Well, hello there! Guess what I am typing on??? That's right! A really fancy device called the iPad! I think it is going to make my typing time a bit slower so hopefully I can still send you really juicy, fun-filled emails full of adventure time and money.
We got these things on Friday and it has definitely been taking some time to adjust to them. We have area books and planners on them and they want us to eventually be paperless. Pretty crazy! It just takes longer right now until we can get used to them. Thank goodness for auto correct on these things. You would be reading a bunch of gibberish right now.
Guess what it did today!?! You will never guess..... It snowed! And it actually stuck to the ground a little bit! Which means that half the businesses in Tennessee are shut down and school is closed. This place is hilarious. :)
It has been a great week! It didn't necessarily start out that way but things improved greatly and it ended up being probably the best of the transfer so far. I can't believe - which I should be able to at this point - that I am still learning how to communicate with companions. I seriously think that that is why I needed to come on a mission. To learn how to live with people. We had an exchange on Wednesday that was fantastic, but it made me realize a lot of different things that have been bothering me with our companionship. Thankfully, we both recognize that we need to do better and we want to work hard and be more open with one another. I was having this horrible fear of not being able to finish my mission strong. So before interviews I decided that I would fast and pray to know what I needed to do and to help president Andersen be inspired to know what to do as well. The spirit was so strong. It was the best interview I have had on my mission. I told him everything that was going on. He gave me a priesthood blessing and helped me to see that I am where The Lord needs me, even when sometimes it seems we haven't done anything in an area. Interestingly enough, all of our investigators that have been hopeful in the past kind of flew off the map this week. Due to sickness or just other things. It will be ok though. I have the reassurance that something amazing will happen before I go home. Someone still has yet to have their life changed!
We hit it hard after interviews and the next couple days were totally full of miracles. We mostly went tracting- but we were able to teach many lessons and find some great new potential investigators. Yesterday we had three investigators come to church! And we had dinner in a members home who invited some nonmember friends that we were able to teach a great discussion with. Also during sacrament the spirit reassured me again sweetly that I am in the right place and that the work we have done has had an impact. A sister that came out with us on Monday stood up to bear her testimony. She talked about the experience that she had had while she was out with us and what a great impact that it had had on her testimony. Then, following her were two more testimonies where the members specifically mentioned their wonderful sister missionaries.... It made me want to cry. Maybe we haven't had all the success in numbers in this area, but we have had an impact. A positive change has been enacted and it feels so good to know that we are accomplishing our purpose as missionaries.
It keeps slapping me in the face how close I am. I keep having really weird dreams and wake up kind of in a funk. But then I remember, I remember the miracles that god has allowed me to be a part of. I give myself a pep talk - I WILL FINISH STRONG. There is none of this getting tired business. No. I am going to work hard to the end. Satan hates that. He doesn't like me very much right now so he is really trying to make it difficult. But I have The Lord on my side. And he is so much stronger than ol what's his cheeks.
Keep praying for us. I know there is another amazing miracle around the corner. I can feel it and The Lord has promised that I will receive the righteous desires of my heart. We are going to see another baptism. We might even see several. But it is in the lord's hands. So keep praying for us. Pray that are eyes will be opened to the opportunities around us and that we will be able to be led to recognize where we need to be and what we need to say.
Also, I was able to email Liz from fort Campbell. Please keep her in your prayers as well. I love her so much and just need her to have the strength to carry on right now.
Thank you as always for your emails. I love you all so much. I know that god lives. I know that he loves us. This is the greatest work and I am so grateful to be a part of it. There have been many tough days, but it has been the sweetest most rewarding experience to be a servant of The Lord. My mission means everything to me. I am so grateful that The Lord was willing to issue me the call. I love you all and pray that you have an incredible week.
Love you always,
Sister Alicia Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment