On Splits in Edinburg 

Day Proselyting in Edinburgh

Hellooooo

So as always in mission life it feels like an emotional roller coaster. We've been so busy these past few days, teaching, visiting and finding. On Tuesday we got to visit the STL (sister training leaders) in Edinburgh and do splits with them. I got the awesome German Sister Muller, it was a really good day of talking to random people in the streets and I've realized even more how awesome it would be to have an area in the city because there are such a wider variety of people that would actually stop and listen to you. We even had a first lesson with this young woman who we just barely met. Time just flew by so quickly that day, we ended the day reading the Book of Mormon with a recent convert and even went finding with him. I loved Edinburgh, it's such a cool city and I'd feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve there eventually. But we'll see. Sorry that I didn't take any pictures of the city, we were just far too busy that day. 

Wednesday we were walking briskly back to our car because our parking ticket was about to expire when Sister Stein stopped this rough looking guy walking out of a shop. We told him briefly about what we do and asked if he had time for us to talk to him more about what we believed. He said he did so we went to Starbucks to talk to him about the Gospel and the Holy Ghost. He seems to be interested so we got another appointment with him on Thursday. We decided it would be good to teach him at the chapel and on the way the man ran into a recent convert David and David walked him the rest of the way to the chapel. We showed the man around the building with Brother Johnstone and we really felt the spirit as the members basically taught the man about the church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Even though this man has gone through so many hard things in this life I have faith that God sent him to us and we feel really hopeful about this coming week with him. 

Another good story is about this ex-commmunicated guy Billy, the missionaries have been seeing forever. Sister Stein and I decided to go through all of the first lessons you teach someone before baptism. In that time since we've first meet him to now he's progressed so far. When he was first baptised he didn't quit smoking and drinking but now he's gone two weeks without smoking!! You can see a light growing in his eyes and the power of the atonement working within him. I have such a strong testimony now in the power of change that the gospel has on people. He called us randomly on Thursday telling us he's ready to go back to Church!! (such a big step he's had some hard feelings preventing him) Saturday morning was we were preparing for the day I got a strong impression that Billy was ready to be re-baptised soon, Sister Stein felt the same way and he brought it up in the lesson that day!! We spoke to the branch president and he needs to make some calls to check things, but both him and us don't think it's going to be that serious, fingers crossed!!

Even though he isn't technically an investigator it's still awesome to be in the role where we are bring people closer to our Heavenly Father and Savior. I feel so honored to be in the role and I can feel such a great responsibility being here.

Perthshire is such a beautiful place, on our way back from knocking on a former investigator's door we had to pull over and check out an amazing lake. There were swans in it and the sun was kinda setting. I love the scenery all over here.

Have a great week!! 

Sister Johnson,

Aussie American BBQ at a ward function

Hey Guys!

So first of all I'm going to apologise if this email sounds depressing, every missionary I feel like has one of these weeks in the mission.

So a whole bunch of people that we've been teaching about 80% of them has dropped us this week, just stopped answering the phone or the door. The girl Isabella that was suppose to be baptised just disappeared off the map. It's kinda frustrating that people don't understand that we are only here for them, not for us. So we continue to have hope and feel concern for people when they don't answer the phone. I think it's just they might be too scared to tell us upfront that they are not interested anymore.

What my companion and I are doing right now if to doing right now is finding new people to teach, It's really difficult but we will succeed. You haven't failed until you've given up. Those are words I'm living by right now.

One positive thing that has strengthened me and given me smiles is the Members, they are so great in inviting us over for dinner and inviting us to a BBQ they has this Saturday. I helped with the BBQ in the beginning because no one knew what they were doing. HAHA!! fortunately a Polish man came later and did a much better job than what I was doing. A member took photos, I'll try and get them. It's fun getting to know the members and I hope I'll be able to help them get closer to one another. I never realised till this week that for some people having friendships in the ward is so important for them to remain active in the church. It's kinda sad to me when people don't get fellow-shipped or someone offends them and they just stop going. I didn't think some people's salvation would be so lenient of those they attend church with. Don't get me wrong though, it's really fantastic when a group of people join together and strengthen one another in the sharing of testimonies, friendships and the strength of the Spirit it combined. I hope that this Branch will be able to come closer to one another and enjoy lasting friendships, and not have barriers between themselves. The biggest barrier I think for us missionaries in this area is for people to feel comfortable and have friendships so once they are baptised they stay active. Let me know if any of you have tips or ideas for things that I as a missionary can help.

Last P-day we went to a trail and saw this awesome waterfall/river thing. The drive out there was amazing, so many trees and greenery I loved it!

We also did some adventuring to, we decided to drive out of a random village near Newburgh but on the way we came upon a CASTLE, well it might not have been a castle but an entrance of a wall. It still looked super cool. So sneakly we climbed over a gate and ran across a field. It was very lumpy with some mud and tall scratchy plants; picture us doing this in our skirts wearing tights and flats, Running as fast as we can aswell. When we got to the "Castle" it was pretty epic looking, with a river going underneath it and plants growing all around it. We took pictures next to it and then ran across the field again. Jumped over the gate and drove off as fast as we could. When we got to the Village it took us 5 seconds to drive through it... So we just drove back to Newburgh to continue finding. Some times you just need something to lift you up after a depressing day.

The weather here is so weird, some days we had it's been hot and sunny but other's it rains on and off. Lately it's been crazy every day, I feel so fortunate to have a car. Also I haven't seen the sun in a month so enjoy it if you have it. It doesn't feel like summer at all here.

Hope you all are enjoying the sunshine!

Love, Sister Johnson

Ireland's countryside

Dublin, Ireland

July 18, 2016 Perth, Scotland

Hello!

This week has been pretty alright. We have a few awesome lesons this week, one of which was with this wonderful Catholic Couple. They are both very active in their faith, but are still so open and friendly to us missionaries. Sister Stein and I were invited into their house and gave the 1st lesson with then about the Restoration. It was so scary talking about Joseph Smith and both me and Sister Stein were so flushed from the excitement and fear. I really felt the spirit with us when I recited the First Vision, we even invited them to be Baptised! They said that if they read the Book of Mormon and Pray about it and recieve an answer from God that this is true then they will be Baptised into the LDS Church!! Sister Stein and I just need to have Faith in the converting power of the BOM and the Holy Ghost.

There are so many different Christian Churches around here it gets annoying when people just answer to us saying, As missionaries we teach people about Jesus Christ and his Gospel and then people reply, I already have my church BYE. Or I already believe in Christ, so NOT INTERESTED, then slam the door shut. 
I guess people are not wanting more in their lives. I think it's funny though when people invite us to come inside for some coffee or tea, and also say they are comfortable in their own church and don't want to change, it wastes our time... Yesturday though we did come inside because she seemed like she really needed to talk about some things that have been bothering her. I shared some spiritual thoughts and we also talked alittle bit of the 1st lesson to her and her friend and even said a closing prayer. What was also awkward about that converstation is how defensive she got about her Bible and didn't like the King James Bible. And when we talked about Joseph it got really upset and her firend changed the converstation and said SO AUSTRALIA... HAHAHAHAHA! Don't get me wrong I liked them both and I really think I helped them, but as Missionaries we need to be bold and share the Gospel to everyone.  It was a really powerful moment when I shared what I believed about our purpose in life and why we go through trials. In the end Sister Stein said the prayer and we left our number with ther. Even though we won't baptise them or never see them again for that matter, we got them to know about what the LDS Church believes and left a good impression on them of what LDS Missionaires are like. I love those kinda conversations some times, when I really want to put myself in Christ's point of view, of loving and caring for people I don't even know. I want to fullfill my purpose as a Missionary and Help people come closer to Jesus Christ. 

Perthshire is so Beautiful and there is about 3 castles that are near us that I really want to see, and SO MANY CATHEDALS. Really old ones, even in the really tiny villages that have at least one. It's both a good and bad thing, good they look awesome, bad everyone thinks they already have their religion. Aparently I heard from Sister Anderson, some of Outlander is filmed here. I really wished I saw Brave Heart before I got hear because the Scottish seem to be obsessed with that movie. The weather has been okay, for Scotland but still rains a little everyday. Fortunately we have a car, but it makes it harder to go GQing (finding in the streets) when it's pouring. 

BYE!!

SISTER JOHNSON,