September 17, 2012

Dear Family, So, how are you all doing? I feel like just yesterday was Monday, and now a whole week has passed by. The precious time that I have to serve the Lord is passing by rapidly. I don't ever want it to end. Well, in this week, we have had many awesome experiences. One of those that really sticks out to me is what happened when I went on divisions with Elder Goates. Elder Lazaro and I had decided to stop visiting the Hna. Maria, because we had two weeks visiting her, and she had not come to church. She was reading and praying, but for some reason or another, she did not come to church. Well, we went to visit her, and the purpose of our visit was to tell her that we would not be visiting her anymore. Well, when we first started up the lesson, she started to tell us that she could never baptize herself in our church. She put up the "excuse" that she has lots of faith in the Virgin Guadalupe. Well, we started to ask her specific questions, trying to get to the root of the problem, and after a few questions, we discovered that another religion had passed by her house and that they had offended her for her supposed faith. So, then when we began talking about the subject, she made the comment to us that she had noticed the difference in the way that we preached compared to the other "missionaries". She told us that every time that we pass by, she feels good. She feels peace, tranquility, and the love of God. (Imagine that,.... this is what she felt when we were reprimanding her for not going to church) We then testified to her that these were the feelings of the spirit. She then told us, out of the blue, that she would be going to church this upcoming Sunday. AND SHE CAME!!! Two weeks of inviting her, and she finally understood the importance of going to church. She actually came earlier than we did. She also told us that she felt really good in the church, and that she was making preparations to go to the stake conference this up-coming week. God has a plan for each of us, his children. Through this plan, He is working to bring us back to His presence. Sometimes we do not understand the why. Why the things happen the way they do. Or the when, but God has everything worked out, and we just have to be in tune to the Holy Ghost so that we might do His will, and not ours. So, Elder Lazaro and I have really had some great opportunities to grow and develop unity over the course of the past week. I was reading a letter from Elder (Kyle) Turner, the other day, and he made the comment that he was going to have 7 1/2 months with the same companion. He related how they were best friends, and that they were seeing miracles in their area. I am 100% sure that it is because of their unity as a companionship. It is amazing to see how, when a companionship is unified in purpose and obedience, miracles happen. This is what we are working on, Elder Lazaro and I. I have 4 months left in the mission. It is possible that I could have 1 more companion. Imagine the miracles that will happen. I am really super excited. I love this work. There is NOTHING better. Take care at home. Love, Elder Johnson