Emma Week 3, On Her Way...

In one hour I'll be on the airplane!!! I have a layover in Dallas Texas, and then I'll officially be on my way to Louisiana!! I'm a little sad knowing I won't be back in Utah for 18 months, but it will totally be worth it!! My excitement is outweighing my nerves which is good. I CANT WAIT TO MEET MY MISSION PRESIDENT!!! anyways I'm just letting y'all know I made it safely to the airport, even though it was an adventure! I'll let y'all know when my play is when I find out!

Oh I also want to share a cool/ spiritual experience. The whole time while in the MTC I thought one of my teachers didn't like me because she never gave me feedback or came over to me during role plays. But last night she went around the circle and told each missionary individually what she admired/ thought of, and for me she told me that the reason she never gave me feedback was because anytime she gave us instructions I would take it and do it better than she would.  She said that the whole time she knew I was already a missionary and ready to head out to the field. When she told me that it made me feel so much better. This whole time I've felt like I am too inadequate to be a representative of the lord, so her saying that made me realize how the lord has helped me grown so much.  That I can do all things through Christ.  I still don't think I'm as ready as she made me seem but I am going to give these next 18 months my all so I don't regret anything!

Anyways love all of you SOOOOOO much and miss you tons. Always remember, God is good!!

Later in the day…

Last update, I made it safely to LOUISIANA!!! The moment I stepped off the plane I felt like I was home, it was such an amazing feeling! My mission president and his wife are absolutely AMAZING!!! I honestly love them soooooo much already! My area is called the Mccomb Mississippi, and GUESS WHAT!!! MY AREA COVERS KENTWOOD LOUISIANA TOO WHICH IS WHERE MOM LIVED!!! The moment I told President Varner he said it was completely inspired by the lord, and I feel so much peace from that! My mind is blown and I have a feeling that there is something waiting for me in that area, I cant wait to find out what. Since being here I have felt more inspired to serve the Lord than ever!!

My Pday is Monday so I'll talk to y'all then, love you guys with my whole soul!

Sister Johnson

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Emma Week 2

It's crazy I leave for Louisiana in less than a week! Time has definitely flown by! And I am enjoying every minute of it!!!

This week has been a little crazy, one guy in my district was sick and he's a pretty touchy guy so he spread the sickness to all but 3 Elders and even one of the sisters got sick! So in class there was only 5 people! Most of them are good now except for 2, and I have felt like there mom because I had to make sure they were taking medicine and sleeping. All the Sisters in my room call me the mom too cause I'm the emotional support for all of them haha. Oh I also forgot to mention last week that Sister Payne and I were made the STL's (Sister Training Leaders), so I'm also the mom to all the other Sisters in my Zone.

We invited one of our TRC's (people we teach), Britney, to be baptized and she said she wants to, but also wants to do a few more lessons first, so that was SUPER exciting! It made me realize why I'm here and my purpose in bringing others unto Christ. I can't wait to get out into the field! Oh my district also got to be hosts again to the new incoming missionaries, and it was insane! A lot of missionaries who were supposed to go to other MTC's couldn't get their Visa's in time so they were sent to the Provo MTC last minute. So there were over 740 missionaries that came in yesterday and it started raining really hard in the middle of it so we all got drenched but it was super fun! This was the largest intake of missionaries since the age change!!

My spiritual highlight of the week has been learning how strong the power of prayer is! I have felt so much strength and peace as I've poured my heart out to my Heavenly Father. I also felt the spirit so strongly as I testified of the power of prayer to those we taught. I encourage each of you to pray as often as you can, and I promise you that you will see the hand of the Lord in your life EVERYWHERE!! I have also loved studying Mosiah chapter 5 this week, it has helped me in so many ways! Y'all should go read it!

Oh and the biggest tender mercy happened today! My district was chosen to go and help clean the Provo Temple today, which was soooo awesome! When we were walking back to the MTC and while we were crossing the cross walk I looked out at the cars hoping that my family would just drive by and I saw a truck that looked like my dads. I looked away not thinking much about it until it started honking. Then I realized it was my DAD!!!! Luckily it was a red light so I ran over and was able to see him one last time before I head out for 18 months. It was such a blessing and made my day that much better! My whole district was a little shock that my dad was just drove by, and I was too! I promise I didn't plan for this to happen haha!

Enjoy all the random pics from this week!!

(Also one of the pics explains the gone but not forgotten part)

Emma's first email.

Man I have had the best week ever!! It's crazy that it's only been one week because it has already felt like 3 weeks here and I have loved it! My companion is Sister Payne and she's from Sacramento California, it's been weird getting used to someone constantly there, but now I can't imagine life without her!

This week I have learned soooooo much about my Savior and its crazy to see how much my testimony has grown in just one week compared to my whole entire life. My desire to share the gospel has grown so much I can barely wait to get into the field. Sister Payne and I had the opportunity to teach a real investigator which was nerve racking for the first lesson but now I've fallen in love with sharing the gospel and it brings me soooooo much joy!!

The scripture that has impacted me the most so is Philippians 4: 13 which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me." I hope all of you will learn to rely on the Savior as much as I have because we ALL need him in our lives!

On the Tuesday night devotional I decided to join the choir, which is crazy cause I HATE singing but I enjoyed it soooooo much! We got to sing Hurrah for Israel! Elder Allen Packer spoke to us and my favorite part was when he said that our children are going to be our most important investigators which is so true!

All in all I'm doing great and am loving learned how to be an instrument in the Lords hands! Love y'all and would love to hear back from you!!

1: Sister Payne and I

2: Me and my Mission

3: Watching the MTC get torn down

4: My district eating the yummy cookies from my mom!!

Sister Emma Johnson Leaves on her Mission

Emma left for the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission July 17, 2019.  She will be an incredible missionary as her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is strong.  She will be in the MTC for a couple of weeks before heading out into the field.  Emma struggled to leave Toby, our dog, as she knows he will not be alive when she gets back as he has a terminal illness.  She cares for the dogs more than anyone else.  They seem lost since she left, with Todd catching Buddy trying to get into her covers last night and also looking out the front windows as if he was waiting for her to come home. 

We will miss her like crazy (I dislike her empty room), but know she will bless many with her sweet spirit.