Final Testimony

This morning we had a Sisters Retreat with Sister and President Clayton and it was so fun. I didn't recognize a lot of the newer sisters which was weird, but it was nice. We had a small devotional and I was surprised at the end when myself and another sister who is leaving were asked to share our testimonies. I wasn't expecting that. When I was sitting and waiting for my turn, I had no idea what I was going to say. I was quickly thinking through my mission and asking myself, "Am I on the right path? Have I done all I can up to this point? Have I been converted? Am I humble enough? Do I trust Heavenly Father every single day instead of leaning on my own understanding?" and a million other similar questions. Sometimes the answers were no, and that concerned me. Then Sister Crump said something along the lines of we are to trust Heavenly Father all the time. I took that to heart and told Father that I didn't know what to say and that I needed Him to guide my words and help me share the things I've learned. The Spirit is real, Heavenly Father is real and loves us. I can look back on my mission and say, "I've done hard things- with the help of my Savior and Father." I know I can apply the Atonement in all things and that my Father in Heaven loves me. I know He has been proud of me and accepted my sacrifice (it's silly to call it a sacrifice when He helped me the whole time anyway). I have grown, my confidence in my Savior has grown, and my understanding of the power of the Book of Mormon has increased. I am eternally grateful for my mission, for this chance to serve with some of the most choice missionaries in the world, to share this gospel, to be forgiven of my sins, and to teach others about the Atonement of Christ.

Sunday was a good day- we reached our goal of teaching 25 lessons and it was all a miracle from Heavenly Father. I can't take any credit for last week because Heavenly Father gave us so many tender mercies in order to help us reach the goals we'd set. Sunday was also a hard day. I randomly started crying in Relief Society and then later in a lesson when I was talking about the Book of Mormon. I couldn't stop crying and it's a good thing the girl we were teaching is a return missionary because she didn't judge me. Monday night I took a tour with a very recently returned missionary and the same thing happened. I started crying while talking to her and her family in the beginning of the tour. Some times I'm so excited to go home, other times I don't ever want to leave. This week will be interesting, but I do want to be able to say that I worked hard until the end - until the very last moment I could.

Family, I don't know what more to say. I'll see you all soon and I'll be able to tell you the stories then. Although there are too many stories to tell, so we'll see how many we can get through. I love San Diego. I know this is where Heavenly Father wanted me to be and it's been the perfect mission for me. I have seen miracles and I know that they happen daily. I know without a doubt that God answers prayers. The Book of Mormon is true and it literally contains the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was a prophet and he was chosen to be the means by which this gospel was restored. The blessings of the Temple are real and powerful. We make sacred covenants with our Father because He loves us and wants us to live with Him again. It has been such a privelage, honor, and blessing to be able to serve the Lord and serve this mission. It was been the biggest blessing of my life to get to share this work with Him. This is His work and it is eternal. I love you all so much and I'm looking forward to seeing you all. I hope I recognize everyone who has grown while I've been gone and that you'll recognize me too :) Until I see you, may God be with you.

Love forever,

Your daughter, sister, granddaughter and sister in this great cause of Zion.

Week 5, Transfer 11

Hashem got baptized! And it was amazing! Everything went well, especially considering that last week was so awful for him. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were all big trials and then just the normal hard stuff the other days. But he's been a great example of faith and prayer. Every time something bad happened, he prayed and read his scriptures. He's a great example to all members. The baptism was wonderful. There were good testimonies, a beautiful musical number by the Read family and of course the actual ordinance. There was so much support and a ton of people from the ward came to see him make that step. One of my favorite parts was that Hashem's best friend David Read is currently in the MTC. We had the Read family write him a letter with his testimony to be read at the baptism. The letter didn't arrive until Saturday, and then David's dad was able to read it. Hashem had no idea that was coming and he was so excited to hear his best friends testimony. He came up to us after and said, "I'm a Mormon!" We told him he still needed to be confirmed. We gave him a quad with his name on it as a present (with help from the Reads). On Sunday he was confirmed and since it was testimony meeting a lot of people congratulated him and bore their testimonies- some of which were directed at him. He bore his testimony and told about how Saturday night he went home and his dad (who isn't supportive of Mormons) said, "You look Mormon". Hashem responded that it's a good thing to be. Later he told his dad that he'd been baptized and his dad actually accepted it and asked questions about the temple. Hashem received the Aaronic priesthood in Elders Quorum. I am so proud of him and I am eternally grateful that I've been able to work with him. He's incredible.

 

Last week was really good. We taught 21 lessons and this week's goal is 25. Heavenly Father knows when we set our goals and when we tell Him about them, He helps us. He wants to help us reach and strive and be able to do the things we hope to do. We've had so much support from the ward- as always. Our ward mission leader announced in church that we have a goal this week and a lot of people have mentioned it to us and said that they're willing to help out. THIS IS THE BEST WARD EVER!!!!!

Halloween was really fun. We were at the temple which was really slow, but Hashem and Paul came and Paul surprised us with our favorite candy bars for the holiday. It was so nice. And then we got to come to the Battalion where we had great food, ate donuts off strings and had to figure out Scripture Mastery clues (it's been awhile since I've looked at scripture mastery :S) and bobbed for apples. I don't think I've ever bobbed for apples before, or if I have I can't remember a time- so I did it and it was fun. Being a missionary warps the jokes you think are funny. Sisters were having a hard time getting the apples because they'd float away or go too deep and they weren't sticking their whole faces in. The comment was made that it's like the gospel and you have to go in all the way or it's not going to do you any good. We were all in agreement and appreciated the comparison. From the point we all stuck as much of our heads as possible into the bucket to get the apples. The results were much better.

I'm so blessed and grateful to serve here. I am grateful for this ward and the members, less active members, and investigators we get to work with daily. When I opened my mission call I knew immediately that this is the place I needed to serve and that it was perfect for me. That has been proven true during my mission. At the beginning of my mission my goals were to follow the Holy Ghost and know Jesus Christ. Now that I can look back at an entire mission I can see how I've been able to reach those goals and I am so grateful for a loving Father who has helped me every step of the way. I don't really understand why He loves me as much as He does, but I'm glad for it. I have seen so many miracles, so much growth in myself and others, and I am astounded by the way the gospel blesses people's lives. It's easy to see looking back that Heavenly Father has always had a plan and that He has everything under control. Now I hope to be able to remember this and look forward understanding that He has a plan for the future and that everything will be fine.

I love you all, have a great week!

Love, Sister Johnson

Oct. 30, 2012

Wow family what a week.

Hashem is doing really well. He's going to be such a good member. I know that because all hell has broken loose, he's been faced with a lot of trials and yesterday was no exception. After something really big/bad happened, he kneeled down, prayed and listened to about 5 chapters in the Book of Mormon to help him overcome that challenge and he's fine. Wow, he's incredible. We've started taking him to lessons with us even though he's not baptized and he always bears testimony about how he didn't know that it's true until he sincerely asked about it and that because the Book of Mormon is true Joseph Smith has to be a prophet. He taught us the Plan of Salvation yesterday. It's like teaching Martin again and I am so grateful for this tender mercy. Heavenly Father really does put those who are ready to act into our laps. Sometimes they don't act right away, but when they do they're ready to be fuerte en el evangelio.
Other exciting news is that Sister Brown and I taught 20 lessons last week. We didn't plan on teaching that many, but it came to Thursday and we realized we could so we did. It all was possible because Heavenly Father was blessing us so much. We were able to find a couple of less actives we've been trying to contact for a long time and an investigator who kind of fell of the face of the planet. Heavenly Father just made everything possible and I'm so grateful.

This ward is amazing, I know I've said it before time and time again, but they're all so willing to help us. I could never be more grateful for this chance to serve here. I know the end is near, but after an interview with President Clayton we talked about focusing and how this time is a test of my will power. I am focusing and I know that Heavenly Father's hand is in my life every single day. I'm still preparing for the change, but not ever at a time when it interferes with the work and I'm enjoying every day. I hope you're all prepared for how much I'm going to miss this place.

So many things happen, and I'm sorry I don't tell you all more stories. You'll just have to read my journal to get more details (I've finally caught up again instead of always being a week behind in writing). I am grateful for Sister Brown. She is such a dedicated missionary and works so hard. She is always willing to do what it takes, and it's showing. The work is moving and while we don't have 1000 investigators, we teach so much and we're building the ward. We are strengthening this little part of the vineyard.

I love you all, thank you for your constant prayers and support. I don't know what I would have done without all your help. Keep your faith strong, repent daily, renew your baptismal convenants, follow the Holy Ghost, endure to the end by serving and lifting others at every chance you get. Never let a day go by without serving someone. We are members in the Kingdom of God and we have the responsibility to live up to His expectations- leaving no one behind. I pray for you all.

Love, Sister Johnson