Olá!

This week flew by and I don't have a whole lot to say about what happened because it was pretty normal. We have been working quite a bit to find new investigators to teach. It has been a little hard since we have been in the area for so long and many times we talk with the same people on the street, so now we are trying new ways to find people. The ward is extremely excited and we are too. We are going to do a couple of activities this week to invite a lot of new people to come to church and be taught. We are also going to do an English class and also go out with all the members to make new contacts and visit old investigators. It will be an exciting week.

This last week I also had the chance to do divisions with Elder Eggers. He was in the office a little while so we have gotten to know each other. It was a lot of fun and it was a very effective day. A sad moment from this week is that we were teaching Fran who is an older lady and she was ready for baptism. She even stopped drinking coffee and was excited to invite all of her friends. One day we saw her on the street and it seemed like she was avoiding us. We went and talked to her, but she said that she was giving up. She doesn't want to go to church anymore and doesn't want to be taught. It was super sad to see because she is such a sweet lady and was changing her life. We saw a huge difference in her life. We think that her friends told her a lot of negative things about the church and for that she doesn't want to go anymore. I hope that she returns one day. We are going to still try to visit her and some members will go there also. It is sad when someone is so close, but they decide not to follow. We  I know that the Lord loves her and wants her to follow Him and so I hope that she remembers the things we taught her and that it blesses her and helps her have the desire in the future to follow.

We have also been teaching a great family, but this week they were not able to go to church because they had to visit a family member on the other side of the city. We were super sad, but then in the afternoon they called us and said that they felt that they needed to go to church, so they found a church there and went to a self-reliance course that was going on after the meetings there. It is amazing that their hearts were touched and they decided to go, even if it were just a random meeting that was going on in the church. I hope that the Lord continues to guide them and that they continue to follow.

I have seen the difference that the Lord makes in our lives. When we follow the Savior, though it may be difficult, we always become better. I have seen that in my life especially on the mission. I am grateful that the Lord has changed my life and I hope that I can continue changing to be more like Jesus Christ. Thank you all for your love and support!

Amo vocês!

Elder Johnson