First Birthday in the Field

Hello everybody!  I hope that everyone is doing good and had a good week.  I hope and pray that you guys are happy!  I want to thank all of you for the birthday wishes and the love that you have shown for me.  I really appreciate it, it means a lot to me.  I had a good birthday.  On Friday, Alfonso and his family had a little party for me that I was really grateful for.  Then, on Sunday, my pension had a little get together for people to say happy birthday and about 35-40 people showed up.  It was a really special day, honestly, I'm so thankful for the love that I felt from everyone.

Cake for the party on Friday with Alfonso's family

Elder Choque y Elder Johnson with the family

Alfonso y Elder Johnson

Bueno, aside from my birthday, Elder Choque and I had a really good week.  We had some really good lessons with Lucy.  We also had some training with Elder Hugo Montoya who is an Area Seventy.  I learned so much from him, it was such a good opportunity.

Lucy really is progressing so much.  In our lesson on Friday, we went in and were talking with her.  She asked us how we feel the spirit out of no where.  We then explained ways that we feel the spirit personally and she was like, "I've felt that.  Whenever I'm in the chapel, I feel tranquilidad y paz y no tengo preocupaciones (calm and peace and I don't have any worries).  We honestly felt the spirit so strong when she told us that.  We then sang the Spirit of God to her for her to listen to the words and to feel of the spirit that comes from that beautiful hymn.  We invited her to baptism again for the 9th of September.  She accepted, but told us she has a little bit of fear that she will not be able to live up to all of the standards of the church.  Please pray for her.  she is a special lady and I know she will make the decision to be baptized but patience and faith are the key!

I feel really good about everything and the situation that we have with Lucy.  The training we had with Elder Montoya, wow, it was SICK!  He said some things that were unreal.  It really motivated me to work harder as a missionary.  He said something in this training that was really powerful that I want to share with you.  He said, "If we ask "Why me" in times that are difficult or ask why we go through the hard trials that we don't want to go through or suffer from, we don't accept the will of God.  Those thoughts of "why me" come from the devil.  Accept the will of the Lord."

    

The Chimbote Zone with Elder and Sister Montoya and President and Sister Rios

I testify of the words of Elder Montoya.  We are so blessed to have the trials that we go through because in times that are hard we are obligated to choose right from wrong.  We have the opportunity to exercise our faith and become closer to our father in heaven in the times that are difficult because it humbles us.  If we didn't have trials, we wouldn't be able to progress and this is our purpose here--to become closer to God.  I loved what he had to say about that.  I hope all of you can benefit from what he had to say.

I testify with all of my heart that the atonement is real.  Jesus Christ suffered for each of you personally.  He loves you, and He lives.

Thank you all again for the birthday wishes and the love you guys have expressed to me.  I hope and pray that you all have a good week and that you will have the spirit to be with you.  I love you all.  Have a good week!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Johnson

Home is a Temple

Elder Johnson's emails will be coming in the afternoon now--between 2:30 and 3:00 our time.  They had some rule changes for their P days.

BUENAS TAAAARDES Everybody!  I hope that you all had a good week and that everyone is doing good.  I hope that you guys had a good summer while it lasted, oh my goodness, I can't believe how fast summer went.  I can't believe Kaden is going to be a Senior and that Brynney is going to be a Freshman!  That is crazy!

I had a pretty good week.  We worked hard and had a lot of success in our area.  We found a lot of new people to work with and had some really good lessons.

This week we had a lesson with a kid named Diego.  Diego is 19 years old and is preparing to be a priest in his church.  He told us that to become a priest is a ten year process.  With tons of studies, tests and things like that to prepare them to be a priest.  Diego has a lot of knowledge of the Bible and was asking us tons of questions and honestly, I just didn't feel the spirit in this lesson.  He was asking tons of crazy questions that we didn't have exact answers too and he was just telling us his opinions about things and the way he interprets some of the verses.  We started talking about the Book of Mormon and testified that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel.  He went on to tell us that one of his friends' grandmas gave him a Book of Mormon a while back and that he read parts of it and he told us that he knows that it's true.  When he told us that, I literally felt my body be overcome by the spirit.  I remember I felt such peace and a heart full of gratitude.  When I was sitting there, I heard these words in the most humble and still small voice, "it's true".  This experience was really special to me because I learned a lot.  Not only was it another testament to me that the Book of Mormon is true, but I learned that the spirit is always there to testify of truth.  We have to humble ourselves and just listen to that still small voice.

I really felt like I needed to share that tender mercy with you guys today.  If any of you are struggling with your testimonies, I invite you to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and apply the invitation to your lives.  I testify with all of my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and has the power to change lives.  God has promised us to do His part, but it's up to us to do ours.

I had another experience this week that I feel like I need to share with you guys.  We had stake conference yesterday and the President of the Trujillo Temple and his wife spoke about temples.  They were talking about D&C 88:119 and how the temple is a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order and a house of God.  They went on talking about the spirit that comes from the temple and how essential it is in our lives to go often.  After they said that, they asked everyone about their homes.  That question, I want to ask all of you guys.  Is your house, a house of prayer?  A house of fasting?  A house of faith? A house of glory?  A house of order?  A house of God?  A house of love?

I testify that the home is a temple.  Everything starts in the home.  I promise you that this is a necessity in these crazy times that we live in.

This is all I've got for today.  I felt really impressed to share these things with you guys.  I pray that you have a good week and make the Lord a part of your lives.  I testify that the Lord lives, He knows each of you personally and loves you so much.

Have a good week.  I love you!

From an email he sent to Greg:
I am loving my mission. This area is hard, but I'm learning a lot.  We went out with our Bishop yesterday and we were talking with him and he was like, "Elders, you know what?  I know you guys are supposed to be here for a reason.  You guys are the best missionaries that La Florida has had in the longest time and I know that you guys will start seeing success".  It was good to hear.  We work hard and do everything we can.  I'm thankful to have yours and Zach's examples.  I'm blessed!  I hope you have a good week, Dad...I love you!

Elder Johnson

Six Months This Week

Buenas Tardes mi familia!  I hope that all of you guys had a good week and that everything is todo legal in the 435.  Everything is all good here in Chimbote.  I had a pretty good week.

First off, we have been working with a less active couple ever since I got here in Chimbote.  Their names are Edwin and Priscila.  Edwin has been a member since 2000 and has been a less active for over 10 years.  He has come a long way!!  This Sunday he was reactivated!!  It was a cool experience to see him take the sacrament for the first time in over ten years.  The spirit was so strong for me.

Something I have learned through the experience of working with them is the power of doing the little things and inviting the Lord into our lives.  The promise of doing the little things isn't that we won't have problems in life.  The promise is--when we have problems in our life, we can have peace-we can have hope and no matter what the problem may be--we can feel the love of the Savior.  That is all we need.  It has honestly been awesome to see the change in him and his wife by doing these things.

As for Lucy, it was hard to contact her again this week.  She has been super busy so we haven't been able to work with her very much.  She went to church again and is progressing.  It has just been hard to get in contact with her.  She is going to Lima again this week so hopefully we will be able to visit with her sometime this week.

That was my week!  I can't believe I'm at 6 months this week!  Time has gone so fast and I have loved every second of my mission.  The good times and the bad.  I have learned so much and have had experiences that I am eternally grateful for.  I love and miss you guys so much!  I hope you have a good week!

Elder Johnson

P.S. Happy Birthday NANO!!  I hope you have a good day, love you!

From an email to Denise:
"Sounds like everything has been going good.  An update on the Spanish, because I know you will be interested to hear about my level of Spanish at 6 months.  I understand just about everything and can say almost everything I want, but it still isn't perfect.  I have a long way to go, but I feel solid.  I bet I will be fluent at about a year.  That is normal for most missionaries.  I love and miss you guys so much!  I pray for you guys everyday.  Take advantage of this school year with Brynn and Kaden because next year Kaden will be on the mish!!  I'm so pumped for that!!  Anyways, Mom, I love you-have a good week"

Shampoo

BUENOS DIAS!  I hope that everyone had a good week and that everything is todo legal in the 435!  I'm so thankful for this p day that I have to hear from you guys today.  I had a good week, filled with a lot of tender mercies from the Lord.

To start out, while we were eating dinner one night, we got a call from our investigator, Wilson.  We always eat dinner at 8 or 8:30 so it was weird that he was calling at that time.  My companion answered and Wilson was like, pass me to Johnson, I need to talk to him.  He told me that he needed to talk about something personal so we panned to meet at the plaza in front of our room.  We left and went to the plaza and while we were there waiting for him, I heard this dude say "Mormon missionares" in English.  I was like, what the heck!  So, I went over to him and was talking to him in English and asked where he learned English.  He said that he lived in Montreal Canada for 24 years so I started talking about some PUCK eh!!  He said that his wife is a less active and wants to get back into the church.  I know that was a miracle of the Lord and that we were supposed to be at that plaza at that time of the day to contact the family.  They gave us the address to their house and we went on Friday to find it.  We couldn't find it to save our lives.  We were looking for like 10 minutes and right when we were about to go to our plan B, we were walking back on a different street that we had written down and she walked out of her house right in front of us.  We went in and felt that we needed to present the Book of Mormon to her and testify of its truth.  The spirit was super strong in that lesson.  We invited them to a ward activity that night and they went!  I'm so thankful for that miracle of the Lord.

Now about Wilson, ha ha, we were waiting for him thinking that he was going to tell us that he got an answer that the Book of Mormon is true and that he wants to be baptized or something like that.  He got to the plaza and was like, Johnson, I need your help to get to the United States, ha ha!  He said the leader of my church lives there and I need to talk to him and get ideas of how to make my congregation bigger!  ha ha I was like oh my goodness man!  Please read the Book of Mormon and focus on 1 Nephi 14:10 that will tell you what you need to do---ha ha, nah I didn't say that, but after that he was like, Johnson..do you think I could live in your house for like a month while I look for a job?  I was like bro, you're the man, but you're out of your mind right now!  It was funny, but thanks to him, we were able to have that tender mercy and find that family.

As for Lucy, she is progressing.  It was hard to contact her this week because she was really busy with work but we would go to her house and Luana would be there with her Grandma.  When we finally contacted Lucy, she told us that Luana earlier in the week was like, MOM, Shampoo didn't leave and has more time here.  Ha ha, Luana is so cute, she calls me Shampoo because of Johnson Shampoo, that's how everyone knows me here---either Shampoo or Johnson Baby, it's funny!  We invited Lucy to be baptized again on this coming Saturday the 13th of August.  She told us if she gets and answer from the Lord by Saturday, she will be baptized.  We fasted yesterday for her and we feel really good about her being baptized this Saturday.  She really is progressing and like I have said before, her time is soon.  We have all of our faith and trust in the Lord at this point and know that He will come up big.  I invite all of you to pray for her.  As I said last week, through small means and acts of faith, the Lord can bring about great things.

Anyways, that was my week.  I testify that this is the work of the Lord.  I testify that Jesus Christ lives and that He loves all of you personally.  He suffered and has felt every single thing that any of you have ever gone through or will ever go through in your life.  Invite him in through prayer, use His infinite atonement and I promise you will be happier.  You will have a different outlook on life and be able to get through the trials of life in peace.

I love and miss you guys so much and pray that you all have a good week.  Talk to you next week!

The Bros

Edwin is the man!

My pension (family who feeds him and does his laundry)

A favorite family

Ouch---they walk everywhere!  (he said he got these from playing American football last p day!)

Con MUCHO amor,
Elder Johnson

By Small Means Great Things Come

MI FAMILIA Y MIS AMIGASOS!  I hope and pray that you all had a good week.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity that I have to hear from you guys today.  Weeks go so fast!  I feel literally like I'm talking to you every other day!  It's crazy!

I have to start out by saying this week I ate Tokush.  It's fermented potatoes and it tasted like....straight dog poop!  It was disgusting.  I don't know why I ate it because everyone has always told me how rancid it is, but I figured I can't come to Peru and not try it.  I'm glad I got that out of the way!

This week, we had changes!  I have been sketched out all week because I didn't want to leave my area.  I have been here four months so I felt like the chances of me leaving were pretty high, but we got the call last night and I'm staying here with Elder Choque.  I'm so pumped!  Elder Choque is a wizard with the Bible and Book of Mormon.  I have learned a lot from him so I'm super happy that I have six more weeks here.  I'm also pretty hyped because all of my bros in the zone are staying so this change is going to be sick!

So aside from changes and that huge stress relief, this week was pretty good.  It was pretty slow, but we gave everything we could to the Lord.  That's what the mission is all about.  If you do everything you can and give everything you can to the Lord, that's when the miracles come and when you get to know the mysteries of God.  It humbles you and all you can do is put your trust in the Lord.  It has brought us closer to the Lord and I'm thankful for that.

Hermana Lucy is still progressing.  We're working with her and helping her gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I have seen a great change in her.  The Book of Mormon truly has the power to change lives and I'm so blessed to be able to testify of it's truth every single day.  With all of my confidence in the Lord, I know that Lucy will be baptized soon.

I'm so thankful to be a missionary.  I truly am so humbled that I get to put my name tag on every single day and testify of the truth of this gospel.  I know that God is a God of miracles and if we give our hearts to him, he will turn us into the person who HE wants us to be, not what WE want to be.  I want to share a part of a scripture that I have been thinking about this week.  It says, "And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things"  I testify of the truthfulness of that scripture.  I know that by doing the little things the Lord can bring to pass great things and turn us into the person He wants us to be.

I testify that this is the work of the Lord.  We are in the last days and are a part of the most amazing work on the earth.  I love my mission and am thankful to have the support of all of you.  I hope that you all have a good week and do the little things with faith.  I love you guys!!

Hermana Lucy, Luana, Elder Choque and Elder Johnson

Luana and Elder Johnson

Con MUCHO amor,
Elder Johnson

Another Temblor

Buenos dias, everybody!  I hope that everyone had a good week.  I hope that my beautiful, little sister, Brynney had a good birthday.  I'm so thankful that I have her sweet example in my life.  I love and miss you, Brynney!

So, this week we had another temblor.  We had a mini zone training in Buenos Aires and we were chilling there and in the middle of it, we heard this loud noise.  It sounded like a bunch of big trucks or something like that and we could feel the benches vibrating.  All of a sudden, the Stake Center just started shaking like crazy!  Ha ha, it was so sketchy!

As for the work this week, we had a pretty solid week.  We found a new family that we are working with that I feel really good about.  We taught them the restoration and the lesson was so powerful.  The spirit was so strong.  I know that in lessons the spirit takes over and we are instruments in the hands of the Lord.  It is an awesome experience to be able to testify of the truthfulness of this gospel.  We had a lesson with Lucy this week and it was pretty good.  While we were there, some dude came to fix Valentina's oxygen tank.  While he was fixing it, she came and sat by me on the couch and was coloring and cuddled up to me.  She is the cutest little girl.  She is such an example to so many people for what she is going through.  She is going to Lima today to see when she can get a lung transplant.  It will be a good opportunity for Lucy to exercise her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, we had a multi zone service project.  I got to see Elder Salazar and all of my other bros.  It was a good time.  We cleaned up garbage off of the beach in Chimbote.  It was gross but it was a good experience to serve the community.  While we were there, we saw llamas.  It was the first time I have seen one since I've been in Peru.  I got to ride it, ha ha, it was sick!  After that, our zone busted out the haka hahaha.  There's nothing like a bunch of tiny white dudes and latinos doing the haka, but it was sick!

That was my week!  I'm so thankful to be a missionary.  I love it with all of my heart.  I'm humbled that I get to represent my Savior everyday.  I know that this church is true.  I know the Book of Mormon changes lives.  I'm so happy to be here doing everything that I can to invite others to come to Zion.  I love you guys and miss you so much!  Have a good week!!

Con mucho Amor,
Elder Johnson

Where is Your Faith?

Good morning, everybody!  I'm so happy and thankful for the opportunity I have to hear from all of you today.  I hope that everything is tranquilito in the 435 and in the missions of all of my best friends.  First off, I want to give a shout out to Elder Weese for serving an honorable mission.  I'm thankful for the example he has always set for me.  I know he represented our Savior, his family and his friends throughout his service and gave everything that he had.  You're the man, Benny Weese!

Anyways, this week was really good.  On Tuesday, Elder Choque had a training in Trujillo so I was with the zone leaders, Elder Benitez, Elder Henao and Elder Stroud whose companion also went to Trujillo.  They are studs.  It was so fun chilling with them.  They are some of my best friends here on the mission!  We went on exchanges and I was with Elder Benitez and learned so much.  He's a G!

As for Lucy, she has absolutely everything to be baptized....except for a testimony.  She still hasn't been able to say with a surety that this church is true.  We are going to be working with her all week to help her but we need to be patient.  We know that the Lord is aware of her and that the time will come where she can say that this church is true with 100 percent surety.  I'm not worried about anything, I know she will be baptized.

So, yesterday, in Sacrament meeting, someone gave a talk that I thought was really good and I feel that I should share it with you guys.  He was talking about faith and asked where our faith is at.  He said do we have faith or do we have faith in Jesus Christ.  Do we have faith that He suffered for everything we will ever go through?  Do we have faith that He knows us perfectly?  There's a scripture that made me think of in 1 Nephi 10:17 and it's Lehi talking about the things he saw in a vision and he said something about how he was able to receive that vision by the power of the Holy Ghost BY FAITH ON THE SON OF GOD!  I testify that as we have faith in Jesus Christ and not just faith, we will see miracles and we will have a new outlook on the power of God.  I invite you all to think about where your faith is and to put all of your faith in the Son of God!

When I first ate Cuy (guinea pig)

Ran into this guy again!

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

Con mucho amor,
Elder Johnson