Long Live Spanglish!

Dear family,

I can´t believe how the time is already flying by- I hear it even picks up speed the further into the mission you are, and the more you understand the language. Speaking of Spanish, it´s going pretty well. The members are starting to realize that I can actually understand them, and they will sometimes even talk to me, and not just Hermana Cano :)  It´s been nice to finally get out of my shell a little bit now that I can speak more, and they´re starting to realize I´m not just a silent gringa. My English is deteriorating, though. In the piso, we speak English off and on so Hermana Cano can practice, and I end up mixing words all day (miembers, leccions, rolling my r's even when I speak English), and I´m only a little over 2 months in! It´s going to be really messy by the time I come home. 

This last week, Victoria (Estela's [the girl baptized last week] mom) was baptized and confirmed, and seeing her in her shop the other day, she was all smiles. Honestly, she´s the happiest I´ve seen her, and she just looks different. I´m including a picture of her- she´s a beautiful Nigerian woman, and the story of how she came to Spain is incredible. So many people immigrate here from Africa, looking for a better life, and they risk  their lives crossing deserts and the sea. Victoria risked it all because she wanted a better life for the baby she was pregnant with (Estela). She has such faith, and I know that she´ll be blessed for all of the good that she does. 

Another miracle happened through Victoria- she listens to the Book of Mormon on CD while she´s working because she can´t read (like many immigrants), and her friend Tina listened with her and asked to come to her baptism. Short story short, we´re teaching her now, and she wants to be baptized. 

Hna. Cano and I sang at Victoria´s baptism, and I sang in church with Elder Fowkes last Sunday during a special missionary program. One man told me it was the best thing he´s heard since he started coming to church. I found out later that it was his first time in church. Just teasing! Anyway, I recorded a practice, and I´ll send it, but know that it was better when we´d worked on it longer.

A big public thank you to the Matt and Brittany Johnsons for the incredible package containing peanut butter! Oh, how I love it! It was super expensive to send, so don´t worry about sending me packages anymore- I feel really bad about it, but just know that I appreciate that peanut butter like it was semi-liquid gold. I´m sending home an envelope today with letters for those who have written me/sent me packages etc, so keep an eye out for that. 

I love Spain and the mission more every day. I love seeing people take their roosters to the park, and elderly men sitting together on benches in the shade. I´m really starting to love (most) Spanish food, and look forward to eating with the members. I´m tired most days, but I always look forward to the next plan we have, and the next person we´ll teach. I love focusing on other people, studying for them, praying for them, and helping them any way we can. Life is so good, and the mission is so good, even on the hard or slow or supressingly hot days. 

Listening to missionaries give their last testimonies at conference before leaving, I kept thinking, 'I´m not ready to do that yet. I don´t want to leave.' Know that I miss you all, but that I´m in the right place, and I´m loving every minute of it. Take care of yourselves, and know you´re in my prayers.

Love, Hermana Johnson

Two Months!

Dear family,

I cannot believe that I´ve been a missionary for two months! (Granted, only the last 3 weeks really count). Still, there are moments in the day where I see my chapa (missionary tag) out of the corner of my eye and realize that I´m really here, and that I´m actually a full-time missionary. I don´t think I ever really foresaw this, but I´d rather be here than anywhere in the world. Sometimes I do miss the family, but I know that it wouldn´t feel right if I was at home now, so give the little ones a hug for me and let them all know I miss them. 

Where to start...I think I already told you about this miracle when we skyped, but right now we´re teaching one of Hna. Cano´s former investigators that fell off the map, and we found him again in the street. He is so good- he has so much faith in Christ, and we´re working toward his baptismal date in June. 

We´re also working with the mom of the girl that was baptized the other week- it´s a little tough because she´s always falling asleep in the lessons, but she´s excited for her baptism, and she knows that the gospel has changed her daughter for the better. It amazes me how much faith these people have when they commit to live the commandments- it´s a lot to ask of them, but they really trust in the Lord and have faith that he´ll fulfill his promises. 

Another miracle happened when we were meeting with members to give a lesson on how to invite their friends. At one woman´s house, we told her what we´d be teaching, and she started laughing and shouted into the kitchen, "Hey, Maria! Want to come to church with me?" The woman came into the room and started asking us what we believe about what happens after we die. We taught her the entire plan of salvation, and I think we´ll be teaching her again in the future. 

One thing I´ve seen a lot is how much people truly desire to believe in the plan- it really is so merciful, and almost too good to be true. When we teach the sick that they can have perfected bodies after they die, or that couples can be married forever, or that we can see our loved ones again, their hope is visible in their faces. I haven´t met anyone yet who had major doubts about the doctrine of the gospel- some are just afraid to leave what they have behind, and trust that they´ll be blessed by following Christ, no matter how difficult. The people that do decide to trust are changed, and a new confidence and serenity comes into their lives that you know wasn´t there before. I love this work!

The members here are so wonderful- the ward mission leader is a maquina, and he really pushes us to work with the members to bring others to Christ. Even though a lot of the food is strange, I´m learning to love it (still working on tomatoes). The members always feed us generously, and they always welcome us to teach them and invite them to invite others. 

There´s one family here that reminds me of the Mulcahy´s (the sons at least), and being in their home is so familiar, so it´s always a blessing to eat there. Plus Magdalena makes this delicious dessert called natilla... mm... Anyway, the family lent me their flute to play a musical number this week, and if I get it down, I´ll record it and send it home so you can listen. 

Thank you for sending me emails about how you´re doing, and how your kids are doing, and what Matt is scheming, etc. I love you all, and even though I miss you, and sometimes worry about you, I know I´m in the right place, and I´m doing important work. Take care! I love you!

Love, Sister Johnson

The Street Where I Live

Madre Mia!

Dear family,

even though you probably couldn´t tell, it was so good to talk to so many of you yesterday. Yes, I spent most of the time crying or trying not to cry, but I want you to know I´m doing better than you think. 

Even though I get frustrated with the language a lot, the other missionaries say I have really good pronunciation, and that for being out for only 2 weeks (is it three now?) I´m doing great, and that I´ll have it down pat in a month. And really, i do understand what´s going on in conversations, and can translate for other people pretty well. It´s just when someone asks me a question, I become a deer in headlights.

Fun fact: I´m the first 19 year old sister missionary this area has seen, so I´m something of a celebrity among the member families- a few of them have told me they want to take pictures with me because it marks such a historic moment in our church. The district and zone leaders have told me several times that I´m a maquina- a machine- which is apparently a good thing as a missionary. It just means I work hard. I don´t have many talents yet, but I am trying my best. 

And honestly, I do love the work. There is nothing like seeing the light of the gospel spark behind someone´s eyes. There´s nothing more beautiful than having the answers to someone´s deepest questions, and watching them take it in like parched earth soaking up rain. Nothing. And even though I miss you all, and it´s hard to think about what´s going on at home, I´d rather be here, because I know that this is my one chance to serve my Savior with all my heart, might, mind and strength. I´ve grown to love Jesus Christ in a way I didn´t know was possible, and there is nothing I¨d rather do right now than serve Him. 

The people really are so kind. The members feed us well, and are willing to help with the missionary work. There are definitely some characters in our ward, and I can´t wait to get to know them all better. Even though most of them just talk to Hermana Cano (knowing I probably can´t respond), I know that they´ll warm up to me. The kids already love me because I talk about Babe and Coons and will listen to them prattle about how "cocodrilos y pirañas son peligrosos". If only adults liked those sorts of things. 

Spain really is an incredible place. I love walking down tiny alleyways and seeing clothes hanging out on a line above my head, and little boys playing soccer in the street. I love that almost every store is a bakery or an ice cream shop (if only I had time to stop). I love that "¡Madre mia!" is a legit expression here. Spain is beautiful, and I´m glad that I get to serve here. 

I love you all, and I´m grateful that those who had the chance talked with me on Sunday. I´m so blessed to have you as my family. I´ll be praying for all of you!

Love, Sister Johnson

(ps. Picture is of Estela´s baptism, with Victoria her mother who has a baptismal date later this month, and Elder Fowkes, the district leader) 

Malaga III

Dearest family,

 

my first area is Malaga III! It´s beautiful here- tons of old apartment buildings and little alleyways where kids play soccer together. It´s just what I would have imagined it to be. Everyone here has a little dog, or birds, or both. Most people are polite, even if they aren´t particularly friendly. I´ve already had a fair amount of typical Spanish food from the members- some of it I´ve loved, and some takes some real fortitude to get down and keep down. I am trying to eat everything though, mom, don´t worry... which actually is a problem- I always feel like I´m starving, and I know if I don´t watch myself, I´m going to get very, very fat.

 

My companion is Hermana Cano- she´s from a town near Cadiz, so she has a really thick Andaluz accent, which was hard for me to understand at first- much like a Chilean accent on steroids. I´m getting better at understanding, though, and the other day at church I gave the prayer, and the members said I´m starting to get an Andaluz accent too. Sister Cano is compacted energy- she´s a little intimidating that way, but she´s such a great missionary. She really cares about the people and uses time wisely.

 

Missionary work isn´t quite what I expected. I don´t think I could put my finger on what is different exactly, but I know I felt surprised when I really got started. The schedule in this mission is different from most people for sure. We study a little in the mornings, proselyte, then come back to our piso from 2-5:30 to study because everyone is napping then, and when we get further into the summer, it will be too hot to be outside.

 

Most of the people we´ve taught this week are Nigerians, and half of the lessons have been in English. A mother and daughter that we´re teaching already have a baptismal date, and their willingness to commit to live the commandments astounds me, and I know that people would not be making such difficult changes if they weren´t doing it for the Lord.

 

We´re also teaching a man who was a pentacostal preacher, and I love seeing the light that comes into his eyes when we answer his questions with the gospel. He told us that he´s been taught by a lot of preachers and missionaries, and that our gospel is different because we actually care about his concerns.

 

One... fun... story happened when we were teaching in one of the more "chunga" (ghetto) areas. We were teaching one woman in her piso, but there were four other men there, all talking and eating together. I thought about inviting them to listen, as it advises in Preach My Gospel, but I decided they were too busy, and that we´d just annoy them by inviting them, so I let it be. Then in the middle of the lesson, one of the men came over and asked, "Is Jesus just for one person?" We were stunned for a second then answered, "No, He´s for everyone." He raised his voice, "Then why are you only teaching His gospel to one person? Don´t I need it too?" I felt so guilty for ignoring my impression to invite him earlier, and I really learned my lesson. My companion thought he was kidding, because all the other men were laughing at the conversation from the table, but we invited him to listen at the next appointment. He was there listening the next time we came, and seemed sincerely interested in what we had to say.

 

The ward here is wonderful- and it was a relief when we had a family home evening with an Argentinian family and I understood every word they said. Oh, it was heaven.

 

So, next week is mother´s day, and I get to Skype home on Sunday. I´m going to try to do it at 4 o´clock here from a member´s home, which I think is 8 in the morning in Sandy, but I´m really not sure. I don´t know if I have a skype account, so I¨m going to use my companion´s, which I´ll send to you in another email, mom and dad. I think I have about an hour to talk, and the more of my family I get to see the better.

 

I´ve been more homesick here than I was in the MTC, but it´s not so bad that I´m depressed or can´t concentrate. Still keep me in your prayers so I can do what I´ve been sent here to do. I really do want to be a good missionary, but I know I need the Lord´s help.

 

Those who sent me an email this week: thank you- I love to hear how your families are doing. I can´t wait to talk to any and all of you who can make it to Skype on Sunday morning. Dad, make sure you send me an email with your skype account so if you have trouble finding my comp´s account, I can try to find yours. Maybe you should be on your email then so I can email you if I have problems.

 

I love you all- you´re in my prayers always.

 

Love, Sister Johnson

Malaga!

Dear family,

 

I get to write you to let you know that I made it safely to my mission area. I still don't know my assignment- I'll find out in about two hours, but I know it isn't very distant from Malaga. We took a high speed train from Madrid to Malaga this morning- and the countryside was beyond beautiful. There were small castles on several hills that we passed, and beautiful little villages with red tiled roofs and white walls. The fields were so green, and there were olive tree groves and herds of sheep everywhere. Honestly, I couldn't dream up a more beautiful landscape.

 

I had two letters from the Blodgetts waiting for me when I got here, with drawings from both Addie and Laura- thank you, girls! I'll send you back something as soon as I can.

 

My mission president is so kind- I only had one short interview with him since there are so many missionaries to get through, but he was very genuine and caring. I get my trainer this afternoon. I'm pretty nervous for that. I'm nervous just to begin real missionary work- I definitely don't feel capable yet.

 

The good news is I got to eat a chocolate filled croissant. That's always a plus.

 

Speaking of, I have a feeling that another croissant is calling my name.

 

I love you all and will write you again as soon as I can- take care!

 

Love, Sister Johnson

Leaving the Madrid MTC

Dear family,

I have approximately zero minutes to write this email, but I thought I´d try to get something to you as promised. It´s been a good, albeit difficult, week. My district sang the Jordan High Seminary theme song ¨Fear Not¨. Elder Malan (who went to Jordan) sang the beginning and end duets with me, and the other loud voice you´ll hear when the men sing is Elder Sharp ;)

I´m really sad to leave this district too, but not quite so sad because I´ve had less time to grow close to them, and more than half of them are coming to Malaga with me. Hopefully I´ll get to see them all in the field  at some point.

I love you all and have been thinking of you- especially my little nieces and nephews. I miss them most of all. Please remind them that I love them. I´ll let you know where my assignment is on my next p-day... not sure when that will be. I´m sorry I couldn´t write much. Just know that I love you and my prayers are with you!

Love, Sister Johnson

https://soundcloud.com/rais1954/kirsten-district-singing

Week 6

Dear family,

I can´t believe I´ll be leaving the CCM in just one week. It really took some time to adjust to this place, but I know I´ll miss it. It´s been wonderful to live on the temple grounds and to be surrounded by good missionaries. The Madrid temple is lovely- especially inside- so much marble, beautiful painted details, and an incredible celestial room. I´m sad that today was probably the last time I had the chance to do a session there (in Spanish, too), but I am grateful I did get that opportunity, and so grateful for temples and for what they mean.

The language is coming- a little too slowly for my taste, but it is coming. Our teacher, Brother Lopez, told Sister Thompson and I that it takes most people about 6 months to become fluent in the field in his experience, but he feels pretty confident that my companion and I will have it down in maybe a little more than 6 weeks, which is so comforting to hear.

We proselyted at a beautiful park last Saturday, and it was incredible to talk with people on the street about their beliefs and about our gospel, and not only be able to communicate my thoughts and understand theirs, but to truly feel the love the Lord has for each of His children. I was temporarily companions with Sister Grant, who´s going to Malaga as well- she doesn´t know much Spanish still, so I did most of the talking, but she´s a wonderful missionary, and I´m glad I got to know her better.

The Prado last Thursday was lovely- I loved the paintings, and was excited to see Las Meninas since I studied it during my last humanities class, but my favorite were the sculptures by far.

Thank you to Mom and McKale, who have sent me letters here. I´ve been meaning to write back, but I really just don´t have time. Just know that I really appreciate it.

So Tuesday is the day that we leave for our areas, and we find out where we´re assigned on Monday. I´m pretty sure I´ll have time to tell you where I´m going on Monday night, so watch for my email.

I´m so glad to hear that Alisa´s brain MRIs were clear- I can rest easier now.

I feel bad that my letters are so short, but I really have so little to tell right now- I´m sure I´ll have much more to write when I´m actually serving. Thank you for your emails, Mom and Dad- it´s so good to hear news from home.

I would love if you could send pictures of each of my siblings with their families. Letters are always nice too J I have some harder days, but I know that if I do my best, they´ll be for my good. I´m really learning to rely on the Lord, and I´m working on trusting Him more. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Give my nieces and nephews a hug for me- I miss them more than anything. Let them know I love getting drawings and letters from them.

I love you all!!

Madrid Temple and MTC

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

It´s finally P-day! It´s 8am and we are about to go to the temple for our morning session. It apparently will be in Italian because we just got a group of Italians in here at the MTC and they are all getting their endowments out for the first time for their mission since this is their closest temple. The temple here is gorgeous! We are literally only a few yards away and we see it from our windows everytime we look out, and for exercise we just walk around the temple square. (We could go play soccer or run, but those are not my thing). So we just like to walk around and say hola to real life people, because those actually exist here. We are going to the Prado Museum for our P-day activities and I am so excited! Art! Ahhh so happy. There are other excursions people at the MTC can go on too. They even let us go to the store on non P-days too. And I am going to pick up some stamps today. So you all can write me! Apparently it takes between 5-7 days for mail and I´ve heard you can use DearElder and it gets here in 4. The MTC food here is interesting too...they love grease, potatoes, and fried things. We´ve also been served swordfish, salmon, and squid nuggets (i think?), all of which I ate by the way. A lot of the food is gross but some of it has been way good.

So I´ve finally learned to like this MTC more, especially since we are more close with our new district but I do still miss Provo of course. And there are +/- to both places for sure. Our teachers here are hilarious. Oh my goodness, I am just laughing the whole time. Especially Hermana Delgado. She is from Sevilla and has the thickest accent- she drops all her s´s and uses a really strong lisp. But she understands when I saw meowing or purring in Spanish so I love that. And my dark chocolate açai berries are such a hit here. That teacher started singing the american national anthem in broken english, in a funny little accent and said they were celestial chocolate. But now I am out haha. I don´t get much studying in here because it is so distracting and undisciplined but our teachers are there three times a day and teach us a lot of grammar which is really useful. And we´ve already taught four lessons to our two different teachers. When we taught Hermana Delgado for the first time as (get this) Encarnacion(!!!!) she had a carton of cigarettes and was wearing a robe and took of all indications of being a teacher. So helpful for the roleplaying. But as soon as we came up to the door she lit up a cigarette and pretended to smoke. Our faces were priceless I´m sure. Mind you this was not only inside a builiding, but inside a church builing, down the hall from the MTC president. And I guess she thought there wasn´t enough smoke so she lit it again and waved it in our faces while we were teaching. It got so thick we all started laughing and broke character and she had to go put it out in the bathroom. But everyone kept peaking through the window in our door becuase they could smell the smoke haha. But the lesson went really well. We taught the Restoration and it had such a strong spirit. It was the first time we had quoted the words from Joseph Smith from memory with real intention and when HermanaJohnson said the words (Vi una columna de luz...) chills ran all down my body (and the investigator´s) and I felt an overwhelming spirit come over me. I have never had an experience that sudden, not only with the first vision but with anything in the church. The power that story brings is incredible.

So after I emailed you all last week on Saturday we went to a city square called the Goya to proselyte. I´m not gonna lie, it was really rough and discouraging. I was paried with another companion, Hermana Grant, who doesn´t speak much Spanish yet and we were supposed to talk to people on the metro and in the city. Some companionships had good experiences but mine not so much. I only talked to Spainards who didn´t speak english at all and were not friendly. And I was the one speaking basically the whole time to all these people. We gave out some pass along cards, church info, and had some nice conversations. But the last woman we talked to at a bus stop was the hardest. I tried to strike up conversation and that should´ve been my first cue that she didn´t want to talk but I kept perservering. Then came the yelling in rapid Spanish. We told her our purpose as missionaries and things like God loves you and we can have peace through Jesus Christ. She said no to every testimony we had to bear and said I was too young to understand anything. That there were people dying, starving, and Spain was in horrible shape. I tried to explain to her in the best way possible but nothing helped. There was a lot I didn´t understand but she is just one of those people you can´t reach. I felt so badly afterwards, like a failure, like I should´ve said more. But at least I had that experience and will get hardened to it since it will happen more and more. This saturday our zone will be going to the park instead of the Goya where it is easier and people are nicer since they aren´t all busy.

So I didn´t have time to finish this email earlier so I actually have already been to the temple by this point. It was lovely. The session was actually in Spanish since there weren´t that many Italians, so I listened to the whole thing in Spainsh and then did the very last part in English. The celestial room was really pretty, especially the ceiling.

All of you all should email me and give me details even if I can´t respond much because I can print off emails here and read them later and I would love to hear about your lives.
The pictures I am attaching are of our whole districts last night together, the four remaining from our district that got sent to Spain in front of the Madrid Temple, my companion and I in front of the temple.

Madrid

Dear family,

it´s been such an exciting week here at the Madrid MTC. Jet lag was really difficult to get over, and there are still some random moments in the day where it suddenly hits me again. I told Sister Thompson that jet lag is two fat creatures hanging from my eyelids. She thinks it´s the best analogy for jet lag she´s heard. Probably because it´s the only analogy.

President Sitterud is very kind, and he told me a story about dad that I hadn´t heard before. Apparently at one stake conference (or something like that) Dad stayed up until 2 in the morning translating Pres. Sitterud´s father´s journals from Norwegian to English. I love it. Thanks for being such a good example to me, Dad.

So, Madrid reminds me a little bit of Santiago, but with a little more European flair. The Spanish is totally different from what I learned in the MTC, but it´s a little familiar- it can be a lot like Chilean Spanish. My teacher (Sister Delgado) is from Malaga and she drops her s´s and the ends of her words like it´s nobody´s business.

It´s also strange that we can actually leave the MTC, unlike Provo. The best is proselyting on Fridays. We went to a city center called the Goya and talked to the people on the street. We actually managed to distribute 3 copies of the Book of Mormon, got one woman´s contact information, and had 2 pretty good gospel discussions. They say it´s even easier to talk to people in the park (where I´ll be going tomorrow). I´m so humbled by all the people there are that don´t have the gospel, and how inadequate I am to bring it to them. But I know the Lord is on my side, and that He will strengthen my weaknesses.

Our new district is a fun mix- Sister Christian is hilarious and can do any voice impression, Sister Flake and Sister Nielsen are nice but quiet. Elder Alhovuori is a finnish man who is VERY confident in himself (well, he is fluent in four languages, I´ll give him that). Elder Malan went to Jordan High and was in Madrigals the year after me- he´s very goofy. Elder Sharp is very interesting- his favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice and he is terrified of snakes. Elder Webb is a silly person with a straight face.

I love my teachers- Brother Lopez speaks incredibly good English, and actually teaches us grammar, which they avoided at all costs in the Provo MTC. He´s also really funny and fills his lectures with entertaining sound effects. Sister Delgado is a firecracker. When she role played as an investigator she actually put on a smoker´s clothes and lit up a cigarette as we were walking up to her- (didn´t smoke it really)- when none of us could keep a straight face, or breathe, she finally put it out. She also loves Elder Moreno from the district- when we watched a video clip with him in it, she sighed and said, "Elder Moreno is a creation of the Lord." When Sister Christian had a hard time staying awake in class, Sister Delgado grabbed her by the arm and walked her out the door saying, "Come, we get drugs for your problem." Sister Christian says she isn´t sure if the pill actually helped, but knowing that there was a mysterious pill in her body kept her wide awake.

The cafeteria food is interesting- so far I´ve eaten squid and swordfish. We´ll see what other fun sea creatures I can consume by the end of my mission :)

Today I´m going to the Prado with Sister Thompson. Europe is so beatiful- it´s already pretty hot and humid here in the middle of the day and at night when the window is open, but I love it. I´m excited to get out in the field too. Well, my time´s almost up. I love you all and will be praying (and fasting) for you.

I love you!

Some Pictures

I got a little bit more time to write-check emails. Thank you Mark and Mom for writing me. I can´t wait to tell you about this week´s adventures the next time I write. The first picture is the plan of salvation, as drawn by my old district with a star wars interpretation. I don´t agree with all the points, pero me da igual. The next picture is the last we took with our old district- don´t have one with the new district, sorry. The other sister thompson took when I was calling home from the airport. It was so good to talk to mom and the sisters and kids who came. I love you all!

 

p.s. Sometimes I accidentally roll my r´s when I speak English.

Safe in Spain

I´ve been given the chance to write you and let you know that I made it to Spain safely. On the flight to Atlanta, I sat by a Christian woman a few years older than mom. She´s lived in Utah before and she says she loves her Mormon friends and the feeling of our gospel. We talked a lot about the importance of families, geneology, and about choosing what we do within our life stories. She was such a good woman, and I loved being able to talk freely about the church. I think being set apart as a missionary has helped me to become more bold on that point.

 

During the layover in Atlanta, I had the chance to call home and talk to Mom, Kari, Annie, and their little boys. I loved it and was surprised that it didn´t make me homesick, even if it did make me miss them... and yes, that´s possible. (I´ll send pictures on my next preparation day, which is Thursday).

Sister Thompson and I (now it´s just us in the companionship- sister Schaumann has a different companion) had a fun experience after calling home. Our flight was due to leave at 5:50, so we thought that we´d be fine on time so long as we made it to the gate by 5:30. We had dinner in the food court, and because we both wanted different things (and have to stay together) Sister Thompson had finished hers, and I was just starting mine by 5:20 when Elder Vogel and Elder Lush came running into the foodcourt with panicked expressions, Elder Vogel pointing at his watch. When they reached us, they told us that they´d been calling our names over the intercom for over 10 minutes, and that the plane was going to close the doors in 5 minutes. I shut the take out box and threw it in the trash and started running when they said, "You can take that on the plane, you know" "I just threw it in the trash can!" I said. "did you close the lid?"asked Sis. Thompson. I said I had.¨"Then go get it back!" So, I dumpster dived for the meal I´d just paid for and took off running with the three of them.

 

As you can surmise, we made it on the plane and I´m in Spain now. The 9 hour flight was a little tortuous, because even with the sleeping pills mom sent, I only got about 3 hours of sleep, so I´m running on just that much sleep as of yesterday morning at 5. Little jet lagged and slap happy right now. Sister Thompson and I are still companions and we´re so grateful for that because we work well together and are good friends already.

 

What I´ve seen of Madrid is lovely- when we flew in this morning, I noticed the golden sunlight and the red brick buildings first of all. Most of the buildings near the MTC are redbrick apartment buildings with green awnings and flowers in the windowsills. It´s definitely spring here- the trees are starting to fill with leaves and we can hear birds outside the windows. The Madrid temple is lovely- we´re right in the courtyard, which is all white stone- it´s brilliant in the sunlight. The weather is much as it was in Utah- jacket warm. There are only about 60 missionaries in this MTC, but they´re used to having more like 20 missionaries here, so the residences are cramped. And since it´s chaotic, we feel like the sisters at least are taking some liberties with the rules, which is driving me a little crazy- but maybe Sister Thompson and I can show them a better way.

 

I´m still really sad that I had to leave my district, but I love Spain already and can´t wait to proselyte tomorrow (!) in the streets. I´ll email you on Thursday- I love you all!

Crazy News

So, when my companions and I met the elders outside today to get our mail, they sadly handed us each a packet of papers- our travel plans to Spain! I thought I would be so happy, but I burst into tears and haven't really stopped crying since then. I know it's where the Lord wants me now, but I've grown to love my district like they're my brothers, and I don't know if I'll ever really see them again. Anyway, we're leaving on Thursday. We fly from SLC to Atlanta at 9:40, then from Atlanta to Madrid at 5:50. The flights aren't too bad- one 4 hour flight, one 9 hour flight, so pretty much the same as when we went to Chile. Golly, I'm so sad about it. I never thought I would be sad to go to Europe! Lies- I am excited to actually go, but I just hate goodbyes.

 

In other news, thank you for the prankster package, dear family. I laughed for a long time when I realized that all the candy from the candy poster was missing, and was actually a little disappointed when you sent me the candy the next day. Follow through! My district is enjoying the candy at our candy potluck today though, so thank you :) Oh, and the letters you all wrote also made me laugh a lot. I sure miss you guys.

 

General conference was amazing- I felt so inspired and validated by all the talks on missionary work, and really enjoyed the talks on the family as well, because I've been learning that missions help build and prepare you for your own families, and I just love learning more about that. I tried to keep an eye out for dad in the stands, but no luck!

 

The language is coming- everything I learned is back, and I'm learning more every day. I still have tons to learn, but I'm really comfortable during gospel discussions in Spanish.

 

I've seen Sister Forbush and Elder Jefferson in the MTC. Make sure the Bishop gets a hold of the picture of us 6th ward missionaries.

 

I wanted to take the challenge to write 25 words that I think are the most important to tell you.

 

Jesus is the Christ. He lived, died, and lives again for us. Through obedience, we can be forever families. I'm grateful for and love you.

 

I've been blessed so many ways since coming here, and I want to share a few right now. I've been blessed not to be sad about leaving home. I've been blessed with a sincere desire to obey. I've been blessed with a boldness, confidence and spiritual strength I did not know that I had, and an assurance the gospel is true. I've been blessed with more understanding of Christ's love for me, and more understanding of the miracle of the atonement. I've been blessed with help in learning the language quickly, and being able to testify of the truth in Spanish. I also have a renewed love for each of you, for my companions, my district, and the people that I'm going to teach in Spain, and I know that the Redeemer is teaching me to love as He does.

 

I'm so thankful for how righteous and kind you all are- I know I could not be so strong without each of you and the things you've taught me all my life. I love you all and am grateful that I know we can be together.

 Initial Reactions to Travel Plans

 Mount Jordan 6th Ward Missionaries

Companions

Week 2

Dear Family,

 

How is everyone? Easter was beautiful here- I loved focusing so much on the Savior. The more I learn of Him, the more I want to serve Him and be like Him.

 

Thanks to everyone who has sent me a letter or package- I especially love getting artwork from the nieces and nephews. I had a tough dream where I was home again, and could hear them all playing downstairs. Just as I went to join them, the alarm went off, and I remembered where I was. That being said, I am so happy to be here. I'm surprised that I don't miss the worldly things at all. I'm not suffering for want of music or books or movies- I love being so focused on the gospel and being so separate from normal life. I'm also still not homesick- I still miss home, but not in a way that makes me sad at all.

 

We haven't heard anything about the visa yet, but I think I'll be sad if I leave before the six weeks are over- I love my district so much, and know that after we go our separate ways, it'll never be the same.

 

The first few days were really slow, but it's picked up speed a bit, and the days go by quickly, even if the weeks don't... if that makes any sense. I love missionary work! And I've hardly started! I regret not doing more of it when I was home. The gospel makes me so happy, and I'm sad I didn't find more opportunities to share it. So PLEASE don't be afraid to share it! The more I learn, the more I realize that there is no purpose to life beyond it. I believe it with more strength than I ever have before, and I know my Savior so much better now than ever- each day I come closer to Him, and there is nothing I'd rather do right now.

 

All that spiritual stuff being said, here are some quotes from my amazing district:

 

Elder Brown (asking about Elder Vogel's gluten allergies): Do you ever throw up preemptively?

Elder Vogel: Isn't that bulemia?

 

Elder Turley (referring to the residence): When can we go home?

Elder Vogel: In two years.

 

Hna Thompson (trying to say through Christs atonement, we can be saved from our pecados [sins]): A traves de la expiacion de Cristo, podemos llegar a ser liberados de nuestros pescados. [fish]

 

A teacher: you know you're not supposed to eat in here, right?

Elder Harris (taking a bite from a cupcake): oh... we're just trying to get rid of it.

 

Hna Thompson (referring to the gluten free food closet of Elder Vogel): Aw, he has bacon. I want to go to that closet. It has bacon.

 

Elder Brown: Do these goggle lines look good on me?

Elder Vogel: Everything looks good on you, Elder Brown.

Elder Brown: I like that, sassy.

 

I love and miss you all! Write me letters and dearelders!

 

Love, Hna Johnson

 

 With Companions

 With District Members Going to Spain

Week 1

Hola, familia! I don't know where to begin with everything that's happened this week.

 

I met my companions shortly after I got to the MTC- their names are Hermana Thompson and Hermana Schaumann, from Florida and Tennessee. I am so relieved that we not only get along- we're genuinely becoming friends. Both hermanas are going to Spain- Schaumann to Madrid, and Thompson to Malaga with me. They're so funny, kind, and strong in the gospel. We're in the intermediate class with our district, which is challenging, but perfect I think for our capabilities. We're all happy and excited to preach the gospel in Spain- there's a rumor that visas are going faster to Spain because a man who works on those was converted... sounds like a fishy rumor to me, but I'd love to believe it :) None of us have been very homesick- I only cried a little when mom left me at the MTC, and when I read the letter from Sonja and Addie (thanks, guys!).

 

The lessons are almost entirely in Spanish, and we try to speak it as much as we can. One out of five words that I say in "spanish" are just words with an "e" at the beginning or an "o" at the end, como Matt or Nacho Libre. My district is great- there's just my companionship and 5 elders. Elder Vogel is quiet and funny and going to Barcelona. Elder Turley is silly and lurpy and going to Malaga. The other elders are going to Mexico. Elder Brown is also really funny and easy going. Elder Alan is very solemn but nice. Elder Harris is also pretty quiet, but can be funny when he wants. We all get along really well, and we're able to learn well in class, have spiritual experiences, and have tons of fun when opportunity presents itself.

 

We're mostly practicing teaching an 'investigator' who's one of our teachers. It's amazing how we still receive spiritual impressions for mock lessons- I'll get a feeling that the lesson needs to take a certain turn, and I'll go there, and later I'll talk with my companions and find out that they thought the same thing.

 

The hardest habit to break is calling missionaries by 'sister' and 'elder' instead of "you guys". My companions and I have started make a "plbt" noise whenever we hear someone say it. It isn't helping us break the habit, but it does make us laugh. I'm surprised by how much I love the busyness of the MTC- I don't mind the work, even if it's hard to be cooped up in one room pretty much all day. I love the  comraderie here too- not just with my companions or district- the entire population here is focused on one purpose, and you can feel it in the air. Not that we get to breathe fresh air that much. I forgot there was a sky until we went on our temple walk yesterday.

 

I'm assuming I'll be in Provo for the entire six weeks of the MTC, though I have heard some people have gone out sooner than that to Spain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

I'm amazed at how much I've grown spiritually already. I'm really learning to focus on Christ instead of my own needs. I feel the spirit incredibly strong every day of the week, my spanish is improving faster than I'd expect (especially in the lessons, when I'll often say words that I swear I never knew before), and even though I miss you all, I'm so happy to be here, and so excited to use all the knowledge I've acquired and am still acquiring to bring the truth to other people. I never realized how important Christ and the gospel and the atonement are to me, and I realize that if they mean so much to me, they will definitely change the lives of people who have more difficulties than I do.

 

I'm coming to understand the atonement, and the character of Christ, and want more than ever to be like Him.

 

They recommend that you guys use dearelder.com if you want to communicate with me instead of email so I can read it at my leisure.

 

I love you all so much and I'm praying for you all! 

Hna Schaumann, Thompson, and me