Bonjour family and friends!
We had zone conference this past week! We talked a lot about the importance of presenting the Book of Mormon. We also talked a lot about the importance of planning and setting goals. President Babin said, "Always be thinking about where you want to go and how you are going to get there." I think that was really great advice that we can each apply to our lives. It was also a fun day because my MTC companion got put into my same zone this transfer so I was able to see her and catch up on how everything is going. It's crazy to see how much we both have grown and improved. I am excited to see where we are both at by the end of our mission!
This week we had such a great lesson with the cute family we have been teaching. They have the cutest son who is 18 months old. They have been so receptive to all the principles we have taught them. Last week, we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. They asked so many good questions and basically were asking us what they needed to do to be baptized! We taught them about the word of wisdom because we know that they have problems with smoking. They both know that smoking isn't good for them and they have a desire to stop. Next week, we are putting them on a "quit smoking" program. This past week we taught them about the organization of the church and how we have a living prophet. They really like the way the church is organized and were impressed how welcoming everyone was with them at church. We invited them to be baptized and they said yes! We set a baptismal date for August 13. I won't be here for the baptism but I will be able to skype in and talk to them after so that works for me!
On Tuesday, we had a little time before our next lesson so we went "porting" for a minute. When we only have a couple minutes in a neighborhood we always pick the houses to knock on by who has the coolest looking doors. We found this one that was made out of all rod iron and it looked more like a gate. A man came to answer the door and we told him we thought his house was beautiful and he immediately let us in! (I guess complimenting people's houses is the way to get in the door because it is usually never that easy) He gave us a little tour of his house and introduced us to his family. We said a prayer with them and they told us we can stop by again when we are in the neighborhood. They are very very practicing Catholics so it's going to be a challenge but that's what makes it fun!
This week I have been thinking a lot of what it means to be "prepared" to hear the gospel. I have had the chance to talk with a lot of different people and hear a lot of different perspectives/responses to more or less the same gospel questions and topics. There are obviously a lot of reasons why people don't accept or have interest in the gospel. However, there are some people that take great interest and in some cases even know it to be true but fail to do anything about it. In a lot of cases the excuse is used that these people are just not "prepared" yet. I have pondered a lot on why some people are "prepared" and others are not. I have come to the conclusion that there are a lot of people in the world that don't want to change. The people that are ready to change are the people ready to be converted. Change always leads to repentance. It's not an easy thing to change. To truly repent and to truly change, we much change our very nature. We must change our desires, thoughts and actions. True repentance often will require a change in our lifestyle. President Kimball said, “In abandoning sin one cannot merely wish for better conditions. He must make them. He may need to come to hate the spotted garments and loathe the sin. He must be certain not only that he has abandoned the sin but that he has changed the situations surrounding the sin. He should avoid the places and conditions and circumstances where the sin occurred, for these could most readily breed it again. He must abandon the people with whom the sin was committed. He may not hate the persons involved but he must avoid them and everything associated with the sin. … He must eliminate anything which would stir the old memories.” I am grateful for the gift of repentance and to have had the chance to meet people who have had humbled themselves and are willing to take the steps necessary to change. Change is not easy but it is worth it. My challenge is for everyone to "prepare" themselves to make the necessary changes to live a life more aligned with gospel principles. In this life, there is always room for improvement! That's why we are here. Church is true. Have a wonderful week!
Love, Soeur Johnson
We had zone conference this past week! We talked a lot about the importance of presenting the Book of Mormon. We also talked a lot about the importance of planning and setting goals. President Babin said, "Always be thinking about where you want to go and how you are going to get there." I think that was really great advice that we can each apply to our lives. It was also a fun day because my MTC companion got put into my same zone this transfer so I was able to see her and catch up on how everything is going. It's crazy to see how much we both have grown and improved. I am excited to see where we are both at by the end of our mission!
This week we had such a great lesson with the cute family we have been teaching. They have the cutest son who is 18 months old. They have been so receptive to all the principles we have taught them. Last week, we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. They asked so many good questions and basically were asking us what they needed to do to be baptized! We taught them about the word of wisdom because we know that they have problems with smoking. They both know that smoking isn't good for them and they have a desire to stop. Next week, we are putting them on a "quit smoking" program. This past week we taught them about the organization of the church and how we have a living prophet. They really like the way the church is organized and were impressed how welcoming everyone was with them at church. We invited them to be baptized and they said yes! We set a baptismal date for August 13. I won't be here for the baptism but I will be able to skype in and talk to them after so that works for me!
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| Zone Conference! |
On Tuesday, we had a little time before our next lesson so we went "porting" for a minute. When we only have a couple minutes in a neighborhood we always pick the houses to knock on by who has the coolest looking doors. We found this one that was made out of all rod iron and it looked more like a gate. A man came to answer the door and we told him we thought his house was beautiful and he immediately let us in! (I guess complimenting people's houses is the way to get in the door because it is usually never that easy) He gave us a little tour of his house and introduced us to his family. We said a prayer with them and they told us we can stop by again when we are in the neighborhood. They are very very practicing Catholics so it's going to be a challenge but that's what makes it fun!
 |
| "Miracle" door |
This week I have been thinking a lot of what it means to be "prepared" to hear the gospel. I have had the chance to talk with a lot of different people and hear a lot of different perspectives/responses to more or less the same gospel questions and topics. There are obviously a lot of reasons why people don't accept or have interest in the gospel. However, there are some people that take great interest and in some cases even know it to be true but fail to do anything about it. In a lot of cases the excuse is used that these people are just not "prepared" yet. I have pondered a lot on why some people are "prepared" and others are not. I have come to the conclusion that there are a lot of people in the world that don't want to change. The people that are ready to change are the people ready to be converted. Change always leads to repentance. It's not an easy thing to change. To truly repent and to truly change, we much change our very nature. We must change our desires, thoughts and actions. True repentance often will require a change in our lifestyle. President Kimball said, “In abandoning sin one cannot merely wish for better conditions. He must make them. He may need to come to hate the spotted garments and loathe the sin. He must be certain not only that he has abandoned the sin but that he has changed the situations surrounding the sin. He should avoid the places and conditions and circumstances where the sin occurred, for these could most readily breed it again. He must abandon the people with whom the sin was committed. He may not hate the persons involved but he must avoid them and everything associated with the sin. … He must eliminate anything which would stir the old memories.” I am grateful for the gift of repentance and to have had the chance to meet people who have had humbled themselves and are willing to take the steps necessary to change. Change is not easy but it is worth it. My challenge is for everyone to "prepare" themselves to make the necessary changes to live a life more aligned with gospel principles. In this life, there is always room for improvement! That's why we are here. Church is true. Have a wonderful week!
Love, Soeur Johnson
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