November 26, 2012

 

 

November 26, 2012

Fam Fam,

Well its been another great week on the mission! Let me tell you all about my Thanksgiving because I know that's what you want to hear about. It was weekly planning (every Thursday we plan for about 3 hours) then we ate Thanksgiving dinner at 5 with princess and her family. They are Hatian. It was mostly American food with a few Hatian things such as rice, cakes, veggies and what not. Then we went to Santiago's later that night for dessert. It was a really great day and went by fast! I didn't eat anything out of the ordinary and really it just felt like we were eating a big meal. It didn't feel like a holiday. I know its just because I wasn't with the family!

We were blessed to have a baptism on Saturday! Tavon is 19 and he is a super funny guy! He is dating our last baptism (Shavelaney). We love them so so much and they have become some of my dearest friends. We had been praying all week that he would have time off work to be able to be baptized. We kept pushing forward and doing our best to stay in contact with him and help him prepare for baptism. Because Heavenly Father loves us SO much, we were able to see him Friday night (miracle #1) and see if he could get work off on Saturday to be baptized which he did (miracle #2) and then Friday night we put together his baptism and he was baptized on Friday and confirmed on Sunday! It was AMAZING! I will send pictures!

Friday night when we were driving home we passed the swap shop which is a place where you can buy stuff for cheap. They have everything there. Its a bunch of booth of people selling things. They also have 10 drive in theaters there. So... as we were driving by at night, we saw Twilight playing on all of the screens! haha it was a reality check. Sometimes I forget that real life is still happening. The moment I saw I felt like I should of been there opening night with Shine haha.That's okay I will watch it with her when I get home!
 

So, we are only able to listen to songs sung by the Mormon tabernacle choir. luckily they have some awesome Christmas music :) we've been listening to 'grown up Christmas list' everyday! its normally sung by amy grant so it makes me think of you every time mom. its on the amy grant cd that we always listen to around Christmas. We found a Christmas tree in the mission garage today and I will prob set it up this afternoon! Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a tree!! Because I love 'The Grinch' so much I committed Santiago to watch it for me! haha he went out and bought and said he would tell me all about it after he watched it! its as close as I get to doing the things I love to do around Christmas time!

Today for p-day we are going to the Sawgrass mill which is a super HUGE mall. it will be interesting! I'm still trying to catch up with writing all my friends back! They all wrote me at the same time! Kinzie and her husband and friends are all on a cruise right now. I remember when they booked it! its kinda weird to think how fast time is going! We have transfers coming up on the 6th so next week I wont email until Tues the 4th.
 

It sounds like everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family! I missed everyone so much! but I always do so it was just like every other day. I am happy to hear that grandpa reads and studies the book of Mormon during this time. Its so good to know that he is holding strong to the gospel and progressing!
 

Well, I hope this email finds you all well and happy! Hopefully I will have more interesting things to write next week. We do so much in one day here that I forget what to write because I cant remember everything that happened! I love you all so much! I'm excited to write next week!

love you with my whole heart,

sister johnson

 I LOVE YOU!

Missionaries, we were so close to our goal of 150. We finished with 131 baptisms for November!!! This month of December is a special month as we celebrate the Birth of our Savior. What better gift can we give the Savior than souls baptized unto repentance. What better way to have a “White Christmas” in South Florida, than to have God’s children dressed in white and be baptized in His Son’s name.

November 24, 2012

 

Dear Brother and Sister Johnson:

 

Hello! My name is Santiago Tovar. I'm a member in the Nova YSA Branch. How are you doing!?? I hope you are doing wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving!!! I wanted to send you this email and picture of your daughter! I too served a mission and know how concerned parents could be for their missionaries. I wanted you to know that she had a place to spend this holiday, a place were she was welcomed, a place were she is greatly appreciated for her service, an adopted home per say...

 

We love your daughter! We are so grateful for the sacrifice that you have made in order get her out here. I know how much parents give up, and I too know how much you have gained  and will gain through the Lord's blessings. I want you to know that she is a fantastic missionary, that she works very hard and honors your name by her actions. Im the Branch mission leader, so I have had the great opportunity to work closely with her and can say this with full confidence. Thank you for doing such a outstanding job raising her! We are taking care of your missionary and working hard to help them in the work as well. Sister Johnson has shared with me that her brother is putting his papers soon! Congratulations for that as well!

 

Let me know if you need anything and thank you again!

 

Sincerely,

 

Santiago Tovar

November 19, 2012

Johnson Clan,

Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday! I am so grateful for each one of you that I don't even know where to start! I am not sure yet what we are doing for Thanksgiving, we have had a few invites and so we are just trying to figure out what to do. I will let you know what we decided to do next week :) I wish I was at home with the family for the holidays! Know I will be there in spirit and love you all so much. I wanted to share a spiritual thought first due to the Thanksgiving holiday coming up this week. One of my favorite hymns is 193 it says, "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me...I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine...such mercy, such love and devotion can i forget? No, no, i will praise and adore at the mercy seat, until at the glorified throne, i kneel at his feet." Every time I read or sing this hymn, my heart is filled with gratitude as I reflect upon my life and all that I have been given. I know that it is through the tender mercies of my Savior, that I have been given so much. I owe him my life, my whole heart. I am humbled at this opportunity that I have to serve a mission and to share the gospel with others. I have the gospel, I know the truth, I have it all. There are so many people here who don't have anything, they have nothing because they are without the truth, without the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am honored to be able to share that with them and help them find the happiness that I have found trough the gospel.

There is a senior couple in the mission that has a blog. its www.pierfamily.com. they post on it almost everyday. i am on there :) they post president weekly email, and pictures-they are always taking pictures! i hope you enjoy their blog! it looks really good! thank you mom and bri for sending the letters and drawings in the mail this week! that was a nice surprise! bris school picture turned out so good! shes such a pretty girl! :) I got a flu shot this week. i know you are so proud of me right? its still not my favorite thing ever but its better than getting the flu! did bri ever get my letter with the stickers and seashells? i sure hope so. I've been being super sneaky this week haha i don't know why but i have been pulling pranks and scaring everyone. its been a good time. I got my comp like 4 times this week. Sometimes on purpose other times not. We have this wooden candy box that has a fake mouse attached to the end of it. so when you open the box, the mouse comes up and hits your finger. I went up to my comp this week and was like, do you want some of these chocolates? I forgot we had them. and she yanked open the box, the mouse hit her finger, her food and fork went flying all over the kitchen, and she screamed bloody murder... it was pretty funny. we laugh about it all the time! I got devon and dom (the twins in our branch) with it too. SO SO SO funny! they both screamed and i loved it. I got em good. Sister Holyan and I saw a possum this week. They are ugly things. Just a giant rat, but it was cool to see one. I cant complain. I have been getting letters from all of my girl friends! its so nice to hear from them. they are all doing really well. thats fun that you got to see chey! im glad you run into my friends sometimes! :) I love Christmas and I love giving gifts!
 
We went and saw the mother of two less active YSA last night. She's that one that we made cookies with about a month ago. She had her house decorated very nice for the holidays. She had her tree up already and her apt is just really really nice. it felt  SO good to just sit in a nice home, where the spirit can be felt, and to talk with her and to look at the Christmas tree. I am grateful for times like that. She is a very very giving mother and I pray that her children will come around sometime soon. I told her that she will have to meet you mom. She said we are welcome any time :) I was wondering if and when you send the next package if you can send me my cardigans that are at the shop? I know there's a cream and black stripped one, a white one, a black one, and if there are any others if you could sent them please. We wear them a lot now sense its cooling off in the evening time and we wear them to church and baptisms and meetings. thank you for doing that for me :)
Today for p-day I just want to do nothing. haha. I am pretty tired. being senior comp is very challenging for me. i feel like everything lies on me. i am trying to do my best but it is hard. by the end of the week i am emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. I am learning a lot though and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I think we might go to the mall today though, and to target, and then just rest and write letters. It will be a great day!

Family, I hope that you all have an amazing week. Please know that I pray for you often. I am so grateful for you. There are no words that can express the gratitude that I feel. I love you and of course I miss you always! I look forward to writing you next week! Enjoy it for me and you :)

love love love, sister johnson
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

1. me smashing acorns - its prob one of my favorites things to do here

sorry theres not more pictures! they are not uploading today! i love you and will send more next week! take care! love you!

November 12, 2012

Dear Family,

Everything is going to amazing. We had a challenging week but we were blessed with so many miracles this weekend! God truly does watch over us and blesses us after our trials of faith! We had a big group of polys take us our for breakfast! That was a lot of fun! there was a couple from Star valley that came to church yesterday! the Bradshaws. They are going on a cruise and just came to the closest chapel! crazy huh? He came into the bank all the time to make deposits. I walked into the chapel and was like... that's a super familiar face! Who is that?! haha it was cool! well family! I hope you have a great week! I love you all so much! stay strong!  will write more next week!

xoxoxoxo sister johnson

November 5, 2012

Family,
How's it going?! So to answer your question yes I can skype on Christmas as long as there's a member here that lets me use their computer. (I'm sure there is)I was thinking you could just go over to Katie's and use her comp. because we aren't allowed to talk for too long. I know there is a time limit. Which is sad but  I will take what I can get :)
Thank you for sending the package! we love love love the cookies! those mixes are super easy to make and they taste SO good! tell Bri thank you for the soup! i am excited to make it too! i am sure it will be really yummy :) and as always thank you for the starburst and gummy bears- they are my favorite! i was thinking about the ward Christmas dinner last year and how Ben and i came up and surprised you for it! That was a lot of fun! I love thinking about good times like that because i know there is so many more ahead! I am glad you got to go to Utah mom! it sounds like you had a really good time! thank you for emailing a few pics! everyone looks the same for the most part, which is good! :) I miss eating at Kneaders- that place had the best breads ever (well Mrs Powells still makes awesome cinnamon rolls just saying) The angel Moroni was put on the temple last week! it looks amazing! its so beautiful! i will see if i can send i few pics sometime soon! on Halloween we had to be home by 8 instead of 9. so we had an extra hour that night to rest! haha. its going to be interesting to see what happens with elections this week. everyone is talking about it right now! we had a baptism fall through this week which was sad. hopefully she will get baptized next Sunday! last night we went to a pot luck at 6:30. it was a lot of fun! we had a few recent converts there so it was good helping them get to know more branch members. then right after there was a CES fireside that was really good as well! i really enjoyed last night! last Monday when we went to the beach we ate lunch at a pizza place right on the beach. Sister Holyan and I also got matching sweat pants! i wanted to buy something for everyone and sent it home! i will next year before i come home :) i love Sister Holyan! we get along so well and we have so much fun! we basically laugh all day! today for p-day I think we might go for a bike ride at a nature center! if we do i will def send pics next week! well family, thank you for always writing me and letting me know how you are doing! its the best thing ever to hear from you! especially when i get a letter or mail unexpected! it always makes my day! i love you all! i hit my 5 month mark tomorrow! yaya! time is going by so fast! i look forward to hearing from you next week! i love you!

love love love, sister johnson


xoxoxoxoxo

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