Don't Count the Days, Make the Days Count

Last week when I emailed I was pretty drained emotionally. My companion was having a really hard time and I was doing my best to help her. I am thrilled to announce though that everything since Wednesday night has been a drastic improvement! It is such a blessing!

Time is picking up and flying by now that I am better acquainted in the area. It always slows down a little bit when you get transferred and everything is new.

Today was transfers and some great missionaries left, including Sister Lee (from Tiwain, Sister Otukulo and Lotulelei-my tongan mission aunties, and the Denisons! My favorite senior couple who have been a big part of my whole mission). I am now the oldest in the mission and it's six weeks to go! Sister Lavaki made me my "dying" planner (my last one) and it's got pictures of my all my companions on the front and on the back a picture of the temple. I send some pictures of it. It's pretty awesome =)

This past week we celebrated FREEDOM!

Happy 23rd Birthday Tristan!!!

Thursday is when things really turned around =) We started our fourth of July off with Sister Morgan (mission president's wife) come to our appartment to make us waffles! She was aware of the difficulties our apartment was having and that really helped! After a lovely breakfast she was able to council with us. This gave Sister Ngosha a chance to really express herself and I was able to identify some misunderstandings.

After that the mood got much happier and lovelier in our apartment. We were able to work on some weekly planning before going to Brother Read's house.  Brother Read is our ward mission leader in New Canaan. He had us come over for a BBQ at his home. We got to play some tennis and have some delicious food before going to the Wavenly Park Fireworks. Missionaries had to be in early that night EXCEPT for us and the elders in our ward because Brother Read got special permission for us to attend because of the great missionary opportunity of having all of New Canaan gathered together. I was pretty surprised he did get us permission. It was awesome though because Sister Ngosha had never seen fireworks so crazy. It was a cool experience for me too because we never had fireworks in Arizona. I remember some good times in Utah at Stadium of Fire with my family though lol. Everyone in New Canaan gathered together in the park and picnicked and played games waiting for the fireworks.

The weekend was a blur but on Sunday our investigator Kevin shared his testimony! He is so awesome! He's progressing very well and we haven't even met with him much, but he has some great member support/friendship and he's recognizing the Lord blessing him in his life for doing the right thing by coming to church.  His excitement is getting others more excited about the work.  Also we have been able to help our investigator Ines break through her difficulties by having two good lessons with the bishop and his wife. Plus on Sunday we found out a member from the singles ward speaks French! Ines speaks French natively so we've been trying so hard to find someone who speaks French. At the munch and mingle Ines was going to ask us a question about why it's only the men who administer the sacrament but then her face lit up and said, "Nevermind, I'll ask her in French!"  Ines is so funny. We're hoping to help her get to the Palmyra trip the ward is taking on the 20th.

There is an increased amount of support from both wards. An assistant ward mission leader has been called for each. There is a lot of great ideas moving forward of ways to help support us with the work.  Now we just have to get a lot better about balancing out both wards.  I know Heavenly Father will bless us. We simply need to seek His guidance and inspiration in the work.

Lately I've been getting asked questions like:

You're going home soon! Is that weird? Are you ready?

What are you going to do when you go home? What's next?

Etc.

I suppose you might have similar questions. Let me fill you in!

Yes it is weird that my time is coming so soon. I don't think it has fully sunk in yet. However, I'm glad because it's not over yet. This is how I see it... when it's time it's time. I am going to put my heart into it right now and be the best I know how. Then when it's time to close this chapter and move to the next I will. But for right now I'm still a missionary and the Lord is still counting on me in this final quarter.

As for after the mission... I'll be home for a week. Then my parents and I are flying back to NY for a week to visit the places that I served and the people that I love! After that I plan on being in Arizona for a week or two before moving to Utah. In Utah I will start working and figure out my plans with Tristan <3 I might do some school at BYU. Ultimately I want to transfer to the Art Institute of Chicago. However, I know that the Lord is also making plans for me. So I'll consult with Him as well =)

But RIGHT NOW I am a MISSIONARY. There is still so much good I can do for the people out here. I'm taking it one day at a time. I'm not counting the days. I'm making the days count!

I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is about change. Changing us for the better. That's what I've been doing these past 18 months (currently 17 months). I hope when we are together again that you will feel the deep love I have for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the love that I have fore my Savior. I know that it is through Him that we receive a remission of our sins and it's through Him that we can receive a fullness of Joy! So come, taste it for yourself!

Love,

Sister Emily Johnson

The last week of the transfer

I love you!

Yes you!

Whoever is reading this email.

I know life deals all of us different circumstances, but I know Heavenly Father loves us so very much. I know that He is mindful of us. I know that He wants to speak to us and with us if we will listen and share our thoughts/feelings with Him.

Each day we simply have to do the best that we can.  I am grateful that through Christ all of our effort can be made whole. His grace IS sufficient. 

On a side note, this week we are going to be singing a funny song to one of the missionaries that is going home this transfer and it's going to be awesome! I wrote it with some of the other sisters and it has a mash up parody of "tale as old as time" and "lean on me"

Next week I will write out the words for you =)

Also, Happy 4th of July! and Happy 23rd birthday Tristan!!! 

We might be able to see some incredible fireworks =) I'll let you know!

I feel myself getting caught up and sucked into how fast everything is starting to go. I'm just going along for the ride. 

Thank you for your prayers and your support. I have definitely felt it sustain me during my mission. Now more than ever I feel I could use some extra strength. 

I hope you are finding joy in your journey! Wherever you may be =) 

Love,

Sister Johnsson

Only 9 more emails, you should enjoy each one! lol

I'm not sure if that's exactly right but it's something like that! 

Not that I'm trunky (thinking only about home) it's more the fact that I wanted to think of a cool subject line! I'm a dork I know =)

Last week I forgot to tell you NEWSIES was AMAZING!!!! I loved it!!! Seriously I would go see it 50 more times if I could. In fact when my parents come out here to visit I would love to take them to that show =) The acting, singing, DANCING, and Set/use of props was incredible! 

This past week I had the opportunity to go on a split. Sister Lotulelei is a Sister Training Leader and she goes on splits with each companionship in our area for training purposes. It's similar to the elders. It is a way to oversee the needs and training of the sisters in the mission and offers support and encouragement. I went with her companion Sister Diehl in their area. She is a sweet heart! I really enjoyed the time that we were together because we got to share why we chose to come on missions. She asked me a lot of questions about the work and my opinion about different aspects of it. I felt honored and helpful.  We also quoted Brian Reegan and shared a lot of laughs!

I started reflecting about if I am called as a Sister Training Leader for my last transfer since Lotu is finishing her mission and I'll be the oldest sister in the zone. I would love it! I think it'd be a great way for me to use the experience I've gained to help the work of different areas. Plus if I am a training leader I'll need to set the example =)  So I'll keep you posted on that. If I have the opportunity to serve in that way I'll find out the weekend before transfers (July 6th or 7th).

The work is definitely picking up! Our schedules are filling in and I love it!

Saturday we unsplit at 9:50am so I could be with my companion for a lesson with Nadine. We taught the plan of salvation and considering her boyfriend past away a few months ago, I felt the spirit teaching that lesson =)  Saturday-Tuesday we have basically had full schedules. We've gone from appointment to appointment without too much time to spare.  That's the greatest way to do missionary work!  I am feeling so blessed by the Lord! 

The worldwide leadership broadcast on Sunday was INCREDIBLE! If you missed it PLEASE check it out online! I cried like the whole time haha, but it's because I was feeling the spirit so strong! The spirit taught me a few things when I was watching it. I'm so grateful for how many miracles the Lord has poured upon us these past few days because I've been having a really hard time with my companion. She is so great and has such righteous desires but when she gets frustrated with herself she shuts down and wont talk and I can just feel contention and I can't help but feel it's towards me. As days have gone on I've recognized it is not always because of me, but even still it has been really hard! I know that the Lord is teaching me wonderful things. I know I am learning how to work with other people. 

I love this work! I know the Lord has shown me many miracles in my life and during my mission. I know that if I remain faithful and endure with patience, long-suffering, and humility He will continue to show me many more miracles in my life!

Lately I've started studying and been intrigued by Faith. 
It's such a simple thing yet difficult to apply at times.  
To paint the picture for what I have been pondering about faith I would like to reference two scriptures and a general conference talk.

• 3 Nephi 17:7-8
• Mark 5:25-34
• "Lord, I Believe" by Jeffery R. Holland, April 7th 2013 General Conference

3 Nephi 17:7-8  Christ has just come to the Americas...

7 Have ye any that are ^asick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or ^bleprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will ^cheal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

 8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your ^afaith is ^bsufficient that I should heal you.

Mark 5:25-34 

25 And a certain woman, which had an ^aissue of blood twelve years,

 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his ^agarment.

 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that ^avirtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy ^afaith hath made thee whole; go in ^bpeace, and be whole of thy plague.

"Lord, I Believe"

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng 

“If thou canst do any thing,” he said, “have compassion on us, and help us.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”¹

I would say to all who wish for more faith, remember this man! In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.

The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.

Hope on. Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.

  

The scripture in 3 Nephi 17 I often ask those I'm teaching, 
"Who did Christ come to heal?" "What does it mean to be afflicted?" "What qualifies us to be healed?"

I testify that Christ has come to heal all of us. It doesn't matter what sickness or affliction we have. If we are afflicted in any manner He will heal us! This includes physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, etc. He descended below it all. He is our Savior!  What qualifies us for his healing? We need to come hither... come forward... come unto Him! We also need to have the faith to be healed.  

As for the woman with the issue of blood we learn in verse 34 that her faith is what made her whole. She had so much faith in Christ that even though she was on the ground in the midst of so many people and all she could do was reach after him and touch the hem of his robe, it is her faith in Christ that made her whole.  Sometimes all we can do is reach out! Maybe we don't have the strength to stand and follow Him... but whatever we can do to come unto Him, well that is exactly what we should do.

Finally, Elder Holland teaches many powerful truths! He teaches us how to remain faithful even when we are trying to make sense of this earthly experience.

I am learning in a deeper way the role the spirit plays in us strengthening our faith. When I asked our member at a dinner appointment yesterday how she's been able to strengthen her faith and trust in Christ. She said She feels His love when He prays. She also receives personal revelation when she studies the scriptures. These indicate the role the spirit is playing in her ability to feel closer to Christ. I know I have a testimony of many aspects of the gospel. I have felt the spirit teach me these truths. 

I would exhort each of us to remember Elder Holland's words and demonstrate integrity to the faith you do have and the things you do know.

I know that all things are possible to those who believe.

Wont we please make a greater effort to let Christ heal us?! Let Him heal us. Let Him make us whole. Why would we want to remain broken and fallen? Come unto Him with whatever faith you do have.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you!

Sincerely,

Sister Emily Johnson

This was my week!

As you are aware I wasn't able to email you completely yesterday. Emails are important for missionaries because you get to connect with family and friends as well as articulate what you are experiencing in the mission field. 

Next transfer I will begin writing my mission experience. As missionaries when you reach the end of your mission you write a "mission experience", or in other words a paper about how the mission has shaped you. It's a very broad topic lol. 

Anyhow I will fill you in!

Remember last week when I couldn't remember what else Matt Holland invited us to RISE UP to do? Well I took some notes to be able to tell you now! =)

It is his invitation to all of us! Rise up: physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, etc. The church is here to help us.

Education

-The Lord wants us to train our minds

-Lord needs us to gain all the education we can

-The more education we have, the more opportunities we'll have

 Hope
-When we are trying to Rise Up practice the principle of hope

-Sometimes hope is all you have

Trust the Lord

-We have the Lord's power at our disposal

-I don't remember fully what he said about this but in essence I think it was to continue to serve the Lord and trust in Him

Summary of his thoughts

Take our mortal experience, 
give it to God.

Do our part,

take the initiative

Our life will be blessed!

He wants us to become just like Him.

We had a really awesome lesson with a member referral named Sanna! She is from Finland. She is here as an Au Pair (I'm not sure how to spell it, but a nanny more or less) and we stopped by after our interviews with our mission president on Friday. The parents weren't there and she let us in. She's a very sweet girl! The spirit was definitely there as we taught her. Sister Ngosha asked, "If God were here right now what would you ask Him?" After pondering for a moment she said, "I don't know...maybe ask Him if He has a plan for me?" It was awesome!!! We told her that He did =)
We taught the first point in the plan of salvation (that we having a loving Heavenly Father and that we lived with Him before we came to earth). She found it fascinating. In her country people don't generally talk about religious beliefs.  We had such a great lesson and we invited her to read the rest of the pamphlet. We knew she needed to put the kids to bed soon. We were inviting her to say the closing prayer but she wasn't sure. We discused how to pray. Right about then we heard in the other room the kids say, "MOM!" We all just looked at each other as our muscles tensed. With out thinking I said, "Do you want us to sneak out the front door?!" Sanna nodded her head and we quickly rushed to the door. With a brief exchange of "I'll call you!" and "Ok" we were on our way! Luckily we had parked across the road! It was soooo funny. We laughed the whole drive home!

Sunday was Father's Day!  Happy Father's Day Dad! I sent you a letter that would have been a few days late but should have been there by now.

Monday we got to teach Lilly, a recent convert, about family history. I felt the spirit so strong! It was awesome! That night at Family Home evening it was missionary focus. About ten people spoke of their missions, what they were like, the culture of the church in that area. We had quite the international bunch! Everyone shared their testimony in the language they spoke. We heard some Norwegian, Greek, Philipeano, Japanese (our bishop), Portuguese, English (but instead of being redundant Jared sang his mission song!), and Polish!

Tuesday was awesome! We got to help our member Keri Bryant (the one who I sent a picture of her house) pack because they are moving in one week. She is such an awesome person =) She served a mission in France and Belgium. We helped wrap up a lot of breakable lamps in bubble wrap! Over time her style has changed and she likes a lot of modern design in decorating her house. She gave us a few cute things that she didn't need to say thank you for our help! I got to pick out a pillow case and an ornament she got on sale at a design store =)  She also took us to get lunch and then frozen yogurt! Sister Ngosha had never had frozen yogurt. Later in our car she couldn't finish hers. I asked her why not. She didn't realize we were going to buy some because our member wasn't so she thought we were going to eat just samples lol

Well I had a few more thoughts but I need to run! I love you and I hope you are doing well. Thank you for your wonderful examples to me.

Love,

Sister Emily Johnson

some pictures from last week

Matt Holland

Feasting on the Ensign!

Current picture

Member house! I love them =) they are moving this week to a different house. We got to help Sister Bryant pack.

Article written about me!

 http://narrative.ly/red-state-nyc/mission-impossible-mormons-take-harlem/.

Ok so it's actually written about missionary work =) lol

but I was one of the main people who taught Jeff about the gospel.

He is a great guy and a journalist! 

check out his article =)

Making progress

Hello again =)

The good news is I'm getting more settled here in CT and I'm getting to know the wards better. The work seems to be picking up. There is a lot I'm trying to focus on and naturally I'm getting fat again being in a car and having members feed us delicious sweets that I don't want to turn down =P

I've been having a hard time adjusting to a new companion and a new area, covering two wards, and trying to communicate clearly. I was feeling so overwhelmed. I actually started to realize how much I was struggling when I reread the conference talk Being Accepted By The Lord from the last General Conference. I recognized that I needed the Lord closer to me in my life. I needed to feel His love more abundantly.  That night I received a blessing from my district leader Elder Monteirth. It was so amazing to see the Lord's love manifest through one of His humble servants. The blessing was exactly what I needed! It's given me the counsel and comfort I need to press forward and stay focused on the task at hand.  I am so grateful for the priesthood on the earth today =)

This past Sunday was awesome because Matt Holland (Elder Holland's Son!!!) spoke in our singles ward (and the two family wards that meet in the Stamford building). His voice is very similar to his dad! It was unreal. Also he is pretty funny! He was a little more laid back then his dad but still very spiritual =)

He gave examples of three passages in the scriptures where the Savior healed people by telling them to arise. He talked a lot about RISING UP and being who the Lord wants us to be.

This included:

Education: developing our minds and our hands in a skill that we love. Seeking as much education as we can! Always seeking to become better and be able to share the gospel with those in our sphere of influence.

I know he shared a few other examples about ways in which the Lord wants us to Rise Up, but I am mixing it in my mind with the talk I read in the June Ensign about moving forward with faith. It is a marvelous talk about avoiding getting stuck in Round-a-bouts!

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/06/move-forward-with-faith?lang=eng

I recommend this talk to anyone that is hoping to move forward in their life =)

Saturday we were able to teach a few people. Some were less active members, others were people we met in the community, and one was an investigator the sisters just started working with before I came into the area. Sunday we had three investigators come to church! One was the investigator we visited the day before and she came to the New Canaan ward. The other two were Ines and Gilberte (French speaking from Africa) and they went to the family ward in Stamford.  I was excited about that =)

At some point I found another talk I LOVE from this months Ensign!

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/06/improving-your-personal-prayers?lang=eng

I recommend it to everyone!

Something I'd didn't fully understood before reading this talk is the concept about Aligning our Will with the Father when we pray,

"The Savior repeatedly commanded that we “must always pray unto the Father in [the Lord’s] name” (3 Nephi 18:19). When we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, it means “our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ. … We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer”). Prayers that follow this pattern represent vain hope, not faith.

Prayer is not a negotiation process. It is an alignment process. We don’t move God to our point of view. Prayer is less about changing our circumstances and more about changing us. It is about seeking His will and asking for His help to do what we need to do. When we align our will with Heavenly Father’s will, answers and spiritual power will flow more freely. Following this pattern allows us to pray with faith."

Monday was raining hard all day long! We met up with the Elders in the New Canaan family ward to discus and coordinate more about who is visiting who from the ward list. That night we went to Family Home Evening with the Young Singles Adults in Stamford. We had some investigators come, plus we were sharing the spiritual message. Our message had two parts to it! The first was discussing a scripture 2 Nephi 32:3 We asked the members what they have done to be able to effectively feast on the words of Christ. After the spiritual aspect of things Sis Ngosha and I did a rap about baptism to prepare the mood for the activity that night. The rap turned out decent. It was one I knew because Tristan used to sing it,  then when I came into the mission my trainer and I used to listen to it. Anyway Sister Ngosha forgot all the words so she just danced around while I sang solo. lol
For the activity they were having Hip Hop lessons from a guy in our ward who is a very talented dancer! It was so cool! I wished I was in normal clothes and able to dance more fully. I am definitely going to take hip hop classes when I'm home.

This has been a really fast week! I love you very much! I pray that you are doing well. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is very aware of you and me. He knows our needs and He is looking for ways to bless us as we draw near to Him. I know life is hard and often painful, but I also know that there is a greater purpose and cause for everything. If we will trust in the Lord and cry unto Him, and seek to do His will, we will feel tremendous peace. I am so thankful for this gospel. I am thankful for the way my character is being developed and tried as I serve the Lord.
In one of my favorite General Conference talks by  Richard G. Scott
"The Transforming Power of Faith and Character"  there are a few lines that ring true to my heart,

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.

Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow. 

Your faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments will strengthen your character. Your character is a measure of what you are becoming. It is the evidence of how well you are using your time on earth in this period of mortal probation.

Character is woven patiently from threads of applied principle, doctrine, and obedience.

check out the whole talk- it's awesome!
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-transforming-power-of-faith-and-characte r?lang=eng

Love,

Sister Emily Johnson