Hola y'all!
So I haven't written an email in a hot minute, but I'm gonna try to catch up so here it goes! (Also to give a quick update I've moved! Again (don't worry I'm in the same complex just another building)! My new address is 410 Somerset Drive, Apt. E, DeRidder, Louisiana 70634)
Tuesday was pday! In the morning we went to the laundromat and while we were there, a 70-year old man hit on Sister Teague...what fun! Then we came home and had lunch before going to Leesville for pday. The whole district was there to say goodbye to Elder Teare (going to Portugal) and Elder Hales (transferring to New Orleans). After district pday, we went to Popeye’s for dinner with the Leesville sisters. It was really good, it's no Chick-fil-a but still good jaja. After that we drove back to DeRidder and went to say goodbye to the Jackson family. Sister Teague was super sad to say goodbye to them. When we came home, we talked to our neighbor Josh, Sister Teague packed up and I cleaned up the apartment.
Wednesday was transfer day! We had to get up at 5:50 AM! Oof! It was a 3.5 hour drive to Hammond, Louisiana where the transfer point would be. Once we got there, we stopped by Smoothie King for breakfast and then met up with all the other missionaries. I found Sister Farris and she got all the trainers together. We waited for about an hour before they let us in the chapel to find our trainees. When we finally got in I couldn’t find her - I kept asking everyone, “have you seen Sister Lynch?” Then suddenly I found a red headed girl that fit the one picture I had of her! I gave her the biggest hug! Then Sister Farris and Elder Obray gave us some training. It was crazy to have seen them put together this presentation that I was now sitting in and watching them do! Sister Farris even gave me a few reassuring looks, which made me a lot less nervous. Then BOOM they made us do a role play, right there on the spot, this meant that Sister Lynch had to explain the Book of Mormon to me (as I pretended to be a stranger on the street). She did so good! I would not have been able to do that on my first day! After the training meeting we went out to get Cane’s for lunch with Sister Murdoch and her trainee, Sister Zook. It was Sister Lynch’s first time eating Southern food! She couldn't get over their Texas toast! That stuff is GOOD! After lunch we embarked on our journey home! Surprisingly, Sister Lynch talked a lot (thank goodness, since I'm not much of a talker) She talked about a lot of random stuff, she was even in marching band! We finally got back home after dark when our neighbors were outside. Sean showed us his Ouija board welcome mat, he thought Sister Lynch looked like a witch and thought we should use the Ouija board sometime. We told him that isn’t exactly how we work...Then we went inside and got to call Brother Larimer. This was Sister Lynch’s first lesson EVER and it was awesome! I did most of the talking, but she added some of her own thoughts at the end. Then we went to Walmart to get groceries and bedding for Sister Lynch and met Bishop and Sister Bolyan there. Then we came home, ate food and called it a day.
Thursday was Sister Lynch’s very first full day in a proselyting mission! She actually spent like 5 months in the Kirtland, Ohio church historic sites so she's basically a church history nerd and has been a missionary for a while. She's just never taught a single lesson. Crazy! That afternoon we went to Ray’s house. We helped clean up his yard and met his neighbor, Misty, also Ray (a one-legged man in a wheelchair) got up on an ATV and was riding it all around his yard...still not sure how he does that... Then Ray proceeded to tell Sister Lynch his entire life story - it was quite the welcome to DeRidder Louisiana. Then as we finished cleaning up his patio he said we could bring our bibles next time!! MIRACLE!! Afterwards we went home, changed and went to pick up dinner from Sister Bolyan. She is literally so sweet, she gave us little salads, rice, meat and mini-pecan pies! She is the best! Sadly our lesson got cancelled that night, but Josh knocked on our door so he could meet Sister Lynch. That was exciting. Sean was out there too and they asked us to convince them to "join our cult" in 5 minutes. Then he set a timer and said “go!” This being Sister Lynch’s first day, I took the lead. There are so many things I would have liked to say in those few minutes, but I shared the importance of families and how families can be together forever and how you will not find a more everlasting and fuller joy then the joy you feel from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m not entirely sure how they felt about it, but they continued to ask questions, so I guess that is something! Sister Lynch even recited all the 10 commandments in order for them! That was a proud “mom” moment (in the mission your trainee is called your child...missionaries are weird...jaja)!
On Friday we had district council in Many! Since Sister Hansen and Sister Cave were staying in Denham Springs for the weekend, Sister Murdoch and Sister Zook had 3 empty seats in their Chevy Malibu so we CARPOOLED! Saved us a buttload of miles (we have a specific mileage allotment per car in the mission and we just never seem to have quite enough jaja)! We got there and all the new people and Elders were kinda awkward, but... Then guess who surprised us?!?! Sister Cave and Sister Hansen!! They made it to district council! So we had the whole district there! Elder Engler is our new District Leader in Nachitoches and Elder Miyasaki (Elder Pratt's new trainer) gave the discussion. Afterwards we went to Subway, but the Nachitoches Elders had to go, so it was just us, the 4 Leesville sisters and 2 Many Elders. It was fun though! Then we drove back to Leesville and hung out in their apartment since we had an appointment that night in Leesville (to save miles). We did all our studies, took a walk and then all 6 of us went to the Mu'amoholeva's (Tongan family in Rosepine ward boundaries but go to Leesville ward (my new favorite emoji jaja)) for dinner. They are so hilarious and give us SO much food! We had Hawaiian BBQ, rice, potato salad and Sister Morris-Utu brought cupcakes! I had 3 whole plates full of food and thought I was going to explode!! I also accidentally swallowed some food and like actually choked on it...literally almost died but no one could tell because of all the laughter...let's just say the Lord was on my side. That night Sister Lynch also passed off her first "I Can Statement" of 12 to complete her training in 12 weeks!! She's awesome!
Saturday we did the usual studies, weekly planned and had some interesting phone call conversations. We called one of our referrals, Darlene, and her husband took over the phone saying he was super interested in the "mormons" and has never met any of them. He asked us a BUNCH of questions and at one point even asked "Who is Jesus?"..in the background we heard a muffled "a Mormon?" That was pretty hilarious! He really wants to meet and ask all of his questions! He even asked us to bring a "mid-level person" to our meeting to help answer questions...only slightly nerve racking...Anyways...we went over to the Jackson's house that night. The mom, Janaya, even got on her boys about the need to read the Book of Mormon! She's so awesome!! We ended up showing them the Restoration video and they loved it! It made so much sense! They even related it to their own lives!
Sunday morning I spent preparing my talk in church! It was Sister Lynch's first Sunday and they asked us both to give talks (15-20 minute talk on a certain topic). I finished mine up just before we left for church! I was super nervous! It was only like my second or third talk at church EVER! And I was the last speaker! Meaning if we had time to fill, it's my job to keep talking! That was freaky! Sister Lynch got a little nervous and only gave a talk for about 13 minutes, leaving me with the rest of the 20-25 minute chunk of time...wonderful for my public speaking nerves...but alas I did it! I talked for like a solid 20 minutes and took up just enough time, leaving 5 minutes for the closing song. It was freaky but I did it! After church we did our studies and both of our lessons cancelled that afternoon. But it gave us some time to call our peeps. Then we journaled, had some ice cream (Sister Lynch loves ice cream too!!) and went to bed.
Overall it's been quite the exciting week. At the beginning of the week I said goodbye to Sister Teague going home and welcomed a semi-brand-new missionary, Sister Lynch, to Louisiana! I'm super nervous to be a trainer and don't really feel like I know what I'm doing, but hopefully I'll get the hang of it eventually jaja! My testimony continues to grow little by little, day by day and I seriously can't wait for the day I finish reading the entire Book of Mormon. I already know how powerful it is in my life and seriously just want to share it with everyone.
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: 10 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. Sister Teague saying goodbye to the Jacksons!2. Picking up Sister Lynch! My child (weird mission slang for "my trainee")!
3. Eating our dinner from Sister Maria Bolyan!
4. Sister Murdoch and I with our trainees in Many after District council
5. The quad outside on a walk
6. Sister Murdoch and I being weird on the walk jaja
7. Dinner at the Mu'amoholeva's.
