10-7-13

October 7, 2013

Dear the fams,

This week was good--not crazy eventful, however.  This will probably be my last letter I will send you.  By the time you get this, I will only be a week or so from coming home anyway.

We've again had some good success lately with some less active people.  We were able to commit two people to receive their endowment and then a bunch of our recent converts are all preparing to go to the temple for baptisms for the dead, which will be way sweet.  And we've also been helping these other less active dudes to quit smoking and stuff.  It has been pretty good.

The mission has gone by fast.  It's crazy.  I hit my two years mark a few days ago...it doesn't even feel like it has been that long.  It hasn't really hit me that I'm so close to finishing.  It probably won't until I'm on the plane, I guess.  It is going to be a sad thing to have to leave Samoa.  I've really grown to love these people a lot.

Yesterday I bore my last testimony in church.  It is really coming down to it.  I don't really know what to say this week.  It has been good though.

Our snake and crab are still doing good.  I've been wondering if it is worth it trying to sneak the crab in my suitcase.  We'll see what happens.

A crazy lady came to the house we were eating dinner at last night and then just sat down at the table and started eating with us uninvited.  Haha.  It was way funny.  There is this Samoan dish called lu'au that we were eating, but they didn't bring her a lu'au and she got all mad.  It was just an unusual experience.  And then she burped and left abruptly right after she finished eating.  Good stuff.

We're still working hard and seeing some good things happen.  I've only got a few weeks left so I want to give it my all.  We're hoping we can have some investigators ready for baptism before I leave, but I guess we'll see.

My mission has been the greatest experience so far and I will be supper bummed to leave.  But it's all good.

See you in a few weeks,

Elder Johansen

9-30-13

September 30, 2013

This week was transfers.  I'm staying in Lotofaga.  It's for sure now that I'm going to finish here.  By the time I leave, that will make nine months here.  But it's sweet cause I love the area.

My new comp is Elder Save'u, from here in Upolu.  He is a good dude and real obedient, so it's good.  I'll miss Gasio though.  We were companions for a solid 5 months.  He left and took all his food and his candy though, so we're trying to figure out what we're going to eat now.  Luckily we have this big pig leg in the freezer we can cook up at any time, so maybe we'll do something with that.

This week has been a few early mornings.  We got up before 5 on transfer day cause we had to go pick up a bunch of people.  And then we had a temple trip with one of our wards and had to get up at 3:30 and get ready so we could be at the temple in time for baptisms for the dead at 6:00.

The temple trip was way awesome.  First was the baptisms for the dead with the youth, and then after we went to the endowment and then sealings.  The endowment was for this woman we have been working with for a few months now to prepare for the temple.  She was sealed to her husband and her kids right after.  It was a cool experience.  The woman's name is Malia and her husband is Usoalii.  Usoalii is actually our ward mission leader and even served a mission.  But for whatever reason, he never wanted to get sealed to his wife.  Malia told us that tons of missionaries have tried to get them in the temple, but Gasio and I were the first ones that could finally convince him to do it.  So that was a way dope experience.

Our snake is doing good.  She is a trooper.  And all our crabs are dead but one, Sipologo.  Sipologo is the man and is the king of the bathroom.

I've got exactly one month left from today.  That's pretty nuts.  I think next week will be my last letter.  Otherwise, I would just be writing letters to myself if I were to write any after that. It has been the best.  We're hoping to take it up this month and rip up the work in this area.  

Elder Johansen

9-23-13

Brothurs,

Suppins my friend?  This week has been gnars on cars for deftoats.  This week was actually the excellentness though.  We've been "spanking them blue" as the old timers would declare.

Mother, that's cool that you won 500 bones...I guess now you can use that cash to buy me 500 lbs of swedish fish when I get back.

It sounds like everyone is really spunkin' around the dunk bunk back home. That's the tops.

We had a good week.  Lots of good stuff happened.  First of all, one night while driving home after dinner we were in the dark and on the side of the road I distinctly saw a very nice looking belt that apparently someone had left by mistake.  So we put the car in reverse and, upon reaching the belt and getting a better look at it, I realized my eyes must have been "cheated by a spell," for it was not, however, a fashionable piece of hipwear, but actually a 4 1/2 foot long python.  I actually don't know what kind of snake it is.  I don't know snakes well enough to name it.  But it is massive.  We took her by the tail and tossed her into the back of the van and we were off.  We decided to name her "Snape."  However, secretly when no one is around, I call her "Ken Sortingham."  She is sweet and very passive.  She lives in our closet and we feed her lizards.

We got to go to the temple this past week.  That was really cool.  There were a few people we have been working with that got their endowments.  So that was cool.  I'm always stoked to get to go to the temple.  Afterwards we went and got food and the branch president almost got in a fight with one of the parking lot security guys.  It was funny, but kind of awkward cause they were making a big scene in front of a bunch of people.  Then these old grandma ladies from the branch got in on it and started yelling at the security guard guy too.  It was choice.

This past Saturday and Sunday we had five baptisms and confirmations.  The three sisters--Aso, Fuasa, and Fualaau.  They are Main'u's kids.  She's the woman who was baptized last week.  And together with them, we also baptized Doni, our Fijian investigator.  Also that morning we baptized Esau, the investigator we have been working with for quite some time now.

All the baptisms were awesome.  I got to do Doni, Aso, Fuasa and Fualaa's baptisms.  And Gasio did Esau.  I was a little nervous for Doni's baptism cause I had to do it in English.  But I was just afraid of messing up or something cause I've never done a baptism in English before.  Same thing with his confirmation.  It was weird cause I was translating what I would say in Samoan into English and I was just all nervous for it for some reason.  I guess I'm just used to doing stuff in Samoan.

After the baptisms, they gave the opportunity for all the converts to share their testimonies.  That was way cool, especially Doni when he got emotional as he was telling his story.  He is pretty much one of those miracle baptisms and one of those you know is just absolutely prepared by the Lord.  So it was way awesome! Definitely a day I won't forget.  Plus we got ice cream after, so that made a perfect end to a perfect day.

Several of my buddies from the MTC went home last night.  They called me on the phone and it was crazy thinking that that would have been me.  They were all jealous of the rest of us that are staying.  It's nuts though.  The mission has gone so fast.

I'm looking at my travel plans right now, Mother, and you can guarantee to expect me to arrive in Salt Lake City at 5:35 pm on October 30th.  I had the lady at the mission office send the paper to you again cause you said in your letter you weren't sure.  It works out perfect too cause I can come home just in time for Halloween and I can dress up as a missionary.

Things are the bones.  I'm lovin' it right now.  We are definitely going to see some dope miracles this next month.  I feel like the Lord has a lot of great things in store for me.  By the time you receive this letter, I will only have a few weeks left. So that's nutso butso.  I'm going to make the best of this precious time I've been given.

I think our snake is the same snake Harry Potter let loose from the zoo.  She told me "He wasn't all that tall in real life."  

You know who blades too,

Elder Eric Read Johansen

PS  Tell Mamma Jileen that Silia's last name is either going to be Pula or probably Lagalaga.  Samoans have like ten last names, so it's never a sure thing.  I think Silia will go by Sister Lagalaga though.  And she is serving in the Sidney North Mission, which is different than the other Sidney South.

Faufetai

9-9-13

Sup Family,

This week has been pretty good.  We've been crazy, extra busy lately.  It seems like every day we had a lot of stuff going on.  Mostly just a lot of lessons and other good stuff, so it has been good.

We did a service project for this part-member family we're working with--the mom, Maiu'u, is getting baptized this upcoming week.  We have high hopes for this family however, only the one daughter is a member--the rest aren't.  But the service was good.  We just helped them build the foundation for their home...mostly just digging a ton of dirt.  It was nice to do some manual labor. However, we definitely enjoyed it.

We have 7 investigators working towards baptismal dates right now, with 2 of them getting baptized this weekend.  We also have 3 marriages planned for this upcoming week, so it's going to be great to see all this stuff go down.  The work is definitely picking up a lot.  We're way excited for this upcoming month.  And we're hoping to commit a few more to receive as baptismal date.

Also this week I had the chance to go to a legit Samoan funeral.  One of the elders in our zone had a grandfather die, so we did a split and him and I drove to the other side of the island to Fale'ula to go to the funeral.  It was really interesting, and of course pretty sad.  They have a lot of interesting cultural stuff they do at funerals which was kind of cool to see.

We've just been pretty much just nutso busy busy lately.  I'm stoked for P-day so we can chill a little bit.  But that's all I got for this week.  The miracles are getting better and better as the time goes by.  I can tell the Lord definitely has a reason for keeping me here a little longer.

Elder Johansen

9-2-13

Sup,

Hey hey hoo all you guys.  This week has been crazy.  It seems like a lot of stuff has gone down.

First--at the beginning of the week we had a ZL meeting with the mish pres which was actually really good.  He focused on the importance of inviting people like crazy.  So pretty much we took it to heart this week and saw a ton of success. We were actually able to get 9 investigators at church this past Sunday just cause we invited the heck out of them.  And now we have 5 investigators with baptismal dates for this month--only cause we invited them.  Being a bold inviter is an important skill that will carry on into the post-mission life.  I think next year for my birthday I am going to invite people with boldness to come to my birthday bash in order to reap the reward and be bathed in gifts and gift cards to fancy restaurants.  

Also this week was the greatest because we had the best temple trip ever.  Since we're not allowed to use the mission vehicles for non-mission related business, we had to figure out a way to get from our area to Apia, which is about an hour away. Because all the busses had left already, we just walked up to the intersection up the road a ways and tried to spunk our own ride to town.  Eventually a truck stopped and we rode in the back with this kid.  He was telling us all these stories about how he's gotten in all these gnarly accidents while riding in the back of pick up trucks.  Haha, it was funny cause it reminded me of Seinfeld when Kramer is riding on the back of a motorcycle and the guy is telling him about all the crazy motorcycle accidents he had been in.  However, we got there safely, so it was all good.  

The temple was awesome.  The reason we went was because this guy named Tasiiva, who I baptized in my first area, got sealed to his family that day.  It was the coolest thing ever.  It made me super happy.  The other thing that was crazy nuts to me was when we were sitting outside the temple talking after the sealing, he told me that since January of this year he has been 1st Counselor to the Bishop!  Haha, I was so surprised.  He is doing way good and is super strong now.  He had only been a member for about 9 months when he got called in the bishopric....haha nuts.

Also, another interesting thing that Tasiiva mentioned to me was that he actually is from Vavau, one of the villages that I cover right now.  And then when he was explaining where his family's house is, I realized that it was the same family we had just contacted for the first time that very morning.  I don't believe in coincidences, so I have a good feeling Tasiiva's family is being prepared because none of them are members.  One of the reasons I feel like his family is being prepared is because they had a fight with their minister and stopped going to their church.  The other reason is because when we shared the Book of Mormon with the old man, Tasiiva's grandpa, he goes, "I will read it every day...When can you two come back?"  Haha, cool guy.  When I told Tasiiva I'm serving in the village he is from, he got way stoked and told me he wants me to bring his family into the church.  So we're definitely going to try with this family.  That would be awesome.

Our Fijian boys are doing good.  Doni still hasn't received his answer, but he said he is praying.  And Junior agreed to be baptized on the 21st of September, but we just have to help him quit smoking.  But they've been going to church every week, so we're stoked on them.

The work is going awesome, and as we increase in faith and work harder, we see even greater miracles.  This week was the best though.  I'm way excited to see all our investigators progress toward baptism.  

Elder Eric R. Johansen

8-11-13

August 11, 2013

Well Gee, Chip,

This week was a good one.  Not a lot to report on.  I didn't get any letters last week cause the mail didn't come in from American Samoa, so I can't answer any of your questions.  

We met this old man this week named Popi.  I felt impressed that we should visit his house and then it turned out that he is actually a member, but he has been inactive for years.  So we talked to him and then invited him to church and he totally came!  Stoked for sure.  He looks like he is 75 or something.  His wife is not a member, so we have high hopes for Popi.

Right now we're teaching a girl named Aiga (translates to "family") who will be baptized this upcoming week.  So that should be def bones good.  Other than that we have a few investigators that are progressing.  Hopefully a few may be ready for baptism in the near future.  We're still seeing a lot of good inactive people come back into the church.  Moevanu has a calling in the Relief Society and even gave a talk on Sunday.  So we're stoked--they're totally strong now.

The area has a lot of potential, though.  we're hoping to find all these people who have been prepared for us to teach.  But I'm lovin' it, everything is way good right now.  

Today is also Samoa's Father's Day, so happy Pappie's day, papa.  I think the American one is in June sometime. 

I'm still trying to work my magic so I can get my mission extended a little bit.  I talked to my bishop from my first area this week and he said that Silia, my convert who is going on a mish to Australia, will enter the temple on September 18th.  However, I'm scheduled to finish on September 15th.  I talked to the APs just barely and they seem to think my lucky bones might just get tickled.  We'll see though.  I'm also trying to see if my buddy, Stout, from my MTC days can extend with me so we can finish together.  It will only probably be a week or two, and still probably will be before the original October 8th like in my mission call.  But it's all good.  I'll let you know.

I can't think of anything cool to say.  I'm just loving the mission and having a way good time.  My comp is good.  We work real hard and continue to progress every day.

It's the dopest,

Elder Jo Handley

8-5-13

8-5-13

Big stuff for this week.  It was a good one though.  This week the work really started to pick up, so I am hoping we may have a few investigators ready for baptism sometime soon.,  Esau is dope--still keeping the Word of Wisdom.  We baked him a cake and brought it to him the other day.  We tried to st a date for him and his wife to be married and be baptized, but his wife is super pregnant, so we may have to wait until after she has her baby.  But for sure Esau will get baptized soon.

We also have two sisters, Aiga and Taumaia, who are both preparing to be baptized this month.  So that should be good.

All of our inactive families continue to attend weekly.  I'm pretty stoked.  We're hoping to take some of these people for baptisms for the dead at the end of this month.  Working with weak members is tight though.  To me, I feel like it's the same as getting a baptism.  Either way, it's bringing others unto Christ to receive sacred ordinances.  It's good though.  I'm really loving the area.  It's been 6 months now that I've been in Lotofaga.  The mission president said he's stoked about all the good stuff that's going on here, so I doubt I'm going anywhere.  I'll most likely finish here in Lotofaga which is cool too.

I talked to the 1st counselor in my ward in Samata, where I started out my mission, yesterday on the phone.  But I was mega stoked cause he was telling me that this girl, Silia, one of the converts that my trainer and I baptized back in January 2012 has got her mission call and is going to enter into the temple next month!  She's serving in Sidney, Australia.  In fact the same mission where my trainer lives, so it's pretty nuts.  The only problem is that the APs told me I'm officially finishing on September 15th, but Silia doesn't go into the temple until the end of September or maybe October.  So I am going to ask the mish Pres if I can extend a little bit so I can attend her temple endowment.  Cause there's like only a few special exceptions that missionaries can extend for, so I am hoping we can make this happen.  I'll let you know though.  But I am way happy for her.  I was way surprised when I heard she already had her call.

Also, there's been some big changes in the mission lately.  Cause before there were no DL's, only ZL's.  But now cause of all the missionaries coming in, they're making both DL's and ZL's.  So my comp and I are still ZL's, but the zone got twice as big.  If you look at the map, it starts at Travea, on the far east side of the island, and goes to Siumu, which is more in the middle part of the island.  It's pretty far though.  Luckily, the new DL's have to walk and we still get the van.

Our ZL responsibilities are all new though.  It should be cool I guess.  It's nice, though, cause they're taking out al the administerial garbage and we're left to just help the other missionaries spiritually.  Cause before, a lot of our time was spent picking up mail, reports, water jugs, random chores, doing the zone's shopping, etc.  But now they have a senior couple doing all that nonsense and my comp and I can just focus on trying to motivate the missionaries to be good.  It's tight though.  I'm down with whatever.  What's good though is that it means we actually get p-days.  For the longest time we spent almost all of our p-days driving to Apia and doig zone chores, but now they've eliminated that, so we have the whole day to do whatever now.  So I'm stoked on that.

We had a pretty funny experience earlier this week.  We were at dinner with this member family, but they're not super strong really either.  Anyways, there was this drunk dude there who was kind of just hanging out while we were eating.  But I guess he was going to go somewhere, so he came to say goodbye to my companion and I before he left.  So he comes up behind my companion and sort of shakes his hand, and then he indicates to my comp like he is going to tell him something important so the drunk guy leans in like he is going to whisper something in his ear, but instead grabs him by the face and gives him a big wet kiss on the cheek!  Haha, oh man it was the best thing ever.  Then he shook hands with me and tried to pull the same move, but I deflected him by pulling away and saying, "No, thank you!!"  Haha, but then he just left.  My poor companion was pretty shook up though.  He probably never thought he was going to kiss anyone on the mission.  Good stuff.

Yeah, but that's pretty much it for the week.  It was a good one though.

Your friend,

Elder Eimer E. Kay

PS  I found the guy that stole my wallet.  So don't worry.  I've got it.  My license and stuff was there, but the money was gone.  All good.  --Squire of Samoa

7-28-13

Buenos Dias Nochentos Dar Fuego,

Están duchentos mas puertas?  Imi guto, mis barbas!  Ah, si.  I'm definitely tri- lingual now.  I've been studying hard at Spanish and now I don't my "laumei" from my "chicos flojos."  I guess you can say it's been a little "das fuego" up in here.

As for the bones and the beans, it's all good.  I guess before I get to anything, I'll let you know the big news.  So I talked to the senior couple missionaries that work at the office and they mentioned that all the guys in my MTC group are actually going to get pushed back a month from their release date. Because of all the new missionaries coming in, the transfers are all messed up, so all the missionaries either end up finishing about a month early or a month late.  But my official release date isn't until November 13th.  So I've still got quite awhile before I have to go.  I'm excited for the extra time to serve.  That's what I wanted anyway.  Mom probably won't be too happy though.  Haha.

The work is going good.  We have a few investigators who are not progressing, but not a ton.  We're hoping to try and get a ton of referrals this upcoming week and maybe refresh our investigator pool.

Esau is doing good.  He still hasn't smoked and continues to go to church.  We're thinking he will be ready to be baptized sometime in August.  He is dope though.  

We also visited this guy named Poasa.  I think I might have mentioned Poasa before actually.  I can't remember.  His wife and kids are strong in the church.  It's just him who isn't a member.  Anyways, he was investigating the church for awhile and even came to church, but then in Sunday School the teacher made a comparison of his beard and the beard of Moses.  Haha, and Poasa got super offended and hasn't attended church since.  I guess I shouldn't think it's that funny, but I kind of still do anyway.  And since then he has always shaved and never grown his beard back.  (I'm going to make a note to not be so sensitive about my beard when I grow mine out.)

Nah, but Poasa seems really good actually.  He hasn't really ever talked to missionaries before, so were hoping we can get a time to sit down and talk with im.  I think he might be easy for sure.  I've been an expert on beards and mustaches for several years now and will know exactly what to say.  So we'll see what happens.

Also, Mother, in answer to your bamboozlement and baffledness about whether I tell falsehoods in my weekly letters, I would say that it is much like reading the Apocrypha.  I quote from D&C section 91:  "There are many things contained therein that are true..There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men.  And whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; and whoso is enlightened from the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; And whoso receiveth it not by the Spirit, cannot be benefitted."

So I guess you just have to discern what is concrete truth and what is just a spoof and a goof.

Not a whole lot else happened this week...I got asked to speak in church.  In fact, we were sitting in Priesthood, and the branch president's first counselor came in and whispered in my ear that I was giving a talk in Sacrament Meeting.  My comp got lucky cause we were doing a split at the time so we could go to church in one of our other wards.  So it was me and the kid I was splitting with who gave talks.  I actually thought it went pretty well.  I talked about the importance of family scripture study and the importance of the temple.  So that was good.

I skewered my neck on a tree playing an intense game of basketball with my comp last week, but it's all good now.  I've been lathering the wounds with neosporin and it's pretty much healed up.  

Zeek (family dog who is passed on) visits me in my dreams,

E.J. Spunkydance

PS  The November 13th finishing date was just a spoof and a goof.  I have no idea what date I finish, but probably the beginning of October or the end of September. Los barbas con pranks!

7-21-13

Sup,

It has been a double doozy, my friend.  This week was the dopegnar.  Not a ton to report on really.  Our dog had puppies, but I don't know where they are.  Our crab, Sipologo, is quite healthy, thank you for asking.  A lot of time he likes to hang out in the bathroom on the shower curtain, but lately he has been playing in the mats we have under the bed.  He is a real keeper.

Not much for this week really.  We started lessons with this dude, Esau.  I don't know if I wrote about him or not.  Last week we were halfway through SUnday School in Lotofaga when we just felt prompted to leave and go to our other ward that is like 15 minutes away.  At the time I didn't really think it was a prompting of the Spirit, but now I realize it was.  So anyways, when we got to the other ward we went to the bishop's office to talk to the bishop. But not too long after, Esau came in cause the bishop had sent for him.  Cause Esau has been going to church for over a year off and on, but is not a member.  So the bishop talked about how he wants Esau to be baptized and receive the priesthood so he can bless his baby son.  And then I talked for a little bit about repentance and how baptism can cleanse us of our sin.  The Spirit was pretty strong.  So we finally were able to convince him to start lessons because until then, he had refused.  So then later in the week we visited him and got to talking.  He is a way cool guy.  He kind of opened up and explained that part of the reason he never wanted to take lessons was that he was embarrassed cause he doesn't know how to read.  So we told him not to anyone nag his gnar about it and not to worry.  So now we're just going to watch church DVDs, which is way cooler anyway.  We also committed him to quit smoking, which commitment he has kept so far, so it's good.  He's in his mid 20's and has 4 kids.  He said sometimes he would go spend their money on beer and then the next day the kids would be crying cause there was no food and no money to buy food.  But we'll help him out with that for sure.

Also, this past Monday we ran out of gas on our way to Apia.  The day we went on a split, my comp went to fill up gas, but it didn't end up being enough and we ran out.  So then we waited forever for the senior missionary dude to come with gas.  He took like 3 hours.  And then when he came, he chewed us out.  Haha.  And then when we got to Apia he sat us down and chewed us out again for like 20 minutes.  He is kind of an angry old man.  He almost made us take the bus home.  And now my comp is banned from driving the van.  Haha.  It was a lame p-day though.  We got back home and it was already time for our dinner appointment.

Also this week we gave this old Catholic woman a priesthood blessing (Moevanu's Mom) cause she has all these pains in her arm.  So for like two days after the blessing I guess she was completely relived of pain and she felt way good.  But then she started praying to this big 4 foot tall statue of Mary that they have in their house and I guess now her sickness is back.  I don't really know.  Haha.  That's just what Moevanu told us.  Pretty crazy though. 

Also, this less-active guy, Faivale, that we play basketball with every Monday has been attending church regularly now and on Sunday brought this other inactive kid as well.  So that was sick.  Faivale said that he is stoked on my comp and I cause we were the only ones who tried to be friends with him.  I guess everyone else just looked at him like a ranjo and never talked to him.  He is from California, but got jailed or something and is now stuck in Samoa.  He has been here since like 2004.

Also, Toaono, this other girl who has started coming back to church, has been attending regularly and this upcoming week we're going to start lessons with her mom, Naiu'u, and her broth, Le'u.  So good stuff is going on.

And this week we went on splits with this 75 year old man name Pese Brown.  He is the 1st counselor to the branch president, and is like the goofiest old man ever.  He is probably one of my favorite people in the branch.  I always go with him when we do splits.  He lives in a tiny house by himself and has a couple of dogs that he always talks about.

But that was this week.  Not much else exciting happened--just spankin' around like Doug Davis would do.

"Get on yer horse and ride!"

Elder Johansen

6-16-13

une 16, 2013

Hello There Neighbor,

This week was like blades and pizza--they go together and they're always nice.  I, again, have little time to write.  We're bizzy as a bone here hittin' the Lotofaga kush.

Firstly, Mum and Pum, thanx for the package.  It was the dankest.  It was full of candy and now, one week later, it is all gone.  I guess if it's there, I can't help but sit there and eat it.  Also, we gave out a lot to little kids and stuff so it was good.  Also, the tooth was grody (a gift from Katie put in the last package?) and the picture of Matt is taped up in front of my desk.  However, he is making the "Kevin" look and makes me wonder whether it is actually just Kevin with a beard.  The lame aeropostale shirt is a telling sign.  

But this week was mean--meaner than Mrs. Kestner (his 3rd grade teacher.)  We contacted this inactive family who haven't been back to church in like 4 years and invited them to church and they all came!  They have a son who isn't baptized and is 10 years old so we're going to plan for that for the 29th of June.

Also our other previously inactive family came to church as well.  This family is freaking tight.  The mom's name is Moevanu and the Dad is Sipara.  It's been two weeks now that they've come back to church.  And they're stoked on it.  THey're not married.  So we're trying to make that happen this Saturday (June 22nd) so then Moevanu can receive a calling because she really wants one.  Sipara smokes, but says he wants us to help him quit.  They're way cool.  We've been visiting them quite a bit.  It's been way cool to help them.  One day we went over there to visit and Moevanu asked us if we could give her 4 month old baby a blessing because he was sick.  So then we did and the next time we came, the baby had been healed.  So they were mega stoked and Moevanu asked us if she could name her baby after my companion and I.  Haha, so we were stoked.  Also, we're trying to get them to the temple eventually.  That would be way cool.  

Also, we've been teaching our investigator, Siafausa.  He is good and is definitely ready to be baptized this weekend.  He will be baptized together with our investigator, Sita, who is 11.  Siafausa lives with a member family in our vavau, and his wife is a member as well.  Sita is funny and way stoked on primary and church.  I'll let you know next week how the baptisms went.  

Also, we taught our new investigator, Epenesa.  She's 18.  She has a lot of good questions.  Her aunt and uncle are members so we did the lesson at their house. The member guy was being way distracting and saying random irrelevant stuff the whole time.  Haha.  Sometimes members suck.  Nah, it's good though.  We'll probably just have to go over the lesson first with the family before we're actually with Epenesa.  She seems good though.  We'll see what happens with her.

We have big plans for this upcoming week.  So hopefully we can see some great miracles coming up shortly.

Things are really good though.  The area is really picking up right now.  We have quite a few investigators who could potentially be baptized this month.

The mission is going by crazy fast.  I'm just trying to kill it and destroy it and shred the gnar before I have to leave.  It's so sick though. I love it.  It sort of hit me how short of time I have left.  I just want to make the best of it and do tons of good before I'm gone.  I guess I have been inadvertently living my mission by mom's (shopping) rule "In, out, quick, quick, quick!!!" at least that's how it feels anyway.  It's good though.  

I'm looking at the picture of the giant turtle I pasted to the wall and I'm wondering what it's thinking.  

I'll leave you with a quote:  "There is no end to badboys, there is no end to blades."--Daunte from Boyz N Blades

Love,

Elder Eric "The Squire of Samoa" Johansen

6-23-13

June 23, 2013

"Elder Johansen is TERRIFIC".  Some wise words spoken from a wise man.  I think the mission sent you guys a copy of my big debut that came in the news.  That was a direct quote from a doctor which then was posted all over the news.  Terrific indeed my medicine minded friend, terrific indeed.  

This week I had a dream that Bate and Cleo got married.  Theo was jealous.

We've been ballin' it up this week like Vince LaSalle, captain of all the teams.  I schooled my companion and this less active guy from California in 21 like three times and then destroyed them in Horse as well.  Every p-day we play ball with this less-active dude named Faivule.  He has started to come back to church though, so I'm stoked.  

This week we dunked Siafausa--he's good.  He was stoked as a bean.  The baptism went good.  My boy, Gasio, did the baptism and it was way good.  We were supposed to baptize our other investigator, Sita, at the same time as Siafausa.  But when we were teaching her the 3rd lesson, this angry chief guy from their family came and banned us from doing any more lessons and called off the baptism.  It was the worst.  Sita was so sad.  

I'm glad I don't serve overseas in another mission cause stuff like this doesn't happen too often in Samoa.  I think if I served in the states, I wouldn't know what to do.  The chief guy was rather rude, which was very disconcerting because everyone is always very nice and respectful to the missionaries.  Yeah, so we just left.  It was sad though.  Sita's parents were all sad too cause they want their kids to be baptized.  Samoa is hard cause they give a lot of power to the chiefs and they can pretty much do whatever they want.  We'll probably go talk to this dude though.  I'll let you know what goes down.

Also this week my porcelain crown broke.  We went to the dentist, but they don't have the equipment to replace it.  The dude said it's cool to just leave it how it is though until I get home and then get a new one.  I think if I have any cavities I'm going to get them fixed now cause they have a mission dentist and it's free.

Also, I know the Pauga family, but not too well. We've dropped off mail at their house a few times for the missionaries that live there.  That's pretty much it though.

This upcoming week we are planning for 3 baptisms and 3 marriages.  So, hopefully, it all goes down.  Only one of the marriages are for sure.  The other two we're going to try and make something happen.

Our once inactive families are doing well.  Ulia goes to church every week with her kids.  They're still waiting til the village has their meeting to decide whether to kick them out of the village for going to the Mormon church.  They're staying strong though.

Moevanu and Sipara have also been going every week with their kids.  We're hoping to get them married this Saturday.  But I guess we'll see.  They're going to have their baby blessed at the beginning of next month, little Eric Lupe Tipasa.  Being a godfather is no easy task.

Fuipisia and his wife, Tiose, have now been back for two consecutive weeks after about 4 years of inactivity.  We're planning to baptize their 10 year old son, Fuipisia Jr. on this Saturday, June 29th.  

We're also planning our marriage and baptism for Babi for the same day.  We were trying to get it going for this past Saturday, but it didn't work out.  So we're really hoping for this weekend.  So I guess we'll see what happens.

Also, we picked up a new investigator this week, Ma'agaima.  I guess he has been going to church for a little while now.  We just never knew.  We started lessons and if he is ready, we're going to baptize him too this Saturday, June 29th.  But if not, for sure in the near future.  So that's good.  

So it's good.  We're being blessed like crazy with the work.  Sometimes we get weiched, but we just get back on the rails and throw a back wizz into lady walk and let the enemy know that we're smorking on the Lord's team.  And His blade crew is just as strong.  ONe day deacons will all be passing the sacrament on blades, mark my words.  Also, keep an eye out for the new 2013 publication of the church standard hymn book.  They added hymns #321 and 322--"A Blade With Me, Tis Even Tide" and "Ye Bladers of Israel."  I guess the prophet is a huge Boyz N Bladez fan and was able to pull some strings.

Hags,

Elder Eric "Racoon Family" Johansen

PS:  If you can find any information about my buddy Cody Touse that passed away, I'd really appreciate it.  I haven't really heard anything about it--only that he died.  So that would be great if you sent me any articles or anything you find.  Thanks.  

6-9-13

June 9, 2013

Dear Mom & the Magician,

This week was good.  We just spunked around with these navy dudes every day.  From Tuesday to Friday we just went to other villages with the navy doctors and translated for them as all the people came in to get checked.  It was really good, and there was like only one word I couldn't really convey--ultrasound, which I don't think there is a Samoan word anyway so it's good.  The doctors seemed appreciative that we were able to help them.  Plus we just got to hang out and eat food and translate all week, so it was definitely a good one.

As for the work, this week was a little slow.  We did have a good lesson with Babi, and hopefully, she will be baptized this month.  We also had a bomb lesson with our investigator, Siafausa.  This dude is totally ready.  He was set to be baptized this upcoming Saturday, but since he is only available on the weekends, teaching has been slow.  So we were just afraid they would get everything ready for the baptism but he has some unknown Word of Wisdom or chastity problem or something.  But then we talked to him on Sunday night and he's good.  We baked them a cake and they are stoked (Thanx Chin & Scott).  So Siafausa will be down for baptism next week.

We also picked up a new investigator named Genesa.  She's like 10 or so.  Her aunt is the primary president in the ward and their family is way cool.  We talked to her for a little bit, and she had good questions about the the plan of salvation and eternal families, so I'm stoked on her.  We're going to teach her and, hopefully, her little sister as well at the primary president's house this week, so that should be way good.  

Also we contacted this new family this week who have all been baptized but haven't been back to church for several years.  We talked to them and then invited them to church and they totally came!  I was stoked as a bumbling bean.  The man's name is Tipusa, and his wife is Moevanu.  They have like 4 or 5 kids, so we're definitely going to help try to bring them back into activity, which is sweet.  That's just as rewarding to me as baptizing a person.  THe only thing is that the parents aren't married, so we're hoping to get that done as well.  They said they're cool to get married, but we just have to wait for our stake president to come back from New Zealand.

So I guess this week wasn't that slow really.  It's just that we didn't get that much proselyting work in because of our translation work.  But what missionary work we did get in was dopeage and totally sick.  So mean bones, my friends.

No much also to really report on for this week though.  All is good.

Elder Johansen

6-3-13

6-3-13

Quit the Hoopla, Sup Z, And other people, sup too.  This week has been fast, even faster than a McTimmy rap.  Not much really happened though this week.  We had a zone conference and temple trip which was sweet.  They put our zone together with another zone from Apia to do our conference.  My son, Elder Jackson, is ZL over there as well, so we sat next to each other and ate jelly beans when no one was looking.  So that was a good time.  And then the temple was the best as always.  I feel very lucky to be in Samoa where we have a temple.

As for the work, the area is coming along.  We have two couples who we're trying to get married and baptized.  The men are both members, but the ladies are both non-members.  Both couples are in our Aufaga ward, so we'll try to get them married on the same day.  The one woman, Babi, is totally ready and, hopefully, we can get her married and baptized some time soon.  We were supposed to have the marriages this weekend, but the bishop is a ranjo and never arranged anything with the stake president.  We may just end up having to set it up ourselves (cause in Samoa only stake presidents can do marriages.)  Babi is tight though, so she will definitely be baptized this month.  The other couple is Tavita and Sopeta.  Tavita is a member but is just barely starting to come back to church.  And Sopeta isn't a member, but has been going to church forever.  Sopeta's only problem is that she works every Sunday.  So we'll have to figure out something with that.  But we want to get them married first and then we can sort out the rest of the problems.  Sopeta is good though, so we'll see if we can get something going.  We also have a guy named Siafausa who has been going to church forever but hasn't been baptized.  We committed him for baptism on the 16th of June, so hopefully that will go down.  Also we have these two kids, Ioga and Sita.  Ioga is an 8 year old boy and Sita is his 11 year old sister.  They've been going to church for the past few weeks and really like it.  We're going to try working with the parents and see if we can get a whole family thing going.  But the mom said she's cool if her kids go to our church, so we'll have to see what happens with that.  So the work is going good.  We're hoping to have a few baptisms in the next upcoming weeks.

This upcoming week is going to be really busy.  I got asked by the mission president to go to the hospital and translate for all these people that are coming from America to do some work over there or something.  I don't really know what it entails, actually.  I guess this company called Pacific Partnership is coming to do some stuff at the hospital out here on this side of the island, so I'll have to translate what all the white dudes say to the Samoans and vice versa.  It should be good though.  The only thing is that it is all week, 8 am to 4 pm, so it's going to kill the work in the area.  I'll let you know next week how it was.

Not much really also happened this week.  Today is a national holiday so none of the stores in Apia are open.  So my comp and I get to actually relax today and not have to go to the office to do ZL nonsense.  So we're stoked on that.  We played a game of basketball this morning and then later on we're going to this beach resort to get a free meal.  The lady that owns the place promised us free fish and chips, so we're gonna go hit that up.

Oh yeah, you asked me on Mother's Day what I want to eat at my homecoming--I'd say I want it Mexican themed.  I think I miss Mexican food a lot.  We can make like burritos and Tres Leches cake.  And then everyone can be wearing sombreros and we'll have loud Mexican music playing in the background.  Oh yeah, and homemade mashed potatoes.  That's what we'll have.

Also, my comp and I have a dog.  Her name is Dole, and she lives at our house.  She is the best dog ever and sometimes even follows us when we go to make visits.  Best dog ever.

Your friend,

Elder Eric "Strap on your Bladez" Johansen

5-26-13

5-26-13

This week was the sickest!  We shredded it and killed this week until there was no more gnar to be gnagged.

So first of all, we got the call with the transfers.  My Samoan comp (my trainee) got transferred to another area in the zone and now I'm staying as ZL in Lotofa.  He, Elder Levave, is going to Malaela to finish his training.  I guess I don't really mind staying ZL.  I'll miss being comps with Levave though.  He was way easy to prank.  I was sort of surprised though.  I thought they would call someone else to be ZL and then I would finish the training program. But I'm happy too actually cause I didn't want to get transferred from the area.  

Also this week was way tight cause I achieved two of the goals I set at the beginning of my mission within two days--that being:  eating a dog and also baptizing a minister.  The dog was awesome, if you want my honest opinion.  I think the American culture has too many preconceived notions about what is good to eat.  We read in D&C 49 that those who forbiddeth to abstain from meats are not ordained of God.  Who's on the Lord's side, who?

For real though, dog meat is like a mix between pork and lamb--it was tasty.  We had it at this Tongan family's house with some other missionaries in the zone.  I feel a lot closer to Zeek now that  I have consumed one of his own.  Good stuff.

And then my other goal was our baptism we had this past week with Pule.  Pule actually has a pretty interesting life.  He was a Seventh Day Adventist minister for like 10 years and then was in jail for like 10 years as well.  He's a cool guy though.  I guess he's not technically a minister right now, but it's still pretty cool.  He's the one that had the dream about Moroni and Joseph Smith and they told him to quit smoking and join the church.  Way sick.

We did the baptism in the ocean as well at this cool spot in like a little cove-like area with these little islands right off shore.  I got to do the baptism which I was stoked on as well.

Work wise, overall this week has been one of the most successful ones I've had in awhile.  We picked up quite a few new investigators and some that have really good potential.  For sure we're in for some good work in these upcoming weeks.  Elder Gasio and I are just trying to be obedient to the days and we're being blessed like crazy for it.

Things are the dopest.  We're crazy busy, which is good.  I'm loving it here.  Everything is the sickest.

Love, 

Elder Johansen

5-19-13

May 19, 2013

Yoyoyoyoyo brothers,

Not much time this week.  Happy Mother's Day Mom!  I think I again forgot to mention it when we talked last last week.  But it's cool.  This week was dope pants.  We had a lot of success and picked up some promising investigators and stuff.

One man name Pule that we have been teaching had a cool experience this week.  After we taught him and committed him to pray whether the Church was true, he said he prayed that evening and that night he had a dream where he met Joseph Smith and the Angel Moroni and they told him he needs to quit smoking and to join the Church.  It was crazy when he was explaining it.  I was way stoked.  Pule is preparing to be baptized this upcoming week.  We also gave him a blessing so he can overcome his smoking, but he said he rarely smoked anymore so it won't be too hard for him to quit.  This man has been way prepared.  He's been going to church forever but was never baptized cause he said he was baptized in another church and didn't see the need to be re-baptized.  But now he's totally down, so I'm stoked to the days.

Also, we picked up a few new investigators who we committed to be married and baptized the first week of June.  So, hopefully, that goes down.  So the work is excellent.  I'm really hoping I get to stay in the area.  The transfer is next week.  However, I still have 2 companions, so something is for sure to change.  I think I may get transferred, actually.  But I'll let you know next week.

Also this week we went and talked to the Pulenu'u in Matatufu, a village in our area.  The Pulenu'u is kind of like a mayor, I guess, or the guy who oversees the village, like on of the important chiefs in the village.  He's not a member and isn't super happy with the church either.  We went to talk to him cause like a month ago the village put a fine on all the people who have converted to the Mormon Church and banned them from the Church.  So we went to go talk to him about changing the rule or trying to work something out.  Honestly, I was pretty 'skeered' cause when you talk to an important chief, there is like a whole different language that you use, with different words than people use just talking colloquially.  Even my comp, Elder Levave, doesn't know any of the chief language and he's from Samoa.  

So we get to the house and the guy was sitting there looking all angry-like.  And then he asks us, very rudely, what we were doing there and what our purpose was.  But then we "soothed his soul" and he let us in the house.  We ended up talking for like two hours and he really softened up to us.  I had to do most of the talking cause my comps aren't super confident with talking to people yet, especially not orators and high chiefs and stuff.  

We didn't really get a definite answer about changing the rule, but the man ended up feeding us and asking us to come back, so I take that as a victory.  Perhaps someday the village will be open to the church and then our investigator family can come back to the church and be baptized.

But it's cool.  I just thought that was sweet and it was sort of fulfilling the scripture in the D&C -- "The fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."

The mission is dope.  

Keep spunkin' around the dunk bunk,

Elder Eric "Angelo from Boyz n' Bladez" Johansen

PS  Thanks for the package!!! The speaker is way nice and I am loving the jalapenos.  It's been like 1 1/2 years since I've eaten spicy food.  Also my comp thought the leaf fossil was way cool.  Slapmaster Ice

5-12-13

May 12, 2013

Sup,

This week was alright.  We had another baptism this week.  We dunked the heck out of Metuli. My comp, Elder Gusio, did the baptism this time.  This one was also in the ocean, which was neat as a bone.  So, I’m stoked on covering Vavau cause all our baptisms will be in the ocean cause they have no baptismal font. 

This week we picked up a few new investigators and now we cover another ward, Aufaga.  We went and did some work over there and contacted a referral from the bishop for a young couple who wants to be baptized.  Pretty much the only thing that is keeping them back is that they’re not married.  So we’re gonna make it happen.  We committed them to be married and baptized on May 25^th, so hopefully that goes down. 

And then there’s this other guy in Vavau named Pule who has been going to church forever but hasn’t been baptized.  The only thing keeping him from being baptized was that he was already baptized in another church and so he didn’t feel the need to be baptized twice.  But the bishop talked to him on Sunday and explained to him the importance of baptism by the proper authority.  So anyways, he now wants to start lessons.  We’re going to go this week and see what’s up.  I have high hopes for Pule though.

Also, Simolo moved to New Zealand this past week.  We went to visit her one last time to say goodbye.  She’s stoked to get sealed in the temple in a year’s time.  So that was kinda sad, but that’s how it goes.

But yeah, not actually a ton to report on.  I’m going to call you dudes tomorrow anyways.  By the way, we usually write letters on Sunday nights here in Samoa cause we never get the chance on p-days.  Usually p-days are like the busiest day of the week.  We mostly just do chores for the zone all day.  All good though.  Sundays are tight though—I love Sundays.

So yeah, it’s all good.  My comps are good.  We’ll probably end up continuing our triple until the transfer on the 24^th of May.  But I’m stoked on my two comps.  We get along good.  Sometimes we get into a “tiffy” about who has to say the prayer in the evening.  So I came up with a solution—now we just play spin the bottle and whoever it lands on has to say the prayer.  Sometimes we try to spice things up I guess.

But it’s good.  Missionary life is tight.  I’m hoping to stay in Lotofaga, however, I’m thinking Levave and I will get moved to a new area and then Gasio will stay here as ZL and get a new comp.  We’ll see, I guess.

Love,

Elder Johansen

PS  Happy Mother’s Day Mom!  I totally forgot when I called you dudes….

5-5-13

May 5, 2013

Hey there,

This week was mega sick.  It was like opening up the Sunday newspaper and finding two Family Circus comic strips instead of just the usual one.  Those little kids can be quite a hoot sometimes!  I’m going to go home and read the last two years’ worth of Family Circus comics—I can’t wait.

This week we finished teaching Sauaga and he was baptized, but Metuli was gone one day and we couldn’t finish his lessons, so he’ll be baptized next week.  Sauaga’s baptism was the sickest thing ever.  Since that ward (Vavau) doesn’t have a baptismal font, we all loaded into the back of this dude’s truck and went down to the beach.  It was a glorious Sunday morning, with the sun rising over the coconut trees and the smaller little islands off the coast.  So yeah, then I totally got to baptize Sauaga in the ocean—it was the dopest.  I took some pictures, so hopefully I’ll get those to you soon.  That was one goal I set for my mission—to baptize a person in the ocean.  So I was really stoked to finally get the opportunity.  One of my companions will do Metuli’s baptism next week.

But yeah, so that was definitely the highlight of the week.  I only have a few more goals left that I have to achieve before I finish--one of them being to eat a dog.  So let’s hope and pray that I can accomplish all my goals. 

This week we also picked up a new investigator named Faalau.  She lives over in Saleapaga, which is like a 25 minute drive from where we live in Lotofaga.  She wants to get baptized, but she works in Apia and is only around on the weekends.  So, we’re hoping to have her ready for baptism sometime this month.  So the work is going good.  We’re hoping to have a few more baptisms this month. 

My comps are doing good.  They’re nice and new and fresh and, subsequently, subject to a lot of awesome pranks.  Like one night a family brought us our dinner and it was mostly good, except for these two cooked pigeons with bloody feet.  Nobody wanted to eat those.  I don’t mind pigeon, but these ones were weird looking.  So anyways, that night I tied it up on a string over Elder Levave’s bed and had it swinging around so that it was almost kissing his lips.  He pretty much spent the whole night snuggling with it—kind of like the time Scott slept with the old deer carcass on one memorable April Fool’s Eve.  It brings back all sorts of lovely memories.

Also my other comp, Gasio, is a bit of a prankster himself.  When we first started being comps, he told me he was half Tongan, half Samoan.  And then we had our Sunday dinner with Uila, the Tongan lady we’ve been working with, and I was explaining to Uila that Gasio is half Tongan as well and uila got all excited.  But then later that day Gasio was like, “I’ve got a confession to make…I’m not actually Tongan.  My parents are both Samoan.”  But it was okay because earlier in the week I pranked him by telling him I was from Czechoslovakia and that now it is called the Czech Republic and Slovakia and I went into detail about it for like a good ten minutes about life in the Czech and that I didn’t move to the states until 2009.  So it was sort of like a confession session and then I had to confess, “Well, I’m not actually from the Czech Republic…I’m from Utah.”  It was like something from a soap opera. 

So yeah, it’s good.  My comps are tight.  Elder Levave for some reason thinks I go by “John” and I haven’t really had the heart to tell him otherwise.  So now I’m John.  It’s cool though.  Most people just call me “Jo” cause Johansen is too hard to pronounce.

Also we planted the watermelon seeds and they are sprouting like a steeze bone.  So I’m stoked on that.  This year should be a good crop, I reckon. 

But that’s pretty much it for this week.  It was all way good.  I’m loving the mission.  It’s all the sickest to the days.

 “Snap on your blades and hit the pavement.”

--Elder Eric “Also King of Helpers” Johansen

PS:  My eye is fine.  It only hurt for like a day and then it was alright.

PPS:  I’m cool if you wait til mid summer to sign me up for school, but I want to try at least one semester of Snow and if I don’t have the cash for another semester I will transfer to UVU.

PPPS:  Please send me some stamps.  Not 400, but maybe 20-30 pleeze.  Thanks, Chim

4-20-13

Hey there family,

So, I'll get right into it cause this week was nutso butso.  I won't butter your bones too much.  So, the first thing that happened this week was that one of the ZLs got in trouble for spunkin' around the dunk bunk or something and got released.  Anyways, he was just breaking rules.  So I got asked to be ZL again, I think at least temporarily.  So right now it's me, my new comp, Elder Levave, and then my other comp, Elder Gasio.  Gasio and I are ZLs, but I am going to continue training Elder Levave as well.  And Elder Gasio isn't actually finished with his training program either.  He has only been out for 2 months or so.  He's from Utah and doesn't speak much Samoan yet.  And Elder Levave is just like really shy, I guess.  So when we make visits, people make jokes that my companions are busy thinking about their girlfriends cause they don't really say much.  It's a work in progress though--they're getting better.  So I guess that's the big change.  Luckily, I got used to sleeping on the floor since I was in Savaii, so I let Gasio use my empty bed and I still sleep on the floor.  It's good for my back though, so I like it.  The triple companionship has a really good flow to it though.  I'm actually really enjoying it.  Levave doesn't really speak any English and Gasio is the same with Samoan.  So it will be good for the both of them.  Gusio snores like a handicapped walrus and it is super loud.  But I made myself some earplugs out of some putty I found and now I sleep great.  

So that's the big news I guess.  I'm training, follow up training, and I guess ZL as well--at least until next month, I think, when they do the next transfer.  I'll probably go back to staying just in Lotofaga with Levave.  So it's good.

Also, there was like the dopest miracle that happened this week.  So we got this referral from the area that Gasio was at (Malaela).  So we went to go contact the lady and it turns out she had been going to church and had even had like six sets of missionaries come before us to teach her, but she never got baptized.  Simolo is her name.  So anyway, the first lesson was like super awesome.  It was like one of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission.  She started crying when we taught about eternal families and she told us that she wants to be sealed in the temple with her husband.  At the end of the lesson I felt impressed to invite her to be baptized that Saturday (2 days later) because I felt like the Lord had prepared her in every way and that she was totally ready.  She, however, said no, and that she would have to talk to her family in Savaii and think about it.  So we scheduled another lesson for the next day and then left.  That night my companions and I had a special fast for her that she would be ready to be baptized.  I've really never seen another person more prepared than Simolo, and I just wanted to see her baptized.  Another thing is that she moves to New Zealand in like a week and a half and that Saturday would have been the only day she could be baptized before she leaves to NZ.  So anyways, we prayed hard that night.  We were really praying for a miracle.  So the next day we go to our appointment with Simolo and the first thing she says is "Elders, I think I received my answer.  I want to be baptized on Saturday."  Haha, I was so stoked.  We ended up covering all the lessons in two days, but she already knew all of it.  The Spirit was way strong when we taught her and I could really tell it was one of those times where the Holy Ghost just fills you up from head to toe and everything you say is purely inspired from the Lord.  She said that our words really touched her heart.  

Anyways, so we had her baptismal interview at 7:00 am on Saturday morning, and then baptized her at 8 am on that same morning. She asked me to do the baptism, which I was happy to do.  It was so awesome though--the Lord really did answer our prayers.  That was an awesome miracle that happened this week.  Simolo even gave a talk on Sunday during their ward conference, which she did awesomely.  I even got a shout out.  I'm just overall stoked on this woman.  You don't get too many experiences like this on a mission.  I feel really grateful to have been a part of Simolo's baptism.

Also, the work has been really awesome lately.  We've gotten quite a few new investigators, two of which are set to be baptized this upcoming week--Sanaga and Metuli.  And then we just contacted this woman in Salenpagoi who wants to be baptized as well.  I can tell we've really been blessed as we strive to increase our faith and be 100% obedient.  My comps are down to be obedient to the days, so I'm stoked on them.  So I'm really excited for all the good work up ahead.  I'm really enjoying my time on this part of the island.  (BTW, we now cover from Lotofaga uta (by Fuipisia Falls) to Malaela...it's way far.)  There's a lot of way cool people that we've been in contact with--like all the bishops in our wards and stuff.  I'm stoked on the people out here.  Things are going super good though right now the work is really progressing forward.

Also, this week was the temple trip for the Lepale Ward that I used to serve in at the end of last year and beginning of this year.  Faitau and I had been trying to get a trip going forever to take that family that we baptized to do baptisms for the dea.  So anyways, I had been calling the missionaries that are in the area forever and they finally set a date.  Well then it turned out that the whole family wasn't going to be able to go, just two of the kids--Selina and Tavita.  Remember that Selina was like my golden investigator and like freakin' awesome.  Anyways, so I ended up talking to the APs about it and then they told me that I couldn't go.  So I was pretty mad and super bummed cause I was sort of the one who instigated the trip, but they wouldn't let me go.  But whatever--that's how it is.  I'm going to continue trying to take our new converts to the temple though cause it is the most awesome thing, even for temple baptisms.  

Also, I'm going to include an edition of this month's mission newsletter.  You'll notice I got a pretty nice shout out from the big man himself.  Me and the mission president are tight though.  Every time I go in for an interview, I'm always like, "Well President, I think..." and he's like, "Please, please, call me Johnny...Would you like something to drink?" and then he stands and unlocks a mahogany  cabinet and with a sly wink pulls out two Mountain Dews.  "Drink up, my boy." he says jovially.  And then leaning in slightly says, "And this stays between you and me."  And the two of us then share a knowing look.

So that's what it's like.  Also this week I got into a pretty clunky situation at the Malaela ward's ward conference.  They had part of it on Saturday.  So after the lessons and stuff everybody went into the gymnasium for food.  They had like all the tables lining the walls and like forty or fifty chief dudes were all sitting on the tables.  And they were doing all kinds of Samoan culture stuff like speeches and stuff that they do.  Anyways, so then they started bringing out these massive boxes of frozen chicken and beef and setting it in front of all the chiefs.  I guess it was like a gift for them from the ward.  And then each chief would stand and like give a speech and like than them for the food and stuff.  Anyways, one of the guys was like, "Wait, what about the missionaries "  So then they brought us this giant box of chicken and sat it in front of our table.  So then everyone was looking at me and the ward mission leader was like, "Stand up, you have to give a speech!!!"  Haha, I didn't know what the heck was going on.  So I stood up wondering what the heck I was going to say, but then the guy who was calling everything out told me to sit down and that I didn't have to say anything.  Haha, I guess you have to understand the Samoan culture to really understand.  I don't spend really any time studying the cultural stuff and the speeches cause the mish prez wants us to just focus on the gospel.  So having no knowledge of a Samoan cultural speech, I was ke'i trying to figure out what I was going to say.  Haha, it was funny though.  I think we're going to look for a family who needs help and then give them our new box of chicken.  It's good though.  So this week was mega sick.

Keep the beans,

Helder Johansen

4/21/13

Hi!  

This is Angelo from Boyz n' Bladez.  You may have seen me at the rec center seshing the quarter pipe or even at the arcade having a slice of pizza.  A lot of people may wonder what it is like being a professional roller blader/singer-songwriter?  Well, I'll tell you it isn't easy.  As a blader, you have to spend at least six hours a day on the pavement and at least another three hours trying to figure out what color elbow pads to wear so they match with your flannel and your backwards cap.  Sometimes you forget your pager in your baggy khaki cargos and then you don't know if anyone is trying to call!  As one of the lead bladers and singers in Boyz n' Bladez, I would encourage all you to have fun, be safe, and shred the gnar.

Nah, but I was planning to write a cool letter this week, but the ZL's are here early and I haven't written any letters or reports or anything.  So this will be short.

This week was alright.  We sort of don't have any progressing investigators.  We're spunkin along to try and get things going again in the area.  My new comp is good.  He's kind of a snuggler.  We get along good though and he's obedient.

This week we had a super awesome conference with Elder Oaks and the area presidency.  I've got no time, but it was sweet.  I shook his hand and he winked at me, knowingly.

I love your bones,

Elder Johansen

4/15/13

Sup Family!

Sorry, I don't have a lot of time to write this week.  This week was alright, but sort of hard--with ups and downs.  I finally got my new companion.  His name is Elder Levave.  He's brand new on the mission.  I got released as ZL and now I'm training again, which is fine with me.  Now I can just focus on the area and I don't have to worry about the other missionaries anymore.  So it's good.  I'm stoked to be training again.  My first son is training too for the second time right now.  So, I guess we breed good ones.  But it's good.  Elder Levave is actually from my last area in Lepale, but he went to church in a different ward, so I'm not too familiar with him.  But I know his mom and I've eaten dinner at his house a few times as well.

This week was a real bummer for the work.  There is a village in our area called Matatufu where my last comp, Elder Faitau, and I spent most of our time.  Well, we just found out this week that all the chiefs in the village got together and held a council to punish all the people in the village who have converted to the Mormon church.  So anyways, all the recent converts and even our investigator family got slammed with these harsh punishments from the village.  Each family had to pay 30 mature pigs and they were forbidden to go back to church.  I don't know anything about livestock, but I assume 30 pigs has to be at least a thousand dollars, if not more.  So anyway, that was a huge bummer.  Uila, the Tongan lady that Faitau and I helped bring back to church got punished too.  It was the day of General Conference--when she came back to her house, they had killed her pigs and taken them.  

But despite everything, these people have made the decision to continue to go to church.  Uila is way strong now and she said she's taking her family to church no matter what.  So I'm stoked for them.  And the other recent convert families all came to church on Sunday--they're strong.  I was crazy stoked that these people are so faithful.  It's guaranteed they're going to be punished again by the village, but they're going to go to church anyway.  

I'm really bummed for our investigator family, however--they were affected by this as well.  Faafiti and To'o are too scared to come back to church cause they're afraid of the chiefs.  They were scheduled to be baptized at the end of the month, but now it looks like it's not going to happen.  We'll keep praying and working with them.  Really we're hoping for a miracle with this one.  Satan has taken a huge slowdown in the work--no one in the village wants to listen to us.  And, definitely, no one will want to be baptized.  However, God always wins, so I'm just trying to figure out what to do.

But  it's good.  Now we cover another ward too--Vavau.  I'm not familiar with that area, so it will be tough for sure at first.  We haven't even been in Vavau yet cause it's super far and the new ZL's forgot to give us helmets for our bikes and you're not allowed to ride without a helmet.  But it's good.  I'm actually kind of glad that we're walking now because I'm starting to get a glorious stomach after 8 months of driving the van.  So it's good.

Anyways, the ZL's are here.  Keep it steezy,

Elder Johansen

4-8-13

Wazzup in the hood familypants!  Sup Z????

It's all good.  This week has been a lot like the duck who walked into the pharmacy to buy some ointment for his beak.  "Please good sir," he said walking up to the counter.  "I would like to buy some ointment for my beak.  It is very chapped."  Acknowledging the duck, the pharmacist then replied cooly, "We have nothing for ducks here."

That was a lot what this week was like.  So definitely a good one.  The mission president recently approved all songs from the band, "Binky", so you know we've been playing all the biggest hits.  The only bummer thing is that they're all just holograms--what a bunch of phoneys.

But nah, it's good.  This week my comp finished his mission.  I was really sad to see him go.  We were comps for like 5 months.  I learned a lot from that dude.  So now I'm splitting with some elders in the zone in Malaela.  It's alright.  I always hate going for prolonged splits though.  It's like you have to start getting used to everybody all over again.  Plus, I'm anxious to get back to my area cause there's good stuff going on in Lotofaga.  But is has been good, nothing crazy exciting.

I still don't know who my new companion is going to be.  I'll let you know.  The APs were saying the transfer is probably next Wednesday, so I don't know if that is Mom's "next" which means in like 2 days or if that actually is next week.  We'll see, I guess.

This past weekend was conference.  It was the sickest ever like always.  You always feel the spirit way strong and learn lots of new stuff.  They had it in English so we split up and all the English speakers got to watch conference on the comfy chairs in the air conditioned high council room.  So it was nice.  I was stoked that they had it in English too cause the Samoan translation is always super bad and has like long gaps where there's no words.  We had to get up super early to watch it cause our stake was having it on live which was sweet cause I watched it the same time you guys did--so that was sweet.  

Also this week I hit my 6 months left mark.  That's nutso butso man.  It's going by really fast.  Mom is probably stoked.  (Mom says--you got that right, honeyboy!!!  Woot!  Woot!)  I''m just trying to make the best of it--trying to do as much good as I can before I have to leave.  But that's still pretty far away so I'm not too worried.  

However, despite my awesome prank on April 1st, I'm going to be finishing in October, so go ahead and sign me up for Snow.  I was thinking BYU, but it's way too expensive.  I'm pretty sure I have college credit from my AP Psych class in 11th grade, but I'm not sure where it floated off to cause I haven't been to school yet.  

Things are good though.  I'm loving the mission.  It's the best thing ever.  There's a lot of good things happening in Samoa and I'm glad to be a part of it.  

Lovingly and longingly (with girlishly drawn hearts dotting the "i"s),

Elder Johansen

PS:  I was pleasantly surprised to see Andrew Howden's handsome face smiling out at me from the TV screen when I was watching conference...just wondering it it's just me that noticed?

PPS:  And yes, we do have water now.  It was only for like three weeks we were without water so don't worry.  And never call the mission office--I would be highly embarrassed in front of all my cool friends.  Really though, everything is good--don't worry.

3-31-13

Hey there,

This week has been double dank for sure.  Sorry I don't have tons of time.  We have been busy to the bones.  Last week we had an awesome FHE with a bunch of people from a village called Matatufu.  We had it at a members house.  They're way strong and super cool.  Our investigators, Faafuti, and his wife, To'e, came and this recent convert couple, the Tongan woman, Uila, who we helped bring back to church and her kids who we baptized last week all came as well.  And this old woman named Tsapeka who has started to come back to church that we have been working with.  There was probably at least 25 people that showed up.  It was mega sweet.  It was awesome though and the spirit was strong.  So I was stoked on that.  It went over really well.

Also this week was freakin' the sickest too.  So we finally got to go to the temple with that family that my trainer and I baptized in my first area.  The grandma--Fonoea and her daughters, Faasegia and Mata--all got their endowments.  It was so freakin' sick.  I was crazy stoked on it.  Fonoea is going to get sealed to her husband who is passed away--hopefully in May when they have their stake temple trip.  She was planning on being sealed this trip, but they haven't done his proxy baptism yet.  (I think that's what it's called.)  But it was so cool.  And it was awesome to see all the people from my first area.   It was just crazy.  I had been looking forward to this time for like over a year now, so it was crazy sweet.  It's been super awesome seeing the changes in these people's lives.  This was sort of like the pinnacle of my mission.  I feel crazy blessed to have taken a part of these people's conversion.  And apparently Faasegia and Mata's husbands have started going to church, but haven't been yet baptized.  But for sure they will, and at some point they're all going to be sealed.  So that's the only bummer is that  I'll miss out on that.  And also I just got the news that we have a trip to do baptisms for the dead for the family Faitau and I baptized in Lepale--sometime at the end of April, I think.  I'm stoked for that.

Oh yeah, and I finally got to meet my godson, little Eric Jacob Lefoa.  He's the cutest, and is a skux deluxe just like his godfather.  Definite stokeparty to the days.

But yeah, not much else happened this week.  My companion finishes his mission in like two days.  I'm going to miss this guy for sure.  We've grown really close and have actually been comps for like 5 months now.  I'm sort of wondering who my new comp's going to be--hopefully not a ranjo.  We'll see, I guess,  I'll for sure stay in Lotofaga.  I think I'll probably be here for awhile actually--maybe I'll even finish here.  I dunno.  It's a good area though.  I'm really loving it.

Also this week my comp and I did a fireside over in Aufaga.  It was alright.  It's actually not our area, but we're covering it temporarily so we got chosen to do the fireside.  It was good though.  

Also our baptism for Arga didn't go through.  Turns out she was wrong about her own age.  She thought she was 10, her mom thought she was 9, but the birth certificate said 8.  She'll probably be baptized under a primary baptism.  I was just bummed cause that was probably my only chance to do a baptisms in the ocean.  Haha, oh well.

Elder Dankness

PS  Enroll me in Snow College if you can.  I for sure come home in October, so I'll be going to school in the spring.  But I'm pretty sure Snow is where I want to go to.