one year.
one year of growth
of challenges
of trials
of refining moments
one year of growth.
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one year of joy
of laughs
of elation
of admiration
one year of joy.
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one year of peace
of at-one-ment
of liberation
of solace
one year of peace.
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one year of learning
of knowledge
of experience
of expansion
one year of learning.
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one year of hard-work
of dedication
of tears
of persistence
one year of hard-work.
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one year of love
of service
of empathy
of care
one year of love.
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one year of heart-ache
of pain
of loss
of disappointment
one year of heart-ache.
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one year of discovery
of who I am
of who you are
of who He is
one year of discovery.
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one year of coming unto Christ,
unto His grace
unto His unconditional love
into His arms
one year of coming unto Christ.
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one year
12 months
365 days
of being a missionary
of selfless strivings
of insurmountable blessings
one year.
☆•••••☆•••••☆•••••☆•••••☆•••••☆•••••☆•••••☆
This week marked the momentous occasion of hitting one year as a missionary. So I only thought it fitting to share a poem I wrote all about the emotions I have felt over these past 12 months, I hope you enjoy it & could get a least a little glimpse into some of my experiences and growth.
Lots of major highlights this week!
☆ We were able to find 6 new people to teach through our Facebook finding efforts! Sister Ramana, Keily, and I did a live devotional last Sunday which ended up being so successful. It has gotten almost 6,000 views now & we have gotten a couple referrals from it as well! #miracles
☆ It’s been fun because we have started to do a daily accountability with the Elders here in Bolton each night by sending in how many miles we ran that day and how many friends we were able to make. I love it, it’s definitely been pushing us to do better each and every day.
☆ We were also able to meet one of our friends, Saaz, in town this week. We met him in this BEAUTIFUL park in town called Queen’s Park. It was absolutely lovely. And better yet, we were able to bring him a Book of Mormon in his language. Very exciting stuff, he is so kind and open to hearing what we have to say!
☆ We also met one of our recent converts, Evan, in town which was so good. He is a gem and took us to get kebabs & milkshakes. It was divine, I hadn’t eaten food like that in MONTHS haha !! He is from Kenya and when I told him I’m from Los Angeles and that I love dancing he looked at me and said “I can see you dancing…” *insert his accent* haha it was iconic & he’s just the best!!
☆ On July 3rd we had a huge celebration with the Elders who are also serving here in Bolton: Elder Litster & Elder Mbuli. We were commemorating mine & Elder Litster’s one-year mark as well as saying goodbye to Sister Ramana as she was leaving the next day! It was SO FUN! We had a Mexican Fiesta! BUT of course when we went to go meet in the park it started raining and the parks here in England don’t believe in shelter so the 5 of us stood under this tiny treehouse/slide contraption with umbrellas to eat our tacos. It was such a MEMORY! Ha! Gotta love England ❤
☆ There were a lot of things that happened this week that were unexpected, but it all worked out in the end. Sister Ramana’s multiple covid tests & flights all worked out in the Lord’s timing. She could finally make it home to her family in Madagascar after many, many complications. I learned so much from her in just 3 short weeks. I will never forget her and the impact she has had on my life. I am excited to see where life takes my little Sister Ramana!
Saying Goodbye and our road trip to the Mission Office to drop her off ❤
☆ HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!! My second Independence Day over on this side of the pond lol….always feels just a little bit strange. BUT nonetheless the day was filled with multiple reasons to celebrate. Sister Keily and I went to a member’s home. Yes, you heard me right. And with it being Independence Day, we could go inside!!! It was such a surreal feeling to be able to knock on a member’s door with the intent of walking in. Sister Unsworth is so kind and just the best! We had a lovely Come Follow Me lesson with her and I think that she was just as happy to meet with us in person as we were to meet with her! She was also so thoughtful. She hung up an American flag and played the National Anthem right when I walked inside. It was such a simple sentiment, but it made my whole day and helped me feel so loved! #camerica4ever
☆ The ‘Why I Believe’ devotional was another hit! We had so many of our new Facebook friends and other people we are teaching tune into our watch parties. We also had a couple returning members tune in who absolutely loved it and were so touched by what was shared. One returning member even said how he wants to start reading his Book of Mormon again because of what was spoken. #whyibelievemiracles!
Well folks that about does it, there’s an overview of my crazy busy week! For one last little chunk of ’emo Sister Johnson’, I do just want to say that it has certainly been a time of deep self-reflection. When I look at pictures from the start of my mission and even before I left, I don’t even recognize the girl that I see. I have changed so much through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that I feel like a completely different person! And if that’s what happened after just a year, I can’t even imagine what continual changes I will see in the next 6 months and the subsequent months of my life that will follow. It is a surreal feeling to know that I have been a set-apart missionary, serving the Lord whole-heartedly for an entire year of my life. And what a small sacrifice it has been in comparison to the Saviour’s ultimate sacrifice He has made for me. Nothing has brought me more joy than serving Him over the past 12 months. Each month has brought a new lesson to learn and an opportunity to grow and improve. I loved studying Alma 26 this week as it seemed so fitting to reflect on the joy I have felt from serving the Lord despite the challenges. The same joy that Ammon felt when he said, “Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.”
All my love always,
Sister Johnson
“Do your duty, and leave the rest to Heaven.”
~Pierre Cornielle
One Year Ago and Now ❤
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