Training and a District Leader!

Family,

Newly called Trainers

So, this week has been one of the hardest weeks of the mission. I am training a new Elder, starting fresh in a new area with 2 investigators, and on July 4th I was called as District Leader. So, it has been pretty much craziness. 

My area is Boa Esperança, which is a neighborhood in Guaruja. And we are facing a lot of challenges. Attendance at church is declining rapidly and only 60 people were there yesterday. A year ago, it was around 120... We have plenty to do and are working for a miracle. Andrew is one of my Zone Leaders (yeah, believe it) and he is doing a great job. His companion however is super prideful and already doesnt like me. We will see how long it takes him to complain to President Cabral. He is known to do that. 

Elder Lucas and Elder Johnson

On July 4th Brazil played so I wore my USA socks and still had fireworks :D All is well in the world! We have 6 elders in total in our house... 2 are sleeping in the living room with mattresses on the floor. So, our house isnt super tidy, but it is super clean because the other 4 elders are neat freaks. 

Elder Lucas and Elder Johnson

I am super happy with where we are in our area and although our situation is pretty hard, we will be working our hardest. This area is kinda like the USA. We try to make contacts all day and only a handful say yes. These 5 weeks will be hard but I know that I will be working my hardest and if that isnt enough for President... then that is his fault haha

Well, that is all there is for this week! Be sure to cheer for BRASIL tomorrow!

Much love,

Elder Johnson

New trainers and President Cabral on 1 year anniversary of Santos Brazil Mission

Elder Johnson meeting Elder Lucas

The shock is real!!!

June 30, 2014


Fam,

I will start this letter with the big news.

I am getting transferred to Boa Esperança. And... I will be training. Thats right, I have to train a new missionary... the pressure is real and I am super nervous. I am super sad to leave this ward and especially my companion but it will be a new challenge, where I will grow a lot. Transfers was moved to this week and we were told about everyone's movements this morning. So, today is going to be a crazy day. yeah.

This week has been bittersweet. Luis is delaying his answer to us about baptism, we found this ELECT lady who is slated to be baptized next week, we have another elect lady who has the same baptismal date, and have some good prospects. But, I will be transferred and will be "white-washing" the area. The challenge is real. I hope I am ready for it. 

That really has been it for the week. I am really frustrated because another transfer has passed without a baptism. And we are so close here! But such is life. 

The people here are nuts because of the Cup. Honestly, when the game went into penalties, I thought they were going to burn the city down, but they won and that was a sight to see!

Your package came too! Actually, it got here 2 weeks ago, but the office didnt call me. Thank you all so much :D

Have a good week everyone and FELIZ ANIVERSÁRIO AO PAI :D

love,

elder Johnson

"JONNY, É MINHA FAMÍLIA!!!"

June 23 2014

Family,

Well, I would like to start out with a story that will show how grateful I am that I do not live 1 hour away from my mission like my companion.

Elder Dourado is from Diodema, São Paulo. Literally the other side of the mountains in our city. So he lives extremely close to his home. He asked his mother to bring him some new shoes because his mom doesnt trust the mail system here. She talked to a member of our ward and planned on meeting up with her, giving her the shoes, then returning home. We knew that she would be coming on Friday, so we planned the entire day in the furthest parts of our area so that we would be far away from where his mom would be. When we left our home in the morning, E Dourado said "Careful, Johnson. Mom is in the area today." to which i replied that he was going to see her (as a joke). That night there was a baptism at our ward building. We took Luis there to help him make his decision to be baptized the next day. The family who was baptizing their little girl asked us to play the DVD we have of all the mormon messages for the changing of clothes part of the baptism. PROBLEM: the DVD was at home. So we RAN to our apartment. On our way there I passed Dourado (he runs slowwww). Suddenly I hear him scream NOOOOOOOOO! My first thought was that he was stabbed, jumped, or dying on the side walk. As I turned around he was still yelling but grabbing his chest. Yep, stabbed. Or at least that is what I thought. But what happened was even worse. There on the sidewalk was his Mom, stepdad, brother, and little sister. The whole fam was there. They got lost on there way here and had just arrived. then they saw us RUNNING towards them. They tried to hide, but they left the 2 year old sister on the sidewalk, and Dourado saw her as he was passing by. So we talked for 2 mins, he hugged his family, took a picture, then we left. That night he called President to tell him and President just joked with him. It is hard living so close to home. It was a long night for him. 

The picture referred to in the letter

Isnt that horrible?! Ugh, I would have died. But it is a funny story to tell. So yes, there is a picture of me, my comp, and my comp's mom. How weird is that?

Other than that, Luis was not baptized this week. He still doesnt feel the need to be baptized again even though he understands completely the lack of authority that his baptism had. He just "appreciates the concern of his parents that that felt the need to baptize him." It is frustrating to say the least. But we have him and 3 more people that can potentially be baptized this coming saturday so there is still hope!

This week I have seen a noticable improvement in the language. I am speaking better and using the more complicated verbs correctly. Learning words is getting easier and dreams are all in portuguese now. 

Our P-day is cut short today because of the game. Last week Brazil tied and the people were pissed :) Also, the team from Spain (reigning champs) got eliminated and called the brazilian people monkeys, which is highly offensive here... Classy right?

So that is the current state of Brazil. Fun stuffs all around. I hope you guys all have a fantastic week and are getting Dad something awesome for his birthday!

Love yall

Elder Johnson