Hola y'all!
Still behind on the whole emailing thing...but I'm trying to catch up. My only current update would be that my entire district has COVID except for Sister Lynch and I! Don't worry, we're staying strong! And healthy jajaja!
Monday was Sister Lynch and I’s first pday together. Now usually on pday mornings after I’ve gotten up, I like to take a little nap. After I got ready, I went and laid back in bed, then I looked over at Sister Lynch and she had her exercise clothes on and then she said “Ready to go exercise?” I said, “Dude we don’t exercise on pday”, she was pretty shocked jaja. Later that day we went to Leesville for district pday. It was just us, the Leesville Sisters and the Many Elders though because Nachitoches is far away. We played volleyball and I discovered that Sister Lynch is a BOSS at volleyball! After pday we called Brother Larimer, texted some people, did some Facebook work and went to bed.
On Tuesday Sister May dropped by and gave us some of her famous sausage balls and they were SOOOO good! Literally the best things I've ever had! She is a true Cajun and can REALLY cook! After lunch we called a bunch of members and had a lesson with Brother Larimer and MIRACLE for the day a member, Brother Skarstedt, who called us to say he is the new ward mission leader! He just got back from his mission, so he made a plan for things to actually start happening in this ward!
Wednesday morning for exercise time, Sister Lynch and I attempted to play tennis at the tennis courts in our apartment complex...let’s just say that tennis is a lot harder than I thought jajaja. We also had district council, where I was giving the discussion on ‘Effective Study.’ So that morning I was finishing up planning my discussion when we got a knock on the door. Our neighbors, Josh and Agusto were out there...a bit tipsy...but they started asking us about our day in the middle of me finishing up my discussion! It's ok though because Josh friended us on Facebook and he recommended some good Christian music too! Then we left for district council in Leesville. I like to think my discussion went pretty well hopefullly. After district council we had lunch together, minus the Nachitoches Elders because they had an appointment. Then we came back home to DeRidder, called Brother Larimer and then called Deedee, a less active member in our ward who is so sweet but she needs a friend. Then we left for dinner at the Landry’s. Sister Landry is super nice and eager to do missionary work, she also makes great chicken!
On Thursday morning we called Elder Miyasaki to talk about church history for our lesson that afternoon. We were really scared that the lesson would turn into a bashing (kind of like Bible bashing but against our church) so he was helping us be prepared (this missionary literally knows all of the crazy stuff I've never even heard about!). Let’s just say I still have a lot to learn. After lunch we went to the park for weekly planning since our bashing lesson got cancelled. After a few hours of calling people at the park we came home and talked to our neighbors. Also I may be lactose intolerant, but we will see how that works out! Jajaja.
Friday we got to listen President Nelson’s message of hope! Which was so awesome! I invite all of y’all to go and watch it if you haven't (yes I know this was a month ago...I am a bit behind on my emails). It is just such an amazing message of hope on the healing power of gratitude AND it's less than 12 minutes long! That afternoon Sister Cooke dropped us off a whole bag of Satsumas (basically they are oranges) which was really nice. Then later that day we went to the Beardsley’s for dinner. They had pasta salad...I think...with bell peppers and cubed cheese...wack. When we shared the spiritual thought, since it was almost Thanksgiving, we asked them what they were all grateful for. I think my favorite response was from 5-year old Dean. He was trying to think of something he was grateful for, so Sister Beardsley stepped in and asked, “I love you more than…” and Dean yelled “BACON!” so Dean was very grateful for bacon in his life jajaja!
On Saturday morning we had a monthly vehicle training meeting with the whole mission over Zoom. We even played Kahoot for 50 extra miles!! Now that is big in the life of a missionary surviving on an allotment of miles each month! That afternoon we had a lesson with the Jackson family! We discussed the gospel of Jesus Christ and Ja'Ron asked about how he can have the Spirit with him always so we told him about the gift of the Holy Ghost. And then we discussed how baptism can make us clean, he yelled “I need that!” So we invited them to be baptized and they said they would pray about it! The mom, Janaya, had been baptized in another church though so we don't know if she quite understood the invitation was to all 3 of them...but we'll work on it! That evening Sister Lynch had her second pass off (of 12 to finish her training) with the STLs (Sister Training Leaders)and she passed, obviously jaja! Also a fun fact about Sister Lynch - she juggles! So every night after 9 pm she practices her juggling using some tennis balls in our apartment. It's pretty cool.
Sunday morning we went to church. Unfortunately we were unable to find a ride to get the Jacksons to church...but they ended up cancelling anyway. Another fun fact about Sister Lynch, she plays the piano. So she played the piano in primary! After church we came home and did some personal study and I decided to start reading the Bible, beginning with the New Testament...let’s just say it's a pretty complicated place, but it's good! That night we went over to dinner at the Pemberton's house. They are literally so sweet and Sister Pemberton can COOK! We had pot roast, potatoes, salad, biscuits and for dessert a berry cobbler! Sister Pemberton even offered to teach us how to cook! Not only can the Pembertons cook, but they are also spiritual giants! When we shared our spiritual thought on gratitude, each one of them shared the strongest testimonies ever! They are so awesome!
Just another awesome week in the mission! My companion, Sister Lynch, is the best! Our ward is getting more involved! And I'm reading the Bible! The Bible is so different from the Book of Mormon, well they contain the same doctrine, but the Bible is a lot more difficult to understand and Matthew packs A LOT of stuff in just one chapter! It's so cool though to see how both books of scripture testify of Jesus Christ and how much the New Testament talks about His life! There is just so much to learn about His gospel and I really love learning more every single day!
Have a blessed week!
Smile because God loves you and remember that I love, love, love y'all too!
Love,
Sister Johnson
November Bug Bite Count: 13 bites
October Bug Bite Count: 39 bites
September Bike Mileage: 0.0 miles
August Bike Mileage: 46.9 miles
July Bike Mileage: 161.0 miles
June Bike Mileage: 61.6 miles
Pictures!!!
1. We I decided we need to take more pictures jaja2. Sister Lynch and I found a dude out in the Walmart parking lot playing the Trombone!
3. Companion selfie outside
4. Sister Lynch loves making s'mores in the oven! Genius idea!
5. Our companionship LOVES s'mores!
6. I peeled an avocado…
7. Us with the Pemberton family!
