Johns, Sage

this week was a bit slower but there were still some funky and fun things that happened! - we went to Carlsbad for pday and went to sitting bull falls! super super pretty! then we played sand volleyball and football in the pouring rain.. honestly just so fun to be with other missionaries! - we have 2 creepy stalkers in artesia:,) one guy is an active member named brother freeman who wants us to be a motherly figure for his daughter and always tries to trap us after church... the ward keeps us away from him haha they've got our backs. also there's a guy named abel who lives down the street from us who was in love with a sister who was here right before me sooo he sends us super creepy texts and always seems to be out walking when we are. AND he left flowers on our doorstep one night:,) kiiiiinda scary but the ward is also aware of that too so don't worry mom, I will be safe. - WE HAVE A DOG! well she's a neighborhood stray but she always hangs out at our house and when w...

week 40! also 9 months last week!  GOSH DAAAAANG halfway through the mission and I made it to NM!  Monday and Tuesday were CRAZY with transfers but I got to see so many of my friends and that made me soooo happy holy. and then I met Sister Chock!!! she's a Hawaiian babe & she talked about feminism and Hawaii activism and getting their rights back for an hour of our car ride to Artesia..... love her so much though hahaha. WEVE HAD AN AMAZING WEEK! I am so thankful to be teaching lessons & testifying of the truth of the restored gospel! we talked about worth vs worthiness and gods love for us with jacob... we talked about the peace God gives us through the gift of the holy ghost with liz... we talked about the parallel teachings of the Book of Mormon and Bible with Corina and DeeDee... we talked about the power of repentance and returning to the lord with Charlotte (shoutout eastland)... we talked about the importance of hearing testimony about what we believe with the M...

BYE EASTLAND!:( I'm heading to Artesia, NM tomorrow.... made it to both states in my mission AYO! it's another "banished" town which means I'm far away from any other missionaries but we get to go into roswell for district council so catch me finding some aliens:,) it was so sad to say goodbye to everyone! the people in small town texas are just INCREDIBLE! so loving and selfless.. so christlike!  elder braden miller, an elder in my district, said "life is bigger than the mission but the mission has a big impact on our lives." I've felt that especially during my time here in eastland. It sounds weird but I think I've learned a lot that will prepare me to be a mom, wife, and just a better friend here. charity and christ-centered service & living have been a big focus for me and I have seen so much growth in myself in those things!  patty and earnest taught me how to have fun and overcome trials with grace! the williams instilled a desire to su...

started off the week with a pday in the city.... learned how to play Pokémon, like the card version-it's okay you can flame me if you want-and I ate sushi!!! then i had EXCHANGES W SIS HOGGE!! I just love San Ang... both times I've been there have been some awesome miracles. I shared 2 Nephi 1:15 with a girl we met and she cried and took a BoM and is so excited to read it and meet with missionaries again!  we taught Charlotte and Ellie a super spirit-filled lesson about our missionary purpose, what makes us want to share our testimony with everyone, and prophets. and Sister Keller is a QUEEN and bore testimony too! we had a really good turn out for our game night on Thursday... 3 families and also an excommunicated member who is trying to get back into church things! the spirit really guided us to make that switch and invite the families we did! hoping for more growth:) it's been pretty stormy, weather's been pretty unpredictable, so some of our plans fell through and o...

anotha week in good ol eastland maaaan hahah!  we had zone conference! so we came up to abilene last pday to stay with the senior couple here.. THEYRE THE BEST! and then hanging out with the zone on pday was awesome. zone conference the next day was fire! we talked a lot about the doctrine of christ (if you don't know what that is, you should study it!! it's awesome), the fall & the atonement, and President Nelson's "Peacemakers Needed" talk from conference. I also did a special musical number! so thankful for the piano, it's been a stress reliever since being on my mission hahah. ELLIE CAME TO CHURCH! yesterday was only the second time in this area that i've ever had someone were teaching come to church.. and I've been here for 4 months haha. and we happened to both be giving talks about repentance and the joy we can find in it which I think really touched her:) we did a lot of service this week! we helped at the nursing home and the food bank but...