On December 26, 2011 Elder Johnson wrote:

It was a good Christmas. We were able to take a big box of toys to an orphanage that our members donated. They were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy and so full of energy. We also took some pictures of the decorations of San Juan do Rio. My companion gave ma a new oil vial, which was much needed. I have him a wallet of his favorite soccer team. It was a good Christmas and we were both happy. My letter this week is mostly pictures because I said a lot in my call with my family yesterday. I hope you enjoy them!

Love:

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On December 19, 2011 Elder Johnson wrote:

Hello:

This week we went to "la pena de Bernal" which is a big rock. It's the biggest rock on this side of the world (that's what they tell me). It was cool. If I can, I will send pictures. I have been having a rough time finding a computer that will read my card. I don't know why.

We went to the Temple in Mexico City this week with a couple of our investigators. It was cool. Their names are Jose Luis and Neri, they are pretty interested in the church now, more than before. The only thing is that Jose Luis needs to quit smoking. He doesn't want to because he is a poet, and the cigs are where he "gets his inspiration." He'll realize pretty soon that he needs to stop. He publishes a magazine of poems every month or so, and put my companion in it (who is also a poet). It was cool to see that. We were able to get Lourdes confirmed on Sunday. She is a lot happier than when we met her. It is so cool to see that the Gospel does that to people.

Last week we had our ward Christmas party, it was good and we were able to bring Vanessa. We sang and ate and watched some videos about Christ's birth. It was good. There was an area seventy who came to the party. It was a spiritual experience for everyone. When we went home, there was a party going on in front of our apartment building. That type of party (yes, there are different types) is called a posada (the others are: fiesta, baile, pachanga, etc...). There were a lot of nativities and dancing and LOUD music and A LOT of fireworks. We couldn't sleep until about one when it started cooling off. It was interesting, but cool to see.

I hope you all have a very happy Christmas and that you all remember Christ in this time. It is for His triumph that we celebrated, nothing else.

Love:

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On December 12, 2011 Elder Johnson wrote:

Well it is not Christmastime in Mexico without a celebration for the Virgin of Guadalupe. Last night on our way home from an appointment, we decided to go through the center of town, only to find a huge celebration of the Virgin. There were thousands of people! Almost everyone buys balloons to send a note to the Virgin in Heaven so that she can talk to Jesus so He can talk to God. There were a lot of balloons flying away, and a lot of fireworks and a big parade with a very big Virgin statue. Everyone was singing and dancing and eating. It was chaos! It's a good thing we got home alive. We couldn't take any pictures, because we didn't have our cameras.

This week Lourdes was able to get baptized! It was a wonderful service and the spirit was strong there. The day before her baptism she had her baptismal interview and as we were waiting for our leader who does the interview, she helped us sweep the church! She is such a great lady, and is going to be a great member of the church.

I have been pretty sick lately and had to go to the doc. He says that it's only a cold and I don't need to worry. That's always a good thing to hear.

This week I received a package from my parents and my grandparents. Thank you for the packages! Elder Hilario says thank you also!

I love you all!

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

Friends and Family:

This week was a good week! Vanessa came to church!!! Woo-hoo! We also came into contact with a couple (Jose Luis and Neri) who came with us to the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. They told us that they didn't like it, they loved it! They are continuing to progress well, the only thing is that Neri likes to sleep in on Sundays, please pray so that she will be able to wake up and go to church! If all goes well, Lourdes will be baptized this week. She is excited and knows that it is a good step to take, little does she know (but we're helping her understand), that it is the defining decision of her life and she will have to stick with it. How wonderful it will be to be with her in the presence of God! Please keep her in your prayers!

If you were unable to see the Christmas Devotional, repent. You can access it online (LDS.org), please watch it. You should never lose the opportunity to listen to the Prophet of our God, for how blessed are we to live in a time where a man who talks with God is just a mouse click, or a channel change away (the BYU Channel). Please recognize the importance of that.

This month marks the one year anniversary of the baptism of one of my dearest friends, Olivia Bright. I hope you all take the opportunity to congratulate her, she is a very special person.

I love you all!

Elder Iver Johnson