The mission is more for me than my investigators

The weather here is starting to cool down it seems like the world knows its time for fall. We are very blessed to have a car. I do enjoy the cooler weather compared to the heat though.

Unfortunately we did not have the baptism on Sunday. Loti’s sister went missing Saturday so Loti didn't make it to church. Still no sign of Loti’s sister yet. We did meet a really cool family this week who we are visiting today and really hoping to put on date soon. The first lesson went really well. The mom of the family is named April and she really reminded me of my mom… but not nearly as great. We have 2 baptisms this weekend so I hope they go through. They should, no reason why they wouldn't.

As for yesterday, we had zone conference. There were 4 zones that came together. We had a training from the AP's, President Blotter, then Elder Snow who is the church historian. It was really good. What I was really able to take is that I need to be more bold asking my investigators for commitments and I need to show and tell them how these commitments will help them. The moment Elder Snow walked into the room the spirit hit me hard. What a blessing to be addressed by him.

I am very blessed to be here on a mission. I often think the mission is more for me than my investigators. I know through all the trials I endure on a daily basis I will grow and I would not be able to grow this much any other way. I know as soon as things get easy here I will stop growing and that is the last thing I want. This church is true no other church has the fullness of church therefore does not have the authority. I know not all will be well till Christ comes again. I know it’s not far away. I often joke about how I hope Christ comes soon so we don’t have to endure any longer. This is all worth it. Every moment is. Every moment I want to come home is still worth is. I love Christ. He died for me. His atonement is infinite and I choose to use it.

-Elder Johnson

rain rain rain rain...

rain rain rain rain... It won't stop raining here. I've never been this wet in my life. It was the 3rd week of the transfer and things have gone well. For Halloween they lock up the missionaries and we have a zone meeting. Then it is followed up by a movie! We watched The Best 2 Years and I realized how much I really don't miss movies. It was odd.

This past week I have been reading Joseph Smith’s journal. It has been really cool to read into the daily life of this great prophet. What inspired me to read it was a talk given in general conference about how there will be more and more rumors about Joseph Smith. So I decided to read it and learn for myself about his life through his own eyes.  It’s a really cool experience.

As for investigators, it’s been really discouraging to see so many potentials fall through. Elder Lacasse is really discouraged with having no baptisms yet in his mission. But, I know that the mission isn’t about baptisms but planting seeds. If I see them grow into trees and produce fruit then all the sweeter for me. But I know I am out here to invite others to come unto Christ. It’s hard to not see the results sometimes. I got word of another investigator I taught in Bremerton being baptized this week so that’s nice to hear.

There is someone here. Her name is Loti and she is supposed to be baptized on Sunday. But the ward will be using the font so we are going to see if we can baptize her in the Puget Sound. It should be a really cool thing. I hope it works out. Loti really needs the gospel and she’s worthy to have it. I don’t think she realizes how much she needs it. I hope it all works out.

We got word of Elder Snow, former church historian and now part of the First Quorum of the 70 will come talk to us (Wa-Ta mission). I am really exited. We have been told by President Blotter to prepare as though Christ is coming. So I am really looking forward to it.

I will hopefully have pictures next week. I love you all and hope you are all well.

- Elder Johnson

I guess we've hit that season or something...

Stadium Area Elders: Johnson, Marsh, Bagley, LaCasse

Hey! Its been a great week. I am really enjoying all the Elders in the Stadium area. We're all really young and it's nice to be around boys my age. This past week we did a lot to find investigators and we were able to find a lot. One of the investigators is a single mom named Awa. She is from the Ivory Coast and is such a sweetheart.  I think there might be a little bit of a language barrier but I think she is understanding the basics and I know she feels the spirit. She reminds me a lot of Charles Abouo in Logan.

This week is Halloween so the mission is having zone meeting that day so we stay out of the streets. I dunno what to expect but I am exited haha. It has kept raining here. I guess we've hit that season or something. The nights are getting cooler and I am really enjoying that. Last week we had the car so this week we won't be able to drive. I am really enjoying my mission. I feel like as long as I am busy I don't miss everything to much. And I've been able to run in the morning so that makes life a lot better. I think I might have been a little physically addicted to it haha.

hot rods punch

Elder Johnson, Elder Lacasse

The results of a seed being planted...

This week is going well.  I am loving training and working hard. Elder Marsh's new companion is a runner from Rich High School so we have been getting up at 6 and putting in miles. It has made a huge difference to be able to run again on a regular basis.

As for new investigators, the Stadium area (me/my companion & Elder Marsh/his companion) got a lot of new investigators this week. All together we got 26 so I am really exited to have so much going on in our area. I look forward to to the rest of the transfer.     

We had stake conference this week and it was really spectacular! It was a lot different then one's back in Utah.  Here they really stressed missionary work and member missionary work... how we, as missionaries, assist the ward and how the ward should do the mission work itself 

I also found out that 3 of my investigators in Bremerton have been baptized this past month. So that was really a boost of confidence to see the results of a seed being planted. 

I hope all is well in Utah, Hawaii, Idaho or wherever your all at. I love you. Thank you all and God bless.

Elder Johnson

Transfers and Trainers...

Transfer meeting was yesterday. It went very well. It's always some of the most spiritual highs I get on my mission. I am training Elder Lacasse. He is from Florida and I think we will get along very well!

Tacoma Zone

It has started to rain quite a lot here. Things are going very well.  My new companion... he seems to want to work hard so I am exited to get stuff done. This week I found out that 2 of my investigators from Bremerton were baptized. So that is very nice to hear and realize things are going well for those people I love.  In the Stadium area there are 2 sets of missionaries. I have been serving with Elder Marsh (Annie's brother) and he is staying in the area.   That is nice. We do get along pretty well.

After the zone lunch

Anyways, I don't have much to say.  I miss you and I hope to have more to say next week. I love and miss you all.

Elder Johnson

Tacoma East Interviews and Zone Meeting

One of the blessings of being a parent of a missionary in the Tacoma Washington Mission is the fact that President and Sister Blatter like to take photos.  Not only do they take a lot of photos, they post those photos on the mission blog.  Here are some photos of the Tacoma East Zone Meeting held last Wednesday, October 8, 2014.  Guess who is in them?

Thomas Elder Johnson and his companion, Elder Larson.

The Tacoma East Zone.  October 2014

 

Time to relax and take in the words of our leaders...

The past week has gone really well. The weeks have really started to blend together and seem to just be flying by faster than I can remember. I have never appreciated General Conference more than I did this past week. It gave time to relax and take in the words of our leaders.

Although... the stake center we watched the sessions at was 9 miles away. We had to bike there.  It made for a weekend of very unproductive missionary work. One of my most favorite talks from the conference was Elder Klebingat. I felt he said some very great doctrine in a way everyone could understand it.

As for the week itself, it was not bad. There is an investigator we have by the name of Debbi.  She's called an eternal because she's been an investigator for years but has never been able to get baptized because of her husband.  This week we were able to put her on a date for the end of December.  So that was very good. Just cross our fingers it all works out.

This Saturday is transfer calls and I am hoping to stay here in Stadium with Elder Larson. Hopefully I can see some results from the work that I've been put in here. I also have a interview with the Mission President this Wednesday that I'm looking forward to. It's just a regular interview he tries to do every other transfer.

Yesterday I was able to go fishing with a member in the ward. We went to American Lake. It was absolutely beautiful. It was super foggy the first few hours but cleared up later. In the middle of the lake is an island where people live. They park on the edge of the lake then take a boat over to their homes. I can't imagine how expensive it is though.

Anyway, all is well here. I love the area and I'm hoping for it to get cooler here as well. It rained for a day but hasn't rained since.

-Elder Johnson