February 19, 2013

 

 

 

 

family,

 

Hey hey! Katie sent me a few pics of Bri and I LOVE THEM! Shes so cute! I cant wait to see and hear more! Well here's a run down of my last week- it went by so fast!

 

Monday for p-day we went and played sand volleyball and basketball at the park! It was a lot of fun! I also get to chat with Jacob every Monday and that's a good time! much needed! it helps me out a lot!

 

Tues we had a new missionary training to see the progress of all the new missionaries. I went back to my home in Fort Lauderdale! It was bitter sweet. It felt so good to be back but it also was really hard because I just wanted to go to work there! We went to yogurt land after! I sure have missed that place! They don't have one in my new area!

 

Wed we had a member take us out for pizza at pizza hut. They are on older couple. They made us laugh the whole time so that was nice.

 

Thurs was my favorite day last week! We had another specialized training and Elder Hakeck (of the 2nd quorum of 70) and his wife were here. I got to see Sis Holyan, Shayna! Talk about amazing day! I love seeing them! ahhh I love them and it was so refreshing to see them! It turned out to be a pretty good Valentines Day :) after that I went on exchanges to Port St Lucie with Sis Jackson. It is more north than my new area now. It was rainy up there. Actually it was pouring! We didn't have a whole lot of time to work that night because we drove there and it took us two hours. Then we had a recent convert dinner to go to. It was a great dinner and I had a ton of fun getting to know all of their recent converts and talking with them!

 

Fri I was still on the exchange. We went and ate at Olive Garden! it was much needed! That is my fav place and it was so yummy! every time I go there I am reminded of the time that the family went there for my 18th bday! great memory! On the drive back to my area I saw a bunch of cows... something I haven't seen in 8 months! The area I was in for exchanges is half tropical half low key small town. Its really weird ha.

 

Weekend was normal. Just trying to get people to church. Working hard! All day Sat I just thought about Bri's baptism and wondered how it went! I also got a package from Lani! She is so thoughtful! and the toffee she sent was super good! and this weekend I got 7 letters! yep 7. They had been holding the mail because our box was broken. It was SO good to hear from everyone that wrote me. I love receiving mail. As I read letter I feel like I'm with them! Its the best! I also got to see Shayna again on Sunday because she had to come up to my area to do something so she come to church. That was a tender mercy to see her again! Twice in one week! I almost felt like I was in my old area haha.

 

Yesterday I went on exchanges again. I went to Boynton which is about 20miles south of my area now with Sister Aloi. We had a blast! It was just a good time! I love going on exchanges! I always learn so much. Sorry this email is kinda crazy but that's how my week was- crazy!

 

Everything is going great! I'm praying really hard and working hard! I know that there are people in this area who need the gospel! They need what I have and I know how to find them! I just need to give it my all and keep searching!

 

I will write a lot more next week! I have to write an extra email to president today all about exchanges so my time to email today was cut short! I love you all so much! Every day I am reminded of how great of a family I have and what I blessing I've been given to have great friends as well! You are all so incredible! When I take the time to step back and think about what you all have individually done for me my heart is filled with gratitude! I am who I am today because of you! I hope you have a fun week! I will email again on Tues next week because of transfers! I look forward to hear from you all next week! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

 

xoxoxxo sister johnson

February 11, 2013

I am so excited for Bri's baptism this weekend! I can't believe that it is already here. Please tell Bri thank you for the cards and the bracelet! I love them! The package was a great surprise! Thank you so so so much! I loved the "smile" quote! Its super cute and its on my dresser! I look at it every day! We e-mail at a comp college that a Bishop here owns. Its really nice! I really hope we get to chat next week! whooo! If they are closed here we will just go somewhere else!

This week has been better. The email dad sent me last week was really humbling and it helped me have a better perspective about the challenges that I am facing right now. As I was driving the other day I looked over at a billboard and in bold lettering it said "LOVE WHAT YOU DO!" I realized in that moment that I just need to love what I am doing right now, love where I am at, love my companion, love the ward, the work, I just need to love everything! As I took that and strived to apply it I noticed that things went a lot better for the rest of the week! One of the homes we went into this week to bless had our couches! It was crazy- I walked in and we went to kneel in the living room to pray and they have both of the couches we have and the pillows too! It took me back home just for a bit and it was refreshing! I am grateful for tender mercies!

These upcoming two weeks, I have been asked to go on exchanges! I will be going to Stuart which is north of where I am at. It will be fun to see what its like up there! I will also be going to Boyton Beach which is about 20 min south of me. I love exchanges because I always learn so much about missionary work and about myself as a missionary. I also love being with other sisters and just trying to help them learn and grow as well. I remember looking up to Sis Andrus so much! She was always going on exchanges, everyone always said I had the best trainer, and she was just the ultimate example to me. I always told myself if I could just be like Sis Andrus I'll have it made! Well, now I am having the privileges that she had when I was with her. It's humbling, and it is stretching me but I am so grateful for these opportunities. "The cultivation of Christlike qualities is a demanding and relentless task-it is not for the seasonal worker or for those who will not stretch themselves, again and again."

The meaning of love has begun to take on a new meaning for me. I don't feel like I've every really had to "learn" how to love someone. It is something that I feel like should and normally does come natural for me. But, I am having to learn how to love my companion. She is really great and we get along. Its just going above and beyond that and truly loving her. Multiple times throughout the day I just run through my head "love her Brooke, just love her" I have also realized that love sometimes requires us to do things we don't want to do or to really search deep for ways we can help the person we are trying to love. Again, its been a humbling experience. If you cant tell from my emails- I am being humbled! and I` am forever grateful for it!

There are beggars all over here, and one came up to our window the other day and he was saying "please, please anything will help. please, please, please...." I usually just do the typical "act like you don't see them" but he really caught my attention. All I could hear as he stood at my window was "please, please anything will help." I reached into the cup holder where I put change and gave him prob a total of 50 cents. But what I took from him was worth more than that. I am like him. I am pouring out my heart to my Savior saying "please, please anything will help. Please, please offer me the guidance and direction from the spirit that I am desperately in need of. Please, please...." In life, there are many lessons to be learned. They are every where. all day every day. That experience was something simple. Something I see and hear every day. But when I take the time to step back and allow my spirit to be taught, I learn a great lesson!

Last week for p-day Sister Ellett and I went over to the island and then we walked over the drawbridge and around the water way. It was so beautiful! I loved it. I miss taking my thought provoking walks. Or just walking and chatting with you and Bri, and friends. It was relaxing! I hope you enjoy the pics I took for all of you!

Family, I love you! So much! I am so grateful for you. I know I say that every week but I hope you can feel it as I tell you! have so much fun at Bris baptism and being with family this weekend! I will be thinking and praying for you all as always!

with all my love,

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Sister Johnson

February 4, 2013

 

 

 

 

1. sunset

2. streets we drive down

3. Sis Ellett and I on our porch

4. nerd :)

 

 

 

Sweet family of mine,

 

Well another great week has come and gone. I know everyone is talking about time going by fast but, I feel like I hit a brick wall. Time has stopped. It has been a challenging week and I know that there are even greater challenges up ahead. But oh how grateful I am for these challenges because they are helping me become who I need to be. Sis Ellett is 24. She has a generals associates (same as me). She is quiet, very very quiet. She is having a very hard time adjusting to the mission life. And I have had a very hard time knowing how to help her. I have never prayed so hard and so fervently in my life. I pour my heart out to my Father in Heaven multiple times a day. One of the things I am going to be working on this week is really serving her. I want her to feel at home, feel comfortable, and to start to see the fun and joy that comes to serving the Lord in the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission! Today I am going to go get her ice cream :) and take her some where fun for p-day. I don't really know how to tell you about my area. We spend most of our time in an apt complex called Malibu Bay. We are teaching mostly Haitians. Our area is very small but for opening an area its great! On Tues we went to the island. There is a small island right off of the coast. There is a member of the other sisters ward that lives there and cleans the mansion that she lives near. She invited us all over for lunch. It was really fun! I will send pictures. I think I am going to start to send my photos because it will help you see more of my area and my companion. Sis Clayton (a roomie) and I were talking the other night and looking at all the pictures we brought. I am starting to feel the weight of training and opening an area. When I got here I was thinking to myself that I can do this- I got it. Well of course the Lord is humbling me and I don't have it. And I can't do this without His help! This past week when I got home we planned, and I passed out on the floor twice because I am just ssooo tired when we get home.  

I am glad you got my packages! Bri is growing so fast! I cant believe she is 8! She is so pretty and shes growing fast! It takes me a little bit longer to get mail to my apt because I moved farther away from the office. I got a lot of letters this past week from Grandma and Shine and Haile and Crystal... I love hearing from all of them! Mail is great! Its really helping me this transfer! ha.

 

The sky goes on forever here. It is so beautiful. There have been some really great sunsets lately. The other night the sky was pink and purple. I can't help but wonder if our Heavenly Mother gets to paint the sky. And if she places certain flowers, and breezes in our lives just when we need them!

 

The other day when we were having a longer day we stopped to eat at an ice cream shop. I received a tender mercy there when they were playing great music! ha. all 80s. I heard take me home tonight, living on a prayer, we built this city on rock n roll... it was great and it was just what I needed. Its times like that that help me realize that I am only human! Sometimes I try to be super woman and just do everything on my own and think that everything has to be perfect...... but then I wake up and realize that I am just a normal, average person doing amazing things through the atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ. All he asks of us is to do our best. After we do all we can do, he helps us out. Every time. It never fails.

 

How I miss all of you and my last area! I never knew I could love somewhere so much as home but, I love my old area. I think about my recent converts all the time. I miss them! I am grateful that I am able to write them though! On the 14th of Feb (vday yaya) we are having another specialized training. I will get to see Sis Holyan again!  I write Sis Holyan every week ha. I miss her. We had so much fun! I am trying to have that much fun with my new comp. It will come. I have to tell you a funny story about her and I share it with love. Maybe it will help you catch a glimpse of my days. She is huge into recycling. Which i fine. I've never done it but I support it, sure. So she had a card board box with a few milk cans in it. We were taking the garbage out and she had two garbage bags and I had the cardboard box with the milk cartons in it.... we walk to the dumpster, life is great, and we toss the garbage into the dumpster. Then she turns to me and says "Sister that wasn't garbage" and I said what do you mean? ya it was was" then she said no its for recycle and so I was sorry sister it will be okay though. and she said no it wont and started trying to climb into the dumpster to get the cardboard box with the milk cartons in it.... I was dying hahahahahahaha I couldn't believe it. I said, "sister I am sorry I did that. I didn't realize that you had set it aside for a reason. It will be okay in there and next time I will not put it in the dumpster." haha. I hope that brought a laugh to you. I am still laughing as I write you. Last night we ate at a members home it was super good! It was kinda like Hawaiian haystacks... but not at the same time ha. I was just super happy to be in a nice home. I would love to write something for Bris baptism. I will put something together and send it next email because her baptism is on the 16th right?

 

Well I suppose I will end on a spiritual note.

 

3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

    I have been called of him to declare his word among his people,

                      that they might have everlasting life."

 

This past week there have been two experiences where I have realized that I truly am a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ and others see and feel it too. After leaving a harvest blessing with a man he said, "I feel as if you are Jesus Christ reminding me of what I need to do and reminding me that I need to pray to God." Then the day after that we knocked into a women named Samantha. She stepped outside and asked what we wanted. We told her that we were representatives of Jesus Christ and that we would love to leave the Saviors peace and blessing with her. I then asked, " what can the Savior help you with at this time in your life that I can include in the prayer for you?" she started bawling and said she was leaving for rehab and to pray for her kids. I asked if they were home and she said yes. I asked if we could pray with her and her children. She let us in. There was a 10 year old girl and a 6 year old boy. I asked the girl what I could include in the prayer for her and she just looked at me and then to her mom. Her mom said " I told them I was going to rehab." the little 10 year old girl started crying and said I just need help. My heart was filled with emotion at this time as I heard and felt this little girls plea for some kind of peace and normality to her life. As I said the prayer all I could think of was the atonement and how it can heal everything. After the prayer we helped do laundry and dishes and we cleaned the home. I am so grateful for my Savior and for him allowing me to be a representative of him and to do his work. Pres Monson has said "take a hand, reach a heart." This is the purpose of missionary work. The reach the hearts of Heavenly Fathers children. To invite them to come unto Christ.

 

I love being a missionary. I love the things I am learning and the growth I am experiencing. I love you! Thank you for all that you do for me! Your support, love, advice, and words help so much! I hope you have a great week! I look forward to writing next week and hearing about your week! I still always get on an email from around 10_11:30ish depending on when we get here but maybe I will get on later one day so we can chat! I chatted with Jake today and it was great! I will tell you about it next week! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!

 

xoxoxox sister brooke johnson

 

January 28, 2013

1. i made chicken pillows! they were super good

2. my side of the room

3. the new car (did i tell you i drive a 2013 Chevy Cruze? crazy right?)

4. me, Adin, and Areana before church

Family,

              Why settle for a cottage when you can have a castle?

I never thought I would be here. Not now, Not ever. I am serving as a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ in one of the Most amazing areas of His vineyard. How grateful I am for this opportunity! As of late I have found myself counting my blessings. Every day when things get hard (and they do) I start counting all of my many many blessings. These past few weeks I have felt every type of emotion every day. Love, peace, happiness, fear, relief, weak, strong, everything you can think of, I feel it everyday. What is most comforting to me is that then end of every day as I pour my heart out to my Savior, I know that through the atonement everything is going to be okay. Even better, everything is going to be great! Its going to be the way its supposed to be. I feel like Sister Linda Burton as she addressed us this last RS conference she said, " Though I don't feel equal to the responsibility placed upon me, I know that the call has come from the Lord through his [servant] and for now, that is enough." I know that I am here in this area for a reason and through the grace of God I will find it. In Sister Burton's talk she talks about the atonement being written in our hearts. I have recently pondered, "what is written upon my heart?" There are many things in my heart. Something I want to work on though is really having the atonement engraven in my heart not just written. This is also why 3 Nephi 13:21 has always been one of my favorite scriptures. It matters where our heart is and what is written in it. The heart is what physically keeps our body going. It is who we are.  I am learning a great deal about my Savior. Every night when we are out harvesting I always look up at the stars. The sky isn't filled here like it is back home but, it still uplifts my spirits and reminds me of my all knowing Creator, my Heavenly Father. The moon has been full too. It is amazing to think of all of Gods creations. It reminds me of the hymn, "for the beauty of the earth". As I meet each one of his children out here I am amazed at how unique and individual we all are. I met a guy this week named Evan. I gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon before really even talking with him. this is sorta our of routine. He started asking me  a lot of questions and it gave me the opportunity to testify of the Book of Mormon. The spirit was there helping him and I know that this is true and of God. I am so grateful for that opportunity that I had to testify and to gain a even deeper testimony of the Book of Mormon. Oh I love the mission. I hope this helps you catch a glimpse of everything I am feeling and seeing while here.

Gina sent me a package! with all of my favorites in it! She sent yummy Kneaders syrup and some things to make Alfredo! She also sent BOMs that had their testimony's in it. This was very touching. Tears were streaming down my face as I read what each person had written. Emma's, pierced my soul. I will send you what hers said next time. I am excited to hand them out to people. I also gave a few to Santi, Crystal and Sis Holyan to hand out.

Well let me try to tell you a little about my area. Its called Palm Beach for a reason ha. Palm trees line all of the roads its really pretty as you are driving down. All you see is palms trees lined up. Our actual area is pretty small. If you look on a map..... our west border is jog rd out east is the ocean. Our south is southern blvd and our north is Okachobee/Palm Beach Lakes. There some home work haha you can know exactly where I am at every day. We met the ward yesterday for the first time and it was overwhelming. Its a small ward but I felt like I needed to know everyone right then and remember all of their names and faces. So I wore myself out trying to do that. Never again ha. We had a family come to church! whoooo! Samuel, Daniel Areana(10) and Adin(2). I was super happy. They are working towards baptism but dont have a date yet. They still need to get married as well. That will be a good time! :) We were late for church because they were late getting ready and then they followed us. It all went well though! The other day we were at a members home and he had music playing in the back ground. I heard a song that I used to be able to play on the piano and it made me miss playing. Here it comes, you were right. I should of stuck it out. I do regret it! Why didn't you convince me that you were right haha. I used to be really good! I remember that song took me a long time to get and I practiced it a lot. and now its gone. but not for long. I am trying to find time to practice out here. We will see if it happens!

Last p-day we just rested I was so wore out! This p-day we are going to play sports with the Elders. Elder Call is in my zone! SV pride! It will be fun. We also get to eat and McDonalds for free here because a member owns it.

Things are going really well. This past week has been a lot better. I know that things will continue to just move a long. Press forward with faith, that's all I know how to do anything. I hope you have a wonderful week! Thank you for your love and support! Even though I'm all the way on the other side I can feel your love and its what keeps me going! I cant wait to talk to you next week!

xoxoxoxoxxo

sister johnson

January 22, 2013

Family,

 

So much has happened in the past few days that words fall short in expressing what I really feel. My heart and mind have been all over the place this past week. A lot, a lot, a lot has happened. First off I love that we have connections- Krista told you exactly where I am haha that's great. Sister Ellett is my new companion fresh from the MTC. She is from Utah and she is 24 years old. Together, we are opening up a new area in the mission. Its the Palm Beach Central area! It's a fairly small area compared to my last one but there are many here who need the gospel. We are going to work this place over and find all of the elect! Sisters have not been in this area for about 4 years is what I hear. It is a huge responsibility and at times I have felt the weight of it. When these times come the first thing I do is pour my heart out to my Heavenly Father and ask for His help. As I have done so, my heart has been filled with peace and I have been blessed with the strength to press forward. We live with the Spanish sisters which is nice! Its always fun to come home and be able to talk with other missionaries.

Wed was transfer meeting and that's when I found out all of the great news! We didn't get home til late because it took us an hour and  a half to drive home. crazy right? I am 50 miles away from my old area. I have thought about hitch hiking back a couple of times ;) I miss nova sooo much. because we got back late we only had an hour to work. so we went to work. then when we got home we unloaded the car and I began to unload all my stuff. It took me about three days to finally get everything where I wanted it. Our apartment is super super nice. Its the cleanest one on the mission I am sure. Its pretty big as well. I like it alot.

I don't know why but I am having a really hard time writing today. There is so much I want to tell you and I don't even know where to start. I want you to know that even though I have experienced a lot of change in my life this past week, I am still happy as ever! I am doing the Lords work! This is where he needs me. I know that there are people in this area who are waiting for me and I am going to find them with the Lord help! I have only met a few members of the ward because this past Sunday was stake conference. I got to see my first baptism, David, at conference and it was good to see and talk with him for a bit. You know, they may have moved me out of YSA but, they are here, they are everywhere I go. a lot of the leaders in my new ward are YSA and I have actually met a lot of them because they would come to nova for potlucks and firesides. Its been comforting to know that I will still be working with them! One of the YSA here, Gina, went to BYU-I and she had classes with Kiersten so, we took a pic and sent it to her! haha I told her to tell KB that she better write me, and shes going to, it worked :) I love meeting new people!

I teach with a lot of energy and excitement because its how I feel for the work. I love it, its what keeps me going every day. I have so much happiness in my heart from the gospel that when I meet someone to share it with I just explode with excitement. I feel bad, I have made her cry twice already. Not on purpose of course. I just pray everyday that I can be who she needs me to be and who the Lord needs me to be.

Its been a humbling experience for me. Opening an area, moving, getting a new comp, training. Wow I'm speechless. I know that in the strength of the Lord I can do all things. I know, I know, I KNOW IT! I miss nova sooo much. Sis Holyan was an amazing companion. We had the best two transfers ever! Oh and my recent converts, I miss them terribly! Luckily I can write them though. I would do anything for them. They are my joy! There are a couple other people that I miss so much at nova, its hard not being able to write everyone. I know it will all be okay though!

 

Heavenly Father has blessed me so much. When I stop and think about my life even for just a few min I am filled with gratitude for all that I have been given. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. Confused at the grace that so fully he profers me... Oh it is wonderful that He would care for me, enough to die for me, oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.

 

Family, I love you so much! I hope you know that and can feel it as well! I think about you all the time! Thank you for your love, your support, and most of all for being my family. Our family is eternal! We have Gods blessing as long as we keep are part! I promise that I will put my thoughts and feelings together better next week. Hopefully by then my heart will have stopped racing and I will be able to breathe! I cant wait to hear from you again next week! love love love you!

 

xoxoxoxxo Sister Johnson

 

 

 

January 15, 2013

Hello Family!

I have very exciting news. I will be transferring tomorrow as well as training a new sister missionary! The news came as a shock. Although it is a lot of responsibility and a huge change, I know that the Lord will bless me with the strength and guidance that I am in need of to fulfill his work! There are new areas opening up in the mission so I could even be going to a newly opened area! You will hear all the fun news next Monday when I email home :) packing has not been fun. I started last night and packed a little bit more before we headed out this morning. I haven't bought more sense I've been here but for some reason I am running out of room in my suit cases haha. I think its because I had you send me some blankets buts, its okay it will all fit! I haven't had a break down yet so I am pretty proud of myself. My comp Sis Holyan cried all night and told me how much she will miss me  and that it just won't be the same. I love her and we have become really great friends! I think she is also a little overwhelmed with taking over the area. She is going to do a fantastic job though! Brianna, thank you so much for the bookmarks and chocolate! We love them so much. We use our bookmarks in our scriptures so we see them everyday! I love you bri :) These past few weeks have been the best weeks ever! Sis Holyan and I have had so much fun! I am sad that I will be leaving all of my amazing recent converts! We had a baptism this Sunday! Shayna found mormon.org through pinterest and requested missionaries to stop by. So we did and hey what do you know? She got baptized three weeks later! It would of been two but she was on a cruise the second Sunday. She has such a powerful testimony of our Savior and all she desires to do is to be like him and serve others like he did. She has strengthen my testimony in so many ways! She also taught an incredible lesson on charity and service at FHE last night! wow right? Our recent convert Matt passed the sacrament on Sunday for the first time! I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time! Our recent converts are making leaps and bounds as always. the Lord has prepared so many YSA at this time! I love it! I have never been happier in my entire life!

I am happy to hear that work is going well for you mom! It sounds like you are able to take everyone to school and I am sure the appreciate that a lot! There are always so many deer right there before Buger King- I am glad you haven't hit one yet and hope that you don't! I cant believe how cold it is at home! It just doesn't even seem real to me any more. As you know we have had our typical 80+ weather. I do miss seasons! especially fall! I am so excited for bris baptism! it is coming up very fast! I am looking forward to seeing pics and seeing everyones smiling faces! Its fun that she gets to wear Gracies dress! I bet she loves that! It sounds like everyone is getting sick! Thats not good! I will keep everyone's health in my prayers this week! Yes it was Selina that called you! She is 24 and she just moved here about two weeks ago from St George. She feeds us prob 3 times a week and she is always helping us out with the work here! She is an answer to our prayers here in nova. Shes going to get the ball rolling with the branch! I am super excited! Shes a sweetheart!

Well family, I am sorry this is a random/shortish email. My mind is thinking about too many things right now. I hope you all have a super great week! I love you soo much! Thank you for all that you do for me! Your love and support helps me every hour of every day! I can feel your love for me and I hope that you can feel mine for you in return! I cant wait to tell you all about my week on Monday! I feel like I will have a lot to share! Talk to you soon!

with all my love, sister johnson

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

i heart you!!

dinner at Matt's on Christmas, he's in the back ground and that's his niece Kaylee

me opening my box of acorns hahaha

catching the lizard that was in our apt thanks to the assistants!!

Me and Tavon he's been growing his dreads for 4 years. Show this one to Jake please :)

Yoggy land

 

1. all of my gifts from the family

2.movies we got for Santiagos family

3. i love these guys! they are some of my recent converts - this is where my joy comes from

4.gross

_____________________________________________________________________

Family,

 

I cant believe i just talked to you last week! That truly was the best Christmas gift ever! Well, i am trying to think of what to share with you because a lot happened this past week! Santiago is a saint and he made Hawaiian hay stacks for lunch after we were don't talking! it was so yummy! that's the first time i have had them sense i got out here! for Christmas he got me a shoe box full of acorns. haha there are a lot of acorns here and one day i made the comment that when i get stressed, i smash acorns. so he got me a box full. it was funny. Then Christmas night, we ate dinner at our recent convert, Matt's, house. it was really good! we had ham, potatoes and the works. Matt is amazing and he is just making leaps and bounds in the gospel! Everyone looked great and happy on skype! i was so proud of myself for not crying haha i was super happy though to see everyone and it was amazing!

 

I have had a lot of my prayers answered lately. My testimony of the power of prayer has truly been strengthen and i am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers. I know that we are able to receive person revelation through our communication with Him. I know He is there listening each and every time! we have been praying that we will be able to find YSA and that they will have cars. Last week, we met a lot of YSA who were interested in the gospel and the all had cars. imagine that! There are many other answers that i have received. 

 

I got a package from the Newman's, she sent some of her amazing toffee! mmm it is good! i thought that very nice of them! also, the girls at the bank sent me down east shirts! so thoughtful of them! i love and miss them! that job was the best job ever! The other day at church we learned about temple. i sure do miss going to the temple i cant wait to go again! it was reminding of the great opportunity that i had to go to Nauvoo and to do baptisms for the dead there. that was an incredible experience. thank you for helping me have that opportunity. Someday we will all have to go there. it is worth it all to be Joseph Smith was and to learn of the Church's history!  

 

Our mission had a goal of helping 150 souls come unto Christ this month and we were able to help 153! That is a lot of baptisms! Also, in the year 2012 the mission helped more than 1200 people come into the fold of Christ! This mission is incredible and we are so blessed in this mission! thank you so much for the opportunity mom, dad, and all who are helping me be out here. this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me! i am so happy! so so happy!

 

I was reading in Alma the other day and i have a challenge for all of you( it is something that i just finished doing) it was one of the best studies that i have had. Read Alma chapters 23 & 24. It talks about conversion. In Alma 23:7 it states, "... they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more..." Choose one, or more, things that are holding you back from having a deeper conversion. Write them on a piece of paper and then "bury" them. I have done this once before and i am now doing it again. its the beginning of a new year tomorrow so its a great opportunity. i know that as i have done this in my life i have been able to feel more of the spirit in my life. and i promise that as you do this, you will have the same happen to you. Heavenly Father will pour our his spirit upon you as you strive to align your will with His. 

 

Well, its time for me to go grocery shopping! i love you all so much! i hope that you have a fantastic week! i will talk to you in one short week! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

 

xoxoxox sister johnson