E-mail from Neal - Received 6/25/08

Hello everyone,

Well its official, I have been out for 2 months!!! I know that that is
really nothing but its a dent right? I am doing good though. As you saw
from the Newsletter we had a banner week last week. It was Well Good!!
30 accountable hours with no service is really unheard of. That's 30
hours of teaching. The mission goal is 15 just to let you know! It was
crazy. We have a new investigator named Lucy. She is 88, and she is
really really nice. We dated her for baptism yesterday, July 26th. She
forgets a lot of things so we will really have to work hard with her
over the next month but i'm excited to do it. Its a challenge that i am
ready to take on.

So me and Elder Garcia have parted ways now. I am really sad cause my
dad is leaving me. After being in Chorley for 7 1/2 months he is gone.
He is going to be a Zone leader now in Oldham, which is in Manchester.
He is the youngest zone leader if that tells you anything about how
amazing he is. He was the absolute perfect comp for me. He started me
out in the best way that he could have and i love him for that. He is
one of my best friends, and i will never forget him. He is an amazing
missionary! I learned so much from him, and i am so thankful that the
Lord sent him to me. He still has 15 months left so i will definitely see
him again, but the past 6 weeks have been really fun. My new comp is
named Elder Smith. We just met about an hour ago, so i really don't know
much about him. He seems really cool, and i am sure that i will learn a
lot from him. He is my following trainer, so he has to be good. Its time
for me now to step it up though. I am the Experienced one in the area,
and so i really have to know my stuff for a while. I am scared but i
think that i can do it!! I know that i can do it!! E. Garcia had to say
goodbye to a lot of people though and so he was crying a lot yesterday.
He has made some really great friends here and he didn't want to leave.
He is moving on though and he is excited to say the least!

So we listened to a great thing the other night... It was called the
conversion story of a catholic priest. Its the story of Bill Coleman and
what happened to him in the gospel. It was amazing!!!! You need to see
if you can find it on the internet somewhere. If you do send it to me on
a cd please!!!!!!!!!!

It has been raining a lot lately and i tell you i have never been so wet
in all my life!!!! (picture) I bought a really rubbish umbrella in the
MTC for a pound and it really is worth just about that! Its terrible. I
just gave up on it. MY NORTH FACE JACKET however is well good. Heather
that was the absolute best birthday present that i could have ever
received!!! Its amazing. nothing gets though that. No wind, no rain, no
nothing. Its amazing!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! We had
stake athletics on saturday and it poured the whole time!!!! I have
never been so wet in my life. It rained so much that it actually washed
the gel out of my hair!!!! Thats unheard of really. I ran in a few
things. I got 3 in the 200 meter race, and 4 in the 1500. I really
haven't run at all that much in a while so i am out of shape!

Anyways life is good and i am still loving it!! I am doing really well.
Still learning a lot, and pushing forward. I have been really studying
Joseph Smith History the past few days, and loving it!!! Its amazing to
me how much Satan did not want anything with Joseph to happen! I mean
how much attention and persecution was shown to him by really important
people and he was only 14!!!!!! I would suggest reading all of that
section again, and really look for how many times he says that he was
not going to deny it. I love that testimony! And be sure to read oliver
Cowdery's account too.

Thank you all for everything!!!! I love you all and I am so glad to have
your support!!!! Stay strong in the gospel and you will be blessed!!!

Hope to see some packages from you soon!!!

Until next week!

Elder Johnson

Picture - Me, Clifford, and E. Garcia. The Lancashire boys.

Email from Neal - Received 6-18-08

Hello Everyone!!!!!

Well i must say that Nauvoo sounded amazing. I am really envious about
you being able to go to the Temple EVERYDAY!!!!!! I see the temple
everyday, but i can only go once a transfer, tear tear. I love the
Temple..... Good Gracious i love the temple!!!!! It is so amazing not
only the feelings that are felt there, but the amazing ordinances that
happen there. AMAZING!!!!!!! Can you tell that i am happier.... I am
really starting to jump fully into the mission. The First transfer is
almost over. One more week and everything could change. Personally, i
think that i am staying in Chorley. I would like E. Garcia to stay with
me, but the chances of that are kinda slim. He has been here for 7 1/2
months, so he is probably moving. At First that really scared me, cause
i would be the junior comp, getting following trained, BEING THE
EXPERIENCED ONE IN THE AREA!!!!!! Yea not so sure about that one, but im
over that. I am excited about that possibility. That is the best way to
learn right??? To jump in and really have to take charge. Thats how you
grow up fast and really learn how to do things. I know that the comp
that i might get will be amazing cause he will be training me still so
that should calm my worries right?

So there really aren't any super spiritual experiences this week. The
Temple Devotional put me on a high for a while, but i want to tell you
about some really awesome people. I want to tell you about Clifford and
Mavis Dawson.
Mavis was baptized the day before i came into the Area. She is an a
amazing woman. The true story of how someone is prepared by God to
receive the gospel. The Proof that those people are out there. Anyways
her Husband Clifford is also amazing. He is the Nicest old man (heather
would love him to bits), but he didn't get baptized. He is now our focus
point. We are trying so hard to get him to accept the challenge and come
unto Christ. Its not easy because he is a Bulldog to say the least. He
is more Stubborn than anyone that i know. We are working really hard and
i think that we are going to succeed. He wants to live with his wife
forever, because he loves her more than anything. We have explained
again and again but nothing yet. There home is the nicest that i have
been in in Chorley. If i could have a home like that i would move to
England. I will send pictures sometime don't worry. Amazing people.
Completely amazing.

So this week has been another good one. I am feeling so much more
comfortable in the mission and thats great. The Assistants gave us a new
commitment at interviews/training yesterday. They gave us a personal
commitment that we get to choose for ourselves. I have been thinking a
lot about it and i got one! My commitment is to be myself. I don't know
why i have changed, but i am not the person that i was when i left. With
other people that is. I was funny and fun, and crazy, and i have calmed
down over here. I don't like that! I want to be the person that i was
when i left, and i plan to work on that. I am not saying that i have
turned into this dud, but i have just calmed down a bit. I need to get
back to me. I realized this just yesterday. We had exchanges with the
Assistants over the past two days, and it was great! It was absolutely
insane because we had 4 guys in a flat (apartment) that can barely hold
2. Ask Craig about how nuts exchanges are!!! But i went with E.
Sommerville and he was himself. He made everyone that he talked to
comfortable and he made them laugh. If they didn't laugh he did. He
made it so easy, and i know that i can do that. Serious conversations
don't have to be grim, so thats what i am going to be working on now.
Check up with me ok????

Moving on. How is everyone doing with Preach my Gospel??? No
excuses!!!!!!!!! Do the commitments that i said then study further.
There is always more to learn!!!!

Ok well my family i hope that everything is going well at home. Feel
better mom!! Keep studying and working hard. I feel your prayers and i
am so grateful for that. This Gospel is as real as the fact that is
raining right now!!!!! It lives and its here to stay!! TRUST ME ON
THAT!!

I love you all
Elder Johnson

Pictures: My zone, and us with the Assistants

Email from Neal - Received 6-11-08

Hey all,

I am very sad that you are in Nauvoo!!! (*picture - the license plate is on my stake presidents car) I love that place so much. But you know what its ok CAUSE I AM IN ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, Humility i know, i'll go study chapter 6 in PMG!

This week has been really kinda interesting. We had a big family history roadshow come through, and that kinda made the week a bit off. We had to go and help with that for like 4 hours a day, and it killed our energy. It was good we got to talk to some people because of it, but we really didn't get to do much work. The past 2 days have already been more productive!! It was cool though.... I learned that the Johnson name comes from Ireland which is really really cool. I also learned that the Obray name comes from Wales! I thought that that was really neat.

2 Things this week to report on...

First i think that i have told you about out investigator Haley and her excommunicated boyfriend john. If not they are both really cool people. Well they are both progressing really really well and they are making huge steps in the right direction. John just made some bad decisions that he knows about and he really wants to change. His testimony is so solid its amazing. Haley can see how much this gospel means to John, and she is seeing how much it hurts him to not be a part of it. We have got them both coming to church, and they are going to make the jump very soon. A few nights ago we had an amazing lesson with them... They were both in tears because the spirit was so incredibly strong. Everything has been different since then with them, and it is so amazing to see that. I am so grateful that i am a part of such an amazing process!! I love this gospel. I saw the change that it brought in my life, and now i am seeing the change that it has brought in the lives of the people that i am teaching.

Ok moving on. The 10th Anniversary for the Preston temple was on Sunday night, and oh my goodness was it ever amazing! The talks were amazing, but the music was better. We had a mini MOTAB up there and the spirit was incredible!!! I have been praying a lot about my own personal conversion and how i can really teach what i know and what i feel. Well i got my answer on Sunday night. The choir sang "this is the Christ". I have sung that before i have heard a million times, but the spirit was so strong this time that i could not breathe at points!! My prayers were answered. "how many drops of blood were spilled for me," that like hit me like a train. I know that Christ lives, and the he loves me and cares for me as an Individual!!!! I will never ever ever deny that!
They also sang praise to the man. I don't know how to describe it but it was an arrangement that i have never heard before!! I want to sing it. The men have the absolute coolest part ever!!! Look for different versions of it ok, and let me know.
And of course they sang the Spirit of God at the end. There was a fire burning within me. The whole congregation sang, and then the choir did there special thing with the congregation at the end. I have never felt the spirit so strong while singing. I was tired, winded, and sweating at the end because i was singing with so much joy and happiness. I was singing with the spirit, and it was amazing!!! I will never forget that night!! The spirit communicates with me the strongest through music, so i thank you mom and dad for giving me that gift and allowing me to grow and progress in it!!!! I can never repay you!!!!!

Ok now onto some other stuff......

I cut my own hair, that was fun. (Picture)

We have Tesco and ASDA here. They are like walmart. ASDA is actually ownd by walmart (whoda thunk)

I don't know if you remember that tie that Kelsey and Heather gave me... the Black one with the red Flowers. Yea that flower is the Flower of Lancashire. Thats the County that i live in, funny huh.

Alright i have to go, i just want to leave with something that was said at the Temple Devotional.....

"Joseph Smith went into the grove with a question for himself... And came out with an answer for us all!"

I love you all so much,
Elder Johnson

Pictures - Received 6/4/08

"Forever Finding...Forever Waiting (FOR BUSSES!!)


"My District at the Temple. From left: Elders Petterson, Crowther, Van Dijk, Durkin, Johnson, & Garcia."

We are going to Preston today to see the Church sites. Pictures will be forthcoming

Email from Neal - Received 6/4/08

Hello my Great family!!!!!

Another week has just flown by it seems. The days are long and the weeks are short, and getting shorter all the time! I am really starting to jump into this mission and work hard. I am talking to people all the time. Sharing the gospel all the time, and learning all the time. There is so much to learn and there is so much room to grow that one can never stop! This week has been an amazing one for sure and as always I will start with the gospel stuff and then move to the funny stuff and the business stuff.

Me and E. Garcia prayed last week to know how many new investigators the Lord wanted us to find this week. We had an amazing spritual experience in which both of us felt that 4 was the correct number of souls that we were going to find. Well all throughout the week we were not getting anywhere. The work was slow and long and hard, but there was light. Twice during the week we recieved a name of a man that was taught when the sisters were here (a while a go). We thought that it would be good to go find him. Previous to this we decided to have a disctirct fast. Starting on Saturday and going through fast sunday. All that I have to say is the blessings of fasting are real. Right after westarted fasting we went to this area to find this man..... We found him,we taught him and his wife and son. They enjoyed it, they are going to be tough, but there were 3 souls right there. The rest of that day killed us. We walked so much, and that was the most tired I have been on my mission to date! After Church on Sunday we went back out and wentback to a street that we had both felt the spirit on. We had met a ladyand she told us to come back.... we did, we taught her, she felt the spirit, and we are going back. That would be the 4th soul!!! After thinking about the area we discovered that her house was right across the street from where we had felt the spirit the strongest! We were so happy and pumped!!!! It was great because we followed the spirit and theLord did not dissappoint!!!! HE NEVER WILL!!!!!!! Ever since then the work has been better. We walked down a street just yesterday that we didn't know why we did, and what happened..... A guy called us to come up.... we taught him, he discussed some things, we are going back. Yet another soul!! The Lord is round about us at all times, of that I am sure! We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders on Monday, and I can honestly say that I am now a different missionary! I learned so much from Elder Crowther about how to talk to people, and how to not be afraid when the time comes. I am so grateful for the great missionaries that I have to serve with!!! We are teaching a couple right now. The girl is like 19 and the man is probably 25 but he has been Excommunicated. He is absolutely amazing. He wants to come back so badly. He knows what he has to do and he is doing it!! His girlfriend is so interested in the Church and she can see how much it hurts John to be away from it. They are moving very nicely. They were both in tears last night.... The spirit was so so so so so strong!!!!! I love this work. All the slammed doors and rude comments literally dissappear when something like that happens Planning is Amazing..... If you don't think so go read Joseph Smith history. "After I Had arrived at the place that I HAD PREVIOUSLYDESIGNED TO GO." He used it, he's amazing, we need to use it!!

Ok now on to the funny/business/questions/whatever stuff.
The Chorley wards did Savior of the World in December I think. Crazy huh, I tell people that I was the sound designer and Engineer for ours and they absolutly love it. This area Rocks!!!!
There is a Bocce field in the middle of town!!!!!!! Its nuts!! It is built for Bocce and bocce only. They never throw only roll. I will try and snap some pictures sometime if i can.
Send me any picture you want over email! I would really like to see picutres from the tornados. I brought my Jump Drive with me so I can keep them and get them Printed. Email is a great thing.... Use it!
I heard a new funny phrase for "6 to one, half a dozen to the other" the english say that "its just like 6 and 2-3's". I thought about dad!
Cooking...... Cooking is fun, I am getting used to it. Its mostly just frozen fast stuff. Nothing hard really. Everyone has convection ovens so that is different. Our mission has a rule that we can only eat with members if there is going to be a non member present. So that makes things tough some times. Kebabs!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh. Most kebabs have somthing called Donor meat in them. Donor, I hear, is kinda like HotDogs.... You really don't want to know whats in it, but its really really good.
I love getting letters still. Makes my day really. Never stop sending them. I am trying to do one once a week in addition to email of course.
You think that gas is bad there. Get this.... Petrol here is around 1pound 20 A LITER!!! You do the math and get back to me ha ha ha haha!!!!

Well i really must go. I love you all. Stay Strong, and KEEP STUDYING!!!!

Elder Johnson

EDITOR'S NOTE: there are some pictures, but I can't get them on here until I'm at home. So watch for them later today.

Letter from Neal - Received 6/3/08

Hello family,

Well Mom, You asked for me to write you and tell you about the changes that have come over me since I have been gone and so I thought that I would just like to do just that. Please try to follow me cause I tend to write very random letters. Read this out loud to the whole family and Heather, if possible.

Preach My Gospel is an absolutely inspired book! That book has everything in it needed for anything. There are so many answers in that one book, and it is written in a way that you feel that it is talking to you. Read it, study it, pray about it! Study it with a purpose! I have more than once now, gone into it and gotten an answer to a question that I have had. I was scared to talk to people – personal study the next morning…page 158, scripture study section…WHAM there is the Lord talking to Elder JOHNSON! PMG is amazing. I am committing all of you to study it! And tell all the premie missionaries to study it! Tell them to memorize our purpose on page 1. Tell them to study it knowing that they will be smacked with a whole different meaning when they get to the MTC. And then another new meaning in the field. But that doesn’t matter. The point is to study it. PMG is the 5^th book of scripture!! Learn is, Live it, Love it!!

Study Journals are also something that is a must. A Study Journal is a form of personal revelation. When something comes to your mind you can write it down – it’s that easy. It is a good thing to have when you are hearing important people talk but remember to record what you think and what you feel. It’s really nice to look back and remember what you thought and felt from time to time. I have already done that with Pres. Uchtdorf many times and he came on Monday. Try it, you will like it, trust me!

Prayer is the only way to go when it comes to needing help. That is because you are going straight to the person that can help you the most! We do not go through this life using our strength – if we think that we are we need to go read PMG, Chap.6 about Humility! Anything can be fixed with prayer. When I was in the MTC I really wanted to know if I was truly forgiven of all my sins, and if I was truly worthy to serve. I prayed hard and sincerely in the temple and I got my answer and it was absolutely amazing. My Comp and I have prayed for numbers and dates and street and the Lord never lets us down. Trust in Him always and he will be there for you at all times and in all places. I know he will.

Always look for ways to bear your testimony and love it every chance you get. I have a much better testimony now and it has gotten that way by sharing it. Each time I share it I feel better about it. I absolutely love sharing about Joseph Smith, because that is the hinge that makes the rest of the gospel turn. If Joseph Smith was not a prophet then none of this gospel is true, and then for what reason am I out here. I am giving up 2 years of my life – 2 years that I could be at home having a career and being free. But that’s not what I want! I want to be here and I want to share this joy that I have about the gospel with them. This is not a problem for me and I tell people that every day. I have gotten laughed at so many times but I really do not care at all. I am doing what the Lord wants me to do, and that’s all there is to it.

My reputation is not the one that is on the line here. No one over here knows who I am. I am not selling my image, I am representing the Lord. This is his reputation that I have to put forth. This really helped me when it comes to talking to people, because I stopped thinking about what they think about me. It’s not me that they are rejecting, it’s the Lord that they are rejecting and that is on their heads, not mine. I and everyone will be blessed for trying! I must talk to absolutely everyone, so that I can find that one person that will want to listen to me – to the Lord! I have learned that it doesn’t matter what I say because if that person is prepared and ready to receive the gospel, they will listen. If I have to say the absolute perfect thing then they are not ready to hear the gospel. Again, this is not on my head. I am doing my part and I know that I will be blessed for that!!

Study the scriptures all the time…never stop!! Study them along with PMG and you will learn so much more! You should see my scriptures and my PMG. They are marked to high heaven – marked up, highlighter, written in, everything. Do this so that you can more easily find the things that you need to at later dates. I know that you are probably crying by now Mom, but that’s a good thing! I have learned so much and I am excited to share. I want you to start doing these things…especially PMG!!! Chapter 3 is all the lessons. Pres. Uchtdorf said that if you want to convert someone you must teach them that whole chapter. Why not start by converting yourself?! D&C 18:14-16…that the soul should be your soul! Convert yourself and then you can convert others. Mom, I was so happy to hear that you gave Collin a Book of Mormon. To you I assign Chapter 5 of PMG. Shauna, I know that work is crazy – I assign you Page 120, ok? Dad you are undertaking a huge project…Page 121 for you. Angela, all is well and do not fear…Page 116. Craig & Robin, families are amazing…Page 3! Heather…I am doing great, do not fear that, for you I want you to study Page 116-118. Know with a surety that everything is going to be ok. In fact everything is going to be amazing! I forgot – Grandma & Grandpa, Page 66…one of the most important things that we teach!! I must thank everyone for all the amazing help that you all have given me! I do have the most amazing family and support system in the world! Now that Dad is crying, I must continue. Pres. Uchtdorf said that a mission needs to change us. We need to come home men of God, not a hanger in a dark suit! I am becoming that man!!! I love my mission and I have only been out 2 weeks. I have been laughed at, rejected, dropped, but who cares!! I am doing what I need to be doing! I want you to read this out loud to the whole family and Heather, if possible!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Elder Johnson