Oh well hello there......

What a week it's been and I hope that there's not all too many with these kinds of surprises!

We got Snow this last week and basically everything shut down! It was nuts! We even got a couple calls to go and get our groceries early   apparently people in Ohio really just don't know what to do in the snow because we only got 7 inches and the whole world was freaking out. Church was even cancelled and I have never seen that before. BUT it's a great thing because for one- I need snow or I feel super disoriented with everything. Two- Sister Shnepff here in Springfield learned how to drive in snow so hey! Life skills!

This week we had a baptism! Her name is Sister J Rocha and she's super cool. She's married to Brother J Rocha who was baptized about 6 months ago. We talked a little bit about the temple since that's their next step, and they both looked at each other and just gave that smile. Goals!
They have two little kids so it's even MORE exciting! ETERNAL FAMILIES HECK YEAH!!!
It was a great service and it was pretty awesome seeing a convert baptism for the first time. We're all really proud of them and I bet they're both excited to have this in their life and their family.

I'm just about done with my training here in Springfield, and man that's nuts. It's almost been three months here. Apparently things seriously start picking up by the sixth month so I better start buckling up because I'm in for a wild ride.......

I'm just a dang Greenie

But hey! I guess if I'm ever called to anything while I'm here of in the field, it's comforting to know that if I don't rely on myself, but on the Lord, I'll be able to do anything that's needed of me

We met Duke for the first time. Duke is probably the biggest dog I have EVER seen, and he's about twice as calm. And I was thinking about Scooby Doo the whole time! Apparently great Danes were war dogs. They sat at the thrones of royalty, and we're meant to be really intimidating. But like I said, they're about twice as calm as they are big so the're pretty chill animals   not exactly a "war dog".

My impressions from last week:
After reading Alma 45-48, I've seen an amazing example in Moroni. Mormon even tells how that if ALL men were like him, there would be no evil and all the armies of hell would be held at bay. It was super awesome. It was really cool to see that as we're humble in following the commandments of the Lord, and as we defend our faith and not seek the vain things of the world, we will be blessed with power immeasurable. I know that through Christ I can do all things and that there doesn't need to be any fear as long as we trust in him.

I know these things are true, and I love you all.
Elder Johansen

Elder Conrad, Duke and Elder Johansen

(Duke is actually sitting on Elder Johansen in this picture)

Thank you to Sister Taylor for sending us this picture

Happy New Year.....

Happy New Year
Another one down!

What an exciting year for all of us! So many insane things have happened and hopefully were all the better for it right? It was awesome that Sister Howell did that [sent a picture of Elder Johansen and Elder Conrad while they visited with Brother and Sister Howell]. I don't know what the picture looks like, but that night I was holding at least 8 different dolls at a time, they belonged their great granddaughter and she is the cutest little girl. Brother and Sister Howell are always kind of surprised at what toys she has us hold. It's really cute 😁 they're a great couple and they love the missionaries which is so awesome. They told us that it's just fair to make sure that the missionaries are taken care of while we're away from home, serving the Lord. All in all they are amazing and happy people who really take great care of the missionaries. And she new that her sending you that picture would make you happy. Also, now they want me to play the piano for them 😶 more experience!

(Picture sent to us from Sister Howell)

Quiz Question- What did Jesus Christ inherit from his mother and what did he inherit from his Father?
Answer- Christ was of course born of Mary and the Father. This was necessary because Christ needed to make the sacrifice himself and through being born of a mortal; he received the power to die, through an immortal; he received power over death.
-We talked about it in the MTC one night and that was pretty cool!

Right now I'm in Alma 37. And something that really stuck out to me was when Alma told Helaman that "through small and simple things, great things come to pass" (Alma 37:6)
I think that's just so powerful in our lives. And if we put that with 1 Nephi 17:8-10, when Nephi is commanded to build the ship, it's just a little easier to see that as we prayerfully put in our efforts to do the little things, we can make great things come to pass.

Me and my companion are really trying to scrounge up some recipes, so if there's anything you think would be good to make, we'd love to have em!

This week has honesty been a big improvement! We've been planning a whole lot better and now that the holidays are finally over, we can fully focus on the work and it won't be as hard to get to people! Things are going really good!! Unfortunately there haven't been a whole lot of things happen so there's not a whole lot to talk about. But! We did melt a whole bag of hard candy, had fun with that, liquefied it, made it into jello, then put a whole potato in it..... New year's day was a hard one on us.

ITS ALL PART OF THE EXPERIENCE!
I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you!
Love,
Elder Johansen

Merry Christmas......

What a time!
Christmas!
Here's the week:

Monday
Christmas Eve was today. We saw the Maynards and it was a blast. Their adorable little girls made us little present and it was the cutest dang thing.
We've been singing a lot of Christmas songs, been given at least 3 boxes of diabetes and so much ham. It was a great day.

Tuesday
It's Christmas. Super Christmasy and full of said Christmas. We opened presents, played ball, talked to our families and went to the Abstons for dinner and hey we got presents from Sis. Abston! Ugly sweaters and such. Had a great dinner, then went to play basketball again. It was awesome

Wednesday - Saturday
Honestly it's been a total blur for the past week. Things are just cooling down.  Elder Conrad is working on his talk, and he's trying a new way of doing it so that he better feels the spirit instead of just reciting a paper. I bet it'll go really well.

Sunday
Elder Conrad's talk went pretty well. I got to sit by Brother Cloud while he was on the stand. Today was our last 3 hour block for church. That's pretty crazy. That and starting in January, 11 year olds will be progressing the year that they turn 12, crazy stuff. Also, Brother Hines finally got a smartphone and he loves the camera so much, and he was really happy to get a couple pictures of us. He's pretty happy with his new Christmas present.

Monday
Today is new years eve. For today and tomorrow, we've been told to stay inside so that we don't get hurt by the partiers. Apparently it's pretty intense. We are kind of in a college area so I can see why we've been told that. In recent news: the sisters can now wear pants and the Springfield area is a bike mission now so hey that's neat.
But for today and tomorrow, we get to do whatever we want really so you know some naps are going to be happening 😁

Honestly, this last week has been a blast! All I hope is that I don't stop improving, because I definitely have a long way to go. Please keep me in your prayers, and I'll make sure to do my best in return!

With love,
Elder Johansen

Merry Christmas

The District.....

Christmas breakfast......

Christmas in a box.....

 The spoils......

Look at those socks :) just keeping the piggies warm.....