Journalist Junkie: 3 day's 'til CHILE!

Today's the day! The sun is shining, we're packing for Chile, and I am getting out of...!?!? We're packing for Chile!? (that Nemo refrence is for Kira. She will appreciate it). But to be completely serious. The day is coming! I'm getting ready to head off to Chile and I just can't believe it!! I mean honestly. It feels like I just UNpacked yesterday. It's basically phenomenal that the time went by so fast. Who woulda thunk?

Let's see. What happened THIS week? I had a "doubt bomb" hit me pretty hard at the beginning of the week. I just kept thinking about how I couldn't do it and whatnot. It was hard to remember FAITH/FEAR. And then my teacher magically happened to call on me to share a scripture. I read Helaman 5:12. Shabam. Instant sobbing. The thing is that I KNOW I have a testimony of this gospel and I KNOW that I am here and it's the best place I could POSSIBLY be. It's just hard sometimes to think about how hard it really is. Because it really is the hardest thing I've ever done. But I know. And I just have to REMEMBER that I know. I decided that I wanted to leave the MTC with three things (surprisingly none have to do with the language...)

1. I want to do everything I can to understand my purpose as a missionary.

2. I want to leave everything behind.

3. I want to be truly committed to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. TRULY COMMITTED.

Everyone needs to read a couple talks: Cast not away therefore your confidences by Jeffery R. Holland...maybe I already told you to read that one. If I did, oh well. It's a favorite. Read it again. The other ones are Mountains to Climb by Elder Eyring, Quick to Observe by Elder Bednar, and last but absolutely not least, is the First Great Commandment by Elder Holland. READ THEM.

Now. On to a few buisness items. Mom. This is mostly for you...and the family obviously. I DO NOT HAVE A LAYOVER IN ATLANTA. (She actually does... which is pretty funny. The MTC had a communication error with the travel Dept. because while the flight number stays the same she has to change planes and has a three hour layover.) When I got your letter If was super excited. But I talked to the travel office. Whoever you talked to was wrong. I fly STRAIGHT to Santiago. I WILL be calling you from Salt Lake after I go through security. That is the plan. I don't have any other choice right now. I had the travel office check twice so it's not like I'm just ignorant haha. Yea. I don't know what you were talking about per-say but that's the jist. I bought a calling card with several minutes so I'll just talk to you on the phone for a good amount of time from SLC. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Also! APPARENTLY! Sometimes Chile makes you pay a tax when you land. $160 tax. The travel office called all of us in and we all got 160 dollars in cash to pocket because if they charge us for the tax I'm going to have to pay them from my debit card. SO. FYI. I would suggest NOT taking all that money out of my account JUST yet. Just in case. Juuuuusst in case. They'll reimberse me for my bags at the mission home, but I'm paying for THAT in cash.

We had In-Feild orientation yesterday. That was super refreshing! There was a "play" ..performance type thing, I don't know what it was exactly, but this guy asked me to be in it. So I was! There were only three missionaries who could be in it...and I was the only sister missionary. KACHOW. I got a gold star. Can't get more legit than that.

More than I thought while here at the MTC, I realized what Mom's example taught me: FAITH to FIND. Remember when you always told me to go get you your rice bag and I'd be like "it's not theeerre!" and you'd say, verbatum: "you have to LOOK WITH FAITH that it's there!" Let's just say that I've applied this principle to basically everything. Faith that I find the words. Faith that I can find people. Faith that I can find myself. I also realized what Dad's example taught me: It's not about the fishing spot, it's more about the fisherman. I've really taken that to heart too. I can be anywhere, and if I work hard enough then I will be blessed...and I'll probably catch some fish to! (get it?)

Anyways. I'm absolutely thrilled to be here. I'm so ready to serve the people in Chile. I've grown so much and I can't imagine how much more I will grow. It's amazing.

Te Ama!

Hermana Johnson

PS. I saw you changed my picture on Mormon.org!!! You sneak haha.

PPS. The (edited to not reveal before it's marketed) stamp is absolutely GORGEOUS. I feel very honored:)

PPPS: I GOT THE CUPCAKES! I got them today cause the package was late. We're going to have a party tonight:) I'm stoked! These things are like the BESTEST! LOVE. Thank you so much for such a fun treat! ALSO. I opened the one present I could last night after class. I loved the earings! They were sooo pretty! And they'll go with things too! THANK YOU!

PPPPS....(I have like a bajillion of these things I swear) The pacakge I got before the cupckaes was AWESOME. ...and the pretzel rolls were seriously the best food I've had here at the MTC hahahaha.....that's funny right there. Funniest part? ...I'm not lying.

Now... the photos...