Hey!

Hey yall! Life continues on out here in Henderson North Carolina! Sometimes I forget about that when people say that they are taking a vacation. It's always such a bummer! So basically there are so many people that are on summer break, and they don't want to spend it here in Henderson haha. That's a good choice. They'll all be going to Wilmington. But hey, typically the hispanics stay in the area so we've gotten somewhat lucky so far. 

Speaking of which, Brandon and Anthony came back from kentucky a few days ago to spend two weeks of break with the family. They got baptized in Kentucky!! By a different church. :) We talked to Brandon about it and he understands now the difference. It made us super excited though to hear, because it shows that in the past few months they've not forgotten what we've talked about. They really do want to be baptized! So we just have a little bit to explain to them while they are in town to help them out.

This last week we had our first hispanic activity! It was awesome!! There were only a few hispanics there, but there was a lot of food, and we got three investigators there! Rene, Zulma, and Nancy. It was the greatest! Here's a picture...(sorry about the terrible quality. I had no battery left :) )

I'm next to Elder Kerns, a greenie who's amazing! He's being trained by elder Brasier on the left. René is in yellow next to Karina in red. Zulma is in blue. Armando and Guadalupe (hiding next to me) are less actives who have come the past four sundays. Brother Lopez (kneeling) is our ward mission leader. Nancy is with Isis sitting down.

This was actually a historic event! We have the beginnings of a foundation for a spanish group here! :D 

This week we've been discovering more and more trailer parks to visit. It's the greatest! Sometimes when you have been in the same trailer park every day for the past month, you go crazy. Literally :) And in the end, you lose potential. So we've been building up a lot of great potential this week.

Things are going great with our investigators! No huge changes, so I'll tell more next week.

In our mission we are doing what we call the Christlike Attributes Experience. We study one attribute from preach my gospel each week until our interviews in august. It's the greatest! This last week I studied about Hope. In Moroni 7 we learn that Faith, Hope, and Charity are all interconnected. I had never quite gotten though that if we don't have charity for others, then we can't have hope in eternal life. To inherit eternal life we must have charity. So to go about gaining the hope that we need in this life, we must learn to love one another.

It's a simple thought, but it impressed me this week. :)

I love yall so much! You folk are the greatest! :D

Élder Johnson

Elder Rose!

Transfers came and I got a new companion! ELDER ROSE!! :D Elder Rose is the greatest! He came from the Dunn area, which was actually in about the same situation that we are in here in Henderson where we are just beginning the work here in Spanish. It was his first area and now I get to be his companion! I'm super excited to help him out with Spanish and to show him the ropes here in Henderson!

With the transition of companions the work was a little bit slow the last week, but we definitely saw some miracles. First of all we had an amazing lesson with Nancy! We've been teaching her for so long, and when we went over last time we had brother Lopez with us finally! And the first thing that she really told us when we asked her how she felt the last week, was peace! She finally was able to get through all the confusion and feel peace! And she believes that it's true! She wasn't able to come to church this week, but her schedule should have changed to be able to come now! Another thing that was great for her was that she was able to get back into school, which she has been praying for. I love the Lord! He doesn't give up on people!

We have had some other really great lessons as well with our investigators, less actives, and recent converts. The Lord truly is working in their lives at the pace that they are ready and able to handle.

So keep praying for Marisol, Tomás, and René. They are at such crucial points in their progress where a decision comes down to them.

This week at church we had an awesome experience! We translated sacrament, and then had the other two classes all in Spanish! Woah! I miss doing church in Spanish! Antonio Garcia, the member who just got here from Mexico, is going to be so huge here in Henderson!

The sad part was that we had no investigators. But the great thing was that we had enough members to do it in Spanish! :D

This week I had some great studies about Isaiah. Chapter 25 in 2nd Nephi is one of the greatest! Nephi knew the prophecies of Christ so well because he lived in Jerusalem, and he prophesied so boldly about him!

I love yall so much! Have a great week, and be bold disciples of Christ!

Élder Johnson

Traslados!

Well after three transfers together of amazing miracles Elder Swinney is headed out. Boy has it been an amazing time together! It is honestly amazing to look back at the time that I got here in Henderson about 4 months ago and see the difference in each one of us, and especially the area. We had another really great Sunday with 7 Hispanics in our gospel principles class. We started out with none! :D And as we have talked about all of the events that have lead up to people being there, we have realized that each person was there by a miracle. The Lord wanted them there, so he got them there. 

We also had another amazing miracle yesterday! As we were leaving a trailer park to go to another lesson, Elder Swinney saw some people on their porch and said, "Hey let's talk to them!" So we pulled over and got out of the car. One of the first things that we heard as we began to introduce ourselves was, "I'm already a member!" WHAT??? But we thought this house was SUPER catholic!!

It turns out that Antonio just barely got here from Mexico on Wednesday, and is a returned missionary! Wahoo! With the less actives and recent converts now coming to church, we have needed strong members to help them, and Antonio is super strong! We are so excited to get to know him and put him to work! :D

Rene has come four times in a row to church and is doing really well. He has had some great experiences recently to help him stop drinking and feel confident that he can do it. Elder Swinney is really sad that he's not going to be here for his baptism in the future. 

We have run into some troubles with Zulma's boyfriend, and she really does want to keep learning and be baptized, but he has told us that they won't be joining. Please pray for her and that Eusebio can soften his heart!

Marisol is the best! She cares so much about receiving an answer that the church is true. She said to us yesterday that she feels so good and different than she did before and that if it isn't true she would feel so sad.

Now the greatest thing that happened this week was that Elder Corbridge came and instructed us this week! I have never had such an amazing experience! Whenever a general authority comes they usually take about 1hr or 1hr 30mins. But, he instructed us for 4 hrs! All the details that you wish were covered were all covered! Wow! In the end what he was there to instruct us on was "The Most Important Thing." Basically he taught us that when we say that we are on our missions to become better servants of the lord, or to make others happy, or to change peoples lives, he said that we needed to change. Our purpose in short is to teach (help to understand) and baptize (help them make covenant) so that they can receive Eternal Life. Now that is me trying to describe four hours of teaching that I still have not been able to review much. So hopefully you can catch something of what he taught us. 

But we have had some amazing lessons after that, where we were able to help people truly understand what our message is. And what was keeping them back was simply that lack of understanding.

That was definitely the greatest thing that I learned this week. When we understand, with the spirit, conversion takes place.

I hope yall have an amazing week! I love all y'all so much!

Élder Johnson

Bautismo!

The baptism this week with Karina went sooooooo well!! We honestly couldn't have asked for more! Karina made tamales and apple salad and they were sooo good. I love Hispanic food! I have been doing the same Marci! Hopefully I can come back and cook tinga with you! That's the greatest!

At Karina's baptism we had a pretty good attendance. But the most important thing was that we had a family of less actives come! They have been members for over 30 years and have a super solid testimony, but have had some difficult experiences. But they finally came! And then they came to church! We had so many Hispanics at church!!

Rene has come all three times to church with Karina, and really doesn't have much left to do before he can be baptized. He just needs to accept a date! :D He talks as if he's already a member in class! :D

Marisol is doing really well. I'm not sure if I mentioned her last time. But we have had some great lessons with her, and she has very real desires and intent. Pray to help her have strength to come to church!

Everyone's doing pretty well! :D

Sorry it's short today, but that may be due to father's day :)

Happy Father's Day to all!

A year is gone already!! Holy Cow!! Who knows how fast the next will go?? I surely hope not too fast!

I love you all so much!

Elder Johnson

Hey! :D

I too only have a few short minutes, but here we go!

This week has been an awesome week! We are sooooo excited for Karina!!! She literally is the most prepared person I have ever taught the gospel to. And the amazing thing is that the Lord did not just prepare her to accept the gospel, but really has been preparing her to be the foundation of a Spanish group here in Henderson. And we have yet to teach him much, but her husband Rene is super awesome as well! He doesn't know it yet, but he is super elect as well. He is even willing to pay tithing on his income for her! He has come to church both times with her and is very supportive. He even bore his testimony in Gospel Principles! Rene jr and Kamila are just about the greatest kids as well who love church!

Besides their family we have Tomás who is progressing well. We also have a few less active families who are just about to come back!

We never really knew how it was going to happen, but it's happening! Henderson is beginning to grow!

I love you so much! And have a great week!

Elder Johnson