Blog: Lots of Traveling

This week was another crazy one full of lots of miracles again!
On monday we went out to eat with our Eikaiwa students at this deep
frying place. It was so amazing! Except we had eaten not to long
before so we were already stuffed when we got there! Too bad, the food
was so delicious! Then afterwards we booked it over to a return
appointment we had at the train station. She was literally so amazing!
She was so bubbly and asked so many good questions! We invited her to
church and we called her the night before but she didn't pick up, and
didn't come to church which was unfortunate, but she ended up texting
us later saying that she forgot. So hopefully we will be able to meet
again with her this next week.
Then on Tuesday I went up to Fukuoka for a training meeting. I learned
so much and one of the elders that was giving part of the training
stood up and gave one of the best testimonies I have ever heard about
missionary work. He was baptized about 2 years ago and as already been
serving for about a year. He said he knew missionaries worked hard,
but coming out on a mission really shows how hard everyone works and
he started to cry and to thank us all. And I the spirit was so strong.
Being a member all my life, I understand how it is a good thing. But
someone that receives it as a convert really just understands how much
it changes their life. The gospel is just amazing.
Then on Wednesday we went out and went to some return appointments
that weren't there. But God was leading us to some more people who
were prepared and got to meet some interested people in the gospel.
One being a 15 year old boy. Who listened really well to the message
we gave him and was way excited about prayer. But not so much about
the other things plus when we visited him a second time his Mom was
there and she seemed a bit frantic about the whole ting which I think
made him nervous as well. So we will try and go back and visit, just
know the Lord has a plan for us all. And we also got to go visit a
less active with a member, which was so great! She was a really fun
lady and her kids were so cute! She seems to be having a hard time
lately, but she was so nice! And her kids were adorable! Plus she is a
cake chef, so we literally ate our weight in cake!
Then on Friday I went down to Sasebo to go on splits with the sisters
down there. Okay, so down in Sasebo they have a base so there are a
TON of Americans down there. With lots of american shops and
restaurants as well. So the elders bought us pizza. Like real dominos
pizza. It was heaven! Most of the day was spent dendouing though, and
we saw SO MANY MIRACLES!! It was amazing!! First of all I was like way
weirded out by all the American things. There was one point where we
were walking down the street and I saw a girl coming out in her
military clothes. We had passed her because she wasn't right in our
pathway, but we went back and talked to her. And we had such a good
conversation about God, why she is in japan, and her love for Japanese
culture. As we were leaving she told us that she was so glad we
stopped her. One of those moments where you heart stops thinking,
"what if I hadn't" And that is why we have to be SO in tune with the
spirit. But yes, that was so awesome! Then that night we had a goal to
hand out 4 book of Mormons. And as we were trying to hand out the last
one with only 15 minutes or so left, nobody would take the book of
Mormon. We were a bit discouraged thinking that we had tried our best
but nobody would take it. But we kept praying and with only 5 minutes
left and no where to really house we headed down an empty street. When
it was time to turn back and go home we saw this one lady walking
towards us. We stopped her and she said she was busy heading to work,
so all we had time to say was that we were telling people about this
book which can help guide your life and we are giving it away for
free. And she seemed to excited, took the book, and went to work. Does
God answer prayers? Indeed.
Then Saturday and Sunday were busy trying to get to return
appointments and proselyting. We met some really awesome people and
got to give out a lot of book of Mormons! And our new investigator
came to church! He is so cool and wants to change, which is the best
kind of people! He is just awesome!
Saw so many miracles this week, and my faith has been strengthened so
much. Sometimes it takes effort, but miracles only come by faith,
which without works is dead! The church is true, Christ lives, and the
scriptures are such a good map for my life!
Also so crazy that it is Thanksgiving!!!! Be so thankful for all the
wonderful things God has given. Spend some time with your family! Give
your neighbor a hug! Lift a child! (Doesn't even matter if it's yours)
And give thanks for the knowledge we have of a Loving Heavenly Father
and Savior who love us so much!!! I am grateful for all the
experiences in my life, and all the people I have had the opportunity
to love, and have had the blessing to receive their love. Best
Thanksgiving ever!!!!
Love,
Sister Johnson

Japanese people have style!!!

Blog:  Bearing Testimonies

This week was full of MIRACLES!!!! Yayaya!! So lately we have been
struggling with finding and teaching people. So we decided to stop our
dilly dallying, not that we were doing anything bad or wrong. But we
decided to be EXACTLY obedient and to work really hard. And oh does
the Lord bless the effort, haha!
So to start off this week we had a p-day and we were finally able to
relax a bit! It was the best! Now with a little bit of energy to work
off of we set out to dendou! (tracking) So we went out and we worked hard and
found some waaaaay awesome people! Then we had a lesson with our
Chinese investigator! Haha, he is 15 and loves basketball and wants to
be a professional singer. Literally have no idea why he is in Japan,
but he is the coolest! So in order to have a lesson with him since he
doesn't really speak English, or Japanese, we google translate
EVERYTHING!!! So sometimes he understands us and sometimes he does
not. And we have tried a hundred different pamphlets and book of
Mormons and stuff from the gospel library, and every time he tells us
it is Taiwanese so he can understand some of it but not perfectly. So
maybe one day we'll actually find some Chinese stuff, haha!!! But the
first lesson we had went pretty well, he was a bit embarrassed to
pray, but we went back on Friday and had him write down his prayer,
and he prayed!!! And in Chinese!!! It was so cool!! Maddie Giles, I
feel like I understood you more that day! He is seriously the
greatest! But he has basketball practice a lot, but we want to bring
him to the Fukuoka ward where there are some Chinese speakers, so
cross your fingers!
Then on Tuesday we were going down to visit a member who lives about
30 minutes away to help her think of ways to help her husband. Sounds
like he works a lot :(. If you ever work too much, then stop it. Just
seeing how his son talked about his Dad just made me so sad. So stop
working people and spend time with your family, you'll be glad you
did!!! But yes, while we were down there we ran into some way awesome
people. Then afterwards it was getting a bit dark and I kept feeling
like instead of visiting a potential investigator who really wasn't
that interested we should go try and dendou some of the apartments
that we saw. So we went over there with not a lot of luck. Then we
knocked on this one door that a teenager answered and I could see her
Mom in the background. So after talking with her for a bit the Mom
came up and asked if we were Mormon. I was a bit shocked and a little
scared, thinking that she had heard who knows what. Then she tells us
that her older sister was a missionary for our church and used to go
to Kurume ward before she moved!! And we asked her if she would like
to know if these things are true for herself, and she said yes!!!! So
we made a return appointment, but unfortunately we made it for a day
we wouldn't be able to make it so we went back to reschedule but she
wasn't there, but she basically told us any day in the afternoon would
be good, so we'll just visit her in the afternoon :) so no worries!!
And on the way there we met this waaay awesome girl who I am not sure
we'll ever meet again, but she will definitely get baptized!!! We gave
her a book of Mormon and tried to make a return appointment, but she
was a bit busy, but she asked if she could tell people about our
English class and the book of Mormon, and we were like, "no." Just
kidding! We were like, "Please do!!" So we didn't get a return
appointment, but I think we just got a new missionary!
Then on our way back from trying to change the appointment, we met the
COOLEST girl!!! She was waay genki(excited) and I first saw her and then we
stopped this other lady, and she went out of site. So we kept biking
down that way and I saw her again, and I like chased that girl down!
But everything we said pretty much got her way pumped and she
basically made a return appointment with us, at a donut shop!! Can you
imagine anything greater?!
Then on Wednesday (sorry I have to do this play by play because
seriously miracles happened everyday!) we had a lesson with our recent
convert who is on his way towards being endowed!! Then we had weekly
planning and we had a party with the other sisters recent convert. Who
was drunk when he came :( but he bought us a cake because
Bair-shimai's birthday was the next day and it was fun talking with
him. He read our palms and told me I would have two husbands, haha!!
Praying that doesn't happen. The cake was super good! Looked good and
tasted good! It was fun, but then he told us he was drunk because he
lost his job, but I think he might have found a new one. Not sure yet,
but please pray for him if you get a chance.
Then on Thursday we went up to have zone meeting. And the spirit was
so strong. We talked about our goals, and working diligently. Clements
shimai (my STL partner) and I planned to teach about diligence, and
the spirit was SO STRONG!!! I cried and snot ran down my face, it was
really a great image. But that was one of the best zone meeting I have
had in Nagasaki zone!! We came closer together, and it's crazy because
half of our zone is third transfer and under!!! God setting us up for
miracles, I think so! And at the end our district leader sang a self
composed birthday song to Bair-shimai, it was so awesome!! Lots of
talented missionaries. Then we had a surprise party for Bair-shimai
during Eikaiwa, which was way funny! Everyone sat and awkwardly ate
ice creams in their chairs, haha, but then we got people playing games
and it was awesome. We played do you love your neighbor, and people
got taken out!! It was fantastic!
Then on Saturday we had a relief society activity where we made
Christmas gifts for less actives and investigators, they are seriously
such awesome sisters! Then we had our Saturday activity and the member
brought American hot chocolate (yes!!!) and we got to watch meet the
Mormons (double YES!!!!) It was way fun and delicious! Then we went
out for the night and it poured rain, both upon our spirits and our
bodies. Nobody was answering :( or eating at ridiculous hours :( So we
prayed about it and felt like we should go to this one apartment where
we met an awesome lady who wanted baptism and wasn't able to make a
return appontment because of work, but said we could go back, so we
have plans for next week :D! We also ran into a lady with police in
her house, handed her a chidashi  (pamphlet) and got out of there. Haha! It was SO
awkward!!! Then on our way back we got stuck behind this fire truck
who had it's lights on and siren, so maybe some kind of emergency. But
we could've passed them on our bikes, they were moving very, very
slow. So we just ended up following behind them for like 10 minutes
because we weren't sure if we could pass them or not. So that was vey
interesting. Met lots of officials that night, fortunately none we
after us :)!!
Then on Sunday we had an awesome day at church and the priest quorum
made lunch for all the sisters, and it as so good! Then that guy we
ran into on the street last week came! Early! So we went down and
taught him a lesson, which was kind of all over the place, but the
spirit carried us along and we were able to make a baptismal date with
him!!! It was so cool!! He is a waaaay cool guy! Told us that when we
stopped to talk to him, he thought it must have been fate. Indeed it
was. Then we went and visited a member ho has been kind of sick
lately, and she was so funny, introduced us to some of her online
friends through face time, and we delivered some food to her. Then we
went out to work again and found these apartments, had very little
luck. So we stopped and prayed and asked Heavenly Father if we could
hand out one more Book of Mormon to meet our goal. And few doors later
pops out this man named Yamamoto-san. He told us he was Buddhist at
first, but we introduced him to eternal families and the Book of
Mormon and he said he would try to read it and made a return
appointment!!
So God answers prayers, loves and knows His children, and will use us
as productive tools if we work diligently. This church is so true.
Sorry this is so long, but I know this is the good stuff you want to
know!!! Love you all!!! Have a great week!! Thank you for all the
prayers in my behalf.

May God bless the people and missionaries in France.

Love,
Sister Johnson

Random girl we met on the street!!!

Us at EKW for Bair shimais birthday! Everyone awkwardly sitting and eating their popsicles!

the Sisters in our zone! (mccuen, parmley, me, bair, ketch, akahori, whithworth, clements)

Blog: Crazy Food Lady


So this week was kind of crazy but fun. Yes, it was transfer week and
I'm....... staying here in Kurume!!! YAY!!! Bair shimai is still my
companion! And she is doing a lot better this transfer so far. Given
it's the first day, but her coughing and various other symptoms have
gone down so I think she is getting used to Japan, yay! The first half
of this week was mostly dinner appointments and craziness because
Crump-shimai was reaching the end of her mission and going home. So on
Monday we went to the front of a mall and did a huge chidashi kubari
where we just hand out eikaiwa (English class) chidashi's( invites) to
people on the street.
But after about an hour or so the mall police came and moved us down to
the corner of the street, to be honest I am surprised they didn't come
earlier. But ya it was crazy we talked to like 100 people in those
couple of hours. Unfortunately you don't really get a huge chance to
talk about the gospel all that much, but we had somebody call us back
and tell us they were coming to the eikaiwa, which is amazing!!
Then after that we went with the sisters to eat at this yakitori
(grilled meat on sticks) place with a crazy lady they met on the
street, haha! Yep, so what happened was we met her on the street, then
took us to park our bikes in the bushes at a park. Them took a taxi
like two and a half blocks to this yakitori shop (could've walked
there, but paid 6.50 to go two blocks :) I was planning on buying like
2 things  because i knew it was going to be expensive, but she just
started buying things for us, like some normal stuff, then some weird
stuff. Like pigs foot, and chicken hearts. Half of it I would have
brought back up and handed back to them because the bill was
ridiculous! But anyways we made it, and that's what counts!
Then on Tuesday we went to visit a member who is struggling and she
surprised us with a shokuji ( meal) which was very nice. Then we shared a
message with her and the spirit was felt so strongly. Every direction
we took, every thing we testified about seemed to be what she needed
to open up. Now she loves the missionaries quite a bit. She still has
a long ways to go, but nothing God can't fix!
Then on Wednesday we did a lot of running around to help get Crump
shimai ready to go. Like getting pictures off of things, packing,
saying goodbye. Just craziness! But she is seriously so awesome and we
miss her!! But she'll be an awesome missionary on the other side of
the veil.
Then on Thursday we waited for the new missionary coming in and had
EKW, which was way fun!! Plus this next Eikaiwa should be good,
because Bair shimai's birthday is on it, so we will probably have a
party!!
Then on Friday we taught our recent convert who has been doing so
great lately! He asked about challenges and why people have them. And
what happens when we are wronged. So we talked about the justice and
mercy of our heavenly father and showed Him the mountains to climb
video and I think we all just felt the reassuring spirit that God is
all knowing and we need to trust in Him and His plan and what He would
have us do. Then we got to go teach a member about missionary work,
and her husband is less active. Which is awful, I feel like there is
so much of that in Japan. Which just makes me so grateful to have had
men in my life who are strong in the gospel and so willing to
undertake the responsibility of the priesthood. She is such a good
member, so we will be trying to think of ways to help her.
Then on Saturday we got to meet a less active, and a member came with
us, finally!!!! And what a help they were! She asks a lot of questions
about the BOM, which we always have difficulty answering because she
like the difficult Chinese characters. So definitely a testimony
builder on members!! Then we had a really cool return appointment with
a couple on the street who want to get married, but one lives in Kobe
and the guy lives here. But when we explained baptism and eternal
marriage he seemed interested so we were able to make a return
appointment and called him that night to try and move it to this
Sunday, but he said it was a bit difficult so we still kept it for
next Sunday! So fingers crossed!!
Then on Sunday we had a HUGE meal appointment because Crump shimai
came back to church with her parents to visit. They then went to a
neighboring ward to visit her other area so she was late getting to
the shokuji and we were all kind of freaking out because we didn't know
where they were and they didn't have phones either! But somehow they
got there. And our investigator Yamamoto-san came as well! We haven't
been able to see her for this whole last transfer, so that was
awesome!! And we shared such a powerful message on the Book of Mormon
and Joseph Smith. And it was so cool because it was blazing hot in
this room with so many people and the kids were getting a bit tired,
but during it they were practically silent and everyone really felt
the spirit.
And another miracle is that today we finally get a p-day to kind of
rest!!!!! I love the church so much and know that it is true with all
my heart. The more I study about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.
The more I know with surety that it is from God written specifically
for me. Prayers are answered and God loves and is aware of all his
children!!!!
Hope you all have a great November!!! Probably getting  little cold in Utah!!!

ジョンソン姉妹

Us at the huge shokuji crump-shimais goodbye party! (up left to
right- nihara-kyoudai, mori-san, kawanami-kyoudai, akiyama-kyoudai,
kawanami-shimai, crump's parents, nihara-shimai, mori-san, shoutaro,
yamaguchi, kinjo, crump, yamamoto, parmley, makiko, me, bair, mccuen,
and megumi-chan)

Bye to Crump-shimai!!

Ali, parmley, crump, me, bair, megumi at the Saga balloon festival!!!

all the crazy balloons!!

all the little tiny balloons racing behind us!!

panoramic view!!

Blog: Halloween

So this week was a challenge, but also ones with a lot of rewards!
So basically we were mostly scrambling around to get our Halloween
party ready, and had junkais, and member lessons and what felt like a
big event every day of the week! Monday we had a lot of member lessons
so we weren't able to get a lot of dendo( tracking) time in, but the MIV's that
we had were SO great! Some people got pretty excited about sharing the
gospel and I felt the spirit so strongly at both of them.
One of the MIV's we had was with a member whose husband was less
active. And during the member video we were watching I could feel her
own longing for her family to be similar to the one in the video. Her
tears and her desires were so touching and brought the spirit. So I
felt him take over and prompt me to challenge her to pray daily with
her family. Whether they all came or not, she should invite them each
night and pray together. She said she is doing it, so we will wait and
see :)
Then we had district meeting, and tried to do a huge dendou get up at
the college there, but it ended up raining and one of the elders bikes
fell apart so we kind of wandered around not sure where we should go
and talked to some people. Which was good, except we didn't eat before
so we were all kind of zombified an hour in, haha, but it was still
great!
Then on Wednesday we went to visit this less active with a member
because she felt prompted to go help. And so we waited... and
waited... and nobody was home. So she had to go, but we decided to
dendou a little bit and around 4 go and see if anybody was home. So we
went back and the son was home. So we waited a little longer and the
daughter came home, but still no Mom. So we waited until about six and
ended up going home because we had something to do, but it was a
blessing because we got to meet the kids and found out that that
shimai actually did start working. So when we go back we will have to
go later :) miracles in disguise!
Then we had a great junkai. Where i literally felt like all my
weaknesses were revealed, haha! It's been a while since I have been
with a nihon-jin (Japanese) companion. Yep, basically when I talk to people on
the streets I have been getting into a pattern and now realize that I
need to speak more with the power of the spirit. So it is time to
learn and improve. And sometimes we had to be put through a week of
finding no new investigators, and having everyone cancel on you :) A
little bit of refiners fire. I wonder if God just takes a chance us
wondering if we will choose to walk through the fire and come out
stronger on the other side. Not sure I am quite out of the fire, but
God needed me to change so I will try and do that at a pace God knows
is right for me. He has to take this little bit of dough and stretch
it to make a delicious pizza :) Probably a little more stretching is
needed, but I am in the makers hands so I just need to trust Him.
But we did have a really awesome miracle that happened in the
Halloween party. It was a blast!!! Everyone in the ward participated!
We had a great turn out of about 30-40 people, about half members, and
half non-members. Some were people we knew who brought friends, some
people off the streets, some members brought friends. It was the best
and everyone kept telling us how fun it was!!! The kids were a bit
crazy, but we were hyping them up on a lot of candy. Your welcome
Japanese parents!!! I can't think of any other way I would've wanted
to spend my Halloween!!!
Love this gospel and this church. Isn't it so great that we can learn
and grown. Everything is a reflection of our eternal purposes. What a
lovely plan indeed! Something I have learned this week and am still
learning is to trust in God, but understand where my agency takes
place as well. Hope you all had a great Halloween and had a great
week!!
Love,
Sister Johnson

Blog:  Mormon Meal
Hello to all you wonderful people!!!
This week was fantastic and weird at the same time! We taught a lot of
members about missionary work this week. So to start off the week we
went to Sasebo (which is about 1.5 hours by express train) because we
had district meeting there the next day and to see one of the sisters
previous investigators. And we were invited to an American members
house (because there is a base in Sasebo) and I was like thrown for a
loop. We were like taken up to the mountains into a small American
community. When I walked into their house it was like a parallel
universe. It was completely American with Halloween decorations, large
couches, a big TV, American dining area. I was so freaked out, but
completely engulfed in the American member spirit! It was awesome, but
I felt like I was in a dream the whole time. Maybe it was a dream...
Plus we had like lasagna, classic original Mormon salad, garlic bread,
and ice cream. All American sized. It was glorious. Such a strong
spirit about members houses, I just love it! (not just American
members houses, this one just rang stronger to me because it was
familiar :))
Then on Tuesday we had a wonderful district meeting where we sang...
haha, yep, we got through... kind of. If our district leader knew how
much we practiced that the shame would be very real! Haha!
Then on Saturday we had some pretty awesome miracles!! The first was
that we tried to visit a P.I's house and the grandpa came out and gave
us back the book of Mormon and said that him or his family didn't need
it. He was pretty nice about it, but it frustrated me when we told him
that his granddaughter wanted to know about God and he just laughed in
our face. I walked away with some tears welling in my eyes. But then I
felt it. That strong desire to make it known unto all the remnants of
the Earth that this gospel is true. Not only is it true but it is
everything. Without purpose, direction, or will so many people walk
blindly in the darkness searching for that iron rod. And we have it,
and we need to call out to these people and let them know what they
are missing out on. In that moment I felt that I need to let my light
so shine before the world (3 Nephi 12:14-16) that the people may
glorify my Father which is in Heaven. I can't say what changed, but
the feeling so strongly felt within me is that I want people to just
look at me and say, "I want what she's got." And that is what the
gospel does my friends :)
Then that night we had a cool experience of going to this concert and
talking to that professional singers friends again. Except this time
it was in a more family friendly setting and we talked to a lot of
people. And they were a lot nicer to come up and approach us in that
setting as well! So that was really nice! Met a lot of children who we
invited to the Halloween party! Hopefully they come! Then on Sunday
night we had another shokuji (meal) with a member and taught her the MIV. She
as 6 kids, the youngest just left on his mission. Love seeing her
strong family and light! She also shared an awesome experience with us
about when she first entered the church and taught her friend about
eternal marriage and then she was baptized and they got tons of people
to take lessons after that! It just got me thinking about if I
actually realize how great the promises are that God grants unto us.
Sometimes it just feels like we are entitled. Tis not so. I was
reading in 2 Peter 1:4-8 where peter talks to us about making our
election and calling sure. And he lists out how. If you haven't read
this scripture I encourage you to read it. You might find some room
for improvement. I know I did.
I love being out here on a mission! I hope you are are all doing well
and have a Happy Halloween!!!!!

Love,
Sister Johnson

Us at a members house after teaching tem about member missionary
work (me, bair, parmley, brother kawanami, crump, megumi, sister
kawanami)

Us in the country side of Japan. If you can't see there is a tractor behind us :)

 A beautiful sunset that I took a picture of while we were on the train. Rice fields and a sunset.