Blessings/Pictures

April 19, 2010

Hey everyone :)

Well hopefully I get to ramble a bit longer than I did last week to give everyone a little heads up of how things are going over here in New Jersey... I was kinda rushed last week =/

This week has been great. First and foremost is the fact that we got 3 investigators to come to church with us. ...so far in my near 3 month stay here in the Newark Spanish Ward we have only gotten 1 investigator to come to church 1 time. So it was quite the accomplishment. Normally the difficulty with getting them there is the fact that the chapel is a ways away from where our area actually is. Its about a 30 minute drive in the car and over an hour if you take the bus.And for the most part, nobody we teach has a car. And I just feel terrible asking that these investigators take over 5 hours out of their weekend to come to church...its simply too long of a time commitment for anyone that has a life or family that doesn't already "think to sing the song of redeeming love" as Alma says in the Book of Mormon. So normally every week it is a giant battle trying to find people who can help with rides and that sort of thing, and normally it is a giant struggle, but this week was different. Everything just fell right into place. Even a brother in the ward that we hardly know was able to pick up the Charriz family for us. ...It just worked out all too perfectly. Whats great about it is the fact that it is no coincidence. This month has had a focus on exact obedience and these blessings (among many others) are surely from this effort by my companion and I to live by absolutely every rule of the mission. It is by no means easy, but it is so worth the effort. Sacrifice truly brings forth the blessings of heaven.

This focus on obedience has been a part of a "Change of Heart" month that the mission has been having. The month is not yet over and mine has been changed. Just simply the motivation to teach has been changed...I feel as if the missionary purpose as described in preach my gospel has truly begun to sink into my heart and drive the work. Not only that, but obedience has become a pleasure and a quest rather than a burden or hindrance. With these changes the whole tone of our lessons has changed and we are able to invite The Spirit into the lives of those we teach in more abundance. And that really is the key... I have nothing to do with the conversion of those that I teach. No matter how eloquently I can phrase an invitation to be baptized or how simply I can explain the principles of the gospel (and in spanish I cannot do either that well lol) it truly doesn't matter if The Spirit is not there...without this precious member of the Godhead those that I teach will never be able to make any progress or know for themselves of the truthfulness of this gospel. All we can do as members/missionaries is bring opportunities to feel of that Spirit into the lives of others so that they can feel the difference and begin to develop desires to have it in their lives continually...and it is desire that leads to hope belief and later faith.

I really do love the fact that technology makes it possible to talk to so many people at once through a blog...and I thank all of you for reading my rambles on a weekly basis :) I hope you all have a great week and cant wait to hear from you all sometime soon :)

Elder Johnson

Enjoy more pictures :)

mmmm....good

In West New York

Oh Yeah...

yummy

Thinking of my bro Preston...

Loving the Members