I remember the Savior & His Atonement & how much HE SUFFERED and GAVE for me. The beautiful gifts that came from Jesus Christ.

Christmas was SOOOO GREAT. Thank you soooo much everyone for making it

a fantastic Christmas. You're all such wonderful examples to me.

This week has been SO wonderful!!! We've got a potential investigator named Victoria. She is SAO READY FOR THE GOSPEL IT'S RIDICULOUS. She basically asked us "how can I become a mormon?" WOW. Is she prepared or WHAT. I"m so excited to teach her!

Christmas was WONDERFUL. Our district of 9 missionaries went around nursing homes and caroled. I was privileged to use my violin, and it was a HIT. Everyone was in awe as I played. I didn't care about playing the violin, it was just amazing to be able to share. The elderly were so appreciative that we came and sang for them. Some were in tears. They thanked us graciously. Many kind words were spoken and the Spirit was evidently felt by all. It was amazing to give. I will remember this Christmas for all of my life. It was not a sacrifice at all, but a blessing. 

Through my trials and difficulty. I remember the Savior and His Atonement and how much HE SUFFERED and GAVE for me. The beautiful gifts that came from Jesus Christ.

Wow, I am forever grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who gave so much for me. I pray, that in turn I can repay Him with what I can offer. I realized a mission is so very short in comparison to the Lord eternal sense of time. It is a blink of an eye! This is an extremely short time. I want to make the best of it!

I love you all .Thank you for your kindness and your love. You all have helped me in tremendous and beautiful ways. I truly know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that our Loving Heavenly Father is a God of LOVE. He loves us so very very much. I testify that He knows us individually and is ever proud of the smallest victories we can offer. I pray that we may always have an abiding testimony of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pics!

SKYPING YAYYYYY!!!!!! Go family!

Christmas morninggg!!!

Let them know how appreciated & special they are to you, to those around them, & especially to Heavenly Father!

Hello Friends and family!!!!

wow has it been the best week everrrr!!!!!!  Okay first things first!

My new companion Elder Devyn Gish. and guess what?!!?!?!?!

HE'S FROM WEST JORDAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can you believe it!!!!! He went to copper hills high school though. Well..I guess I can forgive him. haha kidding!

He's soooo cool!!!! He's 18 and FULL of FIRE!!!! wwow. He is a fireball and a half! He's exploding with spiritual goodness and he is SOOO cheerful it's crazy. I really like him a lot! He's such a great companion. He's definitely up there on my list of favorites!!

Anywho. This Christmas is going to be the best! Our Mission president really wanted us to focus on Giving instead of Receiving. Before I thought and pondered on what he was asking, I was thinking all about myself. About my own Christmas. I kept thinking about how I could have the happiest Christmas for Elder Johnson. But As I've pondered and read Christmas Stories about service, and really thought about Christ's sacrifice for me. I realized I can do the same thing. I can give up my own wants and help someone else that has less than I do.

Anywho. He really encouraged us to go and sing at Hospitals and care centers. I personally have been using my violin as much as I can. I've been used and abused! But in the best way I can mean it. I've really felt great love, and I'm so grateufl I was allowed to bring my violin on my mission. It has been such a great tool and I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father's let me share it!

Anywho. I invite each and everyone of you to really think about Jesus Christ and what He's done for you. And then go and do your best to help others feel that same amount of love and charity!

I love you all! Thanks for being shining examples, thanks for your love and encouragement. It is REAAAALLLLLY appreciated. I challenge you to go and talk to someone, and just let them know how much they mean to you. Graciously offer words of love that come from the heart. Let them know how appreciated and special they are to you, to those around them ,and especially to Heavenly Father :) I know I will!

I love you all!!!

Much Love!

Elder Johnson 

pics:

MY NEW COMPANION!!!!

Only in PA where the roads are spaghetti noodles does this sign exist. bahaha!!

Heavenly Father's love is so great that we cannot comprehend it in mortality.

Bonjour family and friends!!!!!!

How are things for you?!!?!?!? Things are going pretty swell!!!

Sheesh this last week went by so fast it's RIDICULOUS.

From the top!

Monday we went over to the Monongahela Area and had loads of fun with our district, we played hackey sack with the 7 of us! (the union town Elders are short one for a few weeks)

Then I stayed the night in union town with Elder Childs on exchanges. Then on Tuesday we both went to my area and did some work there. Then we went back to monogahela and stayed the night!!!! Sheesh!! It was 3 days of craziness! On Thursday our district went to a members house in monongahela and caroled. The Kerry's planned it all out! Sis Kerry had a group of older women come and they had a little Christmas gathering, in the meanwhile we were hiding in the basement. We went up and surprised them with caroling! It was a beautiful moment.

After they all left we hung around and Sis Kerry thanked us for what we do as missionaries. It was so wonderful. She bore her testimony to us, and the Spirit filled the room so strongly, we all felt it. It was hard not to cry. She told us that one of the women there said that us caroling was the high light of her entire year.

Wow, what a privilege it was to give up myself for someone else. That moment, by far is greater than anything I could have received.

I hope and pray that we all can have more opportunities like this. It may seem tough, it may seem difficult to find ways to do so. We may even feel afraid. But I testify that this is exactly what Christ would do, and I testify, that I have been blessed far more than those that received. A Christlike Christmas, comes from a Christlike attitude. Thanks for being so supportive and kind to me. You all are wonderful examples to me.  Thanks for being firm in the faith.

I know that God loves us. I testify that Heavenly Father's love is so great that we cannot comprehend it in mortality. 

Please remember how much your Father in Heaven appreciates you. I testify that Jesus Christ does live. I know it. I know His Atonement is real, and is accessible to all. Especially to those who think they don't need it. Last Christmas a Bishop told me that the Atonement is like air. We never worry about running out of oxygen. It is always there accessible and never runs out. 

I know this to be true too for Christ has always been there for me. If He can do that for a 19 yr old weird Elder in PA. He most certainly will do that for you!

I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pics. I saw Sis Zebroski!!!!!! And here's the Sisters in our district!

Merry Christmasss!!!!

PS. President Johnson called yesterday! and GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?    I'm TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please remember the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas. If you haven't PLLEEEASE watch "He is the gift".

Hello family and friends!!!

WOW this week was GREEEAT

on tuesday we had our zone conference where we learned about the "He is the Gift" initiative going on! And wow it has been so great talking about this new video. If you haven't watched it, please do! It will touch your heart and the Spirit will fill you with a deeper appreciation of the Savior if you let it! It sure did for me.

Anywho, We have had such a great week. We saw Darnell twice this week. And the lessons were FANTASTIC. Darnell's had some really rough times lately because his girlfriend, who's been struggling with some stuff. Anywho, Bro Punjack was able to come with us and was totally able to relate to Darnell and help him out. 

He told him. "When we do things our way, it'll never work out. Sometimes we get angry as the answer and try to just shove our way through something. Or we try to bring others to Christ by dragging them there. But when we humble ourselves enough to do the Lord's work His way, everything works out in the end. We will always be able to fall on our knees and pray to our Heavenly Father. We can pour out our hearts to Him. He's there, waiting for us to talk to Him. He's always there on the other side of the door. We just have to open it."

As he spoke the Spirit touched Darnell's heart, it was so clear that the Lord had sent Bro Punjack. It was so clear that the Lord was comforting His son. Darnell has been progressing sooo rapidly. He immediately applies the Gospel when he reads something or hears something. He is an experimenter! Every time he is told something he wants to prove it, and test it out! 

He has only noticed holiness and goodness as he's done so. He's beginning to realize how wonderful and good this church is. He thanked us so much for coming, and said he feels so much better when he sees us. Heavenly Father loves him so very much. He sends you and I as His representatives to show that love. What a privilege! 

I love you all. Thank you for your prayers, and for being so thoughtful and kind all of these years. Merry Christmas. Please remember the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas. 

If you haven't PLLEEEASE watch He is the gift. And Discover what the Lord has intended for you to hear. Then Embrace it, let Christ into your soul and feel His love envelope you. Let His example change you, and do likewise as He would to your fellow men. 

And SHARE THE GIFT! This is the most important part. Sharing!!!! If you've seen the video, share it! 

The Lord's work is done His way. The Lord's servants the Prophet, Thomas S Monson and the 12 Apostles started this project. This might just be me, but I'm pretty sure it's inspired!!!

hahaha.

I testify as the Lord's Servant that Heavenly Promises are kept. I testify that Christ does Live and His Atonement is real. I know it because I have prayed and felt so much peace. I've felt Forgiveness.

I invite each of you to share the gift of Christmas, and share this video. It's touched my heart, and I know it will touch yours too.

 I pray, that you will feel the special Spirit of Christ's birth as you share this Christmas with others and serve. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love yinz. Stay true to the Book in Blue!  

Elder Johnson

Yesterday he came to church & we were FREAKING OUT. The members immediately welcomed him!

Hello my friends and family!!!

Things are going SOOOOOOOO welll!!!!! Sheesh! where do I start?!

Alright! Well, we've got a new investigator named Darnell and WOW, I've never met anyone like him! He is so prepared for the Gospel he's basically already baptized! He has no word of wisdom issues, he hates alcohol, he has a CAR, and he loves learning about the Gospel. Best of all! He is a DO-er! He immediately applies anything he learns. He told me that he taught himself how to remodel his kitchen. He said "Why should I pay someone if I don't know if I can do it myself or not? I don't know if I can't, I might as well learn and try it out!" I told him to do the same thing with the Gospel! He is SO great. He does everything we tell him to. He even asks us for more scriptures to read! And it's so clear the spirit is teaching him.

He's SO great. The last time we saw him we read Mosiah 3, and the whole time he was asking tons and tons of questions! Then HEEEE would teach USSS about what he just learned! He is SO cool!

Yesterday he came to church and we were FREAKING OUT. The members immediately welcomed him in and he felt right at home! During Gospel Principles he asked great questions and totally understood what was going on. We talked about the Council in Heaven, and about our agency and how addictions take it away. He told me about his job as a psychologist. When someone is addicted to alcohol they not only lose their agency, they become chemically addicted and their genes are effected. When that person has children the gene for an easier addiction to alcohol is passed down. I'm not sure if that's true or not but it sounded good to me! Talk about SCARY! 

After church he told me how much he loved it. He said it's so great because he actually WANTS to be there. He said he got so much out of it because he enjoyed being there!

It's so amazingly clear that God is preparing His Children for the truth. Happy holidays everyone!

Keep the faith! Don't do drugs! Remember God loves you more than you can comprehend :)

Elder Johnson