Alicia! 11-25-13 Oak Grove, TN/Ft Campbell, KY

It is COLD here too!! I did get your packages :) I got the one for Joe and an Ensign from Dad! I haven't seen the boots yet :( But since I bought some, I have been ok. Thanks for the socks and the warm tight things though! I have been layering up like CRAZY! If you don't, you die. It is super cold and humid!!! Worst thing ever... I would take the humid heat ANY day over the humid cold. Guh. It is ok though. We just have to tough the weather out a lot more since we don't have a car for a few weeks. I think Heavenly Father is teaching me to be stronger. Once you get moving, the cold isn't as bad anyways :)

It truly is by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass. I really have this love-hate relationship with cars. Getting in a car wreck has forced us to get out and walk and talk to people WAY more. Not that we weren't doing it before, but it is more a test of faith when you have no other means of transportation. It takes us about an hour to walk to the areas where most of our investigators live. So during the day, we have made this walk several times. And once you are there, you HAVE to plan on staying and working the area. It would be useless to walk there and walk back.

So... we have tracted a lot this week.

MIRACLE #1: Yesterday we had a member drive us home from church. We tried an investigator on the way who bonked her appointment and didn't answer the door. While we were in the area, I saw a door. The Spirit prompted me to go over there and knock. I didn't listen... we got back into the member's car and drove back to our apartment. Well, I couldn't shake the feeling that we needed to knock that door. So we repented and started the 45 minute walk back to that area. On the way, we found a five dollar bill. We walked by a door with a family looking out at us. We talked to them and they invited us to come back. We arrived at the door that I had felted prompted to knock. I felt the Spirit strongly- although the man said that they were all drunk. They were partyers- that was their lifestyle and we shouldn't come back. Interesting. We decided to knock their neighbors door. A young lady named Emily answered the door. She was SO sincere and you could just feel that she is prepared! It was incredible! We were able to follow the prompting and much good came out of it.

MIRACLE #2: We did a tracting roleplay at one of our meetings. That prepared us as we had to actually go out and tract. We have run out of Book of Mormons so we have only been able to give pamphlets away. We were trying to find a former investigator. We knocked on a door of a house all decorated for Christmas. The man let us right in. They gave us some juice and we shared our message about the Restoration. After we had clearly explained prophets, he seemed to really understand. The Spirit was there and we invited him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! It was AWESOME! That doesn't happen very often- people don't just let you right in. Unless you listen to the Spirit. Then miracles happen.

MIRACLE #3: Working on post is a lot different. You have to stay with members all the time. And setting up appointments is ALWAYS tricky. We had dinner with a member. She was driving us around trying to find someone to visit. We decided to try an active member. This family is AWESOME! Both are return missionaries. They have been working with their friend who has family that is LDS. We were able to go next door and meet her and share a message about the Atonement. The Spirit was strong. She is SO prepared!!! She has been going through some very difficult circumstances. She is very young... My age and she has two kids. Crazy. She really needed us and the Lord helped it all to work out! She is coming to an FHE that we are having tonight. YAY!

Miracles are happening! I love this work so much! It is challenging and yet so rewarding. Learning to listen to the Spirit is truly so important. And I am grateful that the Lord is giving me faith-building experiences to learn and grow from. This week is Thanksgiving! We are excited about that :) The members are going to try and fatten us up... They will probably be successful.

I love you all so much!! Have a happy Thanksgiving!!!

LOVE ALWAYS!

Sister Alicia Johnson

Alicia! 11-18-13 Oak Grove/Ft Campbell, KY

My dear family,

I am really sad for the Meldrum family... I am in shock about all the deaths since I have been out. There have been so many! And so many family and friends.... I am grateful to know that God has a plan for each of His children. I have been feeling that over and over. And I am overwhelmed with the comfort of the Spirit at this time... I don't know why things like this happen. I do know that our loving Heavenly Father has a purpose in all things. I was reading President Monson's general conference address this morning. I loved this poem: 

"Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.

The further the sky, the greater the length. 

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow, 

In trees and men good timbers grow."

I know that through Christ's Atonement we can be strengthened in all things. It seems like the trials just keep coming. But as we rely upon Him, He will strengthen us to endure. 

Yesterday, it was raining and storming pretty severely. We were driving to church and the GPS was struggling a bit. I was doing my best to follow it without getting us crazy lost. We finally were about 1 block away from the church. We stopped at a stop sign. I thought it was a four way and felt sure that I had looked both ways.... And as I drove into the intersection we T-boned the car passing through.... The lady's car smacked into the truck that was at the stop at the other side. So the three of us had our cars pretty messed up. It happened way fast. I don't even remember seeing anything. It was a giant blur and then it was over. We pulled over. I got out to see if everyone was ok. I got completely drenched in the rain. The lady's car door wouldn't open so I pulled it open and we all waited for the police. 

Meanwhile, half the members of the ward drove by and saw us standing out in the pouring rain. No one was injured.. although I am feeling repercussions from it today. My body is pretty sore and I am really tired with a headache. 

This is one of those things where I know that we were protected and there must be a reason for this. I don't know what. Like any challenge or trial we are given, we must continue to be grateful for the Lord's hand in it. 

We were able to drive the car to the church, dragging the front bumper. The members fixed it up as best they could. We tried driving it home and made it about halfway when the temperature shot straight up so we pulled over and waited for someone to get us. We made it back safely and have had the help of many members. All is well in Zion. 

Another interesting series of events for this missionary. Don't really know what to think is next haha. First the ER. Second a companion going home. Third a car wreck. All within a few months. Gosh. I need to be wearing a helmet all the time or something! What's next- a tornado?? Missions really help you endure all types of trials. Emotional, mental, physical, spiritual- you name it, we endure it. But I know that this time is a great gift. I feel blessed and protected regardless of the craziness. There are angels all around and I know that angels will be with the Meldrum family and with all of you at this tough time. 

As far as the work goes, it was a pretty great week. The work here is starting to take off. We have great members that want to be involved and we are teaching nearly all the time. There are families that are ready to come back- and it is neat to see the Lord giving us the tools to help them. 

My companion and I are starting to get into the swing of things. Interesting about Uncle Orange :) There was another Seely in our ward yesterday! Small world. 

Mom, that package hasn't come yet... Maybe they are holding it in the mission office? I don't know. When did you send it? I hope it makes it ok. 

I love you all very much. I pray that you will all be safe and happy. I know that the Lord is watching over you. 

I love you always!

Sister Alicia Johnson

Alicia! 11-11-13 Oak Grove/Ft Campbell, KY

HEY!!!! How are you all?!?

Wow! New adventures all the time! They can never quite tell me where I am going until I get there ;) Turns out I am not in Clarksville at all. We live on the State Line in Kentucky. We basically have responsibility over two wards. We cover Oak Grove- which is the Hopkinsville Ward- and we cover Fort Campbell- the military branch. So at church yesterday we were there for 6 hours with all of our meetings. Pretty awesome! We rolled in on Tuesday and have been doing our best to get our bearings and get this area figured out.

A miracle happened on Monday! So after I emailed you, a few hours later we received a phone call from the Assistants. Something had happened to Sister Munafo's ticket and she couldn't fly out until Tuesday!!! So we got to spend one more blissful night together, teaching and laughing and catching up. It was great! And not so great... we didn't really go to bed on time... Which I had to suffer with the rest of the week. But hey! I am still here :) And not so sleep deprived anymore ;)

My new companion's name is Sister Roberts. She is from Orangeville Utah. Never heard of it? Me neither. She is really a very sweet girl. And she is out here for the right reasons. She is very prepared and ready to work which is the greatest blessing! Heavenly Father just keeps blessing me with awesome companions :) She has the greenie fire!!! So we are going to see miracles!

Ok, so my area is a military base. It is the craziest area yet! We cannot proselyte on base. We can't drive onto post without a member and we have to be with a member at all times. We can't wear our tags on post. And half our branch gets deployed and we have no priesthood holders to hold leadership positions. And yet... somehow work is still getting done :) The list of less-active members is HUGE and their are many part-member families that have a lot of potential. So our teaching pool consists primarily of less-actives and part-members. It is so different! I like it though. As tough as it is- and with how often we get stranded at homes without a ride ;)- I really, really like it. I don't even know why. Missionary mantle probably. It is neat too though because I am starting to get a feel for what Jare is doing and what military life consists of. So if he ever gets deployed, my dearest sister-in-law, Taryn, I will be able to relate with you and help you out. I have already met a lot of members with husbands that are deployed. It is a challenge, and yet the greatest blessing is the assistance from the church. The woman all band together and help each other out. I am starting to learn military lingo too! They use a lot of acronyms... 

Anyways, so that is the new area in a nutshell. It is a different world out here. My head is still spinning a little bit trying to get it all figured out. It is going to be great though. I am excited. 

What else? Just everyday stuff- do you think you could email me my account balance info once a week or every other week? I am never sure how much is in there and I worry that I spend it all without realizing it. I need to invest in some boots today... I can't stand this darn cold a moment longer! I need to fatten up or something... I hate being cold!! The humidity is the worst in the cold. Give me humid heat! I can do that. Humid cold- not a chance...

Dad! It was cool to hear about your missionary opportunity! Don't feel bad... I think one of the best ways to be prepared for any opportunities is to have a pass-along card available. If you are actively praying for opportunities and you have something in your hand to show the Lord you are ready, you won't miss the next one. Promise! I like the Finding Faith in Christ card and the Salt Lake Temple one. 

Mom, sounds like the family is doing well. It is crazy that Russell is back already! Time flies doesn't it? It will be good to see everyone again when the time comes. 

I love you all dearest family! Thanks for your support, love and encouragement! Hurrah for Israel!!

Love you always, 

Sister Alicia Johnson

Alicia! 11-4-13 Clarksville, TN

One crazy transfer... Can I just say, I am tired? I am physically worn due to silly daylight savings! (I have already been waking up early- silly body! Thinks I wake up at 5:30!) This morning I woke up at what used to be 5:30 but now is 4:30... Fun! Haha! I am not complaining. That is just the life around transfers.

 

My heart is breaking a little bit. I received a call Saturday morning. I am training a new missionary and leaving Bellevue. We are whitewashing an area at the Northern part of Tennessee- Clarksville. They told me Clarksville YSA but they also have Fort Campbell (the military base) responsibilities AND I think the Oak Grove ward responsibilities. So... basically I am covering like three areas. Cool! I don't want to say I am nervous... But I am just a little bit? I have never loved an area the way I love Bellevue... I really feel like I am home here. Saying goodbye was really rough. But I know I did my best and that somehow the Lord allowed me to have an impact. There were a lot of tears at church yesterday. Oh my beloved Bellevue!

 

So I got put back into Bellevue on Friday. I was in Green Hills with Sister Hulme (who is absolutely a fantastic missionary! We had a blast together!) for about a week and half. President knew that I would be leaving so he made sure I got to go back and say goodbye to everyone. We have had an eventful week. I can't even think straight- there is so much going on all the time. We had an exchange and a long district meeting and a training meeting and Halloween! Halloween was a weird day! Haha! It was SUPER stormy and we didn't have the car. So we started walking from the library to the apartment. We were DRENCHED! It was SO fun! When do you ever do crazy things like that? Only as a missioanary! We got back and started writing letters for the evening... then the power went out! We are in the basement of a members home so it was PITCH black. Couldn't even see my hand. We couldn't find any flashlights so we were using the cell phone until that died too :) In the morning we found a lantern and got ready in the dark. It was a party and half! I loved that day :)

 

The weather has been getting colder. It hasn't snowed- but it has been a bit rainy here and there. The trees are amazing! Nashville is beautiful.

 

So today when we were taking Sister Hadfield to the mission office to fly home the Lord gave me another tender mercy... My sweet Sister Munafo got her visa!! She is flying out probably right now to Brazil! I just love her more than I can bear... She has been such a blessing to me and seeing her at the end of this transfer right before she leaves the states was a literal miracle for me. I love her a lot. I am going to miss her.

 

I am off tomorrow for new adventures. Hitting the year mark pretty quick here too! Man, time flies. I love my mission more than anything. I have met so many wonderful people! Members, investigators, missionaries... I have been changed and impacted by them. Especially sweet President and Sister Andersen. Please keep them in your prayers. You have NO idea how much they have helped me this transfer. If it weren't for them I would be a wreck.

 

I love you all so much. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. I am so grateful for that knowledge. I know that God lives. I know He loves us. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I love Him. I am so blessed.

 

I love you all so much. I pray you have a blessed week. And not too much snow. :)

 

Love always,

Sister Alicia Johnson

 

Oh! I have been released from my responsibilities as a Sister-Training-Leader. That will be a blessing so I can focus on my area and my new companion. Crazy! Back to Hopkinsville Zone!