June 12, 2017

Hello everyone! 

It's been an alright week here in Paisley. On Monday guess what Sister Ligertwood and I found at the Breahead Mall!!???!?!?!

BOOST JUICE!

most of you are probably thinking, why would Sister Johnson be so excited about Boost Juice? yes it is a smoothie place, but not only that it's an Australian Smoothie Brand and it's in Paisley! I was so excited you wouldn't believe. I haven't had a boost juice in 6 or 7 years and It was just as good as I remembered it to be. My Parents and Siblings must be so jealous right now. I ❤ Boost Juice. It's way better than any other smoothie place I've had and it's pretty natural too.

Well I'm done with the most exciting thing that happened this week. Really it was crazy weather, some times hot other times cold, windy and raining. We had a dinner appointment every night this week except for one night. And I got to met some of the members, don't ask me though what their names are because I suck with names.

Some funny things that happened this week

we were GQing in the early afternoon and I tried to talk to this man on the street as he walked past. He stopped looked at me and pointed at a black badge with white typed words on it (I guess awkwardly made to look like my missionary badge) And it said "I think therefore I'm an Atheist" The guy took the time to make a badge, print it off, laminate it and pin it to his jacket just so he could show it to some missionary on the street of Paisley today. It was poorly made as well. I'm sorry sir, if you took the time to make that badge just to show me. I think you're the one who wasn't thinking. 

Another one happened while we're finding on Saturday night and everyone was drunk on the streets. It was Scotland vs. England game and a ton of guys were wearing kilts. Three men were talking to Sister Ligertwood and I, on of them was completely wasted and gave Sister Ligertwood a Scotland Flag.

The Elders in Paisley had a baptism this week too and it was really nice. The Relief Society had a dinner and paid for us to come too, it was at a little Italian Restaurant. We got one new investigator named Ryan this week as well.

Besides from this nothing else really happened. Just finding on the streets, and trying not to get wet.

In my studies this week I've been getting kinda into D&C 88. It's got some deep doctrine stuff in it that I really enjoy thinking about, such as about the Kingdoms of Glory, resurrection, judgement, and the Second coming. It's amazing how much we know about Heavenly things that so many other religions has so little knowledge about even the simple questions like. Why did God create us? Why are we on earth? Where are we going after this life? If you believe there's a God why don't you think he would have a purpose for you? Especially if this God loves you. So back to my studies.

In D&C 88 it teaches us that there is different Glory for each kingdom and laws that those who live there must obey. (D&C 88:22-24) Then it tells us that "All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified." (39) "For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgement goesth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things." (40) goes on talking about all the wisdom and knowledge and understanding of God. But basically I think that it's just teaching us hear that every being that possesses the traits of a kingdom of Glory would want to be there. If we have the qualities and traits that are closer to those in the terrestial kingdom we would want to be there. It isn't just a matter that God judges us and places us in a kingdom. We choose where we want to be. 

D&C 88:63 says, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you." We are the ones that need to make the step, have the desire to be closer to him or even know him.

It talks a little about missionary work in this section and the second coming. But I don't really have to time to talk more about it. I was listening to some John Bytheway talks and in one it says that some people say it bothers them when they don't understand some thing in the scriptures. But really what should bother us is the things we do understand because that's what the Lord is trying to tell you. 

D&C 88:49 "...the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God..." one day we will all get it so don't worry about it. 😊

I encourage you all to study D&C 88 some time, it's my favourite scripture right now.

 

Hope everyone is doing well,

bye​

June 5,2017

Hello! 

I can't believe I've been on my mission for over a year! Time is starting to move quickly on my mission and I'm afraid I'll be home before I know it. Paisley is full of so many different characters, it kinda makes Finding on the street fun. The weather this week started off Sunny and warm, not it's rainy and cloud. Sister Ligertwood is a pretty fun companion, we do a lot of good work together. I'm excited to spend a transfer with her.

So on Tuesday I had the chance to go to the baptism of my investigator Daniel in Ayr, it's only at 30 minute train ride and I only needed permission from my zone leaders. Daniel was pretty cool to teach because we met him and three weeks later was baptized. We had no problems with the process of him preparing for baptism, he just did what we asked him to do because he had faith and trust to receive the promised blessings. Daniel felt the spirit and recognized it. His parents also came to the Baptism and wanted to take Sister Parker and me out to lunch, before they are so grateful for making Daniel the happiest he's ever been in 10 years. Seeing people change their lives like this makes all this hard work worth it in the end.

A funny thing happened on the train when we were travelling home. A woman had a bottle with fizzy stuff, she shook it for some reason and liquid burst out of the bottle and hit the window next to her, on the ceiling and on the window on the other side of the train. pretty impressive, I must say.

We were basically trying to build up our teaching pool this week and met a lot of random people​​. They aren't too promising but, hey it's a teaching pool kinda. Man called Moses from somewhere in South America, he just moved to Paisley and we see him every day. He's catholic but interested in learning about our church so we give him unplanned street lessons every other day. Lucky for him he just got a flat down the road from us so we can see him even more often. 😉 We met a man called Raj from India my first day here and tried to teach him twice but he couldn't understand a word, I'm not too sure if it's the gospel he's interested in. A polish young man, Kasper, texted us on our way back from the baptism, I'll add one of the text messages in a picture. But basically he saw "passion in my eyes" and wanted to get ice-cream with me, Sister Ligertwood texted for me and told him sure but I'll need to bring a friend and we are missionaries. So we did get ice-cream and told him next time could we teach him about our church and he said yes. 

 

Met the members on Sunday and it was really weird how this church building is exactly the same as the Ayr building. So many noisy children here, it feels kinda like my home ward during sacrament meeting.  I was forced to give the first testimony is fast and testimony meeting and introduce myself. Not too fun, I do bare my testimony is sacrament meeting most months. But it was uncomfortable doing it my first day and to be the first person. 😣

15th May 2017 Mother's Day

Happy Mothers Day Yesturday!

It feels a bit awkward to email right now because yesturday I got to Skype. Not much has happened this week, on Monday the District came to the Ayr Ward and we ate Haggis. I don't particularly like Haggis, I like it as much as I like Peanut Butter. Which means I'll eat it with other stuff but I rather not have it at all. On Monday that was it, Tuesday Sister Parker and I woke up at 5am to take a train to Glasgow then to Edinburgh for a conference. It was a combination of Paisley, Glasgow and Edinburgh Zone. There was a lot of different stuff talked about but as usual I got that I need to be a better missionary than I am. Wednesday we taught Daniel again, he's doing really well. Daniel didn't come to Church this Sunday because on Friday he went to a Priesthood activity and is still in pain from the effort. 🙁 Daniel is praying everyday night and morning, he says that since he started doing that he's felt an peace in his life and doesn't worry about things that he used to. I think Daniel is going to be a spiritual giant in a few years if he keeps going like he is. Paula and Niall was suppose to get baptized together this weekend but Paula wasn't ready for it. Niall got baptized though and it was so cool. On Sunday he received the Holy Ghost and the Aaronic Priesthood! My recent convert Chris got to bless the sacrament for the first time this Sunday! I'm so proud of everyone, they grow up so fast! 😢

Really besides from all of this not much has happened this week. Probably only have 2 weeks left in Ayr not, which is really sad. I'm going to feel sorry to leave all of the wonderful people I've been fortunate to teach. I love being a missionary on weeks like this, making friends and helping them find Christ. I found a scripture last week that stuck with me in Hebrews 5 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Through the things Christ experience he was made perfect. He went through all the struggles we've been through, the purpose of him and us coming here is to gain experience. But it's only by obedience during these trials and enduring well that we can gain eternal salvation, becoming who we are meant to be. 

Love all of you!​

March 3, 2017

Hiya Everyone!

This week we weren't able to do much work in our area. There was a Scotland South Conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday, for the missionaries in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paisley Zones. They spoke about what we call the Big 5, stuff we use unique to our mission (My Conversion Formula, How to get a qualified appointment, At Church Checklist and Holy Ghost Principle), also a bit about Jospeh Smith history, giving Joseph Smith a voice when we teach the Restoration, How to set Goals (Desire, Vision, Goals, Plan and Action) I like when president said in one email. A Goal without a plan is Fish without Chips. After the conference my district and some members of my zone had interviews with the Mission President. Sister Parker and I ended up being the last people to get interviewed, for dinner President and Sister Donaldson took us and the APs for dinner at 5 guys. It's like a little piece of home. Since President was going to Glasgow that night he offered to drive us to Glasgow train station. So off we went. On the way we got lost... I'm not going to say whose fault it was. (not mine) And we had to spend the night at the Glasgow STL Flat. Hahaha!!

The next day we had to run out of the train station in Ayr to our appointment with Dani (the Pakastani man we met a couple weeks ago). It was really cool. He asked us what was the difference between the catholic church and the lds church. We planned on teaching the Restoration so it was perfect. I think it went pretty well. We invited him to hear the prophet and his Apostles speak at General conference this weekend. We also saw Chris this week which was really cool. He's progressing so much and the Spirit was so strong in the lessons. Everything we teach him, he says it makes sense. He went to General Conference on Sunday at the church, he went to the Priesthood and the Sunday Morning Session. (For those who don't know what General Conference is, it's a world wide broadcast that happens twice a year. Members of the Twelve (Quorum of the Twelve Apostels)  and the First Presidency (Prophet and his two counsellors) Speak and as well as some of the members of the other Presidences (Primary, Young men, young woman and Relief Society) and also the Seventy. They talk about church things, invite us to act, do announcements and there is a choir singing as well. Each session is two hours long we have General Womans conference and Priesthood Conference as well) We met a new first Nioimi, she's amazing! Nioimi is 22, a college student and is so open to the Spirit. In our first lesson with her this week she exclaimed that she felt like her heart was beating so fast when we were teaching about Joseph Smith, she went to Conference for one of the sessions and loved it. I'm so excited about some of the People we've been teaching I could talk forever about them.

General Conference was really good. I think as a Missionary sitting through hours and hours of conference is alot eaiser to consentrate and not get distracted. I loved Carol McConkie's talk in the Women's general Session about making ourselves Holy, Dale G. Renlund on how Jesus Christ looks upon our sins, Russel M. Nelson about how the Atonement is nothing without talking about the Saviour and who he is, Robert D. Hales becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ we need to be not only emulating him in our actions but in our hearts and how each of the attributes help strengthen one another such as Faith increase as we strive to be more Virtuous. When we develop Tempreance we develop Patience. Elder Holand on the Chourous of Mortality, Peace can only be achieved if all Loves God and Keep his commandments. God is determind to make us more than we think we can be. Gary B. Stalin, Standing up on the inside. Joy D. Jones helping children become sin resistant.

So good ❤

We had exchanges in Glasgow this week. I actually really like Glasgow. It's a really cool city with such a diversity of Nationalities. So much history and variety. Got to stop and talk to so many different people. I'll send some photos I took of the cool musium that we got to teach in.