Johns, Sage

biiiiig update.... we got news in the middle of transfer day that we're gonna be in a trio this transfer! CRAZY! my 3rd companions name is Sister Sohm & shes super sweet. its been quite the adjustment because ive never been in a trio before & all 3 of us are pretty outgoing but im excited for the new experience!  another sarah update... she is for sure getting baptized on the 10th! her family & her boyfriends family are both coming in town & theyre so excited for her! yesterday i was sitting by her in church & i saw that HER LOCK SCREEN IS THE TEMPLE! im just in awe of her. another funny thing... brother curtis taught us how to fence the other day. now i know that if someone tries to attack me, all i need to do is grab my fencing sword & parry 4... i think thats how you spell it.  ive been feeling a little overwhelmed the past few weeks, especially the last couple days. so ive been thinking about centering myself on christ, specifically him as his title...

i dont even know how to talk about all the amazing things from the past week & a half... im just so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary, that i get to play a small role in helping people come closer to christ!! transfer news! crazy that it was my last one... next time theyll make some joke like "your new companion will be eternal... choose wisely" or something like that:,,,,)  but im staying here & my new companion will be SIS RICKS! shes SO FUN i am seriously so excited. she is one of the funniest people ive ever met and she works super hard. im gonna miss sis oliver so much but shes goin up to amarillo by morning & she'll kill it there. its been WILD over here in the YSA! i love it... this is one of the most fun areas ive ever served in & the work is so good. heres some highlights... - SARAH!!!! she is incredible & i could write my whole email about her haha. she kind of fell into our laps from the sisters in heritage... in their pass off...

today i hit 17 months as a missionary... i dont even know what to think. so many thoughts have been jumbled in my mind for the past few days with friends wrapping up their missions, friends starting school, even friends getting married. and im here! all that used to make me sad but now it makes me stressed... id rather just stay a missionary forever. honestly whats better than studying & sharing the gospel & having $120 load into your card twice a week? hahah but anyways, this week was awesome... it honestly felt like an eternity but i dont know why cause SCHOOLS BACK IN! its been fun to learn the college campus way of street contacting. sis oliver said hi to a kid & he just looked at her, walked away, and started laughing HAHA. but we've had some very kind people talk with us as well. there was this one guy named Nate Reed who asked us for directions somwhere. after we pulled it up for him on maps & explained that we're missionaries, he proceeded to sample some...

HEY YAAAAALL!! yeehaw! hope everythings been good... im writing this on the way to cavendars to look at boots & we just got done thrifting too... my 2 favorite things besides jesus. its also suuuuper windy so theres tumbleweeds blowing around. feels like home. this weeks been interesting!  - we had exchanges & i hung out with sis foutz! shes brand new but she is KILLING it! we taught some AWESOME lessons... there are some prepared people in Hobbs America haha. - we did a free car wash & ended up getting this super sick guys info who pulled up on a dirt bike thing doin wheelies. we havent gotten in contact with him since:,) but he was still cool - people are starting to make their way back to school FINALLY! liiiiiterally so grateful. that means our ysa activities are picking up a lot more. we had a FIIIRE volleyball night, best volleyball ive played in my life. we also had ward prayer last night & that was awesome too! - we taught a few awesome lessons! taught jorda...

2023 HAS COME TO AN END! i was a missionary for the entirety of 2023 and i cannot be more grateful! i would honestly recommend a mission to ANYONE because i have grown and changed to become a better disciple in this past year than i have in the other 19 years of my life! AHHH! i dont even have words to express how i feel! 23 LESSONS IVE LEARNED IN 2023 1. god is deeply aware of me & all of his children. 2. i didnt do this "for" god, im doing it "with" and "through" god. 3. i can love others & expect nothing in return. 4. gods plan for me > my plan for me. 5. i am being refined & humbled & that is continual process. 6. god always sends angels, often in the form of people who give good hugs. 7. god always makes up the difference & he qualifies whom he calls. 8. i hear the spirit speak to me through intellect and logic. 9. god loves me, christ loves me, AND the spirit loves me. 10. even nephi needed his heart softened. 11. the only thin...