21.10.2013
Hello, hello!!
Pres van Dalen
Sister Jones and I went and helped Sister van Dalen (the
branch president's wife) clean up their home. Her family was in visiting
for a month and she needed a little help getting everything under
wraps. It was really fun! We listened to a John Bytheway talk while we
worked and the van Dalens fed us lunch. They are the nicest people
ever!
On Friday, we went as a district to serve a less active member
named R. He is super cool! He's remodeling his house and we helped
him remove all the cabinets from the kitchen. It was really great to do
some manual labor and quite honestly reminded me of home! It's been
forever since I handled a hammer! ;) Afterwards the elders gave a
powerful spiritual thought and then we had to sprint through the village
to catch our bus! We made it just in time though!
On Sunday, our sweet
investigator, PK came to church. It was really great to that she was
able to come. She has difficulties coming--she works so she normally spends Sundays with her family.
Also she lives outside of Kosice in one of the surrounding towns
(there's bunches of little villages not too far off) and the bus
schedule is tricky on Sundays. This Sunday I also taught Relief Society.
It was a really cool lesson and I think it went really well. The lesson
was from Lorenzo Snow manual lesson 20.
Our investigators are amazing as usual! We've had
some difficulties with P's baptismal date...He was supposed to be
baptized this past Saturday but we've had to push it back a couple of weeks. He
wants to be baptized and recognizes that it is a good thing and he
agrees with what we've taught and believes the KM is true and we have
prophets today, atd (a tak d'alej--etc po slovensky). We're going to meet with him and his
mom this week and
hopefully he'll be baptized now later than November 2.
So you (Mom) have asked about the language. We sadly
haven't made our goal of 100 sol hours but we'll try again. I found I
generally understand about half of what everyone says and can follow
conversations (partly cause I'm really good at reading body language). I
struggle with my studies. I don't feel like I'm effectively studying the
language or honestly really know how to continue to progress. But I'll keep trying.
This past
week has been interesting because I've noticed a lot of my inadequacies and
shortcomings. Some I know how to fix, others I still need to ponder on a
little more. I know that Heavenly Father wants me to be better and
right now I'm working/learning on how to really pray. I know I need help,
and lots of it. Quite honestly the only way for me to succeed is with
Divine help. But "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do
not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17). I know that
sometimes we have trials and sometimes life is difficult and that's okay
because "it must needs be, that there is an opposition is all things"
but "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the
meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). I know that as I learn to trust
and rely on the Lord more I will become better and have more success.
He has sent me here to do His work. And the work will always move
forward. I suppose I'll end with something I shared in Relief Society
this past sunday... "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no
unhallowed hand can stop the
work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies
may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth
boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent,
visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till
the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall
say the work is done" (Joesph Smith). [If you would like to understand more about the things Sister Johnson is teaching, visit this website and find answers to your questions.]
As usual and as always, I love you all and wish you the very best week!
A couple of more photos...we went out on the day of the Kosice marathon to find origami around the city.
Sestra Johnson, this blog entry has really touched me for some reason; perhaps because I can relate so strongly to the scripture you have shared from 1 Nephi 11. You have strengthened my faith through your expressions of humility and testimony. And these photos are a true delight! You've got a very artistic eye. Thanks for sharing your light!
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