I Had a Title for This and T hen I Forgot It

 Hola gente!

Man this has been another crazy week. Hna Rivas and I have been able
to see so many miracles these past couple weeks, we're so incredibly
blessed. We have sooo much work in this area that I really am not sure
how we'll be able to fit it all in. Heavenly Father has blessed us
with a large handful of new investigators and then we have the usual
families that we work with on a regular basis. I never thought on my
mission I would have the problem of having too much to do! So we are
continually praying that we'll be able to have the wisdom to use our
time wisely and effectively. But all in all this week has been
awesome. Sister Rivas got her iPad so she is super happy haha. As far
as exciting things that have happened, we had an awesome lesson with
our investigator O. She is one tough cookie, but I've always
thought she was awesome. She has been having some serious doubts about
the church. I asked if she had been reading from the Book of Mormon or
praying and she admitted that no, she hadn't, but she wanted to start
trying again. It was cool because it started out as one of those
lessons that could go so horribly wrong, but by the time we left, the
whole situation just felt peaceful and happy. I'm glad that she is
wiling to take that step to really find out for herself if the church
is true. I love moments like that, when it all just kind of clicks to
people, that all they have to do is ask in faith, doing the little
things such as reading he scriptures and praying. I love that Heavenly
Father cares about us enough that He wants to make sure that each one
of us knows He is there and this is what is true. I feel so blessed to
be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
have the fullness of the restored gospel.
Also fun fact of the week! All of the missionaries from the DC North
Mission got to be ushers or balloon carriers for the National Cherry
Blossom Parade so if you find that on YouTube I'm in a green shirt
right off of the camera helping people in their seats. It was actually
really fun! Well sorry this is a shorter email, we've been at the
National Zoo and then National Cathedral all day! I'll include some
pictures. But I love you all and wish you all the best! Les quiero y
que tengan una buena semana!

Hna. Johnson


We went to the zoo today!

We made arrepas with our recent converts and their niece!

The grounds of the National Cathedral

All of us at the Cherry Blossom Parade.  I'm not looking...

These Weeks Keep Getting Faster

Buen día! I have a feeling this email is going to be all over the
place because I frankly just don't know what to say jaja. I guess
we're slowing coming down from the Conferencia General high, but
honestly this week was so great that it hardly even seems like it.
It's been a crazy busy week. Like one of those weeks where you really
don't know how you'll fit everything in, and just do your best going
from place to place. One of the coolest blessings this week is that we
got to be the answers to a lot of people's prayers. It seemed like
almost every lesson or message we shared was followed by a, "this was
exactly what I needed." It was so cool. We got 3 new, really solid
people to teach this week, and we decided to really spend our first
lesson getting to know them before we started testifying of the
restoration. It's one of the things that Preach my Gospel teaches us
to do, but I really haven't used until now, and we saw so many
blessings because of it. Each of these people are going through such
difficult things in their lives right now, but it's amazing to see how
the gospel, not only relates, but provides peace, comfort and refuge
from the troubles of the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ truly is an
individual process.
One example is from Mario. We had been trying to get an appointment
with him for a little while, but they always fell through for some
reason or another, but finally got one, and so we stopped by only to
realize there was no third female inside, so we talked with him in the
doorway. He is currently going through a very messy divorce with the
woman we was married to for 10 years and expressed to us multiple
times just how much he needs the Book of Mormon. It was really
humbling to be able to testify of the peace the Book of Mormon will
bring to someone who so desperately needs it.
So funny story for the week. Sis Castaneyra came back to visit this
week so I got to see her a couple times and she was even our member
present in a lesson! Weird seeing her in pants but when we were at
Hna. Alvarez's (Judy's mom) birthday and I took one for the team and
finished Casty's sandwich for her cause she was too full. Some things
never change haha. Well I hope you all have a wonderful week and take
a moment to count your blessings, because we really have so many. I
love you all! Sigan adelante!

Hna. Yonson

Oh J (Judy's son) got baptized yesterday! I'm so proud of him!

Personal Conference Weekend

Man this week has been so crazy but also so full of blessings! Since
it was Sister Rivas first full week we had a ton of meetings and stuff
like that to take care of, and then of course General
Conference this weekend! So it felt like our time in our area was
very shortened. We knew ahead of time it would be a bit of a more
difficult week as far as lessons go, so we tried to get as many as we
could on the days that were more open and we definitely saw the
blessings of it. Wednesday was one of those days that we knew we were
going to be a little short on time, but we had a goal to try and teach
3 lessons if we could that day to help us reach our weekly goal of 20
lessons which has been a big push in the mission this transfer. So we
had an hour and a half to visit these two people, but decided to talk
to every person we saw on our way and Heavenly Father really helped us
out. Neither of the people were home, but we taught 2 awesome street
lessons to some people who seemed genuinely interested! Then we were
walking back to the car and I saw this one apartment and just felt
like we really needed to go knock on their door. We did and they let
us right in! They'd met with missionaries in the past but it had been
years since they'd seen a missionary. They weren't super interested in
learning more now, but I've learned that Heavenly Father is always
preparing His children to hear the gospel, and our visit was probably
just a friendly reminder to help out the missionaries who knock on
their door a few years down the road.

I have to say though, that General Conference was easily the highlight
of my week. For those who aren't familiar with conference, every six
months, the prophet of the Church and his apostles and other church
leaders address the entire church in a conference that is broadcast
throughout the world. It is one of the greatest times of the year in
my opinion. So this year to try and get a little more our to it, I
came up with 5 questions that I really wanted to focus on, and it
seemed that every session of conference answered each question
perfectly and individually! It's amazing how the Spirit both inspires
the speaker and the listener that even though it was a conference to
the entire world, I can receive answers to my personal question. Hence
the title of the email, it's not a very "general" conference at all!
The Spirit inspires our minds to allow us to have a personal and
individual experience with the words of the prophets. Siento muy
agradecida por ser miembro de esta iglesia. Yo sé sin ninguna duda que
está es la única iglesia verdadera en el mundo hoy. Jesucristo es el
Salvador del mundo y de ti. Nuestro Padre Celestial nos ama tanto que
el mando a Su Hijo para efectuar la expiación para nosotros para que
podamos vivir con Ellos y nuestras familias para siempre y llegar a
ser más como El cada día. Venimos de una familia celestial! Les invito
que puedan fortalecer sus propios testimonios por medio de orar y
preguntar otra vez que esa es la verdad. Yo sé que él siempre nos
contesta. En el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen.

Les quiero mucho! Y que tengan una buena semana mis amigos!

Hermana Yonson

My comp made me arrepas one night. They're like Venezuelan sandwiches
and delicious!

I Never Know What to Title These Things......

 

Happy Monday gente!!

Wow this week has definitely felt a little longer. Last Monday feels
like so long ago! I don't have a ton of time, so I'll cover just the
major things that have happened this week.

In general I feel like I got super nostalgic this week because my
comp, who I love and miss dearly (yeah check out that shout out
Casty), went home this Wednesday. Still in denial. But that means we
spent Tuesday visiting all of the greatest members in the universe. It
was amazing to see what an impact she had had on each of these people's
lives. It just goes to show what an obedient, and Christ-like
missionary can do for the work of the Lord. She has been an incredible
example to me and I have learned so much. I honestly still can't
believe that the last transfer went by so fast. Definitely one for the
books.

 So Wednesday I went to drop her off at the DC Stake Center and
a few minutes later got to pick up my new greenie! She is awesome and
really going to be such a great missionary. I feel so incredibly
blessed by my Heavenly Father. He must love me like crazy to send me
such an awesome trainee. It definitely has been a bit of a transition
going from having a companion who is going home to one who just came
from home, and let's just say the learning curve is fast. I feel like
I've learned just as much from her these past few days as she says she
has from me! I have definitely seen how when we give the Lord all we
have, He makes up for the rest. We are by no means perfect teachers,
and definitely not perfect at speaking the language, but if we do all
we know how to, He will help the Spirit carry the message and the
truthfulness into their hearts.

 One cool experience from this week
happened yesterday. Easter really wasn't anything too special here,
just a pretty nice Sunday, but last night we were driving to visit
Balmore and Christian, and we were about 15 minutes, and I felt
strongly that we should go stop by this potentials house around the
corner. We had taught her the first lesson last transfer, but had the
wrong phone number and so we haven't seen her since then, but we went
by and sure enough, she was there! She thanked us like 10 times for
coming and even asked us if we could end with a prayer before we left!
Of course Maria! I love this work and am so excited for all the things
I will learn this new transfer. I know my Savior lives and love having
the chance to testify of Him every single day. He lives!

Hna. Johnson

Dropping Hna. Castaneyra off

 New greenie!  Hermana Rivas

 Cherry Blossom Festival

Febrero Showers Bring March Flowers

Happy Spring everyone!!

It felt like spring last week but we got a
little bit of snow flurries yesterday so no one is really sure what nature
is doing right now, but the cherry blossoms are all blooming! We're
going into the city next P-day to check them out cause they'll
actually probably all be gone by the time the actual festival comes
around. But I'll include a picture of some neat trees.

I feel like this week has been very symbolic of spring time in many
ways, the biggest one is that my current companion who I love to
pieces is going home in 2 days. I'm still in denial. She is an amazing
missionary and I have learned so much from being with her for just one
transfer. It'll definitely be more than a little sad to see her go.
But, as one missionary dies, another one is born! This transfer I will
be....training! Lots of mixed feelings there. Mostly I feel like I
just got out here myself, but Heavenly Father knows what's up so I'm
just gonna have to trust him on that one. I'll go pick her up on
Wednesday so I'll have a lot more to say next Monday, but overall I'm
really excited and feel really humbled to be trusted with the
opportunity to introduce a new missionary into the field.

Cool things from this week: Christian got confirmed yesterday in
sacrament and he was so ready! We went over to teach him on Friday and
I swear the guy was glowing with the Spirit. I have seen such a change
in him because of his decision to live the gospel. Also, Balmore received the Aaronic priesthood! (The authority to act in the name of
God. The Aaronic is the first priesthood and the Melchizedek is the
second). It's just so cool to know that just a few months ago, he
didn't know anything about the gospel and Jesus Christ, and now he is
receiving these sacred ordinances that will help him return to live
with our Savior again.

I am so incredibly blessed to be here on a mission. Every once in a
while I just sit and wonder what I ever did to be so blessed to have
this opportunity, and the wonderful answer is simply that Jesucristo
loves me. He loves each one of us, and has given us the greatest gift
of all, His own life, so that if we love Him and let Him, we too can
receive all the blessings that He has. Yo sé que El vive! Y tenemos
esa oportunidad para celebrar Su resurrección. Tome un poquito tiempo
para pensar en esto esa semana. Les quiero mucho! Que tengan una buena
semana!

Hermana Johnson

Hna Castaneyra's death picture

 The District

Pretty trees and our car

Call Me the Ward Translator

This has been an awesome and also really comical week. I'll start off with the funnier
side.

So on Wednesday we got a call from the office saying they were going
to take our car in and to drive down to pick up our new car. We now
have a beautiful Ford Fusion and everyone is really jealous. It was
the old assistants' car so we are completely hyped. We drove our
beautiful car all day and didn't get back until later so the next
morning we go out with our roommates to go get our parking passes and
show off our beautiful new vehicle that is no longer in the spot it
was parked in. Yes, we got towed.... So about an hour and $175 later
we got our car back and went to meetings! It's funny now in hindsight
haha.

In other big news, Christian got baptized!! He called us on Wednesday
night and was really concerned and down on himself and not too sure
about his baptism, so we went over on Thursday praying and a little
worried about what was going to happen. We start talking to him and he
expressed how he just doesn't feel worthy or ready. So we decided to
go through the baptism interview questions with him again. He answered
perfectly to every single question! Better than I even expected!! By
the time we left he was excited and felt so much better on his
baptism! It's amazing what an hour of the spirit can do! The baptism
went great and I am so happy and excited for him! It's been a bit of a
challenge for him, but he worked through it with the Lord and made
that first step of baptism! Also cool, Balmore was confirmed yesterday
and recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost! He was emotional during the ordinance
and it was just super cool to see how deeply he understood and
appreciated the step he was taking.




Oh I also translated in Sacrament for a little girl that got brought
to church by her friend. She told me I should try out for American
idol after.

I love being a missionary and am so incredibly blessed every single
day to have the experiences I do. Jesucristo lives and this gospel is
true. Take a moment this week to recognize all the incredible
blessings that come from living such a wonderful gospel. Les quiero
mucho! Gracias por su ayuda y oraciones! Tengan una buena semana y
sigan adelante!

Hermana Johnson

Christian's Baptism

He's a buff guy so we all flexed.  Haha!

The only time in my life I'll look forward to Mondays

This week I was a...wedding photographer, music conductor, English
translator x2, missionary (of course), and one of those kids that is
way to big to be using that playground.

So it's been another good week. As usual, ups and downs, but good
overall. We had another wedding and they asked me to be the
photographer so that was fun. As usual we had a ton of food and it was
delicious. I love Hispanics so much haha.

Super cool experience, Sunday I was sitting in sacrament meeting (the
first hour of church), and this African man walks in who very
obviously does not speak Spanish and sits down by me. I ask him what
brought him there and he said he was looking for the French branch
(the group that meets right after us). So he asked me to translate for
him, and I did! Simultaneous translation on a fast and testimony
meeting is definitely not one of the easiest tasks, but I definitely
saw the truthfulness of the gift of tongues. Every time I realized I
hadn't quite caught what the speaker had said, a sentence just came
into my mind. It was such an amazing experience, I knew exactly what
to say every time. The spirit really does fill our mouths with the
words we need in the moment we need them.

Most exciting news!! Balmore chose to follow the example of Jesus
Christ and be baptized this Sunday!! It's so great the see the baptism
of someone I have actually spent some time teaching and helping. I
know we didn't do anything, the Spirit was the teacher from day one.
Awesome miracles, he only had to baptized once! (YES) and he bore the
greatest testimony afterwards. I feel so blessed to have been a first
hand witness to his conversion to this gospel and more importantly to
Jesus Christ. Man this guy has the strongest testimony and he barely
has been learning about this. I'm so excited for him in the future.

But that's about all the big news for this week! I hope you all do
amazing things wherever you are and siguen adelante!

Hermana Johnson

Balmore! And Christian is getting baptized next week!

Wedding Pictures