Dear Family,
How are you all doing. I'm doing GREAT!! Pero Yo Estoy Muy Bein. The Spanish is coming along great. I found Dylan on Wednesday, he was stoked to see me. Everything is going good up here-No Complaints. Just excited to get into the field and have some stories to share.
Dad, I love you but mom takes all my e-mail time and in the field I will have more time to e-mail, I hope!!
I have just been reading and studying ALOT!! My Book of Mormon looks used and abused. Everyone calls me the "Book of Mormon Dictionary" because I know where every scripture is. I have been studying a ton of things lately, especially from the Doctrine and Covenants. I read two Book of Mormons at once. In a video talk from Elder David Bednar, he challenged missionaries to get a new $5 Book of Mormon; Write a question int he front cover and then read it and look for the answer. So, I read two or three chapters from that, a day. And the question that I put in my Book of Mormon was: "What are the Mysteries of God"? So, I read from that Book of Mormon and then my mission Book of Mormon, too. Then I expand and go to D&C, to read a few sections each day. I study Spanish, Preach my Gospel, and other Gospel material for hours a day.
Elder Holland's talk was amazing and one day I will remember to photo copy my notes for you! I just keep forgetting them up in the classroom and don't feel like putting on a suit to go get them. But there there were a couple of things he said that were AMAZING!!
1. If you come back home and you go inactive, don't let me catch you in a dark alley! :)
2. It's "Preach my Gospel" not Preach your Gospel. So, if you do Preach your Gospel ... it will get
you a plane ticket home.
3. Go out and astonish someone!! Cause the ground beneath them to shake. So that when we leave they will say, "Who were those two"!!
4. Get so caught up in the work and don't stop till some tells you it's time to go home!
5. This is the REAL LIFE!! No other life matters!
His talk was so amazing!! I would recommend trying to look it up on the computer. I'm doing good and LOVE the letters!!
Love,
Elder Michael Johnson
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Last e-mail from the MTC
Dear Family,
I don't know what the biggest thing I have learned at the MTC. I have learned sooooo many things, that it is hard to single out one. But I think if I had to choose one I think it would be: Just always be obedient and work hard.
My most spiritual moment was some of the times when I was practicing teaching the gospel.
My favorite speaker was Elder Holland, by far. I sent that letter with some of the things he said... hopefully you'll get it soon. I say that through the Holy Ghost and Christ everything is possible.
I'm going to pack safely, so I'm no where near the 50 pounds. I'm stoked to get out there and serve!!! I bought two paper back Book of Mormons and wrote my testimony in them. I am going to give them away. I'm excited to go and share what I know with everyone. And to FINALLY ride my bike JEEZ!! These nine weeks have gone by soooo fast!! Hopefully the mission goes a little slower and I can Enjoy it!!
Love,
Elder Johnson
Cody- I'm so stoked for you!! Getting your Patriarchal Blessing is such an awesome thing!! You could write every now and then ... jeez!!
I don't know what the biggest thing I have learned at the MTC. I have learned sooooo many things, that it is hard to single out one. But I think if I had to choose one I think it would be: Just always be obedient and work hard.
My most spiritual moment was some of the times when I was practicing teaching the gospel.
My favorite speaker was Elder Holland, by far. I sent that letter with some of the things he said... hopefully you'll get it soon. I say that through the Holy Ghost and Christ everything is possible.
I'm going to pack safely, so I'm no where near the 50 pounds. I'm stoked to get out there and serve!!! I bought two paper back Book of Mormons and wrote my testimony in them. I am going to give them away. I'm excited to go and share what I know with everyone. And to FINALLY ride my bike JEEZ!! These nine weeks have gone by soooo fast!! Hopefully the mission goes a little slower and I can Enjoy it!!
Love,
Elder Johnson
Cody- I'm so stoked for you!! Getting your Patriarchal Blessing is such an awesome thing!! You could write every now and then ... jeez!!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Travel Plans
The times I can call are: Between 5:00 am-7:15 am Utah Time and 12:55 pm-1:55 pm Atlanta Time Zone.
I don't know what that is your time :)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
First area-Clinton, Sampson County, North Carolina
Clinton, the county seat of Sampson County, is the largest and oldest city in the county, having been incorporated in 1852. The first European settlers to come to the Sampson County area were Scotch-Irish immigrants from North Ireland around 1740. One of the many Scotch-Irish drawn to the area in search of rich farmland and flowing rivers was John Sampson. Sampson was Duplin County’s first Register of Deeds. He served as a Lt. Colonel, and then a Lt. General in the county’s militia and was later the first mayor of Wilmington, North Carolina. In April of 1784, the North Carolina General Assembly established Sampson County from land taken from neighboring Duplin County. Land from Wayne and New Hanover counties would be annexed later to form the present day boundaries.
Immigrating with John Sampson was his fifteen-year-old stepson, Richard Clinton. Like his stepfather, Richard Clinton soon distinguished himself in governmental and military service, serving as Duplin County Register of Deeds for ten years, and then in the Provincial Congress held at Hillsborough. In 1776, Richard Clinton organized a company of militia minutemen from upper Duplin and led them as captain in the defense of Wilmington against the British. He was later appointed Colonel of Cavalry and Brigadier General of the Fayetteville District. Upon the establishment of the state government of North Carolina by the Halifax Constitution of 1776, Richard Clinton served as one of the first members of the House of Commons, representing Duplin County. Clinton continued as a representative of Duplin County until the creation of Sampson County in 1784. Clinton secured the passage of the act creating the new county, and proposed the name "Sampson" in honor of John Sampson, his stepfather and benefactor.
If not for a financial panic in 1819, Clinton would have another name. There was an earlier incorporated town of Clinton in old Rowan County (Now Davie), but it folded in 1822. The town moved immediately to drop the name "Clinton Courthouse" and incorporated under the name of Clinton. The General Assembly appointed five commissioners, James Moseley, Isaac Boykin, Dr. Henry Bizzell, John Beaman, and Alfred Johnson, when they ratified the act clarifying procedures for the Town of Clinton. The corporate limits of the town at that time extended a half mile each way from the courthouse. The first records of an election were in February 1852 and the first tax rate was .50 cents on the $100 valuation of real property. Since that time, the town has become a city and grown to its present day limits. The early records of the town have been lost due to one or more of the disastrous fires that have swept Clinton. The largest was a Tuesday night, March 2, 1877, that many said could be seen from 10 miles away.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
E-mail from MTC
Dear Family,
I put the address for the mission president on a letter I sent you. (Like two weeks ago) And that address in there is not the one for me. I get one for my apartment as soon as I get out there. I will send that packet home when I send that other stuff. I'm going to send all the stuff I don't need :) Sorry I couldn't get that letter off. I have been busy getting all my stuff together before I leave.
Everything is going good up here!! I love your guys letters... be nice to here from my brothers every now and then. I hope you guys are all doing good. Because I have managed to stay healthy and away from the sickness. I found Dylan by the way and have talked with him a couple of times. He seems to be doing good. I will make sure I write you guys and send off the letter this time ...sorry about that.
Whats going on in the home? I am sooo stoked to get out into the field one of our teachers the other day went to North Carolina Spanish Speaking and said that he put 22000 miles on his bike. So, it is defiantly a biking mission. Well, I better write dad, since I didn't last week.
Love you,
Elder Johnson
I put the address for the mission president on a letter I sent you. (Like two weeks ago) And that address in there is not the one for me. I get one for my apartment as soon as I get out there. I will send that packet home when I send that other stuff. I'm going to send all the stuff I don't need :) Sorry I couldn't get that letter off. I have been busy getting all my stuff together before I leave.
Everything is going good up here!! I love your guys letters... be nice to here from my brothers every now and then. I hope you guys are all doing good. Because I have managed to stay healthy and away from the sickness. I found Dylan by the way and have talked with him a couple of times. He seems to be doing good. I will make sure I write you guys and send off the letter this time ...sorry about that.
Whats going on in the home? I am sooo stoked to get out into the field one of our teachers the other day went to North Carolina Spanish Speaking and said that he put 22000 miles on his bike. So, it is defiantly a biking mission. Well, I better write dad, since I didn't last week.
Love you,
Elder Johnson
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
E-mailing back and forth... a beautiful thing
Michael Studing really hard... hmmmm!!
Good to see he can T-Bow it ... and have some fun still!
Tie Exchange (P.s. He gave one of my favorites away)
I'm sure pondering? His words, "Looking like a stud"
Work out buddies
Role playing
Michael and Dylan at the MTC
I'm doing really well, nno complaints!! Just excited to get into the field and such!! The Spanish is coming along ... no complaints there!! I'm just loving life!! I have to go ... LOVE YOU!!!!! I'll write you today!
Love,
Elder Johnson
Saturday, January 12, 2013
(Letter)
Dear Mom and Dad,
(Both) Sorry I didn't have a lot of time to e-mail today. I had to take those pants to the place and they charged me thirty dollars to fix the hems on my suits and slacks. Sorry, I keep spending. I should be done now... NO MORE!! And can you make sure I have $200 on my account, just in case I get charged baggage charges at the air port. Please?
Tell "little" Matt I said HI!! I miss the little guy!! Matt's story is so sad... what's he saying? I am scheduled on the 4th to leave. I'm so ready to get into the field and start serving.
Cody- You better check yourself. Boy I'm going to whoop you :)!! I hear you're being a player. Hows ball going? How are you doing? Are you Studying, yet?
Justin-Work hard. Justy Bear... that's an awesome job you got!! I hope your arm is doing better!! Are you studying Preach my Gospel?
Tanner-I hear you're missing me a little? You Been Studying? Get going!!
Love, Elder Johnson
(He bore Testimony on Back of Letter)
I have been praying like everything depends on God! I have been acting like everything depends on me!! I know that through my Savior all is possible. I know that God provides a way for all those he calls (Nephi 3:7). I know that God knows my name and that his Son suffered for mine and everyone's sins. And not only their sins but their trials and afflictions in our lives. (Alma 7) God loves us so much that he gave us His Son, Our older brother, so that we can return to him once again and live with our Families Forever. I know my savior lives. I know it with all my heart, because I am truly converted to him.
(Then he changes to Spanish)
Yo se que Jesucristo es Mi Salvador Y Mi Rendentor. Yo se Que la suffrimente de JesuCristo fue para mi Estoy. A muy agradicido por la expacion de JesuCristo. A traves la expicion nostros Puedemos limpio de nos Pecados. Yo se que el libro de Mormon es la palabra de dios y otro testimonio de JesuCristo. Yo se que Thomas S. Monson es nos Profit en los ultimos dias. yo se que si sugira el elijemplo de JesuCristo nos regresamos q vida dios y con mi Familia Eterno.
En el nobre De JesCristo, Amen
(Both) Sorry I didn't have a lot of time to e-mail today. I had to take those pants to the place and they charged me thirty dollars to fix the hems on my suits and slacks. Sorry, I keep spending. I should be done now... NO MORE!! And can you make sure I have $200 on my account, just in case I get charged baggage charges at the air port. Please?
Tell "little" Matt I said HI!! I miss the little guy!! Matt's story is so sad... what's he saying? I am scheduled on the 4th to leave. I'm so ready to get into the field and start serving.
Cody- You better check yourself. Boy I'm going to whoop you :)!! I hear you're being a player. Hows ball going? How are you doing? Are you Studying, yet?
Justin-Work hard. Justy Bear... that's an awesome job you got!! I hope your arm is doing better!! Are you studying Preach my Gospel?
Tanner-I hear you're missing me a little? You Been Studying? Get going!!
Love, Elder Johnson
(He bore Testimony on Back of Letter)
I have been praying like everything depends on God! I have been acting like everything depends on me!! I know that through my Savior all is possible. I know that God provides a way for all those he calls (Nephi 3:7). I know that God knows my name and that his Son suffered for mine and everyone's sins. And not only their sins but their trials and afflictions in our lives. (Alma 7) God loves us so much that he gave us His Son, Our older brother, so that we can return to him once again and live with our Families Forever. I know my savior lives. I know it with all my heart, because I am truly converted to him.
(Then he changes to Spanish)
Yo se que Jesucristo es Mi Salvador Y Mi Rendentor. Yo se Que la suffrimente de JesuCristo fue para mi Estoy. A muy agradicido por la expacion de JesuCristo. A traves la expicion nostros Puedemos limpio de nos Pecados. Yo se que el libro de Mormon es la palabra de dios y otro testimonio de JesuCristo. Yo se que Thomas S. Monson es nos Profit en los ultimos dias. yo se que si sugira el elijemplo de JesuCristo nos regresamos q vida dios y con mi Familia Eterno.
En el nobre De JesCristo, Amen
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
A Mother's Intuition... is ALWAYS right!
Dear MOMMY,
I got my package and I ...... LOVED it! Thank you so much! It was amazing! Funny story actually! I have been freezing at night here at the MTC. I had been going to sleep for the last month, just freezing cold! So, when I got that blanket... I was like "YES"!! Her mother instinct works from hundreds of miles away!:)
And nothing real exciting is going on just the day to day stuff. Studying a LOT and my faith in my Savior is growing. And so is my love for him. I cant wait to get out into the field. I'm soooo excited now! I stayed away from the sickness and I will be able to go to the temple today.
I also have to go to BYU campus and get my pants fixed because they don't do it here. I'm going to ask them if they can double up all the stitching on the seams; so I can avoid this problem in the future. I really don't want to have to get another suit that's my biggest fear. The money I spend is on things I need, I'm sorry. And if it's alright with you when I'm done with the MTC, I'll send my journal back and go buy a bigger one. I will also send back all the letters I have received as well and some other things, I would prefer not to take with me to North Carolina.
I look forward to your Dear Elder tonight. Poor Matthew that makes me sad. Thanks for your guys support. I love you sooo very much. I will write the letters to the boys today. I wish I had some cool stories to share but i have just been busy studying and learning. I have been working out a lot and now weigh 202! Crazy right?
I am ready for the field!! The Lord has really helped me with the ability to express myself in the spoken word. In both in English and Spanish I can see the blessings. Love you guys and I hope your all doing well!!
Love,
Elder Johnson
I got my package and I ...... LOVED it! Thank you so much! It was amazing! Funny story actually! I have been freezing at night here at the MTC. I had been going to sleep for the last month, just freezing cold! So, when I got that blanket... I was like "YES"!! Her mother instinct works from hundreds of miles away!:)
And nothing real exciting is going on just the day to day stuff. Studying a LOT and my faith in my Savior is growing. And so is my love for him. I cant wait to get out into the field. I'm soooo excited now! I stayed away from the sickness and I will be able to go to the temple today.
I also have to go to BYU campus and get my pants fixed because they don't do it here. I'm going to ask them if they can double up all the stitching on the seams; so I can avoid this problem in the future. I really don't want to have to get another suit that's my biggest fear. The money I spend is on things I need, I'm sorry. And if it's alright with you when I'm done with the MTC, I'll send my journal back and go buy a bigger one. I will also send back all the letters I have received as well and some other things, I would prefer not to take with me to North Carolina.
I look forward to your Dear Elder tonight. Poor Matthew that makes me sad. Thanks for your guys support. I love you sooo very much. I will write the letters to the boys today. I wish I had some cool stories to share but i have just been busy studying and learning. I have been working out a lot and now weigh 202! Crazy right?
I am ready for the field!! The Lord has really helped me with the ability to express myself in the spoken word. In both in English and Spanish I can see the blessings. Love you guys and I hope your all doing well!!
Love,
Elder Johnson
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year
Dear Mom,
Elder Doyle got his package and he loved it! Thank you so much for doing that for him! I believe he is going to write or email you today. It really helped him out it was his first package and he came up and gave me a big hug.
The new year is going well but the stomach flue started up two days ago and the MTC is basically guaranteeing everyone. I have not got is yet, thank heavens. Hope I don't, but bad news is that I have a stomach ache. So, tonight may not end so well.
Sorry I couldn't get the letter of last week. I'll make sure I will get one done tonight. The only thing I could use is another laundry bag; my shredded to pieces. It was to cheap lo seinto (I'm sorry). Well, I only have a month left in the MTC and the food is starting to get me! I have gained 10 pounds and am 198. I have been lifting weights every day and is a good change of pace from the studying we do daily. The Spanish is coming along, I do wish it would come along faster.
I don't think I will go to the temple today. I'm not feeling that good. Thanks so much for the Christmas gifts again!! Love you so much! I'm learning a lot about everything. It's truly amazing to me how Elder Reid's and my lessons are going really well. The spirit is so strong at the MTC and the spirit is helping me a ton. Love you!
Cody Johnson- I hope your doing good bro and staying busy you can almost start working on those papers here pretty soon. huh? When are tryouts for baseball? Been snowboarding? Who are you dating lately?( Better make me proud bro!!!) You better be treating the jeep good!!! Or I will hunt you down!!
Justin Johnson-I hope your arm is doing better champ! How was your Christmas? What did you get? I hope you have been studying that preach my gospel mom got you especially the lessons in chapter three!! You too CODY!!!
Tanner Johnson-Thanks for the letter bud I appreciate that. I'm sorry about your car dude! Dang Matthew!:) But that Nerf gun sounds fun, gonna send it to me? JOKE! Sounds like your Christmas went well and that's awesome! You better not spoil the movie "The Hobbit" for me! We will have to watch it when I get back. By the way I DO KNOW all those words do you know these ( tener, hablar, sacapuntas, espiritu, bueno, salvacion, ensenar) oh you don't I'm sorry:) Get to studying champ!!
LOVE ELDER JOHNSON
P.S. Tell dad to check his e-mail.
Elder Doyle got his package and he loved it! Thank you so much for doing that for him! I believe he is going to write or email you today. It really helped him out it was his first package and he came up and gave me a big hug.
The new year is going well but the stomach flue started up two days ago and the MTC is basically guaranteeing everyone. I have not got is yet, thank heavens. Hope I don't, but bad news is that I have a stomach ache. So, tonight may not end so well.
Sorry I couldn't get the letter of last week. I'll make sure I will get one done tonight. The only thing I could use is another laundry bag; my shredded to pieces. It was to cheap lo seinto (I'm sorry). Well, I only have a month left in the MTC and the food is starting to get me! I have gained 10 pounds and am 198. I have been lifting weights every day and is a good change of pace from the studying we do daily. The Spanish is coming along, I do wish it would come along faster.
I don't think I will go to the temple today. I'm not feeling that good. Thanks so much for the Christmas gifts again!! Love you so much! I'm learning a lot about everything. It's truly amazing to me how Elder Reid's and my lessons are going really well. The spirit is so strong at the MTC and the spirit is helping me a ton. Love you!
Cody Johnson- I hope your doing good bro and staying busy you can almost start working on those papers here pretty soon. huh? When are tryouts for baseball? Been snowboarding? Who are you dating lately?( Better make me proud bro!!!) You better be treating the jeep good!!! Or I will hunt you down!!
Justin Johnson-I hope your arm is doing better champ! How was your Christmas? What did you get? I hope you have been studying that preach my gospel mom got you especially the lessons in chapter three!! You too CODY!!!
Tanner Johnson-Thanks for the letter bud I appreciate that. I'm sorry about your car dude! Dang Matthew!:) But that Nerf gun sounds fun, gonna send it to me? JOKE! Sounds like your Christmas went well and that's awesome! You better not spoil the movie "The Hobbit" for me! We will have to watch it when I get back. By the way I DO KNOW all those words do you know these ( tener, hablar, sacapuntas, espiritu, bueno, salvacion, ensenar) oh you don't I'm sorry:) Get to studying champ!!
LOVE ELDER JOHNSON
P.S. Tell dad to check his e-mail.
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