In every human experience are scattered moments of pure contentment. Moments where an old score is settled, a lost puzzle piece locks into place, and a sense of healing overcomes hidden wounds that you never really believed existed. This past week has been one of those moments for me. Eight years ago my family intended to celebrate a season of gratitude in Austin, Texas. But our plans change and our trip was cancelled for a trip up North. It wasn’t until I was sitting in a chapel in San Antonio surrounded by dark jackets and name tags hearing the President of my mission announce that the first place I would be serving is Austin, Texas that I realized how much I’ve wanted to reach the destination that my family had sought years before. And as I looked out the dark windows of a travel bus and saw the big green sign announcing my entrance Austin I felt a quiver of satisfaction…I made it. And I’m here to share the most precious gift I have to offer: the message of Jesus Christ. I’m here to celebrate an all-encompassing season of gratitude. Ironic…but appropriate.
So here I am. I was so excited as soon as I stepped off the plane because I knew that now I was in warm country. Goodbye freezing cold Provo, Hello…..freezing cold San Antonio. What? Yeah, it was way colder here than in Provo due to humidity and the wind chill factor. But you know what? I didn’t care. I was so happy to be here, so fired up that it could have been the Antarctic and I wouldn’t have minded. I passed out a Book of Mormon at the Alamo and then visited a newly baptized family. Cool.
The next day was a huge party with the whole mission. We took a picture in front of the San Antonio Temple. Then we had a fireside at the church, and then there were back-slapping man hugs as the assistant to the president announced where everyone was going to be serving the next six weeks. Oohhhs, and ahhs, and occasional gasps as missionaries were assigned to new companions. Then we ate food, then we had a concert, and then we watched a movie (Miracle). This is great! Is everyday on a mission like this? I would have signed up a long time ago had I known.
Well, my delusional first day ended and we took a two hour bus ride to Austin. The next two days were Christmas Eve and Christmas. Super fun cause I got to talk to family, and eat food at members house all day. Eventually reality set in and can I just say…my life is soooooooo cool! Do you know what I do all day long?---All day long. I study the gospel, I teach the gospel, and then I watch people come closer to our Savior through the gospel…all day long. And then I sleep and eat somewhere in there…my life is so cool. I don’t really feel like I’m doing anything to help, I just say stuff to people and get to witness their expressions of joy as the Spirit enlightens and touches their soul.
I was so excited to knock on my first door. It was my turn to talk. I knocked, the guy opened the door. I smiled excitedly and said, “Hi!” and then he shut the door. But I was so excited to be there I didn’t care.
My first lesson was better: I taught the plan of salvation (with my super cool companion, sis. Davenport). Her face lit up and her eyes filled with tears when we told her that the authority to seal a husband and wife together for eternity was on the earth. “Wow…this is a really big deal.” It is a really big deal and I get to be a part in sharing it. Antonio said, “I know that everything you have taught is true. I have a gift to know truth when I hear it and I know this is true. I just have a question.” Then he proceeds to ask what our church is doing to let other churches know that the authority has been reestablished on earth. We pointed to ourselves and then told him about the leaders of our church and the relationship they have with other churches.
I want my family to know that I absolutely believe the things that I am teaching. I would never go out and try and convince people to leave their good Christian religions or non-Christian religions for that matter unless I truly believed the things I teach are true. I am so grateful for Christ and His atonement and I feel blessed to share this message during this time of year. Hello Texas…I’m back!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Week 2
December 17, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This week was super fun and interesting: we studied and went to class and went to meetings and ate food. Okay, that description didn't come close to conveying the 'fun' and 'interesting' I was going for.
FUN:
-One of the elders was super excited at lunch because his orange popsicle was cream filled. He announced it excitedly to our whole table and our district leader walked over to get a closer look at this frozen phenomenon. But something over took his will power (cause an Elder would never do this of his own free will) and Elder District Leader opened wide his mouth devoured the Elder's popsicle in one bite. A move that even pac-man would envy. It was fabulous.
-One of the elders was teaching Sis. Powers and I the first lesson. This Elder DOES NOT like being interupted while he's teaching. Past incidents indicated to us that it would be against our better judgment to distract him at all. So there we were (after spending several hours in a tiny classroom on the brink of insanity caused by too much seriousness) listening to the Elder give a very powerful discourse. He was speaking about Christ's ministry. "Jesus performed several miracles. He cured leprosy and killed the sick...." I have no idea what he said after that. I was using every fiber of my being to keep from busting up. The Elder kept right on teaching unaware of his mistake (he meant to say healed). I held my composure beautifully, that is until I heard Sis. Powers let out a squill of laughter she had struggled so hard to supress. It was over after that. We couldn't stop laughing and the Elder just stared at us ready to shoot firey darts out of his eyes. Good times.
INTERESTING:
Our district (my 11 best buds) was asked to teach the first lesson to members of the committee that wrote 'Preach My Gospel.' No pressure. Sis. Powers and I spent hours perfecting our lesson plan. We were going to blow them away with the spirit. (That right there should have been our first clue how our lesson would go). We walk in and meet the committee members who were acting as people wanting to find out more about our church. So we begin our presentation... but apparently people have needs. After we struggled through our lesson with unreceptive investigators, the committee members we taught gave us some really good instruction. They taught us that we are not making a presentation or a speech. We are to discover the needs of the people we meet and then we are to look for ways that our message can help uplift and strengthen them. Go figure. It was a humbling and informative experience. However, I think I'll do better when I am teaching people who aren't pretending. The MTC is great, but there's only so much you can practice when teaching people with pretend problems. I'm excited to go to Texas and start, but I'm afraid cause I'm a little shy and I hate inconveniencing people. But my job for the next 18 months is to proclaim a very inconvenient, but worthwhile gospel.
LESSON I LEARNED:
-So there' a bunch of stories that helped me learn this lesson but the details of which would be way too juicy and interesting for a missionary letter so all you get is my ending conclusion:
Swallow your pride and let the Lord mold you the way He wants you. He'll probably do it by sending you messages through the most annoying methods/people possible. Swallow your pride and listen AND THEN DO.
I love you all! My favorite scripture this week is Alma 7:11-12 cause it tells you why Christ is capable of knowing exactly what we need to learn and grow.
Y'all come back now, ya hear?
(good bye in Texan)
Alyse
PS
I leave on December 22 at 6:00 AM.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This week was super fun and interesting: we studied and went to class and went to meetings and ate food. Okay, that description didn't come close to conveying the 'fun' and 'interesting' I was going for.
FUN:
-One of the elders was super excited at lunch because his orange popsicle was cream filled. He announced it excitedly to our whole table and our district leader walked over to get a closer look at this frozen phenomenon. But something over took his will power (cause an Elder would never do this of his own free will) and Elder District Leader opened wide his mouth devoured the Elder's popsicle in one bite. A move that even pac-man would envy. It was fabulous.
-One of the elders was teaching Sis. Powers and I the first lesson. This Elder DOES NOT like being interupted while he's teaching. Past incidents indicated to us that it would be against our better judgment to distract him at all. So there we were (after spending several hours in a tiny classroom on the brink of insanity caused by too much seriousness) listening to the Elder give a very powerful discourse. He was speaking about Christ's ministry. "Jesus performed several miracles. He cured leprosy and killed the sick...." I have no idea what he said after that. I was using every fiber of my being to keep from busting up. The Elder kept right on teaching unaware of his mistake (he meant to say healed). I held my composure beautifully, that is until I heard Sis. Powers let out a squill of laughter she had struggled so hard to supress. It was over after that. We couldn't stop laughing and the Elder just stared at us ready to shoot firey darts out of his eyes. Good times.
INTERESTING:
Our district (my 11 best buds) was asked to teach the first lesson to members of the committee that wrote 'Preach My Gospel.' No pressure. Sis. Powers and I spent hours perfecting our lesson plan. We were going to blow them away with the spirit. (That right there should have been our first clue how our lesson would go). We walk in and meet the committee members who were acting as people wanting to find out more about our church. So we begin our presentation... but apparently people have needs. After we struggled through our lesson with unreceptive investigators, the committee members we taught gave us some really good instruction. They taught us that we are not making a presentation or a speech. We are to discover the needs of the people we meet and then we are to look for ways that our message can help uplift and strengthen them. Go figure. It was a humbling and informative experience. However, I think I'll do better when I am teaching people who aren't pretending. The MTC is great, but there's only so much you can practice when teaching people with pretend problems. I'm excited to go to Texas and start, but I'm afraid cause I'm a little shy and I hate inconveniencing people. But my job for the next 18 months is to proclaim a very inconvenient, but worthwhile gospel.
LESSON I LEARNED:
-So there' a bunch of stories that helped me learn this lesson but the details of which would be way too juicy and interesting for a missionary letter so all you get is my ending conclusion:
Swallow your pride and let the Lord mold you the way He wants you. He'll probably do it by sending you messages through the most annoying methods/people possible. Swallow your pride and listen AND THEN DO.
I love you all! My favorite scripture this week is Alma 7:11-12 cause it tells you why Christ is capable of knowing exactly what we need to learn and grow.
Y'all come back now, ya hear?
(good bye in Texan)
Alyse
PS
I leave on December 22 at 6:00 AM.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The scriptures are amazing
December 17, 2008
Okay, I have 22 minutes to hurry up and tell you what I think will be the most beneficial thing for all of my friends and family to hear. Ahhh. Now only 21 minutes...okay
The scriptures are amazing. I've always had a hard time with the scriptures. They'd bore me. I wouldn't be able to pay attention to anything that was going on. I knew they were important, but I was overwhelmed by the amount of work it took for me to get anything out of the scrambled jumble of words. But after spending two weeks doing nothing but learning from the scriptures, I've had a change of heart. I want to suggest to you how to study the scriptures so that they will have a more profound impact on your life.
Use "Preach My Gospel." I've had a hard time with PMG too cause its also really boring to me. All it does is give basic principles that I already know. But I've learned that you have to use the scriptures and PMG together and all of the sudden it all makes sense. Everything falls in place and the scriptures become incredible books of poetry that teach eternal truths and PMG is your guide book to understanding the poetry. Don't just read through PMG looking up the scriptures it asks for. I mean, you can do that, but I'm a verbal and hands on learner. So my suggestion to you is to learn lessons one and two and make your own personal lesson plans that are 1 min long, 10 minutes long, and 20 minutes long. Then practice teaching them to each other. Don't worry about teaching something they already know, just teach each other and you'll be amazed how much you learn because you'll start making connections that you didn't know existed. You'll start learning that the book of mormon teaches over and over the principles found in the first two lessons, only the Book of Mormon does it in a much more eloquent and interesting way. But until you know what its talking about it will be a mess of confusion.
Now I know all the returned missionaries are rolling their eyes because they remember when they were here being taught the same method of learning/teaching, but I wish now that one of my RM friend's had've taught me this method. I guess that's why I'm sharing it now. Don't wait to share the gospel to a non-member. I've been teaching fellow missionaries for two weeks and we are better for it. Our testimonies are stronger and we are taking part in the salvation of each other's souls. Teach the gospel to each other! I'll write a more interesting and entertaining letter later, but this is the most imporant message I have to share right now
~sis. johnson
Okay, I have 22 minutes to hurry up and tell you what I think will be the most beneficial thing for all of my friends and family to hear. Ahhh. Now only 21 minutes...okay
The scriptures are amazing. I've always had a hard time with the scriptures. They'd bore me. I wouldn't be able to pay attention to anything that was going on. I knew they were important, but I was overwhelmed by the amount of work it took for me to get anything out of the scrambled jumble of words. But after spending two weeks doing nothing but learning from the scriptures, I've had a change of heart. I want to suggest to you how to study the scriptures so that they will have a more profound impact on your life.
Use "Preach My Gospel." I've had a hard time with PMG too cause its also really boring to me. All it does is give basic principles that I already know. But I've learned that you have to use the scriptures and PMG together and all of the sudden it all makes sense. Everything falls in place and the scriptures become incredible books of poetry that teach eternal truths and PMG is your guide book to understanding the poetry. Don't just read through PMG looking up the scriptures it asks for. I mean, you can do that, but I'm a verbal and hands on learner. So my suggestion to you is to learn lessons one and two and make your own personal lesson plans that are 1 min long, 10 minutes long, and 20 minutes long. Then practice teaching them to each other. Don't worry about teaching something they already know, just teach each other and you'll be amazed how much you learn because you'll start making connections that you didn't know existed. You'll start learning that the book of mormon teaches over and over the principles found in the first two lessons, only the Book of Mormon does it in a much more eloquent and interesting way. But until you know what its talking about it will be a mess of confusion.
Now I know all the returned missionaries are rolling their eyes because they remember when they were here being taught the same method of learning/teaching, but I wish now that one of my RM friend's had've taught me this method. I guess that's why I'm sharing it now. Don't wait to share the gospel to a non-member. I've been teaching fellow missionaries for two weeks and we are better for it. Our testimonies are stronger and we are taking part in the salvation of each other's souls. Teach the gospel to each other! I'll write a more interesting and entertaining letter later, but this is the most imporant message I have to share right now
~sis. johnson
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Day 7
December 10,2008
I don't even know what to say. Has it really been a week? I feel like I've been here for ten years...no seriously. It might have something to do with the 16-hour days jam-packed with meetings, classes, devotionals, study time, more meetings, more classes and a few minutes of relaxation as we chow on MTC cafeteria cuisine which is actually quite delicious (the oatmeal cookies are to die for). Or maybe it's that 12 of the 16-hour days are spent in the same 10 x 10 ft. classroom (#109).
But, despite the feelings of drinking out of a fire hose, this has been the coolest week EVER! Guess what we do here...we study the gospel ALL DAY LONG! All day long. I knew that before I got here, but I didn't feel it. I feel it now, holy moly, do I feel it now.
I spent the first day tripping over my suitcases and wandering wide-eyed through a maze of orange brick, and trying to figure out how everyone I passed knew my name. All the missionaries smirked when they noticed the orange dot on my tag indicating my newby status, (affectionately called the 'dork dot'), and lifted their eyebrows to give me a hearty, 'welcome to the MTC Sister Johnson!'How in the world do you know my name!? Oh yeah...the tag.
My companion, Sis. Powers, has kept me from wandering aimless this past week. I am definitely going to need to get used to be next to the same person 24x7. I accidentally almost escaped her when my easily distracted mind becomes overwhelmed with excitement and I'm forced to dash away in a frolic. The excitement is caused by spotting wonders such as snow, drinking fountains, and chocolate.
Sis. Powers and I were put with groups called districts...the translation? - 12 missionaries with cabin fever who spend 16 hours a day together bearing testimony, making jokes, singing hymns, praying and basically having the time of their lives despite being confined within a premise spanning 3 minutes in diameter.
There are four sisters total in my district. The other three have been fairly sick this past week, but luckily I was able to dodge it. We're all pretty good friends now. They are all super happy and excited and it's inspiring.
Then there are 8 boys...whoops...I mean elders. They are incredible. I don't know who their seminary teachers were, but they deserve a star beacuse these elders know more scriptures than pop song lyrics. Their preparation is inspiring. The dignified respect they show us sisters is touching.
However, They're still 19-year-olds, and boys will be boys...no, I can't excuse it on the male gender...rather, dorks will be dorks. Don't get me wrong, though. I love my blue hard boiled egg that Elder Murphey dyed in his glass of poweraid this morning, so that every member of the district would have, sitting upon the classroom chalkboard ledge, a personal egg representing the missionaries' unique individuality. Precious.
I love all the meetings we go to. At devotional, all the sisters sang the first verse of 'Silent Night' by themselves. Usually I prefer men's voices over women's but not today. Our voices (one fifth of the missionaries) penetrated the auditorium with piercing unity as we testified of the savior of the world. Through the music you could hear our fear, but also our determination to gather His flock with every unique gift we have to offer. Onward with love.
This place is amazing. We spend all day testifying of Christ through study, and prayer, and song, and teaching, and friendship. I feel elated and it's only been one week.
I love you all!
Sis. Johnson
I don't even know what to say. Has it really been a week? I feel like I've been here for ten years...no seriously. It might have something to do with the 16-hour days jam-packed with meetings, classes, devotionals, study time, more meetings, more classes and a few minutes of relaxation as we chow on MTC cafeteria cuisine which is actually quite delicious (the oatmeal cookies are to die for). Or maybe it's that 12 of the 16-hour days are spent in the same 10 x 10 ft. classroom (#109).
But, despite the feelings of drinking out of a fire hose, this has been the coolest week EVER! Guess what we do here...we study the gospel ALL DAY LONG! All day long. I knew that before I got here, but I didn't feel it. I feel it now, holy moly, do I feel it now.
I spent the first day tripping over my suitcases and wandering wide-eyed through a maze of orange brick, and trying to figure out how everyone I passed knew my name. All the missionaries smirked when they noticed the orange dot on my tag indicating my newby status, (affectionately called the 'dork dot'), and lifted their eyebrows to give me a hearty, 'welcome to the MTC Sister Johnson!'How in the world do you know my name!? Oh yeah...the tag.
My companion, Sis. Powers, has kept me from wandering aimless this past week. I am definitely going to need to get used to be next to the same person 24x7. I accidentally almost escaped her when my easily distracted mind becomes overwhelmed with excitement and I'm forced to dash away in a frolic. The excitement is caused by spotting wonders such as snow, drinking fountains, and chocolate.
Sis. Powers and I were put with groups called districts...the translation? - 12 missionaries with cabin fever who spend 16 hours a day together bearing testimony, making jokes, singing hymns, praying and basically having the time of their lives despite being confined within a premise spanning 3 minutes in diameter.
There are four sisters total in my district. The other three have been fairly sick this past week, but luckily I was able to dodge it. We're all pretty good friends now. They are all super happy and excited and it's inspiring.
Then there are 8 boys...whoops...I mean elders. They are incredible. I don't know who their seminary teachers were, but they deserve a star beacuse these elders know more scriptures than pop song lyrics. Their preparation is inspiring. The dignified respect they show us sisters is touching.
However, They're still 19-year-olds, and boys will be boys...no, I can't excuse it on the male gender...rather, dorks will be dorks. Don't get me wrong, though. I love my blue hard boiled egg that Elder Murphey dyed in his glass of poweraid this morning, so that every member of the district would have, sitting upon the classroom chalkboard ledge, a personal egg representing the missionaries' unique individuality. Precious.
I love all the meetings we go to. At devotional, all the sisters sang the first verse of 'Silent Night' by themselves. Usually I prefer men's voices over women's but not today. Our voices (one fifth of the missionaries) penetrated the auditorium with piercing unity as we testified of the savior of the world. Through the music you could hear our fear, but also our determination to gather His flock with every unique gift we have to offer. Onward with love.
This place is amazing. We spend all day testifying of Christ through study, and prayer, and song, and teaching, and friendship. I feel elated and it's only been one week.
I love you all!
Sis. Johnson
Monday, December 15, 2008
I am alive and well.
December 4, 2008
I am alive and well. I have been in meetings for a day and a half straight and I'm having trouble remembering everything that's been said... Something about a deer in the headlights.
Anyways, my companion is Sis. Powers. A Washington State native with a porcelein (pretend that's spelled right) complexion and groovy chick glasses. She's a convert of 2 1/2 years and the only member in her family (LDS member, that is). Her exuberance (also pretend that's spelled correctly...in fact, the transcriber has my permission, no, encouragement to fix my spelling errors)...Sis. Power's exuberance for this gospel is refreshing and inspiring. She's jumped right into the work and helped me along. We get along really well.
Whelp, time for dinner and then a 4 hour class. Yeehaw!
Love,
Sis. Alyse Janae Johnson
I am alive and well. I have been in meetings for a day and a half straight and I'm having trouble remembering everything that's been said... Something about a deer in the headlights.
Anyways, my companion is Sis. Powers. A Washington State native with a porcelein (pretend that's spelled right) complexion and groovy chick glasses. She's a convert of 2 1/2 years and the only member in her family (LDS member, that is). Her exuberance (also pretend that's spelled correctly...in fact, the transcriber has my permission, no, encouragement to fix my spelling errors)...Sis. Power's exuberance for this gospel is refreshing and inspiring. She's jumped right into the work and helped me along. We get along really well.
Whelp, time for dinner and then a 4 hour class. Yeehaw!
Love,
Sis. Alyse Janae Johnson
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
See ya later...
So, I thought that a blog would be the easiest way to keep people updated on my mission life. I can't check the blog, but I'll send letters to my family and my mom will upload them here so you can read them. Thanks to everyone that has supported me in this impending adventure, and I'll see ya later. Oh yeah, here's the link to my farewell talk for those who were interested...
http://alysestuff.googlepages.com/home
http://alysestuff.googlepages.com/home
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