BIG D! Thanks for writing! haha I missed your letter last week, no worries I guess you were busy. That’s good that you are staying busy. Sounds like you guys are starting off summer pretty well. I laughed when you told me about Ellis driving Kayla that’s pretty funny I could only imagine their stories. That fish that Tyler caught is pretty sweet I’ve never caught a Halibut. Thanks for the draft updates. Kobe is still going for another ring? That’s sweet! I gave a kid in our ward my Kobe shirt he plays basketball for his school here, and he always comes out to teach with us, he’s real cool.
So it’s pretty cold now winter officially started. Last night we contacted for like 3 hours and I’m pretty sure it was below 32 degrees. Those are the days you will never forget. We couldn’t feel our toes hands or faces but we were loving it. I was with Elder Pulver and Hobson because Elder Gil went to Concepcion because he is leaving. He left yesterday at 12 right after church I was sad to see him go. He was my first companion of the mission and my trainer. He taught me a lot, and we always had a good time together. Never a dull moment or a harsh word. I was blessed to have him. he gave me a soccer jersey from his hometown team in Colombia. And we traded ties. I told him I’m coming to Colombia one day to dance the Bachata with him! haha He was a great example for me and I hope I can become the missionary he was. He loved his mission and he didn’t want to go. It made me want to work harder and become as loving and hardworking as he was.
Some Zone Leaders called yesterday and said that a volcano down south is spewing ash, so all the flights out of there were cancelled. Elder Gil wanted that to happen because he didn’t want to leave! Haha it was pretty funny. So I guess they will bus them all up to Santiago to the airport.
There were 6 missionaries that left our Zone this exchange. So we had a lot of changes. Elder Hobson is going back down south to Barrio Norte. It’s funny because that is where he started his mission. And Elder Pulvers new companion is Elder Abbott. He’s a cool guy I talked to him once because we both went to the training meeting in Concepcion. And my new Companion is Elder Keller. He is going to be a Zone Leader with Elder Pulver. He was one of the assistants for the past 3 exchanges. I have been very blessed with my companions so far. Both of my companions thus far have been assistants so I have had the opportunity to learn and work with Elder Gil, and now with Elder Keller. We are going to work hard, and I am going to learn a lot. I am so very thankful for this opportunity it truly is a blessing.
Last night some Elders from Bombero Garrido came over, and we made some eggs and potatoes and we played Monopoly it was a good time.
And yesterday at church Elder Corbridge of the General Authority spoke. He served his mission in Argentina with President Humphrey our mission president so he speaks really good Spanish. Before church I went around shaking people’s hands and I walked on the stand to shake his hand, and he asked me where I was from and I said Orange County. And then I didn’t know what to say, because I was used to talking to people in Spanish so it felt awkward so I said what is your name? And he said Elder Corbridge, and then I said O you wrote The 4th Missionary. And he said ya, and I said thanks for that. Haha it seemed kind of awkward but I don’t know haha. The 4th Missionary is about 4 different types of missionaries there are. And how you want to be the 4th missionary who changes on his mission and serves his mission to its fullest, and loses himself in the work. It is a really good talk. It changed my perspective on how I am doing things right now in my mission.
On Saturday Elder Gil was saying good bye to lots of families and we went by this one family that him and Elder Pulver found the exchange before I got here. The dad is a Carabiñero (Chilean Police). So we were talking to the dad and his kids and we took some pictures, and the mom was at work so we were gonna ride our bikes across town to go say goodbye to her. But then he said, "Hey I can take you guys". So we hopped in his car and he took off. It was sweet he was driving all fast like a rally driver. Tyler would of liked it! Then we got to her work and we took some pictures and said bye, and we got in the car again and took off, and as we were going he turned up the big hill that’s in Curico. There is a road that goes up it. And he gassed it and was flying up, and there was some sharp turns, it was sweet. Then we got to the top and we took some pictures of the city at night it was cool. Then we got back in and went down the back side. It was steep with some tight turns to it was cool. So that was my Chilean rally experience. They are a real cool family. The dad Edmundo calls me "Beach Boy" haha.
But it was a good week. I was sad to see Elder Gil go but it was bound to happen. The mission, and life for that matter, is about learning, adapting, and climbing those hills with sharp turns, and obstacles. But always at the end of it all there is a big prize, and grand view. And it is something so great and marvelous that we can’t even imagine it. We just have to hold to The Rod and endure to the end. Just like it says in 2 Nephi 31. This work is a marvelous work I wouldn’t exchange it for anything. I have been blessed to see four miracles so far in my mission. I hope that I will have the opportunity to see more.
I love you guys and thanks for all of your prayers and your support. Have a fantastic summer, and I Hope you all drive safely to Utah and have fun.
Gracias por todo, les quiero mucho!
les quiero,
Elder Johnson
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