Hill and Mound

Good evening everybody! We're gonna depart from the usual format for this week's email. I often am conflicted about what to title my emails because I have a lot of different ideas so this week I'm just going to give you my different ideas and explain them. 

Hill and Mound- so I went on transfer and I'm now in a place called Elmina. It's a super dope little fishing town near Cape Coast, where I started my mission. My companion is Elder Hill from Twin Falls, Idaho. He's 6'7" and an awesome elder. He's been helping me a lot and we've had a lot of fun. People joke about his name and height (you're a pretty tall hill, big like a hill, etc.) which is normal and healthy. We were searching for a geographical feature smaller than a hill but larger than just flat ground and settled on mound. So he's a hill and I'm a mound. 

Big Bad Biker Boys- Elmina is surrounded by small villages that we bike to. It's been super different but fun to experience missionary work from a bike. And riding on paved roads is super exciting for a country bumpkin like me. We do have some rougher roads though and I've narrowly avoided wiping out a few times but it's all worked out. I really believe God has been helping and protecting me as I've been figuring out the work from this new angle. 

The work is really cool though. Our ward is really strong with a ton of members and progressing people. My only worry is a group in a far away village called Ankwanda that missionaries used to be assigned to. Apparently there's 14 new members there in addition to the old ones and none of them speak English. It's difficult to get a translator to come there as well so that's a concern. 

In Elmina, things are good though. We have a wonderful woman named Evelyn on baptismal date for next Sunday and we've met with her this week. She's had a tough life but the gospel is really blessing her and her adorable but CRAZY little daughter. We also have 3 really awesome old guys who were recently baptized who keep giving us referrals. They also all passed the sacrament this Sunday which was awesome. We met a bunch of members and had an awesome meal with the Sombato family as well on Sunday so things are great. 

Full Circle- I started my mission in Cape Coast a few months ago. Now I'm probably going to finish here. The thing is though, I've never "arrived". I've needed God's help and strength to get through things just as much this week as I did at the beginning. 

I think that's always how it will be. I'll always need God's help. There's no comfort in the growth zone. 

Also, as of this morning, we are now a trio! That was an unexpected surprise but now Elder Mposhi from Congo is joining us. He's a 5'2" powerhouse and I'm sure we'll enjoy together. Love you all!

Love, 

Elder Johnson

1. Elder Hill courageously patching his bike tire this morning. Don't worry, I cheered for him and took pictures while he worked. 

2. The bad man. Enough said. 

3. Pretty Elmina

4. My first day biking! I named my bike Ralph.