17 Agosto 2015

Well Helllooo everyone. It's Monday again.. so fast. 1st off these weeks have been so fun, we've worked so hard, have had to travel so much, have slept so little, and it's the greatest! So happy. Pure Joy. It's amazing when a companion understands what it means to be Christ-like. Makes all the difference.
This week was nuts. Had our multi-zona conference with zona Comayagua. And that was great. Had a good time talking about the plan of salvation and we made everyone bookmarks!
Oh also got Mimi's package! whoo! Thank you Mims!
Some really great investigators we have are Hermana Ro** who basically is a member but not baptized because she's not sure and she was a referral from the ward and she came to church for the 1st time in months. We have fam. Ra**. They're awesome. It'll be fun working with them.
But ok. Big news. Dream that I had is totally going to come true because President Russell M. Nelson is coming to talk to us Saturday!! HUGE DEAL! But then there's this huge wedding in the park the same day where 100 people are getting married and familia Mendoza is talking to them and they all get "The Family: A Proclamation for the World" and we won't be there to contact them so it's such a bummer. But we have a plan with the ward where the YSA are going to get all the contacts, we're just going to train them tomorrow on what exactly to say.
But ya, good week! Love Sigua. Love life.

This week I'm thankful for water, protein, advil!, Prez. Zuniga, spaghetti, mariachi bands, my comp., people that give us food!, Uke book, multi-zona mtg., Elder Duncan, Elder Hale, virtue, The Plan of Salvation, ties, Reyna and her daughter, Elders Quorum, La Esperanza, Lesson 1, my journal, pill to help with long bus rides, anddd CREAM SODA! oh and the chance to hear from an Apostle!


-Elder Alec Johnson

WE MADE JELLO WATERMELON #lavalava

bomb.com rama el carmen!! Let's goooooo

Multi Zona

zona Siguatepeque!!

Tree huggers.

The baptism in la Esperanza..! Look at this font!

THEY GOT BAPTIZED!!! WHOOOOOO SO HAPPY!!!!! AH AND WITH MY  MAIN MAN ELDER HALE!

10 de Agosto 2015

Well everyone. I don't know how to start off because I have never felt such joy and happiness... Totally feel like Alma the younger with the things before and how I feel now. (Alma 36:19-21)
So I'm in Siguatapeque BABAYYYY! (Where the guy from the video who made the helicopter is from.) I'm with Elder Paiz, 1st gringo, and we came to Honduras at the same time. It is nuts. And so fun. And hard to explain what's going on. So we're zone leaders but we're opening a new area! They switched the ZL's from Esperanza to here because a lot of factors. And it's my favorite area. It's crazy because we're starting all new but the members are incredible and I wish I could explain the half of what's going on and who family Mendosa is and how great they are and how much they're going to help us. Ahh.. All I can say is God has prepared everything for this moment. Everything. It's all in place to perform miracles and my companion and I are so stinking' pumped and full of faith, it's not even funny! God knows all His children.
So thing is with the familia Mendosa is they are a fam here, they all know English, and they're just beasts. They are also missionaries in our mission for marriage. And that will come into play later this month.. but anyway, the wife is family of Pres. Ferman, our mission president, and the missionaries before did some really dumb stuff. Oh boy did they. But so they talked with Pres. Ferman and now there's ZL's here! He has a lot of trust in us to lift this area. Honestly it's probably my favorite area. Members are amazing, love the pres. they are all excited we're here. There's a Wendy's and Pizza Hut and the area is MASSIVE! Love my companion soooo much! It's just great. So happy. Hope I'm here until Christmas. Love this work and I gave a talk yesterday and read my calling and talked about living an obedient life and being humble and I encourage all to be a little more humble this week and to obey God's simple commandments that maybe you're having trouble with.

Alma 37:6-7
Alma 57:20-21

SOOO THIS WEEK I'M THANKFUL FOR SOOO MANY THINGS!!!! NOT EVEN FUNNY.
For my new comp, new experiences, new ward, Sigua, Wendy's, washer and dryer, peace, fun, joy, light, the Gospel, repentance, my fam in UT, GETTING SISSA'S PACKAGE AFTER 6 MONTHS, getting other package from home!, protein, socks, energy, the mornings, the sun, anddddd A HOT SHOWER I TOOK IN ESPERANZA!!!!

-Elder Alec Johnson

This is ** and her fam!! They are evangelicas but just the greatest people ever in Guaimaca..hard to say bye.

Hardest goodbye I've ever had to say...she was crying and it just stunk leaving her. A couple days before I left I felt like I needed for her to write her testimony, so I got a Living Christ and she wrote her testimony and it's so amazing and so special. Real hard for me. But she is amazing.

they're getting baptized!

1ST TIME IN 5 MONTHS SEEING MY SON!! LOVE HIM SO MUCH!! GARCIA!!

This is when a flock of turkey's followed us.

We have a 7-11 and a Wendy's!!!!

First time in a year seeing a dryer and we have one!!!!

America..

August 3rd 2015

HAVE CHANGES BABAYYY!!! I'M JUST PUMPED! lights went out so were writing now and the changes are crazy now.. this week was very weird but just wanted to talk about what I've learned and the things I'm thankful for in this time in Guaimaca. I've learned how to work with difficult companions. Learned how to truly work with a ward and what we need to do as missionaries. Learned that baptisms don't matter if they aren't really converted and have a testimony. Learned that miracles happen when you don't think they will. AND I've learned that Heavenly Father loves me as His son.

I'M thankful for GUAMAICA, for elder Borge, elder Montero, Dennis, Modesto, Demis, elder Neely, elder Sanchaz, Talanga, Campamento, all the people I've learned to love here, Daniela.. aw man Daniela!, fam Trejos, JESSICA, the ward here, the good days, the bad days, Miguel, Mariah, David, our zone, and the things I was able to learn in this time. love ya all! YOUR PRAYERS REALLY DO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

-Elder Alec Johnson

Best food I've had in a year.. IT WAS LIKE QUIZNOS PEOPLE!

Fav part of Honduras has to be the buses

My favorite little girl is back!

This zone mtg was really intense because everyone was just all depressed and down and didn't want to do anything so we took a 10 min. break and changed the agenda and totally got everyone fired up. Really cool experience. 

26 de Julio 2015

This week was super fast...and really good. Monday we had to go to Tegue because of my tooth and the dentists from the states came and my appt. was super late and we almost didn't get back to Guaimaca because there was only a bus to Talanga. And so we spent 2 hours trying to hitchhike to Guaimaca sot that was probably one of the funnest days on the mission.
Tuesday we had interviews with President and this was what I wanted to focus on more than anything. So he talked about how the mission is like marriage, and when he started saying that, I was like "oh boy, I've heard this so many times already" but then he totally made me eat my words and put it in a whole other perspective, specifically to me. He compared a companion to your spouse and how the harder companionship you have the more you form, change, and grow into the mold of a faithful, loyal, Christ-like spouse. Because if you don't try your best to love, lift, and help your companion, you're not going to do it with your wife, and your life will always consist of wanting more. And I can honestly say with all my heart I have done my best to serve, love, and help my comps. Every single one. There just comes a point where I don't understand some of my comps and get frusterated with the different culture and this change has been the hardest, but I've also learned a lot. Then he talked about genuinely complimenting my comp because criticizing brings one down. He said to have a little-slit eye to the bad things he does. And a super really big eye to the good things. Then he compared our investigators to our future children..and I was like heck ya because I love my investigators!! Ha! Explained how patient you have to be with them and explain things over and over and over again until they get it. Just like children learning, you have to explain more than once. Just a really good reminder and eye opener. So I made a goal to put 2 lines in my planner for the rest of my mission and every day put 2 good things I saw in my comp that day. You guys don't know who Yes**, Ce**, and Da** are but they're so amazing and were so ready when we found them and they're getting baptized in 2 weeks! I probably won't see it because I'll be gone but they're amazing. Da**, the other, is as great as ever, just her husband told us he will never get married to her so she can get baptized. He's not really cool. Family Tre** are a bunch of shmarmy's and pretty sure only go to church to get wi-fi. Real bummer. Learned soooo much here in Guaimaca this change and next week we'll see if I have changes! Love ya all!

I'm thankful for my new favorite street song ´sigueme y te sigo´by daddy yankee, music in the street, interviews with presey, that my comp can cook, that our inv are progressing, photos, Guaimaca, Tecugicalpà and the buses there, rain, andd a Father in Heaven that hears my prayers.

Also I read alma 30:9 and it really is a PRIVILEGE to believe and serve our God.. encourage everyone to read that chapter! Love ya ALL!

Elder Alec Johnson

THIS IS DEMIS MY MAIN MAN WHO I GAVE A PIN TIE AND THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES ABOUT HIM I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL THEM! He's deaf and can't talk and the greatest missionary in the world.

These are the chosen ones! Baptism in 2 weeks! Cel**, Je** and  Da**

This is the famous Modesto.. we love him.

This was the funnest day in the world taking photos trying to get people to slow down and give us a ride. And keep in mind everyone offers rides in the back but we can't do that so it took foreverrrrrr.

you know what it is... UN ANO BABAYYY

Not sure if this is apostasia but it was an old shirt we found and I was in Campamento and it was  super fun!

This is the hugest spider ever. Like the size of a mango hanging in a monster of a web.

MY FIRST AND LAST AND ONLY FIRST YEAR OF THE MISSSSS‏

ALRIGHTY.. It's been a year officially so I wanted to do something a little different and say all the things I am eternally grateful for the first and last first year of the miss. 

Im thankful FORRRRRR cold showers for a year, for the CCM, for all my buds there, for leaving my fam for a time so other fams could be blessed by this great work, for all the support I've had out here.. I'm thankful for the letters that are sent to me, I'm thankful for the first night in the CCM where I wanted to run away haha, I'm thankful for peace, for hope, for a light at the end of the tunnel, for Guatamela and the first pamphlet I gave out in the market, for the food in the CCM, I'm thankful for the temple, I'm thankful for airplanes, for the Holy Ghost, for Pres Cox, for the first Hondurans I met in the CCM, for all my teachers, for the Book of Mormon and the power that comes from it, for the excitement of arriving to Honduras!, for Pres and Hermana Fortuna, for Elder Borge, for him talking in the taxi the first day, for pizza, for Duglas, for Rosa Lidia the first person I asked to be baptized, for edin cool, for LA VEGA, for my familia Flores and Raudales, I'm thankful for pday, for my training, for the hard and good times, for packages, for the restoration, for understanding the why of the Gospel, for working and studying hard to obtain the gift of tongues, for sorrow, for music, for shopping for food, for tropical soda, for prayer, for personal study, for Familia Smith!, for xiomara, Evelyn, and Virginia, for Mayelie, for Elder Garcia the greatest guy ever, for the great times we had and being inspired always, for balleadas, for soda, for familia Jimenez Reyes, for Victor Michelle Myra and Genesis, for Gustavo, for the ability to see the gospel change LIVES, for my 2nd home in La Vega, Christmas, holidays, new year, pinatas, campamento, for all my comps, the nature and beauty of the world, for all the investigadors, less actives, and members in every area, for our first District Mtg, for las hermanas, for good food, for exercise, for Guaimaca, for being with Borge 2 times, for a camera, for basketball, for miracles, I'm thankful for my Lord and King Jesus Christ, I'm thankful for a Father in Heaven that loves every one of His children, I'm thankful for the history of the church and the first saints, for all the doctrine of the Church, for my family, for the help from every one of my friends and family, for Daniela, for Vanessa, for the Hope and light that comes from Christ, for all the trials I've had, and I am thankful for my testimony. That I know this church is the church of Jesus Christ and the only true church will all the blessings and ordinances that come from being so. I love this work and there's like a billion more things I'm thankful for but as always theres no time..  LOVE YA ALL.

--

-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!!!

Can't explain the love I have for this fam. We bought a cake for little Hector's birthday!

July 13th 2015

No group letter today, but some great pictures!