Alicia! 7-15-13 Bellevue, TN

Hi everyone! Family! Guess what! Yesterday marked eight months that I have been out! I don't know if you are keeping track... but I only have half my mission left... It is going WAY too fast! Especially this week in particular. Last night I was writing in my journal and I couldn't believe how much happened this week. I love missionary work! It is so exciting and thrilling and fun!

 

I am grateful for your emails :) I know I may not always respond to everything that is in them but I LOVE reading them and hearing about all of the going-ons back home. It sounds like there are a lot of changes happening as far as the house is concerned. Good changes too! I won't even recognize the place when I get back! That is crazy! I will miss the tree a lot... But it will be ok. One thing about change- you always adjust way more quickly than you could anticipate. Want to know something crazy?? I have been with Sister Munafo for 8 weeks now. The longest I have had a companion. And I have been in Bellevue for a month! Wow!

 

This week was incredible! We had a zone conference on Tuesday to get to know President Anderson and get some trainings. It is definitely different. I sure miss the McKee family. They had just such a warm and bright presence. But President and Sister Anderson are great. We have a Mission Leader Council this week and Interviews so I will be getting to know him a LOT better.

 

So the weather here is pretty weird. And also it sounds like we live in a jungle. I am pretty sure they are cicadas- they make all these crazy noises at night. It is really cool! Coupled with the warm air, the trees and the lightning bugs. I always feel like I am either at Disneyland or in the jungle. I love it! But I also really miss the mountains... They are in my blood. Nothing beats summers in the mountains :)

 

What I was saying about the weather- it feels like the Lord is really looking out for us. It hasn't been horrifically hot and when it is we always somehow have the car.On Wednesday we were on our bikes all day. That evening we went to institute with some members. This freak lightning storm came out of nowhere and we went driving right through it. The lightning struck a pole right next to our car as we were going by! It was crazy! Then it was this crazy downpour that stopped after about an hour. Weird stuff. Not like Utah.

 

We had a training on Thursday and set a goal to focus on getting 5 new contacts a day. This has pushed us to talk to more people and to be more courageous in opening our mouths. We have seen lots of miracles from it. Suddenly, this place is like Bowling Green. We have found all these different ethnicities of people that don't speak English. Our teaching pool is changing dramatically and it is really exciting! We visited this guy from Nigeria who blessed that Sister Munafo would have 30 children! He is great!

 

M has dropped off the face of the earth... We think he slipped back into some habits and is now embarrassed or overthinking things or something... We send texts with scriptures and he will say thanks- but he won't let us visit to figure out what is going on. I am sure it is just timing. He is in the Lord's hands.

 

We are working with a lot of different people on the scale of progression. This week we found a former investigator that had been visited by missionaries about 6 years ago. 6 years ago, this woman was undergoing some problems in her family and some health issues. The Elders showed up at her door on a particular day when she greatly needed them. They didn't push her into anything but they prayed with her. They kept checking on her and praying with her. Miracles began to happen in her life. She knew it was because of the missionaries. Slowly, they drifted out of her life. And now, this past week, we showed up at her door right when she needed another prayer. And more importantly, she is SEARCHING for TRUTH!!! "As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of those basic teachings they will begin to search for truth." We challenged her to read from the Book of Mormon again- to take another look at it. We will be meeting with her again this week. Miracles are going to happen!

 

We are also teaching this Vietnamese man with a member who speaks Chinese. I am really grateful for return missionaries.

 

This gospel is true. It is really amazing! It changes lives! I love it and I am so grateful to be serving and giving my all. I love you my wonderful family! Have a great week!!!

 

Love you lots!

Sister Alicia Johnson

Alicia! 7-8-13 Bellevue, TN

Hello! Yes! I got your email! No, I didn't get any pictures... Just one that mom sent of some sleeping people :) I have worked with senior couple missionaries quite a bit! They are the BEST missionaries out here! And they have a variety of assignments. They work in the office doing referrals or finances or housing or car stuff; then there are some that work in the YSA branches doing institute or Less Active work; there are some that are sent to military bases to build relations there; there are all sorts of cool assignments for senior missionaries!

 

President Andersen just got here this week. He actually was originally called as a missionary in another mission and when they sent the release notice to President McKee they called him as a mission president instead of a regular missionary. We had transfers on Tuesday and we have a whole new district. I have a new second companion! My Sister Trainer Leader companion is Sister Vandenberg. I served in her district when I was in Princeton. I sure love her a lot and I am very excited to serve with her! She is in Green Hills now. My old area :)

 

On Wednesday we were trying to help the Sisters get settled into their area so we went to the mission office to get some supplies. We got to say goodbye to the McKee's one last time... They will be very missed. I really love them a lot. I am grateful that they are in Pocatello so that I can actually go see them some after the mission. Yay!

 

Yesterday, we met President Andersen and Sister Andersen as we were walking through the church building. It is pretty neat to be in Nashville near the mission leadership. Kind of in the hub of it all. I am excited to see what comes of this new change. President Andersen is really a neat person! I love him and his wife a lot already. You can't go wrong when you have Utah State as a common bond ;)

 

It sounds like everyone had a really fun week! We experienced a whole different world here in Nashville. The past few days it has been raining like crazy! I haven't ever been in rain like this before. It was really fun :) We didn't have a car either, so we were out walking with our umbrellas in it trying to find people to teach. The 4th of July was raining a lot too. Apparently, Nashville has one of the best firework shows in the nation. We took this opportunity to find people by going downtown with a survey to get referrals. Fortunately and unfortunately, it was pouring rain. So there weren't as many people as there would have been and we were a bit soggy. But in 2 hours, Sister Munafo and I had 40 surveys filled out. Cool! We got to go to a member's house for dinner and have bbq food too. Good times! Love holidays!

 

So, M was supposed to be baptized on Saturday but on Monday he told us he wasn't ready. He still wanted to meet with us though. He has made some amazing progress and changes in his life- but we continue to face opposition. He didn't come to church yesterday... We are not sure what is up, but we are doing our best to work through it. It will be right in the end :)

 

We had an amazing experience the other day with a member. We went to find a referral. We pulled into the lot. The member that was with us had a sudden pain in her leg so she stayed in the car. I saw a man sitting across the lot and had the impression we needed to talk to him. We talked to the referral first- who wasn't interested- and we made our way over to the man. He had gone inside. So we knocked on his door. He opened. He looked a bit upset. We started sharing about the Book of Mormon and asked about his beliefs and his family. He said that there were some difficult things happening in his life right then. We took the opportunity to pray with him. As I prayed, I felt the Spirit working through me witnessing of God's love for this man. After the prayer, I looked up and the man was crying. We set a time to go back and visit again. I don't know why, but I have a strong impression that we may have saved that man's life that night. I don't know what he has been going through, but the Lord is very aware of him. He is very aware of all of us. He knows what we need and He will do all that He can to help us. We were sent at that moment to be the Lord's hands and loving arms of mercy and peace. When we got back into the car, the member said that she felt the same pull we had. She also felt impressed that for some reason, she wasn't meant to talk to him at that time with us. It needed to be us.

 

I am so grateful for the small and simple miracles that the Lord allows us to be a part of day to day. So many times, we are walking around, unsure of who needs us at the time, unsure if our efforts matter at all. I know that the Lord is aware. I am grateful for His guidance and His presence. I don't know what I would do without the Spirit. The Spirit is the true master in this work. I want to do everything I can to be worthy of that Spirit.

 

I love you all so much! I am eternally grateful for all that you have done and continue to do for me. I know that God lives and that He loves us. I pray that you all have a blessed week. I pray that you will stay in tune to the Spirit this week- it is possible that the Lord needs YOU to be His hands this week. Reach out to those around you. YOU could be the difference in someone's day.

 

I love you so much!

Sister Alicia Johnson

Last night walking home. We had to climb this intense hill... You can't really tell from the picture but it felt like it was a 90 degree angle!

 A pretty flower we found walking in the rain trying to cut across a field.

Sweet Cece's frozen yogurt... Mmmm... :)

 Right before it starting raining on us again. The same field we were trying to cut across. Turns out that there was a creek that became a river on the other end so we had to backtrack and go all the way around back to the roads. We were only a bit late for our appointment...

Alicia! 7-1-13 Bellevue, TN

HELLOOOOOO FAMILIA!!

 

Can you believe we made it through another month?! Time is flying by incredibly quickly! Where does it go?? And things change so rapidly! It is amazing! I love your emails :) I am sad Mel cannot email... But I love her lots and lots!!! And I love the pictures from Jackson! Yay! Good ol' Jackson Hole. So many fun memories! Although, I don't quite remember the memory of a stick fight with Dad and Zach... missed out on that one.

 

As per usual, things are happening around here! So we got transfer calls on Saturday evening and I have been very blessed to stay with Sister Munafo in Bellevue. I don't know what my problem is- but every time it gets close to transfers I think I am ready to move on. I want things to change. I am grateful that the Lord is letting me not get my way and stay here. I feel in my heart that this may be one of my favorite transfers. It is funny, we are right next to my last area and yet it is a completely different world here. It goes to show how much of a difference the unity in a ward can make. Yesterday, I was wrapped in a warm cocoon of love from the bishop and members of the ward. If anyone has figured out how to make missionaries and members one, it is the Bellevue ward. They have been begging for sister missionaries too- so they are excited to have us.

 

Even more amazing is the miracle of Matt. While on exchanges a week and a half ago, Sister Munafo and Sister Bundy were looking for an address that didn't exist. They began pushing their bikes up a hill when Matt walked out the door and asked if they needed help. He said that he had been searching for truth. In fact, not two days earlier, he had been praying specifically for someone to be sent to guide him. Lo and behold, two angels of the Lord came and brought him the news of the gospel. His spirit, his heart and his mind were open. He is getting baptized this Saturday. He has already been welcomed into the ward with a warm embrace. I am so happy for him and the steps that he is taking! What a miracle that one by one the Lord is gathering his chosen people together. He has been preparing Matt for years for this time when he would be ready to receive the gospel and the Lord's messengers. And now, Matt is studying each and every day from the scriptures. He is learning and experiencing the joy of the restored gospel for himself. I am so grateful for the Lord in entrusting his children to our care. I am so happy!

 

Saturday evening another miracle occurred. We attended a farewell fireside for the McKee family with our investigator, Matt. We walked into the doors and there was my other miracle baptism- Cheryl!!! It made me want to cry I was so happy to see her! She has done incredibly well in the past few months. In fact, her daughter and three grandkids have all been baptized. Her son, Cody, is going to be baptized sometime this month. I wish I could express the joy within my heart!!! To think that I had a part to play in Cheryl coming into the gospel. She is a light and an example to me and feels like a second mother. I love her so much! Members of the Greenhills ward came up to me and expressed their gratitude for my service in the ward. It was thrilling and almost overwhelming to see that, somehow, the Lord has allowed me to have an impact. The Spirit will use the skills and talents that we have to influence others for good. NEVER think that what you are doing (if you are living a righteous, covenant-keeping life) that you are not effecting lives. You are! We are all children of God with the divine potential to become like him. We can live lives like the Savior and touch those around us with His divine love. I am SO grateful for that knowledge! I am so grateful to be a missionary! I am so grateful to already be witnessing the fruits of our labors here in the Lord's vineyard. Can you believe that I have been a part of 13 baptisms...? Jon, Jenn, Corey, Briana, Frankie, Denisa, Cheryl, Cheryl's 3 grandkids and 2 children, and Matt. Oh! And not to mention Cheryl also did baptisms for her deceased relatives and one of her daughters that passed on. AND Sister Thatcher's aunt and uncle are preparing to go through the temple. Not to mention the Driskills who were reactivated in Bowling Green.

 

I feel like Alma "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." I know that the Lord blesses us as we are obedient and serve with ALL. More miracles have occurred than I possibly realized- and it has been worth every hard minute of pain, sorrow, rejection and hurt. This is the Atonement of Jesus Christ in action. I know this gospel is true. I love you and I am eternally grateful for your support and your prayers. Keep praying! Never stop praying!

 

I love you! Have an amazing week!

 

Love you always,

Sister Alicia Johnson

Alicia! 6-24-13 Brentwood, TN

Hello!!!! How is everyone doing?! I loved your emails! You are always so good at writing... IT makes such a big difference! I love knowing that I have the support and love of such an amazing family. And it sounds like miracles are happening back home! And I had the same feeling watching the fireside last night. Wasn't that incredible?! Missionary work is changing and the Lord is hastening his work! I took a lot of notes... Mostly because we don't have a ward mission leader right now... haha!

 

But the ward is great! I LOVE Bellevue! I always forget to mention one of the most magical parts of Tennessee... the lightning bugs! Oh my gosh! It is just like Princess and the Frog! Except even better in the sense that it is real! We are part-time bike, part-time car. I probably will be needing to buy a bike soon... who knows. I have been getting away with borrowing them from everyone so I might be able to keep that up ;) But this week we were on bikes. It is SO green here and wherever it is green the lightning bugs are there like crazy! It is like twinkling, magical Christmas lights on the green grass... Oh I love it! It is getting really hot here though... I have been drinking water like crazy trying to stay hydrated and not get sick. We have done well so far. I am really tan now too haha! I need to take more pictures... Sorry Mom...

 

This week we experienced a miracle. I was a bit stressed about biking full-time in the heat, but it turned out to be really fun. We sweat like crazy though :) Missionaries drenched in sweat trying to knock doors! I wouldn't turn that away ;) Anyways, we had to have an emergency exchange on Thursday (I had only spent two full work days in the new area). I was needed with a Spanish-speaking sister for a couple of days due to illness and the like. So, I spent two days in the Spanish area (my Spanish is really sad... I sat there and smiled a lot) while my companion biked the new area and tried to find investigators. And find they did! They found M! M has been searching for the truth and accepted the Book of Mormon. The next day we went back and taught him most of the first lesson. We had to overcome some objections and concerns- but the Spirit was brought into the lesson and it changed everything. That evening he attended a baptism. We were able to give him a tour through the church afterwards. The Spirit was incredibly powerful.... I have not had a lesson that powerful in a long time! It was amazing! His understanding was opened because of the Spirit and he soaked up everything we taught like a sponge. We are going to commit him to baptism tonight :) This is the Lord's work! I am so grateful to be a part of it and to experience the joy of inviting others to come unto Christ.

 

I am really excited to continue working in this area. I am praying that nothing will change at transfers... this is the last week of the transfer... but you just never know.

 

Oh! So we moved into the Elders old apartment. It was... Disgusting. To say the least. We spent three and half hours cleaning it on Tuesday after we moved in on Monday. Yuck! I think my favorite part is the cockroach slayer... They have a rubber spatula on the wall that has been used to murder those fantastic creatures. Even better, we had a cockroach running across the floor yesterday. Yay! I am getting used to them though. A lot of the trailers out here have cockroaches in them. You just grin and bear it. I ate shrimp and fish too! Turns out they aren't as bad as they used to be ;) Look how much I have grown in 7 months! Haha!

 

Hey! I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week and keep being the best ever! The gospel is true!

 

Love you always!

Sister Alicia Johnson

Alicia! 6-17-2013 Brentwood, TN

YES!!!! Great emails this week!!! Oh my gosh! I just got so excited for my wonderful family and all of their adventures! It sounds like Jackson Hole was just wonderful! Plus the picture of Daddy and Jare* is sooo precious! I want a copy of that to carry with me. Then I could show everyone how blessed I am with the best family ever. Oooh... And the cute one of Jare and Taryn**... You two are just totes adorbs! haha :) Hahaha and Dad I just look forward to receiving my ripped apart Ensign ;) You are the best :)

 

****** SPECIAL INSERT ******* DADDY!!!!! Happy Father's Day!!! I am so sorry that I am a horrible daughter and didn't remember it! Why is it that Father's Day always gets neglected while Mother's Day gets a huge shebang!? I am going to write you your own email. Because I love you :)

 

Ooook! GUESS WHAT?!? Guess how many weeks I have been in Greenhills? Hahaha! Don't worry! Just 10! Guess who is getting transferred again? Haha! Yep! That's right! Little miss me! I am getting transferred to the Bellevue ward- which happens to be the ward right next to the one I am in. They had some visas come in and some visa-waiters left. So they had to do some shuffling. BUT I get to stay with my amazingly wonderful companion Sister Munafo!!! YAYAYAY!!!! I almost cried with joy because I love her and I don't want to lose my favorite companion at 4 weeks like last time. So with transfers coming up in 2 weeks, I am going to guess that I will be staying put with my companion. Yes! But, the Lord has a way of shaking the tree (once you finally get to tree status). It is really funny because we had made a LOT of progress with the ward, our area book exploded with lessons and investigators and we were finding people left and right. So. We got moved. Haha! Great huh? I love missionary work!

 

This week I went on exchanges to the YSA branch area. Oh man. I am so grateful to be in a family ward! It is cool working with young single adults but they hardly have any investigators-because where do you find them?! One blessing I had was the opportunity to go to institute. We were studying Elder Robert D. Hales. He is pretty inspirational. Back to the shaking tree thing- I got the metaphor from one of his talks. He talked about whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies. He doesn't qualify us first. So if we feel like we can't do something, it is probably because we really can't! Cool, huh? So we will begin as acorns. We will be put in a hard situation that we think we can't handle. But, with time and experience, the acorn will grow and flourish. It will become large and strong. It will become an oak tree. Then, after we are comfortable, the Lord will shake our trunk. The oak tree will drop an acorn and we start all over. What a blessing that the Lord continually gives us opportunities to grow. Can I tell you a secret though? Just because we get shaken doesn't mean our faith has to be shaken. As a matter of fact, if we are firm in our faith and humbly submit to the will of the Lord, no amount of shaking will rock our worlds. We CAN trust that the Lord knows what he is doing. And it is a lot easier to trust his will rather than our own. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't plan for the future, but don't be surprised if the Lord has something else in store for us.

 

I am learning a lot here on my mission. I am learning a lot about people and about life. I am learning a lot about faith and about the gospel. I really love it! There has been a shift within me. I loved my mission before, but I wake up excited everyday to share the gospel with others. I can already picture myself as an awkward RM! Yes! And my responsibilities seem to have grown immensely. As the Lord continues to put his trust in his servants and we in return trust in him, our capacity grows.

 

I love powerful Spiritual experiences as well. This week we had a meeting with our District. I have felt over and over that we just need to have more powerful spiritual experiences in our meetings to help us in our work. I was able to do a training on prayer. After the training, we all went of into individual rooms and took the time to pray and pour out our hearts to God. We took about 15 minutes. Then we did a roleplay of a church tour. The power in that building was indescribable. Especially the chapel. I will never look at the chapel the same. It is truly a dedicated room where sacred ordinances are performed. And the power of personal prayer- WOW! If there is nothing else I learned on my mission, I am SO grateful that I learned how to communicate with my Heavenly Father. It has wrought within me a mighty change. I am truly a new person every time I humbly submit to my Father. I just wish that everyone could understand that power.

 

My wonderful family, I hope that your trees have been shaken and that God is giving you opportunities to grow. And I implore you, get on your knees. We CAN'T do it! But the Lord can. I pray that you are all doing well. I love you so much! Have an incredible week!

 

LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!!

Sister Alicia Johnson

*/**

Alicia! 6-10-13 Brentwood, TN

Hello!!! How is the family doing?! Thanks for your emails! You are all amazing!

 

So I guess I will start with technical stuff while I am thinking about it. I am no longer a Facebook Missionary. After attempting (kind of) to like Facebook and be a successful missionary with it, I decided it really wasn't for me. I don't know why I thought I would like it when I don't even like Facebook anyways! So I reactivated my old account and you can just keep updating it and using it like you did before. Is there any way that I could get a copy of the General Conference ensign for my own personal use? I love Conference! Speaking of conference, their is a worldwide leadership broadcast that is happening live on June 23. They have invited all of the missionaries around the world and all the ward councils! I imagine there will be some great insights as to how the work is going to move forward. Exciting!

 

Sounds like everything is just peachy back at home! I am jealous you will be able to go visit Mel in Jackson this weekend! I sprayed some bug spray on myself the other day and thought of summer and camping in the mountains. It was very nostalgic... I think I just might end up there again after the mission.

 

That is exciting about Trek! Our ward is having Trek this week. I loved Trek so much! Totally changed my life. Also there is a Nauvoo Pagent coming up in July. I want to do that too. I am going to have quite the bucket list of things to do when I get home.

 

This week was good. Things are changing in the ward. I am changing a lot too. I have become WAY more bold than I used to be. It is an empowering feeling. I can feel the fire and passion and I just want to see the ward get involved! We have some that are working very diligently on finding and setting up appointments for us to teach at. We are teaching a returning member and her nonmember boyfriend. In the past three weeks they have made astounding progress and I know that it is due to the members that are involved. We have been teaching in their home and the Spirit there is absolutely incredible! The lessons are so focused on the power of the Savior and it has led K and M to really start searching and reading from the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It holds the key to the converting Spirit. Once people recognize that power, they will want to make changes in their lives to live in harmony with the restored gospel. M was saying that she hadn't read her Book of Mormon for two days and she could FEEL the difference. Once we open the book with K in the room, he can't stop reading it. There is such a power in that book! The promise of drawing nearer to God is so real and the peace is indescribable. K is working towards baptism- and he will be a strong member of the church. I am grateful for member-missionaries.

 

We also got to go to a Bible Study yesterday with another one of our investigators, Robert. That was quite the experience. There were about 7 of us in this little room. We were studying a chapter from Isaiah and having a doctrinal discussion on what is contained in that chapter. Many of the things that were taught were right on. They were true and correct doctrinally. There just seems to be a lack of understanding in HOW to apply the principles and doctrines of the gospel. Isn't that incredible? The Bible teaches us the what and why, then the Lord provided the HOW with the Book of Mormon. Needless to say, we were bold and shared some verses from the Book of Mormon with the study group. They really enjoyed it and we were able to give out 2 copies of the Book of Mormon while we were there.

 

The Bible belt is SO interesting. And what is particularly interesting is the fact that most everyone we talk to accepts and believes our message- they just don't act on it. Oh man! And we are teaching some incredibly hilarious people! There is this older lady that LOVES to talk our ear off. It is so hard to get a word in edgewise sometimes and so we are trying to learn the art of tactfully cutting people off. It is great! A skill in life I never thought I would need. ;) People here are just so friendly! They love to talk and particularly they love to talk about Jesus. We are still praying to find the person who will be baptized in June. We need to find that person who is searching for truth and willing to act upon the truth they hear. The Lord will help us- I know he will! Everyone else seems to have a solid baptismal date- except for us at the moment... I am not discouraged because I know that a large part of my purpose in this area is getting the members involved. I can see that once the members are actively finding people, the number of convert baptisms will increase dramatically. There is hope!

 

The work is still moving forward :) I still love my companion. And I still know that the gospel is true. I was reading back through my old study journals and some of the entries in my regular journal too. I have seen many miracles since I have been out here. Do you remember when President Hanks said that there was one person specifically that I came on my mission for? That has been a driving force for working hard and becoming the best I can be. I know that that person is very special- I love them very much. I am grateful to be serving.

 

I love you all! Have a good week and enjoy Jackson!!!

 

LOVE YOU LOTS!!

Sister Alicia Johnson the Tennessee Nashville Missionary

Alicia! 6-3-13 Brentwood, TN

!Hola Familia! ?How do you like my Portuguese? It is getting pretty good, huh? :) What a beaut! I know about four words: Sisterina (little Sister), Cim (Yes), Ciao (Goodbye), and Salvacao (Salvation). I am pretty sure that I can take on any new Portuguese investigators at this point. :) Cim, Salvacao!!!

I love Sister Munafo. I can't believe it has been another week. Time just flies around here when you have an awesome companion that makes life fun! Plus, she is super focused on the work. We are constantly working on improving our teaching and how we do missionary work. It is really cool. I am feeling a difference within myself as well. It is finally becoming more natural to walk up to random people and share the gospel. I am grateful for that. Also, responsibility seems to be a bit easier to manage than I used to think it was. I keep shouldering responsibility and somehow my capacity to manage it continues to grow. The Lord has blessed me with so many opportunities to grow and a vision of how this work can be accomplished.

Yesterday was probably one of the greatest miracles I have seen in this area the whole time I have been here. Our Relief Society President and her first counselor have been our greatest support team for the missionary effort. Sister F devoted her entire lesson to the importance of members getting involved in the work. She told them that it is the member's job to find- and the missionary's job to teach. She also talked about a Press Conference that took place in between conference sessions when the announcement for the age-change was made. Elder Holland talked about the fact that only the 12 apostles and the first presidency knew about the change. NO ONE ELSE knew! This means that everyone was thrown off guard and preparations had to be made quickly. He said that this made him giddy.

Her first counselor then stood up and talked about the hastening of the work. But it is so much MORE than a hastening of the work- it is a hastening of the Lord's coming. If you want to see the signs of the times, look at what the Lord is doing with missionary work. Israel is literally being gathered before our eyes. Things are changing! And the Lord is inviting each one of us to catch the wave and to see the vision! What more can we do?? We need to be inviting EVERYONE to hear the gospel! How can we know if they are prepared if we never invite?

I am so grateful that you sent me that book: The Power of Everyday Missionaries. I recommend that everyone read it. It tells us the why and HOW to talk to our friends, neighbors and acquaintances about the church. A promised blessing quote:

"Far from putting the kingdom out of balance, if our ward and stake leaders were to focus on leading their members to share the gospel, many of the other problems that fester in our hearts and homes, and in our wards and stakes, would resolve themselves through the blessings that come from accepting the call that God has given each of us to be missionaries."

Also, have you felt a lack of the Spirit at all? The author of the book talked about how his church duties became just that- duties. There was no need for the spirit in the functions he was performing. So, he decided to be actively involved in missionary work again. "But in becoming an active missionary again, I had essentially repositioned myself onto the front lines in the war against Satan over the souls of men. This meant that I needed the Spirit with me everyday."

The Lord has called each of us to share this blessed message of the Restored Gospel with the world. And he has promised his help every step of the way.

"Most of us fear failure. Once we have realized that we succeed as member missionaries when we invite people to learn and accept the truth, much of that fear that kept us from sharing the gospel vanishes. We give them the opportunity to exercise their free agency. Some will use that agency to accept the gospel. Others will not, and that's fine. We succeed when we invite."

The members of the Green Hills ward got fired up at this call. We have a full dinner calendar and a nearly full exchange calendar this week. We have members setting up appointments for us. Things are beginning to change. I am SO excited to be serving at this time to be instrumental in helping those around me to catch the vision.

We will be baptizing this month. Our mission has a goal of 100 baptisms for the month of June. That is one baptism per companionship. I am excited to see this happen. It is really interesting who we have been teaching. Most of them are Methodist- which I would say is the closest to the LDS faith- and are quite content where they are at. And then there are the very intellectual that miss the mark on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They even question sincere testimony... it is very interesting. I hope that you will pray for our investigators. Will you pray for the baptism that we will have on June 29th?

I love you all so much. I am so grateful for the love and support that I feel from you. I am very blessed with an amazing family who is just good to the core. Thank you for your example. Thank you for your emails and your testimony each week. I love and pray for you. Have an amazing week!!!

Love you always,

Sister Alicia Johnson