Sept 25^th 2014

Hello--

What a beautiful area we are in. So green and WET most of the time. We have seen a lot of peanut fields, some still growing and but some are cut and in windrows. You can see the peanuts still on the vines—very interesting. We were concerned that the rain would ruin them, but they said after they are dry, they rake them again and harvest the peanuts. We did see a storage facility where the peanuts are taken—will have to take a picture of it. Sounds like they may dry them like corn. Very interesting to us.

We have a lot of miles we drive thru as we go around our Branch area, therefore we have been able to see a lot of different crops. The cotton fields are just starting to POP. We picked one pod a week ago and it is now starting to open up in the apartment. Fun to watch.

The field corn looks TERRIBLE because it gets TOO much rain on it, I suppose. It is a dry rust color. But it must be okay because the ears look okay and it is being harvested in between the rains.

There are so many people here to visit. We went to 10 different homes on Saturday—only found 4 people home. It took us all day to find our way around. Thank goodness for GPS on our phone or we would not even find our way back home. There are a dozen ways to find each person---the roads do not make sense to us but as long as we can make it back to our apartment---it is okay. Everyone we meet are so gracious to us. Even when they do not want to have missionaries come, they still are kind to us.

Monday was our preparation day. The other senior couple will only be here 4 more weeks. They invited us to go to Myrtle Beach and see the Brookgreen Gardens. There were so many statues there. It is a beautiful garden, very manicured. I felt like I was in a fairytale land. The huge oak trees with moss dripping from them was so enchanting. There was one oak tree that was there when the Constitution was signed. George Washington visited there. It was a privilege to be there. I hope I can post some pictures so you can enjoy them too.

Working with the elders is really a treat! We really admire them---riding bikes in the rain and such long distances to travel too. They ride for hours one way maybe to find no one home (or not answering the door) and then have to turn around and go home. They are very appreciative of us when we can give them a ride especially in the rain. Makes me appreciate our own children on their missions walking or riding bikes.

Wednesday, we went to an inactive lady's home. We pulled up to her home and before we could get out of the car---she came running out of the door to our car!!!! all of us received a surprise---she thought we were her mother coming to take her daughter to the doctor---we thought WOW she really wants us to be here!!! she did have us come back the next morning and we had a wonderful talk with her.

It is so fulfilling to have the privilege of serving here in the South Carolina Columbia Mission and to be doing the Lord's work.

love from the Johnston Missionaries

Hello---

It has been a long 3 weeks---since we have left home. Many exciting things have happened to us.

The MTC experience was the very best. We made some very dear friends there that will forever be close to our hearts. There were 58 couples in our group, going from Hawaii to Russia. A few were staying in the States.

Pres. Hinckley made a profound statement about Senior Couples “ You are the BEST we have---BUT you are ALL we have!!!

Elder Packer said “ the Lord will bless you on your missions and will “Be attended by angels from beyond the veil.”

Driving to South Carolina was a nice treat. We have driven to Colorado many times but from there it was a new adventure. The crops and the huge farming areas amazed us.

In St. Louis we wanted to see the Louis and Clark Museum under the Arch and found a place to stay close by. The next morning it was rush hour and being RIGHT DOWN TOWN!!! and raining really hard, not knowing where we were going and lots of road construction--- having cars honking at us---we decided we would take a picture of the Arch from inside the car while driving and get on our way!!

We did have a mini miracle as we were driving thru a big city. We were on our way down the freeway at the last exit to pull off when we looked at the gas gauge---it was on EMPTY!!! as we pulled off the exit the buzzer came on! We would have been many miles before we came to another gas station. How watched over we were.

As we got to the Southern states we were impressed by how green it was and TREES everywhere. So beautiful. We saw so many beautiful homes.

When we drove into our apartment complex—there were the Elders and Senior Couple ready to move our things in. We certainly appreciated them because our apartment is upstairs and (I ) did not have to to climb up and down a million times to unload the car.

We have 240 people in our Branch and 70% are inactive. Lots of older people with bad health problems and lots with economical problems with no cars. We have our work cut out for us and will not have any problem wondering how to keep ourselves busy. The Branch boundaries are probably an hour in each direction from where we live. Lots of driving for us. We have met a lot of people and have felt so welcome by all. The other Senior couple will be leaving in 5 weeks and have been so helpful to us in meeting many of the members of our Branch.

We really felt at home here as soon as we arrived. We have a deeper appreciation that missionary work is a work of love and is directed by Heavenly Father.

We send our love and will hopefully be able to keep in touch now we have internet.

Also, sorry to Sister Cameron about all the changes for our address. Our mailbox did not have a lock on it and was outside. Ended up having to get a PO Box 1754 Marion SC 29571.

love Elder and Sister Johnston in South Carolina