Missionary Mom

Some of the members on facebook Miranda's mom and gave her some photos.  Colleen Brown was recently baptized and here are all the missionaries.  

November 28th 2016

Hiya! This has been a pretty dry week in Dundee, it didn't seem to rain at all when we were out and about. It was so nice. But also it was pretty cold about 0 degrees Celsius or I think 32 degrees Fahrenheit... They say that it doesn't get colder than this in Dundee it just gets wetter... great. 

Last Monday we did the usual P-day stuff shopping, emailing and just needed to relax in the flat for once. That evening there was a ward activity of watching a lds movie, the Cokeville Miracle. It's about this guy that tries to blow up an elementary school with a hundred students in it, and how miracles that happen prevents there being any more deaths than the two perpetrators when the boom goes off. I highly recommend watching it. We were able to bring Frank (an investigator of ours) to the movie and it was really uplifting yet creepy movie. I felt super strange watching a movie when you're a missionary... 

On Tuesday  we had district meeting, in our district this transfer we have the Elders that share the Liff/Dundee 2nd Ward, Elder Wang (District leader) and Elder Charlesworth. Also in our district now we have the Perth Sisters, Sister Dahl and Sister May. Since I followed up trained Sister Dahl she's my step Daughter and Sister May is my step Granddaughter and then the Zone Leaders that are in the Bingham/Dundee 1st Ward. Elder Wang is from Beijing China, and is very Chinese in his mannerisms which made district meeting very interesting... He had us write down our actual key indicators for the previous week on the white board in front of everyone and talk about why they aren't better. I didn't like having everyone's numbers on the board next to each others. Elder Wang keeps talking about Belfast, the last and only area he has served in. He constantly compares the two areas to each other and tells us how much better the missionaries and the work was in Belfast.

That evening we taught Frank in a members home and the spirit was so strong and it felt right having Frank talking to other members and getting out of his tiny flat. If it wasn't for his addictions I believe he could get baptised in two weeks, this coming week Sister Truman and I are going to put all we have into getting him to stop drinking and smoking.

Wednesday was a busy day, saw Micheal, dropped by a less active Michelle and saw the Gilmores. 

Thursday Frank went to lunch with us at Hazel's house and I had my first taste of Haggies. She got it from the butchers on Perth Road and boiled it. It's something made in a sheep's stomach with lungs, intestines and other fun things and mixed in it is oats. I have to say it isn't that bad, she served it with Raddish, Potatos and Gravy. Personally I wouldn't go oh man I want to eat Haggis today! probably never actually, but if some one placed haggis infront of me and it wasn't from a can. I would just eat it. I can't think of anything to compare haggis to but it's just doesn't taste bad. We then saw Micheal again and he says that he believes in god now. He doesn't know how it happened but it's really weird because he feels like he's constantly being watched and it freaks him out. I guess for some one that didn't believe in God before, knowing that some one always has and does watch you is a creepy concept. It makes one have an increase in integrity. I just remembered we had Thanksgiving!! A recent convert in the Bingham Ward Colleen and another guy Kyle hosted a thanksgiving dinner for all of the Missionaries in Dundee. It was really sweet and Colleen attempted to make a thanksgiving feast. She tired her best and that's what counts. Besides from that it didn't really feel like thanksgiving.That evening we were GQing in the dark, and ran into two girls. We taught them about the Holy Ghost in McDonalds and one of them seems really interested in learning about Christianity. Hopefully we'll be able to see them next week. 

Friday was the same old stuff and so was Saturday. It was funny that there was all of these Black Friday Sales things but no thanksgiving. They don't sell pumpkin after Halloween so to make fake pumpkin pie they use sweet potato and it doesn't taste bad at all.

Sunday was church and we were at the building for a total of 6 hours that day. We had ward co-ordination before church and a master teacher class that evening. Micheal didn't make it to church because he felt nervous... he sent us a really troubling text and we thought he decided not to meet with us anymore. Later that day he called and said he wanted to speak to us. We met up with him and as we were walking to where we were going to see him Sister Truman said, that she felt like she was on her way to her boy friend's house and we were about to have 'the talk' to determine if we are going to break up or not. HAHA! It's all good he just apologies for not coming to church. We also taught Frank once again with Tiffany and Josh this time. 

This week was all about expressing and looking for gratitude, I need to be more aware of the blessing the lords as given me. The very fact that I live and have to ability to be happy and sad is something to be grateful for. Despite the trials we experience in this life we are able to endure through many of them with the lord's help. I am grateful for the ways he has provided for me to endure and follow his commandments. I know that he has given me more than I know. Like it says in Alma 34:38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessingswhich he doth bestow upon you.

I need to strive to live in thanksgiving daily for all that he has given me and I invite everyone that reads this to be express gratitude for all that you have and are. He has blessed you abundantly, search for these blessing and love what you are so fortunate to have available to you.

I had a fantastic week and hope that everyone else is doing well.

November 21, 2016

Hello EVERYONE!!

This week I have to say was the best week I've had in Dundee! Lots of different stuff happened all at once this week and it felt good to mix things up. I must mention though, it's FREEZING COLD. Right now there is frost all over the place, I thought when I saw it that it snowed while I was inside. It didn't... there is just a lot of moister and really really cold. I can't believe that it isn't even winter yet, It rained till about Wednesday I think and then after that it was just really really cold. I have no idea how I'm going to survive winter. To let you know of the complexities of trying to stay warm in Scotland as a Sister Missionary I'll write down some steps in the morning I do.

How to Say Warm in Scotland

1. Wear Cotton/Polyester Under Clothes

2. Place on Knitted tights

3. Tuck in a undershirt into the tights

4. Put on Thick long socks over tights

5. Pull on insulated leggings over socks and tights.

6. Wear a Blouse over undershirt and tuck it into leggings

7. Grab a skirt that's missionary appropriate

8. Wear a sweater over Blouse

9. Put on the heaviest coat you own

10. A beanie

11. Gloves with hand warmers

12. Over your neck wear a blanket scarf or a woollen scarf

13. Pull over the hood of the Coat and tuck hands into pockets

14. And finally put on your winter boots!!

After all of this you'll still be cold and your hands, feet and face will be numb!!! 😂 

Please if anyone has any suggestions on what else I could try out to stay warm I'm open to suggestions. One of these suggestions cannot be however staying inside, because we have a requirement of 22 hours of finding a week. And I hear it's winter here for 4 months...

So what did we do this week? Hummm...

Well on Monday we had P-day, We just did the usual nothing too special. Except!! I finally got my hair cut, it's been a really long time since I've gotten it done and it felt so good to get it trimmed. I also decided to keep my fringe/Bangs even though it's a struggle to manage in this weather. Sister Truman got her second coat to wear underneath her other one. After P-day ended we had dinner with Tiffany a recent convert and Cottage Evening once again. This time I didn't hurt my foot and we had a huge turnout of recent converts. It's so important here to try to strengthen those that are struggling changing their lives to live the Gospel Standards. 

The next day we had a lot of finding to we went and met up with Michael. With him we talked about Alma 36:26-end speaking about faith and such. He still doesn't feel ready to set a baptism date, and is leaving back to Jersey on December 15th I think. Hopefully he'll feel ready soon, but I really don't think he would until after like 6 months of investigating... 😖 We also stopped by a less active member Michelle, she's really cheeky she requests Sister Truman and I sing a song to her. So next week we are going to have something prepared for her. hehehe On the way down the stairs from her flat I saw a dog that looks so much like Oscar!! only Oscar is much older, fatter and larger in size. This dog was a Staffy with the same prints on his fur and was just standing under the stairs panting waiting to come inside to his flat. I felt a little bit emotional seeing that dog standing there, and gave it a good rub before leaving. I miss Oscar so much... 

Wednesday we had Zone Interview Training, it's like a meeting thing we do as a zone with the Mission President, his wife, STLs, APs and other speakers. It was pretty uplifting and gave us some awesome ideas to try out. I especially liked the 101 Ways To Do Missionary Work, pamphlet to give to Members when we visit their homes. We also challenge the members to do one thing that week and follow up on that thing later. While their I finally got some letters that were waiting for me at the mission home, YAY!! It was really nice. After ZIT we were surpose to meet up with Michael but he didn't show up, slacker!! We ended up walking back to city centre from Baxter Park and it was really cold walking after 4 o'clock it was already pitch black. It gets night time looking at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Thursday was a normal day of finding really hard, in the evening we tried this new thing we want to start in the ward called reach out night. It's when we get two sisters and two brothers in the ward going on Splits with missionaries. I thought it's pretty awesome, we just do it for an hour and a half going with a member teaching a investigator or visiting formers or seeing in-active members. The night before I was thinking about who I could visit and felt like giving Frank a call. He's a investigator that kinda dropped off the grid at the beginning of last transfer. He answered the phone and on Thursday Becky and I taught him. I re-committed him to be baptised and he agreed. Frank has had a really hard life and really wants to change things around through Christ. He found his friend dead two days ago and I taught him in more detail about what happens in the Spirit World, the spirit was so strong in the lesson. 

Friday was really really really cold, and that night it was suppose to get negative two degrees Celsius. The Christmas Lights were getting turned on that night and city centre looked like one big carvival. No one would talk to us and we felt invisible. And all of the crazy things going on were kinda distracting. We had to take a train to Edinburgh that night so things were just weird.

Saturday in Edinburgh I was with Sister Sams and we rocked it finding 9 Potential Investigators!! in 3 hours. I love GQing in Edinburgh you meet the coolest people and the city is beautiful. On the way back on the train that night, Sister Truman had a conversation with a drunk guy and she told him about what we do as missionaries. His name is Blair and he works on a oil rig. Some other drunk people were sitting behind us, they were all pretty nice and happy. The conversations they had to each other were really deep. Dundee when we arrived was all lighted up with Christmas lights and a huge Christmas tree!

Sunday we had Stake Conference, and one of the Seventy Elder Alan Phillips gave a talk, so did two members, Pres. Donaldson and Sister Donaldson and President Snee. It seemed to me be all about Member Missionary Work and reaching out to other people. I liked Elder Alan Phillips talk the best, it was all about how we should react to the promptings we receive to reach out to others and help them. God is trying to reach out to many of his children through his followers, we must be the light in the darkness to guild others. And how in Missionary work, there is away for everyone of us to participate in this work.

It's a really long email this week but it's been an awesome week and I just wanted to share. 

Stay warm!!

Sister Miranda Johnson,

November 13th 2016

Well what do I say about this week... It's been a really awful week in reality, I'm not going to exaggerate anything but tell it how it was. Last week I just had to usual P-day because Sister Truman and I are staying together in the same area this transfer. It's the first normal non different moves call I've ever had on my mission. I'm really glad to be staying here in Dundee with Sister Truman and I know that the both of us can still learn and grow together this transfer. It's a shorter transfer by a week and now I only have 4 more weeks left of this transfer before Christmas. Anyway, that wasn't the bad part of this week. Last Monday we had Cottage Evening, that's when the recent converts and investigators get together with the missionaries and some members in a members home and play games. We had a really good time but on the way there Sister Truman and I ran down a hill because we were running late, and I crushed my left foot in a strange way. It was super painful but I had to keep going and limped to the activity. The next morning at 1 am, I woke up to an ache in my left foot and couldn't walk on it. The pain intensified and I started to shivered from the pain. I called to Sister Truman and she was kinda freaking out, we called our leaders and they said just to elevate it and ice it until the morning. I was starting to think that I broke my foot or ankle. In the morning we went to the Hospital and they x-rayed it. It's fortunately not broken but I tore some of the ligaments in my foot. Great...

Tuesday was just going to the Hospital and Elevating my foot, Kyle and Colleen went to the doorway of our flat and kept us company. Wednesday I tried to walk on it but ended up limping/hopping a lot so we had some of the Keogh girls, help us. Sister Truman and one of them went GQing all day and another one would go with me and attempt to GQ and rested a lot. Because of that my foot got really big and the next day Thursday I tried to do a similar thing but it was a struggle so I was with Colleen in her flat. Friday it felt really weird not being with Sister Truman for almost 2 days in a row, so we spent the day GQing with each other and visiting a recent convert. Saturday I was falling unconscious because of exhaustion so in the late afternoon I ended up falling asleep at the Keogh's home while another girl went with Sister Truman. This week I felt so broken, sore, frustrated and tired. I will NEVER get sick or hurt EVER AGAIN!! it's the worst on your mission, I rather be outside in the freezing cold rain and getting rejected than not being able to do anything but be locked up in a flat for almost a whole week. I taught Michael, Patrick and Roisin this week and that was it.

We also got a new Zone Leader and District Leader. Elder Gibbs and Elder Wang. Gibbs is from Canada, haven't actually met him yet. Elder Wang is Elder Charlesworth's Companion in the Liff Ward, he's from Beijing China.  They have the District and Zone leaders call us every night. Personally I find it a bit annoying, they call us after 10 o'clock at night and I'm trying to get ready for bed. When they call us they just ask for our numbers (hours finding/teaching/potential investigators). 

I've decided that this next week is going to be awesome, nothing in Dundee is going to stop me! If I hurt my right foot, I'm going to just get crutches and keep going. (knocking on wood) 

Anyway, sorry that this email was lame.

Bye!

Guy Fox Night November 5th

Hello! 

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween!

This week was really strange and kinda sad, we had Halloween, Bon Fire night and terribly depressing weather. A lot of appointments fell through and some people that are recent converts cancelled or didn't show up multiple times this week. I'm doing okay though, just a little bit stressed out. For Halloween we had to be inside at 6 and the same for Bon fire night. Monday we went to a family home evening at the Keogh's home, they're a really big friendly family. They really adore Sister Truman so always want to have her over. Bon fire night was on Saturday evening, it's a celebration of Guy Fox, the man who tried to blow up the parliament building. The people here make huge bon fires and put a fake person in the fire on a stake in the middle of it. I would think that it would look kind of eerie but I never got to see it. They also set off a bunch of huge fireworks and play music along with it. It's seems to be just as big as fourth of July only most of it is the government lighting fireworks. People are allowed to buy fireworks here too but It seems to be much better to watch the concert like ones in the park. I hope that after my mission I'd be able to see bon fire night... 😕

We met a woman a week ago who approached us in the street about doing family history work and we said that we can definitely help her. We met up with her again at the Family History class and the members helped her out. She told us that it was very eye opening and she got emotional when she found out the names of her great grandparents . We asked her if she wanted to learn more about our church and she said yes. Unfortunately she had to cancel because she got sick, but we have her address and phone number so she won't get away HAHAH! Jk we don't stalk people... Family history is such a great missionary tool because when people know who their ancestors are they feel a closer relationship with them and we call that the Spirit of Elijah. 

Moves call was this Saturday and I'll be staying here with Sister Truman for another transfer whoop whoop! I'm happy that things will be staying the same, and I can really work this area out and we can make things actually MOVE this transfer. Next moves call is just before Christmas and I have a feeling that I might be the one to leave, who knows?

Bye for now!

Address for Letters

12 Dock Street Flat 5

Dundee, Scotland DD1 4BT

United Kingdom

Happy Halloween Everyone,

So I emailed more at the beginning of my P-day so nothing worth mentioning happened today.  We ran out of money this week so we were living off meal appointments bread, milk, eggs and oatmeal. Yummm... Amazingly we got offered to be feed 8 times this week, the members, recent converts and some of the investigators are awesome. I've been struggling to find miracles this week in the mission field, I really want to improve my finding efforts and try to be the best missionary I can be. Work in progress....

We finally saw Patrick and Rosin this week and they are doing well moving into their new house. I feel bad that it's taken us so long to see them, but they've been having a crazy schedule. I pray for a them to be baptized soon, because being investigators for over a year is getting really dangerous.

We also saw Michael like 4 times this week, we meet up with him in town, then on Friday we gave him a tour of the church because he was nervous about coming to Colleen's Baptism, he then went to the Baptism and went to Church this Sunday!! And said that he'll come next week too!! He's such a great guy, he's been keeping the Word of Wisdom ever since we taught him about it, except for a few times he accidently forgot. Michael is really nervous about telling his family about what he's been doing in his own words he said, "It'll be easier to say that I'm gay than to tell them that I'm a Mormon." Ouch... It's really sad to say though that in this day and age parents disown their adult children for joining the church. I always admire the dedication that people have for doing what they believe is right despite the consequences. 

On Tuesday President Donaldson, the Scotland Ireland Mission President, came to Dundee Zone and talked to us. He spoke about Ether 1 and 2, about the brother of Jared and prayer. He spoke about the way God requires us to be sincere in our Prayers and the ways God answers prayers, he then told us about his vision is to have Dundee Zone have 20 baptisms before the end of the year, which is a substantial amount in Europe. I know that President is a man of God and that we can accomplish this Goal with the help of our God. That would mean that for this Zone every companionship with have to baptize 2 souls and them some would need to bring another 6 souls. 

Colleen was baptized this week, she's an amazing girl about the same age as me. She's been introduced to the church about a year ago and was investigating with missionaries for 3 months. Elder Martin was the Missionary that really helped her have to desire to be baptized, he skyped into the baptism because he's home now. It was like three in the morning in Utah. It was the perfect baptism, she was well prepared for it. Afterwards we had lunch with her at Nando's for the tradition.

The brother of the Girl (Jon Schmidt's from the Piano Guys) that went missing is apparently in our mission, I admire him for continuing his service despite what is happening at home. So many missionaries have crazy stuff happening at home and yet they continue to do the work that their Heavenly Father has assigned them to do.

I hope that everyone is doing well.

October 24th, 2016

Hiya!

This week was kind of a drag, because I got the stomach flu right in the middle of it. We had to stay in the flat for a day and a half, so I wouldn't get any worst and it would be over quickly. I'm really noticing my weaknesses this transfer with myself in missionary work and regular stuff that I need to improve my skills at in life. One of which is organisation, I really need to be more organised and remember things to do. It doesn't help writing it down because when you actually need do be doing it I'm out in and about not looking at something all the time. I also need to work on team work, especially being a leader directing the team work. I need to be helping my companion know what she needs to be doing to help the effort, I shouldn't just expect that she'll know what to do and how to do it. I also need be a WAY better a GQing, Oh how I wished we learnt how to have a conversation with random people on the street. It's just been a week of humility and learning for me. This is basically how my days went this week:

Monday: Cleaning flat then GQing at night

Tuesday: Assistants to the President or APs, came to our zone and we had a Zone Conference on the big 5, and role playing them in our District meetings. Which are things that our mission has, but are in Preach My Gospel only simpler. We role played the Holy Ghost Principle, Sister Truman rocked it! I'm so proud of her. But none of it was me, she's an awesome missionary. Afterwards all of us Sisters in the Zone went out and ate McDonalds... yumm. It wasn't that bad, they have these wraps now or they are just in Europe, but they taste pretty good and cheap. I also love their Cadbury McFurry Flavours. ANYWAY! We then were suppose to see a Recent convert but she never showed up. and the rest of the day was alright. Ended with Ward Council and Ward Co-ordination. I love going to these meetings because it helps me get to know the ward better, helps me give the Ward opportunities to help us and we can help them as well in their missionary work. 

Wednesday: I woke up at 4am feeling sick and then spent the morning wandering around town like a zombie till the Elders were able to give me a blessing which told me I should stay in the flat and rest. 

Thursday: Couldn't leave the flat all day...

FRIDAY: SO MUCH FINDING! and went to the wards Curry and Desert Night. Only in the UK you would have something called a Curry and Desert Night. Sister Truman was blessed to have her first curry. I could not believe that I've had two companions that had their first curry with me.

Saturday: MORE FINDING, a few appointments fell through again. In the Evening we went to Sister Cavin's, she's a mother of 7 boys!!! 30ish to 20ish now. It's starting to get dark at 5pm now, so it's scary to be out and about talking to people on the street when it's pitch black.

Sunday: Church, and had a Baptism this evening of a young man called Sam. He was a former investigator that an Elder found a few months ago and then the Elder returned to the same area. Randomly met Sam on the street again and started to teach him. He then had a change of heart and wanted to get Baptised. It had a powerful spirit at his Baptism, I love watching people come unto Christ. I can't wait to have my own investigators enter the gate of Eternal Life.

Monday/Today: We went shopping for Sister Truman's backpack. Yeah we are allowed those in this mission, I wish I knew before I left. :P And then doing some finding tonight.

Hope every has a good week!