Hermana Laura Johnson: Barcelona Mission: (Zaragoza) Week-26 2012

Hi, First of all I apologize that I didn´t email yesterday, I just ran out of time!

I am doing well and it's been cold here. The weather is very extreme. HOT and then COLD there is like no middle. And it poured down rain on Saturday. I went through those two pairs of boots that I was wearing in Salt Lake City and they both got water inside, so I finally had to throw them away...And I found some new ones and bought them yesterday. I think they will last me the last 5 months of the mission.

Hermana Jorgensen, my new companion is amazing and I love being with her.

We had interviews with the President in Lleida on Friday. The Churchs drove us there, once again. I love them so much and will miss them SO much. I will be sad to leave Zaragoza, when the time comes. Like I've said, it's an amazing place.

Maria and Kate got baptized and it was beautiful!! They were so nervous and excited at the same time. Kate brought like 10 women-all her friends to support her. It was so exciting. As she got out of the water...she looked overjoyed as she walked up the stairs out of the baptismal font. With a huge smile, she said "I DID IT!" "I MADE IT!"

Kate is really special. She went from smoking 10 cigarettes a day to only 3 to none! When we first met with her she didn´t know that there was a way for her to stop smoking. She told us, "If you know of a way, let me know!" She didn´t think it was possible. She is originally from Nigeria, Africa and has been living here for 10 years or so. Kevin, her son, is 14 years old and only speaks Spanish so it is a bit difficult for them to communicate (and we have been trying to meet with him too!). She said, "Whenever you people come over I am happy and I feel relieved like weights are lifted from my shoulders." We explained to her the purpose of the Spirit. When we asked her if she wanted to still get baptized and quit smoking in such a short time she said, "I have always wanted to be baptized. This is my chance and I will not miss it." When we asked her how she felt she said, "I feel this happiness like I cannot stop smiling and when I read in the Book of Mormon I am happy. My friends ask me why I am so happy and I tell them I do not know. Why is this happening to me?" We explained the power of the Book of Mormon. SHE IS AMAZING.

In my talk on Sunday I shared Kate's story. We invited her to stop smoking and introduced her to the stop smoking program of the church. I felt impressed to give her the Jesus Christ pass along cards and invited her to put them in places to help remind her of her decision to be baptized. I didn´t know if she would do it...A couple days later we returned and she had a picture of Jesus Christ hanging in every room in her house. It was beautiful! I told them that Jesus Christ´s atonement is for everyone. I said that I knew many of them are converts to the church and all of us have our own challenges that we go through. Then I shared the story that President Gordon B Hinckley shared in the "Preach My Gospel" book about a letter he received from a recent convert woman. She explained how hard it was to be a new convert because you are entering into a new way of life, a new world and how she NEEDED the help of the members. After reading this story in my talk, the story was mentioned later in every class we attended and was mentioned in our Branch council. I hope people will take it to heart and extend their friendship to the new members of the Branch: like Kate. J

So that is Kate. Maria, who is 14 years old, lives with her mom and little sister (who has a LOT of energy!) Her mom is from Nigeria, Africa and Maria was born in Madrid. She is very smart, motivated and optimistic. I look up to her a lot. She helps take care of her family and called to meet with us! She heard about us through a neighbor who was a contacted referral from a recent convert. We started meeting with her but her mom is very busy...we only met with her once. She was on date for the 3rd of November but has never gone to church (not even for Maria´s confirmation, which is surprising because her mom was very proud of Maria´s decision to be baptized. So we often met with Maria outside in a plaza. She learns quickly and is very attentive. She is incredible and a very good positive influence on her little 4 year old sister. Maria was nervous to get baptized but in the end it worked out just perfect. She came out of the water so happy that she was shaking a little. It was a beautiful baptism and she looked beautiful. We are so excited to have another active young woman in the Branch! That makes 2! We just really need to work with her mom so that they will be able to come to church as a family, which seems to be Maria´s desire as well.

We are putting our faith and confidence to the test and trying to talk to more Spaniards! Now that we have this week to calm down, after the baptisms last weekend, we will focus more on contacting! We know that we can do it with the help of the Lord.

Thank you for your support. LOVE YOU!

Love, Laura