Sister Josie Johnson: 10/21/24

 

"Paths that they have not known"

Hello hello hello hello hello hello everyone! 

wow! It's so weird being home! 

so, since I am sure a ton of you have a ton of questions, here we go! 

I am now a service missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints:) Even though I am living at home now, I am 100% still a full time missionary. My calling has not changed, I have not been released, or re-set-apart. However there are a lot of things that are different about my new assignment. My standards as a service missionary are honestly so much different. Because I do not have a companion there are a ton of things that just don't apply anymore. I don't need to have someone with me all of the time, I don't need to approve text messages, I don't even have to have someone back me out of my parking space :0 wowie. I am choosing to keep many of the standards that I have learned and lived by in the field, but even those things that I am still following are not required. Truly as a service missionary you have a great responsibility to use your agency wisely. Because though the rules are not as strict or enforced, a service missionary is still a representative of the church and of Jesus Christ. The way we serve is just that, service. and our purpose is quite similar to that of the proselyting missionaries.

"We help others come unto Christ by serving with loving kindness as the Savior would. Minister in His name to the one through the power of the Holy Ghost and live as an example of Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, covenant keeping with God, and enduring to the end." 

whereas a proselyting missionary:

"Invites others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." 

Both are about bringing the Gospel to all of God's children:) There are so many ways to do this, and so many opportunities! Honestly if you can think of a way to serve, it's probably something I can do. Everything from working at food banks to serving in the temple to being commissioned to do a painting for the temple! I've heard it called a "choose your own adventure" which is super accurate. You are truly able to use your time and talents in a way to build up the kingdom. I like to think that a proselyting mission is sort of like the law of sacrifice, and a service mission is more like the law of consecration. I already feel the Lord taking my life, my time, and my talents and consecrating them for his work. I am so excited to be serving in this capacity! you guys! :) 

This was a hard decision for me to make, especially after everything that led up to leaving. For a long time I fought it, thinking things like: If I decide to serve a service mission, it will be like I am giving up. If I go back, it means I didn't have enough faith to walk on the water. I won't continue to grow as a person if I'm not doing this hard thing. I thought of a service mission as a lesser mission. Or that I wouldn't be a real missionary.  But the Lord is teaching me how wrong all of those thoughts were. It brings me back to one of my favorite scriptures:

"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." - Isaiah 42:16

This is certainly not the path that I thought I would be walking at the beginning of this mission. But I know that this is where the Lord needs me to be. And though I still struggle with many things, I have faith that he will make the dark things light. He will heal what is crooked or broken in me. He has never, and will never forsake me.

more to come! I hope that this new assignment will give me more time and mental space to continue to write to you all! I consider it an important aspect of my mission:) after all, I am "here for to bless" each and every one of you in any way that I can! 

I love you all! but more importantly, Jesus Loves you:) Remember it, remember it, remember it!  

- With love and excitement, Sister Johnson<3