Threesome

Since Sister Meinzin had to go home, I am in a threesome for a bit.  My companions and I got the opportunity to help out for one night at girl's camp.  We even got to stay the night in tents and eat yummy s'mores! I got to see Sister Ploeger from Pipestone and it was so much fun to see all the youth there.  I was wishing the Sessions were there, but I know I will see them soon.  Can I just say though that these two sisters that I am serving with are the best?  They will both be my good friends after the mission for sure.  We are always playing jokes and laughing.  At girl's camp we could not stop laughing in the tent taking pictures, we are always scaring each other, and last night we sang talked our daily planning like Les Mis or Phantom ha ha.  They are a hoot.  I am sad about leaving these two sisters because they are so much fun!  Sister Spencer has 3 months left and Sister Sumsion has 9 months.  Yesterday we were just on a roll.  We made a funny realization: I have as many weeks as Sister Spencer has months left and I have as many weeks as Sister Sumsion has trimesters ha ha ha..oh good one!

 

I'm feeling a mix of every emotion right now.  I'm getting excited yet I'm extremely nervous and sad.  I have set some goals for my last few weeks to keep me focused.  One goal is to talk with EVERYONE.  But I have also set some goals for home that I am still working on.  I know that I am being watched over these last few weeks and I feel the love of my Heavenly Father. 

I got to drive back through Pipestone

Kim's Baptism!

This week has been wonderful! We re-taught Kim about the Sabbath Day. They have been struggling to live that one, but the lesson went really well.  At the end I was able to share the experience about Grandpa Hill choosing to stop racing to go to church.  We were all in tears by the end of the story.  It is always such a spiritual story, and I can't even begin to express the gratitude I have for my grandparent's decision to change.  I doubt our family would be as blessed as we are if it wasn't for their decision. Who knows, I might not have even served a mission.  All I know is that story is going to be passed down from generation to generation.

Kim said that she hopes someday she will have a grand-daughter like me, who is a missionary, telling someone else about her grandma (Kim) who joined the church, and how it changed their whole family.  It was a tender experience for me.  I think she got a little glimpse of what her decision to live the gospel will do for her and her family.

 

Saturday, Kim was baptized.  It was a very special baptism because her husband, who is a returning member, was able to baptize her.  Then on Sunday, during Gospel Principles, we talked about how work is a commandment and they asked for examples.  Reuel, Kim's husband, said, "Well, 364 days from now we want to be sealed in the temple and that is going to take work."

 

 Oh my goodness they are such an amazing family.

Sister Anderson is so amazing!

After MLC, Sister Anderson pulled me aside and we got to talk for some time. She is so amazing!  Sister Anderson is full of so much love and she has really become such a role model for me.  I feel so lucky to have developed such a strong relationship with her,  In this mission it is hard to do that because you don't see them very often, but I feel blessed that I was able to.  She shared some very sacred experiences with me and I felt so priviledged that she was willing to.  Things are up in the air if I will get to see her before I fly home because they will be heading out for Zone Conferences.  So it was a semi- good bye.  I'm so grateful for the lessons she has taught me and the example she has set.  There is no where else I would rather have served or been.  My mission is shaping me in so many ways and it really hit me hard that that was my final MLC.  I will miss that meeting so much!

Tender Experience

Dear Family,

Last night, after saying my prayers, I crawled into bed. I looked over to see Sister Meinzen, still awake and sitting up on her bed, She was leaning against the wall with her legs tucked in uder her arms. I asked her if she was alright and she said, "No. I just have a lot on my mind." I asked some questions and tried to listen as she talked about the anxiety she was feeling from today and from everything. She talked of the deep depression and sadness over her. I think the hardest part about all of this is I want to help but I don't know what to do and I don't know what to say. As we sat in silence for some time, I decided to sing. We all know I am not one much for singing and I don't have a great voice, but I knew that Sister Meinzen loved music. I began with the only primary song I think I know all the words to, "A Child's Prayer." I sang a couple of lines, and then she quietly began to sing with me. I could barely hear her and she was crying during some of it, but she sang. It was simple, yet there was such a peace in the room. Sister Meinzen thanked me and then went to sleep. I laid there grateful for the help of the spirit in bringing peace and comfort to a room of depression and sadness. It was a tender experience for me. I love her and I'm trying to help her one day at a time. She is really struggling and I'm hoping I can help her stay out here.

Sister Johnson

Trunky Papers

As you heard, I got my trunky papers telling me when I fly home and all.  Jill told me you all got it.  It was hard to get because it also came with a letter from President Anderson.  I'll tell you a little bit of what it said.

 "As your mission in the SDRCM near completion, I write this letter to thank you for your service.  You have touched many lives, softened many hearts and truly brought many unto the Savior.  Of course, the convert who will have the most lasting impact on your life is yourself. The lessons you have learned in the SDRCM will have an eternal impact on your life.  These next few weeks will be the most important in your mission; finish strong, run hard past the finish line." 

 I want to finish strong and do all I can.  Time is so short and precious.  I'm trying to do all I can to leave it all out here.  It goes by quick Mom and Dad, take it all in!

I love each of you.  Happy 4th!
Sister Johnson

God created perfection within us...

Yesterday we had a few spiritual experiences.  One of the members in our ward, the Meikles, had a solicitor come to their door last week.  She is only 22 or so, from a small country close to Russia and she is just here for the summer to sell these school books.  Anyways, she knocked on this members door.  Sister Meikle felt impressed to invite this girl, Liisi, to listen to a message from the missionaries.  So she made a deal with Liisi that if she bought her books, then she would meet with us to discuss our faith.  Liisi agreed.  We found out, not from Sister Meikle, but from her daughter that the books all together cost $2,000!!!!  So yesterday we taught a $2,000 dollar lesson!!  I will say that is a first for me.  It was a good lesson.  Liisi had never heard of Jesus Christ before, and her friend Egot knew a little, but not much.  I had never taught anyone who didn't even believe in God, or the Savior, and not even know who they are.  What a blessing it has been in my life to know who they are.  I think they left thinking and wondering if God exists.  We invited them to go home and pray for the first time.  I sure hope they do it.  We don't have a return appointment, but I think maybe in a couple weeks we will.  Sister Meikle said she is going to keep having them over for meals and such.  So it is a start!

During our lesson with Liisi and Egot, Egot asked, "If God is perfect and He created us, then how could He create imperfection? How could He make us imperfect when He is imperfect." A couple of us tied to explain, but we weren't satifying her question. Then Brother Meikle said something that I really liked. He said, "He created   perfection within us. We have the capability to reach perfection, but we have to build up to it." Wow! I never looked at it in that way. We have perfection within us. Makes me think of that quote "As man now is, God once was and as God now is, man may be." We have it within us to become perfected as God is, maybe not in this life, but someday.

Best Day Ever!

I got to see Brother Sessions