Howdy!

On November 30, 2010 Elder Johnson wrote:

Family and Friends:

Good day to you all! I hope you are all doing so well! This week I was happy to have gotten a bunch of letters from various persons, and I thank you all so much! They made my month (since we really get mail every month to month and a half). This week was a pretty interesting one. We have two baptisms on Sunday, Diana y Omar. We are excited and a little stressed having to get everything ready for that, such as get them married and such. This will be my first baptism on my mission! Wow...six months in and I'm finally having a baptism! We ran into a great new couple this past week, their names are Manuel y Alma. They came to church on Sunday (after just one visit) and they have agreed to be baptized this coming month. They also need to be married (hmmmm...seems like a pattern here...).

I found out today that scorpions like to find their way into the baptismal font in our church when no one is looking and when it's empty. I haven't seen one yet, but we're going to have to clean that bad boy this weekend. I hope there's a scorpion in it! That would be cool. I went to Mexico City this week to sign some papers so I can legally stay here for the rest of my mission. We went to the immigration office and sat there for four and a half hours with about 100 people in a room that I decided would be excellent for a scene in a zombie movie, all the while having

nothing to do. That was fun. I had the opportunity to see some of the missionaries I came here with.

This week was kind of a turning point for me, because I started to really get along with Elder Larranaga. Until this last week, he did some things that just drove me nuts...like some of the different culture things that are way different from my own. We had a talk about those things, and the both of us are doing a lot better now. We were able to understand each other a bit more and we are beginning to be friends now. The Lord told us that if we don't have the spirit, we won't teach. Sometimes you need to sit down with your companion and tell him what makes you upset, and him tell you what makes him upset so you can get the spirit and teach by the spirit, and avoid those other spirits which are not from God.

I've been happy to hear about all your adventures in your letters and I pray for you all a lot.

I love you!

Elder Iver Johnson

Howdy!

On November 22, 2010 Elder Johnson wrote:

Dear Family and Friends:

First off: Send me the voodoo one (backpack). As much as I would like the camelback one, we only drink bottled water here, so I always have one of those strapped to me. Also, in my room I have a copy of Jesus the Christ somewhere (Talmage). Please send that also. Once again, thanks for the letters, they mean so much to me! I don't have time to read them right now, but I printed them off, and I'll answer any questions you might have written next week. I have the opportunity to go back to the mission office on Sunday, so I can get a Mexican Government ID card, and should be able to pick up my package with my pills and sweaters and any letters! Woo hoo!

This week was long and difficult, but good. We had our investigators with baptismal dates at church! Their names are Omar and Diana, they are a couple in their 30s, who aren't married, but are getting married on the 3rd and baptized on the 5th! Woot woo! They are firmly fixed on becoming an eternal family, and going to the temple! I hope I can go with them in a year! That would rock! We have other investigators who are firmly fixed on the traditions of their fathers, who need to be humble to accept that sometimes an answer from God will make you a little uncomfortable and you will have to feel like that before you can feel the good that comes from it. A lot of people here have problems giving up the Virgin. Love those guys.

This week the sickness of a different culture has set in. The potty has become a good friend of mine lately. Thank goodness I haven't puked yet. It's not too far distant, I can feel it.

The president said, "there will be a time in your mission when you ask yourself: how in the world can they fit 9 people on that little motorcycle?" I am pleased to say that that prophesy has come true.

I love you all!

Elder Iver Johnson

Howdy!

On Monday, November 15, 2010 Elder Johnson Wrote:

Friends and Family:

First off: Mom and dad, thank you so much for the emails. The snail mail out here comes, but I haven't seen one piece yet, and probably won't for another couple weeks. That's been hard for me and I appreciate your emails more than you can probably imagine. I've been struggling the past week, and my day got brighter when I saw you both emailed me. How is Shak? I haven't heard anything about her for awhile. As far as a Christmas package goes...If you happen to find a place where you can get Keen insoles, in a size 9, I would use them, and also my backpack is getting to be old. I guess using it before my mission for school and such wasn't the best idea, and I should have gotten a new one. If you so desire to send me a new one, I would love that. I'd like it to be one I can use for the rest of my mission, good 'n strong, and rugged. This may even require a trip to the army surplus store. Thank you.

Well, I'm going to share something with you, this mission is a free mission for "dear elder." I invite you to use that if you so wish, but be careful not to misuse or abuse it. Only thought out letters, please, no quick little "hi" notes. Keep in mind that we do not get mail very fast here. It may be a month or so until you hear anything from me as far as written letters go. P.S. The pouch system works, too. I got the letters from the pouch the day I got here, forgot to mention that.

This week I decided that the Gift of Tongues is not only for languages. I think a big part of this gift in particular is being able to eat things that you just really don't like, such as onions, spicy things, and slimy things that you don't know what they are, even if your companion tries his best to describe them to you.

I found out today that I'm actually a lot better at soccer than I thought I was. I scored two goals (out of a total of about 16 goals with about 8 players on each side), more than my companion, who is a native from Mexico. Almost everyone here plays soccer, all the kids play in the streets, and all the open spaces have two goals somewhere in them. I also found out that the biggest grasshoppers in the world live here (not an actual fact, just my opinion, and I've seen some BIG grasshoppers before...).

This last weekend was Stake Conference. It was special because it was broadcast to all the stake centers around this part of Mexico, with special speakers: Elder Christensen (of the 70), Elder Bednar, and Elder Eyring. It was a very uplifting experience, almost like a mini general conference. It was cool to hear it in two different languages, and be able to understand both.

I had an interview with President this week also. He is a great guy, sometimes really nice, sometimes really sharp and to the point. He gave me some good advice about being here, about what I can do to feel peace and happiness in my area. The members of our ward are really great and they love to help out by giving us a meal or a ride, even the inactive ones.

Well, I love you all and hope you are doing well!

Elder Iver Johnson

Howdy!

On Monday, November 8, 2010 Elder Johnson Wrote:

Dear Family and Friends:

Well...this week has been strange. For one thing, Mexico is not hot. Especially here. The mornings are chilly and it hasn't gotten above 70 degrees here. Luckily, I have a sweater that my old companion, Elder Tapia didn't fit which he gave to me. The food is good and I haven't eaten anything too hot, yet. We are in a ward called Industrial. We have this apartment that is small. When we got there (another elder and I split up a companionship and an area, and we had to move to our area) we did not have running water. After some repairs that took most of the afternoon on Saturday, we now have running water, and an even bigger blessing: lukewarm running water (it's a lot better to shower in than cold water...just trust me on that one). We don't have cockroaches in our apartment (they wouldn't fit--they are big!) which is good. The floors are cement and the walls are cinderblocks. It's a nice place.

My companion is not from the states, but from Sonora, Mexico. He looks (to me, now don't get all offended) like Dustin Kendall but the size of Jared Kendall. It's weird because I'll want to say something to him in English, but he doesn't speak a lick of it. He only knows "holy cow." Speaking of cows, the milk in Mexico is different also. It comes in a box and keeps forever and you only have to refrigerate it after you open it. Yup.

I didn't get any pictures of myself this week, I just didn't seem to have time. I'm sorry.

I love you all!

Elder Johnson

In Mexico!

At 10:23 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 Elder Johnson Wrote:

Dear Folks:

Well, here we are! We made it. I thought that our family lived in a big city, that is a false statement. I thought we were going to die at least four times getting to the mission home...You ought to look the traffic up...It's crazy. Yup.

I'm headed off to Queretaro, in an area called Industrial. I don't know what the town is called...but that's that. My companion is Elder Larranaga (with an enyay). He is a native.

They said to send all mail to the address you have, because it's the safest. Ship everything (including packages) through the United States Postal Service.

I love you!

Elder Johnson

Travel Info and Such

Hello everyone...just thought I would pass on this update we received from Iver on Saturday, October 30:

Hello Parents and Sister:

This week has been hectic: On Monday right after I emailed you, I got a call telling me they were going to pick me up on Tuesday and not Monday. I traveled to Salt Lake on Wednesday, and am at the MTC. We went yesterday to sign our "conpromisos" at the Mexican Consulate. I'll receive my flight plans Monday or Tuesday for Mexico, and be leaving as soon as Monday night (though I doubt that). I don't think I'll have much of an advanced notice to let you know when, so please don't be upset if I call you at 1 a.m. from the airport on some day next week (probability: slight).

Another thing: I started having bad stomach pains on Monday, saw the doctor on Thursday (the soonest I could get there), they stole my blood (twice, once on Thursday, and once yesterday), and told me I have a stomach ulcer, which is funny because I never imagined I would get one of those. He gave me some pills and some instructions to get it healed, and it shouldn't affect my traveling at all, so don't worry about that. I'm doing just fine, and the doctor thinks so too.

Other than that, it's been difficult re-adjusting to the life at the MTC, which is a lot slower and not nearly as fun as the field. It's a good opportunity to study and to do things I needed to do (I bought a picture of President Monson and laminated it. Boo-ya.) and get geared up for when my life really actually turns into all Spanish. Speaking of, my Spanish is doing really well. I understand about 98% of what I hear and read, so that's a bonus, and my accent is one of the best one's in my district of 28. I'm pretty stoked to get down to the land of Nephi's inheritance!

I love you!

I'm doing well!!

Love,

Elder Johnson