General Conference

Dearest Family,

GENERAL CONFERENCE. I guess my spiritual thought this week doesn't come from me, but from the reality that this church is the church declared by the Apostle Paul, "One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." This church is true!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the ways I know it is by watching general conference. Wasn't it cute when Elder S. Gifford Nielson got so excited about his exclamation points? I was loving it. And I respect so much the vulnerability of President Jeffery R. Holland to speak about depression..and Elder Dube's talk! Ah. 

We had two investigators come watch general conference with us. The first a little girl named: Nei Reea. She's 12 years old and will be getting baptized soon! We're so excited about her! And the other: Moteaki..he's around 65, and he came and watched it! And then at our lesson bore his testimony that he knows that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called of God. The gospel feels so good!

Make it a great week!

Love, Sister J

the Atonement...

Last night Bishop invited us to come to his house for dinner. Sister Lavulavu and I are new to the area so we wanted to prepare a special spiritual thought for them and I've just got to tell you about it. After reading in John about the account of Jesus washing the apostles feet we decided that we would wash their feet..so before dinner we started our spiritual thought. We had Bishop's wife come sit on a chair and as Sister Lavulavu read the whole account of Jesus washing his apostles feet I washed her feet.

And I felt that much closer to the Savior.

Nobody can afford shoes here, so you can imagine the average Kiribati feet. Dirt and toenails that are falling off, with scabs and scars and open wounds on their feet. And I thought that that must have been how the apostles feet were too. And I could understand why Peter would say: "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Embarrassed that the Savior would see his dirt. Embarassed that the King of Kings would bow below to wash him. But the lesson I took away from this is really a lesson about the Atonement. Do we have the humility to let Jesus see our dirt? Bishop's wife was so embarrassed that a guest at her home would wash her dirty feet...and I can understand that, but I am so grateful that I truly walked in his footsteps this week to come to understand our Savior a little bit more...but it's not just a story about feet, or the Atonement, it's a lesson on baptism, because with that water and towel, Jesus can erase our sins -- or our dirt. He said himself to Peter: "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

It's my testimony that the greatest of us all has already washed our feet -- that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed every whit. I love you, my sweet family, so much.

sister j

PS. I AM HEALTHY as can be. stronger than ever. more motivated. working hard. laughing...lots of laughing.

Transfers

Hallo Hallo! 

Lot's of news from Tarawa..the first being, I'm getting transferred with Sister Lavulavu to a new area!!!!! We're not only whitewashing...but we're taking over the Sisters and the Elders old area. Woooooooow! I'm so excited! It was really weird and hard to say goodbye to our old ward and our investigators...I just wanted to take a picture of every person I met in our area so I would remember them..but they'll all be in my heart:) A new area means all new people to learn about, to love, and to help build. I have some game plans about how to do better, mainly MORE TEACHING from Sister J. I stay pretty quiet in the lessons, but I've got to GOT to find the courage to open my mouth....The other day I was getting all frustrated about how hard this mission is..and then I realized...you know what? It can't be too hard because I will never have a door slammed in my face. Never! They don't have doors! Just cardboard...so just keep your chin up because slamming cardboard isn't too effective. I guess every mission has things that are trials to them, and this mission is exactly what trials I need. Enough, enough, let's have some stories.  

Here's some background for this story. There is a religion here in Kiribati straight from the devil. It's called the "Bahi" faith. It believes in everything we do, except for Jesus Christ. (Sounds a little twisted, huh?) They believe in D&C, prophets, all of it..but they only view Christ as a good man. With that in mind, we were asked by a sweet sweet old lady named Veronica to go and teach her husband who was in this faith. I was a little scared...the missionaries try to stay clear of the Bahi faith because it really is buokaka (bad). Anyway we go and meet this man, he seems nice, and we start lessons with him. Every lesson we had we just hammered him with scriptures, and thoughts, and testimonies of Jesus Christ..and after every lesson when he said the prayer he said his same memorized prayer that does not end in the name of Jesus Christ. Our last lesson with him I made these little flashcards/game: "E bebeto Tataro! Iai kateniua mwaneka" (Prayer is easy! There are three steps) 1. Address our Father in Heaven 2. Speak the things of our hearts: our gratitude, questions, and confirmation of the truths taught in our lessons. 3. Close in Jesus's name. Then they have to match the number with the step..anyway we ask Bob to say the closing prayer...and oh my heart! It was really "Bob's First Prayer" And he spoke this beautiful prayer that came so naturally...I don't really know what he said...but the feeling! I was beaming I was so happy and as he closed in the sacred name of Jesus...a missionary moment right there. I can't imagine how proud Heavenly Father is...because I was pretty dang proud of him myself!!!!!!!!!!! The truth about prayer...communicating with our Father, opening that connection to Heaven as we asks for blessings and help, aligning our will to His, seeking answers about the truth...prayers are so beautiful. I never knew how precious they were until I heard our investigators recite memorized prayers, and it just breaks my heart! Prayers are a way we talk to our Father.

There are so many other stories, and memories, and experiences but that was my favorite from this week. Listening to his first prayer.

I pray you are all safe and well back at home..it sometimes feels scary to be so disconnected from everything back at home..but I know that God knows the begining from the end. He knows what I can and can't handle...(and right now we're definitely pushing that line..hahaha) and I know that God is our friend, and we can trust Him in times of adversity. (Something the Prophet Joseph  Smith taught.) I know He lives, I know He died.

Keep the faith sweet family, I love you all so much!

Sista Tioatin. (Kiribati name)

 Teaching this sweet family about temples! And the book of Mormon! I have a great story about this, but I'll save it for the journal and tell y'all when I get home. 

 Here's a picture of one of the most faithful families in the gospel I have EVER met. 

This cute little lady only has only leg and before she got a wheelchair she would walk with her crutches to church every week..EVERY WEEK. She loves to sing, but here in Kiribati there are no piano's (imagine trying to ship that here, haha) so this lady sets the tune for the whole congregation (she's the piano and the choirister in one! haha!) and oh how they sing! WITH THEIR WHOLE VOICE AND THEIR WHOLE HEART. They are the sweetest. 

Nurse Cassita's notes

Mauri (hello) Johnson's, 

Your daughter is one amazing girl. I have loved getting to know her and taking care of her. However, I think that she has blessed me more than I have her.

She is one of the most gentle, kind and genuine people that I've ever met. 

Her follow up appointment went very well. The doctor had all the results from the lab. (the one that had to grow over 24,36 and 72 hours). Come to find out Lizzie was septic, meaning the infection had travelled into her blood stream. This would explain why the oral antibiotics were not working. Her fevers finally stopped on the 3rd day of IV antibiotics. She was released on the 4 day and will continue taking oral antibiotics for 10 days. She is doing much better but it will take some time for her to gain back all her strength. I am monitoring her closely and her wonderful companion, Sister Lavulavu will let me know of any changes.  

Lizzie and her companion moved back to their apartment and have been out teaching a few lessons. Maybe you could ask your ward to do a special fast for her. I know that she is one of our strongest missionaries and will have much to do in the near future. 

You are so very welcome for the care that I've given to your daughter. It is a privilege to serve this mighty young army out here, God's Army! They are all amazingly gifted and Strong! 

Love,

Sister Cassita 

Diagnosis & Tarawa

Hi sweet family!

I got permission to shoot you an email to tell you that I have arrived back on Tarawa safely and feeling as alive as ever. To update you more on my diagnosis: I was told three times that it was pneumonia, but after doing some more blood tests my white blood cells were 73% higher than they should normally be. What was happening was I had bronchitis and the infection had gone into my blood (septic) and I had about  24 hours before my body would have started to attack my vital organs (explains the high fevers). I was very sick! But I only stayed in the hospital for 3.5 days, where normally it would take a full 7. I had a very quick recovery -- to which I owe to all of you! Thank you for your prayers and love you sent my way! It was a miracle that I am back so quickly.

The crazy part was, I flew on the same flight as my mission President and his wife back  here! We stayed in the same hotel last night, and had dinner together with Sister Cassita! Wowza! Who gets the chance to do that? Aaaaaaand best part of the dinner: Sister Weir graduated from my very own VIEWMONT HIGH. Serious! 

Anyway, I'm here safe. I'm ready to go back to work...we have five baptisms planned for this week...my first baptisms!

love you!!!

sister johnson

Dear Family,

The Prayers! The Faith! I am officially released from the hospital in record time thanks to you people! Usually with cases like mine, patients stay in the hospital for 5-7 days...but I only stayed in the hospital for 3.5 days! Thank you, thank you for the miracles! 

There has been a lot of reasons that Sister Cassita and I needed to come to Fiji, it wasn't just to receive medical attention (although that was much needed :) The first was to build my faith. 

Two days before I flew out I was laying down on my bed just crying because I was in so much pain. I was getting so worn out because to even breathe was painful. I will never take breathing for advantage again. Sister Lavulavu came in and layed down on the bed with me and said, "Sister Johnson, you're not better yet? Where's your faith?" to which I honestly said, "I'm too tired to have faith." Then she sat up, looked at me in the eyes and said, "Sister Johnson, do you think the Savior was too tired to suffer for your sins?" I said, "Yes." She continued, "Then do you think that it's ever OK to be too tired for faith?" And the lesson I learned here was that someone far greater than I went through something far greater than I,and still had faith. So must I.

The second reason was to go to the Fiji Temple. It's a funny story...Sister Cassita actually snuck me out of the hospital to go. I arrived to Fiji on Thursday, and the temple's last session was on Saturday morning at 10:00 because it was closing to be cleaned for two weeks. I wasn't sure if I could go or not because they were still monitoring me pretty closely, and I always had an IV in...but Sister Cassita told the nurses she wanted to take me for a walk! Ha! A very long walk. So we casually strolled out of the hospital grounds and caught a Taxi to the temple. I still had my IV in my hand and everything! We get to the House of the Lord...and oh..the peace. I was able to take some specific questions to the House of the Lord and really caught a vision of missionary work. It was significant to me because back on my island we have an investigator who I wanted to drop. Sister Lavulavu said, "Sister Johnson, if you want to drop our investigator then that means you can't see them in the Celestial Room with you in the Temple." And she was dead right, I couldn't see their potential, I just saw their progress as slow and often reverse as it was. So to sit in the temple and think about my investigators...wow, it definitely changed how I think about missionary work for the better.

When Sister Cassita and I were deciding if I needed to go to Fiji or not to receive medical help I just kept feeling that there was a work I needed to do in Fiji. I just kept feeling it..and so I trusted that prompting and we came here. Well, when I first got admitted I was admitted into a room all by myself. (Which I loved because as a missionary you get zzzeeeerrrrrooooo alone time.) The next day I had a roommate move in. Her name is Dorothy Naidu Tuilevuka. At first it was like one of those movie-scences: I was asleep when she moved in, so when I woke up the curtains were drawn..she kept making strange noises...hahahaha. Anyway the nurse came in and Dorothy was complaining about it being too hot, so the nurse told her that it was because the curtains were drawn (my side of the room had the AC.) So she threw the curtains open and I met Dorothy. It was about 10:00PM and I was just finishing up some scripture and journal time. I said my hello's out of courtesy and kept writing. The nurse tended to her, then me, then she left. Dorothy asked what my name was and we started to casually talk - to which I thought we would end our conversations and go to bed - but we ended up talking until 2:30 in the morning! She told me all about her family business, her family, her life...and I got the privilege to just listen and let our friendship start. Then she was kind enough to ask about me...and when I said my name is "Sister Johnson" it's kinda a dead give-away that I've got some spiritual thought coming you way. So we started to talk religion...and oh my wordy. She is gold! She has this powerful testimony of God and Jesus Christ being separate individuals (something that I am so grateful for because most people haven't yet received the truth about that gospel principle.) I started telling her about what we believe and she kept commenting, "Oh, hey, I believe that too!" I ended up teaching her the doctrine equivalent of five lessons! And she was loving it! I won't ever forget how excited I got telling her about Eternal Families. Learning a new language has given me so much appreciation for English, so testifying in English was...exhilarating! I taught her that knowing I was part of an eternal family was the only reason I could leave my family for 18 months..and regardless what happens, I know that we will all be together again someday. After teaching her about that she said, "You know, I think Jesus crossed our paths." I agreed with her and she said, "I told the nurses hours ago to give me something to help me go to sleep, but they wouldn't! And I'm so grateful that they didn't!" Before leaving the hospital I wrote down all her information and she will be contacted shortly by the missionaries in Fiji ....I think she was the work I needed to do here :)

These are just three reasons why it was in the plan that I needed to get sick...but there are even more! I know that the Lord places us exactly where we need to be!

Oh yeah--and as for my health--I've never felt better! I am so grateful that I feel well again! I get tired easy..but that is just part of the recovery.

Thank you all again so much for the prayers, and fasting...you all almost made me look silly for coming to the hospital: I was in and out so quick! Hahahahaha. Thank you, thank you. I pray the Lord sends all those blessings back to you.

Much, much, much love.
Sister Johnson
sj

 This temple means the world to me. This is the temple that I preach and plead for my investigators to be in one day..so sitting in the Celestial room praying for my 

investigators was more than powerful.

 This is Sister Balinathangi's home ward. It's run a lot like our ward in England...2/3rds of the congregation is related! Sister Cassita and I were asked to speak!

Recovering so fast!

 The nurses. Loved them, although they never let me sleep for more than a couple hours..hahaha. Blood pressure, temperature...medicine..pulse...constantly checking on me.

 The real reason I came to Fiji: Dorothy Naidu Tuilevuka

News from Fiji

Bula (hello) in Fijian,

  Update on your darling daughter. We arrived safely here in Suva, Fiji. Lizzie was admitted to Suva Private hospital. She was diagnosed with Pneumonia and a Strep- throat. She is receiving Gentamycin IV and has not had any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, I was so pleased and she was as well. The doctor has been so wonderful. They will keep her in the hospital for 5-7 days. She was smiling and laughing this evening and is in good spirits.  I told her she just had to come to Fiji to get a tune-up. She is one strong and amazing girl. I'm a Lizzie as well or Elizabeth if I'm in trouble. I hope this update is helpful. Please let me know if you are needing any more information.  Have a fabulous day.

Love,

Sister Cassita

Medical Nurse Specialist

Marshall Islands, Majuro Mission

The other sister in the photo is Sister Balenacagi. She was Sister Lavulavu's trainer and was called to be Sister Training Leader, In other words, your daughter has the best trainer in the mission.