Letter to Pres. Bahr

8.30.10

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Ben started writing his letters this week, but soon after, the fire alarm went off in the library and his letter writing was abruptly cut short.  So I thought I'd send portions of his weekly letter to his mission president.  He send us a copy each week.  Ben is such a precious Elder :)
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Dear President Bahr,
 
   Well the family is doing very well. Sisters are both busy with school and extra curricular activities, and my parents are getting back into the school and work groove. My mom had an interesting run in with a couple of spanish speakers this last week/  Its so interesting to be reminded that it's a foreign language. Sometimes here in the spanish program I feel like English is the foreign one.
   The area is doing well. We are really trying to get the 'escalator principle' going here and so far its been going pretty well. We have been able to set new dates, find new people, and especially have help from the members with that. Now we just need to improve on the investigators church attendance and getting them in the water and our "escalator" will be fully operational.
   Elder McBroom is a one of those missionaries that helps everyone around him be better. In the ward, zone and companionship he just helps out. He sees what needs to be done and finds a way to help out doing it in PEC and other ward meetings. We are both truly excited to see the heights where the ward members and the Lord will take these areas.
   My testimony of the role of the Spirit in the lessons has been strengthened. I know that we carry the Spirit to the hearts, but the investigators have to let it in. This was very obviously seen during a lesson this last week with a couple of investigators. We taught a single lesson to Freddy and Sindy, and it was one of the worst lessons and yet best lessons I have every taught in my mission-- all at the same time. While one was getting more and more frustrated and bothered, the other was understanding more and more and even coming to tears. One angrily and spitefully said to me, "You won't let me speak!  So, if you have anything else you would like to say, ask me first! (paraphrase/translation). While the other caught the vision of who we are and why we were there. Why such a difference? Because one of them was allowing the Spirit speak to her, while the other was completely closed and unwilling to know. He had 'no desire to know' as Alma explains in Alma 32, and could not feel the "swelling motions."
   As I have read the scriptures this last week I have found a few different places in the Book of Mormon that will be perfect to use in lessons. Places I have simply missed before, but will be perfect to use instead of the classic John 3:5 to explain the importance of baptism, or to simply use as a second witness. I love how I always catch more as I read the Book of Mormon.

Elder Johnson

Miracles Miracles Miracles

8.23.10

Hello everybody. Hope everyone had a great last week. It has been rainy here...which is good and bad depending on the moment. Sometimes its super humid and thats no fun, but we're makin it work. I imagine its sunny and beautiful back on the west ...it always is right ;)

 

Well this week was a good one. Lots of cool blessings. Mainly, we found a lot of new people to teach. We were truly led by the Spirit to find those that were willing to recieve us. 12 new investigators, which doubles the mission standard, I believe is a tie for the most I've gotten in one week my entire mission. Also, there was a day in which we had exchanges this last week and I got to serve for a day with my old MTC companion (well one of them) Elder Gamez. It was interesting to see how we have both grown as missionaries and teachers since the MTC days ~1 year ago. Keeping the cool blessings coming: I got to see the now Returned Missionary Elder (Michael) Davis this last week. He was my first companion, or my trainer/pops as some would say. He came to a sealing of a few people in the ward. It was really nice to see him and talk for a little bit, although it was weird to see him without a tag on. Another cool little blessing is learning how to make this amazing little "cheese bread" (pao de quejo) ...my spelling could be off... its a brazilian thing and its super good. But someone taught me how and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna give it a try and see how it goes. I am quite excited :)

 

In terms of the work it was a great week though. We had some great new people we found. I realized that I love youth.... mid to late teens are always willing and open to listen. We were able to teach a couple of youth and they had great questions and seemed truly interested. I am quite excited for them. On top of that, we also had two people this week invite us right in... which like never happens. One of them is sooooo prepared. He's having such a hard time in his life and is just very much so depressed and searching for peace and happiness. ...when we knocked on his door he asked us, "aren't you going to come in?" (in spanish of course). It was a great lesson. Also we were blessed with a great little tender mercy of the Lord. We were trying a few people in this one part of our area yesterday and nothing was really coming of it. We hadn't even had any good contacts or anything. I was ready to head to where we were going next and start doing our next plans, but Elder McBroom mentioned how he hates when you feel like you don't even do anything in a particular area you had planned to work in. ...so we decided to knock one more door... We looked across the door and saw three doors, and he let me pick which one we'd knock, I did. Then as we walked over he said, "alright Elder Johnson, lets see how much faith you have" and motioned for me to knock the door. As I climbed the stairs I offered a prayer in my heart that we'd be able to find someone at home and teach them, but not for our own satisfaction...rather for the Lord. We then knocked on the door and Jose let us right in. It was amazing. It truly never happens....we hadn't even said who/what we were, simply that we had felt that we needed to knock that door. We taught him and now we have a return appointment. Even prayers in the heart are heard and answered.

 

Hope your all doing great! 

Much Love,

Elder Johnson 

Short and Sweeeeety

Well i don't have much time left but i did want to check in just quickly...

 

Transfers came and I am in Elizabeth...which i kinda guessed I would be. I am sooooo excited! I am with an Elder McBroom, we were in the same ward back in West New York, and we are so excited. Both of us are young Zone Leaders so it's gonna be an interesting transition/learning experience. He and I even used to joke around about being Zone Leaders together back in WNY...lol. We are both super excited and already know we get along solid.  Being a zone leader is a little bit different from being a district leader....a lot more administration rather than ministration. Kinda overwhelming for Elder McBroom and I because he has only been a Zone Leader for 1 transfer...so he's super new at this too. We are both going to get the hang of it however.  Basically everything is going really well here and I hope nothing but the same for all of you...

 

Random fact: Kean Univesity is here in my area....I heard a lot about Kean Uni from Kathryn back at BYU--she being from the east had a few friends attending. I didn't know it was even in NJ and now its in my area. Small world right? 

 

Anyways I wanted to drop a quick line, sorry it couldn't be more... till next week  :)

 

Elder Johnson

 

ps-my area is so huge in comparison to what i'm used to (walking areas all the time before) ...its pretty overwhelming.  At least I'm in a car :)

Zone Leader :)

August 2, 2010

Hello everyone!!! Well it is just a great week here in Newark...I think part of the reason why is because I just learned I am leaving :) ...Getting transfered tomorrow and still dont know where it is I am going for sure. But I have a few things pointing to going to Elizibeth (also a city area...woo hoo urban jungles). Don't get me wrong though, its not that I hate Newark...its just after 6 months the Ward/Area have taken their toll on me and I feel very much so excited to go somewhere new. 

 

I actually am slightly surprised as well because of a call I received last night. President Bahr called me and asked me to serve as a Zone Leader... I am really excited, and feel pretty honored because Zone Leaders are always the Elders that I have looked up to my whole mission. Plus, I have loved being a District Leader and I imagine that Zone Leader is more of the same opportunity to help/serve...which I love doing.

 

Besides that it was basically just a big "detour week" ....thats what we've been saying at least. With the weirdness of the 2 areas being covered and odd exchanges and stuff...plus the oddity of near constant road work and literal detours just made it "detour week" here in Newark. ...fairly normal in terms of the work though.

 

We started teaching an unbaptized little brother of a member who wants to be baptized and will be aug. 15th ....that was way exciting :)

 

Random weird tid bit...one day we met a man who said he was God and saw another in a news paper that aparently was Jesus Christ. We were one member short from meeting, in person, the entire trinity! ...Newark is just crazy lol.

 

Anyways its busy here at the library today and I'm getting the boot... =/ Much love though! Talk to ya later,

 

Elder Johnson