Tanner's Homecoming

Tanner spoke in our ward on February 11th.  He chose is topic--he spoke to those who were preparing to serve a mission and how the Lord qualifies those He calls who have a desire to serve.  It was such a great talk!  He spoke for 35 minutes!  The chapel was filled and even back into the gym, it was like the Saturday evening of Stake Conference.  He had quite a few mission friends come--they stayed at our house the night before.  A few parents of missionaries serving in his mission also came, including Elder Rokovitz's parents.  It was such a great day!  Denise was sick with a nasty bug (fever, aches, cough, etc) for three days prior so preparing the lunch was very stressful!!  We were so blessed to have friends who came to our rescue and helped us pull it off (Nathan and Emily Peterson, Carrie Johnson, JoAnn Mickelson, Emily Merkley, Diane Weese, Kristina Eck, Aleisha Haueter, etc).  We could not have done it without their help.  Greg was getting pretty overwhelmed and stressed on Saturday getting all of the final things taken care of and setting up the cafeteria.  We had the lunch in the River Heights Elementary School Cafeteria.  Luckily, Denise's fever broke and she was able to be there on Sunday!  Sunday morning, Tanner reported to the High Council at 8 am.  He did a great job and I'm sure he will be getting some speaking assignments soon :-)  Here are a few pictures that others took that day (I'm so glad someone took pictures!)

Johnson family who came

Greg's decorating skills

Tanner's Home!!

January 30th was such a great day!  We were all so excited to head to the airport to pick up Elder Johnson.  We left home around 10:30 am, picked up Brynn from school (she wanted to go to school to help it go faster) and then were on our way.  We got to the airport around noon and his plane was due in at 12:56 pm.  We wanted to be front and center.  When Zach flew in, there were a lot of other missionaries returning.  When Tanner flew in, there were only four--him and two sisters on his flight and another Logan Elder on a different flight.  Our family was there, Grandma and Grandpa Butler, Shannon and Kiley and then Ben Weese, Sam Tenhoeve, Jaxon Fillmore and Andreas Anderson were also there to greet him.  He kept saying it was so weird to be home!!  (and hear English).  We stopped at Costa Vida in Centerville--although he wasn't hungry and then continued on home.  He was released by President Barfuss at 7:00 pm.  What a special time that was!!  He asked Tanner a lot of questions about his mission and his feelings, what he learned, etc and he bore his testimony both in Spanish and then English.  He was very emotional when President Barfuss told him he was now released as a full time missionary.  When we got home, many friends came by to welcome him home, including Diane Weese, Garrett Wright, Sam Tenhoeve, Jaxon Fillmore, Cayden Feldt, the Peterson family, etc.  He was happy to be home and we are so happy to have him home.  He is adjusting well!  He will speak in our ward on Sunday, February 11th at 1:00 pm. 

Waiting!!

He's real!!!

First Snap Chat!

Almost Home!

Elder Johnson is currently in the airport in Lima where he will fly to Dallas later tonight.  We have missed hearing from him the last two P days and are so anxious to see him tomorrow!  We received a few pictures today--three are with him and one of his favorite missionaries he served with--Elder Rokovitz from Spanish Fork area.  He spent the last few days with Elder Rokovitz in Trujillo.  The others are from the airport in Trujillo with members he served.

Elder Johnson and Elder Rokovitz

 

On his way!

I'm Comin' Home

"I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two and I hope by then I will be ready to teach and preach and work as missionaries do."

Ever since I was a little kid mobbin' in Primary singing these words, a mission has always been my goal.  Every thing that I did, every decision that I made whether it was good or bad, I always had a mission in the back of my mind.  Now for me to think that it's over...I can honestly say that it breaks my heart.

I have grown so much over these two years and I couldn't be more grateful.  My eyes have been opened and have been able to see the many blessings that the Lord has blessed me with in my life.

I could never deny the testimony that I have obtained on my mission.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.  His Atonement is real.  I have been able to see and feel of its infinite power and know that no matter what we go through in this life, we can be comforted and can be strengthened in Christ.  I know that I have been called by Him to be a representative at this time.  I remember very well an experience that I have shared with you all a while back, but I remember in my second area in Trujillo, my companion and I were walking down the street and we saw a guy that was dressed in all white and I felt the impression to contact him.  Before I acted on the impression that I felt, he called us over and he began to tell us the story of the church.  He shared the experience of the young boy, Joseph Smith, when he saw God the Father and His Son descend in so much detail and I remember I felt the spirit as he spoke.  This man was a very educated, wealthy and wise man and as he went on to speak with us he told us something that I hold close to my heart this very day.  he said, "you missionaries are the authentic representatives of Jesus Christ and teach His true gospel."  Now, this man was not a member and didn't go on to get baptized, as far as my current knowledge, but I learned a great lesson that day.  As I am now finishing my mission, I testify and know without a doubt in my mind, that I have been endowed with the authority of God to preach the gospel.  I have seen miracles.  I have seen prophecies that are in the Book of Mormon come to pass and more importantly, I have been converted into a disciple of Christ.

I just want to let you all know that I love you all!  I am so excited to see all of you again.  I loved my mission so much and am eternally grateful to my Father in Heaven for this blessing that I have had. 

I will see you all in two weeks!

Elder Johnson
**This was Elder Johnson's last email.  Next week, he will be going to the Temple and the following week he will be going to the mission home to finish his mission.  He arrives home on Tuesday, January 30th!

Tommy Mons

Hey everybody!  I hope you all had a good week.  My week was alright.  It made me pretty sad to hear that my boy, Tommy Mons, died.  He was the man.  As I have thought about everything, I remember growing up hearing that my generation and the generation of all of the youth is a chosen generation.  He was preordained to be called as a Prophet in the time he served.  I feel honored to have been called by him to serve a mission and also to have been able to see him in person and feel of the Spirit that was present in the Conference Center when I saw him.  I love him.  It is sad that he is gone, but one of the signs that this is Christ's church is that He will call a new Prophet and the work will move on.

So, this week was pretty average honestly.  The people here in Casma don't want anything to do with the truth.  We have had a hard time finding lately because literally, nobody will let us in their homes.  It's alright though.  We are still working and we will see the blessings from that.  We are planning on having two baptisms this month.  I feel pretty solid and confident about that.  Carlitos and Victor are progressing pretty well so we will see how everything goes at the end of the month.  Pray for them

The bad part of this week was that I got sick and threw up for the first time in my whole mission!  I was heated, I thought I was about to mob back home without throwing up, but what can I do!  Peru got to me.  It was good though.  I thought of my Savior, Jesus Christ and all that He suffered with so much love.  All of the little things that we go through in this life have been conquered by the Son of God.  I love Him and know He lives.  His atonement is real and has power to heal ANY wound.

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

My homies from the hood en el Mirador

Elder Johnson

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Hey everybody!  I hope that you all had a good week and a happy New Year!  You already know that I put down some Inca Kola to celebrate the New Year.  It wasn't quite as good as some Martinelli's but it got the job done.  I honestly can't believe we are in 2018!  When I got my mission call, I felt like 2018 was an eternity away, but literally time has gone so fast and has me stressed out of my mind ha ha, but it's okay!  I am looking forward to this year and to see everything that lies ahead of me.

So, to start everything out, I wanna wish my mom a very Happy Birthday tomorrow! CHEEHOOOO!  I love you and am very excited to see you in a couple of weeks.  I am thankful for all that you have taught me on my mission and for all of the love and support that you have given me.  I hope you have a good day and that you feel of my love. 

Anyways, this week was pretty good, I was so busy!  I had to go on interchanges with some missionaries, i went to San Jacinto which is in the middle of absolutely nowhere and is the hood.  It takes like 2 hours to travel there which is annoying but it was good.  Elder Duenas and I got things done in his area.  After that, I had another interchange and while I was on the interchange, I saw my old companion, Elder Arevalo!  I was SOOO pumped to see him.  He is from the jungle and is here visiting for vacaciones and came to say bye to me before I bounce.  I also received a surprise phone call from my old Branch President in Viru, Presidente Pulido!  It was super good to hear from him.  He called and told me that my old investigator, Felipe Ferrer, got baptized last week before Christmas!  It was so good to hear, I am so happy for the main man, Felipe!

Aside from the surprise visit from Elder Arevalo and the phone call from Presidente Pulido, on Saturday we did a contacting activity in the plaza and shined people's shoes for free!  Ha ha, it was sick.  Everyone wanted to take pictures with us and everything, it was good.  We got some references that should be pretty solid so we will see how that goes for us!

Anyways, that was my week.  I love you all and hope that you have a Happy New Year!  I will talk to you all next week!

With their investigators

At the Christmas Party

Christmas Party with shirts from Missionary Moms

Elder Johnson

Feliz Navidad

Elder Johnson did not write a group email home today.  We had a great time Skyping with both he and Elder (Kaden) Johnson in Oregon.  We had everything all ready to go and then Elder Johnson said that his computer didn't have Skype on it!  AGH!  He downloaded it and soon enough we were all hooked up.  It was so great to talk to both of them.  Only five more weeks and he will be home.

Skyping home

Christmas Photo