Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Barcelona Mission: (Zaragoza) Week-21 2012

What a week!  Hermana Reeder and I are exhausted from working so hard. We saw a lot of miracles this week and looking back I know that Heavenly Father was helping us every step of the way-physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Without his help we could not have made it.
Three wonderful people were baptized this weekend.
First, Happy who is from Nigeria was baptized. We baptized her husband, Pius, back in June. He always told us that he wanted us to teach his wife (who at the time was living in a pueblo cerca de Pamplona). Hermana Reeder and I never thought that would happen. After Pius´ baptism he disappeared for a while and then came back with his wife, Happy and their 2 year old son, Joseph, and their 6 month old baby, Joann. We taught Happy quickly and she learned fast. She is wonderful. She has SO much faith and determination to progress in the gospel. Her life is HARD to say the least.  She was nervous when it came time to enter the water. But she came out with a huge smile on her face and said, "I am so excited." Then after the service she said, "I just want to thank you so much for everything that you have done for me." That is what missionary work is all about! It was wonderful to hear that sincerity and to see the happiness on her face. She was full of the Spirit. Everything that we went through to teach her and to help her understand was all worth it and a big testimony to me.
Bright is also from Nigeria. He is wonderful, very sociable and outgoing. He told us that something was missing in his life and that he needed to find it so he could be ´bright´ again like his name. The Elders actually found him and it was a miracle. They knocked on the wrong door and Bright was there visiting someone. They contacted those people and then gave Bright as a reference to us. Our lives have changed since. He was so willing to change and used to be a drug seller in Tenerife to earn money to pay rent. He stopped it and other vises for good. I felt inspired to give him the talk by President Monson called, "Be of Good Cheer" because it he said: “The future is as bright as your faith."  He LOVED the talk and said he couldn´t deny that President Monson was a prophet of God.  He was so happy after his baptism. He said, "I'm a new man".
Elvis is from Nigeria, too. Bright brought him to church with him, the first Sunday he came. Bright is a great missionary and it turns out Elvis is as well (references!). He has a lot of faith and was willing to stop smoking and drinking which was a big part of his life. He works at a hair cutting store and also likes to rap, do gymnastics, paint, fix cars, and sing. He is a man with many talents. He has one young son living in Nigeria with his mom. Elvis´ mother passed away last year, which was really hard for him. We were able to teach him the Plan of Salvation and help him realize that he will see her again. His prayers are meaningful and come directly from the heart. I learned more about him from his prayers in our lessons than I did from the conversations in the lessons themselves.
What a week of miracles. Once again, I am thankful I am here in Zaragoza to be a part of it all.

Thank you for your love and support.
Love you all and am praying for you.
Love,
Hermana Johnson

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