Saying Goodbye to Elder Seguine, and Hello to New Experiences

Saying Goodbye to Elder Seguine

This week was crazy!!!

Monday after Email, the Zone got to go to Betio and get on the Giant guns and just take pictures and have fun together.  I got some pretty great pictures! 

Zone Activity at Betio

We then combined with the other zone to play volleyball and basketball, I played with a bunch of kids who were there, I showed them a couple of tricks I learned from water polo with the basket ball and they loved it!!

This week we didn't get to teach as much as I wanted to because Elder Seguine left, and I got paired with the other missionaries in Temwaiku, so we had to split our time half in my area, half in theirs. 

On Tuesday we did some service and I trimmed tree limbs with a machete, it was super cool.

Our investigators are doing really well, Takinoa has said that he wants to give up smoking, and we had a very powerful lesson about receiving the strength that you need to over come all things.  Our other couples we are teaching are pretty good, we are just trying to work on getting them to church.  We have two baptisms for this week, I am super excited!

I also found out that new companion is from the intake right before mine, so that will be a good learning experience!! I am really nervous and super excited.

His name is Elder Kennedy and he is SO funny, I know that we will get a long just fine!

I love you all!

Love

--

Elder Johnson



Chapel on Tarawa

Playing Basketball with the Kids



Food at a Birthday Celebration

Dear mom!!!

Happy thanksgiving week!!! I am super excited, today the missionaries in our zone are going to cook a bunch of food in celebration, I am excited for it.  I am very thankful for you and your willingness to let me go on this crazy adventure! I love you so much and you have given me more than I can ever repay you for!

I have been so much better since I prayed and Elder Seguine gave me that talk.  The atonement is a real thing!!  I love that we have a bigger brother that would do that for us.  Elder Seguine left last Thursday so I am in a threesome again with Elder Powell and Elder Vula until this Thursday where my new companion is Elder Kennedy, who is new also!!! So that is kind of freaky, he got here only six weeks before me, so I will be needing the help of the Lord soo much!

I also sent a letter for Christmas, but eveyone keeps telling me it won't get there for a few months soooo open it when you get it!! I also sent a Birthday card for Ana today so when she gets it let me know! 

I will definitely ask my companion to go through it first! (We sent Jeff's Christmas package, but had to list everything on the customs form) haha I don't want to ruin the surprise! XD

I know the work is hard, but I know that I am on the Lords errand and he will help me!  Thank you for the scripture it helped me a ton! (Amber sent the following scripture:  In Deuteronomy 31:6 it promises...  "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid he it is that doth go with thee: he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. He is always with you and will bless and protect you.")  It is exactly what I needed to hear.  Keep listening to that spirit and the lord will continue to bless you!

I love you mom more that you can ever know! Stay strong and know I am doing just fine!!

Love your son,
Elder Johnson

Dad, 

 I wrote that talk down so I can hopefully print it off later at Moroni! That is perfect the Lord works in amazing ways!  (This is a talk I mentioned to Jeff in my email to him this week:  "Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ." by Dallin H Oaks, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/strengthened-by-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng&cid=email-shared )

I have already felt a million times better since I have prayed, and got lost in the work.  I know that the Lord has yoked him to me, and I will continue to pluck along retaining my faith in him. 

 

My investigators are awesome, One couple is doing really good, and he even said he was willing to give up smoking, the Lord has definitely had an influence in their life.  Another couple has good questions, and seem to learn a lot, but they just haven't come to church.  I am worried some are just answering in a way to make us happy, which is disappointing because they can't receive a fullness of blessings until they are fully committed to the Lord. 

 

Elder Seguine left last Thursday, as of right now I am with Elder Powell and Elder Vula until this Thursday when the actual transfers happen.  My companion is Elder Kennedy, we are staying in Temwaiku. He was in the intake right before mine, so he is just barely a head of me.  It will be really hard, but know this is what the Lord wants and there is something that he wants us to learn in this challenging experience.

The only health problem I have is I haven't been able to go to the bathroom in a long time, I got a blessing and I am going to get some medicine today.  I know I will be fine because of the blessing from President Gifford. 

I will take more pictures this week of everything so I can send them and have them for later.  I love you dad, Love your son,Elder Johnson