I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED! After six months it's finally happening. I'm a little sad because I love the people here, it feels like my home, and I have absolutely loved being companions with Hermana Pimentel. We're really sad we're getting split up- we had a ton of fun together.
It's pretty great how we found out about transfers....
Okay, so I was scheduled to go on another exchange with Hermana Ricks (My roommate from college) but she was crazy busy, so she called up and was like - Hey! Could you do an exchange with Houston 1? And we're like "Yeah!" - That's where Hermana Watkins is serving! And Hermana Pimentel's old area. So we were like Heck yeah!! She was like "Cool. Hermana Pimentel will be going with Hermana Watkins, and Hermana Jaeger will be going with Hermana Johnson." I was SO CLOSE to being comps with Hermana Watkins. So close!!
The exchange was great! I absolutely love Hermana Jaeger. She's seriously a ball of purity and light. She's also been comps with hna ricks and she was in my Missouri City area right before I was, so we have a ton in common. She's seriously so awesome.
We met this new guy named Juan, he has walking problems, and his wife died a year ago and he's been so lonely. We taught him the plan of salvation, and it was SO powerful. He just said that he felt like he should let us in, and he was really glad that he did. He's so cute and so great.
As we were riding home from our last appointment, we got a call from President Ashton, our mission president. We were like "wha?" So I answer and he says "Hello, who's driving right now?" I said, "Uhm... we're in a biking area." haha. "...But I'm on exchanges right now with Hermana Jaeger." And he said "Oh, I was just calling because the Lord wants Hermana Pimentel to train next transfer." Daaah! So I knew that I'd be transferred from the area. :( But guess who else is training!? Hermana Dorian!!! And Hermana Green (one of my best friends from the MTC!) President told me that I should go to the trainers meeting too... and I did. It was super cool! Such a big resposabiltiy to train but they'll all do so great. Seriously like three of my favorite misisonaries.
Anyway, miracles always happen the last week of the transfer. Gloria came to church!!! I almost passed out. It was such a miracle!!!
I know the church is true, and that God loves all His children. I know that sincere prayers are answered and that God wants us to be close to Him and we can be if we seek Him with all our hearts.
Love you!
Hermana Johnson
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Pictures
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| Me and Hna Ricks my old roommate. when we went on exchanges |
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| Me and Hermana Dorian in our Dino Shirts :) |
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| us and a bunch of elders at the place we do our laundry :) |
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| Me and a monkey at the zoo :) |
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| the hermanas :) |
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| Me and my comp Hna Pimentel :) |
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| Me and my comp Hna Pimentel :) |
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| This is me and erryone that's training... Hermana Pimentel, hna Dorian, Green, and McGrath. :) |
Week 45: 03/03/14
Mam!
How are you!? I love you!!! So... funny thing that I do when I type... I stick my ear to my shoulder like I'm talking on the phone. Old college habits die hard I guess.
I'm going to be 22!!! Whoot!! Seriously all I want is letters and a backpack. Maybe food (I'm apparently skinner than I used to be... but I think it's just cuz of the bike area). I just told my companion all I want to do is be allowed to sing "22" by Taylor Swift all day without feeling guilty. She said that would be okay. Haha.
Next week we get transfer calls!! I'm pretty sure I'm staying... but who knows. I'm kinda getting to the point where everyone's problems are stressing me out and I'm sitting here like "I don't know what more to do for my vineyard." But if the Lord wants me to stay... so be it. I love it here. Also transfer day is on my birthday... that would be a pretty strange/bummy birthday cuz my new companion slash people in my new area would have no idea ... but it's whatevs.
This week was totally different. Our "numbers" were terrible but honestly it doesn't matter cuz we did a lot of great things. On Monday our district decided to make a dinner for Bishop and his wife and family. They seriously sacrifice so much for the ward, and it's been taking a toll on the family. So we did a little FHE with them, made them spaghetti, one of the Hermanas played some violin for them, and afterwards we taught them "Signs". It was a blast. And Bishop's wife was super emotional, I think just to know that the Lord was aware of her and her sacrifices.
Do you remember that cool less active I told you about that has pregnancy problems? Well, she's moving! Which is a problem, cuz she can't move cuz she's got a high risk pregnancy! So the missionaries helped her move all day! So fun. The Hermana looked at me and Hermana Pimentel and was like "Are you guys still going to come visit me!?" We're like "No, we can't!" But we so want to cuz she's awesome! She reminds me a lot of Aunt Stacy cuz she's so awesome and so cool and her kids are the cutest ever. Her little boy refuses to go anywhere without his "Cars" boots. So cute.
Carmen (one of our less actives) FINALLY came to church yesterday. She hasn't come since I've been in this area. And what's more - she came in a skirt! She HATES skirts. Haha. She's so sassy. Her son turns 8 this month and she wants him to be baptized. I hope this sparks some sort of activity in the church streak in her.
Not a whole lot happened than that. We have a little investigator with a baptismal date, Josefina, she's like 60 and she's SO CUTE! We saw her at the place where we do our laundry (we have to bike our laundry, did I tell you that? I feel like a homeless person. Haha) with her husband today and we helped them fold their laundry. She's got such simple faith, it makes me want to be more like that.
This week I've just been thinking a lot about the love of God. And seriously, the more we trust in that love and choose to believe it, the more faith we have, and the more things make sense. I know that sometimes Heavenly Father puts us through the trials now so that we can come closer to Him and enjoy the good times even more later- with complete fidelity to Him during the good times so we don't fall into darkness later. It's all about what we choose to choose. It is seriously a perfect plan!!!
Love you!
Hermana Johnson
How are you!? I love you!!! So... funny thing that I do when I type... I stick my ear to my shoulder like I'm talking on the phone. Old college habits die hard I guess.
I'm going to be 22!!! Whoot!! Seriously all I want is letters and a backpack. Maybe food (I'm apparently skinner than I used to be... but I think it's just cuz of the bike area). I just told my companion all I want to do is be allowed to sing "22" by Taylor Swift all day without feeling guilty. She said that would be okay. Haha.
Next week we get transfer calls!! I'm pretty sure I'm staying... but who knows. I'm kinda getting to the point where everyone's problems are stressing me out and I'm sitting here like "I don't know what more to do for my vineyard." But if the Lord wants me to stay... so be it. I love it here. Also transfer day is on my birthday... that would be a pretty strange/bummy birthday cuz my new companion slash people in my new area would have no idea ... but it's whatevs.
This week was totally different. Our "numbers" were terrible but honestly it doesn't matter cuz we did a lot of great things. On Monday our district decided to make a dinner for Bishop and his wife and family. They seriously sacrifice so much for the ward, and it's been taking a toll on the family. So we did a little FHE with them, made them spaghetti, one of the Hermanas played some violin for them, and afterwards we taught them "Signs". It was a blast. And Bishop's wife was super emotional, I think just to know that the Lord was aware of her and her sacrifices.
Do you remember that cool less active I told you about that has pregnancy problems? Well, she's moving! Which is a problem, cuz she can't move cuz she's got a high risk pregnancy! So the missionaries helped her move all day! So fun. The Hermana looked at me and Hermana Pimentel and was like "Are you guys still going to come visit me!?" We're like "No, we can't!" But we so want to cuz she's awesome! She reminds me a lot of Aunt Stacy cuz she's so awesome and so cool and her kids are the cutest ever. Her little boy refuses to go anywhere without his "Cars" boots. So cute.
Carmen (one of our less actives) FINALLY came to church yesterday. She hasn't come since I've been in this area. And what's more - she came in a skirt! She HATES skirts. Haha. She's so sassy. Her son turns 8 this month and she wants him to be baptized. I hope this sparks some sort of activity in the church streak in her.
Not a whole lot happened than that. We have a little investigator with a baptismal date, Josefina, she's like 60 and she's SO CUTE! We saw her at the place where we do our laundry (we have to bike our laundry, did I tell you that? I feel like a homeless person. Haha) with her husband today and we helped them fold their laundry. She's got such simple faith, it makes me want to be more like that.
This week I've just been thinking a lot about the love of God. And seriously, the more we trust in that love and choose to believe it, the more faith we have, and the more things make sense. I know that sometimes Heavenly Father puts us through the trials now so that we can come closer to Him and enjoy the good times even more later- with complete fidelity to Him during the good times so we don't fall into darkness later. It's all about what we choose to choose. It is seriously a perfect plan!!!
Love you!
Hermana Johnson
Week 45: 02/24/14
So much happened this week! Missions are so fast. I can't get over how fast they are.
First of all, we had a baptism on Saturday. Little Brandon who's 9. He's Alex's brother and he is seriously the sweetest thing ever. His mom hasn't been too involved in the process, she's not very into religion or anything but she supports what her kids are doing. She doesn't ever listen to us and she didn't even go to Alex's baptism. Which I think is a little discouraging for them. I just prayed so hard that she would make it to Brandon's baptism. She told us she couldn't go and that she had to work but I just prayed so hard that it would work out and she would make it anyway. The Lord answers prayers!!!! By some miracle (and also a lot of hard work) she and her daughter and their little nephew showed up right before Brandon got baptized. Miracles! So good!
Let's see what else? Ugh. Not going to lie, part of this week was just an Ugh. But they happen, and good times come and the work keeps going cuz it's not the work of the missionaries, it's the work of the Lord! Something I've definitely learned on my mission is that the Lord's Atonement is infinite. Especially when we just slip up and fall, the Lord always seems to make it right- especially when we're on His errand. We're just here, we're going to make mistakes, a lot of them, but that's what we're here to do, to make mistakes and to learn from them. To try to learn to be better and to purify our hearts and to become more like Christ. It's such a wonderful plan. If we're on the Lord's side and we're doing things for the right reasons we have NO need to fear in any time or in any way. I just love that!
Totally out of time. Sorry this was lacking in detail about anything haha. But I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Thank you for your example and your love and being so Christlike. I feel more than incredibly blessed.
Love you forever!!
Hermana Johnson
Week 44: 02/17/14
Alright, so like I said, I don't have much time cuz my district is about to have a nurf battle of the century and the Hermanas are totally going to win. (Also they're playing nertz right now *ie wacky sixes* and I'm totally missing out on beating everybody.)
This week was AWESOME!!!!!
So much to say so little time!
Valentine's Day was pretty great. I sang my comp a song for comp study... it was pretty romantic. She asked me if I'd be her Valentine and I told her I'd never let her out of my sight all day. We're so funny. Anyway, our district leader called us up and said that there was a less active sister that was on bed rest because her pregnancy was at high risk, in his area but he couldn't see her cuz... well he's an elder. So we biked clear over to who knows where and just talked to this AWESOME sister. She seriously was so cool. She just told us all about her life and her conversion story and it was great. Then Hna Pimentel talked to her while I went and did the dishes. Her kids followed me into the kitchen and wanted to help. So me and a six year old girl and a three year old boy did the dishes! It was so fun. It made me want to be a mom so bad one day. The little boy would dry the dishes and after he was done he would yell "IT'S CLEEEEEEAN!!" It was so cute!
Alex got baptized on Saturday! It was SO great and the Spirit was SO strong. There weren't very many people there cuz it was kinda last minute. But! It was perfect just how it was. He was so nervous. But everything went great. After his baptism me, my comp, and the sisters from a different ward sang "If you could Hie to Kolob/ Nearer my God to thee" and just looked over at Alex and he was just crying! It was so sweet. Afterwards I went up to him and asked him how he felt and he just barried his head in his jacket and was bawling. He's just like "I just feel so good!" Then one of the other Hermanas in our ward was like "Alex, do you know why out of all the people in their area they found you? ... Because Heavenly Father wanted YOU to know how much he loves YOU." Ah! The worth of a soul. It seriously made me think about how Heavenly Father is so aware of us and he loves us completely and perfectly even though we don't always feel it or recognize it. His love is the same no matter where we are or how loved we feel. He loves us so deeply and so perfectly. I love that. Alex is an amazing kid and he is going to be an amazing member and missionary one day.
I know that the church is true!!! I know that the Lord loves us so much and is so aware of us! I know that we can learn A TON from the scriptures and I know that if we trust in the Lord He'll never let us down.
I love you forever!!!!!!
Hermana Johnson
This week was AWESOME!!!!!
So much to say so little time!
Valentine's Day was pretty great. I sang my comp a song for comp study... it was pretty romantic. She asked me if I'd be her Valentine and I told her I'd never let her out of my sight all day. We're so funny. Anyway, our district leader called us up and said that there was a less active sister that was on bed rest because her pregnancy was at high risk, in his area but he couldn't see her cuz... well he's an elder. So we biked clear over to who knows where and just talked to this AWESOME sister. She seriously was so cool. She just told us all about her life and her conversion story and it was great. Then Hna Pimentel talked to her while I went and did the dishes. Her kids followed me into the kitchen and wanted to help. So me and a six year old girl and a three year old boy did the dishes! It was so fun. It made me want to be a mom so bad one day. The little boy would dry the dishes and after he was done he would yell "IT'S CLEEEEEEAN!!" It was so cute!
Alex got baptized on Saturday! It was SO great and the Spirit was SO strong. There weren't very many people there cuz it was kinda last minute. But! It was perfect just how it was. He was so nervous. But everything went great. After his baptism me, my comp, and the sisters from a different ward sang "If you could Hie to Kolob/ Nearer my God to thee" and just looked over at Alex and he was just crying! It was so sweet. Afterwards I went up to him and asked him how he felt and he just barried his head in his jacket and was bawling. He's just like "I just feel so good!" Then one of the other Hermanas in our ward was like "Alex, do you know why out of all the people in their area they found you? ... Because Heavenly Father wanted YOU to know how much he loves YOU." Ah! The worth of a soul. It seriously made me think about how Heavenly Father is so aware of us and he loves us completely and perfectly even though we don't always feel it or recognize it. His love is the same no matter where we are or how loved we feel. He loves us so deeply and so perfectly. I love that. Alex is an amazing kid and he is going to be an amazing member and missionary one day.
I know that the church is true!!! I know that the Lord loves us so much and is so aware of us! I know that we can learn A TON from the scriptures and I know that if we trust in the Lord He'll never let us down.
I love you forever!!!!!!
Hermana Johnson
Week 43: 02/10/14
Alrighty so this one's going to be short, sorry mom! It looks like you're having an awesome time on your trip! I loved your pictures! I wish I could be there with you guys and translate haah. Even though my Spanish isn't super duper strong yet- it's enough. :) I can't believe you held a snake! How cool is that!? Wow. So jelly.
Okay, so this week. Well, we had a huge like - push for Antonio to be baptized as to avoid the "eterna-gator" status, but ... well. we planned this lesson, talked about commitments. Like how he was going to commit to Gabby because he loved her, that's why they're getting married. And that it wouldn't be perfect, but you are showing her you love her and that you're willing to try by marrying her. Then we're like "It's the same with God!" and talked about baptism and the covenant. And it was awesome and the Spirit was so strong. Then we testified, and then I was like "Antonio, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized?" And seriously the Spirit was SO strong. And he said "Yes! I definitely will!.... I just need more time." Daaaaaaaaah! Dah. But you know- what can you do? He's in the Lord's hands.
Guess what!? We have a baptism on Saturday!! Alex, our little 12 year old best friend, is getting baptized and he is so excited! It's cool to see how fast he is learning and how much faith he has. I just love it. I'll be sure to send pictures.
Life is good! Hna Dorian misses me which is good cuz I always thought she hated me and couldn't wait til she could get a new companion. I was like "you're going to miss this! You're going to want this back!" Haha.
The gospel is true! What a miracle that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a young boy that just wanted to know. I know that as we have real desires that the Lord answers us, in His own time and in His own way. I know that He loves us and has a plan for all of us. Sorry this was so short. The work is going great. I love you guys so much!!!
Hermana Johnson
Okay, so this week. Well, we had a huge like - push for Antonio to be baptized as to avoid the "eterna-gator" status, but ... well. we planned this lesson, talked about commitments. Like how he was going to commit to Gabby because he loved her, that's why they're getting married. And that it wouldn't be perfect, but you are showing her you love her and that you're willing to try by marrying her. Then we're like "It's the same with God!" and talked about baptism and the covenant. And it was awesome and the Spirit was so strong. Then we testified, and then I was like "Antonio, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized?" And seriously the Spirit was SO strong. And he said "Yes! I definitely will!.... I just need more time." Daaaaaaaaah! Dah. But you know- what can you do? He's in the Lord's hands.
Guess what!? We have a baptism on Saturday!! Alex, our little 12 year old best friend, is getting baptized and he is so excited! It's cool to see how fast he is learning and how much faith he has. I just love it. I'll be sure to send pictures.
Life is good! Hna Dorian misses me which is good cuz I always thought she hated me and couldn't wait til she could get a new companion. I was like "you're going to miss this! You're going to want this back!" Haha.
The gospel is true! What a miracle that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a young boy that just wanted to know. I know that as we have real desires that the Lord answers us, in His own time and in His own way. I know that He loves us and has a plan for all of us. Sorry this was so short. The work is going great. I love you guys so much!!!
Hermana Johnson
Week 42: 02/03/14
Okay wehre do I even start? This week was SO GREAT!
Monday night we went and saw this lady named Moniqua. She is kinda crazy- I mean, I understand why- but she's very much a "tell you how it is" person. We brought this really awesome couple from our ward to her house, and she got so upset about it! She was like telling them in the middle of our lesson "The missionaries can't just bring people into my house. Just random strangers. I don't like that. This is my house. I don't even know you." Aahaaah. It was really intense. The members were CHAMPS though and pretty much defended us super well ( and with the help of the Spirit, for real) and by the end of the lesson we were best friends. Her husband is super cool and chill and he read in the BoM and really wants to go to church, and their kids are SUPER cute.
Tuesday was Hermana Dorian's last day. We went and saw this lady with a "date" but she wasn't there. Surprise! Her husband was there (Which was her main excuse of not coming to church) We taught him and he really liked it! Miracles! We also got fed a thousand times. Seriously. But it was so good. Excpet we had this cactus soup, which was delicious, until I found a dead coackroach in it. Meeeh. That was interesting. Picked it out and ate the rest of the soup though! The things you do on missions....
Then we had this "Brilliant idea" to have a reverse lesson with Janie. So we cooked them dinner, and they taught a lesson. Actually it was a super cool idea! Right? Except we let them pick the topic. Guys. We read Revelations chapter 11. What. the. heck? Hahah. We read it, in Spanish, and then they were lik e"what'd you learn?" Hahah. We're like "uhm... be prepared for the second coming!" It was really cute though.
Wednesday was transfer meeting. My companion: Hermana Pimentel! From Highland Utah! She is literally so legit, and funny, and crazy, and an awesome teacher. I've never felt so much on the "same page" as anyone else in my mission so far. Very much a teaching to needs missionary. I have been praying for her for like- since last transfer! And seriously, prayers are answered. It's awesome.
We've been teaching like crazy. It's been awesome. My favorite part of the week though was sunday. Antonio came to church. He gets married this Saturday. I just want to have a big faith push to help him be baptized. But we can't make him do something he doesn't want to do. I just - dah, I'm just afraid he'll turn into an eterna-gator if he doesn't get baptized soon. We also had Alex and Brandon come - they are so cute. Alex is twelve, and last week was fast and testimony meeting. He asked if he could go up. So he went up!!! He was like "Hi, my name is Alex and I know that the Book of Mormon is true." The Spirit was SO STRONG. I seriously almost started crying. Then he gave a little shout out to the missionaries. Haha. And his mom's health. I don't know it was really cute and he was so nervous. It seriously was like the biggest hug from Heavenly Father ever. Then the member we went out with that helped us with the crazy investigator that didn't want them in her house got up and testified about missionary work! And how we have no need to fear cuz the Lord is on our side. Then our little member AV, who's 13, got up and seriously bore one of the strongest sweetest testimonies of my life. IT was SO cute! Such a good meeting yesterday.
I know - I KNOW that the Lord answers prayers. That He loves us. That miracles happen. That we don't have to be more than we are, because His grace is sufficient. I know that this church is true with all my heart, and I'm so grateful to be part of this amazing work.
Les quiero muchisimo!!!
Hermana Johnson
PS- We ride by a Baptist church sign every day and now it says: Be an organ donor: Give your heart to Jesus!
Hahah. Love you!
Monday night we went and saw this lady named Moniqua. She is kinda crazy- I mean, I understand why- but she's very much a "tell you how it is" person. We brought this really awesome couple from our ward to her house, and she got so upset about it! She was like telling them in the middle of our lesson "The missionaries can't just bring people into my house. Just random strangers. I don't like that. This is my house. I don't even know you." Aahaaah. It was really intense. The members were CHAMPS though and pretty much defended us super well ( and with the help of the Spirit, for real) and by the end of the lesson we were best friends. Her husband is super cool and chill and he read in the BoM and really wants to go to church, and their kids are SUPER cute.
Tuesday was Hermana Dorian's last day. We went and saw this lady with a "date" but she wasn't there. Surprise! Her husband was there (Which was her main excuse of not coming to church) We taught him and he really liked it! Miracles! We also got fed a thousand times. Seriously. But it was so good. Excpet we had this cactus soup, which was delicious, until I found a dead coackroach in it. Meeeh. That was interesting. Picked it out and ate the rest of the soup though! The things you do on missions....
Then we had this "Brilliant idea" to have a reverse lesson with Janie. So we cooked them dinner, and they taught a lesson. Actually it was a super cool idea! Right? Except we let them pick the topic. Guys. We read Revelations chapter 11. What. the. heck? Hahah. We read it, in Spanish, and then they were lik e"what'd you learn?" Hahah. We're like "uhm... be prepared for the second coming!" It was really cute though.
Wednesday was transfer meeting. My companion: Hermana Pimentel! From Highland Utah! She is literally so legit, and funny, and crazy, and an awesome teacher. I've never felt so much on the "same page" as anyone else in my mission so far. Very much a teaching to needs missionary. I have been praying for her for like- since last transfer! And seriously, prayers are answered. It's awesome.
We've been teaching like crazy. It's been awesome. My favorite part of the week though was sunday. Antonio came to church. He gets married this Saturday. I just want to have a big faith push to help him be baptized. But we can't make him do something he doesn't want to do. I just - dah, I'm just afraid he'll turn into an eterna-gator if he doesn't get baptized soon. We also had Alex and Brandon come - they are so cute. Alex is twelve, and last week was fast and testimony meeting. He asked if he could go up. So he went up!!! He was like "Hi, my name is Alex and I know that the Book of Mormon is true." The Spirit was SO STRONG. I seriously almost started crying. Then he gave a little shout out to the missionaries. Haha. And his mom's health. I don't know it was really cute and he was so nervous. It seriously was like the biggest hug from Heavenly Father ever. Then the member we went out with that helped us with the crazy investigator that didn't want them in her house got up and testified about missionary work! And how we have no need to fear cuz the Lord is on our side. Then our little member AV, who's 13, got up and seriously bore one of the strongest sweetest testimonies of my life. IT was SO cute! Such a good meeting yesterday.
I know - I KNOW that the Lord answers prayers. That He loves us. That miracles happen. That we don't have to be more than we are, because His grace is sufficient. I know that this church is true with all my heart, and I'm so grateful to be part of this amazing work.
Les quiero muchisimo!!!
Hermana Johnson
PS- We ride by a Baptist church sign every day and now it says: Be an organ donor: Give your heart to Jesus!
Hahah. Love you!
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