Elder Halvorsen goes home!

Well hello everybody...

 

Yet another week has gone by. Its rather crazy to think of. Elder Halvorsen, with whom it feels I have just begun to serve, heads home today. His 1 month mini-mission comes to a close and he heads home for Utah at 3:30 today. This actually causes some interesting changes here for me because the next transfer cycle doesn't happen for another two weeks. I am going to be combined with Newark 'The Oranges' for the next two weeks and as a trio we are going to work the two areas. It is a big change since it means I have to move, but it will be good.  Elder Smurthwaite and Elder Ruano are awesome missionaries and I'm super excited to have the chance to serve/learn from them.

 

Kinda an interesting little tid bit of the craziness of Newark...on Tuesday we were trying to get home from our interviews with the president and we hit major traffic. Like out of this world (5 miles in 2 hours). It was less than fun, especially considering that our CD player in the car didn't work so we didn't even have good ole Mormon Tabernacle Choir to numb the mind. It was literally crazy. We ended up finding out later that it was because somebody was murdered on the 21 (the highway we were trying to take)... Kinda crazy to think something like that happened so close to where we live. The world truly is a crazy place these days.

 

On a lighter note... the Portuguese elders were over in our apartment for a little bit helping me out with a little favor and they saw a picture of the family. They commented on it and whatnot... then the one from brazil, Elder Calderoni (he's way aweome...he came out the same time I did) said, "Your sister... She is nice" ...it was super funny. Just cuz it was in his voice and accent and everything. So I say to Emma...you should write Elder Calderoni lol. He's super cool...but coolest part, he's from Brazil! Brazilians are super cool lol. ...I ended up actually asking them how old they thought my sister was and they collaborated (all three of em) and came up with 19. Needless to say they were pretty surprised when I said she was 14 in that picture. But yes, Emma has a brazilian who thinks she's "nice" lol. And brazilians are known for being "nice" as well lol. ...anyways, just a random fun story.

 

As for the work, we have been doing a ton of finding this last week. Like running ourselves ragged it seems. But, its been good. We have some amazing potentials lined up with appointments. One woman, Veronica, was probably the coolest experience. She literally lit up when we said that there was a prophet on the earth today to lead and guide us. She had expressed how she had studied a lot of other things but all of them seem to contradict themselves and in some cases just dont make sense (she cited Catholicism and Jehovah's witnesses) and just didn't know where to turn. It was exhilarating to be able to look her in the eyes and tell her that the church that Christ himself established had been restored to the earth. We ended up teaching a lesson right there on the front porch. I am very excited to meet with her again and begin teaching that whole family.

 

Well that basically does it for a quick update on how I'm doing.... I always feel like there are so many things I want to mention, but when I get to the computer its like I can't remember my whole week lol. Hope you are all having a great summer!

Elder Johnson

United NJ Mission Conference

7.12.10

Well hello yet again everyone :)  Pretty crazy week this last week lots of big deal stuff happened.

 

First of all, we are officially integrated (Both NJ missions). We had a big mission conference to help us boost our unity and get to know each other and whatnot. It was really sweet actually. We had a professional motivational speaker guy come and speak.  He gets paid to help big businesses learn how to make more money...he gets paid a lot. So he was super awesome. Also there were very cool trainings and interactive things of that nature (kinda the norm there at mission conf's).  There were a lot of new missionaries coming in from down south and they all seem pretty awesome. Pretty exciting time here in the NJMM.

 

On top of that, we got new phones. But not just like a new rock of a phone, but like a phone!  Its crazy. These things are the nicest phone i've ever had. And we are one of ten "test missions" to see how these phones work out. Along with the new phones we have also been given texting (which the NJMM has never had before). Its crazy sending and receiving texts again...its been over a year lol. But in all seriousness they are going to be great for the work. Efficiency with little things is going to skyrocket.

 

Another kinda random weird thing was that I fainted on thursday... It was super weird lol. I woke up and started praying and during my prayer I felt like this super weird pain in my lower abdomen...so naturally I was like woah this is odd. So I began to pray for that and then the next thing I knew was I was sprawled out face first on our floor and my companion was walking back into the room. My head and knee hurt super bad and I felt like I was going to puke... It was really odd, because to my recollection that is the 2nd time i've ever fainted. I am still super confused by it, but i feel fine (except my knee still kinda hurts a lil bit). I had a super funny lookin rug burn on my forehead for a few days too lol. But ya, kinda weird and random *shrug*

 

As for kinda weird, as a missionary-type experience we had this last week--Anthony has to take the cake.  He invited us right in and sat us down and asked us to tell him what it is we bring as ministers of Christ. ...that like never happens... So we did lol. We went through talking about the Restoration of the Gospel and he seemed to really enjoy it. He has studied the Bible like crazy and knows his stuff...but isn't a crazy pentecostal or JW =D ...just someone who has already had his life so greatly effected by Christ (and that's without the fullness of the gospel). And after we get through the lesson he says, "you've entertained me and now its about time I entertain you" ...and he walks off into another room. ...I'll be honest I was really confused as to what he could be doing lol. We heard weird noises of stuff being shuffled around and that sorta thing and then he comes back with a 12 string acoustic guitar and says, "I've been playing contemporary christian music for about four years and I wanted to play a song for ya" ... "this one's called 'More Mercy'" and he starts playing this song. It was really funny at first (mainly cuz it was like super country sounding and his voice was like super twangy) but it was full on the way that he expresses himself. It was obvious that he was pouring out his soul through the music... and the coolest thing is that it magnified the Spirit that was there. We are going back to see him on wed. but we'll have to pass him off to the english elders after that. It was super cool though. ...random tid bit too...he offered like the two most tempting things anyone could offer me 1) he said that I should come over with a bass and we should play...and having not played bass in forever i'd love to lol and 2) he invited us to go to a gym as his guests for free.....he is a personal trainer and I mentioned how much I love going to the gym. It was kinda crazy that those 2 would prolly be the biggest temptations for me and he offered both lol. But what was interesting to see is how little of temptations they were. "No more desire to do evil" is what the verse in the Book of Mormon says...not that I would call those things evil. But I have no desire to break said mission rules. ...which was kinda cool to see.

 

Anyways hope everyone is doing fabulous. 

Till next week,

Elder Johnson

HALF WAY :) but who's countin 'cept my mom

July 6, 2010

Hello everybody...and happy 4th of July! It was a little crazy here in Newark during the holiday weekend. Lots more drunk people out and about.  ...Well out and about at nights (during the days its been breakin 100 lately).  And the smell of BBQ was rampant throughout all the land it seemed. Made sundays fast less than enjoyable =/   but all is well. People had tons of real crazy fireworks too...bigger and cooler than anything we ever got a hold of back in Cali. ...it was quite tempting to want to play. What is crazy to think is that this 4th of July is the 2nd one i've had as a missionary...officially it has been more than 1 year in the service of my Lord and Savior. Its so weird for me to think because it feels like not too long ago that I was gettin those papers in and awaiting my call...then boom. Time happens.

Elder Halvorsen and I are getting along super well...its going great. Even though its been super hot like every day its been even better than bearable with this Elder  :) I'm really bummed he leaves in just 2 more weeks.  He and I kinda celebrated our 1/2 way mark on the same day (sat)...it is close enough to half way for both of us. We ordered a big bandeja paisa from a colombian restaurant (steak, sausage, eggs, chicharon, avacado, platanos maduros, fries and a ton of rice) and started off our fast with a bang :)   My companion really likes rice lol.

As for the work, things went well. Its really tough to find people at home as of late with the world cup and it being summer time (summer = more work). But the many lessons we've had have been great. Elder Halvorsen is getting so much better at teaching and he is so amazing at following the Spirit. He just needs to speak up a little more and he'll be a pro. I'm pumped to hear about him rippin it up down in Chile when he gets there.

So we officially have combined with the Cherry Hill mission here in Jersey...we are having a big combined mission conference and mini-transfer conference tomorrow actually. I'm very excited to go and to meet a lot of new people and be fed (both spiritually and literally....conference lunches are always awesome).

Hope you all have great weeks planned. Hope its not too hot over there... And hope you're all likin the dry heat (humidity flat out stinks) lol. Enjoy the summer while it lasts...they always go way too fast.

Elder Johnson