Hello All,
This week was transfers! Me and my companion are staying in the area for one more transfer. This will be our 3rd transfer in the area together and we are excited to do some work! He is great and we get along well and so it will all be good.
This week Maria (our investigator) came to church and is really progressing. She has told us that she is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and really starting to feel the difference in her life. She is preparing herself to be baptized on the 14th of November. This week she has been going through many challenges and trials but is keeping strong and keeping her commitments. It is so amazing to see the difference in people when they are reading everyday, as they have the spirit constantly and have a happier life. What a blessing to be able to help these people come to Christ and receive the fullest of his gospel.
I love you soo much and a lot!
Elder Johnson Baby
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
Oct 12 - Ayacucho
Hello All,
This week has been great! I received the photos of a family that I was teaching in Villa el Salvador about 6 months ago that got married. They got married by law and then another got sealed in the temple. What a blessing!
This week we are working with a family of three. A single mom, Maria, and her two children Mijael and Juliana. Mijael suffers from esquizofrenia (schizophrenia in English) and so he has special needs. His mom and his sister have baptism dates and so we are focusing on how we can help them come to church all three together to progress towards baptism. Me and my companion spent the whole 3 hours trying to entertain and distract him to get him to stay. haha. It was definitely an adventure but we were successful and got him to stay the three hours in the church. What a miracle! haha
This next week is transfers and so we will see what will happen. It is pretty probable that I will stay in the area and receive a new companion. After this transfer I only have 5 left! It is really starting to dawn on me that the mission is coming to a close. I am going to do all I can to continue preaching and helping the people here with the gospel.
Ashley [Bayles--Mike's cousin] sent me a letter that I received recently that was great! Such a blessing to have such a supportive family. Tell them all that I love them!
I love you guys sooo much and a lot!
Elder Johnson
This week has been great! I received the photos of a family that I was teaching in Villa el Salvador about 6 months ago that got married. They got married by law and then another got sealed in the temple. What a blessing!
This week we are working with a family of three. A single mom, Maria, and her two children Mijael and Juliana. Mijael suffers from esquizofrenia (schizophrenia in English) and so he has special needs. His mom and his sister have baptism dates and so we are focusing on how we can help them come to church all three together to progress towards baptism. Me and my companion spent the whole 3 hours trying to entertain and distract him to get him to stay. haha. It was definitely an adventure but we were successful and got him to stay the three hours in the church. What a miracle! haha
This next week is transfers and so we will see what will happen. It is pretty probable that I will stay in the area and receive a new companion. After this transfer I only have 5 left! It is really starting to dawn on me that the mission is coming to a close. I am going to do all I can to continue preaching and helping the people here with the gospel.
Ashley [Bayles--Mike's cousin] sent me a letter that I received recently that was great! Such a blessing to have such a supportive family. Tell them all that I love them!
I love you guys sooo much and a lot!
Elder Johnson
Monday, October 5, 2015
Oct 5 - Ayacucho
Hello All,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!
This week has been awesome!
I love general conference. Every single talk was inspired and I learned from everyone of them. I think I am going to start Ponderizing as well haha. That was from Devin G. Durrant, the 1st counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency. Interesting fact is that he played in the NBA for a little while.
One of my favorite talks was from Elder Christofferson about the importance of the Church. When I was like 16 I thought that I didn't need to go to church, but possessing the priesthood I could bless the sacrament and water while in my pajamas in my bed. Looking back... What a stupid concept! haha I have learned so much from my mission and will never think like that again. Really like he said, we can't be saved in isolation and part of obeying the commandments is helping strengthen others physically and spiritually. Great Talk!
This week we are working with a lot of investigators. We had 7 come to conference and we will try and put baptism dates with these sons and daughters of God. Our area has a lot of potential now!!
I love you guys so much and recover from all these medical stories [quite a few family members have had medical issues lately] haha. My prayers will be for everyone of you as you keep pressing forward. Tell everyone I love them.
Love you all,
Elder Johnson Baby!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!
This week has been awesome!
I love general conference. Every single talk was inspired and I learned from everyone of them. I think I am going to start Ponderizing as well haha. That was from Devin G. Durrant, the 1st counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency. Interesting fact is that he played in the NBA for a little while.
One of my favorite talks was from Elder Christofferson about the importance of the Church. When I was like 16 I thought that I didn't need to go to church, but possessing the priesthood I could bless the sacrament and water while in my pajamas in my bed. Looking back... What a stupid concept! haha I have learned so much from my mission and will never think like that again. Really like he said, we can't be saved in isolation and part of obeying the commandments is helping strengthen others physically and spiritually. Great Talk!
This week we are working with a lot of investigators. We had 7 come to conference and we will try and put baptism dates with these sons and daughters of God. Our area has a lot of potential now!!
I love you guys so much and recover from all these medical stories [quite a few family members have had medical issues lately] haha. My prayers will be for everyone of you as you keep pressing forward. Tell everyone I love them.
Love you all,
Elder Johnson Baby!
Monday, September 28, 2015
Sep 28 - Ayacucho
Hello All,
This week was fantastic!! We had three baptisms of Noemi, Paul, and Miriam. Paul walked into the sacrament meeting with a full suit and the others were with dresses. Wow! It was so amazing to see them so ready for the sacrament meeting. I know that they are real converts and will be active for the rest of their lives. We are now working with the brother and sister in law of Miriam, the uncle of Paul, and some cousins of Noemi. I love the focus on the family!
This transfer has gone by sooo fast and it is so amazing to see the development in our area. Ayacucho is really hard because there is such a strong catholic tradition, but at the same time they are really humble and have such a strong desire to follow God and Jesus Christ.
We found out about Elder Scott about two days ago. It is crazy that our Mission President said that this will be the first time that three have been announced in the conference for more than 100 years! It will be interesting to see who will be called up. I'm so excited for Conference! I love it in the mission because we get to see it in English. It makes me miss being able to be in the pajamas and eating while watching conference haha.
I love you guys soo much and I will continue to make you guys proud!
PS The Newsletter is awesome!! [the family newsletter Granny Buchanan put together]
Elder Johnson
This week was fantastic!! We had three baptisms of Noemi, Paul, and Miriam. Paul walked into the sacrament meeting with a full suit and the others were with dresses. Wow! It was so amazing to see them so ready for the sacrament meeting. I know that they are real converts and will be active for the rest of their lives. We are now working with the brother and sister in law of Miriam, the uncle of Paul, and some cousins of Noemi. I love the focus on the family!
This transfer has gone by sooo fast and it is so amazing to see the development in our area. Ayacucho is really hard because there is such a strong catholic tradition, but at the same time they are really humble and have such a strong desire to follow God and Jesus Christ.
We found out about Elder Scott about two days ago. It is crazy that our Mission President said that this will be the first time that three have been announced in the conference for more than 100 years! It will be interesting to see who will be called up. I'm so excited for Conference! I love it in the mission because we get to see it in English. It makes me miss being able to be in the pajamas and eating while watching conference haha.
I love you guys soo much and I will continue to make you guys proud!
PS The Newsletter is awesome!! [the family newsletter Granny Buchanan put together]
Elder Johnson
Monday, September 21, 2015
Sep 21 - Ayacucho
Hello All,
This week has been hard! We had ten lessons the whole week, which means a little more than one a day... We walked soo much and I can feel myself losing weight haha. This area in Ayacucho is awesome!, but there is a lot of Catholic influence that the people follow. Despite the struggles, we are pushing forward!
We have two baptisms this week! Paul and Noemi are going to be baptized on the 26th! They are both so amazing and ready to make this covenant with God. It is such a blessing to see how much they have progressed in the gospel. So excited!
We got lucky that Pres McGinn was here in Ayacucho so that he could interview [for Mike's ecclesiastical endorsement for BYU]. It is a little tricky because here in Ayacucho we are 12 hours away from the mission home and offices (Utah to California!). They came here and spoke in Stake Conference and interviewed us all as well. He gave us training that we need to teach with more enthusiasm. We have to allow our investigators to see that the gospel really does bless us and makes us happy. I am excited to start applying everything that I have learned!
I love you sooo much and a lot!
Elder Johnson Baby
This week has been hard! We had ten lessons the whole week, which means a little more than one a day... We walked soo much and I can feel myself losing weight haha. This area in Ayacucho is awesome!, but there is a lot of Catholic influence that the people follow. Despite the struggles, we are pushing forward!
We have two baptisms this week! Paul and Noemi are going to be baptized on the 26th! They are both so amazing and ready to make this covenant with God. It is such a blessing to see how much they have progressed in the gospel. So excited!
We got lucky that Pres McGinn was here in Ayacucho so that he could interview [for Mike's ecclesiastical endorsement for BYU]. It is a little tricky because here in Ayacucho we are 12 hours away from the mission home and offices (Utah to California!). They came here and spoke in Stake Conference and interviewed us all as well. He gave us training that we need to teach with more enthusiasm. We have to allow our investigators to see that the gospel really does bless us and makes us happy. I am excited to start applying everything that I have learned!
I love you sooo much and a lot!
Elder Johnson Baby
Monday, September 14, 2015
Sep 14 - Ayacucho
Hello All,
[We sent some pictures of the remodeling we did in the kitchen] The kitchen looks awesome!! I can't wait to be able to come home and enjoy it! It was a little crazy because I looked on our ward on lds.org and after Jeppe Albertson, I am the next missionary to come home... Time really does fly!!
This week we are going to have the baptism interviews of our three investigators that will be baptized on the 26th of this month. They are soo ready and we have been able to see a change in them. That is the best thing about the mission is seeing the changes in peoples lives and them receiving the blessings of the atonement. We are also going to have a wedding in October! A convert of about 3 years is going to get married with one of our investigators who then will be baptized. So all in all everything is great here in Ayacucho!!
I will finish the forms and essays for BYU and I have been thinking on that lately and I hope that I will be accepted, room with a bunch of people from the mission, and play for the soccer team. Fingers crossed!!
I love you guys soo much and thank you for helping me and supporting me to go on the mission. It really is the best two years that one could have and I am so glad that I made the decision to go. Keep pressing forward and enjoying life!
Much Love,
Elder JohnsonBaby
[We sent some pictures of the remodeling we did in the kitchen] The kitchen looks awesome!! I can't wait to be able to come home and enjoy it! It was a little crazy because I looked on our ward on lds.org and after Jeppe Albertson, I am the next missionary to come home... Time really does fly!!
This week we are going to have the baptism interviews of our three investigators that will be baptized on the 26th of this month. They are soo ready and we have been able to see a change in them. That is the best thing about the mission is seeing the changes in peoples lives and them receiving the blessings of the atonement. We are also going to have a wedding in October! A convert of about 3 years is going to get married with one of our investigators who then will be baptized. So all in all everything is great here in Ayacucho!!
I will finish the forms and essays for BYU and I have been thinking on that lately and I hope that I will be accepted, room with a bunch of people from the mission, and play for the soccer team. Fingers crossed!!
I love you guys soo much and thank you for helping me and supporting me to go on the mission. It really is the best two years that one could have and I am so glad that I made the decision to go. Keep pressing forward and enjoying life!
Much Love,
Elder JohnsonBaby
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Sep 8 - Ayacucho
Hello All,
This week has been great! TRANSFERS! I am staying here in Ayacucho in the same area with my companion Elder Alvarado. He is awesome and so I am glad that we will be able to be together again!
We have currently 5 investigators with a baptism date. They are all progressing a lot and it is so amazing to see how they are doing. We have an investigator who always insists that we teach him english! We start the lesson and then he says Whats Obama up to.. hahahaha so frustrating, but now we have gotten it down that we will teach 30 min of english and then 30 min of a lesson! If he progresses its all good with me! haha
I will get in contact with Pres McGinn to verify the [ecclesiastical] endorsement [for his BYU application]. Sorry it took so long to get the form in but my camera is going wack and I cant connect into the computer. So frustrating! But anyway everything is all good.
Another interesting fact is that here in Ayacucho they speak another language that is called Quechua. You should look up some words haha its crazy! how are you is Imanayam cacc canqui. So hard!! We have to have someone who speaks Quechua in our lesson sometimes to translate. Its awesome!
I love you guys soo much and a lot!!
Elder Johnson
This week has been great! TRANSFERS! I am staying here in Ayacucho in the same area with my companion Elder Alvarado. He is awesome and so I am glad that we will be able to be together again!
We have currently 5 investigators with a baptism date. They are all progressing a lot and it is so amazing to see how they are doing. We have an investigator who always insists that we teach him english! We start the lesson and then he says Whats Obama up to.. hahahaha so frustrating, but now we have gotten it down that we will teach 30 min of english and then 30 min of a lesson! If he progresses its all good with me! haha
I will get in contact with Pres McGinn to verify the [ecclesiastical] endorsement [for his BYU application]. Sorry it took so long to get the form in but my camera is going wack and I cant connect into the computer. So frustrating! But anyway everything is all good.
Another interesting fact is that here in Ayacucho they speak another language that is called Quechua. You should look up some words haha its crazy! how are you is Imanayam cacc canqui. So hard!! We have to have someone who speaks Quechua in our lesson sometimes to translate. Its awesome!
I love you guys soo much and a lot!!
Elder Johnson
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