Hello...it´s me (Elder Johnson).,  

Can I just say that it is so hard singing my favorite songs here!!!  Literally only my companion understands what I´m actually singing because he´s American, but everyone else knows `I no speak engrish` and that´s all!  However, when my companion and I do sing, most everyone stops and gapes at us (apparently because we´re probably singing the right notes)!  That and because we´re American also.  Americans are pretty much celebrities here, by the way! We´re pretty much the symbol of hope, money, and success in life! If you write the word American on something, it´s automatically expensive.  O cara, it´s just really weird seeing and adapting to life here.  People wear flipflops everywhere, the kids play a lot of soccer, there´s on average 3 dogs (per house), every house has large gates to block intruders (instead of knocking on their door, you clap), the milk expires about 7 days after opening it, the minimum wage is 1.4 dollars per hour, traffic laws are quase non existent, main method of travel is walking, biking or taking the bus, everyone has a tv (homeless included), the regular meal is rice, beans, chicken, and jello (for dessert if they have more money), and people love to talk whenever!  This list will grow as I spend more time here.

  

This week, one particular day stood out to me.  On Thursday, we were searching for a less active member in this one neighborhood, but didn´t have an address.  As we walked, I saw an old woman struggling to shovel a great mound of rocks to make a rock driveway.  Without heisitation, I walked up, said `Voce precisa ayuda?`, and before she had time to answer, scooped up the shovel and went to work.  Apparently, the sight of an American in a white shirt and tie shoveling an immense pile of gravel was quite the spectacle!  I felt the eyes of every person that passed the house on me, and could imagine the look of surprise on their faces.  Finally, covered in sweat, dust and dirt, I handed the shovel back to the stunned old woman (Maria) and said `Christ served all when he was on the earth.  We are representatives of Jesus Christ so we need to serve others also.`  I have no idea what will come of this experiance, but if someone asks that woman if she knows those crazy Mormons, she can answer `Yes, yes I do`.

In regard to missionary work, It´s so exciting to be able to help these people who see life as living paycheck to paycheck, expand their horizon and see that there´s more.  I love explaining to people that they´re children of God and have potential to become much more!  I love talking about where we came from before this life, how we´re here to do good, be happy, obtain a body, and follow Christ, and how there´s life after death!  Most of all, I love SERVING because this is the ultimate sign of love.

Elder Johnson