Week 64 Letter

Jurupa Transfer 1 week 3

All
My goodness. So much has been happening!

We had a baptism last Sunday (I guess I didn't mention in my last letter). Her name is Nuni. I pretty much walked in on her baptism with the transfer. But it was still cool to teach her the week leading up to it, and since. She got confirmed a member of the Church and recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. It is so cool to hear convert's testimonies and the 180's people make in their lives for the gospel. Why do they do this? Because it is the truth. and "the truth will set you free." Free from the bondage of sin, and partakers of the cleansing blood of Christ. Simply put, the gospel allows people to feel true joy. I've seen and experienced that time and time again.

We also met with a part member family of "Bro's". We were talking to them as they were digging a pretty serious set of dirt BMX jumps next to their house. They were pretty cool, funny, and steryotypical. They were reminescing about all of their big crashes/injuries We even left a blessing with them that they wouldn't get hurt during their big ride that weekend.

Last sunday we had a couple investigators at church, including Bryan. He's in his 20's and has had a pretty rough life so far. We're teaching him, his brother jeffery, and their friend Anthony. Bryan is the most receptive spiritually, he loved church and has a strong desire for God to become a part of his life, he's on date to be baptized in October. Jeffery isn't quite as spiritual but is curious and wants to learn more. They weren't able to come to church Sunday though because their ride (Anthony) never showed up.

A few days ago we met with a recent convert, Mark. He joined the church about a month ago and is the only member in his family (so far anyway, we've been trying to meet with his wife). He's been going through a pretty rough time. He's been looking for work, his in-laws died, and his son recently got in trouble with the law. (It's kind of a crazy story. Long story short, his son inadvertantly became a getaway driver of a robbery. He ran for it when the police tried to pull him over. The cops shot the car a few times, and his son is in Jail awaiting trial). We swung by right after the police dropped off the car. It was pretty beat up, windows blown out, bullet holes, and the interior messed up where the police pulled it apart to get their bullets back. Obviously it wasn't the best time to have a lesson. But he wanted to pray with us. \
Mark said the most humble prayer I have ever heard in my life. It was a simple, submissive, and intimate plea for aid. The spirit was so strong, I was fighting back tears (I basically never cry, so that's saying something). Looking back, the words of the Savior come to mind: "Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Math 5:4-5). Standing there in his dusty driveway, next to a bullet torn car, amidst the whinying and clomping of horses was a little patch of heaven.

Well, I'm out of time

Thank you for your prayers. Please Write.
Elder Bryce Johns

Week 63 Pictures

Elder Coleman my new Companion and "Taylor" our Chevy Cruze.

Nuni Cerda's Baptism

Week 63 Letter

Well... I typed out a letter last week, and thought I sent it,,,

All:
Apparently Last week's letter not only didn't go through, but  for some inexplicable reason vanished into cyberspace completely (yay for technology).

I got transferred to be a zone leader over the Jarupa Zone. I'm now serving in a town called Mira Loma.
Mira Loma is VERY diffirent from my corner of Corona. The houses are much older, the lots much larger. People on horseback are everywhere. In fact, there are no Sidewalks, only horse trails and those are only in the nicer areas, usually the street is right up against people's chain link fences. There are lots of Hispanics, and lots of older people.

Missionary work wise, this area is awesome! We have a good pool of investigators and had a baptism yesterday, which was awesome. We also share the ward with another set of Elders.

My new companion, Elder Coleman is an amazing missionary. We get along really well. He's from Colorado and is pretty easy going personality wise, and knows the scriptures like the back of his hand. He is also a phenominal guitar player. He plays Classical guitar, along with blues and rock. I love to sit and listen to him play during lunch and in the evenings. We work well together.

We also live in the most expensive apartment in the mission (literally), with a trio of Chinese speaking missionaries, who are really cool. It's a blast and really nice. We even have a garage.

This last week has been insanly busy.

 My first night we had dinner with the Stake President (who's in our ward) and over the course of our conversation he asked me to give a training in stake Missionary Coordination Meeting on utilizing ward missionaries. Which is all well and good, except that the meeting was the next day (it went pretty well, although our ward mission leader wasn't there so we'll have to re-train him).
The Jarupa stake put on the play "The Fiddler on the Roof" with showings Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We went to opening night to usher and we got to see the play. It was really amazing, the quality of everything was exceptionally high and there were a lot of none-members there as well. During the intermission a teen-age girl (she reminded me a lot of my sister Lyndee, except black) came up and asked us a ton of really good questions. I've had a few of the songs intermittantly stuck in my head since then.
On Friday I went on exchange with one of the Assistants to the President. AP Moser. I went over to his area. He's a Spanish speaking missionary so for several of the lessons I was reduced to smiling and nodding. But it went well and I learned a lot. Especially the importance of being bold when extending invitations.
Sunday we had church (we had four investigators there. one of them, Brian, who elder Coleman met on Friday really liked it. He was nodding and really engrossed during the classes.) and a bunch of meetings.
Throughout the week we've been having lessons, having great gospel conversations with people we come in contact with, leaving blessings in people's homes. I've had about 4 people walk up and ask us questions, something that hasn't happened to me in months.

The bar has certainly been raised for me. We're responsible for 9 missionary companionships, 5 of which are sister companionships. I'm expected to be an the example and leader in pretty much every aspect of missionary life. But hey, the Lord qualifies whom he calls and I've certainly seen that. I've become a much better missionary in just a week, and have seen many tender mercies of the Lord.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28: 19-20

Thank you for your prayers. Please Write. I'm working on responding.

Elder Bryce Johns

Letter from Mission President

Letter from Mission President about Elder Johns being made a zone leader

12 September 2013 

Mr. and Mrs. David P. Johns 

Dear Brother and Sister Johns,

It is with great pleasure that I announce Elder Bryce David Johns's new assignment as a Zone Leader in the California Riverside Mission.   It is an honor to have your son serving in this position.  As a Zone Leader he will continue to be an example in all things for those missionaries under his jurisdiction.  His great efforts and example in his previous assignments have qualified him for this opportunity.  The experience he will gain as a Zone Leader will prepare him for future callings in the Church and in life.

It is a pleasure to work in the gospel with such fine young men.  May I again, thank you for sharing your son with us and for the support that you provide him.  May God's choicest blessings be with you.

Sincerely,   

 

Paul F. Smart, President

Week 62 Pictures

The "Relief Society" (my district for the last 6 weeks)


I think that I mentioned that I was the relief society president (district leaders over a district of sisters)
Left: S. Jenkins, Bateman, Jin, Tucker. me, Elder Blackburn
It's been an interesting experience being a district leader over only sisters. One thing I will say, there were a lot of health problems, and blessings asked for. But they are all hard workers and really love the people they're working with no matter how crazy they are.
This transfer sis. Jenkins, Bateman, and Tucker (who will now be on bike) are all training.

Three mission "generations"
My trainer Elder Clark (came back to visit) me, and my son Elder Blackburn and the wrong white balance...

Me, hot, sweaty, nasty, and ready to preach the word...

Me, Ed Parkin (who's started to come back to church after many years of being less-active), and "the lamp". He is one of those people who buys and sells stuff(antiques, Disney stuff, McDonald's toys you name it) online
(and does really well at it) 

Email from the Hackney Family in Elder Johns area

We received a nice letter from the Hackney family:

To the family of Elder Johns,

We wanted to drop you a line to let you know how blessed we are to have your son as one of the missionaries in our home. Elder Johns and Elder Blackburn have been so great to our family. They both bring exceptional qualities including leadership and of course they always provide the spirit. Elder Johns is a great senior companion as well. He works hard to have a plan going all the time!! My oldest son has been going on splits with them as he prepares to go to Indiana on his mission in November. I’m sure that your son will take this experience today that he will grow to lead others throughout his life as he is doing today!! Again, thank you for your son’s efforts to serve the lord and serve our family.

Sincerely, Dustin, Allison, Alex, Devin and Bryce.

Week 61 Letter

Week 6 of transfer 3 in Corona Possibly the last here 8S

Letter from 9/2/2013

All:
The weather here has been miserable this last week. It's been in the 100's/high 90's and with uncharacteristically high humidity for So Cal.  We actually had to take a walking day because it was too hot to ride our bikes.

We had a bitter-sweet experience the other day. Our home-share (the person whose house we live at, Bro. Higgins) hometeaches a less-active family that we've been trying to contact for ages. We had an appointment scheduled for Tuesday at seven. So we show up with him and no one is home (more likely, no one answered the door). Bro Higgins said let's get some cookies and leave a note. So we went to the store, and decided on a pie, left at the family's door with a note saying "Sorry we missed you, please give us a call to reschedule".

Figuring that would be the end of it for that evening, bro Higgins took us to Wendy's for a frosty. While we were waiting for our food, the family called, thanked us for the pie and invited us over.
So we went and had a great visit. They talked about their conversion story in Mexico, and how they went to such great lengths to go to church. Bro. Higgins did most of the talking on our end, but the Spirit was palpably there. We invited them to come to church. They accepted and prayed that they would be able to do so.
Fast forward to Saturday. We get a text "  BROTHER... I'M SO SORRY... I DON'T THINK WE;RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO CHURCH TOMORROW..."
Long story short, they didn't come to church. It's sometimes frustrating. They know they need to go, they feel the Spirit telling them they need to go, but they don't.

Unfortunately, I'll have to continue the bike analogy next week. Out of time again. I'll work on it beforehand so I can just type it out.

Thanks for the prayers, please write.

Elder Bryce Johns

Week 60 Email and Pictures

Week 5 of 3rd transfer Corona, El Cerrito
Letter from August 26, 2013

All:

Life lessons from my bicycle.

Lesson 1: Focus on what's in front of you

Recently, I bought a rear-view mirror that attaches to my helmet. Although my companion teases me about it, I think it was a great investment. I can look back and see cars coming, see how far behind me E. Blackburn is, and see whatever else is behind me (obviously).

Since buying the mirror I've sometimes become so distracted looking at things behind me that I almost run into something. This has happened a more than once.
The other day, I was looking straight down at my chain. It was making a funky noise or something. Then, to my surprise, I ran over a big branch (with lots of little twigs sticking up everywhere) and almost crashed. I had no warning because I was only paying attention to the exact spot where I was at, and a potential problem that I had. So much so that I missed a much bigger problem ahead.

So, as we ride through the vicissitudes (one of my favorite words) of life We shouldn't focus on the where we've been, nor should we focus on the exact spot we are at right now, even when we are having problems. As we look ahead, we are able to see where we are going, and avoid problems that we may have plowed straight into.
This also relates to faith. Faith is inherently forward looking (there's a better word, but whatever) as we move forward with faith we are able to avoid the problems of sin and self inflicted sorrows. This does not mean that things wont still happen (like flat tires, or chains locking, or people throwing coke cans at you), or that we know exactly where we're going. But as we look ahead with hope in Christ we succeed. "Trust God, and believe in good things to come"   

lesson 2: Life is like riding a bike in a hilly area. It's mostly uphill.

As I've been riding my bike around I've been paying attention to my speedometer. On average we ascend a hill at around 4-5mph (talking mostly about the steep ones, which is most of them. The baby hills we go 7-10mph). In contrast, we descend anywhere from 20-40mph. In other words, we descend 2-10 times faster than we ascend.

Some people seem to think that "well, at least it's 50/50 going up and down." When it really isn't. We spend the large majority of our time going up since it is so much slower. I'm too lazy to do the math, but probably around 70%ish uphill.
And I am out of time, so we get to finish that thought next week. Along with some more pictures.
Elder Clark(my trainer) came and visited on Saturday and some other really cool stuff happened which will have to wait.

Thank you so much for everything. Love you!

Elder Bryce Johns




The funny thing is that Corona street isn't even in Corona, It's in the unincorporated (county) part of our area. That whole area is odd because it's just a random section of county in the city. Nothing there is standardized, the streets are horrible in comparison to the rest of town, there's a random smattering of streetlights, some people get mail delivered to boxes at their driveway, others have to use community boxes super far away, there are speedbumps wherever the homeowners wanted them (when they paved the streets, they knocked on the doors and would put a speedbump in front of your house for $50) and all the houses are custom.



OH MY GOSH! ELDER BLACKBURN I HAS A KITTEH IN MAH HELMET!!!!



A (slightly) less retarded looking picture of the same incident. When your biking up crazy hills at speed in high temperatures you become all sweaty, nasty, and perhaps a little loopy (more so than usual anyway). Therefore one must take little rays of light (or fur in this case) when you can get them.

Also, if you look closely at my glasses, you will notice that they are a light mousey gray. They used to be black a year ago...