March 28, 2011

Fam-

   Thanks for the letter from Adam mom I took a picture and I will read it later!  

Hales... the songs didn't work... it just isnt meant to be! haha

Loved the updates Stephy!  You had me cracking up thinking about Bug praying out of impacience and Savvy's hilarious drawings. . . I hope everyone still loves you when you are grumpy ; )  I know they do : )  hehe.  I LOVED the pictures and I will print them off soon!  The blog excepts really is a great idea cause it keeps me super updated and I can have a brief glimpse of what is going on.  

Sad news for BYU but what an AWESOME season.  God put my on the mission this year so I wouldn't dislike the Jazz for the rest of my life and get super frustrated with byu for not making one more free-throw.  : )

So much love to all of you!  Still can believe how fast time is flying.  yikes.  

Hales, thanks for the picture as well!  

I received and replied to letters from Mom Dad and Hales!  Dad thanks for the article, the journal thoughts and the thought you sent out to the family.  Your letter will be sent out tomorrow!  I am sorry I don't get more handwritten or even e-mail off to you.

A minha família é realmente só o filé. . . gíria, pois eu acho que vocês não vão entender, nem poderão usar o tradutor eletrônico! . . . até mais!

To all - 

Man these weeks are just flying by.  I had the pleasure of seeing a young man that I baptized in my 2nd area this week.  He has been a members now for 5 months.  He and his  girlfriend are both going to go on missions and he is curently serving as the ward sercretary.  I just can't put in words the joy that comes with this service.  Seriously it is something deeper than any smile that you can put on a face, but something that touches the heart in an indescibable way.  

         I also received an e-mail from a young man in my last area today who told me of his joy in seeing his siblings being baptized.  He told me that his mother is currently reading the Book of Mormon and that he is already taking a missionary preparations course as to be as prepared as he can for the mission that he is planning to serve.  One more great big smile on my face.  I love these people.

         We are currently teaching a young man named Joseph Smith.  Yeah, the biggest coincidence EVER right?  His mom heard the name when she met the missionaries YEARS ago and gave him the same name.  He is 14 years old and told us that he ponders a lot about which church is true.  Identical story.  He went to church for the first time this week after having met the missionaries 2 years ago and afterwards told me that he had recieved his answer...(that the church was true).  In the end, we are planning to baptize Joseph Smith this week and the week after we have marked the baptism of a man named Messiah and his family.  I will keep you informed but if all goes well we will soon be baptizing the 2 most important men in the history of the world!  hehe.  In all seriousness, we will be praying fervently this week for Messiah to be able to stop smoking...your prayers could also make the difference.  He has smoked for 22 years and never tried to stop.  Miracles can and will happen!

Slept in a hammock for the first time two nights and and again last night. . . successful. . . I am turning Brasilian finally. . maybe.  Haha. 

I am 100% stoked for conference and I hope that all of your will be able to watch all the sessions!  I know that as President Eyring said, if we seek in each word, each hymn, each prayer of this conference, the guidance of the Lord, we will receive His will for us.  I know more than ever that Thomas S. Monson is THE prophet of God on Earth, and that The Book of Mormon is true.  Without these two things, we have no religion!

Love to all - 

Elder Johnson : )

P.S. - - There is a new hit in our house on Pday . . it is called "Hopscotch"

March 21, 2011

Famm-

Hales... I had the strange urge to tickle YOUR foot the other day while I was scratching mine... weird?  yes.  I also wanted to get an update on your Book of Mormon placing and if you have been able to follow up at all... Thanks for the pictures of the truck and all : )  Love ya

Heidi Thanks for the pictures as well!  They seriously say a thousand words... maybe more when I am a billion miles away!

Mom!  Go ahead and send those shirts!  I would love to give them to someone!  If you do send something, throw in a few more deodorant sticks... that is one thing they don't have here!  other than that... charleston chews and reasons are the only things comin to mind ; ) haha.  I am very glad you got your pictures and your note... I was also slightly brought to tears as a thought about all that you have done for me and all that you mean to me.  A thanks isn't enough.  I love you, and love you all family.  I pray for you and feel your prayers as well. - Elder Johnson

 Dad I wanted to thank you for your example quickly.  I read a talk this week about parents being teachers through example.  I thought about the many times that I impaciently called your name from the family room and waited for a response. . . . when you didn't answer I was obligated to get up and go to your office . . . Just to find that you had either fallen asleep studying your scriptures, or your were on your knees in prayer.  Your example in everything is a blessing to us all.  Thank you.

Ps. Does anyone know why obama came here?

 

Mom I am sorry but I will just leave a small clipping that you can add to the message for all the missionaries!

 

Hello my stellar friends!  I didnt have time to write a long message but I wanted you all to know that I am alive and that all is well. . . I haven't eaten anything SUPER weird but I have found a few hairs now and then.  I love every minute of this work.  If I had any advice it would be to give all of your MINDS to this work. . . that would have to be the hardest part!  Love you all! -Elder Johnson 

 

 

All -

           Well.  I just simply don't have time to write today . . . sadness.  Haha.  We were able to have a wonderful and simple baptism this week.  Marcos was baptized on saturday and is already advancing in the priesthood.  We have been working side by side with our bishop which has been a great blessing.  He is a perfect example of someone that just simply needed a friend and some direction in his life.  Played soccer today, burnt my neck, and got a hair cut... ... life is simple on the mission... it has to be that way so we can keep our focus and make the best out of two short years.  I think that is what pres. uchtdorf meant when he gave his talk about "the things that really matter" in this last conference... Give that a read when you have a chance.  I know that this is God's kingdom on Earth.  Just think about that phrase a little. . . God's Kingdom on Earth. . . It says it all.  What a blessing and a calling to be better.  Love you all.. - Elder Johnson

I just realized I totally forgot to send pictures... but I don't have time... they'll have to wait!  sorry!

March 14, 2011

Family-

Hey Beej thanks for the pics and the quick update!  I always love to hear!  Looks like you tore it up while skiing!  Do you still have a pic of your black frontier?  shoot one over if you do.  Thanks for trying with music and the picture of my truck Hales.  . . maybe you could give it another shot.  Mom my comp wants to know if you could see about the camera I bought "Canon SD1200" and how much it would cost at Costco . . I told him I would ask so if you could look online or if you go there that would be awesome.

 Mom and Dad seems as if you had . . . are having.... a great getaway from the cold. .. pretty crazy that you are cold and I am cooking while I type haha super hot.  83, 84, 85 is not what it sounds like Dad haha.  It is HAWT here.  All good though!  Just for you to know, are baptismal goal for the last year was 3,000 and we pretty much hit it.  I am not sure what it is for this next year but I am sure it is around there.  I dont think i am going to recognize our house when I come home!  At least inside!

DID YOU GET THE DVD WITH ALL OF MY PICTURES ON IT?

MOM... happy birthday coming up!  Your letter is on its way.  Love you dearly!

-Elder Johnson

ALL-

       Almost 1 year.  Woah.  So much done and learned but much more to do and to learn.  Everyday is a battle to be creative and have success... "gotta love it baby" - Hot Rod.  I will be short today, I am sorry.  We are trying our best to get the members involved and I am loving my ward here more and more everyday.  We will be baptizing a Mason this week which will be sweet and a great priesthood strength.  He wanted to pay tithing this week, but he is not a member yet and so he wasnt able to.  Instead, he donated to every single one of the sections on the offerings slip.... haha man he is a stud.  I will send updates after.  Love you all.... Love the mission more ; ) haha Joking Joking.  Havea great week... I would like to share two quotes with you all ... one that is my favorite of all time and a great guidance for my day to day life and the other that is just for fun : )

"THE TRUE MEASURE OF A MAN IS HOW HE TREATS SOMEONE WHO CAN DO HIM ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD"  ANN LANDERS

"I WISH I WAS A GLOWWORM

A GLOWWORM IS NEVER GLUM

CUZ HOW CAN YOU BE SAD

WHEN THE SUN SHINES OUT YOUR BUMB!"

Just one more that I love. . . 

 "THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE... THOSE WHO WALK INTO A ROOM AND SAY 'WELL, I AM HERE!', AND THOSE WHO WALK IN AND SAY 'AH, THERE YOU ARE!'

Love you all. - Elder Johnson

March 7, 2011

FAM-
     
   Dear family... thanks for the thoughts and the updates Heidi and Pops.  Good and bad for BYU!  cant wait to see Jimmer in the NBA neh?!  
Barrett I want to ask for a picture of your frontier if you have one still!  
Hales thanks for the email and the thoughts about your missionary work!  I hope to keep hearing updates : )  You also reminded me that I have to get my oil back from a young man that I lent it to!  Thanks for your testimony Hales.  
Love to all of you
-Elder Johnson

ALL-
   So I found out that some of the boys that I baptized in my last area have now received the priesthood and are going to church every sunday in church clothes... also have leadership callings... just makes me smile. . . A true ... joyful smile.  

A girl this week told us that the water here is different because here they have WET water... figure that one out!

Small story of following the spirit.  This week I was falling asleep and had the distinct impression to close the window.  I got up, shut it, and we found out 2 days later that that night our building had been robbed.  I keep a lot of my valuables on the table right by the window and that could have been a disaster!  

I have just  quick thought -  This sunday a little gave us two notes that said the same thing "Elder, I like you a lot.  You are very funny, and beautiful, and fluffy" . . . super cute right? haha.  But I got to thinking and realized that THAT is why we are told to be like children, because they SAY and DO the nice things that come into their minds.  They don't judge, and they arent choosers of persons.  They give the benefit of the doubt to all.  I learned a lesson that day and realized that if everyone just forgot about what the world will think of me´´ and instead, said and did the good things that are inside of us... the world would be zion!  Love you all.  -Elder Johnson