What day is it?

As you can see by the title, i do not know what is going on. This week was a blur and i don't even know what day it is most of the time. All i know is that things are super busy and I am having so much fun. I love serving with Elder R. And i know you are all pronouncing it wrong but it rhymes with Fever so we often call him R Fever (like Bieber fever -and everyone's got it haha). He is from Mesa Arizona, and no he doesn't know the Allens. He is the youngest of 5 and loves to skate and is very musically talented (was in a band as the drummer plus he sings and plays guitar too). So you might be thinking that we must be pretty different but actually we aren't. We get along very well and have a lot of fun. He's pretty overwhelmed with the idea of him being the new assistant but he will do great!

We have yet to have time to get our feet underneath us as it has been go go go for the past week plus 10hours of conference, arrivals, transfers, departures, Zone Leader council and office work. Fun, huh? No but really i love it. We thought that by having the Traveling Elders (and mom they are just new to our mission not to all missions) we would be freed up a lot more to work in our area but i don't think that will be happening. Cuz this transfer we have interviews with President, where we go with the Pres and Traveling Elders around the whole mission and do various trainings while President interviews each missionary, and we also have Zone Conference. Its gonna be insane but super fun.

Picking up the Arrivals from the Airport was probably one of the funnest things i've done on my mission (that may be a bit of a stretch but still, it was awesome). Sister K from Portugal was in that group and my buddy Butch totally served in her branch and worked a lot with her family and preparing her to serve a mission. He was actually there when she opened her mission call and found out she was coming here. Small world, huh? She's way cool. Elder C (dad's friends's son from Rexburg) was also in that group and he was telling me that he stayed at our house a while ago! Small world again. Geez it blows my mind how many connections you can have all over the place when you are a Mormon.

So we picked them up, drove them to the Cambridge church for a light snack and then got to take them out contacting/talking to people in down town Boston. Elder R and I took the "party bus"(12 passenger van we drive during transfer week-I want one when i get home haha) and a whole car full and went to Copley station right next to the John Hancock building and let them loose. We went with them and it was such a rush to be out contacting in the heart of Boston. The new missionaries did very well and had alot of fun. For some it was a big wake up call but good experience.

So that was last tuesday. the next day we spent with them at the mission home giving various trainings on what is to be expected/how we do missionary work in our mission/how we work with members/ everything they need to know. Power packed day and it was splendid, but the children (new missionaries look like children to me) were pretty exhausted. Thursday was the transfer meeting and going to the temple with the departing missionaries and hanging out with them all night and hearing the fabulous advice from the Packards for whats next for those missionaries as they go home. I love the Packards so much! They had us 4 AP's (the 2 traveling elders are counted as APs too) over for family home evening and we ate delicious salmon, all performed a talent, told some stories, read the email from their son who is on a mission, and President taught us from the scriptures. They really are my family away from family.

As for Conference here are some things I loved. 1) it was incredible. I'm sad its my last one as a missionary. All the talks kinda run together for me in my head but some things I picked out was that we really are lead by modern revelations. It is incredible to know that President Monson really is a Prophet and that he receives direct revelation from the Lord to know what to do to help the work progress. I'm so excited for the age change for missionaries. Its going to be amazing. I'm excited for Brock, I can't believe he can already go on a mission so soon after i get home. He is going to be such a great missionary, I wish i could have him as one of my companions.

In reviewing my notes, I realized that a lot of what was emphasized or maybe just my focus was the need to help others and be aware of others and how you can bring them closer to Christ. I really liked what the relief society Pres said "first observe, then serve" Its a great motto to live by. Pres Eyring also talked about building zion and we are trying to do that in our mission...ok so just got a text and we got to go help some sisters with a ride some where.... so to be continued. haha Sorry Family!

I love you all!

Love, Elder Brady Johnson