May 28, 2013

Family,

Well another week come and gone. This week has been really busy for me! New area, new companion, and new responsibilities as a Sister Training Leader. The area is mostly gated so we get to walk or bike into communities to work. So far, so good! We haven't been kicked out yet! The elders that were here about 6 months ago got kicked out of a few, we are doing our best to make sure that doesn't happen! Sister Tuia is incredible! She has a great love for the Savior and a strong desire to work. She is the oldest in her family as well. Her brother is serving in Texas and they get home at the same time in Nov. this year. She is from Cali (right by Disneyland) but her parents are both from Tonga. She's going to teach me how to dance! yaya! as far as sister training leader goes,  I feel an incredibly great responsibility and have wondered why the Lord has called me out of all the 54 sisters in the mission to fulfill this role. I know that I need to push out the fear and have faith in my Savior Jesus Christ who is mighty to save! Sis Tuai and I are over 16 sisters and we are expected to create a vision, goals, plans, and account for and with these sisters. We are on exchanges twice a week and call each companionship twice a week as well. It is a lot, but some how, we will do it. I know that in the strength of the Lord I can do all things! I love my mission with all my heart and I want to do all that I can to fulfill his work! I know that I need to put on the armor of God and press forward with faith. "Awake, my sons(daughter); put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound and forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust." This is one of the many things that I will do to fulfill Gods will. Is put on the WHOLE armor of God. 

I am trying to think of a story I could share there are so many that when I come to write one, they all slip my mind. We saw a lot of blessings this week. We are opening a super nice, rich area but I feel like because we both have come in with a lot of faith that we are going to be able to see many many miracles. We were able to pray with 21 people in 4 days! That's quite a bit especially for this area.  The girl we knocked into who accepted baptism led to a blessing for us. We went back to see her then next day and met her mother. Who come to find out is actually a member and has been less active for a long long time. She is a single mother of 6 kids. She needs the gospel. She needs the atonement. We are working with her family now, trying to get her active and trying to help the daughter become a member. They live 4 blocks down from the church which is nice for them. The trick is helping them see why they need to be there! 

We got fed by a the senior couple that's from Idaho Falls. The Ellis's. They fed us home made chicken pot pie, corn on the cob, jello, and apple crisp. You think i was happy? um YES! :) its nice still being close to the office! I love being spoiled! I forgot my camera at home so I will have to send some more pics next week these are a few from Sis Tuais camera!

 

It has been getting in the 100s here. So hottttttt!!

 

I hope you all have an amazing week! I love you so much! I miss you and pray for you! Talk to you next week!

xoxoxo love sister johnson

May 21, 2013

 

1.  Mangos

2.  Lucy beaming at baptism

3.  Matt

4.  Me holding a parrot

5.  baptism

6.  Sisters standing by our favorite graphite

So fun right?! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH XOXOXOXO

Hello Family,

Its transfer week! I am going to be serving in Pines but, I am not sure who my companion is yet. I will find out tomorrow! I am excited to be going to Pines. There is a lot of work to be done there and I know I will stay very very busy! I know that in the strength of the Lord I can do all things! I'm still not a fan of packing nor will I ever be. Luckily a lot of my things were still packed from this last crazy transfer of moving apts. I am sending a box home today with our journal in it, as well as a couple things for Bri and some things I don't use out here. I am excited to get the bracelet bri made me!

This past week was crazy, to say the least! I loved every minute of it though! Yesterday it rained all day. Lots and lots of rain. Yesterday we biked all day. Not a good combination right? I was soaked all day. I felt and looked like a prune. Don't ask me why we chose to do that because I couldn't tell you why ha. We just did. We had a baptism in Pines this past week! it was great! Her name is Lucy and she is the coolest Latin grandma ever! She was so happy to be getting baptized! She was beaming! Her son was able to baptize her and it was a wonderful baptismal service! This past Sunday I got to go to my most favorite place ever... NOVA! I got to see all my recent converts and those I love most! And Sister Andrus and Sister Beck (love those two) they are now home... and they email me every week! I LOVE it! it really helps me! Heavenly Father blessed me with a great reward this week. As I was at Nova, my recent convert Matt came up to me as I was getting ready to leave and he expressed his gratitude. He thanked me over and over again for all that I've done. I told him that it wasn't me and that is was the Lord that he was the one who had blessed him and gave him this great opportunity and then he said, " Sister Johnson, I remember when you were sitting across from me on my coach and said, 'Matt, will you prepare to be baptized this Sunday?' you changed my life!" my heart swelled with joy as I felt the love of my Heavenly Father and Savior. I thank them always for allowing my to be an instrument to do their work. In all reality, Matt has changed my life. He has helped me to fulfill my desires of serving. "...yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy!" it was just such a blessing to be there again!

I went on two exchanges this week. So I wasn't in my area a whole lot. It is a huge calling but I feel the Lord helping me fulfill it! I did a lot of introspecting this past week to see where I've been where I'm at and where I want to be. I always have so much to work on and I always will!

While there has been so much going on lately I have been running one of my favorite quotes through my mind, "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. It is what you are expecting to give- which should be everything." I've got to give it my all! everything! it is something that I have to remind myself every day. I know I've expressed this before in previous emails but its how I feel all the time! I can always give more! much much more! my time is short out here!

It sounds like you all had a great week! Bri's pics are really cute! its good to see you all happy because of course it makes me happy! well, I've got to get going for the week but know that i love you so much! i will have lots to tell you next week! I am getting a new comp! whooo! I know Heavenly Father is going to bless me with a good one! He always does! talk to you next week!

xoxoxoxo sis johnson

May 6, 2013

Dear Missionaries,

Thank you for all you do in this great Mission. You are the best leaders in the world and I know God has called you here at this time to do amazing things. I love when the missionaries write to me and say  “He [she] changed my mission, changed my life“. Our missionaries look up to you, let’s help them get to the next level with “stronger success”.

Love you, I pray for you,

President Don E. Anderson

Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission

 hello family,

So I figured since I will be talking to you in a week, I will kinda keep things short because I am chatting with Jake right now too! Sunday we won't call till after 3 your time. We aren't sure the exact time yet either. Someone will probably call you this week and let you know all the details!

I am beyond excited for Jake! (he was called to the Mexico, Tijuana Mission) he will do great! and the Lord watches over his missionaries so I am not worried about it all! He will love it! its going to be the best two years of his life that's for sure! When I found out where he was going I kinda freaked out with excitement! I am still in shock a little bit too haha but I know that its going to be a blast for him! and the time that he leaves works out great too! I just hope he gets his visa in time!

The DR's went okay.... my hives are getting a little bit better! She basically told me to take zertec every night and see if that helps then she said if not, to come back in ( for less charge thank goodness) and we will have to try some other things. I got a birthday package from Kinzie this week! She sent a lot of fun things and an adorable dress! I will send you pics of it. Its the blue and white one.

I got to see Matt and Santi this week! It was the best! They have become some of my best friends! I love it! Matt told me that he is going to go on a mission! whohoo! He has to wait a year because he just got baptized! But I am so excited! There is nothing better than your recent convert telling you that he's preparing for a mission!

We went to a ward BBQ this week! It was a lot of fun! It reminded me of home because there were all of these little kids running around! and it was good to have some BBQ food! I liked it a lot! the Davie ward is a lot of fun! They are so willing to help with missionary work! its a nice feature! so on Friday we went to Mission Leadership training.  Us four sisters in the pic you saw found out that we are sister training leaders! Sister Steg and I cover the north and the other two sisters cover the the south. Sister Steg and I are over 29 sisters! We will be going on about 2 exchanges a week and trying to maintain our area as well! Its going to be a wild time! I feel really blessed to have this opportunity though! I know that I am going  to really have to rely on the Lord for his guidance so that I can help others. That's all I desire to do! To help others! I will definitely keep you updated on all the details!

I love all of Bri's new fun clothes! I cant wait to talk to you on Sunday! Its going to be the BEST! You will be updated during the week on the details on Sunday. I hope you enjoy the pics that I am sending! I love you all so much! You are incredible!  Talk to you soon! yay!

xoxoxoxox all my love,

sister brooke johnson

April 29, 2013

*  Stepped on a thorn that went clear through my shoe!!

*  Hollywood Beach

*  This man was outside the mall.  He let us hold the birds.

*  HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!!!

Hi Family,

Today we are going to play some games at the chapel with elders!  It will be fun!  I will probably get a new companion next transfer which is in about three weeks I think.  I am in a family ward and I live with the sisters that are in the YSA ward.  Sometimes it's a little hard because I miss all my friends in the YSA ward and they talk about them all the time!  It is getting sooooooooo  hott!  It's almost to the 90s now but not quite!  

Jake is going to have so much fun!  I am happy for Jake!  I can't wait for him go get his call.  I am so anxious for him!  I know that where he is called to is where he will be needed though!  The Lord takes care of all his missionaries wherever they go!  

That is fun that Jordan got his sheep.  From the picture that you sent me of the family, the boys are getting really tall.  Jordan looks alot more grown up!  Things here have been a little crazy.  I, like you, feel so busy all the time.  I would rather be busy than not though.  When I call on Mother's Day I also need to talk about applying to school again.

I love the valley in the summer too.  I can't wait to go to the lake in a year..... ha ha.  I am going to send you some fun pics from this week!  I hope you like them!  Sis Steg and I got invited to go to zone leader counsel -- it's a huge deal that we were invited.  It is with Pres Anderson and all the leaders in the mission!  I feel like the Lord is blessing me with great responsibility and leadership.  Sometimes it's stressful but I try to keep an open mind.

I hope they start the temple in Star Valley this summer.  That would be GREAT!  The temple here won't be dedicated until around January is what we have been hearing so...... we will all have to make a trip back I guess :)  The members in the Davie ward are really good at feeding us about 3 to 4 times a week.  I wish I had more time to cook but I don't.  We got lasagna twice this week.  We just eat  normal food, lots of chicken and rice.  It is always a plus when we get fed by a member!  On Mother's Day we will be skyping probably later in the afternoon.  We have church from 12 -3 and then the member we are going to won't be home til a little later.  We will get all that figured out.  I am excited to see and talk to you all again!  and then I will be basically home after that!

We have an investigator that reminds me so much of Grandpa and his conversion story.  I just pray so hard that our investigator will come around soon so he can be as happy as Grandpa with the gospel in his life!  I am still so proud of him!  What a blessing!  

I love and miss you all!  Enjoy opening Jake's call with him this week!  Have a fantastic week!!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

sis brooke johnson