Last December Pics

My sweet friend from Russia: Sister Vailisa Fleginskaya (can't say her name)

I hosted her - Hermana Pyle from Salt Lake to Albuquerque

Us with Sis. Reynolds (the one who sewed in the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress" for us - Hermana Marshall's wearing it.)

Roommates - Left to Right: Me, Sora Sam (Ca to Romania), Sora Komar (Russia/Wa to Romania), Hermana Marshall)

Salt Lake City Mission - 2011 Week 2

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas! Ours was pretty good. Christmas Eve we studied in the morning just for a couple hours then we biked over to the Mota's house to make sure the kids and everyone was dressed and ready for Joaquin's baptism.  We helped his wife, Elizabeth prepare her talk on baptism.  Then we raced back to our house and grabbed a DVD to play while Joaquin would be getting changed. Then we raced over to the special baptismal font building near the Utah State Fair park grounds. We got there and took pictures which I will send!  Then the baptism happened. Not a lot of people came but it was still great. Joaquin was so happy. It was incredible to see the look on his face. The sister missionaries kept telling Hermana Marshall and I that we should've seen him when they first found him and his family. They said he looks like a COMPLETELY different person. AND after smoking for 20 years he does NOT SMOKE ANYMORE!!! INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

He is so happy every time we see him. He often tears up nowadays when he's looking at his kids or looking at his wife.  It's incredible to see him so happy.  He helps around the house a lot and takes care of the kids and cooks these incredible meals for the family (and of course forces us to eat as well...SO good).  It's great.  Definitely the best part of my mission so far :)

So he was baptized and I played the music while we were waiting for him to change because the DVD player didn't work.  Randomly, the Tongan ward came in and baptized a little girl...then left....haha so random...I had no idea what was going on. Then Joaquin came back out and the sister missionaries sang a song acapella.  It was rough haha and then we closed and I played the closing song on the piano. That was rough --- one handed it, but it was worth it and because of the piano, the closing song was a lot better than the acapella opening song.  (Note to self: Practice the piano more.). It was great.  He's so happy.

We were fed at 4 different houses!!  We were just stopping by to say hi and do a little lesson to some recent convert families and less active families and they fed us.  We had some tacos, some soup, some pizza, and some tamales.  The main tradition from what I understand is that everyone makes tamales all day and eats Christmas Eve dinner at 7 or 8 with all the family and then they wait until midnight to open all the presents and dance the night/morning away.  So sounds like great fun except that that was Saturday night which meant all of our investigators slept in --- a lot.  Even though church was at 1:00 our investigators would NOT WAKE UP!  I banged on the door and finally woke up the kids.  They said their mom didn't get to sleep until at like 6am.  Crazy!  So it was tough.  We did get a lot at church though, so that's good-almost 10!

So all morning Hermana Picuasi and I were trying to get our investigators to church.  We made it to church and then after church we had a hard time trying find members with Skype so we could talk to our families.  We visited a recent convert family and went to dinner at a member's house who's in the English ward. Their last name was Krankendank or something. 6 girls 1 boy! (I thought 5 girls was a lot... haha).  They have a daughter who entered the MTC a week before me and I saw a picture and remembered seeing her around.  She is in the Mesa Arizona Temple visitors center.  So when we got there the last family member was finishing up talking to her on the phone.  We ate potatoes and fruit and ham.  It was pretty good.  Then a miracle happened.  We were stressing about the Skype situation and I thought just to mention it to this family.  Turns out they just installed a camera that morning!!!!!  They just downloaded Skype before we got there.  It was incredible how it worked out.  I Skyped and Hermana Marshall called her family at the same time.  Then the other two Hermanas went to another member's house to Skype & call on the phone.  It was perfect.

It was great talking to my family.  Something has been on my mind lately.  We visit these less active and recent convert families and even investigators and we encourage them to pray as families.  And we kneel and pray with them.  There is a special power in family prayers.  I felt that I wanted to pray with my family over Skype.  Luckily, they agreed :) and I said a prayer in Spanish with them.  It felt good.  I would encourage all of you PRAY IN YOUR FAMILIES!! PLEASE!!!!  Do it in the mornings before leaving for work.  Do it at night before the first person goes to bed.  Kneel down together and pray in your families!!!  There's power in it.  You feel more united.  You draw from each other's strengths and testimonies.  DO IT!!!  Add it to your 2012 family goals.

After talking to our families we went caroling (we also did that Christmas Eve as well).  We got a lot of referrals and we had a lot of special experiences. At one house the single mom started crying.  It was so sweet.  All of us sisters gave her a big hug.  It was very special.

So now here we are on P-day.  All day at Wal-Mart-crazy busy!  Tonight to Temple Square with a couple investigators and their families!!  Need to dress even warmer.

Transfers are this week!  We find out tomorrow who will be where.  One of our zone leaders is transferring.  Hermana Picuasi feels like she will be transferred.  Who knows?  We will see what will happen.  I think it's funny how EVERYONE talks about it and has their "feelings" about who will leave and who will stay.  I say whatever happens, happens.  No need for guessing and worrying about it.  Whatever happens is meant to be. :)

I love being a missionary.  It's been great doing this work and being a little part of people's lives.  These people are incredible and I know that the Lord is protecting me and watching over me.  I can feel His love and I can't wait until the day that I can better express His love to the people in Spanish.  It will be soon. :)

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  This is the last week of 2011 already!  I can't believe it!  Time is flying by.  I am excited for a new year to make new goals and improve myself. :)

The missionaries will be spending New Year’s Eve with the mission president (I am SO excited to wear jeans!!!)  I don't know yet what we're doing but I am very excited!  I will have to let you know.

Have a good week.  I love you all. Thank you so much for your support and letters and Christmas goodies.  I appreciate them very much!

Love,

Hermana. Laura Johnson

P.S. Pray with your families!

Feliz Navidad!

Salt Lake City Mission - 2011 Week 1

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello from Salt Lake City Utah. I am serving in the Rose Park area right near Redwood Road in the Riverside Stake. My mission president is President Winn and his wife (is amazing!). I don't know how long I will be here but I am grateful to be out in the field and getting experience. I got here last Tuesday December 13th so tomorrow will be a week. There are 8 sisters (including me) who are reassigned here waiting for their visas for Spain, plus 2 sisters waiting for their visas for Brazil, plus 10 elders waiting for their visas for Brazil. The Salt Lake City mission is very used to having "visa waiters." Because of the large amount of visa waiters (at least for the sisters) all the sisters in the Salt Lake City Mission North Zone are in companionships of 4! So Hermana Marshall (my comp from the MTC) and I were assigned to be with Hermana Linnea Harris from Vista, CA and Hermana Jennifer Picuasi from Ecuador.

We live near 500 N and 1400 W in a member's basement. We don't have a kitchen down there so she sometimes lets us come upstairs to use hers. We eat there for breakfast and lunch. The ceiling is low-I can't stretch my arms all the way up and I have to duck in the shower. There are 3 beds and 1 air mattress in one room-we kind of crawl over each other to get around. I do my morning study on my lap because there's not enough room on the table (and we can't do it on the floor or the beds). You can definitely tell the area would be ideal for one companionship.

The first 3 days Hermana Harris and I were companions and we tracted all day, while Hermana Marshall and Hermana Picuasi taught all of the progressing investigators. So, definitely didn't pack winter clothes...so the other day I wore 4 pairs of nylons, 3 sweaters and a scarf. Sister Winn gave me another pair of tights and some super nice gloves. It was a heaven inspired gift sent from my mom the day before I left the MTC-she sent me super tall boots. The first day I was here since the time I got off the bus to the mission home it was snowing. It snowed all that day.

Since our area (Rose Park, Spanish speaking) is the smallest area in the mission we don't have a car. We either walk or bike.  We are the first sister missionaries to be serving here for some years now. It can be kind of dangerous at night because it's kind of a ghetto area. Sometimes I feel like I'm in Mexico and not in Utah (until I see a street sign that says, Redwood Road. So we have to be careful and on the lookout.

The members here are not very well off but they are super sweet and we are guaranteed a dinner in a home every single night-which is incredible. A lot of times already there haven't been enough food for us and the family or enough chairs for us and the family to sit at the dinner table. They are very sweet and they don't mind us being there. They just want to give and to help us. Every night home cooked dinner! I can't believe it. Members mostly from the English ward and sometimes from the Spanish ward (but not very often at all).

The first three days I was here, I knocked on doors a lot. Hermana Harris and I walked around to a lot of apartments and I have learned to somehow tolerate the smell of cigarette smoke. We are encouraged to invite people to be baptized the first time we talk to them!!! It's crazy to think about it, but it helps so much because the person knows our intent and our purpose as missionaries and there are no surprises, plus we will know that we are not wasting our time with people who don't want to get baptized.

It's definitely been a humbling experience being here. I am very grateful for my family and for my testimony and knowledge of the gospel. I know that God is watching over me and He knows my needs --- all of them.

So badly I want to be fluent in Spanish. I can teach lessons, I can ask questions, I can bear my testimony, I can give talks, I can pray, I can understand---uuuhmm 80% of the time...but I can't have normal conversations with people...this is what I am working on. I just want to be able to talk to them about their jobs about their family about their life, their trials their feelings and I want to be able to respond like a normal person. It's been great having a native speaker as a companion, (though she does like to talk a LOT and to talk fast). I have been working up more courage on butting in more and trying to ask more questions. Sometimes I think I understand but then once I understand one thing, the person will change the topic randomly and I will have to try and follow.

I have been humbled many times. I have been able to rely on the Spirit many times. I have been guided by the Spirit and directed. Last night was a very special experience.  Joaquin is a progressing investigator.  His whole family has been baptized (except for the young kids not yet 8 years old). He is trying to quit smoking. He is trying to be a better father. His wife, Elizabeth, recently got baptized. They don't have a lot of money. He is out of a job. He takes care of the kids. She works from 5pm-5am packing bottles of vitamins (?)... and her hands are swollen. She worked about 58 hours this week!!!!!! Hermana Picuasi and I had originally gone over to see how Joaquin was doing quitting smoking. We were reading together in Mosiah 24 about Alma's people having these afflictions and burdens on their backs, but the Lord lightened them. Joaquin applied this to his life in regards to smoking. Elizabeth was quiet. Finally she burst out saying, "I don't understand...I just don't understand." She says she has enough faith she has been working so hard and doing everything right.  She doesn't understand why God lets bad things happen.  They found their 2nd youngest son yesterday morning with throw up all over him and the bed and some blood; took him to the hospital and he has a virus. Hermana Marshall and Harris were walking one night and randomly found a $20 bill on the ground. Hermana Marshall got a prompting to slip it in the door of Joaquin and Elizabeth. They found it and said it was a miracle that they could buy pampers for their children.  Then the hospital incident happened. The extra money turned out to be the perfect amount for the hospital costs.  It was amazing --- a miracle in and of itself.  Yet, now Elizabeth is worried about Pampers. She doesn't have money to buy more.

We taught them the law of tithing.  She pays it.  We promised blessings.  I was quiet most of the time because of my lack of Spanish speaking skills. Hermana Picuasi forced me to speak. I was guided by the Spirit as I said with tears in my eyes that sometimes we get hard trials because God knows that we can handle them and He wants us to be stretched so we could reach our full potential. Sometimes we can't understand that or see God's hands in our lives during the hard moments-but He is always there.  Always watching over us. He believes in us and is waiting for us to ask for His help. He wants to help us, so he puts trials in our path so we can grow and become better people.

I love this gospel. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and for my testimony. I love you all. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Hermana Laura Johnson

P.S. We had a mission Christmas Devotional- Elder Dallin H. Oaks came with his wife. He spoke, then had dinner with us!! The Holladay North Stake served us wonderful dinners and we took a mission picture and we got a free engraved journal from President and Sister Winn saying "Merry Christmas to the Salt Lake City Mission." It's super nice.

Week 8 - Final MTC

Hi,

NOW WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR...

Last Thursday I got a letter saying they didn't receive my visa yet, so they would submit my name for a reassignment and contact me soon.  No word all week.

Today I checked the mailbox often....no letter.

I went to the Travel Office and asked.

Hermana Marshall and I and the 6 other girls waiting for their Spain visas have all been reassigned to labor temporarily (until our visas come) in the SALT LAKE CITY MISSION.

No North or South or Temple Square – just Salt Lake City.

We report to the Travel Office next Tuesday morning at 6am. Then we hop on a bus and ride up to the Salt Lake Mission office and we meet our new mission president: President Winns (…pretty sure that's his name), then I start a new adventure!

So, our roommate Hermana Smith is called to serve her mission there.  I looked through her call packet. It looks like the mission is in the Salt Lake City central area and spreads through Tooele County and as far as a little chunk in Nevada and down through western Utah County.  Then on the east side, it spreads out and actually takes in a large part of Wyoming.

So we'll see where I head to! Next p-day/next e-mail you receive from me, I will be in my area and settled.

We still don't really know if it's Spanish speaking or not.  I am assuming that it is.  Hermana Smith's call said Spanish speaking.  We've been studying Spanish.  Our nametags are in Spanish-so it most likely is Spanish speaking...guess I will find out.

As a missionary, I am the Lord's companion. I am companion with the apostles and the prophet Thomas S. Monson. I carry the Lord's name over my heart, oftentimes His thoughts are my thoughts because of this calling that I have. I am very blessed. I feel His hand in my life everyday; even in the small and simple things.

There's someone out there waiting for me in the Salt Lake Mission. They are waiting to hear something that I have to say. I will affect them in some way. I don't know who yet and I don't know where or what it will be like. But I do know that I am in the Lord's hands. I am literally His hands. His instrument. I want Him to trust me and use me however He needs to. That is why I have sacrificed school and other things for 18 months of my life. I don't want to complain or feel down because of this new assignment. That would just hurt His feelings and hinder opportunities for blessings and investigators. So, I know that I am His missionary and my purpose is to bring others to Him. I can do this. It will be great.

I am so grateful for this opportunity. I am so grateful for all of the support I have. I am grateful for this Christmas season and the chance I have to remember why we celebrate and how I can have this spirit in my heart. I am grateful for this gospel in my life and the joy and hope it brings me. I love it. I love my Savior. I love being a missionary. I love my life.

Con amor,

Hermana Laura Johnson

Week 8 Pictures

I searched and found an Elder Johnson - Finally... just to get a picture with him.  He's going somewhere state-side Spanish speaking.

I searched and found another Sister Johnson.  She's going to France - left this week.

...getting all my hair chopped off!

This is our classroom with Sister Rogers who is the wife of the first counselor in the Branch Presidency.  We love her!!  She brought us chips & salsa one night... Best Thing ever!

Week 7

Hi,

My departure date is set for Dec 13^th.

SO. I CANNOT BELIEVE I STARTED WEEK 8 YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!! The time is flying by soooo fast yet so slow at the same time!!! It's been quite the ride. This is such a great place to be! We are the "oldest" district on our floor now in the building where our classroom is at (so we've been here the longest). I can see how I have progressed but at the same time, I am pretty hard on myself and can tell that I can still progress a ton more. I love speaking Spanish. I wish my district was stricter and focused so we can try to go the whole day with speaking Spanish to each other.

Yesterday I got to be a host for the new sister missionaries coming in. It was incredible experience and I am so glad that I got that opportunity. While I was waiting for new sisters to arrive from the curb drop off, I was talking to other sister missionary hosts. I met a companionship one girl from Germany and from Sweden!!!! They were so funny and SO TALL. Then in their district I also met a companionship where both the sisters were from Russia. One was more outgoing and better at English than the other. I befriended the other sister. I have no clue how to pronounce her last name...it's spelt like Frankavo.....haha I don't know the rest (it's a really long last name with a lot of g's and k's). She was amazing. She was trying hard to learn English and she told me a little about her conversion story how the missionaries found her in Russia and how she joined the church. How she has a boyfriend who also served a mission. He's waiting for her. All of these girls are serving at Temple Square. They have only been here in the Provo MTC for a week and they are working on improving their English. It was just such an incredible experience for me to talk with them and really see the big picture of missionary work. The missionaries found Sis. F. at her house and helped her with her conversion into the church. That's across the world! Now she feels an obligation and duty and has a strong desire to serve as well...across the world learning a new language. That's what I am doing too! I am going across the world speaking a language different then my native and I am going to meet incredible people like her who are ready to hear the gospel-who the Lord is preparing right now as I am preparing myself. It's great to step back and look at the big picture.

The first girl I helped with her suitcases and things. Her name is Hermana Pyle from Salt Lake City going to Albuquerque, New Mexico speaking Spanish. She had tears in her eyes. I tried to be bubbly and bright and friendly. I gave her a tight hug and it was so great after that just getting to know her and giving her advice. She thanked me so much for helping her get settled and getting her books and dropping her off at her new classroom. The last thing I told her was, "Hermana!!! I will see you soon! My classroom is only 2 doors down from yours!" We were both excited when we found this out. Also, her teacher is great! He substituted our class the other day and he was amazing! I learned SO much from him in those 2 hours he was with us on that one day. Hermana Pyle is in good hands and I know she will love it here.

The second girl Hermana Marshall and I both helped.  Her name was Hermana Santos from Puerto Rico and she could not speak English or understand it. SWEET!!! We got to use our Spanish skills. Both Hermana Marshall and I noticed that we speak so much better Spanish when we are speaking with native than when we are speaking to ourselves. It was great. Hermana Santos looked scared and nervous (though when I asked her she denied it). We gave her a hug and left her...it was hard. I knew she was having a hard time because people kept trying to speak to her in English...so frustrating. It was a humbling experience for me to be a part of.

They turned on all the Christmas lights in a certain part of the MTC campus. It's beautiful. Hermana Marshall and I always go out of our way to walk through them. It's refreshing to have the spirit of Christmas in our hearts; though still kind of weird not knowing where we will be for Christmas. I know whatever happens will be great. The Lord is always with us. We wear His name close to our hearts. Whatever happens; happens for a reason. It's all meant to be.

I get my travel plans tonight!!!! We'll see if my visa went through or not. I will let you know where I will be in 2 weeks!

Love,

Hermana Laura Johnson

Week 6 Pictures

Week 6

HI!

Happy Thanksgiving!  For the morning devotional today we got to see Elder Russell M. Nelson up close and personal. It was great.  He is so personable and friendly and amazing.  His talk was great!!!!  (By the way, Tuesday's devotional we sang in the choir- "Come Thou Fount" ---best song ever and then Elder D. Todd Christofferson came!!!!  IT WAS SO GOOD.)  We had Thanksgiving dinner in the cafeteria.  I am so GRATEFUL for the food and all those people that had to work and cook today to provide for us.

I am very happy here.  I feel the Spirit so strong everyday whether it's when I am reading my scriptures, when I am singing songs, when I am praying, when I am teaching, even when I am just walking around.

Something that Elder Christofferson said really hit me. I am a companion to Christ. I am a companion to the prophet Thomas S. Monson. I am a companion to the apostles. Elder Christofferson thanked us for serving along side with him and the other general authorities. The Spirit of Christ is always with me. I am always wearing his name next to my heart. In his talk, he said not to worry whether or not you are feeling the Spirit. He said our thoughts will oftentimes turn into the Lord's thoughts. They will be one and the same. I just need to open my mouth and trust Him to lead me and guide me. I have an apostolic duty to preach the gospel to the world. I have been set apart for this. Incredible to think about it. And very comforting too.

I know with all of my heart that Christ is my Savior. He suffered a lot for my sins, pains, afflictions, sorrow, sicknesses (Alma 7:11-13). He is there for me. He is there for all of us. His hand is always reached out. We just need to grab it. He wants to help us sooooo badly. We just need to humble ourselves and let Him into our hearts to take away the pain and the doubts and the insecurities. He is there. He loves us so much. He knows what we're going through. He knows US INDIVIDUALLY.

Have a good week. Lift your heads up and be of good cheer for He is always with us.

Love,
Hermana Laura Johnson

Week 5 Pictures

Week 5

Hello,

So my new roommates are great. So total in my room are 6. Hermana Marshall and I. Hermana Smith (from Georgia going to Salt Lake Spanish) and Hermana Chevalier (from Montana going to Riverside, CA Spanish), and then Sora Komar (from Russia/Washington State (both her parents died in Russia she was in an orphanage for 3 years and then a family from Washington adopted her and brought her to the states, introduced her to the church-she got baptized went to BYU-I and is now on a mission) going to Romania!) and Sora Sam (from Sacramento area, CA going to Romania). They are great girls. And we love sharing clothes.

So on Saturday we do the TRC-Teaching Resource Center where people come and to the MTC and volunteer to be taught. Hermana Marshall and I taught this one lady from Peru. Her accent and Spanish was beautiful I could listen to her forever. We had the sweetest experience. We were talking to her about the importance of scriptures in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We told her about the opportunity we have to receive revelation through our scripture reading. Some things led to another and she shared with us a very special experience about how the missionaries found her family. How she wanted to be baptized for the longest time growing up. Her dad asked her what she wanted for her quincienera (15th bday-super huge celebration for the girls in Latino cultures) and she said the only thing she wanted was to be baptized into the Mormon church. Her dad finally let her. She then had a desire later in life to serve a mission. She approached her dad and he finally let her...she served in another part of Peru. She was in Utah at BYU. Her dad came and visited her, saw how happy she was. Finally accepted the discussions and got baptized!! She was crying when she was telling us. It was so precious and so incredible to hear about it.

So then we went into our next appointment and it was way good....this week's speakers were really good on Sunday and Tuesday night. The choir song on Tuesday night was great. We sang "Be Still My Soul." One of my favorite songs.

Yesterday we went to a workshop where we usually just sit in a bigger room and watch video clips of General Conference addresses and other things. But Hermana Marshall and I were pulled out of the classroom and were asked to teach an investigator the first lesson in Spanish.

Her name was Andrea. She was from Mexico.We were pretending we were in California. The Spirit was so strong. My companion and I were blessed with the gift of tongues...I honestly believe that....and the gift of interpretation of tongues. Andrea was speaking so fast....somehow those slurring of words meant something that I could understand. 45 minutes later we came out of the room overflowing with the Spirit and gratitude and excitement for our callings as missionaries of the Lord. When I recited the First Vision to Andrea...I struggled remembering it at first...but then the words of the account came easily out of my mouth. I paused at the right moments. My voice was shaking, my heart was pounding. I was sharing this beautiful experience in a different language other than my own. I was sharing it by memory. It was the MOST INCREDIBLE THING EVER.

I know with all my heart that this is where I am supposed to be and that the "Lord is always in the details" (from a devotional talk). I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he restored Christ's true church on the earth today and that we have the fullness of his gospel. INCREDIBLE.

Love,

Hermana Laura Johnson

Week 4 Pictures

Week 4 Letter

Family and Friends,

I love you all. Thank you for your support and for your prayers. This e-mail is going to be short which I apologize. There is so much I want to say! I wish my fingers could type as fast as my brain forms sentences.

I love SPANISH. I am using it more and more now. I am trying to stretch myself and humble myself to learn more from my teachers and my district.

I love the schedule here at the MTC. There are incredible Devotionals and Firesides each week to help strengthen us as missionaries. We have been told many times for general authorities that the prophet personally and the other apostles pray for us at least once a week in the meetings on Thursday mornings. Not only that, but billions of prayers are offered for missionaries and/or missionary work every endowment session in the temples around the world. Reminding myself of this helps me work harder and be more determined to do my best to prepare for the people that I will come in contact with in Spain.

Speaking of Spain, 10 Spain Visas came in Tuesday night. My "Barcelona Buddy" Elder Watkins got his visa and so did a couple hermanas that I met...plus 7 others. The 3 I talked to said that they turned in their applications in June, july, and August. Elder Watkins told me that the travel office lady said they will be coming faster now. One of the Hermanas had to get reassigned to Temple Square because she had been waiting for so long and her 9 weeks were up in the MTC. Her and the other hermana (who was a native Spanish speaker-so she was only here at the Provo MTC for 3 weeks) were reassigned to Temple Square for a couple weeks. But now they will be headed to Spain (not to the MTC but straight to Barcelona) flying out on Monday. Elder Watkins turned in his visa application in August. He entered the Provo MTC the same day as me-Oct 12. He is headed to the Madrid MTC on Monday to finish his training there for the next 5 weeks before he heads out to Barcelona.

The 2 Hermanas that I met before I entered the MTC are still waiting. Hermana Stephensen turned in her application in August, so she'll probably be next. Hermana Jorgenson turned hers in Oct 7th, my companion turned hers in Oct. 12, and mine was turned in Oct. 17th so we'll see how it goes.

I will have to tell you more next week. I have so many thoughts and experiences I want to share with you. One thing I want to leave you with this week is my testimony. It's growing little by little everyday. I still can't believe I am on a mission. I made it! It's finally my turn. I want to make it the best I can. I want to be the best I can. I know that Heavenly father loves me and he expects my best. I also know that when my best doesn't seem good enough, that Christ will take over and cover the rest. He is close to my heart (literally on my nametag :)) He loves me and suffered for me in the garden of Gethsemane. I know that he is my Savior and Redeemer.

I love the Book of Mormon. Please read it everyday if you are not!!!!!!! It's great!!!!!

until next time.

Con amor,

Hermana Laura Johnson

MTC Pictures

Week 3

Wow!!!!!

Cannot believe I'm 3 weeks in....on my fourth week now. Crazy! I love it here. I am way glad to be here.

Where to start....so much has happened and there is so much I want to say but so little time. So my companion and I were supposed to leave the MTC a couple days ago. Our departure date was Nov 1. But we don't have our visas so it didn't happen. I was talking around with other people about it. Two girls who are also going to Barcelona didn't get their visas, finished up their 9 weeks here, still didn't get their visas, so on Tuesday they just left for Temple Square-their reassignment until their visas come. They said they turned in their applications in May and June. Really, who knows when I get there, but I know that I will someday!!! Maybe in time for Christmas?...I don't know! Maybe in 2012! Honestly though, Hermana Marshall and I were talking about it and we are kind of glad that we are staying here. We have great teachers. We are just getting more comfortable with the schedule. We can still be companions. We like it here. Provo MTC is a good place to be. It's all on the Lord's time now. We are his servants and like the hymn says, "I will go where you want me to go dear Lord." That's how both Hermana Marshall and I feel. When it's meant to be we will make it to Spain.

On Sunday the speaker in Relief Society was Elaine S. Dalton!!! General Young Women's President for the church. Her talk was amazing! (we always have THE best speakers for Relief Society). She told us sister missionaries that we are now living the Young Women's theme that we recited every Sunday. We are "standing as witnesses of God at all time, in all things, and in all places." We are standing on higher ground than the rest of the world. I am holding the Savior closer to me than ever before. He is right under my name and over my heart on my name tag. I have this opportunity to serve him completely and faithfully in exact obedience for the next 18 months of my life. Basically, an incredible opportunity and experience.

Sister Dalton also told a story about her and her husband going running together. They were going up a hill and she thought to herself, I am so good with hills and I am going to smoke him up this hill. She's doing really well and next thing she knows, her husband is speeding past her. She is shocked because normally he is not good on hills. Feeling discouraged she called up to him and said that she was going to go back down to the car and wait for him down there. He sprints back to her, grabs her hand, and says "you never make a decision to turn around when you're in the middle of a hill." It's the same distance down the hill than it is up the hill. When you're in the middle of trials you cannot give up. You have to push up the hill to make it to the top. She said together with him holding her hand they got to the top of the hill to see the most incredible sunrise ever. She said it was worth the humiliating run up to see that great view. Christ will hold our hand and help us up the hill if we just give our hand to him. His hand is always reaching out to us, we just need to take it. He can and he will help us no matter what.

The advanced class elders left on Monday and Tuesday. It was sad to say good bye and see them go. All of the friends my comp and I made these last few weeks are gone now out in the field. We were happy for them but sad to see them go. Here at the MTC, so many people are coming in and out all the time! Hermana Marshall and I were talking about it and we were amazed that the MTC is always at its fullest capacity. They never get a break. Thousands of missionaries are always here from around the world. It's incredible to think about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This institution will continue on forever. Missionaries are being sent around the world doing good everywhere!! Representing the Savior everywhere. Helping people everywhere. It's AMAZING.

SOOO super funny story. I was at dinner and this elder sitting at the table behind me burps really loud. I laugh really hard because it was so funny. He was embarrassed and kept apologizing. We had a recent devotional speaker talk about table manners. She even set up a table in the gymnasium and showed us how to set the table and how to use utensils appropriately. It was really funny. So I turn to the elder and say something about him working on his table manners. To which he says, maybe you will have to write me to remind me to have better table manners....I was like, "are you serious?!" And he was like yeah...hahaha I was like ummm no that's okay sorry. Then he went on to tell me that he is a few years older than the average elder so it would be worth my while to write him and then he asked me if I was sure and I said yes I am positive...good luck on your mission....hahahahahah.....yeah....random...lol

Anyway, another lunch time, the president of the MTC walks up and asks if he could sit down next to me! Of course my district and I said yes. President Brown sat with us and asked us a little about ourselves. He gave us incredible scripture references for the Atonement and faith in Jesus Christ. He was just pouring out some knowledge on us. It was so exciting. We were taking notes. And then him and I had a special moment. He asked me why I decided to go on a mission. I told him a little about last summer and he looked into my eyes almost peering into my soul. He got teary eyed and I got teary eyed. He gave me advice. Then he says, "If Sister Brown were here I would have her hug you." It was so cute and so special.

Then a couple days ago, the 1st counselor in the MTC presidency sat next to us-President Mciff (?)... He told us all about himself and about his missions that he has served with his wife. Hermana Marshall and I shared with him what we were thinking about how the MTC is always at full capacity all year every year. He says, "As a matter of fact, it's over capacity right now." There is construction around campus so that's why people have like 6 in one room (like us). It's incredible to think about. All of us young people and even he said there are more senior couples then ever before right now, all here at the MTC working towards the same thing. Incredible.

I love seeing the senior couples. They are so cute. A couple sat next to us at dinner yesterday and the wife was trying SO hard to only speak Spanish to Hermana Marshall and I. They are preparing to go serve in the mission office in Santiago, Chile. She is so excited and kind of nervous at the same time. She said her son is also in the MTC preparing to go to Mexico. She said they think he's been trying to avoid his parents around mealtimes haha. Mom, Dad!!! You should go!!!!

Our favorite roommates from Ecuador and Mexico City left for Pocatello, Idaho's visitor's center this week. :( we were so sad to see them go. We love them SO much. They had a little testimony until like midnight the other night and it was SO special. The Spirit was SO strong. It was incredible. What a blessing to have great roommates and examples like them.

2 new roommates going to Romania!!! One's from San Fran area and one's from Seattle area. Super cute girls. We'll see how it goes.

Love you all! Love this work. Love being a missionary. Love my life. Love my Savior. :)

Con amor,

Hermana Laura Johnson

Week 2

Dear Family and Friends,

The days are going by faster. I can't believe I am already starting week 3... I have had such neat experiences being here. It's been incredible. I can't imagine where else I would be right now. I know this is where I'm meant to be at this time. I can't imagine my life without serving a mission and having this incredible opportunity...

I love my family so much and am so grateful for them. I can feel your love and support and I often put your names in the temple when I go every Thursday morning. There is so much I want to tell you...yet only 30 minutes available...well now 22 from reading other e-mails.

I love getting Dear Elders thank you so much to those who have sent me some. :)  dearelder.com then type in Laura Eve Johnson Spain Barcelona Mission (pretty sure that's how you do it...)

I have pictures that I am sending home to get scanned and then put up on the blog!! They are great.

Weeeelll....so we have to prepare a talk for every Sunday just in case we get called up to the pulpit. This last Sunday it was on baptism. I was really proud of my talk because I felt like I am getting better at writing in Spanish and that it made really good sense. I applied it to missionary work and our purpose...I ended up not getting called up to speak, but instead my companion did. She didn't finish her talk...so I let her use mine...everyone LOVED it. So apparently it was really good haha! We haven't told anyone the truth yet...

I talked my companion into joining the MTC choir with me. I am SO glad she agreed. We had practice on Sunday then performed on Tuesday night at the MTC Devotional. So the week before the speaker was Elder Richard G. Scott!!!! So cool to have an apostle of the Lord speak to us. This time it was Brother Hallstrom who is in the Presidency of the 70. His talk was so good! And the song we sang was "Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer" but a unique version of it. It was beautiful I was so excited to be in a choir again. I was even on the big screen and other friends told me later that they saw me. It was an incredible experience with the spirit so strong in the gym.

Speaking about the song, the choir director on Sunday told us about the meaning of it. He mentioned that it came from the book of Mark in the New Testament. The winds were raging and the boat was flooding and the Master was sleeping. Someone shouted "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" A cry for help. Us singing this song was a cry for help. It was beautiful. The story following the song following the meaning. It was very special. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father know us by name. They do care about us and if we perish. This is evidenced in the story of the First Vision. One of the most important words that was said, was "Joseph." Heavenly Father called Joseph Smith by his name. He cares so much and is very aware of us.

Sunday night we have an MTC Fireside and then a film...we can choose which films to watch. The first Sunday we watched "The Legacy" and then this last Sunday we watched the newer version of the Joseph Smith movie. I loved it; it was my second time seeing it...But anyway at the fireside Brother Allen spoke who is the Missionary Director of the church...and he spoke about hymns. He spoke about the highs and lows that missionaries have...constantly...and he urged us to turn to our hymn books and look at the lyrics of our favorite hymns. He mentioned, "I am a Child of God" "As I Search the Holy Scriptures" and some others. He also mentioned that often times he wakes up in the morning with a random song stuck in his head. THAT TOTALLY HAPPENS TO ME...a lot. Anyway he believes that this can be inspiration...some personal revelation from our Heavenly Father. He recommended that we write down the song as soon as we wake up in our journal that should be next to our bed. It was so cool hearing that and I was so excited to take that advice and apply it to my life. So the next morning, I woke up with the song "Nearer my God to Thee." It was beautiful as I went over the lyrics in my head and wrote down my feelings about it in my journal....anyway, if any of you are like me and wake up with a song stuck in your head (hopefully a church song haha) then you should consider writing it down!! It's kind of amazing. Bro. Allen also said that we shouldn't be scared to sing songs and use the hymnbook more in our lessons. Even if we aren't good at singing it still has an amazing affect on the person we are teaching. Hermana Marshall and I were encouraged to do this before so we had already been using them in our lessons with our two "investigators" (our two teachers acting as investigators-real people that they taught on their missions). I think it's been a huge help because it really invites the Spirit in our lesson and we would ask them how they felt afterwards. Usually Hermana Marshall and I will sing and the investigator will follow along reading the words.

One thing that has helped me a TON has been reading el Libro de Mormon out loud for 5-30 minutes a day. This has really helped me to speak Spanish better and feel the Spirit more. I am finding that I am better understanding what I am reading as well. I highly recommend this to anyone who is trying to learn a language-it does miracles. :)

I am trying to figure out how to mark my scriptures like color coding and stuff. If you have any suggestions and think your technique is great, let me know!!

I got my travel plans a few days ago...they said I won't make it to the Madrid MTC because they don't have my Visa yet...(just read an e-mail from my mom that my application didn't get sent until Monday, October 17...) So I will most likely be here at the Provo MTC for the full nine weeks. I am just really grateful that I am in the intermediate Spanish class, and that I have a great companion who didn't get her visa either...

Today I got my Patriarchal Blessing shrunk and laminated at the copy center. I am so excited!!! I have always wanted to do it.

I got new roommates yesterday. One is from Georgia going on her mission to Salt Lake City speaking Spanish, and the other one is from Montana going on her mission to Riverside, CA speaking Spanish. It's cool because they are beginning level Spanish, my companion and I are intermediate, and our other roommates are advanced! We help each other out a lot. It's been great speaking Spanish. I LOVE IT.

I just finished memorizing Doctrine and Covenants 4 in Spanish and now I am working on memorizing the First Vision in Spanish. I will let you know how it goes!

My time is up. I love you so much. Thank you again for your support and prayers. This is an amazing work that I have the opportunity to be a part of. I am so lucky and blessed to be here. My heart is full of gratitude and love for my Savior and this work.

Con amor,

Hermana Johnson

Week 1

Family and friends!!

I love it here and I am so excited that I am no longer the newbie missionary. More missionaries came yesterday and it's great to say welcome and bienvenidos to them and to see the bright neon orange stickers on their name tag and no longer on mine. Everyone said to get through to Sunday and here I am and it's Thursday already!!!!! TIme flies. I love it here. It's been great and my companion is great!

My companion is Hermana Marshall from Logan, UT she went to Utah State, her minor is also Spanish. We are on the exact same Spanish level which is great because I was nervous that I would be companions with someone better than me or not as good as me. It worked out perfectly.

Our roommates are awesome. Two just left this week. :( so sad. One was from Dominican Republic going to Fort Lauderdale-Hermana Escorbores, Florida spanish speaking and the other is from New York...an asian/latina girl who is going to Canada spanish speaking-Hermana Camejo...(hilarious girl!!!!). The other two girls, one is from Mexico City going to Idaho, Pocatello spanish speaking-Hermana Garcia (gorgeous) and her companion is from Ecuador going to the same place-Hermana Jijon (adorable). It's been a cool experience living with girls who speak spanish fluently. They try to help Hermana Marshall and me and it's been so fun speaking with them and trying to understand them and dancing with them and laughing with them. It has been such a neat experience that I consider myself lucky because I could've just had other American roommates trying to learn Spanish too. I just feel really blessed.

I got a few letters already. My mailbox is #122. It's been great hearing from friends. I think the best mail though was a package from my former Hall Advisor from Wyview. She had all of my amazing Bldg. 17 girls write me notes on 3x5 cards and she packaged them all up and sent them off to me. My companion gave me a great idea to read one a day. It's been so sweet. I just want to thank all my girls for being awesome. I am glad I got the opportunity to get to know them and be their RA.

I see a lot of people I know here at the MTC. Whether they are teachers, or work in the copy center, the bookstore, and the cafeteria. I see people on my way to the field for gym time. I see people in the temple like from freshmen year. It's been great catching up and seeing familiar faces.

On Sundays we have temple walks and we took great pictures. I am going to send them home so they can be scanned and put on my blog. Every Sunday we are supposed to have a 3-5 minute talk prepared according to an assigned topic and be prepared to give it. The branch presidency will call on anyone for the 2 talks every sacrament meeting. It's great to be all nervous and scared but totally ready to rely on the spirit-huge testimony builder.

On Tuesdays we have devotionals. This last Tuesday it was Elder Richard G. Scott an apostle!!! It was AMAZING to hear from him. He talked all about hearing the promptings of the Spirit and relying on the Spirit to teach people what they need to know. It was an incredible talk and I felt his love and God's love for me so strongly. It was so neat when everyone in the room stood and sang "Called to Serve" It was awesome.

On Thursdays I have preparation day (p-day). I already decided that I love it. I love wearing jeans. And I love going to the temple. And I love taking a nap. And I love writing e-mails and letters. It's been great....though I love every other day of the week too! :)

I was teaching an "investigator" turns out she's our other teacher-Hermana Christensen. It was such a cool experience relying on the Spirit and teaching her in Spanish with my companion. We are a great team. We both felt the Spirit strongly. AND honestly it's incredible how sentences were coming out of my mouth that quickly and that they were understood by others in the room. It's great. I am learning more and more about Spanish and about the gospel. We taught her four times and I asked her if she would be willing to get baptized...it was awesome...she said yes. :)

I had a really cool experience the other day (the days all blend in together...I feel like I barely get to sleep when the next day starts right up again)...anyway Tuesday night the Branch President asked me to give the closing prayer in our meeting. The guy who did the opening prayer gave it in English and then the lesson was in English so I knew that I had to give the prayer in English...can I just tell you that it was actually kind of hard for me?! I always pray in Spanish now...personal prayers, companionship prayers, prayers in class, prayers for food...it's weird. I didn't really think about it until then. Obviously, I was able to do it...but it was just different...it was an awesome feeling.

My time is running out. There's so much I want to say. I have to take notes throughout the week to help me on my p-days to remember what to write to you. I love you all. Thank you soooo much for your support and love for me. Please don't forget that God loves you and is mindful of you and your sorrows, pains, and joys. Pray to Him and He will answer and help you. :) I know this personally from many incredible experiences.

Con amor,

Hermana Johnson

Last few days before leaving

Natalie and Jasmine and I

Saying good bye to family at home. My new niece will be so old and different when I get back!

Jasmine Rae Triplett and I

Tanya Garcia and I

And then a very long road trip up to West Jordan, Utah on Saturday.

Sunday, an incredible experience for me at church in my aunt's Relief Society. A new found excitement to serve a mission and gather Israel! I am going to be a part of it!!! :)

A dinner and then an open house/dessert night with friends and family.

Chelsea Marriott and I

Cousin Jean and I

Dinner group

My Byers cousins

The Johnson family!!!

Jonathan and his cool roommates

The Jensen boys

My old roomies!

My Campus Plaza buddies

Great friends!!

Hand hugging Nathan Dunn

The wonderful artwork by Andy Conlin

On Monday morning, I went to the Salt Lake Temple with my dad and sister Kristen. We met my oldest sister Dawn, her husband Dave and his parents, Mark and Winnie there. We did a live endowment session-I LOVED it. I want to go back again when I get home.

Missed my other sisters and mom :(