Converting Columbus

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!