the Holy Ghost

Dear Family,

I transferred this week to be with SISTER LAVULAVU which we have now been companions three times and have worked in FOUR areas with her. She was my trainer! And it's been the BEST to come back and work with her again..seriously..it's been a dream..this week went by SO FAST because we are just busy with the work! We have LOTS of investigators! We had one baptism this week and have four planned for next week, and two for the week after that! Wow! The field is so white here! 

One of the best moments of this week was yesterday. We went on splits -- and being brand new to the area made it a funny experience because I forgot where some of the houses were..but thank heavens for the Holy Ghost who really just led us to lesson after lesson! 

We have two sisters who are taking lessons with us (we PRAY that their parents will want lessons..still working on them...) and our lesson was about the Holy Ghost. 

Now teaching about the Holy Ghost is one of the most important lessons to teach..and honestly for me one of the hardest lessons to teach..really really describing how it FEELS..it's hard enough in English..let alone Kiribati.. so we decided to approach the situation differently. 

We choose two songs..one a really crazy loud heavy beated song and we asked them to note how they felt as the song played..then we found a really beautiful church song -- a piano arrangement of a hymn -- and asked the two girls what the difference was..could the feel the spirit leave as the first song played? What words could describe the second song? We described that the second song -- the spiritual song --is like how we feel when we receive the Holy Ghost..those feelings of peace and calmness..is how the Holy Ghost speaks to us.

I sure am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost..and have been really trying to understand how the Holy Ghost speaks to me..it's all a leanring process isn't it.. :)

Sure love you guys!! My little samoan daughter comes next week! 

Love,

Sister Johnson

Pictures!!!

These boys got new ties!! wahoo!

pretty happy Priesthood!

sweetest lady ever! 

this lady..my miracle less active we found out in the middle of no where..haha..she's a sweetheart..her name is elizabeth too! but in kiribati it's eritabeta

this was this morning..hahaha..only in Kiribati would this be allowed! Hahaha!

this was bishop of the bikenibru ward, I've been working with him for almost eight months..these are my PARENTS! so I took them to a resturant for one of my
last nights in bikenibeu

and the cutest little boy in the world

love this sweet sister!

sunset after pday

the zone! to put things into perspective..our whole zone of sisters live in one house!
And there are only four districts on the whole island! FOUR DISTRICTS..that's it!
That's all for my mission! Four districts! If this isn't the smallest mission!! 

White shirts & ties...

(thanks to everyone's generosity towards Devin's Eagle Scout project, we were able to send 105 shirts and 130 ties to Lizzie's mission. Thank you for your help and donations!!)

HEY DEVIN! GUESSS WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL?!?!?! WHITE SHIRTS AND TIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING! I didn't even know where to start?! I was so excited! I will start passing them out this week..so proud you!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how much people are being blessed here because of your good work! DEV! You are changing the life of so many!!! Thank you so much Dev, I love you so much, thank you so much for serving these people..

Crissy... THE PACKAGE CAME! And the skirt was GENIUS! Seriously couldn't believe that you sewed that! Thank you so SO SO Much..

And to answer your question about marriage..no - hardly NO ONE is married..most of them can't afford to get married..it only costs like five dollars I think..but it's not something that is really important..in the church it's huge, but outside of the church..not much.

I can NOT tell you how HAPPY I was to see all these absolutely AMAZING pictures of the extended family. I am so grateful for your gift with a camera mom! And I am SO happy that Ivy has found, "her one!" and sweet Drue is on a MISSION..ah, what a beautiful life we have..

One line that I really really REALLY love in preach my gospel.. it says: some missionaries are confident, some are very self conscience, but regardless of where you stand, place your confidence in the Savior. Focus all that good you are doing - and be absolutely CONFIDENT of the Savior and what HE can do! It's HIS love that changes people and it's HIS love that makes your work so powerful!  It is so true!!

UPDATE: I am not going to Christmas anymore! I had a meeting with the AP's and they said that President received revelation that I should stay on Tarawa and TRAIN! Haha! And get this..my child is from...G-U-A-M! Hahahah! I am 100% happy with it. I always told the Lord I'd do what He wanted.  

thanks for your prayers and support. love you guys!
love, liz