Letters from Elder Johnson: E-mail from Neal

Hello to my amazing family!!!

Well I guess that the best way to describe this week would be wet. I got soaked through more than once, and that is never fun! Elder Boahene lost an umbrella this week, but that is really not an uncommon thing for missionaries. It has been fun trying to talk to people in the rain that is for sure! Tracting in the rain is way fun too. People just kind of look at you with that look of “you must be nuts”. Whatever, its totally worth every drop of rain when someone lets you in!

I really don’t have a ton to talk about this week except charity. It was a really good topic to study and apply! Something that I really learned is that Charity is love in action. That is what I found through all of the things that I studied. As I looked through the scriptures I found a lot of things to back that idea up. If you think about Christ you can see it quite easily. He would first love someone, and then he would show it. Greatest example is the atonement. He loved each and every one of us, and then he showed it by suffering and dying for us. What greater love can be shown (John 15:13). I have really tried to show my love in this way this week. I have found myself seeing people in a different light, and striving my best to serve them and love them. Mosiah 28:3 has been in my mind quite a lot this week, when ever I have a lack of desire. I think about the great love that the sons of mosiah had, and that pushed me to work harder and talk to more people. I really liked how you talked about the scripture in 1 Peter 4:8…. How true is that. You have to look in the JST on that one though and it talks about how love prevents lots of sins. I though that that was way cool. Another scripture that goes along with that is Romans 13:9. Love is so important, and it is something that we must all strive for. Often times it is difficult to have this love, but we can gain it.

I just had a funny experience with love and charity. I was sitting in the library next to a lady that I will describe as “dis-advantaged”. My first thought of course is the thought of the natural man. I really didn’t want to have to deal with her. She was trying to set up an email account, and she really needed help. She asked me for help, and I did it. We only have a set amount of time to use the computers, and I took time out of my time to help her. Now it didn’t take that long at all, and she was very grateful for it. The natural man is the enemy here, and we have to push him aside and get down to the love of Christ that is in all of us. We can do it, and we can pray for it!!!!!

On Friday and Saturday I was Liverpool on exchanges. Well I was actually in Crosby which is north Liverpool, but is was really good. I was with Elder Tonks, who I came out with, and who has really struggled for the better part of his mission. It was really great to be able to help him and to lift his spirits. Over the past 3 months of being a leader I have really learned some things about myself. I have found that there are really two areas where a leader can excel. I think that the first is in the actual work (teaching, finding, especially finding), and then the other is just emotional and spiritual help for the missionaries. I feel as though I really excel at the second category, and honestly if you ask me, I think that that is much more important. I am not the greatest finder, and while yes I can be the example, I have learned that my leadership comes in my council and advice. I have been able to help every single one of my missionaries with troubles or questions, and that feels great. I am very grateful for the gift that Heavenly Father has given to me to be able to do that. It says in my patriarchal blessing that I have a gift to perceive other peoples feelings, and I have really seen that in my life thus far! I am so glad that I have been able to come on a mission and work on these gifts, and make them better.

Anyways this week is zone conference, and we are having a mission wide scripture chase activity. We have been practicing everyday, and I am getting quite fast. There are 125 scriptures on the list, and that is a lot to remember, but I am feeling great about how much I have learned!

Well I best get going. Keep on striving hard and have a good time studying Virtue this week! Have a good week. I love you all, and I pray for you all the time!!!

LOVE,
Elder Neal