August 27, 2012

Dear Family, Hello, how are you all doing? It was really good to hear from you all. I am going to tell you all about some of the experiences that I have had over the course of these past few weeks in Mazatlan. First I would like to elaborate on the weather here. Supposedly, according to the people here, it was really hot right before I got here. All I can really say is that it has been raining. LOTS. I love it. It just starts pouring. The first time, all of my books and pamphlets got wet, including my journal… L But since then, I have been more prepared. I have all of the contents of my backpack wrapped up in plastic bags. I will try to include some pictures of when it rained! I love the rain, mainly because of the brief relief that it provides from the intense heat. It is crazy when we ride our bikes through it, because the water is so high that when we pedal, our feet get soaked on the downwards stroke. Guess what? All of the irrigating that we did for those years has finally paid off. Here on the mission the baptismal fonts don`t drain just naturally. I have had to work a lot with pumps. I finally have had the opportunity to put that knowledge to use. We have to prime them and all sorts of good stuff. Who would have thought that it would pay off like that. It is honestly a whole lot better than bailing the water out with buckets. So, I have been really stressed out for these past few days. I did divisions with the other Elders in our District this past week. I went with Elder Goates to his area, and his companion, Elder Green, went to mine. During these divisions Elder Goates told me that Elder Green is really struggling right now. (I do not know if I mentioned it, but this is the first transfer in the field for Elder Green, he just arrived from the MTC) On various occasions, he has told his companion that he wants to go home. He has lost all desire to be here on the mission. This really has been worrying me. This Gospel is not one of obligation. Even God, the creator of the Heavens and the Earth, respects our Agency. So if he doesn’t want to be here, no one is going to force him. This next Tuesday, we are going to have interviews with President. We`ll see what is going to happen. I try to always be happy and animated, so that maybe it will be contagious. All that I can do now is pray for him. To talk a little about the people that we have in teaching right now, there is Lupita and Ernesto; Alàn and Nelson; Gisel, Lisbeth, and Andrea; Hno and Hna Laguna; Alejandra. We really have just been seeing miracles these past few weeks. There are so many people who have started progressing. Lupita and Ernesto have been taught for 5 months now, but the recently have started to progress. The Hno Ernesto has stopped drinking for 2 weeks now! J That is a major plus. Alàn and Nelson are the sons of Samuel, and if everything goes well they are going to be baptized this next Saturday. YAY! Gisel and her daughters we found two weeks ago knocking on doors. She is super golden. She told us that she went the Mormon Church when she was younger, and her children keep pressuring her to take them. I am super excited for them. Hno Laguna is the classic grouchy grandpa. It is fantastic. He behaves himself with us, because we fall well with him (or in other terms, we get along great). Every lesson is filled with tears and laughter. He tells us about his life and all of the things that passed to him. We really have been struggling with him, because he doesn`t believe in God. Also he is the second old person who has buffed and shined my shoes while I have been a missionary. That was a very sweet experience. It really reminds me of the Saviors’ example. I love you all. Elder Johnson