January 24, 2012

Mom, I'm so grateful for your example and it sounds like things are hectic, but I know you can handle them. Anytime someone asks me to tell about my family, I tell them how amazing you are and how you can do anything and you do it well.

I've noticed that same thing about life just slamming people with one thing after the next. It's happening all over the place and with the strongest families. It's hard to understand why everything is going wrong especially when we're following Christ. I've been at a loss too, to explain to people that God really does love us and things will be well. The only thing I can think of is that big changes are and will continue to happen in the world for good and bad. Satan is stepping things up as he always does when something good is going to happen. He's is picking up his fight because stronger saints are coming to the earth and he knows that if he can just take families down, then he'll win the battle. But he will not win the war. As we push forward and have faith through the refiners fire, especially when it's all crushing down, we become the strong and valiant warriors we have been called to be. God never leaves us without support. It is all around us when we open our eyes and see the small things. The big things don't always go away at first, but He strengthens us. Just like in Mosiah 24 with the people of Alma. I LOVE that scripture!!! We need to endure through the hard times and trust just a little bit longer that the promises we have been given by a loving Heavenly Father will truly be fulfilled. The Saints in the handcart companies faced the same thing. They were literally at the end of their limits. They could not move further and they were pushed to the edge, but true to form, Heavenly Father sent them the life saving help and they made it. Maybe not all of them, but their souls were the angels to help the rest. Our wars and challenges today are much more emotional, but we do face a lot of the physical too. But we are not left alone. We never have been, we never will be. God is on our side. I love in Romans 8:

16 The Spirit itself beareth ^awitness with our ^bspirit, that we are the ^cchildren of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; ^aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we ^bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the ^asufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the ^bglory which shall be revealed ^cin us. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can ^abe against us? 37 Nay, in all these things we are ^amore than ^bconquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to ^aseparate us from the ^blove of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That whole chapter is wonderful, but it leaves no room to doubt that God is rooting for us, and we can conquer.

You're right, keep pressing forward into the gloom. Sometimes you have to take a few steps into the darkened room before you can reach the light switch to turn on the light.

I am so excited for everyone who is serving or planning to serve missions! It's the best thing and it blesses people's lives so much. We need not fear.

Things are going the same here. The ward is starting to shrink and we're trying to help with that. It goes right in hand with my first paragraph. But as I look around I see lights shining up through the gloom. People are stepping forward and becoming the stalwart saints they need to. We have some wonderful people on whom we can rely and I can see the Lord's hand in their lives and work.

Heavenly Father always knows what we need. He has been helping me lately feel more worthwhile and strong than before. But it's taken a lot on my part to be open enough to hear His message of love He's had waiting for me. I am learning to trust others and in turn to trust Heavenly Father a lot better. I know that I am here, serving in the Battalion with all these amazing sisters for a reason. Each one of these Sisters and Elders and incredible and they teach, lift, and guide me. They are helping me become a better woman.

I took a tour the other day. I was blessed with the opportunity to use my Spanish and I got to talk with the cutest dad and daughter from Mexicali. They were so nice and I felt edified after having spent time with them. I think that's what it means to be a member of the Church. When people finish talking with you, they should feel the love of Christ. Sometimes I need to work on that. Sometimes I get impatient. But I am grateful that I know I can fix it.

We have started teaching a former investigator. He is the funniest, quirkiest man. A cool experience though happened on Sunday. We had an appointment set up and went over, but he wasn't answering his door. We knew he was home, and couldn't figure out why he wouldn't come out. As we were debating what to do we started talking to his neighbor who asked us when church was. We told him it's at ten and he responded that he was so glad he had met us because he was a member, but didn't know when church was since he is new to the area. The Lord blesses us with small miracles. When things seem like they should go one way, but don't, it's just Heavenly Father putting us where we need to be. I love when that happens! We did have the meeting with our investigator and it went well too.

Another example happened yesterday on exchanges. I've been praying so hard for this family I want to get baptized (notice how I say I want it. I'm trying to work on following God's will on this one). We had a lesson scheduled, but they buffed us. I was so sad. I could not fathom why they wouldn't be home since I'd been praying so hard. Everything seemed to be falling through. We took a moment to pray and then headed out again. We ended up finding two really wonderful women who love Christ. They shared a scripture they love about repentance and I told them my favorite scripture (Moroni 6:8). They loved it and asked what book it was in. Perfect segue to the Book of Mormon. We told them about the Book of Mormon a little and they asked if they could have one. OF COURSE! When I handed them a copy they kept saying that they were so excited to read it. If we had met with the family I wanted to meet with, we would have missed out on the chance to talk to those two great ladies. The Lord puts us where He wants us as we follow His will.

Sunday was regional Stake Conference. It was wonderful! They talked a lot about how faith is not our desire making what we want to happen come to pass. It is trusting that God has a greater plan and praying that we can have the faith to do His work. Using all of our efforts and trust to do His will. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it really clicked for me. Another story was about a lady who bought her daughters beautiful ballerina jewelry boxes for Christmas, and bought a smaller one for her niece's birthday. She told her daughters about the box she bought for her niece and the youngest daughter started to sob. The child exclaimed, "That's what I've always wanted!" She then asked to see the box and started crying anew, proclaiming that it was the most perfect one and there couldn't be a better one. The mom, while consoling her daughter, couldn't help but think about the bigger and more beautiful box just waiting for her daughter and had to laugh a little bit because she was so excited for what was in store. Sometimes that is how it is with us and Heavenly Father. Sometimes we cry, "But I wanted that job, that car, that boyfriend! It's the most perfect one and there can't be any better!" And Heavenly Father is there thinking, "If only you knew what I have in store for you." He truly does have everything figured out.

 I love you family! Thank you for everything. I love you all. But more importantly, I love my Savior. Each day I see just a little bit more just how much He has done for us. WE ARE SO BLESSED! We need to keep our eyes open and our spirits open so we can see, and truly appreciate how much we have. I hope your week goes well.

Love, Sister Johnson

January 17, 2012

Hey family,

So this week has flown by. Oh my, I can't believe that it's already another dia de preparacion. Not much has changed this week. We keep getting buffed by investigators and it's making it really hard to work with the ward. They're doing their part, but when our investigators bail it reflects poorly on us and lets a lot of people down. I don't think I've ever been this stressed in my entire life. We may need to re-evaluate just how interested the people we're teaching are. We did have a miracle at church though. One of our investigators' friend is a member and the one pushing for her to learn. But they came to church on Sunday and we saw some great miracles. There had been miscommunication between the friend and ward before, but our investigator was able to have a lot of people welcome her and make up for the last time she came to church. The Lord has this way of humbling me though. I always seem to lose sight of the long run and so when the blessings come I feel a little foolish for not having had the bright hope to endure through the hard moments without getting frustrated. I think He's working really hard to get me to trust Him and I'm not making it very easy.

We have found a family that seems really open. They're one of those perfect families and I can see how much the gospel would increase the joy in their life. I so badly want for them to gain their testimonies and join the church. The temple is the only thing missing from their life. The ward needs them too.

We got a new director of the Battalion. The Evanses went home and now we have the Seegmillers. They're really nice and getting into the swing of things really fast. It's sad to see people you love leave, but it's always good to make new friends. The Evanses live near Park City though and they said we're always welcome to come spend time and we'll have Battalion reunions which will be so good.

I'm glad you enjoyed the gifts. I enjoyed making them. Alan, that hotsauce is pretty warm. But you'll really start to enjoy it once you can past the tears streaming down your face :) Just kidding, it's not actually that hot. I sometimes think about the things I've learned here and how I can apply them years down the road. Like when I'm a trek ma and they do the women's pull, or when I'm in DUP, or even raising my own family. The men and women in the Mormon Battalion did so much to save the Church when they first settled in Utah. They learned agriculture to help the Saints tame the desert land. The money from their enlistment (which was used to reorganize the Church in England after some apostasy), the clothing allowance, their wages, and the money from the gold they found helped the Saints purchase necessary items but also in 1849 as people came through Utah to make it west, they were able to purchase the extra items from the people who wanted to lighten their loads, for a really good price- thus furnishing themselves with much needed clothing and useable household items. The skills the men learned gave them the needed stamina to settle barren land while helping their neighbors. Some of them even played a huge role in rescuing the Martin and Willie handcart companies. The Mormon Battalion did so much to save the Church, all the time building their own testimonies and securing their heavenly mansions. I have such a strong love and testimony of their legacy. And I get to pass the legacy on through currently unknown ways for the rest of my life.

Sister Kunz and I are still doing great. We have some real fun together and I've learned a lot about how relationships should be from being with her. This is doing a lot to help me.

Thanks again for everything! Love you all.

Love, Sister Johnson

January 10, 2012

Hey family,

So not much to report this week. We added some new investigators, one of which dropped us yesterday. Which is so unfortunate because his heart was open. His wife dropped us. We had a boy (well, I guess he's really a man. He's 29) with a date, but he's been sick and missed church on Sunday and so we'll have to push it back. We're teaching a lot of really ... interesting... people. I think I've changed because I probably wouldn't have looked twice at some of the people we teach before my mission. But they're great and they are all children of God. Today we went to help with the food for a funeral. It was combined with a Baptist church and I was expecting more of a missionary opportunity, but I hope the ward will have pulled through. We didn't get a chance to talk to them since it was Pday and we didn't have much time. I will say this: catering has made me really OCD about food events. I have learned some really good skills though and it helped the event look really nice. We have some great sisters in Spring Valley. It's kind of like grandma's ward in Logan. A lot of widows and some young families. A lot of the home and visiting teaching goes undone. We have far too many less actives and we can't visit them all. Nor should we. What ever connection we make will be undone when we're transfered. The ward needs to step it up and help those who are out on the wayside. But we do have some incredible people who do everything. We also have some very big personalities. It's always an adventure.

I've received some nice notes and care packages recently. The Highams sent me some wonderful Bluebird chocolate. Oh my I've probably gained so much weight this season. I'm dreading working it off. I've been doing pretty well, but I've been sick lately so Sister Kunz won't let me run. But when I'm better I'm going to get back into it.

It sounds like there have been a lot of good things at home, as always. Is dad still doing well? It's weird that Dantley is coming home so soon. Didn't he just leave? So much is always changing. And yet, it all stays the same. Does Caroline have her call yet?

Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is pride. I kept wondering how the Nephites could fall into the pride cycle over and over. And how we do the same thing. But as I was running last week (before I got sick) it hit me that we become proud when we forget. President Uchtdorf's talk really could not have been more perfect. When we forget what we've been through we forget to help others and instead condemn them, when in reality, we've been there too. So instead of remembering how it was like and knowing how to help them, we forget and become proud. No wonder we've been counselled to remember the why of the gospel and how much Heavenly Father loves us. And to be patient. When we remember, we can help those around us. Easier said than done though. It's easy to forget the bad. Which can be good because it brings healing, but we have our memories for a reason. To learn lessons. Pride is a hard thing to give up, but it really is detrimental to our salvation.

Sorry there isn't more to talk about this week. I'm having a really hard time concentrating with my cold. But it's been a good week and I've learned a lot of things about patience and diligence. I love you all! I hope you have a great week.

Love, Sister Johnson

January 3, 2012

Hey family,

Mom, I can't (well actually I can) believe you're the RS President! That's so great. You're going to be wonderful at it. The RS President in my new ward is bomb. We got to go to Relief Society for the first time in a few weeks and as we were sitting down she was telling all the sisters in the ward how hard we work to get people to church and how they need to support and help us in any way possible because we can't do it all. It's nice to know that she is backing us up so well. We really do have a good ward. We run into a lot of the laziness issues which are really common in every ward, but the ward council is strong and we have a lot of support. Leaders these days have to be really strong people to get everyone else going too. It's a good thing you're so strong mom. The ward mission leader is really good too. He works well with us and we work with him. He doesn't try to over step his role, but he keeps things going in the ward. And the ward missionaries are doing their part too. It's always good to be in a ward where people understand their purpose. The ward reminds me of your ward in Logan though. A lot of older, widows and then some families. A lot of people need help, but I think that's a worldwide issue. Everyone needs help whether temporal or spiritual. I'm learning though that as we help others, our own problems seem to get solved on their own accord. Funny how that happens.

I have heard about David Archulett. He's a pretty big deal to a bunch of 21 and 22 year old girls. That's awesome that he's going to be serving. They will have to send him to the middle of nowhere though because he's so famous here that he wouldn't be able to go anywhere without being mobbed- either by crazy 16 year old girls or anti people. He'll be a great missionary.

 New Years was fun. We had to be in early (which was the safer option), but that's ok because we planned for our upcoming week then went to a party at the Battalion. We are so spoiled. All the other missionaries don't get to have several parties every holiday. They just get to be in their apartments. We got to play some minute to win it games and it was so funny to see all of us being hyper. We had great food (as always) and laughed so hard. Oh my I am so blessed to be in the Battalion. As is the common trend at the end of every year, I was thinking about last New Years, this last year and all the different ways I've grown and changed. Before the fun began we all took a turn saying what we hoped for this next year. Some sisters said they hoped to be on their missions the whole year and I realized I won't be. That's nuts. This is my last Jan 3 as a missionary. Which is so sad because I feel like I'm finally getting into the swing of things. I'm finally understanding what it means to work hard with somebody or what it means to endure to the end.

 I've also been reading Jesus the Christ. Oh my goodness it's amazing! I hate putting it down. My hope was that I would be able to understand the Atonement better, but I don't know if only reading the book will help me. It's slowly dawning on me that I need to remember to always apply it and learn more through using that saving ordinance in my life. I've been reading the Book of Mormon and Doctrines and Covenants too. I am so grateful for the scriptures and I love them so much! It all ties together and demonstrates the love that our Father in Heaven has for us! How can we be so short sighted and forget that?! That's why humility is so important. It helps us remember that God loves us. Easier said than done.

I did receive the package mom and thank you for it! I love those scarves! I still need to learn more ways to wear them, but they're fun. And the shirts weren't too big... which is probably a bad thing. I've gained some very undesirable weight and I'm not too certain I'll be able to get it off any time soon. I have resolved to run at least a mile in the mornings, which is a huge step up from what I used to do. It doesn't help that people keep sending delicious and wonderful treats that I can't resist. But I'd rather have treats than be treatless.

Book of Mormon reading schedules are such great things! I keep remembering the one we received clear back when I was a MiaMaid and how we got to color in the little trail with each chapter. It's great for people to see their progress. We have an investigator who struggles with many things, but also her health. We're going to get a pill bottle and type up scriptures then roll them up and put them in the bottle. Her prescription will be to take one a day and apply it to her life. We hope it helps.

 We do have someone with a date. He's funny. One of those people you can just call out on things. Sister Kunz is too nice to push something if he says no, but I'm not afraid to back down. He listens to us both though so it's good. She and I have great, complimentary traits and we're getting along so well. And it is great because we can get people from either side. Our investigator once said that we're too nice to say no to, and that he thinks of us like his mom so he can't be mean to us :) As long as it gets him to the waters of baptism, he can think of me like his mom, aunt or whoever.

Thank you for everything mom. I love you so much! Thanks for the prayers, love and support. Have a great week!

 Love, Sister Johnson

Dec. 27, 2011

Hi mom and dad,

It was so great to talk to you again. Thank you for supporting me and helping me, but more important- for loving me. I know that no matter what, I can talk to you about anything I'm facing and you'll always love me. I hope that some day my kids will know the same about me. Christmas ended well. I've been incredibly blessed in the Battalion with so many sisters and grandparents. We had dinner at a recent converts house and talked about preparing them for the temple. Sister Kunz and I are getting along great. We laugh together often and truly enjoy each other's company. It's so nice to just be accepted for me. Sometimes we'll laugh at something little, but then laugh at the fact that the other is laughing, then laugh at ourselves because we're laughing until we forget what started it. It's so fun.

 I'm able to communicate with people in Spanish pretty well still. The Lord has given me an opportunity every day to talk to someone in Spanish and keep that going. Oh the tender mercies of the Lord! I'm showing my desire to continue learning by taking those opportunities, but also by praying in Spanish. It was a funny couple of days learning to pray in English again. I had forgotten English words and couldn't quite get things out. But I've learned something about prayer the last week from Sister Kunz. We are asked as we pray to give an account of our day to Heavenly Father. Literally just having a conversation with Him. Well, I've been trying that (still in Spanish) and I feel like I'm really, finally, starting to have a true two way relationship with Him. He is my Father and it's nice to talk to Him like I would you two.

 Remember that boy who flagged us down and asked us where he could go to church? Well, his name is Carlos and he is in the army- currently stationed in South Carolina. He goes to church every week and came with us on Sunday. He knew that he needed a tie, white shirt, slacks and nice shoes. It was so cool! Then last night we had an appointment with him. We read the first three chapters of the Book of Mormon to show him a little about how it goes and explain a little bit about it. He had some great questions about why don't we have Lehi's record, or why we need scriptures. It was such a good lesson and he truly wants to learn. I'm so sad that we won't get the chance to teach him since he heads back to South Carolina in a few days, but I know he's been prepared through his experiences and he has an open and willing heart. I am so excited for him. It's a great reminder to me that I am just the Lord's servant. I invite when I find and really everything works out how it's supposed to, even if it's not necessarily in my corner of the vineyard. This gospel is spreading all over and it's great to be part of it.

I've been reading Jesus the Christ and I don't know why I didn't read it sooner. It's so sad to put it down. I've also been reading in D&C and I restarted the Book of Mormon recently. Modern day revelation, prophets, and scriptures are true! How blessed are we to always have a chance to learn the will of God! He will not leave us stranded and He will guide us every step of the way. We are so blessed to have a living prophet to point out the potholes ahead. In Jesus the Christ one chapter talked a lot about the different sects of the Jews. They tried so hard to be good and obedient, but they tried so hard that they weren't pliable and able to see that Christ had come. I just hope that we don't get in the same rut. That we are so stuck on the old that we aren't able to follow the new revelations we receive by President Monson. I believe that some day in the future he (or whoever the prophet is) will come out with some bold revelations and many people won't be able to handle it. I just hope that we always have the faith and understanding that God will give us what we need, even if it doesn't make sense or even if it's hard. But that's just my philosophy. I'll stick to doctrine for now. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He has saved us from the most bitter and awful pains because He loves us. But more importantly, He loves the Father. And Heavenly Father will always bless us, but moreso as we accept and follow His will.

We are a blessed generation and a blessed family. We have so much to be thankful for. I'm grateful that I am part of this family and that I know that I belong. I'm grateful that I get this time in my existance to learn more about God's plan and His love for His children. I love you all so much!

I love you all. Love, Sister Johnson