June 27th 2016

Oh people. Oh my people. This was one of those weeks where you just say "yes. oh yes." every night when you go to sleep. (well you actually say it in your dreams because you are out after 2 seconds on the pillow)

I'll share what happened during the week and do some updates and then send my journal entry of Saturday (dia de oro)

So Fam. Reyes this week over the phone said they would like to get married but cant afford it... when we heard that it was like a bomb going off. THATS ALL WE NEEDED. We exploded and immedately talked to the ward and boom boom boom. Fundraisers for the wedding! GOTTA GET THIS WEDDING DONE IN 2 WEEKS!!! the only thing is that they kinda dont know that they're going to get married the 9th of July.. hahahha because it was all so sudden and fast but tonight we tell them!

Dario... ey so sad what's been going on. He's been drunk like 3 days every week this whole month and we keep trying to help and we are going to have to leave him soon. He also said he is moving to Panama with his brother because he needs to get away from the influences here and some other people. Good for him. He will get baptized there. I know it. But I still love that man with all my heart.

Then on Friday it's 8:50 (BTW FOR FUTURE MISSIONARIES THERE IS ALWAYS A MIRACLE AT 8:50. ALWAYS.) and we were by the house and didn't know what we wanted to do so we decided to go down this sketchy street that weve never been on.. find a mesquitia family that went to the baptism and church and found a different family that is SO GOOD.. she said we were the only people that she's ever let in out of all the religions. LETS GO!!! 

Then Saturday. Oh beautiful Saturday. (see pics)

We have had many hardships and trials but we have been more than blessed as well. What a privilege it is to be here. The most wonderful thing that ever has happened to me. (up to this point;)) 

This week i am thankful for Gustavo Osorto (FIRST FAM!!), Mr. Axel and the miracle of him, my companion who is just a stud Elder High, (btw he restored a 1978 firebird transam special edition. its the coolest thing i have ever seen. in photos of course!), this wonderful life, that my back stopped hurting for a couple days (those were extremely good days haha), for the opportunity to give a last tema this the last zone mtg we are gonna have this week!, and the enabling power of the Atonement of the Savior of the world. 

GOTTA LOVE IT BABY!! 

 --

-Elder Alec Johnson

the church is true.

June 20th 2016

USA USA!!! Everyone is pulling for the USA down here!

LEBRON!! WWHAT!?!? Crazy stuff!! Went back to the city that burned his shirts and won them a championship. Not bad. #pdaysaregreat

Oh so many things. Trials and trials and more trials. But we just keep on rowing! Fighting and fighting! And that is why we are so tired haha.  But so Axel our baptism this week fell through because he visited his moms grave on Sunday and didn't go to church, so we were pretty down because we didnt have a baptism the month of June. But we just worked hard yesterday on Elder Highs bday and saw a ton of miracles! A ton! The elders from the other part of Santa Fe brought 17 people to church! Like 10 of them kids and teenagers! They reactivated a less active family and she's a teacher so she brought a ton of kids to church! 

Gustavo Osorto is ready to roll for this Saturday so technically we will end the month with a baptism! Still in awe with that one.

In other news big shoutout to big ol Partrick McMullin! Atta boy. 

Not sure what else to say because I never thought I would get to this point on the mission. I just love this Gospel more than anything I could ever dream of. It is so real and so wonderful. What else could one want? 

This week I am thankful for Fam. Reyes and their desire to do what's best (they are doing great!!), for interchanges, for my wonderful comp! Elder High, for my schedule for college that I got today #baggy, my wonderful fam, hard work, the scrips, the blessings that are poured out from Heaven on Gods children, anddddddddd my Bishop Roy.

Love you!

-Elder Alec Johnson

My main man chiropracto

Elder Neely!

We made pancakes for the zone!

23 months....

This week was literally the craziest week in the entire world. All that could happen happened. GOOD AND BAD. From a man with a his liver in a bag on a bus to a phone call from a very special friend.

Fam Reyes is great. They have come to church 3 times and we are just working with them for their papers! And they are from the south and they don't have much money so we've got to sell some baleadas to pay for their wedding! The goal is to marry them and baptize them the 9th.. the Saturday before I get home:) Just a humble, quiet, awesome family that I love. 

So I don't have time but on Friday everything came crushing down and we were just flabbergasted with everything that was happening. Like so many things with investigators, inv, everything. ha. Tough day after working so hard. But we didn't get down and told Heavenly Father that we were willing to pass through these trials to see the glory baby! dyc 103:12

Oh did the glory come. Oh did it come.. On Saturday we were contacting (did I ever say how much I love contacting? it is so amazing to be able to contact a new person and just love em without knowing them) and I get a call from Loarque the office elders and Elder De la Rosa says someone wants to talk to me. Ok... And its Gustavo! He asks me how I am and all that jazz, and then asks me what I'm doing the 25th of this month.... and we joke a lot (reminds me of my dad) and I tell him I have a date with a girl haha and he laughs and he says well you're going to have to move it to another day because YOU'RE GOING TO BE BAPTIZING ME THAT DAY....

WHATTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

I was just so shocked and I still cant explain how humble and blessed I feel. Like nobody knows how much I love that family and he is getting baptized. we worked SO hard with him! He got married like 4 months ago by the Catholic church for crying out loud! 23 months without baptizing a family and there's no other family that I would be honored to baptize than familia Osorto. Oh the joy I feel. 

This week I am so thankful for my wonderful companion Elder High who I respect and love so much. He is just wonderful and a great man. So cool. SO cool. Also thankful for my blessed President of the mission. He is so merciful and amazing. Love that dude. I am also thankful for that wonderful phone call that changed my mission. It's all worth it. All worth it. And last of all but the for whom I am most grateful, my Savior. My wonderful Savior. Oh how He lives! And oh how He loves us. 

Love you all! 

-Elder Alec Johnson

the church is true.

Interchanges in the pouring rain!

I got my teeth cleaned!!

We played soccer with a couple zones in a huge field called flor del campo and here is my wonderful son and grandson! Elder Garcia and Elder Caballero. Also that is my 49er Patrick Willis jersey.;)

June 6th 2016

Oh snap I got my ticket today! ALL I'M SAYING AT 11 OCLOCK, I WILL BE HUGGGING MY MOTHER THANK YOU VERY MUCH! 

By the way I was thinking and I've decided my parents are perfect. Si o si. HAPPY BDAY POPS! greatest Dad ever in the entire world. I just love the guy!

In other news Dario is awesome. He leaves with us to visit an investigator coming, to testify of these things that he is learning?? Oh yes. Just that stinkin drinking problem and bad friends!! Pray for him please!

We had 7 in church this week! And fam Reyes!! Again! they are doing great! This week we are going to talk about the law of chastity and put a date for their wedding! INTENSE!!

AND THENNNN GUESS WHO GOT WORD THAT GUSTAVO TOLD WALDINA THAT HE WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He just hasnt told the missionaries!! SO SOON! and then Hermano Portillo is getting baptized this week!!!!!! for sure!! YES! 2 fams! and a third on the way!!

This week I read dyc 103:36 and its the coolest scripture ever.

Love this Gospel with all that I am! ALL THAT I AM! 

"36: All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith."

This week I'm thankful for repentence, a clean house, the 49ers, meetings upon meetings that just make you feel like you're on a whole nother spiritual level, and just so many things I cant even explain because there is never enough time to write! 

love you all! 

-Elder Alec Johnson