Dear people that I love,
This last week has definitely been up and down. But the last few days have been up and I think it will continue to be that way. So this last week was nuts! Everybody is probably annoyed with me saying that every week but when you live in The Bronx sometimes the only word you have to describe the things you see and the people you meet is.. Nuts.
Last P-day Elder Reynolds and I along with another companionship from our zone went bowling. I bowled over 100 both games so I felt accomplished. They had music playing in there. I heard music by some of my favorite artists like Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Counting Crows. I felt a little guilty that I loved hearing it so much.
Last week on Thursday our Bishop, Bishop Merkley and his wife had us over for dinner. They are a young couple from Utah and don't have any children. They are the best! He is seriously the coolest. He likes to skateboard and she is a singer that plays guitar. He is an awesome bishop and everyone throughout the mission knows who Bishop Merkley is.
The missionaries play something called "Bronx Soccer". In Bronx Soccer you try to kick a plastic bottle or wad of paper or whatever you can kick in between the legs of your companion as you walk. If you kick a pigeon in between your companion’s legs it's worth 10 points! Let the ghetto games begin!
On Sunday we found a man from our ward sitting in a pew after sacrament meeting crying. We went over to comfort him and he told us how he just found out his wife stopped believing in the church and she left him. He asked for a priesthood blessing and wept as we did our best to comfort him. Later that night we went to dinner at a member’s house who is from Benin, Africa. The husband found out he has an infection in his eye and might lose his sight. He asked for a blessing so we gave him one. We gave his wife a blessing as well because she was distraught about the fact that her husband might become blind.
This last week has definitely been up and down. But the last few days have been up and I think it will continue to be that way. So this last week was nuts! Everybody is probably annoyed with me saying that every week but when you live in The Bronx sometimes the only word you have to describe the things you see and the people you meet is.. Nuts.
Last P-day Elder Reynolds and I along with another companionship from our zone went bowling. I bowled over 100 both games so I felt accomplished. They had music playing in there. I heard music by some of my favorite artists like Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Counting Crows. I felt a little guilty that I loved hearing it so much.
Last week on Thursday our Bishop, Bishop Merkley and his wife had us over for dinner. They are a young couple from Utah and don't have any children. They are the best! He is seriously the coolest. He likes to skateboard and she is a singer that plays guitar. He is an awesome bishop and everyone throughout the mission knows who Bishop Merkley is.
The missionaries play something called "Bronx Soccer". In Bronx Soccer you try to kick a plastic bottle or wad of paper or whatever you can kick in between the legs of your companion as you walk. If you kick a pigeon in between your companion’s legs it's worth 10 points! Let the ghetto games begin!
On Sunday we found a man from our ward sitting in a pew after sacrament meeting crying. We went over to comfort him and he told us how he just found out his wife stopped believing in the church and she left him. He asked for a priesthood blessing and wept as we did our best to comfort him. Later that night we went to dinner at a member’s house who is from Benin, Africa. The husband found out he has an infection in his eye and might lose his sight. He asked for a blessing so we gave him one. We gave his wife a blessing as well because she was distraught about the fact that her husband might become blind.
Yesterday we went and taught our schizophrenic investigator. Usually when we go over there she rambles on about how she has seen God himself and he talks to her and he is actually a midget, or her and her boyfriend are arguing constantly about religion, or her little ADHD kid is running around screaming bouncing off the walls. Basically the Spirit is rarely, if ever, there. But yesterday we went in and she, along with her boyfriend and sister, were all there and calm and patient. They didn't argue and the Spirit was able to be there. The lesson went fantastic! After we taught, the sister told us how she found out she has a condition in her legs that has been caused by her diabetes and how she might have to amputate leg if it gets worse. We explained to her about our Priesthood and how we could give her a blessing. She desperately wanted one. We gave her a blessing as well. The Spirit was able to be there very strongly for the first time ever in that apartment.
I have gained a stronger testimony of the power of the Priesthood this last week. When you put it in action your testimony becomes stronger. I know that can apply to many things as well. It's like Bishop Bullington always told the youth, "If you want a testimony of prayer, pray. If you want a testimony of the scriptures, read your scriptures."
I'm starting to get in the rhythm of things as a missionary and am slowly but surely beginning to appreciate serving here in the Bronx. Slowly, but surely. I love all of you and am grateful for your support.
Elder Tyler J Johanson
Tyler's district
Kingsbridge Zone
Tyler is on the 2nd row, 3rd from the left.
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