Challenging Week!

Kamusta ka everybody!

Can you believe I'm almost done with the 5th week? I just have 1 1/2 more weeks to go until I leave for the Philippines! I'm so excited, but at the same time, not ready to leave!

I just want to take the time to celebrate how long I've been here. I've hit my 1 month mark! 1 month down, 17 to go. It's going to fly by so quickly, but I'm excited for this new adventure in my life.

So quite a bit has happened this week, that I don't really know where to begin. I guess I will start with last Sunday. Every week we are supposed to write a talk on a certain subject, and then when we get to Sacrament, we find out right then and there who is giving the talk. The talk last Sunday was about baptism. And guess who got called to give it?? Ako! (Me). I had written a little bit each day and thought, "You can do this Hailey. You're prepared." But I was still so nervous to get up and talk because that was first time I've written one by myself. Everyone said that it was really good, so I'm just going to take their word for it, haha.

On the 17th, we all had a Tuesday Evening Devotional. Brother Don R. Clarke of the 70 came to the MTC and talked to us. In his talk he gave us some principles that every Missionary should know: 1) The truth of Love: *"The day you are happy is the day you care more for people than yourself." and Mission work will never work if we don't show love. 2) The Book of Mormon: *You should be asking investigators/converts what they're reading in the Book of Mormon. Constantly ask how they're doing with their reading. Show them you love the book as well. If you don't believe it is true and don't love it, how will they? 3) The Prophet Joseph Smith: *Memorize Joseph Smith story. You have to truly find out for yourself/know for yourself that Joseph Smith is real and his story really happened. If you don't, how will the people you are teaching? 4) Obedience: *"In order to prosper, keep the commandments". "Run with your heart, then your mind, and then your feet." And, to be the most obedient missionary on the earth, memorize and come to know the missionary white handbook. 5) Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: *You need to learn to love the work. Missionary work is... just that, work. Also, "Diligence wins over intelligence every time." 6) The Holy Ghost: *The Mission will be full of Red Seas. Will you divide them? Or will they divide you? 7) Family: *Don't exclude family from your mission. If you want your family to grow, write home about positive/spiritual moments that have happened to you. 8) The worth of Souls: *There are souls that need you. You have the power to heal the world. Be a healer in a world that is sick. And if you waste time on your mission, it's because your don't know your own worth. 9) Enjoy the Journey!: *Nobody else can endure your happiness but you. Nobody can make you unhappy but you! Don't let other people determine your happiness. The Mission with change Eternity for you. It will change your life for your marriage, family, and those around you.

Earlier in the week, our zone heard some scary, sad news about Sister Nalawas' island. In Vanuatu a really strong Cyclone named Pam hit home. Because of the Cyclone, power lines were down, and nobody could get into contact with those who live in Vanuatu, so Sister Nalawas couldn't contact her family for 1 1/2 weeks to find out if they were safe or not. The missionaries in my district gave Sister Nalawas a blessing of comfort and asked God to watch over her family and keep them safe. Everyone in our zone prayed day and night for her family and those in Vanuatu to be safe. Then, just a day or two ago, Sister Pearce told my district that everyone in Vanuatu is safe, and there aren't any casualties. The missionaries that are serving there are safe and are being put to work to clean up the homes that were destroyed by the Cyclone. I know that God is watching over those in Vanuatu and answering everyone's prayers. I know that because of Sister Nalawas' sacrifice and faith to serve a mission, God will bless her family. I absolutely love Sister Nalawas. Every time we're getting ready for bed, she turns to me and says, "Sister Johnson, I love you more than words can say". It's the cutest, sweetest thing ever! She is such a sweetheart and such an amazing missionary. Please keep her family and those in Vanuatu in your prayers and ask God to watch over them. <3

Also, my District taught our teacher Brother Elmer on the 16th because it was his last day of teaching since you can only teach at the MTC for 3 years. We taught him about having faith through the hard times and having faith that he will have an eternal marriage soon. He was such an amazing teacher. He will definitely be missed by my District.

So on Thursday, my District wanted to go outside for language practice. When we walked outside towards some benches, we heard some shouting coming from the outside of the MTC. Everyone ran towards the entrance and noticed an older man, probably in his 60's, holding a huge white cross with writing on it, and an American flag. As we got a little closer and listened to what he was saying, we found out he was protesting against the Mormon missionaries. It was insane! He just kept yelling how bad we all were and that nobody should believe anything we said. I had such a bad feeling in my stomach and heart, that I just turned around and started walking back into class. My teacher quickly told everyone to walk inside because some of the Elders really wanted to go over there and try to "talk some sense into him." When we got back to class our teacher asked us how we all felt about what happened and why nobody should go up to the man and talk to him. At that very moment, that man was not ready to here our message. His heart was closed and he just wanted to argue, so going up to him and trying to explain your religion to him would not have made a difference at the time. Our teacher said that it's better to let one soul be lost for a moment, then to let hundreds/thousands of souls be lost because you stood there trying your hardest to change someone's heart who wasn't ready to change.

About 3 days ago, on the 17th, my companion and I taught our investigator, Emily about faith. I think that was the first time I felt the Spirit so strongly. It was because that was the first time my companion and I truly tried to only speak in Cebuano with her. We had faith that we could speak to her and have her understand our message. I was trying to explain something to her, but couldn't find the words to say anything. So instead of turning to English, I paused, listened to the Spirit, and decided to tell her a story about me instead. The story I told her was about what happened to me in the MTC and how I acted on faith. I told her that while I was in the MTC, I was struggling with the language and the doctrine and had a hard time trying to explain everything to investigators or other missionaries. I was so frustrated that I burst into tears and wanted to just give up. But instead, I took a breath, knelt down, and prayed to God. I asked God to help me be strong and not give up on myself. I had faith that God was going to answer my prayer and help me. After I said the word "Amen," I felt God's peace, and love and knew that he was going to help me. Ever since then, I have had an awesome time learning the language, and understanding the doctrine. It's amazing what having faith can do for you.

So 2 of our Districts got to go to the Salt Lake Temple on P-day today. My companion, Sister Tauteoli, Elder Esikia, and I stayed behind with the new district because we're from America. Even though Elder Esikia is from American Samoa, he had to stay behind because he just got out of shoulder surgery and wasn't able to travel. What sucks is that he will have to stay behind another 4 weeks at the MTC in order for his arm to heal. He will not be leaving with our 2 Districts in 1 1/2 weeks to the Philippines. So instead of going to the Salt Lake Temple, we went to the Provo Temple and did Initiatory. I love doing Initiatory. I love being able to help those who have passed on and can't be baptized in person. After Initiatory, my companion and the new district went to the Temple cafeteria and ate the breakfast there. It was so good! It was a nice change from the MTC food. That was the first time I've eaten in a Temple, it was different but a lot of fun. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have a Temple so close to the MTC so I can go and feel peace and love every time I am inside.

So this letter is kind of all over the place because I was in a hurry to write home. Even though there have been hard times here at the MTC, I'm still so grateful for this opportunity to serve my Lord.

Don't forget to "walk with a purpose" and set an example for those around you. Show them you are a follower of Christ, and they will want what you have.

Gihigugma tika!

-Sister Johnson