September 2, 2013

Olaida was baptized and it was beautiful.  And she's going to go to the temple with her husband for her 50th birthday!  At her baptism, we asked her husband to give his testimony of the gospel.  He was baptized a couple of months ago.  He got a little nervous and asked us, "How do I bear my testimony?"  We just asked him to share how he felt at his baptism, when he felt the Holy Ghost prompting him to follow Christ, and how he felt now watching his wife get baptized.  Foi lindissio!  It was so sweet and he bore such a great testimony.  So proud of him!  He's been in charge of all the service projects here.

Tomorrow I'll be going to Natal for Conselho de Lideranca, Leadership Council, which I always look forward to.  My favorite part is the training we get from President and Sister Soares.

I can't believe I've been on my mission now for a year!  I feel like it's just flown by and I know it will continue to fly.  Truthfully, I didn't want it to be my year mark.  I love my mission.  Good thing I still have 6 more months.  I'm going to make these last 6 months the best 6 months yet.  Best next 6 months of my life!

I had never learned so many things in one day as I learned the 29th of August.  1) Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  2) Our Divine Nature  3) Priesthood Keys  4) Don't wrongly judge others.  I'll write more about it later.  But for now...Ate mais!   Tchau!   Ate ja ja!   Ate um pouco!   Carinhosamente, Sister Johnson 

July 22, 2013

I really love reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma 26:1-2 where he rejoices in all the blessings that we all have.  "Do we not have great reasons to rejoice?"  I think of all my many blessings that I have as a missionary.  The Holy Spirit that testifies to us and the people we teach.  My wonderful family that loves and supports me.  The amazing church members here who help us.  The time I have every morning to feast on the scriptures.  The knowledge that I am where Heavenly Father wants me right now.

Sweet girls made a picnic for us!

Yesterday we had a meeting with the leadership of our congregation, called Conselho de Ala.  The Bishop asked questions they had about callings, etc.  A question came to my mind:  How can we as missionaries serve the church members better?  I was afraid to ask, my fears being that we would get a backlash of complaints, of things we could do better.  I tried letting the feeling go, but I felt like I should ask.  My heart pumped faster and faster as it came to my turn.  I asked, and the response was incredible!  All the people present, at the same time, started to list all their family members who aren't yet members of the church who they want us to teach.  I couldn't keep all the names straight as I wrote in my planner as fast as possible.  I'm super happy about the trust and confidence they have in us and the chance to work so closely with their families.

I love this work.  I love this gospel.  I love being Heavenly Father's servant,  Con amor, Sister Johnson