I'm getting transferred...

From Elder Johnson's Parents...

Not much information coming out of Washington State this week.  We are not sure if it was a busy p-day or just a <send> button that didn't get pushed.  He did send a few quick notes out to his mother.  (what a good boy!)  So, as a result of the lack of information, today brings photos!

From Elder Johnson...
I'm getting transferred. I'm staying zone leader and I'm training again. My new address will be... (see sidebar)

Love it!  Ohana in Washington.

Perhaps its the result of rabies from the raccoon?

Mission Leadership Conference

Training from Elder Robert C Gay of the Seventy

Selfies and driving... is that like texting and driving?

This week was full of some great meetings...

Well this week was full of some great meetings! Although meetings aren’t my favorite (I’d rather be out meeting with people and spreading the gospel) these few meetings were exceptional! Elder Robert C. Gay of the 70 came and visited with us. The first meeting with him was in Tacoma as a Mission Leadership council. He said a lot of different stuff. I could send you all my notes but I’m just going to tell you one point that stuck out during that one meeting.

The Lord has given us so many great tools in this life and often we take it for granted. As a missionary sometimes you get too comfortable. I find when I get too comfortable I rely on myself. I do missionary work by myself. I talk to people and go through something as logically as I can think of. Sometimes we see people do incredible things by themselves, and God has given us that ability to do that. But miracles only happen when we don't rely on that arm of the flesh and we truly rely on the arm of the spirit. Only then can the arm of the spirit do the work of God and perform the miracles that are so dearly needed in this work. I know this principle isn’t only applicable in missionary work. I know when we are home it is the same.

In the past month between the two wards we have had 3 deaths and 2 weddings. It’s been a crazy time for everyone. It is great to see how this kingdom of God has been set up here on this earth to help each other out. As missionaries we have no purpose to go to funerals. But we get that great, third person view of the ward and how great it is to support each other even if a bishop is gone for a while. There is always someone to lead and guide.

I has a surprise visit from a friend of the family this week. It’s always nice to know that even though home is thousands miles away it really is so close. I’m grateful for all the love and support received from all of you.

Kristen Clawson, mother of Rilee V. who is living with Elder Johnson's parents while attending BYUH
She lives a few miles from Elder Johnson's current apartment and dropped some treats off this week.

I feel so blessed to be part of this kingdom here on the earth, I love sharing it with others here in the Bremerton area. It’s a wonderful place to be. Well… everywhere is a wonderful place to be as a missionary.

-Elder Johnson

The basic, day to day things thing I do as a missionary...

Well, it’s been a good week as always. The sad part of the week is I had another old companion go home early from their mission. He needed surgery on his knee so hopefully I’ll see him again in the WA-TAC before I go home. Keep Elder Ward in your prayers, please.

OK so I kind of realized I haven’t ever told everyone back home about the basic, day to day things thing I do as a missionary. So that's what this email will be about.

So at…

6:25 am (every morning)
We get up and drive to the track so I can run a few miles. I love this part of the morning. It’s one of the few times I can have a few minutes to myself and think of the things I need to do that day. Although I miss being in the same shape I was when I was at home. haha

7:10 am
We are at home and have 50 minutes to shower, change, and eat so we can be studying by 8.

8-9 am
We have personal study. In this mission we are required to read 30 mins in the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel daily. This is always a very spiritual time when I am able to study the gospel of Christ and get to know him more personally. I also make sure what I am studying is applicable to what I will be teaching that day to a specific person.

9:00 am
We have companion study. This study time is revolving around the people we work with and sharing what both missionaries learned in personal study and applying it to our investigators.

9:50 am
The whole mission prays together. Every missionary in the WA-Tac hits the ground and we pray. We thank god for letting us do what we do and pray for the mission goals.

10-11 am
We start 12 week for Elder Porter. This time is just to answer questions for the new missionary and help him adapt better. It’s done for the first 12 weeks inside the mission field.

11 am – 4 pm
We do "missionary work." Oh and how I love it! This involved knocking doors or going to lessons with people we've met. It can also include going and seeing less active members or going to people home who showed interest in the past or were busy when we knocked on their door. I do love it so much talking to people and telling them something that can make their life better than ever before. This makes me more happy then anything I’ve experienced.

4 pm
For an hour we eat dinner (waaaay early). Sometimes we go to member’s home who volunteered to feed us. Others we just go home.

5-7 pm
We knock doors… no matter what. This is a Wa-Tac tradition, I love it (well now I do). It’s not easy. It’s always an adventure but it works. We find people to teach and I love it.

8-9 pm
We continue with missionary work same as before but this time of the day is a lot more valuable. People are home so we can catch and teach them.

9-9:30 pm
We plan for the next day. We go over the plans that are already set and make sure all is good to go.

9:30-10:30 pm
We get ready for bed, have fun with our companions, and wind down from the day. Often we lift weights and do some type of work out again. I’ve always got wiggles.

10:30 pm
We go to bed.

Well that’s a day in the life of a wa-tac missionary. That’s if we have no meetings that day. I love you all am grateful for the support I get from you all.

-Elder Johnson

Wow what a weekend...

I though last conference was the best one. But I found out this week that the most recent conference is always the best. Haha. We are so blessed to have those 15 men leading us. I know without a doubt that those 3 new apostles are called by God and will lead us in these latter days. I have faith in President Nelson, that he is supposed to be the president of the 12. He had a new found authority when he spoke that I had not felt from him before.

We watched conference at the church for all but the last session when we went over to a members home (the Warner's) to watch and have dinner. This family take really good care of us. I am very grateful for the family-like love they have shown me.

I could go on and on, about each talk we heard but I'll only talk about few... the first being Holland’s talk. And let me say… I have the best mother to ever live. Never has someone had to carry a child so much as she has me and I owe her more than any mortal on this earth. Women are special. They deserve more respect and recognition for what they do. I wish I would have learned this lesson years ago so I could have treated the women in my life differently when I was at home. It’s funny how a mission can teach us lessons on things we don’t even deal with. I love my mom and have a deeper respect for women now.

Monson's talk in priesthood was honest, short, and to the point. I enjoyed how he talked about all these different voices in the world and it’s hard to hear the right ones at times. But we have all these tools to help us like fasting, praying, hymns etc... I have never recognized the spirit more in my life then the past year. I know it is a blessing from God for now I am helping not just myself but othes as well and I need to spread that great spirit. I love the commandments we have. They are here to help us and they can if we let them. It’s all up to us as is everything in this life besides consistencies.

Oh man how I love this gospel and this church (or kingdom as Christofferson taught). I know that as we abide by the teaching of the prophets we will be safe in this crazy world! Though it will be hard. I love that principle that brother Aoyagi taught and it really hit home on a few investigators who are going through a hard time right now and don’t know why. I love the people I serve. They are so special but don’t realize that God has put together an incredible plan for them. I know they can know this as the spirit tells them.

Thank you all again for the support. It’s so appreciated and it makes my heart happy.

-Elder Johnson