Letter from Sister Tiffany Johnson #1

From: Tiffany Johnson <tiffanyj@myldsmail.net>

Subject: Re: first email:)

Date: September 12, 2013 6:41:16 AM PDT

To: Scott Johnson <Scott4599@sbcglobal.net>

FAMILY,

 I love you all so much, thank you for the emails and the updates. DAD of coarse I am jealous I love you bread and I actually haven't had any bread since I have been in the MTC. But my salads are super fancy and are made for me soooo are you Jealous? Ashley thats great that you had alot of games this last week I am sure you did great. And just remember its not about who scored, because each team member makes it possible for that person to score. So in the end you aloud to take credit. :D But I am so happy to hear about you new calling because I truly believe that we are all given callings for a reason. Bless the lives of those in your class by teaching them through love. It's simple just love them, support them and most importantly listen to them. Your going to be an amazing missionary because you are so sweet and already loving. Mom I am glad you made it home safely. I am actually glad you didn't take me to the MTC because I would have cried. But I didn't shed a tear walking away.

  So about my experience in the MTC. WOW! IT just is so crazy to me that I have only been in the MTC for a little over a week. I feel like its been a month with the extremely longs days and with all the information they through at us. But it really has been the most spiritual experience that I have ever had and also the hardest experience as well. Because of time I will just share a few of my favorite things. So on Tuesday we had a devotional from on of the Seventy, Brother Martino. It was incredible, it was all about member missionaries and how they are changing everything. We need to included members in the missionary work that its not only to help them to have friends in the ward but to also have someone that can relate to the investigators. He shared the story of Alma and Amulek, that Alma at first didn't have any success teaching the people until he had gone back and taught Amulek. While he was teaching Amulek he invited him to invite someone to come and join him in the lesson. They continued to do this and ended up baptizing many.  (For FHE you guys should review the story and ask yourselves how can we be Alma's Amulek?)  This is the way I want to teach the people. I want them to learn with there friends to realize the importance of bring all into Christ. I learn from this devotional that we have to pray about the member we bring because it really does play an important role and that the lord can prepare the member or inspire a member in a way that will be perfect for the investigator. So please please please, be the Amulek for the missionaries in your area. It might be harder to do and take more time but the end result is completely worth it. When done correctly I believe he said the baptizing rate is ever 2 out of 3 compared to just tracking which is about 1 out of ever 700.

    Yesterday was amazing. Our teacher explained to us that the president over prosalyting was coming to observe our class. So during the lesson they popped in and then quickly left. After that our teacher Brother Starkie felt inspired to change the order of the class around and taught us about asking good questions. Literally when he was about to turn the time over to us to role play there was a knock on the door.  It was the President again, he said that he had been to many different classes that morning and only felt like teaching our class of 8 this special message. :D Then when he asked where we were going he said Roseville is one of 8 missions that is changing the way of missionary work. He said he couldn't tell us everything but that we are the ones that will be kinda heading this change and that its amazing. He also said something along the lines that we really are the ones that are talked about in the scriptures. We are supposed to be here and we were really called by God to come at this time. He than continued to teach in a way that has never really been done before. Were we really only use the pamphlets by directing them to the pictures and asking them inspired questions that make them ponder. By the end the investigator just taught the lesson and because we have to do it in about 15-20 minutes we then guide them to mormon.org and teach them how to chat online with missionaries. This makes it so we don't over stay our welcome, and leaving them with only enough information to spark there interest. I don't know if this makes sense in an email but it really is a new and inspired way of teaching. I don't know when your areas will start working this way. But pray that I can learn to teach this way effectively. 

   I love this gospel and know that I am pleased to be able to teach people at this time and in this new way. I pray for each of you. Know that you are all loved by our Father in Heaven and that he is watching out for you.

                     please keep in touch.

                           LOVE Always-Sister Johnson

On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 12:05 AM, Scott Johnson <Scott4599@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

September 8, 2013

Dear Sister Johnson:
        Well, you have nearly survived your first week of MTC life.  I was at the MTC for two months.  I really liked it, but near the end, I just wanted to be out in the field working.  The MTC is a spiritual place.  It is rewarding spending so much time preparing to teach.  Enjoy it while it lasts, it will be over before you know it.
        This past week was run Ashley to Water Polo games.  She played in 10 games and she seems to be improving.  Her team this year is a little young, but they seem like nice girls and Ashley is having a good time.
        I have been busy with teaching three preps--AP Statistics, Algebra II, and Geometry.  I put a lot of time in, but it never seems like enough.  I have been exercising nearly every morning and trying to eat healthy.
        Mom is back and she is busy getting caught up with work and Savior of the World stuff.  She is excited because Allison is coming to visit for a week.
        My bread is done so I better go pull it out of the oven.  It was yummy!!! Are you jealous?
        We love you and we are very proud of you.  The church is true and have fun sharing the message.  Love, Dad


Dear Sister Johnson,
        That is kind of weird to say.  So how is the MTC? I hope that you are enjoying it. This past week has been really busy.  I had two water polo tournaments and a scrimmage.  I did not score any points but I made some awesome steals.
        I have been called to be the Laurels President, but it has not been announced in church yet.  I am really excited for the calling and I hope that I do well.
        I have a goal that while you are on your mission that I will try to be a missionary as well, and I will try to report to you what I have done.  This Saturday there is an SNA and I hope that Kassandra will come as well.  She has not been as interested in the gospel as she was during the summer.  However she still enjoys going to the dances, and so I will try to keep working from there.
        I miss you and I love you!  I am so glad that you are willing to go on a mission, you are a good example to me.
        Love, Ashley

Hi Sis!

How is it going?  We love you!  I ended up spending the night at Reno.  I got there a little before 8 pm and I was too tired to go on so I got a hotel room and relaxed for the evening.  I’m looking forward to hearing how the MTC world is treating you.  I agree with Dad, it is an awesome spiritual experience and It is a great opportunity.  I thought of you as I drove through Roseville Thursday.  I even stopped and got gas and Called Britney and told her I was in your mission:)  We will be helping Melanie Murphy (Howes-Natalie’s sister) move to Citrus Heights which is right next to Roseville.  The howes now live in Roseville.  Small world-It will be interesting to see how many people you will get to meet in your mission.

We hope this gets to you someway.  We love you and have a testimony of the church and of missionary work.  Work hard-have a great attitude and remember how much you are loved.

Do your best!!
Love -MOM