Thank you for the shoes and package!  I'm now known as the Zones "little brother" because I get along with everyone... and they all say I'm like a little brother to them!  The along okay.  We just learned how to make our own sentences and it is so weird!!  It goes v.a.o.l ... so if I were to say I love God... It would be "Love I God" .... with a filler in between... I and God.  So ... pag paknga ako sang Digos. 
It takes a little work but it's slowly coming!! Everyone is starting to get sick and I hope that I don't!!!  That would be the worst!!  I usually email around 10:30 am.  That is Nevada time only on Thursdays and having a hard time sending some of them, too.  Don't know why? 
How's everything going?  The food isn't so bad here!  We are getting a new investigator this week and we have two everyday!  It's going to be crazy!! Tell all the Young Women THANK YOU!! It was amazing and I'm bragging to all the other Elders about my package!!  And I love the poster!! Tell them I'm doing GREAT!!

Well time for Church!! Love you guys!! I hope everything is great!!

Love Elder Johnosn

First Email from the MTC

Cody:  Everything is going great!! I am learning the language well! haven't gotten upset or frustrated yet! Yes I have been getting the packages and dear elders! Thank you for those! My companions and I are doing great with the language! How is everything there going? Loving the MTC! my companions and district are soooo cool! They are amazing!

And on the first day we go into class and learn the language.. well she talks all hiligaynon and we try to pick it up! the only thing i learned ont he first day was Ako si Elder Johnson "I am Elder johnson" it has been coming along great! talk to you sooN!! I've sent like four letters, don't know if you have got them all? And I'm sending one today also!

From mom:  U sound like u are doing so good...I love u...I've gotten two letters...what is ur companions name and where is he from!

Cody:  Yes i am!!! love you too!! But I sent one today. And my companions are:  Elder Hillman, he is from American Fork, Ut and Elder Carnahan he is from Washington!

First Week in Review

To Basically sum up July 31st -August 4th:  July 31st I got to the MTC at about 1:00 in the afternoon and I got out and gave my family hugs and another missionary took me within just a few minutes to get all my Hiligaynon Books!  There were so many books!! Throughout the day I went to a couple of talks, then to my class where the teacher only spoke Hiligaynon!!!  I only remembered a couple of things:  "Ako si Elder Johnson" which is my name is Elder Johnson.  On August 1st we learned a lot of language.  It is really hard to get the hang of it but I was getting it a little better.  Nothing really went on that day, Just studied the language ... like crazy!  August 2, we had to teach an investigator, his name is Marianeto.  I didn't really talk a lot.  I couldn't put the words together but I could kind of understand what they were saying.  August 3rd we got to teach Marianeto agian.  He was very open about everything.  I talked extremely well.  I bore my testimony to him about My livro ni Mormon kay pumilya.   Then he asked what the Book of Mormon was?  Me and my companions couldn't really explain it but were trying.  After thinking for a little .... it hit me! To read out of the introduction and I did so.  It looked like he felt the spirit.  After that I committed him to read Moroni 10 and he said he would.  We will see August 5th when we meet with him again.  August 4th was my first Sunday in the MTC and it was Fast Sunday, too!  We had so many meetings!!  But it was a VERY spiritual day1!  I learned today that with God all things are possible.  That The Lord will make up the difference and help us become what he wants us to be.  And that he wants all his children to return back to him.   Also, that the Book of Mormon combined with the spirit is the single most effective way to conversion.  That The Lord will lead us to the people.  2 Nephi 31:  11-12, 2 Nephi 31:21, 2 Nephi 31:5, and Acts 2:38are all amazing scriptures to Baptism.  I'd like to close with my testimony: (he wrote in both English and Hiligaynon)

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.  I k now that the Book of Mormon is true and is the word of God.  I k now that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and restored the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Learning his Testimony in Hiligaynon

FAMILY!!!

I AM DOING AMAZING!  Sorry for taking so long! I have been so busy!  Let me tell you about my companions... We get along like brothers!  Well our whole zone!  We have an amazing residency.  Our whole floor is Pilipino speakers, all have different dialects!  We all share our stuff "snacks", all get along well!  We all talk to each other and do stuff on gym time together!  We played soccer for gym time!  They are all so funny!  It was fun!  This MTC food is making me out of shape thought!  I could barely breathe.  It's good thought!
The language....... Is coming along very well.  I can bear my testimony:  Kubulao ako nga mutulod any ebanghelyo putisa libro mi mormon.  Kubulo ako nya muy paypalanyga nya dios.  Kubulo ako nya perpekto si JesuKristo nya Dios.  Su ngulan ni JesuKristo Amen.  Lights out time!  Love you all!! Tell Every one! Muayo and Gubi!

Love Elder Johnson

P.s.  Oh and I can almost say a prayer! I can hold a conversation about our selves and speak a little about the church!  Lots of Love!!!

He sent home some notes to help:

-sa nyalon ni JesuKristo Amen
In Name of Jesus Christ Amen

-Dros
God

-Plano
Plan

-Pagpalanyga
love

-Kabalo ako nga
I know that

-importante
Important

-bulahan
Blessed

-familya mo
Your family

-pagtuso
faith

-livro ni mormon
Book of Mormon

Sunday Lesson

This Sunday was sooo Amazing!!  The talk by David A Bednar called "The Character of Christ" changed my life.  How I view things.  It's not about myself.  It is about the name on my badge, Jesu Kristo.  I need to look away from the natural man and turn toward God.  Christ has never once thought about himself.  Even through all his trials.   It's amazing how one could be so loving for all that was done to him.   The question that now always goes through my mind is:  "Is Christ in me?"  Some trials that he had but yet he still reached out when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  As he was praying before he told his three Apostles to stand guard and watch while he was gone.  But when he came back they were all asleep and they he was also betrayed by one of them by a kiss.  The Guards come to get Jesus and Peter cuts off the guards ear.  After all that pain and anguish he went through in the Garden, for you and me.  So much pain that it cause him to sweat drops of blood from his body.  And when Peter does this, Jesus heals the guards ear with compassion and love.  He turned outward instead of wanting all the attention for what he had just done.  Another example is:  At the crucifixion while Christ was on the cross in agony.  He tells the apostles to take care of his mother.  And also he is proselyting  to the two murders that are next to him on the cross saying, "Today we return to our Father in Heaven"  ... what an example for us to follow and try to be more like him in our daily lives.

Kabalo ako nga matuod any libro ni Mormon Kog ano any Pubny san Diyos.  Kabako ako ngu matuod any simbohanni Jesu Kristo. (I know I didn't type that correctly but I gave it a shot)

Love,
Elder Cody Johnson

First Letter Written from the MTC

Dear Family,
Kamusta Ka! How are you?  The MTC is AMAZING ...everyone here is so friendly! Our first day we had orange dots on our tags.  Everyone said "Welcome to the MTC"!  Kuapod Ko, Elder Carnahan Elder Hillman.  We are a trio.  We have our own room ... just us three.  The language is difficult but it is going muayo gid "very good".  We are teaching oan investigator tommorrow and it's only the THIRD day!  Me and my companions get along very well.  We have not much in comoon but we are very close.  Our zone leaders are so AWESOME!!  They just come chill with us in our residence.  Us three Elder are the only Elders in our district!  Elder Carnahan is District Leader, I'm Senior Companion, and Elder Hillman is Junior Companion.  Sister McDonald is our Language teacher.  She only speaks Hiligaynon to us.  I only hear single English words to help a little she is very good.
How are the Brothers doing?
I only know little phrases at the moment.  Ako si Misyonero Elder Johnson.  Mga santos su ulihing mga adlaw.  Mga representante kami ni ginu-ong Jesu Cristo.  "I am missionary Elder Johnson.  We are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.  We are Representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ."  Well its getting late here.  Almost lights out and I have to study for the investigator! I will write you soon! Lots of love to the familya! I love you!!  Maoyony Gab-i "Good night"

Love, Elder Johnson