Transfer Calls....Crazy!

Family and Friends,

I hope you all had a great week! This week was a good one here in good ol' Salem.  I'm gonna start with the crazy part.  We got transfer calls on Saturday and Elder Kehl is going to Salem 5th A with Elder Chamberlain and Elder Hunt is being transferred and will be a district leader while white washing.  Crazy.  Gonna miss him he's such a good Elder and will do great things!  I am staying here in Salem 5th B and am being made a trainer.....WHAT!?  When the assistants told me I was training, I was like ahhhhh crap!  I have no idea what to do, I just finished training ha ha ha!  I am definitely humbled and will rely solely on the Lord and I will do my best to accomplish my purpose as a missionary and responsibility as a trainer.  It will be a good learning experience.

Our finding this week was pretty good.  We talked to a lot of people but no one was real interested.  We found four new investigators but had to drop two of them.  The other two though, are pretty sweet.  The first one's name is Kristina.  We found her sitting on the sidewalk.  we started talking to her and taught her the first lesson right there on the spot.  When I told her that we Know that she will be able to find out for herself that what we taught her was true, she said that she already felt that what we were saying was true!  It was super sweet.  She told us she was going to come to church yesterday, but something came up.  we are working with her and are meeting with her this upcoming week.  The second one is Andrew.  He is the boyfriend of a less-active member.  We were visiting some less actives and came across them.  He has met with missionaries before, but needed a break for some reason so we are starting to teach him again and we are meeting with him tonight!

Our investigators are pretty good.  We had a lesson with Josh last night and it was probably the best lesson that we have had with him.  His best friend, Nathan, was there and bore such a powerful testimony and the Spirit was there and so strong.  Josh is now praying for a baptismal date.  I'm excited to see what happens there!  We had a lesson over Facebook this week that was super weird and interesting with one of our investigators, Stephanie.  It was basically texting back and forth on Messenger but it was really successful.  Everyone is doing good and progressing well.

Ah, man, we got officially authorized to use Facebook this week--that was so weird.  I had to go through all of my posts and pictures and hide them from my timeline.  It took me almost FIVE....HOURS!  I saw all my pics and posts and realized how weird I was as a middle schooler ha ha ha.  Facebook is such a good tool to share the gospel with others.  I have definitely learned already how to use social media and technology more effectively.  I used it poorly back home and wasted lots of time on it.....not anymore lol.

That's the week.  Super crazy that I am going to be a trainer already. I am pretty stressed but I will be all good.  I appreciate the support and prayers.  I know this church is true and I am so glad I have this privilege to serve the Lord.  Hope everyone has a good week!

Ward Halloween Party!  Brother Taylor is a clown!!

The rig

The District (three are being transferred)

Love,
Elder Johnson
204 Boone Rd #8
Salem, OR 97302

Sick

What's up everyone?

I hope everyone had a better week than us!  Elder Kehl was feeling like straight trash on Monday night and woke up really sick Tuesday morning.  So, we just chilled in the apartment.  I had lots of study time which was really sweet and spiritual.  Since I was with him all day, I got sick as well so on Wednesday, I started feeling like trash, too.  I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure it was the flu.  I didn't throw up, luckily, but I just was feeling awful and all I wanted to do was sleep.  We were sick most of the week.  I think we finally were feeling well enough to go out on Saturday.  It felt so good to finally get to work.  I felt so lazy and guilty.  The day we went out, it was straight DUMPING.  It's been super rainy, I love it!

We were actually able to stay sort of productive.  We were able to stay in contact with our investigators and actually had a couple of sweet lessons over text.  It was pretty weird, but at least we did something.  All of the people we are working with are still solid and doing great.  Last week, we went and visited one of the elderly people in our ward.  He's awesome.  He has dementia so he kept telling us the same thing over and over.  It was hilarious!  As we were leaving his house, we invited his caretaker, Shelly, to meet with us and she said yes!  We've been able to have a few lessons with her and she is pretty solid.  James came to church yesterday and he completely loved it.  He said that it was just what he needed in his life.  The talks were on trials and on how they make us stronger and they are for our good!  It was really cool to see him receive revelation from church!

I know the church is true!  I'm so grateful for this time that I have to be a missionary and bring people unto Christ!  I read some sweet scriptures in my studies this week that really inspired me.  D&C 31:3-7.  It is so reassuring to know that my family is in the Lord's hands and that He has a place prepared for them so that I don't have to worry while I'm out doing the Lord's work.  I love you all so much and I appreciate your support and prayers!  I'm loving my mission, it's been the best experience of my life so far.  

Have a good and safe week---and Go Astros!

Love, 

Elder Johnson

204 Boon Rd SE #8

Salem, OR 97302

Baptism Week

What's up everyone?

This week was freaking BOMB!  Saturday was such a good day.  Kadyn's baptism went so smoothly.  It was a little stressful setting everything up and getting people there by it all went really well.  I was able to baptize him and it was one of the coolest experiences ever.  The spirit was so strong and the whole thing went smoothly and it was soooooo cool.  Elder Kehl confirmed him during sacrament meeting and that was really cool as well.  He was totally led by the spirit.  Our next step with Kadyn and Shery is getting them to the TEMPLE.  We are wanting to schedule a temple trip to Portland to do baptisms for the dead!

Other than Kadyn, our area has been suuuuper slow.  We talk to a lot of people but absolutely nobody is interested.  It sucks.  Josh is doing good.  He goes to seminary everyday but he is justper busy to meet.  Hopefully when we are able to use Facebook and Skype we will be able to meet more!  James is doing well, too.  He is a stud.  We have quite a few newer investigators we are teaching. One of them is Eddie.  His wife is super super inactive and we met him while trying to contact her.  He is pretty interested and we had a really good first lesson with him.  We committed him to read everyday and he said he would because he really has a desire to know if the church is true.  Other ones aren't super solid but we are still working on 'em!

This week was really awesome.  There was a Zone Leader exchange this week so Elder Hunt and I were with each other.  It was a good time.  I was able to teach Angie this week!  She is doing super well but is still having struggles.  Some more things came up in her life so she isn't on date for Nov 4th anymore unfortunately.  She wants to do things the right way which is a good thing!

We had Zone Conference this week!  It was super good.  We were trained on how to use Facebook and other technology effectively.  It was good to see some other missionaries! Right after zone conference, we had an exchange with the assistants!  It was awesome.  One went with me and Elder Kehl and another went with Elder Chamberlain and Elder Hunt.  The one that came with us was Elder Patterson.  That dude is such a good missionary, it's crazy!  It felt like I was proselyting with an apostle!  I definitely learned a lot from him.  On that exchange, we got denied by some people on the street but we asked if they knew anyone that would be interested and they said no---but right as they said that--some dude came running down the street and said, I AM!  He is going through a lot and was interested in learning more about Christ!  It was really cool--but we haven't heard from him since!

More on Saturday because Saturday was just a good day!  We had the baptism.  Stressful but awesome!  After that, we get back and we get a call from President and Sister Tateoka wishing Elder Chamberlain a Happy Birthday and apologizing for not being able to make it to the baptism.  After talking for a minute, they invited us to lunch with them!  It was awesome!  They took us to a place called Shari's.  They have these things called Pie Shakes where they put pie and ice cream in a blender.  It is the greatest thing ever!  President Tateoka is probably the funniest guy I've ever met.  I was crying I was laughing so hard at things he was saying.  I love him and his wife a ton.  We also had dinner with the Peterson's for Elder Chamberlains birthday.  We had Chicken Alfredo and deer steak!  I was so stuffed.  I had two pretty big lunches and a huge dinner.  I was legit sick afterwards.  After dinner, we played bean boozled with them and their 10 year old son, Lach, legit puked on the table.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard.  The Peterson's are awesome and so are all of the members here.

Sorry for the novel, lol!  This week was awesome and I am loving my missio so far.  I hope you all had a great and safe week!

Love you and stay safe and have a great week!

Elder Hunt and Elder Johnson---too cool for this!

Elder Hunt, Elder Chamberlain, Kadyn, Elder Johnson, Elder Kehl

Lunch with President Tateoka

Love,
Elder Johnson
204 Boone Rd #8
Salem, OR 97302

Exchanges

Friends and Family,

This week was pretty good.  Nothing too much happened though.  I went on two exchanges this week and I loved them both.  My first one was Tuesday.  elders Chamberlain and Kehl went to MLC and Elder Eldredge came with me and Elder Hunt.  It was so much fun!  Elder Eldredge is a clown.  The second one was with my District Leader, Elder Bush, Me and Elder Hunt went over to his area.  He likes taking us to Jamba and a donut shop every time we go on exchanges with him.  We did a lot of work in their area.  they didn't have any lessons so we talked to a TON of people.

So, when the other Elders were at MLC, they were trained on how to use Facebook and SmartPhones.  They were authorized to use both early.  it is SO WEIRD having a smart phone.  It is really nice but really weird at the same time.  We had an LG flip phone before so it took like ten minutes to send a text so now it is a lot more effective.  We have also been able to have lessons over Facebook messenger.  It's really interesting.  When people don't have time to meet we just tell them to get on Facebook for like ten minutes and we do lessons that way.  It's cool because we can send voice recordings for prayers and scriptures.  It's definitely nicer meeting face to face but it is pretty convenient doing it over Facebook when people don't have time to meet.

As far as finding goes, it is still pretty slow.  We find a lot of people on the street but when we follow up with them they just drop us.  We have found a few new investigators though.  Kadyn is still set for Saturday at 1.  Hopefully, it all goes smoothly!  We haven't been able to meet with Josh or James this week.  We have had a few lessons with some of our new investigators so that's good.  Yesterday at church, John (other Elders investigator) got up and bore his testimony!  He told his whole story and it was really cool.  He said he knew the church was true like 3 times!  Such a powerful testimony!  He is ready to be baptized but needs to wait a while.

Wow, I am loving my mission so far.  All the people that I have met here are so awesome.  It's crazy how much I have grown to love our investigators and the members here.  It's awesome!  I know this church is true and I am so glad that I have this opportunity to serve the Lord and help bring His children home to Him!  Love you all and I'd encourage you to take President Monson's challenge and read from the book of Mormon each day.  I know you will gain strength and power as you do so.  Honestly, I don't understand how people can live without the joy and peace that comes from the Book of Mormon!  Everyone have a good and safe week!  Love ya!

Elder Johnson
204 Boone Rd #8
Salem, OR 97302

Shout out to my cousin, Dallin, on his mission call to Kennewick, Washington!  So pumped because that is our neighboring mission!  The Lord needs our family up in Oregon, I guess!

For your entertainment---Kaden has never been very good in the kitchen (he never had to be because Brynn would make him whatever he wanted).  A few years ago, he attempted to make a cup o' noodles or something like that in the microwave and forgot to put the water in the cup.  It was such a disaster--the house wreaked!  Well, he strikes again--these videos are compliments of his companion, Elder Hunt.  Turns out Easy Mac isn't really "easy"!!

General Conference

What's up everyone?  This week was super good.  I absolutely LOVED General Conference this weekend.  It was awesome not having my phone as a distraction and it was also good that I did not fall asleep every 5 minutes so I really got a lot out of it.  Honestly, every talk was freaking good.  President Nelson and Tad R. Callister's talks on the Book of Mormon were so good and so powerful.  John C. Pingree Jr.'s talk really inspired me and gave me answers to a lot of my questions going into conference.  It was good to see some familiar faces in the choir during Priesthood Session!  Saw a few people from the ward so that was cool to see!  President Uchtdorf and President Eyring's talks were really good during Priesthood Session so everyone go read 'em!

This week was pretty slow.  Not a lot of interested people but we are still grinding.  Highlight of the week though, is Kadyn is back on date!  He is getting baptized for reals this time on October 14th!  Our other investigators are doing really good but we are trying to find some really prepared people to teach.  Josh is doing pretty good.  He still needs to talk to his mom about baptism.  He is so prepared.  Marcus, we have to refer to another area because we found out this week that he doesn't live in our area.  So, that is pretty lame.  James came and watched a session of Conference with us!  He loved it.  He is so solid and prepared.  I wish he could be baptized sooner.

We got some pretty exciting news this week.  We are going to be an online proselyting mission starting on October 25th.  We get Facebook and Smartphones.  I'm so pumped I can't stand the flip phone that we have.  We rode bikes a lot this week.  That sucked because there are some MASSIVE hills here!

That's everything this week.  I am so grateful we all had the opportunity to hear from modern day apostles this past weekend.  It is such a blessing to have modern revelation guiding us through these last days.  One of the main messages that I got out of this conference is that we need to center our lives on Jesus Christ and build upon the rock and when we do this, darkness will never prevail.  I love you all and I really hope that you all build upon the rock of our Savior and rely on Him and His Atonement.  If you do, you will find real joy and real peace.  I hope everyone has a good week!

Love,
Elder Johnson
204 Boone Rd SE #8
Salem, OR 97302

Sorry I forgot to take pics this week!

#GoCubsGo