November 25, 2013

Family,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! oh how I am grateful with all of my heart for all that you do individually and together for me. Your sacrifices for me have been many and I am forever in debt to you for them. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have so many things to be grateful for each and every day. There is something that the people of South Florida have taught me and that's to thank God for waking me up each and every day. This is a line that a lot of people here say as they open their prayers and its something that I had taken for granted- the very breathe I use each and every day. I hope you all enjoy the holidays together! We have been offered two Thanksgiving dinners so... that will be interesting! One is at 12 and the other at 4... so we have some wiggle time? ha. I pray that Jake gets to eat something that he likes! This past week we saw many many miracles! We were able to have a baptism this past Sunday! Thank the heavens! :) he's Y.S.A (that's basically all I've baptized on my mission and I'm so okay with that) and from the time we met him, he was baptized 10 days later! This is proof that the Lord has many prepared to receive the restored gospel! We are also going to start teaching his twin brother which I am excited about! We were knocking doors and we saw him sitting out side. So we walked up to him, said a prayer with him, invited him to be baptized and he said yes. So then we started teaching him. He came to church and enjoyed it. Kept teaching him then he had his interview. Came to church for the second time and got baptized after service! yahoooo! I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord! wow! He just sends miracles right to you after you have done all you can do! The dentist said he got your thank you note mom and that they really appreciated it because no one offers gratitude for their service. So thank you for making the time to do that!

Thank you dad for your inspiring e-mail! That is something I am still working on is being grateful for what I do get done in a day and working on things day by day! I am improving and that's what counts!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks! I'm finishing strong! I've been working hard I am delightfully exhausted when I get home each night! I love the work, I love the people and most of all I love the Lord. I hope you all enjoy your week with days off and Thanksgiving family time! I will talk to you next week!

with ALL my love,

sister johnson

November 18, 2013

  My Samoan companion, love her

  Cupcake turkeys with Sis Hartely her first week here

 Basketball with my buds


HEY,

I am so sorry if my e-mails seem to bore you now a days... I have a hard time sitting at a computer for an hour.... I'm just in go, go, go mode all the time! 

This past week was a long one for me. I haven't been feeling the best physically and I'm also emotionally worn out. I had to do some "me" time and reconnect. It got to the point that is was difficult for me to serve others the way the needed to be served because I wasn't taking care of what I needed to. I also got a priesthood blessing and that offered me a lot of comfort. 

We went to a RS activity all about cooking! It was nice to get to know the members better and I know my new companion appreciated that because she is feeling overwhelmed with having to take over when I leave. We also take out a lot of young women with us and I love seeing their lives change as they feel the joy that comes from missionary work! I've gained a lot of friends and loved ones in the time that have been out here! It will be hard to leave all of them! 

I've been making goals but its been some what challenging because there's a lot of things that I still don't know about. I'm trying to pick specific things to work toward but I feel like general things keep coming up.

If anything, I want all of you to know that I am doing well, I am happy, I am growing, and I am grateful for all that I have! We have to dinner apts for Thanksgiving Day. We will see how that works out! I am looking forward to a new week! It's going to be great! Well family I love you and pray for you always! I hope you can feel the love that I have for you! Enjoy your busy week and I will talk to you soon!

xoxo sis johnson  

November 11, 2013

 Sis Alio and I at transfers (make up gone from bawling).

 Sister Clayton and I at missionary leadership training (we go home together).

Working on the temple

Heyyyyyyy!

I know everyone is so excited to hear about my knew companion! ( I think after 17 months I've got the routine down. ha.) Sister Aloi is from Samoa. She is 24 and she finishes her mission a transfer (six weeks) after I do. I have been her sister training leader before and have gone on many exchanges with her! On my way to transfer meeting I got a feeling and I knew she was going to be my companion! We are having a lot of fun here in Wellington!

Last p-day (Tues) I got to go do work in the temple in Fort Lauderdale. I hung individual crystals on a chandelier.  We were there for 4 hours and didn't even get close to finishing it. I will never look at that chandelier or any other in any temple the same way again. There is such great detail that goes into the Lords house. It was a great experience for me! I felt the spirit and received a lot of peace. I also got to say good bye to Sis Tuai because she worked the shift before me. It's weird to think that she is at home now. That night was crazy busy because a lot of the members wanted to say good bye to Sis Dougal so we were doing a lot of running around p-day night. It turned out well though.

Transfer meeting was amazing. I was asked to say the opening prayer. It was the last transfer meeting I will attend here in the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission. It was a very emotional experience for me. At the end of every transfer meeting we sing "We'll Bring the World His Truth". With tears of gratitude streaming down my face I was unable to finish singing the song. My heart was full of so much love for the missionaries here and the people that I have met. It was a very tender transfer meeting for me.

We found a Haitian family of 7 that we have been teaching! They are great! I pray that they will continue to make the time to hear and receive the lessons!  We also went to Young Women in Excellence this week because Lovely got her integrity ribbon! We were so proud of her! It reminded me of my days in YW. I loved young women's! I hope I get to serve with them someday!  I also got to see an otter this week-it was huge! It was on a river bank and as soon as it saw us it slipped into the water. I was happy to receive the conference Ensign this week! I love studying from them and receiving additional revelation from servants of the Lord!

It looks like Jared had a fun birthday dinner/dessert! Every time I see a picture of Jordan it freaks me out. He doesn't even look the same!  He's changed the most since I have been gone! Thank you for the e-mails and updates! It's so nice to hear from all of you! I hope that you are able to feel of my love and the love that the Lord has for you as well! I'm excited for Brandon to join the missionaries and to serve in Paris! It will bring great blessings for their family! I hope that you all have a great week and I will talk to you soon! I LOVE YOU!

With all my love,

Sister Johnson

 

November 5, 2013

 

 Display for Lovely's YW night on Wednesday

 On our way to the temple



Family,

I'm sure you are all anxious, as am I, to find out about transfers! I found out that I will be staying in my area (which is awesome because I love it here) and I will be getting a new companion! I am excited to see who it will be! I will be helping her become a sister training leader which will be a good time! Sister Dougal is really sad that she is leaving.  I know that she will be great where ever she goes though! 

Dad I can't wait for you to meet my most recent convert. He's about your age and he's the funniest man ever! He has really just received the gospel and ran with it! He is almost finished with the Book of Alma! He studies all of the time! He is a wonderful example to me! Because of his desire to come closer to Christ he is being a great example to his sister and her kids (who he lives with) and his niece has been coming to church and taking the lessons! She so wants to be baptized but shes 10 so we have to get her mothers permission which is not so easy in this case! Keep them in your prayers please! 

Halloween was fantastic! Just a regular day of missionary work! I was hoping people would give us candy after we met with them but at the same time I am glad they didn't. ha. I don't need it! We got home at 8 (we had to come home early) and I turned off all the lights because we had forgotten to buy candy. We live in a good neighborhood so I knew kids would be going around. We beat the other sisters home and I thought I had heard them outside so I turned the light on for them. All of a sudden I get a ring at the door bell, then a knock, and then a "trick or treat" I figured it was the sisters just being silly so I swung open the door and all I see are 6 cute little kids.... mmm hmmm. So I told them to wait a sec and Sis Dougal and I started raiding our food closet. We had no candy. We ended up giving them pop corn and cake mix. I'm ashamed of myself haha. I didn't know what else to do. Lesson learned! It made for a great laugh though and I will never forget that either!

Also this week, Sis Dougal and I fulfilled the challenge that our bishop left with us. He told us to knock on a door and as soon as the opened to start singing "As I Have Loved You". He was challenged to do that in his mission (he served in Mexico) and saw great blessings from doing so. You could try it out Jake :) anyways... so there's Sister Dougal and I, we decided to sing on the last door we knocked on for the day. A nice white woman opened and we started singing! Before the door opened we were freaking out! I don't think I have sweat that much in my life! She received it really well and we were able to leave a prayer with her and her friends. On Sunday I bore my testimony about that experience! About the importance of having faith over fear! God is hastening His work and as member of the church we need to have faith that our friends will accept our invitations to draw closer to Christ! I hope our family is still working on fulfilling Elder Ballard's challenge of finding someone by Christmas! It's very humbling to hear others pray for our family. Whether it be at an investigators home, members home or any one we visit, they always pray for our families and thank God for the sacrifices you are making to allow us to be here. Just know all that you do never goes unnoticed! I'm so grateful for all that each one of you do for our family! I know that God has blessed us with so much. and where much is given much is required! 

Tomorrow Lovely will be getting a YW ribbon! We've been working so hard to help her finish integrity. For her display she is showing pics of us because her 10 hr project was to do missionary work with us! It's adorable! I used the stand you gave me mom (check out the pic). We are really proud of her she has come a long ways since we have been working with her! 

Today we are going to the temple to help clean! I am so excited! It will be my first time in the temple since I left and I am excited to be helping so that it can be finished! I will for sure have to come back when it's done! 

Well I think that's about it for the week! It's been a great one! We are headed down to Ft Laud to go to the temple from 1-5! I love all of you! so very much! Thank you for all you do for me! Talk to you soon!

xoxo sis johnson 

October 28, 2013

This was on a door that I knocked on three times. After they didn't answer I figured it was safe to take a pic. I don't why people have to freak out like this. Ha.

 Right before I caught a turtle! yay! Still so proud of myself for that one.

 

Sis Sablan still freaking out about her fish.

                Family,                 I LOVE YOU!

Well, as always, things here in SO. FLO. are going grand! we had another great week! while we were biking on Thurs, I got a flat tire! I some how ran over a screw.... the (kind) Elders said that they would fix it for me! I caught a turtle- it was not on purpose! We were picking up a YW to come to do missionary work with us and there were these kids fishing in the back yard. So I figured I would make use of my time and through a few casts.... on my third one I caught a turtle. He put a fight though and as soon as he got to the bank he snapped my line. His loss I was going to take the hook out! It was pretty fun though! We are still helping lovely with her personal progress. We are trying to help her finish integrity so she can get a ribbon by Nov 6. We will be cutting it close but I know we can do it! The ward trunk or treat was a blast! All of the members dressed up and it was so much fun! I love the members of the Wellington Ward! Today for p-day we went fishing. I helped Sis Sablan catch her first fish ever. She was freaking out. The whole time she was reeling in a tiny fish she was screaming ha. I also was with her when she pet her first horse.... that girl needs to come to SV for a visit! We did a lot of finding this week as we do everyone until we find people to teach! Keep us in your prayers please! It sounds like Jake is doing much better in Mexico! I am happy to hear he already baptized! He is going to help so many people there that's for sure!  There's not too big of an update this week! I sure do miss all of you and look forward to seeing you soon! It's going to sneak up on all of us and I'll be home before you know it!
 

Well family, I hope that you have a great week! I love you all so so so much! I can't even begin to express the gratitude I have for you and all that you do for me! Hopefully one day I will be able to express it to you! I will talk to you next week! Oh and next week I will be emailing on Tues! It's transfer week! CRAZY! I love love love you!

xoxox sister johnson

October 21, 2013

 Shaking the hand of an apostle of the Lord

 At the ocean. This is Sister McKay, she lives with us.

 Oreo Cheesecake!!!!

 Missionaries (about 180)   Click on photo to see full view!!


 

FfOaRmEiVlEyR- - ->

This week was amazing! Especially hearing from Elder Dallin H. Oaks. All of us missionaries were sitting together for the picture and as he walked in the spirit filled the room so powerfully and quickly. It was amazing. I know that he is called of God and that he is a modern day apostle of the Lord's chosen prophet, Thomas S. Monson. Shaking his hand was amazing as well-I couldn't believe it! My friend Gina got a really good pic of it! I am so grateful for her! His message was great! Some of the main points were temples, holy ghost, testimony, and our life long calling of serving the Lord. I learned a lot and took great notes. He talked a lot about a missionary release and how we need to continue to do missionary work after our missions. He made a lot of funny comments too. While talking about a missionary release he said "we need to be prepared for our releases. I know that mine involves a mortician." he also made some good/funny comments about dating and hanging out. He said that "hanging out isn't a sin but that it is really close to one." I am really grateful for the opportunity that I had to learn at the feet of an apostle. Sis Dougal and I sat front and center! It was fantastic! It was my last time seeing Sister Tuia! I was really sad! It's hard to leave and to see others leaving as well. She gave the closing prayer at the conference and was just crying. I fear my time is not too far around the corner. I am excited to see Sister Tuai again after the mission! We learned a lot together!

I feel bad that Jake got so sick this past week. I am anxious to hear from him this week to see if he is doing better or not. I pray that he is! I got a Halloween card from Sheri this week. Her and Kirk have always been so good at sending cards to us every holiday no matter where we are! It's very thoughtful of them! I also got a package from Aunt Bobbie and Grandma Johnson with a bunch of homemade goodies and a cute scarf! I am grateful for them and all they do to support us missionaries! Sis Dougal and I just love our ward here to pieces! They are amazing. It is true dad, every area becomes my favorite! I have so much love in my heart for the members of the ward here! We have been making cookies and taking them to the leaders to express our gratitude and it has really strengthened our relationships with them. We also have been committing families to hold family prayer. And I encourage our family to do the same. I have seen the difference it makes in the lives of parents and children. It is something so simple. I know that as you do our family with receive unity and strength within our relationships. Sister McDougal (RS Pres) took us to Cheese Cake Factory this week! It was so yummy! We all got our own piece of cheesecake too! We were in heaven! That is only my second time eating there! We had a family invite us to there home for Christmas. It was a bitter sweet thought to think that I won't be here then. The mother on the family reminds me a lot of Dana we told them that Sis Dougal didn't even know if she would be here then. The mission has transfers on the 18th so people will be moved around right before Christmas this year. This Friday is our wards trunk or treat! We are excited to go! It will be fun to get some of our investigators there too! :) They are doing dinner and games! This past week we helped with the relief society lesson and the teacher gave us a whole bag of candy for helping. Just what we need right? ha. That's okay we will share it with a lot of people!

This Sunday my heart filled with joy as I watched our recent convert, Mario, pass the sacrament for the first time. Mario is incredible. He has had a lot of experiences in his life that have helped him to build a strong relationship with the Savior. As he passed the sacrament, he had the biggest grin on his face and the up-most reverence for what he was doing. They asked him to help a minute before sacrament started and he did a fantastic job. There is no greater happiness that comes than seeing someone embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives and to apply the atonement of Christ into their lives. What was a blessing on top of that was that Mario brought his niece with him to service. Before we found Mario we were teaching her but her mother didn't want them to meet with us. Then we found Mario and its made all the difference. We pray that the mothers heart will continue to be softened and that their family will be able to come unto Christ through baptism because of the example that Mario is setting.

This past p-day we went to the ocean and down town Palm Beach. It was a lot of fun! A member took us! She does a lot for us missionaries. She is in the other ward that meets in our chapel! This p-day we don't know what we are doing yet. We might play sports with the elders or carve pumpkins. We are for sure going to buy white shirts for Mario because he doesn't have any. It will be a great day! We have lots of knocking to do tonight. We are really trying to find! We haven't baptized this month and so we are working hard to find! We know they are here there is no doubt!

I am happy that the boys got their elk! That was a quick hunt! Yeah for jerky! I miss that!  I hope that everyone has another great week! I know Jake and I will on our missions! It's definitely not peaches-n-cream all the time but pretty dang close! I LOVE YOU! Talk to you next week!
xoxoxo

sis johnson

October 14, 2013

Johnson Family & Friends --->

Another week has flown by for me in my mission and I can't believe that Jake hit his 2 month mark. I will never understand where the time goes! 

Thank you for sending that package mom! It had just what I needed in it! The sticky notes were so cute! Me and my companion were wondering where you got them from? They are adorable! Thank you for sending my contacts too!  You are super mom and I LOVE YOU! I was also wondering if I could get Jake's address from you so I can write him. Thank you! 

This past week for p-day we went to Buches Wildlife Area. There were just a bunch of animals. It was fun! When I saw the deer and the ducks I just thought of the boys hunting haha. In two weeks our ward is having a trunk or treat and we are really excited to go to that. We are inviting all of our investigators! It will be a lot of fun! I remember going to the one in Etna growing up in WY and taking Bri one year too! 

Dallin H. Oaks is coming on Saturday and I cant wait! I am so excited for that! I'm preparing by reading one of his talks each day! I can't believe I will get to shake his hand. That's kind of a BIG deal! I am so excited! I've been setting some goals like you asked me to dad. :) thought you might like to know that!

This past week I got to go on exchanges with my trainee again. Sister Ellett. we had an amazing spiritual experience. We had parked at a home to follow up with a family we have been teaching. We spoke with them briefly and then went down the street to leave a prayer with a family that we had seen outside. After we had a great experience with this family, we started walking back to our car that was just up the street. There was a man outside washing his car and Sister Ellett said, "I'm going to go give him a card." I was so happy that she wanted to do that! because his hands were full he asked her to set it in the garage and that he would look at the card after he was done washing his car. As we walked away I felt prompted to turn around and offer to say a prayer with him but, I kept walking to the car (I had a little fear in me). When we got into the car and all buckled in, I turned to Sister Ellett and said," sister we need to get out had go say a prayer with that man." She jumped right out of the car, we blessed him and he really appreciated the prayer. This increased me testimony and it is something that I will never forget. Time and time again I am reminded of the importance of following the spirit as soon as we get a prompting. I am grateful for experiences like these that help me remember the gifts that I have been given from God. It was also a blessing to see how she is improving and growing in her mission. 

Today for p-day a member is going to take us to the beach! That will be fun! Thank you for all your love and support! I know that I have the best family ever and I'm not afraid to tell everyone! Man it's crazy to think that Brandon leaves so soon! I will just miss him by a week! I hope that all of you have a great week and can feel of my love! I keep all of you and especially Jake in my prayers always!

xoxoxo love sister johnson