Dear Family,
This week was really great. As always, the first week of the transfer is filled with new experiences, meeting new people and getting to know your companion. Mine has been filled with that, and a whole lot more. This week we had the opportunity to go to Culiacan as a Mission. Well, actually everyone except for the Baja. In Culiacan we were able to play dodge ball, and really just have a day of relax this Thursday. When we played the Mexicans vs. the Foreigners, the odds were pretty bad. There was like 70 Mexicans and 30 Foreigners. It is okay though, because we played hard and came out Champions in the end. Then in the afternoon we had the chance to have a testimony devotional of the mission. There really was such an amazing Spirit there. We slept in a house in Humaya with 7 other Missionaries. Due to the amount of space allotted, I was resigned to sleep on the floor. After two good nights of sleeping on the floor, I have come back to Los Mochis with the resolve to keep sleeping on the floor. It really is quite fun. I have like 4 blankets for padding, and two others to keep warm, so don’t feel too bad for me. I am enjoying myself.
So, the more and more that I have thought about my return trip to Libertad, the more and more I have come the think that there must be something really special that I must do or experience here. I need to be alert, and keep my eyes out for all of the things that have been happening in these days. It really has brought back some great memories though. Hours and hours of contacting has really been great for my system. I really do enjoy it. But despite that, we really cannot do that much contacting, because it is not really considered using our time effectively.
Well, this week is awesome, I love being a missionary. I know this gospel is true. I do not have one doubt about that. I have seen it bless the lives of so many people, including my own life. I know that this really is the best investment of my time that I could do, ever. And when it is all over and done, and the dice have been rolled, I am the one who really comes out with more blessings than I could possibly ever imagine. I would not trade this time for anything. Our bishop said something yesterday that really stuck with me. He was talking to a mother who was about to send her son out on a mission. He said, "You send a young boy out to be a Missionary, and he comes back a Man, and a faithful Priesthood holder." I love this work, and I love my Savior. There is nothing more.
Love,
Elder Johnson
Friday, December 16, 2011
December 5, 2011
Dear Family,
Well, this past week was transfers! Woohoo. I believe that I told you how the last transfers were quite odd. Well these ones were even more so. Elder Rendòn was sent to La Paz in La Baja California Sur. He will be there during the following Christmas for sure! I, on the other hand, stay here in Los Mochis... I just change areas. I have moved BACK to Libertad. The same area where I started my mission. Talk about something out of the ordinary huh? Anyways, it will be interesting to see what this transfer has in store for Elder Allen and me. Our district consists of only Senior Companions. Elder Allan and I are both Senior companion. Elder Fernandez Paz and Elder Cardenas, and the Zone Leaders Elder Reyes and Elder Romero R. So yeah we are super excited.
Elder Allen, my new companion, is a great guy. He has one transfer more in the mission than me. So we are a couple of greenies right? It really brings back memories. Elder Allen is from Murray up in Utah. He just told me that out there you guys had some crazy winds. I sure hope that everyone is doing alright. He loves baseball, and football American. It will be really funny to see how this turns out, because I do not know the first thing about either of these two sports. In fact, I don’t even know where Murray is. South or North of Provo? That is the question.
So, the big question that Elder Rendòn and I had was “Who is going to be in Jardìn B?” Sister Missionaries. We have now realized that Elder Rendòn and I were just preparing the way for the Sisters to come in. We did all of the grunt work and didn´t even get to enjoy the benefits. I hope that all is going to be okay in that area. Some narcos (Mexican gangsters) trapped down a police truck this past Saturday and killed the officers. This happened right on the limits of our area. The whole town is on high alert. I have seen like 30 army and police vehicles patrolling the town in the past two days.
The Hna Elva really has been progressing after the death of her mother. She is excited for her baptism this 17th of December. Also, a boy named Giovanii is preparing for his baptism that same day. The area really has some untapped potential, and I wish those sister good luck. I have returned to my first little area.
Well, I love you all so much. This gospel is the greatest.
Love Elder Johnson
Well, this past week was transfers! Woohoo. I believe that I told you how the last transfers were quite odd. Well these ones were even more so. Elder Rendòn was sent to La Paz in La Baja California Sur. He will be there during the following Christmas for sure! I, on the other hand, stay here in Los Mochis... I just change areas. I have moved BACK to Libertad. The same area where I started my mission. Talk about something out of the ordinary huh? Anyways, it will be interesting to see what this transfer has in store for Elder Allen and me. Our district consists of only Senior Companions. Elder Allan and I are both Senior companion. Elder Fernandez Paz and Elder Cardenas, and the Zone Leaders Elder Reyes and Elder Romero R. So yeah we are super excited.
Elder Allen, my new companion, is a great guy. He has one transfer more in the mission than me. So we are a couple of greenies right? It really brings back memories. Elder Allen is from Murray up in Utah. He just told me that out there you guys had some crazy winds. I sure hope that everyone is doing alright. He loves baseball, and football American. It will be really funny to see how this turns out, because I do not know the first thing about either of these two sports. In fact, I don’t even know where Murray is. South or North of Provo? That is the question.
So, the big question that Elder Rendòn and I had was “Who is going to be in Jardìn B?” Sister Missionaries. We have now realized that Elder Rendòn and I were just preparing the way for the Sisters to come in. We did all of the grunt work and didn´t even get to enjoy the benefits. I hope that all is going to be okay in that area. Some narcos (Mexican gangsters) trapped down a police truck this past Saturday and killed the officers. This happened right on the limits of our area. The whole town is on high alert. I have seen like 30 army and police vehicles patrolling the town in the past two days.
The Hna Elva really has been progressing after the death of her mother. She is excited for her baptism this 17th of December. Also, a boy named Giovanii is preparing for his baptism that same day. The area really has some untapped potential, and I wish those sister good luck. I have returned to my first little area.
Well, I love you all so much. This gospel is the greatest.
Love Elder Johnson
November 28, 2011
Dear Family
I love you. Enough said.
Well happy Thanks Giving, Daddies Birthday! I sure hope that everyone enjoyed it. I sure was a little bit jealous, but not of the weather. I do not know how I could ever stand cold weather. Now that I have been down here for a while, I have begun to acclimatize (I do not know if that is a word, but bare with me) and I am shivering in the night. It is super crazy. Oh yeah! It rained like one day and all of the streets were filled with water because there is no drainage system here in Mochis! Yeah for muddy shoes with giant holes (do not worry Mother, I bought new shoes today).
So this week, Elder Rendòn and I have finished moving into the new house. It really has been a hassle. We have been working at this for the past five weeks and finally it is done. The house has a lot to be desired, but we will make do. I am guessing that with time, we will be able to find out why there miraculously and mysteriously appeared a small river on our floor. I am not kidding, were talking about like two inches of water here! But even if life sends us obstacles, we are going to go forth with faith. and a mop.
So, the biggest bummer of this week would be the fact that Hna Elva was not able to come with us to church this Sunday. It was really sad because her Mother had died this Wednesday, and she had to go and attend to things of the funeral, and she just was out of sorts. We are going to pray for miracles and give her a new baptismal date tomorrow. What she needs right now is the knowledge and joy that comes from living within the gospel, and we are the ones who are going to help her with that. Other than that, we have dropped just about all of our old investigators, and are starting from zero. It has been one of those new things that President has been trying for us. We’ll see how well it goes.
Also, we had interviews with President this past Tuesday! Yep, I am pretty sure that Pres. Cantu is basically the BEST and most AWESOME mission president in the world. He knows the answer to almost every question, and is super spiritual and practical. I just love the opportunities that we have to learn and receive guidance from President.
Also, Elder Rendòn sends his salutations. He was sick this past week, but is getting better. He had blisters on his feet that were the size of my thumb! Yep, that was a struggle!
I love you all once again, and I wish you all the best.
Elder Johnson
I love you. Enough said.
Well happy Thanks Giving, Daddies Birthday! I sure hope that everyone enjoyed it. I sure was a little bit jealous, but not of the weather. I do not know how I could ever stand cold weather. Now that I have been down here for a while, I have begun to acclimatize (I do not know if that is a word, but bare with me) and I am shivering in the night. It is super crazy. Oh yeah! It rained like one day and all of the streets were filled with water because there is no drainage system here in Mochis! Yeah for muddy shoes with giant holes (do not worry Mother, I bought new shoes today).
So this week, Elder Rendòn and I have finished moving into the new house. It really has been a hassle. We have been working at this for the past five weeks and finally it is done. The house has a lot to be desired, but we will make do. I am guessing that with time, we will be able to find out why there miraculously and mysteriously appeared a small river on our floor. I am not kidding, were talking about like two inches of water here! But even if life sends us obstacles, we are going to go forth with faith. and a mop.
So, the biggest bummer of this week would be the fact that Hna Elva was not able to come with us to church this Sunday. It was really sad because her Mother had died this Wednesday, and she had to go and attend to things of the funeral, and she just was out of sorts. We are going to pray for miracles and give her a new baptismal date tomorrow. What she needs right now is the knowledge and joy that comes from living within the gospel, and we are the ones who are going to help her with that. Other than that, we have dropped just about all of our old investigators, and are starting from zero. It has been one of those new things that President has been trying for us. We’ll see how well it goes.
Also, we had interviews with President this past Tuesday! Yep, I am pretty sure that Pres. Cantu is basically the BEST and most AWESOME mission president in the world. He knows the answer to almost every question, and is super spiritual and practical. I just love the opportunities that we have to learn and receive guidance from President.
Also, Elder Rendòn sends his salutations. He was sick this past week, but is getting better. He had blisters on his feet that were the size of my thumb! Yep, that was a struggle!
I love you all once again, and I wish you all the best.
Elder Johnson
November 21, 2011
Dear Family,
Hola! How has everything been doing? I sure hope that everything is as good as it is here in Los Mochis. I sure hope that you are all having a great time in Canada. Can you all believe that it has been a whole year since I came back from Hawaii! It is really super crazy how fast the time just flies. I am glad that I gave a good impression during my time in Hawaii, because I really enjoyed it. I have a few questions. Zach is going to Columbus Ohio? I think that is the same mission as Kyle. If so, I should tell him to keep his look out for a Elder Nielsen... haha
Well up-dates for the week... I guess, I should just warn you all that I am going to have to use the credit card a little bit for the next month or so, because you see,... I am just not that organized, and I lost the card of the mission. I think that there are little credit card stealing gnomes walking around, and they have taken a liking to stealing my cards. Oh, and by the way... I have no idea what is my pin number is. If you could look into that, I would be much obliged.
So yeah, Mexico is pretty great this time of year. The temperature has really backed down. Instead of 45-47 degrees (c° of course,.. In fact I have not heard the temperature in f° for 8 months!) it has been a pleasing 30-35. It is quite a pleasant change.
Well, this week has been really great. Elder Rendon and I were able to see many miracles according to our unity as a companionship. So we were able to give a really powerful lesson to a family of Menus Actives about having them go to church. Also we put a baptismal date for the Hna Elva, and her daughter. But one of the most neat experiences that I had was when we were teaching a lesson to a Maria Rosario Rocha. We were giving her a really blatant lesson trying to impress upon her the importance of being consistent in our worship of the Lord. After the lesson Elder Rendon pulled me aside, and he told me that at one point in the lesson when I was talking, the spirit was so strong and I was talking super clear and perfect. It really gave me an appreciation for the gift of tongues. Do not worry, since then I have returned to speaking my broken yet understandable Spanish, but it comforts me to think that these types of miracles really do take place nowadays.
I love you all so much. With each passing day, week and month, I gain more and more appreciation for the great opportunity and blessing that I have to serve this mission to the Lord. Our time is precious here on this earth. We had better be careful with the things that we decide to do with this great blessing, which is time. I will never have another chance in this life to dedicate all of my time and all of my efforts to Him to whom I owe everything. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Once again, I love you.
Love Elder Johnson
p.s. well something really hilarious took place while we were writing these letters. The owner of this internet business put on anti-mormon videos like fifteen minutes after we came in. haha it really is quite funny. We have such an impact on the people.
p.p.s. next week I will send some photos so you can see how short my companion is. I think he is like 5 feet 2 inches tall... !
Hola! How has everything been doing? I sure hope that everything is as good as it is here in Los Mochis. I sure hope that you are all having a great time in Canada. Can you all believe that it has been a whole year since I came back from Hawaii! It is really super crazy how fast the time just flies. I am glad that I gave a good impression during my time in Hawaii, because I really enjoyed it. I have a few questions. Zach is going to Columbus Ohio? I think that is the same mission as Kyle. If so, I should tell him to keep his look out for a Elder Nielsen... haha
Well up-dates for the week... I guess, I should just warn you all that I am going to have to use the credit card a little bit for the next month or so, because you see,... I am just not that organized, and I lost the card of the mission. I think that there are little credit card stealing gnomes walking around, and they have taken a liking to stealing my cards. Oh, and by the way... I have no idea what is my pin number is. If you could look into that, I would be much obliged.
So yeah, Mexico is pretty great this time of year. The temperature has really backed down. Instead of 45-47 degrees (c° of course,.. In fact I have not heard the temperature in f° for 8 months!) it has been a pleasing 30-35. It is quite a pleasant change.
Well, this week has been really great. Elder Rendon and I were able to see many miracles according to our unity as a companionship. So we were able to give a really powerful lesson to a family of Menus Actives about having them go to church. Also we put a baptismal date for the Hna Elva, and her daughter. But one of the most neat experiences that I had was when we were teaching a lesson to a Maria Rosario Rocha. We were giving her a really blatant lesson trying to impress upon her the importance of being consistent in our worship of the Lord. After the lesson Elder Rendon pulled me aside, and he told me that at one point in the lesson when I was talking, the spirit was so strong and I was talking super clear and perfect. It really gave me an appreciation for the gift of tongues. Do not worry, since then I have returned to speaking my broken yet understandable Spanish, but it comforts me to think that these types of miracles really do take place nowadays.
I love you all so much. With each passing day, week and month, I gain more and more appreciation for the great opportunity and blessing that I have to serve this mission to the Lord. Our time is precious here on this earth. We had better be careful with the things that we decide to do with this great blessing, which is time. I will never have another chance in this life to dedicate all of my time and all of my efforts to Him to whom I owe everything. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Once again, I love you.
Love Elder Johnson
p.s. well something really hilarious took place while we were writing these letters. The owner of this internet business put on anti-mormon videos like fifteen minutes after we came in. haha it really is quite funny. We have such an impact on the people.
p.p.s. next week I will send some photos so you can see how short my companion is. I think he is like 5 feet 2 inches tall... !
November 14, 2011
Dear Family,
This week has been really long but great. So, since the beginning of this transfer, we (Elder Rendon and I) have been trying to find a house to rent in our area. It has been quite difficult not to mention the fact that the house that we live in right now is not even in our area. Every day we have been walking from another area to our area just so that we can begin to work. It has gotten quite tiresome, and not to mention that it doesn´t really allow us to work real effectively. We have finally found a house, bought the furniture, and have fixed up the contract. Now, the only thing left to do is wait until the owner of the house cleans it up a bit, paints it and fixes a few things and then from there we will be good to go! This whole process has really eaten into our working time this week. We talked with the Hna Cantu, and she told us that she wanted this thing done as quickly as possible, and on our own. It was a great learning experience. I felt all grown up, trying to rent a house and all. Anyways, if everything goes well, we should be moved in by the end of this week, or by the start of the next week. Yipee!
Well, if you want to know something a little sad, I did not even realize that Thanksgiving was coming up! Crazy huh? The thing is, I am sure that in one week or so, there will be some sort of national holiday (I think) but I don’t even know if they celebrate Thanksgiving here in Mexico. That is great that you guys might be able to make it up to Canada for the Holidays. I am a little jealous. Maybe I will have to celebrate it down here with Elder Rendon and our District. We have SISTERS! in our district! Woohoo, it really is fun.
Well, as for me, life is great. We have some great people who are progressing like, Elva and her daughters Yicel and Nallely, Sylvia, Anabel, and of course our good old gangster friend Mario and his parents! All of these people really have some potential, and I just keep praying that they will keep on progressing.
I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I love the Lord and this Gospel. There ain't nothin better!
I love you all so much.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. thanks for the pictures of Jackie! I hardly even recognize her. She looks real grown up.
p.p.s. Benjamin.. Letters! ;)
p.p.s. Sorry it’s so short.
This week has been really long but great. So, since the beginning of this transfer, we (Elder Rendon and I) have been trying to find a house to rent in our area. It has been quite difficult not to mention the fact that the house that we live in right now is not even in our area. Every day we have been walking from another area to our area just so that we can begin to work. It has gotten quite tiresome, and not to mention that it doesn´t really allow us to work real effectively. We have finally found a house, bought the furniture, and have fixed up the contract. Now, the only thing left to do is wait until the owner of the house cleans it up a bit, paints it and fixes a few things and then from there we will be good to go! This whole process has really eaten into our working time this week. We talked with the Hna Cantu, and she told us that she wanted this thing done as quickly as possible, and on our own. It was a great learning experience. I felt all grown up, trying to rent a house and all. Anyways, if everything goes well, we should be moved in by the end of this week, or by the start of the next week. Yipee!
Well, if you want to know something a little sad, I did not even realize that Thanksgiving was coming up! Crazy huh? The thing is, I am sure that in one week or so, there will be some sort of national holiday (I think) but I don’t even know if they celebrate Thanksgiving here in Mexico. That is great that you guys might be able to make it up to Canada for the Holidays. I am a little jealous. Maybe I will have to celebrate it down here with Elder Rendon and our District. We have SISTERS! in our district! Woohoo, it really is fun.
Well, as for me, life is great. We have some great people who are progressing like, Elva and her daughters Yicel and Nallely, Sylvia, Anabel, and of course our good old gangster friend Mario and his parents! All of these people really have some potential, and I just keep praying that they will keep on progressing.
I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I love the Lord and this Gospel. There ain't nothin better!
I love you all so much.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. thanks for the pictures of Jackie! I hardly even recognize her. She looks real grown up.
p.p.s. Benjamin.. Letters! ;)
p.p.s. Sorry it’s so short.
November 5, 2011
Hello Family!
This week was a "once in a mission" week. (though I hope that we will continue having weeks like these) First off, thank you all soo soo much for the package for my birthday. I really enjoyed everything, especially the SPAM! Woohoo! Everything was great, and the tie is super awesome (and clean). By the way, do not worry about last week, but I really was enjoying myself writing about flying fish. It didn’t have anything to do with drugs.... haha
Anyways, this week, first of all, I completed my twentieth birthday. It was great. I got wet. I guess there is some kind of "tradition" here in Mexico that says that you have to get the birthday kid wet. My companions took this way too literally. They unloaded a 5 gallon bucket over my head!
Other than that, this week has been a real faith promoting week. We (Elder Rendon and I) did not have very many lessons this week, and so we were pretty bummed out about that, but we had like 4 really powerful experiences espirituales. I will tell you about some of them. This Wednesday, as we were walking home at 8:20 in the night, we heard someone calling to us. We started to head over, because my companion (who is short) could not see them, and he wanted to see who it was. As it turns out, they were a group of thugs who were drinking. I wanted to turn around, and walk away, but we did not. We walked right up to them, began to talk to them. It was really strange, because we could literally feel that they had bad intentions with us, and that they were up to no good. There was 5 of them, and 2 of us, and they formed a circle around us. But we just started talking to them, getting to know them. (the whole time trying to keep our cool). As we began to teach and testify to them, we could literally feel the atmosphere, and ambient change. They lost their aggressive stances, and began to ask real question. It was really great, and at the end they allotted us a time in which we could return to visit with them. Then we left. So yeah, by now we are freaking out, because we felt like we just narrowly escaped with our lives... (a little exaggeration) but it gets better. We went to visit them yesterday to check up on them, and see how they were doing. We found one of them, had a powerful lesson, and committed him (Mario) to be baptized. HE ACCEPTED! Yep.. it was great.
Also, another of these faith promoting experiences happened yesterday. We were down in lessons the whole week, and we felt a little down. When we got to Sunday, we went to Hna Sylvia's house to help her so that she could go to the church. She went, and not only her, but she brought her whole family! Than when we got to the church, another two couples came to church. We had a total of SEVEN investigators in the church. I have not had that many since I was in my very first transfer with Elder Cope. It really was a great blessing that God had granted us to receive.
Well, I must be going now, because we have a Family Home Evening with Sylvia in one hour, and we must prepare!
I love you all so much. The church is true. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a missionary. God allows me to receive blessings and see miracle that I could not even imagine.
Love Elder Johnson
This week was a "once in a mission" week. (though I hope that we will continue having weeks like these) First off, thank you all soo soo much for the package for my birthday. I really enjoyed everything, especially the SPAM! Woohoo! Everything was great, and the tie is super awesome (and clean). By the way, do not worry about last week, but I really was enjoying myself writing about flying fish. It didn’t have anything to do with drugs.... haha
Anyways, this week, first of all, I completed my twentieth birthday. It was great. I got wet. I guess there is some kind of "tradition" here in Mexico that says that you have to get the birthday kid wet. My companions took this way too literally. They unloaded a 5 gallon bucket over my head!
Other than that, this week has been a real faith promoting week. We (Elder Rendon and I) did not have very many lessons this week, and so we were pretty bummed out about that, but we had like 4 really powerful experiences espirituales. I will tell you about some of them. This Wednesday, as we were walking home at 8:20 in the night, we heard someone calling to us. We started to head over, because my companion (who is short) could not see them, and he wanted to see who it was. As it turns out, they were a group of thugs who were drinking. I wanted to turn around, and walk away, but we did not. We walked right up to them, began to talk to them. It was really strange, because we could literally feel that they had bad intentions with us, and that they were up to no good. There was 5 of them, and 2 of us, and they formed a circle around us. But we just started talking to them, getting to know them. (the whole time trying to keep our cool). As we began to teach and testify to them, we could literally feel the atmosphere, and ambient change. They lost their aggressive stances, and began to ask real question. It was really great, and at the end they allotted us a time in which we could return to visit with them. Then we left. So yeah, by now we are freaking out, because we felt like we just narrowly escaped with our lives... (a little exaggeration) but it gets better. We went to visit them yesterday to check up on them, and see how they were doing. We found one of them, had a powerful lesson, and committed him (Mario) to be baptized. HE ACCEPTED! Yep.. it was great.
Also, another of these faith promoting experiences happened yesterday. We were down in lessons the whole week, and we felt a little down. When we got to Sunday, we went to Hna Sylvia's house to help her so that she could go to the church. She went, and not only her, but she brought her whole family! Than when we got to the church, another two couples came to church. We had a total of SEVEN investigators in the church. I have not had that many since I was in my very first transfer with Elder Cope. It really was a great blessing that God had granted us to receive.
Well, I must be going now, because we have a Family Home Evening with Sylvia in one hour, and we must prepare!
I love you all so much. The church is true. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a missionary. God allows me to receive blessings and see miracle that I could not even imagine.
Love Elder Johnson
October 31, 2011
My Dear Family,
Hello from México! Another bright and shiny week has passed down here in the beautiful country of México. I must tell you all about it.
The last letter that I was able to write to you, I was a little shook up.... Like a fish out of water. But someone took the fish out of the water and gave it wings. With these wings, and a lot of help, the fish started to make his first attempts in the world of air and wind. At first it was a little bumpy, a little awkward trying to get the tail and the fins and the wings to all work together, but in the end... the fish did fly. Then there was a cat. Now some of you might say; "Wait? Fish can't fly!" or "Why didn't the fish learn to walk first and then fly?" and others would be saying "What happened with the cat?" and "What does this fish/bird and cat have do with the week of Elder Johnson?". All of these questions would be appropriate to ask. Just don't ask me! 'cause I dunno.
Well, this week was a lot of fun. I will not lie to you. Elder Rendon and I really just click together. He is a little, short, Méxican from Vera Cruz and just a bundle of fun. (I'm not kidding when I say that Jace would be tall in comparison to him) He has six months out in the mission and really is spiritual kinda guy. He works really hard and has the mindset that the harder we work, the better results we will receive. I am super okay with that. Our area is super awesome. It has got to be the best area in the whole mission. There is like 2000 members in this area, and 300! are active. It is so great that they are planning on building a new stake-center. They already have the land bought. So we really have our work cut out for us. Basically we are driving the reference truck. We have been going to all of the members houses and asked for references, and are seeing a bunch of results from this. So far we have two people lined up for baptism in these coming weeks. Not too bad for opening up the area. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still so much more untapped potential. I really cannot explain how excited I am for this change.
So yeah, other than just "rocking out" the area and having a blast not too much else has been happening. Ooo, I got bit by a dog! Yeah, it was really quite a story. And it turns into an even more fantastic story when you listen to Elder Rendon tell it. They way he tells it, I sound like some sort of Super-Hero. We were just walking down the street, Elder Rendon and I, when this dog started barking up-ahead of us. Well, we just kept walking, and as we closed to the dog, Elder Rendon started to move off to the side, out of the line-of-fire. (as it turns out, this was the better choice) I, on the other hand, chose to walk straight and pay no heed to the barking dog. When I passed the dog, IT BIT ME! (imagine that,.. barking dogs really do bite) I just kept walking. After a few moments Elder Rendon asked me "did that dog bite you"
I said, "yep"
he said, "I don't believe you, show me", so then I showed him, and my knee was bleeding and I had this hole in my pants. Elder Rendon was in awe because the dog had bit me, and I just kept walking as if nothing had happened. (You have to take into account that the dog was like almost as big as Elder Rendon, so it figures that he was a little shook up)
I hope you enjoyed my letter, because I sure enjoyed writing it. I love you all, and I pray for you always.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie I love you like ALOT!
p.p.s. So if it wouldn't cost toooooooo much could you send dried fruit? Is that too much to ask? Really I would be super happy if I just received a letter filled with dried fruit. PLEASE! :)
Hello from México! Another bright and shiny week has passed down here in the beautiful country of México. I must tell you all about it.
The last letter that I was able to write to you, I was a little shook up.... Like a fish out of water. But someone took the fish out of the water and gave it wings. With these wings, and a lot of help, the fish started to make his first attempts in the world of air and wind. At first it was a little bumpy, a little awkward trying to get the tail and the fins and the wings to all work together, but in the end... the fish did fly. Then there was a cat. Now some of you might say; "Wait? Fish can't fly!" or "Why didn't the fish learn to walk first and then fly?" and others would be saying "What happened with the cat?" and "What does this fish/bird and cat have do with the week of Elder Johnson?". All of these questions would be appropriate to ask. Just don't ask me! 'cause I dunno.
Well, this week was a lot of fun. I will not lie to you. Elder Rendon and I really just click together. He is a little, short, Méxican from Vera Cruz and just a bundle of fun. (I'm not kidding when I say that Jace would be tall in comparison to him) He has six months out in the mission and really is spiritual kinda guy. He works really hard and has the mindset that the harder we work, the better results we will receive. I am super okay with that. Our area is super awesome. It has got to be the best area in the whole mission. There is like 2000 members in this area, and 300! are active. It is so great that they are planning on building a new stake-center. They already have the land bought. So we really have our work cut out for us. Basically we are driving the reference truck. We have been going to all of the members houses and asked for references, and are seeing a bunch of results from this. So far we have two people lined up for baptism in these coming weeks. Not too bad for opening up the area. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still so much more untapped potential. I really cannot explain how excited I am for this change.
So yeah, other than just "rocking out" the area and having a blast not too much else has been happening. Ooo, I got bit by a dog! Yeah, it was really quite a story. And it turns into an even more fantastic story when you listen to Elder Rendon tell it. They way he tells it, I sound like some sort of Super-Hero. We were just walking down the street, Elder Rendon and I, when this dog started barking up-ahead of us. Well, we just kept walking, and as we closed to the dog, Elder Rendon started to move off to the side, out of the line-of-fire. (as it turns out, this was the better choice) I, on the other hand, chose to walk straight and pay no heed to the barking dog. When I passed the dog, IT BIT ME! (imagine that,.. barking dogs really do bite) I just kept walking. After a few moments Elder Rendon asked me "did that dog bite you"
I said, "yep"
he said, "I don't believe you, show me", so then I showed him, and my knee was bleeding and I had this hole in my pants. Elder Rendon was in awe because the dog had bit me, and I just kept walking as if nothing had happened. (You have to take into account that the dog was like almost as big as Elder Rendon, so it figures that he was a little shook up)
I hope you enjoyed my letter, because I sure enjoyed writing it. I love you all, and I pray for you always.
Love, Elder Johnson
p.s. Jackie I love you like ALOT!
p.p.s. So if it wouldn't cost toooooooo much could you send dried fruit? Is that too much to ask? Really I would be super happy if I just received a letter filled with dried fruit. PLEASE! :)
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