Stupor Of Thought

Friends and Family,

I am pleased to announce that I have budgeted my time and now have 40 minutes to write this email instead of 10 minutes. So now there will be better stuff in this email since I can think about the whole week a little more.

Elder Simpson and I planned to have pretty much a full proselyting time in our area for the week because our main office duty (preparing supplies for apartments) was done for the week. We started off with District meeting on Tuesday morning and I led the discussion about what we need to do to help our new investigators up the steps (baptism/confirmation and temple). Originally I planned for something else but on Monday night while making prep for the first discussion I had you can say a "stupor of thought". What came to my mind then was new investigators. As I looked at the numbers of new investigators in the last transfer (110) and the number or progressing investigators / baptisms it got me a little worried. It ended to be a very spiritually edifying district meeting! I learned a lot from the meeting. Elder Simpson and I were in a three- some with Elder Jager because his son was called away to go with the Ap's and other to get their non citizen card. After District meeting we went to "Central Kitchen" got some nice bonku. Sadly, it was pouring down rain in the afternoon so we ended up being in the office for some hours. In the evening we were able to go see Mercy and teach her tithes and offerings.

Wednesday was a FULL day of proselyting and it felt really good at the end of the night. We went to see Brother Hanson who was the less active but now came back to church. it is hard for him to get to church because of his leg not being fully recovered yet and he lives at the top of the hill and you know.. most people do not have a car here. Brother Hanson is starting to make the prep to be able to get back to the temple! After we headed to Francis, our recent convert, had a good talk about missionary work. By the end he told us of a friend of his he has been talking with in a nearby village. YAY FOR REFERRALS!! Also met with a person we talked with the night prior named Samuel. Answered some of his questions about the church. Sadly he traveled so he could not come to church yesterday but we have been in contact with him. Had our coordination meeting with our ward mission leader. Then at 6 had a powerful lesson with Mercy about baptism and confirmation with sister Quartzen ( Relief society pres). Was my first member present lesson where the member and investigator both spoke perfect English. Then ended the night by seeing Sylvester to finish the rest of the Plan of Salvation lesson with him.

Thursday we ended up being in another 3 some with Elder Gasolo. We had to be with him for reasons. Not the best day to add someone for a day because we had weekly planning. Weekly planning is awesome but can be pretty boring sometimes. We also had interview with President Stevenson at 2 o'clock so after our planning we went to a quick lesson with Sylvester. The EQ pres, Brother Agyemang, who serve in this mission in 2010, came with us to the lesson. Again, another lesson with both sides speaking english (2 times in a week... total record). Sylvester opened up with us and told us about when he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true a year or so ago. Really a sweet experience. Sylvester said he knows the church is true but had a hard time coming to church without a friend being there with him. After the lesson headed off to our interviews with President Stevenson. In the evening we saw Mercy again to teach Law of Chastity and then to James to talk with him about baptism. James is on the edge of progressing and not progressing. We are waiting to see if he will make the step of having his GF move out. Once that happens I know he will be great. To close the day, the Assistants called us and invited us to come and eat some pizza (not legit as pizza hut).

Friday we thought to be another day out in the area. But the Assistants called us for help on Friday morning with driving. After that we went to buy some things that the Durrants and President requested for. Also sad moment of the week... 2 times a week I go get letters for missionaries and I never have one *insert weeping.

Saturday we got up early for chapel cleaning (5:30 because it starts at 6am.. count your blessings). After cleaning we went to play soccer with the young men. My skills are getting a little better but not the best hahaha. Sunday was of course church!!! I love going to church. it would be better if I could understand the lessons and talks :P After church we had our P.E.C meeting. Went home for some food then back out!!! In the evening we had a movie playing at the church for the members and investigators. Was a good turn out for something last minute. We watched "17 miracles". I love that movie. Some tears where trying to come out but fought them back :).

“How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then, let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!' ”

—Neal A. Maxwell,



- -Elder Johnson

Strong Impression

Hello to all of you

I say this every week but my time is really short to write everything that happened this week. I will share some small things that happened..

Tuesday, went shopping for Sister Stevenson after our zone meeting.

Wednesday, transfer day. Drove people around to the station they need to get to. Had final fufu in the evening with the new/returning missionaries. I loved the testimony meeting especially from Elder Holman and Elder Nsungu. Really powerful testimonies! It is great to have those spiritual times each day :)

Thursday, due to the missionaries that came from Utah later then supposed to Elder Simpson and I were put in charge of taking missionaries (3) to Takoradi. About 90 minutes or so depending on traffic. One thing that happened is 30 minutes into the drive we were all laughing asking questions but I had a strong impression to pull over and say a prayer. So that is exactly what I did. Do not know why that prompting came but it did and I am thankful for it. Elder Simpson drove home, we left Takoradi at 8 at night and drove in the dark to get home. Was really sweet!

Friday, office work. Bleh.

Saturday, Taught some really sweet lessons. Sylvester is doing really well but we pushed his baptism back a week or two to allow him to prepare better. And resolve the concerns he shared with us. Met with Mercy and Sheka! We really missed them throughout the week. We had to call a couple of times to reschedule.

Sunday, really nice day! Elder Riding (new missionary) got to share his testimony during sacrament. And James (Sylvester's friend) came to church!! Really happy that he came. We hope to baptize them at the same time. For lessons we visited our recent convert Francis and watched "Finding faith in Christ" and talked after how he can continue to build his and his families faith in Christ further. 

Sorry for the quick email :( But I am still alive and loving every moment of it!!

Scripture for the week MORONI 10:32

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in no wise deny the power of God."

Elder Johnson

The Lord Blesses Those Who Work

Good morning/ afternoon/ or evening to you all.

I have 20 minutes to write this email so I will try to remember some highlights of the week.

On Tuesday we had an awesome district meeting and gave an instruction on working with members in our wards. It has been brought to my attention that some are having difficulties so it was nice to counsel with each other on what we should do to start improving relationships with members.

Wednesday was Missionary leadership counsel and Elder Simpson and I got up to talk about supply things. We added some spice to the instruction by me throwing a bleach bottle across the room to Elder Simpson and he said some sweet line about bleach. I almost hit Elder Simpson in the face when I threw it to him.. I looked over at President Stevenson and he was quietly laughing. But all ended up good!

Thursday we were actually able to go out and teach after weekly planning because we were busy the few days prior. Also was able to do 2 baptismal interviews for the other Elders, one is named Esther (20) and then Gifty (9). I love being able to do interviews. I like to take some time to get to know them the best that I can. Also talk with the Elders before about concerns of theirs before the interview. Then took time that evening to re organize some stuff in the office since we received some new shelves.

Friday.. office day. Nothing exciting.

Saturday we went to play soccer with the young men after chapel cleaning early in the morning. It was pretty sweet, got to improve my soccer skills. We want to make it a weekly thing to motivate the YM to go to chapel cleaning. Plus they were begging for us to talk to bishop to be able to play - 2 birds with one stone! After we went to lunch with the Assistants and Elder Adams and Elder Jager. Found out the transfer news early, I am not leaving. Only change in the district is Elder Jager will be training a missionary and Elder Adams is leaving to be a ZL in Western region. In the evening the surrounding zone leaders came to the mission home and we ate a lot of ice cream and cookies. I felt so gross because that was the most sugar I have had in a long time.

Sunday Elder Garry (AP) got the mission van stuck in a big mud pit before church. So instead of getting to the area to escort investigators to church we had to help get the van out of the mud. Was not able to achieve til after church when Elder Simpson, Durrant (senior couple), and I tied rope to the van and to the truck and drug it out.

Everything is going great in the area!! We have 3 people coming to be baptized soon. With others that will are still working with. Mercy, her daughter Sheka, and Sylvester are mostly for October 1st.

Now off to a meeting!!!

Ether 10:19-29... the lord blesses those who work!!!

Love you all

Elder Johnson

Really Sore!

My people!!!

This will have to be a quick email because I have procrastinated my group email til the last thing I do and I have little time to do it :(

Not many things went on this week due to a big festival.. or party.. that was going on in the main part of Cape Coast from Fri- to Saturday.  President Stevenson did not want Elder Simpson and I to be driving in there Friday to get the mail and supplies so he asked us to do it Thursday. Even on Thursday there were huge speakers playing loud music. So loud the truck could not be locked without the alarm going off. Cape has one lane roads that are to small anyways so with people dancing in the roads and guys being fools it made it hard to get around before the main party began on Friday.

Last night with our investigator Sylvester.. Elder Simpson has fake glasses on

On Wednesday we had a sweet zone conference with President Stevenson. My favorite instruction by President (all are really good) it was on the attributes of astonishment. I forgot my notes with the scriptures on it but basically we named different times in the Book Of Mormon where the land was righteous and an astonishing amount of people and astonishing miracles were happening. President wanted us to find the similar attributes of the leaders and people to find why so many where baptized. Things like humble, repenting, faith, forgiveness, the authority to preach and baptize, and dedicated. He said we have wandered as a mission in the wilderness long enough and it is time to establish Zion.

Giving instruction at conference about using sacred funds

The really good news of the week is that Mercy unexpectedly came back from Accra!!! You may or may not remember but we started teaching her over a month ago and she was so interested but was only visiting Nkanfoa for a small time. We taught her what we could and then she left but came back!!! Mercy and her daughter Sheka came to church yesterday and they both have a baptismal date. We also started teaching a muslim family this past week which is pretty interesting. Their beliefs are different then our of course but they know something is not right where they are. The family minus the mom came to church yesterday (mom told us yesterday night she had cooking to do, which is true).

On my physical health side of things, I am really sore. Elder Simpson has now reached his year mark and is now having me run with him every morning. For the past 3 months he kept saying "when I reach my year mark then I will work out" and it was actually true!! When he returns home he has to be in shape to continue his service as a marine.

Have a great week!!
Elder Johnson