Surprise! :)

Hello Family!!

SURPRISE!! Our Preparation Day is now on Monday! Crazy huh! 

We had our mission wide Christmas Devotional on Friday which was wonderful! It was so fun to see missionary friends and companions and roommates:) It was upstate in Ossining which was beautiful:) The spirit of Christmas is absolutely wonderful:) I felt so much peace and joy during our meeting. I am grateful for this time that we have to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. He came so humbly and simply. He gave everything he had and expected nothing in return. And that's what Christmas is really about! It's about giving of ourselves and giving to others! Giving is the best feeling:) 

What stuck out to me the most in all the Christmas hymns we sang is that so many are about angels singing and praising the birth of Christ! And guess who those angels in heaven were when Christ was born?? We were! That was us singing up there in heaven when our Savior was born because we knew God's plan and we knew that little baby Jesus was born to be our Savior and friend:) Realizing that in a room of powerful missionaries singing was amazing! We were singing then and we're singing now! Enjoy this happy time of year where we can listen to Christmas music because it's the best ever!! We had a big Christmas lunch with everyone in the mission and we took some pictures:) It was so amazing and so fun to be there with everyone. I sure am lucky to be here on a mission!

We had real snow! It's already melted again... but waking up to snow was so magical! I hope it snows lots more this week!!:)

I'm so glad I have this time to be in New York during Christmas:) What a magical place to be during Christmas! We've already seen some amazing Christmas miracles! One is that a less active member who we have taught for a long time has changed so much! She actually WANTED to come to church and she brought her daughter! Its been amazing to see how much the gospel has changed her. She really wasn't super happy with us at first, and going was sometimes tough, but she has opened up so much more, likes having us come, and came to church! Miracle! Jacob also received the priesthood! Wahoo! And we received a MEMBER REFERRAL which has been one of our goals this whole time me and Sister Israelsen have been together. And it's from a member who isn't even in our ward anymore (they moved to Brooklyn) but who visit occasionally! It's amazing how Heavenly Father works and how sometimes blessings really do come in different ways then we expect it:) 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!! I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and friend. I am grateful for His love and for the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. They know us and love us individually:) Continue to love and serve! As you give of yourself you'll be able to feel the Christmas spirit even more! Make it a magical week and go find your Christmas miracle:) 

Love, Sister Johnson

ps Here are pictures of the Rockefeller Center, Giant Tree, and Ice Skating Rink:)