4 April—Brazos

Hey family!

Well, I have two options for this mission email today. I can either talk about how the area is going, or I can talk about the mission call and pre mission life. Here it goes.

When I was little and in Primary, I remember singing "I hope they call me on a mission when I grow a foot or two." I remember I always wanted to go on a mission, and go to some far-off land and be a missionary. As I grew up I began to lose that desire. It became the "me world." All I cared about was my life in high school; it was my time. Time for me to look good; time for me to be the best basketball player ever. All me, all my time. This was a time in my life I could say that my testimony was on the line. I stopped enjoying church; all my friends were not members, and I always thought man why can't I just do what they do. It's hard to always say no to things. It's the church's fault I can't do it. I wasn't reading my scriptures; I wasn't praying very often; and if it wasn't for my loving parents, there is no way I would be here in Texas on my mission.

I have to take some time and talk about my mom and my dad. They are the best parents for me. They helped me. I remember one day, mom came home from the temple with dad, and she told me how she felt I wasn't reading my scriptures, and she started putting Ensigns by my bed. I would read them every now and again before I went to bed. I remember one I read about repentance and the happiness it brought. That always stuck in my head. I realized then that I know that repentance is what I needed to do. No one is perfect, it's all something we have to do if we want to be happy. But repentance is not something I wanted to do. I had too much pride to go and do it. I was worried what people would think of me; what my family would think of me, and what my church leaders would think of me. Man, Satan had me good, I would say. It was all ME, all me. You can't repent, because it would show the world that Elder Johnson is not perfect. Man, it was pretty bad.

It got to the point that I wanted to just go to Cal Poly with my friends, and hang out there. I'll tell you one thing, if I did that I wouldn't be on a mission. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't even be active. My parents talked to me about college, and they said; you can go to Cal-Poly, and be with your friends, but don't come asking us for help for rent or for school. They gave me another choice, and it saved me. It was if you go to BYU, we will help you pay for school, (it is a lot cheaper). There were a lot of Pros to go to BYU, I had some family there, and my parents were going to help me. So, I went to BYU, and to tell you the truth, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go. I was under the impression that it wasn't cool to be a member of the church. But man, BYU is so cool! I got a chance to go and room with people that I have never met before. I met other members of the church that have the same likes as me, and are super cool.

My roomate Jason Ashby was a big inspiration. When I first met him, I didn't even really like him that much. He was short; I was tall. He liked playing the piano; I liked playing basketball. He liked to sing sing sing; I liked to sing, but it wasn't a big deal to me. He liked to dance; I didnt. I was hanging out with the "cool guys," and I didn't even know my roommate very well. One day, I thought to myself, man I dont even know my roommate; this has got to change. That night, I hung out with Jason, and my life changed. It was fun, I didn't have to worry about me me me. About being cool, and being friends with all the cute girls. It was crazy. Little did I know that Jason was going to be my first best friend that was a member of the church. We did everything together. We hung out, and it was always let's hang out with Jason and Steve. We were each others shadows, I guess you can say. It was always a lot of fun.

Then one day at around Christmas time, Jason received the coolest gift; his mission call. This was the first time I had ever seen anyone open up a mission call before, and man it was so cool. He was called to the Honolulu, Hawaii mission. I was so happy for him, but it was then that I realized. I want one of those. I want to go on a mission,

The next semester, Jason was gone, and I suddenly found myself without a wingman and a best friend. I felt kind of lost, and I felt like I needed to start over. That is when I met Austin Mulleneaux. Who was soon to be my new best friend. The truth is, I didn't like him at all the semester before. I thought he was full of it, and all he cared about was working out, girls and looking good. He was also hanging out with my old group of friends, and that probably had something to do with it as well.

Austin lived in the same stairwell as me, and we would always see each other going home from school, and we would say, "whats up," and then go to our apartments. We did this for about three weeks, and then one day Austin asked me hey are you good at Halo? I said yea man, I am pretty good. So we played some Halo, and started talking and it turns out we had a ton in common. We started hanging out everyday, and I made my second best friend that was a member of the church. Austin and I got talking, and we both knew we needed to get ready for missions and that meant to repent. So we talked to our bishop, and worked things out. We were worthy of getting our mission calls!

I still remember the day! It was the very, very, last day of school. I opened the mailbox and saw it. The envelope! I called Mom, Dad, and the fam, and we all got together. Some of my buddies were there also. I had always wanted to go to Mexico or Italy, because that is where my parents went. If I stayed state side, I wanted to go in a city with a ghetto speaking Spanish. I opened up the call, and it said I was going to the Texas Houston South Mission; the best mission in the world! And that I would be speaking Spanish. I was so happy and stoked! And man, I am loving the mission! It has definitely changed my life. I have learned the importance of obedience to the commandments; the importance of personal study and prayer every day; and the importance of following our church leaders.

Well, I am out of time, and now you know more about my life and my journey of coming on a mission. There is some more detail to add sometime, but I don't have time. I love you all and have a great day!

-Elder Johnson