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