And So It Ends

Well, here I am emailing in Ghana for the last time. I think Ghana is sad I am leaving because the weather has been nothing but cloudy and raining with some sun all week. Even right now it is dumping buckets outside.

Thank you too everyone for the last 2 years, reading my emails, writing me, and prayers in my behalf. I am excited to reconnect with everyone upon my return this Friday. This last week in zone conference President Stevenson talked about " Last Sermons". He told us if he has it his way he would not even mention going home but its the Presidents responsibility to prepare the missionaries for a new mission president. Pres Stevenson started with a video of Bruce R. McConkie's final testimony in general conference of April 1985. We went over other examples of final sermons like Paul in the new testament, King Benjamin, Moroni etc. And for all of them talked about the elements in each of them. So I will use this email for my almost final sermon (I count my talk in sacrament meeting a couple weeks tho I will be released already)

It has been quite a journey the last 2 years. Been filled with every emotion that you can think of because missions are just really big scary roller coasters but at the end we are pumped and ready to do it again. Though hard at times I will forever be grateful for this missionary experience. Through it all it has left me with a strong testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. A deeper conversion and a love for my Savior Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven. I know without a doubt that Jesus Christ lives and made the greatest and last sacrifice for the sins of us all. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ knows me personally and loves me. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that we are in the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that we are being lead today by prophets and apostles that have been called by God. And I know that Jesus Christ has left a path for us to follow and if we follow Him we can live with God again.

I am nervous to come home... but really happy. This country is great and all but God bless America! #Merica

-- Elder Johnson

Fire Week

Hello once again!

You would think after writing so many emails every week my memory of what happened over the week would get better but that is not the case. The week just flew by in the blink of an eye.

As I am coming close to finishing my service as a full- time missionary the thoughts have come that have been saying "I am not a good missionary" or "You have not done enough".  As the thoughts have come I first thought, those are thoughts that are coming from down below not above. Second, I have thought about the hours I have been out, The copies of The Book of Mormon I have handed out, and the lessons I have taught. Though mistakes have been made through the last two years, I feel I have done all that I can. This week will be my "fire" week :P

My favorite discussion from the week was this past Friday. We met with a less active, Patrick - older man, really nice, a lot of questions, which I like.  Our plan was just to meet with him and introduce him to Elder Sowah and teach from whatever question Patrick asked. Well, it was the one time he had no questions from us.  So I had a prompting to open one of the Jehovah Witness books ( ya... they teach him too...) and when I opened it I stopped on a page and knew this is what we had to teach. The lesson was about "Where do we go when we die, which our beliefs differ from the Jehovah Witnesses' beliefs.

The quote that I will remember for the rest of my life is this... "Preach the Gospel wherever you go and when necessary, open your mouth."  People watch how we act, what we say and our actions so make sure all of that goes a long with the gospel standards.


Love you all,

Elder Johnson

Joy and Satisfaction

Hello!

What a great week it has been! Last week was our transfer week and Elder Momoh has gone and my new companion is Elder Sowah. He is from Ghana and a really chill guy, he knows american talk because he has been to Utah and also has been to London. He even has been accepted into BYU Provo. My mission right now is to make sure he knows the area and the people so he is not left with nothing. What did not help is Elder Sowah was sick on Friday so we have been knocked one day.

The work is going well in the area. We met President Stevenson at the adult session of conference on Saturday and he asked me how the ward is doing. My response was that it is not so great but small small. He told me "Work harder so next time I ask you tell me it is great". So I am working harderererer so when we have zone conference next week I can tell him it is great haha.

The adventures of mission are continuing. I am really thankful I am able to be apart of this service because there is nothing that has brought me more joy and satisfaction at the end of the day than being a full time missionary.

Love you all,

Elder Johnson

The Last Transfer

Hello!

Well another week has come and gone I guess. Today is the start of my last transfer... flip. Usually they are 6 weeks but I drew the lucky stick and go home on the transfer they had to cut in half. Four out of my 9 (soon to be 10 cuz Elder Momoh is getting transferred Wednesday) are going home this week. Again... Flip.

Elder Momoh and I have put some good work in this last week. Our focus right now is more on the strengthening the members in the ward. But we do have 2 people we will baptize next Saturday. My plan for my last companion is to walk him on his first day in the area to the farthest village in the area which is about an hour walk :D HE WILL LOVE ME!!!!

On Tuesday Elder Harward instructed on something very cool, we discussed how do we know if we have been a successful missionary. Yesterday was a good day! The Anzie family invited us 4 over to their house. Had some sweet fufu with groundnut soup and had some time chatting and laughing.

" The Gospel of Jesus Christ opens the path to what we may become"

Have a great week!

Elder Johnson

Pride

Hello!

I am really out of many words to email to all of you. Everything is going well in Abakrampa! Elder Momoh and I are teaching quite a few people right now. We have 3 people to be baptized, 2 on the 27th of May and hopefully the other on June 10th. Alive and well!

The rest I wanted to share a talk called, "Beware of Pride" by Ezra Taft Benson from April 1989.

"The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the Book of Mormon is the “record of a fallen people.” (D&C 20:9.) Why did they fall? This is one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon. Mormon gives the answer in the closing chapters of the book in these words: “Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction.” (Moro. 8:27.) And then, lest we miss that momentous Book of Mormon message from that fallen people, the Lord warns us in the Doctrine and Covenants, “Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.” (D&C 38:39.)

"Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. (See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Ne. 6:18.) In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride—it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. (See 2 Ne. 4:15; Mosiah 1:3–7; Alma 5:61.)

Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.

The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.” As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philip. 2:21.)

"Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them." (See Hel. 6:17; D&C 58:41.)

The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. (See D&C 3:6–7; D&C 30:1–2; D&C 60:2.) “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God think of me?”

Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. Most of us consider pride to be a sin of those on the top, such as the rich and the learned, looking down at the rest of us. (See 2 Ne. 9:42.) There is, however, a far more common ailment among us—and that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.

Another face of pride is contention. Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride.

Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts. The scriptures tell us that “only by pride cometh contention.” (Prov. 13:10; see also Prov. 28:25.)

Think of the tens of thousands of additional young men and couples who could be on missions except for the pride that keeps them from yielding their hearts unto God. (See Alma 10:6; Hel. 3:34–35.)

Think how temple work would increase if the time spent in this godly service were more important than the many prideful pursuits that compete for our time.

Love,

Elder Johnson

The Reason Missionaries Are So Happy....

Hello friends and family!

Another week has gone by and my how it has flown. We had a pretty good week!

Tuesday was the day we walked A LOT! There are investigators and some less actives in the villages around ABK so he villages are where we headed. We were able to meet with Brother George and his family in "Mpredu". They are a less active family and my how I hope they can get back to church. The blessings are right there waiting for them!!! After that village we walked another hour to "Asemase" to see a member family, the Anzies. Brother Anzie has not been able to come to church due to a leg issue.

Thursday was sweet because we got to go farming for a member in Elder Harward and Elder Tupola area, Asebu. We farmed for the famous Auntie Alice as a district and it was... funny. She is old and kinda of out of it, we love her though. Famous quote of the day is " I want you to go get the wood from the sticks" -- Auntie Alice. Her food has gotten whole districts of missionaries sick so we are grateful there are bushes around. Elder Tupola still got a little stomach problem.

Friday was our zone conference! It was legendary because the Zone leaders organized to get a good discount on little individual pizzas. It was nice to have a change from the usual rice and chicken. The Zone conference was about "Member/ Less active/ Recent convert visits" and President Stevenson instructed on "Working with Stake and Ward Leaders". President can instruct on how to grow our grass and I would still be interested in what he is saying. Very good teacher and I always leave a conference with him feeling great.

Yamoransa Zone Conference - the Guy in The Purple Tie

Special treat for the zone meeting

Who is that guy in the purple tie totally focused on his pizza??

Sunday our branch was made to be a ward! It is very exciting news for the members around. Sad though the Bishop was called and no counselors called yet. It will help the members and the ward council to step up their game. Plus instead of the whole meeting not being in English, half of it was this time!

"The reason the missionaries are so happy is because they have lost themselves in the work and focus on others and not themselves"

-- Elder Johnson

A Wonderful Week

Hello friends and family!

I hope you all had a wonderful week because I sure did! There were some really fun things that we were able to do this last week.

Elder Johnson and Elder Momoh

Elder Momoh and I have been working with the investigators that are being prepared for baptism. We have 5 scheduled for May 13th but there may be a few that will be pushed back. One of those with a baptism date is Richard. He is good friends with the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency, Brother Ankrumah. Richard has been coming to church for a month or so. He and Brother Ankrumah work on a rice farm. Our next task is finding and bringing back the many less actives in the branch. Fun stuff... people saying they will come back when the branch president is released.. others saying the church does not care about them... funniest one is a lady who had a baby and left the church (so called) because when she had a baby the church did not help her but they did... oh people.

Something cool that we were able to do this last Thursday was farming for a lady named Grace. She is in the Abura- Dunkwa branch but the Elders in that branch are in our district and they invited us to come. Our whole district went and we met at Sister Graces at 9 am. It was an hour walk through the bush trails of West Africa (sounds cool.. haha) to finally arrive in her farm. The job for the day was to harvest Coco. It took some hours. She fed us boiled cassava and plaintain with kontombre stew for lunch. I walked back to her house with a big metal basin of palm nuts on my head.

I learned a lot this week but here are 2 things. First, in our area we have Abakrampa where we live it is a small town.. I say village. Then we have 6 villages farther out surrounding us. I love my last area....... if only I can grow a beard. Second, when you tell a member in ABK that you want to try her fufu and light soup she will actually prepare it for you the next day. The family called us at 8:30pm the next day and brought it to our apartment. Did not eat it that night though.... ball of carbs.

Love you all,

Elder Johnson