Well again I don’t have anything for the blog...

Well again I don’t have anything for the blog, I don’t have anything new to tell everyone.

My favorite talk was probably Elder Nelson’s in priesthood session… he talked about living worthy to exercise the priesthood and learning how to exercise it. I just hope to always be able to resist the devil and be worthy to use the priesthood when the spirit calls me to. I could really go on all day about all the talks. But the only other one I will mention is Elder Holland’s. I was watching that session with an investigator and right when Uchtdorf got up to announce the last speaker I said another prayer for the investigator that he might receive and act on a spiritual prompting. Well, you can probably guess how the rest of the story goes. Elder Holland hit a home run and the investigator will soon be in the waters of baptism.

Elder Holland’s talk spoke to me maybe in a different way than others. The feelings he described come along with conference weekend are many of the feelings that come along with a mission. While Elder Holland helped people understand how to keep those same feelings for the next 6 months till conference, he was telling me how to keep the feelings of the last 2 years for eternity. It is possible and I will rely on the Lord in all things. I will continue to council with Him.

Seattle

It's a weird feeling being so tired but not wanting to sleep...

Hey again! I don’t think I have a blog post this week. It’s been a really good week but I don’t feel I have anything new to put up on the blog. I don’t just want to say something I’ve already said before.

My Easter was really good… super busy had a 4 dinners. 3 of them were with non-members. We had 6 investigators at church yesterday which might be a record for me (not counting families). We had a few families give us baskets for Easter. Most all full of candy but the Bishop of the Bainbridge Island ward’s Easter basket was full of candy along with a Izze and a nice journal. We are definitely taken care of well here.

I sure have loved serving with Elder Simkins… super super easy to get along with! I love him. He is from the same small town Elder Porter is from. I don’t remember if I had already told you that? Enterprise is the town. I’m going to have to go visit both Simkin’s and Porter's family before they get home.

This next week is full of appointments. We have zone conference tomorrow. I’m exited I don’t have to give any trainings or direct it. (I’m not a zone leader) :). Then my favorite part of the week… General Conference!! Awe man! I’m looking forward to it so very much.

It’s funny how fast time goes. I wish it would just stop. I have so much I need to do out here but time is moving faster and faster. It's a weird feeling being so tired but not wanting to sleep. Haha.

-Elder Thomas Johnson

PS (from Elder Johnson's Parents)...
We received several emails with photos this week.  Included was the following photo and explanation...  Love it!!!!

Elder Johnson helping out in Primary!

I do know that this week was really pretty...

Well… weeks are mush now and I don’t know what was this week and what was last week. But, I do know that this week was really pretty! The sun was out all week and that can honestly make my week no matter how bad everything else was.

This week consisted of

• Meeting many less actives 
•  Helping an older guy with his home 
• Meetings in both wards leadership. 
• Splits with the EQ presidents 
• Having a great WOW (word of wisdom) lesson.

I don’t have much to put up on the blog this week but please remember the true meaning of Easter. Enjoy time with family remember Christ is rising to raise us up as well.

-Elder Thomas Johnson

The past 2 weeks is kind of what I expected a mission to be like...

Holy smokes, I don’t know about this week. It’s felt really long and really short at the same time. Although we are not allowed to swim on our mission, I don’t believe that there was a difference between being outside for half an hour or being in a swimming pool. It dumped all week! It was craazzy.

I feel sooo busy all the time. There is always something to do, always someone to help. It is wonderful! The past 2 weeks is kind of what I expected a mission to be like when I left home. A lot of really great times and a lot of really hard times as a result of other people’s agency. It’s been a good 2 weeks. I’ve been very happy.

Sundays as always are super crazy and hectic but this Sunday in particular was nuts. First off… all week we had been hearing warnings of a big storm coming in on Sunday so people didn't know if church was even going to happen because power might be out. But Sunday came rolling around and we had church. I got to speak in both sacrament meetings we attended. I really do enjoy speaking. It’s nice to be able to prepare a talk and learn from that preparation. Maybe that’s another thing that has changed on my mission. I sure do like moving my jaw up and down all the time now. It’s actually turned into a bad thing how much I talk.

But anyways, I kind of got off subject there, Sunday turned out to be a great day! I love being in that church building. I find it to be one of the few places where I am able sit down for a long enough time to gather all my thoughts and just ponder everything that is going on. I find myself just giving thanks for all the great things God has given me.

My friends… I love you very much. Thank you for the prayers and support.

-Elder Thomas Johnson

I love what I am doing in my life right now...

Heyo! Well, it’s been a really big week I guess. It’s been odd getting into a new area that hasn't had elders for 4 years. Although it does mean there is never a dull moment or I’m wondering what to do next. There are many great families I have met this past week from both the Bainbridge Island Ward and the Poulsbo 2nd Ward.

I’m loving my new companion. His name is Elder Simkins from Enterprise, Utah. He played baseball as well as ran XC in school. We get along really well. I’m happy to be able to serve with him. He has been in the Poulsbo 2nd Ward for the past 6 weeks and has done a very good job with it. So it’s not like we are completely blind in 2 new areas.

We are seeing a few baptisms this weekend that I’m looking forward to. One is a particular lady who we had a really great lesson with this week on the Word of Wisdom. It was one of the most spirit filled lessons I’ve had on my mission. After the lesson we then were able to give her a blessing to help her overcome her addictions and be ready to enter the waters of baptism this weekend. I love what I am doing in my life right now. It’s the most fulfilling I’ve experienced.

I’ve never been so excited to do stuff in my life. I have to keep telling Elder Simkins that this is so cool! What we are doing is so cool! Being a missionary is the coolest thing on this planet. If you haven’t had a chance to do missionary work in your life, try it out! It’s so fulfilling!

-Elder Thomas Johnson

I kind of had a midlife crisis...

Wow! it’s funny how after a week that I don’t feel I have much to write is always a week with too much to write about.

Well I’m getting transferred to a whole new area, Bainbridge Island! If I’m not mistaken we will be the first elders in the area since my trainer closed it almost 4 years ago… when he got done training! I will also be covering the Poulsbo 2nd Ward! So the elder I am going to be with (Simkins) has been in that area for 6 weeks. I am really excited about this. I’m looking forward to applying everything that I’ve learned on my mission to one new fresh area! I’ve never been more pumped to find, teach, and baptize people.


Last night was another fireside… this time in Silverdale. I kind of had a midlife crisis on the way back home. We drove through my first area. I got to see the streets I was on my first transfer in the mission. It was kind of emotional for me to think back and see where I was and realize that times have changed. I now have less fear and more faith in my Savior. I loved that trial God gave me though. I love all the tough times. It only helps me grow closer to my Savior. And I look forward to the trials that lay ahead and growing from them as well. I don’t want to leave this great land of the Wa Tac.


This week was stake conference as well. The visiting General Authority was Elder Sitati. He had some wonderful, great advice and I received some great personal revelation on what I need to change in my life as a missionary and a person. So I liked it a lot.

I am so happy to be here where I am at. I love life

-Elder Thomas Johnson

ps.  long story but there is a member here who's done lots of studies.  This is a replica of Nephi's boat, He has a book written about it called "voyage of the book of Mormon"

Time seemed to have flown by fast...

Last week of this transfer! I will find out Saturday what is going to happen to me. :)

As for this past week… it’s been pretty good! Time seemed to have flown by fast. While we were busy teaching a lot of different people not much seemed to have happened!

We did have a wonderful musical fireside last night and I look forward to the one this next week in Silverdale! I look forward to going back up to my old area to sing. At these musical firesides we sing some classic hymns but our version of them. Hymns like Amazing Grace, Called to Serve, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and the EFY medley. Recent converts also bear testimony during the fireside. It really is a powerful thing to be a part of. During the song Amazing Grace I always feel so humble for all I have received from my Heavenly Father.

This next week is stake conference. I’m excited for that as well. We seem to have a busy week in front of us. Days and nights are full of scheduled appointments. I feel like I’m finally getting a hold on how to do missionary work a little bit. haha

Although it’s been a busy week I don’t have much to report from this week, I love my mission so much. These missionaries I serve around have become my best friends. I love them. I love the people of Gig Harbor. Each and every investigator I devote all my time and efforts to help them get closer to Jesus Christ.

-Elder Thomas Johnson