Have We Got the Show for You!

June 23, 2014

Have We Got the Show for You!

This place, Micaela Bastidas, is awesome.  The humblest of all my areas, but so great.  There are investigators who are learning how to read by reading the Book of Mormon.  Miracles, for real.  And I totally love my comp, Hna Maidana de Argentina.  She is fun and a go-getter and confidently unsensitive, and loves to eat.  Most of all, loves God.  Don’t know what more I could ask for.  We are loving our time here together.  Ready to tear things up.  We are praying really hard to have families that want to be baptized and go to the temple and be eternal families.  We have a ton of fun chasing fathers down and scaring people with our friendliness, haha.  

It’s a great time—found a family this week.  So awesome they are.  We talked to the dad because he was dropping his kids off for school, and we may or may not have followed him home because he recently moved there and didn’t know the address.  Get this:  they were just married in February.  We came the next day, the dad had read the first half of the folleto [brochure], and he even turned off the World Cup when we went in the house. That, seriously, is nuts.  I don't think most Americans realize how unusual that is, and how huge that was for us.  And when he was explaining that his kids didn’t get home til later, he was like, it’s the worst.  All I want is more time with everyone together.  We were like, oh dear sweet man.  Have we got the show for you.

Fun story.  Normal shower time, all good and lathered up--shampoo, soap and everything--and the water turns off. We don’t have water stored here like in Talara and Castilla, ‘cause I guess that never happens here.  But that’s fine.  So, my comp brought me the filtered water that we drink.  I’m sure hash tags aren’t still a thing, but in case they are #bathedwithnotfreezingfilteredwater  #ithinkthatmakesmetheprincessofpiura

Also, Karmen got baptized this week.  Fotos next week.  Her son is in the mission and her family was waiting for her to get baptized.  They are all going to get sealed when he gets back.  Love the beauty of this gospel.  

Really, I just am so grateful.  I am remembering how hard Heavenly Father loves me.  He was telling me last Monday that He was LETTING me go to that area and be with my comp, and I know He wasn’t kidding.  He loves me.  And so, He loves you.  Not because of merit, but because of identity.  

Love you guys.  Stay sweet.

Hermana J

Nayeli!...Hi!

June 23, 2014

Nayeli!…Hi!

Hey, I have some good news:  I got my clothes fixed!  I only procrastinated a year to get it done, but I look a lot younger and more gorgeous.  In fact, a member asked me yesterday if I was 18!  I wanted to cry and wipe away my tears with Spencer's hand-me-down tie.  It was the clothes!  People don't tell me I look 40 anymore!

The Lord really takes care of us, even though I feel like we don’t deserve it sometimes.  Sandra, an eternal investigator, told us this week that she wants to get baptized on July 13th.  On Sunday, we were ending the week with just about nothing.  Then the ward told us that there is an activating family in the ward that wants the daughter to get baptized.  Her name is Nayeli, and not Nayeli from The District 2, if that's what you're all wondering.  [I couldn’t figure that one out, but fortunately Spencer knew exactly what Dalton was talking about:  It’s a reference to the Preach My Gospel videos, called The District.  Thank you, Spence!]

There is nothing in the whole world that is sweeter than seeing a convert become stronger and stronger, as well as happier and happier.  I will never forget the Astete family.  A baptism is nice, but I’ve noticed that true joy is experienced afterwards.  Serving a mission is great.  There are a lot of hard moments, but only a joyful mission. It’s crazy that that's the way it is, but it's true.  

I love you all!  Make good choices!

Elder Johnson

Dia de la Papa

June 16, 2014

Dia de la Papa

HAPPY DIA DE LA PAPA!!!  Haha jk, that’s later this month, on Grantie’s bday actually!!  

Happy Fathers Day, Daddy!!!  I have been talking about you to everyone.  I feel like I have the knowledge of Heavenly Father’s love because of my Daddy.  So I try to share you with everyone, but sometimes it makes people jealous.  I don’t blame them.  But I couldn’t hold it back on Father’s Day.  I gave a talk in sacrament meeting, my last one in Ramon Castilla, and it was all about that.  Shared a few stories, one about when you cleaned my feet woundies out, and everyone was bawling.  Aww.  Anyway, you are the best.  I cry every time I talk about you.  Nasty habit.  But I like it, because it means I’m a little bit like you :) My long-term goal is to be a lot like you.  Love you, Daddy.

So yea, leaving Ramon Castilla.  Again, I just feel too peaceful to be sad.  Though I loved that place. They are just the coolest.  I got really close to them really quickly.  And just recently, all the menos activos we were working with have started getting involved in the work, and wanting to bring others to church, which made the members want to too.  It’s so cool!!  How waking up to the work of the Lord is the best kind of waking up.  Even better than waking up at 6:30, though no mucho.  

Went to Lima this week.  It was so fun.  Found  a bunch of people who know Daltie, and we had our Daltie eyes out the whole time.  Went with my friendie, Hna Finlinson, who is the Kathy to my Jody.  Just try to imagine it. And the sun wasn’t out, and we took hot showers.  It was beautiful.  But glad to be back in my mission :)

Something I wrote to President about my last few transfers and the assignment I was given by him:  Did I realize a lot of weaknesses on the way?  Yes.  Did I have to work on weaknesses I already knew were there?  Also, yes. But something I know is that the Atonement covers all.  It makes our weaknesses ok.  It makes our mistakes not the end of our world, nor the world of those around us.  It makes it so once selfish actions from another (in this case, mine) work together for the good of another somehow, instead of destroying all hope.  It literally just makes everything ok.  How grateful I am for it.  And so I will be forever.  What a demonstration of love.  Hopefully I can emulate it someday.  Because in the process of becoming more like Christ, unfortunately we have to realize how unChristlike we are.  But even then, it’s not the end of the world either.  BECAUSE of Christ.

Hey, love you all.  Be good.

Hna Johnson

PS - Oh yea!  I am with Hna Maidana de Argentina in Michaela Vastilla that is a little out of Piura, but still within Tottus distance.  [I gathered from Google that Tottus is a chain of supermarkets.]  Way stoked!  It looks like an awesome area, and a great time to be with my comp.

[All of these photos of Davi were sent by Marianne Rivera (gracias, Marianne!)--along with very sweet messages of how much they will miss her--when Davi found out she was being transferred:]

іZona Olivar gana mundial!

June 16, 2014

іZona Olivar gana mundial! [Olive Zone wins—or will win—World Cup!]

What a great week!  When I heard that the World Cup was starting, I almost thought I would have to go to my missionary y2k bunker.  Surprise!  Outside one day, we talked to this old man who only understood 50% of what we were saying, and then he let us in.  When inside, we met a man named Wilson who doesn't really like soccer.  Wha?  He also told us that he needs something in his life to destress from his problems and that he can’t sleep without reading before going to bed.  Well, I'm sure not a scientist, but I've got an answer for that one. He says for now that he's Catholic and doesn't look to change religion, but promised to have the Book of Mormon be his new book before he goes to sleep at night.  It's better that way.  I'm not a great teacher, but I don't need to be a great teacher if Wilson just reads the book.  

It's amazing that it really is all that simple.  There are so many books to be read, so why not try this one? What's the worst that could happen?  I can tell you what's the best that could happen, and it is finding exactly what you are missing in your life.  My greatest wish is that one of my friends can read the Book of Mormon while I am gone.  There is truly nothing to lose, but everything to gain, so if anyone reading this post is unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon, please let me or someone know so you can get a copy.  I've read a lot of garbage books in my life, but this is not one of them.  This book has changed my life, and it is exactly what you need—even if you are not looking for it.

Little miracles are happening here, though I don't really have time to mention all of them right now.  Just know that I love you all and hope you are doing well, or at least better than my companion when he found out that Ecuador lost to Switzerland.

Elder Johnson

The Master Artist

June 9, 2014

The Master Artist

So, I love Castilla.  What a darling little place.  

Juan got confirmed yesterday.  He came in a white shirt and tie, and gave the opening prayer in the meeting.  He just is becoming this Priesthood man.  The progress is incredible.  He just talks about how much happier he is.  And that he’s found purpose and real life. 

Consejo de barrio [ward council] was so cool.  We have a lot higher goals, so everyone was so excited!  They were like, ok, we need to do this then.  We all have to share in that number of people coming to sacrament meeting.  So they all put goals!  I love them.  

I love being a missionary!  

Some things I have been learning:  That faith is just doing it anyway.  Also, an analogy:  God is our creator, right?  So, let’s think of it like He is a sculptor.  When someone sees a sculpture, and says something bad about it, does it affect the sculpture, or is it a reflection on the sculptor?  The sculptor, of course.  So if we are ever thinking bad things about ourselves either, about who we are, we are dissing the sculptor.  Also, the sculpture, if really awesome, also is just a reflection of the sculptor.  Things I am trying to put into practice.

Sorry, I have to use this time to make a flyer to invite everyone to church.  Love you!!!!!!!!!

Hermana J

Go, My Favorite Sports Team!

June 9, 2014

Go, My Favorite Sports Team!  [had to quote Brian Regan right there]

I'm sorry for not being super motivated to write right now.  I still haven't 100% recovered from the salsa party on Saturday night we heard outside our window.  I'm not much for remembering my dreams, but I imagine that it involved me dancing with a rose in my mouth.

A nice experience from this week happened on Tuesday.  We went to go tracting, something that many times we don't actually do because we are generally looking for less actives.  On the first door we knocked, this lady came out and started telling us that she just had the most difficult day of her entire life the day before.  She was telling us as well about the situation with her husband, who was tricked with a false job offer and held hostage in Honduras.  She actually talked to us a long time, and said afterwards that she felt that we were sent from God because she was praying before we came and she needed someone to talk to.  As we left, I was walking and realized how privileged we really are.  We are allowed to answer prayers, though we may not realize it in the process nor be very apt in so doing.

Elna Risco says that she is not going to get baptized, even though Carlos really wants to.  He says that he will only do so as a family decision, to which I can't argue.  But, we fasted and we'll see what happens when we give them time to think it out.

On the other hand, Jorge Astete has a calling now and will receive the Melchizedek Priesthood next Sunday. We started with them and they were having some tense times, but now they are as a family should be.  I really couldn't be happier for them.

Anyway, that's it for me this week.  Just trying to pretend that I have been a soccer fan my whole life when people talk about the world cup.  It's exhausting.

Love you all!  Chao.

Elder Johnson

Just Being a Helper

June 2, 2014

Just Being a Helper

I am SOOOO HAPPY to be back in Castilla.  I seriously love this area so darn much.  I have some of the coolest stories ever to tell you guys.  

One is about Juan Peña.  Remember the one who is a dad of a less active we were visiting, and we saw in a park and invited him to a lesson?  Well, he got baptized yesterday!!  It was the coolest thing!  Whenever we reminded him of his date, he would joke with us, saying, 1 de junio, 2015, hermanas.  He has two returned missionary active sons.  They both came.  The one came from Trujillo (that’s like 8 hours from here), and he baptized him.  The day of, the daughter who we were visiting who has started coming back to church, shared her testimony in sacrament meeting.  Juan’s wife, who hasn’t been to church in years, came to sacrament meeting and the baptism, and is so happy to be back.  Juan shared his testimony at the baptism, and it was so cool.  He was just so humble!  He has seriously changed so much.  He shared his testimony of Jose Smith and of the Church of Jesus Christ, and especially of how Christ atoned for him, and that this is the right path.  He is so cool!  Looks all serious, but is like the very sweetest ever.  He is always with his little grandson, Pachito (foto included).  And a ton of people from the ward were there.  Because they have been working with this family forever.  In consejo [ward council] this week, we told them that he was really getting baptized, that he had already passed his interview and everything, and the whole room broke into a cheer.  How cute is that?  That’s how it should always be.  They understood that a family had been saved.  And they were overjoyed about it. 

Juan y Pachito

 Photos of Juan's baptism day, with members in Castilla.

We gave the family a picture of the temple, and we said, remember how you always said junio 2015?  Well, that’s because that’s when you will be going to the temple to get sealed with your family.  And the kids were all bawling.  Even tough guy Jaier, who didn’t start crying at all, started bawling at that.  It was the coolest, y’all.  

AND yesterday Yony came to church.  He is this RM [returned missionary] who hasn’t been to church in like 4 years.  He had a kid, and just didn’t know how to come back.  But we saw him yesterday, and heard him pray, and he started crying.  And I saw for a second his relationship with God.  And it was so special.  And we just testified of how much God loves him.  Sometimes I am a little harsh with people, but with him, I just wanted to hug him tight and walk him into the church holding his little hand.  He was so scared of what people would say.  He said he would come to the classes.  But then, he walked in right before the sacrament, and I saw him and started freaking out.  And bawling. 

It’s like, that’s why Christ did what He did.  So Yony can come back.  So that he could be happy, and be embraced the way he was by the greatest ward ever.  He did it so that Juan could decide to be baptized and come back to his family and to God.  We would have no hope at all, stuck at our faults, without anything.  And instead, we have all the hope in the whole world.  I love Christ, and couldn’t be happier being His little obnoxious helper. 

Love,

Hermana J

Street Soy Milk, Anyone?

June 2, 2014

Street Soy Milk, Anyone?

Well, if anyone is wondering why I put that as this week's title, let me explain right now that my companion got horribly sick this past week.  Lesson learned!  When I say sick, I actually mean in the room and only leaving for appointments kind of sick.  Elder Johnson read a lot of Jesus the Christ this week.  Great book.

Jorge Astete got the priesthood on Sunday, and we are preparing him so he can get the Melchizedek Priesthood in June.  I am so excited for that!  I have never gotten to see a convert get the higher priesthood.  Seeing them just makes me happy.  I can see it Jorge's face:  He is happier, and the whole family seems to simply be doing better.  No more fighting between spouses, and even little Cristofer is getting used to church meetings.  If you don't take the time to think about it, you almost miss it.  We were permitted, and are permitted, to take part in the salvation of human souls.

Next challenge:  Elna Risco.  Carlos, her husband, is all ready, and we could, in theory, baptize him first, since he is the head of the family, but she might never do it if Carlos gets baptized without her.  They both passed their baptismal interviews on Saturday, but it seems like she's afraid of what her family will say. We are doing with them what we did with Jorge:  the last part of chapter 11 in PMG says to pass by every single day to make sure that they are following through with the Book of Mormon, etc.  If you can't pass by, then you give a phone call. We are out of phone credit, so we choose the first this week.  They are worth it.  Please pray for Elna.  She is so close.

Anyway, if you know anyone that lives by the Tottus by Canta Callao that would be interested, let us know.  We need to find some extra new investigators before the y2k known as the World Cup.  Just kidding.  Love you all and make good choices!

Elder Johnson

Photo of Joe and Jody

Since some people have asked about the photo Davi referred to in her most recent post, I decided to add it here.

This is Joe and Jody on their wedding day.  Oakland temple July 14, 1984.