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