Hello Everyone!!
Well what can I say time keeps on moving. 4 months have come and gone,and it seems like I just left yesterday. It’s amazing that when you look back you can see how the time just absolutely soars past! Its fun though. Zone conference is tomorrow, and I am super excited! Zone Conference is seriously like general conference for missionaries. It’s a complete recharge. General Conference is great for members because they run normal lives and they don’t need a recharge as often….. but for missionaries its all spirit all the time so we need a more regular recharge. I have really noticed this in the past week or so. Last zone conference was pretty early in the transfer, but this one is rather late, so it has been quite a while since the last conference, and I am really feeling it. I am really excited for tomorrow so that I can get lifted up and charged for the next little bit.
Everything is going alright here. We still have a very very small teaching pool, and that means a lot of finding! Tracting is always fun ha ha ha ha ha NOT!!!! Anyways, Karl is doing ok I guess. We got back in touch with him last week, and everything is fine. He is working on turning in all of his school work so he was really stressed out with that. It was all due today, so hopefully we can get back in and teaching him a lot! That would be really really great, because he really has the desire to be baptized. We are trying to be as supportive as possible and to really help him to have fun with us and with the young single adults as well. If we can really make him feel at home then everything will turn out great. He knows that it is true, and he knows the importance of what we are telling him so that is always good.
I am starting to really find out what the theme to this transfer is…..and that is prayer! I want you all to go read “ask in faith” by Elder Bednar from the last conference. That talk is amazing, and it talks about how we can really see things happen through prayer. He points out exactly what it takes, and I have been trying really hard to apply the things that he talks about! I have been trying to read more and more and more (very unlike me I know). I have finished Our Heritage, and I have 2pages left in Our Search for Happiness, and I am constantly reading conference talks. Reading the words of the prophets really pumps me up!I am going to be starting on Jesus the Christ here soon, and I am not going to lie I AM SCARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am quite sure that that book could eat me, and the £.99 dictionary that I bought is not going to be able to hold up to it I don’t think HA HA HA!!!!!! But I am not going to back off of a challenge, I have 20 months to read it!!!!! I know that the prophets tell us things for reasons!!! I have been reading in 3 Nephi, and I love how Mormon always puts in his 2 cents worth(especially in chap 10). Its so great to see how the lord works, and calls these men to the work! I am planning on following them in everything that they ask!
So I am very glad to hear that everything is going well, and that everyone is still staying busy. I would expect nothing less. I hope the weather has been good, cause its been English over here. WET!!!!!!! Lots of damp, cold, mornings. I really am starting to fall in love with the evenings though. Not as nice as the summer nights in Colorado, but they are nice in their own right. They are clean and calm. Not living in a huge city is nice because everything stops at like 7. The streets are calm and everything is so quiet! Its really fun walking around at that time of night! Makes me miss home though. Enjoy the Sun and the dryness ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyways I love and miss you all.Know that I am working hard, and my body and shoes show it. Last Sunday night I was the tiredest I have ever been in my whole mission! I slept like a rock, and it felt great!!!!!!! My body is still adjusting, but I am getting there slowly.
Have a great week, and stay strong.
I love you all
Elder Johnson
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
E-mail from Neal - Received 8-20-08
Hello my wonderful family!!!!!
Well I am glad to hear that everything is going well back home. I am
glad to hear that you got some rain too. Autumn has really started to
set in here. It has been raining more, and colder. The days are getting
shorter, and I hear that in not too long it will be dark at 4 o'clock.
Yea I am not looking forward to that at all. Be thankful that your
summer still has some months left, cause mine is virtually over. Once
September hits, its all over!!!!!! HA HA HA!!!
So anyways moving on with this week... We are actually seeing a lot of
opposition this week. We have had some other really heated words, and
threats, and its quite scary sometimes. I am not worried though because
I know that the Lord is on our side, and as we see in the Book Of Mormon
time and time again, the lord always protects those that are on his
side. We just keep moving on and praying a lot, and we are always kept
safe.
Karl's baptism is scheduled for Aug. 30th, but right now we are
concerned. We have been trying to see him everyday, but yesterday
something really really strange happened. His Grandma (we think, we have
never met her before) answered the door and said that he wasn't feeling
well. That's cool enough, we understand that, but then she said
something else. She said that we should leave it until after the bank
holiday... SO NEXT TUESDAY!!!!!! Ummmmmm yea that's a bit concerning. We
don't really know what is going on. It may have just been her not
wanting us to see him. It could have been something else, we don't know.
We are very concerned and worried, and we are praying very very very
very hard! Please pray for Karl, and for his family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He
really needs the prayers of the people right now. I think that his
family may be giving him opposition, and that is never a good thing. We
are trying to call him, and we are probably going to stop by tonight
(because we have an appointment), and hopefully we can get everything
worked out. Prayer is amazing, and I know that through prayer we can see
miracles.
As for me I am doing good. I am struggling with the fact that people do
things like this to us, but E. McIntosh is really helping. He has been
through it before, and knows how it goes. We are devising really good
ways to cheer up when we are down. Its usually through playing games of
guess that lyric or something funny like that. We have been walking A
LOT lately trying to contact some potentials that we have, so my shoes
are really taking a beating. But that's what a mission is all about
right? Its great fun.
I am still learning so so much and I am loving the time that I have to
study everyday!!! I am really starting to understand the importance of
using the recourses that we to use. I am trying to study as hard as I
can so that the lord can give me what I need to say at the very moment
that I need it. I know that he will do that, and it makes me happy when
I experience it!!
Have a great week, and remember to study and pray always
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
Elder Johnson
Well I am glad to hear that everything is going well back home. I am
glad to hear that you got some rain too. Autumn has really started to
set in here. It has been raining more, and colder. The days are getting
shorter, and I hear that in not too long it will be dark at 4 o'clock.
Yea I am not looking forward to that at all. Be thankful that your
summer still has some months left, cause mine is virtually over. Once
September hits, its all over!!!!!! HA HA HA!!!
So anyways moving on with this week... We are actually seeing a lot of
opposition this week. We have had some other really heated words, and
threats, and its quite scary sometimes. I am not worried though because
I know that the Lord is on our side, and as we see in the Book Of Mormon
time and time again, the lord always protects those that are on his
side. We just keep moving on and praying a lot, and we are always kept
safe.
Karl's baptism is scheduled for Aug. 30th, but right now we are
concerned. We have been trying to see him everyday, but yesterday
something really really strange happened. His Grandma (we think, we have
never met her before) answered the door and said that he wasn't feeling
well. That's cool enough, we understand that, but then she said
something else. She said that we should leave it until after the bank
holiday... SO NEXT TUESDAY!!!!!! Ummmmmm yea that's a bit concerning. We
don't really know what is going on. It may have just been her not
wanting us to see him. It could have been something else, we don't know.
We are very concerned and worried, and we are praying very very very
very hard! Please pray for Karl, and for his family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He
really needs the prayers of the people right now. I think that his
family may be giving him opposition, and that is never a good thing. We
are trying to call him, and we are probably going to stop by tonight
(because we have an appointment), and hopefully we can get everything
worked out. Prayer is amazing, and I know that through prayer we can see
miracles.
As for me I am doing good. I am struggling with the fact that people do
things like this to us, but E. McIntosh is really helping. He has been
through it before, and knows how it goes. We are devising really good
ways to cheer up when we are down. Its usually through playing games of
guess that lyric or something funny like that. We have been walking A
LOT lately trying to contact some potentials that we have, so my shoes
are really taking a beating. But that's what a mission is all about
right? Its great fun.
I am still learning so so much and I am loving the time that I have to
study everyday!!! I am really starting to understand the importance of
using the recourses that we to use. I am trying to study as hard as I
can so that the lord can give me what I need to say at the very moment
that I need it. I know that he will do that, and it makes me happy when
I experience it!!
Have a great week, and remember to study and pray always
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
Elder Johnson
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Letter from Neal - Received 8/13/08 *includes important info. regarding E-mail*
Hello Everyone!!!!!!!
Well I am going to answer some questions right up front!
The Flag on Grandpa's hat is the Proper England flag. The Red, white and
blue one is the Great Britain Flag (the Union Jack). Every Country in
the UK has their own flag, and then the GB flag on top of that. I hope
that explained everything!!!!
Well on to the important stuff…….
The policy changes for Pres. Bullock are under way. There were 4 that
came down this week. 1 Bad one and 3 good ones, and the bad one is one
that I was really dreading. That’s right E-mail. The clamp is coming
on….. I can only email family now. No friends, including those that are
on missions. Only family, and some extended family. So I will be
emailing like Brian and Steph, and anyone else who writes me. I was
really kinda mad at first, but I have gotten over it a little. Its for
the best really, and I need to obey the president. I am sure that he has
prayed about it, and that this is the right thing to do in his mind, so
I will support it. So if you could post it on my blog that I will not
be replying, and that if no one but family email me that would be great.
If I get something from someone else I am encouraged not to read it, and
that would be extremely hard for me. I have really looked at this whole
thing from a different light…… Craig didn’t get email until the very end
of his mission, so I just need to count my blessings. As for the other
changes….. they are great.
We can now go to the Temple more often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words cannot
express how happy I am about this. The temple is the most amazing place
on this earth. We are going today in fact. I really hope that someday
you can all see the Preston temple!!! Its AMAZING!!!!!!! And from the
sounds of the letter that I just got yesterday, if Jackie has anything
to say about it, you all will!!!!! Ha ha ha ha!!!
We also have more money on our phone bills now. £35!!!! I know that that
means nothing to you, but it really does to us.
We can now go to dinner appointments with members only on Weekends!!! We
are really really happy about this one. We are going to get fed much
more often. Before it was we had to have non members at everything, but
now its only weekdays!!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!! Ok moving on
to my week!!!
Me and E. McIntosh are getting along great!!! Its nuts how crazy alike
we are. We have even been in the same crowd at concerts (Warp
Tour)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This transfer is going to be a lot of fun. He is
much different that E. smith and that’s a good thing. I loved E. Smith,
but he really took control of the conversations when were tracting and
street contacting. Well E. McIntosh is not that way at all. I learned
how to talk to people from E. Smith so I am talking to everyone!!!! The
promise in the scriptures about open your mouth and it will be filled is
completely true!!! I open my mouth, and the words come. I don’t stutter,
I speak calmly and slowly (which I never used to, you all know that),
and the doctrine is there!!!!! It is so awesome and invigorating to know
that I can do that. I am only 3 months out too. I am seriously curious
what 2 years is going to do for me!!
We have been having some interesting things happen to us on this one
street in town. Satan has a hold of that street, and we are going to be
staying away for a while. The people are starting to get scary and
threatening. We have had 2 very close encounters with some angry people
that were not too happy with us. The spirit is always with us, but Satan
is on the street and we can tell that he is trying to take us down. We
are going to avoid that street for a few weeks and hope that things calm
down. I am praying really hard for safety and for comfort whenever I go
near that street. I know that the lord will protect me, and keep me
safe! He has promised that he will.
Karl is doing really really great! He is moving along great! He is going
to invite all of his friends and family to his baptism! He is making
some good friends in the ward, and the YSA are really attaching too him
like they should! That is really the key. We get him to church and teach
him about the gospel and then the ward takes over. When they have
friends and are involved then everything goes better! Pres. Hinckley was
right. A friend and calling and being nourished by the good word of god.
Its absolutely true!!!!!!!
I love you all, and keep up everything that you do!!!!
Elder Johnson
Well I am going to answer some questions right up front!
The Flag on Grandpa's hat is the Proper England flag. The Red, white and
blue one is the Great Britain Flag (the Union Jack). Every Country in
the UK has their own flag, and then the GB flag on top of that. I hope
that explained everything!!!!
Well on to the important stuff…….
The policy changes for Pres. Bullock are under way. There were 4 that
came down this week. 1 Bad one and 3 good ones, and the bad one is one
that I was really dreading. That’s right E-mail. The clamp is coming
on….. I can only email family now. No friends, including those that are
on missions. Only family, and some extended family. So I will be
emailing like Brian and Steph, and anyone else who writes me. I was
really kinda mad at first, but I have gotten over it a little. Its for
the best really, and I need to obey the president. I am sure that he has
prayed about it, and that this is the right thing to do in his mind, so
I will support it. So if you could post it on my blog that I will not
be replying, and that if no one but family email me that would be great.
If I get something from someone else I am encouraged not to read it, and
that would be extremely hard for me. I have really looked at this whole
thing from a different light…… Craig didn’t get email until the very end
of his mission, so I just need to count my blessings. As for the other
changes….. they are great.
We can now go to the Temple more often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words cannot
express how happy I am about this. The temple is the most amazing place
on this earth. We are going today in fact. I really hope that someday
you can all see the Preston temple!!! Its AMAZING!!!!!!! And from the
sounds of the letter that I just got yesterday, if Jackie has anything
to say about it, you all will!!!!! Ha ha ha ha!!!
We also have more money on our phone bills now. £35!!!! I know that that
means nothing to you, but it really does to us.
We can now go to dinner appointments with members only on Weekends!!! We
are really really happy about this one. We are going to get fed much
more often. Before it was we had to have non members at everything, but
now its only weekdays!!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!! Ok moving on
to my week!!!
Me and E. McIntosh are getting along great!!! Its nuts how crazy alike
we are. We have even been in the same crowd at concerts (Warp
Tour)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This transfer is going to be a lot of fun. He is
much different that E. smith and that’s a good thing. I loved E. Smith,
but he really took control of the conversations when were tracting and
street contacting. Well E. McIntosh is not that way at all. I learned
how to talk to people from E. Smith so I am talking to everyone!!!! The
promise in the scriptures about open your mouth and it will be filled is
completely true!!! I open my mouth, and the words come. I don’t stutter,
I speak calmly and slowly (which I never used to, you all know that),
and the doctrine is there!!!!! It is so awesome and invigorating to know
that I can do that. I am only 3 months out too. I am seriously curious
what 2 years is going to do for me!!
We have been having some interesting things happen to us on this one
street in town. Satan has a hold of that street, and we are going to be
staying away for a while. The people are starting to get scary and
threatening. We have had 2 very close encounters with some angry people
that were not too happy with us. The spirit is always with us, but Satan
is on the street and we can tell that he is trying to take us down. We
are going to avoid that street for a few weeks and hope that things calm
down. I am praying really hard for safety and for comfort whenever I go
near that street. I know that the lord will protect me, and keep me
safe! He has promised that he will.
Karl is doing really really great! He is moving along great! He is going
to invite all of his friends and family to his baptism! He is making
some good friends in the ward, and the YSA are really attaching too him
like they should! That is really the key. We get him to church and teach
him about the gospel and then the ward takes over. When they have
friends and are involved then everything goes better! Pres. Hinckley was
right. A friend and calling and being nourished by the good word of god.
Its absolutely true!!!!!!!
I love you all, and keep up everything that you do!!!!
Elder Johnson
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Email from Neal - Received 8-8-08
Hello my amazing family!!!
Well yes it is official, i am still in good old Chorley (the Utah of
England). I have a new companion though. I must be doing something cause
this is my 3rd transfer, and my 3rd new comp ha ha ha!!! His name is
Elder McIntosh and he is from Lindon, Utah and has been out 9 months. He
is way cool, and it really is quite scary how much we are alike. Loved
the same bands, both DJ'ed, and are both really chilled out and laid
back. This is going to be a great Transfer, i can feel it already. Elder
Smith is now in Workington, which is way way way north, on the Scottish
border. He is in the Lake District, so i am very Jealous!!!!! The two
places that i really want to serve in are the Lake District (Cumbria),
and Wales. I mostly want to serve in Wales so that i can get a Welsh
badge!!!!! ha ha ha ha i know wrong reasons!
Anyways i am sorry for the this being on Friday again. Transfer days are
always hairy. I was in Preston all day long, and barely had time to do
anything really. So we are doing it on friday again. P-days have really
not been p-days this transfer at all. But i tell you what...... If the
rest of my mission goes by as fast as this last transfer did, i will be
home in a blink of an eye!!! It absolutely flew!!!!!!!!!! So much
happened, and it just flew past us! Its crazy what happens when you work
hard, cause thats what we did! Working is the key to making time fly
thats what i am learning. I was told early on that the days are long,
the weeks are short, the months fly, and the Transfer period just
doesn't even exist!!!!!!! SOOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!! Moving on!
We dated Karl for baptism yesterday, and it was the most amazing
experience!!!!! The spirit was so incredible, and he didn't even bat an
eye!!! This is my first real baptism!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!! He was
truly prepared by the lord, and we can see it. In a lesson on Tuesday he
told us some really neat things. He said that the weekend that we ran
into him, he had been talking to his mom and telling her that he wanted
to get in touch with the missionaries. How amazing is that..... But it
gets better!!!! The day that we met him, he went a different way than he
usually did, and he really didn't know why he did!!!!!!!!! The day that
we met him, we only had a few minutes before an appointment so we were
going to stop by a potential investigator. This was a prepared
situation!!! The Lord has worked miracles in my life, and i am forever
grateful!!!!!! I will never ever ever forget this experience. This is
what a mission is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never been
happier!!!!
Study study study...... Never Stop Studying ok!!!!! It is amazing. Mom
you are right King Benjamin is a Rockstar. Between him Alma the Younger,
Abinadi, Ammon, Moroni, and all the others we can learn everything that
we need, and we can grow so much. I finished Alma today, and i absolutely
love the Book Of Mormon. I have never really read and studied it like i
am doing now. I would highly recommend it to anyone (oh wait i do
everyday). Read the Book of Mormon, and you will be happier. Study the
Book of Mormon, and you will learn how to keep that happiness in your
life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!
Elder Neal
Pictures are Self Explanatory!!!!
Well yes it is official, i am still in good old Chorley (the Utah of
England). I have a new companion though. I must be doing something cause
this is my 3rd transfer, and my 3rd new comp ha ha ha!!! His name is
Elder McIntosh and he is from Lindon, Utah and has been out 9 months. He
is way cool, and it really is quite scary how much we are alike. Loved
the same bands, both DJ'ed, and are both really chilled out and laid
back. This is going to be a great Transfer, i can feel it already. Elder
Smith is now in Workington, which is way way way north, on the Scottish
border. He is in the Lake District, so i am very Jealous!!!!! The two
places that i really want to serve in are the Lake District (Cumbria),
and Wales. I mostly want to serve in Wales so that i can get a Welsh
badge!!!!! ha ha ha ha i know wrong reasons!
Anyways i am sorry for the this being on Friday again. Transfer days are
always hairy. I was in Preston all day long, and barely had time to do
anything really. So we are doing it on friday again. P-days have really
not been p-days this transfer at all. But i tell you what...... If the
rest of my mission goes by as fast as this last transfer did, i will be
home in a blink of an eye!!! It absolutely flew!!!!!!!!!! So much
happened, and it just flew past us! Its crazy what happens when you work
hard, cause thats what we did! Working is the key to making time fly
thats what i am learning. I was told early on that the days are long,
the weeks are short, the months fly, and the Transfer period just
doesn't even exist!!!!!!! SOOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!! Moving on!
We dated Karl for baptism yesterday, and it was the most amazing
experience!!!!! The spirit was so incredible, and he didn't even bat an
eye!!! This is my first real baptism!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!! He was
truly prepared by the lord, and we can see it. In a lesson on Tuesday he
told us some really neat things. He said that the weekend that we ran
into him, he had been talking to his mom and telling her that he wanted
to get in touch with the missionaries. How amazing is that..... But it
gets better!!!! The day that we met him, he went a different way than he
usually did, and he really didn't know why he did!!!!!!!!! The day that
we met him, we only had a few minutes before an appointment so we were
going to stop by a potential investigator. This was a prepared
situation!!! The Lord has worked miracles in my life, and i am forever
grateful!!!!!! I will never ever ever forget this experience. This is
what a mission is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never been
happier!!!!
Study study study...... Never Stop Studying ok!!!!! It is amazing. Mom
you are right King Benjamin is a Rockstar. Between him Alma the Younger,
Abinadi, Ammon, Moroni, and all the others we can learn everything that
we need, and we can grow so much. I finished Alma today, and i absolutely
love the Book Of Mormon. I have never really read and studied it like i
am doing now. I would highly recommend it to anyone (oh wait i do
everyday). Read the Book of Mormon, and you will be happier. Study the
Book of Mormon, and you will learn how to keep that happiness in your
life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!
Elder Neal
Pictures are Self Explanatory!!!!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
E-mail from Neal - Received 7/30/08
Hello all!!!!!!!
As always it sounds like everything is going crazy at home. You are
always busy, and hey so am I!!!!!!!! Anyways wish Grandpa a happy
birthday, and i really hope that he likes his present.
Things are going well here, and yes you are right transfers are next
week. So i really do not know where i will be as of next week. My
suspicions are that i will not go anywhere, but you never really know. I
will let you know as soon as i can though. You can take your time if you
need with the package because the zone conferences are not until the end
of August. If i stay in Chorley then it will be the 28th. Other wise it
will be sometime that week. The Scheduling has changed a bit with the
new pres, but thats about it so far. He is really really great though.
We had interviews yesterday so i really got to meet him, and we had a
great chat.
So Yea a lot has happened since last Wednesday..... 2 crazy p-days
actually. We went hiking last week, and it was a lot of fun. We went to
a place called Pendle hill which is really famous for witches
apparently. I didn't see any, but it was a very nice but very steep
hike! It was fun, cause it was with the whole zone! Good times, and
funny pictures. This week we randomly went to Manchester! It was a
missionaries last p-day, and his birthday today so he wanted to go. It
was fun to see the city center of Manchester, but it was kinda a waste.
The plans were not very well made, and now we are all running to get
things done. I was going to get a hair cut today, and that is not
happening now.... and that is just one thing. But it was fun and cool.
Missions are crazy crazy things, and sometimes you just have to go along
for the ride!!!!
Karl is doing really really really amazing. He is going to get baptized,
i have no doubt about that. We have not challenged him, but that is
going to be coming soon. We have not done really that much finding as of
late, but i am sure that we will get back to that soon enough ha ha
ha!!!!!
The mission is going to be having a huge turnover soon. Something like
30 out and 30 in!! I think that i will be training, which really really
scares me, but i think that that wont be for a bit yet. Like i said i
think that me and E. Smith are going to be staying together for a while
longer, at least 1 more transfer, but who knows.
I Just bought the Book of Mormon Study Manual that the church puts out!
It is really really great, and it is helping me out so much. It really
just makes the Book Of Mormon go a little deeper, and has quotes and
stuff that really clears up some things. I am in the War Chapters of
alma, so i am really loving that. I know that wars are so bad, but i
think that they are fun to read about. You can really see how the Devil
grabs a hold of people!!! BUT NOT MORONI!!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha ha
Well i am sorry that this one is shorter, as i said we are running
around today!!!
I love you all, and have a great week!!!!
Elder Johnson
Picture - Don't you just love the companionship Unity!!!!!!!! ha ha ha
ha!!!!
As always it sounds like everything is going crazy at home. You are
always busy, and hey so am I!!!!!!!! Anyways wish Grandpa a happy
birthday, and i really hope that he likes his present.
Things are going well here, and yes you are right transfers are next
week. So i really do not know where i will be as of next week. My
suspicions are that i will not go anywhere, but you never really know. I
will let you know as soon as i can though. You can take your time if you
need with the package because the zone conferences are not until the end
of August. If i stay in Chorley then it will be the 28th. Other wise it
will be sometime that week. The Scheduling has changed a bit with the
new pres, but thats about it so far. He is really really great though.
We had interviews yesterday so i really got to meet him, and we had a
great chat.
So Yea a lot has happened since last Wednesday..... 2 crazy p-days
actually. We went hiking last week, and it was a lot of fun. We went to
a place called Pendle hill which is really famous for witches
apparently. I didn't see any, but it was a very nice but very steep
hike! It was fun, cause it was with the whole zone! Good times, and
funny pictures. This week we randomly went to Manchester! It was a
missionaries last p-day, and his birthday today so he wanted to go. It
was fun to see the city center of Manchester, but it was kinda a waste.
The plans were not very well made, and now we are all running to get
things done. I was going to get a hair cut today, and that is not
happening now.... and that is just one thing. But it was fun and cool.
Missions are crazy crazy things, and sometimes you just have to go along
for the ride!!!!
Karl is doing really really really amazing. He is going to get baptized,
i have no doubt about that. We have not challenged him, but that is
going to be coming soon. We have not done really that much finding as of
late, but i am sure that we will get back to that soon enough ha ha
ha!!!!!
The mission is going to be having a huge turnover soon. Something like
30 out and 30 in!! I think that i will be training, which really really
scares me, but i think that that wont be for a bit yet. Like i said i
think that me and E. Smith are going to be staying together for a while
longer, at least 1 more transfer, but who knows.
I Just bought the Book of Mormon Study Manual that the church puts out!
It is really really great, and it is helping me out so much. It really
just makes the Book Of Mormon go a little deeper, and has quotes and
stuff that really clears up some things. I am in the War Chapters of
alma, so i am really loving that. I know that wars are so bad, but i
think that they are fun to read about. You can really see how the Devil
grabs a hold of people!!! BUT NOT MORONI!!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha ha
Well i am sorry that this one is shorter, as i said we are running
around today!!!
I love you all, and have a great week!!!!
Elder Johnson
Picture - Don't you just love the companionship Unity!!!!!!!! ha ha ha
ha!!!!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
E-mail from Neal - Received 7/23/08
Hi Everyone!!!!
E. Smith is from Snowflake, Arizona just so that i can clear all of that
up!!!! ha ha ha
So anyways this week has been a lot better, and it has for one reason,
and one reason only! We found a GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! His
name is Karl (we thought that he said kyle at first, and we didn't find
out that it was karl until halfway through the lesson, That was
embarrassing to say the least!). He works at the MTC, he has been
reading the Book of Mormon, and about Joseph Smith. We met him on the
street, and started talking to him, and he told us all of this right
out. I don't think that anyone at the MTC ever pushes anything on the
people that work in the Cafeteria (mostly Non-members). But he is
amazingly humble, and willing to learn. He is a prepared person, and we
are the prepared servants! The lesson that we had yesterday was
absolutely amazing. The Spirit was so strong and he was loving it. He had
so many wonderful questions, and the Holy Ghost was everywhere! That was
one of the most amazing lessons that i have ever been a part of! He is a
very shy man, but he is really into music and art, so we talked to him
for a long time, and he warmed up to us big time. The Lord works in so
many crazy ways. We have been praying, and working so hard to get
something like this, and what do you know ...... IT HAPPENED!!!! Karl is
an answer to our prayers, and we know that we are supposed to do
everything that we can to bring him into the Gospel. We are still
praying really really hard for him, and we have a lot of faith in him!
This is what missionary work is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As you all know, i am absolutely falling in love with study (i know not
like me huh..... Its the Spirit helping me). I cannot get enough. One
hour is not enough at all. I never want to stop once i start. Anyways i
have been pressing on in the Book of Mormon, and over the past 2 days i
have been reading D&C 76...... WOW! There is so much good stuff in that
section. It has really kinda opened up my eyes as to what it is going to
be like when we die. Between that and Alma 40 which i also read today,
the afterlife is looking good...... IF WE CHOOSE IT TO BE! The great
part about the Gospel is that everything that we can have is sitting
right in front of our faces. All we have to do is reach out and grab it.
Nothing is stopping us but ourselves. WE have the power to do whatever
WE want to do. Satan only has power over us if let him have power over
us. The choice is ours, and the decision is easy in my mind. The
punishment is also clearly outlined, and that is something that i do not
want to have to go though, no way!!!!! There is so much in the
Scriptures that is just sitting there and waiting for us to grab. That
is your commitment this week...... STUDY THE SCRIPTURES EVERYDAY!!!! If
you already are then study harder, or deeper than you usual. I guarantee
that if you go in with a different mind set, looking for something,
asking a question, or searching for an answer, you will get it. The only
trick is that you have to try. Thank you mom for following up with my
assignment last week. I want to hear how everyone does this next week.
REMEMBER..... Everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Start small if you have to, but DO
IT!!!!!!!
You are all amazing, thank you so much for the amazing support that you
give! I will Talk to you all Next week!
MUCH LOVE,
Elder Neal
P.S. I will receive anything that you sent to the mission office on
tuesday. That is when we have interviews. After that it will be Zone
Conference in the middle of August sometime.
P.S I forgot to tell you.....
YES kebabs are better than Hamburgers!!!!! MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better!!!
They are on a different plain entirely!!!!!!!!!
Love ya
EJ
E. Smith is from Snowflake, Arizona just so that i can clear all of that
up!!!! ha ha ha
So anyways this week has been a lot better, and it has for one reason,
and one reason only! We found a GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! His
name is Karl (we thought that he said kyle at first, and we didn't find
out that it was karl until halfway through the lesson, That was
embarrassing to say the least!). He works at the MTC, he has been
reading the Book of Mormon, and about Joseph Smith. We met him on the
street, and started talking to him, and he told us all of this right
out. I don't think that anyone at the MTC ever pushes anything on the
people that work in the Cafeteria (mostly Non-members). But he is
amazingly humble, and willing to learn. He is a prepared person, and we
are the prepared servants! The lesson that we had yesterday was
absolutely amazing. The Spirit was so strong and he was loving it. He had
so many wonderful questions, and the Holy Ghost was everywhere! That was
one of the most amazing lessons that i have ever been a part of! He is a
very shy man, but he is really into music and art, so we talked to him
for a long time, and he warmed up to us big time. The Lord works in so
many crazy ways. We have been praying, and working so hard to get
something like this, and what do you know ...... IT HAPPENED!!!! Karl is
an answer to our prayers, and we know that we are supposed to do
everything that we can to bring him into the Gospel. We are still
praying really really hard for him, and we have a lot of faith in him!
This is what missionary work is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As you all know, i am absolutely falling in love with study (i know not
like me huh..... Its the Spirit helping me). I cannot get enough. One
hour is not enough at all. I never want to stop once i start. Anyways i
have been pressing on in the Book of Mormon, and over the past 2 days i
have been reading D&C 76...... WOW! There is so much good stuff in that
section. It has really kinda opened up my eyes as to what it is going to
be like when we die. Between that and Alma 40 which i also read today,
the afterlife is looking good...... IF WE CHOOSE IT TO BE! The great
part about the Gospel is that everything that we can have is sitting
right in front of our faces. All we have to do is reach out and grab it.
Nothing is stopping us but ourselves. WE have the power to do whatever
WE want to do. Satan only has power over us if let him have power over
us. The choice is ours, and the decision is easy in my mind. The
punishment is also clearly outlined, and that is something that i do not
want to have to go though, no way!!!!! There is so much in the
Scriptures that is just sitting there and waiting for us to grab. That
is your commitment this week...... STUDY THE SCRIPTURES EVERYDAY!!!! If
you already are then study harder, or deeper than you usual. I guarantee
that if you go in with a different mind set, looking for something,
asking a question, or searching for an answer, you will get it. The only
trick is that you have to try. Thank you mom for following up with my
assignment last week. I want to hear how everyone does this next week.
REMEMBER..... Everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Start small if you have to, but DO
IT!!!!!!!
You are all amazing, thank you so much for the amazing support that you
give! I will Talk to you all Next week!
MUCH LOVE,
Elder Neal
P.S. I will receive anything that you sent to the mission office on
tuesday. That is when we have interviews. After that it will be Zone
Conference in the middle of August sometime.
P.S I forgot to tell you.....
YES kebabs are better than Hamburgers!!!!! MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better!!!
They are on a different plain entirely!!!!!!!!!
Love ya
EJ
Friday, July 18, 2008
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