Jeff email 11/30/2009

Whats going on!

Well, today is quite the day. We will be having transfers tomorrow and President Pickett has decided to make some drastic changes in the mission and I'm anxious to see how they work out. For sure either me or my comp will be leaving.

We had a great baptism this past week, and we have received some great references from our Father in Heaven of people that went to church alone last Sunday and are already wanting to be baptized! I am so excited for them!
Well I'm kind of in a rush because I have to get back to my area and clean my house but talk to y'all in the up coming weeks!!!(Christmas call!)

Elder Johnson

Emma's part in Thanksgiving program

Thanksgiving 2009

Jeff email 11/23/2009

Happy thanksgiving!

It’s that time of year again, and to celebrate the holidays I decided that I would have another baptism this weekend! Yeah, that’s right! I’m a baptizing machine!! His name is Erlon and he is super excited and ready for his special day!
Yesterday was stake conference here in Vila Velha and Elder Ellis, of the presidency of the area of Brasil was there and spoke to us. It was quite amazing! He spoke of always making ourselves better people in the church and never letting the ways of the world enter into our houses or into the church! I learned a lot!!
So I was thinking the other day about an experience I had in my first area that I never told anyone and I think everyone would enjoy.
We were teaching A.., (my first baptism), we were teaching the first lesson and it got to the part that I was going to teach. A.. began to stare directly behind us and focused on something. Elder Myres and I both turned to see what it was and there was nothing. I continued on. A.. continued fixed on something behind us. After a second he ‘came to his senses’ and began focusing on the lesson again. He asked us, "did you two see that guy behind you?" I freaked out in the moment and turned around again thinking there was really someone behind us but as I turned around there was only a wall and a little space between the couch and the wall, but no man. He then explained that there was a man dressed in white behind us and as I was talking he was nodding his head in agreement with what I was saying. I didn’t know whether or not I believed him but I did know that I did not want to stay in that house for much long. To this day I don’t know what or whom he saw. It could be that he was crazy but, I tend to believe that my Portuguese was so bad that our Heavenly Father had to send an angel to explain what I was saying. Just kidding! I think he’s a little crazy. :)

Happy holidays to y’all!

Elder Johnson

Happy Birthday Rachel

Jeff pics

Jeff email 11/16/09

Good after noon to all!
This week I had the opportunity to help another of my brothers here on the earth to start his new life in Christ. What an awesome experience every baptism is for me! He received the Holy Ghost and was interviewed and received the Arronic priesthood yesterday as well. He even showed up to his baptism in a suit! What a lady killer! I truly am so thankful for the experience to be out here for this really short period of my life doing something like helping people gain eternal life! My mission president always tells us that not only are we helping other people out here gain salvation but we are literally bringing salvation to ourselves through our service. The Lord didn’t suggest that all young men go on missions he commanded and I am happy to be here following!
I have included a few pictures in here. A few of the flood, Elder Valeriano, and the city of Vitória with me in the soccer jersey enjoy!
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR RACHEL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
Com quem será, come quem será, com quem será que Rachel vai casar?
Vai depender, vai depender, se um cara vai querer!
I hope that you all embarass the tar out of here when she goes on her first date.
Love yall!
Elder Johnson

Hello!

Jeff email 11/9/2009

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU

Dear those,
"Adam fell that men might be. And men are that they might have joy."
This scripture says a lot. I get the feeling that those who are close to me only have the scripture that is in Doctrine and Covenants 4 stuck in the heads which says...
"With an eye, single to the glory of god"
Yeah, I know that you think that it will make me unfocused. I know that you want me to forget about life before the mission. But as it says in 2 Nephi. "men are that they might have JOY" (exclamation added)
After I heard this week that those close to me didn't let me know of such valuable information I became saddened. Devastated! The New York Yankees win the world series and no one tells me!! I cried for days and days. Never let this happen again.
This week will be the baptism of Wanderson. I'm super excited for him. He has already introduced us to a lot of his friends who went to church on Sunday. Lets see if here in the next few weeks I can get them in the water as well.
Tomorrow is mission conference which means.. you said it, spiritually uplifting experience along with things that no one wants such as letters and stuff.
Well troops, i forgive you for this one but as they say..."fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on me again, but fool me a 3rd time and i come out firing.’
PARABÈNS RUSSELL! Russell Mads Johnson is the fan of the week this week. He truly has his heart in the right place. He put a picture of me playing baseball on his debit card. I'm not saying that you all need to put my beautiful face on your cards, but thanks for the support Russell! It is because of people like you that made this past year possible. Keep it UP!
So you have all been asking me what I want for Christmas and here is my answer. I thought a lot about it and I came to this conclusion.....
"no more lives torn apart, then wars would never start, and life would be one heart! And everyone would have a friend, and life would always win, and love would never end. Ohohoh. This is my grown up Christmas list!"
TCHAU TO ALL!!!

Elder Johnson

Jeff email 11/2/2009

WET!!!
Well, last Monday night here in Vila Velha it started to rain. On day 2 of the rain the streets were already full of water. On day three the poop rivers, (the rivers where the poop goes), began to over flow. On day four there was about 3 feet of water in the entire city. On day five the water got the highest. On day 6 church was canceled due to no one being able to get to the church.
Due to my ever so crazy personality I took some great pictures in the water the day that the rain stopped for about an hour. The funny thing is that I was in my brand new suit that I got last week and that the water literally has floating turds. Yeah, disgusting, but I was already wet and really wanted a few pictures. I attached a few of the pictures to the email for your enjoyment. I took a nice alcohol bath afterwards to disinfect my feet.
Due to the water we have been trapped inside our house and haven’t been able to do much teaching this week.
Here in 2 days will be my 1 year mark! How excited I am!! I cant believe it is finally here. I think I am going to celebrate it by going in the poop river that is the road again. Oh yeah, and conference with Elder Jay Jensen was canceled because the airport was closed also.
I will have interviews with President Pickett this week and that should be pretty exciting.
Last week one of my great friends here on the mission, Elder Babcock, called me and asked me to sing for him. I was a little shocked at first but sung none the less. He then told me that I made it and that he would call me later with more information. I was a little confused but waited for the call. The adventure is the following. In December Elder Babcock organized 4 Christmas shows that will have about 1000 people in each show. I will be singing with a group of 7 people at this show. (Sister Morrise being one of them). I am way excited. They will even be recording the show and making dvd’s so I will be sure and send one some time.
Well, I must bid you farewell. I must go back and wade through the poop river that is the road to the supermarket and re-stock my food storage of ramon noodles and cake mix.
LOVE Y’ALL!
Elder Johnson

Halloween 2009

Niles last year to trick-or-treat

School Halloween Parade