Cambios!!

Wow change can catch you in your blindspot! The beginning of this week threw a huge curveball at me. Elder Sullivan got transferred like we knew already, but then I didn't realize how hard planning and teaching someone the area was going to be! I had to plan by myself effective plans that would help us to continue progressing in this area. What made it difficult was that all of this week was practically empty. We did not have appointments set up. Those first few days were crazy. And those first few days I think I learned some of the most important things in my mission so far. I feel so humbled to be given control over an area of the lord's vineyard, to find, teach, baptize, and establish the church. I honestly don't know how to describe the feelings that I had those first few days. I've been forced to think, act, and exercise faith in different ways. And every single one of those things has changed me for the better.

Oh yeah by the way my new companions name is Elder Tingey! He is awesome!! He has been out for 7 months. He is super fun and has great music! That's always a plus, since I have limited resources on that haha. Sadly we honestly have not taken a good picture together haha. But! I'll put the lousy one up that we took haha. He has been learning the area super well, and we've been getting some great work done. We set a baptismal date with Gloria!! I don't know if I said that we had gotten up with her again after moving, but yeah. She came to church and we have taught her several times since. We've got a game plan for the 14th! Hopefully we can reach it! I know that we can. :)

We have also been able to work well with Melquiades. He is the cousin of Jesus Regules. He lives with Magdalena and Jesus, and he is in his 20's. He has come 2 weeks in a row to church and has shown such great desires to change! He accepted baptism and we'll see how he does with coffee these next few days and then set a date!

Travis and Erika are now getting married the 28th of december it looks like. When I found out my heart sunk! I really want to be here for their baptism, and it's possible that I'll leave right after that from this area! But if they accept to live separately right now till they get married then it is possible! They continue to do well. And what's even better is that I am currently teaching her sister Carola who lives in Mexico on facebook! She is super interested and we have had some great lessons! Hopefully soon we can get her in touch with missionaries there!

I love being on a mission. I honestly can't remember what it felt like to not be a missionary. Elder Graham said it amazingly (new district leader), that if someone is working, you have to go to where they are working to be close to them. The lord is working in his vineyard and if we want to be close to him we must join him in the work of salvation.

Please pray for Gloria, Melquiades, Magdalena, Jesus, Eli, Erika and Travis. And Sister Lasson, Reid, Sanchez, and Corey! The missionaries serving in our home area!

I came to love the verses 2 Nephi 9:21-26 this week. Christ truly paid for everything so that we could repent and believe in him.

I love yall so much! Have an amazing week!
Elder Johnson

ps. This was the unexpected visitor last night! I turned on the lights and was about to sit on my bed when I realized there was a cat underneath me!!

 

pps. oh and Elder Tingey is right above me, not the red head, the bald one haha ;)

 

 

 

Three transfers!

Well after an amazing three transfers, Elder Sullivan is getting transfered! We have had such a great time here in Cary! We most definitely have the best apartment situation right across the hall from the zone leaders, and Elder Sullivan being the district leader, we get to have some great fun together. Preparation days are the greatest with them. Being a missionary is amazing, because you get to meet so many amazing people. And what's even better, is that you get to become best friends with them. I'll let you know who is coming here next week! :D

This week was a great week. We were able to get up with Gloria again! We had a lesson with her two days in a row with members, and then she came to church the next day! Wow! We tried for so long to work things out to get her to church! She still has a hidden doubt it feels like that is keeping her from reading regularly and praying, but she made leaps and bounds this week. We will see if we can find that this week.

Oh wow, I remember now why it was such a great week! I thought it just was! This week we had a mission tour with Elder Baxter! That was amazing. Truly, absolutely, amazing. To be in the presence of one who loves you so much, and is truly reflecting the love of the savior, feels incredible. The instruction that we received from him and President and Sister Berhisel was all about love in the end. Learning to truly love every one of the people that we work with. That has been made manifest in our work this week. We have been able to see how much we have changed the lives of people as we have made stops to say goodbye for Elder Sullivan. We truly love the people here.

One experience where we were able to experience the love for the people here was with a service project that we did for Sister Damares. She has had holes in her floor underneath the carpet ever since she got back from chicago in about april. The renters didn't leave the house in very good condition...
We had several of the brethren in the branch there doing great work. We ended up completely replacing the floor in her room, and fixing a leak in her bathroom. It was a mess, but super fun. She has not been doing well recently, and this was a huge service for her! Seeing this situation get resolved has been a very special thing. I'll put some pictures up.
This week was amazing! I love this gospel! In D&C35:12 it says "And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation." Talk to the good people that you know! They are ready to receive a gospel truth in their life!
Also, comment on missionaries statuses and share them! We don't know your friends, but you do! Help them to find the gospel! :D
I love you all so much! Que tengan una semana excelentísima!
Elder Johnson

Elder Spencer and I

 

 

My Lake Park

 

 

 

Me at my Lake

 

 

Raleigh Fall Leaves

 

 

Sunset through the trees

 

 

Service Project

 

Miracles!

Well I honestly do not have much time at all today, so this is going to be super quick. I don't prefer monday holidays...haha.

This week was a fantastic week! Every day we have the opportunity to learn something new. We have been learning so much about the importance of families recently. Through experiences of deportation and leaving four kids at home, hearing a general authority sternly speak to all men ages 12-25 to be good boys, and good men. We must be good men or we have failed our calling as men in this world. Not to mention priesthood holders. This was the message of Elder Baxter at our Stake conference where they released President Harry Maxwell (Is that John Maxwell Mom and Dad? I am almost 100% sure it is. But I have heard John and Patty's name frequently enough).

But back to the topic of good men. The next thing we learned was the importance of the temple. Every time that a temple is built on the earth, the power of the devil is lessened. That is a statement of a prophet, and I know it is true. Focus on the temple. Temple ordinances are necessary for salvation, missions are not. Prepare yourself, and even more importantly your children to enter into the temple.
That was definitely the highlight of my week to hear from Elder Baxter and Elder Himas. That was a miracle.

It will be a miracle if we can see our investigator come back from jail to his wife and four kids. They are so important to us, and it is so hard to see their family struggle. Pray for them all!
I love you all so much and I wish for you to see miracles this week! Pray for them and for miracle missionary opportunities!

Love Elder Johnson

Buenas!

Well I honestly don't know what to write about this week. We have hit a really random point where we are slowly losing our investigators. Investigators who once showed super golden potential, are sliding off of our radar right now. They will be back and will get baptized for sure. But, the time truly is not right now. We have to do a bit of refocusing this week, but it is alright, because I know that the principle of discontinuing teaching non-elect investigators shows the lord that we are ready to receive his elect. We have seen that in our area several times.

One amazing thing that happened this week was that Travis and Erika got their marriage license!!! They are actually going to get married!! We aren't 100% sure if it will be on the 16th or not, but we are hoping very badly, since Elder Sullivan is leaving the 19th, and President Mortensen will only be here the 16th in the next few weeks! But Erika is definitely getting baptized.
Our other investigators like Gricelda and Erica I will let you know about as time goes on.
Pray that we will be able to find the elect and ready this week! :D

I have very little time left, but I just wanted to share something that I have been learning recently. I have been studying about the Spirit, and how to have his companionship. I know that as we are worthy of the spirit, he will be right along with us. He will guide us not by giving us direct strong promptings, but by helping us feel good about correct decisions. By the sanctifying power of the Spirit, our minds are made clear and clean. That allows us to make decisions in harmony with the spirit. Do all you can to keep your thoughts and actions worthy of the spirit. Get rid of immoral thoughts. Get rid of thoughts unworthy of a divine son or daughter of God. Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly!

I love you all and hope you all have an amazing week! Don't forget to share the gospel with a friend this week!

Elder Johnson