GLEN WAVERLEY - Week 55 - November 14, 2017

It has been a good week mates! 

I feel like so much has happened but I'm going to apologize in advance because last night we only got about an hour of sleep so I am exhausted and don't know how to type..

Last week we had our zone pday and it was a blast! We went and played beach volleyball and ate pig! Our zone leaders ordered an entire pig and we just feasted at the beach! I did try the pig brain and it was gross...BUT I am convinced I am smarter now. so...#blessed?

So highlight of the week was on Saturday when Simon (one of my old investigators) got baptized! I was able to attend his baptism and it was so good to see him again! He is awesome and has a solid testimony. it was also fun to see all the missionaries and all my old homies that still serve in the city. :):)):)

Oh, we had a miracle this week!! We were at the library meeting with one of our investigators and in the middle of our lesson, 2 Chinese guys came up to us and started talking to us. They were both soo surprised that we could speak Chinese and we ended up talking to them for a bit. Turns out that they were both interested in religion and want to learn more! We got their contact information and Sister Cahoon and I just honestly just sat there stunned. NO ONE ever comes up to US and asks to meet with us. 

We met with one of the guys that self contacted (from the miracle above) and he is soo keen. His name is Allen and we had an awesome first lesson. He wants to keep meeting with us and is really open to the church, so we are pretty excited! :)

We also met with our investigator Yu again this week (because she is finally out of the hosptial)! She still has a baptismal date for the 25th of November and seems to be progressing really well. 

And finally, today we went with a bunch of us sisters went to Phillips Island and it was so fun! It has been almost a year since I went the first time, so it was so fun to go back. We did have to wake up at 3AM which was KILLER(!!!). & It didn't help that we stayed up past 1:30AM talking and laughing. But no complaints because I honestly serve with the best sisters!! ❤

That is pretty much it for our week. 

It has been a good one and this transfer is FLYING.

I hope that Cahoon and I can stay together for another transfer but we honesty have no idea what will happen. so we are just enjoying every moment.

I love and miss you all.

cheers!

xoxo,

张姐妹

Simon's Baptism

Companion - Sister Cahoon

Practicing those Chinese Characters

                                                         ZONE P-DAY AT THE BEACH

This look like trouble

Yummy lunch

Ate the whole thing

                                                                                   PHILLIP ISLAND 

GLEN WAVERLEY - Week 54 - November 7, 2017

This week has been another good one!

but not much has happened.. 

All of our investigators right now, are finishing up exams and heading back to China for the holidays. It is the beginning of what all the Chinese missionaries refer to as "the drought". Pretty much everyone leaves and goes back to China from November until February... so yeah it's kinda sad. BUT that just gives us heaps of time to do some findinggggg. (辛苦我们) 

Oh and so I guess Cahoon and I aren't fluent in characters yet cause our investigator Yu texted us and said she was sick this past week. a couple days later we found out that she also said she is in the hospital? haha I guess we missed that part. She is fine, just a bit sick. Yeah it is always fun when we try and translate text messages. :):)):)

Also! We did exchanges this week and it was so fun! I was with Sister Li here in Glen Waverley and it was great to serve with her again (even if it was only for a day). also highlight of the week was on exchanges when we got to go to the city for an activity at the branch! I got the see all the other missionaries and some of the members! & I got to see Elder and Sister Maughan!! (blessing!!) It was awesome.

Also, we found out that Simon (an investigator that I taught in my last area) is getting baptized on Saturday! I am so excited and it will be so fun to go back and see him. :)

That's pretty much it. To sum it up---

This week has been awesome. I am loving Glen Waverley and I am learning so much. I love serving with Sister Cahoon and learning from her as well. I am honestly so happy right now and I have never loved my mission so much.

There are still things that are hard for me (of course!!!) but having the Spirit in my life like I do right now, is the more than I can ever thank my Father in Heaven for. Also the relationship that I have with my Savior Jesus Christ is something that I really can't even explain. There are no words for how eternally grateful I am for everything I have learned so far on my mission. I am so excited that I still have 5 months left to enjoy and experience it all.

I love you all!

xoxo

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

Doing exchanges with Sister Li - 

a companion from a ways back

"You know you have a great companion

when she does your makeup for you."

Flatmates - Sister Lee, Sister Cahoon, Sister Tuu'u and Sister Johnson

GLEN WAVERLEY - Week 53 - October 31, 2017

This week has been one for the books!

So on Thursday Sister Cahoon and I hit our 1 year mark! It was so fun and we decided to re-enact our picture from the first day in the MTC. Since elders usually burn a shirt on their year mark, we decided that we should too! I actually burned the shirt that I wore to the MTC and it was awesome (and sad). It is crazy to see how far we have come and how much we have changed and learned in the past year. 

We have been meeting with some of our investigators but starting these next couple weeks they will all be headed back to China for the holidays. sooo it will be interesting to see what happens. BUT we met with our investigator Yu this past week and after an awesome lesson, invited her to be baptized. she said yes! She is on date for the 25th of this month. :):)):)

FUNNY STORY--(before I start you need to know that I really do love this family soo much. We continue to go over there for feeds because we genuinely love them and they are soo nice to us. & it's always fun) we went over to the Wilson's house for dinner this week to celebrate Brother Wilson's birthday. oh my goodness. This dinner appointment was an ADVENTURE let me tell you. So to start, Sister Cahoon and I had a late lunch so when we went, we really weren't hungry. BUT we wanted to be polite so we ate some of the fried rice that she had made us. There was more cat hair in that rice than I care to admit... but a little cat hair won't kill you, right?! To make it even better was the fact that the drink she gave us was some aloe-vera water that Sister Wilson had made. I am not sure what was in that.. but tasted like I was drinking bleach. haha then as if it couldn't get worse, her chickens were in the house running around and pooping all over the floor. (as we were leaving Sister Wilson gave us a hug holding a huge piece of chicken poop in her hand RIGHT by our faces..) and to top it all off, we had some chocolate cake for dessert. But I don't know if I would call it chocolate cake. Let me describe this cake--pretty much tasted like straight dirt on the bottom, a layer of melted dark chocolate and butter as the icing, and then a LOT of hemp seeds dumped on top. :):):) IT WAS SO HARD TO EAT. I was dying and was so close to barfing right in her house. I also had nothing to wash it down except that aloe-vera water..it was incredible. If any of you have seen the movie "Matilda" I felt much like that boy who was forced to eat the chocolate cake while Sister Cahoon was just whispering to me the entire time to "keep eating" and "push it down Johnson" But we did take some left overs to our flat sisters to have them try it and Sister Tuu'u threw up outside. hahha best night ever. 

ok so that might have been a bit dramatic.. but I wish you could have been there. It was hard not to just laugh at how bizzare this dinner was. man, I love being here. 

We also had a ward activity last night for Halloween. We decorated the boot of our car with the other missionaries that serve in our ward and the sisters that live in the same flat as us. Oh man it was soo fun! We all dressed us like islanders and decorated the boot to match. We also had some samoan music playing and made all the kids dance in order to get their lollies. It was honestly a blast! I love serving in this ward. (sentimental moment--I was able to spend Halloween with Sister Cahoon 2 YEARS IN A ROW.. I am so blessed! I love her soo much)

This morning we had to opportunity to do a session in the temple! It was soo nice and really brought so much peace and joy. As you all know, recently I have been faced with many questions and doubts. This past week many of my prayers were answered as I found answers to my questions during my studies, talking to Sister Cahoon and today in the Temple. 

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father loves us and answers our prayers. I have come to appreciate Him more this week and have been able to feel His love for me. I know that He has a plan for all of us and we don't have to know everything right now. We just need to trust Him. Like a favourite quote says, "you don't need to see the whole staircase in order to take the next step." 

I am grateful to know that I have such amazing family and friends back home that support and encourage me. (thanks for all the encouraging emails this week.. you guys are the best!) I am even more grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ who also love, support and guide me. 

I am so happy. I am so blessed to be a missionary.

have a good week

cheers!

xoxo,

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

 October 2016 - MTC

Together Again - October 2017

Glen Waverley, Australia

Burning shirt to mark one year mark

That looks like trouble.

Ward Halloween Party - Island Girls

Boot all decorated including a Disco Ball

"Helped a less active do some weeding. 

She just kept saying 'remind me never to let you cut my hair.' 

I guess we aren't super good at trimming rose bushes."

The famous chocolate cake from the Wilsons

Sister Brotherton  

GLEN WAVERLEY - Week 52 - October 26, 2017

So, we have been teaching some of our investigators and it has been so fun. I love teaching with Sister Cahoon again (and for all you who were in the MTC with us, our teaching HAS gotten so much better since then and we still may not know everything but at least now we know how to say "can we come in", we know how to say that we are going back to our "home" and not to our "foot", and we haven't told any of our investigators that they CAN participate in gay marriage again. so improvement?) oh man the MTC was awesome! But serving together now is even better.

It has also been so fun to be with Sister Cahoon because I have been able to see my improvement and to see how much I have grown and learned on my mission so far. She is a HUGE blessing to me in my life, especially on my mission.

It has been a blast being back in Waverley. They call me a boomerang because I was here, then I left and know I am back. haha its been awesome :) Also I love love love serving in a family ward again! Our ward is great!!

On Sunday we went to the Wilsons to dinner!!! (yes the family with the pet chickens!) you know how much I love them :) It was so fun to be back and be with them again. But oh man the food they give us for dinner still kills me. And you know, I love their pet cats - not. (I am trying to) BUT when I go to drink the rice milk that Sister Wilson made (already an interesting drink on its own) and find some cat hair in my mouth...it makes it a little harder to love the cats. But on the way home we always laugh and laugh. SO MANY MEMORIES.

So we had Zone Conference last week and it was awesome. It was so fun to see everyone and I learned a ton. I love President and Sister Vidmar so much. I am so blessed to serve with them.

This past week has also been a bit hard. I have been having so many questions and doubts that have come up that have really shaken me and shaken my testimony. I have never been so confused before and its been really scary. I know that Satan is working really hard to try and discourage, distract and hurt me. I have been praying constantly the past couple weeks, but it has been hard to refocus and accept that I don't know and understand everything. 

Even though I have had (and still do) have many questions, I do have a testimony that God is our loving Heavenly Father. I know that He lives and He loves us. I know that because He loves us, He sent His son Jesus Christ to save us and to help us. I know that Jesus Christ lives and is MY Savior and Redeemer. I am so grateful for the relationship that I have with Him. These are some of the truths that I know and will never be able to deny.

Love you all and I am grateful for your support.  Just know that even though times are hard, I am still so happy serving the Lord and what makes it easier, is that I have my best friend Cahoon by my side.

have a good week! cheers,

xoxo

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

Sister Cahoon and Sister Johnson

P-Day Fun

                                                                            

Cleaning the Temple - "Power washing the 

steeple was awesome"

Yummy Dinner with some fellow Sister Missionaries

"Sister Cahoon and I have read this quite a bit haha"

"Sister Brotherton took my feet and started massaging them

randomly at an activity.  I love her, she is the best.

She reminds me of Grandma Johnson."

Maroondah Zone

All the American Sisters serving in

the Chinese Speaking Program.

GLEN WAVERLEY - Week 51 - October 18, 2017

yes we had transfers this past week and I did not see this coming.

I AM BACK IN MY FIRST AREA GLEN WAVERLEY.

And even better news:::: I AM BACK WITH MY MTC COMPANION / HOMIE / SOUL SISTER / BFF SISTER CAHOON!!! yeah dreams really do come true :):)):)

To be honest, I am little (lot) bummed to have left the city branch, all my investigators, the members and the other missionaries. It was hard to say goodbye to the area I served 8 months in. BUT I know there is a reason I am back in Waverley and I am excited to be here.

President had plans for me to go to a different area this transfer, but as he was praying about it, he felt that I needed to come back to this area for some reason. So that is so exciting and really brings me peace.

Hardest part of moving was for sure leaving Sister Zhang. We served together for 3 transfers  (4 months) and even though we had our ups and downs, we really were super close. She became one of my closest friends and helped me SO MUCH. I loved serving with her and learning from her. I will be forever grateful.

Monday was a pretty sad as I said goodbye to everyone in the city. But I guess I really am so lucky to have people life that in my life, that make saying goodbye so hard. (ew that was cheesy. sorry) 

Other than that, it was a pretty good week of teaching and then packing and moving.

Also fun news, we now live in a house with 2 other sisters that are in the English program and they are hilarious. This transfer is going to be sweet!

Thanks for the prayers and the support.

I love you all!

xoxo,

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

Moving Day - Way too much stuff

All the Sisters in the Chinese Program

Melbourne Central Chinese Zone

Companion Sister Zhang
 (Alyssa wearing fake glasses for the fun of it)

Saying Goodbye to Elder and Sister Maughan

MOORABBIN - Week 50 - October 11, 2017

Sorry I am a day late sending my email, we had lessons in the morning and zone pday yesterday, so we didn't have time to email. 

All of our investigators on date are still doing great and progressing quickly towards baptism!! :):)):)

We had a lesson with our investigator Victor yesterday and it was incredible. (quick background: I met Victor on the street when I first got to this area and have been teaching him for about 7 months now, he's awesome).  So our entire lesson was lead by the Spirit and we were able to invite him to be baptized again (which was not in our plan!!) and he said yes! The entire lesson I felt that we needed to invite him and talk about baptism again. Sister Zhang and I were both nervous to invite him again because in the past he always said he wasn't ready and needed more time. BUT in our lesson yesterday, the Spirit was overwhelming and when we invited him to be baptized it was perfect. He is a huge miracle and blessing!

So I know that conference was forever ago, but we finally got to watch it this past weekend and holy cow it was AMAZING. I went into conference weekend with soo many questions on my mind, and in one way or another, every single question was answered. 

The entire time I was watching conference I felt like every talk was FOR ME and my situation. It is insane that so many people can listen to one talk and get so many different things out of it. The Holy Ghost is just incredible. 

One of the talks that I LOVED was by Elder Zwick about praying to have our eyes opened to see others the way God sees them. Serving with Sister Zhang has been awesome, but we have had our ups and downs. We have been together for 3 transfers (almost 5 months now) and have been through a lot. To be honest, it is pretty hard to live with someone/be with them 24/7, especially when it is someone with a completely different culture than you. (ps I'm sure Sister Zhang has felt the same way about having to live with me, because I know I am not the easiest or most patient person..haha) this talk really spoke right to me, because recently I have been praying like crazy to have more patience, love and understanding with my Chinese companions. 

I have had lots of companions on my mission that come from China, so I have been able to learn a ton about their culture and the way they do things. Being able to understand each other and continue to love and work together through the rough times is what has makes us close. When we pray to see others how God sees them, our eyes are truly open and we are able to see the good in everyone, no matter how different we feel we are. I love Sister Zhang so much and honestly I've learned soo much from her. I am forever grateful for her example, her friendship and the opportunity to serve with her for so long.

well that's it.  I am sooo sore and can't move because of zone p-day yesterday so that's cool. :):)

Also transfers are this weekend! President Vidmar has told me (and has told my companion) that I will be leaving Moorabbin. :( I am soo bummed to leave all of our investigators and this area, but I am excited to see what happens and for new opportunities. 

thanks for the love and support. love you all.

Remember what Bonnie L. Oscarson said in conference, "who needs me today?" :) go out and save someone today!

xoxo

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

P-DAY FUN

"I was gqing and someone bought me these chips. oooh yumm. thanks. hahaha eww.
Look at the flavor. Sound good to you?"

Someone at church gave her a bag of cookies. 

Waiting to get into the church for Conference.

MOORABBIN - Week 49 - October 3, 2017

A typical week of highs and lows, but this week had some extra special highs (and to balance, also had some extra special lows). BUT this week was FULL of miracles, so I guess I can't complain. :)

WING (the girl that we passed to the Waverley Sisters a couple weeks ago) got baptized this past week! Sister Zhang and I were able to attend the baptism and it was soo special. Being able to see her get baptized and then hear her testimony after, was incredible. But what was super special was after the baptism, when she came up to talk to me. She came up and said "Sister Johnson, if I didn't meet you I wouldn't have had this chance. That day that I saw you on the street, you just kept getting rejected and no one would stop and talk to you. (lol this is true) But then you said hi to me and you told me about the church!" And now just a couple months later she is baptized and has let the Gospel of Jesus Christ change her life.

Her baptism really changed my perspective and helped open my eyes. Seeing her get baptized and talking to her after, made all the hard times worth it. It made all the rejection, long days of GQing and times when people said rude things, WORTH IT. Her baptism was honestly such a blessing.

So this past week we were able to meet with heaps of our investigators and we were able to set 2 more baptismal dates! SO as of right now we have 5 baptismal dates!!! (HUGE MIRACLE!) & here is a quick overview on them all:

Louis: (Nov 4) he has been really sick recently so we didn't get to meet with his this past week. he has come to church a couple times and will pray and read the BOM (only when we ask him to read a specific part or when we remind him to read) but just doesn't have a testimony of the BOM yet. also he really doesn't like praying in public for some reason..  BUT he is headed in the right direction.

Timothy: (Oct 21) super solid investigator and is progressing soo quickly. taught him the word of wisdom this week and he was a little hesitant on not being able to drink tea. but after we explained why we have it, and the blessings that come from it and he said he is willing to try and not drink tea! he is awesome and so prepared. 

Simon: (Oct 28) we haven't been able to meet with him in foreverrr but we were finally able to have a lesson with him this week. we taught the Plan of Salvation and it was one of the most spiritual lessons ever. it was so cool because he told us that his mom passed away and we were both able to testify about the POS and that he will see his mom again. Writing about the lesson really doesn't do it justice. so just trust me when I say it was incredible.

Apple: (Nov 11) we met with her again this week and talked about baptism again. She has been so hesitant to accept a date because she feels like she doesn't know enough yet. BUT after our lesson this week she said 11/11 sounds good and now she just wants to talk to her parents about it. (scary!!!) so we are praying that her parents will support her decision.

Harry: (Oct 14) we are meeting with him again this week and will be pushing his date back until the end of October because he has a hard time coming to church and needs more time. :)

Hopefully this can give you an idea on maybe who to pray for (if you want to) :):)):)

Other than that, this week was pretty normal. We did a ton of finding and teaching, and everyday I'm learning a little bit more about the Chinese Culture. 

oh and I am soo excited to watch general conference this weekend! 

well thanks for the love, prayers and support.

love you all.

cheers,

xoxo

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

SPRING IS HERE!!!  So what do Sister Missionaries do - climb a tree

So happy for warmer weather

Wing - who Sister Johnson met while GQing on the street

All the Sister Missionaries who taught Wing

When I woke up from this little nap Sister Zhang said to me,
"your mom is not going to be happy to see that
you sleep instead of doing your study" 

Made some Banana Bread

Sister Zhang had some fun hats