Ya know those weeks that go by and at the end, you're not even really sure what happened...that would describe this past week pretty well. We worked with a couple of new families, and are trying to involve the members more and more. We've got a couple of great family nights and activities that happened that helped the members in the ward get more excited, and we're going to use that energy in this coming week. 

Even with all that great stuff happening, we've had some problems with our Recent Converts recently. M, G and B are all having trouble getting to church. But, we're determined to keep them on track, and help them all get to the temple one day!

1. division with Elder Anderson (MTC buddy) and Elder Foster

2-4. P-day at the park with the ZONE!!!!

 1&2. Capivara

3. Guiacurus statue

4. Campo Grande (arial view)

Other than that, things are in a remarkable state of normalitly (is that a word), and I am as happy and as excited as ever. The mission continues to be the best, and I really mean THE BEST thing ever.

AMEM

Elder Johnson

Hey everyone! This week was great! My new companion is here and we're working a lot! Transfers was the usual stress and craziness (we had one elder get here 7 hours later than planned), but the difference was that this time I was ready for it! novo companheiro, Elder Leão!!!

As soon as everything got settled, we got to work here in our area, and we had a lot of success in working with the members this week, We were able to get some really good visits in, along with a great Noite Familiar with some investigators. Among other things, the gigantic family we found last week is progressing! In our lessons with them, they expressed great desire for the family enteira ( 8 people, 5 with baptismal age) to be baptised. Now we just have to help them keep going to church and get married (of course).

The other big event that went down this week was our last-minute division in Aquidauana. That particular branch had a lot of changes take place in the transfer, so we headed on over on Friday to give them a head start! We went there with President Reber's counselor here in the south, Presidente Oliveira. The entire experience was a trial of patience. We wanted to leave Campo Grande at 2:00 but weren't able to leave until 5:30. On Saturday we had to leave Aquidauana at 3:00 in order to get back in our area in time for the batismo of B at 7:00, but of course, the bus didn't leave until 4:00...Needless to say, I was able to really develop my "christlike attributes" this week.

At the end of it all though, Everything went alright. B was baptised, we helped the Elderes and Sisteres in Aquidauana, and we even had a few investigators at church!

That was basically my week. Here comes another one now!!!

Elder Justus Johnson

1&2. P-day no Mercadão

3&4. Drinking Tereré from a guampa!

Well everyone! It's once again transfers time!!! I'll be staying here in Campo Grande, but with a new companion, Elder Leão! 

With the transfer craziness, I don't have a lot of time to write, but here's some lessons I learned this week.

Priesthood power is real

and

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Other than these life lessons, our week was pretty normal. We're still teaching our little buddy B

1. nosso distrito (antes da transferencia)

2. divisão com Elder Zárate

3. Um membro que ajuda a gente bastante

4. Familia que estamos ensinando (S e F)

(nine years old), and now that he has a member who can be responsable for his progress in the church, he can be baptized this week!!!

This past week we also found a couple of great families who just need to GO TO CHURCH, and all will be well.

Fica firme tudo mundo!

Elder Johnson

Hey! It's 2015 now! How about that? 2014 passed by so fast, I don't know how it's possible. Wtih the new year in front of me, I'm ready to give this last phase of my mission all I've got. As always I've got new goals, a new vision, and a determination to do everything and anything the Lord expects of me.

But as for this week, we started out with a division with the Group in Fatima do Sul, where I was able to work with Elders B and W! It's always a special feeling to be working as pioneers expanding the church! Immediately after that division we headed on down to Ponta Porã, and had an awesome meeting with the stake president there. I learned a lot about how inspiration works to guide chuch leadership. That night, we celebrated the New Year with a member family, and there were fireworks aplenty. I imagine that it sounded something like a warzone for about 15 minutes. the entire horizon was illuminated by the light of all the fireworks, little smokebombs and random gunfire.

Day one of 2015 was a missionary holiday, and we spent the day with two zone's worth of missionaries, eating churrasco, and playing futebol! 

After all the festivities, we finally got back to work in our area on Friday, but due to some randomness (that is becoming more normal than random), I once again spent the weekend in...DIVISION! This next week should be a lot more organized, and me and my companion are excited to end the transfer working hard!

Até mais!

Elder Justus Johnson