Tays Email

October 25, 2010

Week #30

Fam-
Hales your Salon is stinkin sweet! Thank you for your talk as well, I will try and print it to re-read it later, We always have to keep learning even though we teach the same basic things everyday on the mission...you have to understand deeply to teach simply. hahahaha I laughed out loud with the Jazz pumpkin... IT NEVER FAILS! haha. Dad I was stoked to hear about the Bruins and good luck to the cougs neh? They always make us hope don't they? punks. Mom I am still trying to get a letter off everyday! Heidi thanks for the pics of your little doll and the family! I love imagining every once in a while your daily happenings! "Taylor is on a mission" - Berlin love it! I also cant wait to talk to you! I don't know how my English will do... but I will try haha. I will have to prepare. Love you all!
PS would have died to hear Hallies song!
PPS Hales I put your song on my USB today and I will listen to it in an hour or so : ) . . I think that An elder stole my cd of your music. .. they just love your voice ; ) ., . truly he did take it hahaha

All-
Well it was another wonderful week. More excitement as we try and create a stake here in this area... The work continues on strong! We have some super high goals for the progress and growth of the church here and everyone is onboard! This week we had two baptisms... JEFSOM and JACIRA. . . Jefsom was is a man prepared of God. . . We did nothing but teach, extend the invitations, and he received a testimony. He will be a great priesthood holder to help the church grow here. Jacira is the first person that I have successfully helped stop smoking. She did it! She is praying in the hour of need and spends a great part of her day at home reading the BOM and gaining strength. She has had many challenges in her life, and sometimes it seems as if she is not always super attentive, but she always surprises us with her deep questions and her knowledge!
I hope all of you get to pass by the front of my house and see the sweet pumpkins ; ) haha I received a few photos that I really enjoyed! I have been in touch with Alex Allred, Scott Moake, in the CTM, as well as Kace Redder and Kyle Hansen in their missions as well. What a great work we are doing and how moving to ponder about the army we are a part of!
I have no time to leave the thoughts that I wanted... just know that the Lord can use whatever work you do in whatever way he wants.... It is potential energy (potential blessings) . . you can do the work in one area, and he just might bless you in an area that you had forgotten existed! Love you all, I must run. I hope you all loved the poem last week that I wrote. Stay strong, do the small things that seem unimportant and you will see miracles!

- Elder Johnson

Tay’s Email

October 18^th 2010

Email/Week #29

FAM-
Beautiful fall day I am sure.. it is nice and toasty here! Mom said there was a touch of snow on the mountains today... I miss their beauty for sure! Mom, I enjoy writing you by hand each week, it is the least I feel I can do for you while I am here. I was teaching a family this week and we ended up discussing patience in the family...I used the example of how I wasn’t always patient with you went you would ask about the computer and now I regret it with all of my heart...I want to apologize to you for that, and to everyone else with whom I wasn't always patient... I am trying to practice it here, I will return better. Dad I know you are hard at work . . . probably flying right now, I love you for that. I envision you with your little digital book and miniature classes (that go around the neck of course) and I am filled with gratitude for what you do. I told your shark joke this week... about the man who sews his arm back on wrong... it was a success : ) Does everyone remember that chicken joke Dad used to tell? . . .with the towel? He would roll it up and in the end he would make a chicken?? I told that one too...success..again.. : ) We discussed our parents forms of punishment this week and I told about how dad used to BOOT us hahahaha... Can anyone imagine dad doing that again? I would like to apologize for all the times I made you wanna boot me... for every door I slammed...And I will fix that whole I punched in the wall when I come home alright? Deal. Hales thanks so much for the pics...LOVED them...RUDY IS FATTTT! I think about you every time I see the ANCIENT chairs they use here to cut hair. I will try and get a picture if I can . . we aren't allowed to take pictures on normal days so it is tough! CUNKIN PARVING! I laughed out loud hahaha... woops. I expect to see a Brazilian flag or my FACE in a pumpkin! Hales thanks for the picture of the house! I have yet to see your studio! PS. . if you have time to take one of my moto that’d be sweet. . . or I think it might be with Justin lindorf.. nvm! 7 months without hearing your voices! My love for all of you grows everyday. Love- Elder Johnson

PS mom I just looked at the picture of the house and you look great! : )
PPS. Dad I want to see your new booky thing, and Barrett and Jeanine your new carsies! (Mom spilled the beans about the paint)

ALL-
A week has gone by since I sat in this Chair,
I'm a little bit browner with a little less hair
It can fall out if it wants, I won't complain
I have no chance, its over, end of game
don't know why I wrote a poem, but I hope you liked it
If not, lets pretend it wasnt me who typed it

ALRIGHTY. This week was AWESOME. I learned bunches and had a few new experiences. We were able to baptize a wonderful family - Maria fabricia and fernanda. They are awesome. Maria is 100 ready to do whatever is necessary to put her life more in tune with God's will. About the baptism...everything went wrong. The Ward mission Leader showed up an hour late so we waited at the gate forEVER... then we had to fill up the baptismal font... when we opened the door it was ALL yellow, had a cricket and also a friendly lizard waiting to greet us. Elder Stocking and I got to work really fast. We cleaned it out and got it filling up. We spent the next 20 minutes carrying bucket after bucket into the font to fill it up... we also connected a house with a faucet in the chapel...wherever there was water, we found it. When we finished the font, we realized that we didn't have anyone there in church clothes to be a witness... Elder stocking and I put on jumpsuits and gave our church clothes to the Ward mission leader and another young man there. I laughed the whole time... You have to laugh, getting frustrated doesn't help right? In the end, I fibbed, everything didn't go wrong. It was truly a wonderful meeting, I was able to play a piano piece to try and bring the spirit after the mad rush for water, and even though there was one member who sang along (alone) the whole time, I am very thankful for the power of music in bringing the spirit. They received the spirit this week and they are smiling more than ever. . . I love seeing miracles everyday.
Sunday we had two more baptisms...one that we had planned... and one investigator that told us last minute she wanted to be baptized... she had the interview and we were able to baptize her that day. One was a baptism that came from a member reference... the other was from an inspired contact that we made a while back with those two old women playing dominos. . . The Lord continues His mysterious works neh?

I was VERY impressed by the way the Lord helped us accomplish our goals this week. We did the work and he made it possible for us to reach our goals.. including our investigator that wanted to be baptized last minute. Set worthy goals, go to work, and the Lord will do the rest... that was the lesson learned this week. We were also able to break the attendance record here in our branch, 104 people in sacrament meeting. . . everyone was stoked, particularly us for missionaries. Seeing the church grow in this remote area of the vinyard has been amazing... it will be hard to leave this area and all of the friends I have made here.

We put together mutual this week and had a great message and activity about who we are and the plan of salvation. We taught, and afterwards we all grabbed chalk and drew the plan of salvation in the parking lot... everyone had a blast. I was very impressed with the message that was shared... about the importance of remembering who we are. As we remember who we are, ALL of the simple things of the gospel become natural re sequences . . . the desire to pray and talk with our Father, to read and study his words, to spend the Sabbath in His house, and serve His children, our brothers, around us. In the Pearl of Great Price the Devil tried to make Moses forget who he was saying "Son of man" . . . I love His response... that to me was more or less like this... "Who are you to tempt me? I am a child of God, all powerful, omnipotent, all loving..." You can read His exact words... but you get the idea. He has no power against us... we are children of the Almighty God! Just take a quiet minute and think about that and then ask yourself as well if there is anyone around you that doesn't really understand that... then give them the chance to hear it. Send the missionaries. Time is up... I wrote A novel because I had time... woops.

Love to all - Elder Johnson

Taylor’s Email

October 11, 2010

Fam-

Hey, how cool that Grandpa Greaves is going to close on something in St. George! All the wild traveling starts when I leave! haha But I am doing my own wild traveling here : ) Mom, thanks for the update, I will probably get the package next transfer because we don't have much access to the mission head quarters here.... 8 hours away! Heidi thanks for the pictures of your sweet little girl, she is beautiful! And if I haven't said it yet, I love her name as well! Have you been able to use the camera a little? Use your creative side a bit? I had the distinct memory of your toast and honey nut cheerios yesterday haha funny what smells can bring to mind! Dad! Thanks for the updates on the football and of course the spiritual insights... I took a picture of the screen so I can reread a little later. Super exciting with BYU and it is super weird to think about the Bruins! But REALLY good to hear about them. I brought one of my shirts from high school and today I ended up trading it with a Brasilian in our Zone that liked it a lot haha. I'll miss it, but I have to move on from high school ; ) I hope you all have a GREAT October and Halloween including Heidi! Now you are going to HAVE to like it...with a little girl that is going to want to be a princess here in a little while! I'm sure Hallie made a darling sixties girl and rumor has it that Lynnie is going to make a one of a kind peacock! This year I'll dress up... But it won't be that hard... I'll put my name tag on, and probably teach a missionary lesson or two ; ) Hales! You make me laugh... I am glad the GAME was one of a kind... and I hope with all my heart that you get to go to the concert with your beloved David! I am sure it will be AWESOME...a spiritual feast if we let it. Thinking about that, I remember the words of President Eyring when he said that if will seek the will of the Lord in every talk, prayer, and song of this conference, we will find it! The Lord speaks in many ways, and without a doubt music is one.... you have an amazing talent Hales, and an amazing testimony to go with it. I wish you the best in finding that lucky guy : D and also in your studies, work, friendship, calling, etc..... that goes for all of you. My love to all. - Elder Johnson

ALL -

Well this week was another of miracles. We had a great Super pday today. . . went to a resort and played soccer, hiked an awesome trail and enjoyed an amazing view... I got sunburned for the first time! I also traded my MV shirt to one of the Brazilians in our Zone. . .Sad, but I had to move on haha.

First miracle. We went to work again this week, inviting people to be baptized, to repent, and also to visit the church...to start a journey that we know they will never want to end. . . We were blessed with the presence of 20 investigators at church this week. We got up at 5;50 in order to head out early and remind people about church. The Lord helped us without a doubt. It was fast Sunday and we hadn't eaten, but He gave us strength and neither of us were feeling lack of missionary ZIP!. . . He even sent some rare clouds : ) In short, many people made it on there own, many were waiting for use, and we were able to remind a lot as well. The total number of people in sacrament was 88.... 20 were our investigators. I just want to remind all of you that your presence at church does not go unnoticed, nor uncounted. We cannot afford to miss church on Sunday, particularly our designated ward. Do all you can to strengthen those who need YOU! It was a wonderful Sunday!

2nd- We have an investigator that we are helping quit smoking. She is progressing little by little and doing well (The same one who spat the dentures). Every time we pass it seems as if her sister doesn't want us to be there...Elder Stocking and I both felt that way. The other day she said she wanted to talk to us. We had no Idea what it might be. She pulled us aside, and basically broke down. In short she told us that she is taking care of her mom, sister, niece, and house... alone, and that it has been really tough. She thanked us for what we are doing and told us that everything has gotten better since we (the gospel) entered into their lives, even the health of Her mother, whom we only greet each time we visit. We all carry the spirit, and a message that is priceless and precious. I know that it is not us, but it is the gospel, the small and simple things that we have asked them to do, that has made all the difference.

STORY! REALLY FAST... the other day we were teaching Maria Fabricia and Fernana (who will all be baptized this week.... an AWESOME family that was found through a simple invite to family night) and something hilarious happened. Out of nowhere 10-12 little kids(a majority without shirts and pants) ran in the front door asking for us to speaking English. I told them we were going to pray first and asked them if they would like to participate... we all bowed our heads crossed our arms and I prayed a simple prayer. 3 of us said amen... and quickly the children follow suit. But they went beyond the mark. It happened like popcorn! amen, amen amen, amen AMEN AMEEEENN... until they were ALL screaming amen and creating a small mosh pit in the front room. Elder Stocking and I were dying with laughter.... it all ended with the grandmother of the house running in with a broom stick and chasing all of them out. I love being a missionary!

I know this church is true, many have suffered and died for it, and I am willing to do the same...it is my life, It is number one , there is nothing more important and nothing will ever come before it...

My Love - Elder Johnson

Tay Mission Email

Week #28

October 4, 2010

FAM-

I hope the conference weekend was one of blessings and enlightenment as it was for me! Mom I thought I would let you know that Elder Stocking has the same favorite food as me - Chicken and Broccoli Casserole! haha I forget to mention that awhile back! Congrats on finding out about Stephy and Jake!. . . I am proud to say that knew first! WIHOO! I am so grateful for you all, and for this weekend to hear from a prophet of God who undeniably speaks with His spirit, with power, authority, and even more amazingly, His love. I am sure it doesn’t compare to the love God has for you all, but I love you all a whooole lot!

PS. no one was able to send a pic of the house to me...yet : )

All -

Well I wasted a bit of time with a slow computer today and some defects. . . But I gotta count my blessings that I even have a computer here to use! The weekend was one of the best on the mission. I won't even go into much about conference, it sufficeth to say that I know that Thomas S. Monson communicates with God on our behalf, and that as we study the words of this conference, as Pres Monson admonished us to do... We will find the will of the Lord for us. And even greater, if we do it, if we change our lives to fit with His will, we will be ever so blessed. To me, conference is more than just a blessing, but a calling to do better! I don't have words to quote or even a favorite talk to mention. . .Every bit of it filled my heart with Love for the Lord, love for the truth, and a desire to do ALL I CAN to one day kneel at the Lord's feet and know that I did my best!

Amazing story of this work. As we were walking home from conference...we were with one of our recent converts - Edmilson, who is preparing for the Melch. Priesthood. He told us about an interview with pres. he had. In the interview president asked if anyone in his home was against the church. He said yes... his step dad. Who has lived with for 8 years... never talked to. I have no time to tell the story like I would like... but long story short. . .through the counsel of a priesthood holder, he talked with his step dad... and bore his testimony to me yesterday of the indescribable feelings he had listening to conference, and how much he has changed in 1 short month. I would LOVE to share more detailed the story... but I gotta obey the 1 hour rule... I gotta run. Love you all. I know that this is Gods kingdom on Earth, designed to bring us back to him in heaven...together : )

Love Elder Johnson