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| After Albi District Meeting |
Hello family and friends.
This week was really good. Lots of exchanges and interesting things and it
cooled off and rained which has been so stinking awesome!
L'échange avec
l'équipe chinoise
So, something cool about
Toulouse is that it is a university city with tons of students! A lot of these
students are from China. So there is an equip of elders that are Chinese
speaking, Elder Leon and Elder Zhu. They are in the Albi district so we did
exchanges with them and it was so much fun. I've become so much better at
racial profiling (especially with Asians).
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| Elder Leon |
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Our first exchange was on
Tuesday. I went to Toulouse with Elder Leon (who is not Chinese nor does he
have an Asian ancestors. He is from Canada and he is Columbian). We looked for
honest people to contact and they were all super, super nice. There wasn't one
that was mean. And almost all of them gave us their numbers. It is interesting to
see how the mission in China is closed but you have tons of Chinese here who
are interested.
Contacting was really funny
because I don't speak any Chinese, aside from hello and thank you. All of he
contacts would start in French and then after we affirmed they were indeed
Chinese the conversation would bounce in between French, Chinese and English.
Most of the time I could tell what was happening or at least very vaguely.
My favorite was when they
would ask me a question and I'd just sit there and feel like I was a bleu
missionary again. It helped me realize how huge of a miracle it is that I can
even speak French.
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| Elder Zhu |
Our second exchange with
them was on Saturday. We blitz Toulouse so both equips stayed. I was with Elder
Zhu this time. He is from main land China. He just got into the mission a few
weeks ago so he is still really bleu. He is soooo funny. We were walking by some
people and I said "bonjour" and no one said it back to me. He looks
and me and says,"You're doing it wrong! Watch". Cultural note: French
people are very quiet in public. They don't speak loud. If there are any
Americans on a bus, you can always hear them before you see them. Anyway back
to the story... We are coming up on this super old French woman that would
typically never say hi back to you when Elder Zhu jumps almost directly in
front of her waving his hand and says pretty loud with his Chinese accent
"BONJEW!" She jumps back clutching her chest and then says
"bonjour!?!" Hahaha. "That's how you do it Elder Johnson. The
Chinese way!" I laughed so hard. It was too funny.
To end the exchange we ate
at Hot Pot. Best Chinese food ever. You have two pots of bowling broth in front
of you and you order a bunch of raw ingredients and then throw them all in at
once and then fish them out with your chopsticks when they are done cooking. It
was so good. I ate so much.
Conducting the music...
I feel the need to
publicly apologize to my mother for all of the times when she was leading the
music and the family would try to get her to laugh... Because once you start
laughing up there it is all over. Everyone sees you laughing and you know you
shouldn't be laughing so naturally you laugh harder. Then other people see and
start laughing.
Well... Julia wasn't at
church this week and I had to lead the music again and during one of the songs
a certain member starting singing so loud. Like opera loud but really off key.
At first I was containing myself but then I looked at the other elders and they
were starting to chuckle. I looked away and got myself under control when I
look to the row where the member is sitting and the kid next to her is singing but
suddenly stops and with a face of disgust and confusion looks over at the
member and closes his hymn book. And that was where it all ended. I couldn't
control myself. I tried so hard not to laugh but then all of the members
started noticing and started to laugh too. Except for the member who is singing
super loud because they are very focused. Finally the song finishes and I'm so
sweaty from laughing and being embarrassed.
So mom... I understand you
a little more now. Hahaha
Mon Anniveraire
Thanks everyone for the
birthday wishes. I love you all. We
were on exchanges during my birthday and Elder Leon mentioned that it was my
birthday but not before the actual dinner appointment. And then they stinking
brought out a cake and candles! I was so sparked. It was super thoughtful of
them. I've never been more surprised about my birthday than in that
moment.
Miracle de la Semaine
We found a new amie that
came to church! Rewind to three months ago. Elder Ottesen contacted a woman
named Elisabeth on exchange. She said she was interested visiting the church
but every time we invited her she was busy and whatnot when finally we gave up
inviting her. Then, this week we invited her and she said she would come... And
she did! She has been looking for a church that practices what is being preached.
She has been so prepared to meet us. It is awesome. She is super awesome.
After sacrament she
started crying and she said she felt really happy but weird. #feelingthespirit.
We gave her a blessing and the spirit was so strong. I can't wait to see her
this week!
All we have to do is work
hard and trust the Lord. He prepares people and sends them our way. I love Him.
We just always have to remember that His ways aren't always our ways.
I love you! Que dieu vous
bénisse
Elder Johnson
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