Elder Mark Johnson

This is one of Alex's best friends - Mark Joseph Johnson. (Mark's dad is Alex's other best friend!!) Mark is leaving today for a mission in Spain for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will be a fantastic missionary, and we are so proud of his decision to go on a mission.

Mark has always been a good friend to Alex. He seems to know when to say "knock it off" or "way to go!" at the appropriate times. Mark has been a big help through this whole hip ordeal; he took Alex laser tagging before the surgery and pushed him around in his chair, and before we got a ramp up our front stairs Mark was always available to help me get Alex in and out of the house. And this past week he has come over a couple of times to be a distraction for Alex, and give me a few minutes to put dishes in the dishwasher, or feed a baby.

Mark is only 19 years old and is taking 2 years out of his life to serve the Lord in Spain, but he knows - and I know - that he will be greatly blessed because of his service of teaching those who want to know more about the gospel. He will learn to love the people of Spain as well as their culture and history and in 2 years he will consider Spain to be his home.

We are so glad we live across the street from Elder Johnson(s) and that Alex has such great friends!