"Everything is in God's hands."

Jack had a great week. He's sporting a new haircut (thanks to his zone leader Elder Hebertson), teaching temple prep classes, eating LOTS of mexican food, and serving the good people of New Jersey. I had a chance to meet up with the mom of his MTC companion this week and it was so fun to talk with her about their shared experiences. She is a wonderful woman and I'm so glad she raised such a wonderful son that was so good to mine in the time they were together. Here is a bit from this weeks letter. Have a great week.

Hello. I love you. It's me. lol at you. I just talked to Elder Johnson over the phone because sometimes we call each other and we talked about how weird our moms are. You're so weird. And I love your weirdness. I love all of you.

I went on an exchange this week with my zone leader Elder Herberson and it was so fun. We taught a ton . Also, I had one of the literal coolest lessons I've ever had yesterday. I went by Martin's house to see if he was home and he wasn't so we were getting into our car and this guy was like "Why are you driving? Missionaries should always be walking." And I was like "who the flip is this guy" so I go talk with him real fast and I was like "you know the missionaries?" and he said "I'm a member but I don't go to church." and I was like "Can we come over to your house sometime" and he said "you would have to pay me" and I said "I'll pay you in blessings" and he laughed and gave us his address and said that we can come over anytime we wanted and if he was home he would talk with us but if not then we would have to just keep trying. And it turns out that he's this less active that I've been trying to find. God is so clever. So I've been driving by every day because I'm persistent. And we went by last night and he and his nonmember wife and her friend were home and it was so fun because it was so fast and witty and spanish. He's a super sassy guy and he's super smart. We ended up talking for an hour and a half. It started with him and I jokingly bantering and ended with him and I and Elder Jacobs teaching the Plan of Salvation TOGETHER to his wife and her friend. And she asked about the baptism of little kids and I instantly gave her Moroni 8 (fav chapter) and she was super interested. He's the coolest guy. He invited us to come back every week. And he told me that he really liked me and the fact that I study so much philosophy and so each time I visit I'm going to give him a common philosophical topic and answer it with a Gospel Principle and he was super excited about that. i.e. self continuity, sensation and perception, the God argument, etc. Anyway, It was just one of those moments where I just knew that I was where I needed to be, doing what I needed to be doing.

We also had a really good lesson with Marta this past week. We read Alma 32 together and she's doing really good. She's going to start taking the temple prep classes. I love her. Transfers are this next week and I hope I don't leave because I still have so much work to do here. But I will go where I am needed. I just know that everything is in God's hands and that gives me comfort. I love Him.

Investigators are doing good. We have a few progressing. It's hard because people are so busy but everyone is doing good and I like making people happy. We talked to this guy the other day who was the coolest hippy I've ever met. Literally. It was so fun. We talked and watched the rain. Like he kept saying the wisest things. Like he said "I know I lived with God before this life and I will live with him after too, but better. I'll know more than I did before." And I was like who are you? I asked him what he would say to God if he were here and he said "I would say 'Daddy, I love you. I will do whatever you need me to do'," And I also said "if you could teach me one thing right now, what would it be?" and he said "God first. And know that our job in this life is to talk to everybody because one day we will all understand each other. And Israel will never fall." Like what? I'm still thinking about that. What a guy.

Basically I'm happy and I love my mom so much. Almost 3 transfers down. I love you and miss you and I want you to know that I'm happy and healthy and full of love, ok?

Your boy, Jack

Top: Elder Johnson and Jack in the MTC as companions
Bottom: Elder Johnson's mom and me
Neither of us noticed the stripling warriors picture in the background until after we posted the picture. So tender to us. I love this sweet mom that sacrificed so much and let me stalk her so we could talk about our sons.

Pictures:
1.) His new hobby collecting art people throw away.
2.) Jack with his current companion Elder Jacobs.
3.) Cool, wise hippy dude
4.)The cutest boy on the planet.