July 2, 2012

Dear Family, Thank you so much for your letter. The story about the girls-scout camp reminds me about many of the campouts that we went on as children that didn´t turn out as they should have. Like the time we went on a "summer" campout and it started to rain and snow. Who knows. Utah weather has something against scouting programs. Oh, and here´s a funny fact for you. I have never sent so many text messages in my entire life as I have in these past three months. It is just ridiculous just how many messages we send, in communication. The good thing is that calls between missionaries are free. I will not lie, I am getting pretty good at texting in Spanish! Ha ha Excerpt from the 1 Book of Johnson So, I will now proceed to tell you about a few things that came to pass during the course of this week. And it came to pass that as I,Elder Johnson, and my companion, Elder Toomey, went about doing good and serving in the vineyard of the Lord, there came upon us a great tribulation. We, having previously worked among the people of this area for some time, and further-more having seen a growing desire to change wrought upon the hearts of many, we decided to proceed in our efforts to bring the Hna. Ana Maria into the waters of baptism. Thus, moving forth in our preparations, we made notice to the fact that the Hna. Ana hath lost her interest, cultivating a growing esteem for the Catholic sect. and thus having lost her desire to be baptized. She, after having given heed to the many commentaries made by the Evil-one in his many guises, thus maketh known unto us that she has no desire to continue on. We, having done everything within our power to assist in her progression to eternal life, in the end we maketh not these crucial decisions for her. Thus I quote "That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment." (Doctrine and Covenants 101:78) Hence, and thus saddened, Elder Toomey and I have once again begun the arduous process of finding new people. At times, life is difficult. President Cantù sent me a message to day that really has helped me. He told me, "consider the words of the Elder Henry B. Eyring, "I have seen the faith and courage that comes from a witness that we are prepared to live an eternal life by OurFather. The disciple who accepts each test as an invitation to grow will therefore qualify for Peace and will have eternal life throughany difficulties that may arise."" I know that my Redeemer lives. He lived and died for all of us. I know that there is some reason for whythese trails happen. Perhaps it is so that I might more fully understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and what he gave for us. Iam beginning to get a glimpse of how our Father in Heaven feels when he teaches us so clearly the path, and we fall short. Agency is amarvelous. We must anxiously be engaged in a good cause, and do many things of our own will and choice. God does not want us to wait to be told. He loves us and He wants us all to make the Salvation our personal goal. Transfers happened. Nothing changed. Weather update: More or less hot. Cloudy all day, but it never rains. We are in a drought. I love you. I hope all is well in house. Love, Elder Johnson p.s. I read a talk in from conference, that I did not get a chance to watch. It is called The Laborers in the Vineyard. Great Talk