Happy New Year

Dear family,

still no sign of the package I sent? I sure hope it shows up this week. It was good to see those of you who could make it on skype- especially the nieces and nephews. I definitely miss them more than anything and can´t wait to get back to share my adventures of Spain with them and play with them this summer.

It was a really gratifying week. I don´t know if you´ll remember when I´ve talked about Matthew and Joy and their son Samuel, but they finally let him get baptized. They couldn´t get the water warmer than pool temperature (bad news in December in Huelva), but he came up smiling and gasping and saying, "Estoy bien!" He´s such a good kid.

Mercedes came to church again, and still wants to be baptized this coming Saturday, but it´s been hard to teach all the lessons during the holidays- we´ll see if she can be prepared in time.

Gustavo passed the sacrament for the first time yesterday, and the relief society president told me after that Sandra was crying as she watched. I couldn´t stop smiling at him- he´s still growing so much in the gospel. He invited one of his friends to take the discussions, and his friend said he´d like to, so we´ll meet with them in Valverde this week. Natacha, of course, is doing fantastically and flourishing in young women´s.

I had another lesson in Sherwood forest (sorry to those of you who weren´t on skype- you´ll have to get the story from those that were) on exchanges with my sister training leader. She thought it was such an adventure and bore with me as we taught a lesson in the rain in the woods. She took one or two pictures on her camera, so if she sends them to me I´ll send them your way.

Ana is progressing a bit- she finally read the reading assignment we left, but we´re having a hard time helping her understand a few concepts. Her granddaughter Rocío, though, I feel is just on the point of a big change- she finally gave the prayer without trying to pawn it off on her sister Erica, and was really interested in what she read and was a bit hungrier for more. Keep them in your prayers- they´re also a very good family.

I´m glad that the next holidays I´ll be with the family, but I´m also glad I have this time to teach my more distant brothers and sisters the thing that has shaped my life for the better, and that offers the greatest hope that exists. 

Have a happy new year, family, and thank you for everything!

Love, Hna. Johnson

Feliz Navidad

Dear family,

this past week has definitely been a week of miracles, but I don´t want to tell you all of the stories in this email since I´ll be talking with you on Christmas, and if I haven´t got stories, you´ll all be bored with me repeating how amazing missionary work is.

Just know that these next few days, Hna. Daines and I will be listening the the Messiah incessantly (is that how you spell it? I´ve forgotten), and that I´ve been enjoying opening your letters and pictures every day. I´ll take a picture of the Christmas decorations you´ve sent me so you can see just how much they´ve livened up my piso.

We have good plans for the next few days- we´re not tracting Christmas Eve or Christmas, but several members have invited us to spend time with them, so we´re excited for that. We´ll be with the family of the returned missionary that served with Mark on Christmas Eve, and skping home from Rosamari´s house on Christmas day. Tonight we´re visiting Sandra´s family- unfortunately Juan Carlos says he doesn´t want to listen to the missionary discussions yet. Sandra gave both of us a Christmas present to put under the tree, so there´s that to look forward to, as well as those that I´ve received from home.

It´s such a beautiful time of year. We members of the church promise to remember Christ every Sunday when we take the sacrament, but many don´t have the same opportunity, and now, the whole world lists closer to our Savior. Take this chance to share more of the blessing that we enjoy with those who do not have it, or have left it to the side.

I love you all, and am so grateful you are my family. I hope to see as many of my siblings and nieces and nephews as can make it to Mom and Dad´s house on Christmas.

Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn´t come from a store- maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter! Happy Christmas, Ron. And God bless us every one.

Love, Hna. Johnson

Finding Week

Dear family,

this week we´re having another special goal as a mission- back when I served in Málaga, the goal one week was finding 555 new investigators- this week the goal is 800, and I´m so excited. Hna. Daines and I have been working like the dickens this past week, having a bit more direction. I think we´re finally using the keºy indicators to help us use every minute wisely, and I´ve absolutely loved constant contacting. We used to be more selective, even though we were contacting much of the day, but now we really do talk with everyone and I can´t tell you how good it feels to be putting in 100%. I never knew I was a workaholic- I liked kicking back with a book or a movie, but putting everything I have into something like this is addicting, and challenging and fulfilling. Anyone reading this wondering about going on a mission? My vote is GO.

Gustavo was confirmed this week, and it was so lovely to see the whole family in church again. Keep Juan Carlos in your prayers- I really really want to see this family get sealed in the temple someday. I was so happy when Sandra reached over to touch my arm after the confirmation and say, "Gracias por todo, Hna." And my natural man really wants to claim this family as my success, but I know better, and am so impressed constantly by Sandra, and by the way the Lord helped her come back to church. Am I slightly obsessed with this family? No. I´m very obsessed with them.

It´s also been wonderful to work more with the members here to help them in their missionary work- to rejoice with Pilar and Ma Angeles when they gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to their friends, and to prepare to visit a friend of Rosamari´s with her on Tuesday. The work is growing here so much, and the ward is participating more and more. A cute 14 year old member named Ana came with us to an appointment yesterday, and I think she really liked it- she wants to serve a mission.

We´ve met some fascinating people this week, and I´m excited to tell you about the new investigators the Lord puts in our path next week.

I love Christmas, don´t you? I taught a lesson the principles of the gospel class about the atonement of Christ- what an incredible event! It´s the only thing that makes sense out of all we lose and suffer in this life, and of all the wrong choices we make. Christ is our Mediator, and I love Him more than anything. I´m so grateful I can serve, no matter how inadequate I am.

I sent an email to Dad telling him the details on calling home, so get in touch with Mom and Dad to plan, but if all goes well, I will probably be skyping home at 10 am Utah time- let me know if there´s another time that works better by next Monday so we can adust our plans.

I love you all and am grateful for everything you do for me. I´m enjoying opening the 12 days of Christmas package you all put together under Annie´s direction, and finding letters and pictures every morning. It definitely helps a tired girl get up :) You´re in my prayers- I love you!

Love, Hna. Johnson

P.S. Let me know if my Christmas package reached you!

I Done Chipped My Favorite Tooth

Dear family,

yes, I chipped my front tooth- it´s not too bad, but my vanity is wounded- what vanity I had. 

Other sad event this week was the loss of my wallet, which is making things a bit tight financially in our companionship while we wait for the replacement card. I was definitely blessed though. I had taken out a fair amount of money from my personal card to put together a Christmas package for the family, and left the money in the wallet for a day or two before I felt a very specific prompting i should leave the money in the piso. I ignored it for one day, and the next received the same impression. This time I listened and put the money away, laughing a bit to myself thinking, "What, am I going to lose my wallet or something?" ... 

I definitely learned that what is says in Preach my Gospel is true- that God wants to help us in our specific and practical challenges, and I´ve definitely had my testimony in personal revelation strengthened. 

Gustavo was baptized on Sunday, and I was a bit sad that the font water wasn´t warmer than pool temperature (and it´s cold now in Huelva), and that not many members showed up to the baptism. He was very happy though, and gave Gabriel Manotas a huge hug after coming up out of the water, with a big white grin. He brought 5 friends to the baptism, and we´ll see if we can meet with any of them when we go out to Valverde again. Juan Carlos (the dad) told a member that it won´t be too long until he´s baptized too- lets see if we can meet with him with his work schedule how it is!

Sandra received a calling in the church as second counselor in the YW presidency- I raised my hand high to sustain her- I couldn´t contain my happiness. She is so incredible, and I admire her immensely- her decision to come back to church of her own will and to guide her family to Christ as well changed my life as well as those of her family. I´m so happy for them.

I received a package from home this week with pictures of the family (now up on the fridge, like a real home), and a little Christmas tree with ornaments with the faces of every member of the family- I can´t tell you how grateful I am for it. It´s incredible what a little Christmas tree does to help one feel as if it really is Christmas. The package was perfect, mom, thank you. 

I love this season, and I´m grateful I get to spend it this year teaching people of Christ and His restored gospel- make sure you share it with someone- we all need it, and we are the lucky few that have it. Please share it!

I love you all very much.

Love, Hna. Johnson

Pictures: me and the Christmas tree and presents- how lucky I am to have my presents stacked higher than my tree this year! Gustavo´s baptism, and Hna. Daines and I with the primary- no one can play the piano in our ward, so I had to relearn in order to help them with the program.

Hna. Daines

Dear family,

it´s been an interesting week with a new companion and a pretty bad cold. Nothing to worry about. Every person we´ve visited the last two days has tried to cure me with home remedies. Lots of lemon, honey, questionable medicine, herbal tea that I think only passed my gag reflex because I could taste next to nothing. Not better just yet, but one of these things has got to work, right? 

Hna. Daines is a drastic change from Hna. Brown. Hna. Brown was pretty shy about talking to people, and Hna. Daines has no fears, and greets everyone with a booming "Hola!" and speaks up in lessons as well, even if her verb conjugations haven´t gone quite past infinitive yet. She´s got plenty of energy, so I´m sure we´ll get lots of work done. The heavy snoring has been remedied with the purchase of earplugs. 

Things are going well. Gustavo is still preparing for his baptism on the 8th. He still has problems reading the scriptures, since he hates reading, but one night we read a chapter from the Book of Mormon with the whole family (in Alma about the army of Helaman), and I asked him what he thought about it. He said he actually found it interesting and would like to read more. There was a stunned silence and then Sandra said, "BIEN." we got a good laugh out of that little miracle. It was so nice that night- it reminded me of reading the scriptures as a family at home, and I really felt just as if I was at home for a moment. 

We had a lesson on temples one evening, and Juan Carlos (the father) unexpectedly had the day off, so he was there for the entire lesson. Since he´s only been to church once, and hasn´t been able to come to most lessons (but knows the doctrine from his family), I asked him what he sincerely thinks about the church. He said after a few moments thinking about it, "I believe that the church has to be the true church. I believe all of its teachings." I was so shocked to get such a strong answer from him, and so happy- he said we just have to be patient with him because he comes from a strong catholic tradition (in his family), and that even though he believes our teachings, it will take time for him to be baptized. In that lesson, the whole family agreed to have a goal of going to the temple once they´re all baptized and being sealed.

I cannot explain just how transcendently happy this makes me- there isn´t anything to describe it. This is the reason I left home and the people I love- to help others be forever with the people they love. This work is beautiful, and I´m grateful to be a part of it.

Christmas is coming- have you accepted the apostle´s challenge to bring someone to Christ for Christmas? Do it!

All my love, 

Hna. Johnson

Feliz día del pavo!

Dear family,

I am happy to report that I will be staying here in Huelva for at least one more transfer! Hna Brown is leaving to serve in Alicante, and I know it will be so good for her to be with a native companion who came from her group, although her spanish has improved a ton. Hna Daines (who came in Hna. Brown´s group) will be my new companion- she´s a very enthusiastic girl who doesn´t care what others think about her, and I´m sure she´ll help us pick up a bit on contacting, although we´re in a good rhythm again.

I´m thankful to stay here for many reasons, but there are a couple of big ones. I´m glad I´ll spend the holidays with people I know and love, and will be able to visit and take care of the people I know will have a hard time this holiday season.

I´m also glad to stay here to work with Sandra´s family- Gustavo wants to wait for his baptism until the 8th so his dad can be there, and we´re pleased as punch. We had a lesson on Joseph Smith, and his testimony of the restored gospel is really growing.

I´m also happy to continue to cultivate this patch of the Lord´s vineyard- the work is growing immensely- we were just one lesson short of the mission standard this past week, where this area has usually only had half that. We met an incredible family this week that has just been waiting to hear about the plan of salvation. We had an amazing first lesson with them and are so excited to see where things go.

This week my testimony has definitely been strengthened that this is the Lord´s work, and when we do it in His way, we will be able to be instruments in His hands.

I´m still enjoying reading the Book of Mormon so much- right now I´m in Alma around chapter 60- there is so much to be learned even from the stories about war in the Book of Mormon. Not only has this strengthened my testimony because no man like Joseph Smith could have invented such a book, but because it teaches eternal principles so clearly, and I feel the truthfulness of the words every time I read it.

I´m grateful to be here. I´m grateful for this work and for the chance I have to be so deeply involved in it. I´m grateful for the people who help us, and the people we teach. I´m grateful for the gospel in my life, and for you as a family for raising me in it and for being examples to me. I´m so grateful that none of us have fallen away, and that I can look forward to an eternity with you so long as I live worthily. I´m grateful for the present moment, and for the good moments to come. Thank you all so much.

Love, 

Hna. Johnson

P.S. Eat a lot of rolls with jam. And potawatami (sp?) jelly.

Natacha's Baptism

Dear family,

this week really was a week of miracles. We were still in rest mode with Hna. Brown´s knee, but the good news is, the doctor thinks the problem can be fixed immediately with a shoe insert. We were still able to teach a good number of lessons, and so many people came to church this week- including many of the less active families we´re working with. The best surprise was seeing Cristiani in church- a woman who hasn´t come to church since nearly a year ago. She´s making huge changes in her life for her son Nikolas, and I´m just as excited for her as I am for Natacha.

Gustavo wasn´t quite prepared for baptism the past week, and likely won´t be ready this week, but I have faith he will be in the weeks to come. Natacha, on the other hand, was more prepared than anyone I¨ve seen so far. 

When we passed over the baptismal interview questions, instead of answering simply yes or no, as the questions require, she would say, "I believe so, because..." and proceed to explain in great detail the doctrine behind the questions. Her responses were impressive and deeply heartfelt. One of my favorites, though, had to be the response to the question, "Have you ever committed a serious crime?" She paused for a moment and said, "Well, yes, once." When our jaws dropped open she finished. "When I was six, I stole a piece of gum." I explained through my laughter that maybe, just maybe with the help of the bishop she can even be cleansed from that sin.

Funny reprise: when a member gave a talk on faith, repentance and baptism at the service, she mentioned that before being baptized, we need to repent of our past sins. Sandra, Natacha´s mom, leaned back in her chair to make eye contact with me and we both mouthed, "Chicle" (gum). 

She was so sweet about the baptism before and after. In her prayers before, she prayed that the day would come quickly. Afterward, she gave a prayer in the principles of the gospel class, and thanked Heavenly Father for providing a way for us to be cleansed from sin in a matter of moments. 

The work is going so well, and it makes me really sad that I´ll likely be leaving this transfer. And on that note, make sure that if you send letters for the next week or so to send them to the mission office. 

Thank you all for your love and support. Make sure to reach out to less active members in your wards- the rescue is just as important as the search. 

Love, Hna. Johnson

Us with Natacha

With Gabriel who served with Mark

Angelica, a ward member

With Gonzalo

With Angelica, one of the elders' investigators