June 13, 2016

Well this week was pretty good! Lots of funny things happened! So many I probably can't list them all! But we also had a lot of spiritual experiences as well! We have started building our teaching pool! We are really starting to get things rolling! We have picked up two new investigators this week, they're both young guys. One is 17 and the other is 18. Not sure if they will actually progress, but they are people to teach so that is good! One is a former investigator from a few months back and we're hoping to see some commitment out of him this time! So I will keep you guys posted on those two in the coming weeks. 

We have been seeing a few less actives recently. One just got out of prison a few weeks ago and he is so into the gospel! He teaches us every time we go over! He has truly had a change of heart for the better and is really looking forward to becoming active again in the church, in 13 years when his probation ends. He comes to church every week but just can't have a calling or go to any meetings after sacrament because of his probation restrictions. So we have been working with him. We have also been trying to get into the part member families homes. We are trying to teach the non-member of the family, but we will see how that goes. We are hoping for the best! haha 

Another good less active is this guy in the ward, he thinks he is active when really he is not haha It's kind of funny! But he's a great guy, we go over and just read a few verses and he just takes over and talks forever, like an hour easy.. haha So that's pretty funny to just sit there and nod my head haha. But that's pretty much it from the week! Things are starting to maybe get better, but we will see. I'm hoping for the best. Trying to look at the positives. It can be hard, but I'm trying my best! haha  I miss you guys and love you guys so much!

Love, 

Elder Johnsen

June 6, 2016

So this week was interesting. It's been fun having one of the most obedient missionary's in the mission as my companion. I'm not the most disobedient but I'm not going to be fake and not who I am. So it's been fun! This week, my first day I got to see an s13 hatch so it's nice being back in the city, since now I can see the cars I love! So first day back and I see my car driving around! Awesome! 

The other day we were out riding bikes around and a guy walked by with a bmx bike and so I was like 'hey man, nice bike.'  He was like' thanks!'  I asked him to show me his best trick and so he busted out a 180, that he failed to land. And he was like' yeah man, I have been trying to learn that trick but I'm getting close.' So when your dressed like a missionary it's hard for people to really see who you really are and i'm like 'well can I give it a shot? I mean its kinda like my mountain bike, I should be able to do a little bunny hop.' And the kids like 'you might be able to if you really try.' So I hop on and I bust out a huge flat 360 and then g-turn into a 180 and 360 out. The kid about crapped his pants. He was like OH MY G** NO WAY DID YOU JUST DO THAT!!  I just busted up laughing! hahah It was so funny! The best part was that he was with two girls and they both were like dang, Damian you suck! hahahahaha I busted out a big ole laugh! hahahahaha Oh man it was so funny! So we talked a little bit. He wasn't interested in the church so that stinks.. But he will never forget the missionary that schooled him with out any practice before jumping on the bike! hahaha it was hilarious! 

We have been having an interesting time trying to figure things out around here! We have been doing lots of biking around and trying to see anyone and everyone we can! We have no idea what we're doing! haha It kind of sucks but we're getting through it! We don't really have any investigators to report on at the moment. So I'm sorry there's nothing I can say there. They kind of all dropped us this last week or won't get back to us. So that's what it's like starting an area haha! But I love you guys and miss you guys so much! I can't wait to see you guys soon! I love ya!

Love,

Elder Johnsen

May 30, 2016

This week was pretty good. I got injured twice really bad.. So that stinks. One was my own fault the other was my companion that thinks he is in the NBA. He pretty much wrecked me on the court and I fell, slammed my head into the ground and blacked out. I came back to someone yelling to get ice.. so i was mad and my head hurts and my hip hurts. I can barley walk, I have the biggest limp ever, and I look goofy walking anywhere. Oh and did I mention I'm getting transferred to a biking area. As if it couldn't get any worse. So I guess there's the downside to my week. I haven't been too happy for most of it thus far.  But I guess for good things, we taught a few lessons, no one came to church and we were able to get some stuff done. We didn't get to teach John or Hunter because they were both really busy. well John was at least, Hunter says he is "stressed out", not sure how truthful that is haha. But John is doing good. He is sad to see me go, but I'm actually excited for it since it will now give an opportunity for other missionary's to be able to buckle down and teach him and to help him spiritually. I think me and Godfrey were here just to be able to help him with the social conversion and to be able to be friends with him. He even said it himself, if it wasn't for Godfrey just being a friend he would have never considered taking the lessons. So I think my purpose in being here is done.  I think I'm going to miss New Bern more! haha All the members there are taking us out to eat and things like that these last few days! haha Morehead ward is like eh see ya! haha So next transfers are this Wednesday. Me and my comp are doing ok. I'm not the biggest fan of him, but I guess we're moving along. haha This week I was studying out of the BOM of course. and I was in the end of Alma where there have been lots of wars. It's been pretty good. I just don't understand how people can't read it and go 'hey we probably shouldn't do that'. We should use the BOM as an example of what we should be doing in our lives. The lamanites are a good example of that. If you don't follow God or Jesus Christ you're not really going to turn out so well. But at the same time when you turn to Christ things seem to go better. Same thing with the wars in the BOM. Moroni will slay a bunch of them and then says we don't wanna kill ya, so will you just turn in your weapons of war so we don't have to be doing this? The next thing you know, they say no and they get killed. Some people are smart and turn in their weapons of war and everything works out great for them! So I have been studying that and just kinda getting through the last little bit of Alma.  I miss you all! I'll be home soon enough! haha I love ya!  Elder Johnsen

May 23, 2016

This week was pretty slow for us missionaries, but we still saw a lot of great things happen! We were able to contact a lot of the members in the ward and visit a lot of the inactive members. They were all really nice and most all of them said that we could come back over! So we got their phone number and are working on trying to set up some days we can go back over and meet with them! 

We also went and saw Hunter, he is doing really good! He just needs to get his priority's straightened out. He missed church again this week, which is really disappointing because I really wanted to see him there. But we did have our investigator Kyra there! We were so excited to see her with her family! They only stayed for sacrament, but it was still awesome to see them there! Her mom hasn't been to church in a long time and so it was really cool to see her there! Otherwise that was pretty much my week! 

We had a really great family home evening with the ward yesterday! I have a video of us playing the game that followed dinner and the lesson. It was kinda nice to get out of the missionary feels and be more like a kid just having fun. I was helping one of the little boys and man it made me so trunky for having kids. I really can't wait to have a family and then later on down the road have kids. It was just fun seeing their imagination and how they're just always going! It was just really cool. Made me see how important family is and how much I really want to raise my kids in the gospel (not like I wouldn't but it brought me a view point I guess) so that was cool! Otherwise that pretty much wraps up our week. We saw John but didn't teach a lesson. He was busy doing other things, and we have been dropping a lot of our investigators because they aren't progressing. So we'll see what happens this week.

Love,

Elder Johnsen