the Pleasant Area..............

Hola Familia!

I hope your weeks just been fantastic! Sorry about not writing last week, it's been crazy here in Pleasant! There's been a whole lot of confusion, miracles, and biking. If there was ever a time in my mission that I've been completely exhausted, this would be it!

I'm now serving in the Pleasant area in the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield. It's a nice place and the ward is very friendly! I think we've been honked at and given a wave about every day!
We started this transfer being doubled in and it's been a roller coaster ever since, but hopefully we can figure it out at some point and I don't think we'll be lost for all long.

In the last couple of weeks, we've been absolutely drenched, a few times, celebrated my birthday, flipped an area upside down, and was shown a whole new world of grocery stores.

I hope you all know that I love you and that I hope each and every one of you takes the steps that are needed to build your testimonies. You can never start to early, and it's never to late, the best time to do this, is now. I love you all so much! Till next week!

Make good choices,
The Church is true,
Love you!
~Elder Johansen

The second day in Pleasant, we got caught in a storm. We got SOAKED

Massive block of cheese in Jungle Jim's..... 

 First day in Pleasant! 

 A Blessed Burrito......

Hot Sauce with Elder Hopkins (that's the whole Holy Bible).......

 Amanda....... ;)

The Tesseract...........

The bread of life............

Hey there 😁

Thanks for all the pictures, I love being able to see how everyone's doing. I hope you all know I love you!
This week flew by at 100 mph! It was basically back to back exchanges and trainings. We've been caught in the rain multiple times and it's finally starting to get hot and humid. Lots of fun these past couple weeks for sure 😆 wish I could say more, but I can say,

Make good choices,

The Church is true,

Sure love you!
~Elder Johansen

Elder Hopkins took me to Cracker Barrel.... 

 At one point Elder Hayes and I hiked through the forest to get to an appointment.....

#ComeAtMeTicks

Elder Hayes and I seran wrapped Elder Krey's desk.......

Elder Chidester and Elder Hopkins made us lunch bags........

Well what a PLEASANT surprise...........

Well hey there! Long time no see, you look great 👌

As many of you know, I've been out on my mission for the past six months, making my way through the streets of Springfield Ohio, finding people to talk to, seeing miracles, getting yelled at most of the time, and meeting some really crazy people along the way. As life would have it, we never expect the weird stuff that happens to us, but hey we take it anyway because why not? It just adds to the experience right?

Once again, as many of you know, there's a little procedure in the mission field called "transfers". These transfers happen every six weeks and it's a pretty exciting time! The whole mission gets on a conference call with the Mission President and his assistants and we find out what's going to be happening for the next six weeks of our lives. We listen to incredible insights that the President feels needs to be said and we later find out where we may be going, what our responsibilities might be, and who our companion is going to be. This transfer call was a little bit different than usual in the fact that I'm
1. Not having anything to do with training. Either being trained or doing the Training.
2. I'm not going to be in good old Springfield.

This last weekend I found out that I'm going to be stationed in the Pleasant District in Fairfield and Hamilton, Ohio. My new companion will be Elder Krey! I have no idea where Fairfield or Hamilton are, or what they're like but does anyone know what's going on in the mission anyway?
Probably not 😂

It's been a great six months and we'll see how long I'm going to stay in Pleasant, but I do know that it doesn't matter where you go in the work, it just matters that you're doing the work with all your might and I know that miracles can and will happen! I can also say in Absolute Confidence that everyone is going to be confused when I tell them that I'm from Mt. Pleasant, Utah! Way too many Pleasant's!

I've seen a lot of crazy things happen here in Springfield. I've had a lot of heartbreak and disappointments, some of them even coming from myself, but I've seen SO many miracles and I'm proud of so many people that I've been able to get to know. I know that the work that we do as missionaries can have an incredible impact on not only the people that are being taught, or even the missionaries or the members, but on thousands upon thousands of people on this, and the other side of the veil. As we each learn our role in God's great plan we come to know the work that we can do for all of our families, and we come to realize just a little bit more of the mercy and love God has for His children. As we read the Book of Mormon, we come to have an even greater sense of our purpose and how we can come to have never ending and eternal happiness. I testify that these things are true, and i know that we can come to know them for ourselves!
The church is true!
Make good choices!
Sure love ya!
Elder Johansen

(PS. you can send packages/ letters /love and such/ maybe money if your cool who knows/ to
Elder Johansen 424 Creekside Drive apt 100, Fairfield OH, 45014)

this week flew by.....

Hey Mom! ( and the rest, I guess you can be included too if you want 😆)

It's been quite a week here in Springfield! It's finally starting to warm up and right now it's 72 degrees! It's a great change from the -33 that I've had over here. This last winter was brutal and *knock on wood* thankfully it's over! There were way to many days when I was walking around in the -10's and it was a little bit difficult to want to save our miles by walking around!
But this weather is much more appreciated that's for sure.

This week we've had some funny experiences and the whole week basically went by in a blur. But as the end of the transfer closes in, I see the growth that I've had personally as someone who's been called to serve God and his children.
At the beginning of this last 3 month period where I've trained Elder Stafford, we've all been so dang confused that we really had no choice but to grow better than we both started. This has been a very important section of personal trial and it's been the best thing I could've asked for.
I've had the chance to be the District leader of the Springfield and Huber Heights missionaries and a trainer to Elder Stafford. Both these experiences have given me the opportunity to grow as a leader and as a Disciple of Jesus Christ.
I can say that I've never so thoroughly studied the words of God in my life, and I'm so blessed that I can have His guidance in this time.
I can also say that we all need it. So if you're not reading the Book of Mormon, or if you don't think it's a priority....
Repent and make it a priority!
Bring yourself closer to God and realize that the council given is just for you!
As someone from home always said " If everyone would just read the Book of Mormon, their lives would just be so much better!". I know that this marvelous old widow that said this statement really knows about what she's talking about!
The Book of Mormon is the best Self-help book out there, and can help us in more ways than we can possibly imagine.

I'm not a Biblical Scholar and I don't have a PHD in Religious Studies, but that's not what defines someone as knowing the truth. I know that this work is true, that the message that we teach is true, and if no one believes me, then I invite them to find out for themselves if it's true.
And how do we do that?
We take the Lord's council to study by knowledge and by faith.
And what do we do?

READ THE BOOK!!!
ASK GOD IF IT'S TRUE!!!
AND SEEK YOUR OWN CONFIRMATION THAT THIS IS TRUE!!!
ALSO STOP YELLING.....

that's generally a good thing BUT HEY 😆

We've also had the chance to celebrate Easter here in Springfield (oh my gosh, SPRING in SPRINGFIELD! I NEED TO GO STAND IN A GRASSY PIECE OF LAND) and it was a great experience. One of my favorite things was the new video that the church put out and if you haven't seen it, go look at my Facebook or go to Come Unto Christ

Today we helped someone move and that was actually a lot of fun. If your ever going to move somewhere, make sure to have things set up to where you're able to move, don't wait to pack things up till your help gets here.
That's stupid.
And no one wants to be stupid.

I also got an incredible compliment from one of the members, where he said that once my previous companion and I came into Springfield, missionary work has started to improve drastically and that they were all so glad to have had us there. That was awesome to hear.
I'm glad that Springfield was left for the better instead of worse. Hopefully it stays in the better. If not I'm gonna be stinkin' FURIOUS but I know it will and I'm glad :D

All in all this week flew by and I'm glad that we're staying busy. It's great to speak to you all, you all look great, I see you dressed for the occasion, and I don't think I've seen a better group!

Please take my advice, it's the best council I could ever give to anyone, and I promise it will change your lives for good.

Make good choices,

the Church is true,

Sure love ya!
~Elder Johansen

Side note:

Elder Johansen's Facebook page is for missionary use only. He is not allowed to respond to comments made on posts. You may email him at kevin.johansen@myldsmail.net. When time allows he will write back. Continue to reference his mission blog for updates.