Sunday, June 17, 2007 (Sorry, out of chronological order) A sweet part of one of Andys letters:I know God wants me here. I know what I am doing is right. It's true. I'm not just preaching God or religion, I'm helping others receive blessings of the Restored Gospel ; better families, happiness and most importantly helping them make steps back to our Father in Heaven.I love you all, please read the scriptures. You all need it so badly! (smiley face drawing)If you can't read get them on CD. If you can't hear, learn brail. Thank you for your prayers and support. I feel it. I get the other end of the prayer. I hope you do too. (smiley again.)Love you. Elder Johnson posted by Johnson Family at 3:32 PM 0 comments

From the un-paid Secretary (Irene!)

Hi Everyone, This is fun for me to publish my first blogg. If you see a misssspelled word, do not tell me about it! No one is home to help me and I just wanted to get some notes from Andy ready for you to read. I don't know how to do spell check yet. You may notice a change, after I figure it out! It all looks good in review after I have sorted through Andys writing!! I am sure he wishes he could use the e-mail. But he has been so great at writing to us every week. And I hear that he answers letters pretty well. I am very proud of this, considering the Jackson, "nothing like a telephone" genes. I will try to put more letters on for you to read. He is really funny. One letter told that the most confusing thing to him, was speaking to an Oriental person who speaks in Spanish! And he loves the Spanish people. He often comments on how much they, and even the language they speak shows a love of God. It makes him admire them. Pictures are comming, as soon as Ashley has time to teach me to load them on to the blogg spot. Thanks from the Missionarys Mom, for all of the encouragement, support and love you take time to share with Elder Johnson. Family is very important to Andrew. He askes how you are doing and always sends his love. (and the reminder to have some sort of fun!)

Letter to all the Family

Well Hello all. It's good to know my letters are being posted on the web... I'll start this letter by saying that sometimes in life we get a little tired or just lose sight of our goal. And we allow the adversary to move in and discourage us. He is constantly there trying to pull down the righteous, those with the potential to be so much. Those who have the potential to help so many people. I have experienced a little of this lately, in that what we do becomes a little harder. But I now KNOW the power of prayer. I KNOW where help can be found. There is no question in my mind that our Heavenly Father exists. With this small trial I was able to look at people around me and realize how difficult Satan has made some peoples lives. The most tragic is watching people fall away or just forget about the pure happiness and the feeling of peace found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are working with many less active members who simply won't come to Church because they won't stop working on Sunday. Those who keep the commandments of God are so much happier! It's literally night and day. Unfortunately Satan knows this as well. He tries so hard to make us slip up. Not big things, it's to noticeable, small things like not reading the scriptures. Prayer, I'm amazed how many people won't pray and ask God for help, simply because they haven't done it in a while. It's just like eating. If you want to be full, you have to open your mouth! I want to challenge all who read this letter to seriously reflect on how happy you are, and see the correlation with your prayers. I promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that if you honestly seek the Lords help and you obey his commandments, he will help you understand his pure love for you. And understand the power of the Atonement of his only begotten Son. Jesus truly did feel everything we have ever felt. Our lowest moments in life are so personal to him. He weeps when we wander into darkness. He is there . I know this. I'm praying that we all find the strength to overcome our darkest hours. Please never give up. I know it's never too late to come back to what God has for us. I love you all so much! Work hard Guys, I love you. Andy

June 2007 Elder Johnson is now in Ridgewood New York. He works in both Brooklyn and Queens. He said: It's not Utah, or the Island for that matter (Long Island). But I love it! No one speaks English. It's either Spanish (best for me), Polish, Romanian, Korean, Mandarin, or my new favorite Ebonics! "No wha' I sayin? Yo?" My branch is all Spanish and it gets pretty hairy sometimes! I can speak well. My Comp. is from Choix, Mexico. He doesn't speak any English. But his family just moved to Colorado. He says I speak without and accent, so that is awesome! I have worked hard on that. The understanding is tough. Elders like our new greenies E. Kavengg (Tongan) can understand a ton already because they know how to listen and hear. Yesterday I had to translate, Spanish to English is tough. My Comp is awesome! He comes from a town where you could fit the entire population in a Subway Car. Very humble, but he's funny. The members here make food for us to pick up almost every day. Yesterday, it was Chinese. Ha! Really Funny! Well, I really love you all. Thank for the letters guys! I need the short sleeved shirts pronto: rapido! It's hot. I'll send pictures of Brooklyn soon "Aight?" I'm working hard and having fun here. I think I'm a city boy. Well at least for the mission... I'll miss all the noise, when I leave. Ha Ha, weird! (No , leaving isn't an idea I have in my head...) Love Ya, Have some fun, its Summer! Andy

Well family, Looks like they're shippin' me to the City! We found out Sunday night! Man its crazy, I'm going to be the District Leader in Ridgewood. Did not see that coming! My new comp is a Mexican and my area / Branch / Ward is all Spanish. Looks like I'll be gettin' real good at Spanish.... I have mixed feelings, I really like Elder Whitacker, and we only got 3 weeks together. Some good news is that I get to see the city, will live there. Elder Petitt my old comp is in my zone so I'll see him! and hopefully some of my District from the MTC will be there. I'll miss good ol' Freeport and the people here. It's starting to get HOT! Oh man. The humidity is dumb. No me likey. Luckily today we have a picnic with all the "stake" so I'll see everyone there. I finally feel like my Spanish is progressing, at least for now. Yesterday I caught myself listening to a lesson which was switching back and forth from English to Spanish and I didn't even realize it! It was a cool feeling. I like looking back to my 1st transfer and remembering how little Spanish I knew and understood. I still can't figure out how Elder Goodman put up with me. Man! I must have been a pain in the patoogan! Well, I have a ton to do today! Hey, we got a commit out of a lady Elder Goodman and I used to teach. elder Whitacker will probably "backtize" her. (That is the way our Branch President says it.) We played (soccer) Futbal on saturday and I made 3 goals and 2 or 3 assists. Man! Pres Chirinos loves me now! I always played against him, but we had an investigator who brought a team and so I played with him. We won 8 to 5! They take it so seriously. I love it! I guess I'll be able to play a little in Nickerbocker Park, that's what they tell me.. You know I'm angry you never let me play soccer as a kid, or you never signed me up. I'm good. Well, on that note, Love ya'll, Work hard and have fun, Andy