I'M STAYING IN MISSOURI CITY!! So SO happy. I was all but tramautized from having to leave so soon after my first area, but we're all staying here, the trio is sticking together, and boy do the members love us! We were at a ward activity and our relief society president came up and asked if we could talk to her niece, Erica, who was there and investigating the church. She said "I just feel like you need to talk to her." And of course we're like "Yeah!" and so we all go into a little room and just talked to her. Just testified. Didn't even do much but invited her to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. And so we all kneeled right then and there and she's like "Okay, I'm getting baptized." It was awesome!! The Spirit does everything. I love being part of this work.
K also, okay. SO much to tell you. I just want to tell you about this guy we have named Rudy. He's like "been saved by Jesus" as he would put it. Speaks english and spanish, and holy cow. We just went over and talked to him this week and he just talked to us forever about how much he loves Jesus Christ. Like literally he was the worst of the worst and now he's got pictures and crosses all over his house and he's so much happier. He's just got the Southern-ness in him too. He's like "You mormon's are all so HUMBLE. And I can see Jesus in you." And then he asked why only the young people were out preaching the word. And something about how people of all ages should be preaching the good word. Haha. He's the best. Just a big guy with a big o' heart. He's going to be a bishop one day. I just want him to read the Book of Mormon so bad cuz he LOVES the bible. Yay for southern Bible-lovers!
Also, Erica, who we had our little experience with, got married! And she's getting baptized next week! Isn't that the best!? I'll have to send you pictures. They had a little wedding outside and it was super cute.
Mom, thank you for your example. I use it all the time. We have a member in our ward that bless her heart has had like- the roughest marriages in her life and she just feels sad that she has to do everything solo. It's hard! We shared with her Helaman 5:12 and just talked about how we need to build our foundation on Christ, and if we do we can get through the hard things, even if we feel alone. I told her about you and how you were such a great example to me of doing that. I think it really helped her, I hope so at least. Life just isn't easy! But the awesome thing is that it can be happy and fufilling no matter what! I just love that. The gospel really does bring all the sincere, true happiness in the world. And hope!
I'm learning so much about faith, hope, and the Lord's timing. We have so many investigators that are so close, but they just need to get married! And we just need to have faith that the Lord will make it happen somehow, that the hearts of the men in this area will be softened! Praying for that.
How's Grandma Gale doing? We have an 87 year old in our ward "mama hope" that reminds me so much of her. Just so happy and cute and old. Haha. I love our ward so much! Yesterday this lady told me that I have a double in Columbia, where she's from. Like- my face is the same as her face. Yes!!!! I knew I had a twin somewhere....
It's been amazing to see how the gospel changes people's lives. I know that God answers prayers. I know that He is on our side and is rooting for us to succeed. He is the perfect parent, patient, kind, and loving. He sees the best in us, even when we can't see it in ourselves. He knows what's best for us in the long run. I think about one of our investigators who has a daughter who's slowly just dying. It's a condition in her brain that she got when she was 14 and ever since has just been slowly decaying. It's so hard to see her like that, and I'm sure it's so hard for her mom. But it's like- when we truely know who God is and trust Him, we know that every hard time or "Wilderness" he puts us through is going to draw us closer to Him in the end. I think of that everytime I see her, how that's helped her mom become more like the Savior and more softened to hear the message that we have for her.
Love you all! I know the church is true with all the energy of my soul! Jesus Christ lives! And He loves us!
Love you .... FOREVER!
Hermana Johnson
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