Howdy!

On September 26, 2011 Elder Johnson wrote:

Hello friends and family!

Well this week was a good one! We were able to bring Poli and his wife Leticia to church again, and their daughters Martha and Norma. Now we only need to help them get their other two daughters to church, Roci (Rosi) and Ana. They are a little older and because of that, a little more hesitant to go to church. Please pray for them. We were also able to bring a man named Geronimo to church. He is getting over an addiction to tobacco, and is really impressed with the church. We asked him how he felt about being baptized, and he replied, "Hay que hacer lo" (I have to do it). We are excited about helping him do that!

This coming week we will be able to go watch the General Conference. I hope you are all preparing yourselves for that! I hope you are praying a lot and writing down any questions that come to your head, because they will be answered if you do that. I am so excited to hear the conference!

I love you all very much!!

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On September 19 Elder Johnson wrote:

THIS WEEK WAS WONDERFUL! Ivon and her brother Luis were able to be baptized, and we were able to help Poli and his wife Leticia and their daughter Martha go to church! We were happy also when we had inspiration to go all the way out to Ixcuinquitlapilco (about an hour bus ride) where we found a family, Judith, Janet and Laura who are excited to go to church, and hopefully they will this next week!

We had a couple adventures this week, one when we came home and found a lizard on our counter. He is cool. We named him Steve. He lives outside under our boiler, but somehow broke in while we were gone. We also have a little bird that we named Buddy that sleeps by our door. I haven't taken a picture, because it's always dark when we see him, we only ever see him when we come home to sleep. We had another adventure when I had to go to the bathroom really, really bad and we were in the middle of nowhere. There was only a corn field, and so...Well the work goes on. Hopefully this week we will have some success!

I love you all!

Elder Johnson

P.S. My sister sent me a great scripture. Read it. Mosiah 7:33: But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in Him, and serve Him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, He will, according to His own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

Last Monday, Elder Johnson sent us personal letters. Included was his testimony:

"On my mission I have learned so many things, especially how much God and our Savior Jesus Christ do for us. I love to see families blessed by the gospel, become happier and more united. I am so happy I chose to serve a mission. I know that I am involved with the most important work that has ever existed. I know that I am bringing eternal happiness to others and myself! How wonderful the Lord is! How right are His ways!"

Howdy!

On September 5, Elder Johnson wrote:

Well, this week was a long one, but boy are we happy! We were able to bring three new people to church this week: Martha, Ivon, and Luis, and also Marcela (who already went). We should start the baptizing ball a rollin' here soon!

This week we moved. We used to live in the pueblo of Gerrero, but now we live in the pueblo of San Juan Tepa, and live right by the chapel where our branch meets. It's not as pretty on this side of our area, however, it is a lot closer to where we have more work. It is, however, a lot darker here.

We sure do eat a lot in this area. A lot of nopales and a lot of chicken. They cook better out here, though, so I don't complain. We had to chase a big, old spider out of our new house, but other than that no bugs. I am having a good time getting to know the people here. All the little kids like to talk to me. They always ask me silly questions.

I have been studying a lot in the Book of Mormon lately. I really feel close to those missionaries in those stories. After all, I'm teaching the same thing to the children of the people they taught. It is cool to be a part of the ancient prophesies of bringing the fullness of the gospel to these people once again. It is wonderful to have such a great calling and to do what I do!

I love you all so much!

Elder Iver Johnson

P.S. Picture: Me and a baby cow. It really wanted to bite me.