Howdy!

On January 30, 2012 Elder Johnson wrote:

Hello All:

Well this week in San Juan has been a little cold, with rain and wind, but here we are working along.

My companion and I have been struggling to find people to teach, but we are working at it. We found the mother of a young person in our ward who is not a member, she is very interested, and told us that she has been thinking about getting baptized, which is wonderful. Her name is Araceli, but goes by Celi (said: Shelly...I don't get that one...). I am hoping that everything goes well with that, and that she accepts to go to church this Sunday. We are continuing teaching Doris and Victor, who are getting ready for their baptism in February. We are planning on helping Doris keep away from the bottle by making a box with many pictures of Christ on it, and candies inside with scriptures on them. The idea is that when the temptation comes, that she will take a candy and read the scriptures instead of drinking. I hope it works.

Please keep my companion, Elder Hilario, in your prayers this week. He is struggling and needs a lot of prayers.

I appreciate all the love you send my way and for the support you give me.

Love:

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On January 23, 2012 Elder Johnson wrote:

Hello, Cadets:

Well, the [family we have been working with] will not be getting baptized this month, and probably not the next, but at least we planted some seeds, and they'll grow. It's unfortunate to see that and I felt sad, but I did everything I could and in the end, they still have their freedom to choose.

Well this next week should be good! We went to the state of Mexico to help a couple of couples get married, two are already baptized, but want to go to the temple, and two are old investigators, Victor and Doris. They came to church this last week and we are excited to be teaching them again.

Today we went and had a barbeque with our district, we made carne asada and cooked sausages, after we played soccer and I got sunburnt. It was fun.

My companion's brother, Adrian, got called to serve a mission in Cuernevaca, Mexico and leaves in April. It's very exciting because his family didn't think that he was going to go, but now he has his call. I hope you keep him in your prayers, because those months before the mission are terribly hard, and he needs that help.

I hope you all are well. I love you!

Elder Iver Johnson

Howdy!

On January 16, 2012 Elder Johnson wrote:

Well this week was a little rough. Unfortunately Silvia and her kids did not get baptized, but we are trying hard to do what we can to help them. They feel really nervous about getting baptized. The man down under is working hard to have them not get baptized. We will be working hard to fix that.

This week chicken pox hit the ward, almost all of the little kids were sick and out of school all week. Sucks for them, but we were able to visit members and talk with them about sharing the gospel. I was worried because my companion thinks he has never had it, but it appears that he has because he hasn't gotten the pox yet. Good news.

We have been having some difficulties having unity with our ward, especially with the bishop, but after some long conversations with him, things are looking up. We should be able to do a lot better work with them on our side. They might even call a ward mission leader (ours went inactive and we can't find him). We are hoping that will happen. It should be good. Real good.

It seems that the time is slipping away fast, which is good because it gives me more of a reason to work really hard. Sooner than we can believe, we'll be seeing each other.

Well, I love you all so much!

Elder Johnson

Howdy!

On January 9, 2012 Elder Johnson wrote:

Hello Family:

Well this week went pretty fast. Before I knew it we were in church taking the Sacrament again. I do enjoy bringing people to church who like it and want to go. Silvia offered a wonderful prayer this week and said, "Help us make the change to this church, that it will be smooth for us and that we will feel comfortable there." The only thing I am worried about is her son, Manuel. He doesn't like the primary teacher (she's a yeller) and doesn't really want to go. Please pray for him that some miracle will happen and he will want to go. They have plans to be baptized this week after church. It will be a special day. I am excited to see them all dressed up in white. Please, please keep them in your prayers.

In Mexico there is a day that is called dia de los Reyes Magos. It is the sixth of January, and we celebrate it as the day the Wise Men came to visit the Christ Child. All the ninos get gifts and at night we eat a rosca (sweet bread in the shape of a wreath with dried fruits on top) and drink hot chocolate. Inside the rosca is hidden a little doll that represents the Christ hiding from the evil King Herod, who wants to find him and kill him. After the rosca is cut, everyone grabs a piece and whoever finds the little doll has to buy everyone tamales on the 2nd of February. Luckily I didn't find the little doll, but my companion did! I'm looking forward to the tamales in February. I hope he buys Oaxacan tamales, those are the best.

We will be working hard this week with some family members of some people in our ward. They are very nice, but very Catholic, which is not that new for me, but it will be good to help them pray and receive an answer. They are named Victor, Roman, Rafael, and Carmen.

I love you all!

Elder Iver Johnson

From Michelle:

Today we received a very special package from Mexico! It was filled with wonderful letters and little gifts, handmade by Iver and some of the people he is working with. My heart is absolutely singing!! I have posted a photograph here of the watercolor painting he sent to me. In my letter, he described it with the lyrics to a fabulous song from the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou: "I'll be somewhere a-workin', I'll be somewhere a-workin', I'll be somewhere a-workin' for my Lord." Beautiful, beautiful Iver.

On January 2, 2012 Elder Johnson wrote:

Well, only 22 more letters from Mexico. Crazy.

This week was good! We were able to bring a family to church! Woo hoo! A mam and her three kids (her husband died a few years ago), la senora Silvia, Daniella, Manuel, and Roberto. It was cool to walk up the their house and see them leaving to get in the car and saying, "Hurry! We don't want to be late to church!" They are friends of a member in our ward and are progressing really well. They will be great members when they get baptized.

We were invited to a dinner on Saturday. We had a lot of fun and ate some good food. The family we were with are investigators, one of the hijos is a member of the church, but his parents and sister aren't. We are trying to fix that...We had to leave at nine, but it was fun. When we were at home, my companion wouldn't let me sleep. At midnight we watched the fireworks from our window and ate 12 grapes, one each toll of the bell. Then we got out our suitcases and walked around the apartment. There are some weird traditions here in Mexico. Lookin' forward to that midnight kiss that is tradition in my home and native land.

After that he let me sleep, and we had to get up at 6:30 to get ready. Yup.

I hope you all had a good New Year's Eve and have a prospero ano. I love you all!

Elder Johnson