Dear Family,
What a week. It has been wonderful. We have
been seeing many miracles, one of which is our fecha Ana who will be baptized
this weekend! She is from Uruguay about 30 years old. Her parents are less
active members of the church, which is sad because even her father served a
mission in Brazil. When she was a young girl, her grandma would take her to
church and tell her all about the Mormon church. Her grandma died when she was
about 8 years old.
Ana became friends with a less active member
named Cecilia. Hermana Rivera and I helped Cecilia and her family become
reactivated in the church and we helped their 8 year old son be baptized last
month (Xavi). Cecilia invited Ana and her husband Manuel to the baptism. It was
such a spiritual service. Ana felt the Spirit so strongly. She started coming
to church. She asked for a Book of Mormon. She has been reading it and even
marking it up. She knows it is true. We invited her to be baptized on the 16th
and she immediately said yes. She told us that it was her time and that we were
her missionaries that needed to help her make the next step. She is nervous but
so excited for her baptism. After every lesson she shares what she learns with
her husband. (He can never meet with us). He told her that she seemed different
and that she seemed happier lately. She
explained to him the Plan of Salvation. He asked what he had to do to be with
her forever! It was amazing. Ana bore her testimony to him and he wants to
learn about the gospel as well. She will be baptized this Sunday night, the
17th as well as an 8 year old son of a recent convert. Our Ward is so excited!!
So many baptisms.
Ana will be confirmed in Sacrament meeting on
the 24th and Dad and Mom will be able to see it with me.
Pabel and Evelyn are two other investigators
who are incredibly prepared. They will finally be married on March 21st. Their baptism is on Sunday the 24th after
church at 1:30pm (Dad and Mom you can see them get baptized!!) and they will
both be confirmed the following Sunday the 31st in Sacrament meeting.
I am so blessed to be in this area for my
last area in the mission. It has been WONDERFUL. Full of miracles-the most
amount of powerful miracles I have ever had in the mission. Saving the best for
last. It truly has been amazing in every single way. Every day brings new
miracles big and small. This is the Lord´s work and I am so glad that I get to
serve him until the very end of my time...and what a blessing that my parents
can witness the baptisms and confirmations of these wonderful people that hold
such a special place in my heart. WOW. Is all I can say. I am so blessed.
Thank you for your love and support. I cannot
say thank you enough.
Love, Hermana Johnson
Laura, Roy (new member), Hermana Rivera enjoying the Mediteranean on P-Day
Hermana Johnson in Barcelona on her last P-Day