Well no sense in beating around the bush this week...the most exciting news of the week is my brand new trainee. His name is Elder Halvorsen, from Pason Utah *shrug* lol, he has 2 older brothers that served missions (well one is currently serving, better said) and he hasn't ever been to the MTC... Yup, lol. He came straight from Utah to NJ to start a month long mini-mission. So he hasn't really had any spanish teaching in the MTC, nor has he had any Preach my Gospel training in the MTC... Pretty crazy right? The reason why is because his older brother, oddly enough named Elder Halvorsen as well =P, that is currently serving a mission is actually serving his mission right here in NJ. And my trainee Elder Halvorsen starts his mission (called to serve in Chile) 7 days before the older Elder Halvorsen goes home. So, they were able to work out this amazing opportunity to serve a mini-mission here in NJ for 1 month so that the brothers don't go 4 years without seeing each other. So pretty crazy, because my brand new missionary is far more brand new than normal lol... But its going great. There is just sooooo much that I want to teach him...things from PMG, things about spanish and simply how to be a missionary...and there is sooooo little time. Normally transfers last for 6 weeks, but he will only be here with me for one month. So he is on an accelerated course, so to speak, and apparently I am a qualified teacher??? ...I didn't think I was even credentialed lol. He is great though. We get along really well, as does our whole apartment (there is another brand new missionary with us as well). I'd be lying if I said that the training wasn't exhausting, but it is oh so fulfilling as well. Every prayer that he has said since thursday (when I taught him how to pray in spanish) has just been such an amazing progression...and so amazing for me to see as the teacher. I can see how amazing the MTC must be for the teachers there...I very much so feel like an MTC teacher recently, but what an opportunity it has been.
Speaking of MTC teachers, I totally thought of Hna. Lambson this last week... We kinda nearly got mauled by this huge pit-bull. Explaining the situation fully is basically impossible without being able to see the scene in which it happened, but it was crazy. It made me think of Hna. Lambson because she always told us old stories of dogs bitting her back when she was in Bolivia. I must admit, it was really freaky...this HUGE pit-bull wanted blood. And when its owner tried to hold it back it was even chompting at his hand. It was pretty crazy. ....I realize that the full severity cannot really be realized without a big explanation, but take my word for it...it was scary.
I must admit, it feels as if this last week just flew by... There have been a lot of parties going on in North Newark recently...we actually got intived into one to grab some food by a random guy I say hi to every time I see him. We were on the way home and I said hi like normal and he said, "you guys hungry?" ... "c'mon" ...so he takes us back to this party with the weirdest array of party-goers (like elementary school kids to drunk adults) ...I felt super out of place lol. Everyone was looking at us super weird. Now my companion, who just days before was a normal person back in utah, prolly didn't feel that weird...but I felt super odd lol. The food was really good though. We didn't eat it there, we just took it home. Gotta love them Puerto Ricans :)
It has been hot, but we're gettin by. I imagine its kinda heatin up everywhere by now. ...the really annoying thing is that people rarely have air conditioning around here...so you come out of your lessons and walk outside into the 90-95 degree weather and it feels great lol.
As for investigators things aren't terrible but could be better... They just kinda need to be prodded into action sadly... All I hope and pray for is that the Spirit will be with us as we teach to do the needed prodding. I know that neither my companion nor I are able to prod...all we can do is let the Spirit work "Spiritual photosynthesis" upon the Light of Christ within our investigators.
I hope you are all doing great and absolutely loving summer time...where the livings easy ;) Happy July 4th to everyone! I will be celebrating vicariously through all of you...so make it a good one for me :)
Elder Johnson
2 comments:
What an arrangement your companion has. Does he see his brother at all? My dad and my uncle got to see each other before my uncle left for his mission so they didn't go years without seeing each other. I love that your companion is doing this pre-mission training. He sounds awesome...and he's lucky to have YOU as his trainer.
Love you Elder!
Mom, Dad, Emma, Camille
haha thats so cool that they could work that out and an awesome opportunity for you! My brothers were the same way. Home together for 3 weeks before the younger brother left on his mission. Not to mention my mom had a 3 month old baby at the time. My family is WEIRD.
Happy 1 year out! We love you! Love reading your letters!
Lindsay&Preston
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