Last email from Bacolod Mission Dec 1, 2019

maayong aga sa inyo tanan!!

wow i just cant believe how fast this time has just flown. i honestly never thought this day would actually come hahah. its been probably the most emotional week of my whole life. but i am just so so thankful. i cant describe how much i have absolutely loved my time here in the Philippines and how important this country became to me. 

it was the happiest ending ever with a baptism of the Calata family and of Vernice Esloyo! And the elders had 3 as well, so there were 8 people baptized into Kabankalan on Saturday! Probably one of the most special days of my whole life. Seeing them file into the font one after another was just something that I will never forget. And hearing them testify of the truthfulness of the gospel right afterwards was so special. We went to visit the Calata family last night, and their dad just teared up and thanked us over and over again for changing generations of families. He said his grandkids and his great grandkids will all grow up in the church and go on missions and he will "flood the philippines with members of the church." and i just lost it hahaha i just love these people so much and am SO grateful for them and their faith. 

I think a perfect example of the filipino people and how incredible they are is an experience we had on Saturday night. We went to visit the Elicana Family, who are really struggling right now with a lot of really hard trials. They are so poor and don't have money for food most days. We shared a message with them of hope and peace through the gospel, and then they said to us, "sisters we're so hungry, but thats okay because we're so full on the spirit." That totally doesn't translate as powerfully as they said it in ilonggo. but i think that pretty much sums up the filipino people. They have more faith than anybody else ive ever met. No matter how hard their trials are, they rely on our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and know that they'll be okay. I've learned that true happiness has nothing to do with our circumstances or our situations. I've seen people who are so deep in trials and are going through things that I can't even comprehend, and they are the happiest people I have ever met. How blessed am I to serve in the Philippines. It's true what it says in 2nd Nephi 10- "great are the promises of the Lord unto those upon the isles of the sea." I have been a witness of that every day these past 18 months. I don't know what I did to get so lucky to serve here but I wouldn't have rather been anywhere else. 

I know that this is the true church on earth. I've learned the importance of that here. When Christ was here on earth he established a church with apostles and His authority. But it was changed and after years of confusion after Christ died until it was nowhere left on the earth. But I know that it was restored to the earth in its fullness through a prophet, Joseph Smith. And thats the message we've been sharing to the philippines!! And every person I've been able to meet and teach who has been baptized, have testified of the truthfullness of it. They have each individually received an answer from our Heavenly Father that this is true. I have loved being able to see that.

I have felt basically all the emotions this week. My heart has just broken as I've said goodbye to all the people I've just loved here. I seriously feel like im leaving part of my heart over here on this cute little island. i would extend another year if i could. but i know God has a perfect plan. I am just so blessed I was able to wear the name of Christ on my heart for this short time and be His instrument. I can't thank Him enough for this time. 

I love you all thanks for tuning in these past 18 months. Its been the happiest, most life changing, perspective changing 18 months of my whole life. Ill be speaking at our church in Southlake, TX on Sunday and sharing some stories and experiences from my time here. I'd love if yall could come. 

halong lang kamo. sa deson naman.

Sister Johnson