December 12, 2011 - Christmas in Talca!

The Talca Zone

Hey family and friends how’s it going!

  I’m staying here in Talca another transfer! So I’ll be passing Christmas here!

  We had a good week this week. We spent most of it looking for new investigators to teach. We had to drop a lot of our investigators because they weren’t progressing.

 Last night we had to drop our best family. It was sad, but we have to move on we have to look for those people who are willing to progress.

  So we spent most of the week knocking doors and passing by member’s houses to ask for references. I know that eventually the Lord will put someone in our path that is ready to listen to this message. I’ve learned that not only does it require obedience to receive the blessings of our Heavenly Father but it requires DILIGENCE! That what makes the difference. It requires a diligent effort to receive the blessings of him.

  It’s cool to see how the people here in Chile celebrate Christmas. Since it is hot here during Christmas they spend a lot of time outside, so a lot of people have their trees outside on their porch with all of the lights and everything! It’s pretty cool. And here they call it the Pascua. But Pascua is during April haha so they got it a little mixed up but hey who can complain its Christmas!

  This week we have a mission conference for Christmas so that’ll be fun. We will see all of our old buddies and get our packages! Elder Bustamante thinks all of the packages that are coming are for him! haha So that’s something fun to look forward to.

  Yesterday we walked down the freeway  a ways to a little town out by itself to do some contacts. It was something different to do, we found a couple nice people so we will go back and see if they really want to listen to the message of the Restored Gospel.

  All of the Elders and Sisters here in Talca are gonna sing in a choir on Sunday so we are gonna practice this Wednesday. So that will be fun.

  That’s about it, so you guys are getting drenched up there we are staying warm down here!

   I hope you all have a good week this week! And thanks for all of your prayers!

         les quiero,

                         Elder Johnson

December 5, 2011 - Viejito Pascuero!

    Everything here is going good. We didn’t get to have the baptism this week, the parents won’t give their permission, so we have to work with them a little bit more. We have been doing family nights with them lately, so they are slowly progressing. Just keep praying for them, that the message can touch their hearts!

  We had a lot more help from members this week also. We were able to go with a couple of members each day. So that was great! When you have a member with you it is a lot easier for the investigators to relate to the message and it’s different when you listen to someone talking who is wearing a normal shirt.

   We also found a couple of new investigators. We started teaching a members son’s girlfriend. We are hoping they get married before the 25th she can get baptized on Sunday Dec 25th! I know that with the help from the Lord we can help them start a new chapter in their life!

 On Sunday we only had one investigator in there. It was a tough week in that aspect. We had a lot of people committed to going to church also, but hey we had one investigator in church!

  Today for P Day we played soccer with our Zone and the Talca Centro Zone at Talca soccer. Its artificial turf it was super fun! We won some and lost some but we had a good time.

  The weather is nice and warm. I had to break out the handkerchiefs that Uncle Mark gave me to wipe off my face!

    This transfer went by really fast we are already here in the last week! So that’s good, we are staying busy working hard.

  I also went on a mini combio again with Elder Rapalo.  So that was good. He’s a great missionary.

   Elder Bustamante is doing good! haha He’s a great missionary I end up learning more from him! He is really animated to learn how to become a stellar missionary and to learn English! haha He always asks me questions about how to say stuff in English. We are always having a good time and making the best of the situation.

 He makes me want to go to Peru one day because he tells all of these cool stories! Peru is a mysterious country! haha I think it might be magical actually!

  That’s about it for this week, I’m loving the mission still and looking forward to another great week!

  Thanks for all of your support! you guys keep me going! And thanks for remembering to write me! It means a lot!

              love you all,

                               Elder Johnson

November 28, 2011 - P-Day in San Clemente!!

   Elder Bustamante and I had a good week. We really tried teaching lessons with members, and we saw better results with that.

  We had interviews with the president on Friday and we did some practices with the assistants it was great. I always learn something new when they all come. And you always feel more animated!

  And right after was our ward party so we went home and changed clothes and came right back to the chapel. It was a fun activity. We had a bunch of tables set up with displays and games. Like ping pong darts, a ball throw game, PlayStation, and then we had other tables like genealogy, the Liahona, I was Missionary Work, Temples. So everyone had to go around to the booths and get their papers marked, and if they went to other other booths with the games they got less points, because it signified a bad choice, and if they went to the other booths with the church stuff they got more points. And then we had seats set up on the stage like a plane. And I was the pilot so I was announcing stuff and talking. Then all of a sudden the plane crashed, and everyone "died". So then after if the people choose to go to more of the booths and got more points they were awarded with the Celestial Kingdom, and if they got less they got the terrestrial and telestial. And then they asked me to give a talk on what happened after the activity was over. So it was an activity that was to help them make realize that it’s important to make good decisions all the time because you never know when that time will come! It was fun though everyone liked it and they liked the gringo talking on the plane haha. The next day in church they all were saying hey Pilot Johnson!    But I hope that whoever reads this can understand what happened! haha it was easier to do the activity, then explain it!

   We are planning on a baptism this Saturday the 3rd. Thanks to your prayers and the help of the Lord it was made possible! But keep praying!

  Today for P day we took a bus out to San Clemente one of the sectors that is outside of talca, and we played soccer with some kids it was fun! Then we had some chicken and french fries after. It was a fun P Day with lots of heat of course! haha

  But we are looking forward to this week and we are hoping to have a "White Christmas"! We have some people preparing for baptism towards the middle of December so the work really is moving forward here! We are really blessed!

 Thanks for all you guys do and for your love!

  And tell Dane he’s going to be a stellar missionary! El va a ser un buen instrumento en las manos del Señor!

  Have a great week everyone! I love you all!

            les quiero,

                Elder Johnson

November 21, 2011 - ¡Feliz Dia del Pavo!

 Elder Bustamante and I enjoyed ourselves this week. We did a lot of work, taught a lot of lessons and we did a lot of contacts. It was great!  We found a couple of new investigators, so that was good.

  Yesterday in church we had two of our investigators there and their mom who is less active. And it just so happened to be the primary program Sunday! So one of the investigators and her little brother were up there singing! It was great! Our Sacrament meeting is last so they had time to practice a little bit. But the mom was loving it! They love it when we come over, and they love to read the Book of Mormon! They are a great family. Tonight we are gonna do a family night over there and I told them I would make some brownies! haha so they were stoked!

  We almost had a baptism this weekend but the family had to go out to some pueblito for a party so the baptism didn’t happen. We are planning on it for the 3rd of December. Because next week is Stake Conference, but we might be able to sneak it in after Stake Conference so pray for us!

  On Thursday I went on a mini combio with Elder Rapalo again.  It was fun we taught some lessons, and did some contacts, the usual. Good times like always.

On Sunday night we did an Invasion in San Javier. It’s a little Pueblito out towards the ocean. There are 2 Elders and 3 Sisters out there that work. So we went and helped them out. We all split up and did some contacts and taught some lessons. I worked with Elder Call. We were together when we were in Curico. So we did some contacts and we found one guy for them. It was way fun! It was nice to see all of the Zone come together to help out some other companionships. On the way back on the bus I sat next to Mick Jagger haha. He had leather pants and a leather jacket and smelled like beer! Classic!

The ball that popped!

   Then today for P Day we played some soccer with some other Elders in our zone it was fun! Then we ate some completos, Elder Bustamante ate his first one! haha he liked it. Then we all went to do internet. In the morning I bought a soccer ball for Elder Bustamante because he gave his to Guilermito because it was his birthday, but when we went to play today they kicked it over the fence on accident and it popped! It was a huge hole we don’t know how it happened but it made a good hat I’ll send a picture.

  This week we have interviews with the president, and they said that we will have to teach a 10 minute lesson on the restoration or the plan of Salvation to the president or the Assistants! haha so that will be good. That’s gonna be on Friday, Thanksgiving! And then Friday night we have a ward activity. Elder Bustamante and I both have display tables so its gonna be great!

  But like always I am enjoying the mission! Elder Bustamante is keeping me busy! He’s a great missionary he teaches me!

I finished the Book of Mormon! It took about 4 months. No doubt in my mind that the Book of Mormon is true. It really is inspired and we are blessed to be able to have it. The Book of Mormon and the Spirit is the key to conversion. We can open it at any time and find a scripture that has something to do with what we are going through in that instant. That’s what it was made for, to help us and teach us! I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have to read it every morning! It’s a great way to start out the day!

    That’s it for now everybody! Have a great Thanksgiving break! Eat an extra spoonful of mashed potatoes and gravy for me! haha And be safe out there in the desert!

           les quiero,

                           Elder Johnson

November 14, 2011 - Elder Cook in Chile!

Hey everybody! Good to hear that everything is going good!

  This week Elder Cook passed through the Mission, and on Thursday the whole mission met in a Chapel in Concepcion to listen to him and to Elder Richards and their wives! It was great we were blasted with the Spirit and words of encouragement and experiences! It was great!

  Elder Cook talked to us about how we need to have more love for our investigators and how we need to sacrifice more for them. Just like one of the earlier missionaries in the church Dan Jones. He was full of love for the people.

 He also talked to us about how we are branch builders in Chile we are here helping build up the wards and branches, and we can’t just focus on our investigators. We are here to animate the members and to reactivate the less actives! It was great! He told us a story about 2 sets of missionaries in his stake in San Francisco. One pair would come to the Chapel and sit down and read the scriptures while the others would shake people’s hands and talk to people! I like being those missionaries! I’m here to share my smile and love for 2 years! And you always feel better when you share the gospel or make someone’s day better!

 Elder Cook’s wife had us sing before her husband talked and when we got done singing Oid naciones  (Hark all ye nations) She was all excited and was laughing she loves music! it was funny she is great she reminds me of Aunt Karen! haha always having a good time!

  This Sunday we confirmed Yesenia and she asked me to do it. I was a little nervous but it went good it was a great experience to be able to do that. She is a convert of gold! I have never seen a person read the whole Book of Mormon before their baptism!

 And we are planning on baptizing Hangysan this weekend. She is about the same age so pray for her that she will be ready!

  And also pray for Guillermo and Olivia that things can start running smoother for them. They really need this gospel and the guidance of the Spirit in their lives!

 Today for P Day we bought groceries in the morning and then we went to a soccer field on the other side of our zone and we played some American Football! It was great! But we lost! haha We tried I threw some TDs for you guys! haha

  The work is going good here though thanks to your support and your prayers!

O it also rained on Tuesday it was random But it’s hot today just the way we like it! Where Elder Bustamante lives it is really hot and in the mornings sometimes it’s a little cold so it messes with him but he’s doing great! He’s a stud! He’s full of the Spirit and energy and is full of questions! haha He’s a great missionary!

  Have a good week everyone! I love you all and you are all in my prayers!

  Keep it scripturey!

    les quiero,

                    Elder Johnson

November 7, 2011 - A new addition to the family!

Me, Yesenia, Richard, Elder Bustamante

 Hey family and friends how’s it going!   I hope it’s all going good!

  Last Monday we left Talca at 8:30 and arrived in Concepcion at 12:30 at night because I went down to pick up my new companion Elder Bustamante! Straight from the MTC! We spent the night in some Elders house we slept on the floor haha it was nice got a couple hours of sleep not too shabby! Then we went to the church and the Assistants told us some stuff about training and how it should be done with love, care, patience and humility. Then all the missionaries from the States got there and we talked to them for a little bit. Then we ate lunch, then we all went into the Chapel and the new missionaries gave their testimonies, then it was time to pair up the companions! Finally after a couple of missionaries he called up Elder Bustamante and said you are going to be serving in Talca Cancha Rayada! Up to that point I didn’t know who my comp would be but then I jumped up and walked up there and gave him a big hug! Haha!   Then we had to wait at the chapel for 2 hours until our bus left.   Our bus left at like 7:30 so then we took a 4 ½ hour ride back to Talca and caught a taxi to our house.

   Then the next day we had District class, and we worked that day did some contacts and taught some lessons.

 Then on Thursday we did a mini combio with Elder Rapalo who is our District leader. He came with me and we went and interviewed Yesenia for her baptism!

  The rest of the week we spent looking for new people to teach and teaching lessons we kept ourselves busy!

  Sunday was great we had a great class on how families can be together forever which was great for our investigators who are a whole family. They have gone through some rocky times but the Restored Gospel is definitely making some big changes in their family! And on Sunday night we went by and taught them with Eduardo a member in our ward who is awesome! He is a returned missionary that always helps out.

    This Thursday we are leaving at 2 in the morning by bus to go back to Concepcion for a Mission Conference! It’s gonna be great we don’t know who is coming but it might be an Apostle! So we are hoping it is! I think only a couple of Apostles know Spanish. But it is going to be great to be taught by an Apostle or a General Authority!

  But Elder Bustamante is a great missionary. He is excited to learn, and he really teaches by the Spirit and wants to help the investigators.

Richard and I after the baptism! Reppin´ my Chargers tie!

  He has some crazy stories because he’s from the jungle in Peru! He lives on a big island and the Amazon river runs around it! He says that there are big snakes that get so big that they can’t move so they dig a hole in front of their mouth and they eat anything that comes to drink the water out of the hole and while the snakes are resting there trees and stuff grows on top of them! Isn’t that crazy!

  That’s about it! I’ll let you guys know how the Mission Conference was! I’ll make sure to take lots of notes!

   Have a good week everyone! Keep a smile on!

          les quiero,

                         Elder Johnson