November in Békéscsaba

Tiffany in Budapest

 

November 29, 2011

Szia Csaladom!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I hope it was great for you all. Yesterday was our SUPER P-day! We went over to a senior companion's house for thanksgiving dinner. There were 12 missionaries there, and we all had a really great time! Elder and Sister Adams made us a beautiful dinner with turkey and potatoes and everything! We played lots of games, watched Ratatouie (okay i have no clue how to spell that) in Hungarian, and went out to the park to practice our whipping skills! I'm getting pretty good at cracking it now... One day maybe I can show you my skills. :) Some of the Elders can do some really cool tricks though! It was a really fun day.
Anyways, this week has been awesome! Sister Johnson and I are having such a great time! Its only been a week but i already feel like we are becoming really great friends. She is so fun! We work hard, but laugh and spread lots of smiles while we're doing it. I love her enthusiasm and love for the work and for the people. I am beginning to realize the importance of exchanging companions. I really feel that i am learning so much from each of the companions I have had. By learning and growing with each companion, i feel that I am becoming a more well rounded person and a greater missionary. Sister Johnson is helping me learn to love streeting. She has so much excitment when we get out on the street to talk to people. I am learning more that streeting is a great oppurtunity to talk to so many people at once. I am a pretty outgoing person, so I have no problem talking or saying hi to people. But streeting sometimes is difficult for me. Because when streeting you have about 5 seconds to get the person's attention and to find what they need to hear to help them feel the spirit and continue to listen to you. We are denied the majority of the time while streeting. But there are those few who stop and listen, take a book of mormon, or agree to meet with us and learn more. It is those people that continue to give us the motivation to keep searching. My companion pushes me a lot to keep trying- and slowly I feel that I am coming to love it more and more. We've met some really great people on buses or on our way to the grocery store. I just know that our message is important for everyone.
This week we were really blessed to find 5 new investigators! We had a really incredible lesson with one of them, János. Here in Békéscsaba it's really difficult to find men to teach. We've been meeting with this lady Klára for a few weeks now. Klára is an older woman, somewhere in her late 50s or early 60s. One of her neighbors János, comes over to help help her with her yard work sometimes. We had met him before, but he had never agreed to come sit in with us and listen to a lesson. Just this past Friday he decided he would come sit down and find out what we were all about. He asked us first a little about what we believe, and asked what our stance is on money and worldly possesions and things. I used one of my favorite scriptures in 3 Nephi 13:19-21 to answer his question. I think it was exactly what he was looking to hear, and it kind of suprised him. My companion went on to talk about the importance of faith, then we brought up the apostacy, the restoration, his questions led us into the 3rd lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we even talked a little about life after death. We covered so much information is such a short time, but the spirit was so strong throughout the whole lessons. We were being guided and directed to all these scriptures that were exactly what he was looking for. Klára even backed us up with her testimony. It was SUCH an amazing lesson. I don't know that i've ever felt so guided by the spirit before. We gave János some chapters in the book of mormon to read, and talked to him about how he can recieve and answer that what we are teaching him is true. By the end he was interested in learning more, and promised us he would read the chapters we gave him. It was incredible. Here was a man who weeks before wouldn't even sit down with us, and now he is reading from and wanting to learn more about the book of mormon and the church. I know the spirit works in people. I saw it work in János this week! I just know that he felt the spirit! and that he was able to recieve answers to questions he's been searching for for probably a long time.
This, to me, is the best part to me about being a missionary. Watching others as they feel the spirit and come closer to Christ. How amazing it is to me to be able to watch first hand as others make these important changes in their lives- and to be used as an instrument in helping others find the truth.
Mom, i got your package! Thanks so much for the family pictures! I have already shared them with lots of our investigators. And for the new memory card!! That will be so perfect. I'm pretty sure it will last my whole mission too. :) Your cruise sounded like you all had a really fun time! I'm excited to hear your and Dave's ukulele skills when i get home! I hope all is well back home! Thanks for the email.
Dad, I hope you are feeling better. Congratulations at finishing the Book of Mormon. That is really exciting! I hope that all your travels are going well. OH, Diane i wrote you a letter but i realized i don't have your address in my address book! and i don't have any of my letters from the MTC so i need your address so i can send that to you! Granny B thanks for the email. I'm glad the holidays have been fun with the family there. It sounds like the Christmas production was really amazing.
 Well, i think that's about all. I love you all TONS!! Take care. Things are great here. I hope to hear from you all soon!! Can you believe this week will be December!! How crazy. I love missionary work, i love being a missionary, and i LOVE the gospel. További szép napot!!

Sok Szerettel,
Tiffany Johnson Nővér 



November 21, 2011

Hello Family!

Transfer calls came this morning! I was pretty sure I'd be staying in Békéscaba- but excited and nervous to find out who my new companion will be. They told me that my new companion is going to be SISTER JOHNSON!! (the other one). haha She was serving in Miskolc with my MTC companion Sister Gallion. She was at the "sleepover party" the other week at the mission home I wrote about in one of my previous emails. She is SUPER awesome! Way nice and full of energy and enthusiasm for the work. I can't wait!! I really think we are going to be an awesome companionship. I'm sad to see the other Sister Johnson go. She's been an awesome trainer and I've learned so much from serving with her. But her time has come.. i think she's excited and sad to be going home. It was funny, this is a direct quote from her after calls this morning- "Sister Johnson is coming to be with Sister Johnson to replace Sister Johnson." haha I think the President is having a good laugh putting all the Johnson sisters together. It'll be a really great transfer though- i can't wait! AND we should be having 2 baptisms!!- Julcsi and her mother Zsuzsa! They are amazing sisters and are progressing so much! I am really excited for them.

We had an epic week! We worked SO hard to make sure Sister Johnson left on a high note! and it was great! The Lord helped us so much to achieve our goals- we ended up exceeding almost all the numbers we set for ourselves. It was really amazing, but did take lots of effort on our parts. We were biking like mad women all over the city. Lots of times we had an appointment at one corner of the city and afterwards had 30 min to bike all the way to the other side. We did lots of teaching and knocking on doors (or I guess ringing csangűs (doorbells)). It's also beginning to get REALLY cold here. No snow, but its the bitter type of cold that chills you to the bone. As we rode along on our bikes there were lots of times I wasn't sure I'd survive.. haha but then I just had to keep reminding myself that the pioneers had it a lot worse and if they could do it.. so can I. Plus, the work and serving the people here is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done- so the work is a really great motivation for me, and I am definitely getting lots of extra help from on high.

The language is coming along a lot faster than I was expecting. My vocabulary is still very limited.. and I know I probably am not using the grammar correctly yet- because Hungarian is ridiculous!- but I can see I am progressing and learning a lot each day. And most of the time I am able to get across what I am wanting to say in a way that people understand. A few days ago when we were on the bus I was talking to a 12 year old girl sitting next to me. I asked her about school and where she was from. I saw that she had a flute! So I told her I used to play flute and we were able to actually have a conversation. As we were talking (or I was attempting to speak) the lady behind us tapped me on the shoulder and asked how many years I've been learning Hungarian. She was really surprised when I said four months. She told me I speak very well for only learning for such a short amount of time. That made me feel really good! I know I still have so much I need to learn, and definitely a lot to correct in my speaking- but it makes me feel really good that so many people here are really encouraging and supportive with those who are attempting to learn their language.

Happy Thanksgiving this week! I will be with all of you in spirit. Maybe save me a chair at the table.;) They don't really celebrate thanksgiving here...so Thursday will basically be just like every other day for me. (Although, in my heart I will be thinking about all my blessings and things I am thankful for). Luckily though, we have a really nice senior couple that lives in the city just next to us. They come to our ward every Sunday, and invited us and the Elders over next Monday for Thanksgiving dinner! So don't worry… they are taking good care of us here. We also get to serve with the same Elders from last transfer again. I'm excited about that because we have some really awesome Elders!

Our investigators are doing great! Some are progressing a lot faster than others, but we just have to be patient and help them along the way. Kaitlin, one of our other investigators on bap. date, is so amazing! i just love her. I can see such a difference in her. She has been coming to church every week. She's reading from the scriptures every day, and is really accepting and applying everything she is learning. I can notice such a difference in her prayers. The first time i heard her pray in our lesson, it was somewhat loud and full of lots of emotion- I couldn't understand all she was saying, but she prayed using a prayer book lots of times before so… it was just different. I could tell she was thanking God for her blessing and that she meant what she was saying, but more like she was praying to a great being instead of a loving father in heaven. Since then, we have taught her more about her relationship with her heavenly father, and more how the spirit works. How prayer is a conversation with him, and as we are reverent and listen for the spirit as we pray we can receive answers. In our last appointment she said the opening prayer. It was so genuine and sincere, she thanked Heavenly Father that we were there to teach her and help her learn. She thanked him for her family and asked Him to bless her family, as well as my companion's and my family as well. I was able to feel the spirit so strong as she prayed. It was a witness to me that the spirit really is the teacher. As missionaries we can teach investigators the gospel, but only the spirit can convince them to change. We planned on teaching the word of wisdom, but she heard someone in church talk about tithing and fasting and had some questions about it. So we taught her about why we pay tithing and the blessings of fasting. She not only accepted to live the law of tithing and the fast- but she was really exciting to start! It made me think differently about the commandments we are given. We should be excited to live the commandments- after all, that's how we receive greater blessings in our lives. I am so grateful for the examples our investigators are to me. Not only are they learning, but i feel like i am able to learn from them during lots of our lessons as well. I think i have gained a greater understanding of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 50:21-22, where it talks about teaching through the spirit and says,"...he that receiveth the word by the spirit of truth recieveth it as it is preached by the spirit of truth... wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."

Well, all is well here in Békéscaba. I am learning and growing so much every day. Missions really are A LOT of work. But it honestly the greatest thing I’ve ever done. I never expected to serve a mission- as I am sure there are lots of people who never expected me to serve a mission, but I know that the Lord has a plan for each one of us. I am so grateful He prompted me to come on a mission, and I'm so glad I followed that prompting... even though at first I was somewhat hesitant. I know that we truly are happier as we align our will with God's. Thank you for all your prayers and support, it means so much to me and I'm sure is blessing us with the success we are having here.

Alan and Princess!! Thank you for the package of Japanese treats and the picture of your cute little baby!! I am so happy for you both! Have you thought about any names yet!? Diane- Thanks so much for your email. It's so great to hear how everyone is doing. That is amazing Sofie is speaking sign language and blowing kisses already!! i just love her, she's adorable. I did get the pictures! Thank you. I am so glad your photography business is growing and you are able to start living out your dreams. That is really incredible. I will try and send you a letter this week with that list of scriptures in it. Mom, I hope that you and Dave are having an amazing time on your cruise!- as i freeze to death here in Hungary. haha I want to hear all about it when you get back. Dad, you get to go to so many cool places all the time! Paris and Sweden! One day i will get to travel to hopefully some of those places too. I am happy both you and holly will finish the Book of Mormon this week! Congratulations. that's really great. I've started over again in the little Book of Mormon Alan gave me. I thought it would be nice to read it once all the way through without stopping to mark the verses every 3 seconds. So this time i am going to read it like a book- if that makes sense. haha

I have an idea for things i can send to all of you for Christmas.. but if you think of something specific you would like from Hungary let me know!

I think that's about all for now. Sorry this email is super long! But love you all OoDleS and bUnCheS!!

Sok Szerettel,

Johnson Nővér 

Nov 17, 2011

Hello family!

This is the last week of the transfer! It’s crazy to think I've been here in Hungary for 6 weeks! Time is already passing so fast. The weather is turning a lot colder. It's been pretty nice the last few weeks, but it is now really beginning to really feel like winter time here, especially when most of our time is spent outside tracting or riding our bikes to programs. No snow yet thankfully. I love the snow! But I don't think I'm going to love it as much as a missionary. Well this past Monday we traveled up to Budapest for my greeny-training and visa stuff. It was really fun! The train ride to Budapest takes about 2 1/2 hours each way. We had to be there at 8 in the morning which would mean we would have had to leave at 530am. No trains leave from Békéscsaba that early, so we took a train Sunday night and stayed at the mission home. The sisters from Miskolc came too. Which are the OTHER sister Johnson (there are 3 of us) and my MTC companion!!!-Sister Gallion! It was so fun to see her again and get to know Sister Johnson better. It was kind of like a sleepover at the mission home! The next morning i met up with everyone from my old MTC group, and we traveled to the Hivatal together to become "official" in the system and get our visas. It actually didn't take too much time, and we ended up having time to spare before our new missionary training. So we got to travel up to Buda castle and take some pictures! We also had a high class meal at Burger King. Training was good too. We have an awesome mission president! His wife is really great too. This week has been really good too. We visited an inactive member last week who hasn't been to church in a while, and she actually ended up coming on Sunday! Also, i was let into my first home while tracting! This older lady named Llona and her two grandchildren invited us in after talking at her gate for a while. At first it seemed really strange. I felt like I was going against everything I had been taught as a child about not entering stranger’s homes, but it turned out to be really great. We prayed with them and showed the pictures in The Book of Mormon. We talked to them about Joseph Smith and how The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and works along with the bible. They all seemed really accepting of our message. We gave them a Book of Mormon and they said they would read from it together! They’ve even set up for us to come back and visit again! it is amazing to me to see people who are so trusting and willing to listen to what we have to say. It's also amazing to think that all these truths I've been taught from when I was a child are completely and totally new ideas to these people. That's why it is so important for us to teach with simplicity and through the spirit. Lots of our programs ended up falling through this week. So we spent a lot of time streeting and tracting. My companion reminded me that streeting is always a good thing- even if it's just to help humble you. I think she's right. It’s definitely a humbling experience being denied over and over again one person right after another. It’s difficult knowing our message is so important for everyone, but having no one want to hear what we have to say. I guess it just shows that those who do listen truly have been prepared by the Lord. We've been meeting with a lady named Margit. We've been having a hard time getting her to read from The Book of Mormon. She told us she doesn't have any time to read. I asked her if I could write down a list of some of my favorite scriptures for her that are really short and she could just read one or two when she had some time. She agreed. So i prayerfully and thoughtfully prepared a list of scriptures for her. When we went to see her this week we asked if she had read from any of the scriptures I had given her. She said she had! Most of the time it’s hard to get through a lesson with her, she always has a lot of questions. Good questions- but sometimes hard to answer. We taught her about the plan of salvation. She seemed to be really interested in this lesson. She had lots of questions. When we got to the atonement she asked us what exactly the atonement was. We read to her from Alma 7:11-13. We talked about how the Savior suffered not only for our sins but for our pains, our sorrows, our guilt. We talked about the healing power of the atonement. We said we didn't understand completely how it works, but that we know of its power because we have felt it in our lives. Afterward, she told us she has felt it before too. She said she had never wanted to put a name to it, but what we were describing was familiar to her. I thought that was really amazing. I know the power of the atonement is open to everyone. It is only through baptism, repentance and making covenants with the Lord that we can we fully partake of all that the atonement has to offer, but the power of the atonement is infinite, and can reach out to even those who haven't received the gospel in their lives yet. Well we were out of time and had to head to our next appointment even before getting to talk about the 3 kingdoms of glory. We told her we had to leave soon, but would run through the rest of the lesson really fast. She said for us to stop there and finished teaching her the rest next time. She said she wanted to be able to ask questions and make sure she really understood. I've never left an appointment only explaining half of the plan of salvation, but we agreed. I was excited that our lesson with her went so well, and that she is beginning to become more interested as she is learning and understanding more about what exactly we believe. Well, other than that all is well here in Békéscsaba. This is my companion's last week, so i will have to know my way around this place and be able to keep all of our investigators and appointments in order for when my new companion gets here. Sister Johnson has been great! I'm sure my next companion will be awesome as well, but I'm kind of sad to see her go. It’s an interesting combination, having me as a newbie and her just getting ready to leave. Both of us have very different perspectives- as far as where we are on our missions. But she's helped me learn a lot.

ALAN AND PRINCESS!!.. I'm so excited for both of you!! A GIRL! How exciting! I'm kind of scared for her future dating life... Alan is going to be cleaning his gun when boys come to pick her up for a date. haha. That is so great though. Congratulations!  Holly and Dad- Great job on the member missionary work! That is so important. I feel bad for not becoming more involved before my mission with trying to teach and invite more people to hear about the gospel. All i know is there are a lot of things i will do differently after my mission. But I am so happy you are both sharing the gospel with people so frequently. I had no idea how important the members are in missionary work till i became a missionary. They truly make all the difference in helping invite and retain new investigators and members. Mom and Dave, i hope you have a great time on your cruise! I probably won't get your package until we go up for transfers to Budapest next Wednesday. Diane and Mike, I hope all is well with you also. Tell Scott I say hello' i hope blessing the sacrament for the first time went well for him. Love you all tons!! Talk to you next week!

Sok Szerettel,

Johnson Tiffany Nővér

November 8, 2011

Hi family! 

I don't have much time to write today. Yesterday was visa stuff and greeny-training in Budapest, so i didn't get a chance to email. I thought since i can't write much, i would send some pictures! Things are really great! We are working really hard. Its crazy to think there's only 2 weeks left in the transfer!-time has really flown by. I will be sad to see my companion leave. I have learned a lot from her. I think they will keep me in the same area next transfer though since she will be going home. I really have come to love it here in Békéscsaba. When we stepped off the train from Budapest last night, it really felt like i was back home. I have grown to really love the people here. The work is hard. The days are long, but the weeks go by so fast! Super P-day was great! The cemetery was beautiful. They decorated all the graves with flowers and candles! I've never seen such a beautiful cemetery. It is such a blessing to have the knowledge that there is life after this, and we can live as families forever! I love you all! Thanks for all your letters and prayers of support. Talk to you next week!

Sok Szerettel,

Tiffany Johnson Nővér  

Sisters Johnson and Johnson...again

Sister Johnson as WATER for Halloween

Branch Halloween Party in Békéscsaba 

RUN from Babylon!!!

Visit to Budapest for Super P-Day

October 2011 in Békéscsaba

Images of Békéscsaba

Angel in the one of the parks in Békéscsaba at Sunset

Downtown Békéscsaba

Ariel view of Bekescsaba

First please note the address change and add   Hungary/Magyarórszág to the last line of your letters.


Here are a few words from Hungary you might see in Johnson Nővér's letters.....


Köszönöm- thank you. Szeretlek- i love you. Sok Szerettel- with much love. :) 




NOW FOR THE LETTERS...


October 31, 2011


Jó Napot csaladom!! 
It's been another great week here in Hungary! it's crazy to think we are already half-way through my first transfer! This is Sister Johnson (my companion's) last transfer. Her family already recieved her travel information in the mail! it's crazy that she will be leaving in three weeks! She's an awesome companion and i am learning so much from her. She's told me that this time on my mission will go by fast so i should be sure and enjoy it while its here. I'm sure she's right, so i am just trying to enjoy every minute!!
Anyways, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! They don't actually celebrate halloween here... but we decided to throw a halloween party anyway! :) We decorated the branch house with balloons, streamers, and awesome halloween decorations we found at TESCO (the hungarian version of Wal-mart). I would say the party was a success! We had a toilet paper mummy-wrapping contest, a doughnut on a string eating contest, we painted pumpkins, had lots of junk food, and of course TRICK-OR-TREATing! We all dressed up in constumes too. The elders were "nerds" their costumes were pretty awesome. My companion wore one of the member's folk dance costumes they let us borrow, and well, i couldn't really think of what to be... we are short on money and time to go shopping. so.. we had all these empty water bottles sitting in our apartment. I decided to be water. haha i made a hat out of the bottle caps and taped all the bottles to me over my clothes so it looked like a dress. it turned out pretty awesome actually! and water bottles here are PINK which made it even that much cooler! :) i will have to try and email some pictures. We had a pretty good turn out. Our investigators Fanni and Gabi came, they even brought a bunch of friends and family with them. We also had a few of the members there too. I'm glad i didn't have to miss out on halloween.
Oh! ALSO, 2 of our investigators have agreed to be BAPTIZED this week! Katalin is a 60 year old woman. She has tons of spunk and personality. She loves reading from the book of mormon, and everytime we teach her she always asks so many great questions. You can tell she really has a desire to learn more. It was awesome when we asked her to be baptized becuase i didn't understand all my companion was saying, but i understood when she asked, "Megkeresztelkedsz?" which is basically "will you be baptized?" i understood that, and Katalin sat in silence for a moment and then said, "Meg, meg." I understood that too!! Meg is a prefix which means "completely." Sometimes hungarians will respond to a question by answering with the questions prefix. maybe that makes no sense.. but it was a really cool experience for me. She said she hadn't planned on agreeing to be baptized, but she feels like its the right thing to do. I'm so happy for her.
Our other investigator with a bap. date is Julsci! i think i've written about her in a few of my last emails. Our first lesson with her was my first time teaching the restoration to a real investigator. The spirit was so strong, and since then the spirit has been really powerful in every lesson. She is really accepting of everything she is learning, and is reading from the book of mormon. She's also been praying about our message, and feels good about it! it is amazing to me how the lord prepares people before they are even taught! Julcsi agreed to baptism just after her 3rd lesson! she hadn't even been taught the plan of salvation yet! before my mission i thought i would never be able to ask people to be baptized so quickly.. but it just proves that people can have the desire to be baptized earlier then sometimes we would expect. I know that her faith and willingness to act on the things we are teaching her has helped her recieve her own witness of the truthfullness of our message. This work is incredible! we are asking people to change everything about their lives- its not an easy thing to do. but its incredible to see those people who believe and have that willingness to repent and come closer to Christ.
We are also teaching Julcsi's mom- Zsuzsa. She hasn't been taught as many of the lessons, but i am hoping Julcsi will be an example to her mom and that together they will be able to support eachother in the gospel.
We met with one of the men we met on the street last week- Károly (Charles). He is a former priest for the reformáticús church, but says he's no longer affilliated with any sect. He doesn't like how their church was teaching that only the people in thier church would be saved. He knows alot about and believes strongly in the bible. He's very interested in what we believe though. We gave him a book of mormon, which he said he will read from. We also set up a time to meet with him again this week! I'm really excited about him! i hope that he is able to understand and feel the promptings of the holy ghost as he learns more. I know this is the church he's been searching for.
Well, that's about all. Diane happy birthday tomorrow!! November 1st is a huge holiday here in Hungary. Its kind of like a memorial day. They place candles and flowers on the graves of their family members. It will be a super P-day for us tomorrow because all the stores and shops will be closed... which is why we are emailing today. My companion says the graveyards are beautiful the night of November 1st because they are all lit and decorated. so we are going with the elders to see the celebration tomorrow night! i'm really excited! Also, Dad i hope you have a great birthday on the 6th! i will try and wirte you both a birthday letter! sorry i haven't yet. Last p-day we traveled to this broken down mansion/castle. It was destroyed after WW2. it was HUGE!! now it is mostly just the outside walls, it has plants and trees growing inside of it now. it was really beautiful. i took lots of pictures. But anyway, i didn't get much time to write letters. But i love you both lots and i hope your birthdays are amazing! Mom thanks for taking care of everything with my card for me! that is awesome Scott will be blessing the sacrament next week. I wish i could be there.
I love you all oodles and bunches!! missions are the best! i know i say this all the time but i really do love being here. Sometimes the language is ridiculously hard and i wish i could just teach in english, but its a great humbling experience and i am learning so much.
Take care! you are all in my prayers, i hope everyone is happy and healthy! OH YA!!... Alan and Princess- Boy or Girl??!!!
Sok Szerettel,
Johnson Nővér 

Neighborhood in Békéscsaba

Árpád Bath in Békéscsaba

October 24, 2011


Hello Family!

oh man this week has been crazy! The work out here is SO much different from what we did in the MTC. But it is great! and i am loving every minute. Our first few days of the week we had these workers come in and tear up almost the whole first floor of our apartment. I guess water is leaking into the apartment below us so they had to rip up all our tile to get to the pipes. it was an interesting start of the week. They finished most of it during our study time though so it didn't take up too much of our tracking and teaching time. 

We have the greatest investigators ever!! We had 5 of our investigators come to church with us this sunday! They all seem to be progressing really well. Church is a little more stressful as a missionary because you are constantly worried about taking care of your investigators. but its great when they come. I thought it would be scary not sitting by my companion, but i"m actually really grateful our teachers gave us that challenge. This week i sat by two of our investigators Klára and Zsuzsa. It is funny how even though i can barely speak the language, somehow we are still able to converse somewhat with each other.

I was suppose to bear my testimony last week. There's no bishop here in Békéscsaba- since the branch is so small and we have no priesthood holders besides the elders. Elder Weston is the branch president. I asked him last week like i was suppose to if i could bear my testimony, but he forgot and had me do it this week. I think it went pretty well though! I know there's no possible way that it was completely grammatically correct... but i had our investigators and some members come up and talk to me after and then said they were able to understand most everything i said! 

We've been praying and fasting a lot to find some men to be priesthood holders and build up the branch here in Békéscsaba, and this week we've been seeing so many miracles! This past wednesday after our studies in the morning we were crossing the street from our apartment on the way to the branch house and a man stopped up and asked if we were mormon missionaries. We told him we were, and he got so excited. He told us he wanted to learn more about our church, and then asked us if he could give us his number so that we could meet to speak with him later!! we weren't even streeting, and this man streeted us! we of course said yes! we took down his number and set up an appointment to meet with him this week. Well, after that we arrived at the branch house. we had to grab a few things before heading to one of our appointments. Just outside was a man waiting for a store to open near our branch house. I quickly said hello to him and asked how his day was going. He answered and then pointed our our accents and asked where we were from. We told him we were from America and were here as missionaries for our church. Well then we started talking about the church. We showed him part of our branch house, and then gave him a restoration pamphlet! he said he too was interested in learning more! he gave us his name and number and we set up an appointment to meet with him this tuesday! he's also interested in coming to our english classes. He thanked us and then left. My companion and i were in shock! 2 men in less than 10 minutes! here in Békéscsaba that is unheard of! Hardly any men here want to listen to our message- i guess religion here is thought of more as a woman's thing. I'm not sure why. But it was obvious that the Lord placed those men in our path this week. And the miracle of it all is we weren't even searching for them at the time- Heavenly Father lead them strait to us. 

We will teach them both the first this week. I hope their hearts will be prepared to hear our message. This branch could really benefit by having more priesthood holders.

We also are teaching this amazing part member family! they are so amazing. The mother is a member and then they have 3 children, the oldest is 11. The father Tibi has actually been coming to church the last 2 weeks! and his wife Edina says he has been reading from the book of mormon! He is such a nice man and a really great father from what i have seen. we are hoping his testimony will continue to grow, and he will continue to come to church every week with them. 

Oh man, i wish i could write about everyone here!! Julcsi and Zsuzsa i think i wrote about last week. They are doing awesome! Julcsi is the girl i wrote about in my last letter who we taught the first to. She has now had the 3rd lesson. She's reading from the book of mormon. She told us she has prayed about it, and feels like its true. She is also praying now about the decision to be baptized!!

This week we had an older sister missionary come and stay with us for a few days. Her name is Sister Eigner and she is a native Hungarian. Her husband died a few years ago, so she is serving as a missionary now. She normally works with family history and things, but sometimes she will come out here to Békéscsaba to go proselyting with us. She is awesome! only.. she doesn't speak any english. haha So that was kind of hard for me this week. I learned a lot though- and she would correct everytime i said something wrong. It was really hard at first, because i knew everytime i said something it would be corrected.. but it helped me to learn a lot faster. She also made us real hungarian food every night! one of the nights she made what they call lecsó. Which is peppers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with these noodles and col bass. I was a little worried to try it- considering i don't like tomatoes, peppers, OR onions.. but it was REALLY GOOD!! i ate everything on my plate. I thought my parents would be really proud of me to hear that. 

Well, I don't have much more time. SOrry i can't tell you about every minute that i live through here. But it is great! its amazing how quickly you come to really love the people. I had heard that before i came on my mission, but i don't thing i really understood it until i actually came here and met them. Hungarians are the most genuine, kind hearted people you'll ever meet! most of them have a shell around them at first, but once you break through that shell they are just filled with love and are so giving! i love being here! 

next week my email might be a few days late because we are travelling to Budapest on monday to get my visa and go through greeny-training. Well, i love you all tons! Scott i hope your birthday was great! Congratulations on becoming a priest! Talk to Dad and Holly and Mom thanks for your emails! i will talk to you all soon! 

Sok Szerettel, (with much love)

Sister Johnson

Lightening caught in Békéscsaba

 The Streets of Békéscsaba

Churches in Békéscsaba

If you would like to know a little more about Békéscsaba, here is a great link to look at. This is also were I got some of the pictures from. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Békéscsaba 

HUNGARY WELCOMES SISTER JOHNSON

Sister Johnson has arrived in Hungary!! 

The following are the welcome letter from the Budapest, Hungary Mission

and Tiffany's first letter home. 

Please write to Sister Johnson using the Hungary address

located on the right hand side of this blog. 

Please note, it takes about three weeks

for her to receive your letters.

Leaving the MTC bound for Hungary

Now THIS is a LONG flight...I'm going to sleep. Peace...Out!

 *** 

The following is the Letter and picture received from The Budapest, Hungary Mission upon Tiffany's arrival. 



Dear Parents of Sister Johnson,

It was our great pleasure to welcome your missionary, Sister Johnson, to the Hungary Budapest Mission this morning.  The spirit and bearing of an excellent missionary are evident in herdemeanor, and she is full of energy and enthusiasm for the Lord's work here.  We are very happy she is joining us in the mission field at this exciting time in the history of the Church in Hungary.

Attached are photos of Sister Johnson with her new trainer, as well as a photo of her with President and Sister Baughman.  We are taking good care of your missionary, and would like you to know that you can contact us at any time if questions or concerns arise.  May God's helping hand be with your family as Sister Johnson faithfully serves in this great work.

With love,
Elder Conklin
Office Secretary

President and Sister Baughman with Sister Johnson

October 17, 2011 

HELLLLLLLLLOOOOOOoOO!! Szervusztok!!!

Holy Guacamole! I'm in Hungary finally! This is crazy! I love it here! Our flight was really long. but it was good! I met some really nice people in the airports and our district drew lots of pictures and kept ourselves occupied on the long ride. I talked to quite a few people about the gospel, but i was too chicken to hand out any pass-along cards. I'll get'em on the way back in a year and a half though! haha

We made it to Budapest around 530 pm. or 1730 in military time. the president and his wife were there waiting for us after we picked up our luggage. The first Hungarian i spoke to was an older lady. I said hello when we were waiting for our luggage. She asked where i was from, so i said i was from america, and that i didn't speak the language very well yet. She was so nice to me, and made sure to speak slowly and help me with words i didn't understand. It instantly helped me feel more comfortable with speaking to people here, and helped me have a greater love for everyone i'm going to meet. 

Well anyways, we went with pres. and sister baughman and the assistants to the mission home where we ate dinner and got acquainted with everyone. Sister Baughman made us a lovely dinner and it was great after all the airplane food and MTC meals we had been eating. After dinner the Assistants (Elder Lundeen and Elder Davis) took us all around to see the city! We went first to heroes square. it was amazing because the weather was perfect and it was night time so everything was lit up so nice. i am amazed at some of the architecture and monuments they have here! it is such a beautiful country. I walked around saying hello to all the Hungarians. I was too nervous to handout books of mormon... but i did ask lots of people how they were doing so i could practice some Hungarian. Most everyone was really nice to me. Many people here normally keep to themselves though so i think lots of them were caught off guard. We also went up to Gellért Hegy and saw the statue of the lady holding the fig leaf.. at least i think its a fig leaf.. i'm not totally sure. But the view was amazing! 

We spent the night in the mission home and ate breakfast with everyone again in the morning. After breakfast we went out for our first streeting practice! it was a little intimidating. but went well. We handed out a few pass-along cards and got one person's number. 

AND THEN... we had the meeting were we received our assignments. I was so excited to meet my companion and find out where i would be serving. We knew 2 of the sisters would be staying in Budapest and 2 would be going to other places on the eastern and southern parts of the country. Everyone went around and introduced themselves. There are actually 2 other sister Johnsons here! i thought that was kind of funny. But finally it was my turn and i was called to serve with Sister Heather Johnson in Békéscsaba!!! its a really tiny city in the  south eastern part of the country. After we recieved our assignments i grabbed my bags and we took a LONG train ride to Békéscsaba. it took us about 2 and a half hours to get here. and my companion surprised me with an appointment already set up for the night! we were running late and my bags were super heavy when we finally got off the train, so we skipped taking my bags to our apartment and went strait to the branch house to meet with Marianna. Marianna is a member and she is so sweet! i've gotten to know her really well in just my first week here. I would say she is the glue that holds this branch together. We see her almost everyday here at the branch house and she comes with us to a lot of our appointments with investigators. i was nervous at first to meet a lot of the people here, but i have already come to love them so quickly. 

Right now we have quite a few investigators we are meeting with. The first investigator i taught was named Katalin. She invited us in and gave us both cookies and juice. This was her second lesson so she asked us a lot about what she had read in the book of mormon. She seems to be really accepting of everything and she has a lot of great questions. We wanted her to come with us to church this week but she normally works on sundays, so its going to be tough but we are going to try and find a way to commit her to keep the sabbath day holy. i wish i could write about everyone because they are all seriously amazing people! i am so touched by how genuine and real the people are here. They are so humble and so giving. They are sometimes closed off at first, but once you can break through their shell they are just the most loving, fun people you'll ever meet. Although, i have also met a lot that just instantly are so accepting and kind- i'm really grateful for that because its made me feel so much more instantly welcomed into the country. 

A few other investigators we have are Zsuzsa and Julcsi a mother and daughter. The mother comes to our english classes on thursdays. She asked for a book of mormon and came to conference last week. She recommended her daughter to meet with us for english lessons. So last thursday we met with her and helped her with her english. she actually speaks really well! she's 19 years old and is in school right now, she swims and actually is hoping to be in the Olympics next year! After our english lesson we always do a short gospel message- so we actually taught her the first. It was the first time i had taught the restoration and Joseph Smith to a real investigator, but it was so amazing. My companion explained about how we believe god is our heavenly father and then i talked about eternal families. She explained the apostacy and a little about Joseph Smith and then i recited to her the first vision. After the spirit was so strong- you could just feel it! she said she had never heard any of that before and she was interested in learning more. Her and her mother actually showed up at church yesterday! and we have another appointment to meet with them on wednesday! We're also teaching a lady named Klára, a mother and little girl named Fani and Gabi, a woman named Letti, a mother and daughter both named Marika and one Brother named Lászlo. László has been taking the lessons on and off since feb 2008! he believes the church is true and reads from the book of mormon everyday but is afraid to be baptized for some reason. We are working on it though. I hope he is baptised soon, our branch desperately needs priesthood holders!

Well, i am loving it here. We did get bikes. Everyone in the city here rides bikes. Except, i'm pretty sure we are the only ones who actually wear helmets! haha i haven't seen anyone else with one yet. Our apartment is great! and my companion sister Johnson is awesome! everyone here thinks its pretty funny that we have the same name. Békéscsaba is great! i was really excited when i was called to serve here because it is the first area one of our teachers Erickson Testvér served in. He told us all about the first day of his mission, so as i was going through my first day it almost felt like deja vu because i was reliving so much of what he told us. 

Well, i've got to get going we have lots to do today! love you all talk to you soon!

If you send me any letters i probably won't get them for about 3 weeks because they send them to the mission home which is pretty far away. So if there is anything i need to know faster than that you might want to email me. Well i love you all TONS''' i hope all is well   

i almost forgot. i despratly need pictures of our family to show the members here!! they can be from anytime. when i was young or old it doesn't really matter- maybe both. i don't have to be in all of them but i just need a couple or lots. :) maybe some of my baptism if you can find any. and it would be great if they were printed! thanks so much love you!

- Sister johnson 

Köszönöm!!! Szeretlek! 

Sok Szerettel,

Johnson Nővér

Sisters Johnson and Johnson

More From the MTC

The Names by which she shall be know

October 5, 2011

A CSALADOM!

Oh my Goodness!- I LEAVE IN 5 DAYS!! My time here at the MTC feels like it has gone by so fast! but it also feels like i've been here for an eternity! Looking back i can't believe i am already leaving! I am so excited and so nervous at the same time! We got our flight plans last friday! i leave on monday in the afternoon! its so crazy to think that soon i will be talking to real Hungarians!- real investigators!! how crazy. I'm not sure they will be able to understand a word of my Hungarian- but i just hope they can see the excitement and love i have for the gospel! I found out i am able to call home the day my flight leaves. So keep your phones on you on the 10th! I'm not exactly sure what time i will be able to call yet. Just that i can call on that day. Our flight will be leaving here strait to Paris!- and then to HUNGARY!! oh man.. it gives me the chills just thinking about it!

Our consecration week has been great! Its been really difficult at times.. but also pretty fun! I've learned so many more new words! and i've made it a whole week without sweets! i might just keep this up a little longer! :) One of my favorite things about only speaking Hungarian this week, was when missionaries who don't know Hungarian would sit by us. I would always try and talk to them in the language and have conversations. It became kindof like a game of charades!- I was actually amazed with how much they were able to understand and respond to! It gave me hope that when i get to Hungary, if the people don't understand my MTC Hungarian- i can just resort back to hand guestures and crazy facial expressions and they should get the jist of it!

I finished reading the Book of Mormon this week! it feels so great to finish, because now i can just start at the beginning again! i'm so glad Michael challenged me to read it during my time here. I'm not sure i would have finished all of it if he hadn't. A few weeks ago i was really far behind, i thought about giving up -but then decided i couldn't. So i took the Book of Mormon around with me everywhere i went and read it whenever i could find some free time. Reading then changed from "i have to finish! so i can't put it down." to " this is so amazing! i don't was to put it down!" I am so glad i had the oppurtunity to read the whole Book of Mormon here. I know it strengthened my testimony and love for the BofM so much, and now i will be able to testify so much more powerfully because i know its a true Book.

Conference was amazing wasn't it! I was telling my companion how its so funny that your perception of conference changes so much as you get older. When i was younger i dreaded conference.. it was 8 hours where i didn't understand much and i just saw it as a time so color, sleep, or play the dot-game with my siblings. Conference always seems so long and boring and i was so relieved when the sessions were over. Its horrible that i felt that way- please don't judge me, but its true. BUT NOW!- Conference is the greatest thing EVER! In every talk there is something for me to apply and learn. These are God's servants talking to us! This is what Heavenly Father would have us know right now! That just amazes me! now, i find myself paying attention so much more intently. And the sessions seem so much shorter! i actually felt a little sad this time when they ended! I would tell you which one was my favorite but i really loved them all! A few i really like was the talk that said "it is better to look up"- that is so true. I also liked Elder Packers talk about the old crow and the young crow. Elder Uchtdorf was great in Conference and in the Relief Society session. I hope we are able to recieve a copy of the next ensign so that i will be able to read through them again.

Well anyways, I better get going! I love you all and pray for you always! I will try and send my memory card with my pictures on it as well! thanks for your letter and package with the sweater!! i love it! i've already worn it basically everyday.Dad, that is so awesome you will be in Hungary next week!- if its alright i'd rather not see family now so that i can stay focused on the work! you probably weren't planning on it anyway, but just making sure. i love you lots though and i'm excited i will get to talk to you on the phone this week! Oh ya! Dad and Holly thanks for the letters on dearelder! i'm so glad to hear things are going well for you! Holly i hope you had a great birthday! Sophie's birthday is today! - Happy birthday Sophie! thanks for all the pictures Diane! Sophie is adaorable! i have the cutest niece ever!! i love you all tons! take care! Talk to you SOON!!!!!

Szervusz! Jó napot kivánok!

Szerettel,

Johnson Nővér

The Sisters

The Elders

September 28, 2011

Hi Everyone!

So our consecration week starts this week! During consecration week we give up speaking english- so i will only be able to speak in Hungarian for a whole 7 days!! i really hope i survive. Plus, normally on consecration weeks people give up something that is really important to them. We were going to give up reading our mail for the week- but there are a few people who are recieving important letters and packages they need to open this week. So instead we have decided to give up sweets... :/ I LOVE SWEETS! & English! so this might be a tough week for me. and i don't know that i've ever gone a whole week without any sugars.. sad but true. We'll see how it goes. I think i will learn a lot and learn a lot about self-discipline. We start after we leave the temple today, and then it goes until we enter the temple next week. So i will give you the update in my next email.

Mike challenged me to read the whole Book of Mormon during my time here at the MTC. I took the challenge and right now i am in 3 Nephi. I still have a lot of reading to do before i finish.. but i think i will make it! This is my second time reading through the Book of Mormon from start to finish. The last time i read it was when Gordon B. Hinkley challenged every member to read the Book. I am realizing that this time i understand so much more! I have forgotten so much since the first time i read through. And now i understand how the stories and the people all relate to eachother! I know the book of mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and i've heard so many times that the purpose of the book of mormon is to testify of christ- but i never fully understood that till now. Before, when i use to think of the book of mormon, i just thought of the stories and the wars and the nephites and lamanites- i couldn't think of much that was about christ. But just yesterday i was reading in 3 Nephi chapter 11 where Christ is appearing to the Nephites. It is so amazing to me! Every page testifies of Christ- How these people in Ancient America believed in Christ, or didn't believe in Christ, How they were obedient, or how they were disobedient, all the prophets that testified of His coming, and then His actual birth, atonement, and resurrection. I love the Book of Mormon so much! And i am begining to realize that as we read it everyday our understanding and our appreciation for the book of mormon will increase.

Anyways, sorry for that whole spiel- i'm a missionary now so these are the type of things we talk about all day. Anyways, 2 weeks left! Conference is this sunday and then the sunday after is the day before we leave! So this week we actually had our departure orientation! Pretty exciting!! i can't even wait! We've been practing street contacting a lot- i think we will probably street someone our first night there! Kassie is actually leaving this coming monday! How exciting! Sometimes i am jealous of the english speaking missionaries- they get to leave for the field so quickly, and plus they can say anything they are feeling in the moment they are prompted to say it! For me teaching in Hungarian is still pretty difficult. I can definitely say more than i could in my first few weeks. and i am even starting to be able to form my own sentences. But i have such a small filling cabnient in my brain filled with very few words to choose from. I am excited for the day that i will be able to express myself perfectly as i hope to in the language. I know it will come someday.

Well, that's about all for this week. Thanks for everything! i hope that you are all doing well! love you tons! Conference is this weekend!! YAY! i'm so excited! i was hoping the choir would sing at conference- but they won't be this session.

Also, i have a really random question i'd like to ask for anyone who has Google at their expence- there is a quote in "City of angles" something about tears.. and the heart. i can't exactly remember. But i'm sure google could find it for you. i was just thinking about it the other day- and i can't remember what the words are... so if you can find it, could you maybe email it to me? haha totally random i know. but i was just curious. 

umm.. well take care everyone! thank you for all your support and your prayers! i love and pray for all of you as well! next week will be my last email here in the MTC!! how awesome is that! Well, the gospel is true! talk to you soon!

Szerettel!

Sister Johnson

Tiffany and the Hungary Missionaries in the MTC

First Month and More of Pictures and Letters

Hi Family and Friends...

Thank you for your show of support and love to our Sister Johnson!! I can hear through her letters how grateful she is for all your letters and packages. You are all such an important part of her life!

Less then a Month now and Tiffany will be off to Budapest.


August 17. 2011 

 SZERVUSZ CSALADOM!!!! (Hello Family!)

Three weeks into the MTC now! So crazy. Time here is weird. The older group of Hungarians that have been here before us, leave for Hungary in 2 weeks!! Which means that 3 weeks from today we will be the older group, and another group of hungarian missionaries will be the newbies. My companion has been called to be the new coordinating sister in our branch. Which makes me the senior companion (by default)haha which really doesn't make much sense if you think about it. But that's how they do things here at the MTC. Last sunday she had a meeting and i had to be passed around to different companionships while she was away. It is so weird how you start to rely so much on having your companion there!  I felt so weird being alone with other companionships!! Her and i get along so well! on mondays we have our service day.. which usually in the mornings we clean. We are assigned to clean the gym. Last week we did the bathrooms, but this week they gave us these sweet vaccum backpacks to clean the stairs! We felt like the ghostbusters!

Our "investigators" are doing well! They seem to be really accepting of our message and willing to learn more! its fun to see how much we are improving with the language each time! I feel like i am finally able to go in there and improvize more on things i am directed to say and teach by the spirit! its really cool! I am starting to love teaching so much! We are having a "Speak your Language" friday in 2 weeks! (not this friday but next) where we will only speak Hungarian for the whole day! (It might be more like a day of silence for me) but hopefully it will be helpful!

Oh!-MOM! i saw Uncle David in the Cafeteria this week! He teaches the senior couples i guess. He came and sat with us today at lunch. I introduced him to my companion and a couple people in my district. So that was cool to see him. Holly, that is so awesome about your workout schedule and your personal trainer! I am really excited for you! I'm going to gain 50lbs, and you'll be ripped when i get back!- awesome! haha i really hope i don't gain weight. Dad, that is awesome about your trips to Peru and Ecuador! one of these days i will take a trip to South America!

We sang "Lead Kindly Light" this week for choir! That is one of my most favorite hymns so i was really happy we got to sing it! The choir here is so awesome! Every seat was full this week! Which means that there were about 688 people singing! I don't want to brag or anything- but we sound awesome! :) I also got a bunch of letters from the young women in our ward! That was so special for me! lots of them drew stick figures of my with my name tag.. or me and my companion. They all thanked me for serving a mission and said how they looked to me as an example. I was so touched by their letters. I made such to write them back and say thank you.

Umm.. What else? I don't really know. This morning for breakfast i ate some of these all-bran stick things. Its kindof like cereal- but looks like rabbit food (i'm trying not to eat too bad here) but my companion and i were eating outside and there are birds everywhere that come up really close to you so that you'll feed them. I threw some of the bran flakes to them.. and they wanted nothing to do with it! haha i thought it was funny that not even the birds wanted to eat that stuff.

Well anyways, sorry there's nothing too overly exciting to tell you this week. most of our days here all blend together. We have lots of the same routine everyday. But i still am loving it! The language is coming slowly. The grammar is the hardest part for me i think. Hungarians speak so weird. "missionary i am, book of mormon you will read?" I feel like a caveman and yoda combined. but i'll get it eventually! Pray for me lots! i need prayers. Well love you all! hope all is well! Missions are the greatest! the church is true!! :)

Sincerely,

Sister Johnson

Sister Gallion & I posing on our temple walk 

(We are awesome models)! :o) 

August 24, 2011

Hello Family!!

Another week gone by here at the MTC! Can you believe i've almost been here a month! I feel like i've been here forever- but at the same time not long at all. Anyways, This week has been great! I love it so much! I am learning so much about the language, and our investigators, and just the gospel in general. I have been reading in Alma this week. I am getting into the war chapters. These chapters use to be so confusing when I read them last time- but now they are so exciting! and i am so interested in everything that's happening. I'm reading about Amalekiah (that's probably not how you spell his name) but he's so evil and so deceptive! Its crazy how exciting the scriptures can be! I LOVE IT!

My companion and I decided to try out the 6am pilates class on Saturday! haha i thought I was going to die, but it wasn't really that bad! i liked it a lot! except, the music they play sounds a lot like barney and sacrament hymns mixed together. haha We also decided we would go off sugar for the week! We made it two days before i got a package from mom with these amazing carmel apples!!- We decided to break our rules for just one day so we could eat them. haha Thanks mom! they were amazing.

Our SYL is this friday. So... i will have to go a whole 24 hours without speaking english! AHHHH!! i hope i can keep my sanity. lol it should be good though. Our district is learning so much! I really am amazed with how quickly i am learning everything. I still have a difficult time with all the conjugations, but i already feel like i speak hungarian better than spanish. and i took spanish for 2 years! the lord really blesses His missionaries with the gift of tounges. The older group of Hungarian missionaries leave on Monday! So, the next time you hear from me- we will no longer be the "Kicsi"- or the Littles.

Oh I wanted to ask Mom, or anyone else if they have a copy of a quartet or double quartet of "Come Thou Fount"? My district would like to sing this song in one of the devotionals, but we don't have the music. So if its possible that anyone could mail me a copy- that would be so awesome! And also, i was wondering- i don't think i ever recieved a missionary plaque. Do i get one of those? Mom, Maybe you could ask the bishop about it sometime if you can. That would be great! I was really hoping to have one!

Umm.. Our "investigators" are doing well. One of them (Mate), we feel is getting really close to baptism!! We extended the invitation a few days ago. He feels like its important, but says he's already been baptized in the catholic church. So now we are teaching him about the apostacy and preisthood. He is really so accepting of everything we've taught him so far though! TRC is so fun!! you should come vollenteer sometime for the english speakers! it is such a cool experience and anayone can do it! Lots of the people that come to ours are return missionaries. But they just play as themselves and we teach them lessons and bare testimony in the language. Its really cool! and great practice for teaching lessons! Oh, Scott! Congrats on passing your driving test! That is exciting! Is he going to be driving my car? Or are you still going to try and sell it? Just wondering.

Our devotionals are so awesome here! The speaker yesterday said some really cool things. He compared life to an echo, and said that life always gives you back what you say and do. He said that happiness is a choice. and that "the object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves the blessings He is already willing to give us." I thought that was insightful!

Well i love you all! Mom- sorry, i forgot to bring the addresses to forward this to diane and everyone. so i will do that next week. Take care! Talk to you soon!

Szervusz!!!

-Sister Johnson

Us and our new orange dots! We had to keep the dots on 

our first two days so everyone knew we were new to the MTC

August 31, 2011

Szervusz a Csaladom! (Hello Family)

This week has been another great week! The Osi (the older hungarian group) left on monday! Crazy. Its weird having them not here anymore. I can't wait till its our turn to go!! Our all Hungarian SYL (Speak Your Language) day on friday went well. It was pretty tough.. and i have to admit i slipped up with a few english words occationally. But its fun and kind of funny trying to have normal conversations with eachother throughout the day. Mostly the only workds we know are about the gospel.. but i was impressed with our ability to begin having day to day type conversation.

Elder Holland came and spoke to us yesterday at our devotional! I had been waiting and hoping to hear from an apostle.. and my favorite one came!! YAY! you probably shouldn't actually have "favorites" with apostles.. but i do. haha Elder Holland is just so sinceer and powerful when he speaks. He basically called us all to repentance.. haha but with love. It was incredible. I wrote down a few things he said: "No time in the history of the world has missionary work gone forth with such impact and power as this dispensation." "I believe that every ancient apostle saw our day and took heart with your success... Just as we look back to the apostles and prophets in the scriptures, they are looking forward and looking to you to complete the work they can no longer be here to finish." "Missionaries are the most prayed for people on the face of the earth" "While you are not perfect- people believe that you are... people in this world have a right to think that you are perfect- and you have no right to give them any reason to think otherwise." We are representing Christ and His church in this work. It is so important for us to stay clean and worthy of our responsiblity. Who are we to call others unto repentance, if we are not first clean ourselves- at least of major sins. He also told us not to turn our backs on those people who need us, and also those who are depending on us (past, present, and future) I thought that was really powerful. The spirit felt in the gym during the devotional was so strong. There were a few moments where i felt like he was looking right at me (even though he was probably staring at one of the other 2,000 people in the room- but everytime he glanced in my direction, i could feel a powerful spirit coming from this man. I know that he is a chosen apostle of the Lord.

Well, on a different note. Last wednesday was an interesting day. I wasn't feeling too good in the morning, and then after the temple my stomach was hurting a lot. My companion suggested we stop but the Health clinic really quick before class. I told her i wasn't sure what they could do to help me- but figured i could stop in for a few minutes and maybe get some medicine. Well, it was about 10min to 5. They close at 5 i guess.. but we were unaware of that at the time. So, a nurse brought me back and asked what the problem was.. i told her how i was feeling and then she stepped out for a min. When she came back she told me i needed to get my companion and we would be taking a trip to the E.R. "THE E.R??!" I assured her it was nothing serious and that i would come back tomorrow. But she said that since they were closing and i had already come in and told them i wasn't feeling well, i would have to go to the hospital to get it checked out just incase it was anything serious. I tried my very best to convince her otherwise... but she wasn't having it. I even thought for a second- maybe i could take of my shoes and book it out of there.. but i thought that might turn out badly. So.. my companion and i took a little feile trip to the E.R. Next thing i knew i was in an apron, getting x-ray, and tubes of my blood taken from me, and and I-V sticking up my arm! It was a nightmare!! We were there for 4 hours! It turned out to be nothing serious (just as i thought)- the food they feed us here doesn't always settle right. They said that losts of missionaries come to the hospital for the same type of stomach problems.

Yep, that was my exciting story of the week. 5 weeks into the MTC and already crazy things are happening to me. All i know.. is i do not want to co back to the health clinic anymore.

Anyways, thanks for all your letters and emails. Dad and holly thanks for the Cookies! Mom, thanks for all the packages you send! i thought of a few things i might need. If i could get a copy of that song you sang at my farewell that would be great! and maybe some kettle corn and dark brown eye shadow? I will try and send you another letter soon! and dad and holly too! umm... oh and can you check on the missionary plaque with the bishop for me? i am still curious about that! I really want to have one when i get home! Love you all lots! Dad- please tell brother Molina thank you for the kind email! i love that family! well talk to you all soon!

Sincerely,

Johnson Nővér

Me & My Companion!

I Love Sister Gallion! I seriously have the coolest companion.

September 7, 2011

Hi family!

Its been another exciting week here. we've had lots going on- like always. can you believe we've been here 6 weeks now! That means we are halfway done with our MTC experience!! only 6 weeks left! or flights are expected to be on October 10th.. but we don't recieve our flight plans until atleast 2 weeks before we leave. AHHH!! i can't wait to go to Hungary!

This past sunday was fast sunday, which means we also have mission conference. During mission conference the whole MTC meets together once a month to hear from the mission MTC presidency and thier wives. Well, our branch president told us we should make an extra effort to sit in the gym. I didn't think much of it- but we did as he said and found some seats a few rows back from the speakers. the MTC president- Pres. Brown is always the last to speak on fast sundays. I've talked to President Brown a few times. I think he like the Hungarian district! He even sat with us at lunch once our first week here. He doesn't know me all that well- but he remembers me as the Hungarian Sister from Arizona. haha Well, anyways sometimes before his talks at mission conference he likes to call one or two missionaries to come up in front of everyone and bear their testimonies. When he stood up to speak, i was minding my own business and preparing to take notes- when i heard "is sister Tiffany Johnson in the room today?"... uhh... after a double take.. i reluctantly stood up and raised my hand. He then asked for me and one other elder to come up and share our testimonies. At first, i was scared out of my mind! Me?!! Speak?! in front of all these people!?.. I was praying despreatly in my heart as i headed toward the pulpit. I could feel everyone's eyes on me and i was unsure of what i was going to say. But once i got up there and i looked out on everyones faces and started to speak- i was suprised with how comfortable i felt. All of the sudden the words started coming easily to me. I felt honored that i was given the oppurtunity to share my testimony of the gospel with so many people all at once! There are somwhere around 2,400 missionaries here at the MTC right now. I've never stood in front of so many people in my life!- let alone shared my testimony with so many. But it was an incredible experience that i will never forget. I know that this gospel is true. And i am so glad that i was able to bear geniune testimony of the things i truely do know to be true.

I was reading the other day during personal study in D&C 11 and i came across verse 21. "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your toungue be loosed; then, if you desire, your shall have my spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men." This scripture hit me so strongly. So much time here at the MTC is spent worrying about speaking the language. I spend half my day- and sometimes part of my personal study, studying the language so i can be more efficient in my lessons and people will be able to more easily understand what i am trying to teach them. But this scripture taught me a powerful lesson- my priority should not be to be the best hungarian speaking missionary Hungary has ever seen- but instead i should be focusing more on the principles of the gospel, and feeling the spirit as i study. Then, if i strive to have the spirit with me and gain a greater testimony of the lessons i am teaching.. then, if i desire, the lord will help me to be able to declare his word, and preach the gospel with power.

Hungarian is a tough language, but i know that the most important thing to have as a missionary- is the constant companionship of the holy ghost. Because it is the holy ghost that converts and can touch the hearts of others, not the language alone.

Well, i love you all. Thank you for all the emails and letters and prayers of support! They are always much needed. Dad, its great to hear that you are able to go visit so many cool places. Holly, i'm glad you are doing so well and enjoying your calling in relief society! Granny B, thanks for the email! i'm glad your garden is growing nicely. Music makes everything better! i will try and write you and grandpa lynn soon! mom- i wrote you a letter you should get it in a few days. also, the scripture i'd like to use is probably the one in D&C 11:21 that or Alma 29:9 or D&C 88:67-68. I'm not sure? i like them all.

Well, talk to you soon! Take care!

Sincerely,

Sister Johnson

Our room here at the MTC! 

My companion (Sister Gallion) & I are in the middle, and then

the other two girls from our district, Sister Kramer (on the right)

and Sister Christensen (on the left) 

September 14, 2011

Hello Again!

So it's been another great week! This morning my companion and i met a real hungarian! He is a missionary that just got here yesterday. He grew up in Hungary and is serving his mission in England- so he will be here for 3 weeks! His name is Elder Jenei. We attempted to speak some Hungarian to him.. but luckily he speaks really good english. He was very nice and told us a lot about what to expect in Hungary. He also said that the people love chocolate chip cookies and brownies, because they don't have them there- so we should make some from them alot. haha Now i know how i am going to get invited into more houses! it was exciting being able to talk to him today though.

Yesterday at devotional we had another apostle come and speak to us- M. Russell Ballard! Two apostles in two weeks! That might be a record! He had some really incredible thoughts though. He talked about the times when the mission will be tough. He read a quote from Wilford Woodruff that said "No matter what may come upon you- round up your shoulders and bear it." I liked that a lot. I know that my mission is not going to be easy. Already, i have had moments that feel overwhelming.. especially when you are trying to teach something you are so passionate about in a language you can hardly speak. But i know that the Lord is giving me strength beyond my own. I am so glad that i am enjoying this experience as much as i am! When i first left for my mission, i wasn't exactly sure what i was doing or what to expect.. but being here is the very best decision i've ever made!

My best friend Kassie is coming to the MTC today!! I haven't seen her yet.. but i am excited for her to get here! Mary's little brother just left at the beginning of this week for Russia! Mary comes to the MTC in December! I have the best friends ever! I can't believe all 3 of us are going on missions! I am really lucky to have such great examples in my life and such awesome friends!

One of our teachers Brother Daybell is quitting. His last day with us in on Saturday. Its sad because i've really grown to love our teachers here. They both do such a great job and they and such a good balance for eachother. He made sure to tell us he's not quitting because he doesn't like us- but his wife and him decided when his wife found a job that he would focus on school. So i guess that's what he needs to do right now. Brother Daybell is also one of our investigators.. Mate. So when he leaves we won't be able to teach Mate anymore. Its weird, because in my mind i know they are the same person. But in our lessons it truely feels like we are teaching a real investigator. Because we only have a few more lessons with him, my companion and i decided to teach about Joseph Smith again and possibly commit him to be baptized again. We tried to committ him once before, but he told us he had already been baptized in the catholic church- which brought up a lot more for us to talk about. But our last lesson with him was really powerful. We started of by singing "oh how lovely was the morning" to him in hungarian. We talked about the first vision, and read to him the verse in James 1:5.My companion and i have both memorized josephs words descibing the first vision in Hungarian, so we recited that to him. Then we both bore our testimonies about Joseph Smith. We asked him if he believed our message about Joseph Smith was true, and he said yes. Then we asked if he would be baptized. He asked why it was important if he's already been baptized. I told him that there are different covenents and promises made when he is baptized in our church. and i explained to him about the priesthood power and why it is necessary for the ordinances performed. I don't know how he understood what i was saying but he did. and after we asked if he would read more in the scriptures about baptism and pray about it. He said yes.

After the lesson our teacher invited us back in to talk about it. He said the spirit was so strong and asked why we didn't commit Mate to be baptized again after we answered his question. I wasn't sure why we didn't. He said that when the spirit is that strong in the room- we shouldn't be afraid to ask the investigators questions or committ them when we feel impressed to.

We have two more lessons with him. I really hope he will accept and believe our message! I'm going to miss teaching Mate alot! i know these aren't even real investigators, but i really grow to love the people we teach! I can't wait till i get to go and teach the Hungarians!

Well Family, thanks for everything. Thanks for your emails and letters! dad thanks for the last letter you send, it was a really amazing blessing. I am so grateful for that. Alan, i'm glad that you and princess are doing well! i sent you both a letter. i'm not sure if you've gotten it yet or not but it's from my first few weeks when i was here. Mom, thanks for the packages! and for your letters! Granny B, i'm glad that all your plants are growing and tasting good! I don't really have much more to tell you.. I love the MTC but i think i'm about ready to get on a plane and head out of here! :) I love the gospel! its the greatest blessing in my life! I can't wait to help others find it! Love you all!

Sok Szerettel, (with lots of love)

Sister Johnson

                          The whole district! They are all so great! I love these people!

           It's so fun to get to know them more and draw closer together as we all struggle 

                with the language and prepare together for the same awesome cause. :o)