It's so close!!
faster and faster and faster! I really, very literally, have 29 days
left. Not even a full month anymore! I know that we are supposed to
keep focused but the reality of a change so big (the last transfer)
randomly hits me. I had a thought the other day. I was thinking about
the wonderful missionaries that I was going home with. They asked for
pictures of us for a departing missionary slideshow. So I pictured all
of us together watching that. Then I realized that a large portion of
my missionary friends going home with me live in Oregon, Washington,
New Zealand, Canada, Arizona-- anywhere but Utah! I know for sure
there is one sister who will be on the same plane as me. Sister
Oldham. I envisioned us coming down the escalator together-- and
pictured us crying a lot. But that is a tender mercy of The Lord. I
love Sister Oldham so I am grateful that The Lord is going to let us
be companions for at least a plane ride home. And that will be it.
Is it real?
Was my life as a missionary a dream? Or is my other life really the
dream? It is just incredible to think (and it always makes me
emotional) that after waiting 21 years for this opportunity, it is
almost over. Never to come back again. I imagine that is what it is
going to be like when we die. We will look back over eternity and
think.... I spent all that time waiting for that time. And now it is
gone. It will never be like that again. Thinking about eternity kinda
makes my head spin, so I will stop talking about it, but missions
really are a great parallel to life.
Has it really been a week?
Quick manner of business-- I just got a bit worried about work again.
Am I guaranteed a job when I get home in Bountiful??? I just want to
make sure I have work. Maybe I need to go to Disneyworld with Mel! It
sounds like school is all ready, I just haven't heard anything for
sure about work in a while.
I am glad that everyone had a good week :) it will be so fun to see
everyone again and be a part of family dinners and things like that
:). Just remember, you all have to call me Sister Johnson though! And
the name tag is staying on! :)
So this week we had some beautiful, sunny days. Which is perfect since
we also did not have the car this week. I am always amazed that we are
able to get anywhere and do anything without a car. But the weeks
without a car have been our most productive and happy. Everyday you
step out the door you have no idea what is coming for that day. You
just hope and pray that The Lord will send someone who is prepared to
be in your path. Maybe today we will teach that lesson and find that
person that will be ready to jump right in. We have met some very
incredible people in the past week. Lots and lots of potential! And
all of this from tracting.
We are teaching a minister and his wife, we are teaching another man
and his wife who are heavily involved in their worship and ministry,
we are teaching people from all walks of life!! And what is better is
that we really are seeing progression. People have accepted the
invitation to be baptized as they come to know that it is true. They
are reading from the Book of Mormon. We have people that we are beginning to meet
with on a regular basis. There is just a lot of good happening!
One specific miracle for the week: we met R tracting a week and a
half ago. She has had a lot of health complications and currently has
to do dialysis three or more times a week. We left her with a prayer
and a pamphlet. When we went back this past Wednesday, she had read
the pamphlet and had a lot of really good questions. We shared a brief
overview of the message of the restoration and explained to her what
it would mean if the Book of Mormon was true. She said that she was ready to test
it. She has studied many different beliefs and because of things in
her life she wants to start over-- a clean slate. Relearn and become a
new person. We committed her to be baptized as she came to know it was
true and she readily accepted. There was a beautiful spirit in her
home. We are so excited to go and teach her again. The Lord is placing
people in our path!! It is so exciting!
We are getting closer and closer to the end. We have to start having
people come to church or they won't make it to baptism before I leave.
Will you continue to pray that we will find prepared people and that
our investigators will come to church?? I know The Lord is going to
provide miracles contingent upon our faith and diligence. I also know
that he has a mysterious way of working. Most of our solid baptisms
come in the last two to three weeks of a transfer. With conference on
the way that is totally possible again.
We did have a great investigator come to church yesterday! He
is a friend of a member. We were able to teach him twice last week and
he has been reading the Book of Mormon. There is a slight problem in the fact
that he doesn't live in our area, but he has quite a number of friends
in our ward. He seemed to fit right in yesterday. Oh there is so much
good in this wonderful work!!!! I love, love, love it. :)
Thanks for being so amazing! I can't believe it is so close... We have
zone conference tomorrow. They have departing missionaries give a
final testimony. This is it.
You know something though. I feel that Heavenly Father is telling me
"Well done though good and faithful servant." You know why???? Because
he is letting me go to Disneyland with Mel! Tender, sweet mercy from a
loving Father in heaven. :) He just keeps blessing me so much! I am so
so grateful.
I love you all. I know this gospel is true. It truly is a gospel of
peace and happiness. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. He knows us
personally. I can't wait to see you all again!!!!
Have a beautiful week!
Love always,
Sister Alicia Johnson
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