March 13, 2017

Sorry dad... I want a motercycle.... Everyone has one here, and the more i watch the more i want one. just looks like a great time.

im being transfered. Its an emergancy tranfer. Im not happy. I have alot of friends here now. i have alot of inglish investigators that i teach. No idea how thats going to work when i leave. I am not happy about this.

Finally tammed my once amazing hair......

i miss sleeing until 3. i had the life back home.

i miss ketchup.

So apparently im alot mentally worse then i thought...My outlit was skating, but thats out the window for 2 years. And im not one to expess my feeling....Im a dude, i dont do that. I thought it was natural to miss home alot... alot alot. alot alot alot. and i didnt give it 2 thoughts! But ive been told ive been screamming in my sleep and freaking out. i dont really know what to do about this.  Ive been getting more and more kinda depressed every day, i Thought this was suppose to pass. I guess its gotten alot worse. Ive tried to talk to my president but he just kinda brushes me off. so that just kinda adds to the feeling of me just being a burdan to people.

i Honistly dont know what to do. I thinking im finally mentally breaking. No one talks to me, and if i talk to someone they dont lessen or understand. All the people i like, i have to leave. Its like i cant get a break. I know its common to have thoughts of wanting to go home, and I use to be able to find reasons to stay becuase i would convince myself im getting bettter. Im not. 

last night i had one of the most amazing dreams. I woke up in my bed (at home), dad stayed home from work. Me and dad just worked on the lawn. After aj came down and we all made burgers and dip. Ellle and matt eventally come down. Aj went back to working one somthing strang and physics and stuff, matt just kinda did matt things. Then i drove elle to school, screaming the whole way cuz the music was always too loud. After me and mom just went out to get food and go shopping, because she didnt want to work. Then chase and laura showed up and we skated utill dark. 

I couldnt ask for a better day.

But i did go flying out of my bed when i woke up to go find everyone. Only to find my compainon kinda grab me cuz i was about to run into him.

I honistly thought i was doing better. But i find myself staring longer and longer at the pictures i do have, staying longer and longer in restrooms (only time im alone), and being more and more in my mind.

i Dont want to break. but i feel like im broken and im running out of duck tap to keep it together.

On i guess a better note. In brazil... more like porto alregy. there is an hurb that only grows here. Its tradition to make some and pass it around all your friends, its a sign of frend ship or acceptance. Here we are alot to have tea, just not dark teas? we are aloud to have this tea, and incouraged to drink.... It tast like grass.... but it grows on you. (there is a picture of me drinking and with a bag of it)

Pray for me. I dont know what to do anymore.

--

Live Long, And Prosper

Elder Johnston

The Roads Run Red

The roads run red every morning. Puddles of just dark red lay in the cobble stone. Some of the vast puddles of red hold lumps of remains.

Totally looks like people were mudered every morning. Its great! The uva (grape) Trucks show up really earlry, and to give you and idea of how much there is, Its most of the citys income, and they provide for all of brazail. Also the best tasting uve ever. Does not compare to other grapes.

My watch smells. Its leather and little did i thiink about leather smellinh after sweat and sun.

Couples here are gross. Always touching and loving eachother. Dont they know they are all from the same eternal family?!

Also! Wemon here have no rights basically. Its great. Not really. For example, I went to load my dish and they acted like i was proforming blastamy. The men dont do anything. No cooking, No putting food on plates, no getting seconds, no cleaning. All girls. Also the familys here can be rough. Its common for the kids to disrespect the mom, And some times hit her (little kids, under 12) (ive never seen anyone 16-20). I may not be the most respectfull person... But i want to stand up and slap some of these kids.

Some familys just need tharipy. We do our best but im only and amarican missionary.

Ive never been so greatfull for my heritage. to be born in a house of 2 parents. Clean water, and food. Roof over my head, and flooring under my feet. I had no idea how good i had it. No idea how amazing my parents are.

Skating is literaly killing me. It physically hurts me whenver i just hear them outside. One kid at church asked for me to teach him, and i almost just broke into tears. Its that bad.

Learned the trick to hot(ish) water!!!!!! Turn of for 3 mins, turn off for 2...... AND BAM!!!!! Its warm agin!

Got some super fashondably hip tan/sunburn!

AHHhhhhh yes.... The dogs.... When dogs have babys.... They can give them to the pound... When a dogs are strays.... Taken to the pound? NOPE!!!! DOGS EVERYWHERE! no pound. I see no less then 100 dogs a day! Most arnt owned. they live in empty lots together or out side of houses of people they have choosen as theres. They eat out of the garbege.... The garbege cans are just baskets so its not that hard.

LITTLE DID I KNOW! DONT TOUCH THE DOGS!!!!!!!!!! I touch all the dogs:). once a dog is show affection, they can easally become attached to you...We get groups of dogs following us. and trust me its a bad thing.They bark alot, They get in the way when trying to do anything, they eat things you drop, and they try to follow us into houses. Its great

Ive seen a gang of pungs, i saw jake (our jake) but he was the color of a golden retreaver.

can anyone send me a physical copy of me with blue hair?

Also my habbit of saving animals is still a habbet. Halfway through a lessen a kitten would not shut up. So me being me. I stopped the lesson. Found the kitten. She was stuck between sheet metal. Decided to be the amarican missionary hero and leave her..... After many attemps of grabbing her i finally got her. She did not want to be picked up. But once she was up she refused to let go. She was strawberry white with orange spots...... MIssonarys cant have pets.....

Also my name is spelled Mikal

had a mission meting and ive nver talked so much in my life. i was so happy. I think i did cry at one point. Greatest thing to happen. Next to the 3 baptisms we are having. Oh yeah 3 baptisms.

well im out of time.

1 nefi 16:31-32

D&C 123:12, 84:88, 4:5-7

Alma 26:12, 32:21

-- 

Live Long, And Prosper

Elder Johnston

3/6/17

February 2017 pictures

And I Live to Fight Another Day

Im alive. i think. Im in porto alreagry? Well not really. im north in a small city town. This place is only known for growing uva (grapes). So that shoulld give you and idea oh how small it is. 

So fun fact aBOUT BRAZIL....You shall flush only poop and pee. NOTHING ELSe! you know that little trash can next to every tolet and its almost just pointless in every way but everyone decides they just need an extra trash can just because? yeah. here you put everything in that. tolet paper, dingle beries, other things.......... but yeah it smells

Oh warm showers? do go on abouut how amazing they use to be, No warm water. The water is heated in the shower head. and little did i think about touching it one day.... It will shock you.... and you are all wet.... it will zap everything. BUT who needs kids anyways!

I have 2 blisters. one on both feet. on the same toe. and both are bigger then my toe itself. ive named them lame and annoying.

You think georga is mountainy? This place is so crazay up and down, that some roads are almsot ands and feet to get up! Also side walks? meh. the roads are wide and cobblestone. Motercicles are flying everywhere like there in an action movie. so great.

for disert at some places we eather have and amazing home made somthing, or just cold water. water is a luxery here.

I can speak small sentances, But dont get toooooo happy for me, They are of no use. So im doing good!

My back pack sweats black when i sweat so my shirts have black marks on them. BUT i never take it off so its all good there too!

There is a skate ppark here. We walk past it every day. Everyday they ask me to skate. We are not aloud to skate so i have to say no. I know that Ive choose to give my temporary happyness for these peoples eternal salvation. That it will be easer to show up these kids and show them how its done in amarica! then to speak my broken language, speak less then 100 words a day, and almost break into tears when i find someone say somthing in inglish and i understand.

Also we do clap out side of gates to get people to talk. But the gates are so close to the house they normally just stand up. Also its common to keep windows and doors open always. Which is good. But everyone has 1 room houses. ina house built on a house.

I love the ghettos here. My companion does not. we drop all our stuff off but scriptues and go in. So great. The houses are stacked and half the time you have to walk through a house to get somewhere. people think its cool that i speak inglish but no portages.

IN THE GHETOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IN THE GHETOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

oh yeah ive forgoten alot of my favoret music, so i feel like ive lost a pace of me already. But everyone here lessen to amarican music. matalica, Iron madin, And some popy stuff. Its funny because they have no ideea what they are saying

Everyone loves the name johnston. They pronouce it John.Stones. and from what little i could understand its slang for lady killer? Also they just say it for fun.

here, we hand skate, then hug, then with somepeople we do the kiss thing. you hvae no idea how much that freaked me out the first time it happen. but i feel like some of these people might swing the other way and no one would notice

also mom i am eatting well. The morning? nock off cerail with warm milk (they dont refrigerate milk), with my chose of the finest salteen crackers or stail bread. for lunch, A devine rice and beans. With the hosts chose of meet. Oh and dinner, Dinner is my choose of nock off roman noodle with whatever i can find.

for my scripture i havent thought of one? I like the 1 nefi somthing, It was[how great was there joy for i had food] somthing like that? really hits home for me

I am slightly deppressed. I speak less then 100 words a day like i said. Time was going really fast. But it slowed back down to a crawl. I miss having food to eat, being able to sleep, hanging out with people, seeing my family. Or just being able to talk.

BUT its ok! depression passes? Happyness comes eventually! Blessings come from trils. And i dont see the big Picture, Only the lord does. He knows my weakness, and knows my potental to grow.

Write me letter and pictures! i like to carry them and read them when things get hard.

Dont worry about me. Im not this easy to break. And just cuz i break does not mean i give up.

----------Send this to people, You guys are the only emails i have-------------------------------------

--

Live Long, And Prosper

Elder Johnston

Pictures from the drop off day

 This is Chicken Nugget, Connor used to carry him around in his pocket or up the sleeve of his sweatshirt, it was something that he played with and helped him feel comfortable. One day he stopped carrying him and I stuck in a drawer, I always thought I would give him to Connor when he got married as a joke. But I realized as he was leaving on his mission that when he got married he wouldn't be alone, so the mission seemed like the perfect time. Its a little McDonald happy meal plush Chewbacca lol.

 Ok I admit I melted at the door, I didn't handle to goodbye as well as I could have. But in my defense he was playing all the cheesy goodbye songs he could think of on the way over!!

This kid is the most amazing hugger in the world. He hugs with his whole body and lets you know he is there with you, it's not just a token hug.

I'm leaving, again

so. im way less then a week from leaving the CTM and still have no idea what anyone really says to me. My favorite part is when the teachers start kinda yelling at me for speaking english....WELLLLLLLLL you see if i knew the languge i would love to tell you more on how you telling me over and over doesnt work.... BUT im a missonary and this week like everyother week, im studying Humblness!

New greenys came in. They know more then me. real confidence booster! But i do know brazilans better and how to talk. like if a brazilan trys to hug you, you better hug him back or you are getting a lesson on hugs. Also to never lessen to what they say, almost always they are trying to get you to say somthing bad. i cant beleave some of these guys are missionarys, but other ones. Probaly one of the most amazing people ive ever met.

My little elder amigo left acouple days ago. really upset. Hes prob been the most inspiration ever. i will send you pictures but hes really short.

Thank you for the pictures everyone! i sadly could not get a valitne. my compainon said no and to stop rubbing his back, and everyone else has no idea what im asking. great time.

the language is kicking my butt. but when is it not! Went through the temple with out translations. at first i was kinda woried. but i dont think its possible to be scared in the temple.

I always have so much i want to say to everyone but when im actually sitting here. i have no idea what to type.

I finally cut my hair. The guy cutting it was this big russiun dude. Really deep voice and he sings when using his razor. GREATEST THING EVER! im tempted to go back.

I had scriptuers i was going to share.;.. but i forgot them. agin

Dont give up eternal happyness, por temparary sadifaction.

This has kinda been my scripture, well the actually scripture. this is my summery. Dont give up the long term reward for a temparery satisfaction. Dont give up just because things get hard on you. No one moves mountans without breaking a few bones.... or your faith is strong enoguh you can move anything....BUT you get what im doing.

if hard things were easy they would not bring so much happyness. Por mim its like saving up por a car. you can work and sweat, save all this money. To just give up halfway and settle with somthing that wont be worth your time or money. Or you can keep working and Endur to the end and get that Better car youve been dreaming of.

Just beacuse life gets hard and everyone puts you down, does not mean you have any reason to give up. 

Times running low and i have to run. I get to walk around town with the new guys...., They think im smart! lets see how long i can fake this.

And everyone looks so much older. creepy. 

--

Live Long, And Prosper

Elder Johnston

Here We Go Again

So i really like to think that im doing good. but im sure im anywhere but. I personally do not like to think about it.

The language is still killing me. I sucked at grammer in inglish so i totally suck when i try over here.

spelling is a pain in the butt. This is prob one of the hardest things ive ever done. They were not kidding about this. This sucks so much. Just a day ago, i was so upset i went to work out and i pushed myself so hard my legs cramped to the point i couldnt stand and i threw up maybe 2 meals worth of beans and rice.

But if you put a ticket in front of me and said i can go home right now. I would be offended that you even thought i would actually leave that easy. I know what im doing it right. The lord knows me, knows what im not good at, my weaknesses, but aslo my stregnths, and my ability to grow. so that is why im here, failing every step of the way, for he knows that my potental reaches far beond what i cann see before me....But i still cry to myself every time im in the restroom (my compainon cant follow me there).

But!!!! other then the langugage im doing swell. i miss being able to talk to people. everyone here is so nuice and i want to talk to them but i cant. and there is nothing called personal space. hugs, hand shakes, and kisses. Awsome. i feel like some of these people can be gay and no one would know.

im the blondest here, everyone loves to touch the hair. But ive yet to cut it so i have the longest hair. Ha i dont cut it cuz i have no idea what to say.

My roomates are leaving this week. i wish i could send pictures. coolest guys ever, when there not trying to teach me. cuz then we all are screaming words in every langugae we know.

I took him to the temple for the first time, and hes already leaving me. i do not know his name, but elder amigo tends to get his attention just fine

kinda cool reading things i know in a new langugae, cuz it is lost in translation, but alot of things are found when translated. like music, scriptures, and what not.

Send pictures, i love them. or letters or actual pictures so i can carry them! i always have a book stuffed with all your stuff when i start to lose my mind.

i saw a dog today, so today was a good day.

if anyone want to send me the brazailand (i cant spell ever) Real, to the $ that would be great.

keep me updated with everything. its weird to think when i get back, aj is gone, porter is gone i think, Elle is in high school? Dads prob put on some weaght (mussel and fat), mom´s still being awsome.

We are going out side the wall today for P-day to go shopping. Yes there is a big steal gate. yes its like a prison, but thats like half this area and its great. people running threw traffic. Driving here suck, lanes are just sujestions for car, people throwing things around. Awsome! just wish i could speak!

im pass the home sickness, but now i just miss people and things. but i figured if i didnt miss things there would be somthing totally wrong with me!

i read everyones eamils i promise, i just cant respond to anyone really. 50 mins goes alot faster down here.

😐

i know nothing about anything i feel like, and im being deployed next week.... Crap....

and ive decided. i need 1 month or so when i get back, that is just movies, tv show, games, skate. Then i will do adult stuff. i am not ready to be an adult

--

Live Long, And Prosper

Elder Johnston