Weeks 77, 78, and 79 - January 25, 2016

Family,

This week has been FREEZING.  But super good.  Seen a lot of miracles. 

I don't have a lot of time, but this week I went on a split in a different area for one day and 

we spent the whole day on the streets talking to the people in the snow.  We shoveled walks, talked to people, went into gas stations, restaurants and just about everything to serve and talk to people.  The Lord gave us so many opportunities.  We ended up getting 8 phone numbers and taught a few lessons.  It was great.  The area that I went to is having struggles finding investigators and so that was our main focus was, finding.  I did the split with an Elder from Ohio that is 28 years old.  He is great!  He went through a lot to get out here on his mission.  I learned a lot from him and thanked him for his great example.

I have recently been focusing on Sacrifice.

Blessings are obtained through sacrifice.  It is a sacrifice to be obedient.  It is a sacrifice to exercise faith and blessings come from obedience and exercising faith.  Sacrificing isn't easy, but it's how we obtain blessings.  If there is a mission rule or commandment that is hard to keep, keeping it will bring blessings.  Sacrifice is one of the biggest acts of Love we can show.  I am focusing on sacrifice and I have seen the blessings.

Last week our investigator Max didn't come to church so we have to move his date back. We are praying for him!

Also, yesterday we were out in the FREEZING dumping snow and we ran in to our old investigator with a baptismal date.  He is from Philippines and said he wants to start coming back out to church.  We are praying for things to go well! 

I love you all and hope you have a good safe week!

Love,

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

PACE

Week 75 and 76 - January 4, 2015

Family!

Not a lot of time this week!  Hope all is well and hope everyone had a safe New Year!

Happy New Years! 2016!  "Monkey Year." (in Korea)

Our New Year's Eve was great!  We spent the last few hours of the night (7-9)  knocking on doors and we GOT LET IN!  We had just got done with an appointment and were waking to the bus stop as our next appointment got canceled!  We had a feeling to go back to the apartment we were just at and knock on doors at the next door apartment.  It was about the 9th door we knocked on when an American couple came to the door!  It was a big surprise and they mentioned they were teaching at the college next door.  They invited us in and told us they didn't have much religion interest but that they wanted to talk.  When we got into the apartment, the man was smoking a giant cigar!  It was huge!  He was really kind and put it away while we were there. 

As we started talking to these people, we introduced to them a little bit about what we are doing and what we are sharing.  I was able to share my personal testimony in English and it was a great experience and blessing from the Lord.  Last second year ending Miracle:)

Also, I was able to experience the healing power of the Priesthood this week!  Recently for some reason my lower back has been in a lot of pain.  It was difficult for me to walk and sit down.  I am not sure why.. I think it come from my 100 burpees I did on Christmas Eve:) haha but it was in a lot of pain.  We came home after a hard day at the work and I asked my companion for a Priesthood blessing.  As I went to bed, I got up the next morning and the pain was gone.  I haven't experieced the pain really at all since the blessing.  It was a miracle.

Lastly, I have been in Korea for about 17 months now and for the first time this last week I ate DOG:)  It was the last meal with our Chinesse investigator.  It wasn't quite what I expected, but It wasn't too bad.  It tasted similar to any other meat, but it's just the fact that it is DOG.

We, also, set a baptismal date with our Investigator Max!  He is planning on being baptized on the 17th of this week and we are working to prepare him!  His mom is still opposing but we are praying that he will be able to be baptized!  He has a desire and is such a humble and pure man. 

This week was great.  It's the start of the new transfer, and we are looking forward to all the new experiences!

Love you.  Have a good safe week! 

Love,

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson