Monday, December 28, 2009

I'm a little BEHIND in posting!!!




Fiesta Bowl 2!! WOOT WOOT!
Geez, can this family ever be healthy???
Are you sure you're all keeping the word of wisdom? haha Welp i hope you enjoy the pictures i send in this email. One is of a baptism of a kid in our ward that we got to help out with, the others are of my one year celebration! :) And i too am thankful for the awesome members down here! this area has been awesome. the members are sweet!! And i can't believe that jeff is already graduating!! He's an old man. geepers. As far as money goes for the account just throw in about 60-70 bucks. if my calculations are right that should cover 4 jerseys.
Jo man. it's been a good week though. Obert And Sabina Are still doing well! We had some good lessons! they are good with 2 of the 3 headed dragon commandments. We will teach tithing to them tonight or tomorrow. If that goes well then they'll be ready for baptism!!
As well we had our first member referral this week! it was awesome.
We were walking down the street and as usual the ladies was waving and giving us grief. And i was like "nuh-uh i don't think so" So i gave them a super cheezy wave cause i was getting weary of it! anyways the car goes around the circle and comes back and i was like "oh great" but then the window rolled down and it was a member from our ward and she was like "hey when do you teach discussions?" And i said "uhhh... anytime!" and she said "well my friend here wants to join the church" So we taught her the next day in the members home. Textbook. Awesome. And then she came to church! So that was rad.
And i have had to do like 5 baptism interviews this week for the zone leaders! it's been hectic! But fun.
But ya... that's been about all this week. We've had some crazy thunder storms. But that's what happens every summer. We have them almost every evening!
But i hope you all have a great week! keep it rolling! Stay well!
THE CHURCH IS TRUE!
-elder johnson

well. it's been a sweet week. IT's been pretty hectic with plenty of storms. I think the maxwells will be sending some pictures of the soakageness! it was the second craziest thunderstorm i've been in since i've been out. Only the storm last year with elder mbhele can compare!
We had a pretty good week. Alfred and Thandi are doing well! They DIDN'T come to church.... ugh. But they are still progressing so we'll see what we can do to get them out next week! That's the hard part about working in a town where the chapel isn't in your area.... IT's tough getting people to die kerk!
But obert and sabina should be baptized this week on sunday! we're going to go see them tomorrow and show them the most recent general conference dvd's! WE're thinking of showing them pres. Monson and Hollands talks. it should be radical. As well we re-established contach with a white family that the missionaries taught be for we got here and we've been working for nearly 2 months to get in their home! Anywho on wednesday we went and taught them an UBER POWERFUL lesson on the atonement and got them pumped about the gospel again. And we re-commited them for baptism in march. So that was exciting the spirit was nearly tangible as we taught the lesson. it was awesome!!
Aside from that we have a lot of hectic stuff happening this week due to the holiday season. IT's gonna be crazy. But tonight the maxwells are having a caroling by candlelight thing at their house so we're going to help them set up and as well hopefully get a few referrals from their friends that are coming! :)
Oh man, it was great to hear from sydnie!! I'm so pumped that you're done with WORK.... FOREVER! WE just killed a missionary today. My dear friend elder nelson went home. He was a super cool dude. But Utah is calling him home for christmas. so that's cool.
So i'm sure it is a similar experience for both of you this holiday season. But we shall go out and have a much belated dinner celebration when i get home and then go see whatever new pixar or dreamworks movie comes out! Does it sound like a deal sydnie?? does it? haha

wow the music night sounded awesome! The holidays are a great time for missionary work! Make sure to have the elders in the home sometime during the break. I'm sure they would appreciate it! And tell kevin to get out with the elders as much as possible. I regret not doing that more!
Well i hope you all have a good next 2 or 3 days! i'll talk to you on friday!!! :) I'm pretty stoked.
the plan is i'll call at 7:00 pm this side. So i think it will be 11 there??
So you'll hear from me then!!
Love ya lots!
The church is true!
-elder johnson

Hello Family!
howzit?
Welp.... OBERT AND SABINA GOT BAPTIZED!! it went awesome. We're so pumped.... and Here's the other big news.....
I'M GOING TO HAVE MY FIRST BORN IN THE WILDERNESS!!!
I got a call from president on saturday morning and it turns out elder hatch is being transferred to mamelodi which is a township in pretoria! And i'll be training! So i'll get to meet my boy on wednesday. We don't find out who it is until wednesday at the transfer meeting! I'll keep you posted on that.
Aside from that there isn't too much happening! Just the same old stuff. We're working hard and preaching the word. Over the next few weeks i'm gonna really have to show some backbone to the investigators who aren't coming to church.... so that's gonna be fun. But fear not, I will reprove them with love.
Oh man, tell the evans that their prayers are much appreciated! And is ben black going to home soon??
And how are the youth of the ward?? Especially the young men. I think i'll try to send an email in the next couple weeks that dad can print out and give to the young men.
I wanna get those kids fired up!!
And as don't worry about the broncos i have much faith in them!! will the game be this week?? If so don't talk about the game in the email. Because depending on the result i may not be able to pay too much attention to the reset of the email! Just send me the online newspaper article like you do with most of the games so i can just read it from there! OR you can just tell me. Either way is fine!!
But hey have an awesome week! happy new years! i'll let yo know if i got my package next email! :)
the church is true!
-elder johnson

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Ladies Give the Missionaries GRIEF!!!

Fiesta Bowl 2!! WOOT WOOT!
Geez, can this family ever be healthy???
Are you sure you're all keeping the word of wisdom? haha Welp i hope you enjoy the pictures i send in this email. One is of a baptism of a kid in our ward that we got to help out with, the others are of my one year celebration! :) And i too am thankful for the awesome members down here! this area has been awesome. the members are sweet!! And i can't believe that jeff is already graduating!! He's an old man. geepers. As far as money goes for the account just throw in about 60-70 bucks. if my calculations are right that should cover 4 jerseys.
Jo man. it's been a good week though. Obert And Sabina Are still doing well! We had some good lessons! they are good with 2 of the 3 headed dragon commandments. We will teach tithing to them tonight or tomorrow. If that goes well then they'll be ready for baptism!!
As well we had our first member referral this week! it was awesome.
We were walking down the street and as usual the ladies was waving and giving us grief. And i was like "nuh-uh i don't think so" So i gave them a super cheezy wave cause i was getting weary of it! anyways the car goes around the circle and comes back and i was like "oh great" but then the window rolled down and it was a member from our ward and she was like "hey when do you teach discussions?" And i said "uhhh... anytime!" and she said "well my friend here wants to join the church" So we taught her the next day in the members home. Textbook. Awesome. And then she came to church! So that was rad.
And i have had to do like 5 baptism interviews this week for the zone leaders! it's been hectic! But fun.
But ya... that's been about all this week. We've had some crazy thunder storms. But that's what happens every summer. We have them almost every evening!
But i hope you all have a great week! keep it rolling! Stay well!
THE CHURCH IS TRUE!
-elder johnson

Sunday, December 6, 2009

We've Hit the One Year Mark!

I cannot believe Michael has hit the one year mark in his mission. When he left I knew the time would pass quickly, but I had NO idea. Looking back on the year, it has been a good one. I have seen such growth in him and yet every email I read makes me chuckle because he writes just like he talks...ALL OVER THE PLACE! I know he is loving his mission and loves the people he is serving. The areas he has been in have been amazing and the way they care and support each other is truly humbling. I know he has been taught by those he has served.
The ward members are fantastic to the missionaries and treat them very well. I have been so impressed with how they work to FIND people for the missionaries to teach and are supportive to the investigators when the Elders bring them to church.
I LOVE having a missionary out in the field. Yes, I miss him but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. He is right where he should and needs to be. And I know the Lord sent him to the Johannesburg South Africa to fulfil His purpose for Michael.
I am so thankful to have this young man worthy and willing to serve. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for his safe keeping and I know as long as Michael is obedient that he will return to me safe and sound.
I have said this before, but if missions could extend 6 months I'd say go for it, but for 6 weeks it's hardly worth it.
So until November 2010...

Thanksgiving in South Africa


Some wonderful people in Selcourt had Michael and his companion, Elder Hatch, over for Turkey Day. It was actually the Wednesday after but I appreciated is so much!
We have had contact with these good people and they are delighful. I am so grateful that Michael is in an area where the members take such good care of the missionaries!
Here are some pictures of their day. I might add that Sister Maxwell has a broken hand too! Thank you for taking care of my boy!

Michael's Bday Breakfast


Check out the banana on his ear...what's with that?! The food looks pretty good!

Elder Johnson is Working Hard!

OH MAN!!! KEVIN LOOKS SO SCUZZY!!! BUT IT'S AWESOME!
But he must shave. As i'm afraid it may become the residence of different birds and small rodents... and it makes me feel less masculine. But as i told kevin, i plan on using my hormones to keep the hair on my head not to grow it all out on my face. haha
But that's awesome news about the eags and broncs! I'm pumped to hear about it all in the future!
Welp... i got a sweet camera! and i have some pictures for you guys!!
One is of me with my Birthday Breakfast, the other is when we made missionary coffee! You'll understand when you see it! :)
But this week has been pretty interesting. We had transfer news on Saturday and not much will change except one of zone leaders is leaving and Our zone is being combined with another one to form an uber zone.
I'm glad to hear mom is doing better that's awesome!
As far as christmas goes... I'm totally ok just receiving funds... a package would be awesome though! Whatever you want to do is fine!
Hook me up with something much the same as the last one. Minus shoe laces toothbrushes and razors. And more snacks. Lots of jerky! I killed it off in like a week! And no i didn't get a stocking...i don't think.
The fireside went awesome. I am such a strong believer in doing those things! The members get so pumped. We had a bunch of people, set appointments with us to go teach people or to give them book of mormons to give to their friends and what not. It's awesome! The Ward really goes all out here. We had more people at this fireside then we did at the one in Bedfordview and edenvale. And this one was for one ward and the other was for two! So it was great. The members are doin an awesome job of supporting us!
Church was great Obert and Sabina Came again! they walk for like 5 k's to get there! It's awesome. They rock. We're gonna try to get them a ride next week!
As far as the rest of our investigators go... we have this guy named themba who wants to get baptized, we hardly had to ask him when he was like " ya i want to be baptized!" So that's pretty awesome!
Well my first week of being twenty was pretty.... regular!
Aside from all that there isn't too much to tell about!
Thanks for the advice about being bold and confident. it's definately something i'll be working on!!
The Work & the Gospel is awesome. It's True. I love it.
Have fun with mel and the boys, tell them i say hello!
I love you all so much, thanks for your support and prayers! Keep em' Coming! :)
-elder johnson