First Letter From The Field

Note from Dad:

We received several things about Elder Johns today (it was a lot of fun).  First we received a written letter (this is shown below), and a letter from President Smart (listed on the other post).  Then we received his first email (that will be shown in a later post).  We were also able to see the pictures from the mission blog and another one that someone sent to a member of our ward on Facebook.  So it has been fun hearing about how he is doing, and also to listen to his attitude.  We are very proud of him.  I will attempt to add a translation from the letter that he sent although it could be difficult without a universal translator.

Page 1 Translation:

Hi all,

I just wanted to drop a quick line to everybody and I will write longer replies on Monday (my P-day). I got into Riverside on Tuesday, the flight was uneventful, that day I met the Mission Pres. (President Smart) and his wife and the office staff and did a bunch of orientation meetings, then we went to teh mission home and met our companions, (there was also a great testimony meeting).

Anyway so my trainer is Elder Clark from Iakam Idaho.  Ware are serving in the Highland area.  We have both the Highland 1st and 2nd wards which are in the Redlands Stake.  Basically Highland is imediatately Southeast of San Bernadino and North of Redlands.

Started the work yesterday, and Man it was great. We did some street contacting or "OYMing" (open our mouth) and I talked to some people.  We got two return visits from that.  We had a couple lessons later in the day which went well (more detail maybe later) had dinner (we are supposed to gain 30 pounds on mission but I am determined to stay 140 ha ha) which was pretty good.  Our lesson after dinner was crazy spiritual. We were teaching two boys (9, 12) who were wards of the state living with their grandma.  They have had a rough domestic life that is rather complicated. (They were baptized but haven't been coming). But we testified of faith and prayer very strongly and the Spirit there was overwhelming. Sister Vegas then asked us to give her a blessing of healing (which I gave) and the member who was with us gave one of the boys a blessing of comfort.  It was one heck of a first day, and I loved it.  I can do this for the next two years! OH yeah, were in a car area, which is nice. (Haven't had time to put together my bike)

But,

"candy is great,

cookies are better

but please, oh please

just write me a letter!"

Page 2 Translation

Got to go now.

You can post this letter on the blog if you want.

I love you all

Your son/brother 

Elder Johns

P.S. Letters! Write them :) tell people to write them.

P.P.S. We can listen to CDs in the Car and on our dvd player, so send 'em on. (Also there is a band called "The Lower Lights" that I'd like you to lookup). MP3 cd's are probably fine but a couple normal ones just in case would be good.

P.P.P.S. Have you been posting my blog posts on my Facebook?

Apathetic Sheep

didn't want to be found...

... till the missionaries came