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.