Hey everyone! Let me tell you all, Brazil is a special place. I can't think of anywhere else where so many people are willing to invite missionaries in to hear the message of the restored gospel. At the same time, it's frustrating that the vast majority of these people let the importance of our message go completely over their heads. For example. We found nineteen new investigators this week, out of those nineteen, we will only continue teaching one person. How does that happen? It goes a lot like this...

We clap in front of a house. Someone comes out and asks us who we are. We tell them that we are missionaries and that we have an important message. They excitedly let us in, give us water, tell us all about their faith and how much they read the Bible. We proceed to teach the most important message we have, the message of truth and love that is the Restoration of the Gospel. After testifying as sincerely and as powerfully as we can about a living prophet and Christ's true church on the earth, we usually get a response like, "Well that's nice, but I really like my church" or "I didn't really understand anything you taught, but I like to hear people talk about Jesus." 

And that would be why we have to drop so many of these new investigators. It is frustrating, but I've learned that it is necessary to save time, but I always remember my days in the US and remember how hard it was just to get a lesson and I can't help but marvel at the prepared hearts of the people here in Brazil.

Anyway, to get away from my griping, let me cover some of the things that happened this week. We started of the week with a division with the Assistants, Elders Phipps and J Batista. They helped us out with a good training and a lot of work. Later in the week, I had another division with the Elders of Rondonopolis Third Branch. I love divisions! It's so sweet to learn from other missionaries and get to know knew areas and techniques. Other than those events, we walked a LOT this week, and I can testify firsthand of the inhumate temperatures that we are having here. It is SO HOT, and it's been literally months since it's rained. And everyone says that the hottest part of the year is yet to come. Boy am I excited for that...

But, despite the heat and hard work, I'm loving it as always. The mission is flying on by and I've got to take advantage of it while I'm here!

Ate mais!

Elder Johnson

This week was remarkably normal. Just going about our business as usual. We had a couple of sweet events though, as well as one of those classic mission days when nothing goes right, but starting from the start.

The other two elders in our district had a baptismento this week, which means that they married and baptised a couple on the same day. Hurray for marriage. For some reason getting lawfully married is a big step for many people investigating the church, but it's always great to see a family taking that step. We went to both the marriage ceremony and the baptism to support the family, and it was a simple, yet sweet experience. The four of us even sang a special hymn at the baptismal service, and everyone really enjoyed it.

 In fact we have a couple of our own that needs to get married soon. This week we started teaching Denis and his girlfriend. A long-lost member of the church who has finially decided to return, and bring his girlfriend with him. She is learning a lot, and is one of the best investigators I've had on the mission so far. On Saturday when we taught the Book of Mormon, she remarked, "I don't think a lot of people know about this, it's all new for me" and I couldn't help laughing as I responded "Yes, that's what we're doing here, we're trying to let people know about all this."

 Other than those events, we just had a lot of normal work to do. Yesterday the assistants got here to do a division with us, and so I'm really excited to work with them. The branch here is also getting excited and more involved with missionary work. Church attendance is going up, and lots of less-actives are coming back.

There was one day this week that was crazy. We decided to take a bus up to an area far away to teach some people that we had made contact with. We got there, and absolutaly could not find their house. So, we decided to try and find our way to a nearby members house to get some directions, and we ended up getting completely lost. Finally a member was able to meet up with us and show us around. Eventually things worked out, and we were able to teach a couple of families, but is was amazing how much aimless wandering is possible in one day.

One of the things I learned this week is about learning. It is so easy to get in the mindset of "well I got this whole missionary thing down now" but it is never true. There is always more to learn. It is amazing how the Lord puts us in situations that are different, or even difficult, and he lets us learn from them, and become a better person. The mission has a million and one examples of those situations, and I definitely had one this week. I am immensly grateful for all that I have learned, and have yet to learn.

Até mais,

Elder Johnson

Pictures:

1. the elders is my district

2. Marriage!

3. random field

4. getting lost at the end of the world

Pictures of a monkey and a turtle that we saw on a quick run this morning!

Well, this was a pretty solid week, and I've been learning and growing a lot! We've finally got some pesquisadores with some good potential and some baptismal dates coming up, and I'm getting the hang of our new area here in Rondonopolis.

We started out the week with a Zone P-day. We got together and had a churrasco (barbeque) with futebol! Two of Brazilian's favorite things! It was a bunch of fun, but the meat was cooking suuuuper slowly, so I took over on the grill. We poured in a bunch more charcoal, and I got that meat cookin'. Needless to say, I have now claimed the much envied title of churrasceiro (which means 'guy that does barbeque'). The entire Zone was impressed by my Gringo prowess!!! Thank you gormet foods :) 

The next day was our Zone meeting where we learned about the importance of study and teaching de acordo with the needs of our investigators. Our Zone is pretty great, and there's a TON of awesome missionaries who have been examples for me throughout my own mission.

The rest of the week was just gettin' to it. We've got a LOAD of new investigators, and now we're working with a couple of less-active families as well. Among other things we painted the kitchen of a member family, did a divisao com our District Leader, Elder Weeks, and walked até the end of the earth trying to find addresses that don't exist.

This week, I've also noticed a need for me to increase and develop a greater love for those around me. And of course, what better place to start than with the people you live with. For some reason it always gets a little bit complicated to demonstrate love with the people you're with every day, whether that be siblings, parents, companions, or anyone. But here in the mission you have an incredible opportunity to practice ALL the time! From here on out, I'm going to try and take more advantage of that.

Até Mais!

ELder Johnson

Hey everybody, I've got just about 0 minutes to write you all so let me be quick.

I've got a new companion, Elder Stephens from Utah with 1 year on the mission. He's way cooler than I could ever hope to be, and we're totally gonna kill it together!

I spent over 30 on the bus with transfers and whatnot this week, and so that was pretty fun.

I got sick on the way to Rondonopolis, so I've spent the week with a runny nose, sore throught, and a cough.

My new area is HUGE!!!!! It's so big I don't even know what to do with it, and at the end of this month they're planning on opening up another group. I'm part of Rondonopolis 1st Branch, and both the leader da obra and Presidente do Ramo are super awesome and excited to work with us missionaries.

That's it for today folks!

Ate mais!

Elder Johnson

Well, this week was eventful, and for me, it was great! Of course, with the end of the World Cup is was a little bit more difficult to work, but we were exited to recieve a second visit from President Reber, and this time, he stayed not just one day, but two!

The big event of the week (contrary to popular belief) was NOT Brazil's loss to Germany, or the final World Cup game but a fireside Saturday night with the President. We spent just about the entire week inviting everyone we know, and everyone we don't know to the fireside, and we were able to scrape up a solid 50+ people Saturday night. The fireside was really great, and now we have a bunch of new people that are curious, and want to recieve a visit from the missionaries. YAY for references!!

President and Sister Reber got here Friday afternoon, and we put them instantly to work! Friday and Saturday President had 3 interviews in different Radio stations, 1 interview in the local newspaper and even an interview on the local TV news!! What's more, we were able to visit ALL of the members (recent converts and newly discovered) with President. It was incredible to spend two days working alongside our leader, and inspiring to see and feel the spirit that he and his wife carry with them. 

On Sunday, we were blessed with the opportunity to perform the baptisms of the rest of A's family. It was a beautiful baptismal service, and the spirit was very strong. I am thrilled by every little step that this family in particular is taking toward the Temple, and eternity. 

 

Finally, the new Elder here in Alta Floresta is Elder A! He's a Brazilian from the Bayia, and he has little over 1 year on a mission. I was impressed by his humility and willingness to accept new things ever since his first day here, and I am excited to work more with him!

Ate Mais!

Elder Johnson

Wow! This week was great! It's sooooo nice to be able to stick with the same companion two transfers in a row. We're working together super well, and we're working a LOT. This week we basically just got to it. Finially, we've got organized and settled to the point where we're working effectively and with the spirit! It's impossible to talk about everything that's happening here, but I'll try and cover some of the main events. 

First off, we're teaching a very interesting family with a ton of potential. The head of the household is a 70+ year old grandmother named T who a few years ago abandoned a life of traveling and gambling to settle down with her family. I could write for ages about her life and family, but suffice it to say that she is in the process of really turning her life around for the better. Two weeks ago she was fervently Catholic, and promised us that she would never accept another baptism. On Saturday, she accepted our help to prepare to be baptised, and testified to us that she "knows that everything we say and teach is true". To hear such a testimony served to strengthen my own that much more! 

This week really was just a powerful one. No single experience stands out, but it so, so many instances this week, the spirit was strong, people were touched and hearts were changed. Things are happening so fast, I can hardly keep track of it all. We found yet another member family that moved here from Cuiaba just one month ago! We visited the couple, and we are excited to have their support in continuing the incredible growth of the church here. 

With all the work we are doing here, and the support and help of the Lord, we were able to witness something that I never expected. Saturday night, I prayed that we would not have room enough to recieve the blessings of our efforts during the week, and Sunday morning, that prayer was answered more literally than I could ever imagined. 45 people came to our little sacrament meeting yesterday, and there was LITERALLY not enough room in the house to seat them all. 

When we do our part, God does his.

End of story.

Elder Johnson

Pictures:

LT enormous tree

RT

Service Project

 A couple the other missionaries are teaching and who will be married end of July to be able to be baptised.

Other Elders serving Alta Floresta.



 LT Preparation day visiting a museum
RT Alta Floresta landscape view



 Last pictures are of recent baptisms

Everyone, hold on to your horses!!! Something incredible and unbelievable has happened. Our District recieved the Transfer updates last night and........NOTHING CHANGED!!! All four missionaries here in Alta Floresta are staying at least one more transfer! Fist time in my mission when literally everything stays the same, and the first time I get to stick with the same companion. YAY!!! I am absolutally thrilled to be able to work here another six weeks, With this next transfer, I will spend a total of 6 months here in this Amazonian paradise! 

But, this week was another week of miracles, and a LOT of work. We are so busy with investigators and recent converts, we hardly have any time to go door to door. What's even more awesome, is that our investigators are all super responsive and want us to teach all of their friends!! Just yesterday, we snatched up eleven new investigators! 

The only thing holding up the work now is the World Cup :( Every time Brazil has a jogo, we have to head home early. It's fairly rediculous. Everyone ends up partying and drinking the whole night long, and just with the first jogo this Thursday there were fireworks every goal, and fights in the streets afterward. But, we're doing the best we can, and we're working, starting at 8:30 in the morning just so we can get some lessons in! 

And, now to share some of the best experiences of the week! First and foremost, we ran into yet another member who had no idea the chuch was here in Alta Floresta! On Wednesday, she came up to us na rua, and excitedly asked, "Are you from my church?" Sure enough, we were. She's lived here for three years all alone, but her testimony is rock solid! We were able to visit her with R and L last night, and she presented a friend of hers to us, and shared a powerfull testimony of how her encounter with the missionaries helped her realize that the Lord hadn't forgotten her!

As for our awesome recém conversos, R and L are super excited, and have accompanied us missionaries to help teach! L especially likes visiting with the missionaries because she wants to be a Sister Missionary one day! A gave his first talk in Church this Sunday, and he did an awesome job. And L finially blessed the sacarament! It was a dream come true to see him and M working together in the Priesthood!

I am basically overwhelmed with gratitude! I can't even express how blown away I am by all that I have been able to see and do. And what's even more incredible, is that I feel like it's just beginning! There is so much ahead of me, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store!