Johnson, Ethan

Elder Naeini went home and Elder Sanford has been training his two boys, so our little media squad has shrunk to only three people. But, we continue to press forward, working as hard as ever–if not harder than ever. We’ve been working on an initiative this week to utilize media to bring people together and into face-to-face interaction, but also create an event where we can bring hope to Houston, Texas. Elder Phan has been heading that as I’ve continued to grind the videos that we’ve recorded into reels and short documentary testimonials. Our ads have been going crazy and we’ve developed a moderator response team to be able to properly care for each individual referral/message/comment that we get on our Spanish page, Vida Mejor Houston to ensure that each inspired “knock” on our door is able to become a physical knock on their door so that each interaction can be taught and have the opportunity to be taught–it’s going really well. This week has been a blur–as with each week ever since ...

I don’t think that I can ever get burnt out doing film. Just yesterday I filmed nine different members and their subsequent testimonies, concluding a week of filming something every single day. My filmmaking skills, which I feared I would lose, are improving exponentially. With the power of the Lord I am not only utilizing my talents to be an instrument in His hands, but improving upon my techniques and refining them. It’s crazy. It’s almost like God has made that promise to people before (King Benjamin moment). I got to spend the day in Katy, attending another Chinese branch for church, linking up with my MTC companion, Elder Madsen, and making my grand return to Sealy, interviewing Brother Turner. We also trained at every Zone Conference this week and little by little we are becoming President Garn’s five other assistants. Like, literally. And, as icing on the cake, I learned how to talk about Wong Kar-wai in Chinese (王佳伟) and talked to some Chinese members about him and his films ov...

I have some updates for you guys… 我是约翰长老. I have been reassigned to speak Mandarin and Vietnamese in the Houston Texas South Mission. Elder Naeini is teaching me everything he can before he leaves next week and after that I will be in a trio with Elder Scott and Elder Phan. I am now anh cả ảnh. It’s started off great, even going to my first Vietnamese baptism! It happened on August 10th for Cô Hằng and it was super, super special. Yesterday I was in the Sugar Land Chinese branch for church and it was super sick. The branch is so strong and the members are so amazing. I had the opportunity to film a family who had just recently become members of the church and their testimonies were so strong. Speaking of which, I have been filming so much this week. Just yesterday alone I filmed five videos of member testimonies–and in almost every language of the mission. Basically, I’m living the best life ever right now. We’ve also had a ton of things happen on top of all this. I am currently living...

We’ve been dubbed Seal Team 6 of the mission with President Garn as our fearless leader. We’ve also been called the Avengers, me being Iron Man, but that is to say that our efforts are starting to bring forth results. Our task is to bring about a great change in the mission culture in regards to media, and it's starting. After filming all day, editing all night (literally), and showing off a video we made to new missionaries, they are beyond excited for what media, referrals, and social media can bring. I’m so fortunate to be here, in this mission, at this exact moment and I can’t wait for what else is going to come to pass.  On top of grinding out content, we put one of our friends, Richard, on date for the end of August!!!! He is literally so elect, I love him so much. We found him my first Sunday here in Memorial and, after me being awake for over 24 hours, he is so ready to make that next step in his relationship with God. Like I can’t even begin to describe it, I just. I love ...