Technology

For the record, my mom wrote the last post. Her cheesiness level is a bit higher than mine (but I still love you, mom!). When I first got home, I really felt out of touch technology-wise as I haven't used any of it except basic email for a year and a half. It actually took me a while to feel like it was ok for me to spend my time on such things. I still answered my phone "Hello, this is Sister Johnson" for the first week or so, but I think I'm almost back to normal (if my mental states could ever really be described as such). I had a great welcome home present my first full day home - designed to re-introduce me into the advances and uses of technology - a photo radar ticket. If you consider that a real speeding ticket (which I've been told is debatable) it will be my first in my whole life! To say the least, I didn't quite appreciate the present. So, to sum it all up, I think I'm ready to keep up my blog again.

I'm Home!

My family was all prepared to meet me at the airport gates

Unfortunately, the plane arrived half an hour early so they missed me!

So I had to call them on a pay phone and let them know I was already at the baggage claim area

I began to wonder if maybe the RM movie wasn't so far off!

But they were ALL there in force - even Brian & Kira drove down from Utah.

I guess they really do love me!

Coming Home!

Hey ya'll,

Figures, the computer had to do it to me one last time for old times’ sake.... it just erased my whole email...

But that's OK, because I'll see you in a couple days. It's OK to be excited, Mom, because I'm ready to come home too. Not that I haven't loved my mission, but man, am I tired. I've never been one to handle stress very well and the pace of the mission sure wears on you. If this is preparing me to be a mother, I don't think I'm going to handle it very well.... :)

We've had a busy week and I've said all my goodbyes. Everyone wants me to come back and visit, but most don't believe I really will - so I'll have to prove them all wrong after the next couple months.

But besides all the normal, amazing missionary experiences this week, I think my favorite thing this week was our garbage can. Last Wednesday it disappeared, and we couldn't figure out where it went, and we were just fixin' to go buy a new one when it suddenly reappeared yesterday on our doorstep. If the Elders didn't live so far away, I would suspect them, but as it is, we have no clue.

Well, see you in two days! I gotta go pack. ~Melissa

Biking Sisters

Ickle me, Pickle me, Tickle me:

Look! And I looked and beheld a real missionary – complete with bike, backpack, and helmet. We even had our own little lunch packed up on the back. And doesn’t Sis. Bell look like a mannequin? We thought so. Doesn’t my helmet make me look like I belong in World War II?

So, I guess by the time you get this, you’ll be seeing me in a couple days – ready or not, here I come! My family is always in my prayers!

I love you! Melissa

Easter Baptism!

My Easter was great! So good – and a bit stressful at the beginning, but it all turned out just perfect. Of course, first thing we had to do when we got the church building Sunday morning was to start filling the font – and I didn’t scald anyone this time! I was so proud of myself. Then it was really funny because as the Branch President was announcing the program, he got everything mixed up because the choir was singing as well as a special number from us later, and so everyone was correcting him and he didn’t know who to listen to. So first we sang in the choir, (which we make up almost half…), then I spoke, and I don’t know what has happened to me, but I was able to speak for my 20 minutes (actually, I think I went over) and wasn’t even all that nervous, didn’t write out my talk, only made a few notes, and was actually pretty coherent. I was amazed at myself. And everyone said they were really touched, so it sounds like it turned out pretty good. I, of course, spoke on the Atonement and how we make it a part of our lives. It had really stuck out to me in General Conference about how the ordinances of the gospel are how we access God’s power in our lives. So really it is only through the ordinances of baptism, partaking of the sacrament, etc. that the Atonement can really apply to us (at least the overcoming sin part – the resurrection part is a sure deal). If we don’t participate in those ordinances, no matter how much we repent and keep the commandments and do good and have faith, it won’t really do us any good. It’s just like getting out the utensils, washing your hands and cutting the cake, and then not eating it. We really do have so much to rejoice over because of the Atonement!

So after I spoke, Sister Bell and I sang, “How Great Shall Be Your Joy”. The accompanist messed up a little, but it turned out really well. I haven’t sung that as a duet for a long time. Then Sister Bell spoke, and she tied in the Atonement with humility and missionary work and did an amazing job. We then had to teach Gospel Principles class. And then after Relief Society, we had to run around and make sure everything was set up and ready for the baptism. And of course take pictures with all three of them all in white. So perfect. The actual baptisms were a little bit awkward, just with having three people in the font and one person saying the prayer and someone else dunking. But it all worked out and it was really special for Jerry to be able to participate in the baptisms of his wife and son. Then, this branch doesn’t really know how to do anything when it comes to food small. We had thought we’d have a few snacks, but it ended up being a whole luncheon. So funny.

And all throughout the day, we just had a million and one people trying to talk to us about different things, and I just couldn’t keep it all straight, and I just had to tell some people, can we talk about this later. But after everything was over, we got a chance to relax a bit and we had dinner over at one of our investigators houses – Bill and Diane. I just love them, they are so funny. It was a beautiful day, too. We sat on Bill and Diane’s front porch swing for a bit just enjoying the day. I really have been converted to that “front porch sittin’.” Oh, and we got so many little Easter gifts and baskets from different people, it’s a good thing you didn’t send anything…I’d never be able to eat it. The members here are just so thoughtful.

We were also really excited that there were several less active members that we have been visiting that came to church. We were especially happy to see this one family, who we had an especially powerful visit with the day before. They had recently experienced the death of a friend and it really hit them hard and they realized that they needed to come back to church, even though they aren’t perfect and have word of wisdom issues. The mom even told us at the end that she didn’t have any church clothes to wear anymore, but she was going to be there if she had to come in jeans. And she was, but not in jeans, she found some dress pants. I think they were really touched by the meeting.

We were also excited to see one of the Tuttle’s neighbors come to church with them and stay for the baptism. They are already being such good missionaries. When we went over to their house last night, Christian had a friend over who he’d been talking to about the gospel, and we taught him a little first lesson. So maybe we’ll have a little deacon’s quorum in a little while if Christian keeps inviting his friends like he has. So cute. I hope they call a young men’s president soon….

The rest of last week was just really busy with teaching appointments and what not. I’m so glad things have been so busy, so it’s easier to stay focused. We already have a pretty full week this coming week, too, so I’m happy about that. We also went to a little Catholic service called “Stations of the Cross” on Good Friday with our Irish investigator Cecelia. It was interesting… the Catholic Church does a lot of symbolic things to keep you in remembrance of the meaning and events of the Holy Week. In a way, it’s kind of like the Law of Moses, now that I think about it. Yet, the whole service was just so empty of any real feeling or Spirit. And Cecelia is aware of the emptiness of it (we talked about it afterwards) and that’s why she likes meeting with us, yet, she doesn’t really want to change. Hopefully, she will eventually. She’s amazing. I just love her. She’s someone I’m coming back to visit. :)

Well, that’s pretty much been my week. We’re going to go play with the Elders in our district today one last time before I leave. They are so funny. We took some great pictures the other day. I guess I’ll just have to show you them when I get home. I don’t know whose idea it was but they gave us all X-Men nicknames and informed Sister Bell that she was Wolverine, and I was Sabertooth. So we took some pictures acting as our characters. Oh, and did I ever tell you that there is an Elder in my district who looks like Mr. Bean? He’s actually from Mesa, so maybe ya’ll can meet him sometime. :)

Well, I better get going; laundry to do you know… But I’m so glad that George and Debbie loved the Easter Pageant! I’m sad I missed it this year… Anyway, love ya’ll!

~Melissa

Amazing Conference!

Helloooo!

General Conference was so amazing! Of course we watched all 4 sessions. And our investigators that are getting baptized on Sunday watched part of it too! Even the 13 year old boy - who also brought his friend! How about that? Yup, everything is still on for Sunday. We are now, not only speaking, we are also singing a special musical number in between our talks on Sunday. But it will be quite the day. And I hope someone invites us over for dinner….

So Conference – I can’t believe the emphasis on the temple, maybe just because I miss being able to go so much. It seemed to me that everything was about the ordinances and covenants we make and how important they are and that we remember them and do everything in our power to keep them so they can protect us in the times ahead. Was it just me, or were they being even more direct them usual? The temple really is the focus of everything we do, and it’s so fulfilling when someone else catches the vision of it.

The family that is getting baptized, they’ve caught it. They want to be sealed together in the temple and that was a big part of their decision to be baptized. I don’t know if I told you, but the father uses these two crutch things to walk with, but it was really important to his wife and son for him to baptize them, so he’s going to do what he can with his handicap, and someone else will be in the font to help with the actual dunking. We are so excited. They have their baptismal interview tomorrow.

But besides conference, nothing much to really report on, our week was pretty dull and not many people wanting to see us. But the Tuttles make up for everything.

We had a Zone p-day today, and we played capture the flag with flour balls – so basically everyone ended up covered in flour. It was rather amusing. Elders are so funny. They make me laugh; I think I’ve decided to adopt a couple of them as some additional brothers. I don’t think I have enough.

Anyway, I really don’t feel like I have a lot to say right now, and I am, once again, running out of time. So Happy Easter! Be safe and have a fun trip, hug Bracken for me. Love you!

~Melissa

Biking Up Hills

It was another adventure filled week in Gretna! OK, well, not near as exciting as getting locked out of our house and the toilet overflowing, but we set a baptism date with Debbie, the wife of the recent convert that we've been teaching! It's been so amazing to see how she's changed. It seems like the real turning point was when they started doing family prayer every night. And I think that has also been the turning point for their 13 year old son. We would barely see him before; he'd just be back in his room playing video games. Then he'd start coming in and out, and now he stays and participates in the lessons and told us the other day that he is "beginning to believe" and really likes when we come over. Both Debbie and their son came to church on Sunday and had a really good experience. We were worried about how Christian would like it because there are absolutely no youth in the branch. But he actually told his mom that he was glad he came. We didn't know what to do with him, so he ended up just going to all the adult classes with his parents. When we were discussing it as a companionship before he came to church and worrying about him not having the support he needs in the branch, we just came to the conclusion, well, if the Church is true, it's true, and he will feel it and Heavenly Father will provide a way for things to work out. So who knows? Maybe Christian will be baptized with his mom on Easter! That's a great day for a baptism, don't you think?

The weather here has not been able to make up its mind. It's been really rainy and cold, and then it's 70 degrees for a couple days, then goes back to the rain. But yesterday, it was a really nice day, and we went on a bike riding adventure! You see, we are really low on our miles on our car this month, so we were pondering what our options were for the last few days of the month and what people we could see and what we could do without driving too far. Then we thought we'd give some of our investigators a call who had offered to loan us bikes, and asked if we could come over in the morning and borrow them. But instead they delivered them to our house that night. So funny, you would love these two, they are a crack up. I think every time we go over there they give us something. One time it was a bunch of old clothes in case any of it fit us and we had quite the fashion show that night...

But anyway, Bill brought over the bikes complete with helmets, and we donned them the next morning along with our backpacks, we packed a lunch and strapped it to the little platform on the back, armed ourselves with safety pins to keep our skirts from blowing up, and away we went. We thought we might be able to make it up to this area where we'd left off some tracting, but we quickly realized that biking in Virginia is not the same as biking in Arizona or California. We forgot that "this here be hill country." So we ended up walking our bikes up a lot of hills and zooming down them on the other side. It was amazing. And we only made it about halfway before we realized we had to stop in order to be able to get back for our dinner appointment that night. We did a bit of tracting around where we stopped, and then picked a nice grassy spot along side this country road to eat our tuna sandwiches and apples.

I then made some off hand comment, that I think someone should just stop and talk to us about the gospel because they felt impressed to. Then, lo and behold, we see a man walking up the street toward us. He asks if we need any help, and explained he lived in the house that was kind of across and down from where we were sitting, and he saw us on our bikes, and he wasn't used to seeing people on bikes around there and wanted to come talk to us. He then asks who we are and what we were doing and we were more than happy to tell him, and he accepted a Book of Mormon and was really interested to read it. We're going to go back and see him and his wife on Saturday, so we'll see what happens.

We then proceeded on our journey home which included riding our bike across the highway, because there was no other street that went where we needed to go. It was so nice. But I've discovered I'm not in very good shape anymore. I wasn't sore though, at all, only my behind because of the seat... I'm sure we looked quite the sight for all the Gretnans.

Maybe we'll have time to ride them more and I can get a little bit back in shape before I come home. :) But it sounds like you are still busy, busy, and happy. That's all really interesting about the common wealth school and those classes, I think that might be something I'd really like to do. But again, I'm running out of time, talk to you all later! I love you all!

~Melissa