hello family!
this is your son/brother/brother in law/ uncle/ whatever else haha.sounds like fun with yall up at the house! those are fun times! i miss them. but just thinking about it makes me feel really happy so i'm glad i got to hear from you about it!thats crazy about gas! i cant belive it. you should probably buy tons of it now! haha.thank you all for your letters i appreciate them! and to dan, ya this is such a wonderful experience.
I do take a minute quite often and just let it sink in that i am in maylasia with such craaazy neat people. I plan on picking up on some nepale lingo so u and me man, when i get back i'll get one of my nepale friends to be our sherpa up mount everest haha jk, but seriously i would like to go there one day.but anyways, thank you all so much for the letters i appreciate them so much.and im just using a regular tooth brush ma, ill make do for a while. o in the package maybe some snickers and assorted other choclate. All the choclate tastes different here because they make it weird for the muslims to be able to eat it (halal) and its different because of the humidity here. so thats all i request.there are like no mosquitos here...i assume all those shots were for east malaysia or when the mission used to include so many different places. so as for now, everything is fineThis is such a amazing place.
I am meeting so many diverse people. just the other day i spoke to people from saudi arabia, nigeria, botswana, libya, somalia, india,nepal,iran, bangladesh,indonesia, etc etc. all in one day. so cool. i wish i had more time to talk but i have to go because we are atually going to go do something today for p-day. were going to chinatown/ petronis towers.(they are pretty awesome) ok i love you all so much and you are all in my prayers. hope you have a great thanksgiving!
love elder johnson
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
November 11, 2008 to Family
hello family!
this is a letter from your son that is in maylasia...haha. thats pretty funny sounding still. sounds like for the most part you all are doing well! except the bathroom roof incedent. its funny it took me a few seconds to think of the word roof, first wrod that came to mind was atap haha. Im sure dad can take care of that stuff no problem. there isnt much he cant do with construction and what not.o ya! i ment to say happy birthday to megan in my last letter, but happy birthday megan! thank you for the letter and the updates on life and all the adventures with Lily!so you emailed good old president skelton hu? he really is a neat fellow. I hear around zone meeting is when you really start to appreciate him for what he has to teach. Word is he is a very powerful teacher. this last week was totally and completely fun and awesome! yes we had the baptism of asanka the sri lankan man and it went very well! i wanted to send some pictures but elder kartchners plug thing doesnt work for my camera :( but anyways the baptism was very spiritual and the spirit testified to me while the baptism was happening that this is truely what we must do to enter into the kingdom of God. It was very powerful.
Other than that this last week was very hard work, and we didnt get the best results but we worked hard. This week is already shaping up to be much better. All of our meetings with investigators have been powerful this week and its so rewarding. I'd just like to say that, if i havent already, which i think i have, people from nepale are soooo cool. I just love meeting with them. There are alot of them here for work and they are all so kind and humble. I have been picking up a little nepale from some members so i can just start conversations with them. this country is so diverse and I love it!thats good news about prob 8! i heard from all the africans that oboma won, ya? they all ask us what we think about a black man ruling the world. its pretty funny. we tell them its awesome but we dont know anything about politics (which we dont) and the subject changes haha. its very interesting how some of the africans we talk to honestly think that they can now go to america without a passport or anything. They're in for a surprise haha.About the nativity scence mom.
This country is primarily muslim and christians are very scarce so it may be hard to find but i will keep my eyes open. And in answer to shannons question, right when i got here hari deepavali was going on. which is an indian holiday, i think it has to do with the hindu god which made for alot of fireworks and good food haha. i just missed hari raya which is a muslim holiday, but im sure there will be many more.well theres not much i need. but my toothbrush doesnt charge anymore so i will be needing to get a new one if they have them here. I will keep ya posted. But i will check here for one first. YA if you have questions for me put them in like 1,2,3...format so i can remember them better. that has seemed to work in the past. thank you dad for your letter I wish i had time to comment on them all but i have to go. but i just wanted to share how a woman in my branch named ima from indonesia called me last night and had a question about the plan of salvation. she doesn't speak any english so i had the opportunity to help her understand about her mother who is not a member, whom just passed away. i got to tell her more about the plan of salvation in detail.
And i know that earlier i said how it was a little dissapointing how i dont speak malay very much here, but if i didnt know malay, i would have never been able to help her. I guess what im trying to say is, that god knows all things. and im sure she could have found her answer elsewhere, but i had the opportunity to help her in her native language.i feel so blessed. missionary work is truely amazing.sorry if that didnt make sense but i have to go!
love you all so much!
elder johnson
this is a letter from your son that is in maylasia...haha. thats pretty funny sounding still. sounds like for the most part you all are doing well! except the bathroom roof incedent. its funny it took me a few seconds to think of the word roof, first wrod that came to mind was atap haha. Im sure dad can take care of that stuff no problem. there isnt much he cant do with construction and what not.o ya! i ment to say happy birthday to megan in my last letter, but happy birthday megan! thank you for the letter and the updates on life and all the adventures with Lily!so you emailed good old president skelton hu? he really is a neat fellow. I hear around zone meeting is when you really start to appreciate him for what he has to teach. Word is he is a very powerful teacher. this last week was totally and completely fun and awesome! yes we had the baptism of asanka the sri lankan man and it went very well! i wanted to send some pictures but elder kartchners plug thing doesnt work for my camera :( but anyways the baptism was very spiritual and the spirit testified to me while the baptism was happening that this is truely what we must do to enter into the kingdom of God. It was very powerful.
Other than that this last week was very hard work, and we didnt get the best results but we worked hard. This week is already shaping up to be much better. All of our meetings with investigators have been powerful this week and its so rewarding. I'd just like to say that, if i havent already, which i think i have, people from nepale are soooo cool. I just love meeting with them. There are alot of them here for work and they are all so kind and humble. I have been picking up a little nepale from some members so i can just start conversations with them. this country is so diverse and I love it!thats good news about prob 8! i heard from all the africans that oboma won, ya? they all ask us what we think about a black man ruling the world. its pretty funny. we tell them its awesome but we dont know anything about politics (which we dont) and the subject changes haha. its very interesting how some of the africans we talk to honestly think that they can now go to america without a passport or anything. They're in for a surprise haha.About the nativity scence mom.
This country is primarily muslim and christians are very scarce so it may be hard to find but i will keep my eyes open. And in answer to shannons question, right when i got here hari deepavali was going on. which is an indian holiday, i think it has to do with the hindu god which made for alot of fireworks and good food haha. i just missed hari raya which is a muslim holiday, but im sure there will be many more.well theres not much i need. but my toothbrush doesnt charge anymore so i will be needing to get a new one if they have them here. I will keep ya posted. But i will check here for one first. YA if you have questions for me put them in like 1,2,3...format so i can remember them better. that has seemed to work in the past. thank you dad for your letter I wish i had time to comment on them all but i have to go. but i just wanted to share how a woman in my branch named ima from indonesia called me last night and had a question about the plan of salvation. she doesn't speak any english so i had the opportunity to help her understand about her mother who is not a member, whom just passed away. i got to tell her more about the plan of salvation in detail.
And i know that earlier i said how it was a little dissapointing how i dont speak malay very much here, but if i didnt know malay, i would have never been able to help her. I guess what im trying to say is, that god knows all things. and im sure she could have found her answer elsewhere, but i had the opportunity to help her in her native language.i feel so blessed. missionary work is truely amazing.sorry if that didnt make sense but i have to go!
love you all so much!
elder johnson
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
November 11, 2008 to Shannon
hey shan shan!
yes! Denise did email me but sadly i was long in Malaysia by the time she got here. Hope she enjoyed it there! it really is a really cool place. But i definitely like Malaysia more. Singapore is like ridiculous rules and everything is super expensive. for example. at a fast food place in Singapore it would be about 12 sing dollars for a meal or what not, which is almost exactly the same as 12 American, whereas here it would be about 14 ringget which is about 5 dollars, so ya. besides that i just like the people here its a neato place.
I don't know why i used that example for money...i feel kinda silly now, but i already wrote it so im not going to erase it haha. ok thank you for the pictures! there all cute and funny. that one looks like Claire's doing a little jig haha.ya i don't know about the packages. there prolly all in Singapore. love you!
elder johnson
yes! Denise did email me but sadly i was long in Malaysia by the time she got here. Hope she enjoyed it there! it really is a really cool place. But i definitely like Malaysia more. Singapore is like ridiculous rules and everything is super expensive. for example. at a fast food place in Singapore it would be about 12 sing dollars for a meal or what not, which is almost exactly the same as 12 American, whereas here it would be about 14 ringget which is about 5 dollars, so ya. besides that i just like the people here its a neato place.
I don't know why i used that example for money...i feel kinda silly now, but i already wrote it so im not going to erase it haha. ok thank you for the pictures! there all cute and funny. that one looks like Claire's doing a little jig haha.ya i don't know about the packages. there prolly all in Singapore. love you!
elder johnson
Matt's time zone
Hello all,
Just for your information in case you were wondering. Matthew is 14 hours ahead of us (Pacific Time). Take the time you are at now and add 2 hours and that will be his time the opposite of your AM or PM. If it is 6:00 PM it will be 8:00 AM his time. Interesting huh? Take Care!!
Just for your information in case you were wondering. Matthew is 14 hours ahead of us (Pacific Time). Take the time you are at now and add 2 hours and that will be his time the opposite of your AM or PM. If it is 6:00 PM it will be 8:00 AM his time. Interesting huh? Take Care!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
November 5, 2008 to Dad
hi dad!
how was colorado and stuff? im sure it was awesome. I can't remember, did you get to play over there? ya i got to google earth singapore in the mtc and its pretty neat. when you said selangore i thought you just horribly misspelled singapore haha, but i guess thats the state i'm in haha. well thats good to know theres finally rain in california, that was kinda rediculous for a while. Very good that bathroom needed to be remodeled haha. well i hope the election goes smoothly i cant do anything but pray. i wish i could be there to lend a hand as well.
But yes i have been trying really hard to write in my journal and its been hard this week since we have been so busy.I dont really understand how you say the elders at home are kinda slackers. Thats so weird. my companion and i are in a place where we might be lucky to see a member once a week besides sunday, and thats probably because we invited them to come teach with us and yet we are seemingly always busy.
It seems like a place like california that has quite alot of members, even if you wanted to slack, you couldn't because the members would know if you were. thats seems like it would be incintive to work, if your own selfworth and integrity aren't. I don't mean to come off like i'm a great missionary, because i know i am by no means a great teacher. But i know this is two years that belong to the lord. I want to look back with no regrets. THAT is my aim and my goal. i love the lord and want to serve him with all my heart. like i said though, i am not a great teacher by anymeans, but i have faith that if i study when i am supposed to and work hard all day (like were supposed to) the lord can make up the difference. this is a wonderful place and the people here are soo awesome.
Thus far i think my favorite people are the nepale people. They are so humble, kind, and generous. o ya! this sunday will be our first baptism! with a sri lankan man named ashankar. Very sweet ,man. You can tell he is ready. on his right hand he only has a thumb and half of an index finger and he still shakes your hand like nothings different, i think thats part of why i like him so much haha. also its considered very bad manners and insulting to shake with the left hand here, as per indian people bathroom heigene haha. but anyways, i better get responding to moms letter as well, ok dad thanks for writing me!
love you!
Elder johnson
how was colorado and stuff? im sure it was awesome. I can't remember, did you get to play over there? ya i got to google earth singapore in the mtc and its pretty neat. when you said selangore i thought you just horribly misspelled singapore haha, but i guess thats the state i'm in haha. well thats good to know theres finally rain in california, that was kinda rediculous for a while. Very good that bathroom needed to be remodeled haha. well i hope the election goes smoothly i cant do anything but pray. i wish i could be there to lend a hand as well.
But yes i have been trying really hard to write in my journal and its been hard this week since we have been so busy.I dont really understand how you say the elders at home are kinda slackers. Thats so weird. my companion and i are in a place where we might be lucky to see a member once a week besides sunday, and thats probably because we invited them to come teach with us and yet we are seemingly always busy.
It seems like a place like california that has quite alot of members, even if you wanted to slack, you couldn't because the members would know if you were. thats seems like it would be incintive to work, if your own selfworth and integrity aren't. I don't mean to come off like i'm a great missionary, because i know i am by no means a great teacher. But i know this is two years that belong to the lord. I want to look back with no regrets. THAT is my aim and my goal. i love the lord and want to serve him with all my heart. like i said though, i am not a great teacher by anymeans, but i have faith that if i study when i am supposed to and work hard all day (like were supposed to) the lord can make up the difference. this is a wonderful place and the people here are soo awesome.
Thus far i think my favorite people are the nepale people. They are so humble, kind, and generous. o ya! this sunday will be our first baptism! with a sri lankan man named ashankar. Very sweet ,man. You can tell he is ready. on his right hand he only has a thumb and half of an index finger and he still shakes your hand like nothings different, i think thats part of why i like him so much haha. also its considered very bad manners and insulting to shake with the left hand here, as per indian people bathroom heigene haha. but anyways, i better get responding to moms letter as well, ok dad thanks for writing me!
love you!
Elder johnson
November 5, 2008 to Mom
hello mom!
how is everything back there? sounds like dads got his hands full with the bathroom and cleanin up the place. I say you should have a deacons quorm service project! make them all do it! haha. just kidding.
But about that teaching and building a relationship thing. It is starting to happen now. I think the first week was just kind of weird just because i didnt know the investigators yet. But now i do and its going pretty well. now its becoming more than just teaching. its a friendship in Christ. If that makes anysense. some of these people and the problems that they are trying to overcome, before this i would never be associated with them. But this opportunity i have to share this gospel gives me the opportunity to talk to all these people and actually be their friend. i love this! we are going to go speak to a nigerian named isaac and his girlfriend precious( i know funny, but not the weirdest ive heard yet haha) and they are so neat. They've come to church twice in a row and the questions they have and the spirit that is in the room is real and its so much fun to take part in it. I know its not me but, i am so happy that i have the opportunity to take part in it.But yes i indeed have seen monkeys here haha. there is one that is tied up on a street corner that when we walk by he just raises his eye brows up and down and stares at you haha. i have decided to name him murka just because of a previous incendent haha. it means wrath haha.
i dont know what i would want in the package it doesnt matter to me. just mom like things. and no i didnt get those other packages. kinda dissapointing. what address did you send it to? malaysian one or singapore? And i have only been fed once by a member. and he was a recent convert and we were teaching his friend that day, so no we like never get fed by members here. But there are food stands everywhere and food is super cheep so i dont go hungry haha. Yes my appartment has an air conditioner in our room but other than that its hot in the other rooms. But its ok, i think im getting used to it. I havent woke up and thought it was hot in a while now! thats good! haha. our transportation is mostly by foot. but when we go a long ways its by bus.It just started raining monday and its rained each day since. It rains crazy hard here. its awesome. The thunderstorms are so impressive i love it!
WEll mom im sorry i dont have time to write much else but i want to tell you that i ate durian for the first time. It was the most viel disgusting thing ever haha. maybe i can write to the ward next wednesday. ok ya i wrote to dave already.That soundsgreat about your lesson mom. You always worry so much. You know your a good teacher! you just need to have faith in yourself. But its true, heavenly father really does help you. its not usually for us that he is helping us though, it is for others. Ok mom, and fam, hope you are all having a great week. sorry i cant write you all individually, but i love you all! bertahan sampai akhir.
how is everything back there? sounds like dads got his hands full with the bathroom and cleanin up the place. I say you should have a deacons quorm service project! make them all do it! haha. just kidding.
But about that teaching and building a relationship thing. It is starting to happen now. I think the first week was just kind of weird just because i didnt know the investigators yet. But now i do and its going pretty well. now its becoming more than just teaching. its a friendship in Christ. If that makes anysense. some of these people and the problems that they are trying to overcome, before this i would never be associated with them. But this opportunity i have to share this gospel gives me the opportunity to talk to all these people and actually be their friend. i love this! we are going to go speak to a nigerian named isaac and his girlfriend precious( i know funny, but not the weirdest ive heard yet haha) and they are so neat. They've come to church twice in a row and the questions they have and the spirit that is in the room is real and its so much fun to take part in it. I know its not me but, i am so happy that i have the opportunity to take part in it.But yes i indeed have seen monkeys here haha. there is one that is tied up on a street corner that when we walk by he just raises his eye brows up and down and stares at you haha. i have decided to name him murka just because of a previous incendent haha. it means wrath haha.
i dont know what i would want in the package it doesnt matter to me. just mom like things. and no i didnt get those other packages. kinda dissapointing. what address did you send it to? malaysian one or singapore? And i have only been fed once by a member. and he was a recent convert and we were teaching his friend that day, so no we like never get fed by members here. But there are food stands everywhere and food is super cheep so i dont go hungry haha. Yes my appartment has an air conditioner in our room but other than that its hot in the other rooms. But its ok, i think im getting used to it. I havent woke up and thought it was hot in a while now! thats good! haha. our transportation is mostly by foot. but when we go a long ways its by bus.It just started raining monday and its rained each day since. It rains crazy hard here. its awesome. The thunderstorms are so impressive i love it!
WEll mom im sorry i dont have time to write much else but i want to tell you that i ate durian for the first time. It was the most viel disgusting thing ever haha. maybe i can write to the ward next wednesday. ok ya i wrote to dave already.That soundsgreat about your lesson mom. You always worry so much. You know your a good teacher! you just need to have faith in yourself. But its true, heavenly father really does help you. its not usually for us that he is helping us though, it is for others. Ok mom, and fam, hope you are all having a great week. sorry i cant write you all individually, but i love you all! bertahan sampai akhir.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
November 4, 2008 to Shannon
hey shanquesha!
haha those pictures were hilarious! claire bear is so cute. speaking of monkeys, i just saw two baby monkeys outside here in a cage...kinda sad...I'll see if i can send mom some pictures on here today. ya i know my spellings bad though. I am so rushhhhed! haha. ya eating with the hands is kindof a muslim thing so we dont do it that much here. its pretty darn messy. i will probably do it many more times though. The food here is super spicy, and hot. But its not spicy in an american burn your mouth off and not be very good while that happens way. Its a more, flavorfull and delicious as it burns your mouth off kind of way hahaha. ok shan thanks for writing me! I hope you have a great week!
love,
elder johnson
haha those pictures were hilarious! claire bear is so cute. speaking of monkeys, i just saw two baby monkeys outside here in a cage...kinda sad...I'll see if i can send mom some pictures on here today. ya i know my spellings bad though. I am so rushhhhed! haha. ya eating with the hands is kindof a muslim thing so we dont do it that much here. its pretty darn messy. i will probably do it many more times though. The food here is super spicy, and hot. But its not spicy in an american burn your mouth off and not be very good while that happens way. Its a more, flavorfull and delicious as it burns your mouth off kind of way hahaha. ok shan thanks for writing me! I hope you have a great week!
love,
elder johnson
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