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