Elder Johnson

Email and Week #33

November 15, 2010

Fam-

I thought about you all much this week. Mom wrote me a great update on all that is happening in your lives and I truly enjoyed it. I heard about the jazz... Yahoo! Go BYU as well! It’ll be a good one this year with Utah and BYU... but never as classic as the one we went to! (Heidi juice dad)

How cool that Elder Webber stopped by! He passed through my first area when he was leaving... how was it that he ended up there? Super cool... you have already had two awesome missionaries in our house to answer questions. What a coincidence. Love you all, pray for you day and night, and I know you are all being blessed, as well am I. Thanks for you prayers! - Elder Johnson

All.

Hello! I hope you are all doing well. I think about many of you each day who have played a role in my life to this day. I love you all.

This week we were able to work with some people that have been going to church faithfully that the missionaries just never taught. We were able to teach, challenge, and baptize them this week. One of the young girls Laiane, has a special story. She is 8 years old and her Mom fine with her being baptized. UNTIL the night of the interview. We went by, her Mom said no and that was it. They said that she wasn't old enough to know what she wanted, or to know anything about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Politely, Elder Deffense asked Laiane what we should do on Sunday. In her cute little voice, she listed many things that we need to do on Sunday, including spend time with the family, study, and go to church. We left the house a little sad knowing that her Mom still didn't understand. That night we prayed for the Lord to open the eyes of Laiane's mother. The following day (Sunday), she showed up, beaming. MY MOM SAID I COULD BE BAPTIZED!! . . . The Lord had answered our prayers. I know that the spirit speaks to and teaches people of all ages. Certainly this is one reason there was such a great focus on teaching children while they are young and making our homes places of security and learning. I am grateful to have been raised in a home with parents who understand that!

The work is great, and Elder Deffense and I have had a great time. I don't know if I already said, but he is a hardcore surfer haha and I have learned quite a bit about how the ocean works... as well as surfer lingo. it has been a great 2 weeks and I am really enjoying the new area! Have to go... love you all! - Elder Johnson

Story - We were teaching a group of primary aged kids the other day and no one wanted to pray, so I told them that Justin Bieber prays and only likes people who pray.... right away we had several volunteers.

Story 2- We have 2 wards that we are working with, which is a blessing and a challenge at the same time. Anyways, we showed up at the sacrament meeting for our first ward on Sunday and it was getting started a little late. Right before the meeting started (already late) the first counselor asked us if we could speak. Sure!! haha So... we spoke. It went well : ) That same Sunday we were able to break the attendance record for that ward. Things like that always help, in that you get excited and the leadership gets excited because they know you are working as missionaries! We need all the help we can get from the members.

Story 3 - Ya know how we all have those 'you saved my life moments' but generally we are exaggerating? Well, that happened this week, but for real! We were walking on the left side of the street when there came two cars, one trying to pass the other. Simply put, I saw it, Elder Deffense didn't, a quick "ELDER CUIDADO (look out!)", a stealthy spin manuevor by Elder Deffense (who is a skilled ballroom dancer which I am sure helped), and he was saved. It was an intense moment and funny at the same time. To this day he tells me I saved him haha good times!