MOORABBIN - Week 27 - April 30, 2017

Wow what a week I have had! This week has honestly been a week of miracles!!

I hit my 6 month mark this week and oh my goodness where does time go? 

Also today is the first day of a new transfer! I am staying in Moorabbin with Sister Li. :)

So last pday we had our zone p-day and we went to Brighton Beach. We were able to walk along the beach, take heaps of pictures and see all the famous colored houses on the beach. SO FUN! I love my MCC (Melbourne City Chinese) zone family.

This week our investigator JEFF GOT BAPTIZED!! Holy cow I can't even tell you how amazing he is! Right after he got baptized he bore his testimony and oh my goodness he is so strong. He talked about how the church feels like a second home to him and how he always feels so welcome. I know this is true from personal experience so hearing him also testify of it made me happier than I know how to write. Also at the baptism me and my MTC companion Sister Cahoon sang "I Know that my Redeemer Lives" (yes this makes 2 baptisms that I have sang at.. I know you are surprised mom.. so am I...) but wow when we were singing the Spirit was overwhelming. It was something I will never forget and I am so grateful I was able to sing along side my best friend Sister Cahoon.

Also this weekend we were able to participate in a mini mission! We had two 16 year old sisters with us for the weekend to see how missionary work is and what you do as a missionary! Sister McFadden and Sister Hope served with Sister Li and I and it was so fun! They are both so cute and were so brave! When I was 16 there is no way I would have gone up to someone on the street and started talking to them. They both taught me so much and it was awesome to be able to learn from them.

Last night we had a fireside at the end of the mini mission experience and during the fireside the Spirit was so powerful and I think I really felt/realized for the first time that there is NO WHERE ELSE I would rather be right now than serving the Lord here in Melbourne. This week I have felt true happiness and joy that comes from being a missionary. There are SO many days on a mission that are discouraging and hard, but weeks like this week are what make all the hard days worth it. I wouldn't trade my mission experience for anything.

It is starting to get soo cold here in Melbourne! For some reason when I got my mission call to Australia I thought I wouldn't have a winter & wouldn't ever be cold.. but boy was I wrong. It is only fall here and it is already pretty cold. I don't know what I am going to do in a couple months when it is actually winter! but THANK YOU MOM for making me bring so many tights! I know I said I would never wear them, but thank you for packing them for me anyways because they have SAVED ME this week. 

This week has been absolutely amazing and I have witnessed so many miracles with our investigators and in our area! I have been able to see the Lord's hand so many times in this area and this past transfer. I am excited to be able to stay in Moorabbin and continue to learn from Sister Li. The Lord knows us all personally and knows what we need in order to grow, learn and become more like Him. I love being a missionary!

I love you all! Thank you for the continued love, support and prayers. I would not be here without all of you.  Have a good week!

xoxo,

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

Alyssa Loves the Beach, and being a
Missionary too of course!!

At Brighton Beach with Sister Li

Companion Sister Li from China

Cute Beach Shacks on Brighton Beach

Investigator Jeff on his Special Baptism Day

English Mini Missions with Sister McFadden
and Sister Hope from the Ward

Getting a bit nippy in Melbourne - oh boy
and it's only Fall there.  You wouldn't
know she was born and raised in Utah and
went to school in Rexburg, but she does hate the cold.