2 Months Down and BAPTISMS!!

My 1st Baptisms (Sebastion & Jose)

Well the title of my Email says 2 months down and Baptisms!! They went through I had the chance to Baptize 2 of the kids which was super special even though I messed up one of the names pretty bad but that's okay because I am not perfect and I realize that. There names are Moises Diego Sebastion Ramierez Villarroel he is the one that is on the left of me in the picture. The other ones name is Jose Ernique Manuel Ramirez Villarroel. It was a super cool experience especially since I came out here with the idea that I might not get that opportunity but I have most definitely been blessed. 

Anyway nothing to crazy other than that, For those considering going on a mission. It is not easy I will tell you that now especially if you where like me and wasn't 100% ready to come out. I am fine now but it would of been a lot easier if I would of made sure I was more prepared for what was to come instead of think that it was going to be easy and just another fun experience. I can tell you now that it isn't always fun. It isn't always easy but it will be worth it.

As always I want to thank you all for your support your emails make it so much easier to go on out here and they give me a spirit of dedication and preservar hasta el fin. Endure to the end is what that means. It makes it a lot more worth it at the end of the day to realize that you guys are all rooting for me back at home and that you guys take the time to think about your old friend down in Chile once a week and take the time to write me! I love hearing from you all. I will never take my friends or family for granted ever again. 

The Spanish is coming along slowly but surely. its hard but I know I can get through it with your guys prayers and the hand of the lord. Be grateful for what you have that's all I have to say. I have seen some things down here that I have literally made me sick. People that have NOTHING but still give us things like a candy bar or something simple like that. 

Well that's all for this week hope you all have a wonderful week and don't forget to write your friend down in Chile its literally gold to hear from you guys and I cant wait to hear more from you all.

Love Elder Johnson. 

No BBQ? No Probleemo!

Train Station....with a KFC! 

Well anyway this week has been pretty good Ill be sure to send you some pictuers here haha as you can see bajo in the picture that I sent is the view out of the front my house thing! The picture of the kids are the ones that we get to baptize this week and the one with the wheelbarrow BBQ is the BBQ I got to eat at on the 18th for the chilean independence day haha! Pretty funny right!? I got a good laugh to. 

Well anyway nothing to crazy happend this week, The power box melted and so we had to get a new one and we didnt have lights or power for a while. The Water heater broke so we had to warm up watter on the stove to wash ourselves off. Anyways I want to thank you all for your prayers you have no idea how much they have helped me out here. It really is not an easy task learning a new language its not easy when people try to talk to you and you have little to no idea what is going on. But it is really getting a lot better. I can understand most of the time what is going on which is really nice. But I am seriously thankful for all the love and support I receive from you guys. Your prayers really do make a difference.

A shot from my compound....umm....apartment

Also the place we went to at first today to email couldn't send pictures that is why I am emailing you later now. So those who got emails earlier today thats why you are getting the mass now. We are doing pretty good out here in the feild. Its pretty fun just the area I am in right now is super hard because there are a ton of Catholics and they really really really hate us. You would not believe what they say to us and what they do to us. Not to mention the Jehovah witness clan sends there group of old farts into the neighborhoods and bombs are chances of ever getting a chance to teach people. Seriously they task force the place they will send like 6 couples into one area randomly and by the time there done people want nothing to do with us because the other people just came by.... It is really annoying. Luckly they don't really bother us personally they mostly stay out of our ways but its tough to get lessons in around here and because of it. 

Beyond Red-Neck Grill in the 'Hood!

But we have still had a lot of amazing experiences out here. The food like I said isn´t to strange its just they try to feed you way to much its seriously to much to eat. But you have to eat it all because its super bad if you don´t. The food is pretty bland here for the most part it doesn't have a lot of flavor but its still not to bad I haven't had to eat anything to bad yet which is cool haha! 

Anyway keep in touch guys I want to hear from you. I have to go now but Ill be sure to write you all next wekk so keep in touch okay!? 

Anyways love ya!

Elder Johnson!  

Pictures From the "Empty Sea" (MTC)

Trying to master the language...no pressure, here!

Lance with his MTC district by the  Santiago temple.

Here are some pictures I found in my download box.  Thought I'd post them.

El CRAPIMO (My 1st Area)

Well guess who finally made it out in the field haahha? Oh you know your friend lance here did haha OR should I say Elder Johnson!! Well anyway you are proably wondering why my email is titled El CRAPIMO it because of my house I get to stay in. Haha it is a joke! I took a million pictures of it but I forgot to bring my cable to post pictures of it on email. The thing has Razor barb wire aroud a 9 foot concreat wall and it seriously looks like a priosn. Not to mention the power system. They put like a 5 amp breaker for all the plugs in the house so if you try to run a 2 little heaters at the same time the breaker pops and all the power goes out in the plug system. Heres the best part when you go flip it it usually catches on fire and starts sparking all over the place. I would go buy a bigger breaker for it but I have no Idea where to get one. 

My compion is cool. His name is elder Kennighton. He is from north salt lake he is different but he is very good at spanish and makes my job a little easier if I get stuck in a lession. We share the CRAPIMO with 2 latinos they are funny and nice. But hard to understand. They talk really fast just like everyone else down here and they dont know any english. 

We have 3 Baptismos on the 27th Its not 100 percent for sure but I think they are going to go for it, I really whish I could show you guys pictures. I have so many stories but no time to talk. I am so sorry I didnt get to email you all this week I ran out of time because last week I didnt get to email because I entered the feild. Anyway I hope all is well at home. Not going to lie I feel a little homesick right now. The spanish is rough and the place is crazy. Not to mention it really is kinda scary here at night. Theres a bunch of gansters called Flightaes down here and they proably wouldnt think twice about killing you if you got in there way. But They do have respect for us just as long as we dont bother them. 

The people are really nice down here but they give way to big of lunches ahha you have to eat everything but honestly its TOO MUCH! Seriously they think that we are horses down here or something. Anyways I am so happy to be here and even though it is really hard and it is often not a whole lot fun I know it will be worth it in 2 years. I Love you all and I want to thank you for the support and love you guys give me 

Here are my letter address for my mission home. If you want to send me a letter here is the address. 

Por Favor post this on Facebook Annette when you get a minute. Also tell tthem I am doing well and that we are going to make it down here haha.

Elder Lance Kenneth Johnson

Chile Santiago West Mission

Casilla de Correo 149

Pajaritos 1921

Maipú Chile

Yes its prounced (my poo) dont worry I lauged too haha.

If you do write me ill be sure to write you back haha I promise I will send you one just it will take like 90000 million years to get to you. I will get your lettes really fast But it takes forever for you to get mine because there postage system is a joke. 

Keep writing me guys I miss you all a ton and I want to hear your storys! I love you all so much thank you for getting me out here and helping me through it I couldnt do it with out your love and support. 

Lance has been assigned to his 1st area.  His area is Maipu and is serving with 

Elder Keddington.  Here is a picture of the two of them 

together.

Elder Keddington - Trainer and Lance (Elder Johnson)

When I get Lance's emails, I'll post them here on this blog.  His Prep days are on 

Mondays now that he's out of the missionary training center, so every Monday 

that he writes, I'll post it here.

My First Area, Maipu

September 2, 2014

Well It is finally my last week in the MTC! I am scared but excited to get out there and kick some butt! The Spanish is still kinda rough but I can get the message across now with about anything and I can understand almsot everything someone says to me which is really kind of weird but cool at the same time. 

I had to give a talk in Spanish on Sunday which was really crazy it was about 7 mins long which doesn't sound that long but when it is in a crazy a different tounge it is a lot harder than you would think. It was super scary but even the lations said they could understand what I was trying to say and people said that they could feel the spirt when I gave it.

I will say I have been humbled by this experience. I came to a place where I wasn't proficient in anything and I really didn't know enough about the gosple like I thought I did to even teach in in English. Add Spanish to the equation and its a nightmare. 

I am just happy that I am finally starting to pick up on Spanish. I felt like I was slower than everyone else which was supper annoying. I hope you guys get my letters soon I sent them forever ago.... Anyway as always I would love to here from you guys so go ahead and shoot me an email when you get a couple of seconds. even if its just a sentence or two I would love to here something from you guys! Well I hope that everyone is doing okay just let me know if I can help any of you with a question you might have pertaining to the gosple or in any other areas you think I can give you advice in. 

Oh and one more thing I gave a lesson a couple of days ago to another fake investigator and I finally felt the spirit for the fist time after giving the lesson in Spanish I am getting to the point where I don't have to work as hard to understand the Spanish well I am out of time and I got some dude getting mad at me in Spanish telling me to get off Love you guys! Sorry for no pictures ill get em next week!

August 26, 2014

Well as you guessed from the title of this email we had our fist earth quake down here a couple of days ago. It was about a 5.2 on our scale which isn't huge but the biggest one I have been in. I almost feel over when it started and it sounded like the building I was in was going to collapse. But other than that it wasn't to bad it was pretty funny actually. Ha ha I am finally starting to get use to it down here although every day is one day closer to being out of the CCM. I only have 13 days left. Like no one is counting though or anything. I can't wait to get out to the field.

The spanish is tough but it is coming. I talked to a missionary today That really gave me a boost of confidance. It took him 13 months to get it down. He told me if he could get it down anyone can get it. He even went home for 3 months because he gave up but then he came back out after getting called to the same mission again! What a story! I WILL never come home though only if it is life or death. 

I know the church is true guys and I want to let you all know that if you have any questions the lord will be there for you. I can testify to you that he does answer prayers. 

Well here is another funny story for this week. We had just gotten out of a church meeting and it was pretty late at night and we where heading back to the mtc to do some planing and there was some naked dude dancing around in fromt of the gates and thorwing beer bottles on the ground. So that was pretty funny ha ha. 

Well other than that nothing to exciting just another week down in crazy-ville. its literally nuts down here haha. I can't wait to see what else happens to me on my journey to bring people to the light of christ. 

As always be sure to hit me up I want to here about you guys and what you have been doing. Just know I love you all and miss you tons just know that your going to be getting a better lance back than what you already know. I have already made a lot of imporvments. 

Love Elder Johnson

August 19, 2014

Well I am not going to lie the time has really started to slip by. Serisouly I can't beleive how fast this week went. Its crazy if you put all your mind and might into the work its amazing what you can accoplish! I just want to let you know I miss you all so much! Well any way this week was pretty fun untill last night. Some stupid elders his a bunch of alarm clocks inside are celling tiles in our room so I got very little sleep last night. I was fuming mad I was about to loose it. Any one that remebers the old me knows that I would of come up with some scheme to get them back and make sure it hit them good. But then I began to wonder what christ would do. I know he would forgive them and move on although it was a pretty lowball move since everyminte of sleep around here is worth its weight in gold. You are always so tired in the MTC and that sleep is valued. But instead of focousing my energy to come up with a way to get back at them I am just going to hide there alarm clocks and if they get mad and tell the president about it I am sure he will be happy to hear about how they got in there in the first place. 

Well we got a card saying what day we will most liikely be coming home and everyones said that they should be coming home on July 12th 2016 except for mine. Mine said July 30th of 2016. I am fine with it to be honest it just shows the lord needs me for a couple more weeks than everyone else. Although I am still strugling learning spanish I know that with hardwork and dedication and having the lord by my side anything is possible. I gave my first lesson all in spaish today. It was a little rough but we got through it. 

I got the address to the place today. But stupid here forgot to bring his planner to tell you guys about it so thats that I guess. You will get it next week I promise. Its crazy nice wheather down here it went from being about 60 to being about 80 haha it feels like summer back at home which is cool! I really like it down here and although its tough it will be worth it! Love you all so much thanks for the support. And I am being serious! Hit me up I want to hear whats up! Although home is becoming a more back part of my mind I am still wondering whats going on in everyones life! Well thats all for now love you all and just don't forget your favorite missionary thats 6000 miles away from you all right now haha. 

August 12, 2014

Ok the mtc is kinda of a drag not going to lie and it feels like we are in a prision but it is an excellent experiance that has helped me grow a lot! I will not be seding a lot of personal hand written letters becuase it is so EXPENSIVE! I spend 7000 Paso's which is about 15 bucks to send 14 letters! If you get a letter don't send one to the return adress because I am not sure if its right or not. they changed everything up around here so it's been really confusing on getting the right adresses and stuff. But I will still send a couple now and then! So heres another good story for you guys. Me and elder brooks where chillen in the front of the mtc next to the street during our lunch time after we had already ate and this werid dude started making faces at us and stuff. through the gate. I started laughing because I had been having a pretty rotten day so far and I thought he was trying to be funny or something. It was really creppy though because he just kept making that face at me... and was stiking his head through the gate. then he started danicing around and started saying a bunch of devil chants and stuff like he was trying to cast a spell or something on us and I am just super happy that I had my garments on because I know that they will protect me from things like that... I proably shouldn't of said cool Its more like really creppy. It gave me the chills literally. One of the gaurds that we have at the CCM aka MTC told us to go inside  because that guy had a gun Apperantly they had issues with this guy before.... IT was really creepy though and he was waving his hands around and doing all this werid stuff like he was trying to cast a spell on us. There is a lot a Voodo where I am going which is really creepy. Any ways Things down here are super expensive I will have to be carefule with my money or I will run out really fast. so I can't buy a whole lot of stuff. My bro Adam Mitchell gave me some great advice today in a email he told me That this mission is for the people not for me. Thats what I am going to focus on for now on I didn't come here to help it improve my life I came here to help improve other peoples lifes. I am so happy to be here. Although it is really scary around here and the dogs are EVERYWHERE! I am so happy to have two weeks down in the MTC and can't wait to really get out there. The laugague is tough not going to lie I am struggling a little bit with it. But I know through the power of the lord anything is possible. For those thinking about a mission. This is not all goodey good I just baptized 20 people in a week lots of fun easy and always doing good always happy as the movies make it look. It is a straight up crap storm out here. It is really tough and a lot of werid stuff happens I am not even going to write about some stuff I don't think that's happend to me so far and I am still in the MTC. It is not happy a lot of the time it is hard out here! But I know that at the end of each day that it is the best thing I could ever do and I know that with hardwork and dedication I can bless the lifes of people that need the gosple and I am so greatful for this. and I am so excited to acctually get out in the feild. I can't wait to hear from you all. Be good out there everyone! Love you all! 

August 5, 2014

Hey so its your home boy lance reporting from Chile today! As you guessed its ghetto as all heck down here but its been way cool! sorry for all the typos in here I have to be fast and the keyboards are super goofy down here! But any way it is amazing down here as you can tell by some of the pictures. The city is vast the first picture I took was of all the people coming to the same mission as me thats right we are all going to the west mission! The MTC is great the laungauge is defeinelty killing me off right now though but I have had a lot of great experiances and it hasnt even been a full week yet! My first companion is Elder Brooks from Brigham City Utah which is way cool! He is a great kid and has an excellent testimony to him. The city is crazy! one of the advantages we have is we get to go out to the city on Pdays and we get to walk around! Well I had an amazing mircle happen to me at the Airport when I got here. I left my binder that had my social security card and my birth certificate and my visa to chile at the airport we where in the van when I realized it and we had no way of going back back becasue of the fact that the dude driving us didnt know any english at all! So I knew I was in trouble but as soon as we got to the MTC I said a paryer and knew it would all be okay. So what happend was I told my mssion president about it and he was like yeah your kinda in the hurt locker right now dude and didn{t know what to really do. But here is the amazing part some dude came to the mtc like literally drove there and it wasnt just a short little drive around the park it was like a good 40 minute drive with traffic and droped it off at the mtc and gave it to the gards there! I know the gospel is ture! I forgot to ask what the address is but I am running out of time I hope the pictures send the email thing was freaking out. I promise to send personal emails later. I will mail personal letters next week to all of the people that gave me there addresses! Hey I want to here from you all! Tell me whats up! Also a word of wisdom if you ever come down here dont ask what the meat is that they serve here literally no joke the other day I got some kind of something that looked like beef but it had a hot dog in the middle of it some how.... I dont want to know what it was... Yes the rabie infested dogs are real out here we get to go running to a park and play soccor every day and I have already been bit twice now good thing I can run when I see a dog... The people are crazy down here too.. But I wish you all the best and I hope you guys get this love elder johnson. P.S I promise it will be longer next week the keyboards here are really werid but I am sort of getting use to it. Love you all! 

Elder's Johnson and Brooks