3/ 10/ 14

So yeah. And I bought stamps at the store. So that is a record of my credit card use. What hotel do you stay at when you come here? We passed a bunch the other day and it made me wonder. I usually eat a smoothie or this organic nonGMO cereal with fruit and almond milk for breakfast. and for lunch I make salad with red wine vinegar and oil, or veggies and sweet potatoes or both or a cheese crisp if I am lazy. I try to eat healthy. LAST NIGHT A MEMBER MADE LEGIT INDIAN FOOD FOR US IT WAS SO GOOD. I ate too much. but it was worth it. From the Burton family. they are adorable. He made homemade Paneer. that is cheese. and then made a dish with that and spinach in it. and the other was Chicken karma. and it was so good. made me miss your cooking. And I miss helping you in the kitchen. Family is important. I probably will live close to home when I am married because I don't want to live far away from you guys

This week was so so so so so good. so good!  MIRACLES. We have a new investigator (hallelujah), Selena, and when we were teaching her she recognized that we were representatives of Jesus Christ and said "I can feel God telling me through you that everything is going to be okay and that he loves me." and she cried. It was such a special experience. She isn't married to the head of the household. That's the hold up. they have to live the law of chastity to get baptized. But we'll get her. There's another investigator we got this week, Kat, who is a recovering drug user. She straight up is legit and so hilarious and humble. She knows that she is weak and through God can be made strong. So awesome. She is struggling with organized religion. but if she prays I know god will answer her prayers and she will want to partake of the sweet blessings of organized religion. God is a god of order. Organization is godlike. it's really hard to get investigators to church. they have to go 4 times before getting baptized. Also I invited Kat to be baptized in our second lesson. hahahahahah hilarious. She said she would think about it. There will be a baptism in this ward before this next transfer is over.

 

I am glad all is well at home. "By controlling our reactions, being calm and temperate and avoiding contention, we will begin to qualify for the gift of meekness." meekness is a gift from god and pretty much required to be like Christ. I need to work on that. "Meekness is the quality of those who are godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering. Those who possess this attribute are willing to follow Jesu Christ, and their tempest is calm, doctile, tolerant, and submissive." and Moroni 7:43:44, 10:32, go along so well with that. Meekness. I want to be meek like Christ.  the quotes were from... oh wait I didn't write it down haahhahahahaa whoops. an apostle

 

So grateful for good friends of Mesa. "friends are those who make it easy to live the gospel of Jesus Christ." -Elaine S Dalton- just a random thought. So grateful to have grown up in such a strong ward, in such a strong family, and in such a strong group of friends. Love you all!!

 

hey don't move. I bet you won't before July 2015.

 

First transfer IS OVER AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRANSFER AND SISTER RESPECIA AND I ARE BOTH STAYING HERE FOR THE NEXT TRANSFER. it's so good because we have a lot to accomplish. SisR will be here for 9 months in this area at the end of this transfer. LOL HAHAHAAHAH I will die if I stay in an area that long (KNOCK ON WOOD OH NO I CURSED IT)

 

Anyways. this week was amazing. I will write more in my letter home. Just so you know. I send one every week! so if lexi harbors them in her car again-- BEAT HER)

 

HOLLA Elder Anderson is coming on Saturday to talk to us missionaries of the Rancho mission. So excited. I love you!

Love sister Johnson

 

also if you send us anything. send dried mango. sister respecia and I love it. especially her. cause she is filipino

 

February 24th EMAIL! SISTER JOHNSON

I am so glad that you guys feed the ward missionaries often. I am so grateful to be fed. And I love it when members ask us what we would like to eat. I always tell them vegetables. hahahah! Dad told me that you guys sent a picture of the elders to their moms? I bet they died of happiness. Take care of them and give them food. hahaha there's a family here- the churchills- that always give us random food and soda and candy. Although I don't drink or eat the bad stuff, I'm grateful that they take care of and watch out for us.

THIS WEEK WAS GOOD.

So WE GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR. Finally!! haha

His name is Reuben. We were in a neighborhood, parked and sitting in our car and sister respecia rolled down the window when he walked past and yelled at him! haha then we had a solid conversation through the window about the gospel, and gave him a BOM and Restoration pamphlet and set up an appointment for this week. So we met with him Wednesday this week, and we brought one of our new ward missionaries with us, his name is Brother Nunnally. He is passionate about the gospel ahahahah and hilarious. We were grateful he was there because he pretty much invited Reuben to do everything we wanted him to do. (after the lesson with bro nunnally there, he took us to PF Changs. what a gem right?? we are so taken care of.) Reuben is in his 20s so we probably will have to hand him over to the YSA missionaries soon.... sad day. anyways. He is mega involved with his church.. I mean standing on the street corner and yelling into a mega phone involved... It's legit. He knows the bible so well also. So we taught him the Restoration. He is super content with his life and his relationship with Christ and doesn't think he needs another book or a prophet. But he agreed to read and pray. Anyways, so Saturday we had a ward activity. A DELICIOUS TACO dinner and auction to raise money for the youth in the ward to go to scout camp and girls camp. Anyways. HE CAME. What? right? yeah he came so we ate and IT WAS SO DELICIOUS. And then we gave him a church tour and when we got to the chapel, we got in another intense conversation about prophets and Christ and the Book of Mormon. He hadn't read it at this point. So We HARD CORE bore testimony to him. He kinda wanted to argue. But we don't argue as missionaries. So we told him he had to pray and read to know. Anyways. I have such a strong testimony of the converting power of the Book of Mormon. I know that Heavenly Father answers the prayers of his children. And I know that when his children ask if the BOM is true, he answers the prayer. Conversion to Christ's gospel is impossible without reading the Book of Mormon AND praying. Everyday. So that night after the ward activity he text us and said he read and prayed. We have an appointment with him Wednesday so I will let you know how it goes :)

The Andersons- they came to the ward activity toooo!!!! (they are the couple that took us out to eat and she text you a picture of us) I am pretty positive that brother Anderson hasn't been inside a church building for 20 years, and his wife has never been inside one. (she is Filipino, did I ever tell you that? and not a member) We found out that he stopped going to church when he divorced from his wife. ANWAYS talk about a miracle there. He has never let his home teachers talk about religion to his wife because she doesn't like to be pushed into anything. So it was surprising that they have been letting us teach them. Probably because sister Respecia and his wife speak the same dialect so they chat in their own language and bond. It's great. such a testimony that she was sent to this area for a specific reason. Hopefully we can get him to come back to church. He needs to let the Savior and Atonement back into his life.

We also got to go to Chipotle this week for dinner! A member just gave us $ instead of feeding us because they were having some stuff going on.

ALSO there is a woman in my ward named Jakelle. Yes-- she is indeed  white. she is in her 20s and married with two kids. what the random right? I told her about Jakelle Westergard and she said that her friend saw a Stay Strong Jakelle sticker once and text her about it. I wish I had another sticker- I would totally give it to her. Anyways. Gem moment. Precious tender mercies that the Lord gives me to keep me going. I'm glad I have Jakelle cheering me on.

OKAY HAVE YOU READ TEH FEBRUARY ENSIGN?? It's the BOMB. legitimately. And there is a lot about the word of wisdom and health. Lexi should read it!!! I love all of it. Especially the one called "Living a Life of Peace, Joy, and Purpose" by Elder Richard G Scott. Seriously everyone read the entire ensign. It also talks about Noah and how he lived to be 950 years old. legit right? The ensign is amazing. If the entire world read this issue, it would solve every problem. literally every problem. 

Some things that I decided this week to implement throughout my life.

I will never give into temptation

I will never let others control me

I will always show my best and true self to the world

and I will let my light so shine so all others can see it and say "she truly is a daughter of god."

I will be valiant in the struggle in the battle for the souls of men and women

I will always fight on the Lord's side

I will always build my character upon the bedrock of integrity

I will always be worth of the spirit, and I will be obedient to it

Satan will never destroy my growing character

I will never look to the wron sources for how to live

I will make decisions based on eternal truths

I will always drink deeply from the fountain of the revealed word of God-personally and as a family

I will hold fast to the word of god

I will be an essential part of the shining light that our country needs

I will build a home centered on Christ

I will stand at all times, in all things, and in all places--for the greater good of the future

I will sacrifice whatever the Lord asks of me and more

I won't be perfect, but I will work to perfect myself in and through Christ- who is the sure way to eternal life

My children will grow up in a haven of goodness

My home will be a rest for the weary.

My life goals.

I love you

I love the gospel

I love my Savior Jesus Christ

I love my Heavenly Father

and I love His children. Especially those children in Ontario.

Love Sister Johnson




 From: Victoria Paige Johnson <victoria.johnson@myldsmail.net>
To: Allison Johnson <alliecatfm@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 18, 2014 4:56 pm
Subject: Re: hey hey

story!!! NEVER LET YOUR TEMPLE RECOMMEND EXPIRE. A man we stayed with in Diamond Bar told me that while he was working in the temple, one of the counselors of president hinkley came and spoke to those who worked in the temple and said 1) get your own clothes for the temple because soon there won't be enough for everyone 2) never let your temple recommend expire. The temples are all connected together so that they can live video stream to each other. does that make sense?> so when Christ comes... and he is speaking in the temple. You will want to be in the temple, because it will be broadcast to each one. But if the day the Savior comes is the day yours expires, you're out of luck. crazy huh?!?! anyways.. there's another temple video coming out soon.. ANOTHER ONE. crazy.

ahhh that Acai place is out of my mission. If it's in rancho or Ontario or chino or upland I could go? but not

Pictures! March 2014

March 3rd 2014- Sister Johnson's words!

This week has been a good one! This is the last week of the transfer. WHAT on Tuesday the 11th it will be 6 weeks since I have been here! We find out about transfers this Saturday night. But I am 99% positive I will stay in this area! I am not finished with it yet. But I'll probably get a new companion.

This week on Thursday we have Zone Conference. It was 2 zones from the mission- so about 40 of us- at the mission office for a training with the president and his wife and the assistants to the president. We learned so much about how to be a preach my gospel missionary! President Hobbs- my mish president- is so hilarious. He seems to serious and quiet, but in reality he is so funny and quirky. And his wife is a gem, so loving! GUESS WHAT. A member is taking us to Costco today! Sister Respecia's first time- she is going to die! I love Costco! WOOHOOOOO oh the joy in the little things.

It hard core rained this weekend. SO GOOD. the state of California has been praying and fasting for rain for so long. So the 3 days solid we got of it was wonderful. The prayers of the righteous are always heard by the Lord!!!

Reuben------ ahhh he couldn't meet with us this week. He was preparing a sermon thing for church and so he was busy. So I have no update on his progression. Lame. but it's okay, we will meet with him this week!

So it took me 5 weeks to realize, but I know the reason I am in this ward! that is to strengthen the members and help them to be more missionary minded. Missionary work cannot CANNOT cannot progress in the ward without the active participation of the members.There were two less actives that promised to come to church on Sunday and didn't come. errggghhhh. We even showed up to their house right before church and pounded on each of their doors. hahahah it was discouraging, but then I realized something. We, as missionaries can't do this alone. We for one need the Lord (duh), but second- we need the ward to participate. If it was a ward member knocking on their doors, and being persistent, they totally would have come to church. DUDE THEIR SALVATION IS AT STAKE HERE. Church has the sacrament. and the sacrament is a key to salvation. soooooo. yeah. it's serious.  With the members, miracles happen. pretty much only with them though. Otherwise, reactivated members don't remain active, recent converts aren't retained, and new people to teach aren't found. Legitimately members do the missionary work, and full time missionaries just teach. really. that is all. as representatives of Jesus Christ, we are able to say the words that He would say if he was standing there. But the members are the friends, the neighbors, the felowshippers, the ones that love, and they make the biggest difference. So our goals to help the members be more involved will hopefully be implemented this week and we will hard core kick it so the work can get rolling. MIRACLES. I'm telling you MIRACLES HAPPEN ONLY WHEN MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED. hahaha I am so passionate about this. Missionary work is the most important thing we can be involved in. And yes, missionary work starts in the home- with our own children- but then it goes out from there. Don't keep the gospel to yourself- share it with everyoneeeee!!! I hope everyone who reads this can feel how important member missionary work is. hahahaha I will keep saying it over and over until the whole world gets it. I promise that if we put the Lord first in our lives, including serving His children, then everything else will fall into place. LIFE WILL BE FULL OF JOY. As a representative of our Jesus Christ, I can promise that as you are actively involved in the Work of Salvation-- perfecting the saints, gathering the lost, and redeeming the dead-- you will be prepared for the return of the Savior. When He comes, you will be ready, and you will have no regrets. No regrets. I know it's totally not easy, but it is so possible. Just strive with unwearied diligence. (Hel 14:6)

So anyways. hahahah WOW sorry I got a little intense there. I just want the whole world to read that and see how important member missionary work is. If anyone needs help in that department, email me! or read "The Power of Everyday Missionaries"

it's a solid book.

Also, if the whole world read the ensign every month, we would have no problems. This month's is sick also. Did you read February?? March is so solid.

"By helping others come unto Him, you will find that you have some unto Him yourself. If you want to be near Him, to feel His peace, you can do it best in His service." President Henry B Erying

I love you! I love you! I will write you today!

love, sister Johnson

PICTURES!

  

Pictures Feb 10th 2014

 
  

Email from Sister Johnson! Feb 10th

February 10th 2014

Okay so this week was so good. Our numbers have gone up from 9 lessons a week to 15!! and that doesn't sound that good. BUT THAT's so good for our area. We are obedient, and diligent, and we work hard, and because of it, miracles happen. Being a missionary is the best.

 

Thursday was my favorite day. We found 2 potential investigators that day! One of them gave us home grown avocadoes from his front yard. OH MY STARS THEY WERE SO GOOD. I also got your package that day with the lotion and snacks. Made my life. So the man that gave us avocadoes, we had met the day before and we talked to him and left him with our card. Well then on Thursday he called us and told us we were so nice and encouraging that he wanted to give us some avocadoes! so we went to his house and turns out he wants to learn more about the gospel! score!  K many other lessons that day that went so well. We met with the Andersons. Val and Mary. Val is a less active and He is married to Mary! When we shared a message with him about faith and repentance, he cried. He knows it's true. He sees the blessings that obedience brings into his married and active children's lives, but he is stubborn and won't come to church. It's alright. We'll get 'em. It's amazing how familiar everything and everyone is here. I recognize faces, although I have never seen them before. And I have deja vu all the time (is that how you spell it?). I know that this is where I am supposed to be. It's like the dreams I have been having, are literally becoming a reality. These people are my friends, possibly from the pre-existence. I know that missionary work is what I was created for! I love it. Preaching the Plan of Salvation to the world!

Okay so I will write again today! thank you for the letters. Really, missionaries love letters. I LOVE YOU ALLL

peace and blessings

 

sister johnson

Sister Johnson's Firstie Email

This is Tori's sister, updating her blog for you peeps while she is away on the Lord's mission!  Sister Johnson loves everyone here at home, and I thank you for your support.  She's firey, dedicated, talented, and obedient to God's will. But, don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself! I edit out some family specific stuff.  Here is her first email:

okay this place is amazing. I tried to upload pictures but the computers wont let us so I will be sure to when I get to california. You won't hear from me until my first pday there on a Monday.

My companion's name is Sister Higley and she is adorable! we get along so well and learn from each other. Sister Rasmussen and Sister Wilson are in the same room as us and also in our district. as well as 3 elders (tripanionship) in our district. In our district we have classes together and study time together and do everything together, and I feel so priveleged. When I first met all of them I felt as if I had met them all before, perhaps in the pre-earth life. Okay sorry no time and I am trying to type so fast. They call me the DISTRICT MOM. lol I am so respondisble. I am so grateful. for the gifts that Heavenly Father has blessed me with so I could do his work. I know He has blessed me with obediance and independence purly for his work, for the benefit of his children here on earth. 

We sit in our classroom for like 10 hours a day. it's my favorite place. It's where I learn more about our caring God, our precious Savior, and how to be a better missionary. We teach two people. 1 is our teacher doing a role play, but I swear it is real, and his name is Jason. We have been helping him recognize the love of God and answers to prayers he has been seeking for his whole life. the other is a real investigator. yes real. his name is Thomas and he is amazing! I cried when we were teaching him because I love him so much and wanted him to know that the true church has been restored because God loves him so much! he is intimidating and has a short attention span but who cares? because he is a child of god and We teach so he can feel that and feel the spirit. I seriously have never prayed so hard for someone in my entire life as I have prayed for him. it was great. I am a softy now. hahahahaha We went to the temple this morning ( by the way the new video is amazing and beautiful and so great and I HOPE EVERYONE GOES). I am so grateful that we can recieve direct revelation from our loving Heavenly Father in the House of the Lord. Everyone should go, and sacrifice everything to get there often. I miss going multiple times a week. 

Okay so I am sorry I know I am not giving much information

I just want you to know that I know this is the work of the Lord. This isn't missionary work. It's God's work. It's his glory. his will to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. he wants us to be happy and WE CAN BE EVERY DAY. I love so deeply now. I feel the powers of heaven pour upon me so openly and know that I feel your prayers. I PRAY FOR YOU! I feel angels around me bearing me up. I love waking up and putting on my name tag, knowing that every single thing I do is for the lord. I study for him, I sleep for his work, I eat for energy, I learn for him, I exercise for him, for his work. This is real, God is real. His heart beats in sympathy for you and me. He knows you and he wants to answer your prayers! feed the missionaries! send me letters! also if you want to send me a package of love and good food and snacks and lotion that would be wonderful I love love love you.  

I love you and will talk to you tuesday?!?!?! PLEASE DONT BE ASLEEP hahahahahhaha

LOVE LOVELOVELOVE

Sister Victoria Paige Johnson

Where has the time gone?

Dang. Tomorrow I will be 19. How psycho is that?!
I love reminiscing on the memories, looking back at how I've grown, seeing what I've accomplished, what has changed, who I've gotten closer to, and how my testimony has developed. Every year is a gift!
Special thanks to the ones I love, there's too many to name! Each person in my life, I believe, has been divinely placed for my benefit. I've learned so much from those around me, and I only hope that I can be an example to the ones I love just as they have been to me. 

This month is a good one. School gets over, Christmas comes, my farewell in church, Christmas lights, cold weather, family, food, fun, and the start of a New Year! 

There is only 43 days left till I leave to Rancho Cucamonga, and I'm thankful for each day. I have learned to cherish each moment, something I wish I had realized back when I got my call in September! 

Something I have learned form these short 19 years is to not be afraid. "Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord they God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9
Knowing that Christ is always there for me, to make my burdens light, to cry with my, to laugh with me, to have joy with me makes all the difference. I'm not afraid of heartache, death, suffering, sorrow, and all manner of trials, because I know Christ died so I can live again. I know that this life is but a small moment compared to eternity. We will live again, with our families, and with God and Christ forever!
So here's to life- whatever it will throw at me for the next 19 years, and the next 19 after that- I am not afraid, and I am so grateful to be able to stand and boldly say that although life will be hard, I know I can find joy in the journey, but that joy comes from Christ. I know he lives, and I know he is our Savior! He atoned and died for all of mankind. 

"we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:6

the future.

"The future is waiting to be seized, and if we do not grasp it firmly, then other hands, more determined and bloody than our own, will wrench it from us and follow a different course."

The future.. such an interesting concept. Sometimes it's easy to get frustrated, not knowing Heavenly Father's complete plan for each of our individual lives. But you know what, I have learned that it just doesn't matter. If we press forward each and every day, and consistently are turning to Him in prayer to align our will with His, then what have we to fear? If we pray morning and night--prayer is a conversation with God, not a recitation to God--, read and study our scriptures diligently, and do all the small and simple things, then we have no need to fear. None whatsoever. I promise. (am I allowed to promise that you? I did anyways.) Heavenly Father will take care of us. always. Does that mean it will be easy? Heck no. Does it mean we won't want to give up? Heck no. Does it mean that our faith won't be tested? Heck no. But it does mean that Christ and the Enabling Power of his Atonement will guide our lives, comfort us, bring us joy, and create a means for us to accomplish anything. Anything. On the Lord's time of course.

Grace. Grace is real. And understanding it seems so complicated. But we can know Christ. I mean really and truly know him, and if we know him, we can understand Grace. So. why the intense quote about the future at the top? Because I still have two months left until I leave. 4 months to wait is painful--- Life seems to be moving slowly, but in retrospect it really is quite fast. I continually ask myself, and quite possibly Heavenly Father too, why I have to wait so long to leave? Why am I still here? Why am I going to school? And the answer comes slowly, but surely. Sometimes I recognize the tender mercy of the time I have to cherish with my family. Sometimes I see opportunities to serve and I know Heavenly Father has set those opportunities in my path for a reason. But today I realized it goes deeper than that.

Heavenly Father expects so much from me. Honestly he expects a lot from us all. But as I ponder on the things in my Patriarchal Blessing, I realize that Heavenly Father has given me this time to prepare so I can do his will. His will. Sometimes his will is scary. Sometimes I am afraid of failure. But when we press forward in faith, we will never be counted as failures. 

 I need four months to prepare, because the work he has for me to do, is harder than anything I have ever done in my whole life. Hard. Gut wrenching hard. And it's not for my benefit. It's for the benefit of God's children of whom I will teach. He expects me to be ready, to not waste any time while I'm in the field learning material I could have learned before I left. He will make my weak things become strong as I push forward. But I need to work harder now. Not work harder tomorrow. Not work harder when school gets out. Not work harder when I enter the MTC. 

I can imagine Him standing 3 inches from my face, getting close, speaking in a firm tone, almost spitting, telling me "Tori, this is the time. This is the time to prepare for you to dedicate 18 months to me and my work."  

That my friends is powerful to me. That is the future. But what I have taken so long to realize, is that the future is now. The future is today. Don't waste time. Ever. Be productive. Serve Continually. Fast. Pray. Learn of Christ. Be a Disciple. But most importantly--don't be afraid. Fear drives out all faith. 


After all, the future is as bright as your faith.