" We finally got our investigator to pray out loud! "

We finally had an apostle come and speak to us! Elder Neil L. Andersen came and spoke to us about living the Doctrine of Christ. As soon as he entered the room, I felt the Spirit so strongly. He spoke about how our testimony of Christ should be firmly within our hearts. As we teach and live the Doctrine of Christ, we will always have the Savior and His gospel because it will be engraved in our hearts.

Last P-day after emailing, a few of us went over to west campus to get Jamba's. I'm not entirely sure if that's allowed.. But a teacher said we could do it! On the way there, we got the coolest bus driver. I feel like he was a little high.. He was showing us his instagram on the whole ride there. HE WAS INSTAGRAMMING WHILE DRIVING A BUS. I was scared for my life. I didn't want to die because the bus driver was being reckless. But it was a little hilarious at the same time. Hopefully when we go again today, he'll be a little more responsible.

The other day, Sister Gooch and I were teaching our one investigator that won't pray. We FINALLY got him to pray out loud because she basically was commanding him to. She said, "Brother, pray NOW." (command form) In Korean, of course. It was hilarious and I could tell he was trying not to laugh. In his prayer, he didn't address Heavenly Father or end with "in the name of Jesus Christ" but we were just happy he finally prayed for us. Then I was trying to get him to come to church and he said he didn't feel comfortable with all the people at church. So I tried to tell him that we could sit in the back with him, but I accidentally said that we could sit on HIS back. So embarrassing!

For TRC we taught an actual Korean in Korea! How? Missionaries now have this way cool teleportation devise so we can get to Korea in seconds. Kidding, we skyped this way cool guy and he gave us a little tour of Korea! It was the greatest thing ever! I can't wait to Skype again!

The Branch Presidency always chooses one Elder and one Sister to speak for five minutes in Korean about a specific topic in Sacrament meeting. They announce who gets to speak right then and there. It's always way suspenseful and it feels like the hunger games. Lucky me, I was chosen to speak. It was way scary, but I got through it and everyone said I did a great job.. I'm not so sure about that.

Sorry my emails aren't more exciting, but guess what?! TEN MORE DAYS UNTIL KOREA! And only NINE MORE DAYS UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY! This month is surely a great one!

Love you all,

Sister April Johnson

I really am getting more and more Asian. It's great.

"We were called to teach, preach and baptize. Be filled with faith. GOD CALLED US. He didn't call us to fail."

I memorized the First Vision in Korean !!!

HEY friends and family!

You will all be happy to know that I memorized the First Vision in Korean!!! I thought there was no way I would be able to memorize that thing, but over conference weekend during the sessions I got it down! I was so proud of myself. Now my teacher owes me ice cream. Not that I need it or anything..

In between conference, did any of you have the chance to watch that video about David Archuleta?! Well if not, look it up and if you look REALLY closely, you can see me! I'm famous! It's about his mission and it has clips of when he came and sang for us at the MTC. That was a neat experience.

Conference weekend was the BEST in the MTC. My District and I always went early to get the good comfy seats on the front row in the gym. It was great having the screens so close to us. It was like we were actually at conference! Honestly, I don't think I've ever sat down and watched all four sessions of

conference, but I can now say that I have! To top conference weekend off, we even had Vocal Point come and sing for us!

This week has been very eventful. The natives left for Korea and I was so sad! I'm going to miss them so much. If I love the natives so much, then I'm gonna love Korea a TON! We also got some new missionaries in our branch! Five sisters and one Elder ; I feel really sorry for that one elder.. Haha.   They seem really cool though! Since this is the 7th week, my companions and I are wearing the same outfit the entire week until one of the Elders notice. Not one single person has said anything yet!

I LOVED E. Neil L. Andersen's talk about how we need to build our foundation so we will be safe from Satan's temptations. How we need to be in the world and not of the world. I also loved when 

E. Eyring spoke about how the prophet and apostles say, "Oh, things will work out." whenever conflict arises. I need to remember that. Whenever I am stressed out or have troubles, I need to remind myself that things WILL work out!

This week was filled with so many spiritual things. Conference was the BEST. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be a missionary! Thank you for all of your support and love!

Stay CUTE.

Sister April Johnson

PICS: the cute native elders and the rest of the Korean branch!

"We do not always understand the trials in our life, but we trust in God that one day we will." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"You'll never regret being too kind." -President Thomas S. Monson

"Extending an invitation without following up is like starting a journey without finishing it. Replace fear with real faith. Take others by the hand and lift them up; walk with them throughout their journey."

David Archuleta came! This time I'm not lying!

DAVID ARCHULETA CAME FOR OUR DEVOTIONAL ON SUNDAY. This time I'm not lying, I promise. His homecoming was the same day he came to speak/sing to us. We were just sitting waiting for the devotional to start and Sister Van Weezep goes, "That's David Archuleta!" I thought she was joking, but there he was walking in! His voice is like a thousand angels. It was incredible! I've decided that the reason I needed to come on a mission is that I could meet David Archuleta. Now that I've seen him, I can come home now and get married to him.. (; I used to always have dreams that we were dating, so that's gotta mean something, right?

It's been a week since I asked someone to send me some Cadbury Eggs. I have not received ANY. I am very disappointed in you all. I guess no one really loves me.. Haha

So our one "investigator" that refuses to pray surprised us the other day! HE PRAYED! We asked him to pray with us and when he agreed we were so happy! Then we realized he wasn't saying anything. I looked up at him and saw that he was praying in his heart. So Sister Gooch and I just sat there waiting for him to be done praying. It was still a proud moment and it was a BIG step for him. We've tried to get him to pray aloud since then, but he won't budge. At least he prays, right?

April Fool's Day was a joke. We didn't pull ANY pranks! The Cantonese missionaries did some hilarious ones though! They kept feeding every laxatives and sleeping pills all day. They were going to give Sister Gooch and I some laxatives, but we didn't know how to slyly feed it to everyone. Plus, giving people laxatives when they don't need it is kind of really sad. Oh well. Next April Fool's Day I'll go all out(:

The natives brought some kimchi and it was HILARIOUS watching the Sisters trying kimchi for the first time. Luckily they all loved it! They're gonna do great in Korea. The natives also brought this ramen that literally translates to fire noodles and we tried that too. It's so spicy that if you eat the entire package, you'll be crying by the end. We just had a few bites, but it was delicious. I don't think I'll ever eat the whole thing though.

I love the spirit here. I love the people. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

One of the natives has this way sweet polaroid camera and she took this for me. And a picture with my lovely companion after hosting.

Have a wonderful week!  Sister April Johnson

One Month Down

I've been in the MTC for a little over a month now! It doesn't feel like I've been here that long, but then again it feels like I've been here forever. I think the more I learn Korean, the smaller my eyes get.. Really though.. I'm not joking.

The other day we were studying outside because it was 70 degrees. It was wonderful. I saw two missionaries walking my way and thought, "Oh look! Missionaries!" without even realizing that I'm at the MTC and that I AM a missionary... 5th week in the MTC and I'm already going crazy.

We got more natives this week and they are ADORABLE. I love trying to talk to them in Korean even though I always end up saying something way embarrassing. But they're so cute and energetic, I just want to go to Korea already!

We got to host for the first time yesterday and it was the BEST! I only got to host one girl, while everyone else was hosting three or four. But it's okay because I had a great time with my girl! As I was watching everyone say goodbye to their families, I was so emotional. I was so happy for the new missionaries to start their adventure, but I was also sad as I watched the moms cry when they said goodbye. And you know me, if someone starts crying, I start crying. I wish I was an emotionless robot sometimes. But hosting was great! It's my favorite thing to be obnoxious and welcome all the new missionaries. They probably think I'm crazy, but I gotta have fun somehow, right?

The MTC is the best. I learn more and more each day and the language is surely getting easier. It's still hard trying to remember all the forms and tenses, but I know I'll get it eventually. Teaching the investigators doesn't ever get easier though. We have this really tough investigator that WON'T pray. We've tried everything and we can't crack him. We'll try a few more times to get him, but if he doesn't budge, then we'll drop him.

Here's some pics! My cute foursome companions, and my district! (the two boys on the right of the map picture are the newbies)

Have a great week! Love and miss you all.

Sister April Johnson

p.s. if anyone wants to send me some Cadburry Eggs, I would love you FOREVER...(:

"Pray as if everything relies on the Lord. Work as if everything relies on you."

"Be the example missionary that you'd want your children to be."

사랑합니다 ! ( I love you ! )

Hey friends!

THE PROPHET CAME TO THE MTC!  Haha just kidding... Nothing really exciting happened this week so this will be brief. The older missionaries left Sunday night and now our Korean branch is SO small! There are 19 missionaries now, including the two new elders that came in on Wednesday. It's really sad and lonely sometimes, but it's okay because I love my district.

I finally figured out how to upload pictures! One of them is the typical MTC photo by the map. The other is me and my adorable companion!

Have a good week 사랑합니다 (I love you!)

Sister April Johnson

"You have 18 months to 2 years to serve. You have eternity to dwell on it. So make it count."

 My "companions" Sister Kelly, Sister Van Weezep, me and Sister Gooch.

Older sister missionaries tried to prank us !!! Could you imagine waking up to people screaming & shaking your bed?

Friends and family,

I am so blessed to be surrounded by incredible people! My district is my family now. I know for a fact that we will be friends for life. The teachers are equally as incredible.

The language is getting easier. I think the first few days were tough because everything we were learning was brand new information. We can actually teach our investigators real lessons now! I mean, they're not very long and aren't very detailed, but hey it works!

This weeks devotional talked about conversion and being completely converted to the gospel. I know I am converted. Everything about this gospel has brought me so much joy. The experiences I've had here are once in a lifetime. I thank Heavenly Father day and night for letting me be here to serve him. I could not picture myself being anywhere else.

My companions are HILARIOUS. Yes, I said companions. I only really have one companion, but my roommates are basically my comps too. The four of us are always together and everyone calls us the crazy foursome. The older missionaries look up to us, because we're always making things fun! I love these girls so much. And here I was really worried because I don't really have a lot of girl friends. 

Sometimes we decide to match or switch name tags. Gotta spice up the MTC life somehow! The other night, the older sister missionaries tried to prank us (they're not necessarily old, they've just been here longer than we have). We were getting ready for bed, just chatting and talking about random things when Sister Kelly goes, "There's a dead body under the bed!" We all start freaking our and we find Sister Jacobson under one of the beds. Luckily, she wasn't dead. We then realized that Sister Lyman and Sister Collinwood were under the other two beds. They had been hiding under our beds for an hour just waiting for us to go to bed so they could scare us. I'm so glad we caught them before we went to bed, because I probably would have been scarred for life. Could you imagine waking up to people screaming and shaking your bed?!

I am so lucky to have the opportunity to go to the temple once a week. We always get so excited when pday comes. Temple and emailing day! It's pretty much the best thing ever.

I will send picture when I can.. Honestly I have no idea how to work these computers.. So it may take a while.. But don't worry, I am taking lots of pictures!

"As missionaries, we don't knock on doors to find investigators. We knock on doors to find those God has prepared for us."

Have a great week!

Sister April Johnson

President Snow & sister snow( My mom's mission president ) & my comp sister Gooch at the MTC 

First week in MTC

Hello all!

The MTC is wonderful, but I have a love/hate relationship with it. I often ask myself. "Why in the world did I want to speak another language?!" Learning Korean is so HARD. It's by far one of the hardest things I have ever done. The schedule here is jam packed so you don't have a second to think. There have been many times where I have wanted to give up, but then something spiritual and amazing happens and I realize, this is where I want to be. Those special moments make up for how hard it is at the MTC. I know it is difficult, but with Heavenly Father's help, I will succeed. I am here to serve God, not just to learn a language. The Elder and Sisters are incredible. We are all here for the same purpose. We have a desire to learn and a desire to serve. The MTC is incredible!

 Our second day we had to teach an investigator. We were all freaking out because we had to do it in Korean. I thought it was going to be very stressful, but when we got in there, we totally rocked those few sentences we had learned. On our fourth lesson we even taught him how to pray! It was the proudest moment for my companion and I. It's so hard to preach when you don't know the language. You can't say things you really want to say, but it doesn't matter. You just need the spirit and all things will be said.

 I have been in the MTC for a little over a week now and I have most definitely been humbled. Being a missionary is hard, but it is so worth it. Wearing that badge every day is the best feeling. People come from all over the world come together to share the gospel. I am so lucky to call myself a sister missionary. Every day I realize more and more how lucky I am to be learning the Korean language so I can teach the wonderful people of Korea. I love this gospel and I love serving Heavenly Father.

My companion is AWESOME! She's from Saint George and she actually found me on Youtube! We've been friends ever since. We're basically BFFs. I love my district and the relationships I have made here will definitely friendships forever. Thank you all for supporting me!

Sister April Johnson