Weekly

This week was excelent! I want to share just two miracles that happened on Sunday.

Miracle 1.) On Friday of this week our recent convert Yajaira called us up and asked if she could come out with us. We told her what appointments we had lined up and she said that she wanted to help with them all! So we took her out to lessons from 1:00pm- 9:00pm! Non of our appointments fell through and she even took us to knock on some of her friends doors. In every lesson she opened her mouth and testified powerfully and boldly. Each time she shared something different and clearly inspired by the spirit. I was so amazed! 

Then on Sunday she came to church! (She hasn't been in a few weeks.) We sat there listening to the testimonies and I leaned over to her and said, like I do every fast and testimony meeting, "Your turn!". Usually she just gets and attitude and tells me no. But this time her reply was, "What am I supposed to say?" I explained briefly how to format it and she went up!!!! Her testimony went something like this:

"I know this is the true church. I was always so confused because I didn't know who God and Jesus were exactly, but now I know and I am so much happier. Ever since I got baptized I have felt like I can be somebody. The other day I went out on missions with the Hermanas. We went and saw a lot of people and I was amazed at all of the people who don't know! The biggest thing I saw was that people tell the hermanas all of their problems...and of course they told them that things like church and scriptures and prayer would help. But people came up with excuses! They thought their problems were too big for God!

I know that Jesus lived a perfect life. And they killed him! They didn't just kill him...they tortured him and mocked him and beat him. They whole time he went through that he blessed the people, he had love for them, and in his final moments as he HUNG ON A CROSS, he asked his Father to forgive them. And people think that Jesus can't help their problems??? They think He doesn't understand?? I know He will always help. He understands us. I invite all of you to open the Book of Mormon and I promise He will help you. He does understand YOU. In the name of Jesus Christ amen."

It was one of the most touching moments of my whole mission. 

Following Yajaira less active after less active got up and said that she made them want to be better. We finally had a spiritual testimony meeting where everybody left completely filled with the spirit and a desire to do good.

#2.) Meanwhile, Luis was sitting right next to us. All three meetings had been SO perfect for him. We talked all about the blessings of the commandments and he seemed to really understand (as his struggle is paying tithing right now). He finally looked comfortable at church with the branch! As the meeting ended he asked me, "Where can I find a tithing envelope?". I tried to show him without giving away how happy I was. He ended up paying an offering to the mission fund!!! He walked it right up to president with a smile on his face. Considering that the last letter he handed to president said he doesn't feel he should continue with the church, just a week ago, I would call that a MIRACLE.

We have been working on are having an activity for the youth. Last Saturday we had an activity for the youth to bring their friends to the park to play kick-ball. We invited the english ward too! It was really a fun bonding night. One of our investigators came to help with food and one of the english kids brought a non-member friend! My favorite part was that all of our ward missionaries came to support and provide refreshments. Ever since we started doing weekly correlation with them they have been SO INVOLVED! I could not be more excited about the effort that the members are putting in!!!

Hope you had an awesome week!!! Sorry it's short! Enjoy the pics!!!

Hermana Johnson

-It got really rainy one day

- I got to see my greenie on eschanges

-Some fun kickball in the park pics

-Going out with Yajaira

-Zone activity in the mountains!

6 New Investigators, 1 New Stun Gun

This week was awesome. We found some people, taught some people, built some ward relationships, and over all we are just SO SO happy

I chose two things last Monday that I want to focus on to be a better companion. So the two things I am striving for is to 1.) help my companion trust in her ability to trust the spirit. And 2.) Help my companion learn Spanish!

I set the first focus because my comp always says she doesn't know when the spirit is talking to her (she totally gets promptings all the time...she's incredible). So I thought I would help build her confidence in that by always acting on her ideas without debate. Just trusting in her right to the spirit 100%. 

Well no sooner than I had made that goal, we had an appointment cancel and Wallis said, "Maybe we should visit the Linares' (two of our converts)". I had committed to act on all of her thoughts as promptings, so we went immediately. We showed up to find one of our sweet converts shut in her room crying and panicking and feeling terrible about herself. It was vital that we were there for her. We stayed with her for two hours and figured out what to do with the situations she was facing. The next day she got sent to her mom's house and we have had no contact with her since. 

How incredible is the Spirit? It will touch our hearts in the quietest ways for the most important reasons. Hermana Wallis has become the queen of recognizing promptings in just a week! She is showing me up! It is such an honor to be serving with her!

The second thing is Spanish. Hermana Wallis is not a fan of the celestial language...so it really bothers her to have to speak it. I told her that everything I say will be in Spanish, and she can do what she pleases. So far we've been having a great week only speaking in Spansih (actually spanglish....still learning) But it's GREAT!

Companions are the best, especially mine. I don't know if I've mentioned it, but Hermana Wallis loves to run! We used to pass eachother on runs in the canyon haha! We have found some gorgeous trails right next to our apartments and we run every morning! It's so so fun. It's everything I need to feel like myself and be a missionary. 

We found two awesome new families! I get anxious before teaching families because I know how important they are to Father. But hopefully we don't scare them off and they can come to know the gospel is true!

We are still teaching Douglas, the Jehovas Witness. Last night we had to break it to him that Jehova isn't Heavenly Father, but Jesus. I was stressin' about it. I love Douglas and we have the BEST discussions. I have learned a lot trying to study for him. He has really deep questions and really wants to know truth. Every time I have tried to explain the truth about Jehova to someone the investigator isn't super pleased. But this time I was just really bold. We used the scriptures and a lot of love. Douglas said "I have never heard this. It's like Philip in the old testament. He was riding along in his cart, reading the scriptures, but someone had to come and expound them to him. Then he immediately got baptized." 

I was STUNNED by the response. Actually giddy. HOW HUMBLE. This is a guy who can tell you what it says in any scripture, word for word, if you just give him the reference. He has studied the Bible more than any person I have ever known. And he humbly accepted the invitation to pray to Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, knowing that he is not praying TO Jehova but in the NAME of Him, to seek revelation- which he never believed in in the first place. SO EXCITING.

We taught Luis tithing this week with the branch President. Luis is the most incredible person in the world. He will be THE BEST member and someday THE BEST bishop. He WANTS to pay tithing, but his mortgage might prohibit him taking another 10% from his tithing. I want to ask that if anyone out there reading this has a powerful tithing experience, please send it to my e-mail susannah.johnson@myldsmail.net. I would love to share with him some tithing miracles. Sounds like he might be calling it quits with his road to baptism tonight at dinner....but keep him in your prayers. 

Over-all this week has been great. We found 6 great news and got the cutest little girl on date for June! Can't wait! Only rough part of the week was that my energy was at ZERO for a few days. All I had left in the fridge was a huge thing of cookie dough. I ate that for breakfast lunch and dinner for a few days.....it was rough. Then I found beef Jerky in the cupboard so that was exciting. And my companion shared as much as she could too. I hope the guy that robbed me is pleased......I'm gonna pray that my bank gets it together and sends me a new card before I wither away out here lol. 

Well I love you all TONS! Have a great week!

xoxoxoxo

Hermana Johnson

P.S. The elders got a stun gun from a sketchy member in their ward who lives in the boonies. They gave it to us! Plus I broke out the good ole pepper spray. Nobody's gonna be messin' with us again!

Oh and here are the notes that Esmeralda and Zayan wrote about their baptisms!!! CUTENESS!