Note to all:
Elder Steven Johnson sent a request that all mail (more especially from non family members) be sent to the mission office, at least for the time being, to ensure that he will receive it, since he is likely to be moving from his current mission address in the coming week. Thanks!
Monday, May 24, 2010
24 May - Houston
Hi all!
I guess topic number one is no, we don't have to wear a suit everyday, but when I was in my bike area in Galveston we wore suits because it was a cold winter. And yes it is hot, but I think that the summers here are over rated. People here always say man it's sooo hot, you go outside and suddenly you are sweating. Blah blah blah. It hasn't been to bad.
This whole month we have been trying to use our bikes as much as we can. In our car area we get to use 1200 miles a month, and so far we are at about 600 and it's the last week. So, we have been using our bikes a lot.
Transfers are coming up and I am guessing I will be heading to a new area. Houston 1 has been awesome. I have been learning a lot about how to be a better missionary, and the language is coming along nicely also. But I know that there is more work to be done in another area, people to teach, people to help reactivate and people to help grow.
It is crazy, I feel like I have been growing a lot on my mission, and that I am understanding the importance of church and the restored gospel like I never have before. But there is soooo much more to learn. So much more to learn in the simple stuff like faith and charity and hope; you know, all the Christlike attributes. Study, study, study... Oh how I am loving to learn how to study. I have been studying about a change of heart with my mission president and it has been a good experience. I am not just going to be an active member of the church when I am older, because there is more to it to have salvation, time to take it to the next level. It's game time!
Elder Johnson
I guess topic number one is no, we don't have to wear a suit everyday, but when I was in my bike area in Galveston we wore suits because it was a cold winter. And yes it is hot, but I think that the summers here are over rated. People here always say man it's sooo hot, you go outside and suddenly you are sweating. Blah blah blah. It hasn't been to bad.
This whole month we have been trying to use our bikes as much as we can. In our car area we get to use 1200 miles a month, and so far we are at about 600 and it's the last week. So, we have been using our bikes a lot.
Transfers are coming up and I am guessing I will be heading to a new area. Houston 1 has been awesome. I have been learning a lot about how to be a better missionary, and the language is coming along nicely also. But I know that there is more work to be done in another area, people to teach, people to help reactivate and people to help grow.
It is crazy, I feel like I have been growing a lot on my mission, and that I am understanding the importance of church and the restored gospel like I never have before. But there is soooo much more to learn. So much more to learn in the simple stuff like faith and charity and hope; you know, all the Christlike attributes. Study, study, study... Oh how I am loving to learn how to study. I have been studying about a change of heart with my mission president and it has been a good experience. I am not just going to be an active member of the church when I am older, because there is more to it to have salvation, time to take it to the next level. It's game time!
Elder Johnson
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 17 - Houston
Hey family and friends,
This week has been a good week. I don't know if I told you about the bike challenge that we are on for this month. But we were challenged to park the cars for a month and to take the bikes out. Well it was going good and I was enjoying riding the bikes, but this week was a little harder to do it because it dumped rain. I don't know if you have seen it rain in Texas before, but it is crazy, but cool at the same time. For example, the thunder was so loud that it made car alarms go off. :)
Anyway, Elder Cole and I are having a good time working hard. We had a great week with 24 sitdown lessons (Kobe, go lakers) and it was a great week. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord through obedience and diligence.
I would like to give a public apology for not writing anyone letters for the past month or two. things have been really busy and there is barely enough time to get the laundry done on P-days. So all my friends at BYU you are all still awesome! Also, family I hope you understand.
Well I have to get going!
Love ya all!
Monday, May 10, 2010
May 10 - Houston
Hello family and friends,
This week has been great. We have been working hard and visiting a lot of people. Sunday was awesome because 14 people that we have been working with came to church. Only one of them was an investigator, but 13 others were all less actives. Three less active families came and it was great! It really made a difference in the ward. Less active work is so important because the ward needs everyone. Every member of the church has different strengths and weaknesses, for this reason we need everyone so we can have everyone's strengths. Nothing makes me more happy then seeing a less active person that hasn't been to church for a few years walk through those doors and feel the spirit again.
It was nice to talk with the family yesterday, and it was great to hear that everything is going well. I hope that everything is going well. If you need extra help in your life look over the commandments and think of one that you can do better with, one that you can be more obedient with and if you do that I promise that you will receive more blessings from our heavenly father.
-Elder Johnson
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3rd - Houston
Hey!
this week has been really good I have working by hardest. This week was one of my favorite weeks. No, we didn't get baptismal dates. No, none of our investigators came to church, and yes, a lot of our appointments fell through. But I will tell you something, I know that I did everything I was supposed to do as a missionary this last week and I was very happy last night when I pondered about the week. The mission isn't always a cake walk, it's not always easy. But I have been changing a lot.
I'll tell you something it is hard; it is very hard; it is physically hard, and mentally hard; BUT it is worth it. The mission is not supposed to be easy. We are in a war, and Satan is trying his hardest to stop the work from progressing, but through exact obedience we can gain help and blessings to carry on. Something I have learned on the mission is that you can still be happy during the tough times. It is during the tough times when we get a good opportunity to grow. So, yes the mission is awesome, it is a time were we get to dedicate 100 percent to the Lord. Do all missionaries do this, nope not all of them. I am learning a lot about that.
If you want a fun study to do, read Alma chapter 5 and Mosiah Chapter 5 and dig deep. Study about a change of heart. I was shocked about what it did for me.
I'll tell you something it is hard; it is very hard; it is physically hard, and mentally hard; BUT it is worth it. The mission is not supposed to be easy. We are in a war, and Satan is trying his hardest to stop the work from progressing, but through exact obedience we can gain help and blessings to carry on. Something I have learned on the mission is that you can still be happy during the tough times. It is during the tough times when we get a good opportunity to grow. So, yes the mission is awesome, it is a time were we get to dedicate 100 percent to the Lord. Do all missionaries do this, nope not all of them. I am learning a lot about that.
If you want a fun study to do, read Alma chapter 5 and Mosiah Chapter 5 and dig deep. Study about a change of heart. I was shocked about what it did for me.
I hope that everything is going well for y'all. I am pooped. That is why we have a p-day to get our energy back again. I am super tired, and I think that I am going to go an sit in the cool egg swivel chairs that are here in the library.
Have a good day.
April 26 - Houston
Hey y'all-
Right now we are trying to work with part members and we are asking them were all the people are that live in homes and not apartments and I guess there are not that many here. We are going to teach a family tonight. It is going to be really cool if they all accept baptismal dates.
The mission is great and I love it. I got a new companion. His name is Elder Cole and he is a great missionary. He is from Arcadia, California. He has been out for 21 months and he is my companion and is really good at Spanish. He used to be a zone leader and president likes to have zone leaders train new missionaries right before they leave, so I am probably going to a new area next transfer.
My last companion just became a zone leader. It is cool and he will be good at it. This will be the 2nd companion that I have had out of 4 that have been zone leaders. I am learning a lot from him. We are being exactly obedient. Mosiah 5 is awesome. You should read it again. That and also Alma 5. It's about a mighty change of heart and I am learning a lot from it. Obedience is key. Well, I don't think I am going to be able to write much more.
Right now we are trying to work with part members and we are asking them were all the people are that live in homes and not apartments and I guess there are not that many here. We are going to teach a family tonight. It is going to be really cool if they all accept baptismal dates.
The mission is great and I love it. I got a new companion. His name is Elder Cole and he is a great missionary. He is from Arcadia, California. He has been out for 21 months and he is my companion and is really good at Spanish. He used to be a zone leader and president likes to have zone leaders train new missionaries right before they leave, so I am probably going to a new area next transfer.
My last companion just became a zone leader. It is cool and he will be good at it. This will be the 2nd companion that I have had out of 4 that have been zone leaders. I am learning a lot from him. We are being exactly obedient. Mosiah 5 is awesome. You should read it again. That and also Alma 5. It's about a mighty change of heart and I am learning a lot from it. Obedience is key. Well, I don't think I am going to be able to write much more.
~Elder Johnson
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