Barbara, Sister Stein and Sister Johnson
Transfer day from Dublin, Ireland to Perth, Scotland

Transfer Day: Perth, Scotland

To EVERYONE

I have some sad news. This week is moves week, and so every transfer is like 4-6 weeks long usually. Sister Stein and I didn't think we would move because I'm still in training and it's her last transfer. She goes home in 6 weeks!! She was so sad when we got the call. We have so many great friends in the Ward and loved our investigators. I feel like we are needed here, but I guess the Lord has other plans for us in... Perth!! oh my goodness it's happening I'm going back to Perth, not Perth Australia but Perth Scotland!! I'm going to have lived in 3 different countries this year and It's only July. It's crazy that we are moving so far away, We haven't packed yet and there's another story of what happened this week I'll talk about later. We are going to have to pass everyone on to the Elders and I really hope they are not forgotten. I'm especially worried about a few of them, one of them; the guy from Iraq has had an especially hard time lately. His Father and Uncle were killed this week, he's so worried about his family and it breaks my heart hearing about. He's such a sweet guy, he doesn't know what to do and is really depressed. We send him messages and I know that he needs friends right now, I really hope the Elders will be helping him but I'm not so sure...

There is also another awesome lady that we visit that has MS, she can't have Elders visit her because she lives alone. And there isn't any sisters moving in to the ward this transfer. Gosh, I don't like this but I need to trust the Lord that he knows what he's doing.

So this week in general was a struggle, we couldn't get back to a lot of our people but some of them eventually responded on Sunday... great. But it's okay the Elders will catch them for us. But the Worst was at 12:30am on Friday. A fire alarm woke me up and it sounded distant and not really urgent. So we just laid in bed for a bit, until I decigded to check outside. I looked out and saw a red flashing light on the wall next to the window outside. hummm... I went to the back door and opened it and the alarm sounded really close. I decided it must be a fire alarm also when I realized the electricity was not working too, I told Sister Stein to get out of bed and we got our coats and shoes on. Walking into the hallway we saw a group of people standing around, there was a guy that had a tool box and told us that the Firemen called him. He explained what was going on. So there was smoke in the basement and in an electrical room some of the plugs were melted and every pipe in the building was electrified. We know now that it was a power surge, there is still no electricity and only a little bit of water. We ended up moving into a flat that was empty, and it was previously an Elders flat, it's smelly and gross. We cleaned it on Sunday because we thought we would be living there for awhile, and thought we won't move at all. It's disgusting, Elders don't know how to be clean. Even after we cleaned it still smelt like old farts and weed. So when we found out we are leaving it's was really stressful because our stuff is in two different flats, tonight we are going to be basically camping in the other flat with no water or electricity. We leave to Perth at 6 am and will be travelling all day. Elder Peterson is coming with us because he's going to be a Zone Leader in the Zone next door to us.The others are staying, and the Zone Leaders are moving into our Flat. 

Dublin is one of the easiest areas in the mission so I have no idea what to expect what Perth will be like. I'm going to miss the different cultures, the Elders, the ward and the familiar places. Just when I was getting comfortable with everything we have to leave... Sorry everyone that was going to Dublin and hoping to run into me. :( 

One of our investigators is going to be Baptised on Friday so I'm excited to hear about what happens then. 

I just want to share my testimony that I know the message I share is important that what I'm doing is of great significance, that there are people out there searching for the truth. Everyone must have the opportunity to choose to follow the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to find out for themselves if this is the truth. I know that if some one sincerely searches for the truth, by reading the Book of Mormon, learn from the missionaries and pray, asking God if this is the truth. Then the Holy Ghost/Spirit will testify to them that this is true. 

Sister Johnson,

Bab's place with 500 Cadbury Chocolate putting them in baggies for gifts.

Waiting in line at the Garda station at 4 am

Hey Everyone!

This week has been awesome! Sister Stein and I invited 5 people to be baptized and they all accepted! I'm so excited for the many awesome new friends we are getting to know and taught this week. We have a two Brazilian women, a guy from Bangladesh, another from Malawi, another from somewhere else in Africa and meet many other awesome people as well. It's so funny that  in Dublin we teach more foreigners than Irish, maybe perhaps I think I've only taught foreigners since I got here. It seems as though Ireland is easier to do international study and work visas than any other European country from what I get speaking to the people in the street. Yes, I know the UK has left the EU, it was a surprise to everyone it seems. I think this will get Wales and Scotland to finally break way because I don't think they wanted to leave the EU, we'll see what happens I guess. Anyway back to the mission, We have so many recent converts who are Brazilian in the ward and a lot of them don't speak English well, in the ward in general there is quite a variety of people but the Brazilians are the friendliest and nicest group of people I've ever meet so far. We had some pretty great meals with the members this week, and I'm so happy to have such kind and helpful members to teach with. Back home I would definitely encourage you to offer to help teach with the missionaries, having a member present in a lesson is so important. We sisters especially need another woman present in a lesson in  order to teach a man, and it's great for the investigator to have a friend in the ward. I know for some this is news you already know, but investigators that came from a referral from a member is more likely to be baptized, I think an important reason for this is because they know what the members are like and feel more comfortable going to church if they know some one there. 

I'm so grateful for the Brazilian members who teach with us because one of the new investigators we are teaching, Veri (shortened), she can't speak English and so we had a return missionary from Brazil, Giselle teach with us. We couldn't teach without out her, I know Veri is so prepared and ready to hear the gospel. When Giselle bore her testimony in Portuguese the Spirit was so strong in the room. Even though I don't know exactly what she was saying, Sister Stein and I were getting teared up. Teaching this week I've felt the Spirits presence so strong during the lessons with a lot of these people. Teaching the other Brazilian, Magli was an awesome experience too. When I asked about what she thought about the Book of Mormon she said that it made so much sense that Christ visited and taught other people. She says that she knows that Christ loves everyone so why wouldn't he visit everyone else that wasn't in the Middle East. I feel like these two women has such a personal connection with the Book of Mormon because it's about their people, I'm so excited for them to read the moment in the Book of Mormon when Christ comes down and speaks to the ancient Americans. I know that they'll both find out for themselves that the Book of Mormon is true if they read, ponder and pray about it.

I've meet other awesome people to besides Brazilians, but they are the first women that I've taught and feel pretty good about.

The weather in Dublin has been rainy, every day it rains... I don't like the rain. There has also been a lot of excitement about the LGBT parade on Saturday, Literally the whole city was along the main road cheering at the parade. We went into the center to meet up with the Elders for lunch at Boogums (a fast food burrito place, it's okay but I don't want to eat there everyday like the Elders 🌯) And they were way to excited about it. I don't think it's smart for us missionaries to be anywhere near the parade, some of the Elders had people take photos with them. And I'm thinking it's really dumb... but whatever it's their decision. The Parade was kinda respectful, but really weird and crazy with men dressed as women and rainbow every where and just strangeness all around. It make our day entirely unproductive because the buses didn't run properly and no one wanted to talk to us, I personally didn't want to talk to someone about religion, then have them ask questions or immediately come to conclusions and start arguing with me.  Sister Stein and I had a dinner appointment with Giselle and Paulo the next day and they told us the LGBT parade is super sketchy, with some inappropriate things, so I respected that this parade wasn't that bad. 

Another disturbance to the peace of finding is the Football game, every time Ireland plays the Pubs are full and the streets are empty. It's hilarious how important sports is to a culture, I personally don't know what the excitement is ever for. 

My mum asked about the Elders in the district so now that I know all their names I can finally talk about them without being embarrassed. Elder Matthews came the same day I did from New Zealand, he's super tall and quiet but has a interesting personality. His companion is the beloved Elder Forward from Whales, he's kinda short so it's funny seeing the tall dark skinned Quiet Elder next to the loud short white Elder. Elder Forward has quiet the confident personality but kinda immature, all of the Elders are like that though...

Elder Peterson is the District Leader and he's from Idaho. He's really short and looks young, his companion Elder Trease is from Ogden Utah. All of the Elders text and call Sister Stein way too much and about the dumbest things. Even though they are "Flappers" it's nice to have other Missionaries near by, I love running into them in the street because it gives me confidence and makes me feel like I'm not alone.

We went to Babs and did some service for her, putting a bunch of chocolate bars in baggies for her friends in Utah that she's visiting soon. She used to work for Cadbury so she has a thing for chocolate. She literally has 500 chocolate bars I feel like in her house. Or more. I'll send a picture.

Anyway LOVE YOU ALL!! And have a wonderful week 

Sister Johnson

Miranda with her rain jacket.  Might be a bit short and Mum has to get her a longer one.

Streets of South Dublin, Ireland

Hey Everyone!

I'm having a day where I just don't want to write so I'm just going to try my best, okay?

So this week was up and down, but better than last week. We have a few more investigators and I'm really excited about them! We finally got to teach some women which is AWESOME! We meet up with a Romanian and a Brazilian, on Friday I think... and they both don't speak or understand English very well. I wish I could speak 3 billion languages as usual. We have so many Book of Mormons in different languages, it's really cool to see that no matter where you come from the Gospel is forever one and we make it easier for people to learn it in their own language so they can understand. But it's still important that they understand and know what we are saying as Missionaries. The Elders type Preach My Gospel into Google Translate to teach some of their investigators, I feel like it's super awkward to do that. And I don't know how they get people to come if they don't even understand what they are coming for... it's funny. :P 

It's been getting to be real Irish 'summer' now. Before this week it's been kinda sunny and warm, they called in a heat wave. But now it rains everyday and my hair looks like puff, I wash going to try and find a straightener but I don't think there is any point with this humidity. The Irish had a Football game this week so on the day of the game there was, zero point in finding because every one was heading to the bar to get drunk and watch the game. It started at 2 o'clock so it was especially early for that to begin. And I'm sorry to say that Ireland lost. I believe that was the day where we had the first lessons with the investigators, so we were productive. 

All in all, today wasn't that bad of a week. I got to have some fun along the way.

I hope everyone has a good week.

Love you,

Sister Johnson