What a great and crazy week.

After coming to church on Sunday, Agustin (Andrea´s son) invited us

over to teach. This was interesting, because usually he hardly has the

attention span to sit through a whole lesson. We accepted, and he was

patiently awaiting at the house. He started to tell us that he felt calm and

tranquilo while he was in the church. From there, he opened the Book of

Mormon and began to read to us (this is a 13 year old boy mind you) from

Alma. I have no clue where it was, but it started talking about how the people

will confuse good things from wrong things, or something along those lines.

He then began to bear us testimony that he know that this church is that of

Christ because he knows that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. How

incredible is that. "Yo lo sé, y me voy a bautizar el 3 de mayo." Being in moments

like this just strengthens my testimony of  the divinity of this gospel. That, thanks

to our Savior Jesus Christ, people can change. That we are all out here to help each

other help others.

I was assigned as district leader this week at transfers. So we will see if I can

figure this out... We left Barrio II, the Matto family (Andrea), and all of our great

 friends out there. It was a really hard leave. We are in Rio Negro right now, where

there aren´t street directions or anything. So that will be a nice change from pure

middle of the city. Elder Fiabane and I are still together! So I´m way excited for that.

I´m praying that the sisters that were put in our area in Barrio II will treat our

investigators greatly. Agustin´s closing prayer, when we said goodbye Tuesday night

was exactly that. We are definitely going to their baptism.

I´m reading the Book of Mormon, focusing on attributes of Jesus Christ. It´s incredible

how every single page of that book testifies of our Savior. I know, without a doubt, that

it was written by inspiration from God. I know that, because I have received my own

inspiration from it, of course coming from the Holy Ghost. Through that book, my life

has changed. I have seen miracles, and tender promptings from the Holy Ghost come

from those writings in the moments where I have most desparately needed it most.

I love you all!

Elder Johnson

A quick week‏

This letter is going to be a shorty-- 

Love you momma!

We didn´t leave the office very much again. It is hard to complete with everything that needs to be done and get out there and work in the field. 

We have been working a lot (when we have time) with the list of the members, and, after praying, focusing in and listening to the spirit to know with whom the Lord wants us to speak. We found a man named Christian by ringing a bunch of doorbells ("just like a christmas tree") of an apartment building. We havent been able to see him again, so we will see how it goes.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Johnson

 

                                                                    Elder Fabiane

                                                                      The New Office

                                                                           Tacos!!!

Conferencia!‏

Family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO BOO!!! I LOVE YOU STINKER!

I just loved the general conference. Every time that we watch the conferences,

my testimony is confirmed and strengthened that we have a living prophet with

the authority to guide the church and the world. He receives revelation from our

loving Heavenly Father. The organization of the church is absolutely perfect-- the

same exact church that Christ established when he was on the earth.

I enjoyed most I believe the talk about gratitude. I realized I have so much work to do

when it comes to this attribute. Instead of working on "estando" grateful, I can work

on "siendo" grateful. I have never thought of the difference. But now, my thoughts and

goals have been so focused on becoming a grateful person rather than just being

temporarily grateful.

We were urged to share that which we are studying from Preach my Gospel (I forgot it

was called that in english) with our families during the conference. Right now, I am focusing

on studying teaching the true and pure doctrine. The spirit can´t testify if I am teaching Elder

Johnson doctrine or doctrine that I have heard from companions. So I am studying quite a lot

on knowing the commandments of God and the specific blessings that come with these 

commandments. I know that as I teach the doctrine of Christ more purely, the spirit will

be able to testify to that which I am teaching.

Not all that much has happened this week. One of the best things that happened was teaching

Synthia, Andrea´s niece. We are trying to work with the whole family to take the same steps

Andrea has taken in her life. Synthia has always been a little wishy washy about the whole

baptism subject. As Elder Fiabane and I were teaching from the scriptures, and relating them

to her life, we could see the change in Synthia as the spirit testified to her. I know that the spirit

works in the hearts of the people. Her countanance changed, and she is excited to progress

further in this gospel.

I love serving here in the office and with Elder Fiabane. It is always more enjoyable to serve

when your companion is one of your best friends!

Love you all!

Elder Johnson

Pictures

all the rain we had on the day of Andrea´s baptism

andreas baptism!!!!!!!!‏‏

the lunch menu 

 nerds rope from amb, 

FW: BAUTISMO!!!!

Family and friends!

So Elder Fiabane and I are so content for Andrea as she decided to make a sacred covenant with God and enter into the waters of baptism! It has been incredible to see the changes she has made in her life. When we first met, she was a saddened, depressed woman who was struggling to keep her family in order. Through trusting in the Lord, her life has been CHANGED. We see the happiness in her, and the excitement she has in the gospel. I think one of the biggest differences in her conversion was the involvement of members.

We prayed to know who should be the hermanamiento of Andrea. We spoke with Hermana Duarte, and she was so willing to help. We had lessons with the family and Andrea in the church, and made sure that constant contact was made. We had a member of the bishopric baptize Andrea, and invited another member to make a postre. She made a cake, and I´m pretty sure I accidentally ate half of it... Accidentally. Bishop gave her the Holy Ghost and confirmed her a member of the church. We had different members give talks. With all of the members loving Andrea in this way, she was able to be comfortable in the church, and she was able to receive an answer from God that this is his church that Jesus established while he was in the earth. She received an answer from God that he loves us so much that he has blessed us with prophets and revelation today, and that through Joseph Smith, God restored his church.

It amazes me the power that this gospel has in the lives of the people!

I heard country music while I was in Corrientes with Elder Fiabane working on tramites... I forgot that stuff existed!!!

We are now working with her family, and will be fasting for them this weekend so that, by listening to the prophets and apostles, their doubts and questions may be resolved.

I love you all so much!

Elder Johnson


                my new reimbursement system 

Charity‏

•                             caught a turtle from the sewer ditch..‏

•                                    6 month 1/2 kilo‏                                                                                                       

•                          

  
  

  Elder Fiabane and I in Corrientes‏

I don´t have much time left, but the question about charity made me think so much.

I know that I love the people. I can feel it when I teach, work with them, and I want the best for them. But charity, being the true love of Christ, I think I lack arriving to have this trait. I love the people so much, but just as I have had to grow so much to come to this point, I am sure that it will take much growth to come to love in the way Christ loves us. I´ve noticed as we have come to love the members in the ward, I have been able to work with them so much more effectively. As I have come to love my investigators, I have been able to invite them to come into Christ for their true benifit. And even the poeple that reject us. Loving them has helped me to leave with a smile on my face, knowing that the little testimony we were able to share helped them come a little closer to their Savior.

This week was amazing! We are so excited for Andrea´s baptism tomorrow!

Elder Johnson

La mision esta volando!‏

Family and Friends!

As I approach my 6 month mark in the mission, and of course, prepare to eat

half Kilo of Grido (mas bien!) I have been put to reflect on what I have done

for the Lord in the last 6 months, what I have learned, who I have become,

and of course, how I want to serve the Lord in the 18 months that come. Wow.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am in Argentina, doing that which I

have always dreamed of doing. Being a representative of my Savior, Jesus Christ

and bringing the gospel to those that are desparately waiting for it. The biggest

obstacle in our companionship right now is finding these people.

Andrea, Synthia (her niece) and Gabriel are progressing fantastically. We havent

had time to see them this week, seeing that last night was the first night I have

been able to leave the office since Sunday. I know that there is some way to speed

up this reimbursment process. It just takes a plan... We have fixed to pass a little

of time with the Mato family (Andrea) and the Duarte family with a Family Home

Evening in the church Saturday night. Turning to prayer to find an hermanamiento

like we were counseled to do (what does that mean in English) has really opened

doors for the spirit to work with the members and with us.

We carried out divisions with the Priests last night, and it made me remember

going out with the missionaries back in the Black and White times. The only thing

we lacked was a little Chino Bandito to close off the night. But it made me remember

how amazing I thought missionary work was. I think I taught a total of 3 lessons in all

the countless nights I spent with the missioanries. But I knew that it was the work of

the Lord, and just as long as I was inviting people to come unto Christ and working my

hardest, I was happy. I need to remember that more often.

Apparently the turtles don´t always just stay in the sewer ditches... I saw one in a pancake

form crossing the road. But he stopped crossing the road. I learned that there are two types

of leaders. Those that observe, and those that observe and act. I guess turtles are observers...

Poor little guy.

I love you all! Thank you for the love and support!

Elder Johnson