Love from New Zealand
Dear Family,
New Zealand is wonderful as
usual! We've had such a great week! I sure love my companion.
It's so funny because we will be a little sharp with each other sometimes and
then we just both feel so bad and apologize a lot and hug each other. We
really are the dream team. Haha, we balance each other so, so well!
Our District Meeting this
week was so amazingly good. It ended and I felt like it had been written
for me. (Well, it actually had . . .kind of. Elder Pene, our
district leader, asks us all what we are working on and then plans the district
meeting.) But I just love all the missionaries that serve around
me. After District Meeting, we got to go on exchanges with the Lake
Sisters. I got be companions with Sister Sao, from Samoa, and . . . Sister
Ye!!! And I got to serve out of my area for the first time my entire
mission. So that was fun. I learned heaps from those two
sisters. Even though they are both learning English, their testimonies
are so, so powerful and they are so humble and good. Sister Urgel was
really nervous to lead the area when I was gone, but she did amazing. She
is getting more and more prepared to lead it when I leave. I am mentally
preparing myself to leave at transfers because I really feel like I will.
I will SO miss this area, but at least I will be ready. Last night I
wrote a list of people I want to write letters to before I go. There were
21 on the list, and I'll probably think of more. Good thing I'm starting
now.
But we have been teaching
Shardae a lot. Did I tell you about her last week? I can never
remember. She has been going to church for ages but never was baptized
even though her mom was. They have this AMAZING member family that have
been fellowshipping them. We have our lessons there. But she has
been doing so well. It's amazing how much love I feel for all the people
we teach.
I've been worried for Jayde
lately. Pray for her! She is so, so ready to get baptized, but she
is afraid that she's not ready. Everyone thinks that they have to be
perfect to get baptized, but it's actually the opposite. We get baptized
because we aren't perfect. We have to be worthy and willing to follow
Jesus Christ. I love the qualifications for baptism in D&C 20:37 (at
least I think that's where they are). She has had all the lessons and
been to church tons of time. It's one of those situations where we have
to do all we can, but then trust in the Lord to make up the rest.
I've really been realizing
what an impatient person I am. "If men come unto me I will show unto
them their weakness." Well, mine is impatience. But Jane Eyre
in my ward said something I just love. She is so profound
sometimes. She said that impatience is the fear of time. So I'm
going to stop fearing time. I get impatient with myself and others and
I'm learning to trust more.
This week we got to eat with
my favorite couple, the Sykes, twice! They just had their 52nd wedding
anniversary and they are so adorable. I want to be just like Sister Sykes
when I grow up and marry someone like Brother Sykes. They are so humble
and good and they always have me sing for them. I love asking members two
things. I ask how they met if they are married and I ask their conversion
story. It seems like everyone in our ward is a convert. That's
really different from Wells Ward, but it's really cool.
I've also been so grateful to
spend so much time getting to know children. We've been helping with the
Primary Program and we have two AMAZING families, Margaret's and Patiana's that
we visit. All of those kids in both families have such strong testimonies
and are so good, even if they can be crazy! I just want them to have the
gospel in their lives so bad.
I've been working on being
the fourth missionary again lately. I want to do everything "willingly
because I want to". I'm still working on that when it comes to
waking up in the morning.
But time is short
unfortunately! I love you all and LOVE hearing from you so much.
Love,
Sister Clarissa Johnson
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