January 13, 2014
Dear Friends and Family,
This week we taught a lot of amazing lessons. We have found a LOT
of people this week and have been meeting with them. They all seem to
have a LOT of problems and personally I felt this week that I didn't
know what to do to help them.
This week I learned that the Lord is
trusting us with these people because he knows that we can help them and
when we are at a loss for what to do we can turn to our leaders and the
Lord. The Lord always knows exactly what they need and he will direct
us in what we need to do. We have prayed a lot this week and although it
was a very rough week we had the very best week. We taught some of the
best lessons we've ever taught. We felt the spirit in our lessons. I
probably have never cried more in my life than I did this week. All of
our investigators have a lot of problems and it breaks your heart. We
ahve an investigator that is being abused by her husband and it is
really messy to figure that out. So frustrating all of our investigators
have a LOT of problems.
With the Cancino family we answered the questions they have about
baptism and we even got Ephrain to sit back in on our lessons. He had
kind of gotten a little offended when we taught him the word of wisdom
but the Lord helped prepare him and now he has started to listen to us
again. We have a baptism date with Kenya and we are pretty sure her
brother Eric will follow too. We have seen so much progress with this
family and I have seen them recognize the truth and start to change
their lives. We invited them to a noche de hogar (family home evening)
in a members home tonight and I honestly think that will help them to
develop a strong testimony of the book of mormon. The ward mission
leader has been working with us and he says if they ever need a ride to
church he will work something out so they can be there. They have that
desire to come closer to Christ and they have been humbled enough to
realize that they need the Lord. As we have been teaching them the
happiness and joy we see in them is incredible. Nothing would make me
more happy than to see them be sealed together as a family in the temple
someday.
Although it is very challenging here in Memphis and although
we may not see a lot of results we ARE making a difference. We are
inviting people to come closer to Christ even though they may not accept
it. We have learned to have charity for our wonderful spirit brothers
and sisters. We have learned to work hard and turn to the Lord when we
can't do anymore. We have learned so many wonderful lessons here in
Memphis. I have truly learned to love the people here and the wonderful
members. I have never had such a strong desire to help people. So many
people here need our help and at times it is a little overwhelming and
exhausting but I KNOW that we can do it! We have been called by a
prophet of God to feed the Lord's sheep and labor in the vineyard and
that is exactly what we are doing. I KNOW that this is where I am
supposed to be. I love the people here and I have a desire for their
salvation... almost to the point where it breaks my heart to see them
not accept it. I have been blessed to somewhat have a glimpse of what
the Lord feels like when his children don't accept the truth.
I LOVE
Memphis and I love the lessons I have learned here and the people I have
gotten to meet and help bring closer to Christ and I am excited for the
future opportunities on my mission that I will have to serve others.
Love,
Love,
~Hermana Larissa Johnson