I couldn’t be more grateful to be serving here as a missionary in the MTC. It’s such an honor to be able to represent Jesus Christ in Madagascar.
On Sunday, Jenny Oakes Baker (Dallin H Oakes’ daughter) came and spoke to us about her experiences around the world. She’s an excellent violin player, and her whole family plays at least one instrument as well, which they also play very well. They are performed special musical numbers and it was very spiritually uplifting. We didn’t realize that she was Dallin H Oakes’ daughter until she said that her dad was an apostle. Here at the MTC, we get to choose a movie to go to. Now, When you think of a movie in this case it is not like in a movie theater. Instead, it’s when an apostle or someone really important in the church speaks through a video that had been taken at the time they’re speaking. This Sunday, a lot of our district chose to go to “one by one” by David A Bednar. This message was very spiritually uplifting about missionaries and their purpose. His grandchildren performed afterwards. Looks like a lot of leaders have really amazing families!
On Monday, we had TRC again. This time, me and Elder Ashford felt a lot more prepared in stead of feeling like we’re scrambling to put something together, with a few rough edges here and there. In other parts of our district, however, some elders didn’t feel like they had repaired adequately enough. One of the elders accidentally cussed in Malagasy while giving their lesson. Me and older Ashford were the last ones to teach because the person volunteering to discuss our lesson with us was 15 minutes late, and Brother Soper decided to substitute. Brother Soper is a really funny guy, and whenever me or Elder Ashford messed up he would just laugh and correct us.
On Tuesday, Jean B Bingham came and gave a wonderful speech during our weekly devotional. It was really a special time, because general authorities in the church really don’t come that often to the MTC. I don’t exactly remember what she spoke to us about, because there was a lot of talking going around where our district was sitting. One of the rules in the mission field is that the elders are not allowed to flirt with sisters and vice versa. However, this rule has frequently been broken even by the people who are in charge of those rules. I haven’t broken this rule, and I at least try to make conversation with sisters short, but I never talk about anything inappropriate with any sister. While I was trying to listen to Sister Bingham, There were probably three or four elders from the district who were talking to sisters in a manner that I was not comfortable with. I decided to just plug my ears and focus on the speaker. That helped me a lot to feel the spirit even though I couldn’t hear anything.
In the MTC, it is clear who teaches with spirit and those who do not do it with the spirit. Some of those elders just can’t recognize yet that they don’t teach with the spirit, and hopefully that can change soon because they won’t be successful without the spirit.
Also, Earlier Tuesday morning, me and our Ashford had to go to the doctor to check up on his health. It turns out that his cyst was still there. Me and elder Ashford were both shocked and disappointed at the news. We had to discuss what was to be done with the doctor and with his parents. We decided to go to a different doctors office that was in Layton Utah.
On Wednesday, in the morning, me and Elder Ashford went to Layton, Utah (yep, we had to leave the MTC for a few hours) to go see if he needed surgery or not. During this time, I was able to read a lot from the old testament. I really enjoy Exodus, and the story of Moses parting the Red Sea. When Elder Ashford came came out of the doctors office, he told me that he only need to meet with one more person and then he would know what to do. As we were driving back, I could see Temple Square and the Salt Lake Temple through the smog (for those of you don’t don’t live in Utah, it is very, very smog ridden in Provo. Just yesterday we couldn’t see the mountains which were in close proximity. It smells a lot like smoke). It was an encouraging sight for me, because it was a symbol of the presence of God. Sometimes our life is cloudy and dark, but you can tell when God is there to help us feel better about ourselves.
Just yesterday, Elder Ashford and I went and met with the president of our district, whose name fails to come to my mind at the moment. During this meeting, I had the privilege of meeting a couple of very nice sisters. Their names were Sister White and Sister Andrews. One of them was from upstate New York, and the other one was from Austin Texas, with a thick southern accent. I don’t remember where any of them are serving, but they seemed ready and willing to go into the field. That is the type of attitude I want to have before I go into the field. When Elder Ashford came out of the room he was being interviewed in, he told me that he needed to get surgery when his time at the MTC was done. He would go home for 6 weeks to recover, and then would fly to Madagascar to resume his mission. This meant that he would not be coming on the plane ride with us to Madagascar, which was devastating to our entire district. We all love elder Ashford and his influence on the district, and to hear that he wouldn’t be coming with us on this amazing journey was heartbreaking. I will probably be put in a trio when I reach Madagascar. I’m really hoping that Elder Ashford can stay faithful and diligent. He is an amazing elder. Later that night, I gave him a blessing of healing. It seemed to calm his nerves.
Last night, I had the chance to teach Tony again with Elder Ashford. We did not have a lot of time to prepare this lesson because of the trip to Layton and the meetings with the doctors. Brother Mack was very, very patient and forgiving, to whom I am very grateful for. He allowed us 2 hours of preparation time, which is also very forgiving. I ended up learning the entire first part of the first lesson in preach my gospel. Elder Ashford decided to teach Tony about the saviors earthly ministry. The next time we teach Tony, it’ll be about the great apostasy, the restoration, and the book of Mormon. When it was time for us to teach Tony, we went in and started to teach him. Before we teach him, we get to know him first, because it’s polite and we want to include him. I asked him how he was doing, how his work was, how his family was doing, how his health is doing, and where he bought his shoes. We then set a prayer, and when we were done I shared a scripture from Amos chapter 3 verse 7 with him. When he was done reading it, I said the first three words in the lesson I had prepared so earnestly. However, I was promptly stopped in my tracks. I had no idea how to go on in my lesson, because I did not remember a single word that I had prepared. I sat in silence for over a minute trying to figure out what to say. I became very frustrated, and I said a prayer in my heart asking for the influence of the Holy Ghost. When I closed the prayer in my heart, I open my mouth and it was filled beyond belief. I taught my lesson to the best of my ability, and brother Mack said that the type of Malagasy I was using was very eloquent and very inspiring. He said “boy, the spirit sure did fill your mouth!” After I gave my portion of the lesson, Elder Ashford gave his portion on the saviors earthly ministry, which he did a very great job on. When we were done with the lesson, and we had said a closing prayer, Brother Mack had us stay for a few minutes and told us in English how impressed he was with us. He asked me why I had sat in silence for over a minute, and I told him it was because I cannot remember a single word from my lesson, even though I had spent over two hours preparing. And then I told him about how I prayed that I would remember the words that I prepared, and how the Holy Ghost filled my mouth with the words that Tony needed to hear. He told me that I had experienced the gift of tongues. I completely and utterly witness to those reading this email that the gift of tongues is real and those who are worth and ready to receive it will experience it in its finest form. I’m really grateful that I get to learn the Malagasy language, and I’m so grateful for my teachers who so willingly and openly support me even in my mistakes. I am truly blessed to have these teachers as my tutors in this magnificent language. I love them so much, and I could’ve gone this far in the language without them.
Nor could I have gone any farther in this entire mission without any of your support.
I am without words when it comes to gratefulness and thanksgiving for the support all of you people have given to me. But love and concern that has been demonstrated for my sake is almost inconceivable. I love all of you so much and I know the Lord is going to bless you for your willingness to support me. You helped me to become the person that I am today do your simple yet very deeply meaningful gifts. Again, I express my gratefulness for all your support.
Right now, I am working to memorize a few more scriptures. In intermediate core, we have to memorize 25 Scriptures. I have only memorized 2 so far. It’s ok, though. I know that the Lord will give me more room in my brain to stuff all this Malagasy.
I’ve been trying really hard to take as many pictures as I can, and I will do it a lot more next week. These pictures were taken either at night, or when I was really bored. I will include a video of our district trying to make a beat. It was really funny, because none of us were very coordinated. You will clearly see that when you watch the video.
God bless you all, I hope that you enjoy your weekend and the next week until I email you again. Be safe, and know that heavenly father loves you. Also know that I love you.
The first picture is 1 Nephi chapter 2. The second picture is some of my TRC notes.
Third picture is the restoration in PMG. Fourth is he plan of salvation in PMG, fifth is the atonement in PMG.
I took a panoramic picture from my classroom of the mountains. My classroom is on the fourth floor of the new building.
In the last picture, you’ll see a cloud that looks kind of like Beethoven.
With love,
Elder Johnson
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