Hello there!
So it turns out that I am NOT in the Nashville YSA. I am, in fact, in the mission president's ward. Yep! Pretty crazy! This transient thing is working for me ;) I like it pretty well. So many new areas, new challenges and new miracles. You have to change your approach a little bit depending on the area you are in. For example, we cover the richest city in all of Tennessee. The people live in HUGE mansions and they are super spread out. I thought covering 5 counties was difficult, but I think the members might be more spread out here. The members, however, are really strong. Many of them are from Utah (surprise!) and it feels a lot like a ward in Utah. It is really big compared to the other wards I have been in. But the members are really excited about missionary work. I think General Conference really got them fired up so that was the big focus yesterday during church. It was awesome! It is really neat to be a part of this hastening of the work. Man! I am so blessed!
Also, this area is full of intellectuals. Actually, we have a mix of everything. We have the downtown area which is full of humble, poor people- but also a lot of crime and awful things. We are not allowed to be downtown after 5pm. That is how sketchy it is. And then there are some parts where it is more middle class. And then the rich people with their huge houses. A bunch of people in the ward work in the music industry. Brother DB Benely (I don't know if that is how you spell it) is some kind of producer or something. He works with singers. He loves us too :) Maybe I will hit the big time while I am here. Then there are the people that work at or attend Vanderbilt. Those are the logical, intellectual people. They read the Book of Mormon, but then they also have about a million deep-doctrine questions... Man! Nashville... I really love it :) It is BEAUTIFUL here! To build a home here you have to have live on an acre of land. So all of the houses are surrounded by big, beautiful green lawns. There are trees like you wouldn't believe and rolling hills. You can't see anything though- I would be SO lost without my GPS.
This is also my first area that I haven't had a full-time car. So, I have to get a bike ASAP. There is so much traffic here too that missionary work is just difficult! You almost HAVE to have a bike to do anything. Getting anywhere takes forever. So crazy.
My new companion is Sister Justine Allphin. She is from Alpine Utah. She is one of the newly called 19-year old missionaries- but don't let that fool you! She has already been through cosmetology school and will be working with a plastic surgeon three months after she gets home from her mission. She looks like an angel- literally. Or Rapunzel. Her hair is naturally bleach blonde and really long. She has a sweet, tender spirit and is very sensitive. Needless to say, we have already had VERY powerful, spiritual experiences together. She is sensitive and therefore needs a little bit of extra special attention.... I don't think I have ever been this exhausted... Spiritually, emotionally AND physically exhausted. It is all good though. I know that the Lord will support us.
I never know what is coming anymore. The Lord is just preparing and preparing and preparing. He is preparing me, he is preparing my companions, he is preparing the areas and he is preparing HIS work. I am grateful that before I came on my mission I learned to trust in Him and trust in the guidance of the Spirit. It has blessed me so much with all of the changes that are going on around me.
MELANIE!!! You need to come to school in Nashville! Last night, we went out with a newlywed couple and the husband is going to Mortuary school! He was telling me all about it and it sounds awesome! Plus, he has had many opportunities to share the gospel because they study Mormon funerals. We also met with a girl that is going to school with him. Her name is Kenia. She is from the Virgin Islands. She is 18 years old and loves Mortuary school! I told her about you and she said that you really need to do this and that the school they are attending is really great. Plus, then you could come on exchanges with me ;) Consider it. I think the school is called Grumpkin or something like that? I don't know. It started with a g and it is in Nashville. I just thought it was cool to see normal, awesome people (like you) studying to be a funeral director. He was saying that he first got started by washing the hearses. Then, they asked him to help them. He apprenticed and now is going to school. Live the dream! Come to Nashville! I might end up staying here after my mission because I will be a famous country singer, so you can just live with me in my mansion. Sound good? Good! Also, they showed me a project that they had to do in a class called "Restorative Art". Basically, you build a wax face. Neat, huh?! It made ME want to be a mortician ;)
What else...? I love the pictures from Italy... I want to go! I LOVE the Pieta! That is my all-time favorite Michelangelo piece. It is BEAUTIFUL! It looks and sounds like you are having so much fun! Best trip ever it sounds like :) Just you two with scooters and Italy ;) haha! I love you Mom and Dad! Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Well, I think that is all I can think of this week. I love you all! Have an amazing week!
Love always,
Sister Alicia Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment