July 7th email

Hello!!
This week was so awesome. I got a lot of studying in and I had a little bit of fun too haha. But for those of you who know me, you know that studying IS fun for me! 😎 I've been reading "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard and it is sooo good! I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially to someone who has questions about the church. It's pretty short, too, like 120 pages.
On Sunday afternoon, Slla. Cook and I were on the "Match the Message" panel for the new missionaries. Basically what "Match the Message" is for is to talk about how we need to be modest, how to act, and what to say as representatives of Christ. On the panel, we answered frequently asked questions so the new sisters could hear it from someone who's not old haha :)
On Sunday night we had a devotional given by President Martino's brother who came and sang songs about the Restoration. After the Sunday devotionals, we always have a "movie night" of a Mormon movie or really good talk by a General Authority. This last Sunday night, me and some friends watched Legacy, which is about the Mormon pioneers and the Restoration. I loveddd the movie so much because it was a little bit chick-flicky because there were like 4 kisses 😱 I miss watching chick flicks like I did back home hahaha.
On Tuesday afternoon Sorella Cook and I had our first TRC, which is where we teach a lesson/have a discussion with someone who's already a member. It was all in Italian, of course, and when we were done, our TRC's told us that we were already speaking great Italian. It's nice to hear that.
On Tuesday night we had another devotional with F. Michael Watson, who used to be a secretary for the First Presidency of the church. Now he's very old and also very wise. 😅 He talked about the Book of Mormon and the importance of Preach My Gospel. He also talked about how God has used mortal men throughout history to accomplish His work, which is so true; this feels more real to me now that I am a missionary and everything I do is for the Lord. John 20:21!!
Instead of social media, I just go on Family Search and pretend I am looking at the Instagram/Facebook profiles of my ancestors, so I guess you could say I have been doing some family history work in my spare time. Also, when we have exercise time, I go on the elliptical by myself so I can read or memorize/study Italian more and get ahead. My companion always says I work too hard but I like it 😂
Right before I came to write this letter, I put my laundry in the washer, and right before I did that, I had lunch, and before THAT, my district and I went to the Provo Temple and helped clean (it's closed this month for renovation/cleaning), and it was actually super cool. I didn't have a boring job like vacuuming-- I actually got to take apart the main crystal chandelier in the first sealing room piece-by-piece, clean each piece of crystal, dry each piece, and put the whole chandelier back together again. It was an awesome experience, because it kind of reminded me how God is mindful of each one of us and cares for every person that lives here and that has ever lived here on this earth. He listens to each of us and wants to hear from us! We are each important to Him. Dio ci ama 😋
I only have 18 days left in the MTC and then I will be flying to Italy!! I'm super excited and also nervous.
I didn't take many pictures this week but I am attaching a few pictures: an MTC for ants, the picture Slla. Francom drew on the board (to try and show us how to say the "gli" sound which is actually kind of hard at first), and a picture of me and Slla. Cook and Slla. Stolk (another girl in our district and dorm room).
"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." -2 Timothy 1:12
Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. You are all so special to me.
Ciao,
Sorella Johnson

June 30th email

Every week gets better and better!
I'm almost halfway through my stay at the MTC, so you will all be getting a lot cooler pictures in a few weeks haha. Even though I'm not in Italy yet, I have been having an amazing time at the MTC. There are so many opportunities to do good and to become better, and because of this I am feeling real joy. It's amazing.
By the way! My MTC address has changed and it is now
Sister Abigail Michelle Johnson
JUL25 ITA-MIL
2005 N 900 E Unit 224
Provo, UT 84602
Only the Unit # changed and letters can still get to me through unit 99 but it's easier for me to get the mail through unit 224!
I have been a lot more level-headed and feeling happier and more myself. One of the sisters going to Italy was having a lot of trouble with her companion, her health, and her Italian, so I was able to help her by listening to her and studying with her. I think I am being blessed to feel more myself now so that I can help her.
On Sunday we had a devotional with President Lords, a president of something (idk what hahah) here at the MTC. It was so great. If anyone wants to see my notes from his devotional let me know!!
TUESDAY was SO cool because Slla. Cook said the closing prayer at the devotional where 10 apostles were present, so we both sat right at the bottom the stairs to the stage where the apostles sat with their wives. Elder Gary E. Stevenson said hi to me and asked how I was doing as he stood next to me while waiting to get onto the stage. 😅 (fangirling-- just kidding, I actually played it super cool as I always do). I'm attaching a picture of my point of view from my seat.
Apostles present: Bednar (spoke), Holland (cried during "Praise to the Man"), Oaks (shook Slla. Cooks' hand as she got off the stage after saying the prayer), Stevenson (said hi to me), Rasband, Anderson, Christofferson, Ballard, Cook, Renlund.
Apostles not present: Nelson, Hales. (And 1st presidency)
I'll attach a picture of my notes from Elder Bednar's talk instead of writing about it here. It was a very interesting talk. He talked about how the seed(from Alma 32)= the tree of life=love of God= Christ= the word, so we have to let the word of Christ grow in us. He also talked about Joseph Smith since Tuesday was the 173rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. To commemorate his martyrdom, the MTC choir sang Praise to the Man. I'll attach a recording of MoTab singing the same arrangement the MTC Choir sang. :)
Yesterday was hilarious because a couple of the anziani (elders) in my district were teaching a lesson and wanted to show the investigator James 1:5 as they talked about how God answers our prayers if we ask Him. BUT instead of showing the investigator James 1:5, they showed her Joel 1:5, because it's in Italian and the words for James and Joel aren't the same as English.
Go and read James 1:5 and then read Joel 1:5 and just see how that might be a bit confusing with the lesson they were trying to teach 😶😂
I have been reading the Book of Mormon more closely. I've already read it a few times but I can definitely see the difference when it's one of my only forms of entertainment. But it is so good. The stories are so interesting and so REAL. I love it!! I feel such joy when I read it and when I can teach others about it (even if they are fake investigators haha). The Gospel brings such joy!! ❤
Attached are some pictures of me and Sorella Cook (plus some other sisters going to Milan), pictures from our temple walk, ​​our branch, and other random stuff. Some have to be sent as drive links... Not sure if they will work...
I hope everyone has a wonderful week and continues to email because I love hearing from all of you!! 😄
CIAO 🍝
Sorella Johnson

June 23rd email

Hi all!
First of all I want to say thank you to everyone that emails me! It really means a lot, and even if I don't have time to answer, I want you to know that it does not go unnoticed. I can read emails throughout the week, but I can't answer until Friday.
This week helped me to realize why I am here on my mission. Before I came to the MTC I was excited to go to Italy. Now I'm excited to go to Italy AND to help people become happier through the Gospel. Since Friday, Slla. Cook and I have had 5 lessons with our "investigator" (she's already a member but pretended to be Catholic and spoke to us in fluent Italian). We have to teach the lessons all in Italian and they have to be at least 20 minutes long. We always go over, though, which is kind of funny considering we have only been learning the language for a week. The 3 years of Spanish I took in high school have really helped me lately, and I am also able to help Sorella Cook with her Italian because she's never learned a language before (besides English haha). Yesterday was our last lesson with this specific "investigator," and I didn't use any books or write anything down to ask her, but the lesson was really powerful. It's amazing how much peace and happiness you can feel, even when you're trying to convey your thoughts in a broken foreign language. It makes me realize that the Gospel doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes saying something as simple as "God loves you" can be so profound and can be exactly what someone might need to hear.
On Sundays and Tuesdays, the whole MTC has a devotional. Also, the MTC choir sings at the Tuesday devotionals, which I joined. It's really fun. On Sunday, June 18, Donny Osmond came and spoke for our devotional. It was hilarious. 😂 He mostly just talked about himself and was shocked when like 1/4 of the missionaries in the MTC didn't know who he was haha. I don't think he realizes how old he is. His son is in Rome on a mission right now so he got a picture with all the Italy missionaries in the back after the devotional. I am attaching a few pics of his visit.
After the Donny devotional, we got to watch a video of a talk by David A. Bednar called "The Character of Christ." Definitely the best talk I've ever listened to. Sadly, it's only available in the MTC to watch. It was soooo good. If anyone wants to see my notes from the talk, let me know!
On Tuesday in the morning/afternoon, a bunch of us had to go to the consulate in SLC to make a personal appearance to sign for our visas to go to Italy. It was so great going back to Salt Lake and riding the Frontrunner and Trax and seeing the U on the mountain. 😄❤ I definitely miss it there. Also we got to go to Chick-Fil-A at City Creek after our appointments at the consulate 😍 The MTC food isn't bad but it was cool being out in the real world to eat.
On Wednesday we had a great language class. My teacher, Sorella Francom, was having us read out of the scriptures and asking us what we thought, but we weren't all really contributing, because we're supposed to answer in Italian (or as much as we can in Italian). So she left the class for a minute to go decide on her own what we needed to do. When she came back, she had us go to another building and look at the big pictures of Christ and scriptures next to them. She told us to ponder the question, "How does Jesus Christ feel about me?" I'm attaching a couple of the pictures I really loved. The new MTC buildings are great for pondering. Once we got back from our little field trip, she had us write to our companions what we think they're doing well at and then give them the note. It really helped me to hear what Slla. Cook said. After that, we bore our testimonies to our classmates in Italian. It makes me so happy when other people can be happy.
"All things that are unfair about life will be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
Thank you everyone for your support. You are all so great.
I'm attaching some pictures of the Donny Osmond devotional, the new buildings/pictures inside, ​​​​​​some pictures of my zone, and some misc. stuff I hope you will all appreciate 😂
CIAO 🇮🇹
Sorella Johnson

June 19th email

Hello everyone!
I hope you´re all doing well. I miss you. Sorry if any of punctuation is messed up; this English keyboard is set to Spanish and I have no idea where the symbols are haha. These past couple of days at the MTC have been tough. There have been a few things, though, that have made it a lot better:
My companion is awesome. Her name is Sorella Cook and she´s from Alberta, Canada. She´s actually going to Rome and we are the only Italian companionship here that is Milan and Rome. I am going to miss her when we leave the MTC! Also we have the same birthdays; I am just like 11 or 12 hours older. :)
Another thing is that I love learning Italian. My teacher Sister Francom is awesome, at least she seems awesome, but I´m not 100% sure because she only speaks Italian to us. She´s in her mid 20´s or so. I feel like I´m picking the language up fairly quickly for having been here only 48 hours. The gift of tongues is real!! (aka Il dono della lingua e reale!!) Tonight Sorella Cook and I have our first lesson with an investigator. It´s supposed to be 20 minutes long and ALL in Italian. That will be intersting. 😅 Wish us luck. At least we have the Lord on our side.
Also yesterday afternoon we had a big class with about 150 missionaries in it where we talked about our purpose as missionaries (my district of 8 has to memorize Il tuo scopo out of Preach My Gospel, which is Your Purpose from chapter 1 of PGM but in Italian, by Monday). In the class there was a video that really helped me when I was feeling down. I´ve been so tired and feeling like I´m not going to be a good missionary and it makes it really hard to be here. Knowing that there are 18 months ahead of me is really daunting. But this video https://www.lds.org/media-lib…/…/2009-10-38-lifting-burdens… helped me to realize that I am going to be supported by my Heavenly Father and that when things seem super tough, that He will carry me.
Check out the video! It´s only a few minutes long!
Today me and all the other Milan and Rome Sisters went to the Provo Temple. It was nice because we have been so busy and it was so peaceful. Peaceful enough for me to fall asleep for a bit, which I did hehehe. ;) But the temple is amazing and even just standing on the ground can help you feel such peace! I would encourage everyone to go as the opportunities come up, because anyone can attend the grounds!
My district of 8, 4 sisters and 4 elders, who I take language class with and do a ton of other stuff with, includes two guys from my YSA in Utah! Anziano Ethan Anderl and Anziano Alexander McConkie (Anziano= elder in Italian). They are also companions. It was awesome walking in and seeing familiar facing, being able to study Italian with them, and seeing them grow, too.
Attached are a pic of my dorm room of girls attending the temple this morning (Sorella Cook is standing on the end beside me), a picture of a scripture verse that was read during my language class that I lovvve, and a picture of what part of the white board looked like when I walked into my language class the first day.
Email me! I love hearing from all of you!!
Io so che il vangelo e vero! E io so che Dio mi ama, e che Di vi ama.
I know that the Gospel is true! And I know that God loves me, and that God loves all of you.
Ciao,
Sorella Johnson

MTC arrival -- June 14, 2017

I arrived at the MTC today!  I'm tired, but also feeling anxious to get started.

PDX <--> SLC

I had to be at the airport super early, but I was fortunate enough to meet up with Sister Shields, another missionary but serving in New Hampshire, in line.  It made the trip a lot easier.