THIS WEEKKKKK:
So
here in the mission boundaries they do this program called two-week
missionaries. Teenagers like 17-20 or somethingish sign up to come out
with a set of missionaries for 2 weeks and test out the waters. So today
Sister Nash and I got a two week missionary!!! Her name is Sister
Bills, she is from Ontario (MY FIRST AREA- but a different ward) and she
is 20! She wants to put in her mission papers as soon as she returns
from being a 2 week missionary. So we had to drive down the hill (lingo
for drive down the mountain to the valley where rancho cucamonga is)
this morning to pick her up from the mission office. There is probably
only like 10 guys and 10 girls who signed up to do it. So Sister Nash
and I were really excited to be chosen to have a 2 week missionary!
Anyways, it's 50 miles to the mission office. And of course 50 miles
back. And on the way back, we missed our exit to get off the freeway
because we were talking and went 20 miles too far. hahahahaha so we
ended up in the middle of the desert on our way to Las Vegas (which is
surprisingly only like 120-160 miles away). Hahaha fortunately after a
while I realized and we turned around. It was hilarious and such a good
way to start our day with Sister Bills, so she could see my
blonde-moments shining through. Don't worry though, I am a safe driver.
Me and Sister Nash know how to use a map like champions. But I have no
sense of direction without one.
This week was
crazy awesome. we got 3 new investigators!!! Man, I am so lucky to be in
this ward. In Ontario, we were lucky if we got a new investigator
within 6 weeks. Julia is on the road to baptism like a champion. She is
the sweetest. This week she told us how much she loves us and is
grateful we are teaching her. I almost cried, because at that moment I
knew that I knew her before this life. It was a sweet tender mercy from
the Lord for me to see that I was sent here to this area for her. What a
privilege to be teaching such a wonderful and humble woman with such a
sweet spirit. Man, I love missionary work. Have I mentioned that I
probably won't come home??? I'll be a missionary forever, thank you very
much.
Both Ashley
and Sister Kirchner are still coming to church. They are on the road to
being active again!!! Sister Kirchner hasn't smoked for 8 days. I am so
insanely proud of her. She is almost 60, but I feel like she is my
little daughter that I get to watch out for and cheer on when she
chooses the right. Idk if that sounded really weird. But you hopefully
know what I mean.
Okay, so I
feel like I should say this, because I know that missionary work sounds
really beautiful and easy when I talk about it. It is wonderful, but
it's not easy. We have to face rejection, hatred, anger, disappointment,
distress, heartache, poverty, hunger... Every day I go into people's
houses who don't have enough to eat, or they are struggling to find a
job, or getting evicted from their homes. They struggle with every
sickness, injury, and physical handicap you could imagine. There are the
one's who are depressed, angry at God, angry at themselves, or
searching for hope. I want so badly to reach into my wallet and hand
them everything I have (which by the way wouldn't begin to put a dent
into the amount of debt they have). But instead I am called to Preach
the Gospel. I am called to deliver a most sacred message, one that won't
fill their mouths, but instead will fill their spirits. Jesus Christ
lives, and He loves them. Christ died for them, He paved the way for
them to return to live with our Loving Heavenly Father. Salvation isn't
easy because it wasn't easy for the Son of God. They face these
challenges because they need to experience the Atonement working in
their lives. We are meant to learn how to rely on Him. I know that God
has a Plan for each one of His children, and it pains me to see them
reject that Plan. It pains me to see a door close in our faces, not
because I feel offended but because I know that they are rejecting the
Son of God, the man that we stand as representatives of. I am so
grateful for the comfortable life I live. I am grateful that I have
always had a roof and food. I never had to question if those things
would be there. I have the most wonderful parents who have raised me in
the gospel and taught me how to rely on Christ. I am so grateful to
teach, to share, to testify, and to be a listening ear. There isn't a
day that goes by that I don't have to get on my knees and plead for the
upliftment and strength of the enabling power of the Atonement, and I
know that if a day goes by that I don't turn to Christ for help, then
I'm not trying my hardest, not giving my best. And trust me, I still
have a long way to go. I just want everyone to know that missionary work
isn't easy, but it's not meant to be. The best missionary to every walk
this earth was rejected by man, bled from every pore, and was hung on a
cross. Out here I see the world, and the world isn't really happy. But
we aren't meant to be of the world.
Adam
fell that mean might be, and med are that we might have Joy! So Break
Forth into Joy! The Lord will Redeem His people, and all ends of the
earth shall see the salvation of our God.
With love and gratitude
Sister Johnson
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