September 23rd, 2013

Hello everyone!! I hope all is well! :)

Scripture of the week 

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15;4,13 

These verses personally give me so much comfort and hope. They testify that it is through reading the scriptures and patience that we find hope. Hope is such an important aspect in life because without it, we find no purpose in life or reason for anything. I have learned lately that hope is so much more that just wishing or wanting something, it is the quiet assurance that things will work out through God's promises to us. We find hope through the Atonement, scriptures, prayer, church, family, friends, the Holy Ghost, keeping our standards high and keeping a positive and optimistic attitude towards life and the future! 

Quote of the week 

"One sees clearly only with the heart, anything essential is invisible to the eyes." -Pres. Uchtdorf. 

It is so important to look at our brothers and sisters with the heart. Find love for them immediately and look for the desire to help them in any way possible. I am learning to look past the choices they have made, situation they are in, and what they look like on the outside. I find myself seeing children of God struggling to find happiness, peace, joy and a way out of the misery they have found themselves in. I am more than happy to be that hand to lift them up, that shining light in the darkness and the smiling face that brings them comfort! 

Miracle

Vicki is getting baptized this Saturday! This last week, we met with her and committed her to quitting smoking. She was to fast for 24 hours from cigarettes while Sister Mitchell and I were fasting 24 hours without food. We took her cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters with us and threw them away. We replace them with mints, cinnamon candies and other things to help stifle the urge to smoke. She went 3 days with only smoking 3 cigarettes which was so awesome!!! She hasn't had anything to smoke since Friday and she is on track to be baptized! I am so excited because she has a such a desire to find more peace and happiness and she is finding that in the gospel. 

She is learning and progressing so much and loves coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. It is so awesome because I don't think I have prayed so much for someone in such a short amount of time in my life but if is so worth it and I love seeing the miracles that Heavenly Father is blessing her with! She is finding new strength in herself that she has never felt before. She is taking her GED in 2 weeks and she will be able to have the Holy Ghost for that which is something she is super excited about! I love her and the choices she is making and I have been so blessed to be a part of her conversion!!!

Life is pretty good in general. Things are constantly up and down but we always find something to keep us strong and get us through. Sister Mitchell and I are learning to just loosen up and enjoy the work. We are having fun and able to treat those we teach more like people and less like robots. It is awesome and I am losing myself in this work! I love this gospel and this work! I know this church is true and this is the straight and narrow path back to our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior and brother Jesus Christ!!! :)

I love you all and hope everything is going great!! Until next week!

Love always, Sister Britni Johnson!!!!

The sky once again! 

My hair after getting caught out in a giant rainstorm!

petting a cat?

a frog just outside our apartment!

September 19th, 2013 - Winter is Definitely Coming! :)

Hello everyone!!!

Scripture of the week - Helaman 10:4-5

"Blessed art thou Nephi (insert you name here!), for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingess declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thous hast not feared them, and thou hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea even that all things shall be done unto thee according to they word for thous shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will." 

This scripture helped me so much because here is a great prophet who was feeling a little down and discouraged and the Lord said to him that he is blessed. That he has done his part, worked as hard as he can and that is all that is asked of him. I took this to heart because I realized that as long as I am doing my best and fulfilling my calling, I will be blessed because of it. I just need to keep pushing forward, keep the faith and never give up no matter what happens or how hard it gets. I just love this scripture so much and the hope and peace that it brings to my heart! :)

Quote of the week 

"I am just striving to be more me than I have ever been." 

This quote pretty much sums up where I am at right now and what we need to do. All we are asked to do is be more than we ever have been. To be our best selves and share that with the world around us.

Miracles for the week

1. We just got back from the temple!!! I love the temple so much and I sure needed it! It can bring us so much peace and happiness and I am grateful for the chance that we had to go!!!

2. Vicki who is supposed to get baptized on October 5th is quitting smoking! She is going to get a blessing and try the vapor cigarette thing to help her stop. She is so strong and I know she can do it. I am so excited and I can't wait for her to be baptized and washed clean. She is amazing and I just love her so much!!!

3. We have been using an approved workout video and so Sister Mitchell and I have been losing a little bit of weight and trying to be healthier and more energetic. And it is definitely working! I have more energy and I love it! :) I also don't feel as guilty eating all the delicious dinners and desserts our members feed to us every night! :)

SO funny story.

On Sunday we were late to church because we had to go visit someone that we were worried about so we missed the sacrament. We go all through church and Sister Mitchell and I were so upset that we didn't get the sacrament. I have never realized how much I need it and how important it is to take it every week possible. So after church, we talked to the branch president and he got one of his counselors, the branch clerk and one of the young men that were still there to do the sacrament for us. 

They didn't have any bread left but someone had given us a loaf of pumpkin bread as a gift for helping out so we used the pumpkin bread for the sacrament. It was kinda different having just us and pumpkin bread but I was so grateful for the chance to take the sacrament. I need it every single week and I was glad it worked out that we could have it. It just gives me so much strength and peace of mind and I love it so much! I love Jesus Christ and all he did for me and I want to do my best to follow him, always remember him and be an example to those around me!!

I love this work and all the things I am learning!

I love and miss you all and can't wait to see you again soon, before we know it, I will be on my way home! :)))

Love always and forever!

Sister Britni Johnson! :)

Our good looking Zone! Lots of my favorite missionaries in this picture! :)

My favorite aisle in Kroger's!

 An authentic Amish buggy! :)

what can I say? I am obsessed with the sky!

a fun visual lesson we were trying out! I am standing on tiny paper cups!

The temple!!!!! 'Nuff said! :)

September 9th - The Work is Definitely Picking Up!

Hello to all!

Scripture of the week - D&C 128:19 

" Now what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? a voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things and that say unto Zion; Behold thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!" 

I found this scripture while flipping through my quad the other day and I thought it explained how I am feeling lately perfectly. This gospel is such great news! We need to share it with everyone and we need to be happy about it and have fun doing it! Missionary work is also known as missionary fun! I love it so much and I am incredibly grateful to be out here! :)

Quote of the week 
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be" 
-Albus Dumbledore 

This one is awesome because the only thing that defines us and makes us who we are, is our actions, our choices, our attitude and our beliefs! I am who I choose to be and allow myself to be. No one else can change me or make me into something I am not or don't want to be! :)

Miracles: 
I have like no time this week so I will be quick and elaborate more next week.  

1. Savannah, who used to be atheist, believes in God, Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon    and Joseph Smith.

2. Dustin came to church because we prayed for a solution to a problem and he said if Velcro was on the clearance aisle at Walmart, he would come to church. Velcro was at the clearance aisle the next day and it was such a miracle from God! 

3. Vicki is on date to be baptized on October 5th and we are so excited about it!

4. Sister Mitchell and I are learning the balance between work and focusing on our purpose as missionaries and having fun and allowing ourselves to de-stress and just relax!

I love and miss you all! I love my mission and everything that I have learned and gone through already! I can't wait to see what else lies in store! I know this gospel and this church is true! The Book of Mormon is the word of God and Jesus Christ is my personal savior and redeemer! I love everything about my life right now, even the challenges and I absolutely cannot wait for general conference! I love you all and can't wait to hear from you soon! :) :)

Love always and forever, Sister Britni Johnson! 

 Sister Murry- the relief society president who takes such
good care of us and is always teaching with us! I love her so much! :)

The sky again-absolutely gorgeous!

Add stick pull at our mission fun day today!

2. sister nilsen is the best ever!

corn hole

 

Sister Glaab's last night with all of us! :)

Chillin on Savannah's counter while waiting for dinner to cook :)

September 4th - I'm Staying in Madison Lake!

Hello all!

So we just got transfer calls and Sister Mitchell and I are staying in Madison Lake and Sister Glaab is being transferred. It came as a major shocker because I really thought I was going to be transferred but nope, apparently I still have something I need to do here in London and I still have stuff to learn from Sister Mitchell!

Scripture of the week

It isn't really a scripture but it's something we have to memorize and I love it so much! 

"I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation, I have been selected as the personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and he has chosen me to represent him; to stand in his place; to say and do what he himself would say and do if he persoanlly were ministering among the very people to whom he has sent me. My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine is his doctrine; for I am his agent. My commission is to do what he wants done, to say what he wants said, to be a living modern witness-in word and in deed-of the divinity of this great and marvelous latter-day work. And he that receiveth me, receiveth him, while he that rejecteth me, rejecteth him that sent me. How great is my calling!"-Elder Bruce R. McConkie

I love this so much because it is my calling and my commission. It is my duty and responsibility as a missionary and it gives me courage and power every time I read it!

Quote of the week 

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

This quote is so true and gives us the motivation to realize that we can do anything. We are children of God and we have divine potential above anything we can even imagine!

Miracle of the week

-So I went on 3 exchanges this last week and I learned so much from each of them. I learned how to loosen up, love everyone around me, and have fun. I have not been myself for awhile because I am trying so hard to be perfect in every aspect. I have decided that it is more important for me to be me, Heavenly Father didn't call me to be someone else or something else. He called me to be me because that is enough and that is what I need to stick to.

-I also was invited to go to a special leadership meeting which was way cool and I learned so much. Those trainings are always so incredible and insightful because I learn so much but also overwhelming because there is so much to be done and to be learned.

This week's email is a little short because we don't have much time but I love and miss you all! Everything is great here in London, Ohio and I love everything about being a missionary.

Love always,

Sister Britni Johnson

 Best package ever! Sent by Derek and Shandice and I loved it so much!
It was incredible and made me so happy! Thanks so much for all you do! :)

 Heather Pickett- a less-active that we are working with to try 

and get her back to church. We just love her! :)

August 26th - One week left of the transfer!

Hello everyone! 

So it's that time again, next week is transfers so my next p-day will be next Wednesday. I am a little stressed because I get the feeling I am going to be transferred and I really love this area but I guess we will just have to see! :)

Quote of the week

"Let us be sure that those who come after us will say of us that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept the faith!" -Ronald Reagan

I love this quote because just motivates you to keep pushing and working as hard as you possibly can. To never give up and have no regrets. Leave a legacy that people can work with. I want future missionaries to come to areas that i serve and be grateful for the work that I did. To realize I did what I could at all times and to keep the standard. This quote is a call to action and I love it so  much! I am ready to fall into bed exhausted every night from trying so hard and doing all I can all day, every day! :)

Scripture of the Week

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft and did wa stronger and stronger in their humility and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea even to the purifying and sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God!" 

This is the mission scripture for the year as well as a scripture we have to memorize. I love it because it goes to show how important it is to fast and pray all the time. We can't do this work on our own. We have involve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at all times ad every step of the way. If we involve them continuously, we will find success through them and be blessed for our efforts in moving this work forward! :)

Miracle of the week

We had a bit of a crazy week. We went on 2 exchanges, one where I went into a different area and swapped companions and another where other sisters came into our area and we all worked here. We had some great appointments and I am very excited about some of our investigators. We also got to pick corn twice for a Feed Ohio service project and I had lots of fun there too!

On Thursday we had a sister specialized training which is basically just a training for sisters. IT was in the mission home but it was a little packed because there are over 40 sisters in the mission now. IT was from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and it was the best thing ever. The spirit was so incredibly strong the entire time and I had so much personal revelation. I love trainings because they give you so many great ideas and get you pumped to do the work but at the same time they are a little overwhelming because you realize all the stuff you need to improve on and how much work you really have to do. It's a bit of a roller coaster but I love it so much! I also loved getting to see all the sisters that i have gotten to know really well and not having to deal with any awkward situations that always seem to arise when Elders are there too! :) And this training leads right into my miracle of the week.

On Friday morning, during weekly planning, we were brainstorming and trying to figure out what to do in certain lessons and how best to help some investigators. We also had all these things we wanted to work on that we had learned in the training the day before. All three of us were kind of blocked and we couldn't figure out what to do. Finally we just talked it all out. Everything we had been holding in for the last 4-5 weeks we discussed and talked through to the point where we realized we were all going through a lot of the same struggles but all of us were just sort of keeping them in. We were also struggling with having fun. I was trying to always lighten the mood and give us credit for the things we do well but it is hard when we try so hard to improve and push ourselves all the time. After we talked it out, we prayed a few times and realized that when you involve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in their own work, that is when the inspiration comes and the Spirit leads us in the direction we should go. 

It is impossible to do this work without involving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and yet we seem to forget too frequently to always pray and fast for inspiration and guidance. We hit a point where we all learned a valuable lesson and were able to overcome the wall that was in our way. We are in the process of climbing over it and continuing on our journey with faith. I am so excited to implement some of the new ideas we have including how to unify the branch and our missionary efforts with them more in order to push the work forward and truly find those people ready to receive the gospel! :)

I loved this week and how much I learned! Even though it was a bit of a tougher week, I learned a lot and I am ready to put myself back together into a better missionary with all the new insight, power and strength I am constantly given from the Lord! I love this gospel and I love this work!

I love and miss you all and i hope everything is going well! You are always in my prayers! :) Keep the faith and never lose hope!

Lovin life and livin my dreams!

Love, Sister Britni Johnson! :)

4 of my favorite sisters in the world! :)

 Sister Hunger and I at the Sister Specialized training. We were basically attached at the hip the whole time because we get along so well and I missed her so much. I seriously pray everyday that we will be companions! :)

 I love exchanges so much! They are way fun! :)

 I love this scripture!