Howdy!

On February 28, 2011 Elder Johnson wrote:

Family and Friends:

Well, it was a struggle to get him into the baptismal clothes, a struggle to get him into the font, and a big struggle to get him under the water. In the end, Benjamin was baptized, 76 years of life, washed clean. The hard part is now over! Benjamin, a super-star, non-tobacco, non-coffee, non-Virgin de Guadalupe, gospel-loving convert, and the newest member of the Barrio Industrial! We are very excited for him!

My companion and I are very content because we accomplished our goal of five baptisms this transfer (the only ones in our district, if I may toot our horn just a tiny bit!) and have another one planned for this weekend, Ignacio, the husband of Teresa who was baptized a few weeks ago. We are excited about his baptism and are working hard with him so that it will all go smoothly.

A request I would like to make to all of you readers out there: don't be shy about sending me pictures of your families, fiestas, or good times you are having! I would love you see your smiling faces!

I hope you are well, I love you all so much!

Elder Johnson

Mom and Dad, depending on what happens the next few weeks, I'll let you know what I would like for my birthday. I'm not really too concerned for receiving a package right on my birthday, just getting letters from you is enough. However, this much is certain: Please send me peanuts and pistachios and bottle caps (the candy). I would enjoy those very much!

I love you!

Howdy!

On Monday, February 21, Elder Johnson wrote:

Family and Friends:

This week we were able to help Fernanda (daughter of Maria) and Graciela get baptized. I'll tell you what, the bad guy really knows what he is doing. We almost had to fight with our fists to get Graciela to get baptized this week. The last days before a baptism are the hardest, and the bad guy doesn't want it to happen, so he does whatever is necessary to make people not do it. However, after a lot of prayer, some big, ugly tears on the part of my companion, a couple phone calls to leaders, a conversation with our bishop, and our zone leaders meeting with Graciela, we were finally able to get her baptized at 8 a.m. Sunday morning (I had to wake up at four to fill the font). The baptism was great, except her husband showed up a little tipsy...Worse things have happened, life goes on, the work continues. Fernanda was baptized without any major difficulties.

The music here in Mexico is sometimes funny. As a missionary, I don't listen to it, but I am exposed to it, because the majority of people listen to it really loud in their houses. Originally, before my mission, I thought everyone in Mexico listened to the kind of music that you hear in the states, coming from the cars of the immigrants. That fun, finger poppin' polka music we all love so much: um-pah pah, um-pah pah, AAAAMMOOOOOORRRRRR.....but, no. There are some people who like that music, and there are some that like modern rock, in Spanish, Spanish rap, Spanish gospel, Spanish metal, Spanish scream-o, and my favorite (which I'll admit I never would have imagined) Spanish reggae. The eyes of my understanding have been opened, and I can see clearly how things really are in other countries.

I love you and hope you are well:

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On February 14, 2011, Elder Johnson wrote:

Hello Friends and Family:

This week we were able to accomplish a lot of things! We helped Juan Carlos and Graciela get married on Saturday and on Sunday we baptized Maria and Teresa! The next weekend we will baptize Graciela (and Juan if we can convince him) and the daughter of Maria, Fernanda. We are excited to be helping families take the first steps to being eternal, happy families.

We have been working hard with Benjamin and he hasn't smoked this whole month! He is pretty excited about being baptized on the 26th. His love and adoration for la Santa Virgen Maria is is posing to be difficult...small steps, we told him. He understands, however, why we don't worship her.

Happy Valintiene's Day to all! The traditions of the Mexicans are always very odd. The traditions for this holiday involve a lot of balloons of all shapes and sizes, thick perfume and cologne, and all the girls have their hair done up and a little bit thicker make-up. They all like to give stuffed animals to each other, which I guess is pretty normal, but I personally think that they are...well let's just say, I don't have room for them in my life. Except for one special teddy bear, and a small bean-stuffed moose. But those are the ONLY exceptions.

I hope you are all well, and enjoying kissing whoever it is that you kiss. You better enjoy it, because I can't. Haha!

I love you!

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On Monday, February 7, 2011, Elder Johnson wrote:

Family and Friends and the Such:

Well this week was pretty good. We are having a lot of success with the investigators we have right now. They are making good progress and we are really seeing miracles in their lives. However, some of them are not wanting to do their part. It really kills me inside, to see people who are so close to blessing their own lives and the lives of generations, and not being able to take the little step of faith in order to do that. We as a companionship have been praying and fasting for these people to be able to make that step. I hope they can and I hope they will do it now! our investigator Benjamin has not smoked for 15 days! He already looks so much better, and has more energy and his brain is working better. I never really knew what tobacco did specifically to the mind until I saw the changes that have taken place in Benjamin. Word of Wisdom rules; drugs drool! We will be having two baptisms next week, Maria and Teresa. They are sisters and are very happy in the gospel. They are both very excited about being baptized by divine authority, which is cool that people are picking up on that.

Shakira asked me a question, which was, wats yer favorite scripture? In response to that, so that everyone knows, right now my favorite scripture is found in Leviticus 2:13. Ten points and a gold star for whoever can tell me WHY it's my favorite. I am also digging the prophesies and teachings of the prophet Nephi in the book of Helaman. That's a good story full of adventure, famine, and some cool heavenly special effects. It is worthy of a read.

I have decided that my companion is a lot like Brother Donaldson, except definitely not as cool. He is very smart, and works hard, and is a great guy. His personality type is a lot like Brother Donaldson.

I love you all and hope you are well!

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On Monday, January 31, Elder Johnson Wrote:

Family and Friends:

This week was an odd one. It's kinda weird living with someone from Peru. He's got a different way of going about everything, that is for sure. His character is different from anyone I've spent time with. Yup. He works hard though, and is obedient, so that's good!

This week we are working with some good people. We really need some help with your prayers with a man named Juan Carlos, who is the dad of the two boys I was able to baptize. He needs some help finding a motivation to go to church, so that he can be baptized with his wife Graciela, also so they can get married, so that they can be baptized. I appreciate your help and prayers and support on my behalf and on behalf of my investigators.

Benjamin has not smoked in a week! We are so happy and rejoice with him every day! He will be able to be baptized in about three weeks! Sweet!

This week we came into contact with a lady named Maria and her two daughters Fernanda and Carla. Maria is very interested in the church and came to church with her sister Terry. They are doing great and we look forward to continue teaching them.

This week I had some tacos. Near the end of eating them, I was thoroughly convinced that they were brains. I was pretty psyched that I was eating brains, but they turned out to only be eggs. Dang. Maybe next time. One thing I do like, which is actually one of the only things that doesn't make my intestines act funny is called pancita, some call it menudo, but you can call it cow stomach. It smells pretty bad but the texture and flavor are pretty excellent. You might even want to give it a try, all you adventure seekers out there. Then you can tell all your friends and be a hero.

I love you all! I hope you are all doing well!

Elder Johnson