{7.21.15} TRANSFERS and Yovana's Baptism

​Yovana's Baptism!

Yovana finally got baptized!!!! None of you have any idea how amazing that is! We have been Yovana for MONTHS. She was Buddhist and she had so many questions but she finally got her answer that this church was true! It was so amazing, and the coolest part is I SAW her receive her answer and could physically receive her answer.

We were in the middle of a lesson, and Elder Chaparro was reading something. We were talking to her about Eternal Families, and while he was reading I looked from her to him and I could just see it in her countenance. I don't know how to explain it, but I could feel the Spirit testifying to her. As soon as Elder Chaparro finished reading, I cut him off before he went to the next section. I looked at her, and asked "Yovana, how do you feel right now?" She just stared off and brought her hands up to her head, and said "a voice just whispered in my ear "you are ready to be baptized." We challenged her right their to do it Saturday. She accepted, we had her interview two days later. It was SO SICK!

Future Eternal Family!

Her baptism was amazing. She's a very shy person, so it was mostly just the family of her Husband, Jimmy and his family (they are all members). The family has been praying for her baptism for a long time, because they know the joy that this Gospel brings to families, because since our Church has the Priesthood Restored en la tierra otra vez, families can be together para siempre through Temple Sealing! In one year from now, I will be able to enter the Florida Fort Lauderdale temple to see Yovana, Jimmy, and their 1 year old Son, Massimo, be sealed together for all of eternity. Not to be fruity, but I'm honestly tearing up right now writing about and envisioning it in my head. There is no greater promised blessing that can be given to us than this.

I'm sure many of you are wondering if I'll be staying in Fontainebleau for another 6 weeks or transferring to a new area tomorrow. The Phone call came in last night and I am...

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Recent Convert Juan's puppy, "Cheese Pizza"

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TRANSFERRING.

If you've sent any mail to the 9300 FONTAINEBLEAU BLVD address... I probably wont get it for awhile. I will send my new address next week!

I'm really sad that I'm leaving this amazing ward, all of the people I've baptized here, and all the friends I've made. This ward has been amazing. Especially the Quesada family (side note: Brother Quesada was 1st counselor in the Bishopric here in the Spanish Ward, and was called to be BISHOP in the ENGLISH ward this week. That is so crazy! But God has his will, and he needed Bishop Quesada in the English ward at this time), as well as Roberto Ramos, Paul Garcia, Keven Vieco, and the Masferrer family! This has been my home away from home for 5 months. I'm SO nervous I'll get transferred out of Spanish... my Spanish is FINALLY getting to where I'm confident, and Latins are SO MUCH cooler than white people (sorry not sorry). We (as white people) are insanely prideful and do not appreciate our families as much as they do (sorry Fam I love you and I've changed for better and will be better after the mish!) In our Interview with President last week, he commented on how much my Spanish has improved. I'm not sure if that instilled confidence in him to keep me in a Spanish area and not transfer me to english, or if he will think I will be able to speak english and retain my Spanish (definitely not true). Anyways, I find out tomorrow and I'm SO NERVOUS. At the same time I'm super excited to see more of the mission.

I'm really grateful for all of the experiences I've had here, and for how much Elder Chaparro has helped me grow. I've definitely changed SO much this transfer. It's amazing. I keep thinking I can't possibly change anymore.. than I do. I love my God, I love my Savior, and I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We all have an infinite potential. The only thing holding us back is ourselves.

My New Life Slogan

Love,

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Elder Johns

---Lorren I got your letter! No worries! Thank you so much, I love and miss you and Scott and Cal and I cannot WAIT to meet Nolan Warren in 18ish months!

--Auntie Sue! I also got your package! It was soooooo good I already ate all of it (with help from my friends because I didn't want to pack it for transfers hahah.

--Grandma and Grandpa Johns! I also got your letters! They're so entertaining hahah I'm always laughing. Also, thank you for your love and support as well! Thanks for raising my father into the man he is, because he's my biggest role model.