MTC Week 2

Hola!!!!

Hi! How are you guys? Oooooh I miss you!!! I love every letter and every email and everything! I love you all!!!!

K so guess what happened? Oh no big deal, just Richard G Scott came and talked to us on Tuesday. No big deal. BIG DEAL! And guess who got to sing the most amazing song in the world in the choir while he was there AND get to be on the Jumbo Screen that was (no big deal) just broadcast to every MTC in the world? Oh me. Not a big deal at all (sorry... that's getting obnoxious)

He gave the best talk ever. Maybe last Tuesday was the height of my homesickness. I was feeling SO down, and I saw elder Scott and I was like "Man, I would just love to have a one on one interview with him. I would just love that. And just tell him everything that I'm worried about and everything that's bothering me and what I need to do about it." Seriously, his talk answered EVERY SINGLE CONSERN. First thing he does is give an APOSTOLIC BLESSING to all of us who are learning a language. That through our diligence, we'd be able to MASTER it. And to just have faith in the gift of tongues. SO cool. Anyway, he talked about prayer. Prayer. What a simple concept but it was seriously the most powerful talk of my life. I mean, I wish I could tell you everything that he said, but more or less what he said was what seriously was the theme of my entire week: God is our Heavenly Father, and HE. LOVES. US. Like, how simple is that? How simple. But if you break down everything that this gospel is about, everything that happens to us in our lives, is because GOD LOVES US. Anyway, Elder Scott, something that he talked about was that sometimes God answers our prayers by ... not responding to them. Whaaa? Right. But (Oh my gosh I'm so panicked about the time I can't get my thoughts straight!) the Lord trusts us, He wants us to learn and be patient and grow in faith. He said, literally, "If you have a hard companion, don't complain. Ask God what you're supposed to learn and GROW from it." He told us like- 3 times about how our calls were inspired. And he even stopped the closing prayer and was like "Remember that the Lord called you to succeed and not to fail. He knows what you need, and you'll descover you'll have strength beyond what you thought you had. He will not abandon you, He inspired your call."

Yeah. Epic. No kidding.

Anyway, yeah. This week I seriously prayed "Heavenly Father, what am I supposed to learn?" Welp, Hahaha. "If men come unto me I will show them their weakness" (Ether 12.......27?) And Welp, I have a lot. Hermana Dorain, like I said, has a lot of strengths that are my weaknesses and she's been able to help me out with them a lot. But what a HUGE weakness of mine is Lables. I HATE being labeled more than anything. and I’ve been so concerned about that going to Texas. "You Mormons are like this... you Mormons are like that... you Mormons are brainwashed.... you don't know what you believe." I, more or less, have been SO worried about that. Welll ..... what a great way to practice overcoming that weakness than in the MTC! And it made me refocus: Where is my worth?

I am a daughter of Heavenly Father. And there is no wrong way to be a daughter of God.

He knows my strengths, He knows what I'm capable of. He loves me perfectly, and He knows who I am. That's where my worth is. It's in Him. It's because I'm literally His daughter, and we are literally spirit children of Him. And that makes us great! Because He's given us like- a part of His spirit. Just like we get physical aspects from our physical parents, we get spiritual aspects from Him. I hope that makes sense. But I learned really to Rely on Heavenly Father.

Yeah, Emily Watkins is in my district!!! Just kidding, she's on my floor though, and we're on the same schedule. So we see each other all the time. She was definitely my tender mercy yesterday when I was like "blaaaaaahh.... everyone here." And she's like "Listen, I feel like I can't be me here." And I'm like "SAME!" Also talked to Brisa Ruppe. Glad to know I'm not alone. Hahah.

Oh. Hermana Dorian is 19 from Heber City Utah!! She loves clothes and sloths. Haha. She's the 2nd oldest of 6 - 4 sisters, one brother. Also, we just hang out with the other Hermanas alll the days long. Hermana Green is 24- she seriously saves my life when I'm a little "Teenager'd out" Hahaha.

Anyway, K. Read 3 Nephi 11. We had the best discussion about it. Jesus wants to have a One-on-One experience with us. Not cuz someone told us, He wants us to experience it for ourselves. Oh my goodness. Best thing ever. I wish I had time to explain, but that chapter is awesome. I'm learning so much here!!!!!!!!

 

Yo se que Vive mi Senor!!!!!

 

I love you I love you I love you I love you!!!

Love

Hermana Jade Johnson

1st Week in the MTC

To the left of Jade is Emily Watkins (also from Vernal)
Behind Jade in the blue shirt is Sister Dorian her companion

 

Hey hey!!!!

 

How is it going!? I'm alive!!! Whoooo it has been rough!! Haha. But so good at the same time! Yesterday was the best day of my life! Sundays are the best! I couldn't even sleep last night cuz I was so excited to write you guys! It was like Christmas! I hope you're doing well.

Okay, let me just tell you about everything.

 

Okay, remember Becca Dorian? The girl I met at the Provo Temple going to my mission as we were taking pictures?

 

Alright, just so you remember.

 

Anyway, after ya'll dropped me off they walk you to the building, you pretty much get sent through a shoot where they give you an envelope with your companion's name on it and your nametag in it and keys, room, etc. Then they give you a lil tourguide and you pick up your bags and go find your room. Guess who I saw on my way to my room? Brisa Ruppe! And then Sara McQuivey! It was awesome! We could only say hi for a sec but it was really really cool. After we drop off the bags in our room, we go find our classroom. I get in there, and whaddoyaknow my companion is sitting in there already. Hermana Dorian!!!

 

We seriously have the best teacher in the MTC. Her name is Hermana Mackay, and she is so funny! So I walk into class, she's like "Hermana Hijo de Juan!" and  asked me where I was from. I was like "Vernal!" she's like (in all spanish of course) "Oh my family is from there. Do you know the Goodrich's?"

 

Yeah. Hahaha.

 

So I was like "That's my stepdad's last name!" and she's like "Oh somos familia!" (We're family!) So you're going to have to ask Greg about who he's related to cuz obviously I don't know very much. But Hermana Mackay and I are determined to find out. She is seriously the greatest. She always uses such powerful scriptures when she teaches. I love it.

 

We have 4 hermanas and 6 elders in my district. Hermana Green and Hermana Scott son muy amoroso y muy simpatica. I just love them. Hermana Dorian is such a good companion for me, she really knows how to lead by faith and not fear; which is something I struggle with. One problem. She is not a big fan of Jade Johnson. Not a big fan. Like- that's a huge roadblock. Pretty much what happened is... well a lot of things. For some reason I felt really like- I don't know- I went into weird Jade awkward mode on friday and part of saturday, and I think it took a toll on our companionship, cuz I was just ... like not in a good mood I guess, and awkward and weird and not happy. Not that I had a bad attitude but I didn't really have a good one.. Anyway, I was like "What!? What is this, this isn't me." So I decided I wanted to change my attitude. Well, that doesn't always change things for everyone else haha. So I prayed for a miracle. Haha. And then came Sunday. Sunday!! Was such a great day!! First we go to music and the spoken word as a Relief Society ( a big giant relief society) and ... K I LOVE singing. I dind't even realize it until I got here. "Jesus es mi Luz" is seriously the best song ever to sing in spanish. Anyway, then Mary Ellen Edwards came and spoke to us about how many awesome experiences we're going to have on our missions and stuff. So great. Our branch president came and spoke to us about how companions are chosen by the Lord, and church was great, our branch president talked about Elder Bednar's talk about "Not Shrinking", and then I saw Aaron Smith at choir and I was able to talk to him and the other awesome elders about everything and they made me feel so much better. It was such a tender mercy. Then guess who I saw?? Greg Johnson! My EFY co-counselor!! The "it's all about having fun" kid.  That was such a tender mercy from the Lord. That whole day was. And then we went and listened to Elder Bednar's talk "The character of Christ" which was SO good, and it made us all feel so much better about life. And like- things were good. And it made me realize that the Atonement really can heal relationships. That the Lord is SO merciful, and He gives us so many second chances. I love it. And the more truely Christlike we are, the less focused we are on ourselves and the more focused we are on things that matter. This mission is not about me at all. It's about the Lord and His children, and bringing them closer to Him.

Let's see... Spanish!! Es muy dificil! Ughh!! Hermana Dorian and Hermana Green both took 3 years of Spanish and Hermana Scott took 6 years. Oh me? Oh I took one semester. It's so hard not to compare myself with them. But the gift of tounges is real, I have been amazed at how much I've been able to learn and how much I've been able to remember. The Lord truly has blessed me so much with so much ability and I'm so grateful for it. On Thursday we learned how to pray in spanish and Hermana Mackay asked us to pray just by ourselves, in our minds, and not worry about the words, but pray with our heart and really open our heart up to the Lord. What an amazing experience! It helped me to realize that it doesn't matter how simple the concept is, the Lord hears every sincere prayer of our hearts.

 

Anyway, yeah! It's been amazing. Thank you guys so much for the letters! I love every single one, it's like a giant hug in my heart. I love them. Thank you so much!  I miss you guys so much, but I know that this is what the Lord wants me to be doing right now and I know this is where I'm supposed to be.

 

Yo se que la iglesia de JesuCristo es verdad!! Yo se que Dio es amoroso!!!

 

 

Love ya!

Hermana Johnson

 

PS- ANYONE can email me. Just sayin. :)

The Drop Off

We dropped Hermana Johnson off at the MTC at 1:00pm, Wednesday, April 10th. When we pulled up to the MTC we were told we had 2 1/2 minutes tops to say goodbye. They were really backed up. I couldn't believe all the missionaries that were being dropped off. Jade's escort met us at the curb we gave her a quick hug and took a few pictures, then she was gone. It all happened so fast we were a little in shock.

 

We couldn't be prouder of Miss Jadeo. She will make an excellent missionary!! Here are some pictures from the drop off:

The final goodbye .. until we meet again!!

Jade being dropped off by her favorite number

Last Message from Jade ...

Dear Everyone,
K, I leave THIS WEDNESDAY and it would be super cool if ya'll could message me your address/email so I can hear all about your lives, let you know I found your long-lost uncle in Texas, etc. Also I would LOVE (!) to hear from you! Here's my address:

Sister Jade Ruth Johnson
MTC Mailbox # 151
TX-HOUS 0521
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Sister Jade Ruth Johnson
... Texas Houston South Mission
602 Eldridge Rd
Sugar Land, TX 77478

PS- I get to Texas on May 21st. Til then, DearElder.com is the best way to write me. All you gotta know is my name and my MTC Box number and WaBam ... you've written a letter. Love you guys! I'M SO EXCITED!!!