Letter from Michael 2-23-2015, New Companion in eMalahleni

Letter from Michael 2-23-2015, New Companion in eMalahleni

Tuesday was the Transfer. Elder Perez is home now and I have a new companion whose name is Elder Novotny. He is from Check Republic had to learn English in the Provo MTC. He only knew how to speak Check. He is a great missionary! Were teach and work well together. He his one of the funniest Elders i have been around. Especially his accent cracks me up all of the time. He has tons of weights so we pretty much have our own gym in the living room.

As far as the work goes it was a pretty good week. The investigators who came to church were Selena, Stuart, and Crisben. We put Stuart on date to get baptized in April as well as Tapiwa who is Plaxedes's cousin. Quintin and Liza also came to church again. Quintin has been doing a bit better with the word of wisdom. Our investigator Stanley basically said that he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and restored gospel. The only thing holding him back is his wife who is already very committed to her faith. Plus we will need to help him to keep the word of wisdom. When we watch the "Prophet of the Restoration" video there is the part where they have their first sacrament meeting and they sustain the prophet Joseph Smith. During this moment even Stanley raised his hand to sustain him. We plan on seeing him twice a week now. Once with his family and once just with him. On Saturday we had a good day of finding. We Prayed for guidence and then went out tracting and street finding. Every person we talked to that day was receptive and set an appointment with us. We found 2 father lead families and 3 other individual people. Plus after finding people we found a less active member named Andre. He is a great man. We will started to visit him every now and then.

- Elder Johnson

Part of letter to his mom:

On Monday night I dropped off Elder Perez at the Mission Home. I then went with Elder Wilkerson to be his companion in Soweto until were got our new companions. 

The day I come home might not be Dec. 8th anymore. My passport will be expired by then. I will talk to president about it. It sounds like most of my MTC group is going home in October. I will let you know next Monday.

Part of letter to his dad:

Yep, Jonathan was confirmed on Sunday. We did not teach Stanley. He had a family emergency.

Letter from Michael 2-16-2015 Witbank Transfer News

Letter from Michael 2-16-2015 Witbank Transfer News

We got the Transfer news on Friday night. As for my companion he is obviously going home back to Saint George. My new companion will probably be the new district leader. 

This week went pretty well. Jonathan was baptized and his father and other relatives who are not members came. His father almost didn't come because he always thought that the Elders were judging him because he went to a different church. Then last week he over heard part of the lesson for Jonathan about the articles of faith. We talked about the part that says that we respect other peoples beliefs and about others worshiping how or what they may. Selena came to church again as well as Crisben. 

On Thursday we reviewed the restoration with Stanley and his family. We even showed him the movie which enjoyed very much. At the part where they have their first sacrament meeting everyone raised their hand to sustain the prophet Joseph Smith. Elder Perez and I looked over at Stanley and he was also sustaining the prophet. We can see in him that he is beginning to have a testimony but his wife seems to be the only thing holding him back at the moment. I hope I get to see Stanley get baptized before I leave Witbank. We also had a couple less actives come to church this Sunday. Last week I went on exchanges to Kwagukua which was nice. I really enjoyed being back in township. There are so many more people to talk to on the street and the people there actually want to listen to and talk with us. I got burned pretty bad though. There is just no trees to give off shade in township. 

(Which prophet didn't have a father?)

....................................................... "Joshua, the son of Nun"  

- Elder Michael Johnson

Part of his letter to his mom:

Yes, I assumed I would be staying. He goes to the mission home tonight and will fly home Tuesday night. Yes, we will drive down to Roodeport for the Transfer. 

Part of his letter to his dad:

Jonathan, Selena, and Crisben came to church. Also, Quintin who is a less active also
came. We stil have not yet done the booth thing at the shopping center. At
least by sometime next week we will have done it.

Hamster Ball Soccer

Letter from Michael 2-9-2015  A Week Before Transfers

Ello, everyone! This week has flown by. We have been on so many exchanges lately. I have never in any other transfer been on so many exchanges. Jonathan is getting baptized next week. He, Dewald, and Selena came to church yesterday. Dewald told us that he wants to be Jewish now. He was asking people where a Jewish church is. He has still been coming to this one. He is a bit of a strange person. Next week we are going to try to set up a booth at a shopping center and have the youth come help us and talk to people. Brother Allen, a recent convert, called us to come over because something bad happened. One of his relatives had a stroke and went into a deep coma. He and his sister was very upset. We offered to give a blessing and prayed with them. Allen's brother in law later on that day broke out of his coma and is good now. He was very grateful that we came over because he was feeling very down and didn't know what to do. Also that same weekend his niece went blind and his nephew went to jail and died in a horrible way. Brother Allen is a very strong man in faith. It is amazing how far he has come and how much he has gone through.

Anyway, next time I email I will have the transfer news.

Part of Michael’s letter to his dad:

We did not teach the ones at the restaurant. It sounds like the cars are having a lot of trouble. At least it is fixed now. Thanks! Since I wasn't able to send the Birthday post card to you last year I will send it now as a Father’s day card.

Quote of the week:

David O. McKay’s 10 Rules For Happiness:

1. Develop yourself by self discipline.
2. Joy comes through creation—sorrow through destruction. Every living thing can grow; use the world wisely to realize soul growth.
3. Do things that are hard to do.
4. Entertain up building thoughts. What you think about when you do not have to think about shows what you really are.
5. Do your best this hour, and you will do better the next.
6. Be true to those who trust you.
7. Pray for wisdom, courage, and a kind heart.
8. Give heed to God’s messages through inspiration. If self-indulgence, jealousy, avarice, or worry have deadened your response, pray to the Lord to wipe out these impediments.
9. True friends enrich life. If you would have a friend, be one.
10. Faith is the foundation of all things—including happiness. 

Russell and Maxwell (in Polokwane)

Russell and Maxwell (in Polokwane)

in Rabie Ridge

Letter sent by Michael on 2-3-2015 due to power outage the day before

When asked why he only wrote a short letter on 2-3-2015, he responded:

Yea, we were not able to email yesterday. The server was having problems and then  the power here went out. Today was our only option. 

Part of his letter to his mom:

I have received some letters from you as well as some beautiful post cards. Thank you! I don't know when President will be here. I get along with my companion pretty well. He is sad to leave mission but happy to leave this dangerous country and the culture. I don't blame him. Exercise has been a struggle lately. Mostly in the flat. Sometimes we run. Yes I ate some Mopane worms at the flat in Protea Glen. They were horrible and dry. It leaves a bad after taste. I never ate the intestines but on Sunday I ate some cow tongue which actually tasted very good. It was very tender.

When asked  when Janathan is getting baptized:

He is getting baptized on the 15th. He is pretty young and his mother is a member and the father is not. He is pretty smart and has almost all of the Articles of Faith memorized. 

Part of his letter to his dad:

Zuele also came to church, by the way. We found a couple potentials. One is a waiter and the other a waitress at "The Brazen Head" restaurant. We will see how that goes. We like to request for them every time we go. their names are Emanuel and Charmaine. 

Great price of gas and gas mileage. Imagine the gas mileage of a motorcycle. Since I have been here I have had an interest in getting a motorcycle. I don't think I ever will though. By the way, I really appreciate the pictures you send.

Quote of the week:

"A person could not give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return." - Melvin J Ballard

At Amos' house

Africa!

With Zone Leaders in Poloqwane

Letter from Michael 2-2-2015

Last week was similar to the one before. There were a lot of canceled appointment and everyone is busy. This area is so big. Sometimes we get lost for quite some time trying to find someone's house. I did get to go on exchanges twice last week. On one of them I went to a township called Kwaguqa. It was so nice going back to township with so many people to teach and people progressing. I would love to serve there as one of my future areas. As far as church attendance in the branch things are still going well. Selena's friend, Dewald, Jonathan, Gertrude, and Tapiwa came to church. Jonathan is getting baptized next week. This week we hope to put Tapiwa and Gertrude on date for baptism. Tapiwa's father we are helping him prepare to receive the Melchizedek priesthood so that he can be sealed to his family in the temple. 
- Elder Johnson