An email from the Landlords!

I think Mormons are marvelous!!!  I got this today from Colton's Landlords/Bishop&Mom of the ward where he is serving.  Today is a holiday and the libraries are closed, so we were prepared for the sad two week delay of news.  

I know it isn't something I should mope about, but knowing that I shouldn't mope didn't seem to have any impact on my heart decision to mope anyway. I felt my brain try to comfort my heart with its knowledge that Colton is Captain Adventure and I know his brain is all "home where???" "family who???" & 

"THIS MISSION IS AWESOME!!!" 

 but I'm a mommy and my heart wants what it wants... AND I wanted a letter!  

So today I kept checking my inbox, hoping for something!  

And

I got this today and it warmed my heart.  

"We are happy to have Elder Johnson join Elder Lee.  This is Elder Johnson's  first p- day in the field and they are doing laundry. Elder Johnson already gave his first sacrament meeting talk. We love his happy energetic smile. He is dedicated to the work.  We look forward to getting to know him better.  They are living in our little Cottage ( converted garage ) 

From Bishop * & Sister *

Feel free to contact us at any time. We enjoy having the missionaries so close. "

(I'm leaving specifics of names and places for people's privacy.)

It makes me want to go take pictures of our awesome missionaries and email their mommies the updates of how much we love them and what good they are doing for the people in our area!   I'm going to play this forward!!!  

New Pictures From Sister Black!!

Oh How I love Mission Mom's!  Colton can't get a letter out this week by email because libraries are closed today, but "Where God closes a door, somehow he opens a window?" (break out Sound of Music soundtrack)  and Sister Black updated the blog with some pictures including Colton



She states:

 The new missionaries have been here for a few days now and hopefully

had a few missionary experiences.

As we see them, we see they are a little more at ease.

They, along with their companions, came together again

for a review and for a discussion as to how the

first 12 week program is going. 

 This is Elder Colton Johnson and Elder Lee his trainer who is From Monroe WA.  In his latest email, Colton wrote very briefly that his trainer came out in Feburary.  They look pretty happy, However Colton omitted the part where he tells us what city he is serving in...Ah, well.  From the paragraph he wrote he sounds happy, and that we can expect a letter from him next Friday!  

 I see here Colton (front left center with striped tie) is holding court and already enjoying telling some fun story.  That is a fun familiar sight!!

I found out Elder Black his mission President is a Dentist!  I think its a sign!  He's in good hands!  Colton, Papa is watching out for you from heaven!  

And again...His wife takes pictures and posts them!!!  Hurray! 

Colton's Mission Mom Keeps a Blog - and a Picasa Web Album!

Hooray For Mission President's Wives!  Sister Black Posted pictures of the new missionaries ... I don't complain, I'm just grateful for the pictures that we have received from a cousin, a best friend and a Mission Mom!  Hurrah For Israel! (and Blogger!)  This is the link to the misson blog and the first day arrival of the 22 new missionaries.  

Nevada Las Vegas West Mission

ColtonMail#3 5/16/13

I Love you guys, 

I found a way to get in one last letter. I just went to the temple again, and it was amazing. I love you so much. Invictus has been running around my head all day. 

I started out this day a tad irritable. It was the first morning I have felt anything less than stoked. Things were getting on my nerves. I was grumpy and some elders were getting on my nerves.  A quote from Master & Commander has a description quite applicable: "I have never met a man (men) who so thoroughly enjoys such a small amount of wit." 

See how grumpy I am?  All this waking up early is finally making it tough for me and my mood. Luckily, I said nothing I would regret to anyone, and instead lapsed into moody silence that needed to change.

At the Laundry room in the time I mailed you, I had been reading 3rd Nephi, and I got through 2-17. I realized that I needed to stop taking offense, like Eliza. It doesn't matter, and I am big enough to not let such small things hit me. When we got to the temple, I realized how great each one of us are, and the noble potential we all hold. I am not mad, and feel disappointed at how petty and small I can be sometimes. However, I am excited,  because through Christ, I can become so much bigger, so much better.

I don't know if this works or not, but I prayed for Christ and Grampa Johnson to help me feel Charity. Is that right, or just a nice sentiment poorly applied?

I can't write again for a while, as I leave on Monday, so next time I hear from you will be the Monday after next.

I wrote today that   "Wit is only honesty cleverly put."

I also have realized that memory is a legitamate skill and shows great intelligence. I want to be better at it. Everyday I look at the "I give men weaknesses that they may be humble." I think this is inspiring to me.

At the temple, I felt a great courage surge through me. I felt like I am beginning a great new adventure. God will look after me, and I am so excited to go to Las Vegas!

Uncle Marc sent the best letter to me. It was powerful, and inspired me.

I love you so much.

Colton.

Letter #2 MTC 5/16/13

Dearest Family,

I love you guys so much. Mom, your letters are inspiring, and I love that envelope/ envelopes.

Alida, it was a rubber duck, and it is sitting on my desk. Eliza, send me a picture of you in that hat, cause I can just imagine you with your attitude and my hat. Bruce, I am taking very good care of the lego guy. Zac, It is hecka hard to write letters, and I too am not really sure what to say, but thanks for writing. I kind of like handwritten letters better, because I can look at them all of the time and treasure them, but email is way faster and cheaper, so either way is fine. I'm not actually supposed to write letters any other time than p-day, so I got thirty minutes to get what I'm thinking on to the letter. 

The MTC is amazing. Truly amazing. It's also rather hard. 6:30 a.m. is the devils time. If the spirit goes to bed at midnight, it doesn't wake up till 8, cause I haven't heard a peep out of it till then. I leave this place on Monday, which is just shocking, because I feel like I just got here. You guys, sending me beano, was absolutely hilarious. 

My first day here I walked to my class and met my companions, Elder Heidinger and Elder Alsdorf. Elder Heidinger is from Canada, or as he likes to say "Sow-thern Alberta." He says things like "Raymen Noodles" (which I don't even think is a Canadian thing) and washroom. Elder Alsdorf is from South Dakota, and I was quite disappointed to say that he had no accent at all. During the first couple days we were waiting to be called as leadership, and Elder Alsdorf kept laughing and saying "Elder Johnson, we all know it's you!" I just smiled, because I know how callings in the church actually work. Elder Alsdorf was called as our District leader an hour after, and has been losing sleep since. 

These people are quite humor starved. I got them to cry telling them my story about getting my tooth pulled by papa. Pretty much all of lunch was spent by them rocking back and forth and letting out strange shrieks. We have a Sister Lane in our district. She told us that someone had once complimented her on her eyelids, and so I started going like "Hello! I am down here!" and closing my eyes and doing my best Zac impression "Is this what you want? Huh? Is it?" I showed everyone Bruce's Lego, I told everyone about "I got the looks for the moves!" I am constantly using Mom's lessons.  I showed everyone Zac's selfies, and I read aloud Alida's letter. And of course, I used Dad's mission stories (particularly the ones about the grenades and such). 

Russel M Nelson came here. That was amazing. Absolutely amazing. But what really got me was Sister Nelsons five minute talk before hand. I have been so excited here, and I didn't even write down her name when all of a sudden, the spirit hit me like a watermelon smashed on the highway. Whoa. It was powerful. She said to ask for our ancestors to help us, and they will come, and I cried a little. Out of nowhere. It must of been important, because I wasn't contemplating my ancestors at all. They said that the family history guy is one of the missionaries best friends, which I had never considered. 

I am learning so much. We talked to an investigator (sort of) named Javier. I have found that my previous experiences with getting to know people is one of my best assets as a missionary, because once people open up, they listen. Javier is a professor at UVU and wanted to investigate mormonism, so we agreed to meet him. I am sorry to say that I was pretty much the only one talking. Anyways, we talked to him about the need to have a restoration, and priesthood authority. He said that we were so right. Then he flipped to Matthew 24.22, or around that area, and said the restoration would happen in the second coming. Our faces fell almost as fast as our wits. I went through the topical guide and he wanted only new testament, so we went through. Elder Hiedinger said he was about to stop me when he felt the spirit say no. He said "One more scripture only." and we flipped to Revalations 14.6 and it was amazing. He wanted to read the scriptures. 

Mom,  What is next on the list of books?

Alida, don't follow my example as a procrastinator! You've got the moves like me (I used one of them today) and the good taste in books, but don't follow my worst habit! Go elder!

Buce, I love you. Don't miss me. I am on a huge adventure! I only get two years!

Eliza, you are the bomb diggitdy. I love you. Alpha and Omega!

Zac, you rock. Write me about how corey is reading the book of mormon (jk).

Dad, I love you. Would you write me your testimony of the savior?

I love you, All the elders really want me to get off the computer so they can write.

Colton.

ps, Mom, that Invictus touched me. Thank you. I need more books. I am reading Jesus the Christ because I need to read. lol.

Letter #1 Sunday May 10 2013

Hey Mom, Dad, family,

I am alive.  And oh-so-hot and sweaty.  I love you guys so much.  You are wonderful. 

DO NOT MISS ME!   You have sent me to the best mixture of Hogwarts, Conference, and Church... and cub-scout day camp - given the preponderance of sweaty boys with gargantuan enthusiasm and no knowledge.

If you want to writer a real fast letter, go to dearelder.com.

This is an amazing work.  God is entrusting me with real precious souls.  I can't mess up.

I'm with Elder Heindinger (from Alberta) and Elder Aldorf (from South Dakota).  11 days left.  Guys, I have to memorize a ton.  Woo!

I can't call, so I am writing, No mothers day, I'm sorry!  I love you guys so much.

I don't have much time!  I love you!  Goodbye!

Colton Johnson