Thursday September 13th - Wednesday September 19th

Thursday September 13th

We had dinner at the Cruz's which is always a lovely time! We made our own Calzones =)

Elder Stratton and Elder Fife taught the lesson. They showed an awesome visual-aid representing the pattern we go through of having prophets and apostles on the earth. It was way cool. I'm going to make my own copy to use during lessons.

Friday September 16th

The highlight from Friday was on the way to the blitz and after.  On our way there I saw a woman on the bus who I was standing in front of. Her and this guy were talking about his cool Nike bracelet that monitered all his work out info. At one point in the conversation I chimed in and started talking about it with them. When we got off the bus I remember feeling sad because the woman had seemed so nice and I wanted to share the gospel with her.  After the blitz Elder Topham invited us to the Subway right there for lunch.  We went to meet them and on the corner of where the subway was located stood that lady! At first we walked past her (I had waved at her but she didn't see us). We were about to go into the store but I grabbed Sister A. and said wait come here. We went over and started talking to this woman. It was really nice to talk with her. She asked us what we do. We told her we teach people about Jesus Christ. She said she had just been saying that day how she was looking for a church to go to. We told her where ours was located and she said it was right down the street from where she lived. As we continued to talk to her we came to find out she lives in OUR BUILDING! She's our neighbor! haha I couldn't believe it. Then she was joking that she would have to start coming to church otherwise if she ever saw us on the elevator she'd feel awkward ;) I'm looking forward to getting to know her more.

I told Elder Topham about the experience we had and thanked him for inviting us to Subway for lunch. We joked that he is guided by the spirit through his stomach, or that it was actually a spiritual impression that he dumbed down and associated with his stomach. Either way this is not the first time he has had a positive spiritual experience come from his hunger. We talked about putting together a book or article entitled: Following the Still Small Voice that came as a Rumble. Positive Spiritual Experiences that have come as a Result of Elder Topham's Stomach.  Hahah I would read that article. The book could be a collective volume of how missionaries have felt the holy ghost work through them. For example I feel that I am influenced by buildings/architecture. 

Saturday September 15th

We started the day by coming to help clean the church. It feels great to work beside the ward and help take care of the building we are so fortunate to have to worship in.

I love having lessons with Less Active Members or Recent Converts because I always feel the spirit so strong as we teach according to their needs. It's amazing!

Later when we went home for lunch I was thinking about some of the things I had felt and learned during our lesson with a member after we cleaned. I decided to start journaling during this time to record all the swirling thoughts up in my brain. I have learned that one of the ways the spirit speaks to me is as I am writing. I have ideas that come to me and as I answer or address that idea I receive another one. It's one step at a time, but if I'm focused I can receive a lot! 

It was incredible the things that came flooding through my mind! It had a lot to do with my blessing and the things the Lord has in store for me in my life and the future.  I also gained a greater understanding about why I needed to serve a mission! I am so blessed to know that I truly do have a heavenly father who loves me and will speak to me if I am seeking him! The parts of my blessing that unfolded/came together on a much deeper level were a few different parts that have stuck out to me for sometime now. It's like after much searching and pondering they all came together! I  truly received some special insight into  what God wants me to do with my life and the way the mission is going to impact his plan for me =)

Sister Asregadoo made us lunch. She's a legit cook. She made chicken breasts stuffed with Feta Cheese and mashed potatoes. Yes family, I will indeed eat mashed potatoes if someone else makes them! haha 

While she was making them the spirit was enlightening me on what Heavenly Father wants me to know. It funny because I would say something to her but then say hold on. It's like when I'm learning from the Holy Ghost I am in a much deeper spot mentally and I don't have the time to communicate to others. Occasionally in between thoughts I'll come up for air but for a good majority of the time I am somewhere much deeper where I'm unreachable haha

Then we went and met the Spanish speaking Sisters at the chapel.  We went to a park near there and did an activity where we started drawing out the plan of salvation in side walk chalk! It was awesome =) One by one kids started coming over to see what we were doing. They wanted to help color. We told them to draw things they were grateful God had given them.  Later they actually helped us draw parts of it (such as coloring in the world).  There were a few parents or adults there that we were able to talk to as well. It was mostly children though. I love how open children are. I truly feel like I know why the Savior had such a special place in his heart for children. It helps me to take a look at my life and assess if I am being teachable. Do I have a open heart? Am I willing to listen to what Heavenly Father is teaching me/trying to tell me or am I closed off like a teenager thinking I know it all or am too good for it? What interferes with my ability to learn? What do I need to do to change that and become as a little child? For I know little children are going to inherit the kingdom of God.

Sunday September 16th

It was a lovely day =) 

Church was fantastic and inspired. I felt I grew closer to the love the Lord has for me and each and everyone of us.  I am grateful for how clear the eternal perspective becomes when we serve the Lord with all our heart, might, mind and strength. Not to mention trying to teach the significance and importance to others. The things of the Lord become so clear and amazing.  I feel like serving a mission has given me a prescription to see the finer details of life that my physical eyes can't see, but my spiritual eyes can.

All of which the ability to see is given to any who diligently seek to know Christ. After all he is known for making the blind man see. He can do that physically and spiritually if we will but ask him. Sincerely ask him and seek him in our everyday life.  He will make even the cloudiest situation as clear as day. He is able to do all things. He stands willing and able to do those things for you... he wants to do those things for you. How can you allow him to help you see clear this week? What will you change or do that will enable Him to help you see?

I love you all! There's not much to say about Monday and Tuesday. 

Plus I am going to go play Ultimate Frisbee for p-day with some of the missionaries in my zone!

I hope to hear from you soon.

Please soak in deep the words that I am saying. I am learning so much out here and I want everyone to receive the same knowledge, peace, and blessings I have received, and continue to receive. It's up to you to decide if you desire those blessings and then diligently seek the Lord in obtaining them. He is the only one who can give them to you. I know that he will give you all the blessings you could hope for and more if you build that relationship with him and do the things he has commanded out of love.

Sincerely,

Sister Emily Johnson

This has been a wonderful week! (Aug 23-29)

This past week Thursday August 23rd-Wednesday August 29th has probably been one of the best weeks in my whole mission!

I realize this is quite a bold statement, but it's pretty true =)

 

Last Wednesday I saw pictures of Ethan Kirkpatrick at his homecoming talk after serving a mission in Toulousse France. It made me kind of sad and "trunky" (aka thinking of home) because it's been two years since I've seen my best friend and for the first time he was at home and I wasn't... and wouldn't be for another year! This was a hard reality to accept. However, the good that came from this sadness was having me reevaluate why I am out here serving a mission. I thought back on why I was willing to sacrifice so much to come out here.

I also had a very heart to heart conversation with one of the other sister missionaries and I realized that the Lord has so much left for me to do out here, so many wonderful things. He has given me my personality and talents to do his work. I am one of his fearless leaders and I can do extraordinary things. Therefore, it makes sense that Satan is going to put as much opposition in my way as possible.

 

Sister Pipes directed my thoughts to the opposition Jospeh Smith faced before the first vision.

In the Joseph Smith History 1:16-17 we read,

 

 16 But, exerting all my powers to ^acall upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into ^bdespair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

17 ...When the light rested upon me I ^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My ^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!

Joseph Smith was at the end of his rope. He was frightened and ready to surrender. He had done all that he could. It was only after he endured that the Lord delivered him from that trial and was blessed exceedingly. In life we must face trying and hard times to receive the incredible blessings the Lord is ready to give us. I already had a testimony of Moroni's words about the trial of our faith from Ether 12:6,

 6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that ^afaith is things which are ^bhoped for and ^cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no ^dwitness until after the ^etrial of your faith.

However, now my understanding is deeper and stronger :)

Ever since this conversation on Wednesday I've felt a tremendous sense of peace. The spirit has been with me in rich abundance. I know I am exactly where the Lord wants and needs me to be. I have learned so much in this week alone!

I was spirtually fed at zone conference as well. I will get to that more when I talk about Friday. The last thing I want to mention before I tell the details from my week is about the phases of missionary work. I've decided that for my mission there are three phases. 

 

Phase One (first 6 months)

• getting adjusted to life as a missionary
• trying to apply everything you learned at the MTC and your knowledge about the gospel
• finding the courage and strength to really step outside your comfort zone
• getting used to the routine of missionary service

Phase Two (months 6-12)

• you are more confident in the work
• you are ready to step up your game and magnify your calling
• you know how things go and you are an example to others
• more reliant upon the spirit
• excel in your efforts

Phase Three (months 12-18)

• confidence in being an instrument in the Lords hand
• the realization that your mission is winding down
• trying to stay focused and finish strong
• soaking in everything the Lord still wants you to learn
• and more things that I'm not aware of because I'm not in this phase yet! lol

So right now I have entered phased two! Let's do it =)

 

On to the details of my week.

 

Thursday August 23rd

I got my hair cut and my eyebrows waxed by a member in the spanish ward. The spanish sisters were there to translate for me. Luckily I trust sister Ortega or she could have told the lady to do something crazy to my hair! ;) I love having my eyebrows shaped nicely! It's such a treat. The woman was so kind and did three of us for free! First hair cut I've had since the MTC...

We had a really great lesson with Joe that afternoon with Joe and the spanish sisters. It was great having them there because we were able to dig deeper and address some of his concerns.

 

That night we had dinner with the Johnson family! It was a marvelous time. They are a wonderful family. Everytime we go over we laugh a lot and we are also able to share more about the gospel and feel the spirit. Talk about the best of both worlds.  When we were there we tried to decide what cartoon character each of us were/which best matched our personality. Elder Stratton decided I'm Dori from Finding Nemo!

 

Friday August 24th

In the morning we went to visit with Ethel (who is a recent convert). I love visiting with her because I always feel the spirit so strong! While we were there the spirit taught me a few new things! I learned that it's not bad to be obedient because we want the blessings. In fact when we seek the blessings Heavenly Father has promised us by being obedient we are actually showing Heavenly Father humility because we are being submissive and that we are seeking his help/blessings.

 

When someone has a "present" or a blessing for us their intent is to give it to us because they know how happy it'll make us. It is the same way with the Lord. His intention is to give us blessings because he knows how happy it will make us. Therefore, his intention is to always give us the blessings. But he gives them more freely when we show him we want those blessings.

 

That night we had dinner with Sister Ferguson. I love her. She is basically what my friend Mica will be like in 20 years. lol

It was also my Sister Cj's birthday. Happy birthday CJ!!! I LOVE YOU!

 

Saturday August 25th

We had a great lesson with one of our member's boyfriend. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we talked about baptism we likened it to getting a new pair of sneakers! Fresh, clean, fun to wear, comfortable, new, etc. He really likes new sneakers =) We had been talking a lot about enduring to the end or in other words staying on the road that leads us back to God after we've entered the gate of baptism. Those new sneakers are what will help us stay on that path while the Holy Ghost is cheering us on, motivating us to keep going. And Jesus Christ has gone a head of us to show us the path or course.

That night we had our ward Jamacian Party! It was a blast! Everyone who came had some jerk chicken and ox tail and danced the night away. Joe came and had a really good time as well.

 

Sunday August 26th

On Sunday I did a lot of reflecting on the time I have spent in the Kingsbridge 2nd ward. I feel really good about everything I've done to build up the ward.  Heavenly Father blessed me with the ability to see the impact I have made here at this time. I felt the sweet peace and love of the spirit feeling proud of the things I have accomplished here. This is when I started thinking about phases of my mission life. It is very possible at the end of this cycle I could be transfered. If so, I am grateful for everything Kingsbridge has taught me. I will never forget the people here.

 

Monday August 27th

We spent the majority of the day at Zone Conference with President Morgan and Sister Morgan. In the morning session guest speakers: Elder Dr. Saunders, Sister Saunders. To break up the day we had lunch and a training workshop. The afternoon session included the Morgans and President Rudd.

Zone Conference is always so uplifting and so tiring! =)

The main thing I want to share from Zone Conference. President Morgan introduced our new theme. Each mission president is asked to decided on a theme that they will embrace for their three year duration as mission president. After a lot of thought and prayer the Morgans decided upon LOYAL TO THE CORE. I am so stoked about this theme! To break it down a little bit for you, there had been a lot of talks on Courage, Obedience, Reverence, Effort.  I had already been trying to demenstrate Courage and Obedience in the work. I am very excited to implement a higher level of Reverence in everything I do as a missionary. As for effort I had been trying to do this by focusing on Diligence. Sometimes diligence can be an overwhelming word to me lol. However, when I realize I just need to put in my best effort I am better able to invest myself.

 

Tuesday August 28th

Happy 21st Birthday Jill and Janice!!!

We had District Meeting since Monday was Zone Conference. I taught the training and we focused on how important the role of the Book of Mormon is. I am so grateful to have the Book of Mormon in my life.

A question that I asked my district that I want each of you to take the time to answer

"How has the Book of Mormon influenced your testimony of Jesus Christ?"

We had such a spiritual lesson with someone we contacted last week. She is remarkable! I am learning how to more effectively teach people and not lessons.

 

I have really seen the Lord bless me this past week. This week I have seen the Lord bless everything about the work. It is truly amazing! I love being a missionary. If I am being Loyal to the Core all I have to do is open my mouth, be myself, and everything else falls into place. Those who have been prepared by the Lord will come forth. =)

 

I am so grateful for this chance to serve. I challenge each of you to make a change in your life to be more LOYAL TO THE CORE =)

 

I love you!

 

Love,

Sister Emily Johnson

 

p.s. today we are going to the top of our zone to go to a Michaels (talk about heaven!) and to eat at Wendy's!!! It's going to be a beautiful day. And we already did our laundry and cleaned our apartment.

 

 

Aug. 22nd

Hello again family and friends!

Another week has come and gone. I love having P-day on Wednesdays because between Wednesday and Sunday the week is broken up nicely.

Elder Hayward is in my zone now. He is from Mesa, AZ and I actually sat next to him the day I flew to Utah to enter the MTC.  Dad he was the one you called and told me about.

We see a lot of funny and odd things here in the Bronx. One of the things that made me laugh this last week was when we were passing all the people that hangout in the street on the evenings. There are always a lot of people chilling on 197th and Briggs Ave. Anyhow, the other day when we were heading back to our apartment we saw a man sitting in a stroller! Haha they usually have chairs, even a couch, but I was not expecting the baby stroller to be the newest addition of their furniture collection.

Saturday was awesome because we went tracting in a new area. I truly believe no other missionaries have been in that area because it it on the very edge of our border and tucked away. It was beautiful! The day we went the weather felt like San Fransisco. The duplexes were raised up and there was a lovely breeze coming in from the Harlem River. We had a lot of success in the people we talked to.

Sunday I had a very spiritual conversation with one of the elders recent converts. She is someone near and dear to my heart.  

Shout out
Thank you Tristan for the beautiful letter!

I love you!

Love,
Sister E. Johnson

Ok, I promised to tell my search and rescue metaphor
This is the BREAK DOWN
When I think of a child lost camping i focus on how scared, cold, sad, or lonely they must feel. Thinking about their situation leads me to brainstorm effective methods of finding [ward member finds-rescue team, not one person]
Then we put into action how we can work together to find.  There is a mutual concern for the lost
[action=ward mission plan]
When we find them we rejoice. It's a boost of faith (new investigators) They are not home yet but are close.
When we bring them back to the family (or part of the fold) we rejoice!
[Baptism. Joining the ward family. Celebrate with food! lol]
When we see everyone as CHILDREN of God our hearts are softened. We are filled with love and compassion. We stop at no cost to bring them safely home.

One thing I noticed at our ward picnic a few weeks ago was how much love our ward members have for the children in the different families.  I love the children in our ward. If any of them were to get lost (in the trees at Van Courtland Park or in the streets of the Bronx) I would be one of the first people to stop at no cost to seeing them safely home. I love each of them so much! I would sacrifice whatever was needed to do my part in bringing them safely home.  They are children: innocent, loving, selfless, honest... and we know how dark, scary, and evil the world can be.

So why then is there a disconnect with bringing the Lord's children out of the evil/dark world?  Physically they may look like experienced campers who enjoy and want to stay in the world.  But what we can't see is that each and everyone of them spiritually is another child in our ward family but is lost and crying out for help in the wilderness.

Sometimes it's easy to put off sharing the gospel, but if we remember the worth of a soul to the Lord we will find that our priorities shift.
For example there is a family in my ward who I love with a four year old named Baily. Her dad works on Wall Street. I bet if Baily went missing he wouldn't say, "Oh I want to help find Baily but I am just really bust on Wall Street right now. I'll look later."
That's not good enough. It could be too late later.
It becomes a "Family Emergency" I know the ward family would pull together and do everything that they could to give and help despite their busy lives.
That's because when we have charity we are acting on the pure love of Christ.  When we act on it we invite the spirit into our lives to give us extra strength and the physical ability to do what is required of us.
And on top of all that we NEVER regret it. We never look back on the time spent to see a family with distraught/worried parents reunited with their children. That kind of peace and joy brings satisfaction. That satisfaction is the kind that comes from missionary work as well. It comes from seeing our siblings taking that step of baptism to be on the path that leads back to our Heavenly Father. What a beautiful and uplifting thing to witness!

I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's true church.  With all the knowledge that we have gained from the restoration it is our duty and obligation to FIND the Lord's children. They are suppose to be with us, but they are lost.

I'm raising my voice and warning to our ward out here in Kingsbridge, but it applies everywhere.  We have a FAMILY EMERGENCY. Our children are missing. They are scared and lonely. We need to find them.

One by one (one at a time-not overwhelming)
 Effective Finding (Gordon B. Hinckley quote below)
Making plan-ward mission plan
All of us doing our part
Prioritize, Worth of the soul
Stop at no cost
We are given the Strength from the Lord
The reward/end result will be more satisfying or joyful than anything else you could ever imagine

“So many of us look upon missionary work as simply
tracting. Everyone who is familiar with this work
knows there is a better way. That way is through
the members of the Church. Whenever there is a
member who introduces an investigator, there is
an immediate support system. The member bears
testimony of the truth of the work. He is anxious
for the happiness of his investigator friend. He
becomes excited as that friend makes progress in
learning the gospel.
The process of bringing new people into the Church is not the
responsibility alone of the missionaries.
They succeed best when members become the source from 
which new investigators are found” (Ensign,May 1999, 105–6).

I will be BOLD but LOVING in saying We Need Your Help.
The effectiveness and the strength of missionary work lies within each of you.  We need to coordinate efforts through the ward mission plan, be unified together, and finally seek the Lord individually about how you can better help find those he is preparing for you.
I promise you if we each step up our efforts to find and teach our brothers and sisters about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ we will not only have the extra strength given to us to do everything on our plate, we will feel the satisfaction and joy of doing the Lord's work in rich abundance.

This all flowed into my head as I sat down to write the break down. i had been saying a really meaningful prayer when I thought of the concept of us being a search and rescue team. I feel like the Holy Ghost uses this tactic where he'll give you the thought or concept, but we wont actually get the depth of what we are suppose to learn unless we decide to crack it open.
The concept/idea is like an egg. When we write down/crack open when has already been given to us on a surface level, the goop of the egg spills forth like the inspiration yoke that ran into my brain! haha

As I thought more about this analogy, this work is very time sensitive. We need to find these children. There are a lot of harmful and bad things that could reach them before we do and it could be too late.

I feel like the Lord has revealed to me a fragment of the urgency he feels towards his work and the importance of acting now.
I was also reminded of this last General Conference when Jeffery R. Holland shared about Labors in the Vineyard about how there is still time, but to hurry because it's getting late.
"It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late."

I'm so grateful my humble and honest prayer yielded such beautiful insight. The Lord promises to reveal line upon line. This evening when I had all of this come to me he gave me 12 pages! (in my small spiritual notebook) haha =) So if we want it more than a line at a time he will give us more. But we have to want it. I've found that the Lord is really able to teach me things as I am writing them down and digging deeper.
I received these things during my evening prayers. Then during the following day I was studying in my personal study in Matthew 13:11 when the disciples ask the Savior why he speaks in parables. He tells them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
This helped me understand that the way I will come to know more about the mysteries of God will most likely be through parables, metaphors, and analogies.
Those are the times I feel like I understand most the things of the Lord.  The Lord has plenty of ways to teach us about his mysteries, but those who don't dig deeper-or who aren't looking-will miss it. 

August 15th

Hey lovely friends and family.

 

Elder Soresen in my zone is being kind and letting me use the computer before him. I have been waiting most of the day as missionaries alternate trying to get a chance to use the two computers we have here at the chapel, while also hanging out with the other missionaries.

 

Today was a big transfer!!!

All but six companionships in the 150ish missionaries (70 some companionships) are being affected by this transfer! Three of those companionships come from our zone and two of them are in our apartment! Our zone has drastically changed.

We had some amazing missionaries leave today. It's really hard to see them go.

 

President Morgan has also changed the way transfers have happened.

It's been a positive change. Before we used to gather in the parking garage underneath the church and the missionaries got a bit roudy. However, now they take place in the chapel and have a dignified and spiritual manner. It was really uplifting. President Morgan really cares about his sacred call as our mission president and he is implementing positive changes that the spirit has impressed upon his heart. Also, he is hilarious! He has the perfect balance between having the spirit and cracking jokes :)

 

As I strive to be more obedient I see the Lord blessing the work and inspiring my mind. I have been seeking to know more about the mysteries of God and the Spirit is teaching me =)

 

Well I'm going to let Elder Sorensen have his time on the computer.

I love all of you!!!

Thanks for the constant support (mom, david, and dad thank you for the letters!)

 

Love,

Sister Emily Johnson

My 6 month mark! (August 8th)

Today is my 6 month mark in the mission, which means I just have to repeat everything I've done two more times! haha just kidding. It's not quite like that. It's realizing that everything I have done so far has prepared me and taught me things to help me excel in the mission field with only one year left.  Everything from this point forward means I have less than a year to make this count!

Today I am limited on the computer at the library. Let me get out the highlights!


Friday Aug. 3
Stayed up late decorating our apartment with two of the other sisters to surprise Sister Pipes on Saturday for her birthday! It was a lot of fun. We even took a picture poster of Justin Beiber and taped it to the chair. We said it could be here birthday breakfast date. I also said she could pretend it was Enrica if she wanted. I forget his name, but it's the spanish version of Justin Beiber


Saturday Aug 4
The ward picnic was a Blast!

• Sister Pipes birthday
• Yassmin's birthday
• I climbed a tree =)
• super humid!
• Sister Britton did awesome facepainting
• I got to spend a lot of time talking to members of the ward
• I also realized how much I love throwing a football back and forth, as well as a baseball when I'm wearing a mit! I'm pretty athletic =D after the elders teach me some of the techniques.

Sunday Aug. 5th
Sister T's birthday
I received a lot of spiritual guidance. I fasted for a few things. One of the things was for the people the Lord is preparing in NY. I was inspired by the spirit about a really cool analogy. I shared it in testimony meeting. I'll write what it is next week when I have time. It's about how our ward is like a search and rescue team.

Also, I got a package from my mom. Thanks mom!

Monday Aug. 6
That night I was talking to our investigator Joe on the phone. He told me to tell my family not to worry about me; he's got my back! lol
I got a letter from Tristan =)

Tuesday Aug. 7th
Legit day!
We taught some less active members, had some appointment with active members, had a couple of people feed us, and ended the day reading from the Book of Mormon with Joe. He is really relating to Nephi and loves the courage he has!

I love you all very VERY much! 

I'm sorry this is short but I'll talk to you next week.

Love,

Sister E. Johnson