July 23rd-It's finally here!

Justin's e-mail today let us know that his Visa is finally here.  He is scheduled to leave Fresno on August 6th.

Here is his e-mail with some pictures at the end.  Last week they got to hike in Yosemite.  So a couple pictures are of that.  Then there is a picture of the sister they just baptized.  Then there is a picture of his huge burrito that I am sure he was loving.  There is also a picture of Kelsey Johansen serving in Equador.  For those of you who don't know who Kelsey is she in in our ward and one of Justin's friends.  A few e-mails ago he shared that he was looking at his companions pictures and saw one of Kelsey.  He said, "I was looking at my companion, Elder Rodriguez's camera, and I was going throgh the pictures and recognized a girl in one of the pictures, so I quickly went back and asked him if this picture was taken in Guayquil(sp?) Equador, and it was a picture of his friend who baptized one of Kelsey Johansen's investigators!"  What a small world!

Here is his letter:

So its been pretty good week here in Fresno. A week ago we were sitting at our desk at 930 at night just finishing up planning for the next day, when president called. He asked us how our day had been and if everything was going well. He then said Elder Johnson, how has your day been? I said it's been excellent President, I'm a missionary! Then he said well good, cuz I have some good news for you. Your visa has finally come. The church has set your departure date for August 6th. So there it is! It's finally here haha. I'm not sure what time we are leaving, all I know right now is that I have to be at presidents house at 10 in the morning on that day. So thats how it goes. Once I get more information I will let you all know so you can be home around that time if possible. :)

So other than that fantastic news, this week was pretty strange. We went to Yosemite and got back super late. We didn't have time to buy food or wash our clothes and we only had 1 lesson that night... So the next day we had to get permission to wash our clothes at a members house, which took forever so that screwed up our day also. Then on Wednesday, they had a meeting for all the trainers. So me and a new missionary were working in his area on wednesday and thursday, but after the meeting on wednesday, since the mission office is about 2.5 hours away from some areas, those elders just stay in the close areas for the night, so there are a lot of exchanges going on. So my companions and some other elders decided it would be fun for me and another elder that is going to Argentina to just tract for 3 hours without cars or bikes haha. So they dropped us off, gave us a map and told us where to be at 9 o clock so they could pick us up. It was super weird to be walking so much. Its what I will be doing in argentina, but I tracted more doors in that night than my entire mission before that. It was insane. Also we met this really funny guy. He opened the door and practically yelled. "Well if it isn't the representatives of the latter day saints!" So we started talking to him for a little bit, and he said, "You know, I don't want anything to do with religion ever, but I do have a lot of respect for you. I mean you all know that you look like dorks, but you still go out and do this anyway. Now that is dedication." haha, it was super funny. So that was cool, and other than that we also set up another baptism. Sadly, it is going to be after I leave, but it's still an amazing thing that she is ready to make this covenant with our Father in Heaven.

I'm gonna put some pictures on now, I'm too lazy to put descriptions, so if you want to know what anything is you can just ask me next week.!

Well, I love you lots, and I'm going to be sending a package home this week. If you want to send me something you better send it really soon! I love you!

Love,

Elder Johnson

July 16, 2012

We went to Yosemite today, and they family that took us didn't realize we had a time limit on preperation days so we got back super late. So I have practically no time to email. I just wanted to say that the baptism went great, and she bore her testimony in front of everyone at the baptism including her family from out of town. It was so awesome! Also we have another one scheduled for the 11th of August! We're looking really good right now. Oh yeah, and another weird thing! I was looking at my companion, Elder Rodriguez's camera, and I was going throgh the pictures and recognized a girl in one of the pictures, so I quickly went back and asked him if this picture was taken in Guayquil(sp?) Equador, and it was a picture of his friend who baptized one of Kelsey Johansen's investigators! It was so crazy. Also, at the restaraunt we ate it, I had a burritote! It was seriously the size of a new born baby! It was ridiculous, I'll send some more pictures next week. So today at Yosemite was really fun too. I was walking on a trail, and someone said, ELDER JOHNSON! Which scared me because I thought it was someone from Arizona. I don't know why that scars me, but it did. The lady said that she was just super excited to see Elders on her vacation haha. Other than that nothing much has happened. We have been doing really good with keeping our schedule full, but I'm not sure if thats going to last much longer, because there are a lot of people who are just talking to us to be nice so we're going to have to find out if they are really interested or not and move on. Well, I have to get going, sorry for such a short email, but its better than nothing! Love you all!

 

Elder Johnson

July 9

Sounds like you had a fun week. Nothing interesting has happened this week. Other than some guy we talked to who is literally convinced that this world is run by aliens. He also believes that everything that has happened to this country was planned by the government. Especially the twin towers. He said George Bush Sr. had been planning that for a while and that when George Jr. was elected the plan was pretty much complete. Pretty sad huh? So before I forget, I can't believe Nash is playing for the lakers. We were in an investigators house and I said down on a newspaper and picked it up and saw trade rumors? and a picture of Nash and Kobe... I didn't think the news would be that disgusting though. Oh and another question I wanted to ask, is what part of Mexico is grandma from? I'm pretty sure I have met people from everywhere in mexico so that would be cool if I could tell people where she is from too.  So I sent you some pictures. I hope it works. I can;t remember the order so I'll just explain what I remember haha.

One is of Elder Carrasco's birthday cake and him.

Then there is one of us posing in front of the car, because we had to send a picture of our companionship to our president for his one year of service and we wanted to try to look like gangsters, but it didn't work very well.

 Then I think there is one of just our companionship(the one we actually sent him) then there is one of my sleeping on the way to the mission conference where we heard Elder Ballard speak. (the picture was taken at 8 in the morning.) someone once said, "If youre not tired, youre not good missionaries." So I hope that means that I'm a good missionary if I can't even stay awake at 8 in the morning on the way to see an Apostle.

Then there is one of a squirrel eating my french fry. I just sent that one because there are squirrels EVERYWHERE. It's like stray cats and dogs in Arizona, squirrels just run around everywhere! We always throw rocks at them because its funny to see them jump out of the trees or into the trees. then there is one of my first zone (minus the zone leaders cuz some times we have no clue where they are) Then there is one of the 5 elders who were serving in Echo. Elder Sanabria and Elder Hafen. ANd I think the last one is from when we took Elder Carrasco to Presidents house to wait for his ride home. The assistants are Elder Tipa and Elder Swayt in that picture.

So other than that, the best part of my week was probably.... well, there is a family, La familia Reyes, and they have 6 kids with the 7th on the way. They are super awesome and any time the missionaries need anything they will help. She made us dinner 3 times in one and a half weeks, and she is 8 months pregnant. She is just so awesome! One of her kids names is Ammon, and he's i think, 6 years old. One of the dinners I was talking to him and his 8 year old sister Gracie, and they drew me pictures in my planner and he is an awesome artist for his age. Then a few days later we had dinner again and when I walked in he said, "Yayy! Elder Johnson is here!" and he ran up to me and shook my hand. Then on Sunday I talked to him in sacrament meeting and then after church he came up to me and said that he had made something for me. He pulled out to papers folded up in his front pocket and gave them to me, shook my hand then ran away. One of the pictures was a drawing of me, suit, tie, receding hairline and all with a Book of Mormon and on the top it said, "Thank you Elder Johnson!" I'm not really sure what I did, but I'm now his best friend haha. It's something that really made me think about the example of missionaries. Especially here in the spanish wards, missions aren't a very big thing. The last missionary was a sister who went in 2006. The next kid who will go on a mission for sure is named Cris Tena, but he is only 16. We are working hard with the others who are closer to age to serve, but I can't remember who it was in the MTC but I think it was someone from the BYU mens choir who said to make sure we are always being examples for the younger children who will one day think about serving a mission. And it just made me think a lot about making sure I'm always showing the best example for the younger kids in these wards and making sure that they know the importance of missionary work. Ammon has an older brother who is 15, and he is pretty solid about a mission, and it's great to see that in their family, and I hope to be able to help with those examples in the future, and hopefully with new members too. That would be so great to see someone you baptized decide to serve a mission.

So yeah, other than that our baptismal interview is tonight with Maribel, we're pretty sure everything will be just fine, so my first baptism will be this weekend, the 14th!

I can't believe that school is about to start again, and I can't believe that Nat is going into highschool. You'll have to tell me all your schedules once you start. I can't believe that Braden is almost in Jr. High too, thats crazy. The Spencer gets to be the cute little baby of the family still :) Haha, and mom thank you for putting money on the card, if you could, next time you email could you tell me how much I have on each card. The only reason I used san tan for walgreens and taco bell was cuz I don't know how much is on it haha and I don't want to over draft. Oh yeah and I forgot to tell you. Next preperation day we are going to hike yosemite. So that will be pretty awesome, and I don't know if We are going to be emailing latter in the day or not so don't freak out if it doesn't come in the afternoon like always :) and thank you for sending the emails out, and now you have some pictures for my blog! I gotta get going so I can finish my emails before time runs out. Love you lots!

Love,
Elder Johnson

 

July 2nd

Hey family,
I got the package. Thanks a lot, its nice to have something to snack on, and it tasted good to eat real junk food instead of off brand junk food haha. But the weird thing is that I didn't even get the package until friday! It took almost a week! So I'm not sure what happened but I hope the cd's don't take that long. Also thank you for the calling card, and for the letters from Braden and Spencer. Those were some awesome pictures that you drew me! Oh and speaking of pictures. I remembered to bring my camera cord with me today.... but since you sent me the SD card, I switched them out, and the one with all my fresno pictures is back in the apartment... so maybe next week. That picture of the Gilbert temple when you were coming around the road is awesome. Its so noticeable right off that road. I love it! What better way to get people interested in knowing what it is. I also got a new companion this past week. My new companions name is Elder Rodriguez. He is from acapulco mexico, and he knew very little english before his mission, and he's been out for a year and is easily fluent. Its awesome. He also is a convert of 5 years, and he served in english areas for the whole first year and this is his first spanish area. I guess he said that all the spanish elders dream of coming to this area so he was super excited.

So good news. First baptism is going to be on the 14th of July! We have 1 solid date (she is going to be baptized for sure) and then a date that she's still not so sure if thats when she'll be ready. So it could be possible to have 2 on the 14th. The solid date, her name is Maribel. Her husband is a member, but super inactive. So when they went to visit his family in Salt lake city, she talked to the missionaries at temple square. (This was a month ago.) Then when she talked to them, she knew that she needed to be baptized in this church. We have only taught her 1 of the 4 lessons because she already knows everything else, its super awesome. When they say that there are people who are super prepared out there, this is the kind of person they are talking about. So now we just have to take the necessary steps to prepare her for the 14th. It is going to be a great day. Other than that not too much has really happened. We had the addiction recovery teacher come with us to teach Martin (the guy who is addicted to alcohol) and we made a lot of progress. But he also told us that for people to give up a addictions of that much time, they have to literally hit rock bottom before they will give it up. So we're going to just have to keep being there from him and hopefully he can have a change of heart really soon.

I don't think there is much more going on, oh there was a guy who gave a talk in church about a highschool basketball player, supposedly the best since LeBron James, that is turning down scholarships to serve a mission? That is awesome, I guess there was a sports illustrated article about it. One more thing, for the 4th of July we have to be inside at 6 pm because of the dangerousness... I guess thats a word cuz spellcheck isn't telling me otherwise. But yeah, that is going to be super weird because usually its 9 when we have to go in. I don't think I have ever been in the apartment for more than 2 hours other than sleeping. Its going to be weird.

Pues, antes de termino quiero decir algo en espanol. Yo se que estoy en Fresno por un razon. Yo se que hay personas aqui que necesito ayudar. No se quien es, y tal vez no voy saber pero si estoy trabajando duro cada dia. sabre que he hecho todo que podria aqui en Fresno. Y yo se que oracion es algo muy especial. es el unico manera que podemos hablar con nuestro Padre Celestial. Sin oracion, nuestro religion no existaria. Porque Jose Smith oro para saber la verdad. Y yo se que por medio oracion podemos recibir ayuda y respuestas tambien. Oracion puede ayudarnos tener una mejor relacion con nuestro Padre Celestial y este es necesario para vivir con El otra vez. Me encanta esta obra y Les amo. Gracias por todo familia. En el nombre de JesuCristo, amen!

Les amo,
Elder Johnson