Zachary Justus Johnson

It's interesting how at the beginning of my mission the most important thing to me was to write. Write to my friends, my family, my mission president and write about my experiences. It used to be hard, but I always felt so accomplished after it. Now it's hard for me to even write in my journal. It's like I already lived this once, writing it down would mean living it again. Sometimes I just want to forget. But I know that maybe somehow in some way what I learned might help someone--or permanently scare them from coming to this country or serving a mission. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. I wish I could just sum it up into one paragraph or a couple of sentences but I really just can't. It's simply been some of the hardest months of not just my mission but my entire life (for as short as it is). I think the last time I wrote here I was in Carapegua. I never really go back and read what I write so I don't remember exactly what was going on. But as i...

I know it's been a long time. Have you forgotten about me? In the few bits and pieces of time I can find to sit down and write I found myself struggling to put it all together. I can't even remember what I sent in for my last post. It was a long time ago. This week in "come follow me" we were studying about the creation of the world. There are 3 different accounts or "witnesses" of what happened before man was granted this earth. Although they are slightly different they all have the same elements. God, light, unorganized matter, and time. It's interesting how an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God decided to take his time with the creation of the Earth. I personally believe that it is mostly symbolism but it has a lot of meaning. From the "void" and "disorganized" space God created piece by piece a home that we call Earth. It reminded me of a Zone Conference we had a couple of transfers back. I'll briefly point out some...

Baptism of Jesus--watch my video below

(11/25/21)  I don't have a lot of time today and the little time I do have I am gonna try to spend talking to my family. They are all in Laguna right now. I sort of feel a lot of fomo from that. It's been a good week. I'm exhausted as usual. I am still in Carapegua. I am the Branch President here. It's very stressful but also very rewarding. I always think that being a missionary can't get any more difficult, painful, stressful, tiring, uncomfortable, etc. but somehow it always does. I believe the Lord hand picked the experiences in my mission to make me grow the most based on my weaknesses and faults. The things that I would fear most before the mission are the things I'm doing every day. It's become a lot more than just trying to put a day together. I've started to care less about numbers and more about people. I've started to care less about my self and more about my flocks. I used to hate having to play the role of "therapist" or "...

(11/8/2021) This transfer has left me absolutely destroyed.  I've had to spend the last transfer learning how to be the next Branch President in Carepegua. Which has been a huge change because I've spent a large chunk of time teaching instead of learning.  I remember last my day in Ayolas not being too excited to leave. Excited for something new but not excited about the position I would be in. Everyone would say "Oh dude, Elder Johnson--future Branch President out there in Carepegua!" But future means a lot. It's been hard, especially spiritually. I think it's because when I was in Ayolas, not only was I the man but I was THE man. I led the area. Because I opened it, I knew every single person in every single récord. I can still close my eyes and give anyone directions from any given point on the map. I was hardwired to be the leader in that area. It wasn't much but to some extent it was mine. I still haven't adjusted to being the number 2 here. At th...