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