International Teaching Pool

I assumed when I got called to ND I would be teaching a bunch of oil field workers and farmers. not so. we are teaching a native american, indonesian, south korean, nepali, liberians, two people from Ghana, and a couple of Minnesotans and Dakotans. praying for the gift of tongues is a real thing cause most the time I have no idea what they trying to say to me. I love them all so much. I also have gotten really good at accents from all walks of life. 

sister pullan and I try international cuisine every week. last week Vietnamese. this week Thai. Next week Middle Eastern. stay tuned. also we are trying to mix up our routine life and buy a new fruit every week at the store. I know, only exciting if you're a missonary. but I suggest moon peaches. they changed my life. 

I'm still getting really bad head and back aches, so sister pullan has been trying to massage them out any chance we get. she was concerned that I have three spines because of how tight my muscles are. can't win em all! 

the temple was fantastical. sister gabler was able to come with her broken foot. yes she broke her foot last p day. she hobbled into the font just fine :) Melvina loved the temple! She has so much faith it amazes me. 

tomorrow I will be celebrating our freedom with my star t shirt and jell-o. (cause nothing screams mormon bbq like jell-o). I'm grateful for this country and most importantly for our freedom of religion. God bless the USA. 

Side walk chalked the Plan of Salvation with the Brothersons

Thai with Laura

Solid Week

you know your a missionary when the things that get you pumped is getting word that they finally translated the Book of Mormon into Nepali. THIS IS BIG PEOPLE! we are teaching a man who is from Nepal, and he wants to be baptized so badly, but culturally he has to get permission from his family, and they aren't down. it makes me sad, but miracles do happen. he understands us, but the language barrier is rough and also reading the Book of Mormon is hard for him. well on friday night we had a lesson with him and we were talking about how great it would be if they just had the Book of Mormon in his native language... well low and behold we get on lds.org for something and front page news "The Book of Mormon translated into Nepali." PUUUUMPED. this is great for Gopal. so the other day we went over to teach Gopal, and we walk in to a small village in his living room. basically every family member and friend from Nepal was there. well they all sat cross legged on the floor for our lesson. I love teaching small villages. 

earlier last week we went to Bismarck for MLC. it was the best one yet (even though I've only had two). we stayed at a senior missionary couples apartment for the night. when we were driving to their place Elder Crozier said "do you want a milkshake?" me "i'm okay!" him "okay let's get a milkshake!" so we got milkshakes! 

our investigator John is so solid. he loves the Gospel and I love that he loves it! he'll be getting baptized next month. 

we're going down to the temple this weekend with a convert named Melvina. so excited! we are also teaching her mama and Betty is sweet! she doesn't have a knee, so coming to church has been hard for her to do. but she came!!! so happy. it was probably one of the loudest sacrament meetings I have ever been in. good news: John and Betty were at church. bad news: they couldn't hear. can't win em all.

okay now for some news. so I don't have to email it to everyone separately. I found out that I come home on Feb 23rd. I thought it was going to be my birthday, but turns out i was mistaken. long story as to why that is, but now you know! see you in less than 8. that's nuts. 

I LOVE YOU

road trips 

the dakotas

when you get bored at ward coor

Pho. 

headaches for dayssss

I'm Twenty and this Week Rocked

So get this.. I have the coolest friends ever. And as sweet as you can make a birthday on a mission, they did!
We went to BWW for lunch (sad cause it was boneless Thursday, not traditional Tuesday... but it still was the bomb) with all of the missionaries in the zone. My companion and some of the other sisters got me a cheesecake and a crown and a ribbon and princess plates and party poppers and party hats and it was a fiesta!
Then one of the members in the ward, who also doubles as one of my friends who I will love forever, made me fajitas for din din. She also decorated and placed a crown on my head. She made me pies cause she's the best baker ever. Then I came home to glow sticks on the floor and ceiling that said "Happy Birthday 20" "We Luv Jonny" (Jonny=me), seriously though, it was a great day and I felt so loved even though I was so far away from family and friends. Oh and my zone leaders and sister training leader did the blazin' challenge for my birthday, so they rock.

also a shout out to my companion who made it amazing! I love Foster child. And also a shout out to everyone who sent me cards and packages and goods, you all have a special place in my heart... thank you!! I burnt a skirt cause I hit my 6 month mark so that was pretty rad.
One of my investigators threw me a party too on Friday. She is so thoughtful!
Hey well have a stellar week and remember who you are. 

6 months in the house! 

Pre-blazin' challenge 

Post-blazin' challenge 

Birthday pics 

Fill Up The Tub!!

Okay, last week was a false alarm!! Carol's baptism is THIS weekend. SO PUMPED! 

So, this week we were tracting, and we knocked on this lady's door she answered- 

me: Hi, we are the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

her: stares at my name tag* "I find your name tag offensive because you are not a real religious sister." *slams door* 

Okay ma'am.

I laughed pretty hard, sister foster was terrified hahaha 

This week is my moms birth week!!! Tell her happy 29th!! Honestly though, I forget that she isn't turning 35 again and I sometimes tell people that cause I think she is... but since I'm turning 20 in two weeks it's getting weirder and weirder. oops :) 

We had a crazy amazing lesson on the atonement this week with two of our investigators. I'm so grateful for the Savior and His sacrifice. 

Sorry I don't have any other crazy stories. have a beautiful week. 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.- Mosiah 14:5

^^^^^ I love this one, love it too ❤

Get the (investi)gators! 

I want a white house with blue shutters... name that movie!! 

Yes that's a loaf of bread in my back pack 

The most colorful thing in Minot  

Carol saved the last two pieces for us :) true love 

The tinneest tinniest church ever 

Baptism!!!

Carol had her interview for her baptism today!!!!! I am the happiest human. absolute pure joy. Her scheduled baptismal date is for Saturday, buttttt some things have come up and now it might be next Saturday.. nonetheless, PLEASE pray pray pray! Satan works hard on people especially this close to their baptismal date. 

We had a killer Valentine's day. My sweet mama sent me flowers and then recruited some members in my ward to heart attack our car. LOVED. Our ward mission leader and his wife and little boy brought us chocolates and flowers in between running from appointment to appointment. Such a busy week. 

We met with a less active girl who is my age and ended up teaching her and her uncle. Her uncle taught us what a one inch punch was by Bruce Lee, and then I tried it out. 💪

Sister Foster and I found out we're 10th cousins. Shout out to our grandpa Nathaniel Whitmore. 

The Zone Leaders called me on Friday and said "sister Johnson you like spicy food right?" me: "ya" them: "sweet, will you eat something hot for zone Training meeting on Tuesday..."

Well folks. I ate a Habenero pepper today in front of the whole zone and almost died. Then proceeded to TRY to teach the restoration while my mouth was in flames. They used it as a visual for repentance. We can't help others and assist them in improving their lives if we ourselves are not trying to improve every day. The Atonement is real, and I am SO grateful for it. And also for chocolate milk because hot peppers. Do not worry, there was footage taken. Then I played the ukulele while sister wright sang I am a Child of God. All in all it was a great ZTM. I love my missionaries, and sister training leader and zone leaders, they are the bomb.com. Oh and our ZLs got flowers for all the sisters in the zone for valentines day district meeting. They are stellar. 

On Sunday we, again, successfully pulled off a finding activity for the youth to invite their friends to. We watched the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie (if you haven't seen it I suggest you do) and we had popcorn and treats and it was a smash! They invited so many friends and it was awesome!

Remember the Gospel is true!! and I love you!!!

Flowers from my family ❤

Roses for the sisters  

10th cousins ft. Elder Fillmore 

When you have to get a ride in the 15 passenger mormon mobile 

When they are taking too long at the pharmacy drive through 

One month and five months a missionary 

Georgia and sister Greene at the movie night❤

Got My Foster Child

Happy love week!!!! 

I went down to Bismarck this week and picked up my new companion. Her name is Sister Foster and I adore her!! 

This week a less active sister came to church for the first time in 3 years and my heart soared! So happy! 

Our 8 year old investigator, Scottie, put his hamster on Sister Foster at our lesson on Friday and she nearly fell over. 

Some of my favorite missionaries got transferred to other areas and it was super sad, but they're going to work miracles where they are ❤ 

The Sanger's aunt Julie was in town and took us to dinner. I had my first Sirloin in 5 months. I almost shed a tear. Hh yeah, and tomorrow is my 5 month mark so that's pretty cool!!! Life is great, I love being a missionary, and I am so happy!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL. 

Hey just remember the wise words of our dear prophet..

"You can't direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails."

choose to be happy this week!! 

Met this gem at the mission home. Talk about instant friends! 

My greenie :) 

Posterity pic 

Peace out Gobble. Kill it in Fargo. 

Been trying to get this pic for 4 months! 

Scandinavian cultural center... the coolest thing in Minot (other than the weather)  

Uke gang 

Babies Training Babies

hellloooo my friends! 

I hope you all had fun watching the Super Bowl! No, I didn't get to watch it, but the emails I have gotten make it seem like it was a good one. 

Let's get to the goods... I'm going to be training a brand new missionary for the next 12 weeks. Prayers not required, but highly encouraged ❤ I just finished my training 6 weeks ago so I'm what they like to call "still green." I'll be fine. She'll be fine. It will all be fine :) So, on Wednesday Sister Hansen and I will drive to Bismarck and stay in the mission home. I will find out who my new companion is and bring her back to Minot with me, and leave Sister Hansen to fly home to loving arms. 

We had lunch with Cleo and Pat (our friends that we volunteer with at the food pantry) and taught them about the restoration. Cleo really loved it and you could see her wheel's turning. She asked for a copy of the Book of Mormon and said she wanted to read it. YES!! Read the book!! 

Some of our favorite members took us to our favorite hole in the wall called the Little Blue Elephant. We've had a lot of funeral dinners for Sister Hansen's departure into the world of the normal. Not mad about it. 

Romans 8:35-39!!! Look it up!!! 

I LOVE YOU 

Best district ever 

Lone Peak friends 

Sis Gabler is leaving me and going to Fargo... I'm a little torn up about it 

Don't let this picture fool you, it was only 10 degrees :)  

Our favorite!! 

I am Goliath