I haven't been transferred yet, but we found out yesterday I am going to Dunn and will be with Sister Wilson! She just came out last transfer. I met her briefly at temple day. She seems very sweet and bubbly. She is from Alpine, UT. She is very petite. That is really all I know about her currently. I will most certainly have more details next week. :)
Sister Matthews is going back to Greenville (I am so jealous!) She is going to be training one of the new sisters! So, that's the news.
This week was chaos X 10. We were running every which way trying to meet with all of our investigators, less actives, and other families before we leave. We managed to meet with all of them except for Jean. I am sad to be leaving Deep Run, but I know I have fulfilled what I was called to accomplish here. We had some wonderfully fulfilling experiences this week that helped Sis. Matthews and I to know that we had done our best here.
We went to the only place where there is a rise in elevation on this side of the Carolinas on Monday. We went to the Cliffs of Neuse! It was really pretty. Lots of trees and the Neuse river below us. It felt so good to get outside and be in the dirt and woods. I miss doing those sorts of things.
We met with Clara on Tuesday with the Elders and Bro. Whitehurst...and guess who else also sat in on the lesson? Her boyfriend! We talked about baptism and how important that day would be for Clara. Clara has been reading to Joe (her boyfriend) and explaining everything she has learned since she started taking the lessons. Clara is so sneaky! Joe requested that we not ask any questions directed towards him, as it was his first time sitting in. However, Clara knows why the Word of Wisdom is important and has explained it to Joe before, but he still had some questions about it and as we were teaching she would say things like, "and why is it again that we don't drink coffee and tea?" Clara is amazing. Joe ended up participating some by the end and it went really well.
Wednesday we did service with the Anderson family. I sure do love the Anderson family. We helped Dana do her math homework (since Sister Matthews is a math major). In evening we met with Greg and Miranda and taught them about the Tree of Life and how to hold onto the Iron Rod. Greg won't budge on his date of being baptized Dec. 26, 2012. (it's so far away!) At least he has the goal. We informed the ward that they better remind him of that commitment.
Thursday= Happy Birthday Lance! Sweeeeeet 16. That is so crazy.
Thursday was Activity Day Zone Conference! We had a meeting in the morning, a pig-pickin' that afternoon, and then we played volleyball, soccer, capture the flag, ultimate frisbee, and did a relay. I am still sore and could hardly sit the next day. I learned the importance of doing exercise EVERY day (except Sunday of course). That's for sure. Our meeting was really good. We talked about revelation through prayer and why kneeling while we pray is important. When we kneel, we show the Lord how important what we are asking is to us. We also talked about how prayer is one of the first signs of faith. (see Alma 34:17) In the evening we went to Sis. Sinclair (recent convert). She is so solid. I love her to death!
Friday was so busy we forgot to schedule lunch or dinner. Oops! We had a great lesson with Clara. She and Joe went to Raleigh on Wed. and they weren't able to get his passport. :( Clara has really been struggling and was faced with quite a bit of opposition shortly thereafter. We were able to talk with her, help her see what God expected of her, and she gave the most heart-felt prayer. It was definitely a tender mercy. She knew what she needed to do after she finished praying. It was amazing. We also met with Lisa. She surprised us by telling us that she had been reading the Book of Mormon! She said the Elders could come and continue teaching her so we are excited to see (or I guess hear...) about her progress.
We had lunch at Bojangles with the older couple we have been teaching, A.L. and Pauline. A.L. told us he was mad we were leaving...lol. We had a good time with them. Pauline promised us the first time we met with her that she would make us a cake. So, she did! We had a chocolate coconut cream cake. It was very good and I was very full after all was said and done. We were also able to meet with Nathan in the evening. He told us about how he had been struggling the day before and turned to the Book of Mormon as a source of peace and comfort. We asked him how he had felt after reading and he said that it had calmed him down and that he felt much better. :) He has also been praying about baptism. We asked him about that and he said that he plans on joining himself with the church soon, but wants to talk to his parents first (they don't know he is taking the lessons apparently.) He has a friend in Wilson who is getting baptized this coming week and he is going to go to his baptism and confirmation to see how he feels there. I am so excited for him! He has changed a lot. He told us about how instead of playing video games, he was using that time to read from the Book of Mormon. It was pretty funny because we ended up on a side conversation about how him and Kaela (his girlfriend) needed to admit themselves to video games anonymous. "I need to be admitted to VGA." "No. You just need to be admitted to computers anonymous." Anyways, it was neat to see him making those changes and prioritizing his life better.
Sunday was a miracle! Nathan came to church, Greg came to church, and Clara came...with Joe and her three kids and her little sister (Paola) who also wanted to come to church. It was amazing. Joe really liked church and plans on coming back next week. He went to all three meetings. The elders took him to priesthood and it was great! Clara looked so pretty. She told us she got "extra ready" to come to church since Joe was coming. She told the elders she was sad we were leaving. Elder Otteson told her if it would make her feel better, Elder Taylor (who is often times referred to as Elder Pelon because he is bald) could wear a wig so she wouldn't feel like the only girl. We all thought that was pretty funny.
We had homemade icecream in the evening at the Strouds, made a couple of stops by members and then went home. Our apartment currently looks like a tornado ripped through there. I don't know how we are going to have time to clean everything up. Should be fun!
I am going to miss Deep Run. It will always have a very special place in my heart for many, many reasons. I know Heavenly Father is there to help us and we can't do this alone. I read my favorite talk ever...it's called, "In the Strength of the Lord" by E. Bednar this week. It was a good reminder of how much we need to remember Jesus Christ in all things and that it is only because of Him that we can accomplish all that we need to. It is the best talk ever. Really. Read it and it will change your life.
It changed mine.
I love you all so much. The church is true.
Sister Johnson
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