SO, WHERE DO YOU IN FIT IN THIS PICTURE?
(gotta get to the end to know what the 'collage' of pictures is all about.)
It was one year ago this past week that we moved into our missionary apartment in Victoria, BC. Just couldn't let that go by without updating all of you as to a few of our learning experiences of the past few months.
Starting half way through last year, we decided that we needed a way to try and motivate our grandkids to stay in touch with us. Had a friend up here suggest this idea. Why not reward them if they would memorize a few quotes, scriptures, poems or ideas each month. They have done amazing at it. We are going to list here the quotes that we had them work on. Many of you have heard these or you may already know them. See what you think. (so proud of our grandchildren for learning these)
1. People Matter Most
2. The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.
3. That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do. Not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our ability to do has increased.
4. Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
5. Stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
6. Fish Discover Water Last
7. I love you more than anything you could ever do to bug me.
8. Be a light - not a judge.
9. In general conference month, we invited them to choose one session of general conference and write a paragraph about it. (or have their parents write it)
10. We are blind until we see that in the universal plan, nothing is worth the making if it does not make the man. Why build these cities glorious if man unbuilded goes. In vain we build the world unless the builder also grows.
11. They were asked to learn the words to the Carol Lynn Pearson song. -"I'll Walk With You."
12. Knowledge of a thing engenders love of it. The more perfect the knowledge the more fervent the love.
13. When wealth is lost nothing is lost. When health is lost something is lost. When character is lost all is lost.
(HEY, WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GIVING APPROPRIATE CREDIT TO THE AUTHORS- WE DID TRY TO GIVE IT TO THE KIDS.)
That has been a fun thing to stay in touch and challenge everyone to share something they have learned or are learning. We recommend it.
Ok, here is the January Update
In the last few weeks we have had some difficult transfers and said goodbye to 2 senior couples who have completed their missions. One returns to California and the other to Alberta. They both offered so much to their areas and served faithfully. We will miss them.
. SENIOR MISSIONARIES GATHER
Because this mission is such a big land mass, the senior missionaries really do not get together often. Some of us, even though it is the same mission, are over 800 miles away from each other. Well, we all got together and went to the temple, had a nice dinner, shared stories and the next day returned to our places of assignment. At least in our mission, senior couples are put in one area and stay in that area for the entire duration of their mission. Anyway, this was a great experience and we all decided that we need to find ways to do it more often. Great sense of brother and sisterhood.LASTING FRIENDSHIPS
We had opportunity to have lunch with Sister Johnsons high school friend and her husband. These two have lived in the Northwest Territories for over 40 years. He was the Chief of his particular tribe of 1st nations people. They have traveled the world 'fighting' for the rights of indigenous people around the globe. Wonderful family. Now they live closer here on the island and so we can spend a bit of time with them when they get into Victoria or when we travel to visit missionaries. For Valerie, lot of memories from growing up in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Just outside of Edmonton.
ZOOM FAMILY REUNIONS
We held a Johnson/Taylor family zoom meeting. We want so badly to keep cousins connected and so having these kids who understand technology pull together a meeting with people around the world is just a lot of fun (at least for us). Finding out where they are, what they are doing, how jobs are going, what health challenges are we dealing with, relationships that may be struggling, who are we specifically praying for or including in the Temple Prayer Roll. People tend to leave feeling just a bit better about doing it again. This is about as close as we can get to a family reunion for now.
LIFELONG DISCIPLES
The longer we serve, the deeper becomes the connection with Elders and Sisters who are serving with us. When they return home, some are going back to situations where there faith and testimony will be challenged. Some are going home and will be called to serve in significant callings in the next year or two. Many will be called to serve in a local Temple as soon as they get home. All of them go home knowing that the mission couples they have served around love and respect them and have done their best to let them know that the expectation is to be 'lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ'. We are committed to helping each other do just that. Hope that you will help us to help them.
AGE IS 'RELATIVE'
(Picture was taken in the Edmonton Bonnie Doon Stake Center in 1970)
So, we are trying to give some perspective on time to some young missionaries the other day. I explained that Legrand Richards, an Apostle, had visited my mission (Western Canada) in 1970. He told about returning home from his first mission in 1908! Yup, that was 1908. His grandma was still living. She was the wife of Willard Richards who had been Joseph Smith's personal scribe and who was in Carthage jail with Joseph and Hyrum. So this woman had known the prophet personally. Legrand Richards told us about visiting his grandma after returning from his mission and having her tell him all about brother Joseph. That gave us missionaries in 1970 some perspective.
So here is why we tell the story: (this one will be fun for you folks who link to Magrath!)
At a district council meeting a member of a different ward came in to meet the missionaries he had not met yet. Our District Leader is Elder Cook. He is 20 years old. This member, who is only 75 years old, once he finds out that Elder Cook is from Magrath Alberta, says to the Elder "Who is your dad?" That begins a conversation and when he leaves just 10 minutes later, Elder Cook is hearing stories about his father, his grandfather, his great grandfather and even his great great grandpa, YUP, THIS GUY HAD ACTUALLY KNOWN THIS KIDS GREAT GREAT GRANDPA. Hey, take this challenge: Go on your phone and look at your own family tree sometime today. Look at a picture of any one of your great great grandfathers or grandmothers and consider that there are people around that knew and associated with them. (I know, you probably have to be under 25 for this to work, but it is still amazing) Or just sit down this weekend with a few folks and pull out the family tree app. Go to 'relatives around me' and see who you may be related to. It is a great activity and allows you to talk about family in a whole new way. Oh, how we love our family!
ZONE CONFERENCE
We attended Zone Conference in Nanaimo this past weekend. For those of you have served in the mission field, you know that these conferences are spiritually motivating and just great when it comes to building and maintaining relationships. On the Island, there are 28 young people serving. Most of them from Canada and the USA but every so often, we have them from unique places around the world. Australia and Tahiti are here currently. Anyway, we always come home exhausted but spiritually filled.
WEATHER AND WATER IN VICTORIA
The weather has been cold and dreary most days. It is, after all the northwest. But now that February has rolled around, we expect to see more blue sky and a bit warmer weather. Obviously cold is a matter of perspective. You Utah people have seen the most dramatic winter in years and that snow is needed. When my kids tell me it is below zero (fahrenheit) and I explain to them it is 45 degrees but cold, it is all just perspective. (but when my kids in Wisconsin show me a thermometer at 10 below zero on that same day, I am just grateful to be in the 'land of the frozen chosen' and pray for my grandkids in that kind of weather.
Speaking of cold weather. The ocean is currently 46 degrees. While walking close to the beach I saw this guy swimming a very long distance. There are always a few polar plungers who take a dip or two, but this was the first I have seen actually doing long distance swimming. Reminded me of Camp Steiner in Utah when I was a 13 year old scout doing the 1 mile swim. Anybody else remember that? There is an upcoming fundraiser for Special Olympics being held on the island. They are expecting over 1000 people to take a dip in the frigid water on behalf of the kids. Supposedly it increases longevity. Not sure I believe it. But, hey we just had a resident here turn 109. So maybe!
INTERFAITH GATHERING
Just last week we were invited to attend an interfaith gathering here on the island. There were 9 faith leaders asked to speak on the topic of dealing with suffering. There were representatives from Muslim to Jewish to Christian to New Age to Hindu. Our latter day Saint did a tremendous job because he was able to speak about the plan of happiness and how suffereing fits into the mortal experience and that we all come from a pre-mortal life where we were taught these things. It was an excellent presentation and all of us went away appreciating each other a bit more.
COUPLE OF THOUGHTS ON 'THE CHOSEN
We actually finished watching season 3 of the Chosen. If you have not binged the Chosen yet, we highly recommend it. Partly because it is brilliant and inspired acting, directing, production and distribution. But even more because it enhances the work that we are trying to do here in the mission field. Telling the story of Jesus from the perspective of those who knew Him, and doing it like it is being done helps us to share the scriptures and to testify of Jesus Christ, which is the job of every missionary on earth. Think of it, this tv phenomenon is being made free in every country in the world now. Our missionaries are running into people on the streets of small towns all over planet earth. Someone is wearing a "Chosen" shirt that says "Get used to different". Or "2+5=5000", or "I was one way and now I am completely different". All that does is allows us to bear witness to one more person and then one more
YOUR FEBRUARY CHALLENGE FROM THE JOHNSONS
So go back to the top of this newsletter and look at that timeline of Jesus. We listed it because we are studying the new testament this year. We put those pictures in an order that we felt they made sense. You may even disagree. Please share. But consider doing this: DO YOUR OWN TIMELINE! Just take a few moments and create a 'timeline' of your life from the day of your birth (or even before that if you like) to today. You can just write it, or you can do pictures). Include those things that you consider important or that got you to this point. THEN add to it a few of the things you expect to achieve or accomplish between now and the day you graduate to the spirit world. ONCE YOU FINISH IT, LOOK AT IT VERY CAREFULLY AND JUST APPRECIATE YOU!. SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE IMPORTANT TO YOU. Please know that you matter. You really matter. God loves you and your life has meaning.
We are grateful for all of you. Thanks for being there to support us. You matter to us and you matter to God. Never forget it!
Scott and Valerie Johnson
Canada Vancouver Mission
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