Bye bye Brussels

Bonjour friends and family!

This week has been quite exciting. We had transfers and I received the news that I will be leaving Brussels! I will be heading to Luxembourg. For those that are wondering, it's not actually in France or Belgium. Luxembourg is a country of its own! We are the only set of missionaries there. It's crazy to think that the Lord leaves the salvation of a whole country in the hands of two twenty year olds. That's the proof that the Lord is actively involved in this work, because there is no way we would be able to do it alone! Let's just say I was pretty excited when I saw I was going to Luxembourg, but I was even more excited when I saw who my companion is. I will be serving with Sœur Brown! Sound familiar?! That's because we were companions in the MTC! It's going to be fun being able to serve together again, but this time actually teach real people and actually be able to speak French.. (At least more than before)

end of transfer 8! 

This week I had to say goodbye to the sweet Portuguese family we have been teaching. They really are so prepared so it breaks my heart to leave them! We had lunch with them and afterwards I told them that I was leaving. It was hard to say goodbye. The mom has just seemed really stressed for awhile now and we didn't quite understand why. We figured that being a single mom is stressful and so that's why she has been stressed. This time she explained a little more, she told us that 4 years ago she broke her leg in an accident and that when the doctors went to put it back together they did it wrong. It's been causing her a lot of pain lately. The doctors looked at it and told her they will have to go in and break it, in order to put it back together the right way. That's all really stressful/painful by itself. However, it gets even worst because her apartment doesn't have an elevator and she lives on the 3rd floor. She won't ever be able to get up and down the stairs, so she has to find and apartment with an elevator and move before she has her surgery. I am so impressed with the desire she has, even though she is going through a difficult time. We just continued to testify that we know that Heavenly Father hears her prayers and that he will help provide a way to make this difficult time a little easier. We promised her that "all things work together for those that love God." (Romans 8:28) Her situation reminds me of a good quote by President George Q. Cannon, “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. … He will [always] stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them.”

Christmas time in Brussels!

This last Sunday night we had what we like to call a "Christmas miracle." All the missionaries were invited over to a members house to eat. Any time all the missionaries try to go somewhere together it seems like one of us are always really late. So all the missionaries promised each other that we would all be on time! Since it was "fast" Sunday, I think everyone was a little bit more motivated. We arrived with the other sœurs, 30 minutes before our dinner appointment. Both of us were just going to go "porting" (knock on doors) in the neighborhood. Since there was 4 of us, we got the idea that maybe we should go caroling together! We decided to at least try it to see if would be effective or not. The first door we knocked on was a success!! The lady invited us right in without question. We sang a Christmas hymn for this lady and her 2 kids. Then afterwards, they sang one for us that they have been learning for school. It was so cute! She then started asking about our church and our basic beliefs. We taught her the basics of the restoration together and explained the Book of Mormon. She was a very believing catholic so she disagreed with some of the things we explained but she was very respectful and it was still quite the cool experience. We said a prayer together and then hurried off to our dinner appointment.. which yes, we were late too once again. It was totally worth it though! I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Love, Sœur Johnson