Monday, July 27, 2020

July 27th, 2020

Helloooo!!

It's been a good week. It's a little weird, a bit up and down, but I do enjoy it here in Central Park. It reminds me of home, but in a good way. The members here are so awesome and so willing to help. We have been working on involving them with our Facebook finding and they have been super supportive with that.

We are teaching a few people, which has been great. Teaching is one of my favorite parts of missionary work and I've loved having a couple of people to teach. We have someone on date right now, who has been taught for 3 years now! It's been amazing working with him these past 6-7 weeks and seeing how much progress he has made. We are basically just getting him to nail down the word of wisdom, but spiritually, he is ready to go. We just have to keep encouraging him and helping him get there, because he is doing everything he should be doing all on his own.

We also have someone we started teaching through a service referral from Facebook, and she is so sweet! We are currently transitioning her over to the Centerton sisters because she lives in her area (it's a whole complicated thing), but we can tell she feels the spirit when we teach her and that she feels it's true. It's so amazing!

We are working with a less active as well, and he is amazing! He is working on going back to the temple and is talking with the bishop. He's actually helped us do some music stuff for our Facebook page and he loves being involved with missionary work.

We had a good district Council this week that I really enjoyed on the Spirit and being in tune. I loved talking about prayer and how it's important to make it personal and intimate and how it's different for each person.

We were able to give out a Book of Mormon! We went and did service, digging mulch out in a ladies flowerbed for her. She was super open about talking about gospel things and loves people regardless of how they are. After we were done, she said she would be willing to take a copy!! That was exciting! That doesn't happen too much nowadays.

I learned about gratitude this week and how happiness is found by taking time and appreciating the things around us. Happiness isn't a state of being, it's a choice. Things can change, but you are going to feel exactly the same as you do now. So if you want to be happy, you have to find it yourself. Gratitude is a blessed way to look at life, as you realize things aren't as bad as they could be. I'm grateful that I have a good companion, who loves and helps me. I'm grateful that I live in a good apartment with good neighbors. I'm grateful that I'm in a good area with super nice people and ward members, with people to teach. I'm grateful I'm out on my mission, coming closer to God and helping others do the same. Inside, I am happy. I'm just working on realizing that.

I love you all so much!
Love, Sister Savannah Johanson



Sunday, July 26, 2020

July 20th, 2020

'Sup Friends! How ya doin'?

It's been a long week for me with transfers and such. It's always such an as adjustment and everything just seems to last so long. The good thing is that I'm doing good things and enjoying it, so it works out okay.

I was so sad to say goodbye to Sister Dorton! We were bestie pals and it was such a fun time together! But, I know there are good times ahead for both of us and it helps that Sister Higley is so cute and fantastic! Funny fact, she is just coming from being trained by my trainee, Sister Dixon! So, she gets to stay with grandma for a bit.

We've had a blast together, visiting all the people. I was able to introduce her to some of the people we are teaching. We also are trying to get to know the ward, because we don't know pretty much anyone because there is no church. So, we've been trying to visit different people and try and stay connected and keep them involved. It has been wonderful so far! The families here are so cute and awesome! I love them so much!

Funny story, I ended up singing an impromptu duet at a members for sacrament. We kind of jump around member to member to participate in the sacrament and we will typically invite one of investigators. Well, after one such incidence, our investigator told us that I should sing a duet with one of the said members' son. At the time, I was like, "sure!", not thinking much of it......Well, we went to this members house, and our investigator brought it up, saying we should do it! Like, that day! The son was like sure, and I was like, yeah!....okay! So, we sung an impromptu, rough rendition of a child's prayer. It was kind of funny, but cute.

Well. I wish I had time to write more, but I will tell more stories next week! Love y'all!

Love,
Sister Savannah Johanson


Sunday, July 12, 2020

July 6th, 2020

Hey!

I hope everybody had a good 4th of the July. Ours was pretty low key, but we still got to enjoy some good barbeque food. It was pretty tasty!

Honestly, this week was odd and we are doing our best to figure things out. We have a lot on our plates right now, with a little bit more than we can handle. But God is helping us and we are doing the best we can. We're making it by and still having some fun times as we go.

Facebook is a party, as we get to collaborate with a bunch of missionaries from across the mission, so I get to see some of my old pals. It's been a ball and I love the stuff they have been coming up with. It's a whole new, exciting world we get to delve into and develop and there are so many miracles that are going on.

We are still teaching some people and getting to know the ward members in both areas. We do a lot of contacting and just helping when we can. We got to do some service at a dance studio, helping the lady who owns it move out. It was fun to be there and we were able to talk about trusting God with her. Our whole stake was there helping out and also a bunch of the ladies friends and such. Cool fact, we met Al Carraway's sister! She was there helping out and she was so cool!

Also, forgot to tell y'all last week that we got a flat tire and we ended up having to get 4 new tires! That was all exciting, but then our battery was having issues, so we had to take it in again! And it still has to be taken in again and we will have a rental car, so party!

I hope you all have a great week and I love you all!!!!

Love,
Sister Savannah Johanson