Snowy Christmas and a Frozen New Year

Hello my people. 

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas. I sure did! 

Christmas Eve we had lunch with all the sister's in our zone, then we visited people and did normal missionary things. After, we made cookies and took them to the airmen on base who had to work on Christmas Eve. It was so fun!! 

We had a blizzard on Christmas, so church was cancelled. A missionary not going to church on Christmas... it was weird let me tell ya. We spent the day with the Sangers who are members, and conveniently live in our apartment complex! We had Christmas breakfast with them and opened presents. Then the McRae's came and picked us up for Christmas dinner. We spent most of the day there and guess what we had for dinner? prime rib and crab legs. Soooooooo content! Around 6:30 they told us they needed to take us home or we were going to be camping out at their house. I thought I was going to die. You could only see about 5 ft in front of you, it was super freaky. 

The rest of the week was amazing though! We put our investigator, David, on date for baptism on January 28th! I taught the Plan of Salvation while there was a squirrel sitting on the couch next to me eating walnuts. #onlyinND

We taught a Muslim family from India and the mom (Fatima) kept kissing my cheeks and giving me presents from India hahaha she was the cutest old lady ever!! I'm also certain she wanted to marry us off to her two sons because she kept telling me and my companion how "beautiful and innocent and modest" we were. hahahaha! They couldn't quite grasp the concept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Baby steps. 

We had transfers this week, but I'm staying here with Sister Hansen for her last transfer! Not mad though :) I love Minot and her! 

p.s sorry I wasn't on my email yesterday... we got snowed in so we are just barely getting to do P-day things! LOVE YOU. 

This is the cutie Sister Crockett 

Christmas Eve brunch with the sisters  

Me and Ruddie  

Sister Hansen had food poisoning on Christmas Eve, and this was her portions at dinner to try to keep it down.. poor babe  

Christmas Eve games with the Roskelley's!

  

10 points to whoever understands my shirt :) 

We were trying to be cute 

Just wanted one good picture with Leo...finally got the it :) 

 Christmas dinner with Madi McRae 

My fav McRae's 

lol at the snow 

I Love Being a Missionary!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

Wow. What a week. 

So we got in a car wreck, but all is well! It should have been wayyyy worse than it was. We were on our way to interviews with our mission president, and we took the off ramp (that curves, so you can't see very well the other side) but didn't know of the ice that was lying ahead. Sister H lost control of the vehicle and hit the barrier that bounced us into a snow bank. There were 7 other cars that did the same thing right before us. They didn't make it out as great as us. A couple of them crashed into each other, one went through the barrier and was being towed out. Let me tell you, it was SCARY. There was a cop at the scene, but they hadn't shut off the off ramp which was really dumb, but that's just my opinion. Anyways.. I'm fine, my companion is fine, and our car only had a cracked front left wheel, no body damage. Miracles. So we will be getting it back, but let me tell you, walking in this weather is NO fun! Lesson learned. Super fun walking in to interviews all shaken up to tell our mission president that we crashed though. He wasn't even mad and gave us his personal card to go with the zone leaders to get it taken care of... he is such a good man!  

We got trapped inside this weekend because it was -45, but we are being blessed and it is 28 today and SO WARM. 

We had our Zone Christmas party, and Zone Conference this week which was the BOMB. I have the coolest missionaries to serve around, and I wish everyone could meet my mission pres. and his wife, they are the salt of the earth! 

We have two new investigators that we've started teaching this week. EVERYONE, let me tell you about this man! 6 years ago he got acute glaucoma and went completely blind in one eye, and legally blind in the other within 3 days time, his son also died that same year, went through a divorce and is now raising his 7 year old daughter alone. The man has more faith in Christ than anyone I have ever met. I LOVE TEACHING HIM! He loves what we have been teaching and is eating it up! Again. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

So many other miracles and so many stories and no time. 

I seriously love you all so much and I hope you have an AMAZING Christmas. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-12-007-the-first-christmas-spirit?lang=eng

xo sister johnson and sister hansen 

Many photos with my Grandma Johnson who went home on Friday. miss her so much already! 

Sleep over with the Dickinson Sister's for Zone Conf.

Another with Sister J 

Been with this crazy for 3 months!! Happy 3 months to us 

Also, here are more Christmas pics :) 

CODE WHITE

Hello my family and friends!

As many of you may have seen the weather was AWFUL this week. Today is the warmest it's been and we are sitting at a hefty one degree. Tuesday the city called for a code white. Everything was shut down, and everything was cancelled. We had 60 mph winds, and it was nice and warm. -24 to be exact. The wind was blowing snow everywhere, it looked like a white tornado. I'm not even kidding you, I was expecting to look out my window and see penguins huddled together. Well, that day we didn't brave the outdoors. We did missionary work from the warmth of the apartment, but the next day... I walked outside and my nose hairs froze. DO YOU KNOW HOW WEIRD THAT SENSATION IS? I also couldn't breathe, but I'm getting used to it now. Sister Hansen said I was being dramatic, I say otherwise.

Yesterday was the Primary Program and us and the Elders got to sing "Called to Serve" with the primary kids. It was so fun!!

On the day when it was -20 with the wind chill we tracted a few houses. Now mind you we could only knock on one door before we would have to warm up. The wind rips right through any article of clothing. Well, the second to last door on the street we knocked and the guy answered and yelled at us to "go away." Then he proceeded to slam the door. We responded with a "Merry Christmas!" Sister Hansen added a "If I was Santa I'd give you coal." Christ like? maybe not, but it made me laugh when I wanted to cry :)

The last door was mucho better. The guy let us in and we taught him a quick version of the Restoration. Gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he would read some of it this week and we could check back with him next week. He and his wife are nurse anesthetists so he knows all the doctors in our ward. We talked to Brother Amsbury who is a doctor at the same hospital, and he says he knows him and his wife and the wife is just as cool. She was at work that night, so we are pumped to meet her.

Anyways, those are some highlights. wish I could tell you all the amazing things that happen everyday, but there is just not enough time. You all can just read my journal when I get back.

I LOVE YOU.

Oh here's this nifty hymn we sang this week, I love it and wanted to share.

know this that every soul is free

to choose his life and what he'll be;

for this eternal truth is giv'n

that God will force no man to Heav'n

Hot cocoa on a cold p-day

Amsbury's naked cats!!

Family photos

BENNETT

This poem is so accurate

Our little tree, and some gifts from the members

Thanks to Faith Amsbury for braving the cold to snag some pics :)

Sneak peak at the family Christmas card

Greetings From the North Pole!

I have a story for you all. Once there were two missionaries, they were diligent little missionaries and wanted to be obedient. One night there was a scary blizzard that came and lasted for 3 days. That blizzard was so bad, and the drifts were really deep. Some of the locals were trapped inside until someone could shovel them out. The Mission President asked them not to drive their cars because of the danger on the roads. They were to go out on foot only. They put on their scarves, hats, thermals, boots, wool layers, coats, and gloves and set out to preach the Gospel. People thought these two missionaries were crazy for being outside in these conditions. Well, at their District Meeting that Friday, some of the other missionaries were talking about their "snow day". They soon learned of how the other missionaries stayed inside during the blizzard. Those two missionaries were Sister Johnson and Sister Hansen. 

The End. 

Well everyone, I hope you had a great week! We sure did, even though we were walking outside while it was snowing sideways. The cold temps are setting in this week, but that is good news because apparently some of the locals say that it doesn't snow terribly because it gets too cold. How is that possible you ask? I have no idea, but I am taking it from them. I think it snowed a good 2 feet, but don't quote me on that. 

We had a youth carnival planned for the youth to invite all their friends, and we were going to have all the people to teach, but then it got canceled due to the weather and that was a heart breaker. 

Don't forget that I love you! 

Seasons greetings from the Sisters 

Bishop Jacob's little girl Ju Ju got baptized this week

the Roskelleys gave us a little tree for our apartment!! 

So much love for this little one

  

The snow plows leave it in the middle of the cul-de-sac for the whole winter 

ZL's came to drop off a new car (has AWD so we are pumped) and those icicles had formed over night 

This lady named Marcell gave us candy canes at her door :)  

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Well, it has come. It's a winter wonderland! 10 inches in 3 days people. I am not prepared. Now I have an excuse to wear my beanies and not do my hair HAHA!

I hope you all had a fantastic Turkey day! I did! It was definitely weird being away from family, but the members were amazing and took us in. We had a couple dinners (yeah I ate my weight in food). We also had a couple teaching appointments. There is literally nothing more fulfilling than talking about the Savior during the Holidays. Also! I made yams for thanksgiving dinner, my grandmas would be so proud! They were tasty, except one minor detail... Sister Hansen and I have never made them before, nor did we have a recipe. We used a stick and a half of butter for 5 yams. HAHAH I am literally laughing typing this. About half way through cooking them, she goes, "do you think we should add more butter?" We took them out and they were SWIMMING in butter. Oh man, but they sure were scrumptious.

Speaking of holiday. Have you heard of the Christmas Initiative the church is doing this year? Everyone look up the video, it is #LightTheWorld. Then go on Mormon.org and do the 25 days of service! I promise you will have the Spirit of Christmas in your home if you do. Also, the video is AMAZING so at least watch it.

So here's a cool story for ya, sister Hansen found this quote on Wednesday morning that we really loved.

"We are not human beings having spiritual experiences,

we are spiritual beings have a human experience."

Good right? well that was the first time I had ever heard it. Then, later that night we had an appointment at Denny's (not bad) and when we were waiting for them to get there, this man approached us and started asking us questions about our church. We answered them and he really liked what we had to say. Then he said something about us having a greater purpose than just this life, and then he quoted that quote! I literally almost fell over. We kept talking for like 15 minutes, and set up a return appointment. I love when things work out perfectly like that. It is amazing.

On Tuesday I was backing sister Hansen out, and there is this cop who lives in our apartment complex whose name is Andy. Well, Andy always seems to be around when I do something embarrassing (he probably thinks Mormons are the nuttiest people). Well we had the Nashville Tribute Trek CD playing. There is a song that sounds like an indian tribe dancing around a fire. She turned it down when I went to get in the car, and I was like "turn it up!" so I started dancing around like a crazy person and she loses it laughing. I hear Andy behind me say "beautiful! A +!" HAHAHAH SO EMBARASSING. Oh well, at least he knows we know how to have a good time :)

Well that's all folks. Also, I am attaching a link that you all need to watch!!

I LOVE YOU.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world?play=hero

So Much To Be Thankful For

Happy thanksgiving week my friends! 

I am thankful that it stayed warm for so long. I spoke too soon, and it dropped from the 60's to the 20's over night, and it never went back up. My face was literally frozen in a smile after tracting for hours. 

I am thankful for all of the people I get to teach and love. I am thankful to be a missionary, and to be serving in Minot. this is the place to be. all the missionaries beg to come to Minot!

I am thankful for the Gospel! I can't imagine life without it. 

I am thankful for all of you! 

Well, this week we were knocking on doors, and they have these apartments where you walk in the front door and then there are 4 doors to people's apartments on the inside. Okay, well we had been doing these apartments for a good while. We got to one building and it looked just like one of the other apartments. We went to walk in, and I was like "wait! I think this is a house.. " Sister Hansen turned the knob to walk in and I still felt like we should knock. So, we did, and there was a very angry very uninterested man on the other side. We LITERALLY almost walked into this mans house! HAHAHA. That would have made for an even better story, but I also probably wouldn't be emailing you today. I'm thankful I didn't. 

Our friend Carrie got baptized at her Pursuit church yesterday, but she read the Book of Mormon, and still wants to meet with us! 

We went to a members home named the Rick's last night, and her little three year old boy Bennett asked if we could get married. I told him if he waits for me ;) I told him we would take a picture after dinner, and he walks into the kitchen, "mom, I like her." Cutest little carrot top!

I hope you all eat way too much, stay warm (warmer than me), and watch a lot of football this week.

We all have so much to be thankful for. I LOVE YOU. 

My two month pic! 

This is Elder Brush, he got transferred last week, but he is a stellar missionary and a stellar person  

P-day is the perfect day to learn something new 

Transfers make me sad. I love these sisters!! 

I GOT GLASSES. kidding, but don't I look smart?

This one was nice. Once there was one that literally told us Mormon's to go away.. you have a good day too sir 

We love the Book of Mormon, and when it's not 25 degrees out

That little red head is Bennett, isn't he cute?!