Week 60 - September 14, 2015

FAMILY!

It's weeks and days like these where I know that the Savior is with us and guiding us in His work. My companion and I have seen countless miracles this week and have seen the hand of the Lord in His work!  I have studied a lot about diligence, repentance, and humility this week and I know that because of that, we have been able to see soooooo many miracles.  Two of the miracles of which we saw are probably two of the biggest ones I have seen in my time serving thus far!

The first one that I want to share happened on two different days this week. 

On Wednesday as we were on the way to go to a member lunch appointment, I sat in the back of the bus talking to this girl who attends another church that is similar to the message of the restoration.  She talked about how her church was restored and what things they believed in.  As I continued to talk to her, we began the topic of our Gospel and how we believe and as we did that, the Lord gave me an opportunity to share my personal testimony of the Restoration.  As we got to our stop we quickly exited and right as we did so, an older man that sat a few rows in front of us exited with us as well and began to talk to us.  As we were walking up the hill, he gave us his number and told us that he just started attending a church about two months ago, but he met with missionaries a while ago and wanted to start meeting again.  He was very nice and as we continued to talk, I heard him say his address of where he lives.  Like the exact building and door.  As he said that, I have a strong sudden impression that I needed to write it down. I pulled out my white hand book and on the back side of it on the sticky note I wrote:  105-225. 

Well, the next day we intended on visiting him.  He was on our plan, but we had another appointment that ended up going over that was on the total opposite side of our area, so we assumed that the Lord had prepared something else for us and we decided not to visit him.  (which was like four other huge miracles that happened!)

The next day, we called his number that he gave us... which for some odd reason, is a phone number that cant be reached??  When I first obtained his number, we called it and it came through to his phone, so it was really weird that after several times of calling him, it wouldn't go through.

But, because we followed the Spirit and wrote his address down, we had nothing to worry about:)  Hah.  We just figured that we would do it the easy way and just show up at his house and share a message with him.

Well, come Saturday afternoon as we took the bus about 40 minutes over to his house area, we exited the bus and made our way up to the address that we had written down earlier in the week.  As we approached his apartment building, I pulled out the white hand book with my sticky note to confirm the address, but apparently my eyes saw something different.... I had what was written 105-225 but apparently then, my eyes saw 105-205.  Why?  Because the Spirit had another plan for us.  Did I know at that time that we were going to another apartment?  No.  I looked at the sticky note and saw 105-205 when it was actually written 105-225.

As we got of the stairs to floor two of this HUGE building with tons of people living in it, we turned the corner and there was a door slightly opened.  We approached the door and realized that it was the house we were intending to visit.  We turned back around, went back around the corner and said a quick but very sincere prayer.  I don't think I have prayed in English in a long time, but for the first time I said a few English words because I wasn't quite sure how to word them in Korean.  The English words of which I used were, "Arm us with thy power."  After saying those words, I went back into Korean and shortly ended the prayer. 

We knocked at the door.  No one came.  It was opened so we knew someone had to be home.  We knocked again.  I looked though the crack of the door and saw a little girl run away from the frame of the door.  We continued to wait and then still no one came to the door.

We knew someone was in there but started to think maybe that little girl was in there alone and she was probably frightened out of her mind!  Haha  So we gave it one last shot.  We rang the door bell and waited.  Finally, a woman came to the door.  She wasn't Korean.  I introduced us and asked her where she was from.  Before I did so, my companion already knew it in his heart.  She was from the Philippines.  Her first reaction was a little different and she didn't show much interest, but we continued talking.  We told her who we were, what we are doing, and asked her a few questions. 

Her heart began to be opened.  We were seeing it!  We were feeling it!  My comp was talking and bearing strong testimony in Tagalog.  I had absolutely no idea what was going on.  I could only see smiles and feel the feelings of the Spirit. 

Apparently my comp was talking about the Restoration and sharing his personal testimony and how it changed his life as well as his family.  As he finished talking, he looked at me and said, "Okay, talk about the restoration!"  Haha  I had no idea what he just said and I didn't want to say exactly what he just said in English.  (She could speak fluent English.)  But, I paused for about three seconds, kind of gathered my thoughts, and relied on the spirit to give me exactly what I needed to say.  I talked about families, happiness and how we can live together forever as a family unit through the priesthood authority restored again on this earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I began to testify probably the strongest I have ever done, in my native language, (feeling and being armed with power, as we prayed for earlier.)

Her heart was softened.  We could see in her eyes how she knew that what we were speaking was true.  She pointed to the Book of Mormon, and being Catholic, she said, "I want one of those.  I like the Book of Mormon."

We continued talking to her and she later said that she knew that it was by God's will that we met.  She wants us to come back and teach her again and we have set up another appointment with her.  She invited us in so many times but we told her because of the rule we weren't able to.  She then offered to buy us lunch and it was just so crazy to see how much her heart was opened.  She has the cutest little 3 year old and her husband is Korean and is believing in Buddhism, but we look forward trying to meet with their family.

From our house to a very large apartment about 40 minutes away, the Lord guided us straight there.  We did not knock one other door except for hers.  She was the first and according the number of the grandpa that we had written down, we had made a mistake but it was according to the will of the Lord that we went to 105-205.  He led us there.  I know that we were guided there and that we followed His will. 

He led us because we have focused on becoming humble and have been repenting to be consecrated unto the Lord.  Elder Bombasi and I are becoming one and are seeing so many miracles.  We have focused on sharing pure personal testimony and people are responding and are beginning to slowly accept our message.

 

I have learned a lot about personal testimony, what it can do, and why it's important.  I have been given many opportunities to share it this week.

I love my mission more than I can explain.  If there is one thing that I want my companions to know and the people around me to know it is that I love my mission.  It has changed me and in the most hard and happy times, I can't help but be so grateful to the Lord for all of the miracles he has poured out upon me.

I love you and hope you have a great week!  Hope all is well!  Have a good safe week!  I wish I could share the other miracles, but I have no time.  We had a very special miracle with a less active from a different ward here in Korea this week.  I will never forget how I felt as we sat on the bench with this man, looking and seeing first hand how alcohol and tobacco ruined his life.  He sat there in tears.  Pain.  Something that I never want to put myself through.  We sat there on the bench next to him, testified of the reality of the Atonement, and promised him he can come back.  The Lord will heal him. 

I reached in his pocket, grabbed cigarettes, he took them from me, grabbed them and threw them as far as he could.  My comp suggested to pray.  We did so and the feeling that we felt will never be forgotten.  We felt the pure love of Christ.  The kind of love that heals any kind of wound or heart ache.

I testify that the Atonement is real. I am so grateful for the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ. 

He Lives. 

I will never forget that experience.  We met him through a prompting as well.  The Spirit told us that we needed to wait five more minutes outside of the train station.  We had no idea why, but we felt that we needed to wait.  After about two minutes passed, the man came around the corner and before we knew he was a less active, we approached him.  We knew we were led my the spirit. 

Love,

Elder Johnson

Week 58 and 59 - September 6, 2015

Family!

This week was incredible.  Full of so many miracles!  I feel that I have to humble myself before the Lord to really receive each of them with gratitude.  I am so grateful for each tender mercy the Lord has provided me with thus far on my mission.  I have had the on- going thought from the spirit this week of, "Do all things for thy personal experience."  Each thing we experience in this life is simply for us to gain experience and to become a little bit better every day.  I feel very blessed thus far on my mission for the Lord placing people in my path whether it be a member, investigator, companion, or random person on the street for building me up and helping me to reach a little bit more of my potential.  The Lord Lives.

I want to start this email off with a little funny experience yesterday that happened on the way home from our member's home.  We ran into these people from Alabama and they were coming home from a baseball game.  They saw that we were the Mormon Missionaries and as we started talking, somehow we got on the topic of football.  Well, as soon as he made the connection to BYU and Mormons, he asked me what I thought about the BYU game on Saturday.  He is like, "Didn't you hear or see what happened?  THAT'S SO CRAZY!"  Well, I had absolutely no idea of what he was talking about........ until he later told me that BYU beat Nebraska on a Hail Mary!  Haha BOOM!  I was super pumped!  GO COUGS! 

Six Months in Gwang Ju.  Six Months in Youseoung.  And now I made it to my 3rd area! Onyoung.  I am so excited to be here.  There are lots of people the Lord is preparing and we are seeking for the spirit to be led to them!  It is a little different than my last two areas.  It is a small branch and we are close to being a ward.  It is a countryside area, which is very different from my last areas, (my last areas were huge city areas).   I am starting to get the feel and adjust.  I am super excited to see what we can bring out here in this area.  There are lots of great members in our branch and they all want to help and be involved with this work.  They are super great!  Lots of responsibility and commitment to President Shin and  the Lord!

 

 (The chapel in Onyoung)

The Lord will always provide a way.  He asks that we accept His commandment and follow it, doing all we can to complete it.  Nephi and his brethren failed two times in getting the plates.  Laman and lameul wanted out.  Their attitude was very poor and they were not commited. But Nephi was rather an example and a believer knowing that HE COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT OF WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED HIM.  He understood that it was a commandment and he was not going to give up but find a way in which he could accomplish this great commandment given to him.  It took him three tries and on the third time he acted through the Spirit and found success.  He did it.  He accomplished that of which he was commanded to do.  The Lord will provide a way to accomplish His commandments.  He asks that we create that way, (exercise faith).  He will not always show us that way because if he does, we won't be able to learn and gain full experience, but rather He promises that He will be with us on the way while accomplishing His commandment.  Something very interesting to give some thought to. 

As well as in Ether Chapter 2.... taking a look at how the Lord answers the two prayers that he offered.  I have gained a lot of knowledge about prayer and faith through that chapter.

Also, I have studied 1NE Chapter 8 this week and understand that all that was good in Lehi's dream came from his prayer he offered when darkness came.  Very interesting how we can apply the same 

principles taught in the Book of Mormon and apply it to our daily lives.  I testify that the Book of Mormon is and was written for our day, that as Joseph Smith states in the introduction page that there is no other book that man can get closer to God but by reading and abiding by the precpets given in the Book of Mormon.  As I was studying about the fruit in the dream, we find out later that it was the Love of God, but I think that we can put any gospel principle in its place and do as Lehi did which was share and invite others to do so.   I am grateful for that opportunity to share and bear my witness every day.

Yesterday, we had a baptism!  We baptized a young couple with two young kids!  It was such a spiritual experience.  So cool to see how baptism changes lives. 

 (The couple that was baptized.  Such a great day!)

(At the baptism with Elder Boombasi, who is Elder Johnson's new companion.)

 (One of the children of the couple above.)

Four investigators came to church!  We were in the middle of a lesson with our Uzbecastan investigator and an old investigator from Cameroon suddenly came in, and we were able to have a great lesson on the great apostasy and Restoration!  We set a baptismal date with our investigator Jenya from Uzbec.! 

Lots of great miracles this week! 

LOVE YOU!

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

 (Spiders in Korea.  Yikes!)

Weeks 56 and 57 - August 24, 2015

Family!

Hope all is well!  Sounds like everyone had a great week!  MOM AND DAD, 23 years!! WHOOOAAA that's big time!  Congrats on the big anniversary!  That's amazing.  I love my parents, and I am so grateful for each thing that you taught me to prepare me for this eternal journey of happiness.  When times are rough or even when things are going great, I apply the simple things that I was taught from my youth and every time I have seemed to find success.  I love you!

This week was great.  Found some great people but before I explain a little more about them, I want to talk about transfers.  My Yoseuong,  유성 experience is coming to an end.  I am so grateful for the experiences I obtained from my four transfers here in my second area.  I learned countless lessons and I met countless people whom I will remember throughout my life.  The Lord sent people in my path to help me at different times here in this land.  I have a big testimony that the Lord will send you those people who will build you up and who will help you will specific needs that we might have in our lives.  The Lord sent people to me to help build me up and make me a sharper instrument in His hands.

(Yoseuong District)

(This is the Bishop's family in Yoseuong.  They have nine kids!  Elder Johnson is going to miss this crazy, cute bunch of kids!  Elder Holden and Elder Johnson are in the front.)

(Elder Johnson says:  "One of my closest friends.  Jimmy Primero")

(Missionaries at the Stake President's Home with his family.)

 (On to his next area:  OnYang)

I will be transferring to a bigger branch in a place that is called, OnYang.. 온양.  I will be serving with an Elder named Elder Boombasi.  He is from Philippians.  I have never met him, but I hear great things and I hear that they have about five people prepared to receive baptism.  President called me today after transfer calls and told me he is sending me there to help out with baptisms.  If they get about 10 more baptisms, they will be a ward.  I have a big responsibility and I will do everything I can with an attitude of gratitude and helping there.  I know that with the help of the Lord, I will and can accomplish anything I set my mind to.  I will rely on Him and do everything through Him.  I am really focusing on expanding my knowledge of the Savior Jesus Christ.  I love Him and I have come to know a little bit of the role He plays in my life everyday of my mission. 

Saying good bye to everyone will be hard.  I love these members and each of the people we are meeting with.  They have changed me in many ways. 

Our investigator that moved to Seoul came back down to Daejeon this week.  It was great to meet with him.  He was one of the first people I met here in this area.  He explained to me that the desire of his heart is to be baptized.  I am praying for him very strongly, and I really think he will be baptized in a few months.  He told me that he doesn't have anyone who loves him in his life like we do as missionaries.  I feel a very close bond with him and I pray he is baptized here in the future.

I love the Lord and I love this work. 

I love you,

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

Week 55 - August 10, 2015

Elder Johnson sent the pictures below for all of us to get a feel of a day in the life of a missionary in Korea.

 

 

 (Some friends Elder Johnson met on the street.)

(Elder Johnson along with his current companion, Elder Holden.

Elder Young is, also, seen in the picture.)

 (Elder Johnson along with Elder Woo)

 (Missionaries spend many hours studying, teaching, and doing service work.  In addition, they make new friends of the many missionaries they live and work with.)

Meanwhile, back home, Elder Johnson's younger brother, Luke, is participating in baptismal work at the Draper Temple, along with his friend, Kade.  Even at this young age, he is preparing for his mission that will come to him some day!

Week 54 - August 3, 2015

Family!

How are you!?  I still can't believe it has been over a year!  So crazy!  I hope all is well, and I hope Ty has a good birthday this week!  Wish I was there to spend it with you guys, but next year at this time, we will probably be in Korea for it!  YEAHHH BABBY! hah  Also, I met and was able to help a French family this week.  I met them on the street and I was able to help them go to their destination.  I felt like I got a small piece of Ty hah!  Also, Elder Holden speaks a little bit of French, so it was cool.  I wanted to like pull my phone out and  call you and ask you how to speak French hah, because I wanted to communicate with them but then I realized I couldn't.... haha.

Anyway, this week I have read a few conference talks, and I have read them with a prayerful heart asking the Lord which ones I needed to share with my family.  I hope that as you read these each individually, you feel the Spirit of the Lord strengthening our relationship as I am out here serving our Savior. 

Dad:  Priesthood and Personal Prayer.  Henry B. Eyring

Mom:  Parents:  The Prime Gospel Teachers of their Children.  Tad R. Callister

Tyler:  Stay by the Tree.  Kevin W. Pearson

Me:  Approaching the Throne with Confidence.  Jorg Klebingat

Izzy:  The Gift of Grace.  Elder Uchdorf

Luke J:  I Know These Things of Myself.  Craig C. Christensen.

If you feel the spirit testifying a truth of the gospel as you read these, please share it with me.  I love you guys!

Miracle Story:  So this week as we were meeting with our investigator that I talked about a few weeks ago (who owns the restaurant), it was about 4:50 in the afternoon and we had another important appointment at 5, about 15 minutes away that we had lined up with a member.  This appointment was with three people who are very diligent in attending the Baptist church.  One of them has a very keen knowledge of the Bible.  Anyway, we kept trying to end our lesson with our previous appointment, but it just kept on going and going pushing our time closer and closer.  As the appointment ended, we sprinted out the door and ran to the main street (meanwhile, it's blazing hot).  Well, on the way, I was praying my heart out for a taxi.  (Three weeks before, we stood in the same spot waiting for a taxi for over 30 minutes.. and the subway station is tooo far..)  So as I was praying and praying, we sprinted across the street to find no taxi.... Kept praying and praying... Praying and Praying.. finally about two minutes later.. (now 4:52) I turned around and a TAXI was right behind us.  I could see no taxis for miles and as we turned around, there was one right behind us!  Well it gets a lot better! Hah  As we jumped in the Taxi, I said to the taxi driver, "Whoaa, what a miracle!  We have been praying our heart out for someone to come quick because we have another really important appointment!  

LONG story short, the taxi driver was like, "As I was coming down the street, I wanted to go right... but I had this thought that there wouldn't be anyone down the right street who would need a taxi.. so I kept going straight.. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, I had a feeling I needed to flip a U turn and I know if I did there would be people who needed a ride.  As he acted on that random feeling to randomly flip a U turn on a really busy street, he was able to answer our prayers.  I know that the Lord knows us missionaries and works through others to answer our prayers.  As we continued talking to that man, he said he doesn't believe in God, but I know we planted a seed in his heart and allowed him to consider the existence of a being that can give us more help than we can ask for, who knows us more than we can comprehend, and who loves us each with a perfect love.  

I don't have much time, but my heart has been softened from the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I wanted to expound on this question but because of time I can't.  I want everyone who reads this email to really consider this question, "When was the last time you got down on your knees and thanked the Lord for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?"

This week I have come to understand a little bit more of the truthfulness of this Gospel.  I am eternally grateful for it.  I am eternally grateful for all that our Savior did and does for us as well as my heart is full of gratitude for all that Joseph Smith, the young prophet, did to restore this truth.  I invite all to be thankful for this gospel and go about sharing it. 

I haven't born my testimony in an email in awhile and  this week I wanted to simply do so, 

There is not another book out there that testifies of the Savior, Jesus Christ, like the Book of Mormon does.  It is real. It is true and I know that with all that I am or all that I ever will be. Jesus Christ Lives.  He is my Savior and understands my weakness and errors.  He knows my heart.  I have come to know a little more this week of the asuredy that this is the true church upon this earth.  It is the Savior's who stands at its head, arming us "with righteousness and with the Power of God in great glory.") 1Ne 14:14 

I am grateful for it.  I am blessed to live and share it.  I love my mission and am eternally grateful for each blessing I have obtained thus far.  Alma 37;36-37 is becoming a part of me. 

I love you.  Have a great week!

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

Trust(ing) in the Source. P.A.C.E.

Week 53 - July 27, 2015

Family!

How was you week?  Everyone sounds good! 

This week was super good.  Had a lot of miracles and were able to meet some new investigators.

One of our investigators we found was from a church in Korea that is a big cult.  When you first meet them, they don't tell you what church they are from because they try to keep it a secret, but when we met this kid around my age this week, he told us he was from this particular church.  Anyway we were able to set a lesson up with one of our members and all this student wanted to do was fight through the Bible.  We explained to him that we are here out of love and sharing the message of the  Restored Gospel.  After about 30 minutes of our member talking with him, I had a prompting from the Spirit and I followed it.  I simply asked him if he has ever knelt down in prayer and asked our all-knowing source, our Heavenly Father, if what he was saying was true.  He tried changing the subject many times but finally he admitted that he hasn't.  If it is one testimony that I have gained on my mission, it is that God does hear and WILL answer our prayers.

Last week in Elder Copeland's letter, he talked about noticing little miracles.  I wanted to add to a little bit of what he said and share a little something I have done with my companions throughout the last six months of my mission.  I learned this from a companion when I was younger, named Elder Oehler.  Each and every day when we come home to plan for the next day as we finish up our stats, we write down one miracle we saw that day.  As I have done this, I have really been able to recognize the Lord's hand in my life.  It has been one year and I can't help but be so grateful to the Lord for each and every blessing He has granted me thus far.  I am blessed beyond my knowledge, and I am so grateful for my mission.  My mission will and is teaching me how I will endure in this Gospel throughout the rest of my life.  I am grateful.

I also finished reading all of the Book of Mormon this week and my testimony of it has been strengthened.  I know that it is God's word.  It has brought me so much happiness, and I am so grateful to share from it every day.  I have a testimony that through following its teachings and through diligent study, we can obtain the Spirit. 

The weather here is crazy.  It's either pouring rain and blazing hot with the humidity just a million degrees or the sun is out and its still a million degrees hahah. 

I want to share a scripture that reminded me of something Dad shared with me last week.  It is in the Bible 1 John 4:7.  In simplicity it says, "God Is Love."

I am grateful for the Love of God.  It heals hearts, changes lives and makes us better people!

I love you guys, sorry not a lot of time this week. 

Love,

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

P.A.C.E. Trust(ing) in the Source.

Elder Johnson Meets a Special New Friend from Nicaragua

(Elder Johnson was thrilled to meet a man from Nicaragua where one of his best friends, Elder Copeland, is serving his mission at this time.  Both he and Elder Copeland had their farewells together on the same day and both left for their missions the same day, so to find someone in Korea that was from Nicaragua was really thrilling for Elder Johnson.  He instantly felt a connection.  Here is how he explained it:)

NICARAGUA GUY!

 I had the feeling that I should go talk to a guy that I saw on the street, but I ignored the feeling.  But then, I went over to talk to him and ahhhhh!  I was so pumped when I found out he was from Guatemala!  I had a few pictures of Elder Copeland and I and told him all about Elder Copeland.  I had a few of Elder Copeland's e-mails and some pictures of places that he has been.  This guy said that he lived very close by where Elder Copeland has served.  I am going to meet him again in a week.  Soooo cool!