Elder Johnson

August 16, 2010

Email #22

FAM-
AH! Thanks to all : ) Barrett I really needed to hear your words about your mission experience. It is nice to know that you understand that feeling of knowing what you want to say and sometimes not being able to... but you are right... I’m reaching the point where I don't have to worry so much about the words and i can think a little bit more about what I am going to teach etc. Thanks for the picture that you sent me Steph, Haley.... i really love seeing what you guys are doing! There is nothing like it... even if I can only see it for 20seconds haha. I know those little ones are growing up, talking more, and are going to be HUGE when I come home... but we don’t talk about coming home yet ;) . . I think about home mostly when I have a strange business idea. Like my churro business that I will have one day. I'm loving the area still...cant believe i have been here in the same area for 3 months! It will be pretty weird;hard to change... but I have at least 5 more weeks here : ) Thanks for putting money on my card mom... worked out perfectly! I hope it was my money! . . ... . ... . .. . .... . I'm turning dark here...but only on the arms and face... my neck line is insane haha, oh the tan lines of a missionary! My new companion is from SLC... Elder Parker Joseph Stocking! We had a great week and he is a great missionary. I already learned a lot this week... like how missionaries work differently, but are always working with the same goal in mind... and when we are doing our part, no matter how YOUR PART differs from another person's, the Lord makes thing happen : ). . Thanks again for the Updates. . . love hearing about your lives! - Love Elder Johnson

P.S. . . This week I received a package of worms, hot tamales, ties, letters (so cute-from the girls), tootsie rolls, and letters....It was a Christmas in Agosto! Thanks so much! We at it all already!

Friends -

ALÔ! Eu sei que vocês Não estão entendendo isso, mas eu queria colocar algo nessa lingua so para dar um poco evidência que eu estou aprendendo, não só estou aqui de ferias! amo vocês! Foi uma boa semanacon certeza, MeuNovo Companheiro È Otimo!

I had a great week with my new Companion Elder Stocking from SLC Utah! Even though we only talk English. . . we connect on a lot more levels than I could connect (socially) With Elder Fonseca...really only because we are from the same place haha. He is a hoot, and even resembles Fully from Monster's inc. when he smiles. I don't know if there is someone on Earth that I just absolutely couldn't get along with, and I'm grateful that the Lord has given me that blessing! . . . Knock On Wood!
We have a bunch of investigators right now.. the hardest part is truly knowing WHO is going to progress .... and making sure that we give everyone sufficient chances to accept the gospel... all while not wasting time and being as effective as we can. To say the least we are learning to plan and work effectively. We had 3 baptisms that were stopped this week because parents didn't allow.... they think that the kids (10, 15, 16) aren’t old enough to know what they want. I testify that this is a lack of Faith and nothing more. The Lord can and does speak to each and every one of his children, without regards to his age. The spirit can't teach in a manner that no human can... because he knows us, and he can communicate directly with our soul!
We had a baptism this week! It was a surprise too! Jansum (Johnson (sounds like)) Sabrina Gomez Da Silva...we had miraculously found this family (Mom Dad Sabrina, Simone, Paloma) a while back, knocking doors (random impulse I had...The spirit? yes!)... and we were stoked! The 3 time we returned, they had searched on the internet and decided that we were living rules of a man (JS) and not of God... To say the least we had to cut them. 3 or 4 weeks later Sabrina appeared as we were teaching her neighbor... Long story short she started listening to the lessons alone, and going to seminary. She stopped drinking Café and now is going to be a strong addition to the young women here! The Lord Works in strange ways!
I know the Church is true. The gospel is simple, and it was meant to be that way. I'm grateful to have been born into a family that places the gospel first and taught me to try and do the same. I know the gospel changes lives. Em Nome de Jesus Cristo Amém

I love you all! -Elder Johnson

I made a cool contraption last night. I decided I'm going to fix my duck footed-ness or whatever it is. I tied the toes of my socks together and put them on. This forces my toes to stay together and not fall sideways when I layon my back. I am going to sleep with these socks until I start walking with my feet straight and not turned out! haha inovation of the missionaries. I also have been using the ladder on the side of the house for pullups... It is amazing what ya cando with an open mind and a little bit of creativity! (like make kites out of one pieace of news paper and string...like lots of people here!)