TAYLORS EMAIL from CTM

WEEK 6: April 27, 2010

Family-

Oh dearest family I missed you this past week, knowing you were together without me! But our joy was full here of course! I love the CTM! Even when I hate it.... I love :) I’m trying to make everyone love every minute… haha it’s a job for sure! I was asked to replace our District Leader this week as he was being made Assistant to the President so I’ll be assuming his role. It’s a great chance to get outside of myself and be concerned about everyone else.... i can already feel a greater love for everyone as i have been praying for them. Dad I wanted to thank you for you uplifting thoughts...they are always PERFECT for what I am studying and JUST what I need. So don’t stop ok? Deal. I have already been blessed because of the P. blessing summary you made for me... so thank you so much : ) Mom . .. i don’t think I need anything : ) my shoes are p p p p perfect ; ) So I thought it was rude falling asleep during FHE ... try studying one on one and falling asleep in the middle of reading Portuguese aloud to your companion.... wow. The language is fine ; ) It is coming day by day. did fine speaking with the people n the street but I surely can’t say everything! We are trying trying trying. We speak too much English . . . it’s hard to speak Portuguese when everyone speaks English . . it’s always a constant goal to speak more portugues. There is the update on the language. . . I~ll be fluent the first time we speak on the phone... I promise!

EVERYONE - so I learned this week that São paulo has the most helicopters than any city in the world... the rich travel that way... spoiled huh? An amazing city for sure. I only have 21 more days here.... 20 really... it~s flown by. Elder Nelson came to the CTM this last week and his presence was amazing. I think much of it is the reverence that we all had. I shook his hand : ) He said 'this is the Lord’s time for Brazil, and you are privilege to be serving here now'... what an awesome statement from a mouthpiece of the Lord himself! I ran into Elder Rader (Kolton) from my graduating class! haha small world. I’m very excited to hear that Scott and Alex are both coming to Brazil! So I had my best experience yet. This past week we were sent out on the street to places copies of the book of Mormon and to bear testimony of Christ. Talk about shaking in my boots. But with a companion as quiet as a mouse, I had to step up to the plate. We placed 7 books and had some awesome conversations. I have never felt that joy before. The Joy of seeing someone reading a book that you KNOW will change their lives. You pray and hope with all your heart and soul that they will feel the spirit and be led to call the missionaries. I will never forget the faces of some to whom we gave books . . . the joy of hearing that we weren’t selling them a book...that it was for free... and solely to bring them happiness in their life, to teach and testify of Jesus Christ. I can also see the hard times that would be felt when you see someone with much potential slip away... but the joy will ALWAYS outweigh the pain. I have a new motto that is in our missionary handbook and is applicable to anyone anywhere. . .'always conduct yourself in a manner that would allow anyone that sees you to recognize you as a representative of Christ' . . . is there a better self check question than that? I say no. My favorite scripture of the week. D and C 101 : 38 . . . through patience we can possess our souls and receive eternal life. I want to share one experience that I had this week.... we cleaned our room for cleaning check, and luckily I have roommates that enjoying cleaning like I do. Our sheets were squared and flattened, pillows fluffed, clothes away, garbage emptied, etc. The note after cleaning check read as follows 'thank you, there is a great spirit here.' As I stood in my room, with uplifting music playing and read those words, I knew with all my heart that the spirit was there, I was overcome as I looked over the city and knew that this was the work of the Lord. The only reason I was able to feel that spirit was because Our room was in order, and there was uplifting music playing. God’s way is a way of cleanliness and order. Be clean, inside and out. Listen to good music. I wish I had power in writing... but I never feel like i portray my thoughts very well. To say the least, if we do things in the manner that God has commanded. . . we can KNOW that we are being watched over and that we are doing his work. I feel like that was really scattered... but i did my best. I love you all. I know my savior died and lives again...all for me. A small and simple thing of the world I love this gospel.

-Elder Johnson