On Saturday we met an older gentleman named Daniel. We had actually talked to him earlier in the week and he wasn't interested at the time. But we went to an appointment that fell through so we looked around for the reason why we were there and we met Daniel. He told us again that he wasn't interested, but when we asked if we could share a short message he agreed. It wasn't a super amazing lesson. We just shared basic truths, but he felt something while we were there and he wanted us to come back, so we did. He's a marine and he served in Vietnam. Over 30 years later he is still struggling with the experiences he went through during combat and suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. He also has liver cancer. He is very intelligent and good natured and sincere. Yesterday we read the Book of Mormon with him. He is of Navajo descent and told us about the legend of the white, bearded God dressed in a white robe who came and visited his people and said he would return someday. He told us that he thought the God was Jesus so we read 3 Nephi 11. It was cool. As we were getting ready to leave he told us how he still struggled with the fact that he had killed people in Vietnam so we read Alma 43:45-47 and told him that he would be judged righteously by Jesus. He said, "We thought we were defending our country and our families from the communists..." I don't know what my political stand is on the war in Vietnam, but I do know that a lot of good people with pure intentions fought to protect their country and their family, Daniel being one of them. How grateful I am for Christ's atonement that can heal Daniel's heart and the heart's of the family members of those individuals who he killed. By Adam pain and suffering entered the world and by Christ we are strengthened to endure and overcome that pain and suffering.
The other day we were riding our bikes. It had been raining really hard and I decided to go through a puddle. That was a stupid decision because my tire pooped...haha...I mean popped...I'm keeping that. Anyways, so it popped and we had to park our bikes and lock them up to a pole. As we walked away I through my helmet on the handle bars instead of intertwining it with the lock. Sister Green said, "Aren't you afraid that your helmet will get stolen?" "No one's going to steal my helmet." When we got back my helmet was still there, but as Sister Green tried to unlock our bikes the key broke. Well, we couldn't get a hold of anyone with boat plyers so we had to leave our bikes over night in the not so good part of our area. I complained to Sister Green, "I want my bike back!" She responded, "I'll give you your bike back! I'll give you a broken back!" Just kidding...she didn't say that, but Sister Latimer would have said that because (and this has nothing to do with anything) she is a "What's Up Doc" fiend too! We found out because one day we were driving and I repeated myself and I said, "I am not repeating myself, I am not repeating myself" and then Sister Latimer said, "Oh Gosh, I'm repeating myself." In deep low voice I turned and said, "What." She looked nervous and said, "What?" She thought I was mad at her until I yelled, "You've seen "What's up Doc"! Good quoting times followed which was good cause I had been having "What's up Doc" quote withdrawals. But enough of this foolishness. The next day the bishop drove us where our bikes had been left and.....our bikes were still there. hallaluja! But the helmet had been stolen. haha. I deserved that. We cut through the lock and now we've got our bikes back.
We had Zone conference this week and we went to the temple this week. It was amazing.
The other day we were walking around and came to this small apartment complex. About 10 people were outside chating with each other and this one lady saw us and said, "This man needs Jesus!!!!!!" A referral. Sweet. So we went to talk to this man and his friend and they both laughed. We tried to teach a lesson, but they were just making fun of us so we gave them pamphlet and started to leave when one of them, Ricky, said that all of his friends who went to the mormon temple were rich and so he asked why. We told him that we were allowed in the temple and we were poor and we told them about the temples all around the world where the homeless could come and stand equal with the estate owners. "How can you get into the temple?" We told him how we needed to live a worthy life and then told him about our basic standards: word of wisdom, law of chastity, good family relationships...etc. Ricky paused and sat thinking for a moment. The tone in the atmosphere changed and then he said, "Well...I'll tell you this. It's very refreshing to see young people like you not mixed up with the things that most kids your age are mixed up with." We thanked him and the Spirit spoke softly to all our hearts. I love how crazy moments can change so quickly as soon as the people allow the Spirit in.
I love you all and I pray for you frequently. Thank you for your prayers. I can feel them.
sister johnson
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
I sent you
April 12
There are no coincidences. I've learned this while i've been on my mission. Before my mission I believed in coincidences. I had to believe in coincidences, because if there were no coincidences it meant that God was up in heaven inflicting pain, and violence, and evil all around the world and i couldn't believe that because it didn't sound right and because if i did believe that I would be very angry at God. So instead I decided that I would believe in coincidence. But now I have learned there are no coincidences and I'm not angry at God. How did that happen? I don't really know. But here is what i do know:
We live in a fallen world. bad things happen. people make very bad choices that hurt those around them, but God respects our agency so much that he won't get in the way of the choice, but after the choice is made he's provided a Savior to save us from the consequences. Not necessarily to take away the consequences completely as much as to help us endure them well and the Savior would take the rest that we could not endure. So how does He help us endure it well? He gives us strength beyond our own and He gives us angels. I have a testimony of Angels. They are real and they are all around me and my companion. We are not alone. I don't know how it all works, but I just know this is true. When a bad choice is made I believe there are Angels ready to counteract those bad choices with good choices of their own. I don't know how much influence they have, but I do know they exist. I have been strengthened by them, I have been led by them, and I'm just telling you that there are no coincidences and we are not weathering these storms alone. I don't have any super amazing stories to illustrate what I'm talking about. I just know now that all those times I thought I was alone I wasn't. God has always sent at least someone to help me. Whether they are passed away or living, the Lord gives His children the commission to answer the prayers of His children and as we help Him with His work we become more like Him. He kills two birds with one stone. I heard this little story once and I like it. There was a man who died and when He met the Lord He sorrowed for all the pain and devastation in the world. "Lord, what are you doing to combat the evil that is infesting our society? What are you doing to destroy hate and envy and greed?" And the Lord replied, "I sent you."
Obviously we can't do it on our own. We need strength that can only come through the Savior's atonement, but Christ is the perfect teacher. He doesn't do everything by himself. I like to think of God as the dad that lets his son wash the car even though it looks terrible the first time, because after a lot of counsel and advice, and after a lot of time and effort and special strenghth from the dad the son learns to wash the car just as beautifully as the dad by using the skills he inherited and learned from his dad. So the car I'm washing doesn't look that great right now, but I'm trying and I trust my Teacher. And I trust that He has sent others to help me and that God is fully involved in my life through others. I don't believe in coincidences because I believe everything that happens no matter how bad or how evil, even if God didn't want it to happen, Christ's atonement can turn it to work out for our good if we let Him work within us. That is a miracle.
There are no coincidences. I've learned this while i've been on my mission. Before my mission I believed in coincidences. I had to believe in coincidences, because if there were no coincidences it meant that God was up in heaven inflicting pain, and violence, and evil all around the world and i couldn't believe that because it didn't sound right and because if i did believe that I would be very angry at God. So instead I decided that I would believe in coincidence. But now I have learned there are no coincidences and I'm not angry at God. How did that happen? I don't really know. But here is what i do know:
We live in a fallen world. bad things happen. people make very bad choices that hurt those around them, but God respects our agency so much that he won't get in the way of the choice, but after the choice is made he's provided a Savior to save us from the consequences. Not necessarily to take away the consequences completely as much as to help us endure them well and the Savior would take the rest that we could not endure. So how does He help us endure it well? He gives us strength beyond our own and He gives us angels. I have a testimony of Angels. They are real and they are all around me and my companion. We are not alone. I don't know how it all works, but I just know this is true. When a bad choice is made I believe there are Angels ready to counteract those bad choices with good choices of their own. I don't know how much influence they have, but I do know they exist. I have been strengthened by them, I have been led by them, and I'm just telling you that there are no coincidences and we are not weathering these storms alone. I don't have any super amazing stories to illustrate what I'm talking about. I just know now that all those times I thought I was alone I wasn't. God has always sent at least someone to help me. Whether they are passed away or living, the Lord gives His children the commission to answer the prayers of His children and as we help Him with His work we become more like Him. He kills two birds with one stone. I heard this little story once and I like it. There was a man who died and when He met the Lord He sorrowed for all the pain and devastation in the world. "Lord, what are you doing to combat the evil that is infesting our society? What are you doing to destroy hate and envy and greed?" And the Lord replied, "I sent you."
Obviously we can't do it on our own. We need strength that can only come through the Savior's atonement, but Christ is the perfect teacher. He doesn't do everything by himself. I like to think of God as the dad that lets his son wash the car even though it looks terrible the first time, because after a lot of counsel and advice, and after a lot of time and effort and special strenghth from the dad the son learns to wash the car just as beautifully as the dad by using the skills he inherited and learned from his dad. So the car I'm washing doesn't look that great right now, but I'm trying and I trust my Teacher. And I trust that He has sent others to help me and that God is fully involved in my life through others. I don't believe in coincidences because I believe everything that happens no matter how bad or how evil, even if God didn't want it to happen, Christ's atonement can turn it to work out for our good if we let Him work within us. That is a miracle.
He Is Risen!
April 5
I have been transferred to East San Antonio to a ward called Windcrest. My new address is
6700 N. Vandiver #905
San Antonio, TX 78209
Hey! I saw Klark Brinkeroff on the screen singing in the institute choir! Crazy.
My new companion is Sister Green from St. George, Utah. She's very mellow and chill--and doesn't show a lot of emotion, so when she tells jokes it's really funny because either she will randomly throw out a dry-humor kind of comment that you'll miss unless you're listening closely or she will suddenly erupt into craziness and start speaking in a British accent. Very funny. She was adopted when she was 8 years old and afterwards she was baptized. At the baptism her dad told Sister Green's biological brother who had also just been adopted and baptized that someday he could go on a mission and help others to know about the gospel. Eight-year-old Sister Green piped in, "What about me? Can girls go on missions?" When he affirmed that girls could go on missions Sister Green decided right then that someday she would go on a mission and share the truths that she had found.
Windcrest is unlike any other area I've served in. It's an inner city area, so it's rough. Not too rough, but rough. the weird thing is that right next to the really rough areas is the nicest and ritziest neighborhood in San Antonio, Terrel Hills. this is a half bike area and half car area. We share the car with the elders who are in our same ward. We get the car for half of the week. Let me just tell you about riding a bike in a skirt...actually nevermind. Luckily I've put together the sister missionary version of a skort (skirt and short combination). I call it Skants.
On my first day went to visit an investigator, but she wasn't home. So we went to talk to two guys playing basketball at a near by court. We called to them and told them we had a message to share. One of them declined saying that he had had friends that were LDS and he wasn't interested. The other guy, though, came running up to talk to us. He was totally drenched with sweat, losing a bunch of teeth even though he's only in his late 20s, and he was wearing pretty worn clothes. We started with a prayer and taught him the restoration right there in the basketball court and it was one of the most profound moments of my life. His name is Derrick and ask we taught he listened intently and it was obvious that he was pretty well versed in the bible and the non-denominational religion. He listened to us like pearls were dropping out our mouths. As Sister Green recited the first vision she was overcome with emotion and we stood in silence enjoying the sweet spirit that was present. He was very touched and agreed that the Spirit was there confirming our words. We set up another appointment to meet him at the basketball court the nest day. We showed up and he wasn't there. It happens. Sometimes, well, alot a times we are ditched on return appointments. darn. we thought he'd be ther for sure. So the member we brought with us drove us around in her airconditioned car (it is so hot right now...it's beautiful!) and nothing happened so we drove back and lo and behold there was Derrick and his friend playing basketball. We ran up to him and he found out that he had pulled up as we were pulling out. We asked if he still wanted to learn more and he said he did. He ran to his car and got out his book of mormon and the pamphlets we left. He had read everything and we had another great lesson.
On Saturday night after conference we knocked and tried contacting people on one side of our area and nothing happened. I kept exclaiming, "Where is everyone! Does anybody live here?" It was prime time and it was a pretty busy section of town so we were wondering where the party was that we obviously weren't invited to. So we left after a couple hours, discouraged and trying to figure out what to do with the 30 minutes we had left. We walked past our apartment and crossed the street and saw a couple in thier late 30's walking their bikes. We went up to them and asked to share a message and the guy looked like something amazing had just happened by us talking to him, his girlfriend on the other hand looked like she was having a bad day. After talking to her a little the guy convinced her to listen to us and we started with a prayer in the parking lot and taught the restoration. After we were done we asked if he had any questions. "No, I don't have any questions, just a statement." Then he went on to tell us that he had been searching all types of religions within the last few months trying to find where God wanted him to be. He said that someone showed him the Mormon bible and he said to himself, "We already have a bible. Why do we need another bible." Then he told us he flipped open the book of mormon and landed on a phrase similar to his own and God answered saying he could give more scripture 2 Nephi 29. He then told us that he didn't think anything was a coincidence and he felt like God had sent us. We told him about conference and he said he'd try to make it. The next day it was crazy and it was two mintues before the morning session and I ran out to call Matt (the guy's name) to remind him of conference. Usually investigators have to be reminded a lot at first. So I called and to my despair, no one answered. I left a message inviting Matt and Nicki and hung up the phone. I turned to the Elders to show my disappointment when suddenly behind me I heard someone say, "Sorry, Nicki couldn't make it." I whipped around and there was Matt dressed to the nines in a very nice dark suit. I almost fell over. "Whoa!!! I didn't see you!" So he watched conference and it was amazing!
this was my best Easter ever! I'm so grateful for Christ's Sacrifice and fopr heaven's help!
sister johnson
I have been transferred to East San Antonio to a ward called Windcrest. My new address is
6700 N. Vandiver #905
San Antonio, TX 78209
Hey! I saw Klark Brinkeroff on the screen singing in the institute choir! Crazy.
My new companion is Sister Green from St. George, Utah. She's very mellow and chill--and doesn't show a lot of emotion, so when she tells jokes it's really funny because either she will randomly throw out a dry-humor kind of comment that you'll miss unless you're listening closely or she will suddenly erupt into craziness and start speaking in a British accent. Very funny. She was adopted when she was 8 years old and afterwards she was baptized. At the baptism her dad told Sister Green's biological brother who had also just been adopted and baptized that someday he could go on a mission and help others to know about the gospel. Eight-year-old Sister Green piped in, "What about me? Can girls go on missions?" When he affirmed that girls could go on missions Sister Green decided right then that someday she would go on a mission and share the truths that she had found.
Windcrest is unlike any other area I've served in. It's an inner city area, so it's rough. Not too rough, but rough. the weird thing is that right next to the really rough areas is the nicest and ritziest neighborhood in San Antonio, Terrel Hills. this is a half bike area and half car area. We share the car with the elders who are in our same ward. We get the car for half of the week. Let me just tell you about riding a bike in a skirt...actually nevermind. Luckily I've put together the sister missionary version of a skort (skirt and short combination). I call it Skants.
On my first day went to visit an investigator, but she wasn't home. So we went to talk to two guys playing basketball at a near by court. We called to them and told them we had a message to share. One of them declined saying that he had had friends that were LDS and he wasn't interested. The other guy, though, came running up to talk to us. He was totally drenched with sweat, losing a bunch of teeth even though he's only in his late 20s, and he was wearing pretty worn clothes. We started with a prayer and taught him the restoration right there in the basketball court and it was one of the most profound moments of my life. His name is Derrick and ask we taught he listened intently and it was obvious that he was pretty well versed in the bible and the non-denominational religion. He listened to us like pearls were dropping out our mouths. As Sister Green recited the first vision she was overcome with emotion and we stood in silence enjoying the sweet spirit that was present. He was very touched and agreed that the Spirit was there confirming our words. We set up another appointment to meet him at the basketball court the nest day. We showed up and he wasn't there. It happens. Sometimes, well, alot a times we are ditched on return appointments. darn. we thought he'd be ther for sure. So the member we brought with us drove us around in her airconditioned car (it is so hot right now...it's beautiful!) and nothing happened so we drove back and lo and behold there was Derrick and his friend playing basketball. We ran up to him and he found out that he had pulled up as we were pulling out. We asked if he still wanted to learn more and he said he did. He ran to his car and got out his book of mormon and the pamphlets we left. He had read everything and we had another great lesson.
On Saturday night after conference we knocked and tried contacting people on one side of our area and nothing happened. I kept exclaiming, "Where is everyone! Does anybody live here?" It was prime time and it was a pretty busy section of town so we were wondering where the party was that we obviously weren't invited to. So we left after a couple hours, discouraged and trying to figure out what to do with the 30 minutes we had left. We walked past our apartment and crossed the street and saw a couple in thier late 30's walking their bikes. We went up to them and asked to share a message and the guy looked like something amazing had just happened by us talking to him, his girlfriend on the other hand looked like she was having a bad day. After talking to her a little the guy convinced her to listen to us and we started with a prayer in the parking lot and taught the restoration. After we were done we asked if he had any questions. "No, I don't have any questions, just a statement." Then he went on to tell us that he had been searching all types of religions within the last few months trying to find where God wanted him to be. He said that someone showed him the Mormon bible and he said to himself, "We already have a bible. Why do we need another bible." Then he told us he flipped open the book of mormon and landed on a phrase similar to his own and God answered saying he could give more scripture 2 Nephi 29. He then told us that he didn't think anything was a coincidence and he felt like God had sent us. We told him about conference and he said he'd try to make it. The next day it was crazy and it was two mintues before the morning session and I ran out to call Matt (the guy's name) to remind him of conference. Usually investigators have to be reminded a lot at first. So I called and to my despair, no one answered. I left a message inviting Matt and Nicki and hung up the phone. I turned to the Elders to show my disappointment when suddenly behind me I heard someone say, "Sorry, Nicki couldn't make it." I whipped around and there was Matt dressed to the nines in a very nice dark suit. I almost fell over. "Whoa!!! I didn't see you!" So he watched conference and it was amazing!
this was my best Easter ever! I'm so grateful for Christ's Sacrifice and fopr heaven's help!
sister johnson
can I shake your hand?
So last week we were teaching Jennifer Lopez but then she dropped us....over a text. Lame. But so much other cool stuff happened this week! First of all, it is transfer week: I am getting transferred and Sister Latimer is staying. In the last 4 1/2 months I will have had 6 companions! Compare that with the first 12 months of my mission: I only had 4 companions. Crazy. I could go to one of four places, Windcrest, San Marcus, Pleasanton, or Anderson Mill. I've already served in Pleasanton and in Anderson Mill so it will be interesting to see if I get transferred to one of those places again. Chances are I'll go to San Marcus or Windcrest. Where ever I go it will probably end up being my dying area!!!!! Weird.
Last week we were going to an appointment and it fell through. Sister Latimer felt strongly that the appointment fell through so that we could see another investigator, Tim, who lived in the same apartment complex. We walked over to Tim's apartment. He answered the door and looked terrible. He said he was feeling really tired and it was just not a good time for us to come over. We said we hoped he felt better and we left. Sister Latimer was a little confused why she felt so strongly to go over to Tim's apartment, but we shrugged it off and started walking back to the car. Suddenly I felt a really strong impression that there were a lot of people in this apartment complex who were ready to accept the gospel. As we were trying to decided if we should start knocking doors we saw a guy across the apartment complex so we went to talk to him. We taught him a lesson about the restoration right there in the parking lot. His name is Mosa and he's studying to be a police officer. He said he was interested in learning more. After that we started knocking and we met a ton of people. We were giving out cards left and right and setting appointments. The next few days we followed up on all the people we met and nothing came of it. One guy totally lied to us and gave us a fake number and a fake address. Someone else called to cancel. We couldn't ever get a hold of Mosa. Yesterday morning we went to one last appointment, but the lady wasn't home. I was so confused why I had felt so strongly about this apartment complex when everything fell through. We were going to leave, but Sister Latimer wanted to try Mosa's apartment one more time. We knocked a couple times and no one answered. We walked downstairs and looked at our map trying to figure out where to walk next (We're doing a lot of walking right now cause our car is in the shop for a week to repair damages from our accident last transfer). While we were deciding to go next we heard Mosa's door open. Sister Latimer ran back up the stairs and there was Mosa! So we taught him about the plan of salvation and called his boss to get Saturday off so that he could watch conference. Neat. We started walking out of the complex after that, but we saw a lady walking in so we went to go and talk to her. Her name is Amy and she speaks a little English, but mostly Spanish. She said we could come and share a message with her and she directed us back to her apartment chatting all the way about her 13 year old son who is autistic. She is so neat. When we came into the apartment complex we saw her husband, George. We suddenly realized that we had talked to him before! That first day we started talking to people at the complex we saw him on his phone and he was throwing out his trash. He looked very busy, but we still went up to him and introduced ourselves. He was very nice, but said he didn't speak English and neither Sister Latimer nor I speak Spanish so we just gave him a card and that was it. So we were so surprised to see him at Amy's house. She said that he had taken the card home to show Amy and they hung it up in their car cause it's a nice picture. So here are: they want to learn more about the Church, we want to share more about the Church, but we can hardly, hardly communicate at all.....this is where the gift of tongues is supposed to come in. I started speaking English hoping that somehow it would translate into Spanish, and guess what! They didn't understand a single thing I said. So we put in the Restoration video and played the Spanish version. It was great. Afterwards they asked us where the Church was located and we gave them a map, but then we remembered General Conference which complicated things, but we set a follow-up appointment and we're going back! yay! They are super sweet people and we are pretty excited about them. Also, the day before we were around Tim's apartment again. I didn't want to go back over, but Sister Latimer felt like we should. He answered and looked terrible again! We apologized and were going to leave, but suddenly he said, "just so you know. I trying to quit smoking right now so I'm locking myself in my apartment and I'm having a pretty rough time." We were dumbfounded. What do you say in a moment like this? What do you say when an investigator tells you that he is taking steps to live the word of wisdom? I didn't know what to say, so as usually I just started talking to fill up space. "Wow, good for you! Can I shake your hand?" "Uhhh...I guess." I am so glad that Sister Latimer followed the prompting to keep going over there, cause I know that it was one of God's ways to remind him that he loved him. I love it when God uses us! It's the best feeling in the world!
So here is the moral of the story: follow the promptings of the Spirit even when you don't understand why. There having been numerous times when I have a prompting, I follow it, and nothing happens. Or at least I don't think anything happens, but I am learning more than ever that things happen for a reason, especially when you are a missionary. Every now and then we are blessed with the "why," but mostly the Spirit just gives us the "what" and it's up to us to trust the Lord. Easier said than done. The Spirit doesn't seem to care one bit about social policies and procedures. Oh well.
Calen came to church, and Zach. Zach is a less active member we found and we're teaching his girlfriend's family now! Cool! Other awesome stuff happened. This is the best thing I've ever done in my entire life. I love being a missionary
I love you all
sister johnson
Last week we were going to an appointment and it fell through. Sister Latimer felt strongly that the appointment fell through so that we could see another investigator, Tim, who lived in the same apartment complex. We walked over to Tim's apartment. He answered the door and looked terrible. He said he was feeling really tired and it was just not a good time for us to come over. We said we hoped he felt better and we left. Sister Latimer was a little confused why she felt so strongly to go over to Tim's apartment, but we shrugged it off and started walking back to the car. Suddenly I felt a really strong impression that there were a lot of people in this apartment complex who were ready to accept the gospel. As we were trying to decided if we should start knocking doors we saw a guy across the apartment complex so we went to talk to him. We taught him a lesson about the restoration right there in the parking lot. His name is Mosa and he's studying to be a police officer. He said he was interested in learning more. After that we started knocking and we met a ton of people. We were giving out cards left and right and setting appointments. The next few days we followed up on all the people we met and nothing came of it. One guy totally lied to us and gave us a fake number and a fake address. Someone else called to cancel. We couldn't ever get a hold of Mosa. Yesterday morning we went to one last appointment, but the lady wasn't home. I was so confused why I had felt so strongly about this apartment complex when everything fell through. We were going to leave, but Sister Latimer wanted to try Mosa's apartment one more time. We knocked a couple times and no one answered. We walked downstairs and looked at our map trying to figure out where to walk next (We're doing a lot of walking right now cause our car is in the shop for a week to repair damages from our accident last transfer). While we were deciding to go next we heard Mosa's door open. Sister Latimer ran back up the stairs and there was Mosa! So we taught him about the plan of salvation and called his boss to get Saturday off so that he could watch conference. Neat. We started walking out of the complex after that, but we saw a lady walking in so we went to go and talk to her. Her name is Amy and she speaks a little English, but mostly Spanish. She said we could come and share a message with her and she directed us back to her apartment chatting all the way about her 13 year old son who is autistic. She is so neat. When we came into the apartment complex we saw her husband, George. We suddenly realized that we had talked to him before! That first day we started talking to people at the complex we saw him on his phone and he was throwing out his trash. He looked very busy, but we still went up to him and introduced ourselves. He was very nice, but said he didn't speak English and neither Sister Latimer nor I speak Spanish so we just gave him a card and that was it. So we were so surprised to see him at Amy's house. She said that he had taken the card home to show Amy and they hung it up in their car cause it's a nice picture. So here are: they want to learn more about the Church, we want to share more about the Church, but we can hardly, hardly communicate at all.....this is where the gift of tongues is supposed to come in. I started speaking English hoping that somehow it would translate into Spanish, and guess what! They didn't understand a single thing I said. So we put in the Restoration video and played the Spanish version. It was great. Afterwards they asked us where the Church was located and we gave them a map, but then we remembered General Conference which complicated things, but we set a follow-up appointment and we're going back! yay! They are super sweet people and we are pretty excited about them. Also, the day before we were around Tim's apartment again. I didn't want to go back over, but Sister Latimer felt like we should. He answered and looked terrible again! We apologized and were going to leave, but suddenly he said, "just so you know. I trying to quit smoking right now so I'm locking myself in my apartment and I'm having a pretty rough time." We were dumbfounded. What do you say in a moment like this? What do you say when an investigator tells you that he is taking steps to live the word of wisdom? I didn't know what to say, so as usually I just started talking to fill up space. "Wow, good for you! Can I shake your hand?" "Uhhh...I guess." I am so glad that Sister Latimer followed the prompting to keep going over there, cause I know that it was one of God's ways to remind him that he loved him. I love it when God uses us! It's the best feeling in the world!
So here is the moral of the story: follow the promptings of the Spirit even when you don't understand why. There having been numerous times when I have a prompting, I follow it, and nothing happens. Or at least I don't think anything happens, but I am learning more than ever that things happen for a reason, especially when you are a missionary. Every now and then we are blessed with the "why," but mostly the Spirit just gives us the "what" and it's up to us to trust the Lord. Easier said than done. The Spirit doesn't seem to care one bit about social policies and procedures. Oh well.
Calen came to church, and Zach. Zach is a less active member we found and we're teaching his girlfriend's family now! Cool! Other awesome stuff happened. This is the best thing I've ever done in my entire life. I love being a missionary
I love you all
sister johnson
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