Elder J update March 2011

Hello family :)

 

Well first off this week was great. ...mainly because we had a meeting with Elder David A Bednar of the 12. ...simply amazing. Huge Spirit, tons of awesome things taught and learned. Just a great meeting. What was super awesome about it all too is the fact that he was just himself--very comfortable discussion with tons of little jokes and "ice breakers" ...i feel as if I would get along with him great and he would simply be like uncle david. it was interesting and very cool. I remember that when we heard there would be a member of the 12 coming i had a secret wish that it'd be him. ...guess i got lucky right? Kinda intense that he mentioned that as someone with the apostalic mantle he truly can see things when he looks into people's eyes... and that those that have things to hide don't like making eye contact with their leaders (be it mission presidents, bishops as well) ...so naturally he would mention this just before we go and shake president Bahr's hand, Elder Whitney L. Clayton's (from the presidency of the 70), and Elder Bednar's hands.  I can see it as I passed "judgement" so to speak because I felt like I could confidently look into their eyes when I shook their hands.  (good thing i had repented the night before ;) lol !  :)

 

transfers happen tomorrow. nobody in my apartment is leaving which is nice. it should go quite well this next transfer. I imagine after that i'll be gone and go to my last area for my last 2 transfers. ....just a guess. ...but we'll see.

 

The area is going well... we've got some good stuff on the horizon for this month. Planning on a few baptisms...and we have the people lined up for it, thats for sure. We have a sweet family of like 8 people that we're teaching... they are from ecuador and are gonna make us some Cuy tonight. Its basically guinea pig lol. I'll be sure to take pictures. We had a crazy experience over there this last week though. We went on thursday and had a great lesson (took 3 members with us and they all basically taught everything and it was simple testimony...just amazing...one was even a recent convert of like 2 weeks and totally bore strong testimony). A couple really good break-throughs in the lesson and they all were opening up a ton with the members, it was great. Near the end of the lesson though, Ana, one of the adults in the group (7 adults and 1 child of baptismal age) got up and left the room, obviously with discomfort and clutching the left side her chest. it was a little weird but i didn't think to much of it, more than anything i felt awkward as a missionary having seen her grab her chest >.< lol. after we finished up she came back out to say by, but was obviously not in good shape. I was about to ask her if everything was alright, but then the member did it so i let them talk and I was kinda off to the side with the young kids gettin the usual bunch of 5's. I then heard Hna Alcivar (the member) tell her to ask us for a blessing. ...a few minutes later Ana is literally in tears because of the pain in her heart and her left arm is asleep. ......obviously not a good sign........ after she shreiked out in pain we decided that it was prolly a big deal. We gave her a blessing, in which I performed the sealing and I felt inspired, amidst her groans and whimpers of pain to bless her that she would be healed.... afterwards they rushed of to the hospital and we went home. I couldn't help but think of the promise I had made during the blessing and prayed that I had spoken the Lord's will. All signs pointed to heart attack. Friday we didn't really hear what had gone on or how she was...though we tried... except that she was still in the hospital and recovering from a heart issue, thats about it. Then saturday came. She was already back in the house going about normal life. She and a bunch of the family were at church on sunday... quite miraculous. The power of the priesthood is real. I hope they can recognize that, and the fact that they must be baptized by that same authority to be happy. ...needless to say, pretty crazy thursday night.   

 

wow BYU is doing super good...they may make a showing come the madness this month. we'll see how things go.

 

Much Love!

Elder Johnson

 

ps-nice use of discussion and lesson mom and dad =P  Keep me updated on how the lessons are going with your investigator.

pps-i'm going into my 6th transfer as a zone leader...thats more time than ive spent 'without' a leadership position on my mission lol. ....long time basically.