19 October - Galveston

Hey family and friends!

Well this week was an average week. The best thing about this week was the awesome weather!!! It felt like California and it was about 75 and wasn't humid at all :). One thing I like about the good weather are the people are a lot nicer to us when it is a nice day outside. We were riding on our bikes and a guy was like God Bless you guys. it was really nice.

This week Elder Roberts and I have been working on the end of our area in Galveston so that means going on our bikes to 48th street and back so we ride around all day and it isnt so bad anymore. Before I would be super tired when we got home but now it's all good!

And to answer some questions for people. It is just me and Elder Roberts in our apartment and we are the only Elders on the island. There are two sister missionaries that take the other half of the island. So, we have plenty to do everyday. There are 2 other Elders in our district and they work on the mainland, and my companion is the district leader.

We have been working with a lot of people and we invited them all the church and they all said they would come. We were really excited because we have been working with them for about 3 weeks and they haven't been to church once. So, Sat night we called them all to make sure they were still coming and they said yes. On sunday morning, Tanya came and Joshua who was a recent convert. So we waited for the other two families and they didn't come. So, this week we need to tell them that they need to come to church or we have to stop teaching them, because, to be honest, they can't really progress anymore unless they come to church and they have had 3 weeks and each week we have gotten them rides and they still don't come. So, it's time to move on, which is sad because I really like these families, but there are many more people just waiting for us to teach them.

On Sat, we were out trying to find some new investigators and we came across this old school that they converted into apartments. So, we decided to knock some of the doors inside. When we went in it felt like we were in the main hall at school and we could just picture the bell ringing and a ton of little kids running around. My companion (the smart guy he is) looks around and then says really loud THIS IS GHETTO. I turned around and was like you are an idiot man, because it was so loud. And so we kind of laughed because I don't think anyone heard it. We found one new investigator there and 5 others throughout the week. I really like being a missionary and thanks to everyone for sending me letters :)

Today is P day and also the zone activity and we are playing basketball and volleyball and board games so it's time to bust out my skills :p i have been talking to much smack about ball to some of the elders so i have to back it up today haha. I know pride is bad, so I'm working on it, but any way thanks for everything and I love you all!
-Edler Johnson

12 Oct - Galveston

Dear family and friends,

Howdy y'all, how y'all doing? That is what people talk like here. Well, not everyone, but a lot of people. This week was pretty good, we tried to do a lot of work, and were pretty successful but we had a few set backs. Elder Roberts had 4 flat tires on his bike this week. So, that was annoying and we had to call people to get a tube because the Walmart is out of our area. So, there were 3 days when we actually had to go walking around the place which was nice but we weren't able to make it to all the apointments that we wanted to go to because they were too far away.

Then, one day it started to rain, and when I say rain it was like a waterfall. and guess what? We got on our bikes and did work! Wooohooo! Elder Roberts didn't have a rain jacket, so I figured hey, if he is going to suffer without one I might as well join him! So, we went out in our short sleeve shirts and got super drenched! It was fun, and we bagged our planners and scriptures up so they wouldnt get wet. It was really fun they only bad thing was our shoes got really wet. When we got home, I took my shoe off and turned it over and a bunch of water fell out of my shoe. They are ok now though, so all is well. I think the best thing about the rain was it was nice and cool so we didn't have to deal with the heat as much this week.

I don't know if I told you last week but Elder Roberts was hugged by a drunk guy with his shirt off last week and that was funny. I was lucky that I wasn't hugged, I learned to keep my distance.

This Sunday was really cool. The three people we baptized over the past two weeks received the Holy Ghost, and I gave one of them the Holy Ghost, which was cool. The mother and the daughter were baptized in 17 days and the other lady, their friend, was baptized in 16 days so I taught them all a lot of things so it was really neat to see people change their lives so quickly, they truely were golden investigators. I also had the chance to share my testimony in the English ward but the spanish branch didn't have fast and testimony meeting this week so I have to wait untill next month. That was pretty much my week this week.

There are a few things that I really like about Texas so far, they aren't in any particular order.

#1 The icecream is really good. There is this brand called Bluebell icecream and it spanks any other icecream's butt. This one flavor blueberry cheesecake is really good and it has actual big chunks of cheesecake in it. It's really yummy.

#2 We have superstar people in our wards. They are hard working people and help us out a lot and come and help us teach which is really cool and they feed us a lot so thanks!!!.

#3 The food here is good. They have all different kinds of food here. So far, I really have grown to love barbaque it is good and I love it.

On a typical day, we teach about 38 to 40 lessons. So yes, we are busy workers here. We wake up at 6:30 and go to bed at 10:30 and we just work and talk to as many people as we can and teach a lot of lessons. My Spanish is alright, its hard to really progress a lot in Spanish here because we teach a lot in English because there are more English people on the island. But I've been trying to learn 15 new verbs a day so that is helping. But I'm excited to go to a total Spanish area so I can really start practicing. Well, I love you all and have a good week!

-Elder steve Johnson

p.s If you send a package send it to the mission office and if you send letters you can either send it to my apartment or to the mission office so I will get them because people might steal them if they are in front of my door all day.

*You can find Steven's current address on the top right of the blog :)

5 October - Galveston

Hey Dad how are you doing? Wasn't conference amazing????? I really liked that talk in the priesthood session about how to grow a better relationship with your father. I thought that was very good. I think we have a pretty good relationship. :)

Well anyway, here is what has been going on this week in Galveston.

Well, this week was a great adventure here in Galveston. I will first talk about Walmart. So, last Monday we went to Walmart to go shopping for food with some of the other Elders from Texas City. While we were walking through the store, a lady came up to us and was like HEY I KNOW YOU. Let's just say she was a little crazy. She was like do you remember me? And none of us knew her. She started talking to Elder Moline, and she looked at his tie and said ooooo you have pretty colors on your tie, I like It! And she looked at Elder Stack and said you have a nice tie too, and she look at me and said you have a nice tie too, and then she looked at my companion and said yours... it's ok. And then she said but you have a chin! And grabbed my companion (Elder Roberts) chin and shook it back and forth. It was sooo funny. Then she found out he was a twin and he was the baby in his family. So, she suddenly grabbed Elder Roberts in a biiiiig hug and Elder Roberts says Oh my Gosh serveral times, and she is patting his back and is going lower and lower and lower unitl you here Elder Roberts go "OH MY GOSH"! it was funny. He pushes her off and gives her a card and says, alright, call this number if you need us, have a good day. And we go around the corner and ask what the problem was and he said SHE SPANKED ME MAN! And we all started laughing so hard hahahah. So, that was a funny thing at Walmart.

So, this week we did the usual, rode our bikes around town, and taught people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It was pretty cool and we are teaching a lot of cool people. On wednesday, we had interveiws with the Mission President, President Saylin, and that was really good, and I had a good time talking with him about the mission. He said I had a really good week last week with the 2 baptisms and all the lessons we taught and to keep working hard. My hand is doing better and all my 30 mosquito bites are gone so that's all good.

Umm, we taught a guy and he started just being mean and telling us how my religion was wrong and that I didn't have the Holy Ghost because when I was baptized I didn't come out speaking another language. I was confused but it's ok, I still like the guy.

Also on Wednesday, we went on mission exchanges. It was cool, I stayed in Galveston and Elder Roberts went to Texas City. So, I was very nervous because I had to show Elder Moline around and take him to all our appointments. We made it to all the appointments so that was very good, and I am very glad that Elder Moline can speak Spanish because we taught a Spanish family, and they talk so fast and I have a very hard time understanding them. I just bore my testimony and said a little bit here and there. We brought a member from the Spanish branch with us and he really helped a lot with answering questions and bearing testimony.

Saturday was a cool day. It was Gerneral Conference!!! We had the oppertunity to listen to the Prophet and Apostles talk for 6 hours. And I listened and took notes on all of the talks. It was realllly good. I never knew how good conference was until my mission. haha

Sunday was awesome. We had a very busy sunday. we showed up at the church and listened to more General Conference for 2 hours. Then at 1pm, we set up tables because we had a big potluck with the Spanish branch and got to eat a bunch of yummy mexican food. I love mexican food!!! Then after that, we had.......another baptism! Yay! We baptized a lady named Katherine and she was baptized in 16 days after we met her, pretty neat! I had the opportunity to give a talk on the Holy Ghost and after the Baptism the Bishop's wife came up to me and asked me if that was the first talk at a baptism I had ever given and I said yes and she said it was very good! You're going to be a great missionary! That really made me feel good because sometimes I get discouraged because being a missionary is a lot of hard work! We also talked to a family and committed them to stop smoking.

But I have to go and get some groceries! Bye!!!
-Elder Johnson

28 September - Galvaston

Well, I am in Houston. Who wants to guess where my first area is??? Galveston baby!!!! Yea thats right it is the island right off the coast of houston. Its is pretty awesome. My address there is:

Elder Steven Johnson

102 Strand Street #30

Galveston, TX 77550

Well, a lot has been going on the past couple of weeks. We woke up early Tuesday morning at 4:45am, and got to the airport. I got to call Mom and Dad and Kim at 7:00am California time and that was nice. On the airplane, I sat next to another Elder so I took a good nap. We got to Houston and met the mission president. Then we went in a big van with the president's assistents and they took us to a church and there were elders there waiting for us to take us "running" (Running is when you go aorund and you try to talk to as many people as you can). So, my runner took me to a place called Glendale Park and apparently it's a really rough area. One of the more dangerous parts in the mission, but we went and taught people and it was fun.

Then, we went to the mission home and met the mission president's family. They made us some enchiladas and it was yummy. Then, I got interveiwed by the mission president and got to know him and he is a really cool guy and I like him a lot. He also has a very nice family.

Then, we slept over at a zone elders' house; well, me, Elder Breeze and 2 more elders did. And guess what one of his name is? Elder Mike Jones, and he knows Cheryl and Tyler crazy!!! So we had a good time talking and stuff. In the morning, we found out who our trainers were and where we were going. My trainer's name is Elder Roberts, and he is a twin, and his twin is in the same mission as us! He is a big NBA fan and his favorite team is the Houston Rockets. But he still has respect for the Lakers, so that's good. He is 6'0 and is from Nor Cal (Manteca to be exact).

My first day out in the mission field was cool. We went around on our bikes and I met some people. We also got to teach some people and we ate at some members' home, the Stouts. They are really nice. Then we went home and I unpacked and we talked and planned. It was a really fun day.

The 2nd day, we had a district meeting and I met the missionaries in our district. There are 2 other elders and 2 sisters. Me, Elder Roberts, Elder Stack, Elder Moline, Sister Hammar, and Sister Campbell. We have the power squad district and we are doing some good work. After the meeting, we ate at Subway and then split up and started teaching the word to people. While we were riding the bikes, I hopped up onto a curb and almost fell. Then, I was riding pretty fast to catch up and I was like, Elder Roberts that was a close one. I almost fell, and then 1 minute later I hit a ditch in the sidewalk and flew over my handle bars and ate some pavement. I didn't get seriously injured, but my right hand got cut up on my palm. Then we ate dinner at another member's house, the Sheffields. They like to cook and they tried a new dish out and it was really good!

We get dinner every night from members here which is awesome! Sunday came around and we go to the English ward and Spanish branch. This is the only area where we get to teach in English and Spanish. So, the Spanish branch was cool and they talk really fast. They also cook us food after church, and it was really goooooood! I only could stay in the Spanish branch sacrament meeting for the 1st talk because guess what? We had 2 baptisms we had to get ready for! We baptized a lady named Tammy and her daughter Sara! There was also a lady named Amis that is Chinese and she is moving to Malaysia. So I got lucky being "born" in Galveston where we had some baptisms the first week I was here. :)

Later that night, we went over to a man's house named Mike Garcia, and he cooked us some salmon and it was sooo goood. Sorry Mom, it beats any that I had back home :) We took him with us to do some door knocking and the first door we knock the people answer and right away say come in come in. And they were from El Salvador and we taught them the 1st lesson right there and I told them the 1st vision in Spanish and we have a return appointment with them this week and I am really excited. We also met some other people from Mexico and there where tons of mosquitos and I have a ton of mosquito bites on my right arm; like 30. I don't know what's up with those. They just like my sweet personality ;) Hahahaha, well anyway. I love it here and I am having a blast and learning a lot. And this week has been super busy! But I have to go and I love you all!!!
-Elder Johnson

p.s. My email time is not timed anymore but we are only allowed to email for 1 hour. So you can send me emails. If you want to send me pictures, put them in Word and then I can see them. And I am only allowed to email family. Sorry friends, but you can still write me letters!!:)

Pictures from the MTC

15 September, 2009

Well, this week has been a good week. I only have 1 more week here!!!! Wooooo!!!!!!!

My new adress is going to be:

Elder Steven B Johnson
Texas Houston South Mission
4627 Austin Parkway
Sugarland, TX 77479

So if you are planning on writing me a letter, make sure you send it to that address and not the MTC address.

Nothing to exciting has happened to me this week. This sunday Elder Breeze and I had the chance to bless the sacrament in Spanish, and went smoothly. We also had the chance to teach our Sunday School about the purpose of life, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how to repent and use the Atonement in our lives. It was one of the easiest lessons that I have ever taught because it was on a subject that is so important to me. None of us are perfect and we have all sinned in our lives, and I know that through repenting and using the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed from our sins.

Ummm hmm what else is new. Oh since i havent been allowed to play basketball because of my wrist I have taken up 4 square. I know I know, me playing 4 square? When I came to the MTC it was funny to see the type of elders that played each sport. The typical cool elders usually played basketball or volleyball or they lifted upstairs. And I am sorry that I am judgmental but the weirder/dorky elders would play 4 square. So one day I decided that I was sick of doing nothing and started playing 4 square with one hand. And then I realized it is actually a lot of fun. So sorry if I offend anyone by bashing on 4 square. But it's actually fun and now a lot of guys from my disctrict play, including Elder Breeze (he is a beast at 4 square haha)

Hmmmm. I have had fun talking to people on the phone or internet chats and helping them with their problems. You can go to www.mormon.org and talk to missionaries at the MTC and they can help answer questions you might have about our church.

Hmmm. Well. Oh, today I got my wrap off my wrist and my stiches out so I can finally take a shower without putting a bag over my hand. Woooo! My wrist movement is a little stiff, so I need to do work on bending it and it will be back to normal so that's good. The scar is about 1 inch across my wrist. But it looks like it should go away, because it is hardly noticeable right now.

I am excited for Houston! It's going to be weird teaching the gospel in Spanish. I know I am going to mess up a lot and say some embarrassing things. For instance, I have already said, Jesucristo tiene un cuerpo de carne y juevos (Jesus Christ has a body of flesh and eggs). I should of said juesos which is bones. Someone said donde va (where are you going (on my mission)) and I said a la baño (the bathroom) thinking that he said where were you. I dunno, I know some more embarrassing things are going to happen and I can't wait!

Hmm what else is new? I still have many hours of class and study every day. Umm, we figured out how to take lightsaber pictures, I'll send some home later. Other than that I am just really excited to get out of the MTC and into the world.

Oh, by the way GO BYU FOOTBALL! WOOOO! That's right. I know what's going on in sports even though I don't get the newspaper or watch tv. One of the blessings of being on my mission
eh?<--- Canadian slang I picked up in college, haha.

Well, I love you all and thanks for the support everyone!
-Elder Johnson

Mom- I love you. Thanks for the letters and packages!
Dad- Those pictures of the fire where crazy!!! Thanks for the cougar sports news, haha!
Kim- What up sista! I hope you're doing well in school!
Jen- How does it feel to have no baby in your belly?
Jer- You got your hands full bro, bueno suerte.
Kelly- How is Finland??
Greg- How is work in Finland and everything?
Cheryl- Your pictures didn't work here at the MTC. I don't know if it will be any different in the field
Tyler- What up bro? Thanks for the letter, I see your cousin a lot!

8 September, 2009 - MTC

Hello everyone!

The MTC has been awesome! I only have 2 weeks left crazy!!! I will be putting my address for Texas up on the blog in my letter next week! The MTC has been a great place.

I had a cold for the past week and a cough, so that isn’t any good. The past 3 nights, I have been having problems going to sleep, but then I found cough drops in my suitcase on Sunday so that was really nice!

All my classes are in total Spanish, its pretty scary, but I do understand most about what they are saying. I learn so much everyday from reading The Book of Mormon and find answers to questions I have, like where were we before this life, where are we going after we die, and what our purpose here on earth is. Also, I enjoy reading about the battles in the old days. I love The Book of Mormon and I just finished reading it last Sunday!

It is really weird because my district is now the oldest district in our zone (A district is the 10 missionaries that I have class with every day while a zone is the people that we go to church with). It is pretty cool, a new group of missionaries came on our floor and one of them is my friend Matt Dibb and he is in my ward from BYU. I forgot where he is going, but he is from Idaho.

I want to say thank you for all the letters that you all send me and sorry if I have been a little slow with responses, I am doing my best to write them, but they only give us 1 day a week, and on that day we have to: go to the temple, attend a big meeting in the middle of the day, and do laundry. So, I try to write to as many people as I can.

The food here is pretty good still, but I have been here long enough that I never get a new meal anymore. So it’s ok, but I can’t wait for the Mexican food in Texas WOOOOOO. I have a friend that I met here at the MTC that has been in my mission for 2 weeks and he really likes it and says the food is reaaaaaallllyyyy good.

My wrist is doing well and I get the wrap off in 1 week so that’s good. Well, I hope that you all have a good week and I love you all!

-Elder Johnson

p.s. BYU FOOTBALL BABY!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Jennifer! Congrats on the baby! She is a cute baby! Well I hope you survive and I hope that the labor wasn’t too bad!
Jeremy- I hope you didn’t have a heart attack from the excitement when BYU won their football game.
Kelly- Thanks for the pictures, they were awesome!!!!!! Finland looks so cool, and I am jealous of the cool things there and the cool toys at the park.
Greg- You can walk on water! Dang man, you have mighty faith!
Cheryl- Thanks so much for the cookies!!!!! They were yummy and I shared.
Tyler- Man your letter made me laugh so much, I see your cousin a lot here.
Kim- Hey, thanks for the package the little comments on everything were funny!
Mom- Hey Mom, I love you. Thanks for the package!
Dad- Thanks for the letters Dad. My companion calls me J all the time and it reminds me of you!