Week 82

Corona Round 2 Transfer 2 Week 4

Feb 3, 2014

Oh my goodness, I can't believe that it's already week 4 of this transfer!

 

So, some things to know. My release date is June 24th. Because The new mission president will come around July 1st (the original transfer date, or something around there) we will do our transfers, and me flying home, the week before on the 24th so the new mission president doesn't have to deal with that headache.

 This week hasn't been super eventful. We spent the majority of it in meetings.

 

Our investigator Juan is probably going to be baptized this next weekend. However, his mom only speaks spanish and she wants to be baptized too, so Juan has been taking his mom to the spanish ward, since he's been attending there he's going to be baptized into that ward.

 

The Nomura's have been put on the backburner. We talked to the dad yesterday and he still doesn't believe in Jesus and doesn't want to come to church. He's okay with us coming over, but mostly I think because he likes us.

 

We have a couple new investigators named Nichole and Azod, Elder wilkinson started teaching them when we were on exchanges, so I met them for the first time at church yesterday. They are pretty cool.

 

Something a little worrying that I've been noticing lately is how little people actually talk about Jesus at church. Yesterday was fast sunday and I took a tally of all the testimonies: out of 16, only two were centered on the Savior. Then, the elder's quorum lesson was about family finances (the only time anyone said anything about Jesus Christ was right before "amen"). So something to think about. Whenever bearing a testimony, giving a talk or teaching a lesson make sure to ask yourself "How does what I am saying relate to Jesus Christ and his atonement?" I think the problem is that we sometimes take Him for granted and get distracted with the little details of the church. As long as we focus on the doctrine (which comes from the scriptures) things will always turn out okay.  

 

 

Well, I'm out of time.

love you guys!!

 

Elder Bryce Johns

Week 81 - Part 2

Pacific Ocean At Last

25 January Part 2

So after the Solis' Sealing we went out and took pictures, visited with everyone. On the way home we took a slight detour... This is a picture of me in front of the Pacific Ocean at Mission Bay. So there we go, I was able to see the California Coast as a missionary. WIN.

 

We also stopped by the coolest sandwich shop ever on the way home. "Which Wich" They have you pick a bag and fill little bubbles on the bag to make your order. It was really fun and good.

 

Finally got home later on that afternoon, and my companion had put two new investigators on date. Pretty much awesome. Overall, one of the best days of my mission. 

Week 81 - Solis Family Sealing

Solis Family Sealing

January 25, 2014

25 January 2014, Probably one of the most eventful and fulfilling days of my mission.

It started at 4:00 in the morning. I got a ride to San Diego from Bro. Robinson (my ward mission leader from Murrieta) who is the baptistry coordinator for the San Diego temple and his wife. Their shift starts at 6 so we had to leave Corona at 4:30. We did, and the ride down to San Diego we talked about Murrieta ward. It was amazing to see how well they are doing. They had 7 baptisms that year after I left. Three of which were people who just walked into church one Sunday and said they wanted to get baptized. We also talked about the people I had worked with who are all doing well and moving forward. (Especially the Solis family.)

it was cool to round the corner on the freeway and then "BAM". Mormon temple. It looked really cool all lit-up in the pre-dawn hours.

Once we got to the Temple, I was put to work in the Baptistry once people showed up around 8ish. Most of the people who were there were youth groups from Tiajuana. They come monthly, and were really great kids. It was interesting to see how the temple works from the inside and fun to help out.

The San Diego temple is incredibly beautiful both on the inside and out. Some of the most breathtaking spaces I've seen in my life. The architechure and interior design is impeccable. The Spirit there enhances the beautiful surroundings, a little piece of heaven on Earth.  

When the Solis' got there, I went and said hi. I don't know that I have ever seen people smile that big. They all had huge smiles and I did too. We were all so glad to see each other, that alone was great.

The sealing itself was so simple, sacred and sublime. Those are the only words that I can think of to use, no words are good enough to describe it.

I couldn't help but think back to a year ago when I first met the Solis family. Oscar wasn't a member, and it didn't look like he would be any time soon. But when Elder Plaster and I were teaching him, something clicked. Miracle after miracle followed until (and not ending at) his baptism. Many tears of joy were shed then about the prospect of them being an eternal family. I am so thankful and honored to be there to see that come to fruition. They are the coolest family! It is rare as a missionary to see your efforts go full circle. I am reminded of a scripture in the doctrine and Covenants.

D&C 18

10 Remember the ^aworth of ^bsouls is great in the sight of God;
 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one ^asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the ^akingdom of my Father, how great will be your ^bjoy if you should bring many ^csouls unto me!

I know for myself, by experience, that there is true, pure, and immense joy in bringing souls to the Kingdom of the Father. Our experience at the temple cannot be duplicated or denied. All of the blood, sweat, tears and effort of missionary work are worth it. I can honestly look back at my mission (all 19 months of it) and say that if nothing else, seeing the Solis family sealed made everything worth it. I know that the Temple is the House of the Lord and that His gospel is restored on this Earth, to bring as many as will come to God the Father and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. He has done this to bring them true joy and to set them free. Free from the stains of sin, free from the weight of the world. That is the purpose of the gospel.  

Sometimes I wonder, do we really appreciate the import of our message?

Week 80 Letter

Corona Round 2 Transfer 2 Week 2

January 21, 2014

We have a few investigators now. Raquelle, who we OYMed and started teaching at their member-neighbor's house, Ariyana who is living with a member family to watch their kid (S. Mcdonald is studying for the BAR exam which apparently is like a full time job), Christine who is the wife of a recent convert and Juan. There's not a lot to tell about them.  We've just been meeting with them for a couple weeks, no super spiritual experiences with them yet.

Ariyana says she is willing to be baptized, but wants to tip-toe in before she makes a decision.

Today during my personal study I read in Mathew 11:28-30:

28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest

.

29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and ^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light.

I was thinking about how if you look at the big picture, and do a cost/benefit analysis of living the gospel vs. not doing so. The logical choice is very clear. Even if the big picture is only this lifetime, the benefits of living the gospel immensely outweigh the costs. That is why we have the natural man. If we didn't have this body that wanted to do it's own (often self-destructive) thing. There would be no challenge, no learning, no growth. That challenge is the purpose of this life. Overcoming the self-destructive behaviors of the natural man. The burdens of sin, the burdens of sorrow, the burdens of pride and take upon ourselves the burden of the Lord. When we do so, we are happy, we become the people we are meant to be, and we live better. So, be smart, Choose Jesus. It is the only logical path to take.

I am really excited to go to the San Diego Temple this saturday for the Solis' sealing. Next week I will send a bunch of pictures of the San-diego temple and such. I'm going to be making some calls to find a ride today (got permission from President Smart).

We also had Stake Conference this Sunday. IT was a broadcast from Salt Lake. One of the seventies or Elder Anderson, I can't remember shared an interesting story about how two fishing boats were caught in a storm. One's engines broke, so the other was towing it. The storm got worse so they radioed for help. The coast guard, navy and fishing association gathered to figure out what to do. But they diliberated, disagreed, and were'nt able to come to a solution. Then they recieved a frantic transmission from the distressed boats. The tow cable had snapped, and the ships were capsizing. Frantically the rescuers went out, but it was too late. Both ships and their crews were lost to the sea.
The purpose of the story is not to spend forever deliberating about rescuing the Father's lost sheep. Go to, and God will see you through.

Thank you so much for everything, Love you guys!
Elder Bryce Johns.