June 15th

So there's a million things I wanna say but to start off, it's mango season and it's the greatest season of my life! We just eat and eat mango's! It's incredible. OK so this week was nuts. Our "chosen" family we found out does witchcraft, our baptisms almost fell through, we went to Talanga @ 7:00 to baptize Jose when there was basically rivers instead of streets because it's the rainy season. And the power went out, to coming back home Sunday morning and looking for David at a neighbor's house so he could get conferred, to the husband of Dania letting us marry them so she can get baptized, getting yelled at by woman in the ward because she was getting married the same day as our baptism, realizing that gossip and judging people is the great stumbling block that prevents us from loving one another and the stumbling block to bring new people to the church, and finally.... FINDING THE FAMILY THAT IS READY TO BE BAPTIZED AFTER !! MONTHS OF SEARCHING FOR THEM!!!! (and they're not witches!) This week was pack full of miracles and full of crazy stuff. Oh, as well! We're on track this month, and we have all the people to break the baptism record in our zone Talanga! Our missionaries are so great! It's been some crazy couple of days. But I've been reading 'Jesus the Christ' and first off...this book is incredible. I've learned soooo much in such little time thanks to this book. And thought of how hard Satan tried to tempt the Savior. Can we even imagine how Satan must have tried his all, his absolute best in trying to make the Savior mess up? Because if he would have made him slip up, he wins and everyone becomes miserable like him. I'm more than sure that Satan did everything to try to get him to slip up. But the beautiful thing is, Christ didn't give in. Not once. That gives me a lot of hope and an urge to be better because if Satan threw everything he could have and didn't succeed, it's the same with us. Satan will throw all that he can but if we are founded on that rock of Christ and depend on Him, we will be safe. Because the Lord knows how it feels. So just remember to secure yourself even more on that rock. Do it today. Do what need to be done to be safe and secure in the future. Oh and check out my 2 new fav scrips, along with Matthew 5:14, 3 Nephi 18:24, and Moroni 7:44-48.
"But as it is written, eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." - 1 Cor. 2:9
"Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled.." - 2 Nephi 7:11

This week I'm thankful for mangos, the rainy season, the new fam, a house to live in, my ward in Sunstone, interchanges with Elder Corey, when there's water, the Book of Mormon, Jesus the Christ, Mariah y David, Deal or No Deal, that it's cold, Elder Wallentnies old boots.

~Elder Alec Johnson

INTERCHANGES WITH ELDER COREY!! LOVE THIS MAN SO MUCH! MOST HUMBLE AND PATIENT MAN ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET HE LIVES IN WESTPOINT UTAH!

MY MAIN MAN JO**! such an amazing man who wants to go on the mission sooo bad! such a cool baptism even if we were SOAKED

this is hermans da** house and it got flooded! really scary but now its better they got more dirt from a neighbor and did some stuff so it wont happen again! but man you guys have no idea how lucky we got it in the states. no clue. 

RIOS O CALLES?

June 8th, 2015

This week was a crazy one! And super long and short at the same time. The Temple with Pres. was super spiritual and really cool. Had an experience that hit me real good that the line between good and evil, light and darkness, heaven and hell is so thin. So delicate. And it really is so easy to say what is evil is good, and break the Lord's commandments and standards he has set. And with the world supporting every bad decision, it's easy to get caught up in those worldly things. It's easy to fall in the hands of that great Satan, who only wants us to be miserable because the plan he gives us is an easy one, full of moments of pleasures of sinning. But what Christ and His Atonement has to offer is a lifetime and eternity of Joy and Happiness. Nothing that Satan has to offer is even comparable to the Joy I feel when I obey the commandments and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a missionary, one has the opportunity to see all the evil this world has to offer and then the light our Savior has to offer to us. Really crazy experience that happened.
Oh and FATHER! HAPPY B-DAY YA OLD MAN! I know you don't like all the jazz that comes with a birthday so I'll just say thanks for being the perfect example of someone who is real, humble, and knows how to work hard. Sure do love ya. And on your b-day we had a baptism! It was pretty nuts and unexpected! Ha! We baptized Hermano Miguel who is 81 years old and just as funny as can be. He had planned to baptized a couple weeks ago but never dropped coffee and went on a trip to Ju**. But we found him on Thursday, found out he hasn't been drinking, and boom! Baptism on Saturday! Really funny but great experience. We had interchanges on Friday and I went to Campamento to verify fechas with Elder Gonzalez and guess what.. we found the family we tried looking for when I was there for 12 weeks! They are so amazing. They went to church and want to get married, want to get baptized and the guy even said, "I've always wanted to go to your church! Because it's different from all the rest!" Oh. And they live across from of our house! But I'm glad we were able to find a chosen family in Campamento, even if it was a little late. And Herman Op** is so stinking' awesome. She filled out all the questionnaire on the back of the pamphlet of lesson/and word of wisdom and I never have seen that from someone on my mission. Woman with so much faith.

This week I'm thankful for the Temple, repentance, my dad and his example, our zone, mangos, that the rainy season is staring, trials in our companionship, music, sleep, soft blanket, my pillow, that the Lord is so merciful, that I'm me, the commandments, Miguelito and his baptism, our investigators, that my little watch lasted 11 months before he retired, that it's been 11 months, that it's June, Cart-man, Sav, and Luke, and The Atonement.

-Elder Johnson

oh Marvin... Marvin, Marvin, Marvin hahahaha this kid can punch hard

gotta see my wonderful fam of less actives in Campamento!! they are my favorite people ever

somehow I never get off the ground in these pics...

love this elder and he goes home in 2 weeks.. I honestly cant believe it 

sighting of Russell Westbrook in Honduras?? my man Elder Montero!

zona talanga o sea zona de animo milagros fe y obediencia! o sea zona hermosa! 

June 1st, 2015

Wow! What happened with May? We're in June!
Well this week was just full of miracles, just full! We had 6 people in church and they are all so excited to be baptized and we found them all this past week..! Oh and I heard about Elder Perry. What an amazing man. He had a special place in my heart because he liked sports and was super tall and I for sure thought he was going to be the next prophet. I don't remember anything about him being sick or having health problems so it was a shock to me. But what a life he lived! I have such a strong testimony of the living prophet and his apostles. We had our last zone conference with President and it was amazing. So great. Weird that he'll actually be gone in 3 weeks. Can't see it yet.
But ok, wanted to talk a little bit on a way cool thing that happened on Friday. So one of our districts has been having a little hard time with finding and just have had a tough time with some things. So Elder Borge and I went to Talanga and we split up because Talanga is divided in 2, Jordan and Talanga. So I went with the Hermanas and Elders of Talanga, and Elder Borge went with the Hermanas and Elders of Jordan to check on people that are going to be baptized and to put more dates with those that are struggling. So the ward mission leader and I went with the Hermanas first and we gave a guy a blessing because he was super sick but wants to go to church and change his life. It was a really humbling experience because yesterday they told me he was all good and went to church! After that we went to these two investigators... oh dang! They are amazingggg! Really in these 11 months I've been here, I don't know if I've seen that much faith in an investigator before. One wants to go on a mission and he's 18 and the other would be baptized today if she could. But their date was the 27th, but we got them fired up for the 13th instead. And then, I went with the elders and we had a great lesson and put more dates and they all went to church yesterday! So that was just a shortened version of a miracle day for me. One of the greatest days I've had on the mission. But we get to go to Tegucigalpa tonight! Because we're going the Temple with President Fortuna for our leadership meeting!!!! Whoo! So we're staying the night with the secratarios. But just a great week and this one will be even better. Crazy to think it'll be a year this week since graduation...unreal. Like I honestly can't believe it.

This week I'm thankful for a clean house, being a representative of Jesus Christ and being set apart from one who hold the keys to do it, the Priesthood, blessings, the Book of Mormon!, strawberry-banana cheramuscas, the new family we found, how much the Lord has blessed us this week, vaseline, sleep, that there's no time to be sad or mad because this life is too short anddddd the POWER OF FAITH!!!

Faith = Determination
"What are you willing to do to convince the Lord and show your Faith?" ~Pres. Fortuna

-Elder Alec Johnson

A Hank Smith smelfie with my madre of the mission!

May 25th 2015

Well this week was crazy! Went to the Temple, have no money, got Chikungunya, found like a billion people and then nobody came to church.... it was pretty nuts. This mission stuff is really tough when you work your guts out and nobody wants to go to church. Does anybody have any tips or hints or methods to bring people to church because we've tried everything.. well, almost everything.. (haven't paid them yet like Elder Bingham hahahha) but I was reading Helaman 5 this morning and this is when Lehi and Nephi left the judgement seat to just preach the Gospel and they are seriously sooooo awesome. Just powerful men. But look at what verse 6 says: 

6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

Remember what name you represent. I'm proud to be a Johnson and Uribe and this scripture made me realize the importance of always remembering who you are and who you represent.

This week I'm thankful for medicine, for soup, Jesus the Christ, The BOM, my fam, shoes, pants, good member friends, running water, anddd THE TEMPLE
--
-Elder Alec Johnson

We saw Hermana Ordonex again!

Tan line

May 18th 2015

Hey All! so I don't have any time because we just got done serving for like 4 hours and I'm so stinking burnt, but actually our p-day is Wednesday because we're going to the Temple (Whoo!) and we're just writing today. But I am sooooo happy it's not even funny. I never want to change comps because I flippn love Elder Borge. He seriously is like a new man but the same. We have such a blast and work so hard and I don't know what else to say. Ha! Found out we're going to have Elder Neil. A. Anderson as our mission president for a week while the new president comes. That's pretty AMAZING!!! This position is really fun because you get to know all the missionaries. Tons of stuff happened but I gotta go!

This week I'm thankful for E. Borge, crappy handwriting, scrips, service, ukulele, Elder Corey, Guiamaca!!!, the change because of the mission, crazy dreams, being happy!

Oh one thing! I need to say!

NOBODY/NOTHING CAN TAKE FROM YOU YOUR HAPPINESS.
Think about it. :)

~Elder Johnson

Fam Mar**

This is Hermano Fortunato!! 1st Member in Choluteca like 45 years ago and he sells pan and is so AMAZING!

Saying goodbye to everyone

She's my favorite!

Amazing Fam

SERVICE!!

Elder Corey and I bought matching DUCK TIES!

May 11th 2015

Hands down craziest 2hours/week ever. 
Got a call about an hour ago.. I'm leaving Campamento... so I'll talk about that for a sec. This week FINALLY we saw miracles and people wanting to be baptized, mainly Mar**!!! She told us she wants to be baptized and married to Al**! So it was gonna be the first fam! And we've worked and worked and prayed and fasted for her.. and now I'm leaving.. hurts a lot. Also, we've found golden investigators and this area is ready now. but here's the thing... I'm going to stinkin Guiamaca.... 20 min away....... as a ZL..... WITH MY FLIPN DAD!! ELDER BORGE!! IS THIS REAL LIFE? #davidgoestothedentist 

So I basically had a ton of stuff to say but forgot it all because I cant stop thinking I'm leaving.. I thought I was staying for sure at least one more change.... I'M WITH MY DAD!!!!!! What the poooppp!! WE'RE GONNA GO CRAZY!! LIKE IT'S GONNA BE SOOO AWESOME! but still. I'm gonna cry leaving Campa. Although we didn't baptize as a companionship, I love this place because I learned to really REALLY dig deep. It was a hard people to love but now that I love em so much, it's even harder to leave. But the good thing is we'll be here every week for district mtgs and intercambios so I'll be able to work here still! But ya.. today is gonna be crazy. and I'm sick. haha. I'm always sick when we have changes. But we had a reunion with Pres Fortuna with the leaders and BOOM SHAKKA LAKA. Let me just share what the def of faith is. ¨la fe es la dedicacion y determinacion a CONVINCER el Senor que quiere exito.¨or faith is the dedication and determination to CONVINCE the Lord you want success!!¨ have you ever thought about that? CONVINCING the Lord? I love that. and we convince the Lord when we are exactly obedient and put our faith in God. As well, wanted to thank Skyler for the talk he gave me.. we´re gonna shock the world in Guiamaca!! I'm sick, I'm pumped, I'm tired, I'm nervous, I'm excited, and I'm ready to roll babayyy.

Also BEST MOTHERS DAY EVERRRRRRRRR!! MY FAM IS DA BOMB. I miss them a lot, but I'm happy where I am. :) SO HAPPY. Love this work.

This week I'm thankful for me fam, Mother's Day, greatest pueblo ever, new changes, prayers, having money, my district, my fam here in Campa, the Lord, my ukele, letters, pics, crazy things that happen only in the mission hahah, MY LIFE.
--

-Elder Alec Johnson

¨And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don´t believe in magic will never find it.¨-Roald Dahl

MATEO 5:14 SOIS LA LUZ DEL MUNDO!!!

IN HONOR OF THE PLAYOFFS

all ready for Mother's Day

threw in a little #tebowing

We had to cross a river!

presies plaque with mine... last cambio with him!

our chicken friend we found

dats my FAMMMM

May 4th, 2015

WHATS UP ERRYONEEE! SORRY ITS BEEN 2 WEEKS WITHOUT AN EMAIL! carazy stufff. 

But 1ST just wanted to thank Mama McMullin for the CHOCOLATE and the Barker's for the package.. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

AND THANK YOU TO THE GREATEST BDAY PACKAGE EVERRRR MS ABBY ANDERSON!!! A FLIPN UKE!! YOU KIDDING ME!?!!? YOU'RE THE GREATESTTTT!!!! SO PUMPED. 

OK FUNNY THINGS 1ST..

It's so hot.

So hot.

The lights have gone out every day this week.

It's rained.. and rained.. and rained.

It's still hot.

Ok this one is funny, Bishop Welch told me to wait a couple months to say this but it was too good. I got bit by a freakin dog AGAIN and it was like the weirdest, randomest thing in the whole world. Like, I thought it was gonna come and rub up against me but then it jumped and bit my thigh! hahaha! It hurt but I'm all good!

Talking about dogs, the Deacons were passing in the sacrament and a huge dog appeared out of nowhere in the chapel, so my comp and I had to take care of that. hahaha 

Ok other stuff! We're basically establishing a ward in a part of Olancho called Concordia that's 30 min away from Campamento that we take on bus, and it's a really nice town, and there are so many people there ready for the gospel. But we can only go on Saturday's. But we found soooo many people that accepted baptism and the Book of Mormon and love it all. BUT they cant go to church because it's pricey and there's no church over there. Going to talk to President Fortuna to see what we can do. Like no joke we could baptize 20 in 5 weeks but we'll see what happens... super cool though. Concordia will be famous one day.

So I've wanted to share all the things I've been reading out of conf talks from like 2 years ago but I stinkin keep forgetting the Liahona to give quotes! So wait for that. But just saying, the church of Jesus Christ has a prophet and has apostles. And when one reads conference talks and see's what they say, it makes perfect sense why we have them. If you feel down or need something more to your studies.. READ A CONF TALK. So much power.

I read one every day before I study what I need to study and it's soo amazing.

But ok. I've been thinking about this a while. Listen up- haha. I've been thinking about what makes a person likeable, or say, what I like to be around and what I look for in someone, because I've been around hundreds of different people in 9 months and talked to thousands and I put it into 3 categories.

1) EXCITEMENT AND BEING POSITIVE

if you have that you have FAITH AND HOPE ALWAYS, you like to laugh and are funny, you never give up, and are always determined to be better and work harder.

2) HUMILITY (THE OPPOSITE OF PRIDE!!)

this one.. is big in the life of missionaries because there are sooo many prideful missionaries. if you are humble you listen to OTHERS instead of talking about yourself, you realize that nobodys perfect and instead of giving everyone around you a hard time, youre PATIENT and ¨take the beam out of thy own eye first¨, you always want to learn and increase in knowledge, and you are THANKFULLLL!!! (nothing bugs me more than not being thankful so I say sorry to my family and friends all the times i wasnt thankful)

3) CHARITY (PURE LOVE OF CHRIST) 

you obey the commandments because you love God, you want to help others and think about them more than yourself, you are kind and understanding, you're slow to get mad, and have patience with all. 

There are more subcategories to these 3 points, but I truly believe these 3 make one Christ-like person. What do you guys think? I'd love to hear your input.

This week I'm thankful for soo much. The rain, my uke and Ms. Abby Anderson, letters, my fam, the rose in midst of thorns, the scrips, gen conf talks, MOTHERS DAY THIS WEEK, my life, the mission, Concordia, people who love other people, my journal, bus rides, Elder Borge, planning, my friends on the mission, all the good days and all the bad, stupid dogs from Honduras, andddd OUR BROWN WATER WE SHOWER IN NOW HAHAHAH

LOVE YA ALL!

--

-Elder Alec Johnson

CONCORDIA WITH THE CASTLE

This is the house we are doing!

My papa and I and Nevi taking pics

do you shower and wash your plates in this water? #yaYA