Well I didn't realize how much I was going to miss my old area. I think about
Yuba City all the time and the people I got to met while I was there. It really
became home to me and the exciting thing is I get to go to Yuba this Saturday
for a baptism. Dustin is getting baptized and I think president knew he has been
putting a lot on me. So I thought I was going to have to pull out some tears and
beg me to let me go. But when I asked he instantly said "Yeah, you can go just
remind me the week you leave." So I guess that's a bonus of having to train and
shot gun train, which is stressful. Haha i am not sure if that's even the reason
but it makes me feel better so we are going to say that's the reason I get to go.
The area is really doing well everyone is still so excited to have
sisters in the area. So many of them were not able to have the elders in there
home because they were single sisters. But now we get to go and work with them
and they just love it. There are just so many less actives and they are all
living basically in the middle of no where. So i have gotten really good at U
turns because with out fail we always can't find or drive right past the homes. A
lot of them are scary shakes in the middle of orchards, so it really opens my
eyes to how blessed I am to know I will never have to or have had to live like
that my parents would never allow it. But even if the people aren't interested
they are generally really nice to us and just politely ask us to never come
back. I think its because we are girls. The Elders used to get more shot guns
pulled on them out here. We don't so no need to worry. Also we share the ward
with Spanish elders and they are very protective of us. So there is one small
town we work out of and it is super dangerous. SO the elders escort us there and
back to make sure no one messes with us. Its nice to know we are safe, and I
enjoy sharing the ward with elders because whenever we pick up a creepy guy as a
new investigator i just turn them over to the elders. It works out perfectly.
We now have 3 people on date for baptisms. One though is so sweet.
she is in her 70s and I just love her so much. She is pretty hyper and just
loves the church. The elders didn't really teach her before they would just hand
her pamphlets and tell her to read them. So just developed her own testimony.
She studies a lot on her own and loves what shes learned. But we decided we
would reteach everything to her to make sure she has the basics down. The lesson
this week went really well she opened up to us about things in the past that
were really hard for her and we were able to show her scriptures that brought her
comfort and answered her questions. She is committed to joining the church with
or without her families support and has an amazing testimony. Sunday she came up
to me and gave me a hug. She then whispered to me "Thank you for teaching me, I
have learned so much more since you have been in town." Haha it made my day. I
didn't teach her anything deep i just taught her what the spirit wanted her to
know. She has been prepared for many years to receive this message and I luckily
get to stop in at the exciting part and help her follow the example of Jesus
Christ and be baptized. But that's not the end she has the rest of her life to
follow him and endure to the end. It is a big commitment she is making and we
have been working hard to help her really understand that. I want her to be able
to be successful through the trials that are ahead. I want her to stay active
and to keep her testimony growing. It is so sweet and so strong. I know that she
is going to be an example to all of those around her and she is making the right
decision with her life.
Sunday my companion and I got to speak in sacrament meeting. I was a
bit nervous because we thought we would have some time before church to finalize
our talks however, the bishop called us in for a meeting. I had my entire talk
written and as I started to read it I lost my place and then thought to myself
the heck with it these people deserve to hear from the spirit not me. So I put
my papers aside and just said what I felt they needed to hear. It was a nerve
racking experience as I sat down and i couldn't really remember what I said but
just new I talked about missionary work and members getting involved. But I knew
it was the spirit through me speaking. Afterwards many of the members
complimented us and said that they felt like I was speaking directly to them.
That's when it was reconfirmed to me that it was just the spirit talking. I love
how it works like that. You prepare and do what you can, and as a reward the
spirit does the rest. The spirit is a powerful thing it can bring peace to our
mind and comfort to our soul. It is something I always want with me. I know that
with out the spirit I would not be a successful missionary. It is truly the
teacher. DO all that you can to have the spirit with you. It will get you
through even the darkest of times. I know that coming to a new area with a new
companion would have been a lot scarier if it wasn't for the spirit constantly
calming me down and showing me the way.
I love my area, it is amazing because I know this is where the
lord wants me to be. I am far from perfect and this area is far from perfect but
its truly perfect for me.
I pray that each of you can find peace with where you are at in
life. I know that you to are where the lord wants you to be. I love being a disciple of Christ that is my true calling.
I love each of you and am glad to call you family.
LOVE always Sister Johnson.
Funny Story: Maxine is leaving to Mexico for dental work. She has an iphone so I suggested that we face time while she is away so she can continue to
learn and prepare for baptism. She was excited and said that she had face time
and wants me to come show her how I would face time with her. So we went to her
home and she pulled out her phone by the way she was talking about it I started
to realize her lack of skill with technology. I started to laugh and thought yep
this is going to be interesting. Finally she said yep here it is on am on face
time. SO how do you face time with me. I took her phone to see what she was on
and realized her "facetime" was the camera. Haha she was just looking at herself
and waiting for me to magically pop up on her screen. We realized we would be
more successful to just call her while she is in Mexico :D
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