Ta Bom!
Well, hey everyone! Sorry I wasn´t able to write last
week, I was traveling all Tuesday and my p-day changed to Monday. Just a
quick summary of what happened in my final days in the CTM. Our district was
having some difficulties with obedience that I had to resolve, but all in all
we have grown into a family throughout the 6 weeks at the CTM! Its just
so sad that we have to part ways on Tuesday (though 5 of the 8 will be serving
with me in Curitiba). We gave our instructors awesome cards with our
signutures and inside jokes. Afterward we stood up and sang `god be with
ou till we meet again`, which, at this point, everyone burst into tears (no one
could even sing). Tears came again when I said our last district prayer
together, when Elder Mooney, Elder King, and I said our last companionship
prayer, and when I bore my testimony in Portuguese during a testimony meeting
the day before we left. 
Before I knew it, I was on a 1 hour flight to my mission
with 20 other american, brazilian, and hispanic missionaries! I remember
dropping through the clouds and beholding the most beautiful, greenest
landscape ever! As we exited the plane, we were greeted by President Hart
and his two secretaries! Things started happening in rapid succession: we
piled into a van, drove to the police office to register (while we sat gaping
at our surroundings-b/c
Curitiba is the most beautiful,orgainized city ever),
drove to the Curitiba temple, took pictures with president and Sister Hart, had
a discussion with President Hart about our goal in the mission field (bring
people to Christ, not just baptism), ate at the president´s apartment, received
our new assigned area and companions, and drove some more. Little did I
know, I was being sent to one of the smallest towns in our mission named
Curitiba and was companions with another American missionary named Elder Kerr
(and another companionship of brasileiros).
As soon as I met him I knew that he
was the one I had prayed for the Lord to give me. He was the one that
could help me reach my goals, and I could help him as well. He is really
caring, active, and fun company. I just hope I can encourage him to give
his all for this work and never settle less than that. After a good 4 and
1/2 hours of driving through rolling hills and towering trees (branches grow
out then up), we arrived at our apartment (extremely nice) and suddenly it was
my first day in the mission field. Many of you have questions about how
it went. Imagine deciding to go on a hike every single day, and your
objective is to talk to everyone along the way. That´s essentially what
its like...and it´s great!! No one said a mission would be easy, so why
should I expect it to be that way! First of all, it´s a great work out,
secondly, we´re learning alot, thirdly, we´re helping others come to Christ! Anyway, now here´s a cool experience:
The first time we knocked doors was extremely cool. I
asked if we could start with a prayer (my companion was a little surprised), so
we did in the middle of the sidewalk (no shame at all). It was really
interesting because we were headed toward an appointment, but my companion
turned down a random street! As we were walking, I felt prompted to speak
to a bunch of kids in front of this house. Around 10 of them gathered around to
listen to us talk about our missions! Eventually we were admitted into a
house and there we gave our first lesson as a companionship about the
gospel. I gave the mother a book of mormon and testified of it´s
truthfulness! How´s that for listening to where the spirit directs you?!
Elder Johnson
Yay, I have an hour and a half to write!
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