Bucket Brigade in Peru

"So the story of the week was most certainly the baptism of Jose Luis. We had a baptism Saturday in the afternoon and we were going to baptize Jose Sunday morning because he works really late.  So we left the font with water in it so we could show up Sunday and start the baptism. What happened though is that the other set of missionaries who share the chapel with us forgot we were going to have a baptism so they drained the baptismal font...  Ha, we showed up early Sunday to make sure everything was ready but when we opened up the font, it was dry. The baptism was going to start in 20 minutes but it takes an hour and a half to fill the font. We turned the water on and found 2 hoses and a couple of buckets.  We hooked up the hoses and started a bucket brigade and the font was filled in 30 minutes! After everything, it turned out good and another one of our Heavenly Father's children was able to make a covenant with Him. I love the work and you guys!" Elder Johnson

Its Never Too Late

"I interviewed a couple to be baptized that are more than 90 years old!!!"
"This week was pretty awesome! We had a lot of time in our area and we were
able to find lots of good people. We also had a zone meeting, district training,
and interviews with President. I have been learning a lot in these last couple
weeks." Elder Johnson

Gorillas in the Mist

Beautiful misty morning on the way to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
We started with traditional native dancers and orientation before trekking up
through chrysanthemum and potato fields, bamboo forests and steep slopes.
Then when the trackers located the Agashaya family group, the guides hacked
 through trees and vines till we caught up to them. We were surrounded by 20
gorillas but we couldn't see them all because of the foliage. We were able to
 spend an hour watching and following them. You can't touch them but they
can touch you if they want. We learned to make the gorilla welcome sound. 

 

 

Suddenly, this big silverback(Agashaya) slid backwards down a slope like a child sliding down the stairs then brushed against my knee as he passed by. He was followed by a female with her baby on her back. It was amazing, we had a great experience! 

Letters on the Sabbath

"This week in church, we watched the video of the round table discussion that the apostles had about the sabbath. I really liked a lot of things that they said, like how on the sabbath, we should be with our families, maintain a reverent attitude, eat food together and write letters to missionaries. Ha, I remember that mom was always telling us to write letters but I just never got around to it...I think I feel a little bit of carma now. Also, I was thinking about the spirit and how sometimes we think that it is an instrument that we have but really, we are instruments of the spirit. Sometimes we also think about the church and the work of God in the same way. We ask what the church can do for us or how can the work help us but we are completely turned around. I know that we are here on the earth because Heavenly Father gives us that opportunity."  Excerpt from Young Elder Johnson

Genocide Memorial in Rwanda

We went to the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda.
It's hard to believe that people could spread hatred and commit
such atrocities. It was only 20 years ago.  It was even difficult to
walk through the memorial. The amazing thing though is that
people forgave their neighbors. Anyone we met over 20 years
old, experienced it and lived through it.
 They all said the only way to live, to have peace, was to forgive. 

Beautiful Gardens where 250 thousand people are buried.

They left the gunshot holes in the Parliment Building in Kigali as a remimder.

From Ethiopia to Rwanda

We had the opportunity to go to Rwanda for a few days. It is a beautiful, very
 clean country with a thousand hills. We ate dinner in this restaurant, "Heaven". 

There were fantastic views from the hilltops. This view is from Heaven.

The church has only been in Rwanda for
two years. We went to Rwanda to meet
a young man that has been a member
for two years and was prepared to be
set apart and serve a mission.  

We stopped at a market and bought
this tiny fruit. The dried packet opens
and it tastes really good, like citrus.

Young Elder Johnson in Peru

Matt Leaning on his First Companion
Since he has been in this area, Elder Johnson has been teaching a man whose
family was baptized without him. Then he quit his job and they spent a lot of
time teaching him but he never made a decision.
"We were on the brink of losing hope because he got a new job and it won't
have time anymore. Saturday night before stake conference we decided to
pass by his house but had no idea what to teach and didn't have much time.
We ended up teaching about Lehi's dream and the importance of having the
vista puesta in the tree(eternal life-living with your family, God and Christ)
instead of paying attention to the people in the building who are never going
to help you be happy. We finished the lesson and went to stake conference.
When the family got there, the dad told us that he decided to be baptized this
week. We really have no idea what happened but I know that the Lord wants
the family to be united and eternal. I know that Heavenly Father answers
prayers when we pray with real intent."           Elder Johnson

"Trust in Christ"

"My Birthday turned out really good
and I even had some cake and milk. "

Young Elder Johnson had a fantastic week.
He said, "We worked super hard, fasted and prayed and finished
with a baptism on my birthday. We saw evidence that satan doesn't
want the work to progress but if we trust in Christ, we will always
come out on the winning side.  We had our baptism planned well
 but it didn't look like it was going to happen right up until the
baptism in the afternoon Saturday. I love you all, Elder Johnson

Big Week in Peru

"Well, this week was really good for us.  We finished our transfer

well and my companion and I are staying together for one more

change.  This week is going to be a big one for me, Saturday is my

birthday and I will be 20 years old! I also complete 18 months on

mission on Saturday. I really love the gospel and the opportunity I

have to share it with everyone.  I know if we really understand the

gospel and we really love our neighbors like Jesus taught, we will

share the gospel. 

I love you all tons, thanks for the birthday wishes! "Elder Johnson 

New Year in Peru

The Whole Family at Home Minus the Missionaries(no photo from Matt)

"Wow, we are now in 2016! We celebrated New Year's eating chicken in our
room, we watched the fireworks, we watched people burn giant dolls
and a hardware store that caught on fire.
We are teaching lots of great investigators. Some have been coming to church
and some have been reading the Book of Mormon and are in 2nd Nephi.
I love you all tons and I would love to hear how you are doing!" Elder Johnson

We Celebrate Christmas January 7th in Ethiopia

As missionaries, the true meaning of Christmas is what
we are living and testifying of every day-Inviting others
to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored
gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,
repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost,
and enduring to the end. When Pilate asked Jesus if He
was a king, the Savior responded, "To this end was I born,
and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth." We truly celebrate Christmas when
we witness of the Savior's mission and the purpose of his
birth. We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season!
We love you all,          President and Sister Johnson

We went to a nice hotel to have a Christmas Eve
buffet. The grounds are beautiful like Thanksgiving
Point plus palm trees. We were early so we
experimented with the timer on the iPad's camera.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!