Busy in Chardon

okay this week.... well, it was my first really, really great week in Chardon.  Except I have a knee brace on my knee... and I have to get another one for my right knee.  Looks like I am getting old.  Elder Sorenson has been chastising me a lot.  He says I am not allowed to work out :( (Sister Vellinga said that too)  I told him I'd be fine and could do a little :) and he gave me a scary look. haha. He said, "do you want Mr. Right to be pushing you around in a wheel chair at your wedding?"   He said, "you are done until you heal." 

So, we took some really great tours this week. We took 11 between Friday and Saturday.  There were people from Tahiti and Australia and literally just ALL over.  We took this tour with a cute Australian family and there was another couple that joined in as well.   Well, I didn't think anything of it, but the next day... I saw that couple again!  They ran up to me and said, "Sister Johnson, we need to talk to you."  I was thinking I did something wrong, but he said, "You probably don't ever get to hear feedback and we wanted to come and tell you that you did an amazing job on the tour yesterday."  He said that his testimony had been strengthen so much and he was very overwhelmed by the spirit that we brought.  It was so sweet.  His wife was standing there crying and said it was a wonderful experience for them, especially when we sang, A Child's Prayer in the Whitney home. Made me smile so much.

Sister Wygant is here... she came and worked out with us all this morning... since I can't do anything, I just bossed Sister Newren, Pugh, Tietjen and Wygant around.  We run together every morning.  Well, most mornings. 

I have to tell you some amazing miracles in the Chardon West area.  We had 2 days in our area this week.  Basically it was 2 half days and an evening and we worked as hard as we could.  The mission goal is to have 20 lessons a week and we got 20 lessons in our 2 days! It made us so happy. We only had a few more minutes left before we had to head home and so we prayed for where we needed to go and which door to knock on.  Well, we knocked on a door and asked if we could teach him and he said yes!  So he was our 20th lesson. 

We were also stopping by a less-active this week and he was not home.  We were walking by another home and I said, "hey I think we should knock on this door."  A man answered and we asked him if we could practice teaching him for 5 minutes.  He told us that we only had 5 minutes.  As we started to talk, we asked him a couple of questions to get to know him a little bit and turns out he knew a lot about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, so we taught him the Plan of Salvation.  During the lesson, he kept asking us so many questions and we went well over 5 minutes... it was over 20 minutes. Turns out, his TWIN brother served a mission and is Mormon and living in Salt Lake.  How neat is that!  He was having a hard time figuring out if there was a God. We testified and he loved it.  It was really a miracle... we were so happy that we were able to meet him.  That happened a couple more times this week as well. 

Chris, the recent convert in our area that has been coming teaching with us is not doing so well.  I can't disclose a lot of information, but it is really bad.  We got involved and his dad yelled at us and told us to get off his property.  Sister Tietjen cried a lot.  I really wanted to say a lot of things to that man, but the spirit was there and my mouth would not open.  We were very Christlike about the whole thing and I learned a lot.  I have never experienced something like that before.  Pray for Chris and his family...

I have a lot of random things to tell you!  For starters, the thunderstorms have been AMAZING here.  We have been soked on tour.  Justine and her 2 boys came to church.  The Packer's also went home :( I cried so much... I love the Packer's. They were my grandparents here.  Sister Packer has to get surgery I think.  She needs a lot of prayers too.  I got to meet her new son in-law that I heard so many stories about! 

Oh and yes, I have had so many connections on tour.  One family has my number and I "have" to go have Sunday dinner with them in Utah.  That is what they said. :) They were fun and yes I took a tour with Brother Short's son and the Garlock's grand-daughter :)

We also got to sing in the Kirtland temple this week for the Emma Festival.  It was a neat experience, now I can say that I sang in the Kirtland temple!!

Also, I totally saw a kid yesterday that I have been on quite a few dates with... it was weird.  He was walking out of the School of the Prophets and he said my name!  Well, then he turned and said, "meet my wife!"  Oh it was great. I said, "I didn't know you were married!"  The senior couple taking them on tour saw what happened and so they told all of Kirtland that I saw an old boyfriend and he was married.  He was never my boyfriend. haha.  They keep telling everyone that, but they just like to joke. haha. 

Lastly, Mom, I can't believe you called the cops on Marsha. hahah.  She really enjoyed telling me. :)

How was your birthday Kierra? 

Well, sorry this all over the place.  Too many little things to tell you.  It was a fun week!  I love you!  very much.

And... that is weird that you have my flight information!!

Sister Johnson

Marsha is Baptized!

Dear Family,

Well, my week was so fantastic!  SO many wonderful events took place.

We have a recent convert named Christ, who got baptized the week before I got to this area.  He is awesome.  He is in his 20's and really new the church was true.  Anyways, we are teaching him the new member lessons and we asked him if he would stay and teach another guy with us.  He stayed and taught this kid, Nate.  Christ LOVED it.  He was bearing testimony the whole time and he kept saying things like, "I promise you, if you read the Book of Mormon and if you pray about it, you will know that it is true."  "Dude, it's changed my whole life, especially since I got the Holy Ghost."  He even was talking about how it's sometimes hard with the law of chastity and the word of wisdom.... and I kinda stopped him there.... Nate hasn't been taught anything and had never even heard of the Book of Mormon. ha ha  But Chris was just so excited and when we finished, Chris said, "he totally has potential!  I hope he comes to church."  Then when Nate didn't show up to church, Chris was really sad, but we are still going to teach again this week.  It was so awesome.

So many amazing things happened... I got to go to MARSHA'S baptism!  Oh, it was so wonderful.  I was in Kirtland the whole day and so I decided to callMarsha and have a lesson with her to prepare for her baptism.  Mostly just words of encouragement.  I was sick a lot this week... and she said, "oh, you sound so sick, are you going to come? Did you get permission?"  I told her I did not get permission, but I told her that I knew of someone that was going and I said it was a surprise.  Well, of course, that someone was me!  It was hard not to tell her right then because she was so sad I couldn't go.  BUT when I got there, I saw the Elders and they said, "She is going to scream!"  I said, "where is she?"  I ran to the bathroom and I walked in and said, "Marsha", (in a different voice so she didn't know it was me).  Then I walked up to her and said, "I'm here!"  It took her a second to process what was going on and she said, "It's YOU!  Oh hunny, I told everyone you were sick!  Did you trick me on purpose?  Were you that secret spy?  Oh I can't believe you came all this way!"  She kept talking... that is Marsha, she is a talker :)  Then, she kept saying, "did you know, this is my 3rd time to get dipped?  I sure hope it's the last one."  Then when she went to get baptized the men were helping her and telling her again what was going to happen.  She said, "I got it, I am going to lean forward , right?"  They told her no.... and that she was going to be going backwards.  Well...Marsha was almost in tears after that. haha.  She kept whispering, "Oh dear Lord, Oh dear Lord.  Please help us all. "  It was hilarious because she was so serious.  Then they told her that she could plug her nose and I have never seen someone hold on to their nose so tight!  After it was done, she said, "oh, that wasn't that bad." ha ha.  She is a sweetheart and so complimentary.  I really love her... and I was so grateful President Vellinga allowed me to go.  We didn't get home until after 10:30.  It was so fun to go on a road trip with Elder and Sister Sorenson. :)

We have also been taking so many tours.  I love it, we feel so fulfilled.  We fell right on our beds last night, we were so tired.  We took 4 two hour long tours in a row.... my brain was fried, plus we had phone lessons and chats.  We took so many cute little families and prepared families.  So many connections.  One girl was way good friends with McKenzie Hunter and Kenny Roberts. One family worked for Angela Whimpey's dad and knows Angela's family!  And the boy is dating Heather Allan... almost every tour, we have some kind of connection.  It's so fun.  Two girls are adding me on fb too.... ha ha.

One tour was non-members stopping in from New York.  That was amazing... they accidentally made a wrong turn and pulled into the parking lot.  They thought, "well, let's see what this place is."  They were letting us share a ton of information with them.  The dad was really into history and loved learning about it all.  We bore testimony and told them what happened in the School of the Prophets.  I wasn't sure how they would react, but when we asked them what their favorite part of the tour was, they said, "the school room upstairs."  I asked why?... they said, "It just felt peaceful."  That was the best answer!  We talked about the spirit and they kept saying, "this is so cool".  We asked if they wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon and they said that they did.  So we gave out 4 copies.  Then the girls said, "I am definitely going to read this."  I asked the girls if they wanted me to call and read the Book of Mormon with them and be there if they had any questions.  They said, "oh you are so cute, yes!  We would love that!"  So now I am going to call them.  It was MEANT to be that they randomly stopped in Kirtland, Ohio.  They are going to be baptized. :) It was one of the most powerful non-member tours I have taken.  Kinda likeMarsha's tour. :) 

I wish I could tell everything.. I gave a discussion this week and I made everyone do planks and had them do certain things while doing the planks.  It was so funny.  We then related it to "enduring the end".  We met a guy who teaches people acrobats.  Like at sea world... I totally want to do that now!  We watched it... it was amazing! 

I really felt like this week I was in my only little world and have been evaluating my life a ton.  I have realized that when I get home, I want to do things differently.  I love the spirit.  It really can change you and make you want to be a better person, if you have an open heart.  I realized that I want to be the best that I can be now, and when I get home.  I want to be better at studying and constantly nourishing my testimony.  I want to have the spirit with me always and make my home like a temple.  I have been surrounded by so many people who really understand the gospel and they are just so inspiring.   I want to raise my standards even more.  This gospel truly is what makes us happy.

I love you all so much!!! 

Sister Johnson

ps- 2 boys came in preparing for missions ... I felt inspired to share an experience Dad had on his mission, when he remembered a time when he was in seminary.  I told them and they were really appreciative..

Sister Johnson with Marsha

Sister Johnson with Marsha at her baptism 6/28/14

Baptisms

Hi family,

Oh my, my heart hurts.  My prayers are going out to the Minor family.  I actually met someone yesterday who knew them from Hemet...

3 people I have taught are getting baptized this Saturday.  I have been asking for for a while to go to Marsha's baptism.  It's usually not allowed because otherwise missionaries would be traveling all over the mission to see people that they taught.  I asked my District Leader and I never heard back.  He was waiting for the Zone leaders to talk to the AP's so they can talk to the Mission President. Anywho, I just asked Elder Sorenson...(because I was impatient) and he said, "one second".  He turned around and called President Vellinga.... then he text him and long story, but President ended up calling me.  Still, nothing decided.  Then I saw him at the fireside last night and I said, "I have been thinking about it and I don't think that I should go. " He said, "Do you think you shouldn't?"  I told him it wasn't fair because other sisters have been able to go to their baptisms after they got transferred.... well, long story short, he said..."hmm... I think you should go, you have my permission."  I was SHOCKED and reallllyyyy happy.  Elder Sorenson is driving me and we wont get home until after 10 (after curfew because it's far away).  I am reallllllyyyy spoiled.  All the sisters kept saying, "how do you get permission for everything?"  I feel guilty :/ but I get to go to MARSHA'S baptism!  And Alexandria and Kayla's was on Saturday and he said I can go to all 3, but Alexandria and Kayla didn't show up to church, so they had to cancel...

Elder Sorenson was out of town for a while sealing his grandson and new granddaughter in the temple.  He said, "Do you realize that this is a dedicated site, just like the temple is dedicated?"  He said that being in the world really opened his eyes again and he said that being on site feels just like being in the temple and he said, "basically, we get to live in a temple every single day."  So cool, huh? :)

I talked to Dakoda!  Did you hear?  He is pretty cool.  I told him about the Johnson home and how we have section 76 in the D&C. Then we talked about the Plan of Salvation.  I also talked to Kent twice!  He has a cool hick accent.  I told him about Newel K. Whitney and Joseph first meeting each other in Kirtland and talked about prayers being answered.

We were pulling weeds this week and It was sunny and hot outside.  We were so sweaty.  We were going to stop by a few people after we were done and when we did, we ran into a cute lady and told her about Primary (we had just practiced telling people about Primary in district meeting in the morning).  She was so interested and says she has been looking for a church that is family oriented.  Well, all of a sudden HUGE clouds were rolling in...and there was a ton of thunder. We were thinking... "we better get going" but there was another lady sitting out front.  We HAD to talk to her too... so we ran up to her and she said, "what on earth are you doing outside?  Did you know there are tornado warnings!?  It's almost here!  Get in my house!"  Well, as missionaries, we definitely cannot decline that, so we went in her house and we were able to talk to her about the gospel.  She was the sweetest lady and really so prepared.  She saved us from the storm and we stayed in her house until it ended :)  It was meant to be and really a miracle.  She is going to be a strong member one day, I know it.  We are so grateful that we were in the right place at the right time.  Before we left, I felt strongly like I needed to testify from the bottom of my heart that I knew that these things were true.  I prayed really hard that the spirit was there and that she felt it...

Sorry I am so long winded today. We did too much this week and I took so many neat tours with non-members and people from all over the United States.  We even got to play volleyball and go on a hike for Family Home Evening with the Community of Christ this week.  We did not feel like missionaries.  It was too much fun. 

We have also been in Kirtland a ton and have given so many tours. Kaden, guess what?  I took a tour with this family and this boy kind of looked like you.  I said, "hey you look like my little brother."  This kid said, "really?  No way.  That is cool!" I asked him how old he was and he said that he was 12.  I said, "Hey! My brother is 12!  Then I said, "what is your name?"  And he said, "Kaden."  I said, "How do you spell it?"  He said, K.A.D.E.N. I said, "Do you play basketball?"  He said, "I am playing on a league right now." Then I told him that my brother's name is Kaden and it's spelled the same and he plays bball!  He got really excited. ha ha.  It made me happy because it reminded me of you :) I love and miss you too much.

When we ate dinner with Uma the other day, she told us what the food was called, "white melon soup." Well, then she said it in Thai. When she said it, she said the F word!  The word melon in Thai is the F word! She started laughing and said, "we have melon all the time, it don't bother me." It was kinda funny, but I was kinda uncomfortable. ha ha. 

I love being a missionary.  I learn so much.  

Anyways, I love you a lot. I hope you have a great week. 

Love always,

Sister Johnson

"For those who feel physically or emotionally exhausted, start getting regular sleep and rest and make time to eat and relax. Recognize that being busy is not the same as being worthy and being worthy does not require perfection."

Letta

A big part of this week we were in Shaker and the other part of the week, I was in Chardon.  I had a last meeting with Laura and we really set expectations.  We were going to drop her, but she said she understands and she said she will start keeping committments, so that is good.

We took Jason to Kirtland.  The School of the Prophets was really awesome.  We told him about the men who threw their pipes and tobacco straight into the fireplace and we invited him to do the same with his coffee.   He said, "I don't think the senior missionaries would be very happy with me if I broke glass all over." ha ha.... everything is sarcasm.  I kept pulling pranks... we just have to do that with Jason because we are so bold with him and then we have to lighten things up a bit.  It was good and it was sad to say bye.  He will get baptized one day soon.  I told him he better go quick so he can find a cute Mormon girl and get married in the temple. 

They had me bear my testimony when I left Shake Heights and then they had me bear testimony in Chardon.  I am officially in my first branch.  Man, it was so small.  Not much is going on in Chardon right now... so we have a ton of work to do.  A ton... It's all country- kinda like Rootstown again.  There is one area where they have a couple shopping spots and food, but that is it.  It's weird not being the only white person anymore!   I kinda really liked it :)

We went to the Strawberry Festival again this year!   We served yummy Strawberry shortcake.  It was SO fun.... I loved seeing so many people and talking to so many people in line.

Well, we had the sweetest tour yesterday.  An elder from our mission came with his family (Elder Williams- She tried to set me up with him and his companion all the time ha ha and the bishop told her to stop).  So he actually was one of the elders that I sent Marsha to!  So we got to talk about Marsha.

There was a couple of families combined because it is getting so busy again.   One family was just moving here... and guess what there new ward is?  Shaker Heights.  They were adorable... they would have been in my area too.  Anyways, one of the little boys was named Luke and you could tell that he had a disability.  We kept talking to him and directing everything towards him.  When we were in the School of the Prophets, Luke was acting up and moving around a ton.  After we read the testimony of John Murdock of the vision he had, I turned to Luke and said, "Did you hear that Luke?  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came in this room."  He smiled and turned his head into his mom as if he was embarrassed.  Such a sweet little boy.  After we went out of the store, the mom came up to me and said, "When Luke has high emotions, he reacts just as he did in the School of the Prophets."  Then she started to choke up and cry... she said, "It was very special to get to see him react to the spirit.  I know that he was feeling the spirit."

I heard a quote the last couple of days, it said, "the key to know God is a struggle."  Sometimes that is very true.  I did not realize how hard it would be to leave Shaker and get released... it's been really hard.  A lot harder to get released than to get called.  At least I am still serving and still a missionary! 

Well, I have to run, but I love you. 

I attached the note from Elder Holland...

Sister Kelsi Denae Johnson

Being Transferred One Last Time

Another really fun week and last week in Shaker Heights East.  I am really sad.... I am getting transferred.   I have spent 1/3 of my mission here being Sister Training Leader and I will really miss it.  It's almost like a weight is being lifted because I don't have to do training meetings and other training meetings and exchanges and scheduling and all the tasks anymore.  But then again, I really really liked being able to serve in that way.  I will now be ending my mission in Chardon West.  It is the Amish Community and very rural.  So, it will be such a change from Shaker!  We aren't teaching a single white person here and I love it.  

 

President called me and asked to talk with me alone.  Then he released me as a Sister Training Leader and complimented me.  I was trying not to cry.  Then Elder Sorenson called me... he made it seem like someone was dying.  I was balling.  He told me that he honored, respected and that he has really grown to love me and that he would really miss serving alongside with me.  He kept going on and on.... it made me even more sad to know that I am leaving.  I love Elder Sorenson and Sister Sorenson.  He said, "thanks for being my AP".  I am so ssadd.....

 

More crazy news... remember how Jeanie Owens tried to set me up with a guy?  Then I found out his sister was going to be in my mission?  Well, she is my new companion, starting Wednesday!  I am killing another Sister!  I sent home Sister Wygant, Frankenberry and now Tiejten and then someone will send me home.... crazy... I said to president, "I am sending another one home!"  He just laughed and said, "Hmmm, Heavenly Father must think your good at pushing them to the very end."  I don't think so.

 

MORE AWESOME news.  Elder Holland wrote Elder Sorenson and thanked Sister Newren and I for our musical number and complimented us... Elder Sorenson said that he will send us a copy :)  I am so excited to see what it says.. did you realize in the picture that it went, Karl Anderson (Mr. Kirtland), Elder Seldon (area 70), Elder Holland (12) and Elder Hallstrom (pres of 70). That's a lot of Priesthood!!

 

Haha Sister Newren and I were just talking about how we also ate more this week than in our entire lives... pretty sure I gained 100 pounds.  Sometimes we had 2 dinners a night.  Lots of fries and pizza this week.  I also had my last Zone Training (where I did some training), Mission Leadership council (so spiritual), and my last Kirtland Training meeting (we wrote love notes to each other, it was fun:)) ....so sad :( I had to say bye to every one..  I got a couple pictures.

 

We have so many people who are about to get baptized.  Susan, Jason, Alexandria, Kayla and Patar.  We taught Patar last night. He is from Indonesia and his wife is a member from Thailand.  They are so dang cute. He really wants to know the truth... he really feels it and when he prayed last night, Uma jumped on him and started kissing him!  She was so happy that he prayed.  We committed them to remind each other about praying every night and pray together.  He has never really prayed, so this is a huge step.

 

We also took MORE great tours.... I wish I could talk about all of them.  SO great.

Have you ever heard of the Parable of the push-ups?  The seminary teacher had a boy do 10 push-ups so that every one in the room could have a donut? I will tell you :)  We decided to do that this week for part of our discussion.  We asked Elder Vavra to do the push-ups and we turned it into a roll play.  To describe Elder Vavra... he reminds me of Jordan Wheeler, just very sweet.

We walked up to each person in the room and said, "Elder Carr, would you like a cookie?"  Elder Carr said yes and we turned to Elder Vavra and said, "would you do ten push-ups so that Elder Carr can have a cookie?"  We weren't even half way through and Elder Vavra was really struggling.  He had to keep stopping and regaining strength in order to continue with the push-ups.  It really was so touching.  Elder Vavra was struggling so much... we really wanted to help him.  Some people didn't even want a cookie, but he still had to do 10 push-ups.

 

We talked about Jesus Christ and how he gave us a wonderful gift.  He suffered so much for every single one of us, even the people who didn't want his gift (like the cookie.)  Then we talked about how we can accept His gift by repenting.  I am so grateful for the wonderful gift that we have received.  I am so grateful that we are able to repent, change and become more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Have a wonderful week!! Love you!

 

Sister Johnson

This IS Real Life

Hello, hello!

Well, I am so excited it is p-day.  I don't know what is wrong, but I was soooo tired this week.  I kept falling asleep everywhere.  We didn't eat too well, so maybe that was why.  It will be nice to eat what I want one day... we get fed so much in our ward. 

This week was great though.  I went to the Johnson Home for the last time on my mission... we took Jason there since he didn't get his tour last week.   He really is so close to getting baptized. We prayed with him before we started the tour and I know that really helped.  It invited the spirit immediately.  He didn't talk too much, but he said that he was taking everything in.  I kept asking questions to try and open him up... he said he felt really good though and we said, that is the spirit and he just smiled. :)  We are taking him on tour in Kirtland next Tuesday and now he is really excited to go. 

We also took other special tours this week... there were these boys who came on tour from all over Utah.  You could kinda tell that their moms made them come on the trip, so that they would consider going on a mission.  We started the tour at the Sawmill and Ashery... they were not listening to anything we said and just joking around.  Well, by the time we got to the Whitney Store, they were still hyper and I was pretty blunt with them and told them that this could be a special experience for them, but only if they wanted it to be and I bore testimony.  They all got really quiet and by the end of the tour...  they were sharing their testimonies and some were even crying and sharing their experiences.  It was amazing to see how the spirit can work with people.

Another tour we took came up to me and said, "Your parents would be proud." and he started to choke up... it made me feel really special...

We went on exchanges this week.  We were supposed to go on 2 exchanges, but I really wasn't feeling well one day and we had to cancel.  I felt so bad... :(  On exchanges we went to Uma's house.  She is from Thailand and she is just the CUTEST!  We got there to do service because they just moved into their new home, but she said, "in just a minute we will do service because I am hungry".  So we taught a lesson and then she has a friend who is a chef from Indonesia who was cooking us food!  We had 2 giant dinners.... It was so weird because their dessert was a red bean pancake.  They don't use jelly and stuff because it's too sugary. No wonder they stay so thin.  But they sure eat a lot... we felt so sick.  We are going back tonight- her husband is a non-member and wants to take the discussions and get baptized.  It's wonderful.  Hopefully they wont feed us, but I bet they will!  They are too cute.

We seriously have so many cultures around us.  We go to Kirtland and it's all Utah and Mormon people, then we go to our area and we are the only white people.  It's the best of both worlds for sure!

Okay, continuing with Elder Holland.. did I tell you I cried when I was singing?  I was really embarrassed....  I really learned so much from him and I have been sharing my experience with everyone all week. (except for the singing, because I can't tell anyone in Ohio).  All of my notes are pretty much quotes.  I could put almost everything that he said and frame it. 

He said that they have a huge fear that missionaries are going to get home from their missions and He raised his voice quite loud and said, "Don't you EVER leave this church.  DON'T leave us.  How are we supposed to find the sheep when we are looking for the shepherds?  You can never go, not in my lifetime, you CANNOT run and you CANNOT hide.  Clint Eastwood is baby talk.  If you are hiding down a dark alley, don't you worry, I will come and I will FIND YOU!"  He was pointing his fingers and very serious. He told us to stretch to the very end, to the last moment.

He told us that he has a friend from high school who won 4 Gold Metals in the Olympics.  Elder Holland said that he went and asked him what is trick was and his friend replied, "It means I kick when I don't want to kick and I stroke when I don't want to stroke."

Elder Holland said that, that is how we should always be in life.  He said, "There may be a struggle or 2 but welcome to the mission, welcome to life."  "Don't say, 'when I get home from the mission and be in real life... This is the CLOSEST we are going to come to REAL LIFE, with a capital R and a capital L.  Understand that."

He said that salvation is not easy and we need to come home from our missions SO powerful that the little kids in the front row have their eyes wide open.

He said to think about this... "we are God's investigators.  Just like you want your investigators to be praying more sincerely... are you praying sincerely?  Just like you want your investigators to come to church with a question and read to learn, do you come to church with a question and ready to learn?   Just like you want your investigators to read the Book of Mormon with real intent, are you?" 

This all really opened my mind.  I told us that as missionaries, we are apostolic.  I do what the apostles do.  Their mission is for their life, mine is only for 18 months.  He told us to savor it all.  He said that he has looked back on his mission for the last 50 something years and we will too, so do all that we can.

One more thing.... Elder Holland said he prays for the 2nd coming every night.  I thought that was interesting.  I am going to start doing that as well.  We live in a corrupt world, but I know we will make it to the end if we work as hard as we can to the very end. if we "kick when we don't want to kick and stroke when we don't want to stroke."

I love this gospel.

Sister Johnson

Ps- I forgot to say I went to the Morley Farm as well this week.   It was my first time.... and they said, "It's just like the Sacred Grove and it was a Sacred Grove like experience."  We invited Karl Anderson for our training meeting to come and speak there.

BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE

Well, this has been the BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE!  Where do I even start?  I have no idea... this was the most inspiring week of my life.  My FAVORITEweek of the whole mission.  Sister Newren and I were saying, "there is no way we can tell everything." Good news.... I wrote in my journal a few pages so I will be able to remember the little details.   Sorry if this is the longest email.... it will be good, I promise.

Okay, for starters. We took some great tours this week.  On Tuesday we took a mission president who just released, 2 BYU professors and my singles ward stake president from Provo!  It was so funny... because when I saw him and his wife, they looked SO familiar.  I was thinking that maybe she was on the general board of the church or something, but we started chit chatting and come to find out, I met with his wife a few Sunday mornings when I was the temple Prep teacher with the other temple prep teachers from the other wards.  It was so fun to see them, they were really so sweet.  Then I had to take a tour all by myself in Kirtland because there weren't enough sisters and it was a mission president who was just released.  I was so tired after that..  they had over 700 people here yesterday.  It's now SUMMER!

Because we have a shortage of sisters and we kinda set the schedule... we put ourselves at the JOHNSON HOME on Saturday! They needed a set of sisters and usually we wouldn't be allowed because we are too far, but we were going there that night with Jason for a fireside, so they let us take the bus tours!  It was the 2nd best day of my life this last week.   The youth were so cute.. the girls were saying, "can I hug you?"  "Can I take a picture with you?"  "I want to serve a mission now."  I LOVE taking youth groups and again there were so many people that I had take the tour by myself, but Sister Newren joined me on the last one (she went with Sister Smith because they both are learning) and she walked in right when I was telling a joke and lying to the tour... she told everyone not to believe me... ha ha.  I love teasing all the people. 

Okay, the next best thing.  Jason came to the fireside.  Guess who the fireside was with?  That's right.  Brother and Sister Dalton. The recently released General Young Woman's President.  Who did I hang out for 2 days with this week?  Sister Dalton.  No big deal. Ok, just kidding.  Not really 2 full days, but we chatted a ton, then we went and listened to them speak in Kirtland and then chatted again at the Johnson home and then after the fireside in Hiram.  Jennie Best was with her... we almost got a picture, but my companion said no because she didn't hear Jennie right. ha ha.  Oh well.  But Jason connected SO well with them.  Sister Newren and I kinda started dozing off in Brother Dalton's talk... he just has a soft voice, but Jason was so in tune!  We were so grateful. Jason said he felt as though they were talking to him. 

We introduced Jason to the Stake President.  The Stake President said, "why aren't you getting baptized, you are denying yourself blessings?"  He was way blunt and stern.  Elder Sorenson did the same thing.  Then Sister Dalton did the same thing and Brother Dalton started talking to Jason about the organization of the church and how wonderful it is!  He didn't even know that that was Jason's issue.   Then he told Jason he could bore him forever and Jason said, "probably not, you are a really good speaker." That was huge coming from Jason... he really wanted to meet this guy and Jason hates people.  The other thing is that both talks were on making covenants and receiving the Holy Ghost.  Jason is getting baptized now.  Finally.... he is praying about a date.  We told him that Lake Erie frozen over is not acceptable.  He's stubborn. 

Susan knows it's all true, has read Book of Mormon 3 times and wants to be baptized, Alexandria, Kayla and Jason are all progressing very well.  I love seeing results :)  We also had a great training meeting and we had an idea to report numbers at sites, so we are now in charge of that as well.

Another thing I can't forget is laughing.  I have never laughed so hard... Sister Newren and I have our lives planned out.  I am moving into her house in January by the way. :)  We are creating a work out studio when we get home.  It was so funny.  I grabbed the mustaches that you sent me and I put one on and we went to all the senior houses and said, "my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." ha ha ha.  They thought it was hilarious.  Sister Newren taped me.... it was so funny.  We just like to be weird together.

Okay....... drum roll.... Elder Holland.  We were at the visitors center waiting for him to come and when he came, we were on our knees over the balcony eaves dropping on him talking to everyone downstairs.  Elder Sorenson called us while we were being sneaky and said, "Go now."  That meant that we needed to run to Elder Sorenson's house.  So by this time as we were quickly walking to his house, we were both saying, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe."  We were so nervous and then we saw a shadow and boom he walked in.  He said, "it's the musicians."  I walked up and shook his hand and then Elder Hallstrom was right behind him.. Elder Sorenson told him that we were going to sing before they ate. 

At this point.... I have never been so nervous in my life.  So selfish.  Elder Holland said, "wait before you start, where are you from.?  We told him and he said he knows right where Aliso Viejo is, and then we started.  I really tried hard to think of the words... my voice was a little shaky at the beginning. The General Authorities sat and listened.... you can see in the picture I send (sneaky Elder Sorenson).  The spirit was really so strong... I couldn't look at Elder Holland, but I looked at the others.  When we finished, he said, "wow, that was perfect.  Just like you two."  (We were told that we were perfect from an apostle!)  Then he got up and shook our hands and said, "aren't you glad that you listened to your mom and practiced?"  He said it was beautiful and then Elder Seldon (area 70) said, "you just set the tone for the entire day, thank you."  They said some other really nice things... as I was leaving I shook his hand again... he is beautiful and just such a wonderful person and very humorous.

Then we get to the meeting with the missionaries.  He remembered me as I shook his hand again and said, "hello again, thank you so much for singing again."   Elder Hallstrom said that as well and then Elder Seldon grabbed my arm and said, "thank you so much."  Sister Newren and I aren't allowed to tell anyone in Ohio about this experience, so we just felt so special.  We felt as though we were best friends with him by the end of the day. haha  He looked us in the eye so much during the meeting and even spit on us.  He got worked up ha ha.  He is so wonderful!  We learned so much from him.... this is way long, so maybe I will share what I learned next week, but as he was leaving... he said, "I love you. Now get to work." and he quickly walked out of the room.  I was crying... I don't even know why, but I just loved him and it was just powerful.  It was as if the Savior was saying that he loved me.

I will quickly tell you a story that Elder Hallstrom told us.  He said that he was working with President Kimball and he said one day President Kimball grabbed Elder Hallstrom by his collar and pulled him down to eye-level and kissed Elder Hallstrom's cheek. Then he told him he loved him.  Elder Hallstrom started walking away and he told him to come back.  He grabbed him by his collar again and kissed his other cheek and told him he loved him again.  Elder Hollstrom said that he had just recently purchased the biography of President Kimball.  He said he had the biggest desire to read it at that moment and he ran home as quick as he could to find it and read it.  He said... "why did this happen?"  "Because I knew he loved me and I loved him." 

Now, it is the same with our Savior Jesus Christ.  We know that he loves us.  We love him... so why don't I have a stronger desire to constantly be reading his bio?  The Scriptures are His biography.   He really loves us so much... I will definitely be reading and studying the scriptures even more.  I love my Savior and I know He loves me.

I love you, I love you.

Sister Kelsi Denae Johnson