{11.16.15} Yo

Paint-Fight from our Zone activity last P-day. 
We played "Zombies" with paint. I was the Zombie--
and Succesfully infected everyone. NO SURVIVORS

This letter will probably be pretty short. But Transfers are next week! I don't really know what will happen but more than likely I will be transferring. If you want to send anything to me, send it soon because after the 25th I will probably have a new address.

Fernando is such a boss!!! his little brother Esteban and his little sister Inocensia are just as cool too! We have been teaching the whole family, and Fernando, Esteban, and Inocensia are all getting baptized next Sunday after Church! And their mom is going to start coming to church againnn (she is not a member, but almost got baptized twice before but didnt' because of a previous marriage and problems that occured there). Fernando is the coolest, he wants to serve a mission! He also went to the Priesthood fireside last night and he's super excited about that as well. The familiy loves when we come over and teach them, so we get to go over every day and teach them the lessons, and the standards in the For Strength of Youth. It's great, because they are so innocent and the light of Christ is so strong in them. Their prayers are the best too, because they are simple yet so sincere and powerful. Super excited for their baptism, and how much the Gospel is going to continue to change their lives!

Car Washes are Scary

There's another family that we've begun to start teaching. They are equally as cool! Well.. half of them. The Mom and the daughters are super religious and are looking for the right church, but the dad and brothers just don't have interest/don't care. So we will see what happens there.

Also, we are teaching a puertorrequena named Mermaid. She's got the red-hair and everything.

Went to a Pentecostal church yesterday before our Church. It was very interesting and educating.

I've begun to study the Old Testament in a lot of detail. I really want to know the Bible in depth. I'm actually really, really enjoying it. There's so much figurative language and symbolism, it's really fun to study and decipher. It requires a lot of background knowledge that I don't really have, but my mom sent me some books that really help clarify some of the language of the times. It's really making me want to study some Hebrew and Greek when I get back to college--at least some basic level understanding of root words and such.

It's really taught me how important it is to have the Holy Ghost in learning. Before my mission, this is something that I began to study through one of my favorite professors at BYUI (shout out to Sister D'evegnee!). A lot of us don't think of needing the Holy Ghost to learn, but it's so critical. It also really emphasized how worthy we ALL need to be inorder to have that constant companionship.

Well Hope everyone has a great week!

Love,

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

3850 Central Ave 

Apt# 202

Ft Myers, FL 33901

{11.9.15} The One House in Pine Manor

This week was absolutely amazing.

Ever since I've arrived in this area, I've always told myself that I was going to find "the one house" in Pine Manor that had someone ready to receive the Gospel. Pine Manor is a predominantly Hispanic (and somewhat african-american and Haitian) community that is a pretty scary place to be.. and also one of the few places that we can actually find people who speak Spanish to teach here. MOM you may want to quit reading here. Every person you talk to is usually holding a beer or a joint in their hand, and after knocking a street one day, a cop pulled over and asked us "What are y'all doing knocking all those crack houses?"

One street in particular, 8th ave, is right in the heart of Pine Manor, and I've knocked the whole community 3x now but I've always felt prompted to knock 8th Ave. I remember I knocked it on my first day, but never have found an investigator on it. I began to think for someone reason I just liked the number 8 or it was just some weird personal bias I had developed in my mind.

Turns out, a youth in the ward named Jean Carlos brought his friend Fernando to church. Fernando came to stay at his house Sunday night because there had been shootings again in Pine Manor and he wanted to get out of there for the night. He came to church the following day, and he loved it. He felt peace, happiness, and wanted his younger brother (Esteban, who is 12) to come as well to surround him with the "good kids" at the church as well. He usually won't allow Esteban to leave the house, because he doesn't want him to get caught up with the type of kids that live in Pine Manor, so Esteban is loving the church as well.

Guess who lives on 8th Ave? Fernando and Esteban

Fernando has been to church twice, and every church activity including Wednesday night mutual, and will be enrolling in Seminary and Boyscouts shortly. We've began teaching them, and we got to share the story of the Strippling Warriors, which really rang with Fernando. His Father was very abusive of his little brother and mother, and his step-father isn't doing much better. He's very protective of his family, and really wants to change his life and be better. He saw the example of Jean Carlos, who was baptized last year, and calls him "his brother." It's been an amazing week, and Fernando's mother has given him permission to be baptized. He will be going down the 21st! Esteban will most likely be getting baptized then as well, we just need to ensure he is making this decision on his own and not just to follow his brother.

We are also working with Jean Carlos's step-dad, Luis. He's blind and missing an eye, and was never educated in Puerto Rico because of his disability. But Despite his shortcomings, he has found happiness in the Gospel, and has a crazy knack for working with Electricity. He used to be an alcoholic, but has quit and is down to 4 cigarettes a day (HUGE progress from where he was 2-3 years ago. He will be getting baptized shortly as well, there's just a few legal complexities and of course, the cigarettes.

Transfers is coming up in about 2 &1/2 weeks, and I'm honestly going to be very sad to leave this area. I've learned so much here, about life, other people, and the Gospel. Nothing has grown my Faith in God more than seeing the humility of others, and the hand of God working in their lives. Anyone can change. Every. Single. Person. has divine potential. God is always waiting to bless us, his is always extended. All we ever have to do is search for out, whether it be through our obedience or just simply getting down on our knees. And one other thing I've definitely learned, is never give up on a Spiritual Impression.

Love, 

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

3850 Central Ave 

Apt# 202

Ft Myers, FL 33901

{11.2.15} ALRIGHT ALRIGHT

So to start off, I'd like to share a story from knocking doors last night. 

We were knocking in an area called Village Creek (One apartment complex of 3 in our area that is mostly Hispanic--and our area is massive) for like the 3rd time last night, and this old white man opened the door. We explained we are representatives of Jesus Christ and that he sent us to share a prayer with him. He stared at us with his mouth open for I kid you not, probably 20 seconds. I finally said "...soooo can we share a prayer with you?" and then he just WENT OFF about our "cult." Elder Alexis looked kinda freaked out, and I was like "Sir, we are just here to share a prayer, can we share a prayer?" Kinda laughing, which made him really mad and he yelled "I JUST WANNA KNOW WHERE ___ YOU GUYS ARE COMING FROM!?" To which I responded "Jesus Christ" (It's true!) which made him Rage even more. Finally his Son came up behind him and told him to quit being a "Ding-Dong" (language changed). Then the son started asking us some questions (He was pretty genuine) but the guy just kept going off. He asked what we believed in, I gave him a simple 3 sentence explanation (Christ established church, people rejected Apostles and Priesthood authority was lost and we believe it's been restored) to which he went off and yelled "Who rejected the Apostles!? NO BODY?!" to which I responded "...the people who crucified Peter upside down?" which he responded "Yeah! The Same people who crucified Jesus! Those guys weren't very popular!" ...... "Exactly, so they were rejected..." to which he responded "Well that's because people usually reject the truth because they're too prideful!!!" ...."Exactly, and when they were rejected and killed the Church was corrupted and Priesthood Authority was lost. Look at us, we are pretty unpopular. Maybe we have the Truth!" Well, that made him really mad... and then he told me that we kill people who leave the church, so we handed him a card and walked away while he was still foaming and barking at the mouth.

I share that experience not because I want to embarass this man, or speak badly about him. I wasn't trying to argue with him, but I was trying to calmly clarify what we actually do believe. It just amazes me how hard people are against the mormon religion.. we don't teach anything that crazy. That pretty much sums up my knocking experiences I've had in this area. I've been handed anti-mormon pamphlets where the storyline is something like Two Mormon Elders being converted to Born-Again Baptist churches (among many others), that "quote" "Real Mormon Literature" (only key words and context have been changed hahaha) and sometimes cite quotations from Books titled "Mormons and the World of Magic and Blood-Oaths" as our "Doctrine."

My simple question is this. Why are there no other religions that have so much adversity raging against them, with so much combined force to stop them, and so much blatent lies circulating about them?

I've recently began attending other churches on Sunday. I love hearing and comparing doctrines. There's a lot of people who have amazing Faith in Christ, doing amazing work in his name. I want to know where these people are coming from, and what they believe. I dont want to tear down anyone's Faith, but to simply grow it and show them more. It makes me frustrated how no one even considers to try and view things from our Standpoint with an open mind. I want to do the same thing for others. If i can understand them better, maybe I can help them understand us better.

I bore my testimony this past Sunday. I have no idea why, but the Spirit hit me like a train. I didn't say much, but I wept like a baby. It was embarassing.. it's actually the first time I've cried on my mission.. which is a shocker, because I've had alot of profound and moving experiences on my mission, but this is what moved me to the point of tears. My testimony was short and simple:

"I Know this is the Church of Christ, and it's on the Earth again for all of us. I know The Gospel changes lives, because it has changed mine, and I'm so grateful for that. I know that it can change anyone's life. I testify that Christ lives, He knows us all. He is our Savior, and he always will be, no matter what we have done. I am so Grateful that I am a Representative of Christ, and I get to share that with everyone I meet. This is my purpose, and I'm just...grateful."

Love, 

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

3850 Central Ave 

Apt# 202

Ft Myers, FL 33901

{10.26.15} Pearl of Great Price

Not a whole lot to report on this week! The work has definitely been slowing down a lot, but nonetheless is moving forward! The members are ever so slowly getting more involved. My goals and ambitions are really starting to change as a missionary. I really care more know about the well-being of the Ward in General and less about trying to find as many people as possible. Not to say that I was ever motivated by numbers, but I'm starting to see that what this area needs now is strengthening of the ward. There's a lot of people within the congregation that need support and guidance. The Bishopric is stretched pretty thin, as well as a few of the other really solid families in the ward who are doing all they can to support and help their fellow brethren. These familes are an awesome example to me. When we are baptized, we make covenants to support, lift up, mourn with, and labor with our fellow brethren in Christ. There are a few members that really exemplify this in the Rio Vista Spanish Ward.

For example, Brother Nascimento. He's Brazilian, and he has 3 very active, crazy, energized little boys. They live in a small 2 bedroom apartment--about the same size that we live in. Although he is only the 1st counselor in the Elder's Quorum, he has taken all the responsiblility of the quorum due to the absence of the leadership for several months. He has completely re-organized all of the home-teaching, and visits all of the New Members baptized by the Sisters and Us this year with his wife. No one asked him to do it, and it's not his responisibility. But, he sees the need, and saw that it wasn't being done. So he does it. Meanwhile, he works 60+ hour weeks because he chooses to take Sundays off (which is overtime, when he would make a lot more money) so he can fulfill his church callings and devote Sundays entirely to the Lord and his family.  It really makes me reflect on what more I could have done before my mission, and how much more I would like to do when I get home and when I have a family of my home. If you think all the work is being down in your home ward, look again--it may be getting done, but it may be getting done by 2 or 3 people. We could all do a lot more work and show a lot more Charity for our brothers and sisters inside and outside our church.

I would also like to share a short spiritual thought from Matthew Chapter 13:

 45 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it

I think the scripture is pretty self-explanatory. It also reminds me of the King of the Lamanites who first said in order to save his own life in Chapter 20:

 23 Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom

But then, in chapter 22, after being taught by Aaron the Gospel of Christ, he said:

 15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

I've found my self recently pondering, "Am I truly willing to Forsake ALL for God?" My favorite talk from this most recent General Conference was Elder Larence's titled "What Lack I Yet?" The resolving answer that I have is that I don't want to lack anything when I stand before my Savior. I hope I can look him in the eyes, a little ashamed, but still say "I did all I could." To which I hope he will reply:

 23 ...Well done, good and faithfulservant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25).

Love,

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

3850 Central Ave 

Apt# 202

Ft Myers, FL 33901

{10.19.15} Sorpresa (Surprise)

We represent the Minorities in the Ward

So Transfers were last week and since I didn't go to transfer meeting, and figured Elder Alexis and I were in the clear! We had the other Elders Call us on Speaker so we could listen to where everyone was going and who the new missionaries would be coming into the area. As I listened to them reading off the companionships in the Ft Myers phone, I got a huge surprise for second transfer in a row. I was made District Leader. It basically just means I am a leader over a small portion of the mission. It means more work but a lot of really cool opportunities come from it as well! For example, I gave 2 baptismal interviews last week. It's a great experience, you basically just get to talk to people about their conversion process to the Gospel of Christ. The spirit is super strong and you can really see the change in people and how important the Gospel is to them!

This week we found a really awesome lady recently arrived from Sulema. She's so cool and she loves the Church! When she came into sacrament meeting, she just started bawling tears during the opening song. The Spirit definitely touched her song. She has really bad eye sight, so we found this GIANT Book of Mormon and Bible to give her. It's like 2 feet by 1 Foot haha, but she can read it!

Idk if anyone remembers Señorita (with whom we had all the crazy experiences), but she has a baptismal date!!! She is going down on the 14th of November! She already facebooked all of the other missionaries who have taught her (She's been investigating for 2 & 1/2 years, not 10 like I said before.. I was mixed up on the number of missionaries who taught her and years). She has incredible Faith. She's an example to all of us that we should strive to follow. She knows what God wants for her, and she's willing to follow it even in the worst conditions and situations, even when it seems that their is no way to accomplish what God is asking. But the thing is, she knows. People ask us all the time "But how do you KNOW?" We're just blind right? Brainwashed, maybe? I can't explain how God works, but I can explain that everyone everywhere has something that resonates the Gospel Message. The Hardest of Hearts recognize the goodness that comes from Christ and his Message. It's undeniable, and once you've felt it, and once you know it, it's impossible to turn you back on it, because it's a peace and happiness that can be found no where else.

I don't have a whole lot more to add this week. I'm still kinda running around with my head cut off trying to figure out this whole District Leader thing. Hope everyone has a great week!

The Bravo Family! Minus a couple, but they're the best.

One thing I forgot to mention, is we are working with something new  called the "Idaho Initiative" (Whooo go Idaho!)

Brazilian Table!

Venezualans! (and a Few Peruvians)

Peruvian Dance

It's basically following the example of what the Idaho missions have done to get members more involved, and it doubled the amount of missionaries and missions in Idaho. If for those of you that are members of the church don't understand what your role is in missionary work, I'll explain: It is VITAL. Where I'm serving in currently, if members were more involved, we would have 3x as many new friends at church. Get involved! Offer your homes for FHE, go teaching with the missionaries, visit Less-Active and Part-Member Families, INVITE People. It's not that hard to invite people. The worst thing people can say is no.

Bishops Wife is Tongan and From Hawaii..
so we had a little bit of Poly Culture too

Also we had "Spanish Night" for our Ward Activity Saturday night. Latinos are so fun! I really wish I was Latin.They party hard!

He's 3 and sang every word to the National Anthem

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

3850 Central Ave 

Apt# 202

Ft Myers, FL 33901

{10.13.15} Call Me Hitch

So to get Straight to the Point, Alma and Isidro finally got Married! and Baptized!

It was so awesome, and they're doing so great. They're both so so happy and you can see the weight that's been lifted off their shoulders. They're both beaming and just so excited to be members of the Church, especially Alma. She's been attending for months and she now has more or less what you might call "the official title." But even more, she has the Gift of the Holy Ghost! You can tell she definitely feels it and feels more guided.

Isidro seems way different as well. I think the Baptism has had an incredible affect on him. He seems to be excited about his new found place in the Gospel as well. It was really funny seeing him at the baptism.. he is painfully shy, and after the Bishop had him stand up with Alma so they could see all the new members at the baptism to see their new ward family. He just started cracking jokes, which is what he does when he gets uncomfortable. I also didn't know Mexicans could turn red when they are embarassed, but even they can too it turns out hahaha.

Assiel and Claudia. I don't really know what to say about them right now. They have hit a wall and are really progressing anywhere. We haven't been able to see them for a few days. It's reaching a point where there isn't much more we can do to help them. It's always a personal decision. It's tough because we don't really know what's holding Assiel back from marriage.

Fabiola is super ready to get baptized! She's awesome. Her life has changed so much and her son is obsessed with the primary program! It's amazing to see people find the answers and truths they've been looking to find for years, in many different churches, and then when they find the LDS church everything just comes together and clicks. She's gonna get baptized soon, she just is deciding what she needs to do to resolve her family issues.

We are visiting and teaching a TON of really cool people right now. We are super blessed, because the work is really progressing quickly here and there is a lot to be done and keep us busy. 

Also, Apprently two nights ago I was sleep talking in Spanish. I finally made it.

Love

-- 

Elder Johns

{10.5.15} This letter is for Nolan Warren!

Nolan Warren Lemmons
October 1, 2015
9lb 7oz

To start off, I have to give a shout out to my beautiful Sister Lorren and my brand new nephew, Nolan Warren Lemmons! Everyone looks super happy and he looks healthy and strong. Super happy for her and Scott and little Cal! Hopefully mama doesn't try to take him home to Idaho.

Speaking of family and love... Señor & Señorita  are getting MARRIED TONIGHT!!! Which means they are finally getting baptized this Friday! They've been working towards this for months and months.. missionaries long before me have been working with them. It's been a humbling experience to work with them. trial after trial has gotten in the way. I've never been much of a patient person, and with their situation I definitely have felt at times like it was going to be worn through. But I've learned patience is easier when you turn outward, and focus on the needs of others. When you put it into the perspective of the joy of an eternity, and the chance to live with our Heavenly Father, no wait is too long, no process is too tedious, and hope can never be lost.

Señor and Señorita are another test of patience for me. I love them, so much. In these past 3 months, Señor and his girlfriend, Señorita,  consume about my every other thought. Señor has become a brother, and he has recognized the truth. He wants to be baptized, he wants an eternal family, and Elder Alexis and I cannot find the reason behind his personal doubts in himself that are holding him back from marrying Claudia. We know its a personal doubt and lack of confidence.. but we cannot figure out how to exactly pin-point it and help him overcome.  I had the most Spiritual lesson of my misison with them on Thursday. I testified of things personal to them I didn't know I had authority to testify to them, but that's what the Spirit forced me to do. Forced. The severity of the topics was heavy in the room, but there were also smiles and tears and happiness. I want their family to be Eternal, as much as I want my future family at this point. We have really established them with the expectation of Daily Reading and Praying together, specifically about the decision to be married in October, and they are doing it now! Literally, Every day! I have Faith that in time the Spirit will come to them.

We are working with many many others right now, and the work is truly being blessed and lead by the Lord here in the "Rio Vista West" (Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, and Cape Coral) area of the Fort Lauderdale Mission. I remember when I came to this area and we had no one to teach, no where to find, and just miles and miles of Bike Riding ahead of us hahaha. The Lord has definitely been molding me here in this area.

Conference was AMAZING this week! I received heaps of personal revelation. My prayers were definitely with our dear Prophet, Thomas S Monson. He's a strong man and the Lord will carry him through his Ministry. I found David A. Bednar's talk at the conclusion particurarly interesting in regards to the health and age of our living Apostles and Prophet. It strengthened my testimony, especially as I learned what Elder Bednar learned from Elder Hale. My favorite take was probably Elder Larence's.. but I'm usually not asking "WHAT lack I yet?" because I already know, it's more like "HELP me with this obvious weaknesses!" hahaha. But that's the beauty of the Gospel of Christ. Our weakness are to strengthen us, our trials to be force our trust, to be "bourne upon the wings of Eagles."

I love you all! Hope everyone has a greet week!

-- 

Elder Johns