Sister Alyssa Johnson: MOORABBIN - Week 33

Family and Friends,

We just had transfers and I am staying in Moorabbin!! ! I am follow up training Sister Zhang (yes my chinese name is also Zhang... so we are BOTH zhang jiemei!) We have the exact same birthday so we are pretty much the same person. :) She is from North China and has been a member for 2 years. She is so cute and this transfer is going to be awesome!

Last Sunday was such a MIRACLE day for Sister Fong and I. We had 2 of our investigators come to church which was a huge blessing. This entire transfer it has been so hard to help investigators come to church because they haven't been able/willing to make the hour train ride to our branch in the city. BUT this Sunday we had 2 come with us and it was so special!

Then after church we had a few lessons set up with some potentials and with an investigator. Well long story short, we were able to find 6 new investigators on Sunday and it was honestly a HUGE miracle! We had lessons set up with 4 potentials, and all of their lessons went great. They all seem pretty keen and want to meet again which is amazing.

We were supposed to have a lesson with our investigator Dan on Sunday evening but he didn't end up coming. We were sad but because he didn't come, but we able to have another miracle. We were sitting at the table waiting for Dan when we saw our friend Joseph. We always see Joseph when we are at the library because he swims at the pool right next door, and we have been trying to meet with him this entire transfer and he never would. But by some miracle we saw him on Sunday and he came and sat down at our table. We asked if we could share a message about God and he said yes and invited his friend to come listen too!! So it was awesome and we are meeting with them both again this week! IT WAS SUCH A MIRACLE DAY and it was an awesome last day with Sister Fong.

side note--I am so grateful for Sister Fong and the opportunity we had to serve together! She taught me so much and this past transfer was amazing. I am sad to see her go to another area, but being in the Chinese program is awesome because there aren't too many areas for us to go, she is never too far.

One of our investigators we have right now is Victor. He is so keen and so prepared. He came to church with us on Sunday and after church told me that he had a really special experience and really likes our church! He finishes his tests this week so we will be able to meet with him more and I am so excited :) he is awesome.

Also, I burned my hand this week which was a bummer. Our super old heater (we have had so many problems with this dumb thing...) but it is a gas heater and the whole metal part gets really hot. It was Saturday night and I was going to turn it off for the night, and my hand slipped on the rope and I hit the hot metal part. hurt pretty bad but it is good now (don't worry mom & dad, I have seen the mission nurse and she said it’s all good.) Chinese people are super nice and they have all given me some weird Chinese medicine that they say will help. So, I am taken care of no worries.

This week we had to say goodbye to Sister Dobberfuhl as she was sent home to get hip surgery. I got to serve with Sister Dobberfuhl a few transfers ago, and she became one of my closest friends. Being in the Chinese program here in Australia is really special because there are only a handful of sisters, so we pretty much get to serve with every sister. This means that we all know each other really well and we are all super close! BUT the downside is that when someone leaves, it is SO hard. but all the sisters came to a final goodbye tim tam slam party and it was so fun. I love the sisters I serve with!

I also had to say goodbye to Sister Guan (my trainer) as she finished her mission this transfer and is going home. Good thing she will come to America and I will be able to see her again.

We got locked out of our flat twice this week. This first time was Wednesday night and we were walking to our lesson and I realized that the keys were not in my hand. Worst feeling ever, but what was worse was that we had to call our Zone Leaders because they are the only ones that have a copy. They had to come and let us in but they live AN HOUR away.. so that was hard. The second time was only 2 days later and I have never felt so dumb in my life. My heart dropped into my stomach when I realized I wasn't holding the keys in my hand. That I had left them on the table. haha luckily the office was able to help us out so our zone leaders didn't have to drive all the way down to us AGAIN, man I have a problem. Locked out twice this week which brings us to a total of 5. FIVE TIMES I have locked the keys in our flat. I really should learn by now.

This week has been awesome and I am excited for this upcoming transfer. I know that this church is true and I am so grateful to be able to see the Lord's hand in my life and in my mission. This work is the greatest work!

love and miss you all! thanks for the prayers and the support. I wouldn't be able to do it without yous. have a good week!

xoxo,

张姐妹

Sister Johnson