Thursday, August 15, 2019

August 12th, 2019: Incoming Adventure

Hi Everyone!

I don't even know what to write about this week. It feels like it has been so long since the last one. The days just all kind of mesh together.

We had exchanges this week, which was an adventure. I was with Sister Strikwerda, the sister training leader's companion and we chilled out here in Orchard Hill. It was a blast! We got to know each other and do some fun work. We ended up helping this girl pull weeds from this playground in front of our apartment. Her name was Morgan and her life was really interesting to hear about.

We also went and visited some other good people that I've heard about for awhile, but never got to meet. Their names are Kathy and Laura. They are super awesome! 

We had a party with some of the YSA sisters from Rogers, Arkansas, who came up to tour the YSA up here. They stayed the night with us and we had a party together. One of them was Sister Johnson, who was in the MTC with me and it was so good to see her again. We ended up going to get donuts with each other in the morning. It was a lot of fun!

We spent some time in Springfield at the Route 66 Festival. It was interesting, to say the least. Don't know if I will do it again, but it was an experience to be sure. Springfield, Missouri at its finest.

We also went and saw our 3 year old buddy Zane at his birthday party, which he invited us to. We are close friends with his mom. Jessica, who is a returning member of the last couple years and we have been talking a lot about the temple with her lately.

We got transfers calls this week, which is super crazy. My companion, Sister Thomas is leaving, and I will be staying.......and training! I will be getting a brand new missionary from the MTC, which us crazy! I haven't even been out 6 months yet. It's super weird and I'm pretty nervous about leading out the area and training, but I know it will all be good.

This week I learned a lot about how we can always get what will work best for us. Heavenly Father knows how to help us and will give us good things to work with. He will never set us up for failure. Sometimes, it may feel like we are falling, but we can get back up and are never too far off to get back to where we need to be. There are no such thing as a coincidences.

This week, I would challenge you to find things in your everyday life that you would normally brush off as good luck nor a coincidence and see it as the blessing it is that Heavenly Father sent specifically for you.

I wish you all the best and j love you so much!!!!!

Lovingly,
Sister Savannah Johanson


Monday, August 5, 2019

July 29 AND July 22, 2019: Sorry guys!

Hey Friends!

So sorry I didn't write last week. It's been a weird time here in Missoura. But here we are. Can't say there is too much to talk about, but we'll give it a go.

Last Wednesday, our mission got so lucky, cuz we all got permission to go to the movies! Fun times! We went to see The Other Side of Heaven 2, and all of us were so excited. We coordinated a time and who was staying overnight and all those things. It was fun times. Our mission President rented out the theater for all of us to go and see, so me and my companion go into the dark theater, with all the other missionaries seated in the dark. We find a good place to sit and settle down and watch. We look at the screen, and it seems to be showing a trailer for a horror film. A little unsettling. I tried to distract myself, not looking, talking to my companion, talking other missionaries, but it keeps going. It was going for a good while, as it kept building up, getting scarier and scarier. Many of us turn to each other and ask, "Are we in the right theater?" It's all super creepy and so weird. One of the zone leaders exits to find out what's going on. When it seems like the scary stuff is right about to happen, the elder comes in and announces, "Elders and sisters, there has been a mistake with the movie. This is a rated R horror film, the Other Side 2: Annabelle's Return." Apparently, there had been a mistake and they had to switch it out. They weren't showing that film anymore, so they had to dig for it in storage to show it. But other than that, we had a great time. The movie was so good and I enjoyed it immensely. Many tears were shed throughout. Definitely recommend for all to see it.

The last two weeks we subbed singing time for primary. We were just going to do standard singing stuff, but a member suggested to go full out with the pioneer day theme. We got full out costumes, recruited some youth to play characters, wrote scripts. It was all a little stressful, but fun. I'm glad we did it, but I'm also glad its over.

With the people it's all very slow. We have some good people and learning, it's just getting there. We have our good friend Lois. She has been learning for over a year now. She loves the gospel and learns so much each time we go. The main issue is that she can't go to church because of work and also she is afraid of water. So that is what we are working on with her.

We have our pal Johnny, who doesn't know anything concerning the gospel, so we are starting with the basics. He's really great and really nice. He's had a hard life, so we are working with him to feel God's love.

There is also Renne. She is married to Leala, who is a returning member, and they have 2 little boys. They are all so sweet and I love them so much. We are teaching her more to answer questions and telling her about the church.

We got these new people on Sunday. Well, kind of. Sister Thomas had met the wife before. She had reached out to us kind of out of the blue, asking to meet with us and her husband, with no specific reason. We decided to bring some elders with us. But it was really good. We met Ron, her husband, who just asked us a bunch of questions about God and christianity. It was cool! We're going to see them again next week.

For awhile, I've been learning a lot about trying to do what you can and leaving the rest in God's hands. We can do all we can, but the truth is that it isn't enough. It never will be. But that's okay. That's even good. We can rely on God who will take care of the rest. He will fulfill us. He has a plan and will direct us in the right path. We are never alone and will always have our loving Heavenly Father with us.

But beyond that, it does take effort on our part. As it once said, there are those who act and those who are acted upon. I have to make sure that I am doing all that I can so that Heavenly Father can take care of things. We must act in faith and trust that it will be taken care of and go forward, doing what we can.

So, my challenge to you is to find ways how you can trust God more and ways you can improve. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I promise if you look to Heavenly Father and ask Him where is it that He feels you need more of, He will let you know. The answer won't come in your time, but it will come. He loves you and will help you. 

I love you. You can do this.

All my love,
Sister Savannah Johanson