Weeks 82, 83, 84, and 85 - March 6, 2016

Family!

(On February 11, 2016, Elder Johnson's brother was married in the Salt Lake Temple.  This is his entire family now with his new sister-in-law, Kate.)

(However, since Elder Johnson wasn't able to attend, his family made a giant cut-out of him to be in some of the pictures!)

(Elder Johnson with his parents.)

 (Elder Johnson's sister, Izzie, and his brothers, Tyler and Luke at Tyler's wedding.)

This week has been so good. 

I think I have learned more about myself and my mission experience this last week than any other week on my mission.  I feel that I have received much inspiration and guidance to thoughts and prayers throughout this week.  I feel blessed and supported in all ways by so many amazing people.

This week I want to share two quick experiences:

The first happened about 2 weeks ago.

We had just finished eating lunch and were out on the street talking to people and we had about an hour and a half before our next appointment.  

We wanted to try to set another appointment up before the other one but couldn't find anyone to meet.  We had been out on the street talking to people and met a few good people but no one that would listen to our message right then, (which is usually the case.) My companion and I were standing at the bus stop with many people surrounding (even the Jehovah Witness missionaries) hah!  and many other people telling about their church.  We decided to sit down on the bench real quick and offer a pray to ask the Lord where it was that we needed to go.  We decided to leave the area we were at and walk to an area we weren't very familiar with.  As we went to this area, there was nothing there.  We came back into the area we were in before (with lots of people), but this time we came back a different way.  (It was like we made a big circle.)  We came in the back way and started talking to a guy that was working parking lot duty who had seen missionaries before.  As we were talking to this guy, I looked right and saw someone pass that I thought I had seen before.  I had the feeling we needed to quickly leave and follow him.  We hurried and ended a conversation with this other man and I looked at my comp and told him I saw someone pass that I felt we needed to talk to.  As we hurried down the street, about 300 ft down we were now walking next to this kid that passed us.  We said Hello and we quickly realized that we had met last week outside of the subway station, and he asked us if we had time to meet right then!  He didn't have any plans and was just walking around, so he asked if he could learn a little bit about our church.  It was great!  We were able to meet with him for about 45 minutes until our next appointment and teach him about the messages we are sharing.  It was a great experience.  We gave him a soft baptismal invitation and he told us he wanted to learn more. 

I don't have much time but the second experience was similar to the first.  My companion and I were exhausted because we had a lot of appointments through out the day.  It was about 7:45 pm and we had about an hour and 15 minutes until we had to return.  We decided to pray and ask the Lord to lead us.  After many thoughts and many suggestions, we just decided to move!  We went to a place we had gone to before but the person there rejected us, (but the timing on this experience was just perfect!  That guy rejected us for the perfect amount of timing).  As we kept walking down the street, we came to a 4-way road. (This road was leading to a bigger road.)  Anyway, right when we got to the middle of the end of the road that was connected with the 4-way intersection, we crossed paths with a man who was smoking a cigarette.  We said hello to him and started talking... He started listening... He  told us that we needed to go to his house to talk about this.  We immediately went to his house and he told us on the way  that his father had passed a way a while back and he has been thinking about how he can see him again.  He had a lot of great questions and we were able to teach him.  He is now an investigator and is a super great man!  He is from China but grew up speaking Korean.  He is 28, lives alone, and is working here!  He is a great guy.

I know the Lord hears and answers our prayers.  I know and am sure that, that man from China we met was one of the only ones who would have met us on the street that night and taken us straight to his house to hear our message.  I know the Lord leads us to him and is leading us through the Holy Spirit every day.

We set two baptismal dates for March 20th.  They were huge miracles!  And we invited one more of our investigators to be baptized.  He accepted, but hasn't accepted the date yet. One of the investigators with a baptismal date is the other Chinese guy that I have talked about a few times.. We have been meeting for a long time and the other is the kid I sent a picture home with last week that came to church.

All is well and the Lord is pouring blessings down. 

Have a great week.  Be safe.  LOVE YOU. 

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

PACE.

Weeks 81 - February 7, 2016

 Family,

This was one of our miracles this week.  We were on the bus and I saw this guy and started talking to him.  He is from Kenya. 

Long story short, we went straight to his home with him and helped him with a few things he said he needed help with and taught him the Restoration.

We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and he seemed to have a lot of interest.  He is such a cool and nice man.  He invited us in and gave us some Kenya 

snacks and a special Kenya drink. 

Right before we started the lesson, he turned on some Kenyan Gospel music and it was great!  Hahah He is a great guy.

This is one of my investigators in Daejeon and one of my closest friends in Korea.

When I moved to Onyang, he finished high school and was baptized in Youseoung.  (I was able to do his baptismal interview right before I left.)  I came here and it ended up that his family lives here in my area, and so because he finished school, he came back to his home town which is the area that I am in. It is a big blessing because we are really close and I think I have been able to help his progression a little bit more in the church. 

I think I am going to transfer, so we met a few times this week and took pictures.  We are super close. 

Transfer calls will come tomorrow.  President told the mission he needs more time.

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

(This weekend and today is the big holiday in Korea. 설날 Chinese New Year. 

Super fun.  Lots of good food and traditions on this day.)

 

Week 80 - January 31, 2016

Family. 

I hope everything is going well.

I wanted to share a few cool stories this week! 

On the Morning of District meeting this last week,  I decided to fast for a few things just for the morning meal because we had a lunch appointment in the afternoon.  On the way to district meeting as we were taking the subway, I prayed specifically to recognize who it was I needed to talk to.  Not only to find someone but to recognize them.  As I got on the subway, all the seats were taken and there was one person standing up by the door.  I first had a feeling to talk to him but wanted to check the next car to see if there was any seats to sit and talk to some one.  There wasn't, so I had the feeling again to talk to the guy standing up. 

As I approached him, I wasn't quite sure what to say but I began introducing myself.  He immediately acknowledged the fact that I was a Mormon Missionary.  Long story short... Super Cool!  This man lives in PLEASANT GROVE!  He is a Korean but is here just for a few weeks because his wife's mom is very sick.  His son is a member.  Brother is a member, but he and his wife aren't.  He has met with missionaries a few times, he mentioned, and is very familiar with the return missionaries that come home from Korea because he owns the Korean Mart in Provo!  Soooo crazy!   It was such a cool miracle.  I didn't get a chance to really talk to him for a long time, but got his number and we are going to meet with him again.

This week has been great!  I have learned a lot and am recognizing the hand of the Lord in His work.

Love you all.

Love

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

PACE

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

Weeks 73 and 74 - December 21, 2015

Subject:  Merry Christmas 

I feel very comforted and grateful for the gift of eternal families.  What a blessing.  The knowledge that we have of the Savior Jesus Christ, as well as His Father, is truly remarkable.  As this last week has passed, I am still blown away at the fact, that the knowledge of just knowing who God is,  is such a blessing.  This last week I have been able to meet with a handful of new investigators and a few of them had personal ideas of who "God" is but don't really know or have knowledge of Him.  They believe in the Deity but don't believe that it is God, nor do they believe that prayer is a way of communication.

The sentence, "I believe in God" and the sentence "I have a knowledge of my belief in God" are very different.  We can believe, but if we don't have a knowledge, our belief can become as sand.

I truly believe that it is through our experience by which we gain knowledge.  We can go to Harvard, Yale, Stanford  or any of the top schools in the world, but until we have experienced for ourselves, we cannot have an asurety of that knowledge or belief which brings me to the importance of the special promise given in the Book of Mormon:  To Read, Pray, and Ponder upon the word and gain personal experience or witness that it is another testament of Jesus Christ.  What a blessing.

As I was reading in 2 Nephi Chapter 2 this morning about the fall of Adam and Eve, I was grateful for another strong witness of the Fall and for Lehi's teachings.  Seeing it from the same story but different view.  I was able to apply things in my life and compare a lot of things that have come to pass throughout my service to the Lord.

I am putting all my efforts here.  Focused on the Lord.  I am striving to change.  I hope that I will be at the top of the mountain on the last day of my mission.  I am climbing and am not going to stop.  Fighting everyday to change and see my weakness with a focus on the Savior, always staying positive with my strengths.

I have also been thinking a lot about our life's purpose and the true meaning of Christmas.  I am trying to do all things unto Christ and create a stronger relationship with Him.

I love you.

I am thankful for everything and my family

I dont have much time left here in Korea, and I cannot wait to be reunited with my family.

Love,

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

 On Christmas Day, Elder Johnson's family was thrilled to have a call coming from Korea from their son.  

 Elder Johnson was just as excited on the other end of the connection to see his family, including his grandparents.  It was the perfect Christmas gift for everyone!

Week 72 - December 7, 2015

Family!

Whoa.. Watch out!  I think mom's gratitude is going to send tsunamis across the oceans! Mom, I am so humbled to hear of all your experiences and cherished testimonies you are gaining at this time.  I feel that you as well as each of the members of our family are serving our own kind of missions, in our own kind of ways.  It's interesting that as we accept the Savior in our life, He begins to enlighten and reveal to us the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us.  I can't imagine how God works.  His ways are mysterious, but He asks us to follow His Only Begotten Son and by doing so, He has promised to lead us on that path back to him.  The Knowledge that we have, (not just the Belief) but the knowledge we have of the Resurrected and Living Christ, is truly remarkable. 

I have been thinking a lot this week about my thoughts and my beliefs.  I have asked myself a question that formed as I was reading Elder Rasband's talk this week.  Are my beliefs just beliefs or are they true Knowledge.  It's one thing to believe in something and it's one thing to have a knowledge of something.  As I have been pondering this throughout the week, I  have come to the conclusion that before my mission a lot of my belief was just "belief."  As I have been out on my mission and experienced the Gospel in my own way, It has become a sure, pure, and precious Knowledge. 

(The Korean Thanksgiving feast Elder Johnson and his companion made.)

I have also been thinking a lot on what it means to Become One.

We focus a lot about that in our mission.  We focus on the importance of being one with the Lord.  Our Companionship.  Our districts.  Zones.  And as a mission.

As I have been thinking about this, I have been led to the thought of our Johnson Family.  How special our family and extended family is.  I am amazed at the amount of "oneness" we have within our family.  Our family does a great job with being one.  And I truly believe that it comes from living a Gospel Centered life.  Centered on Jesus Christ.  I have seen families while growing up and throughout my mission that don't have that "oneness," and it has been sad.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus gives anything to anyone, if they will just live according to it.

This week, we have seen lots of miracles!  Met lots of new investigators and have been deeply blessed!  Serious!  Tons of good things are going on right now.  We are Finding.  Teaching and it is leading to baptism.  We have lots and lots of potentials, and we were so close to setting a baptismal date yesterday for the day that Ty left on his mission--December 19!  The person is the guy from China that I have talked about a little.  We met him through a fast, and he is progressing well!  He leaves back to China this month, so we don't really know what to do!  He will eventually come back.  We are just jot sure when!  Anyway, he has a few things to overcome, and he can be baptized.

Cole's new comp Elder Jung Ingyu

We have seen lots of other miracles as we have fasted this week as well.  One of the days we fasted, it was snowing and freezing!  It was like one of five people we were able to start conversations with, and he had had the thought as he walked our the door that day, "Today I want to make a foreigner friend."  Well, sure enough, because we followed the prompting to talk to him and get off at a later bus stop, we were able to meet him and he has great interest.  Lots of time and wants to come to church this week!

I love you and hope you have a safe week!  Plant your seeds of guided gratitude and let it grow!  Mine is starting to grow slowly.  This week I have been extremely grateful for Change

Change to Become.

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

PACE Trust(ing) in the Source

(Elder Johnson got his pre-Christmas presents.  He was pretty excited!)