Elder Joseph Janson, California Santa Rosa Mission: March 2016

March 7, 2016 This Transfer is Flying!

What's up everyone!?

First of all, this week me and Elder Green realized we are entering
the 4th week of the transfer... It kinda freaked us out. It's going so
fast! The transfer is 7 weeks so it will go a little longer, but
still. We are doing so much I guess everyday is just flying by and we
don't have much time to think!

On Thursday we went on exchanges with the APs, so Elder Britt came in
our area with me. We had like 4 lessons that day which is a solid day
for us. It was pretty interesting to go with an assistant to the
president on exchanges, but he's way chill so it is fine. That night
we went to go see Josh, this like 12 year old kid who got baptized but
I don't think much of his family is, he is the only one that comes
occasionally. We met him and his little cousin Kylie who was a crazy
little girl! She called me Elder Jason and him Elder Brit-t-t. She was
in 3rd grade and talked a bunch about not believing in god haha then
she later said I want to go to Haven (Heaven). Then Elder Britt is
like "how will you go to heaven if you don't believe in God?" She
quickly said, "I believe in God!" It was honestly just hilarious.

We did service for Sis Labonte a member in the Ward, and her dad who
isn't a member. He had a bunch of boxes and crap on top of this
section in his warehouse, and so our job was get all the crap down off
of the platform that was about 10 feet up. It was right below the
ceiling so Elder green was crouching down handing me stuff on a ladder
and putting it on the ground for the dad to sort through. So much rat
poop man, apparently the members sister is a big hoarder. One of the
big boxes Elder green started to move, and two rats come scurrying
out! Haha we all jumped and look carefully in each box after that.
Rats are nasty man. The dad gave us money after the service despite us
saying we won't take it, so we went to dinner that night since ours
cancelled haha. Blessings I guess.

We had a lesson this week with Carol, this old funny lady who we found
in the area book. She has a good member friend Sue who came to church
with her yesterday, the member is from woodland which isn't too close!
It was cool that she came and helped Carol around. Carol seems to want
to keep coming and learn, so we will see! She always calls us asking
stuff like how to get to the church haha we gotta talk slow sometimes.
We taught many lessons this week again, this area is always on fire
man, we have to keep up with it. Hopefully we can keep it up and not
burn out. We have a lot of service for the whole zone planned next
week, which is a change. We can get out of these clothes and do
something man! Anyways, things are going well and the spirit continues
to help us along, I love that one thing, when the spirit is present
and you know they are feeling it too. It is one of the hardest things
that we must learn to do this work. I love you all and hope your week
is fantastic!

Elder Janson

Beach pics from last Monday! I am the one in the back of the

nametag one haha

Us thuggin on the beach

This explains our companionship perfectly

This is what happens when we go to Ross

February 29, 2016 Taught a bunch of lessons!

Hey family!

Holy cow have we been busy! We went all over our Ward and met some
members and taught many lessons, it is great to be so busy you don't
even know where to put a new appointment haha. Definitely poses a
problem. We taught over 20 lessons and everyday we were coming home
exhausted. We set a new baptismal date for this lady named Sheri, and
her husband Jeff is a member and is helping a lot. She really wants to
learn but needs to get work off on Sunday. The spirit was strong as we
did one of the harder lessons, the plan of salvation. Hope we can have
a good lesson with her this week.

We had a MLC this week as well, which is basically a leadership
meeting for the mission. Elder Hamula from the 70 was in our mission
for some conferences with the mission, so we got a half mission
conference with him and for the MLC too. He definitely had a lot of
things to correct, but also was great to have him there and feel as if
really the prophet was there. That's how it is anyways, the general
authorities represent the prophet to us, and the prophet speaks for
the lord. The organization is incredible and I understand it more now.
Later on Friday we had our first zone meeting, which was he first time
I taught a zone meeting. I wasn't really nervous though, but it helps
that our zone is tiny and was even tinier because two elders were
sick! It was a great meeting and helped me feel comfortable in the new
calling.

Had a meet and greet with the stake presidency yesterday, with both
Santa Rosa zones that make up the Santa Rosa stake. It sure is fun to
have all of us together, missionaries are crazy together haha. The
leaders of the stake certainly are awesome and want us to work with
them. They have quite a different approach that I like, they are more
approachable than other leaders I have worked with. We are excited to
get going with them.

Anyways, we had a great week. Brother Nelson in the bishopric asked me
to speak like 5 minutes yesterday in sacrament meeting, which was
super easy. I spoke on the joy of missionary work, and it really all
came naturally, which is good I guess! At least I know I'm enjoying
it. But I know that the thing that brings the joy is the spirit, and
knowing I have followed it. That is what President Monson has said is
the sweetest thing, to know you have received a prompting and followed
it, and seen that it has been the answer to someone's prayer or need.
I hope we can all do this more readily. Love you all!

Elder Janson

Us being dumb

Elder Green holding a mailboxes hand

Me as well

If this doesn't describe Elder Boam, nothin does. Haha he drives me crazy

February 22, 2016 First Week in Shiloh Park

Happy last week of February!

Wow that happened quick. Life is flying by and this week felt just
weird! Me and Elder Green get along so well I don't know how we get
anything done ever, but we did! Saturday Ruben got baptized, who Elder
Green and Elder Hastings taught here in Shiloh Park Ward. His wife is
a member and was thrilled to see him make this step. Elder Hastings
was my companion in Fairfield if you don't remember, so we skyped him
into the baptisms and that was fun. We also had a baptism yesterday
for Mitchell Bradley, in the picture, and that was amazing too. Much
of his family came who are not members and had a good experience. He
is friends with our Ward mission leaders family they are the best
fellowshippers! Don't underestimate your power as members! This week
we taught a lot of lessons as well and our goal is to go height next
week. We were pretty busy with transfers and such this week. I have no
clue how to be a zone leader and Elder Green jokes he doesn't
either... So it is an adventure haha. Our zone isn't very big though
so I hope we can all get close and have a good time! We have a trio of
Spanish sisters in our zone and let me tell you they work hard! They
are definite examples to us and don't mess around. You gotta love em!

So another highlight of this weekend was not only did two people get
baptized, Ruben also got confirmed, along with a married couple who
got baptized a week or two back but couldn't get confirmed yet. So we
had three confirmations in one sacrament meeting! Haven't seen that
much. I wonder why the heck I walked in to all of this activity but I
guess it is a good way to set the pace for the transfer. We were
laughing how we literally had 4 baptismal records in our pocket at
church, the most I've ever had for sure! Never filled out so many
baptismal records! We want to have another baptism this transfer.
Because of the MTC extending the normal time to three weeks, this
transfer will be 7 weeks, which I tell by experience feels SO LONG.
But seriously I don't how I got blessed to be with Elder Green, who
was in my MTC room and we literally have the same sense of humor, and
you all who know me know what that means. Nothing we say doesn't bring
a laugh. It is quite refreshing really. Helps with the stress! So I'm
glad to be with him.

Hope you all stay true to what you know and remember Christ in
everything you do, say, and be. I love you all!

Elder Janson

Sent from the eye of Mordor

Elder and sisters who left Vacaville, Didi, a member there is

obsessed with missionaries and takes us to eat a bunch haha

Sister Aguilar, my favorite sister ever who came out with me who is

dying this transfer :(. And Elder green my companion behind us. As you

can see we are similar

Mitchell Bradley, who got baptized yesterday, the second of two

baptisms this weekend!

Me and green baptizing for days!!

Sisters I served with in Eureka!

February 15, 2016 Transferred!

Hello family and friends!

Holy cow this week was ridiculous. We finished off the transfer with
the most lessons I've had here, and got a new investigator just
yesterday! He was referred by Breanna, the girl who is now YSA's
investigator. We randomly he walked by and she was at his house
outside talking to him and had us set up a time to see him. So we did!
He has almost no knowledge about God and Christ, his parents were both
very different religions. He wants to learn more and it's awesome!
Elder Waites and his new companion will teach him.

I am being transferred out of the Vacatrap! I was called to be a zone
leader in Santa Rosa, and I'm going to be with Elder Green! He's
literally like my favorite person ever! Hahaha we will have a blast
being zone leaders there. I'm going to go to church in the same
building as I did as a Greenie in Santa Rosa, Peterson Lane Ward. It
will be fun to serve in the same stake as I did then, I'm excited to
see people from there. I'm kinda scared to be a zone leader but I
think it will be alright. I've been a district leader too long haha.

This week we had more lesson than I've ever had in this area, about
17. It was a way solid week and the members help us a lot. I'm sad to
leave such a supportive ward, but I'm also ready to leave and move on.
For those in my family, you know my stupid humor, just imagine that
amplified and yah at is Elder Green, we get along almost too well
hahaha. Elder Green was in my MTC room and we had a blast then as
well. I'm ready to go to Rosa and do work! I'll let you know my
address soon.

Another piece of business. We can now be friends on Facebook, just as
long as I don't talk to you guys on Facebook. But it helps to follow
each other.

Thanks for all your support and love. Love you all!

Elder Janson