Barcelona Mission: (Zaragoza) Week-02 2012

Here is a copy of some of my letter to the president.  I don´t have a ton of time to type and tell you about things

Dear President,

A miracle story happened this week at a mediodia lunch with a member family. This family for the past year or so has been inactive and they just started going to church again because their little girls wanted to go.  While the mom was talking to us, she looked like she was about to cry.  I shared with her 2 Nephi 31:20 and talked about persevering. She then continued on to tell us about how they were inactive and how they are starting to come back because of the girls. I asked her if she liked going to church and she said she did now and that her girls are good examples to her.  She has always had a testimony.  Then she said how crazy life has been lately and how overwhelmed she has been. She shared a little miracle story that really helped her put things into perspective. She and her family were riding on the bus to church last Sunday. Then she saw us get on the bus. She said as soon as we got on the bus a lady that was sitting behind her, leaned over to her teenage daughter and told her, "Look you see those girls right there? Those girls are Missionaries.  You see how happy they are?  It is because of their faith that they are so happy. Their faith is what keeps them going-that´s what makes them happy."  After Sashy(members name) heard the lady, it made her smile and realize how blessed she was to have the gospel in her life. We had no idea this was happening while we were talking to her and her family and she never told us anything about it until this lunch we had with her!  She didn´t turn around and say anything to the lady either.

It was a special moment for all of us to hear her story. It has always been tough to contact and talk to people on the bus for me. This was a huge confidence builder for me as I realized how much people do notice us whether or not we are talking to them specifically.  And also the importance that we should try to talk to everyone and share the message that we carry!

I admire that my companion is so calm and says things will turn out. Our fecha lost her fecha.  We have been calling her and passing by her piso every day this week...and last week. She disappeared and we cannot find her. We will keep trying because we are worried and care about her.

Our most recent convert John Willems is doing well. The language is a challenge at church because he speaks English and everything is in Spanish. I don´t know how some of these members do it. But he is not afraid to comment in class and made a great comment yesterday in Gospel Principles class about the priesthood and then he offered the closing prayer.  We asked him for referrals and he said he would see about his family if they would like to hear the gospel. He met with the Branch President and hopefully will be getting some home teachers and a calling soon and ordained to the Priesthood.

Some things I have been repenting of and trying to work harder at are: taking out the trash and sweeping every night, avoiding sloppy language, and starting my personal study on time in the mornings. I have really felt like the small things do make a huge difference. A clean environment welcomes the spirit. You feel happier when you know you are doing the little things.

This week in training we watched the District videos about how to work with our leaders. We really needed this training. We don´t know a lot of people and since we split the area in two, the number of people we know has decreased.  We are so grateful to have an assigned list of things to do and people to visit before May 7th, because contacting is tough and our investigators are struggling. Our numbers are low and we have been visiting with less actives and trying to visit and get to know the members.

We had our first meeting with the Branch President at the Branch council meeting and were able to introduce ourselves and talk about some things. The counsel was so surprised to know that we were visiting some of the people that they were concerned about.  I feel it will really help increase our success here in this area. We met with our Ward Mission Leader for a long time, too. We made some progress and just need to keep being present so the members and the leaders will get to know us.

There is a lot of work to be done here and we are just taking it a day at a time...it´s slow and hard but I really feel like it will get better. We are going to make a difference in this area and get these members spirits up. The transition has been a challenge. More than anything I know that my Heavenly Father knows me and that He cares. That He is aware of my potential and He knows what needs to be done in this area and I need to turn my will over to Him because His plan and our plans need to be the same in order to leave this area better than it was before.

Love, Hermana Johnson

I love the other Hermanas that live in our piso and I love the elders in our district. I love being with them because they are all native speakers and of course, I love speaking in Spanish with them and hearing about their lives and their stories and their testimonies...just different worlds from my own little bubble in the United States you know?

Here´s some pictures of us.

I still love being a missionary.

Thank you for your prayers and your support and for your love. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Again, please read your scriptures, pray and go to church.  These 3 things mean so much and are so important. Your life will be blessed and you will be happier. It is so simple. Just do it.

I love you all and pray for you all the time.

Love, Laura

Zaragoza, Spain - District Meeting

Laura Johnson on Preparation Day in Zaragoza Spain in front of San Diego Street sign