Happy New Year

Hello, Everybody

 This week has been really slow. It feels like we did nothing the Holiday make it so hard to work. So for Christmas eve, Christmas, and New years we have curfews we have to be in the flats by 5:30 pm. So yeah stinks sometimes you just don't know what to do. But yeah so nobody is home everyone has either gone away or do not want us around :) For Christmas we ate heaps of food! So a majority of the work we did was Knock...Knock...Knock It was good not really to many rude people, they just weren't happy or in a good mood that day or any day that matter #AussyLife. No it's good we did find some people who were interested. What were are really trying to do is build up our teaching pool with investigators so we've been going through former investigators and the door and trying our best to use members. Rock Hampton is great such a great town it's a bit beat up and warn down in some areas apparently when the Cyclone does hit it usually floods so most of the home are raised up. Right now we aren't teaching to many people that are progressing toward baptism very quickly. Working with a lot of part member families. This Saturday we might have a baptism but not to sure really weird kind of their is a 9 year old girl (Kisharana)  who is Cousins with the Watane Family who is baptizing their 8 year old daughter. and They are trying to rush the baptism of Kisharana because the family is over her from New Zealand. We weren't teaching her until about 3 days ago so we are rushing the lessons but hopefully everything works out. Just not the most ideal situation which I don't feel to comfortable with. Also talked to a Anti-Christ while door knocking most people don't want to argue so they either just yell or tell you to go away or polity decline. but anyway I can't remember how we started talking to him. But it was really cool it was almost like the account in the Book Of Mormon where Alma testifies to Korihor of the Divinity of God and Jesus Christ (with out the part where he's struck dumb). He just kept talking over us and wouldn't let us answer his questions. Then he told us "it's not true" and that was the manner of his speech. We then bore powerful testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Walked away feeling so good for defending the faith and staying true. Continue to build and protect the faith you have it is a gift of God! Cherish it! I love you all have a wonderful week!

                                 Love,

                                    Elder S.Johnson

Address for Rockhampton

1/381 Fenlon Ave ,Frenchville, Rockhampton QLD Australia 4701

NEW AREA!

Dear, Family 

 I have been transferred I'm now up in Rockhampton. Just about an hour flight from Brisbane lots of fun! Got super confused in the air port but hopefully that doesn't happen again feels a bit strange knowing that your companion isn't right next to you. So happy to be a new uncle too bad I can't see her right now. But super excited! Sorry I today we had a service project that lasted longer than I thought so don't have heaps of time. But Rockhampton is great I bit run down it's the Beef Capital of Australia. We also cover a couple of other places along the coast. Which is really pretty just wish we could go and stand in it so tempting. But I know OBEDIENCE. It also floods a lot apparently but not sure when the last one was. But when storms come they come big! Also it is a branch and Get me super confused :D My New companion is Elder Gilbert He is from Elbert, Colorado He is a really cool, tall, Teaches powerfully so I really hope I can pick up a lot of his skills and use it in my own work. But this will be a transfer of change I hope that I can grow the most this transfer. I got the package mom but the thing is I'm up north so the Mission office is going to send some of the personal items and then just give away the food and what not. Sorry about that but when they send you up north on average your up here for 6 months. But THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! I LOVE YOU THE BEST EVER!!!! Well that all that has been happening. Have a wonderful week!

                                  Love, 

                                      Elder Johnson

Dear, Family

 Not too much Missionary work wise has happened this week. But we did do lots of service for the Ward Christmas party and for the member from Warwick who is doing renovations for his father in laws home. Which was a blast to I haven't felt so happy to stand dry wall before. I love the feeling of just hard labor and being able to help others. For the ward Christmas party the ward Party coordinator waited basically till the day before to start planning so he called us in a big hurry asking for our help to decorate and to prep food and clean the chapel. Boy lots of work for something that should have been if proper planning had taken place. But the party was a big hit the ward loved it. But yeah that was fun. On Sunday evening Elder Parker and I were unsure where to go finding. We had said and prayer and In my mind a I saw a location of Toowoomba which was near on of the chapel and one of our members. So after pondering and trying to find the Location we Knocked on that street. We had knocked on a house where their was a lot of noise coming for the home we yelled and knocked 3 times no one came out. So we continued we spoke with the neighbor twos down you polity declined our invitations. When we walked out of the gate the lady on the house 2 doors previous came out and wanted us to tell her where the chapel was. We told her like a 4 minute walk she was so happy. Jasmine then told us that her foster parents are members down in Somerset (45 min away) and that she would love to come to church and wouldn't mind us coming and teaching her. She just got our of an abusive relationship and she has a 2 year old girl. You can definitely see the Lord Prepares people over the process of time. I'm Grateful I was worthy enough to be an instrument in the hands of the lord and able to recognize and receive prompting by the spirit. I know this church is true! I know that as we look towards our Savior not only during a certain time of year we will experience great blessing and increase of Joy! A Savior is Born For you! Rejoice. I love you Have a good week! 

                     Love, 

                         Elder S. Johnson

got a Shoe one of the kids throw on the roof Don't worry I was safe and still with in sight and sound of my companion.

Elder Parker and I

Dear, Family

 Wow It's Almost December what a wonderful time of year where we are able to reflect back on the true meaning of this time. Christ may not have been born on the 25th of December but it's a time when we has Christians should reflect the meaning of The Birth of Christ! It's such an Important prophecy that was fulfilled when Christ was born of the virgin Mary! Who came out from the tribe of Judua. For me when I think of the Birth of Christ I not only think of the him lowly in a stable but I think of his work and ministry among the Children of men. I Ponder his atonement. I've been studying a bit about Adam and Eve which by the way is super interesting. But the scripture in 2 Nephi 2:25 Is just so powerful. "Adam Fell that Men might be and Men are that they might have joy" The Atonement of Christ, the Fall of Adam and Eve, and The Creation are so entirely connected if it wasn't for one we can't have the other. If we are to understand the Atonement more fully and the necessity of his Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. We have to understand the need for Creation and The Fall of our first Parents. I love you all and pray that you will take this wonderful opportunity this month to fully reflect on our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that as we do our commitment to be more righteous will burn within us. I pray that as I do more to focus on Christ that my own commitment will begin to burn brighter and with a more fervent heat. Well this week has been alright Elder Parker and I have been sick with a virus! Aghaha. and because of that our week has been slow. Funny experience though so Toowoomba Elders had a baptism. But their investigator lived in our area. And we should have been teaching her but they did, but to just skip long story we will just continue. So as far as I know everything had been worked out and the baptism was a go and she was going to be baptized into Toowoomba ward. But the night before her baptism the Zone leaders call me and tell me so are you going to be at the baptism? I replayed no usually you wouldn't unless you had an investigator going. We the Zone Leaders with bad info thought she was going to be baptized into are ward and they gave me the job to make sure she was baptized in our ward. So me just being obedient and doing what I was told made calls and misinforming people that she was going to be baptized in our ward. Boy I thought I was doing the right thing trying to figure all this out. But I then received a call from President Henderson He asked me "Elder I have been communicating back and forth with the bishops and stake president about this girl and her baptism everything has been sorted out. Now unless you know more info then I please tell." Well you probably could Imagine me and how bad I felt. I replied "NO NO President Henderson I was just doing what I was told." Everything was worked out and the baptism when Awesome.  Anyways I'm still not sure the lesson I have learned yet but I just wish I wasn't the cause of so much confusions is stinks being so. I love you all take care stay in good health! Good luck and My the Holy Ghost be your guild!

                    Love,

                           Elder Johnson

P.s By the way my mom thinks I look handsome in the second pic! haha

Dear, Family

 Boy I feel like I just emailed yesterday I feel like I should be out knocking on some doors! Anyways not too much has happened since I lasted emailed. It's just been really hot lately and been starting to sweat I'm so grateful for the blessing of having a car literally when you go and finding after 3 hours being able to sit in the air con for a few minutes really take a load off. I was able to do my first Baptismal Interview with Toowoomba's investigator its such a great thing to do. To help determine the readiness of someone to make a covenant with the Lord. It's was such a good experience bit weird because your alone so used to having your companion with you like all the time!!! But we were really able to get deep and to see how her testimony has grown and developed was such a spiritually uplifting experience. Help you to remember why your on the mission. We have also been teaching two little girls Carol (8 years old) and Bridget (9 years old) they are so cute I really struggle to simplify my teaching thought, But we played a game for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Were you jump from one hymn book to the other. lots of fun! to bad I probably won't be here for their baptisms. We also just last night had a huge rain storm boy driving home in like puddles of rain. Crazy! Super Cool Lightning storm too. Well I wish there was more to tell you but not much happened. I've been feeling good doing a lot better then I have been. The work is picking up a bit and it really does help it's good to be busy. I love you all I want you to know I know this Church is true! Through all my studies and Prayers I know! Christ Lives! He is our Savior and it by his Mercy we return back to our Father. And Ultimately become like him! Stay safe! 

                                   Love,

                                         Elder S. Johnson 

Dear, Family

 This week has been good we were able to find 6 new sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father I'm so excited to begin to know them better and to help them receive the wonderful gospel! I know it's true! We had this week a quite a bit happen which has brought growing experiences. Just this last week we as a zone were able to make mission history. We all exceeded the Hastening the Work Goals for Finding and New Investigators. The Mission President was a bit happy and told Elder and Sister Richens to treat us to Ice Cream. So after District Meeting they took us for lunch. One of the Ladies we are teaching is Adel she is older in he mid 40's. But boy she has explained a bit of her past to us and she has had a rough marriage. And we were able to just talk to her and helper her know Heavenly Father is there and that she can find lasting peace and joy in Christ. We also had an experience I thought just would never happen. While Finding we came across this man who in the past had bad experience with missionaries. We talked with him told him we were sorry that you had an experience like that. He was kind but just seemed real thrown off. As we were beginning to walk away them man closed his screen door and screamed to "GO AWAY" the man came out chasing us away which is normal we continued to walk toward the end of his pathway then he ran up to Elder Parker and just slugged him in the back. Boy!!!!!........ I was so scared for the mans life I ran up to Parker and had to walk him away. Then the man threatened to call the cops. Just really stupid we didn't understand why. But As I ponder and the following event clearly help me to know why. After that I was thinking maybe we should just take a break from finding for a moment. but in my heart felt we should just keep knocking. He met David he is the man's Neighbor. David is scientist and we had a powerful lesson with him and we spoke on the incredible gift of Agency and the plan of Salvation. The Lord with show and do miracles after the trail of your faith. I love you all have a good week! When the going gets tough stay faithful! You will see the hand of the Lord!!!

                   Love,

                         Elder S. Johnson 

P.s. 

 It was Temple P-day sorry.

Dear, Family

 This week is transfers..... and I'm staying another 6 weeks here in Toowoomba with Elder Parker I was really upset and angry because nothing has been happening in the work and I just don't seem to get along with the ward very well. It was pretty are the first 2 hours when I found out then I was able to talk to my Zone leader because they are in a similar boat. And I learned powerfully what I needed to do and that was to stay positive and be optimistic. But I'm glad I'm with Parker we get along well. So that what I'm going to do. I'm unsure what the lord needs me to do but I'm praying that I can witness a miracle this transfer! We were able this week to go do Service down in Fernville in the Sister Area they had a huge storm come through and the rate of damage was a Category 3 Cyclone. So that was heeps of fun but sad to see all of the damage that had occurred. I worked my body to the point of almost breaking I feel My arms were so dead after cutting and moving trees and doing tons of racking! We also had a ward trunk or treat which when alright like 35 people showed up. It was put on by Matt Lietch a Canadian but when we got there he said can you do me a favor he told us to cook the Sausages for the event so I became Mater Chef!!! (Thats right mom I can cook!) Haha. So it was alright. So we got a new phone number the past two weeks we have had some strange text and call from men. So someone who had our phone number took it and made and ad on the internet that we were and Escort. So you could just imagine what we got. but good thing got new number. Well that all that has really happened! I love you have a good week!

                         

                                        Love,

                                               Elder Johnson

Dear, Family 

 Not much has happened this week I keep looking back and trying to think of what happened it just flow by and I'm not quite sure. We did some more Finding which was good we found a couple of people who were receptive and they invited us back. One of them was this Indian guy named Ash and he is Christian but before we left. He ask us what the shortest verse in the bible is I responded "Jesus Wept" then we awkwardly smacked each others hands just super funny. Also when on trade offs I went with Elder Ballesteros and we smashed the day with lessons we had 6 lessons in one day I don't know about anyone else but that was the most I've had in one day. I realized how bad I'm at teaching I seem to really struggle beginning it's always so hard for me but once we get like 10 min we always have good lessons and we set 4 dates was really good. But for our area it's been really hard this transfer we have had no one really to teach and the people that we have in our teaching pool just aren't keen in developing greater faith and bettering their lives through Christ. I've been struggling with that its been discouraging, but I hope and pray that we have more success. I need to Sacrifice more than I ever have we learned in zone conference the Push pull concept that our Heavenly Father does in order to help us achieve anything. It's our Faith by which the lord does miracles. I guess that means I need to exercise greater faith. I love the Church and the leaders of it there was a quote Elder Lomuntad used and It just so true and Powerful. We as members of the church must learn to be instructed and Corrected. I'm imperfect far from perfection and sometimes you have a hard time seeing what you can improve and how and that's when it's important to be humble and receive instruction and then correct what we do wrong or what were not doing. I Love The Gospel and I'm Grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I Pray that I my Be able to better be like and him and to love all those around me. 

                        Love,

                               Elder Johnson

Mekenna Angela's Little Girl! Love This Family!