Tommy Mons

Hey everybody!  I hope you all had a good week.  My week was alright.  It made me pretty sad to hear that my boy, Tommy Mons, died.  He was the man.  As I have thought about everything, I remember growing up hearing that my generation and the generation of all of the youth is a chosen generation.  He was preordained to be called as a Prophet in the time he served.  I feel honored to have been called by him to serve a mission and also to have been able to see him in person and feel of the Spirit that was present in the Conference Center when I saw him.  I love him.  It is sad that he is gone, but one of the signs that this is Christ's church is that He will call a new Prophet and the work will move on.

So, this week was pretty average honestly.  The people here in Casma don't want anything to do with the truth.  We have had a hard time finding lately because literally, nobody will let us in their homes.  It's alright though.  We are still working and we will see the blessings from that.  We are planning on having two baptisms this month.  I feel pretty solid and confident about that.  Carlitos and Victor are progressing pretty well so we will see how everything goes at the end of the month.  Pray for them

The bad part of this week was that I got sick and threw up for the first time in my whole mission!  I was heated, I thought I was about to mob back home without throwing up, but what can I do!  Peru got to me.  It was good though.  I thought of my Savior, Jesus Christ and all that He suffered with so much love.  All of the little things that we go through in this life have been conquered by the Son of God.  I love Him and know He lives.  His atonement is real and has power to heal ANY wound.

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

My homies from the hood en el Mirador

Elder Johnson

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Hey everybody!  I hope that you all had a good week and a happy New Year!  You already know that I put down some Inca Kola to celebrate the New Year.  It wasn't quite as good as some Martinelli's but it got the job done.  I honestly can't believe we are in 2018!  When I got my mission call, I felt like 2018 was an eternity away, but literally time has gone so fast and has me stressed out of my mind ha ha, but it's okay!  I am looking forward to this year and to see everything that lies ahead of me.

So, to start everything out, I wanna wish my mom a very Happy Birthday tomorrow! CHEEHOOOO!  I love you and am very excited to see you in a couple of weeks.  I am thankful for all that you have taught me on my mission and for all of the love and support that you have given me.  I hope you have a good day and that you feel of my love. 

Anyways, this week was pretty good, I was so busy!  I had to go on interchanges with some missionaries, i went to San Jacinto which is in the middle of absolutely nowhere and is the hood.  It takes like 2 hours to travel there which is annoying but it was good.  Elder Duenas and I got things done in his area.  After that, I had another interchange and while I was on the interchange, I saw my old companion, Elder Arevalo!  I was SOOO pumped to see him.  He is from the jungle and is here visiting for vacaciones and came to say bye to me before I bounce.  I also received a surprise phone call from my old Branch President in Viru, Presidente Pulido!  It was super good to hear from him.  He called and told me that my old investigator, Felipe Ferrer, got baptized last week before Christmas!  It was so good to hear, I am so happy for the main man, Felipe!

Aside from the surprise visit from Elder Arevalo and the phone call from Presidente Pulido, on Saturday we did a contacting activity in the plaza and shined people's shoes for free!  Ha ha, it was sick.  Everyone wanted to take pictures with us and everything, it was good.  We got some references that should be pretty solid so we will see how that goes for us!

Anyways, that was my week.  I love you all and hope that you have a Happy New Year!  I will talk to you all next week!

With their investigators

At the Christmas Party

Christmas Party with shirts from Missionary Moms

Elder Johnson

Feliz Navidad

Elder Johnson did not write a group email home today.  We had a great time Skyping with both he and Elder (Kaden) Johnson in Oregon.  We had everything all ready to go and then Elder Johnson said that his computer didn't have Skype on it!  AGH!  He downloaded it and soon enough we were all hooked up.  It was so great to talk to both of them.  Only five more weeks and he will be home.

Skyping home

Christmas Photo

Last Change

What's up everybody!  I had a pretty good week, not too much went down.  I had to go to Trujillo on Monday and we didn't get back until Wednesday due to our training, my doctor's appointment and traveling.  Everything went good.  The doctor told me that I have to rest but we all know that he's out of his mind and that ain't happening!  I got out of him what I wanted, which was that I will be fine to wait until I get home to get everything taken care of, so yeah--I got the green light to go ham in my LAST CHANGE in the mission!  It's pretty crazy, honestly, today I officially start my last change and I'm ready to go ham.  Yesterday were the changes and everything here in Casma is basically staying the same which I'm very happy about.  Entering into this change, I have a lot of goals that I want to reach before I finish my mission.  I know I can reach them!  We are teaching a family that is super sick and some other people that are pretty solid.  So, we will see how all of that goes in this change.

Anyways, I honestly don't have too much to report today, other than I am super pumped to talk to you guys on Monday!  It will be a bitter sweet call.  I am looking forward to it.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I know Christ lives.  I love the Christmas spirit and the blessings that we have during this time!

I love you all, have a good, safe week!

Love,
Elder Johnsoncito

Some of his email to Denise:

I am super excited to Skype with everyone next week.  I am pumped to see Kaden.  He is a stud.  My home, Elder Amosa, went home today.  Pretty crazy!  He is the man, he lives in the Provo area.  He is Samoan and was one of my main homies here in the mission.  Crazy to think that I am next, ahhhhh.  Today we got permission to watch Elf--that was weird seeing a movie.  I can honestly say I don't have too much desire to go home and watch movies and stuff.  I'm thankful for that.  I have goals to just keep waking up early and taking advantage of my time and making good use of it.  We will see how that goes.  I love you, Mom!  I can't wait to see you next week!

CHEEEEEEHOOOOOOOOO!
Elder Johnson

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" NOT!

Hey everybody, I hope that you all had a good week.  My week was honestly pretty slow.  We are in the process of strengthening the members so that they can fellowship and take care of our investigators.  It is a process, but we are making some progress.  My companion and I are becoming homies with all of the members and little by little we are seeing progress in the branch.  About a month ago there were 15 to 20 at church for Sacrament meeting but now we are having about 40 to 50 attend which is really good for us to see.  As I said, it is a process, but we are seeing blessings from visiting the members.

So earlier this week, I had a little scare.  For about two months, I have been having some problems with the surgery that I had before I came on my mission.  The scar from the surgery has been giving me problems lately and has been super swollen and has made everything pretty uncomfortable.  On Tuesday, the scar burst open from being too swollen so instantly the song, "I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me" came into my mind.  Honestly, I was pretty stressed that I would have to miss out on my last transfer here on the mission and come home next week, but luckily I talked to the area doctor and she told me that everything would be fine and that I can wait and finish my mission before I get everything taken care of.  I am actually going to Trujillo tomorrow to go to a training with my companion and while I'm there, I'm going to go to the doctor to get some medicine and get everything taken care of.

This cholo is still alive and I'm gonna mob until the end!  Nothing really went down this week.  I'm gonna go ball up in soccer today for p day.  My nickname is the Wall of Trump because I don't let any of the latinos score any goals!  I have become an animal as a goalie because I can't kick the ball due to ingrown toenails.  ha ha--I hope you all have a good week!

Love you guys,

Elder Johnson

#IluminaElMundo

Hey everybody!  I had a pretty good week, not too much went down but I was still able to learn a lot which is always a blessing.  I feel really grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ this Christmas season.  I know He lives and that He loves me and all of you.

This week, we had a multizone Conference in Chimbote which was really good.  President Rios is awesome.  I look up to him so much.  He is one of the best examples to me because he is all in and has such a great desire to share the gospel with everybody.  In the meeting, he started everything out by talking about older generations and how back in the day they used to baptize way more than they do now.  He asked the question, Why?  Everybody was saying what they thought and then President went on to say that it's because we are in the fulfillment of times, we are in the last days and the world is becoming more and more wicked daily.  It made me realize how important this work truly is and how all of us have the responsibility to help others come unto Christ.  Obviously, President wasn't saying we can't baptize but what he was saying is that the signs are clearer today than they have ever been before in the history of the earth that we are in the last days.

I wanted to tell you guys this so that it can be a motivation for you to LightTheWorld this Christmas season.  Trust in the Lord.  Have faith in Him by watching the videos and doing the activities that have been released by the church.  It is an opportunity to have less and love more, as President Uchtdorf said last night in the Christmas Devotional.

To close, I just want to share a scripture that has been on my mind this week, it says:

But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.

It is my testimony that by acting on our faith, God will bless us with signs that He lies.  You can come to know Him personally and what better way than doing His will this Christmas season by lighting the world with Christ's love that is infinite.  I love my Savior and am going to do my part to share this gospel and light with those who don't have it this Christmas season.

I love you guys and hope that you all have a good week!

Elder Johnson
#IluminaElMundo

Happy Thanksgiving

What's up everybody?  I hope that you all had a good week with the fam and a good time pounding some turkey.  I guess that you could say that I got close to eating turkey.  I will let you all guess what that is.  The only thing that I gotta say is that I have eaten that 2 times and I about threw up both times.  It was absolutely disgusting, pero bueeeeeno caballero no mas (but good gentlemen no more).  I couldn't do anything about it.  I hope that you all had a good weekend.

"Turkey"--Bull Testicles (Ceviche)

This week for me was very busy.  I was busy traveling the whole time and didn't have much time to proselyte or anything.  I had to go to a place called San Jacinto which is an hour away from my area to do a baptismal interview.  That place is the hood!  It's in the middle of absolutely nowhere, but it was a good experience.  I felt the spirit so strong as I was able to feel the spirit of this convert's testimony.  After that, I took advantage of the time to do an interchange with a new missionary who is serving there and brought him to my area.  We went ham and got some big things done in little time.  We invited this guy to be baptized on the 8th of December and I feel solid about it.  Pray for Victor Raul so he can obtain a testimony.

After that, I had a surprise trip to the temple.  We went with our branch and it was awesome.  We chilled in the temple all day long and actually I just dedicated my time in the baptistry.  I actually got to baptize in the baptistry and it was a very spiritual experience.  I was very happy to have been able to go to the temple.  I also got to see my old ward in Trujillo at the temple, I was very happy to see everyone.

This week was awesome.  I am very thankful to be a missionary.  I love this work and the people in Peru.  I love you guys and pray that you have a good week.  Don't forget the #ILUMINAeIMUNDO starts this week...do what the church has provided to be able to feel the beautiful Christmas spirit.

Love you guys,
Elder Johnson