26 July—Manvel, TX

Hey y'all,

Another week has come and gone. This week was a crazy, crazy week. Stress level was up there, and there was just tons of stuff. Tuesday and Wednesday, I had a leadership training meeting at 7:15 in the morning, and it ended at around 5:30pm. I got back to my area around 6:15pm. The mission just got some new training from the apostles and everyone else. It was interesting to see that nothing was really new, but all the training was about things that helped us focus and improve different skills that our mission has already been working on. I enjoyed the meetings a lot, and I got to learn a lot too. Thursday, we had another leadership training meeting, but this one ended at about 3:00pm, because I had a interview afterward.

So, while I was at my meetings, my companion Elder Henrie was in our area with another missionary. He was leading this guy around the area, which he had only been in for 4 days. The good news is that they didn't get lost and they did really well. We had a good week and Elder Henrie did great. He is pretty funny guy and we get along well.

The other reason why this week was stressful was because we had a baptism. A lady named Maria was baptized by her good friend Brother Roberts, and she is a really nice lady. She is somewhere in her 70s, and really had to give up a lot to be baptized. Her family wasn't to thrilled of her being baptized, but She just knew with her heart that it was true and was able to push on. The great thing about it was that there were tons of people at the baptism. And the branch is really another family to her now. I asked her how she felt, and she said siento contento. She is happy and feels clean. I was also happy that I could give Elder Henrie the experience of a baptism. That was something that my trainer was able to provide for me.

We also have an awesome ward mission leader, and he did everything for us. He filled up the font, asked people to give talks, and it was all wonderful. I have had some stressful baptisms in the past, but this one was nice. I saw one of Pearland's investigators outside the chapel, because she was taking care of her baby. I invited her in to see the baptism, and I did my best to translate for her. I think it went really well. She said that she really enjoyed seeing someone get baptized. And she liked to see it in Spanish.

This week, I also had the chance to interview someone for baptism, and let me tell you that was a real treat. The spirit there was so strong and I got to hear how happy Jenny was to be baptized. I read her Mosiah 26:21-24(I think that's it), but it talks about baptism and how we will be forgiven of our sins. When I looked up after reading it, she was crying but it was tears of joy. Man, I know last week I said I didn't know if I liked being a district leader or not. Well, I like it. I like helping and encouraging the missionaries in my district and helping other people as well.

Another thing, we have a couple of new people that we are working with this week and it is going to be great. They are two families, and we are going to try to set them for baptismal dates. I am exited to work with them, and help them come closer to Jesus Christ.

It is interesting how so many people think such crazy stuff about the Mormon religion and I enjoy talking with them about their questions. Then when they tell me something, I get to resolve their concern, which usually means I say something like no, that isn't true, we believe........ And then they go, oooooooohhhhhh. That's great, and they suddenly have a good opinion about what we believe. The big thing down here in Texas is that everyone thinks we have 5 wives or whatever. Apparently, there was something on the news a while back about this guy who was caught having 5 wives, and he said he was Mormon, but he wasn't actually Mormon. So, now everyone things we have 5 wives. I am proud to tell them I have 1 mom. :) hahaha.

Anyway, I haven't really written any letters to anyone besides emailing for about 4 months, and I got some hate mail this week. So, I think I am going to write some letters and just have a chill p-day with my companion. We are going to make some banana bread and it is going to be good. I also need to clean, so that will be good too. Well, other than that thanks for everything! Keep on praying for us!

Elder Johnson