Elder Hunter Johnson---CA Anaheim Mission

Ok, I don't have lots of time, so the story of the week is this. On Saturday my district got a booth for the annual festival that the city of Placentia has. We were handing out family history research stuff. The guys next to us were Indian, except for this white guy and were handing out cool books on yoga and karma. AWESOME!!! Anyway, long story short, I talked to Peter for a little over 3.5 hours. We talked about physics, religion, running, working out, deep doctrine, karma, the book of Mormon, yoga, and pretty much anything else you can think about. And we tied it all together. And now for this weeks letter because I didn't have time to send that stuff ^^^ last week!! This week has been crazy. Lots of planning and more teaching than usual. I got a bike with loose parts and holy tires up and working so I can take my companion on real runs finally!! A couple days ago we went 3.5 miles in 20:52. That's a 5:58 pace. So phew. I'm still in shape. Stories. While at dinner at a families house, the mom asked us each if we wanted a coconut or strawberry popsicle thing. When she asked my comp., he was so out of it he said 'sure' with a completely straight face. I lost my composure completely. 2nd story. When we dropped off the other elders at their apartment after dinner we went home. We stopped to get gas, so we got home in about 25/30 minutes. Then we realized we'd left the phone at our apartment all day. I checked the messages. The elders left their keys in the car. We went back....so 45 minutes after we dropped them off, we let them in. It was hilarious. Earlier this week someone in the ward told us about how someone that got stabbed a few houses down. I'm sitting next to the guy right now in the library talking to him about it. He's awesome!! I gave him 10 cents. He has to call the detective. 4th story me and the zone had a confusing conversation about sandwiches and mustard, mayo, and tartar sauce. They thought I was asking them what they wanted on their sandwiches when in fact I was offering them bottles of stuff. It was funny, but it's too confusing to write about so I'll leave it at that. Last and best story, except for the stabbing one, omygosh that guy is so awesome, Cinnamon tree. The ghetto condominium complex. There are 2 different gangs operating there. Lots of drugs. Lots of poverty and problems. You can smell the marijuana at night everywhere there. But....there are so many people there that are humble and willing to hear about the Restored Gospel, prophets, and Jesus Christ. We're replacing drugs and problems there with Books of Mormon and happiness. My companion and I are the rock stars of cinnamon tree with the kids. It's hilarious. Every time we're walking around, kids scream our names and run over to say hi. I'm actually famous. They take our Books of Mormon and can't wait to read them. May of them are. They think it's the coolest thing in the world that there's another book like the Bible. All the other elders before us have called it the black hole because of all the stuff that goes on. I don't see it like that at all. Even though a security guard was attacked by the gangs and literally had his face broken. I think I heard someone fire a 12 gauge last night. Not really sure. We also burned Elder Uchita's pants because he's been out for 18 months now. That's a tradition out here. I'll have to buy a cheap pair, because I don't have the pants to spare!! love it so much down here!!!! My companion gets really nervous whenever we're out at night. That's about everything that's going on right now. I'm sending pictures for reals this time!! Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God!!

Elder Hunter Johnson