Week Thirteen - October 20, 2014

Family!  I love and miss you.  Hope all is well!

I still find it crazy that I wake up every morning and I'm in Korea. . . Holy cow, it's so crazy that I am already here in Korea on my mission!  I love missionary work.  These past few weeks I have really learned a lot about myself.  I have seen my strengths and my weaknesses.  I have been trying hard to focus on those weaknesses and make them strong.

Some cool and crazy things I wanna tell you about Korea are the restaurants and the people!  The restaurants are crazy!  Most places I walk past on the street there are fish tanks out front.  In these fish tanks are all sorts of living creatures; for example, octopus, eel, shrimp, squid, tons of fish, and many more!  Hahah!  When you order it, they pull it right out of the tank and dish you up!  I haven't experienced it yet, but I'm sure I will soon!!

One thing I really love about Korea are the people.  They are so giving and kind.  Every time we visit members or have lessons with investigators, they always have something for you.  They are very giving people.  This past week I haven't been feeling well and our investigator brought me some medicine and some jam to make sure I was feeling well.  He is such a good guy.  He is progressing but very slowly.  We are really trying to get him to come to church, but he just isn't sure yet.  We are praying for him, and I hope his heart will be softened and that he will come to church.  This week we taught him how to pray in English, and he totally prayed for me when I was sick.  I felt the Spirit so strong!  It was awesome.  I am fine now and am 100 percent.

This week I want to talk about prayer.  Prayer is a  very special gift that our Heavenly Father has given to His children.  He has given us this gift so that we can communicate the desires of our heart.  He wants to know of the things we need and the things we are grateful for.  Heavenly Father knows all things, but He requires us to ask him and to evaluate ourselves for the specific blessings we need.  This may sound a little weird, but I am really learning how to pray.  Prayer is a process.  We have to recognize the things we need and then ask.  Once we have asked, we must act and look for answers.  I have been doing a lot of that this week.  On Sunday, I decided that I would just pray and ask and thank during and throughout the whole day.  I know by doing this simple act, I was exercising faith and showing Heavenly Father I really cared and was looking for answers.

In conference Pres. Tad R. Callister gave an incredible talk.  One thing that really stood out to me was when he said something along the lines of this, "Our morning prayers are our spiritual armor as we walk out the front door into the most wicked battle field against Satan and his armies."  That line is very powerful and true.  The world is getting more and more wicked, and we must not forget to pray.  It is our daily armor we need.  We cannot forget it.  I encourage you to say your morning prayers.  Put a sign on your door if you forget.  But we must pray always so we can conquer Satan and his armies.  Doctrine & Covenants 10:5 is a great example of this.

This week I have also realized I am nothing without my Savior.  I really can't do anything on my own.  I need his help.  The language really gets to me sometimes, but I maintain a positive attitude and push through with the help of the Savior, and I know I can do it.  Also, I know that throughout my mission, I will come to realize this a lot.  I am nothing without the Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for everyday I get to strengthen my relationship with Him.  I know my mission will go very fast, and I only have this specific time in my life to do this--bring the people of Korea back to Him!  How great is my calling!  I love the Lord and am so blessed to be able to serve Him.

I have been blessed with so much.  I love my family so much.  Thank you for your love and support!  Thank you for your daily prayers on my behalf.  I love and pray for you!

Yesterday I went to a foreigner event.  There were people from all over the world!  It was awesome!  I saw so many Americans!  I literally talked to everyone of them.  I felt so good haha.  I could actually speak and express the desires of my heart through the language I know.  One guy I talked to was atheist and I testified that if he read the Book of Mormon, he could know that there was a God and that through reading it he could feel His love.  I also talked to this guy who was from Scotland.  He was such a cool guy.  I ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and bearing my testimony to him.

I am grateful for this work.  It is moving forward every day, and I am grateful I can be a part of it.  I have been studying the scriptures and trying to apply them to myself and have noticed a lot of small and simple answers.  I love this Gospel.  It is GOOD NEWS.  Have a good week!

Love you guys!

Elder Cole Thomas Johnson

Week Twelve - October 13, 2014

Family!  How are you? 

This week has been awesome.  I hope all is well!  I Love and miss you family. 

So I have a funny story of something that happened this week.  So we had been out proselyting all night, and we were getting rejected..  No one wanted to talk to us.  So we got on this random bus to see where it would take us.  We rode for about 20 minutes.  (The buses are CRAZY, we ride buses and walk everywhere.  The bus drivers think they are NASCAR drivers, and they cut everyone off and shoot gaps that I would never think they could haha.  I get super car sick on them:))  Anyway, so we got off and we started walking and we ran into these two college students.  I started talking to one and my comp talked to the other.  It was a miracle.  They both were interested and want to learn English and said they would love to hear about our church.  The Lord really does lead his missionaries to his people.  

Anyway, so after we got these two students' numbers, we started walking home.  On the way home, we ran into probably 8 middle school students just messing around on the street.  We said, "Hello" in English to see if they knew English and they said hello back so we started talking to them, hah but they didn't know anything other than hello... So anyway I started asking them what they like to do and where they lived and stuff, then they asked me and I said I played football.  When you say that to the Koreans, they get so pumped!  They go insane haha, so they started going nuts and then my comp told them I was famous in America and then I was one of the best football players haha.  I was dying laughing, so they all got in their backpacks and pulled out pen and paper for me to give them my autograph.  Then after that they started searching me up on the internet and my huddle  profile came up haha.  I showed them my kick return and they loved it!  Haha It was a fun memory!  But I think the exact night I showed them was one year ago from when I tore my meniscus and ran it back for a TD, so who would have thought that a year later I would be on my mission telling that story!  Ha!

 (Elder Johnson is #5 - The pictures the Korean students found on the internet of him playing football and making his famous kick return.)

Things are going really well.  We are still white washing our area.  We jundo a lot.  We went hiking with our investigator this week.  He is really progressing.  I don't understand a lot of what is said during the lesson, but he is doing really well.  We are hoping he comes to church this week!  There is nothing better than hearing your investigator prays for you.  He has such a sweet heart and you can tell he is ready for baptism.  I pray that we can continue to help him.  He talked a lot about me and my comps' parents and how good of a job they did raising us.  He knows we are suppose to teach him.  He is learning and progressing!!

Conference was unbelievable.  I got a lot from it.  I hope you did as well.  My favorite talk was Uchdorf's first talk in the the first Saturday session.  I felt the spirit so strong.  I invite you to read them again.  You can really learn a lot.  They talked a lot about coming unto Christ and receiving personal revelation.

 October 2014 General Conference

(Click on the link above to watch, listen, or read any or all of the inspiring talks from the Prophet and General Authorities given at this conference.)

 

We teach a lot of English lessons.  It is great.  But they promise to hear a gospel message after the English message.  My comp and I made  English  class flyers  this week.  We are handing them out.

Hope all is well.  I love and miss you!  Have a great week.

Elder Johnson

Week Eleven - October 6, 2014

Family!  How is everything going?

Wow!  So much is happening, I wish I could tell you everything, I wish you could just be here with me by my side.  I miss you guys a lot.  But I feel your prayers, and I'm so grateful to have such a supportive family.  I have a picture in my pocket and everyone I talk to I show them our family.  They love it!!!! 

So much has happened this week.  I am learning so much everyday.  Missionary work is truly the greatest work.  It is the best!   It is the most important work, and I know that it is the Lord's work, his hand is very involved, and I feel his love everyday. 

Some funny things to start out with.  I have come to realize I have to give up and get over germs lol:) haha  My apartment was so dirty and my comp and I  deep cleaned it so good last week.  It looks super nice!

 

 The food here is pretty crazy!  We were teaching a lesson to an investigator this week at the church and he brought us food.  We had just barley gotten done eating, and we weren't  that hungry, but if someone brings you food and you don't eat all of it, it is super disrespectful.. He brought us this octopus soup!  It was crazy!  But I had to down all of it.

 

Everyone tells me I look like Buzz Lightyear.  They say I am huge and my neck and muscles are giant.  Haha lol  Some people say they are scared of me… That's hilarious!   We sleep on mats on the ground.  They are pretty cool.  I like it some nights and others not as much.  I eat rice and like eggs with some like spam ham and kimchee everyday for lunch or dinner. I had a bowl of rice, buttermilk, and sugar that reminded me of home yesterday:)

Anyway, I want to talk about how everything is going and share with you some of the miracles.

This week has been great.  I am still trying to get used to everything here in Korea.  It is awesome. The weather right now is perfect.  I absolutely love nights here.  Just walking the lit up streets preaching the gospel is amazing.  I have realized that this is my time with the Lord.  I know that He will shape me and build me into the best missionary I can be while I am out serving.  I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying, and I know he is there for me.

Me and my companion got in a taxi on the way home from church one night and as we started going to our house, we brought the gospel up.  After the first few questions, I always get lost in the conversation because I don't understand Korean hah, but I felt prompted that I should pray.  So as my companion talked, I sat in the back of the car and prayed my heart out that the taxi driver's heart would be softened and that he would be interested.  Well, it was a miracle!  We got his number, and we are going to meet with him.  I can't wait.

Another cool experience I had was on the bus.  I was by myself in the back because my companion had to sit with a member in the front and I thought... well, here I go… I'm gonna give it a try.  I was sitting next to this college student, and I started my intro questions and stuff and It was a miracle haha.  He spoke English.  He is 100% Korean, and he told me he learned English in Australia for two years.  I basically taught him the first lesson on the bus and right when I got to Joseph Smith, he had to get off.  But I was able to get his number and we met with him.  I hope we will continue meeting with us.

The language,  It is very hard!  I  am not going to lie.  But I really do just talk to everyone.  I do my best and sometimes it is really frustrating and hard on me, but I really focus on having a good attitude.  Every time I open my mouth, I am exercising faith and every time I exercise faith, I invite many miracles.  I know the Lord will bless me if I show him I can do it and work hard.

This week has been great.  Missionary work is exhausting, but I really do give it my best.  1 Ne. 3:7 talks about how the Lord gave Nephi a commandment and he knew he could do it.  I know that Heavenly Father has commanded me to come to Korea and teach his people.  He wouldn't give me that commandment if he knew I  couldn't do it.  I am really focusing on trusting in the Lord.  He always has my back.  

I love and miss everyone.  Hope all is going well. 

I have a lot of faith and know I can do anything in the strenghth of the Lord.  I

love you!  Thanks for the support, I can feel your prayers!

  

Love Elder Johnson

Week Nine and Ten - September 28, 2014

I'm here. 

Holy cow!  I can't believe it.  It is so crazy, I don't even know where to start.  I miss you and pray for you everyday.  Missonary work is very hard, but I know that this is what I need to be doing.  I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Lord.  I don't even know where to start. 

When I first arrived in Korea, I was stunned.  I got off the plane and I was going crazy.  I was so excited and so nervous.  The first second I got off the plane and headed to get my luggage, all the smells started to get to me.  There are so many crazy smells here.  Haha kimchi.kimchi.kimchi.

After we got all of our luggage and stuff, I met my mission president, President Shin and his wife, Sister Shin.  They are amazing.  They are so sweet, and I am so excited to be able to get to know them better over the next 2 years.

 (Sister Shin, President Shin, and Elder Johnson)

 After meeting them, we got on a bus and headed to the mission home in Daejeon.  The bus we rode was crazy.  I was just looking out the windows and all I could see was huge buildings and Korean characters.  

On the way to the mission home, we stopped at a rest stop and our Mission President told us we had to go out and hand out a Book of Mormon. It was so crazy.  I can't understand anything and can barley speak the language, but I told myself I wasn't getting back on the bus until I handed out a Book of Mormon.  After about 15 minutes, my MTC companion was like, "Hey, we're not gonna find anyone."  I told him we weren't getting back on the bus until we handed it out.  Right as a said that, I looked up and there was an older college student walking down street, and we walked up next to him, and I asked him if he had heard of the missionaries and if he knew about our church.  We talked for a few minutes and then President Shin came over and helped us out.  It was an
amazing experience.
 

When we woke up the next morning, we went to the bath house to shower.  Hollllly crazy.  I have never experienced anything like that.  Hahaha It was so different.  It's awesome though.  I am soooo sooo culture shocked.  Things are a lot different here in Korea than they are in America.
 

On Thursday, I met my trainer.  He is from Arizona.  His name is Elder Skinner.  He is awesome.  He is teaching me so much.  We have a lot of fun together.  I am really grateful for a good trainer.  That is something that I have been praying for for a long time.  

 (Elder Johnson with his trainer, Elder Skinner.)

My first area is Gwangju.  We're Chungjang ward.  It is sweet. big city. I wish you could
see it.  It's hard to explain, but I will send you some pics of everything.  

 (Elder Johnson in Gwangju)

We are basically white washing the area.  We do a lot of proselyting on the streets.  It's called "jundo" in Korean.  I try the best I can to speak to them.  I have a lot to learn.  I don't really understand anything, but I know that if I work really hard, Heavenly Father will bless me with the gift of tongues.

We have one investigator right now.  His name is Kim teh Hong.  He is like 46 years old and is a very sweet Korean guy, very humble and happy.  We teach him English and then when we are done, we share a message of the gospel.  He is really interested.  The spirit is so strong.  It really makes me happy when I can see the light in his eyes.  I try my best to
see everyone how the Savior sees them.  We are continuing to work with him, and I pray that he will continue to progress.  My trainer is very good at Korean.  He has been serving for a little over a year, so he teaches most of the lesson, but I try my best to participate in all that I can.  He is awesome and teaches me a lot.

I have been on my knees a lot this last week asking the Lord to comfort me and to give me strength through these hard times.  This work is not easy.  It is very difficult and frustrating, but I know that it is the Lord's work.  I know that this next 6 to 12 months are going to shape me into the person I will be for the rest of my life.  These next few months are going to be very difficult, but I know that the Lord is here with me every step of the way.

On Sunday, I had to give a talk in church in front of everyone.  There are like 250 members in my ward.  I had to give my "insaw marrsim," which is like introducing myself.  It was so crazy.  Everyone was like staring at me.  I was praying so hard that my Korean would be good and that they could understand it.  My trainer said I did really well.  I felt good about it. I talked for like 4 minutes all in Korean.  It was amazing.  The members here in Korea are very different than Utah.  They are kinda intense haha.  You have to be on your top game and they expect a lot from you.  It is really good that it is like that though.

Sorry I'm all over the place.  There is just so much that has happened.  I hope you can understand.  I have never had a week like this in my life, so packed full of things and stress and being clueless about everything.  Also, sorry about my punctuation and things.  The
computuer is broken a little bit, and we couldn't go to the library where it is a little nicer because I don't have my foreigner card yet.  I will get that in like  3 weeks.  I am at a Samsung store.  (Note:  Punctuation was fixed upon receiving this e-mail for easier reading.)

After Sacrament meeting, I went on a little split with Elder Alan because him and his comp had two investigators and his other comp went with mine and their other investigator.  We taught this investigator how to pray.  We taught him the whole first lesson.  It was so cool. The spirit was so strong.  I said the whole first vision in Korean, and I made a really good connection with him.  After our lesson was over, he saw a picture of the First Vision and said he could remember it just like he saw in the picture.  I know that was the Spirit testifying to
him.

I am experiencing so much.  I am learning and growing.  There is a lot of work to be done here in Korea.  I am so exhausted at the end of every day.  I love this church and this gospel.  It brings happiness.  Please continue to pray for me.  I can feel your prayers.  I love and miss you.

Elder Johnson

Week Eight - September 18, 2014

Hello!

Family!!!  How are you?!  Hope all is going well.  This is my last P-day in the MTC.  CRAZY. It seems like it's flown by, but at the same time it seems like its been forever!  This week has been full of a lot of things!  It has been a great week.  I can't believe my time here at the MTC is basically over.  It has been great. I have really learned so much.  I have learned how to be the best missionary I can be.  I have learned how important this gospel is and the happiness that comes from it.  I have learned so much that is going to prepare me for the field.  4 DAYS!  I can't believe it.  I am sooooooo excited!  I am so privileged to be able to serve in Korea.  The Lord has blessed me with so much.  I am grateful for the things I am learning everyday.  This past week I have really worked so hard.  I have been giving it my all everyday.  I finished memorizing Joseph Smiths First Vision in Korean, and I have learned so much about the language structure and vocab words.  I have been doubling up on everything and I hold myself accountable to it.  

The Lord is teaching me so much.  When I first got here in the MTC, I prayed everyday for the gift of remembrance.  I could totally feel Him answering my prayers.  I was remembering everything that I was learning.  It was great.  It was a miracle.  As I continued my MTC experience and learning, I noticed I stopped praying for that gift.  I recognized it.  I wasn't remembering things as well anymore.  I was starting to get frustrated, and I felt like I didn't really know anything.  I recognized that I needed to start praying for the gifts of knowledge and remembrance again.  I have been doing so, I have seen a huge change.  I am remembering things that I thought I would have never remembered.  I am learning so much.  I really feel the Savior with me, and I know he is there to help me at all times.  Heavenly Father has given us the incredible gift of prayer so that we can communicate the desires of our heart.  He is there for us.  He hears and answers our prayers.  He just requires us to ask and have faith and do as He says.

On Tuesday, Elder Scott came and spoke to us at the devotional!  It was the most amazing thing ever!  It was so great to hear from an apostle.  He talked a lot about Prayer.  (Mom, he probably gave a very similar talk to the one you heard).  Heavenly Father wants to hear from us.  He wants to be with us through all of our trials.  He has given us the ability to communicate with Him.  That is truly a miracle in itself alone.  Elder Scott talked about three specific ways we receive answers:

1. We have a feeling of peace or love come over us. "YES."

2. We have a stupor of thought, not a good feeling. "NO."

3. No response. 

When he said "no response," I was kind of confused, but he went on and explained it.  He said that when we feel like we haven't received an answer, it's because Heavenly Father is trying to teach us something.  He is helping us strengthen our faith and grow closer to him.  He feels as if we are not ready for that answer yet.  Heavenly Father knows all things and knows when we need things.  He wants us to ask him for the blessings he has in store for us.  He wants to hear our desires, but He wants us to ask HIM what DESIRES HE has for US.  I am grateful for prayer.  I have been on my knees a lot asking Him what it is that I can do to be the Best Missionary I can be.

Getting Answers to Prayers 

 (Click on the link above to hear part of the talk from Elder Scott on Getting Answers to Prayers)

My District is amazing.  I am going to miss them a lot.  I have grown close with them, and I know that we are going to do great things.  We said goodbye to our teacher Sister Lee last night.  She was seriously amazing.  Last Friday night she was having a hard time, and we were able to help her through her hard time.  She told us that she knows we were the ones that she was supposed to teach.  The spirit in the room on Friday night was so strong.  It was something I will never forget.  She has taught us so much, and I am grateful for her. 

The natives are Hilarious.  I love them.  To be honest, I would love to have a Korean trainer (that spoke English as well) haha.  He would teach me so much.  I guess I will find out in a few days who my trainer is.  I am so excited!!!!!  KOREA, here I come.  I can't wait to be immersed in the culture and to learn and love the people.

I hope all is well. Have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Johnson

Week Seven - September 11, 2014

 P.A.C.E.

Family!  How is everyone?  Thank you for all your support!  I feel your love and prayers every day.  P day is the greatest.  I am so happy I get at least one day to tell you what's going on haha:)  I love hearing what's going on with things at home through out the week.  Mom, thanks for keeping me posted.  I seriously have the best family.  Thanks so much for your examples and support.  Mom, the packages have been nothing but perfect.  I love all of them.  I got the Timp post card.  Thanks for sending it.  Also, I hope you're feeling better.  Ohhhh, hey while I'm thinking about it..  Did you get my pics last week?  Dad, Thanks for your email.  I love hearing that everything is going well.  I can't imagine our house with only two kids in it.  Just seems weird haha.  I bet it is.  Oh, and of course, there is Bingst to keep Mom company when no one is home:) haha.  Thanks again for your love and support.

This week has been Great!  Not a whole lot has changed, but a few things have happened that I want to share with you.  Something I have learned while being here in the MTC and being a missionary is that after a hard time comes a good time.  Heavenly Father gives us weaknesses so that we can make our weak things strong.  That is definitely  something I have learned.  Ether 12:27 says it perfectly.  I know that Heavenly Father is giving me small trials so I can learn from them and grow while I am here in the MTC so I will be prepared for when I get to Korea.  KOREA!!!!  Holy Cow I am leaving in 10 days.  That is so crazy.  I feel like some days I know everything and others I know nothing... It's weird.  I have to continue to focus on what I know because  when I focus on what I don't know, I  get stressed.. hahah It's funny cuz before I left on my mission I thought I knew what stress was..  Apparently I was wayyyyy off:)  I have definitely learned what stress is.  Stress is a good thing if you use it to motivate you.  It can help you push through things.  Stress can also be a bad thing If you let it get to your head.  A thought came in my mind yesterday morning.  The things I can choose each day are 1. Which tie I can wear, and 2. Whether or not I smile all day and have a good attitude:)  P.A.C.E. positive attitude changes everything.  It really does.  I can't tell you how many times that phrase comes to my head everyday.  I love it.  It motivates me to give my best.

Elder Copeland's email.  WOW. . I am pumped out of my mind though.  I can't believe it's all here.  We are all on the Lord's team bringing forth his Gospel.  This is something that we as friends have been talking about for the longest time, and now it's here and happening.  I  love it.  I can't wait for all of the BOYZ to be out serving in their areas.  I am so grateful to have had such a strong friend group in high school. I love my boyz and pray for them everyday.  It just makes me happy that we are doing exactly what we should be doing.

Sunday.  Fast Sunday.  During sacrament meeting, we had fast and testimony meeting.  We have about 100 people in our zone.  I BORE MY TESTIMONY IN KOREAN!  The sweetest thing ever.  I really worked hard on preparing my testimony before giving it.  I prayed and prayed that I would be able to say what I wanted to and I did.  It was a miracle.  So, as I first got up there to bear it, this may not be as funny while you read it but It was hillarious.  Everyone cracked up.  I said, "Hello, I'm Elder Johnson.  I'm from Alpine Utah.  Then I said, "I am nervous."  But I said it in a Korean way with the word '"nervous" and the Korean ending form.  (Probably doesn't make sense hah) but it was funny.  I went on and bore simple truths of the Gospel.  After I sat down, I felt the spirit so strong.  I was grateful for the opportunity to bear testimony.

My District is amazing.  At first you don't know everyone, but I have grown a love for all of them and they teach me so much.  We all get along so well, and it's like we have been friends for a while.  Although we like different things, we are all here for the same purpose and I know that, that is what brings us closer.  I will never forget them.  I love them.

The MTC is great.  It's hard sitting in the class room all day, but I am grateful for the things I am learning.  I learn so much everyday.  The food is kinda getting old.  I have to have a good attitude about it though because I know that when I get to Korea I will have to find food.  It won't just be placed in front of me:)  I am beyond ready to leave the MTC:)  Hah but I know when I leave, I'll be wishing I was back here learning.  But I know I will learn so much in the field.

The rain storm this week was sick!!  Haha  Me and some of the elders went and played in the rain!  We got soaked.  It was amazing.

All is well, and I am really trying to buckle down and learn a lot.  These next 10 days are going to come fast.  I will be in my first area before I know it.  CRAZY.  I love everyone and hope all is going well.  Thank you so much for your support.  I have been studying the word "Gospel" this week and it means GOOD NEWS.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news.  It really is.  In our mission conference on Sunday, one of the speakers said that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that has ever been given to us.  Then he went on to say that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that you can give.  I really believe that.  I am grateful for Joseph Smith kneeling down and asking for an answer.  If he didn't do that, I know I wouldn't  have the happiness that I have in my life.  I have really gained a testimony on the Power of Prayer this week.  Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  

I have really come to know what sincere prayer is, literally putting all my energy into a prayer.  He answers my prayers.  I am so grateful that I can learn and grow everyday.  I love this gospel and can't wait to share it.  I have been called to Korea for a reason.  I will find that reason soon.  I love everyone.  Thanks again for all your support.

Elder Johnson

Week Six - September 4, 2014

Family!

How is everyone?  First of all.  Thank you so much for all the love and support this week.  The packages have been amazing.  I Love Gordon  B Hinckley's talk.  Lp book was awesome.  Haha I was so pumped you sent that to me!  Ahhhhh I love the packages and all the support that comes from my family!  I love you to death.  This week has been a little tough.  I have missed home kinda a lot.  But I refocus myself and know that this is the most important thing I can be doing in and for my life.  It is hard.  And I learn so much everyday.  I have been going beast mode learning here while I can.  I have been doubling my flash cards a day, and I memorize 20 words a day.  It's great.  I am so excited to get to Korea.  I got an e-mail from my mission president today and it basically said I will be arriving in Korea the 23rd of Sept. and I will stay two nights in the mission home, and then that next day, I will be in my first area!  Holy cow!  When I read that, I was peeing my pants.  I've never been so nervous and excited and at the same time.  I can't wait to be immersed in the culture and to grow a love for the Korean people.  I look forward to all that awaits me in HANGUK (Korea).  I am working my hardest everyday to be prepared for the day I get to Korea.  I know that as I work hard each day, the Lord blesses me.  I am so grateful for that.  I love being a missionary.  It is tough at times, but It makes me happy knowing that I am bringing people back to our Heavenly Father. 

I miss and love you tons.  YOur packages make me soooooo happy!  IZZZZZY holy cow.  I was pumped out of my head to get your Dear Elder.  You have to send more.  I will respond in a handwritten letter, and I'll send it by today.  I miss you Iz.  You're an amazing sister.  I was thinking about you a lot the day I got your Dear Elder and it made me so pumped!  Luke J HOly stud!!  Takin it back for 6 in your football game.  YOu're a stud.  I miss you so much and hope that you're doing good.  I heard your ankle is hurting a little.  Get feeling better.  KINGST, happy birthday bubs!  Haha I laughed my head off when you said it was his birthday.  Dad, I miss you, love you, hope all went well with your leadership meetings and things.  I loved your Dear Elder about football and stuff.  Wow!  It made me so pumped!  Keep doing that, I love it.  I miss going to the games with you and the BOYZ.  Those were some good times.  Before you know it, me, you, Luke j, and Tyler will be going to all the games together.  I miss and love my family so much.  You guys mean so much to me, and I am grateful for a family that cares so much about the important things in life.  I am grateful for the examples you are to me everyday.  YOu have taught me a lot and I have been so blessed.

This week has been pretty good.  Not a ton has happened.  First, I wanna tell you about something funny that happened!  Haha Saturday afternoon during additional study time, I spent like an hour giving a push up class to the two Korean elders.  One of them can do them fine and challenged me and Elder Lee to have a push up contest to see who could get the most in 1 minute.  I PUMPED OUT 70 in a row baby!  Sooooo sick!  I was hauling haha.  I was sweating bullets after that cuz I was in my church clothes.  After that, I taught Elder Kim how to do push ups.  I showed hims tons of different kinds of push ups to get strong.  It was so fun to teach him that stuff.  He teaches me Korean and I teach him how to get strong.  Haha lol (not that I am strong or anything.....)  I haven't really gained many pounds since I have been here.  I work out most nights with Elder Smith, and I think I have actually gotten more muscle.  It's great:)  We wrestle in the hallways some nights, and it brings back so many good memories.

We got the new elders in yesterday, and we are officially the oldest.  It's awesome!  We are leaving in like 3 weeks.  We get travel plans and our real name tags this next week, I think, or maybe the one after that.  I am pumped, but scared, too.  Hahah It's all becoming a reality.

So, this week my companion is really not feeling well.  Friday, he was really sick, and I gave him a blessing.  I said that if he was able to get some rest, he would be healed.  Sure enough, he was able to get some rest, and he woke up feeling a lot better and was able to come to TRC.  That was something I was praying for was that he would be able to come teach with me.  My prayers were answered.  I am grateful for the priesthood power.

Yesterday, my comp was throwing up again.  I'm not quite sure what is wrong with him.  I feel bad. I  have to sit back at the residence while he sleeps.  Yesterday was hard because I spent all my time at the residence, and I just read some scriptures and studied vocab.  I walked around the halls of the residence like over 70 times studying my vocab.  I was like shadow wrestling--doing push ups, singing, and lots more. 

This week, also, we had an amazing devotional.  He said so many things.  I will have to write a letter home talking about what he talked about.  He said that as I give my best everyday and be obedient and work hard, the power of heaven will be upon me and to the ones I love.  He said it will prompt the people who are close to you who aren't members.

 
This week has been pretty good.  I look forward to learning a lot this next week and taking specific steps to get me prepared for Korea.  I love you and miss you a lot.  Thank you for all your prayers.  I love you.  Hope all is well.

Love, Elder Johnson