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