Dear Family,
This week was really great. As always, the first week of the transfer is filled with new experiences, meeting new people and getting to know your companion. Mine has been filled with that, and a whole lot more. This week we had the opportunity to go to Culiacan as a Mission. Well, actually everyone except for the Baja. In Culiacan we were able to play dodge ball, and really just have a day of relax this Thursday. When we played the Mexicans vs. the Foreigners, the odds were pretty bad. There was like 70 Mexicans and 30 Foreigners. It is okay though, because we played hard and came out Champions in the end. Then in the afternoon we had the chance to have a testimony devotional of the mission. There really was such an amazing Spirit there. We slept in a house in Humaya with 7 other Missionaries. Due to the amount of space allotted, I was resigned to sleep on the floor. After two good nights of sleeping on the floor, I have come back to Los Mochis with the resolve to keep sleeping on the floor. It really is quite fun. I have like 4 blankets for padding, and two others to keep warm, so don’t feel too bad for me. I am enjoying myself.
So, the more and more that I have thought about my return trip to Libertad, the more and more I have come the think that there must be something really special that I must do or experience here. I need to be alert, and keep my eyes out for all of the things that have been happening in these days. It really has brought back some great memories though. Hours and hours of contacting has really been great for my system. I really do enjoy it. But despite that, we really cannot do that much contacting, because it is not really considered using our time effectively.
Well, this week is awesome, I love being a missionary. I know this gospel is true. I do not have one doubt about that. I have seen it bless the lives of so many people, including my own life. I know that this really is the best investment of my time that I could do, ever. And when it is all over and done, and the dice have been rolled, I am the one who really comes out with more blessings than I could possibly ever imagine. I would not trade this time for anything. Our bishop said something yesterday that really stuck with me. He was talking to a mother who was about to send her son out on a mission. He said, "You send a young boy out to be a Missionary, and he comes back a Man, and a faithful Priesthood holder." I love this work, and I love my Savior. There is nothing more.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Friday, December 16, 2011
December 5, 2011
Dear Family,
Well, this past week was transfers! Woohoo. I believe that I told you how the last transfers were quite odd. Well these ones were even more so. Elder Rendòn was sent to La Paz in La Baja California Sur. He will be there during the following Christmas for sure! I, on the other hand, stay here in Los Mochis... I just change areas. I have moved BACK to Libertad. The same area where I started my mission. Talk about something out of the ordinary huh? Anyways, it will be interesting to see what this transfer has in store for Elder Allen and me. Our district consists of only Senior Companions. Elder Allan and I are both Senior companion. Elder Fernandez Paz and Elder Cardenas, and the Zone Leaders Elder Reyes and Elder Romero R. So yeah we are super excited.
Elder Allen, my new companion, is a great guy. He has one transfer more in the mission than me. So we are a couple of greenies right? It really brings back memories. Elder Allen is from Murray up in Utah. He just told me that out there you guys had some crazy winds. I sure hope that everyone is doing alright. He loves baseball, and football American. It will be really funny to see how this turns out, because I do not know the first thing about either of these two sports. In fact, I don’t even know where Murray is. South or North of Provo? That is the question.
So, the big question that Elder Rendòn and I had was “Who is going to be in Jardìn B?” Sister Missionaries. We have now realized that Elder Rendòn and I were just preparing the way for the Sisters to come in. We did all of the grunt work and didn´t even get to enjoy the benefits. I hope that all is going to be okay in that area. Some narcos (Mexican gangsters) trapped down a police truck this past Saturday and killed the officers. This happened right on the limits of our area. The whole town is on high alert. I have seen like 30 army and police vehicles patrolling the town in the past two days.
The Hna Elva really has been progressing after the death of her mother. She is excited for her baptism this 17th of December. Also, a boy named Giovanii is preparing for his baptism that same day. The area really has some untapped potential, and I wish those sister good luck. I have returned to my first little area.
Well, I love you all so much. This gospel is the greatest.
Love Elder Johnson
Well, this past week was transfers! Woohoo. I believe that I told you how the last transfers were quite odd. Well these ones were even more so. Elder Rendòn was sent to La Paz in La Baja California Sur. He will be there during the following Christmas for sure! I, on the other hand, stay here in Los Mochis... I just change areas. I have moved BACK to Libertad. The same area where I started my mission. Talk about something out of the ordinary huh? Anyways, it will be interesting to see what this transfer has in store for Elder Allen and me. Our district consists of only Senior Companions. Elder Allan and I are both Senior companion. Elder Fernandez Paz and Elder Cardenas, and the Zone Leaders Elder Reyes and Elder Romero R. So yeah we are super excited.
Elder Allen, my new companion, is a great guy. He has one transfer more in the mission than me. So we are a couple of greenies right? It really brings back memories. Elder Allen is from Murray up in Utah. He just told me that out there you guys had some crazy winds. I sure hope that everyone is doing alright. He loves baseball, and football American. It will be really funny to see how this turns out, because I do not know the first thing about either of these two sports. In fact, I don’t even know where Murray is. South or North of Provo? That is the question.
So, the big question that Elder Rendòn and I had was “Who is going to be in Jardìn B?” Sister Missionaries. We have now realized that Elder Rendòn and I were just preparing the way for the Sisters to come in. We did all of the grunt work and didn´t even get to enjoy the benefits. I hope that all is going to be okay in that area. Some narcos (Mexican gangsters) trapped down a police truck this past Saturday and killed the officers. This happened right on the limits of our area. The whole town is on high alert. I have seen like 30 army and police vehicles patrolling the town in the past two days.
The Hna Elva really has been progressing after the death of her mother. She is excited for her baptism this 17th of December. Also, a boy named Giovanii is preparing for his baptism that same day. The area really has some untapped potential, and I wish those sister good luck. I have returned to my first little area.
Well, I love you all so much. This gospel is the greatest.
Love Elder Johnson
November 28, 2011
Dear Family
I love you. Enough said.
Well happy Thanks Giving, Daddies Birthday! I sure hope that everyone enjoyed it. I sure was a little bit jealous, but not of the weather. I do not know how I could ever stand cold weather. Now that I have been down here for a while, I have begun to acclimatize (I do not know if that is a word, but bare with me) and I am shivering in the night. It is super crazy. Oh yeah! It rained like one day and all of the streets were filled with water because there is no drainage system here in Mochis! Yeah for muddy shoes with giant holes (do not worry Mother, I bought new shoes today).
So this week, Elder Rendòn and I have finished moving into the new house. It really has been a hassle. We have been working at this for the past five weeks and finally it is done. The house has a lot to be desired, but we will make do. I am guessing that with time, we will be able to find out why there miraculously and mysteriously appeared a small river on our floor. I am not kidding, were talking about like two inches of water here! But even if life sends us obstacles, we are going to go forth with faith. and a mop.
So, the biggest bummer of this week would be the fact that Hna Elva was not able to come with us to church this Sunday. It was really sad because her Mother had died this Wednesday, and she had to go and attend to things of the funeral, and she just was out of sorts. We are going to pray for miracles and give her a new baptismal date tomorrow. What she needs right now is the knowledge and joy that comes from living within the gospel, and we are the ones who are going to help her with that. Other than that, we have dropped just about all of our old investigators, and are starting from zero. It has been one of those new things that President has been trying for us. We’ll see how well it goes.
Also, we had interviews with President this past Tuesday! Yep, I am pretty sure that Pres. Cantu is basically the BEST and most AWESOME mission president in the world. He knows the answer to almost every question, and is super spiritual and practical. I just love the opportunities that we have to learn and receive guidance from President.
Also, Elder Rendòn sends his salutations. He was sick this past week, but is getting better. He had blisters on his feet that were the size of my thumb! Yep, that was a struggle!
I love you all once again, and I wish you all the best.
Elder Johnson
I love you. Enough said.
Well happy Thanks Giving, Daddies Birthday! I sure hope that everyone enjoyed it. I sure was a little bit jealous, but not of the weather. I do not know how I could ever stand cold weather. Now that I have been down here for a while, I have begun to acclimatize (I do not know if that is a word, but bare with me) and I am shivering in the night. It is super crazy. Oh yeah! It rained like one day and all of the streets were filled with water because there is no drainage system here in Mochis! Yeah for muddy shoes with giant holes (do not worry Mother, I bought new shoes today).
So this week, Elder Rendòn and I have finished moving into the new house. It really has been a hassle. We have been working at this for the past five weeks and finally it is done. The house has a lot to be desired, but we will make do. I am guessing that with time, we will be able to find out why there miraculously and mysteriously appeared a small river on our floor. I am not kidding, were talking about like two inches of water here! But even if life sends us obstacles, we are going to go forth with faith. and a mop.
So, the biggest bummer of this week would be the fact that Hna Elva was not able to come with us to church this Sunday. It was really sad because her Mother had died this Wednesday, and she had to go and attend to things of the funeral, and she just was out of sorts. We are going to pray for miracles and give her a new baptismal date tomorrow. What she needs right now is the knowledge and joy that comes from living within the gospel, and we are the ones who are going to help her with that. Other than that, we have dropped just about all of our old investigators, and are starting from zero. It has been one of those new things that President has been trying for us. We’ll see how well it goes.
Also, we had interviews with President this past Tuesday! Yep, I am pretty sure that Pres. Cantu is basically the BEST and most AWESOME mission president in the world. He knows the answer to almost every question, and is super spiritual and practical. I just love the opportunities that we have to learn and receive guidance from President.
Also, Elder Rendòn sends his salutations. He was sick this past week, but is getting better. He had blisters on his feet that were the size of my thumb! Yep, that was a struggle!
I love you all once again, and I wish you all the best.
Elder Johnson
November 21, 2011
Dear Family,
Hola! How has everything been doing? I sure hope that everything is as good as it is here in Los Mochis. I sure hope that you are all having a great time in Canada. Can you all believe that it has been a whole year since I came back from Hawaii! It is really super crazy how fast the time just flies. I am glad that I gave a good impression during my time in Hawaii, because I really enjoyed it. I have a few questions. Zach is going to Columbus Ohio? I think that is the same mission as Kyle. If so, I should tell him to keep his look out for a Elder Nielsen... haha
Well up-dates for the week... I guess, I should just warn you all that I am going to have to use the credit card a little bit for the next month or so, because you see,... I am just not that organized, and I lost the card of the mission. I think that there are little credit card stealing gnomes walking around, and they have taken a liking to stealing my cards. Oh, and by the way... I have no idea what is my pin number is. If you could look into that, I would be much obliged.
So yeah, Mexico is pretty great this time of year. The temperature has really backed down. Instead of 45-47 degrees (c° of course,.. In fact I have not heard the temperature in f° for 8 months!) it has been a pleasing 30-35. It is quite a pleasant change.
Well, this week has been really great. Elder Rendon and I were able to see many miracles according to our unity as a companionship. So we were able to give a really powerful lesson to a family of Menus Actives about having them go to church. Also we put a baptismal date for the Hna Elva, and her daughter. But one of the most neat experiences that I had was when we were teaching a lesson to a Maria Rosario Rocha. We were giving her a really blatant lesson trying to impress upon her the importance of being consistent in our worship of the Lord. After the lesson Elder Rendon pulled me aside, and he told me that at one point in the lesson when I was talking, the spirit was so strong and I was talking super clear and perfect. It really gave me an appreciation for the gift of tongues. Do not worry, since then I have returned to speaking my broken yet understandable Spanish, but it comforts me to think that these types of miracles really do take place nowadays.
I love you all so much. With each passing day, week and month, I gain more and more appreciation for the great opportunity and blessing that I have to serve this mission to the Lord. Our time is precious here on this earth. We had better be careful with the things that we decide to do with this great blessing, which is time. I will never have another chance in this life to dedicate all of my time and all of my efforts to Him to whom I owe everything. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Once again, I love you.
Love Elder Johnson
p.s. well something really hilarious took place while we were writing these letters. The owner of this internet business put on anti-mormon videos like fifteen minutes after we came in. haha it really is quite funny. We have such an impact on the people.
p.p.s. next week I will send some photos so you can see how short my companion is. I think he is like 5 feet 2 inches tall... !
Hola! How has everything been doing? I sure hope that everything is as good as it is here in Los Mochis. I sure hope that you are all having a great time in Canada. Can you all believe that it has been a whole year since I came back from Hawaii! It is really super crazy how fast the time just flies. I am glad that I gave a good impression during my time in Hawaii, because I really enjoyed it. I have a few questions. Zach is going to Columbus Ohio? I think that is the same mission as Kyle. If so, I should tell him to keep his look out for a Elder Nielsen... haha
Well up-dates for the week... I guess, I should just warn you all that I am going to have to use the credit card a little bit for the next month or so, because you see,... I am just not that organized, and I lost the card of the mission. I think that there are little credit card stealing gnomes walking around, and they have taken a liking to stealing my cards. Oh, and by the way... I have no idea what is my pin number is. If you could look into that, I would be much obliged.
So yeah, Mexico is pretty great this time of year. The temperature has really backed down. Instead of 45-47 degrees (c° of course,.. In fact I have not heard the temperature in f° for 8 months!) it has been a pleasing 30-35. It is quite a pleasant change.
Well, this week has been really great. Elder Rendon and I were able to see many miracles according to our unity as a companionship. So we were able to give a really powerful lesson to a family of Menus Actives about having them go to church. Also we put a baptismal date for the Hna Elva, and her daughter. But one of the most neat experiences that I had was when we were teaching a lesson to a Maria Rosario Rocha. We were giving her a really blatant lesson trying to impress upon her the importance of being consistent in our worship of the Lord. After the lesson Elder Rendon pulled me aside, and he told me that at one point in the lesson when I was talking, the spirit was so strong and I was talking super clear and perfect. It really gave me an appreciation for the gift of tongues. Do not worry, since then I have returned to speaking my broken yet understandable Spanish, but it comforts me to think that these types of miracles really do take place nowadays.
I love you all so much. With each passing day, week and month, I gain more and more appreciation for the great opportunity and blessing that I have to serve this mission to the Lord. Our time is precious here on this earth. We had better be careful with the things that we decide to do with this great blessing, which is time. I will never have another chance in this life to dedicate all of my time and all of my efforts to Him to whom I owe everything. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Once again, I love you.
Love Elder Johnson
p.s. well something really hilarious took place while we were writing these letters. The owner of this internet business put on anti-mormon videos like fifteen minutes after we came in. haha it really is quite funny. We have such an impact on the people.
p.p.s. next week I will send some photos so you can see how short my companion is. I think he is like 5 feet 2 inches tall... !
November 14, 2011
Dear Family,
This week has been really long but great. So, since the beginning of this transfer, we (Elder Rendon and I) have been trying to find a house to rent in our area. It has been quite difficult not to mention the fact that the house that we live in right now is not even in our area. Every day we have been walking from another area to our area just so that we can begin to work. It has gotten quite tiresome, and not to mention that it doesn´t really allow us to work real effectively. We have finally found a house, bought the furniture, and have fixed up the contract. Now, the only thing left to do is wait until the owner of the house cleans it up a bit, paints it and fixes a few things and then from there we will be good to go! This whole process has really eaten into our working time this week. We talked with the Hna Cantu, and she told us that she wanted this thing done as quickly as possible, and on our own. It was a great learning experience. I felt all grown up, trying to rent a house and all. Anyways, if everything goes well, we should be moved in by the end of this week, or by the start of the next week. Yipee!
Well, if you want to know something a little sad, I did not even realize that Thanksgiving was coming up! Crazy huh? The thing is, I am sure that in one week or so, there will be some sort of national holiday (I think) but I don’t even know if they celebrate Thanksgiving here in Mexico. That is great that you guys might be able to make it up to Canada for the Holidays. I am a little jealous. Maybe I will have to celebrate it down here with Elder Rendon and our District. We have SISTERS! in our district! Woohoo, it really is fun.
Well, as for me, life is great. We have some great people who are progressing like, Elva and her daughters Yicel and Nallely, Sylvia, Anabel, and of course our good old gangster friend Mario and his parents! All of these people really have some potential, and I just keep praying that they will keep on progressing.
I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I love the Lord and this Gospel. There ain't nothin better!
I love you all so much.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. thanks for the pictures of Jackie! I hardly even recognize her. She looks real grown up.
p.p.s. Benjamin.. Letters! ;)
p.p.s. Sorry it’s so short.
This week has been really long but great. So, since the beginning of this transfer, we (Elder Rendon and I) have been trying to find a house to rent in our area. It has been quite difficult not to mention the fact that the house that we live in right now is not even in our area. Every day we have been walking from another area to our area just so that we can begin to work. It has gotten quite tiresome, and not to mention that it doesn´t really allow us to work real effectively. We have finally found a house, bought the furniture, and have fixed up the contract. Now, the only thing left to do is wait until the owner of the house cleans it up a bit, paints it and fixes a few things and then from there we will be good to go! This whole process has really eaten into our working time this week. We talked with the Hna Cantu, and she told us that she wanted this thing done as quickly as possible, and on our own. It was a great learning experience. I felt all grown up, trying to rent a house and all. Anyways, if everything goes well, we should be moved in by the end of this week, or by the start of the next week. Yipee!
Well, if you want to know something a little sad, I did not even realize that Thanksgiving was coming up! Crazy huh? The thing is, I am sure that in one week or so, there will be some sort of national holiday (I think) but I don’t even know if they celebrate Thanksgiving here in Mexico. That is great that you guys might be able to make it up to Canada for the Holidays. I am a little jealous. Maybe I will have to celebrate it down here with Elder Rendon and our District. We have SISTERS! in our district! Woohoo, it really is fun.
Well, as for me, life is great. We have some great people who are progressing like, Elva and her daughters Yicel and Nallely, Sylvia, Anabel, and of course our good old gangster friend Mario and his parents! All of these people really have some potential, and I just keep praying that they will keep on progressing.
I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I love the Lord and this Gospel. There ain't nothin better!
I love you all so much.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. thanks for the pictures of Jackie! I hardly even recognize her. She looks real grown up.
p.p.s. Benjamin.. Letters! ;)
p.p.s. Sorry it’s so short.
November 5, 2011
Hello Family!
This week was a "once in a mission" week. (though I hope that we will continue having weeks like these) First off, thank you all soo soo much for the package for my birthday. I really enjoyed everything, especially the SPAM! Woohoo! Everything was great, and the tie is super awesome (and clean). By the way, do not worry about last week, but I really was enjoying myself writing about flying fish. It didn’t have anything to do with drugs.... haha
Anyways, this week, first of all, I completed my twentieth birthday. It was great. I got wet. I guess there is some kind of "tradition" here in Mexico that says that you have to get the birthday kid wet. My companions took this way too literally. They unloaded a 5 gallon bucket over my head!
Other than that, this week has been a real faith promoting week. We (Elder Rendon and I) did not have very many lessons this week, and so we were pretty bummed out about that, but we had like 4 really powerful experiences espirituales. I will tell you about some of them. This Wednesday, as we were walking home at 8:20 in the night, we heard someone calling to us. We started to head over, because my companion (who is short) could not see them, and he wanted to see who it was. As it turns out, they were a group of thugs who were drinking. I wanted to turn around, and walk away, but we did not. We walked right up to them, began to talk to them. It was really strange, because we could literally feel that they had bad intentions with us, and that they were up to no good. There was 5 of them, and 2 of us, and they formed a circle around us. But we just started talking to them, getting to know them. (the whole time trying to keep our cool). As we began to teach and testify to them, we could literally feel the atmosphere, and ambient change. They lost their aggressive stances, and began to ask real question. It was really great, and at the end they allotted us a time in which we could return to visit with them. Then we left. So yeah, by now we are freaking out, because we felt like we just narrowly escaped with our lives... (a little exaggeration) but it gets better. We went to visit them yesterday to check up on them, and see how they were doing. We found one of them, had a powerful lesson, and committed him (Mario) to be baptized. HE ACCEPTED! Yep.. it was great.
Also, another of these faith promoting experiences happened yesterday. We were down in lessons the whole week, and we felt a little down. When we got to Sunday, we went to Hna Sylvia's house to help her so that she could go to the church. She went, and not only her, but she brought her whole family! Than when we got to the church, another two couples came to church. We had a total of SEVEN investigators in the church. I have not had that many since I was in my very first transfer with Elder Cope. It really was a great blessing that God had granted us to receive.
Well, I must be going now, because we have a Family Home Evening with Sylvia in one hour, and we must prepare!
I love you all so much. The church is true. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a missionary. God allows me to receive blessings and see miracle that I could not even imagine.
Love Elder Johnson
This week was a "once in a mission" week. (though I hope that we will continue having weeks like these) First off, thank you all soo soo much for the package for my birthday. I really enjoyed everything, especially the SPAM! Woohoo! Everything was great, and the tie is super awesome (and clean). By the way, do not worry about last week, but I really was enjoying myself writing about flying fish. It didn’t have anything to do with drugs.... haha
Anyways, this week, first of all, I completed my twentieth birthday. It was great. I got wet. I guess there is some kind of "tradition" here in Mexico that says that you have to get the birthday kid wet. My companions took this way too literally. They unloaded a 5 gallon bucket over my head!
Other than that, this week has been a real faith promoting week. We (Elder Rendon and I) did not have very many lessons this week, and so we were pretty bummed out about that, but we had like 4 really powerful experiences espirituales. I will tell you about some of them. This Wednesday, as we were walking home at 8:20 in the night, we heard someone calling to us. We started to head over, because my companion (who is short) could not see them, and he wanted to see who it was. As it turns out, they were a group of thugs who were drinking. I wanted to turn around, and walk away, but we did not. We walked right up to them, began to talk to them. It was really strange, because we could literally feel that they had bad intentions with us, and that they were up to no good. There was 5 of them, and 2 of us, and they formed a circle around us. But we just started talking to them, getting to know them. (the whole time trying to keep our cool). As we began to teach and testify to them, we could literally feel the atmosphere, and ambient change. They lost their aggressive stances, and began to ask real question. It was really great, and at the end they allotted us a time in which we could return to visit with them. Then we left. So yeah, by now we are freaking out, because we felt like we just narrowly escaped with our lives... (a little exaggeration) but it gets better. We went to visit them yesterday to check up on them, and see how they were doing. We found one of them, had a powerful lesson, and committed him (Mario) to be baptized. HE ACCEPTED! Yep.. it was great.
Also, another of these faith promoting experiences happened yesterday. We were down in lessons the whole week, and we felt a little down. When we got to Sunday, we went to Hna Sylvia's house to help her so that she could go to the church. She went, and not only her, but she brought her whole family! Than when we got to the church, another two couples came to church. We had a total of SEVEN investigators in the church. I have not had that many since I was in my very first transfer with Elder Cope. It really was a great blessing that God had granted us to receive.
Well, I must be going now, because we have a Family Home Evening with Sylvia in one hour, and we must prepare!
I love you all so much. The church is true. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a missionary. God allows me to receive blessings and see miracle that I could not even imagine.
Love Elder Johnson
October 31, 2011
My Dear Family,
Hello from México! Another bright and shiny week has passed down here in the beautiful country of México. I must tell you all about it.
The last letter that I was able to write to you, I was a little shook up.... Like a fish out of water. But someone took the fish out of the water and gave it wings. With these wings, and a lot of help, the fish started to make his first attempts in the world of air and wind. At first it was a little bumpy, a little awkward trying to get the tail and the fins and the wings to all work together, but in the end... the fish did fly. Then there was a cat. Now some of you might say; "Wait? Fish can't fly!" or "Why didn't the fish learn to walk first and then fly?" and others would be saying "What happened with the cat?" and "What does this fish/bird and cat have do with the week of Elder Johnson?". All of these questions would be appropriate to ask. Just don't ask me! 'cause I dunno.
Well, this week was a lot of fun. I will not lie to you. Elder Rendon and I really just click together. He is a little, short, Méxican from Vera Cruz and just a bundle of fun. (I'm not kidding when I say that Jace would be tall in comparison to him) He has six months out in the mission and really is spiritual kinda guy. He works really hard and has the mindset that the harder we work, the better results we will receive. I am super okay with that. Our area is super awesome. It has got to be the best area in the whole mission. There is like 2000 members in this area, and 300! are active. It is so great that they are planning on building a new stake-center. They already have the land bought. So we really have our work cut out for us. Basically we are driving the reference truck. We have been going to all of the members houses and asked for references, and are seeing a bunch of results from this. So far we have two people lined up for baptism in these coming weeks. Not too bad for opening up the area. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still so much more untapped potential. I really cannot explain how excited I am for this change.
So yeah, other than just "rocking out" the area and having a blast not too much else has been happening. Ooo, I got bit by a dog! Yeah, it was really quite a story. And it turns into an even more fantastic story when you listen to Elder Rendon tell it. They way he tells it, I sound like some sort of Super-Hero. We were just walking down the street, Elder Rendon and I, when this dog started barking up-ahead of us. Well, we just kept walking, and as we closed to the dog, Elder Rendon started to move off to the side, out of the line-of-fire. (as it turns out, this was the better choice) I, on the other hand, chose to walk straight and pay no heed to the barking dog. When I passed the dog, IT BIT ME! (imagine that,.. barking dogs really do bite) I just kept walking. After a few moments Elder Rendon asked me "did that dog bite you"
I said, "yep"
he said, "I don't believe you, show me", so then I showed him, and my knee was bleeding and I had this hole in my pants. Elder Rendon was in awe because the dog had bit me, and I just kept walking as if nothing had happened. (You have to take into account that the dog was like almost as big as Elder Rendon, so it figures that he was a little shook up)
I hope you enjoyed my letter, because I sure enjoyed writing it. I love you all, and I pray for you always.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie I love you like ALOT!
p.p.s. So if it wouldn't cost toooooooo much could you send dried fruit? Is that too much to ask? Really I would be super happy if I just received a letter filled with dried fruit. PLEASE! :)
Hello from México! Another bright and shiny week has passed down here in the beautiful country of México. I must tell you all about it.
The last letter that I was able to write to you, I was a little shook up.... Like a fish out of water. But someone took the fish out of the water and gave it wings. With these wings, and a lot of help, the fish started to make his first attempts in the world of air and wind. At first it was a little bumpy, a little awkward trying to get the tail and the fins and the wings to all work together, but in the end... the fish did fly. Then there was a cat. Now some of you might say; "Wait? Fish can't fly!" or "Why didn't the fish learn to walk first and then fly?" and others would be saying "What happened with the cat?" and "What does this fish/bird and cat have do with the week of Elder Johnson?". All of these questions would be appropriate to ask. Just don't ask me! 'cause I dunno.
Well, this week was a lot of fun. I will not lie to you. Elder Rendon and I really just click together. He is a little, short, Méxican from Vera Cruz and just a bundle of fun. (I'm not kidding when I say that Jace would be tall in comparison to him) He has six months out in the mission and really is spiritual kinda guy. He works really hard and has the mindset that the harder we work, the better results we will receive. I am super okay with that. Our area is super awesome. It has got to be the best area in the whole mission. There is like 2000 members in this area, and 300! are active. It is so great that they are planning on building a new stake-center. They already have the land bought. So we really have our work cut out for us. Basically we are driving the reference truck. We have been going to all of the members houses and asked for references, and are seeing a bunch of results from this. So far we have two people lined up for baptism in these coming weeks. Not too bad for opening up the area. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still so much more untapped potential. I really cannot explain how excited I am for this change.
So yeah, other than just "rocking out" the area and having a blast not too much else has been happening. Ooo, I got bit by a dog! Yeah, it was really quite a story. And it turns into an even more fantastic story when you listen to Elder Rendon tell it. They way he tells it, I sound like some sort of Super-Hero. We were just walking down the street, Elder Rendon and I, when this dog started barking up-ahead of us. Well, we just kept walking, and as we closed to the dog, Elder Rendon started to move off to the side, out of the line-of-fire. (as it turns out, this was the better choice) I, on the other hand, chose to walk straight and pay no heed to the barking dog. When I passed the dog, IT BIT ME! (imagine that,.. barking dogs really do bite) I just kept walking. After a few moments Elder Rendon asked me "did that dog bite you"
I said, "yep"
he said, "I don't believe you, show me", so then I showed him, and my knee was bleeding and I had this hole in my pants. Elder Rendon was in awe because the dog had bit me, and I just kept walking as if nothing had happened. (You have to take into account that the dog was like almost as big as Elder Rendon, so it figures that he was a little shook up)
I hope you enjoyed my letter, because I sure enjoyed writing it. I love you all, and I pray for you always.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie I love you like ALOT!
p.p.s. So if it wouldn't cost toooooooo much could you send dried fruit? Is that too much to ask? Really I would be super happy if I just received a letter filled with dried fruit. PLEASE! :)
October 24, 2011
Wow!
Well, I am still trying to get centered around what has just happened in the last 48 hours of my life. Here, I will give you a little taste of what has been happening.
Cambios! Elder Johnson has left San Jose. Do you want to know what else? I have returned to Los Mochis.... hmmm... haha Would you like to know more? President thinks that I should be Senior companion. My companion is Elder Rendon (the shortest Elder in the whole mission!). Oooo, wait, there is soo much more. Elder Tingey, who was my District Leader in San Jose, and has been in the same ward as me for 4 1/2 months, has come with me. Here. To Los Mochis. With me. He is now the District Leader here, and we are still in the same ward. In fact we are living all in the same house. That never happens. And if all of these changes were not enough, they just told me like four hours ago that I am opening an area. That means that they took the last two missionaries out of the area, and they are putting Elder Rendon and I in this area. Woohoo. Well, just to imagine that like 48 hours ago I was the Jr. Companion, and my life was stress free.
There is only one thing to do. I must start praying as of right now. Not as if I have not been praying, but for some reason I really was not expecting this, and I really feel inadequate. I am just going on faith right now, because I really do not know what I am doing. Okay, it is not that bad, but my Spanish still is lacking quite a bit. The only thing that I know is that if we put our trust in the Lord, and always strive to do His will, we will be all right.
Well, seeing as how I was on a plane and on a bus for the whole day, I really do not have that much time write. Technically, my Day of Preparation is over.
I love you all so much. You mean the world to me. This mission means the world to me. I love my Savior Jesus Christ.
Con Cariño y muchisimo Amor,
Elder Johnson
Well, I am still trying to get centered around what has just happened in the last 48 hours of my life. Here, I will give you a little taste of what has been happening.
Cambios! Elder Johnson has left San Jose. Do you want to know what else? I have returned to Los Mochis.... hmmm... haha Would you like to know more? President thinks that I should be Senior companion. My companion is Elder Rendon (the shortest Elder in the whole mission!). Oooo, wait, there is soo much more. Elder Tingey, who was my District Leader in San Jose, and has been in the same ward as me for 4 1/2 months, has come with me. Here. To Los Mochis. With me. He is now the District Leader here, and we are still in the same ward. In fact we are living all in the same house. That never happens. And if all of these changes were not enough, they just told me like four hours ago that I am opening an area. That means that they took the last two missionaries out of the area, and they are putting Elder Rendon and I in this area. Woohoo. Well, just to imagine that like 48 hours ago I was the Jr. Companion, and my life was stress free.
There is only one thing to do. I must start praying as of right now. Not as if I have not been praying, but for some reason I really was not expecting this, and I really feel inadequate. I am just going on faith right now, because I really do not know what I am doing. Okay, it is not that bad, but my Spanish still is lacking quite a bit. The only thing that I know is that if we put our trust in the Lord, and always strive to do His will, we will be all right.
Well, seeing as how I was on a plane and on a bus for the whole day, I really do not have that much time write. Technically, my Day of Preparation is over.
I love you all so much. You mean the world to me. This mission means the world to me. I love my Savior Jesus Christ.
Con Cariño y muchisimo Amor,
Elder Johnson
October 17, 2011
My Family,
We have officially started the last week of the transfer. I feel like I just started this transfer with Elder Hernandez. My Zone Leader said something that really stuck with me. "The time flies when you are working hard." I guess that really is so true. You get so caught up in the things that are happening, and trying to reach your goals, and helping the people that you just lose track of where the time goes. We have been pretty busy, and I have not put in too much effort to write in my journal this transfer. I should probably work on that.
Well, that is really great that Zach and Sy received their calls. They will do great out in the field. And Alex comes home next week? What? Has it really been two years? I really cannot believe how fast it just flies by. It is definitely a unique experience. For every person, it is different. It just depends on the attitude that you have. That is really applicable to life. If you have a good attitude and you trust in the Lord, things will just work out. Probably one of the best things that I have learned in my time here so far would be to SMILE. I never thought of myself as a unhappy person, I just did not express to many true emotions. But I really have come to realize how much our appearance affects other people. If we, as missionaries, have a smile on our face, and a good attitude, the people recognize that, and they feel the need to find out why we are so happy. Gospel means good news right? So if we are bringing this "good news" to the people, shouldn’t we show it? (go ahead, you can say it,... I am pretty smart sometimes) haha
Well, yesterday I had the opportunity to give a talk in sacrament meeting, again. (this is now the third talk I have given in this ward) And this time they left me for last! Woohoo! It was really fun. As you can imagine, giving talks never has been my strong point, and then adding in the language factor, it is quite the experience. All in all, it is not as bad as it sounds. My Spanish was not perfect, but then again, the people understood me, so at the end of the day, it is okay. (that rhymed) I talked about receiving personal revelation, and how it is vital on our journey to Eternal Life. I ended up speaking for like 15 minutes. (which by the way is a record for me)
So we have had many opportunities to try our faith this week. We were not able to find very many new people, and those who we did find did not go to the church. We had a very awkward experience this week to. We were teaching the Family of the Hermana Alma, and at the end of the lesson, her husband offered to give us a ride to our house. He stopped the car a block or too away, and just started to spill everything out. All of his problems, all of his mistakes and all of his sins. He was looking to us for answers, and solutions. We were able to comfort and teach him. After this experience, I that I thought for a while about what would have inspired a full grown man, like 45 years old, to confide in two 19 year old boys. God has a plan for each and every one of his children, and through the spirit he guides them to us. It has not been the first time that odd things have happened. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the phrase "I do not know why I let you guys in, I never let anyone in my house".
Well, this gospel is true. I love it. and I love you all. I pray for you every day, and I hope that everything is going well for you.
With Love,
Elder Johnson
We have officially started the last week of the transfer. I feel like I just started this transfer with Elder Hernandez. My Zone Leader said something that really stuck with me. "The time flies when you are working hard." I guess that really is so true. You get so caught up in the things that are happening, and trying to reach your goals, and helping the people that you just lose track of where the time goes. We have been pretty busy, and I have not put in too much effort to write in my journal this transfer. I should probably work on that.
Well, that is really great that Zach and Sy received their calls. They will do great out in the field. And Alex comes home next week? What? Has it really been two years? I really cannot believe how fast it just flies by. It is definitely a unique experience. For every person, it is different. It just depends on the attitude that you have. That is really applicable to life. If you have a good attitude and you trust in the Lord, things will just work out. Probably one of the best things that I have learned in my time here so far would be to SMILE. I never thought of myself as a unhappy person, I just did not express to many true emotions. But I really have come to realize how much our appearance affects other people. If we, as missionaries, have a smile on our face, and a good attitude, the people recognize that, and they feel the need to find out why we are so happy. Gospel means good news right? So if we are bringing this "good news" to the people, shouldn’t we show it? (go ahead, you can say it,... I am pretty smart sometimes) haha
Well, yesterday I had the opportunity to give a talk in sacrament meeting, again. (this is now the third talk I have given in this ward) And this time they left me for last! Woohoo! It was really fun. As you can imagine, giving talks never has been my strong point, and then adding in the language factor, it is quite the experience. All in all, it is not as bad as it sounds. My Spanish was not perfect, but then again, the people understood me, so at the end of the day, it is okay. (that rhymed) I talked about receiving personal revelation, and how it is vital on our journey to Eternal Life. I ended up speaking for like 15 minutes. (which by the way is a record for me)
So we have had many opportunities to try our faith this week. We were not able to find very many new people, and those who we did find did not go to the church. We had a very awkward experience this week to. We were teaching the Family of the Hermana Alma, and at the end of the lesson, her husband offered to give us a ride to our house. He stopped the car a block or too away, and just started to spill everything out. All of his problems, all of his mistakes and all of his sins. He was looking to us for answers, and solutions. We were able to comfort and teach him. After this experience, I that I thought for a while about what would have inspired a full grown man, like 45 years old, to confide in two 19 year old boys. God has a plan for each and every one of his children, and through the spirit he guides them to us. It has not been the first time that odd things have happened. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the phrase "I do not know why I let you guys in, I never let anyone in my house".
Well, this gospel is true. I love it. and I love you all. I pray for you every day, and I hope that everything is going well for you.
With Love,
Elder Johnson
October 10, 2011
Dear Family,
Thank you so much for the letter. It is always good to hear from home. If there ever was something that we never lacked in the house, it would have to be reading material. There was always a plethora of choices and options. I on the other hand have had to make do with the Ensign, Jesus the Christ, Our Heritage, and a few other books (scriptures included). Don´t feel too bad, I really enjoy them. That is really wonderful that Dad received a permanent job. A scripture that is found in D&C (121 I think) comes to mind where it says that every blessing comes on account of the commandment that it was based. It is like you said, the Lord is waiting to bless us when we put forth the effort and obey his commandments.
Well, as for me and my week,...
One of the things that really comes to mind when I think about the activities of this week would be the fact that I ate a Habanero pepper. Yep. That is right. For all of you who do not know what this pepper is like, well I´ll tell you. It is hot. After eating this small pepper I then spent the next half hour of my life dowsing my mouth with water, limes, and everything else that I could get my hands on. I felt like crying, but I could not for the fact that all of my tears were leaving my body in the form of saliva. Sorry, that was a bit graphic, but it really affected me.
Also, we finally fixed up the bikes that we have in our area. Just about everything that could go wrong with a bike, went wrong with mine. But it is okay, because they work now, and I really enjoy using them. They really are a blessing, because we have a part in our area where we do not usually go because it is so far away, but now we can bike there in a half hour. The only thing is, my legs are hating me. You´d think "hey, I´m a runner, I can do this easy". NOT. I have never been so sore in my entire mission. But I love it.
We got the opportunity to baptize as a District this past Saturday. We baptized a nice Sister in our area whose name is Alma Jimenez Lancon, and the other Elders baptized the daughter off a non active family. It was a great baptismal service. And at the end, the lady we baptized stood up and basically told her children that they should get baptized too, because it was such a wonderful experience. We have been teaching the whole family, but the mom was the only one who could be baptized because the others have not been able to go to the church, and her husband drinks a LOT of beer. He is a great guy though. He helped me fix my bike this week. It kind of broke while we were riding, and we stopped by, and he was like "here, let me take a look at that" and he just fixed it. Also, Alma has a daughter, Gabi, who is seventeen years old, she has two children, and to top it all off, she has been married since she was 13. Sometimes the world is just so crazy. Jackie is going to turn 12 this December right?
Well, I love you all, and I am so so super grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I love the Lord, and I love you all.
Love, Elder Johnson
Thank you so much for the letter. It is always good to hear from home. If there ever was something that we never lacked in the house, it would have to be reading material. There was always a plethora of choices and options. I on the other hand have had to make do with the Ensign, Jesus the Christ, Our Heritage, and a few other books (scriptures included). Don´t feel too bad, I really enjoy them. That is really wonderful that Dad received a permanent job. A scripture that is found in D&C (121 I think) comes to mind where it says that every blessing comes on account of the commandment that it was based. It is like you said, the Lord is waiting to bless us when we put forth the effort and obey his commandments.
Well, as for me and my week,...
One of the things that really comes to mind when I think about the activities of this week would be the fact that I ate a Habanero pepper. Yep. That is right. For all of you who do not know what this pepper is like, well I´ll tell you. It is hot. After eating this small pepper I then spent the next half hour of my life dowsing my mouth with water, limes, and everything else that I could get my hands on. I felt like crying, but I could not for the fact that all of my tears were leaving my body in the form of saliva. Sorry, that was a bit graphic, but it really affected me.
Also, we finally fixed up the bikes that we have in our area. Just about everything that could go wrong with a bike, went wrong with mine. But it is okay, because they work now, and I really enjoy using them. They really are a blessing, because we have a part in our area where we do not usually go because it is so far away, but now we can bike there in a half hour. The only thing is, my legs are hating me. You´d think "hey, I´m a runner, I can do this easy". NOT. I have never been so sore in my entire mission. But I love it.
We got the opportunity to baptize as a District this past Saturday. We baptized a nice Sister in our area whose name is Alma Jimenez Lancon, and the other Elders baptized the daughter off a non active family. It was a great baptismal service. And at the end, the lady we baptized stood up and basically told her children that they should get baptized too, because it was such a wonderful experience. We have been teaching the whole family, but the mom was the only one who could be baptized because the others have not been able to go to the church, and her husband drinks a LOT of beer. He is a great guy though. He helped me fix my bike this week. It kind of broke while we were riding, and we stopped by, and he was like "here, let me take a look at that" and he just fixed it. Also, Alma has a daughter, Gabi, who is seventeen years old, she has two children, and to top it all off, she has been married since she was 13. Sometimes the world is just so crazy. Jackie is going to turn 12 this December right?
Well, I love you all, and I am so so super grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I love the Lord, and I love you all.
Love, Elder Johnson
October 3, 2011
My Beloved Family,
Well, I sure enjoyed the letter. I sure got a laugh at the part where the guys dumped the rocks in the canal. When will they ever learn that a CANAL is not a RIVER. What makes this even funnier is that I didn´t make that connection until embarrassingly late in my life. It is too bad about the Priesthood Session, though I really couldn´t tell you, because I was not able to make it either. You see, it was presented all the way in San Lucas, which is kind of far away. Elder Hernandez and I decided it would be better to stay in the area and work. WAIT!!!... Tabernacle as a Temple? When did this happen, and why did I not hear about this? Oh wait, conference right? Yeah, we were only able to assist the two sessions on Sunday. Flooded the house again? I guess that you´ll be pro at cleaning it up really soon. There is a phrase "you can´t teach an old dog new tricks"... or something like that. That would be really cool if they built a Temple in Star Valley. We have an Elder Sessions in our mission who is from there. Great Guy.
Well, this week was filled so full with experiences, that I doubt that I will be able to tell you everything in the time allotted, especially because I can´t really type that great to begin with.
Well, we had the opportunity to do divisions for one day this week! I stayed in my area with the Leader of District Elder Tingey. We really had a blast. It was quite an interesting day, because we had about 5 appointments with various people, but 3 of them fell through. It was quite sad, but it gave us room to actually receive inspiration for the area. We visited some old investigators, and invited just about all of San Jose to the Conferences
By the way, General Conference, way super amazingly awesome. I really just love hearing the prophet, and the apostles, and everyone! I always come away from it edified, and with a passion to be a better and more spiritual missionary. They are great leaders, and I really look up to them. (FYI, I was able to understand everything that was said in conference!) I also celebrated 6 months in Mexico, because my first Sunday in Mexico was General Conference. Really fast right?
I also had an experience very singular this Saturday. I will give you what is written in my Journal, because from memory I won´t do the account justice.
"October 1, 2011
Right now I am feeling a profound sadness. There are so many emotions swirling around in my chest right now, it is difficult to breath. August 10 I met Hna Mayra Meza. Truly a chosen daughter of God. Never had I met a person more prepared and ready to receive the Gospel. When we met her almost two months ago, she related some experiences that had passed in her life. In fact, we arrived at a very critical moment in her life. She had suffered from an unfaithful husband for two years, and when she finally separated with him, he stayed in Acapulco with her 4 year old daughter, and she came here to live in San Jose. In these days, she was really depressed, and she told us very clearly that she felt something different when we dropped by. (obviously it was the spirit) As we began to visit and teach her, it was so easy to have compassion, and understand how she felt. I could literally see my desire change as the weeks passed. It went from trying to teach her and lead her to baptism, to really feeling the desire to help her improve her life through receiving those blessings that can only come through the Gospel. Well, everything was going by just as normal today, and when we passed by the house of Hna Marya Maza, the door was shut and it looked like no one was home. We decided to call her and remind her about the General Conference tomorrow. My companion called and I wasn´t really paying attention to what he said, when all of a sudden he handed me the phone and said that she wanted to talk with me. I greeted her, and then she began talking really fast as if she was holding back tears or something. She said that she was going to go tomorrow, and then she just started to thank me for everything that I had done for her, telling me how much it had all meant to her, and then CLICK. Nothing. I did not really understand what had just happened. I thought that what she had meant when she said that she was going to go, meant that she was going to go to Conference. My companion then explained to me that she had bought her plane ticket and everything, and that she leaves tomorrow. I feel remorse, regret and sadness. A profound sadness that I don´t think that I have ever felt before. It all just happened so fast and without a warning what so ever. We even had a Family Home Evening planned for her this coming Monday. What could I have done? I guess the only thing I can do now is get a hold of her new address and send it to the missionaries in Acapulco as a reference. No regrets huh?"
Well, I was really feeling down, and that definitely is not a good place to be as a missionary. The next day I was able to go to conference, and it really helped to alleviate the sadness.
I love you all so much, and I am sure that God has a plan prepared for each and every one of his precious children. All of us, as disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, have the responsibility to be examples in every place and at all times. I know that this Gospel is true, and with that knowledge comes the deep burning desire to share it with every person. We are are children of our Father in Heaven. We all deserve a second chance. Jesus has told us that he did not come to preach repentance unto the righteous, but to the sinners. We all have things that we can improve in our lives, and I know that our Father in Heaven is waiting for us to take the first step in this change, and then he will swamp us with blessings.
Love your son,
Elder Johnson
p.s. don´t worry about me, I can´t think of anything is specific that I would want. A calendar for 2012 would be cool. Other than that, I dunno. Surprise me!
p.p.s. I love you so SO much Jackie. You are the bestest little sister a Guy could ever want! Take care of Mom and Dad, and remind them that the Pork Roast is always better with stewed tomatoes...
Well, I sure enjoyed the letter. I sure got a laugh at the part where the guys dumped the rocks in the canal. When will they ever learn that a CANAL is not a RIVER. What makes this even funnier is that I didn´t make that connection until embarrassingly late in my life. It is too bad about the Priesthood Session, though I really couldn´t tell you, because I was not able to make it either. You see, it was presented all the way in San Lucas, which is kind of far away. Elder Hernandez and I decided it would be better to stay in the area and work. WAIT!!!... Tabernacle as a Temple? When did this happen, and why did I not hear about this? Oh wait, conference right? Yeah, we were only able to assist the two sessions on Sunday. Flooded the house again? I guess that you´ll be pro at cleaning it up really soon. There is a phrase "you can´t teach an old dog new tricks"... or something like that. That would be really cool if they built a Temple in Star Valley. We have an Elder Sessions in our mission who is from there. Great Guy.
Well, this week was filled so full with experiences, that I doubt that I will be able to tell you everything in the time allotted, especially because I can´t really type that great to begin with.
Well, we had the opportunity to do divisions for one day this week! I stayed in my area with the Leader of District Elder Tingey. We really had a blast. It was quite an interesting day, because we had about 5 appointments with various people, but 3 of them fell through. It was quite sad, but it gave us room to actually receive inspiration for the area. We visited some old investigators, and invited just about all of San Jose to the Conferences
By the way, General Conference, way super amazingly awesome. I really just love hearing the prophet, and the apostles, and everyone! I always come away from it edified, and with a passion to be a better and more spiritual missionary. They are great leaders, and I really look up to them. (FYI, I was able to understand everything that was said in conference!) I also celebrated 6 months in Mexico, because my first Sunday in Mexico was General Conference. Really fast right?
I also had an experience very singular this Saturday. I will give you what is written in my Journal, because from memory I won´t do the account justice.
"October 1, 2011
Right now I am feeling a profound sadness. There are so many emotions swirling around in my chest right now, it is difficult to breath. August 10 I met Hna Mayra Meza. Truly a chosen daughter of God. Never had I met a person more prepared and ready to receive the Gospel. When we met her almost two months ago, she related some experiences that had passed in her life. In fact, we arrived at a very critical moment in her life. She had suffered from an unfaithful husband for two years, and when she finally separated with him, he stayed in Acapulco with her 4 year old daughter, and she came here to live in San Jose. In these days, she was really depressed, and she told us very clearly that she felt something different when we dropped by. (obviously it was the spirit) As we began to visit and teach her, it was so easy to have compassion, and understand how she felt. I could literally see my desire change as the weeks passed. It went from trying to teach her and lead her to baptism, to really feeling the desire to help her improve her life through receiving those blessings that can only come through the Gospel. Well, everything was going by just as normal today, and when we passed by the house of Hna Marya Maza, the door was shut and it looked like no one was home. We decided to call her and remind her about the General Conference tomorrow. My companion called and I wasn´t really paying attention to what he said, when all of a sudden he handed me the phone and said that she wanted to talk with me. I greeted her, and then she began talking really fast as if she was holding back tears or something. She said that she was going to go tomorrow, and then she just started to thank me for everything that I had done for her, telling me how much it had all meant to her, and then CLICK. Nothing. I did not really understand what had just happened. I thought that what she had meant when she said that she was going to go, meant that she was going to go to Conference. My companion then explained to me that she had bought her plane ticket and everything, and that she leaves tomorrow. I feel remorse, regret and sadness. A profound sadness that I don´t think that I have ever felt before. It all just happened so fast and without a warning what so ever. We even had a Family Home Evening planned for her this coming Monday. What could I have done? I guess the only thing I can do now is get a hold of her new address and send it to the missionaries in Acapulco as a reference. No regrets huh?"
Well, I was really feeling down, and that definitely is not a good place to be as a missionary. The next day I was able to go to conference, and it really helped to alleviate the sadness.
I love you all so much, and I am sure that God has a plan prepared for each and every one of his precious children. All of us, as disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, have the responsibility to be examples in every place and at all times. I know that this Gospel is true, and with that knowledge comes the deep burning desire to share it with every person. We are are children of our Father in Heaven. We all deserve a second chance. Jesus has told us that he did not come to preach repentance unto the righteous, but to the sinners. We all have things that we can improve in our lives, and I know that our Father in Heaven is waiting for us to take the first step in this change, and then he will swamp us with blessings.
Love your son,
Elder Johnson
p.s. don´t worry about me, I can´t think of anything is specific that I would want. A calendar for 2012 would be cool. Other than that, I dunno. Surprise me!
p.p.s. I love you so SO much Jackie. You are the bestest little sister a Guy could ever want! Take care of Mom and Dad, and remind them that the Pork Roast is always better with stewed tomatoes...
September 26, 2011
Dear Family,
How is everything doing back at home? I sure hope that everything is great. Wow, I am more than just a little bit jealous about those peach pancake breakfast. It is that time of year again I guess. As for what I eat, it never changes no matter what time of year. There is always some type of meat, and some tortillas and salsa. Everyd ay. And the funny part is that I am not even joking. I have thought about it, and I don’t know how I am going to eat without those tortillas when I return. It will be quite different. Oh, and another thing. Everyone and their dog drinks coke here. It could be considered a food group. The good news is that I have developed some sort of allergic reaction to soda of all sorts. (or that is at least what I tell the wonderful Hermanas who feed us. Hey! it is cheaper right?)
Jackie has started choir!!! Wow, I am sooo excited for her. I look back now, and I really should have stuck with it, because I really do enjoy singing. I am so sure that she will just have a fantastic time with that.
Well, as for my clothes, everything is good so far. My shirts are looking a little bit yellow, but what can you expect. My shoes on the other hand..... well I shall have to tell you the story. So when I came out here to the Baja, I took a decision that I would only bring one pair of shoes with me. (Bad choice on my part) Well, as it turns out, those 30 dollar shoes from Burlington’s made it a whole seven months. But about a month ago, they broke. It is not too bad. Only a little hole. The problem is, me and my companion are walking around broke. So, I decided that I would just use them until they fell apart completely. Great Idea Right? Wrong. Yesterday in church Hno Suarez, President of the quorum of the Elders, pulled me aside. At first I that that I was in trouble, because he was kind of serious. He then proceeded to offer to buy me some shoes. I felt super bad. I finally convinced him that I was wearing them broken because I wanted to. It was really funny, and a little bit awkward. But I do not want you all worrying about that because I have come up with a plan. I am going to save some money and buy a new pair.... by Christmas.
Well we had a surprise visit by President this week..... Or at least it was a surprise to me. I feel like the rest of the world knew that he was coming but me. Sometimes I can be a bit oblivious. It was really great. He talked with us about obedience, and the importance it is for us to seek revelation for our areas. Also we had some activities with answering hard questions with the scriptures. It really opened my eyes to the fact that I need to focus my studies in this area for a while. But in all, It was a great conference.
I was going to tell you about a super awesome investigator that we have, named Jacobo. I guess I will just leave you all in suspense till next week, because time is short and I still have to write President.
General Conference. Super Excited.
I love you all so much.
Elder Johnson
p.s. it has been a while since I have included Spanish in my letters.
Mi querido Familia. Solo quiero decirles que les amo. Estoy muy MUY agradecido por este oportunidad que tengo para servir a mi Padre Celestial. Gracias por su ayuda y apollo. Se que este evangelio es real, y que Jesucristo es mi Salvador. El nos conoce como ningun otro hombre puede, y todavia nos ama. Siguen adelante y con animos!
How is everything doing back at home? I sure hope that everything is great. Wow, I am more than just a little bit jealous about those peach pancake breakfast. It is that time of year again I guess. As for what I eat, it never changes no matter what time of year. There is always some type of meat, and some tortillas and salsa. Everyd ay. And the funny part is that I am not even joking. I have thought about it, and I don’t know how I am going to eat without those tortillas when I return. It will be quite different. Oh, and another thing. Everyone and their dog drinks coke here. It could be considered a food group. The good news is that I have developed some sort of allergic reaction to soda of all sorts. (or that is at least what I tell the wonderful Hermanas who feed us. Hey! it is cheaper right?)
Jackie has started choir!!! Wow, I am sooo excited for her. I look back now, and I really should have stuck with it, because I really do enjoy singing. I am so sure that she will just have a fantastic time with that.
Well, as for my clothes, everything is good so far. My shirts are looking a little bit yellow, but what can you expect. My shoes on the other hand..... well I shall have to tell you the story. So when I came out here to the Baja, I took a decision that I would only bring one pair of shoes with me. (Bad choice on my part) Well, as it turns out, those 30 dollar shoes from Burlington’s made it a whole seven months. But about a month ago, they broke. It is not too bad. Only a little hole. The problem is, me and my companion are walking around broke. So, I decided that I would just use them until they fell apart completely. Great Idea Right? Wrong. Yesterday in church Hno Suarez, President of the quorum of the Elders, pulled me aside. At first I that that I was in trouble, because he was kind of serious. He then proceeded to offer to buy me some shoes. I felt super bad. I finally convinced him that I was wearing them broken because I wanted to. It was really funny, and a little bit awkward. But I do not want you all worrying about that because I have come up with a plan. I am going to save some money and buy a new pair.... by Christmas.
Well we had a surprise visit by President this week..... Or at least it was a surprise to me. I feel like the rest of the world knew that he was coming but me. Sometimes I can be a bit oblivious. It was really great. He talked with us about obedience, and the importance it is for us to seek revelation for our areas. Also we had some activities with answering hard questions with the scriptures. It really opened my eyes to the fact that I need to focus my studies in this area for a while. But in all, It was a great conference.
I was going to tell you about a super awesome investigator that we have, named Jacobo. I guess I will just leave you all in suspense till next week, because time is short and I still have to write President.
General Conference. Super Excited.
I love you all so much.
Elder Johnson
p.s. it has been a while since I have included Spanish in my letters.
Mi querido Familia. Solo quiero decirles que les amo. Estoy muy MUY agradecido por este oportunidad que tengo para servir a mi Padre Celestial. Gracias por su ayuda y apollo. Se que este evangelio es real, y que Jesucristo es mi Salvador. El nos conoce como ningun otro hombre puede, y todavia nos ama. Siguen adelante y con animos!
September 19, 2011
Dear my beloved Family,
True or False, commandment number 6 states that thou shalt not kill. True. Ahhhhh I am sinnning! Do not worry, he died quickly and it was painless. We both shed a few tears. I have now started this transfer with E. Hernandez. It is going great. We are so much alike it is kinda scary. We both have the same attitude, and do things in the same way too. In truth, I am really excited for these coming weeks.
Well, to answer your questions... Well Elder Johnson and the weather have been getting along great. I never would have believed that I could enjoy the heat, but it is quite refreshing. (Well sometimes... yesterday we had to walk to the house of the Hna. Vega after church, IN OUR SUITES! yeah, it gets a little hot sometimes) All those years of cold and snow, and here I am! As for being one of the crowd... It’s never going to happen. My companion talked about this the other day. First, I am a white gringo (americano) Second, I am a little bit tall (which means I could be a giant to some of these Mexicanos) and Third, we are misioneros. All of these things equal one thing. I stick out of the crowd. I have accustomed to the fact that everywhere I go, and everything I do, someone is watching. And to tell you the truth I don’t know in which language I think. It is more like I have ideas, and then I use the language to piece together my thought.
The people are different, just like everyone else. One of the major problems here is the drugs and alcohol. It does not matter who you are or what you do, everyone in this country has been affected in some way or another by these destructive substances. From problems in the family to the big drug cartels and everywhere in between. It is a people who, despite all of this, has been prepared to receive the message of the gospel. It is such a great opportunity that we have to be able to serve the Lord in this place at this time.
Well, as for the events of the week,.. Everything was great. In the first part of the week we were working on getting the cell phone fixed up, because someone... (your truly) dropped it in the water and it broke a little bit. But everything is okay, we got it all fixed up, and it only cost about 100 pesos. (9 dollars) Also we had to get back to the house early Thursday because it was the Independence Holiday, and "everybody and their dog" goes out and parties and drinks. It is a little sketchy for missionaries. Atras de eso, everything has been going great, we are still working with Mayra Meza, and have been working to find new people.
Well I love you all so much, and I hope that everything is going great at home. I am a little saddened that I am missing the peach pancake breakfasts, but oh well that is life right? I love you all so so much, and I pray for you always.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. thank you so much for forwarding me the letters from Benjamin. I really enjoyed reading about what is happening with him. He sounds like he is so happy and on fire.
True or False, commandment number 6 states that thou shalt not kill. True. Ahhhhh I am sinnning! Do not worry, he died quickly and it was painless. We both shed a few tears. I have now started this transfer with E. Hernandez. It is going great. We are so much alike it is kinda scary. We both have the same attitude, and do things in the same way too. In truth, I am really excited for these coming weeks.
Well, to answer your questions... Well Elder Johnson and the weather have been getting along great. I never would have believed that I could enjoy the heat, but it is quite refreshing. (Well sometimes... yesterday we had to walk to the house of the Hna. Vega after church, IN OUR SUITES! yeah, it gets a little hot sometimes) All those years of cold and snow, and here I am! As for being one of the crowd... It’s never going to happen. My companion talked about this the other day. First, I am a white gringo (americano) Second, I am a little bit tall (which means I could be a giant to some of these Mexicanos) and Third, we are misioneros. All of these things equal one thing. I stick out of the crowd. I have accustomed to the fact that everywhere I go, and everything I do, someone is watching. And to tell you the truth I don’t know in which language I think. It is more like I have ideas, and then I use the language to piece together my thought.
The people are different, just like everyone else. One of the major problems here is the drugs and alcohol. It does not matter who you are or what you do, everyone in this country has been affected in some way or another by these destructive substances. From problems in the family to the big drug cartels and everywhere in between. It is a people who, despite all of this, has been prepared to receive the message of the gospel. It is such a great opportunity that we have to be able to serve the Lord in this place at this time.
Well, as for the events of the week,.. Everything was great. In the first part of the week we were working on getting the cell phone fixed up, because someone... (your truly) dropped it in the water and it broke a little bit. But everything is okay, we got it all fixed up, and it only cost about 100 pesos. (9 dollars) Also we had to get back to the house early Thursday because it was the Independence Holiday, and "everybody and their dog" goes out and parties and drinks. It is a little sketchy for missionaries. Atras de eso, everything has been going great, we are still working with Mayra Meza, and have been working to find new people.
Well I love you all so much, and I hope that everything is going great at home. I am a little saddened that I am missing the peach pancake breakfasts, but oh well that is life right? I love you all so so much, and I pray for you always.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. thank you so much for forwarding me the letters from Benjamin. I really enjoyed reading about what is happening with him. He sounds like he is so happy and on fire.
September 12, 2011
Well Hello amado familia mio!
This week really was one of a kind. I had the opportunity to kill my companion... it’s a phrase that is used here in the mission. It is to say that he ended his mission and went home. It really was a great transfer. I learned tons of things. and yes, do not worry about my Spanish. It is coming along... slowly. I can understand everything, and I can basically communicate everything that I need to, but I definitely am far from fluent. I have made a goal for this transfer,.. I will study the language for the first time since I have been in Mexico! Yep, same old Elder Johnson, I just really never have had a taste for studying. And also I am going to trust that the Lord really does bless us missionaries with the gift of tongues! But Hey! I have been writing in my journal in Spanish for the past 4 months. I think that that has helped.
So yeah, transfers were today! I will stay here in San Jose 2b for another transfer.... as junior companion. Yeahhhhhh.
Elder Hernandez is my companion. He seems like a great guy. He does not talk much, but neither do I so it work out great. Oh, and some other news about the transfers. Elder Tingey in our ward (other area) was made Leader of our District. That is way super awesome. We fall great together. (Spanish Grammer)
Well, as for your questions, my eye is now better. More or less. I still put drops in about twice a week. and I love this area. The members are great, and there are tons of people who are ready to receive this gospel. The Zone Conference is in San Lucas. We take a bus for about an hour. In fact I went there yesterday so that I could drop off my companion at 4:30 in the morning. We slept in the house of the Leaders of the Zone, and I was the lucky one who got to sleep on the floor... again! haha
Well, other than this, life has been about the same. It’s hot, the days are long, and there is lots to do. The work is alive and real. I love you all, and wish you well.
Love,
Elder Johnson
This week really was one of a kind. I had the opportunity to kill my companion... it’s a phrase that is used here in the mission. It is to say that he ended his mission and went home. It really was a great transfer. I learned tons of things. and yes, do not worry about my Spanish. It is coming along... slowly. I can understand everything, and I can basically communicate everything that I need to, but I definitely am far from fluent. I have made a goal for this transfer,.. I will study the language for the first time since I have been in Mexico! Yep, same old Elder Johnson, I just really never have had a taste for studying. And also I am going to trust that the Lord really does bless us missionaries with the gift of tongues! But Hey! I have been writing in my journal in Spanish for the past 4 months. I think that that has helped.
So yeah, transfers were today! I will stay here in San Jose 2b for another transfer.... as junior companion. Yeahhhhhh.
Elder Hernandez is my companion. He seems like a great guy. He does not talk much, but neither do I so it work out great. Oh, and some other news about the transfers. Elder Tingey in our ward (other area) was made Leader of our District. That is way super awesome. We fall great together. (Spanish Grammer)
Well, as for your questions, my eye is now better. More or less. I still put drops in about twice a week. and I love this area. The members are great, and there are tons of people who are ready to receive this gospel. The Zone Conference is in San Lucas. We take a bus for about an hour. In fact I went there yesterday so that I could drop off my companion at 4:30 in the morning. We slept in the house of the Leaders of the Zone, and I was the lucky one who got to sleep on the floor... again! haha
Well, other than this, life has been about the same. It’s hot, the days are long, and there is lots to do. The work is alive and real. I love you all, and wish you well.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
September 5, 2011
Hello Family!!!
Well, I was super excited to hear from you all. That really is fantastic that Grandpa y Grandma Johnson could show up for a couple of days. I have looked back on those opportunities that I have had to be able to work side by side, building with Grandpa and learning how to cook with Grandma, and I will cherish those experiences for my whole life.
Well, we have now officially started the last week of Elder Rovaldis Mission. He has been counting the days for about two weeks now. It really is kind of funny. Now, but in all honesty, I have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives. Especially for my companion, giving him these last few experiences, that he will take with him for the rest of his life. After having worked so diligently in the work of Señor, he is now being blessed greatly.
We had a miracle this past week. (well actually we have them quite often... haha) So we had the amazing opportunity to baptize Noe Torres! I has so happy you could not believe. This really is the first step in changing the rest of his life, and we helped give him the opportunity to realize his true potential. I know that the Lord is preparing a way for each and every one of his children. He knows them and loves them on a level that we cannot possibly understand. If we, the missionaries (but this applies to everyone), live up to our fullest potential, obeying the commandments and living in accordance with the Holy Ghost, then the Lord will be able to manipulate and use us for the welfare of others, and in turn we will be built up in the process. If we really understand this, and turn ourselves over to the Lord, he will make us 762348900.03 times more effective.(this number has not been exaggerated or made up, but has been taken from statistics...or something like that) You get the point.
Well, other than that we are still praying for and working with Myra Mesa. She did not come to the church this Sunday. That was a bummer. But we are really excited, and trust that the Lord will provide the means whereby she can make these choices.
We had a Junta de Zona today! Yeah! It was really great. I learned much. But as always, the part more important is that I need to apply what I have learned in my life and in my teaching. I think that there is a saying that goes like this "The difference between wisdom and knowledge is... Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge". Or something like that. Who knows I could be making it up. And we played soccer as a Zone!!!!!!!!!!! Yaaay! I do not know if you all know it, but I LOVE soccer. I found out something really strange today when we played. We were playing really well at the beginning, but we could not beat anyone for some reason. Then about half way through I was put in Goalie (which I really hate... I am scared of the ball or something) and we started to win. We won five games in a row, which was more than any other team. I do not think this was due to my super Goalie skills, but was more due to that fact that I am a little bit of a ball hog, and not a team player. Do not worry, this story applies to mission and life. The mission is a team effort. The family is a team effort. Life in general is a team effort. Everything is a team effort. If we go at something alone, we will never achieve our goal. God gave us families to help us make it through this life.
To conclude my epistle, I would just like to tell you all that I love you. I pray and care for each and every one of you.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Well, I was super excited to hear from you all. That really is fantastic that Grandpa y Grandma Johnson could show up for a couple of days. I have looked back on those opportunities that I have had to be able to work side by side, building with Grandpa and learning how to cook with Grandma, and I will cherish those experiences for my whole life.
Well, we have now officially started the last week of Elder Rovaldis Mission. He has been counting the days for about two weeks now. It really is kind of funny. Now, but in all honesty, I have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives. Especially for my companion, giving him these last few experiences, that he will take with him for the rest of his life. After having worked so diligently in the work of Señor, he is now being blessed greatly.
We had a miracle this past week. (well actually we have them quite often... haha) So we had the amazing opportunity to baptize Noe Torres! I has so happy you could not believe. This really is the first step in changing the rest of his life, and we helped give him the opportunity to realize his true potential. I know that the Lord is preparing a way for each and every one of his children. He knows them and loves them on a level that we cannot possibly understand. If we, the missionaries (but this applies to everyone), live up to our fullest potential, obeying the commandments and living in accordance with the Holy Ghost, then the Lord will be able to manipulate and use us for the welfare of others, and in turn we will be built up in the process. If we really understand this, and turn ourselves over to the Lord, he will make us 762348900.03 times more effective.(this number has not been exaggerated or made up, but has been taken from statistics...or something like that) You get the point.
Well, other than that we are still praying for and working with Myra Mesa. She did not come to the church this Sunday. That was a bummer. But we are really excited, and trust that the Lord will provide the means whereby she can make these choices.
We had a Junta de Zona today! Yeah! It was really great. I learned much. But as always, the part more important is that I need to apply what I have learned in my life and in my teaching. I think that there is a saying that goes like this "The difference between wisdom and knowledge is... Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge". Or something like that. Who knows I could be making it up. And we played soccer as a Zone!!!!!!!!!!! Yaaay! I do not know if you all know it, but I LOVE soccer. I found out something really strange today when we played. We were playing really well at the beginning, but we could not beat anyone for some reason. Then about half way through I was put in Goalie (which I really hate... I am scared of the ball or something) and we started to win. We won five games in a row, which was more than any other team. I do not think this was due to my super Goalie skills, but was more due to that fact that I am a little bit of a ball hog, and not a team player. Do not worry, this story applies to mission and life. The mission is a team effort. The family is a team effort. Life in general is a team effort. Everything is a team effort. If we go at something alone, we will never achieve our goal. God gave us families to help us make it through this life.
To conclude my epistle, I would just like to tell you all that I love you. I pray and care for each and every one of you.
Love,
Elder Johnson
August 29, 2011
Dear Family,
Thank you so much. I really enjoyed hearing about how things are going back at home. The truth is, even if I don´t want it to, life is passing by for everyone, not just me. Haha Sometimes my remarkable wisdom even surprises me.
Anyways as for me, life has been pretty tough this last week. Well to start off with, we had two baptisms planned for this past Saturday. They both fell. It is not that bad though. Noe Torres really just did not have the time to be able to be baptized and so he will definitely be being baptized for this coming Saturday! As for Myra Mesa, that is a whole different story all together. So we were doing divisions with the other missionaries in our area this past Wednesday, and so I was working in our area with Elder Tingey (really cool guy who is from Las Vegas). We were teaching Myra Mesa, and we had a super powerful spiritual lesson with her. Then right after wed left, those Testigos de Jehova showed up. (More commonly known as T-Jays or in other words Jehovah’s Witnesses) This is a common occurrence here in Mexico. Almost all of them go out and do "missionary" work. Their "preaching" to Myra consisted of saying a whole bunch of nasty things about us, and saying that we were from the devil, and that she was a bad person for even giving the time to listen to us. It wouldn´t be so bad, but they planted doubts in her mind, and now she questions everything. She was very confused. We had a good lesson with her after, and I really hope that she understood what we were getting at. We stressed greatly on the importance of prayer, and how if she wants to know the truth, she needs to ask someone who knows. Obviously we are humans, and so is everyone else. This means that we could be lying to her. But if she would put forth the effort and ask God, she would know for herself the truth of ALL things. We are going to have a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with her tonight in the house of the Hno. Alfaro with some other members who are really cool. I hope that everything goes well with her, and that she will be able to exercise her faith and be baptized. We will see.
Other than that, we have been doing pretty good. The food is great! Mexico is great! The weather is super hot! (well sometimes,... this week we had mostly clouds, so we didn´t get much sun, but it was still really humid) My companion is super! This area is magnificent! My Mission President is the best in the whole world hands down! We really have seen miracles in this transfer. There are two weeks left, and then Elder Rovaldi goes off for home. It really is crazy how fast these past few weeks have flown by.
Well, I must be going now. I love you all so much, and I pray for you all often.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Thank you so much. I really enjoyed hearing about how things are going back at home. The truth is, even if I don´t want it to, life is passing by for everyone, not just me. Haha Sometimes my remarkable wisdom even surprises me.
Anyways as for me, life has been pretty tough this last week. Well to start off with, we had two baptisms planned for this past Saturday. They both fell. It is not that bad though. Noe Torres really just did not have the time to be able to be baptized and so he will definitely be being baptized for this coming Saturday! As for Myra Mesa, that is a whole different story all together. So we were doing divisions with the other missionaries in our area this past Wednesday, and so I was working in our area with Elder Tingey (really cool guy who is from Las Vegas). We were teaching Myra Mesa, and we had a super powerful spiritual lesson with her. Then right after wed left, those Testigos de Jehova showed up. (More commonly known as T-Jays or in other words Jehovah’s Witnesses) This is a common occurrence here in Mexico. Almost all of them go out and do "missionary" work. Their "preaching" to Myra consisted of saying a whole bunch of nasty things about us, and saying that we were from the devil, and that she was a bad person for even giving the time to listen to us. It wouldn´t be so bad, but they planted doubts in her mind, and now she questions everything. She was very confused. We had a good lesson with her after, and I really hope that she understood what we were getting at. We stressed greatly on the importance of prayer, and how if she wants to know the truth, she needs to ask someone who knows. Obviously we are humans, and so is everyone else. This means that we could be lying to her. But if she would put forth the effort and ask God, she would know for herself the truth of ALL things. We are going to have a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with her tonight in the house of the Hno. Alfaro with some other members who are really cool. I hope that everything goes well with her, and that she will be able to exercise her faith and be baptized. We will see.
Other than that, we have been doing pretty good. The food is great! Mexico is great! The weather is super hot! (well sometimes,... this week we had mostly clouds, so we didn´t get much sun, but it was still really humid) My companion is super! This area is magnificent! My Mission President is the best in the whole world hands down! We really have seen miracles in this transfer. There are two weeks left, and then Elder Rovaldi goes off for home. It really is crazy how fast these past few weeks have flown by.
Well, I must be going now. I love you all so much, and I pray for you all often.
Love,
Elder Johnson
August 22, 2011
Dear Family,
Well this week was so great. It sounds like things are busy as usual at home. The pasture is fenced in white? This is something that I have always wanted to see. I guess that I will just have to wait to see that. That is too bad about the neighbors. Well, the side of the house will be a job and a half. But once it is all cleaned up, it will look so great. Jackie learned how to ride a bike!!! Por Fin!!!! I knew that she could do it, if she put her mind to it. I guess all she needed was a more patient teacher, like Kelsey. haha
Well, this week was superb. We have been initiating a new system of finding references from the members. It really has helped with the work. I will not lie, it is a lot more fun (not to mention effective) receiving references. We had a great District Meeting today. We learned that the Lord is preparing the people in our areas, and one of the most effective ways for us to find them is by receiving references. President Cantú told us in an e-mail that in two days, our Mission had received 600 references. That is so many people and families.
Well, for this Saturday we have two baptisms planned for us, and two for the other missionaries in our ward. If all goes well Noe Torres and Myra Mesa are going to be baptized. I really am so excited for them. I know that this really will change their lives. I have already seen the progress that they have made. We have been working with Noe Torres for a while. He decided to investigate the church because of his girlfriend. That was great, because he has a support system. And already we have seen the change in Myra. She is more happy, and really has a lot more confidence in herself, and in us. This really is great. I sure hope that everything goes well for this week. Also, this week is so important for us because in this week we need to find and start preparing the people who will baptize in the last week of the transfer. That is the way it should be anyways.
Well, I am so glad for this opportunity that I have to be out here on a mission. I am so glad that you are all supporting me in this endeavor. It really has helped me learn and grow in more ways than I could have possibly imagined. I know that this church is true. This gospel holds the keys of salvation, and through it we can return to our loving Heavenly Father. It was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. All of this is made possible through our Lord and Redeemer Jesucristo.
Love Elder Johnson
Well this week was so great. It sounds like things are busy as usual at home. The pasture is fenced in white? This is something that I have always wanted to see. I guess that I will just have to wait to see that. That is too bad about the neighbors. Well, the side of the house will be a job and a half. But once it is all cleaned up, it will look so great. Jackie learned how to ride a bike!!! Por Fin!!!! I knew that she could do it, if she put her mind to it. I guess all she needed was a more patient teacher, like Kelsey. haha
Well, this week was superb. We have been initiating a new system of finding references from the members. It really has helped with the work. I will not lie, it is a lot more fun (not to mention effective) receiving references. We had a great District Meeting today. We learned that the Lord is preparing the people in our areas, and one of the most effective ways for us to find them is by receiving references. President Cantú told us in an e-mail that in two days, our Mission had received 600 references. That is so many people and families.
Well, for this Saturday we have two baptisms planned for us, and two for the other missionaries in our ward. If all goes well Noe Torres and Myra Mesa are going to be baptized. I really am so excited for them. I know that this really will change their lives. I have already seen the progress that they have made. We have been working with Noe Torres for a while. He decided to investigate the church because of his girlfriend. That was great, because he has a support system. And already we have seen the change in Myra. She is more happy, and really has a lot more confidence in herself, and in us. This really is great. I sure hope that everything goes well for this week. Also, this week is so important for us because in this week we need to find and start preparing the people who will baptize in the last week of the transfer. That is the way it should be anyways.
Well, I am so glad for this opportunity that I have to be out here on a mission. I am so glad that you are all supporting me in this endeavor. It really has helped me learn and grow in more ways than I could have possibly imagined. I know that this church is true. This gospel holds the keys of salvation, and through it we can return to our loving Heavenly Father. It was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. All of this is made possible through our Lord and Redeemer Jesucristo.
Love Elder Johnson
August 15, 2011
Dear Family,
Well, it was so good to hear from you this past week. It sounds like there is a lot going on at home. That is great that people have decided to move into the other house. At least it will get a little use, and not just sit empty. Is Jackie just soooo excited to be starting the 6th grade. She is now one of the BIG kids of the school. Good Luck.
Well, as for me, the weeks fly by. I cannot believe how fast the time goes, I still feel so green out here in the field, and I realized that I have like 5 months here in Mexico.
Well, you want some details about my life? It is great here in San Jose 2b. My companion Elder Rovaldi is really a great guy. He always has a smile and a joke to tell. It really helps to lift the mood. There is a lot of heat here and the sun is really strong, but we have something special here in the Baja that is not in Sinaloa. A breeze! So the heat is not so bad. The church is about three kilometers away from where we live. It is the area of the other Elders. The house is fine. We do not have a million cucarachas, but if we leave the windows open to take down the heat, a cat enters and eats all of our good food! It leaves all of the granola, and only eats the cereal. So yeah, when we return to the house in the night it is like walking into a oven.
Well, the big news for this week is an investigator who we found. Her name is Myra Mesa. She is twenty and has been living here in the baja alone for about 4 months. She has a four year old daughter who lives back in Mexico with her mom. She moved here to get away from her boyfriend. He manipulated her, and was not true to her. So she really felt alone and really sad. We were walking down the street, not really contacting, just looking. Then we decided to try this one house. When we showed up at her door, Myra answered and she told us to come right on in. We taught her, and the lesson was AWESOME! She came to church, and her experience with that was a miracle in itself. She was walking around lost, and had no idea how to get there. Then by coincidence some other missionaries of the other ward found her, and helped her to the church. It was great. We taught her after church yesterday to resolve some of her doubts, and she confided in us that two days before she met us she had prayed that she could alleviate from the pain that she felt. She told us that when she saw us, she was just filled with happiness. And in the church she felt so good that she did not want it to end. My testimony has grown so much this past week while working with Myra. I know that there are people who are being prepared by our Father in Heaven, and if we are obedient, and follow the Spirit, we will be able to find them. There were too many "coincidences" with Myra that it is impossible to think that we were just that lucky. Our Father in Heaven was providing a way for Myra to hear this gospel. She accepted a baptismal date for the 27 of August. We will see how that goes.
Well, other than that, I think that life has not changed much. I just want you to know that I love you all so very much, and I pray for you always. I know that our Father in Heaven cares about our family.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Well, it was so good to hear from you this past week. It sounds like there is a lot going on at home. That is great that people have decided to move into the other house. At least it will get a little use, and not just sit empty. Is Jackie just soooo excited to be starting the 6th grade. She is now one of the BIG kids of the school. Good Luck.
Well, as for me, the weeks fly by. I cannot believe how fast the time goes, I still feel so green out here in the field, and I realized that I have like 5 months here in Mexico.
Well, you want some details about my life? It is great here in San Jose 2b. My companion Elder Rovaldi is really a great guy. He always has a smile and a joke to tell. It really helps to lift the mood. There is a lot of heat here and the sun is really strong, but we have something special here in the Baja that is not in Sinaloa. A breeze! So the heat is not so bad. The church is about three kilometers away from where we live. It is the area of the other Elders. The house is fine. We do not have a million cucarachas, but if we leave the windows open to take down the heat, a cat enters and eats all of our good food! It leaves all of the granola, and only eats the cereal. So yeah, when we return to the house in the night it is like walking into a oven.
Well, the big news for this week is an investigator who we found. Her name is Myra Mesa. She is twenty and has been living here in the baja alone for about 4 months. She has a four year old daughter who lives back in Mexico with her mom. She moved here to get away from her boyfriend. He manipulated her, and was not true to her. So she really felt alone and really sad. We were walking down the street, not really contacting, just looking. Then we decided to try this one house. When we showed up at her door, Myra answered and she told us to come right on in. We taught her, and the lesson was AWESOME! She came to church, and her experience with that was a miracle in itself. She was walking around lost, and had no idea how to get there. Then by coincidence some other missionaries of the other ward found her, and helped her to the church. It was great. We taught her after church yesterday to resolve some of her doubts, and she confided in us that two days before she met us she had prayed that she could alleviate from the pain that she felt. She told us that when she saw us, she was just filled with happiness. And in the church she felt so good that she did not want it to end. My testimony has grown so much this past week while working with Myra. I know that there are people who are being prepared by our Father in Heaven, and if we are obedient, and follow the Spirit, we will be able to find them. There were too many "coincidences" with Myra that it is impossible to think that we were just that lucky. Our Father in Heaven was providing a way for Myra to hear this gospel. She accepted a baptismal date for the 27 of August. We will see how that goes.
Well, other than that, I think that life has not changed much. I just want you to know that I love you all so very much, and I pray for you always. I know that our Father in Heaven cares about our family.
Love,
Elder Johnson
August 8, 2011
Dear Family
How has been the first week of August? Is it not just amazing how fast the summer just flew by. I can hardly believe that we are in August. I sure hope that everything is just going fantastic back at home.
Well, this week was really amazing. So, this past Saturday, we were going to baptize one of our investigators named Raul. Raul is the last member of a part member family who has not been baptized, so we were really really excited. Saturday came, and Raul did not. We were left waiting in the church for an hour waiting for him to show up. He never did. Life went on, and we went about our work, but I will not lie to you, I was really depressed. We had spent so much time, and commitment into helping Raul take these steps in his life, and he did not show up. And on top of that, we were fasting. All in all, I was in a foul mood. I had a bunch of hunger and thirst, and on top of it all the baptism fell through. That night during our planning, I had the opportunity to really do some soul searching. I found that I had been a grump almost all of the evening. This really is an inappropriate manner for a representative of Jesus Christ to be behaving. I really felt chastened. One of the most important things that President Cantu told me in my interview is to smile more and be happy. I really have been putting that into practice, because at times I really find that I take life way too serious. It really has helped me in almost all of the aspects of the mission.
Oh, by the way do not worry about Raul, we stopped by his house (shack more like) and he told us the he had a bunch of nervousness, and that is why he did not show up. We invited him to pray with us, and after the prayer, he told us that he felt fine. He went through with his baptism yesterday after church, and will be confirmed for the next Sunday!!! He was the last member of this family to be baptized. Now they can start preparing themselves to go through the Temple, and be sealed as a Family for Eternity. I really just love the work.
So guess what,.... It is RAINING!!!! I love the rain so much. Whenever it rains, I love to just go out and stand in the rain, and feel it just sink in. It is really rejuvenating here in Los Cabos. We really need the rain, because it is a desert here. (not to mention it cuts down on the heat!)
Well, that is about all that has been happening around here. I received the card from Jackie! Thank you so so so much. I loved it mucho. I love you all so much and miss you dearly. Take care.
Love Elder Johnson
How has been the first week of August? Is it not just amazing how fast the summer just flew by. I can hardly believe that we are in August. I sure hope that everything is just going fantastic back at home.
Well, this week was really amazing. So, this past Saturday, we were going to baptize one of our investigators named Raul. Raul is the last member of a part member family who has not been baptized, so we were really really excited. Saturday came, and Raul did not. We were left waiting in the church for an hour waiting for him to show up. He never did. Life went on, and we went about our work, but I will not lie to you, I was really depressed. We had spent so much time, and commitment into helping Raul take these steps in his life, and he did not show up. And on top of that, we were fasting. All in all, I was in a foul mood. I had a bunch of hunger and thirst, and on top of it all the baptism fell through. That night during our planning, I had the opportunity to really do some soul searching. I found that I had been a grump almost all of the evening. This really is an inappropriate manner for a representative of Jesus Christ to be behaving. I really felt chastened. One of the most important things that President Cantu told me in my interview is to smile more and be happy. I really have been putting that into practice, because at times I really find that I take life way too serious. It really has helped me in almost all of the aspects of the mission.
Oh, by the way do not worry about Raul, we stopped by his house (shack more like) and he told us the he had a bunch of nervousness, and that is why he did not show up. We invited him to pray with us, and after the prayer, he told us that he felt fine. He went through with his baptism yesterday after church, and will be confirmed for the next Sunday!!! He was the last member of this family to be baptized. Now they can start preparing themselves to go through the Temple, and be sealed as a Family for Eternity. I really just love the work.
So guess what,.... It is RAINING!!!! I love the rain so much. Whenever it rains, I love to just go out and stand in the rain, and feel it just sink in. It is really rejuvenating here in Los Cabos. We really need the rain, because it is a desert here. (not to mention it cuts down on the heat!)
Well, that is about all that has been happening around here. I received the card from Jackie! Thank you so so so much. I loved it mucho. I love you all so much and miss you dearly. Take care.
Love Elder Johnson
August 1, 2011
Dear Family,
I was so pleased to receive your letter. It is always good to hear from home. I really can´t say that I envy you all, cleaning out the basement,... but look on the bright side, next summer Elder Johnson (the shortie) will have returned, and can help. Well a lot of things happened this week. I don´t even know where to start. I guess I´ll start at the beginning no?
So yeah, we went to the doctor, and found out that it was an infection. They gave me even more eye-drops. But the part about this whole experience is the miracle that happened. I don´t really know what happened, but the day after I started to use the drops, I could see!!!! It was the most amazing thing that could have happened. It was only in the infected eye, but I could see. Without glasses or contacts! You really can´t imagine how neat of an experience it was. It was just one of those little miracles that happen to remind us that God really does listen, and cares about each and every one of us. Yeah after that day I went back to being my normal blind self! haha oh well.
So we have been teaching a family of bread makers se llama Familia Lara. They are really great! You wouldn´t believe how tiring it is to make the dough in such grand quantities. We have helped them a number of times make the dough, and it always turns out to be 15 kilos or around that. They are really great though, and I really enjoy teaching them. They all went to the church the past Sunday, but there is a slight problem. The Dad does not want to have anything to do with us. There is always something, but yeah, we are going to see what we can do, and leave the rest up to the Lord.
So, the other big news is that my companion received his transfer, and left for Culiacan. I am of mixed emotions about that, but I´ll miss him. I received Elder Rovaldi. He is a missionary from the same generation as Elder Toledo. This means that he is going to end his mission at the end of this Transfer. I think that were are going to have a great transfer. The Lord has been preparing this area for the next change. Other big news! My "father" Elder Cope is going to end his mission on Wednesday. Really the time passes so fast here it is unbelievable. I celebrated six months this past week! I also learned something a little bit sad. Some Elders told me that letters that I send home could possibly not make it. They told me that a bunch of letters get stopped at the border. Oh well! ¡Ni modo! ¿Vale la pena, no?
Well, this is my simple letter. I hope you enjoy it.
I love you all so much. I am so glad for your support. It really means the world to me. I love Jesus Christ. The more I learn, the more I gain an appreciation for how much we really need the effects of the Atonement in our lives. It is a gift that cannot be priced.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie, I love you very very much, and I want you to remember that you are a very sweet girl. You have a special place in my heart.
p.p.s. Benjamin, I love you very much too. You should forward your letters, and tell me how you’re doing.
I was so pleased to receive your letter. It is always good to hear from home. I really can´t say that I envy you all, cleaning out the basement,... but look on the bright side, next summer Elder Johnson (the shortie) will have returned, and can help. Well a lot of things happened this week. I don´t even know where to start. I guess I´ll start at the beginning no?
So yeah, we went to the doctor, and found out that it was an infection. They gave me even more eye-drops. But the part about this whole experience is the miracle that happened. I don´t really know what happened, but the day after I started to use the drops, I could see!!!! It was the most amazing thing that could have happened. It was only in the infected eye, but I could see. Without glasses or contacts! You really can´t imagine how neat of an experience it was. It was just one of those little miracles that happen to remind us that God really does listen, and cares about each and every one of us. Yeah after that day I went back to being my normal blind self! haha oh well.
So we have been teaching a family of bread makers se llama Familia Lara. They are really great! You wouldn´t believe how tiring it is to make the dough in such grand quantities. We have helped them a number of times make the dough, and it always turns out to be 15 kilos or around that. They are really great though, and I really enjoy teaching them. They all went to the church the past Sunday, but there is a slight problem. The Dad does not want to have anything to do with us. There is always something, but yeah, we are going to see what we can do, and leave the rest up to the Lord.
So, the other big news is that my companion received his transfer, and left for Culiacan. I am of mixed emotions about that, but I´ll miss him. I received Elder Rovaldi. He is a missionary from the same generation as Elder Toledo. This means that he is going to end his mission at the end of this Transfer. I think that were are going to have a great transfer. The Lord has been preparing this area for the next change. Other big news! My "father" Elder Cope is going to end his mission on Wednesday. Really the time passes so fast here it is unbelievable. I celebrated six months this past week! I also learned something a little bit sad. Some Elders told me that letters that I send home could possibly not make it. They told me that a bunch of letters get stopped at the border. Oh well! ¡Ni modo! ¿Vale la pena, no?
Well, this is my simple letter. I hope you enjoy it.
I love you all so much. I am so glad for your support. It really means the world to me. I love Jesus Christ. The more I learn, the more I gain an appreciation for how much we really need the effects of the Atonement in our lives. It is a gift that cannot be priced.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie, I love you very very much, and I want you to remember that you are a very sweet girl. You have a special place in my heart.
p.p.s. Benjamin, I love you very much too. You should forward your letters, and tell me how you’re doing.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
July 25, 2011
Dear Family,
How was your week? (¿Comò les fue esta semana?) I hope that all went well. (Espero que todo bien) My week went great. I had the opportunity to do divisions with those other missionaries in our district. We do divisions about once a week now. This is a change that the President has been initiating. It helps all of us to be more informed, and have more unity as a mission. (¡Mio estuvo fantástico! Tenia la oportunidad a hacer divisiones con los otros misioneros in nuestro distrito. Lo hacemos casi cada semana. Eso es un cambio que Presidente ha sido iniciando. Realmente nos ayuda a ser mas informado, y tener mas unidad en la misión. Yeah, my Spanish is lacking a lot, but all I can do is try my best, pray, and leave the rest up to the Lord.
Well, the big news of the past two days is that I'm BLIND!!!!!! Yeah, well, almost.... Yesterday in the church I was just sitting there, (minding my own business), when all of a sudden my eye really started to hurt. So we bought some eye drops, but they did do anything. When I woke up this morning it felt like I had sandpaper under my eye lid. Every time I moved my eye to look at things it hurt.... A LOT! So yeah, we went to the eye doctor, and they told me that I have an infection, and they gave my "special" eye drops. Yeah I don`t know if they'll do anything different, but we'll see in two weeks. All I can do is cry. Literally. My eye is leaking water, and everyone thinks that I am crying. It is kind of weird, because I have never met anyone who cries from one eye, have you? But the best part about this whole experience is that I get to Preach the Gospel in style now! I get to use sunglasses for ten days. I guess this is the best option. I guess the whole world won't ask me to give them my eyes for the next few days. I'm not joking, I have promised like four people to sackar my eyes with a spoon and trade them. I guess this is what I get for being soooo handsome.... I know, you’re all thinking (where is the humility?).
Anyways, yeah, other than this nothing much has been happening. I have been working hard with my companion, and I have learned a lot. This is a mission of Love and Service. I really was having trouble loving my companion, and I knew that this was affecting our ability to work (however little of it we did). So I was looking for ways that I could help this, and I was reading in the Gospels, and something that stood out to me was that Jesus was always serving others, and he had more love than anyone. I started to apply this in my companionship, and I really found out that when you serve someone with an open heart, you cannot help to love them. Another thing that really has been helping me, is that I need to stop looking for the bad. Because the truth is that I will always find it. I t is when I look past the bad that I really can start to be able to help him and me grow.
I'm glad that you had the opportunity to go to both of the farewells. I'm sure that they really are ready for this great work. And, of course Kyle would go Sky-Diving the week before his mission. I was going to wait till after mine... And about the letters, I have replied to everyone who has written me. The problem is here, in Los Cabos, it takes a whole extra week for the letters to arrive because it first goes to Mexico and then to the USA.
Well, I love you all so much, and I hope you have a great week.
Con mucho amor,
·Elder Johnson
How was your week? (¿Comò les fue esta semana?) I hope that all went well. (Espero que todo bien) My week went great. I had the opportunity to do divisions with those other missionaries in our district. We do divisions about once a week now. This is a change that the President has been initiating. It helps all of us to be more informed, and have more unity as a mission. (¡Mio estuvo fantástico! Tenia la oportunidad a hacer divisiones con los otros misioneros in nuestro distrito. Lo hacemos casi cada semana. Eso es un cambio que Presidente ha sido iniciando. Realmente nos ayuda a ser mas informado, y tener mas unidad en la misión. Yeah, my Spanish is lacking a lot, but all I can do is try my best, pray, and leave the rest up to the Lord.
Well, the big news of the past two days is that I'm BLIND!!!!!! Yeah, well, almost.... Yesterday in the church I was just sitting there, (minding my own business), when all of a sudden my eye really started to hurt. So we bought some eye drops, but they did do anything. When I woke up this morning it felt like I had sandpaper under my eye lid. Every time I moved my eye to look at things it hurt.... A LOT! So yeah, we went to the eye doctor, and they told me that I have an infection, and they gave my "special" eye drops. Yeah I don`t know if they'll do anything different, but we'll see in two weeks. All I can do is cry. Literally. My eye is leaking water, and everyone thinks that I am crying. It is kind of weird, because I have never met anyone who cries from one eye, have you? But the best part about this whole experience is that I get to Preach the Gospel in style now! I get to use sunglasses for ten days. I guess this is the best option. I guess the whole world won't ask me to give them my eyes for the next few days. I'm not joking, I have promised like four people to sackar my eyes with a spoon and trade them. I guess this is what I get for being soooo handsome.... I know, you’re all thinking (where is the humility?).
Anyways, yeah, other than this nothing much has been happening. I have been working hard with my companion, and I have learned a lot. This is a mission of Love and Service. I really was having trouble loving my companion, and I knew that this was affecting our ability to work (however little of it we did). So I was looking for ways that I could help this, and I was reading in the Gospels, and something that stood out to me was that Jesus was always serving others, and he had more love than anyone. I started to apply this in my companionship, and I really found out that when you serve someone with an open heart, you cannot help to love them. Another thing that really has been helping me, is that I need to stop looking for the bad. Because the truth is that I will always find it. I t is when I look past the bad that I really can start to be able to help him and me grow.
I'm glad that you had the opportunity to go to both of the farewells. I'm sure that they really are ready for this great work. And, of course Kyle would go Sky-Diving the week before his mission. I was going to wait till after mine... And about the letters, I have replied to everyone who has written me. The problem is here, in Los Cabos, it takes a whole extra week for the letters to arrive because it first goes to Mexico and then to the USA.
Well, I love you all so much, and I hope you have a great week.
Con mucho amor,
·Elder Johnson
July 18, 2011
Dear Family,
Well, another week has come and gone. All is going pretty much okay here. That is too bad that the basement flooded. I guess it is that time of year again. La verdad, estoy muy agradecido que no estaba allí por eso. Tengo muchas memorias de sacando todas las mueblas, la ropa, y también el la alfombra del sótano. Y después de eso, sacando la agua y limpiando todo. Nunca me gusta haciendo eso, pero ¿como es la vida, no?
The truth is, this week was quite frustrating. My companion and I were at odds for quite a while. He has basically one transfer left until he returns to his house, and he has started to be trunky. Because of this, there has been some contention between us. This is not good, because the scriptures say that contention comes from the Devil (D&C 63:28). What has really helped me this past week is reading the scriptures, and seeing how they apply to my life, and my situation. I was really humbled by what they taught me. 3 Ne.14:1-2 Talks about how I should not judge others, or I will be in danger of being judged myself. Also in verses 3-5 it talks about how I should not look for the sliver in the eye of my neighbor (or my companion) while I have a beam in my own eye. Another scripture that really broke down my pride was Alma 60:23-24. It compares us to cups. It says that I should clean the inside of the vessel first, and the outside will clean its self. In other words, what I learned from the scriptures, is that I should not judge others, but I should start first with correcting, and living my life how Jesus wants.
Well, that is all for this week. I love you all so much, and I hope that you all have a very good week.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. Do you think that you could send me some pictures? of everything?!... well, just the things that are important, like the truck, the horses, the cat, the swinging porch-bench (there is a member in this ward who is a carpenter (can't I take a little pride in my work...), and of course the Family.
Well, another week has come and gone. All is going pretty much okay here. That is too bad that the basement flooded. I guess it is that time of year again. La verdad, estoy muy agradecido que no estaba allí por eso. Tengo muchas memorias de sacando todas las mueblas, la ropa, y también el la alfombra del sótano. Y después de eso, sacando la agua y limpiando todo. Nunca me gusta haciendo eso, pero ¿como es la vida, no?
The truth is, this week was quite frustrating. My companion and I were at odds for quite a while. He has basically one transfer left until he returns to his house, and he has started to be trunky. Because of this, there has been some contention between us. This is not good, because the scriptures say that contention comes from the Devil (D&C 63:28). What has really helped me this past week is reading the scriptures, and seeing how they apply to my life, and my situation. I was really humbled by what they taught me. 3 Ne.14:1-2 Talks about how I should not judge others, or I will be in danger of being judged myself. Also in verses 3-5 it talks about how I should not look for the sliver in the eye of my neighbor (or my companion) while I have a beam in my own eye. Another scripture that really broke down my pride was Alma 60:23-24. It compares us to cups. It says that I should clean the inside of the vessel first, and the outside will clean its self. In other words, what I learned from the scriptures, is that I should not judge others, but I should start first with correcting, and living my life how Jesus wants.
Well, that is all for this week. I love you all so much, and I hope that you all have a very good week.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. Do you think that you could send me some pictures? of everything?!... well, just the things that are important, like the truck, the horses, the cat, the swinging porch-bench (there is a member in this ward who is a carpenter (can't I take a little pride in my work...), and of course the Family.
July 11, 2011
Dear Family,
How was your week? Mine was great. We had our interviews with president. It went great. He shared a scripture with me, that really hit home. 1 Cor. 1: 25-27. He then proceeded to explain to me how there are so many other people, better qualified, that God could choose to do this work. And yet he choose us. “Barely leaving the bliss of youth”, he calls 19- 20 year old boys (21 for women). There is a reason for this. We, as Missionaries, find ourselves quite often in situations where we really do not know the answer. We realize more than ever how important it is to pray always, and trust in the Lord. Do His work, His way. This was what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it.
Some other news of this week. We baptized Juan-Carlos. We really have quite a unique opportunity to see the spiritual progression of the lives of the people whom we serve. It is quite a great perspective. Carlos is a boy with 22 years. When we first were teaching him, he had no interest in our message, and really didn`t show any signs of progression. But we really saw how God started to prepare his heart to be ready for this change in his life. It really helped me understand that this isn`t my work. I really can try with all of my effort, doing my part, but if it is not the will of the Lord, I won`t be able to do anything. This is why they stress so much for us to live our lives so we can be in-tune with the Spirit.
Other than this, life is great. We have lots of heat here. I have started to get accustomed to leaving the house, knowing my clothes will be damp, within 15 min, from the humidity. The funniest thing happened this Sunday. There was three families of gringos (Americans) in the church who were talking to me in English, and I really was bad at speaking. I am always trying to think in Spanish, and so when these opportunities happen, I`m not adjusted to it. I`m not forgetting my English, I`m just saying that I speak terrible. I`m pretty sure that I`m starting to form my sentences grammatically incorrect.
I love you all so much. I miss you muchisimo. I love my Savior Jesucristo. He suffered for my sins. Your sins. Our sins. He died on the cross. He rose on the third day, breaking the bands of death. He Lives.
Love,
Elder Johnson
How was your week? Mine was great. We had our interviews with president. It went great. He shared a scripture with me, that really hit home. 1 Cor. 1: 25-27. He then proceeded to explain to me how there are so many other people, better qualified, that God could choose to do this work. And yet he choose us. “Barely leaving the bliss of youth”, he calls 19- 20 year old boys (21 for women). There is a reason for this. We, as Missionaries, find ourselves quite often in situations where we really do not know the answer. We realize more than ever how important it is to pray always, and trust in the Lord. Do His work, His way. This was what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it.
Some other news of this week. We baptized Juan-Carlos. We really have quite a unique opportunity to see the spiritual progression of the lives of the people whom we serve. It is quite a great perspective. Carlos is a boy with 22 years. When we first were teaching him, he had no interest in our message, and really didn`t show any signs of progression. But we really saw how God started to prepare his heart to be ready for this change in his life. It really helped me understand that this isn`t my work. I really can try with all of my effort, doing my part, but if it is not the will of the Lord, I won`t be able to do anything. This is why they stress so much for us to live our lives so we can be in-tune with the Spirit.
Other than this, life is great. We have lots of heat here. I have started to get accustomed to leaving the house, knowing my clothes will be damp, within 15 min, from the humidity. The funniest thing happened this Sunday. There was three families of gringos (Americans) in the church who were talking to me in English, and I really was bad at speaking. I am always trying to think in Spanish, and so when these opportunities happen, I`m not adjusted to it. I`m not forgetting my English, I`m just saying that I speak terrible. I`m pretty sure that I`m starting to form my sentences grammatically incorrect.
I love you all so much. I miss you muchisimo. I love my Savior Jesucristo. He suffered for my sins. Your sins. Our sins. He died on the cross. He rose on the third day, breaking the bands of death. He Lives.
Love,
Elder Johnson
July 4, 2011
Mi Familia Amado,
Well, as always, it was good to hear from home. I´m glad to hear that everything is going alright. It is too bad that you didn´t make it to any parades though...
Another week has gone by, and with it many experiences and memories. This week, probably the biggest thing that happened is that my compañero went to Culiacán for a big meeting with President Cantu because he is a district leader. Because of this I worked with the other Elders in my district from Tuesday through Friday. It was quite a fun time. Our area is suffering a little bit though, because we weren´t working in it for three days. All is okay though. This coming Wednesday we are going to have interviews with the President. I really am so excited. I do not think that I have told you, but my mission President is the best in the whole world. He is a spiritual powerhouse. And to think he only has 38 years.
Well, as always, I am learning new things every day. Through experiences that have passed in this transfer, I have come to realize how important it is for us to really be a representative of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places. You never know how others are going to perceive your actions. By developing those attributes that He has, we can personally come closer and understand our Savior better.
Also a little tidbit of information that I have been learning, is the fact that I do not know anything. There is always something new to learn, and always a different perspective. An EXTREMELY inactive member told us the other day, that the reason why he does not attend sacrament meeting is because everything is the same. All the talks are the same. All the testimonies also. We had a very powerful lesson trying to help him understand that we never stop learning.
Well, I apologize for the brevity of my letter, but I must be going. I love you all. I think of you often and pray for you more.
Con Amor,
Elder Johnson
Well, as always, it was good to hear from home. I´m glad to hear that everything is going alright. It is too bad that you didn´t make it to any parades though...
Another week has gone by, and with it many experiences and memories. This week, probably the biggest thing that happened is that my compañero went to Culiacán for a big meeting with President Cantu because he is a district leader. Because of this I worked with the other Elders in my district from Tuesday through Friday. It was quite a fun time. Our area is suffering a little bit though, because we weren´t working in it for three days. All is okay though. This coming Wednesday we are going to have interviews with the President. I really am so excited. I do not think that I have told you, but my mission President is the best in the whole world. He is a spiritual powerhouse. And to think he only has 38 years.
Well, as always, I am learning new things every day. Through experiences that have passed in this transfer, I have come to realize how important it is for us to really be a representative of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places. You never know how others are going to perceive your actions. By developing those attributes that He has, we can personally come closer and understand our Savior better.
Also a little tidbit of information that I have been learning, is the fact that I do not know anything. There is always something new to learn, and always a different perspective. An EXTREMELY inactive member told us the other day, that the reason why he does not attend sacrament meeting is because everything is the same. All the talks are the same. All the testimonies also. We had a very powerful lesson trying to help him understand that we never stop learning.
Well, I apologize for the brevity of my letter, but I must be going. I love you all. I think of you often and pray for you more.
Con Amor,
Elder Johnson
Saturday, July 2, 2011
June 27, 2011
Dear Family,
It was great to hear from you all. I can´t believe all of the things that have happened in this past week. It really is so crazy. First off, I took a flight (in a tiny airplane (I´m not joking, I think we had a total of ten people in the plane including the pilot)) from a little airport in Los Mochis, and we flew directly to Los Cabos San Lucas. From there, we drove to San Jose.
The ward is really great, and it is split up between 2 sets of missionaries; Elder Toledo and I, and Elder Tingly and Elder Servera. That is our whole district! Probably the biggest and most important thing that I have learned so far from my time in this ward, is how important it is to not spread gossip. This ward is riddled with "who said this", and "who did that". It really has opened my eyes to the fact that nothing god comes from this, and it really can hurt people. All of us are children of our Father in Heaven, and he loves us all. Nobody deserves to be at either end of a rumor or a false accusation. This really is something that I can improve upon in my life.
So yeah, I have realized something quite intriguing. Whenever I start to develop pride in certain areas of my life, the Lord sees fit for me to be brought low into humility, until I remember He from whom all blessings flow. This has happened twice with me getting sick. I start to take a little pride in myself saying "look at me, I have been in a new country, living a different lifestyle, and eating strange food, and I have yet to be sick" and then what do you think?!... Yeah, it is almost scary how fast it works, but right after I start to think these thoughts, I fall sick. You´d think I´d learn, but hey! I have been in Mexico for 3 months, and I have only been sick twice! Yay haha
Well, It sure is good to hear from home. I love you all so much. I know that this gospel is the Gospel of Christ, and if we strive to live these principles we will realize grand blessings in our lives. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. They love you. And they will never leave our side no matter where we are and what we are doing as we strive to do the things that they have asked of us.
Con Amorisimo,
Elder Johnson
It was great to hear from you all. I can´t believe all of the things that have happened in this past week. It really is so crazy. First off, I took a flight (in a tiny airplane (I´m not joking, I think we had a total of ten people in the plane including the pilot)) from a little airport in Los Mochis, and we flew directly to Los Cabos San Lucas. From there, we drove to San Jose.
The ward is really great, and it is split up between 2 sets of missionaries; Elder Toledo and I, and Elder Tingly and Elder Servera. That is our whole district! Probably the biggest and most important thing that I have learned so far from my time in this ward, is how important it is to not spread gossip. This ward is riddled with "who said this", and "who did that". It really has opened my eyes to the fact that nothing god comes from this, and it really can hurt people. All of us are children of our Father in Heaven, and he loves us all. Nobody deserves to be at either end of a rumor or a false accusation. This really is something that I can improve upon in my life.
So yeah, I have realized something quite intriguing. Whenever I start to develop pride in certain areas of my life, the Lord sees fit for me to be brought low into humility, until I remember He from whom all blessings flow. This has happened twice with me getting sick. I start to take a little pride in myself saying "look at me, I have been in a new country, living a different lifestyle, and eating strange food, and I have yet to be sick" and then what do you think?!... Yeah, it is almost scary how fast it works, but right after I start to think these thoughts, I fall sick. You´d think I´d learn, but hey! I have been in Mexico for 3 months, and I have only been sick twice! Yay haha
Well, It sure is good to hear from home. I love you all so much. I know that this gospel is the Gospel of Christ, and if we strive to live these principles we will realize grand blessings in our lives. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. They love you. And they will never leave our side no matter where we are and what we are doing as we strive to do the things that they have asked of us.
Con Amorisimo,
Elder Johnson
June 21, 2011
Dear Family,
How is the family? Now before you all start to think that I am apostatizing and writing on the internet on Tuesday, I´d like to say that I have special permission from the Presidente.
I am officially in Los Cabos de San Jose and life is good. You can sleep easy for the next 6 months, or for however long I am here, because this place is completely different from Sinaloa. No violence, and no killings. Pure tourists. Almost everyone knows at least a little English. (Which won´t really help me learn Spanish...) And best of all ........(building suspense)........ there is no heat! Not really anyways, because we are right on the beach, and so the breeze from the ocean really cools this place down. I think that Los Cabos and I are going to fall well together.
My last week in Los Mochis was a really sad week. We had been preparing this lady named Lupita for baptism for the whole transfer, and everything was ready for last Saturday. We arrived at Saturday, and she was there at the chapel waiting for us, ready to be baptized. She had brought her granddaughter, Danae, to be baptized too, but we couldn´t do it. We didn´t have permission from the mother. When Danae found out this, she became really depressed and began to say that she wasn´t going to be baptized ever, and the whole situation was really difficult. We finally came up with the solution that we would wait to baptize both of them together until after we received the permission.
I was also really sick this week. In fact, I think that I lost weight for the first time since I have started my mission.
I love you all so much. I hope that everything is good at home.
Love, Elder Johnson
How is the family? Now before you all start to think that I am apostatizing and writing on the internet on Tuesday, I´d like to say that I have special permission from the Presidente.
I am officially in Los Cabos de San Jose and life is good. You can sleep easy for the next 6 months, or for however long I am here, because this place is completely different from Sinaloa. No violence, and no killings. Pure tourists. Almost everyone knows at least a little English. (Which won´t really help me learn Spanish...) And best of all ........(building suspense)........ there is no heat! Not really anyways, because we are right on the beach, and so the breeze from the ocean really cools this place down. I think that Los Cabos and I are going to fall well together.
My last week in Los Mochis was a really sad week. We had been preparing this lady named Lupita for baptism for the whole transfer, and everything was ready for last Saturday. We arrived at Saturday, and she was there at the chapel waiting for us, ready to be baptized. She had brought her granddaughter, Danae, to be baptized too, but we couldn´t do it. We didn´t have permission from the mother. When Danae found out this, she became really depressed and began to say that she wasn´t going to be baptized ever, and the whole situation was really difficult. We finally came up with the solution that we would wait to baptize both of them together until after we received the permission.
I was also really sick this week. In fact, I think that I lost weight for the first time since I have started my mission.
I love you all so much. I hope that everything is good at home.
Love, Elder Johnson
June 20, 2011
Querido Familia,
Yeah, I´m going to be transferred this week! So I thought instead of writing a big long letter, I´ll send some pictures so they can see their beautiful son. I am going to be transferred to Los Cabos in Baja Cali South. The area is in San Jose. I am really excited because I think there will be beaches!
Love you all much.
Con Amor, Elder Johnson
Yeah, I´m going to be transferred this week! So I thought instead of writing a big long letter, I´ll send some pictures so they can see their beautiful son. I am going to be transferred to Los Cabos in Baja Cali South. The area is in San Jose. I am really excited because I think there will be beaches!
Love you all much.
Con Amor, Elder Johnson
Saturday, June 11, 2011
May 30, 2011
Querido Familia,
Well, this week has been quite something. This Tuesday, Elder Romero was sick. Because of this, we took a trip to down town Mochis, to the hospital. It was quite the experience. The Bishop of one of the neighboring wards is a doctor, so the missionaries get treated for free. This is a bendicion (blessing). After getting a shot,.... my companion is starting to get better. Wednesday, we had a big meeting with the Mission President, and a member of the Seventy, President de Hoyos. It was very spiritually uplifting and powerful. They taught us many important and useful things on how to be more effective as a missionary. One of the things that I learned, and have been trying to apply in my work is the fact that I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and with this comes the ability to have confidence in my calling. At times this means being very blunt, because it will not help people change their lives by "beating around the bush". This is definitely a new thing for me, because I don´t like to be that confrontational, and at times it is like that. This also means that I have to be a lot more outgoing. There is a part in Preach My Gospel that talks about Talk with Everyone, and I really have been trying to apply this. Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the routine of things, places to go and people to see, that I forget to do this.
I had a really awesome experience this week. Thursday, I was doing splits with Elder Castillo, and this was the day after the conference with President. We were trying to apply the principles that they had taught into our teaching while we were contacting. We were trying to see who could be more outgoing. We saw this man sitting on the sidewalk smoking, while we were knocking doors. I decided to go and try something that Pres. de Hoyos had said, so I went right up to this man, and sat down next to him. I then told him that I had a question for him, and that question was "¿Usted es un escogido?". Basically it means are you a chosen? (Doesn´t really make sense in English) Well, I didn´t really get the response I was hoping for. He gave me a blank look and said "what does that mean?" I was stumped. After a little pause I said "It means that you are ready to take some changes in your life for the better." Really, we could feel the spirit so strong at this moment. After that we taught him a brief lesson. This mission is not about me, this is the Lords work.(Moses 1:39) We are bringing the means of Salvation to His people. When we realize this, and strive to do the things that He would do, He will work Miracles through us.
I love you all so much, and pray for you always.
Con mucho MUCHO amor,
Elder Johnson
Well, this week has been quite something. This Tuesday, Elder Romero was sick. Because of this, we took a trip to down town Mochis, to the hospital. It was quite the experience. The Bishop of one of the neighboring wards is a doctor, so the missionaries get treated for free. This is a bendicion (blessing). After getting a shot,.... my companion is starting to get better. Wednesday, we had a big meeting with the Mission President, and a member of the Seventy, President de Hoyos. It was very spiritually uplifting and powerful. They taught us many important and useful things on how to be more effective as a missionary. One of the things that I learned, and have been trying to apply in my work is the fact that I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and with this comes the ability to have confidence in my calling. At times this means being very blunt, because it will not help people change their lives by "beating around the bush". This is definitely a new thing for me, because I don´t like to be that confrontational, and at times it is like that. This also means that I have to be a lot more outgoing. There is a part in Preach My Gospel that talks about Talk with Everyone, and I really have been trying to apply this. Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the routine of things, places to go and people to see, that I forget to do this.
I had a really awesome experience this week. Thursday, I was doing splits with Elder Castillo, and this was the day after the conference with President. We were trying to apply the principles that they had taught into our teaching while we were contacting. We were trying to see who could be more outgoing. We saw this man sitting on the sidewalk smoking, while we were knocking doors. I decided to go and try something that Pres. de Hoyos had said, so I went right up to this man, and sat down next to him. I then told him that I had a question for him, and that question was "¿Usted es un escogido?". Basically it means are you a chosen? (Doesn´t really make sense in English) Well, I didn´t really get the response I was hoping for. He gave me a blank look and said "what does that mean?" I was stumped. After a little pause I said "It means that you are ready to take some changes in your life for the better." Really, we could feel the spirit so strong at this moment. After that we taught him a brief lesson. This mission is not about me, this is the Lords work.(Moses 1:39) We are bringing the means of Salvation to His people. When we realize this, and strive to do the things that He would do, He will work Miracles through us.
I love you all so much, and pray for you always.
Con mucho MUCHO amor,
Elder Johnson
May 23, 2011
How are you all doing. Me? I´m great! You know I really love the cold (snow, ice, freezing, sledding, etc. you get the point) I have never been a big fan of the heat, and so where am I.... You can´t tell me God doesn´t have a sense of humor! It´s okay though, because just about everybody tells me that it is just starting, and it doesn´t get bad until June, July, and August.
It is really crazy how fast the weeks fly by here. We are already starting the middle week of this transfer. Literally, the days are starting to mesh together. I have a hard time singling out what happened yesterday. I have realized how important it is that I write things down in my planner and journal or they will be lost together with all the other experiences.
This week was great, we found some new investigators who really have potential. Se llaman Lupita, Anna, y Ivan. They are really bright, and have been accepting the teachings well. Our Presidente de Misión has told us that nothing happens here in the mission by coincidence. I know that this is true, because yesterday, I had an experience that really reaffirmed this point. We passed by the house of one of our investigators to give them a ride to the church, and they weren´t home. Then, we were in the church, waiting, hoping that the others would arrive. None came. (We found out later in our meeting with the Ward Mission Leader that there actually was an investigator, but we had never met him. Yayyyy) I will not lie though, I was a little desanimado (discouraged). We then left because that is the rule, and we went to work contacting.
After chatting with some drunks, we found this man, Alejandro, who is ready to change his life. He told us that he drinks, and he doesn´t know how to stop, but that he wants help. He invited us to his house to teach him and his family! We never would have found him if we had been at church, because he lives out on a little ranch, and was only in the city for work. God was preparing a way for him to receive this opportunity. We really can see miracles daily.
Have you ever read Jesus the Christ? I never tried to read it before, but it really is such a good book. Literally it was inspired. I think that someone told me that James E. Talmage wrote it while in the temple. All I know is that I really enjoy reading it, because of all the references. I started looking up the scriptures and found myself really intently studying of the scriptures. I really NEVER thought that I would say it, but studying the scriptures really is a lot of fun. I find daily, that I never have enough time to study. Weird huh? Yeah, I know.. I´m a nerd.
With lots of Love,
Elder Johnson
It is really crazy how fast the weeks fly by here. We are already starting the middle week of this transfer. Literally, the days are starting to mesh together. I have a hard time singling out what happened yesterday. I have realized how important it is that I write things down in my planner and journal or they will be lost together with all the other experiences.
This week was great, we found some new investigators who really have potential. Se llaman Lupita, Anna, y Ivan. They are really bright, and have been accepting the teachings well. Our Presidente de Misión has told us that nothing happens here in the mission by coincidence. I know that this is true, because yesterday, I had an experience that really reaffirmed this point. We passed by the house of one of our investigators to give them a ride to the church, and they weren´t home. Then, we were in the church, waiting, hoping that the others would arrive. None came. (We found out later in our meeting with the Ward Mission Leader that there actually was an investigator, but we had never met him. Yayyyy) I will not lie though, I was a little desanimado (discouraged). We then left because that is the rule, and we went to work contacting.
After chatting with some drunks, we found this man, Alejandro, who is ready to change his life. He told us that he drinks, and he doesn´t know how to stop, but that he wants help. He invited us to his house to teach him and his family! We never would have found him if we had been at church, because he lives out on a little ranch, and was only in the city for work. God was preparing a way for him to receive this opportunity. We really can see miracles daily.
Have you ever read Jesus the Christ? I never tried to read it before, but it really is such a good book. Literally it was inspired. I think that someone told me that James E. Talmage wrote it while in the temple. All I know is that I really enjoy reading it, because of all the references. I started looking up the scriptures and found myself really intently studying of the scriptures. I really NEVER thought that I would say it, but studying the scriptures really is a lot of fun. I find daily, that I never have enough time to study. Weird huh? Yeah, I know.. I´m a nerd.
With lots of Love,
Elder Johnson
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
May 16, 2011
Dear Family,
Well, we have come to the end of another week here in Mexico. It has been quite an interesting one. My eyes really have been opened to thefact that I don´t know Español, and how much I need to rely on the Lord. Countless times during this week, I would be speaking so well, and get confident in my own ability to speak. This is when the Lord would see fit to teach me a little humility. Seriously, I would find myself not being able to say even the simplest phrases. I am reminded of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon. The Lord would bless them constantly, but when they began to be prideful, and not acknowledge where the blessings came from, this is when the Lord would inflict them, and remind them who is the source of all blessings. One thing that I have learned from this, though, is that the Lord wants a humble missionary. When the missionary is humble, that is when the Lord can mold him, and use him to his full potential.
Anyway my new compañero, E. Ramero, is great. We get along just fine. He is from District Federal, Mexico City, Mexico. He has a year and a half in the field. It was quite a week that we had! We only got lost like a hundred times. Ha ha! But now I know the area like the back of my hand, so in the end, I guess it was a good thing. I feel really dumb for not realizing this before, but every companion is going to be different. Even their styles of teaching! I had not counted on this, but it does help me not to just get into a routine when I teach.
It was good to hear from all of you last week, and I miss you mucho. Take care.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie, you are my favorite!
Well, we have come to the end of another week here in Mexico. It has been quite an interesting one. My eyes really have been opened to thefact that I don´t know Español, and how much I need to rely on the Lord. Countless times during this week, I would be speaking so well, and get confident in my own ability to speak. This is when the Lord would see fit to teach me a little humility. Seriously, I would find myself not being able to say even the simplest phrases. I am reminded of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon. The Lord would bless them constantly, but when they began to be prideful, and not acknowledge where the blessings came from, this is when the Lord would inflict them, and remind them who is the source of all blessings. One thing that I have learned from this, though, is that the Lord wants a humble missionary. When the missionary is humble, that is when the Lord can mold him, and use him to his full potential.
Anyway my new compañero, E. Ramero, is great. We get along just fine. He is from District Federal, Mexico City, Mexico. He has a year and a half in the field. It was quite a week that we had! We only got lost like a hundred times. Ha ha! But now I know the area like the back of my hand, so in the end, I guess it was a good thing. I feel really dumb for not realizing this before, but every companion is going to be different. Even their styles of teaching! I had not counted on this, but it does help me not to just get into a routine when I teach.
It was good to hear from all of you last week, and I miss you mucho. Take care.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie, you are my favorite!
May 9, 2011
Hola Familia Amado,
Comô esta? Pues, estoy muuuuuuuyyyyyy bien! Elder Cope, mi compañero se fue, pero estoy animado por mi nuevo compañero!
It was so great to talk to you all yesterday! I really enjoyed that treat. Now back to work! Yeah!
So, all I have done today, is WAIT. Literally. We sent Elder Cope off at like eight this morning, and my new companion doesn't arrive until 5:15. So, this day was a little boring, however I got to go on splits with E. Mortenson and his new compa, E. (I dunno). So that was fun. All that I know right now, is that my nueva compañero is Mexican! I'm going to be soooooo lost! Yeah!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to this.
So last week went by so fast, because E. Cope had to go on splits with like all of the missionaries in our zone, and so I was in our area with all of the other companions leading the area. It was a real eye-opener, to the fact that I do not know where anything is! Ha ha oh well. :)
I love you all, and I hope that you all are doing well! Set your watches, mark your calenders, because the next call (December 25 "Christmas") is going to be here so fast.
Con mucho mucho amor,
Elder Johnson
Comô esta? Pues, estoy muuuuuuuyyyyyy bien! Elder Cope, mi compañero se fue, pero estoy animado por mi nuevo compañero!
It was so great to talk to you all yesterday! I really enjoyed that treat. Now back to work! Yeah!
So, all I have done today, is WAIT. Literally. We sent Elder Cope off at like eight this morning, and my new companion doesn't arrive until 5:15. So, this day was a little boring, however I got to go on splits with E. Mortenson and his new compa, E. (I dunno). So that was fun. All that I know right now, is that my nueva compañero is Mexican! I'm going to be soooooo lost! Yeah!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to this.
So last week went by so fast, because E. Cope had to go on splits with like all of the missionaries in our zone, and so I was in our area with all of the other companions leading the area. It was a real eye-opener, to the fact that I do not know where anything is! Ha ha oh well. :)
I love you all, and I hope that you all are doing well! Set your watches, mark your calenders, because the next call (December 25 "Christmas") is going to be here so fast.
Con mucho mucho amor,
Elder Johnson
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
05/02/2011
Hello Family!
How are you all? I am so jealous to hear that you all had some snow. Let me tell you, I dream about the snow. Often! Ha ha You wouldn´t believe how hot it is. I can´t even imagine when we get to August.
Well, this past week sure was a trying one. You were right to say drink lots of water. I was super sick this past week. I think that it was the change in the food, but this past Tuesday, around 6:00 I started to feel not too great. I will not say too much on the subject, but it sufficeth me to say, I wasn´t able to work all Wednesday. And, even better, Wednesday President Cantu came out here to Los Mochis to do interviews with all of the Elders. Then, Thursday, E. Cope went to Culiacán for Zone-Leader things. I stayed here doing splits with E. Martinez. So, with all of these things added up, we didn´t really accomplish that much work this week. The Lord really blessed us though. We had eight investigators at church, and two of them were new.
My Spanish is coming along. I can understand about 70 percent of what people say, but I really cannot wait until I can actually communicate properly with them. I can talk, but I feel like they have to translate what I say to them. Oh well, it will come. I trust that the Lord will assist me, because this is what he wants from me.
I love you all so much. I know that the Lord loves all of his children where ever they are. He knows us all personally. He knows our thoughts, He knows our desires, He knows our pains, He knows our joys, and He loves us.
Love,
Elder Johnson
How are you all? I am so jealous to hear that you all had some snow. Let me tell you, I dream about the snow. Often! Ha ha You wouldn´t believe how hot it is. I can´t even imagine when we get to August.
Well, this past week sure was a trying one. You were right to say drink lots of water. I was super sick this past week. I think that it was the change in the food, but this past Tuesday, around 6:00 I started to feel not too great. I will not say too much on the subject, but it sufficeth me to say, I wasn´t able to work all Wednesday. And, even better, Wednesday President Cantu came out here to Los Mochis to do interviews with all of the Elders. Then, Thursday, E. Cope went to Culiacán for Zone-Leader things. I stayed here doing splits with E. Martinez. So, with all of these things added up, we didn´t really accomplish that much work this week. The Lord really blessed us though. We had eight investigators at church, and two of them were new.
My Spanish is coming along. I can understand about 70 percent of what people say, but I really cannot wait until I can actually communicate properly with them. I can talk, but I feel like they have to translate what I say to them. Oh well, it will come. I trust that the Lord will assist me, because this is what he wants from me.
I love you all so much. I know that the Lord loves all of his children where ever they are. He knows us all personally. He knows our thoughts, He knows our desires, He knows our pains, He knows our joys, and He loves us.
Love,
Elder Johnson
04/25/2011
Hola Familia!
I sure hope that you all had a wonderful Easter! This week flew by so fast. On Wednesday E. Cope and I went to Culiacan to sign some papers for my visa. Basically, we woke up at 4 in the morning, and got on the bus. We arrived in Culiacan at around noon. We then went to a consulate or some official building, and I signed like 10 papers. Then we got back on the bus and we arrived in Los Mochis at around 5:00. It was quite the experience.
Anyways, a normal day for me, is
6:30- Wake up, shower, eat, and get ready for the day
7:30- Study Spanish (if I have time)
8:00- Begin personal study
9:00- Begin companionship study
10:00- Be out of the house, and out contacting or visiting with our investigators
2:00- Eat with a family in the ward
3:00- Contact and visit investigators
9:00- Return to our house
9:30- Plan the activities for the next day
10:00- Shower and eat
10:30- Go to bed
This is about the same for all of our days, with the exception of P-Day, and Sunday.
I had a wonderful Easter, and Mothers Day is in two weeks. I think that the way that they do it is that I give you all a number to call, and you call it. My time is scheduled for 5:30, and I will get back to you with the number.
Well I sure hope that everything is going well, in the land of mild weather!
I love you all so very much.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. So I found out that it takes like a month for letters to get mailed from here to there, and from there to here, but it only takes 10 days to send packages. Spread the word... Packages are the way to go! Ha ha
I sure hope that you all had a wonderful Easter! This week flew by so fast. On Wednesday E. Cope and I went to Culiacan to sign some papers for my visa. Basically, we woke up at 4 in the morning, and got on the bus. We arrived in Culiacan at around noon. We then went to a consulate or some official building, and I signed like 10 papers. Then we got back on the bus and we arrived in Los Mochis at around 5:00. It was quite the experience.
Anyways, a normal day for me, is
6:30- Wake up, shower, eat, and get ready for the day
7:30- Study Spanish (if I have time)
8:00- Begin personal study
9:00- Begin companionship study
10:00- Be out of the house, and out contacting or visiting with our investigators
2:00- Eat with a family in the ward
3:00- Contact and visit investigators
9:00- Return to our house
9:30- Plan the activities for the next day
10:00- Shower and eat
10:30- Go to bed
This is about the same for all of our days, with the exception of P-Day, and Sunday.
I had a wonderful Easter, and Mothers Day is in two weeks. I think that the way that they do it is that I give you all a number to call, and you call it. My time is scheduled for 5:30, and I will get back to you with the number.
Well I sure hope that everything is going well, in the land of mild weather!
I love you all so very much.
Love,
Elder Johnson
p.s. So I found out that it takes like a month for letters to get mailed from here to there, and from there to here, but it only takes 10 days to send packages. Spread the word... Packages are the way to go! Ha ha
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 18, 2011
Well... I am soooooo tired. This week there was a seminary for all of the Jr. Companions , so they all went to Cúliacan for the week, except for me (this is because I have only been here for three weeks). I stayed in Los Mochis with my companion. Because half of all the missionaries were gone, our area was combined with another area, which was twice as big as ours. We did a lot of walking this week. All is well though, because they returned this past Saturday.
But, the big news for this week, is that I gave my first "discurso" in Spanish yesterday. If you think giving a talk in English is hard... You wouldn´t believe it, but I think that it is easier to give a talk in front of 60 people in a different language, than it is to give one in English in front of like 600 people. Anyway, I am sure that my grammar was horrible and that I pronounced everything wrong, but I enjoyed the experience. Might as well, because I´m probably going to have to give like 15 trillion more before the end of my mission. :)
You never know who God has placed in your path for you to help and lift. It is important to always be an example of the believers, in all that you do and say. This is definitely true as a missionary. People are going to look at me, and judge our church. In the white-handbook, it says that I need to maintain the highest standard of conduct, because I represent the Lord, and his Gospel.
I love you all so much, and pray for you often,
Elder Johnson
But, the big news for this week, is that I gave my first "discurso" in Spanish yesterday. If you think giving a talk in English is hard... You wouldn´t believe it, but I think that it is easier to give a talk in front of 60 people in a different language, than it is to give one in English in front of like 600 people. Anyway, I am sure that my grammar was horrible and that I pronounced everything wrong, but I enjoyed the experience. Might as well, because I´m probably going to have to give like 15 trillion more before the end of my mission. :)
You never know who God has placed in your path for you to help and lift. It is important to always be an example of the believers, in all that you do and say. This is definitely true as a missionary. People are going to look at me, and judge our church. In the white-handbook, it says that I need to maintain the highest standard of conduct, because I represent the Lord, and his Gospel.
I love you all so much, and pray for you often,
Elder Johnson
Thursday, April 14, 2011
April 11, 2011
Hey Family!
Well, this week has been quite something. So, one of the rules in our mission (I think I already told you all this) is that we cannot go to church unless we bring with us an investigator. Well, we worked hard all last week, but we could not get a commitment from anyone! We got to Saturday, and we had 12 people planned, to go visit. We thought "for sure we´ll be able to get one of our investigators to come with us" But as the day went on, no one was home. I think of the 12 we had scheduled we taught a total of 3 people. We were running out of options. It was about 7:00, and we didn´t have anyone to go with us.
We decided to say a prayer, so we sat down on the side of the road, and prayed for us to be able to bring escogidos (God´s chosen people) to church with us. Then we went to our last two appointments. Neither one was there. So, it was 8:40, time for us to start heading home, and then we decided to try this one last house that was on our way home. This was a nice little family, that we had talked to for fifteen minutes on this past Tuesday. That is the only interaction that they had had with the missionaros before. We stopped by, sang a hymn, prayed, and invited them to church. They accepted. The Lord really did bless us. This does not happen. EVER.
I know that the Lord hears our prayers, and he answers them too. This is one of the first principles that we teach to the investigators. That is because it is so important to know that we can talk to our Father in Heaven, and what’s more, that He will answer. Now, I know that not all answers come like this one did, but I know that as I put my trust in the Lord, and have faith that he can and will answer my prayers he will bless me.
Anyway, I cannot believe that I forgot to tell you this last week, but now I look even more like Harry Potter. I have this big ole gash on my forehead. Me and my companion were walking along the sidewalk, when we saw one of our investigators. I was waving to them, when all of a sudden, BANG, I just stopped. I had run head on into one of the air conditioners, that are mounted on the side of the houses. So yeah. I was a little embarrassed, and I have the coolest scar ever. This was like my second day in my area.
Well, the address to the Mission Office is:
Río Choix #888
Col. Rosales, Culiacán, Sin.
C.P. 80230 A.P. 645
This is where all of the letters will go through.
Well, I have to go. I love you all mucho.
Love
Elder Johnson
Well, this week has been quite something. So, one of the rules in our mission (I think I already told you all this) is that we cannot go to church unless we bring with us an investigator. Well, we worked hard all last week, but we could not get a commitment from anyone! We got to Saturday, and we had 12 people planned, to go visit. We thought "for sure we´ll be able to get one of our investigators to come with us" But as the day went on, no one was home. I think of the 12 we had scheduled we taught a total of 3 people. We were running out of options. It was about 7:00, and we didn´t have anyone to go with us.
We decided to say a prayer, so we sat down on the side of the road, and prayed for us to be able to bring escogidos (God´s chosen people) to church with us. Then we went to our last two appointments. Neither one was there. So, it was 8:40, time for us to start heading home, and then we decided to try this one last house that was on our way home. This was a nice little family, that we had talked to for fifteen minutes on this past Tuesday. That is the only interaction that they had had with the missionaros before. We stopped by, sang a hymn, prayed, and invited them to church. They accepted. The Lord really did bless us. This does not happen. EVER.
I know that the Lord hears our prayers, and he answers them too. This is one of the first principles that we teach to the investigators. That is because it is so important to know that we can talk to our Father in Heaven, and what’s more, that He will answer. Now, I know that not all answers come like this one did, but I know that as I put my trust in the Lord, and have faith that he can and will answer my prayers he will bless me.
Anyway, I cannot believe that I forgot to tell you this last week, but now I look even more like Harry Potter. I have this big ole gash on my forehead. Me and my companion were walking along the sidewalk, when we saw one of our investigators. I was waving to them, when all of a sudden, BANG, I just stopped. I had run head on into one of the air conditioners, that are mounted on the side of the houses. So yeah. I was a little embarrassed, and I have the coolest scar ever. This was like my second day in my area.
Well, the address to the Mission Office is:
Río Choix #888
Col. Rosales, Culiacán, Sin.
C.P. 80230 A.P. 645
This is where all of the letters will go through.
Well, I have to go. I love you all mucho.
Love
Elder Johnson
April 4, 2011
Greetings from MEXICO!!!
Yes, that is correct, I made it to the land of hot weather alive. If I were to describe Mexico, I think that the word that would best describe it would be HOT. It is the first of April, and I´m pretty sure that the temperature is in the 90´s all the time. Everybody says this is the nice season. Ohhhhh joy, I can´t wait for August. A saying here in the mission is, "If you can love someone in the heat, you can love anyone." I believe it to.
My companions name is E. Cope, and he is the Lidre de Zona. (Zone Leader) So, basically, it is always busy, and I am in good hands. He has been out here for 20 months, and has the language down pat. He doesn´t speak English to me, except when I say "Comó se dicé....." or Qué signífica...." Which basically means, how so you say...? or what does..... mean? I can basically understand most of what is being said, the most frustrating part is that I cannot say what I want to say. It is extremely important for me to learn this language so that I will more effectively in bringing the gospel to the people of Mexicó,... Especially Los Mochis, which is where I am right now.
Another side note, apparently our mission is what is known as a baptizing mission, I didn´t truly appreciate what that meant, until this Saturday, when two investigators of ours were baptized. Their names were Roberto, and Yihydia (ju-hyd-a). It was quite the experience. And, I was only able to watch two sessions of conference, because the rule here is, you have to bring an investigator with you, or you don´t go. That was quite an eye-opener for me, along with the fact the it was in SPANISH! Ahhhhhh everything here is in Spanish, Including this computer I am using right now. Anyway, that is about the extent of my week. Oh, I forgot, I have probably walked about 2,000,000 miles or close to it in this past week! Ha ha, it is quite fun.
My mission president is such a Spiritual-Powerhouse/Giant. I really look forward to the opportunity of serving under his direction, and his wife is such a sweet lady. Anyway, I am sure that these next two years are going to be quite interesting. T here have already been so many experiences that I shall never forget. I have been so blessed to have been born in the United States, to a loving family. We are teaching a family, who lives in a house that is smaller that our living room. They have 9 children who live with them, they don´t have much work, and because of their poverty, none of their children can read. They do not have any access to water, and their power is going to be shut off soon, because they cannot pay the bill. I pray so hard that they will accept the gospel, so that they can experience that Joy and Happiness that accompanies it. It is such a blessing to know that if they make good decisions, get baptized, and endure to the end, they will be able to find a home in one of the Mansions that our Father in Heaven has prepared for them. My eyes have really been opened this past week, and I am sure that I still have more yet to learn.
I love you all so much, and am so grateful for your patience with me, and your faith. You are in my prayers continually.
Love
Elder Johnson
Yes, that is correct, I made it to the land of hot weather alive. If I were to describe Mexico, I think that the word that would best describe it would be HOT. It is the first of April, and I´m pretty sure that the temperature is in the 90´s all the time. Everybody says this is the nice season. Ohhhhh joy, I can´t wait for August. A saying here in the mission is, "If you can love someone in the heat, you can love anyone." I believe it to.
My companions name is E. Cope, and he is the Lidre de Zona. (Zone Leader) So, basically, it is always busy, and I am in good hands. He has been out here for 20 months, and has the language down pat. He doesn´t speak English to me, except when I say "Comó se dicé....." or Qué signífica...." Which basically means, how so you say...? or what does..... mean? I can basically understand most of what is being said, the most frustrating part is that I cannot say what I want to say. It is extremely important for me to learn this language so that I will more effectively in bringing the gospel to the people of Mexicó,... Especially Los Mochis, which is where I am right now.
Another side note, apparently our mission is what is known as a baptizing mission, I didn´t truly appreciate what that meant, until this Saturday, when two investigators of ours were baptized. Their names were Roberto, and Yihydia (ju-hyd-a). It was quite the experience. And, I was only able to watch two sessions of conference, because the rule here is, you have to bring an investigator with you, or you don´t go. That was quite an eye-opener for me, along with the fact the it was in SPANISH! Ahhhhhh everything here is in Spanish, Including this computer I am using right now. Anyway, that is about the extent of my week. Oh, I forgot, I have probably walked about 2,000,000 miles or close to it in this past week! Ha ha, it is quite fun.
My mission president is such a Spiritual-Powerhouse/Giant. I really look forward to the opportunity of serving under his direction, and his wife is such a sweet lady. Anyway, I am sure that these next two years are going to be quite interesting. T here have already been so many experiences that I shall never forget. I have been so blessed to have been born in the United States, to a loving family. We are teaching a family, who lives in a house that is smaller that our living room. They have 9 children who live with them, they don´t have much work, and because of their poverty, none of their children can read. They do not have any access to water, and their power is going to be shut off soon, because they cannot pay the bill. I pray so hard that they will accept the gospel, so that they can experience that Joy and Happiness that accompanies it. It is such a blessing to know that if they make good decisions, get baptized, and endure to the end, they will be able to find a home in one of the Mansions that our Father in Heaven has prepared for them. My eyes have really been opened this past week, and I am sure that I still have more yet to learn.
I love you all so much, and am so grateful for your patience with me, and your faith. You are in my prayers continually.
Love
Elder Johnson
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Fri, Mar 25, 2011
Hey Family! In four days, I will be on a plane going to Mexico! I am sooooooo excited. The next time you hear from me, I am going to be lost in an unfamiliar country speaking a different language! It is so exciting. We have some bad news though,... My companion Elder Zabriskie found out that he has cancer, so he is going to be having surgery on this up-coming Tuesday. They say that the recovery time after the surgery is about 2-3 weeks, so he is really bummed about not getting to head out with the rest of us. We have been going back and forth between doctors for the past two weeks trying to get this all figured out. I pretty sure that the cancer is not that bad, and I just hope that he is going to be able come to Mexico. About this weather today.... So when I walked to the temple this morning, at like 7:30, it was nice and warm, maybe a little overcast. When I came out of the temple, there was snow everywhere. It was snowing very strong, and I JUST had my suit dry cleaned. Oh, well, that is life huh? Well, I love you all so much. I know that this church is the true church, and that Jesus is at the head of it. The Gospel just makes sense. I don't really know how else to put it. I love my Savior. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, called by God to restore this gospel to the earth. I am so excited to bring this message to the people in Culiacan Mexico. Love Elder Johnson
Fri, Mar 18, 2011
Dear Family, Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 12:06 PM
I was so happy to hear from you. There have been so many things that have happened this week.
This Wednesday, we received our travel plans, and that has been SOOOO exciting. We leave on the 28th, at like 6 in the morning, and arrive in Culiacan at 6 in the afternoon. I love it here at the MTC, but I am so excited to finally get out and serve the people in Mexico. It is going to be quite the experience not knowing that much Spanish. I take comfort in the fact that I am learning Spanish and not Japanese or something. And also that this is what the Lord has planned for me, and so he will provide a way for me to accomplish the tasks that are ahead of me. He is going ahead, and preparing the way for me.
Speaking of Spanish, we just learned this new form of conjugating this week, that doesn't exist in English! It has been super exciting and funny, because all of us are so lost. It will come with time though.
Probably one of the biggest things that has happened in the past two weeks, is that I have developed such a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For the past few devotionals, they have been centered around the Atonement, and we have had many WONDERFUL speakers who have edified us. Then to top all of this off, in choir this Tuesday, we sang a song called "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hand" It was so powerful, and as I have pondered the words in it, I have received such a love for Jesus.
Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands:
Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands,
The Marks upon His side,
Then ponder who He meant to save,
When on the Cross He died.
We cannot see the Love of God
Which saves us from the Fall,
Yet know that Christ from wood and nails
Build mansions for us all.
Behold the outstretched hands of Christ,
Our God, who came to save,
Whose Love and grace redeems our souls
And lifts us from the grace.
Though bruised and battered as we stray
His guiding hands caress,
He washes and anoints with oil
Then in His arms we rest.
Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands,
Look to your Lord and live,
He yearns to bless you with His Love
And all your sins forgive,
Oh empty is the heart of man
When it is filled with sin.
Come open wide your broken heart,
And let your Savior in!
Behold the wounded hands and feet!
Come touch and see and feel
The wounds and marks that you may know
His Love for you is real.
Then as you fall to worship Him
And wet His feet with tears,
You savior takes you in His arms
And quiets all your fears.
This is such a wonderful song. I know that my Savior lives. He loves me. He died for me. He died for us all, and that gives us such great motivation to do all that we can to live with God again. It is our responsibility to make that sacrifice is not in vain. I know that through the atonement we can live with our Father in Heaven once more. As a family. What comfort and Joy this sentence gives.
I love you all so very much, and hope that everything is doing well at home.
Love Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie, you are the BEST!
I was so happy to hear from you. There have been so many things that have happened this week.
This Wednesday, we received our travel plans, and that has been SOOOO exciting. We leave on the 28th, at like 6 in the morning, and arrive in Culiacan at 6 in the afternoon. I love it here at the MTC, but I am so excited to finally get out and serve the people in Mexico. It is going to be quite the experience not knowing that much Spanish. I take comfort in the fact that I am learning Spanish and not Japanese or something. And also that this is what the Lord has planned for me, and so he will provide a way for me to accomplish the tasks that are ahead of me. He is going ahead, and preparing the way for me.
Speaking of Spanish, we just learned this new form of conjugating this week, that doesn't exist in English! It has been super exciting and funny, because all of us are so lost. It will come with time though.
Probably one of the biggest things that has happened in the past two weeks, is that I have developed such a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For the past few devotionals, they have been centered around the Atonement, and we have had many WONDERFUL speakers who have edified us. Then to top all of this off, in choir this Tuesday, we sang a song called "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hand" It was so powerful, and as I have pondered the words in it, I have received such a love for Jesus.
Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands:
Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands,
The Marks upon His side,
Then ponder who He meant to save,
When on the Cross He died.
We cannot see the Love of God
Which saves us from the Fall,
Yet know that Christ from wood and nails
Build mansions for us all.
Behold the outstretched hands of Christ,
Our God, who came to save,
Whose Love and grace redeems our souls
And lifts us from the grace.
Though bruised and battered as we stray
His guiding hands caress,
He washes and anoints with oil
Then in His arms we rest.
Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands,
Look to your Lord and live,
He yearns to bless you with His Love
And all your sins forgive,
Oh empty is the heart of man
When it is filled with sin.
Come open wide your broken heart,
And let your Savior in!
Behold the wounded hands and feet!
Come touch and see and feel
The wounds and marks that you may know
His Love for you is real.
Then as you fall to worship Him
And wet His feet with tears,
You savior takes you in His arms
And quiets all your fears.
This is such a wonderful song. I know that my Savior lives. He loves me. He died for me. He died for us all, and that gives us such great motivation to do all that we can to live with God again. It is our responsibility to make that sacrifice is not in vain. I know that through the atonement we can live with our Father in Heaven once more. As a family. What comfort and Joy this sentence gives.
I love you all so very much, and hope that everything is doing well at home.
Love Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie, you are the BEST!
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