Sister Johnson: 8/5/24

 

Hello hello!

I was planning on writing an email, and then I decided not to cuz I

wasn't feeling it.

But then I talked to my family and heard that a lot of you wonderful

people back home fasted for me this past Sunday and so I knew that I

needed to talk to you all abt it:)

And say thank you!

I guess I'll get a little more personal with it, so sorry bout that

but I think it's important.

So as some of you may know, I am definitely not the most socially

skilled person out there. I struggle a lot with feelings of social

anxiety and whatnot. So as you can probably imagine being out here has

been a struggle bus. Going up and talking to people is not my forte.

At all at all.

I have been making progress! Like I sent a mega amount of voice

messages to random people on Facebook the other day which if you know

me you know that's a miracle.

But I have been feeling many times that I shouldn't be here. In

moments of doubt I wonder if I am dragging my companion down, if I'm

being a burden to her and to the mission. Yesterday it all came up

very strongly, and I prayed to Heavenly father asking if I should go

home.

I listened to a talk called the imperfect harvest, which Sister Bates

recommended to me. Go read it:) but almost like God knew me, that talk

speak about the miracle of Peter walking on the water. Which if you

haven't read my previous emails, has very important meaning to my

missionary journey.  I'll just take a snippet out of the talk:

"Oh, Peter, fear not and worry not. If you could see yourself as I see

you, your doubt would fade and your faith increase. I love you, dear

Peter; you got out of the boat. Your offering is acceptable, and even

though you faltered, I will always be there to lift you from the

depths, and your offering will be made perfect.”

As sister Bates would say: WOW

It was exactly what I needed yesterday. And truly it was a day of

miracles after that. I found myself bearing my testimony and telling

the congregation that I would stay on my mission, that I would become

a good missionary because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They

probably had no idea what I was talking about lol. But as the words

left my mouth I knew it was an answer to my prayer. A Baptism that

night was canceled, but I felt at peace about it. A friend who we

thought would not be ready for a while came to church with us. And I

sat next to her and saw her tear up while singing the hymns, and when

sister Bates texted me to tell her that she loved her.

When praying out of our trailer after dinner I prayed for us to find

one new friend. And my comp said that she had thought the exact thing

before I started praying. And then the first person we talked to was

that new friend.

Seriously so many more tiny miracles have happened throughout my whole

mission and especially yesterday.

I know that your faith and fast did that. It meant something.

I hope to be better in the future about writing about all the amazing

and funny things that happen. I so forgetful :)

I've got a plan to keep a note on my phone where I keep track of

everything I want to remember as it happens so we'll see if that works

out well.

Till then, Remember this!  I stand here in the mission field as a

witness that Christ's Atonement truly is infinite in every sense of

the word.

I love you all! But more importantly

JESUS LOVES YOU!!