Well this was like the best week of my life!! The sun was shining
almost everyday, my companion is awesome, and miracles were happening
all over the place! It was amazing! I am so blessed to be a missionary
right now! I can't even explain how happy I am. :) it's official
though... I am going to be super weird when I get home. Yesterday some
members had piano guys playing in the background. It was totally
safe--except for the bass! Oh my... My ears! In my heart and head I
was totally freaking out. Sister Gillespie has had 6 siblings serve
missions so she tells me really funny things about what their mission
president tells them NOT to think when they get home. First, it's not
evil--it's just different. Second, my family is not apostate. Hahaha!
Is it ok that all I am going to want to watch is Mormon messages and
together forever? And listen to hymns while I exercise....? I had
another moment of panic when we were at an investigators house. He had
catching fire playing. It was muted but my eyes kept drifting over
there.... Ahh! The world is scary!!!
Be warned. I am weird.
Sooooo.... We got transfer calls on Saturday. The last one.... Dun dun
dun. And we are staying right where we are at! That is a relief.
Although, with my luck, something crazy will happen. And we will end
up in a trio or one of us will get emergency transferred or something
crazy! I never feel set where I am. Things just keep changing. It is
what it is though. Let the chips fall where they may! Whatever happens
I am where The Lord needs me :).
We had an amazing week of miracles! Here are the facts:
Sunday March 2nd we taught a man who was diagnosed with cancer. He was
given six months to live and started all sorts of treatments and
surgeries. He had a coming to Jesus moment where he realized that God
is real and that he knows him. He felt at peace with whatever the
outcome of the cancer. Well, a member in our ward works with this man.
He received a prompting from the spirit to ask him to ask for a second
opinion. The day before he was supposed to go in for chemo, he went to
Vanderbilt, got reevaluated and the cancer was gone!! He said that he
didn't know why he was preserved but because. Of his mighty change of
heart he wants to tell everyone about this miracle in his life. We
taught him last Sunday at this members home. He asked for a BOM and
has been reading it. He said that nondenominational May not be the
path for him-- but Mormon might!
Tuesday March 4th. We go tracting. There is one area in Franklin that
is about a 30 minute walk from where we live. This is a more poor area
so it is generally where we do all of our finding. We were knocking
doors. Enter V. V is 26 years old. He is not married but
as he says he has made a lot of mistakes in his life. Thus resulting
in 5 children. Also--burns all over his body. About four months ago,
V was in a terrible car accident. The car hydroplaned, flipped
over three times and caught on fire. Miraculously, his life was
preserved, but he was completely engulfed in flame. He was in the burn
unit for about 3 months and has had skin grafts all over his body.
Because of this life changing event, he has great desires to be free
of the sins and pain and guilt that he feels from all of his past
mistakes. He recognizes the importance of God and family in his life
more than he ever has before. We taught V about the Restoration
and he COMMITTED TO BE BAPTIZED ON APRIL 19th!!!
Enter T. About three weeks ago we had been walking down the same
street where V lives. There was a woman getting out of her car.
Sister Gillespie approaches her. We share a brief restoration lesson
and invite her to church. She got very ill and never came. This past
week we decided to just try back. She let us in. We taught a full
restoration lesson learning that she has been desiring to feel close
to God again. She wants to be filled. Her three kids are the most
important thing to her beside God. She wants them to have a knowledge
of Christ. T is Vs ex girlfriend. She is sincerely reading from
the Book of Mormon and will commit to baptism on condition of learning it is
true.
Sunday March 9th. We have church. J promised to come but backed
out again. We aren't expecting anyone and in walks C. We found
C tracting. He hadn't been planning to come to church and just
decided spur of the moment that he would come. We had a great lesson
in gospel principles. There were many members with us. They were all
so excited to be a part of it!
Finally, we had another lesson last night at a members home. He
invited two of his friends over. They had a bunch of awesome questions
and quickly became new investigators!
The members are getting super fired up and things are MOVING! It is so
exciting! Miracles are occurring left and right--but we need to keep
this momentum up. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We will
be seeing baptisms before the end. Steps towards heaven and the big
CK. Eternal families. Dressed in white twice. I am absolutely amazed!!
And what changed....? It just must be after the trial of our faith. I
am so grateful to be a missionary. This work is incredible. It is
amazing to watch the lives of so many be touched by the light of the
restored gospel. This work is real. God is real. He loves us. Our
Savior lives. He loves us too. I love you all! Thank you for your
support and prayers. Keep them coming! We will see more miracles yet!
Have a great week! I love you!
Love,
Sister Alicia Johnson
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