Tays email

Week #27

September 27, 2010

: D . . . I think that sufficeth almost all I have to say! The work is tough but the reward is great. I don't know that I will ever feel like I have ever 100% pleased the Lord, we know that with all we can do, we are unprofitable servants, but that is all the more motivation to give a little bit more!

My Companion from the CTM was moved to my zone this transfer and we had an awesome reunion when he showed up for Zone conference! He had some tough comps and is now in the best area of the mission with an awesome companion. I love Elder Waldron! I had forgotten how short I am and how tall he is haha.

It has been verified that all of my pictures from the first 6 months of the mission are un-savable.... : ( . . . Life goes on! at least I have those that I sent to all of you!

Mom! You don't need to worry about sending stuff to me seriously! I feel bad thinking about your stress to send stuff down here. I really am not in great need of anything. American Candy is the only thing that I can't buy here, and that pair of shoes that I sent a picture of. AH! One thing...I would love another journal, I'm about to the end of mine... just the same as the ones I was using at home! Really that is it. I got a package this week with AWESOME shirts, letters, peanut butter (that the Brazilians love haha... me too) surprise pens! etc. Thanks for always thinking of me : ) ALso haha I thought I would thank you for teaching me how to eat! Yesterday someone made a comment about how I eat and that it is almost comically 'proper' haha I thought about your classes on etiquette (SP) ! Sent you a letter today with a note to Grandma Johnson. Love You Mom.

Heidi Thanks for the pictures! What a stinkin doll... how fun! I'm stoked for you both : ) Thanks as well for the thoughts and the heritage commentary! Love it!

Dad- So many things that can be said. But first... Happy Birthday! Sounds like you all already celebrated! Jealousy! I shared most of my thoughts in the letter that I sent to you, but one more time, I look up to you in everyway. I was visiting with a family this week and I had a vision of our FHEs that we always had. Whether I fell asleep on the couch, or didn’t want to be there, you always made sure we got together and had some sort of lesson. I got a little sad thinking about the times that I complained or didn't act interested, I wanted to quickly apologize for those times, I would give anything to get some of the families here to have family night like you had with us. I love you!

P.S. . . I really don't have a lot of time to read emails from the other missionaries but you can send them and if one day I have time I'll read a little bit! Greg and Taylor must be getting old on the missions! It is amazing how fast it goes. I thought about your comment on level of conversion the other day.... how sometimes we have special witnesses where we are positive that we have received a witness and we also know that God knows we have received it . . . 2 Nefi 9:27made me think about it

LOVE YOU ALL!

Hello all! I am almost out of time...I'll write fast! I forget to write about how I had one week where I slept on my knees almost every night of the week. One of the Brazilians that I live with cracked up about it. He woke up at 3 AM and saw that the light was still on.... I was asleep on my knees, zonked on the bed. Haha It is a fight to keep your prayers fervent everyday, but I am trying! I no longer am allowed to touch the bed when I pray. it has helped for sure.

This week we had some great lessons, but no baptisms. Our goal is 2 baptisms per week because President Batt is really trying to turn this area into a stake. I know the Lord will help us with our Righteous goals as we give our honest best. REALLY FAST. ........ I fell on my face this week. I won't even tell the story... to say the least we were late... I started to run...didn't seek a crack.... and I skid....skid on the concrete hahahaha my arms didn't brace the fall and I airplaned it... My companion laughed the rest of the night including the 5 minutes we spent jogging to get home in time! Adventures everyday! Time is up! . .

Love you all - Elder Johnson

Taylor Ray
September 20th 2010
Email #26
FAM-
So I haven't talked with ya for 6 months! Can you believe it?! We didn't really do anything super special to commemorate... we talked about buying a little cake... it happen a few days after haha. I don't know why but I don't have a huge desire to celebrate the passing of time on the mission although each day brings me closer to my family!
I have an inside source that says Dads shakes are getting better. I believe it! I need to start eating a bit more fruit and losing some pounds.... FAMILY I am getting a little. . tire around the belly and back! I will set some goals and get rid of it alright? Ya don't have to worry! Hey Dad If you have any idea how synergy is doing let me know! I thought about them the other day and wondered how the new branch is doing.
I just wanted to point out something that struck me, being a fulltime missionary. When Mom told me that Grandpa Greaves had baptized his neighbors I truly learned a lesson. Grandpa was about to baptize them because of WHO he is. Because of the love for the gospel that he has, and because he fearlessly served and opened his mouth about that gospel. What an amazing man!
Don't forget to send me a picture of two of the weeks happenings, especially now that there is one more family member that I won't meet for a while! I hope all is going grrrreat! I look up to you all and I pray for you each and every day.
love- Elder Johnson
PS. Hales I LOVED the pictures of me when I was fat! And of our backyard etc. I will try not to look like that ever again in my life. If someone has a picture of our house/backyard/mountains that they could send or e-mail that would be AWESOME to should people a little more about where we (you) live!


All-
So I have been out 6 months. It is a landmark on the mission but I have a loong ways to go. I wasn’t transferred! A miracle on the mission! I will spend 6 months of my mission in the same area, my first area! Juazeiro Do Norte Brasil! I'm still working with Elder Stocking from SLC and we are having a great time, always trying to get better. Elder stocking and I didn't have one conversation in English the whole 6 weeks we spent together and our goal is to not speak English for another transfer...... it really has been a blessing to have a comp who wants to grow!
Really quickly, I found out that my grandpa had the chance to baptize his neighbors a little while back. He is an older man, but through his selfless service and fearlessness in sharing the gospel, he was able to bless their lives forever. We all have someone around us that is waiting to hear the good news, whether they are a member or not...and if we don't tell them, who is going to?
Remember that family that we taught because of the contact we made with the older woman playing dominoes? Well we are still teaching and 2 of the family members were able to go to church this week. They loved it and they plan to return. Funny note: We were teaching the other day and Jacira (who is mentally impaired), started sneezing. sneezing A LOT! . . . The Final sneeze arrived, and her dentures went flying...jingling across the floor. I didn't realize until a while after who funny the situation was until I turned to my companion and notice that he was trying to hold in the laughter. Jacira quickly grabbed the dentures and with a funny smirk on her face, acknowledging the humor of the situation, went to wash them off. I will continue to keep you updated on this family...I am convinced that the Lord has prepared them for us!
We are teaching a young man named Jefferson who is truly searching for the truth. He analyses every last detail and is progressing slowly. If he can have the patience and faith to receive an answer from God about the BOM...he will be a GREAT leader in the church!
All the missionaries who are finishing the mission have a chance to bear testimony. Elder Hirata my former LZ bore testimony that presented a simple truth that can make all the difference. He said that one the mission he learned that the gospel is the center of everything. It isn't just one more thing that we try and fit into our daily schedule amongst all the rush... it is just the opposite. The things of the Lord should truly have #1 priority, and while magnifying those duties we find time to do the other things that we have to do. It returns to the question of good better and best. I KNOW that the work of the Lord is the BEST thing that we can be involved in. I hope that we all take the time and caution to put the things of the Lord in first place.
1. The Lord
2. Others
3. Ourselves...
Remember the phrase...."I am third"

I Love love love ya all. Until the next pday! - Elder Johnson

September 13, 2010

Elder Taylor Ray Johnson

Email #25

FAMILY!!!
So she is here!...or there!! I had random times throughout the week when the thought slammed back into my head... you could be an uncle again..RIGHT NOW haha. What a beautiful little girl and I love her name! Jacie Kate Nelson....beautiful, as I'm sure she is and will be! Super jealous that I can't be there but give her a kiss for me someone... and tell her quickly who her favorite uncle is ;). I don't know if I already reported but my comp is a Ute... I saw the hat Juice and thought about it! Once again, Congrats Heidi and Juice, love you both! Mom and Dad I forgot to tell you that I am in the city Juazeiro Do Norte! The southern tip f the state Ceará! I hope you all had a lovely week...they are flying by for me! like Dad told me, Focus makes time fly! I'll try and stay focused for two years haha.

My love and prayers , elder Johnson

PS Dad... check pg. 144 of Jesus the Christ and tell me what ya think! I thought of you when I read about 'the woman'

ALL-
First I would like to say that I am an uncle on more time! Heidi had her baby Jacie Kate Nelson this week on the 8th! Beautiful little girl. What a blessing that she was born into a family that is based firmly in the gospel of Jesus Christ, there could be no greater blessing.
I wish I had time to tell it all! This week we were chased down by a member and told that a woman had been possessed and that they needed our help. WOW, shocker. Elder Stocking asked me if I was ready for an adventure and we went to see what we could do. We arrived at the house, asked for a minute to ourselves, and prayed for guidance as to what to do. There was already a large group of people watching a pastor try and get the demon out of her. We were both at a loss for words and actions. We both felt after our prayer, that it wasn’t our place to mess with such a situation and in the end we told the member that we would pray for her and the woman. She thanked us for that presence and told us that we had already helped enough. CLOSE ONE! Although it was a strange situation, my faith was strengthened by the faith of that member when she told us that she knew that only someone who truly has the authority of god could act in his name. How blessed we are to have his power her on Earth and at our command if we are worthy and faithful.
The other week we were walking down the street and passed two old women that were playing dominoes on a table on the sidewalk...very common here. Many times the elder people here are already set in their ways and it isn't super effective to contact them. As we passed, I felt strongly that I needed to go back. Long story short, we went back, talked with them, got the address, and went on our way. A few days later we had time and we passed by that house. Turns out, her daughter was in the house along with a few more family members. Her daughter is married and has three children. I could have sworn I had seen her before. We had a wonderful lesson, and are teaching both the mother and the family of the daughter now. She was overwhelmed with emotion as she offered her first audible prayer in who knows how long. Her and her mother both ended up in tears. We will continue teaching and ill update ya! I KNOW that the spirit led us to that family. I know that the Lords hand is in this work. We have to believe!

Love you all! - Elder Johnson

PS. Had an investigator who went crazy when i pulled out my post it notes this week... "WOW, what is...how does it....SWEET!!" haha good stuff : ) tciao!

Elder Johnson

September 6, 2010

Email #24

Family-
So it is Labor Day and you are all partying again. Except for heidi wif her big bewy : ) Heid I am stoked for you both and I hope there are pictures next week! Tell Hallie Belle Happy birthday for me! I didn't send any presents, I don't know if I dare tempt this mail system here, but I send my love! What a fun night it will be in front of the fire.... the fire will continue to beat on my neck here as well ; ) haha... it is amazing how everyday is hot, but the sun has different levels of hotness. Love you all dearly. OH I heard about the truck you bought Barrett! Unfair, having adventures like that without me there! I will be expecting a picture of two alrighty? Alright. And did Justin Lindorf do anything with my moto? Tell him congrats on the marriage! What a huge step. He is grrreat. Love you all - Elder Johnson
PS. just to give you a taste of the language... The word " Reili " would be pronounced HALEY
PPS. This week we had a great training.... and the Devil knew that our capacity to teach well had improved.... because he saw to it that many things fell through this week. We are shooting for the stars here and this week will surely be better!

ALL
I apologize to you all....something devastating happened last week... haha I accidentally deleted ALL of the pictures of the mission up to this date... I'm so smart! We are going to try and save them (who knows how) but I think it is a lost cause. That is OOK. After all, we can't take pictures to heaven, and I have a lot more time here to take pictures!
We had the Baptism of Eliêgina this week! She is a bundle of joy haha and never stops smiling. I had the chance to confirm her in sacrament meeting (Fast Sunday), and that same meeting she bore her simple but powerful testimony. She spoke about the unmistakable different feeling there is in the church, and how she thanks the Lord everyday for John, who brought her to church for the first time, and for the missionary lessons. I am truly grateful to have played a part in this small change that will change her life forever.
Interesting thought that I heard in priesthood this week: What is always right next to the steps of a recipe? There is always a picture of the food already prepared, and it always looks too good to be true. Why? Because that picture gives you the motivation and incentive to follow the steps and achieve the finished product. Smart is it not? Now, for us, we have to always have the celestial kingdom in mind, that moment when we will wet the saviors feet with our tears and be accepted into his presence. Our eternal perspective and keeping our eyes on the finish line will give us the motivation to climb over the obstacles that tthe Lord have given us and that sometimes we give ourselves. We are a forgetful people...That is why we are commanded to read daily, pray daily, and attend the temple frequently. All of the small, daily things, are what help us to maintain our eternal perspective and in-turn, have a much happier life here on Earth : ) . . . Next time I get a little frustrated about something unimportant, I will try to ask myself if in the eternal perspective it will really make a difference... if not... I'll try and forget it! Love you all. Thanks for your support, your prayers, your letters, and your love.

- Elder Johnson