October 29, 2012

(Sorry, photos are not uploading the last two weeks.  I will try to fix this problem!  Tami)

Hey Family,

This past week was full of change and adventure. The wind and rain hasn't been too bad.. We have gotten wet a few times and almost blew away once but besides that we are good :) and we are safe! You never have to worry about me, I am in good hands! It makes for some good memories.  My new companion is Sister Corey Holyan she is from a reservation in north Arizona. She is a native American! I love her! We already get along really well and i know that we are going to see a lot of miracles this transfer! We actually entered the MTC together but she is a Spanish speaking sister so out here she is a transfer behind me, which makes me senior comp. Its definitely a new experience to be over the area and everything else. I have received so much guidance and direction this past week and have found so much comfort in sharing the gospel with others. Sister andrus was the only one to move out of our apt. I miss her! I didn't realize how much she taught me until she left! That's okay I will see her again sometime soon :) On transfer day we loaded up the car with her bags and bike and drove there and put it into her new car with her new comp! Transfers are amazing. It is definitely a nerve racking experience though. You sit and stare at the screen and the APs announce your new comp or the new area that you are going too. Once your name appears and you find out the change that will be taking place its not so bad! Oh, I have been driving! yep that's right, I have been driving in the crazy Florida traffic! haha its actually not bad at all. It felt weird the first few days of driving just cuz I haven't driven for 4+ months! Which brings me to my next news... next week I will hit 5 months! Can you believe it? I sure cant! The months just fly by out here! Which i am grateful for! It would be very challenging if it didn't. I am not sure what to write in this email... i am just trying to recoup from last week.

The other day we were walking in a trailer park (that is prob the size of the entire valley, its huge haha) and we saw these three young people walking toward us. I recognized the girl because we had prayed with her before. So we walked up to her and her two guy friends and said hi and then asked the guys (paul and dakota) if we could walk with them to their house and pray with them as well. they said yes. paul is 20 and dakota is 18 i think... anyways we get to there house and i say the prayer. the spirit was really strong and my heart was very tender as i offered the prayer. after i was done and we all opened our eyes, paul was wiping tears from his face and expressed gratitude for the prayer. we invited them to be baptized and they now have a date for nov 11. These YSA out here have had rough, really rough lives. As I prayed my heart ached for the things that they bad been through and the lives that they were living. The blessings I promised them in the prayer can only be found through following the example of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to have to gospel in my life and to know what I know! The gospel brings me the greatest joy and happiness.

Another experience we had that following day is when we stopped and talked to three girls all young womens age. The one was dressed like and looked like a boy. and the other two were twin sisters. they had piercings and looked very lost. We left a prayer with them and again, my heart was tender as we prayed with these three very special daughters of our Heavenly Father. I looked at them and saw the potential that they have. And thought to myself, "they should be going to mutual tonight, they should be striving to receive their young womens medallion... they should be surrounded by people who LOVE THEM AND SHOW IT!" After we were done talking with them I thought a lot about my experience in young womens and just how much is has meant to me over the years. Mom, thank you for helping me with all of the projects and for helping me receive the blessings that come from doing the young womens program. And to my young women leaders I am very grateful for as well. " ...we believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation." (YW theme) As I have been able to go though the temple and have many spiritual experiences sense, I relate a good portion of these blessings to the young womens program! I am so grateful for all that I am blessed with! My heart is constantly full of gratitude for the life I have and for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope this letter finds you all well. I love and miss each one of you all the time. You are always in my prayers. Thank you for helping me have this opportunity to serve our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to gain a greater knowledge of my purpose in life. I know that there is great strength that comes from reading the scriptures. let me know where you are reading :) i love to hear about it! i hope everyone has an awesome Halloween! its one of my favorite holidays! you will have to send me lots of pics :)!  please let me know if there is anything i can do for you from here! We are going to the beach today for p-day I will send pictures next week! Well let me rephrase that, we are going to go walk on the pier at the Hollywood beach today! :) haha well family, i love you, i miss you, and i look forward to hear from you next week! take care! talk to you soon!

love love love, sister johnson

XOXOXOXOXO

October 23, 2012

 
Johnson Clan,

We have transfers tomorrow and i found out that i am staying but, sister andrus, my comp, is being transferred. i am a little nervous because i don't feel ready to take over an area but i know that the Lord will help me. i have so much to tell you from this past week and such a short amount of time to share it! Dad, last week you were talking about how you worked in the office. There was a missionary here that created a comp program called establishing Zion and so we do everything electronically. That's why there are only senior couple that work in the office. its an amazing program and i guess we are the only mission that uses it. we are super blessed here. this weekend we also had stake conference! it was so good! Elder Choi from the quorum of the seventy came and spoke. His son is companions with Nate in Australia right now, small world right? So i went and shook Elder Choi's hand and talked with him for a bit. He gave powerful talks (there was a youth session that we got to go to) and i learned a lot from him. we also found out some amazing news about our mission. This is what President Anderson said in our e-mail this morning, "We just got word last week that the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission is the highest baptizing Mission in the United States and Canada. This hasn’t happened out of the Utah Missions in a long time I am told. What an honor to know that you missionaries are working so hard and reaping such great miracles in finding the elect of God. I wasn’t going to announce this because we shouldn’t compare with others, but General Authorities are telling other leaders and I rather you hear it from me. Remember God’s hand is in this work and he has poured out his Spirit to make us instruments in His hands. You are amazing missionaries and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of your Mission." i was really excited when we heard that news! i am so blessed to be in this mission! i love it here! i love the people, the missionaries, everything! On Saturday night, our friend Jaeuk, hes from Korea, taught us how to make sushi! it was really fun and super yummy. i didn't like it at first but it has grown on me and i like sushi. weird huh? there are these twin brothers in our branch named Dom and Devon and they are artists. they painted me a beautiful painting of a temple. its the salt lake city and fort lauderdale temple compinded! haha they are really creative! will be sending the pic so that you can see it! i will also be sending the painting home sometime...
We meet people all the time out here who don't have parents, don't know where there parents are, only have one parent.... its extremely sad. I am so grateful for all of you and the love and support that you offer me. i know that our family life can be really tough at times but i would take that any day over not having anyone. I love each one of you and i know that through Jesus Christ, our family can continue to grow in love for one another and that we will be able to become more unified! i have the best family ever and i cant thank you enough for all that you bless me with! on a spiritual note...

hymn 277 says " as i search the holy scriptures, help me ponder and obey. In thy word is life eternal; may thy light show me the way." I have developed a deep love for the scriptures sense i have been out here. I especially love reading from the Book of Mormon. I am taught daily from the spirit as a study and think about the things that i am reading! i know that the Book of Mormon offers guidance and direction in our lives to help us know how we can become better. In Alma 37:37 it states, "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good..." as a have combined prayer with my studies, i have been able to receive direction while i have been out here. weather it be direction from my mission or for the future. I know that we can receive personal revelation. it is one of the greatest blessings we have been given. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers each one of our sincere prayers. we met a member of the family ward the other day who has two children who are YSA age who are less active. she desires more than anything for her children to become active and to follow Jesus Christ. She invited us over yesterday and we made cookies with her and got to know her less active daughter. as we left i recognized her pure desire for her children to have the blessings of the gospel. i know without a doubt that Heavenly Father hears her desperate cry for her children. And i know that her prayers will be answered. Heavenly Father knows each one of us individually. He know what we need. "He has given us everything that we love. Every crazy color, every feeling, emotion...everything that inspires us comes directly from Him." I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who helps me find happiness in each and everyday! "The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." (alma 37:46)
I love you family! thank you for the emails, letters, packages, love, and support. I couldn't do it without you and i mean it! i am forever grateful for the example that you set for me and the encouragement that you offer to me! i look forward to hearing from you! i hope that you have an amazing week! i cant believe that it snowed!!! its so hott here. i sweat, sweat, and sweat some more! although the mornings have been getting a little bit cooler which is really nice. sister andrus and i walk every morning! Well take care family! I will e-mail you next week!!
I LOVE YOU!
xoxoxo sister johnson

October 15, 2012

Hey Family-

So I thought that i would answer your questions first and then tell you about my awesome week!
 -What did you do the last couple of p-days? last couple of pdays we have just relaxed, made cookies, written letters, and last pday we went to the mall. no i didn't buy anything haha. that's prob the first time i have ever been to a mall and not gotten anything! i was proud of myself!
-  Bri learned about the Bermuda Triangle in school this week.  It is south of Florida.  She thought of you!
    It is a dangerous place, on an island.  Many people have died there.I'm not sure what island you are talking about... the keys? it is a pretty dangerous place down there that's why the sisters don't have an area there. i would like to visit there someday. i have heard it is soo pretty and i want to see the 7 mile bridge  
-  Do you ride your bike very much?  Are you still walking as much? we never bike. our area cover a whole stake so its huge! none of our investigators live near our apt so its almost impossible for us to bike and get anything done. we haven't had to walk as much lately because we are planning out our miles more wisely now! every time we drive by where we would walk 6 miles a day i am very grateful for a car! 
-  Are you still learning some spanish? a little bit, but not as much. i can testify and have a very small small convo in spanish.
-  The yogurt looks very good.... the yogurt is super yummy. we go once a week!
-  Do you read your scriptures? i read my scriptures every day for 30min. sometimes when i have more time i read for longer. i love the book of mormon so much. it has changed who i am and i know that it the word of God! how is your studying and reading going? where are you at right now?
-  Tell your companion Hi from us!! sister andrus says hello! :)
-  Have you seen anymore spiders or lizards? we see them all the time 24/7 they are just part of living here i guess haha
-   How was bowling? bowling was a blast! we had a lot of fun and i wish we had time and money to go more often! i bowled a 90ish and then i cant remember the other ones. we played about three games and then went and ate at olive garden! my favorite!
-  did you know we love you? yes i know you love me! and i love you all sooo much!
-  Bri wants to know if you get any candy?  or food from people you like? mmm not really the only thing we get from people is water which is nice because its always so hott outside
-  Is there a Deseret Book there? sadly, no :(
Thank you for asking all the questions! I had fun answering them and it gave me something to write about! I am so glad that I have my cook book! i have some friends from here adding me on facebook so when you get the time can you please add them.  for pday today, we are going to crystals! i am so excited! we are just going to hang out! i am excited for you to meet her someday! she can out with us this week and she is an amazing missionary! its hard to believe that she was baptized only two weeks ago! shes basically been a member for a while now though! her dad came to church with her on Sunday and we are so excited for her family! i would love to hear more about how the temple was. i am sure it was a wonderful experience. i had a dream about grandma the other night but when i woke up i couldn't remember what had happened. i want to thank you all for the prayers that you send my way. i feel your prayers and there are many blessings that are happening and i know its from your faith and your prayers on my behalf.
We have had another incredible week. i love being a missionary! i love love love it! serving others is the best thing ever! now i know why when people say when you are feeling down you should go serve! i know that's true. when i have hard days and i go out and serve, i come home so happy and grateful for all that i have been given. peoples living conditions here are really sad. there is the nice part of Florida but my comp and i work in the less rich areas. people here are more kind and humble. everyday i am just so grateful for the gospel, my family, my home, and my friends. i don't know how some people live the way they live. But i know that the gospel of Jesus Christ can and will change their lives forever and i feel so blessed to share what i know and have with them. thank you for all that you do for me. your love and support is much appreciated! i love you so so so much and cant even begin to express my gratitude to you for all that you do for me.also, next week is transfers so i will be emailing on tues. this transfer was 5 weeks instead of 6 because they are making it so the creole elders aren't coming in mid transfer.
we had a baptism on Sunday! it was amazing! Anderson is a great guy and he has a lot going for him! it was an answer to my prayers that he was baptized! we taught him for about three weeks. he comes to church every Sunday and is very active in all of the activities! i am excited for him and looking forward to seeing him progression in the gospel!
well fam, sorry this is a crazy, and shortish letter. if there's one thing that i want you to get from this letter its that i love you. i really do. i feel so blessed to be out here and to be having this experience. the mission is helping me become who i need to be for me, for all of you, and for my future family. the lord is shaping me into who he expects me to be. sometimes is painful, I'm not going to lie, but its always worth it for me. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He lives and extends his love and mercy to us on a daily basis as we turn to him for guidance and direction. I know the plan of salvation is real. it is what we are here for, its our plan. i love the temple and i cant wait to go back! (the temple here is progressing so fast i most def will prob be able to go before i come home) i know that our family is forever as we continue to do our best! i love you all and cant wait to hear from you next week!
all of my love xoxox, sister johnson

October 8, 2012

 

 

Well as always I have so much to say and so little time to say it. I was happy to get emails this week! I love hearing how the families past week went and what everyone has been up to! and my favorite thing is to hear how everyone is doing! My heart is filled with excitement for the work after listening to conference! It was amazing! My favorite talk was by Elder Holland. I have been studying John 21 for about a month now. And to hear that talk was the cherry on top. Every day I think about the things said in that chapter and the many different lessons that are taught. I have promised myself and the Lord, ever sinse I started studying it about I month ago, that I will feed his sheep. I will share His gospel, and I will devote my life to serving His children. I could go on days and days about how much I loved conference! I was blown away to hear the new of 18 and 19 year old young men and women being able to serve! That is wonderful news! and a testimony to me of the rising generations! I am excited for these young people to serve. I know like I am talking like a am old or something ha. but I feel old now. I am going to be an old sister when all the 19 year olds start coming in! :) but I am so happy for them!

 

Mom, you won't believe what happened! so last week I told you I was staying dry.... Monday night it rained so hard! and there wasn't any close parking in our apt complex so we had to park far away from our apt. needless to say, we got soaked! i was laughing because all i could think about is how just a few hours earlier i had told you it didn't rain that often. then on tues we got soaked again when we were out harvesting/tracting. we had a member with us and not a inch of our body was dry! it happens.... i guess i shouldn't of said anything haha.

 

Sister Anderson (presidents wife) came out with us one evening for about two hours! it was a wonderful experience! i learned a lot from her and we were able to teach two really spiritual lessons! sister anderson is very soft spoken but she speaks with power and love. last month our mission broke our record of 141 baptisms and we baptized 143! so excited! that many more people of come unto Jesus Christ and are now receiving the blessings that come through his atonement. I have seen so many blessings from serving a mission and i have only been out here for four months! Grandma Johnson told me that she goes to church every Sunday! that is an improvement! Grandpa is going through the temple! i couldn't be more excited for him! i KNOW that he is going to have a wonderful, and spiritual experience! I've gained a stronger testimony and a grater understanding for my purpose in life. i am being so blessed! and i know that all of you are too! Heavenly Father loves each one of us! he will never forget us! there is a song that i love- you should look it up :) its on mormonchannel.org. and in the search box you type in, "have i done any good in the world today" its sooo good! I've always enjoyed that hymn and now i love it even more! let me know what you think! i had a great study on life after death this week! D&C 138 is full of treasures! i know that from studying this section i gained a greater knowledge of the plan of salvation and more peace had yet again been brought to my heart concerning the loss of our loved ones.(the purple flowers at conference made me think of grandma and you mom! they were so pretty) the stake sends out a monthly letter that updates on things going on in the valley. its always nice to get them! also, i got a letter from Katie yesterday! she is so awesome! i loved her homemade card and the bookmarks that she sent from the YSA class that her and Allen teach! my comp is slowly getting better. she finally got some antibiotics to help her get rid of her cough. we had to stay home another day this week... and yet again i had lots of time to study, ponder, watch church movies, take a bath, and bake! it was a good day, just a long one. well for the miracle of the week (there were many) last Sunday a girl named Cristal went to the family ward where our branch presidents wife attends church. sister Williams spoke with Cristal and got all of her information and gave it to us. so we followed up with her a few days later. Cristal is 18. before she moved her she was attending an LDS church with friends for about two years. she has an incredible testimony and has read the BOM more than once. she has the purest heart and is so powerful in spirit! she was waiting until she was 18 to get baptized to respect her parents. she moved here right after she turned 18 and hadn't gone to church for about a year. she kept receiving promptings to look up where the nearest chapel was so she could go this past Sunday. she found one, went, met sister Williams, and because of all of this, she was baptized Sunday (yesterday) before conference. it was amazing! she has truly been prepared by the hand of our Heavenly Father to be baptized at this time of her life. she has strengthened me in so many ways in just the few short days that i have known her. i feel like i have known her my whole life and she is an incredible daughter of God! i hope she serves a mission... but she has a missionary... so we will see what happens. dont worry, i will tell you her whole story when i get home! haha her family was able to come to the baptism and they LOVED it! hopefully they can be baptized soon too! Cristal is going to change lives! she has already changed mine! i love being a missionary here in Florida! i am excited for jacob to now have the opportunity to serve as soon as he wants to.  Heavenly Father will help him too! he just needs positive support. everything else like the truck, and work, and school will work itself out! he needs to get out here! i sent him an email. hopefully he is getting them. i never hear back haha. thank you for sending my recipe book mom :) i am looking forward to getting it! thank you family for all of the love and encouragment that you send me! i am so happy! i feel so blessed to be able to serve a mission. to serve my Savior and to help other come unto christ. i hope that all of you have a fantastic week! i love you, i pray for you, and i am always thinking of you!

 

with all of my love, sister johnson

                                 I LOVE MY FAMILY 

October 1, 2012 Great Day!

 

 

Hello Family,

 

Well, another week has gone by very quickly for me! I hope that it has done the same for you! Happy 1st of October! Its crazy to think that its already that time of the year! It feels like just yesterday that I was filling out my papers... time is going by fast for me! I am finally hitting that point in my mission where i love it! i love everything about it! I love the people, the different cultures, the heat... you name it - i love it! That's great that all the boys got to go camping! memorable experiences like that are the best! i still remember a lot of young women's and girls camp! i cherish those experiences!  I love, love, loved the relief society broadcast! the talks were incredible and the spirit was so strong! everything here is two hours later so it did start at eight. I had a long day on Saturday and that was a great day to end it! and on top of that, i got my package from you that night!!  I love the FL cookie cutter! sooo cute! My roommates wanted to make cookies right then! haha. The jar definitely reminds me of you! I'm glad we both have one :) the pictures that you sent were soo good! i miss everyone but when i see pics i feel like i was there for all the fun! Devry is adorable! I was laughing so hard when you said that she doesn't like to take the helmet off! that is so funny! shes just a fireball fulll of energy! i look forward to seeing pics of what you are working on for emma! its going to look fabulous!! for sure!

 

Your prayers are being answered mom because I am doing very well and I am more than happy! Life for me now is different but, the same! I love sharing the restored gospel with others! Makes me wonder why I never did it before! well i am ashamed of what i eat haha... we don't get fed by any member because we are in ysa. so whenever we are home i cook. but when we are out... we eat fast food. most wendys.... haha its terrible! i am looking forward to having time to cook and eat when i get home! i am more than warm here! its still in the high 80's most of the time! i stay dry for the most part because it usually rains in the morning or at night! i will send pics in my coat the next time it pours haha! i talk to amazing people everyday! i haven't had any bad experiences with people yet. everyone here is very nice and loves jesus. so its all good! :) one of my favorite things about being here is meeting people from all over! there are so many different cultures here and i love it! one min we will be talking to some one from jamaica the next min  we are talking with someone from haiti and the next min we are talking to someone from the domincan republic! its the coolest thing ever! one of our recent converts, robert,  hes this big hatian. (ive sent pics) but hes been here for a while so he kinda acts american but still has his other ways! its always fun talking with him!

 

my comp has been sick almost all week. she has a super bad cough but they are having her wait a little bit longer before she goes in to the DR. So one day we didn't go out hardly at all. i enjoyed it. i studied a lot, took a bath, studied some more and watched lots of church movies! and she slept... like all day and night. ha. she is doing a little bit better now. it was her 1 year mark on the 28th so we went and got frozen yogurt for lunch! yummy!! one of the movies i watched was about pres monson!  l loved it! i learned that he became a bishop when he was 22. that was mind blowing! Grandma johnson sent me a package this week too! i am so blessed to have so much support from all of you! i appreciate it more than words can describe! it always give me that extra boost!

 

In my patriartical blessing it talks about how i need to study the gifts and blessings given to Abraham, issac and jacob because they can be mine... so i was studying and came across some amazing things! I read that its the tribe of ephriams privilege to bear the message of the restoration of the gospel to the world and to gather scattered israel. i am so grateful for the opportunity that i have to serve a mission. this truly is the best experience i have ever had. i have found so much peace and comfort and i have learned a lot about myself and the plan that heavenly father has for me! and each one of us! i am beyond excited for grandpa to go through the temple! i cant wait to hear all about it! i love hearing that everyone is doing well! its music to my ears! and we all know how much i love music! i cant wait to write you all again next week! stay strong! i love you! i love you! i love you!!

 

love always, sister johnson

 

"Our strength to endure faithfully depends upon recognizing, remembering, and holding sacred that which we receive from above." - elder paul b pieper

 

p.s.s. elder joshua call from SV is in my district. super funny. we are always talking about SV and all the good times! i just new of him in high school.. he seems cool...

 

p.s.s.s I LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL! YOU ARE THE BEST! XOXOXO

 

1.yogurt for comps 1 year

2. madeline did a hatian braid in my hair

3. elder joshua call