We got the plates!

Transfers: I’m staying sister Kleisler’s leaving. We knew she was, but we’re still pretty sad about it.

Our mission was told about 2 years ago to double baptisms. At the time we were averaging about 50 baptisms a month. So our new goal was 100. For the last two years we haven’t hit that goal. One time they got 98 baptisms, but that wasn’t our goal. Well, the Lord worked miracles in August and I mean miracles. Sunday night we got a text from President, “We got the plates! 105 :) Well done Elders and Sisters! I knew we could do it. We need to all give a prayer of thanks tonight. We love you.” Later the next day we got another text “Alma 26:16 Have a great day! Love, President Cutler.” He’s so happy-and so are we. By the end of yesterday we had 108 baptisms. It’s been so cool. Sister Kleisler and I, of course, only contributed prayers instead of baptisms this month :)
At the beginning of the month our zone leaders told us that our zone goal was 18 baptisms. We thought they were crazy because normally we hit about 8-10 baptisms. But when they told us the goal we felt the Spirit confirm in our hearts that it was the Lord’s will to have that as our goal. Really, the Spirit washed over us, I’ve never felt the spirit that strong when making a goal. So right then we knew it was going to be a good month. Sunday night Sister Kleisler said, “I don’t think we made our goal. President would have told us by now.” I started thinking she was right, but then suddenly I was filled with the same Spirit as when we first set our zone goal at the beginning of the month, and a little while later we found out that we indeed had reached our goal. I don’t know why the Spirit was so strong in confirming the reality of this goal to me especially since I did little to achieve it besides praying for and encouraging others. It’s cool not because we hit a high number, but because a prophet of the Lord asked us to double baptisms, a task that seemed impossible without resorting to unethical behavior which would defeat the end goal: eternal life for everyone. Month after month we fell short. The last two or three zone conferences President told us that some missionaries said the goal wasn’t realistic and that we needed to set a more realistic goal. He kindly replied that until the Prophet gave him word, the goal would remain the same. He told us the story about Nephi and his brothers getting the plates. They failed and failed and then a way was prepared for them to accomplish the goal that the Lord had given them. So we got our brass plates. A way was prepared for us. A way was always prepared, but we had to have the diligence to keep trying. This month he whispered where to find those who were ready and then poured out His Spirit upon them so they could begin growing their testimony. The best part about this goal is that 108 people’s lives were blessed. I hate to sound like a number counter, but I guarantee that the 50 extra people we found in August aren’t complaining, because our goal helped them enter the gate and begin the greatest journey of their existence. Yeehaw.

It has been a great week. I went to the temple last Tuesday. I love going to the temple. It just feels so good. I don’t really know what to say other than it’s awesome! And then afterwards, the Swaims (member couple who drove us to the temple) took us to dinner at a fancy seafood restaurant for their anniversary dinner….yeah… I’m not sure how we pulled that one, but I got stuffed crab which was AMAZING!

We got 3 new investigators this week. One of them we met knocking. Her name is Brandy and she’s looking for a church for her kids. We met the other one in Poteet (quaint little name; dumpy little town-but nice people). We went to see a potential just because we had nothing else to do. It was a woman that we met at the park, but neither I nor Sister Kleisler could remember meeting her. We found the address and knocked and Jessica answered. Our potential wasn’t home, but Jessica said we could teach her. So we taught the restoration, the Spirit was strong which means that she was connecting with what we taught. Sister Kleisler and I are awesome teachers when we teach together…I know it sounds conceited, but it’s true. However, being an awesome teaching team is useless unless the Spirit is there. I can’t tell you how many beautifully crafted lessons we’ve had that are good for nothing in the end because the Spirit isn’t there. Usually the Spirit comes when we are personally worthy for it to be there and when our investigator is ready to understand and accept the message. She was locked onto to what we were saying even during my recitation of the first vision which was accompanied by her 5 year old daughter’s laughing and yelling. The Spirit needs a quiet place, but sometimes he makes exceptions for mothers of loud little kids when those mothers need to feel the Spirit. So we’re excited about her. Then we had a lesson with the Swaim’s friends. Margarita worked with Brother Swaim and she brought her parents who only speak Spanish. They were over for dinner. We asked if we could share a thought and they consented, and sister Kleisler felt like we needed to teach the restoration. She told them she would teach in Spanish and I would teach in English and Margarita would translate for me. We’ve taught like that before and it worked really well. Sister Kleisler began and she spoke beautifully. Her Spanish is alright, but she’s struggled with it her whole mission, but for this lesson she was given the gift of tongues…and then it was my turn. I don’t know very much Spanish, but I can understand quite a bit of churchy stuff. So I knew when she looked at me it was my turn to teach about the apostasy. I opened my mouth and I couldn’t speak. “Ummmm….uh…” Sister Kleisler whispered, “The church fell.” “Ummmm….the church fell. Uh…. Then…” I mentioned earlier that we were a really great teaching team; normally we transitioned between one another flawless so both Sister Kleisler and I were dumbfounded when I couldn’t talk. I looked back at her and we both knew in that moment that I was not supposed to help teach the lesson. So she started teaching in Spanish again and she felt the Spirit guide her words. She felt like she was supposed to direct her teaching entirely to the parents so it felt like the rest of us were just observers. Her Spanish was awesome, and we both knew that this lesson was according to the Lord’s will. Then she asked, “Quierre leer el libro de Mormon?” Without hesitation or thought the mother answered, “No.” Ouch! Sister Kleisler was crushed. Those lessons hurt. We get rejected all the time, but when you feel the Spirit and know it’s for the person you are teaching, rejection is heartbreaking. Oh well. We both left knowing that we did all we could, we followed the promptings, and no effort is wasted. The friends of the Swaims were touched that we shared with them even though they didn’t accept right then. I’ve never felt the Spirit shut my mouth before...it was interesting. Now I feel like I can relate to the lions in Daniel’s den.

Later that night we were knocking and Sister Kleisler spotted some guys playing electric guitar. We talk to everyone we see so we went and talked to them. We sat out in their front yard and talked about our beliefs. Luz was the one we talked to the most. Apparently he used to play basketball with the elders about 10 years ago. He told us all about his beliefs and we listened while drinking the water that he and his friends had provided. He kept talking and talking and then a miracle. When he and his two friends were present (they kept getting up and walking away during our conversation) a perfect moment came and I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon. When I first started talking about it he said he wouldn’t read it, but by the end of the testimony he said he would take it and read it. Why? Because the Spirit was there. The Lord had shut my mouth earlier in the day and then a few hours later he opened it and His words came out. I love being a missionary!!!! Then Sister Kleisler told Luz that I could play the guitar so I turned it to acoustic and played the cowboy song and Sister Kleisler sang with me. It’s a Tim McGraw song, but I changed the last verse to make it about the Lord. Well, it was one of the best moments on my mission. I was sitting in a wooden rocking chair on a warm Texas summer evening surrounded by investigators (two) and I was playing the electric guitar and singing about God. Can life get any better than this? I submit that it can not! I love music because it brings such an incredible feeling. When we were done we all just smiled. “The Holy Spirit is present. That was anointed,” Luz said reverently. It was really cool.

One last thing. This week was Stake conference and it was so cool. Sister Kleisler and I and all the Pleasanton ward members sat together in the Stake center chapel. Only about 30 came, but I felt so united with them. I love Pleasanton!

I love you all too. Have a great day!
Sister Johnson