Week 98

San Jacinto Transfer 3 Week 2

May 26, 2014

This week has been a spiritual roller coaster.

On Tuesday we went to Riverside for the Incoming meeting. That was the day that rest of the new missionaries came in. So we were in Riverside all day. There were some really good trainings/testimonies though.

One of the new Hermanas came from New York (Originally Columbia) and the missionary who baptized her lives in Riverside and was there to meet her at the Mission office.
Something President said was a good reminder for me. Alma 26:27. The last half of the verse says: "Bear with patience thine afflictions and I will grant you success." I think that verse sums up my mission as a whole.

We also had meetings most of Wednesday.

Thursday I had my outgoing interview with President Smart. That was really good. I asked him for a golden bullet piece of advice and he said "Keep it simple."

Aside from all those meetings our week was not very eventful. Serena is doing well, she brought a friend to church this last sunday and the friend enjoyed it alot. Unfortunately she lives in Perris. So we will have to send a referral. But It is really cool to see Serena open up to us.  She has had a very difficult life, in the past and recently, but she wants to put everything behind her and restart.
Other than that no one was home, one of our new investigators dropped us, and we spent the time rolling around trying to visit people.

Hopefully she can get baptized this month or next. We have to wait for president's approval.
We should be having at least one or two baptisms besides her. The Emmich boys, Davian and Dylan should be able to be baptized in June.

Now that I think about it there were a couple cool miracles that I can write about. We were out "hunting" (visiting PMFs and Potentials) and we drove past a part member families house en route to another one. We saw the non-member dad out front and we swung by when no one answered at the other house. He wasn't interested, but the member wife needed a blessing. It was the spirit that prompted us to go by. The next day we were basically out of things to do and I asked my companion "Want to go to the Indian Reservation?" I knew that there was one member family out there and I hadn't met them yet. "Sure" he said. So we drove waaaay out there and showed up. The sister is inactive and has been sick recently. She also needed a blessing. It was interesting, the prompting was simple and I didn't even recognize it as one until she requested a blessing. It is cool how God allows us to be instruments in his hands.

Training is going great. Elder Foster wants to work hard and is willing to talk a lot. I think I am probably doing the best job training that I have done so far. I'm working hard at allowing him to learn by experience rather than just doing everything.

We also went hiking this morning which was fun. Nothing too special though. 

Thanks everyone, Lots of Love
Elder Bryce Johns

Week 97

San Jacinto Transfer 3 Week 1 - and then there were two.

May 19, 2014

Hello,

Back down to two elders today. Elder Snider got transferred to Corona. He will be living in the same homeshare I did, the Higgins. He wont be in the same area, but anyway.

This week has been pretty crazy. Serena and Payne are moving forward (mostly Serena) but they will need more interviews with President Smart before they can be baptized. It's a similar situation to Tommy's I think. But Serena loves church and a member bought her a quad. So that's good.
We visited everyone in the beginning of the week so we had to do a lot of "hunting" towards the last half of the week.

We finally got teaching in a trio down. We taught a restoration lesson in the beginning of the week which didn't go all that well, we role-played it in the middle of the week and we taught a really good one at the end of the week. As these things usually happen, once you get stuff down the Lord changes it up on you.

Last week, Elder Foster bought the Frozen Soundtrack... Now I have all the songs memorized.... ha ha.

A couple of interesting experiences from the last week.

Tommy blessed the sacrament yesterday. I was so struck by the cleansing power of the atonement as he was up there. God's arms are outstretched to all, all are invited but none are compelled to partake of the atonement.

We also got a call from a member to go give a blessing. We went over to his run down trailer in a little, ghetto trailer park. A raggedy dog greeted us quietly at the door. The brother inside called us to come in. He's bedridden and had some breathing machines hooked up to his nose. He was obviously in a lot of pain. We gave him a blessing and left shortly after. It was a very humbling experience. "There is always someone worse off than you, so stop whining" was the message I got from that experience. Also I was reminded of the power of the priesthood.

Going strong for the last transfer! A bunch of baptisms on the way!
Love
Elder Johns

Week 96 Letter (after Mother's Day call)

San Jacinto Transfer 2 Week 6

May 12, 2014

This was a poem that Elder Johns wrote for his mother for Mothers day.

I've been gone 

for two whole years

I haven;t died you see

That's because

of all those skills

that you taught to me

I know how 

to cook a meal <knock on wood>

and do my own laundry

Yardwork too

and using space

most efficiently

all of that

 and other things

but more importantly

you taught me

the gospel, true

that I share today

Compassion

humility

faith, hope, charity

thank you mom

for all you've done

spontaniously

Happy Mother's Day

Also, after discussing that he will need to live in a tent when he returns home from his mission, this was his reply:
I'm SO down with a tent (Seriously) that would have HUGE story value. Lets do it! 

And his other observation:

Observation: When it comes to the gospel (as with everything) you get out what you put in. If you are having a bad experience with something, usually if you change your attitude about it you can make it a positive. Always find the positive, otherwise things get boring and annoying really fast. 

Week 95 Letter

San Jacinto Transfer 2 Week 5

May 5, 2014

Dustbowl - couldn't see other side of intersection.

All
This week has been pretty interesting.
The first half of the week we had a really big wind storm, climaxing on Wednesday. Massive trees were down all over town, and trailer homes were decimated.
We knew that we were going to get our new Greenie on Wednesday, but we got a call in the morning that we had to drive all the way out to Ontario and pick him up from the airport (usually president does but something came up so he wasn't able to.)
So we embarked in the worst of the windstorm. We headed out and headed North into wind. As we approached the edge of town we saw a growing cloud of dust. We got to an intersection (and of course the light was flashing) and we couldn't even see the other side of the intersection because of the dust (See the picture I sent.) The road turned out to be closed so we had to go the long way around.
So we drove out to the Ontario airport and got there exactly when his plane was supposed to land. It took forever to find somewhere to park (#airport probs) but finally we did and then we ran into the airport and elder Foster came down the Escalator. (and there's a picture of him)

He's from Dallas Texas, and is pretty cool dude. and is as green as all get out... ;)
Being in a trio has a very interesting dynamic. Me being the control freak I tend to be. I usually run the main body and transition to the other elders to testify and teach principles. I feel like a director of a play a little bit. But it's working out. Just teaching Elder Foster
Our investigator Serena came to church and wants to get baptized this month. We had a really great Word of Wisdom lesson with her. She smokes, but we read 2 Nephi 31 with her about baptism and keeping commandments, then we went into the Word of Wisdom. She accepted it without question, and committed to quit. When we explained that she would need to quit and not do anyof  those things for a week before her baptism on the 24th she told us that that was basically obvious. "You gotta be clean" and then told us about how she knew that she could quit all that and it wouldn't be an issue for her. She's been really prepared and it's been a pleasure teaching her. "The Elect hear mine voice and harden not their hearts" As the scriptures say. 
By small and simple means are great things brought to pass. God needs all three of us to be together for a reason. We will find out what that reason is.  
Love,
Elder Bryce Johns

Week 94

San Jacinto Transfer 2 Week 4

April 28, 2014

 All
So today I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, it was pretty awesome.
The zone leaders have been saving up their miles and invited me to go on a trip to Idyllwild (Elder Snider wasn't able to go because of his allergies. Idyllwild is a little town up in the mountains past Hemet. It was amazing. The mountains up there are forested and look very similar to eastern Washington and parts of Utah. We drove up the scenic highways into and past town through the mountains then we drove onto a dirt road to get to the PCT trailhead. It was a really fun drive. We went 8 miles up this windy, dirt road that was in pretty poor condition. We also saw and played in all the snow up there. Along the way we stopped and climbed some of the massive rocks off the road. Finally, we got to the trail-head and hiked for about an hour. I was so happy to be back out in the woods again, breathing in clear air. We met a couple through hikers, (going from Mexico to Canada) which re-affirmed my desire to do that as well within the next 5 years. We were up at about 7500 feet and were able to see all of the valleys (and cities/windmill farms in them) on the West, North, and East side of "Black Mountain". I would send some pictures, but my SD card reader broke so I wont be able to do so.
I also decided that I want to live in a little town in the middle of nowhere Washington or Oregon. Like Cougar or something. 

Also awesome from this week was Tommy's baptism and confirmation (I would also send pictures of that, but... See above). The baptism was super spiritual. Once he came up out of the water Tommy hugged his brother (who was baptizing him) for a long moment and the spirit hit everyone like a wave. Participating in his confirmation was great as well. He was beaming for the rest of the day. There is a man who understands the redemptive power of the atonement. I wish that everyone we talk to could see what the gospel has done for him. I don't think most members understand the gospel as well has he does and he's only been going for six months. He's already read the entire triple combination and has restarted the Book of Mormon.
We also picked up a new investigator named Serena. One of the Spanish Elders talked to her at Wal-Mart and referred her over to us. She's a middle aged black lady who is very relaxed in attitude, We taught the restoration and she really liked it, and totally recognized the Spirit. We went over again and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 22nd of next month. Most importantly, she came to church and liked it! Church is probably the best indicator for someones conversion that I can think of. IF they are willing to to come to three hours of church there is a reason for that, they have a testimony (they may not know that yet, but they do)!
Big news! (I almost forgot) So my companion, Elder Snider and I were getting some ward lists from the Ward membership clerk when I recieved a phone call from President Smart. He started out by asking about the details of Tommy's baptism (he's been very involved with Tommy for the last 6 months and so that wasn't odd) then he said "Elder Johns, I have a new assignment for you"... my heart dropped. I was thinking: Things had been going so well, President is going to Emergency transfer me somewhere for the last 8 weeks?! "What is it? I asked, a little dumbfounded. But he said "We have a new elder coming in on the 30th, (halfway through the transfer) I need you to train him." "okay" I said, "where?" "You'll be there with Elder Snider. Make sure to go through the 12 week training program with him. The Office assistants will bring a bed and things soon."
So, I'll be training a greenie in a trio as of Wednesday. We heard some rumors about why he is coming in during the middle of the transfer (health issues we hear) but we wont find out for sure until we meet him. The OA's dropped off a bed and a desk the other day. However there was no where to put them so we re-arranged everything. Now the bunk bed and the new bed are in the living room. We used the box spring, mattress and the fouton cushion to make an awesome couch (that's where I sleep, it is super comfortable).
The cool thing is though, that I have wanted to end my mission training for the whole time. I "killed" my trainer (He trained me and then went home) and he "killed" his father, and I have always wanted to keep the tradition going. I asked president about it several months ago and was a little disappointed this last transfer when it didn't happen. (there were no new missionaries in our mission) but President remembered and I got my wish! Hopefully it turns out well. I've never been in a trio before, and we will probably be in a trio for just a couple weeks  till the transfer ends. Should be fun!
I received a simple but cool answer to prayer this last week. A couple months ago the SD card with most of my mission photographs got corrupted and I was worried that they would all be lost. At the time I prayed that I would be able to get them back. This week a recent convert recovered all the photographs on the SD card. It was awesome! Prayer works. 8)

Love, Elder Bryce Johns

PS
We also painted a gazebo for Mormon helping hands. 'Twas fun.