Sunday, September 7, 2014

My Testimony .....

Alright, and for the good part. If anyone asked me if I felt like I was crazy to go on a mission I would look at them like they needed to think just a little bit harder. Serving a mission has not only been the best decision of my life, but the best for my life. I know I've learned so much from the people here and the experiences that have strengthened my faith in our Savior. I don't want to know who I would be without having served a full time mission. I know even more now the blessings we can receive from LIVING the gospel, not only believing it, from STUDYING the Book of Mormon, not just reading it over, I've learned about patience, diligence and perseverance. You've got to give it your all. The gospel isn't just something you have to put on your wall or to put a skirt on once a week and say you believe it, you've got to DO it, it's a way of life, it's who you are, and what we stand for. I know that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration, and that Pres. Monson is a living prophet who can receive revelation from God to lead us and guide us in the trials we face today. I know God loves me, not only cause it snowed in Utah!, but because he has made me worthy enough to feel the love he feels for the people here and in Ohio. I know families are eternal. I know la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias is the one and only true chruch on the face of the earth! Search, ponder, and pray about it and I promise you as a representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that you will receive an answer through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I know, because it happened to me.

That was kinda tough to do in English :D

Signing off for the last time
Hermana A. Johansen

My mission shoes. We walked many miles together in service to our Savior Jesus Christ. 



Friday, August 29, 2014

Going home......

OH!! What to say what to say what to say . . . . Well, I don't feel like I´m going home. I packed last night feeling like it was just another transfer. The Rama had a farewell for me last night, it was a big old testimony meeting and I absolutely loved it! the Duarte, and Godoy families and Jorge came to say goodbye to me this morning at the bus station at 6:00 am. And I got stung by a bee yesterday!

We really had a good week. We have been talking to EVERYONE! I wasn't gonna chance it, if I felt like I needed to talk to ANYONE we talked to them. It was so cool and I've been happy all week. It hasn't hit me at all that I'm going to see all of you soo super soon! I loved the pictures! There's a kid in a few of them I don't know who he is some tall big red headed thing ;) Anyway, we found some new investigators and I did push ups with their little boy Saturday when we found them in the park. They're great, and have tons of questions, mostly to do with where we{re from but also have a lot of desire to learn about the gospel, but not enough to get up earlier than 11 am to go to church. Oh well Hay que tener fe, good things will come if it. :D AND we found a lady that is simply amazing. We were walking by and just felt like we had to talk to her, and I have never felt so strongly to put a baptismal date! She accepted, the only thing is that her husband is so against it. I wish her luck.


I love you all and I am so excited to see you all so very soon! I got to go to the Buenos Aries Temple first ;) then I'll tell you all about it.

See you soon,

Hermana A Johansen

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Elder Lee

                 Elder Lee (top row #1 going right to left) arrived safely in the Portugal Lisbon Mission.

Monday, August 18, 2014

WOOO HOOO!!! SEE YOU NEXT WEEK :D

So this week was completely crazy! I got emotionally thrown to the ground, but thanks to what I know of the gospel and the fact that I know where to turn when hard things come my way have allowed me to keep moving on and feel as much joy as great as was what ever it was that I felt. Funny thing is that during weekly planning the goals I made for the week were loof for spiritual experiences, write in my journal, accept the will of the Lord, and forget myself. The Lord has a funny way of making things work and helping us become stronger disciples of Christ. It´s true when they say that your last transfer is the hardest, but that´s when you learn the most. I know that the Lord is only preparing me for what is to come and what he needs me to do at home. I´m not look'n back or too far forward, we´re gonna work off what ever tails we have! :D Hermana Riquelme doesn't wanna say good bye, I don´t either, I´m gonna miss my Chilenita. 

That´s cool that Elder Birch gets home so soon! Tell his family hi for me please? I´m so excited to see them! That´s great about Tyler/Sabrina and about his family too! :D

I´ll keep whatever type of tissue I have with me. This is gonna be fun. 
Jorge won´t be able to be baptized for a while. We´re getting him the 12 step program to complete before his baptism so he can be baptized and do it for real.

Happy Birthday Issac and Abuelo Steve!! Love you both so much! Hey, Steve, I´ll have to bring you some Mate to drink with your big ol´ mate cup. 

I´m glad you´re all happy :) Nothing makes me happier than to know you´re all doing well and staying safe.

Love you all! The church is true and you are de gran valor y importancia! Please don´t ever forget that. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

Hermana Amanda Lee Johansen.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!!!

Mom, I´m so happy that you had a great birthday! Your SMORE cake looked really good! Don´t worry about saving me some, for one I don´t think it would last that long with the siblings I have, and two, I´m sure it just wouldn't taste the same. Your date sounded really fun, I´m really proud to have parents who love each other, it´s really a huge blessing.

We had an interesting week this week. Hermana Riquelme´s been struck by a fever and we had Zone conference. Both took a lot of time out of working, but I learned so much from both experiences. 

We taught our 80 year old man in a wheel chair, Hermano Torres, he´s pretty great and he wants to come to church. The recent convert Gabriel came with us and they got a long really well. They have a huge age difference, but it could work out, Gabi´s great and Hermano Torres needs help getting places. Jorge could help him get to church, he lives a lot closer and always goes anyway. 

We also have Rosana, she´s great, has good questions, but doesn't wanna go too far without her ´husband,´ which is great that she wants that and loves him enough to do that, but he could really be an obstacle if he doesn´t take it well. Her son Axel loves us and made us a turtle. 

Have fun getting ready for school! Enjoy it, and don´t forget to keep living. Accept what the Lord puts in your way, and enjoy the day you have while you have it and live it to it´s fullest. 

Love you all!! Please be safe and Keep on keep'n on! The gospel teaches us to be good at that :)

Hermana A Johansen