Oct 26 - Ayacucho

Hello All,

We are still working hard here in Ayacucho. It looks like I'm going to be here until January.. Climbing hills every single day it looks like I will be in shape for when soccer starts again haha. The rain here is really strong and unpredictable. It begins to pour and then it stops 5 minutes later. Really weird but I love it! It's awesome

This week has been a little tough! Being sick is hard enough, but when you are walking and visiting it is really hard. I don't what I ate but something didn't get along with my stomach haha. We were in an appointment and all of the sudden my stomach began to hurt. I couldn't focus at all and at the end of the lesson I told my companion that we had to return to our house because I didn't feel good. Not 5 minutes into the trip, I stopped and puked in the street! It was horrible! My shoes and pants were covered in throw up. Haha the sad thing is that it is the second time that it has happened in the mission haha. With the food here, one can't control yourself. The best part is all of the cars and people passing by looking shocked haha. At least now I am starting to feel a little better and recovering.

We found a new investigator this week named Susana. She uses a wheelchair and was taught by the missionaries a long time ago but never got baptized. We are going to try and help her take the steps to be baptized and make more covenants with God. She doesn't understand that much but she has all the desire to come to church and obey the commandments. It just goes to show that just because we are intelligent doesn't mean that we will be saved, All of Jesus apostles in the earth were recent converts haha. They didn't understand half of the things Jesus said but they were obedient and became great apostles. We all need to apply principles of God, not just talk about them.

I love you guys sooo much and a lot!!

Elder Johnson Baby

Oct 20 - Ayacucho

Hello All,

This week was transfers! Me and my companion are staying in the area for one more transfer. This will be our 3rd transfer in the area together and we are excited to do some work! He is great and we get along well and so it will all be good.

This week Maria (our investigator) came to church and is really progressing. She has told us that she is reading the Book of Mormon everyday and really starting to feel the difference in her life. She is preparing herself to be baptized on the 14th of November. This week she has been going through many challenges and trials but is keeping strong and keeping her commitments. It is so amazing to see the difference in people when they are reading everyday, as they have the spirit constantly and have a happier life. What a blessing to be able to help these people come to Christ and receive the fullest of his gospel.

I love you soo much and a lot!

Elder Johnson Baby

Oct 12 - Ayacucho

Hello All,

This week has been great! I received the photos of a family that I was teaching in Villa el Salvador about 6 months ago that got married. They got married by law and then another got sealed in the temple. What a blessing!

This week we are working with a family of three. A single mom, Maria, and her two children Mijael and Juliana. Mijael suffers from esquizofrenia (schizophrenia in English) and so he has special needs. His mom and his sister have baptism dates and so we are focusing on how we can help them come to church all three together to progress towards baptism. Me and my companion spent the whole 3 hours trying to entertain and distract him to get him to stay. haha. It was definitely an adventure but we were successful and got him to stay the three hours in the church. What a miracle! haha

This next week is transfers and so we will see what will happen. It is pretty probable that I will stay in the area and receive a new companion. After this transfer I only have 5 left! It is really starting to dawn on me that the mission is coming to a close. I am going to do all I can to continue preaching and helping the people here with the gospel.

Ashley [Bayles--Mike's cousin] sent me a letter that I received recently that was great! Such a blessing to have such a supportive family. Tell them all that I love them!

I love you guys sooo much and a lot!

Elder Johnson

Oct 5 - Ayacucho

Hello All,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!

This week has been awesome!

I love general conference. Every single talk was inspired and I learned from everyone of them. I think I am going to start Ponderizing as well haha. That was from Devin G. Durrant, the 1st counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency. Interesting fact is that he played in the NBA for a little while.

One of my favorite talks was from Elder Christofferson about the importance of the Church. When I was like 16 I thought that I didn't need to go to church, but possessing the priesthood I could bless the sacrament and water while in my pajamas in my bed. Looking back... What a stupid concept! haha I have learned so much from my mission and will never think like that again. Really like he said, we can't be saved in isolation and part of obeying the commandments is helping strengthen others physically and spiritually. Great Talk!

This week we are working with a lot of investigators. We had 7 come to conference and we will try and put baptism dates with these sons and daughters of God. Our area has a lot of potential now!!

I love you guys so much and recover from all these medical stories [quite a few family members have had medical issues lately] haha. My prayers will be for everyone of you as you keep pressing forward. Tell everyone I love them.

Love you all,

Elder Johnson Baby!