15 April 2013

Hola,

Pues sí, todavía puede llamar las citas charlas, a veces lo hacemos nosotros. Más las llamamos citas o, pero en final ambos son iguales.

So this week we tried to meet with all the people that we contacted. Unfortunately almost all of them cancelled on us. But that´s just part of the work. 

So other than that I don´t know what much more to say. Thanks for all your letters, right now we are searching and finding. But hopefully soon we will be able to start teaching. We have to teach another Zone Training meeting in a week, so we need to start preparing for that. Hopefully we can help out all the missionaries do better.

Transfers are also in a two weeks, so I don´t really know what we´re going to do. Me and Elder Berthon have only been together for a short time, but I think that we might get split up to train because there are a ton of people coming in next transfer. I don´t know where one of us would go, but I almost don´t want to go anywhere because b1 is awesome. But then I also hope that Elder Berthon stays here to enjoy the teaching part of the finding process. But we´ll see what happens. 

Well, I don´t really know what more to say, we´ve had some amazing contacts, it´s amazing to see some people completely change their opinion of our message because of a second witness. It´s amazing to see how everything the Lord says always makes things better.

Well until next week,

Elder Johnson

8 April 2013

Hola

So this past week was filled with contacting and General Conference. General Conference was amazing. I felt like I learned a lot, and hope to be able to apply it now it my life.

We contacted for the majority of the week, which actually turned out to be really good. There are always a ton of people in the street, so we were able to receive more numbers and addresses then I ever thought possible in the mission. Elder Berthon is great and helps me to learn and grow to be a better missionary.

I started the BYU stuff last week, but today I don´t  have enough time to be able to do more. Next week I will try to make sure that I have more time to do that.

I don´t know the ward yet since we had the Conference in the Stake center with other wards. So we have only met a few of them.

The zone has 30 missionaries in it, and is the largest zone in the mission. All the areas, with exception of two are in Madrid. So the normal that we will have to travel will be around 40 minutes. So basically as a Zone Leader Elder Berthon and I will have to help the zone get back up on it´s feet and do better. We are going to have to teach the District Leaders, and help the other companionships with their struggles. Zone conferences are sparse, but we will have a Zone training meeting every month. 

The area is great because it has so much potential. We are both pretty excited to be able to do a lot here. I also hope that we are going to be able to help out the zone to realize that it has a lot more potential than it thinks.

Spain is awesome because it has such a rich culture. At least that´s what I think. It is a pretty cool country.

Well, we have to go now, we need to catch a bus, and it already looks like we´re late. Sorry

Elder Johnson

From the President

Dear Brother and Sister Johnson,


It is a pleasure to inform you that we have called your son, Elder Johnson, to serve as a zone leader in the Madrid Centro Zone. He will work closely with another Zone Leader. This calling carries with it many of the same duties as a District Leader; setting an example for the other missionaries through his study of the scriptures and the gospel, obedience, hard work, proselyting skills and other aspects of missionary work. Along with these duties, he will be given some additional responsibilities such as: teaching missionaries in the Zone through companion exchanges, visiting District Meetings, giving presentations in Zone Conferences and in Zone Training Meetings. He will also interview baptismal candidates, who have been taught by the District Leaders in his Zone.


The Assistants to the President and I are responsible for training the Zone Leaders in monthly councils. They will in turn train the members of their Zone. These responsibilities are in addition to his regular proselyting duties. We have confidence in your son, and know that he will grow and develop, and influence those around him as he serves in this capacity. We have enjoyed working with him in the office. He has done a wonderful job, and we will miss him.


Our best wishes to you,


 President Scott T. Jackson


Spain Madrid Mission

1 April 2013

Hello,

 

So today is the first day that I will have in B1. Elder Berthon just got here. So today we are going to be having to unpack, and do all the normal things here as well..So today we are kind of opening a new area since most of the investigators that we just got haven´t been visited in about 2 weeks or so. So Elder Cousins is on his own.

So me and Elder Berthon are the zone leaders right now. I thought that I had pretty much messed up the zone conference since I forgot what I was going to say three times. But from what I heard it still looks like everyone was able to learn something.

So, I really don´t know what to say right now. It´s kind of exciting/sad/disappointing that I am out of the office and into the field. I´ll probably, hopefully be mostly used to it by tomorrow. 

So we´ll see how the work here goes. I don´t really know what it´s going to be like yet.

So here is a picture of our Easter. The Bishop of Alcobendas gave us some giant chocolate eggs. And the other Elders hid them in the piso for us. Unfortunately one of the eggs had been hidden in the toilet. (wasn´t mine).

Love,
Elder Johnson

25 March 2013

Hello,

 

So I'm assuming that you were probably very surprised last week when you didn't get a letter from me. It turned out that since it was transfer day, that we had to sign the contract for an apartment that we were going to rent in a far off city in the middle of nowhere. However, when we went there, the people told us that they were no longer interested in renting us the piso. So we spent a lot of time during the day in that city looking for a piso to rent. (we ended up finding a great one that is pretty much brand new). However, we got back to the office around 8:00, just in time for Elder Winkelkotter to write the contract. And since it was no longer p-day, I decided that it would be best if I waited till the next week before I did email.

 

So as for the transfers. I have been transferred (though I am still training in the office for this week). I am going to  be in the northwest of Madrid with Elder Berthon!! (again). It´s the only time I have heard of two missionaries being companions twice. So right now the other Elders there are taking care of all the investigators, and when Elder Berthon and I get there we might be taking them back, or we might just start a new area, it will depend on how we feel and if they are able to cope with all the investigators that they have.

 

So I forgot my camera ... again.

 

So right now the Missionary that I am training is called Elder Cousins. He is from Utah, and has about 7 months in the mission right now.

 

So, Elder Winkelkotter had to open 4 pisos for the last transfer, he finished it at the end of last week (just in two weeks time). A very nice preview for May. Especially since President Jackson doesn´t want any more than 4 missionaries in an apartment. Which means that Elder Winkelkotter is going to have to find a TON of pisos for the 25 new companionships that we are going to have. (especially since all the pisos are full right now).

 

*(These are answers to a list of questions I asked him.)

So the best thing that happened to me since last time we talked was probably that I am moving to B1. I was super excited that night.

 

Something that made me laugh are all the Elders that I live with, they are all super funny. It´s awesome.

 

The funnest person in the mission would have to be either Elder Pluim or Elder Walters. They are both hilarious and make me laugh, though in different ways. Elder Walters is just goofy, and Elder Pluim just does funny things.

 

Of course you are the best mother in the world, if you weren´t then I probably would have chosen different parents.

 

One discouraging thing about being a missionary is when people deny the chance to be baptized and to change, even though they have received a testimony and they know that the church and message that we share is true.

 

During this week me and Elder Berthon have to give a Zone training meeting (which is super stressful) But if the missionaries all do better, it will be the most exciting thing that I plan on doing this week.

 

Good luck, I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for all your prayers.

 

Elder Johnson