Faith & Pillows

Dear family,

Stories for you...but if I share these experiences with you you've gotta promise me that you will be respectful of my people here in Kiribati. This email is about the financial conditions they face, so please keep in mind that they are such a happy people..with or without..and that some of them don't know any better. With that...

My first story this week is one that happened when our water pipe broke. We didn't know it broke until our sweet neighbor came and knocked on our old door. "Sisters," he said in ENGLISH, "My tithing...if you're not using the water please turn it off, that is my tithing." For some reason, that hit me straight to the heart...these people are so sweet, and what little they have they give to the church. I'm so thankful for their example to me. It makes me understand the principal of tithing so much more. I hope that I will never complain the 10% that I give to the Lord..because that 10% is all some people have here. 

Second story is when we visited a man we call Pineapple (I'm actually not sure why we call him that..) He heard that I was "not quite adjusted" to the Kiribati food so he made us wake up early to make us pancakes. They were the best pancakes I have ever had..and they weren't even real pancakes, hahaha. Sister Lavulavu commented, "Pineapple, these are so good..you could sell them and be rich!" His response is what stayed with me. He said, "I don't want to be rich, I want to be what I am." This is a family that doesn't have any of the luxuries we have at home; but I am so thankful for his wisdom is being content with what he is.

The last story for this week is one that is real tender to me.

His name is Tenti. He lives with his mother, and stepfather here on the island of Tarawa. He has no formal education, and cannot read. He is twenty one years old. We've been teaching him about the gospel and I didn't know if we were actually getting anywhere with him. He is so quiet, he barely speaks at ALL. We could have a whole 45 minute lesson and he only says a couple of sentances. Anyway, that's a little background on him. We had a lesson with him and then asked him if he needed anything. The majority of his words came from his reply, "I have no home, and my family has no money for food." -- Oh sweet family, I looked my brother in the eyes and saw poverty. My first real experience with poverty. After discussing everything we could do for him (and still following the rules in the white handbook) we decided to give him a pillow and teach him about faith. As we gave him the pillow we taught him that although he coulnd't see his home...that this pillow was his first step... just as faith we cannot always see everything..we have hope that one day we will. We told him that we would help him find a house through the efforts of our ward and do all we can...but this pillow was the first start. We taught him that every night when he lays his head on his pillow to think of Jesus Christ and how to have faith in him.

 

I love these people so much! I hope these stories helped you see a little more of the life in Tarawa..and how we all can learn from these people.

keep the faith!!

sister johnson

sj

 I love the kids here!!!

 oh this lady, her name is "Mama" and I can't begin to describe her. She really is a mama to everyone. She makes us food...yesterday I'm pretty sure we had dolphin...? 

Not quite sure over here, you never know :)

aaaaand the chapel! oh  blessed chapel!

Welcome to Kiribati

Dear Family,

Oh I just want to tell you everything about Kiribati! Well start from the beginning.

We left the Provo MTC and flew from Salt Lake to Hawaii and stayed there for the night. The next morning we got up and caught our flight to Fiji. We got to Fiji and weren't allowed to leave the country because we didn't have any work permits...long story, can't quite remember the details, but we were at the airport for a looong time:)...after we got to our hotel in Fiji it wasn't payed for, so we called the travel office because we had no money left (we had to pay for our hotel in Hawaii too). By the time we got everything settled and into our room we had 45 minutes to sleep. Our flight was at 5:00AM, so we had to be there by 2:00AM. We got on the flight..and made it to Kiribati.......

Now the Adventure starts....

The first thing that greeted me in Kiribati was the humidity. It is so humid here you can almost SEE it. Serious. I walked down the steps off of the plane and was then welcomed by all the children of the village with their faces pushed up against the fence. (The planes don't come often, so it's a big deal..and everyone wants to see who has come.) They have these huge grins on their faces and point and laugh saying, "Imatong!" (pronounced ee-meh-tong! Or white person.) It's not all the common to see a white female in Kiribati and it makes me laugh every time they say it. I get called that all day everyday! I have never been so informed of my skin color..but it is so darn funny when the little kids say it! I met my trainer, Sister Lavulavu from Hawaii and she is INCREDIBLE. What a powerful force here in Kiribati! I was then shown my new home...which is called the Pig House because there are loads of pigs next to us...and the work begun! 

A funny story I've gotta tell you. Sister Lavulavu and I were waiting at the gate for our investigator to attend church with us but after 15 minutes we decided to go inside (they didn't show). We were late so we sat in the back. (Truth: There is a total of 19 ceiling fans in the chapel). I didn't understand and of it..so my mind was kinda wondering..and all of a sudden the whole congregation turned their brown little heads towards me. I panicked..and look at Sister Lavulavu...she then whispers, "Bishop just announced you will be speaking next..." I nervously laughed...and walked up  the stand. I started it with the traditional, "Kam na non mauri moa!" (You say hello first) Then they all say mauri...but I messed it up..so everyone just started laughing...so I started laughing too..I bore a total of two sentences in Kiribati and then switched to English (If they are a member, then they speak English..) and bore my testimony. Afterward they all came up to my saying, "Ko bati n taetae n Kiribati" You are good at speaking Kiribati! Which I just laughed at...cause their are too nice to say anything else. Which brings me to the topic of the people....   

The first day I was here I learned an important lesson about Kiribati from my trainer when she said, "No one is homeless in Kiribati because everyone is." And it's true, I see how they use a piece of cardboard for a door to their house. I see how men, women, and children use the bathroom right in front of me. I see how there are no fridges because they have no food. But these people, man these people...I watched a whole village of children chase a grocery sack in the wind with all the joy and laughter in the world combined. I watch how the Stake President walks into church with flip flops because it is the very best pair of shoes that he owns. I watch as they feed the missionaries...saving the whole weeks worth of food to offer us their best..and they sit..with their hungry wife and children and watch us eat. These people...they mean so much to me. I don't quite know how to process it all...but I am experiencing so much.

And even though I shower with cockroaches (they come up the pipe when we shower), and eat raw chicken, and sit in front of the fan at the end of the day and still sweat because it is that hot...I love this place. I know this is where I belong for the next 16.5 months. There has been some hard hard times these past five days..and I know there will be more to come...but I know why I'm here so I stay.

I love this gospel so much. I love that the gospel is for everyone...rich or poor..and that the Holy Ghost continues to testify on this island as it does on the four corners of the earth. I love how pure these people are...a little population tucked away from the world, who still cooks over fires in their backyards... I love that Heavenly Father really does remember the "isles of the sea."

I am grateful that the gospel has so much to offer to a place where the people have so little.

Until next week,
Sister Johnson

PS. Here is my mailing information. To send a letter, write exactly this, it will be the same my whole mission:

Sister Johnson Service Center

Moroni High School

P.O. Box 217

Tarawa, Kiribati

If it's a package then,

Sister Johnson 

P.O. Box 1107

Majuro, MH
96960

Marshall Islands

Sure love you family! Thank you prayers & support!
sis j

 Our house! The mission couple told us before we got here, that although our houses may be different from what we are used to...it is honestly the best Kiribati has to offer.

 This is our living room/bedroom. At night we pull out two foam mattresses and sleep on that :)

Walking to an investigators house to teach about the book of mormon! wahoo!

This is our bathroom! no shower curtin..but there is water! (but only if the electricity is working. A pump pumps water out from the well outside.) 

Hello to the Islands!

Hi Family!

I'm here on the island of Kiribati. I have just five minutes to shoot you an email to tell you that I'm here safe. I have SO MUCH to write you about on Monday, my Pday, but I'll keep it brief here. WOWOWOWOWOWOW. Kiribati is nothing like I expected, but it's okay. I got strep throat the day I left the MTC so having a fever in 100% humidity and 90 degrees has challenged me, but you better believe the first day that I got to the island with a total of 45 minutes of sleep I worked my hardest. My trainer is honestly the best sister in the whole mission. She is INCREDIBLE! She has only been here for two months, but knows the language and the people just flock to her...she is honestly an answer to prayers. wow. more to come. anyway. i'm still feeling really really sick but I'm working my darn hardest. we've already taught three lessons, had THREE DINNER APPOINTMENTS, visited two inactive members, sung songs with members, went to a funeral...all in half of a day! man okay I've got to go but I'm here safe. And i love you guys.

much loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,

sister johnson

Good-bye USA!

Family! Friends! Relatives! and Strangers!

This is officially my last email from the United States of America. Goodbye civilization. I leave on Monday morning at 6:15AM and from their the adventure starts! I fly to Hawaii and then Fiji and then to Tarawa:) This week...actually past two weeks...have had some amazing, but challenging moments. In Kiribati the word for study is: kamateaikau -- which the literal translation is: to make things dead. Hahah, whoever wrote the language knew that whoever would be studying it would feel this way! Hahaha. The language continues to be a struggle, but I've got to laugh at it. Nothing translates exactly! You use imagery for everything...it's beautiful! Examples: 1. To ask if you married you say, "Do you have a balance on your canoe?" 2. The word roof is: "Turned Heaven upside down and placed on top of a house." 3. To ask if you're smart you say, "Do you have a lot of ripe coconuts on your coconut tree?" Hahaha! It makes it hard to translate things, because they just don't see the world as I do. But I love how the people view life...:)

 

My spiritual thinking of this week includes this: F-A-I-T-H.

From the moment I got to the MTC I knew that I would learn this language by faith. As I've been here for five weeks now it's interesting to see how my knowledge of faith has changed. To sum it up simply it's this.

 

1. By faith I can learn a language.

2. I need faith in myself, faith in the Savior, and faith in the Holy Ghost to share my message.

3. Faith without WORKS is dead. I've got to be putting in my full efforts.

4. It is only AFTER the trial of your faith that you will receive a witness of the miracles of Christ.

 

When I first got into the MTC I thought that I would see miracle after miracle..that I would open my mouth and it would be filled with perfect Kiribati sentences. That never happened obviously those expectations are a little unrealistic but what I have learned is that the Holy Ghost will never give me hard earned experiences; I've got to get them myself, that's why miracles on a daily basis aren't realistic. I will not be given words I do not know. Missions are meant to be hard...wanna know why? (And now we segway into my next "thinkings" of this week...) BECAUSE CONVERSION TAKES EFFORT. This week I've studied and stuidied conversion because a passage of scripture hit home in Luke 22:32 Jesus speaks, "WHEN thou art converted, strength they brethren." The definition of conversion in the Bible Dictionary is: "Denotes changing one's views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God.....it changes the natural man into a new creature of Christ" I love this definition because it is everything that a mission has been for me. Everyday I am given oppurtunity after oppurtunity to choose between conversion and the natural man Examples include: 1. Will I get up at 6:30 or snooze a couple of times..? 2. Will I use my language study time effectivly, or will I let my mind wonder? 3. Will I love my companion, or will I choose to be irratated and frustrated at her?

 

Standing as a representative of Christ is very real, and there is a lot of pressure...but those moments when I can feel the joy that Christ would feel when the Spririt comes swoooops in and the whole room is FILLED with the Spirit....beyond description.

 

Much much many much love,

I kokoaua bwa e koaua te ekeratio aio.

 

Sister Johnson

--sj

 

A few more pictures...

1. SISTER BUTLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
2. And a selfie because I only get to wear this badge once :) 
3. I play head, shoulders, knee's and toe's with Martha ALL DAY LONG. Hahahahaha. 

Last week at the MTC!

Note from Robin: Hi everyone! Sorry we didn't get to post anything from Lizzie last week. We were in England and couldn't upload to the blog because of a few challenges we had. Here are pieces of her letters that you might find interesting. Thanks for your love and support for Liz. She leaves next Monday and tomorrow is her last p-day in the MTC so if you want to send her a letter at his point, please send it by Friday through the website "dearelder.com". It is free and your letter will get printed out and put in her mail box the same day or next day if it is late. Thanks!

From Lizzie:
Sanity break for the week: We figured out you can write on our desk with markers...and our district is LOVING it! Two Elders pictures...just for funzies:)

Well, all in all I'm in the Lord's care. This is hard work, hhhhhaaaaadrrrrrrrddddd work but I don't think the Lord wants me to shy away now. I'm finding strength I didn't know I had, and growing up and learning a lot. 
This week was so good, and spiritual, but so so hard. I've kinda hit a wall with Kiribati. Please pray for the language to come, I need a miracle. I've got to teach these people, and the only way to do it is to speak their language. Right now, I can't even make simple sentances because of the way their sentances translate. Things don't translate to english at all, and so not only do I have to learn how to speak it, I have to learn how to write it, see it written and know what it means, and hear it and know what words they are using. I have been faithful, and I know that the gift of tounges is real, but I also know that I cannot do this alone. 

Hey fun fact, I was made senior companion and the "Travel Group Leader" for our flights! We got out flight plans. We leave next Monday (august 12th). We have a flight to Hawaii, sleep over one night. Fly to Fiji, sleep over one night. Fly to Tarawa, stay there for 18 months! It's my job to get my district there safely!! Good thing that I've had some practice in airports, thanks to dad! I'm very very happy, but getting the travel plans were stressfull! Hahaha! I'm really going! Mercy! At the same time I am so excited. I know I have been waiting for this chance for a long time...at least my Spirit was ;)

THANK YOU FOR THE LETTERS AND PACKAGES! Serious. It means the world to me!
I love you all so much!!
Sister Johnson

Dear Family & Friends,

The MTC continues to be a Heaven on Earth:):):) This week went by so fast I'm having a hard time remembering what I should tell you! Hahaha! But first I got to tell you about all the people here at the MTC. They said that there are currently about 4,000 missionaries (1,850 Sisters) where there used to be only 2,000 missionaries (400 sisters). Dynamics have shifted a lot! But for the 4,000 missionaries here there are over 4,000 employees at the Provo MTC. It is incredible what gets done in one day:)

 

Sister Butler is from the other district called to the Marshall Island Mission speaking Marshallese but I see her all the time. The first time we met we spent an hour trying to figure out how we knew each other...then it clicked, we're just Soul Sisters:) We talk like we've been best friends for years, and I know I know her. That happened with Sister H (my companion) and Sister Butler's companion Sister Seegmiller, they just know each other! It's crazy! There are two Elders in my district who are seriously twins separated at birth because they act JUST LIKE EACH OTHER. It's happened a lot around here we don't just act like family because we sit in the same tiny room for hours, and hours, although that is true. We had a district meeting and talked of how we all got to be here and the stories were crazy! Our district leader, Elder Maisey got his mission delayed for ten months and they never told him why. Another Elder got called to come a couple months early, and another one called the Mission Office and changed his date to come earlier to get back in time for a semester of school. It's a miracle how District 52-F came to be, but I'm pretty positive it wasn't planned on this side of the veil.

 

A Story from this week:

Sister McDaniel and I were planning for a lesson with our investigator, Terawaa. We were teaching about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance for our third lesson with him. Our lessons have been really good with him, and he follows through with all of our commitments so I really wanted to include a soft invitation to be baptized (**Soft invitation: Not setting a date, but encouraging to think about and start preparing for baptism.) Sister McDaniel agreed but five minutes before the lesson asked if we should really bring up baptism if we haven't even taught him what it is. I replied that he has a Christian background, and I thought it would help him really push along with his conversion process (We only get five visits). We talked back and forth, I was really pushing to bring up baptism and she was really against it and time was short. We started to get really impatient with each other and did not have the Spirit with us. TIME CRUNCH. We gave ourselves one minute to breathe, and then started talking again if we should or shouldn't and our investigator was almost here. Every time we teach, we start with a prayer so after our prayer Sister McDaniel looked up at me smiling and said, "Sister Johnson, I was thinking, do you want to ask him to be baptized?" I was so thrilled! And right then our investigator came and we started teaching. I was glowing excited! The whole lesson I just couldn't wait to ask him. (We had spent hours memorizing the **seriously long** baptism invitation. I asked him, "Terawaa, Ko kukurei ni ira ana, katoto Jesus Kristo n te, ara ma te na babatitoaki aroun te aomata n te......(it keeps going and going).....te bong ai?" He was smiling because I was smiling and said, "E tuai, e tuai iroun aeng." which means: "I'm not ready, I'm not ready, but yes." Man alive. I realize now how important having the Spirit is! Sister McDaniel and I kept our "argument" all very contained but you have got to be on the same spiritual wave length as a companionship to invite our other companion, The Holy Ghost, to teach the lesson. It was such a big moment for me because I was so frustrated at my companion because I knew I wanted to bring baptism up but she didn't want to at all and I had four minutes to:  #1. Get in tune with the Spirit. #2. Get humble enough to not want a baptism commitment for me, but listen to our investigators needs. #3. Feel charity (COMPLETE LOVE) for my companion and #4. Ask for forgiveness for having a short temper. Anyone who knows me knows that if something like that happens I refuse to talk about it in the moment. I can't handle talking about an argument that just happened; I need time to calm down, maybe even sleep on it, and then I'm ready to talk. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone to have an argument and deal with it right after it happened but I thought about the counsel that Devan gave to Crissy, "You don't need to put emotion into every argument you have. Just talk about it." (along the lines of that, so thanks Devan :)

 

Now for, "The Funnies / Keep Sister Johnson sane / If you don't laugh you're going to cry MOMENTS":

 

1. This one cracks me up. Hahahah. Alright. We were teaching our other investigator Benoka and things weren't going to well. He could NOT understand our Kiribati, and we definitely didn't understand his. He wasn't acting interested and didn't even make eye contact with us. We struggled throughout the main portion of our lesson and Sister McDaniel asked him to read a scripture and he said no. We asked him to pray, he said no. He said something to us, but we couldn't figure it out. We were sitting on the edge of our chairs, trying so hard to get this man to act interested in what we had to say. After an awkward five minute pause, Sister McDaniel was so discouraged and frustrated that she threw her elbows on her knees and face in her hands and didn't realize but she was in more of a rocking chair type chair and fell over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahhahahahhahahaha. Oh it was so awkward. So funny though. So funny.

 

2. Latest find in the dictionary! batokiaa: a man with extraordinary strength, like to kill a dolphin or whale. Hahaha, what?

 

Well last thing: we made a dictionary! Our goal is to learn 15 words a day (so much harder than you would think) and we finally got enough to laminate! So we started our little dictionary of Kiribati.

 

Much much much love,

SJ

Sister Johnson.

Thank you for your prayers, I can feel them!