ISLANDER!
our three baptisms and one child of record
these kids are my LIFE! MY LIFE I TELL YA!
They call me captain Johnson, and I call them my crew:)
WE TAUGHT SIXTY ONE LESSONS THIS WEEK. 61.
Just thought I'd start the email out with that startling fact..but numbers don't matter. People do. YOU GOTTA LISTEN TO ME THIS WEEK I AM SO HAPPY BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A INCREDIBLE WEEK I STILL FEEL LIKE I AM ON CAPS LOCK CAUSE I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHOOOOO
YEAHAWWWWWW
HURRAY!
TODAY IS OUR DAY!
I am so happy
I am so happy
Let's do a shout,
and turn all about,
and teach and preach,
and gather the Lord's sheep.
Ok. I have retyped this email three times now. I'm going to get it right this time. But I kept the first part, cause it makes me laugh.
We had three incredible baptisms and I want to talk a little about each of them.
The first is Tauaua.
He is 16 years old..and today is actually his birthday. He was baptized on Saturday and given the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. I think I've told you about him before, but we've been working with him for months now. Almost everyday visiting him as he tried and tried and tried to keep the word of wisdom. We would come to lessons and sometimes he would tell us he was doing drugs, sometimes he would be clean for a couple days, sometimes you never know what to expect at our lessons with him. Some lessons I got so discouraged and I felt I was dragging him to the gospel..pushing him so hard to quit drugs, hammering him for not reading or praying about the Prophet Joseph Smith, but doing my best to let him know first that I loved him. Whether he prayed about our church or not. Whether he did drugs or not. I loved him for the Son of God that he is. I've never worked so hard for an investigator because I've never seen so much potential in a person before. He could move mountains if he wanted to! Anyway, lessons and lessons and commitments and invitations later He was baptized. And if that wasn't a miracle enough this is. When he was confirmed a member of the church, part of that blessing included that he would serve a mission. I'm sitting in this little cafeteria emailing you about this and I'm tearing up. One day, he'll serve a mission. I can't explain to you my feelings right now. I worked so hard for that kid, and now look at him...
The second was Taboia.
He is 14 years old, but you'd never know because he is so little. Malnourished. He has no father, his mother is..I don't know how to describe it..but my little brother Taboia takes care of his family...and once again..he is fourteen years old. He's is one of my closest friends here on Tarawa..weird? Yes. But for some reason we really connect and he brings out the 14 year old in me. We sat next to each other in church, and I just wanted to talk to him and laugh and he turned to me, and told me to be reverent. HA! I was so embarrassed! Hello Sister Missionary?!
The third is a sweet girl Arerei. She is eleven years old and is BEAUTIFUL. After her baptism she got up to bear her testimony. During her testimony she realized her mom had showed up at her baptism (really strong in the protestant faith) and she started to bawl..it was too touching. After her family came up and gave her a big hug..and kinda held her and she cried..and I saw a little eternal glimpse of really what the gospel does for families.
The other incredible moments were bringing three families to church. One of the fathers were less active and hadn't come to church in over ten years..but he bravely walked to church with his family. It was a miracle.
This week was a week to remember.
Oh, and I forgot. I'm going to be companions with my MTC companion, Sister McDaniel again. We will three-some in my area I'm working in with Sister Alafoki. I laughed so hard when they told me! I was just companions with her! But I'm totally happy with it cause there will finally be ANOTHER WHITE SISTER ON THE ISLAND.
And a special moment of TRUE GRATITUDE to my extended family back home.
Auntie Kris: you sweet people. I can't tell you how much the protein shakes mean to me. It is a whole MEAL..and especially because we don't have veggies out here...you really were so thoughtful and has been SO SO SO helpful. I can't say enough to thank you while I'm on the other side of the world, but you better believe when I get home I'll be canning peaches with you until I die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, from my heart to yours. It really has been a life saver.
Auntie Beth: I LOVE THE CALENDAR! The pictures were so inspiring! And the cashews! Ahhh! Manna from heaven! And the tictacs..I missed those so much. Thank you thank you thank you from my heart to yours. It was such a blessing. And my favorite was the bookmarks with the picture that YOU DREW. Ah! A little piece of your art is now scattered on the island of Kiribati.
Auntie Jane: The two picture from Hazel (The Christmas tree and the picture of Jesus) hang up right above my study desk. Oh to have a little piece of Hazel out here means so much to me! Thank you so much! And the food...IS INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much for sending me something, I know it costs so much..but please know how much it truly means to me! I will spend summers in Wyoming to help repay the love you give to me!
Thank you guys so much for your prayers and support. It means everything to me!
LOVE YOU!
Sister Johnson
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