June 24, 2013

1.  Lunch with the sisters

2.  German and his family!

Hey Johnson Family,

Another week come and gone. Where does time go? I always wonder- it just keeps going, stopping for nothing. That can be bitter sweet sometimes. It sounds like everyone had a wonderful week! Its summer! every day it goes more humid and hott here! man I just melt each day! Its been 100+ each day this past week! ya I know its hard to believe but its true! I had a great week this past week- I learned many many lessons!

The missionary meeting last night was incredible! I am glad you were able to go mom! One of the things that stood out to me was when Pres Packer said,"The greatest teaching is done by a mother..." that is so true! thank you mom for all that you have taught me throughout the years! As well as all that you continue to share with me! I love you mom! at the meeting last night I got to see Santi and Matt! Matt told me that he started his papers yesterday! What a tender moment to see a recent convert progressing so quickly! Matt has incredible desires and he is going to be a solid missionary! I am excited for him! Sacrament meeting was so loud yesterday! There are at least 5 women in our ward who are prego and there are so many families with young kids! They are running every where! I love it! it just makes it a little but difficult on our older investigators but that's okay! ha. We had a lot of miracles yesterday! In the morning we went out to knock on doors and help our investigators get ready for church! to make sure they were up and going! We hadn't seen one of our investigators since Thurs. We stopped by every day and called every day-no response. so we were a little bummed about that but we went there Sunday morning anyways... he wasn't there and didn't answer his phone. So we kept going to all the others. When we got to the church, and walked into sacrament meeting, he was sitting on the back row! He came! and we hadn't seen him for four days! It was such a blessing to see him there! after church he said he felt calm and that he is coming next Sunday! We are going over today to solidify his baptism date! Another miracle was when we found our that our investigator German got his birth certificate in the mail! what a blessing! It came all the way from Mexico! we are planning a wedding and a baptism for him on this Friday! We pray that everything will continue to work out for them! This family is going through a lot and they deserve to have the gospel in their lives! He came to church in a full on suit! He looked great! What a wonderful priesthood holder he will be!

Sister Tuai and I have been playing tennis every morning! Well trying to haha we don't really know how to play we just hit it back and forth! There is a court right by our apartment and so we asked some members if we could barrow their ball and racket! Its been a lot of fun and a great way to get the day started! I got a letter from Sami Newman this past week! The sweetest thing ever! I am going to write her back today! Haile also sent me a letter and in it she included a letter I had written her in 7th grade... I laughed so hard! all I talked about was how cute boys were and basketball. so hilarious! I love that girl.

On exchanges this past week I went to Miami again. I drove in down town Miami. and let me tell you, it was wild! It is def as crazy as everyone says it is! I loved it though! It is ghetto and I love the ghetto! People there are much more humble and they are way cool! I miss serving in a ghetto area some times! I will have to send you a pic of the area I work in now. Its like working in Alpine Utah, big nice pretty houses. I do love this area too and the ward it so much fun!

This past week I have been humbled! I was really struggling this week for a lot of reasons I suppose! I finally asked Heavenly Father to show me my weakness... yesterday as the day went on I realized that what I need to work on right now is being patient. I have been a little stressed, frustrated, and all of the feelings that come from the natural man. So God showed me what I needed to work on! I had a wonderful study about patience yesterday that opened my eyes and that I feel like will help me obtain the Christlike attribute of patience. The sons of Mosiah are a perfect example. They exercised much patience! and because of it they were able to see great success which is found in Alma 26! One of my all time favorite chapters in the book of Mormon!

Over all things are going really well! Next week is transfers so I wont e-mail until Tues! I'm tell you time is going by so fast! Its almost July! It sounds like you are all enjoying the Star Valley sun and pool! Jacob just told me that Kiersten is getting married! wohoo! that's the last of my single girl friends! :) fun stuff! I am happy for her! They are adorable together! I'm a little sad I'm missing her wedding but that's okay! They all will get to come to mine which is exciting!

fam fam I hope you have a great week! I love you all so much! You are the best family ever! I am so grateful for each one of you for so many reasons! I hope you enjoy the pics! take care and keep the faith! I will talk to you next Tues!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU! sis johnson

June 17, 2013

1. Sis Megos daughters (she is the one dating our investigator)

2. Exchange with Sis Price she is from Rigby, Idaho and she was the first 19 year old sis in our mission

3. This is the family that showed up on Sunday! what a miracle!

Family,

Well, it sounds like you all had a great week! that's always good for me to hear :) my hives have gotten a lot better. I take a Zyrtec every night and I hardly ever  get them now- its rare when I do! Your hair looks great mom and Bri! I am happy that Shine was able to do that for you! She loved doing your hair! I love that pic that you sent! Three of my favorite people! the other pics you sent this week were fun too! All the boys are almost taller than dad! They all look so big and different! Jordan has changed the most I think! I have a lot of fun things to share with all of you this week!

John Denney who plays for the Miami dolphin football team is in our ward! cool right? I thought the boys might like that one! He is really nice! I talked to him before I even knew who he was and then when I found out I was pretty excited! I invited someone to be baptized in Spanish! That was a big moment for me! I am trying to learn but its hard! I know Jake will do great with is because he is called to serve Spanish speaking! Also that's all he will be around so he will pick it up fast! Yesterday Sis Tuai and I got to church about 10min early and NO one was there.. we were a little confused but we set our stuff on the back bench so that we could see all the ward and continue to try to figure out who is who.  About 5 min before the meeting started everyone started walking in. There was an old women who walked up to the bench where we had our stuff and she said, "who's stuff is on my bench? this is where me and my family sit!" I started laughing and told Sis Tuai to go grab our stuff! It was so funny I couldn't believe that she actually kicked us off her bench. We went to a member home the other day and she has a quilting business! prob the only one in Florida haha. I asked her if she had heard of Linda Taylor and she said of course I have! I told her I know her and that shes my neighbor back home! I told the member she should come visit us sometime! She is working on a really cool quilt right now. Its called 100 wishes. But I guess all of the friends and family members send one block of material with there wish on a card then when you look at the quilt you go to a little book that is also made and see the wish that someone made for you! I thought it was cute! a lot of the places where we were are gated so we usually bike in. but yesterday we didn't have our bikes and we needed to get in through the gate. we pulled up and started (one by one) to go through the 5 members we knew in that area. none of them were answering their phones but about on the 4th person to call the guard at the gate said, "you basically know everyone I will just let you in" it was awesome haha. So know we are just going to start naming names to get into places! biking is good it just takes up so much time some times because I am def not a speed biker ha. We at dinner at the Funn's home yesterday it was yummy! We had pork and corn on the cob watermelon and lemon  bars! they are such a cool family! Our ward is awesome. Its like a ward from back home and I am growing to LOVE it! I cant tell you have fast the weeks are going by for me. Because we go on two exchanges a week the weeks are just gone gone gone! i went down to Miami last week! that was a good time. There are so many people down there! traffic is always crazy and everyone is every where! i hope i get to serve there i think it would be a lot of fun! we are currently waiting for our investigator to get his birth certificate from Mexico so that we can have a wedding on fri or sat and then get him baptized! we are praying for miracles! he is engaged to a member and we love their family so much! they are awesome! it was his birthday this week so we bought him a cake and had a party for him! they make the best food too! everything on the grill! mmmmm...

we saw a huge miracles this week! we have been working with a family since we got to the area. we leave commitments with them and they keep them but they weren't coming to church so we weren't sure what to do. this past week we decided not to go and see them. we still called them to invite them to church but they didn't answer. as sister tuai and i were sitting in church guess who walks in...! they did! we hadn't even left a voicemail when we had called! it was such a blessing to see them there! they really enjoyed service and were participating a lot during Sunday school. they family has been though so much lately and they really need the RESTORED gospel in their lives. they lost their granddaughter and are having to take care of their great granddaughter. i know that them coming on Sunday really strengthen my testimony. everything is done on the Lords time! We also had another investigator show up! we found him knocking on doors! I cant even explain the joy that comes to me when i see others coming unto Christ! its the best! Sister Tuai and I are doing great. i am learning so much from her. she brings things to my attention that I didn't even know were things I needed to work on. It goes to show how important communication is no matter what. if she hadn't of told me I wouldn't have been able to change and she still would of been frustrated with me! Wow where would I be with out my mission?!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve. This is honestly the best thing that I could ever do (besides having a family someday). I love my mission with all my heart! and I love my family with all my heart too! I hope you all have a fun week! The garden will start to grow and that will be fun to watch!

love love love sister brooke johnson

June 3, 2013

Family,

I love seeing all of the pictures that you send! Everyone is looking great and happy which is what I like to see! Everyone is getting married, getting married, getting married! I am happy for all of them and I love to see their progression! I am glad you were all able to go to Hailee's wedding! It sounds like it was a good experience for her! I miss the temple so much! I cant wait to go again! Oh how sweet that will be! Thank you for the e-mails mom and dad. I love hearing from you and how you are doing! This past week flew by! going on two exchanges a week makes it go by even faster! We didn't go fishing last week but we are today! I am excited! Hopefully I catch something fun! Last week when we were biking and walking we got caught in a HUGE rain storm. There were flash flood warnings. It was crazy. We saw the lightening so we went to a investigators home and we were there for a bit until the storm died down enough for us to go back out and make out way back to the car. We were soaked- I will send pics. I went on an exchange this week with a sister from Australia. It was a lot of fun! I loved her accent! (on a side note my favorite REO speed wagon song is playing right now in the background! "keep on loving you" what a tender mercy haha) anyways.... I learned so much from this sister. She has been saving for her mission for three years. She is really dedicated and I know that she is going to change so many lives out here! Her family is from Samoa and she is so pretty! Exchanges are a blast! They take a lot but its so worth it! We ate dinner with members last night and that was so special! I love working with ward members and getting to know them. our goal here is to really lift and elevate the ward so that they can do the same for others! We also want to gain their trust because a lot of them have non member friends and family so we know that a lot of our work and success lies within the members.

I'm going to do this email a little different than normal because I am low on time. I will tell you about the pics I am sending :)

I love you with all my heart! You are the best family ever. I know Heavenly Father knew exactly what I needed and you are my family FOREVER. What a blessing in which I am so grateful for! I hope you all have a fun last week of school, work and all that jazz! I miss you bunches!

love love love always, sis brooke johnson

xoxoxoxoxoxo

1. Sis Rameriz is a less active member who has been going through a lot of trials and challenges lately. Sis Tuai and I have offered her some service, we helped clean for a bit, and we visit her every week to see if there is anything that we can help with. We are also teaching her parents about the gospel right now. We pray that they will act upon their faith and prepare to be baptized!

2. Sis Aisa she is so much fun. We had a lot of similarities. She is the oldest and has 3 brothers and 1 sister who is adopted! She worked so hard to be here! It makes me even more grateful for all I have been given. She said when I come to visit her that we can play sand volleyball and just "chill" ausy style ha.

3. Sis Rodgers is a new sister as well. We had a great time. We went and got Cold Stone at the end of the night to top it off! I look forward to seeing her grow through her mission and become who she came here to be

4. This is right before the rain storm came. We were already soaked because it was raining. Then it really came down. I love my bike! It is so comfy and helps me get where I need to be!

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