Dear Lovely People,
Wow! What a CRAZY week!! This first full week of being a sister training leader has been absolutely crazy. But also wonderful, exciting, and full of learning opportunities. Sister Koford made the comment that I'm being baptized by fire this week as a brand new STL haha. SO...
Monday we had interviews with President. It was much needed! I have grown to love and respect President Williams. He is so loving and good. We also had a zone BBQ! It was super fun! We made brauts and had watermelon. I brought my slackline! It was fun to meet and hang out with everyone in our zone. Our zone by the way includes the UP (upper Michigan). So fun stuff!
Tuesday we had zone conference! I have never been so nervous for a zone conference my whole mission haha--which makes sense since this is the first time I've gotten to give a training. Sister Koford and I gave a training on the Holy Ghost. And it was very led by the Holy Ghost. I learned a lot by preparing and giving the training. We also had trainings on Revelation by President, Meekness by the zone leaders, and ministering by Sister Williams. The topics were largely taken from general conference talks, which was awesome. We also received our smart phones! SO crazy! So that was exciting. I learned that I am faster at texting with the old slider phones now...so that's fun. But biggest pro is we get to see and send emojis! Haha, jk. It really is exciting to see how the Lord hastens His work. And I think that receiving smart phones is one way that He is hastening His work. Tuesday I also went on my first exchange! And I took over the area! So that was nerve wracking...but I survived! And I only got lost a couple of times. So blessings!! I was with Sister Bounds, who has actually served in Green Bay. So she knew the people and that helped a lot. It was a good day!
Wednesday we had an awesome day finishing our exchange! WE taught our investigator Marla, who is getting ready to be baptized. She is sooo sweet and SUPER excited for this next step in her journey. We taught her about the Word of Wisdom which she had heard of before. Quitting coffee is going to be a struggle, but she is all in! SO wonderful! We got to talk to some other cool people. It is soooo awesome to see how the Lord places people in your path. All we have to do is have the courage to open our mouths and testify of what we know. After we exchanged back sister Koford and I went to stop by a HQ referral that we'd met last week. His name is John funny enough. SO we got to stop by and meet a different John...who is drunk. But we start talking to him and end up meeting his friend named Bill (who wasn't drunk fortunately!). Bill we found out has been studying different religions for along time BUT hasn't studied Mormons yet. It was definitely NOT a coincidence that we came by that day. We talked for about an hour just on their front porch. By the end we smelt like beer and smoke, but we knew that we were an answer to a prayer. I just love being a missionary!! Also we didn't end up eating dinner until like 9 at night cause we had to do some paper work haha.
Thursday we had a normal day! It was so fun! We had a lesson with a semi-active member named Caitlyn. She has a crazy dog who is so cute. But during the prayer she came up and licked my right on the mouth haha! Anyways, we did some weekly planning and also had a dinner appointment. I love getting to know the members here! Another cool story, we went to contact this referral we received for a less active member who just moved into our area. But we were having troubles finding her address. So we end up knocking on the wrong apartment. WE met this lady named Barbie and her boyfriend. They kindly directed us to the right apartment. As we were going back to our car we felt like we needed to give Barbie a card. So we go back and talk to her. We ended up learning that she just has surgery and was interested in learning more about God! Blessings!!
Friday we had exchanges again with the other sisters in our zone. The Spanish sisters in Green Bay. I got to go with Hermana Bennett and Koplin and work with them (they are in a trio right now). It was so fun doing Spanish work for a day! Also kinda frustrating cause we'd knock on a door and I would want to talk to them but I couldn't cause I don't speak Spanish. Even at our dinner appointment I could kinda make out what they were saying, but I could reply very well cause...yeah. But I loved it! We had a good time.
Saturday we had our return appointment with Bill--and guess what?? He was actually there! He listened attentively and is very interested in reading the Book of Mormon. John, his drunk friend was there along with his girlfriend (John's). I love teaching and testifying about The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. It is so powerful! I love it. At the end of the lesson He go to leave and Bill says, so can we meet again sometime? AH! So excited. :) WE found out later that sister Bounds was sick. And all of our plans for the day had just fallen through...God is so good haha. So we decided to take a road trip to Manitowoc! Sister Koford took sister Crockett out to work and I stayed with Sister Bounds. It was fun! The drive was so lovely. It is soooo green now! I am learning to love and appreciate the beauty of Wisconsin--even the flatness.
Sunday was lovely! We had a nice church service. Hilkiah came to church! He is this awesome black guy who in our investigator. But we cancelled our appointment. SO it was my first time meeting him! We also found out that Marla hasn't drank coffee for 5 days! It was such good news! Cause we were honestly a little worried about her. But she is doing awesome. Blessings! We also had our return appointment with Barbie that afternoon. IN the morning we were planning on what we'd teach her. And somehow we found this video about life after death. We were initially thinking about teaching the Restoration, but some how we decided on that video. So as we are talking with her she tells us that she has been married 4 times. And out of those 4 times, so of her husbands have died. The last time was fairly recent and she is still struggling with it. It was truly inspired to share the video we did. I love how the Lord is able to work through us as imperfect as we are! AH! It made me so happy.
Anyways, sorry for the novel. But this was a crazy week and I wanted to share everything that happened! This week I have had to face some of my fears. As I have struggled to do what the Lord has called me to do I have learned some very vital lessons. I have learned that "whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." (Alma 36:3) When we do put our full trust in God and Jesus Christ that He will help us to accomplish all the He needs us do to. But it required us putting our faith, trust into action. I also came across this quote which I thought was perfect for this week.
"As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fears will be replaced by the courage of our convictions"
~ President Thomas S. Monson
I know that this is true! I know that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love it!
Have an amazing week! And don't forget to take a second to slow down and recognize how the Lord is helping and blessing you from day to day.
Love,
Sister Johns
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