August 9th email

Parlo con JWs e vomito

Salve!
Honestly, this week (after last P-Day) started out hard. Last Wednesday through Saturday was the hottest part of the year. On top of that, Sorella Hoffman and I ate some bad food-- if you ever have the chance to eat kebap, don't take it, but I think it might actually be illegal in the US-- on Thursday and were sick from Thursday until Monday. We still did work on Thursday and Friday, but on Saturday we stayed in bed all day and vomited all night haha. I was excited for Sunday because the church does a break-the-fast every Fast Sunday, but we were too weak from the day before, so we slept and stayed in bed all day again. Same with Monday. 😅
We had our appointment with the Jehovah's Witnesses on Friday at a park near where we live. Sorella Hoffman and I studied their pamphlet to prepare. We think they used the internet to prepare hahaha. They were very nice, though. They wanted to talk about the church's views on war, because the JWs don't believe in participating in war at all, which is a bit different than us. They pulled out Alma 26:32 and a bunch of bible scriptures. We talked about war for like 20 minutes, and I didn't really see that we were edifying each other in any way. So when there was a lull in the conversation, I asked if it would be alright if we shared our purpose as missionaries with them, and they said yes. We talked about the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism/covenants, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end), the Atonement, and the strength that we feel from the gospel. I felt the Spirit a lot stronger when we were talking about Christ than when we were trying to prove each other wrong. They still didn't want our copies of the Book of Mormon at the end, but one of them might come to our English class. 😅😀
On Monday night we had Serata Familiare (Family Home Evening) at the church building, and Slla. Hoffman and I went. It was our first time out of the house in three days straight. I forgot in those three days how wonderful Italy is... it was good to be reminded again.
Last Wednesday we had a lesson with an investigator who is our age and has been taking the missionary discussions for a while. She speaks great English, speaks even better Italian, and her first language is Russian-- we have our lessons in Italian, though. She is very knowledgable in the gospel and she reads the scriptures and prays, but she hasn't come to church in like 34 weeks (not 3-4, but 34). So it's been a while. Anyway, Sorella Hoffman and I had a lesson with her and it went very well. She said she would ask her parents if she could come to church, but they've always said no in the past, so she told us she might not be able to. Then! Yesterday! We found out she came to church! While we were puking our guts out, she was at church. It made me so happy. And she had a great time.
Funny story: if you have ever heard that the elevators in Italy are sketchy... this is true. A couple days ago we were in the elevator in our building and it stopped between floors, and the doors opened to a cement wall. It was creepy. But we just pressed our button again and it worked. (That wasn't the funny story, sorry haha) Yesterday two ladies actually got stuck in the elevator on our floor. There's a small window on the door and the lights in the elevator shut off. If you can imagine two Italian ladies freaking out, yelling "Mamma mia!" and such, that is exactly what it was like. It was hilarious. We had to call someone to come fix the elevator and they were fine. Sorry if that didn't up being as funny as any of you thought. 😂
Today for P-Day we took a funivia (cablecar) in northern Bergamo and rode up to Selvino, a place way up in the mountains. The weather is perfect and the views are super beautiful. We walked through the town a little bit and then took a ski lift up higher in the trees. Once we were there, we went to an "adventure park" and did a bunch of roped obstacle courses in the trees. It was fun! I will attach some pictures of the views from Selvino and might have some pics from the adventure park next week.
Alma 26:27 "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." I know the Lord helps us bear our burdens and will always comfort us in our times of need. We just have to let him.
I'm attaching a picture of Slla. Hoffman and I from last week up at La Città Alta, some pictures we took when we were sick, and some pictures from today's p-day. I hope everyone has a great week!
Con amore,
Sorella Johnson

August 2nd email

Benvenuta a Bergamo!

Ciao tutti!
Wow! So many things have happened in the past week and a half! I left the MTC on the morning of Tuesday, July 25th, and arrived in Milan on Wednesday, July 26th around noon. The travelling was long and tiring, and my bags were left in Dallas until the next day, but everything is settled and going great now. Also I got to listen to classical music on the plane and I found gems like Rhapsody in Blue, American in Paris, and the Firebird Suite Finale to listen to. It was awesome.
Sooo I love it here in Italy so much. When we got to Milan, we were picked up by President Allen, Sorella Allen, and some other missionaries, and taken over to the Duomo. On the way there and back, we took a metro (underground train) and were given a copy of the Book of Mormon. One of the APs told us that we wouldn't be able to eat dinner if we didn't give someone our copy, and I wanted an Italian dinner, so I was determined. I went up to people on the train and told them it was my first day in Italy and asked them if I could practice my Italian with them. They always said yes 😎 So I talked about the gospel to them, because at that point, that was all I knew how to talk about, and all I needed to talk about haha. Sadly, everyone refused (like literally refused and ran off the train 😅) the book and I was still carrying it by the end of the day. But I still got to eat-- salad, pizza, lasagna, and gelato-- for dinner at President Allen's house in Opera with Sorella Allen and everyone else who arrived in Italy that day. Also I have never fallen asleep faster than I fell asleep that night.
The next day we were assigned our trainers and areas. I have been assigned to labor in Bergamo, and my trainer is Sorella Hoffman!! Bergamo is northeast of Milan and is up higher in the mountains. I love it!! The views are gorgeous and the people are so nice. Once we were assigned, we took a train up to Bergamo, put my bags in the apartment, went to a meeting, and then went to English class. Since hardly any people in Bergamo speak English, we teach a free English class twice a week at the church building. It's a really great way to become friends with more people and to share the gospel with them (and for me to know what's going on because English).
Slla. Hoffman and I are over Bergamo 1 & 3 (a ward and a branch) and we live with the other Sorelle who are over Bergamo 2. On Sunday we went to the sacrament meetings for both 1 & 3, and I was asked to bear my testimony in both meetings. I wasn't super nervous because that's one of the only things I can do well in Italian hahaha. After each of the meetings, all the old ladies came up and kissed me and told me that I spoke so well. It was really sweet 😊 Everyone kept telling me that I would be speaking better Italian than them in no time! Haha! (Doubtful 🤣)
We have met a lot of people on public transit, because we have had to run so many errands for my permesso and transportation pass and stuff. The people here are so easy to love. Some Jehovah's Witnesses have buzzed our apartment to talk to us and we even have an appointment to talk with them this Friday. They might try to convert us haha. I think their work is probably slow if they're trying to convert the Mormon missionaries.
We met a young girl named Virginia at a bus stop once who told us about her canaries at home, and then the next day we saw her on the bus and she showed us a picture of her dead bird. On Monday we talked to a nun who was very sweet and asked us lots of questions about our missions; she admired us for our work. There'a an old, white-haired man named Giorgio who wears a half-buttoned up, white dress shirt, shorts, and sandals, that we see almost every day on the bus, and every time he sees us he yells, "Che una sopressa!" and gets super excited to see us. These are just a few of the bravi people I've met here. The Italian people are very encouraging as I'm learning the language, and Sorella Hoffman helps me a lot. She is super awesome. ☺
Today for P-Day we went up to La Città Alta in Bergamo. It is so beautiful! I had my first real gelato and pizza, and we saw some duomi. We also got to look down at Bergamo from some cool viewpoints since that part of the city is up high hence the name). I'll attach some pictures! I'll also attach a video of my view out of my apartment [from her mom: I'm working on attaching it], a pic of a bug in my apartment, the chapel in our church building, and also a pic of their idea of American pizza (with hot dogs and fries on it), etc.
"Ciò che è da Dio è luce; e colui che riceve la luce e continua in Dio riceve più luce; e quella luce diventa sempre più brillante fino al giorno perfetto." D&A 50:24
"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." D&C 50:24
Vi voglio bene! I love to hear from all of you, and I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Sorella Johnson ❤
Via Antonio Gramsci 13/2
20090 Opera MI
Italia

I ARRIVED IN ITALY!! 7-26-17

Ciao! 🇮🇹 I wanted to let you all know that I got a call from the Milan Mission Home that Sorella Abby Johnson arrived safely in Italy this morning. The Elder I talked to said that after she was picked up from the airport, she was taken to the town square to talk with the people and she did REALLY well. She'll be moved to her first area tomorrow. Her P-days are Wednesdays, so she won't be in contact until next week. The mission blog has been updated and there are pictures of #SorellaJohnson👩🏼 on it! I've included some of them with this post... Like pictures of her just getting off the plane, talking with people on the subway, talking with people in the town square, a couple of group shots, and one of Abby and her companion, Sorella Hoffman, and their Mission President and his wife. I also included a picture of the location on a map of the city she's been assigned to: Bergamo. Look it up; it's GORGEOUS! She's so lucky! http://missionemilano.blogspot.com/?m=1 #MissionaryMom👱🏻‍♀️ #ItalyMilanMission -- Elizabeth (Abby's mom)

Milan bound on July 25th

Sorella Abby Johnson just called. She's boarding her flight to Milan (by way of Dallas TX and London England) now. I'm SO EXCITED for her and yet I'm crying because I miss her like CRAZY! #MissionaryMom👱🏻‍♀️ #ItalyMilanMission🇮🇹 #SorellaJohnson👩 #MilanOrBust -- Elizabeth (Abby's mom)

July 21st email

Last email from the MTC 🇮🇹
from Sorella Abby Johnson
Ciao!
I'm pretty sure I always say that haha. ☺ I leave on Tuesday morning for Italy! It's so crazy how fast this time has gone by. Part of me feels like I didn't even have a life before I came here (some call this the mission veil), and another part of me feels like I have only been here a couple weeks. But I have grown a ton. On Tuesday morning I check out of the MTC at 5am, then we fly from SLC to Dallas to London to Milan, and we arrive in Milan at 12pm on Wednesday! I'm so excited!! 🍕
I am pretty sure my P-Day in the mission field is Wednesday, and since I will be arriving on a Wednesday, I may not be able to email until next Wednesday! But all is well! I will make sure to take pictures. 😊
I have been super blessed here at the MTC. There are so many opportunities to learn. Because we have two devotionals a week, I can always go into a devotional seeking an answer to a question and receive the answer. Also personal study time is my favorite time of every day. When I'm in Italy, I'll have a solid hour every morning to personal study.
A scripture that I felt I should share from a recent personal study is Mosiah 16:9, "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."
On Tuesday we helped host tours. Because of the new MTC buildings, there will be tours for the public going on for the next 6 weeks. Luckily we get to leave before the MTC hits its max-capacity AND the tours are happening... Every meal has been a fight to the death (not really but there are a lot of people and it's every man for himself in the cafeteria). Anyway, the tours were really cool to help host because I got to greet people as they walked into the door of the new building. ☺ Some people talked to me about my mission and about the building. Others avoided eye contact with me hahaha.
On Thursday (yesterday), we had in-field orientation, where they teach us from 8am-5pm about things we haven't learned in the classroom, such as finding new investigators and working with members. It was long but very helpful. We did a lot of role plays in English because it was with all of the missionaries leaving for the field this coming week, not just the Italians. The biggest thing I took away from the orientation was that it is very uncomfortable for me to talk about the church/Gospel to others in English now 😂 I thought it would be easier but it was actually so much more stressful for me. Maybe there were too many things for me to choose to say... At 6pm, Slla. Cook and I had our last lesson with our investigator named Gabriella, and it was such a breath of fresh air to give it in Italian. This reminded me that I am definitely called to where I'm supposed to be going, and it made me excited again. 😍
Something I have realized is so true while being here is that even if you have the smallest amount of desire to learn more about the scriptures, learn more about Christ, become more like Christ, act on it. Exercise your desire. "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:17).
I'm attaching some pictures that I took this week! Learned some very useful phrases for when I get to Italy (regarding gelato), some more pics of the MTC (Italian flag blowing in the breeze and the new building), and a pic of me and Slla. Cook before the tours started.
Vi voglio bene! Ci vediamo,
Sorella Johnson