GLEN WAVERLEY - Week 53 - October 31, 2017

This week has been one for the books!

So on Thursday Sister Cahoon and I hit our 1 year mark! It was so fun and we decided to re-enact our picture from the first day in the MTC. Since elders usually burn a shirt on their year mark, we decided that we should too! I actually burned the shirt that I wore to the MTC and it was awesome (and sad). It is crazy to see how far we have come and how much we have changed and learned in the past year. 

We have been meeting with some of our investigators but starting these next couple weeks they will all be headed back to China for the holidays. sooo it will be interesting to see what happens. BUT we met with our investigator Yu this past week and after an awesome lesson, invited her to be baptized. she said yes! She is on date for the 25th of this month. :):)):)

FUNNY STORY--(before I start you need to know that I really do love this family soo much. We continue to go over there for feeds because we genuinely love them and they are soo nice to us. & it's always fun) we went over to the Wilson's house for dinner this week to celebrate Brother Wilson's birthday. oh my goodness. This dinner appointment was an ADVENTURE let me tell you. So to start, Sister Cahoon and I had a late lunch so when we went, we really weren't hungry. BUT we wanted to be polite so we ate some of the fried rice that she had made us. There was more cat hair in that rice than I care to admit... but a little cat hair won't kill you, right?! To make it even better was the fact that the drink she gave us was some aloe-vera water that Sister Wilson had made. I am not sure what was in that.. but tasted like I was drinking bleach. haha then as if it couldn't get worse, her chickens were in the house running around and pooping all over the floor. (as we were leaving Sister Wilson gave us a hug holding a huge piece of chicken poop in her hand RIGHT by our faces..) and to top it all off, we had some chocolate cake for dessert. But I don't know if I would call it chocolate cake. Let me describe this cake--pretty much tasted like straight dirt on the bottom, a layer of melted dark chocolate and butter as the icing, and then a LOT of hemp seeds dumped on top. :):):) IT WAS SO HARD TO EAT. I was dying and was so close to barfing right in her house. I also had nothing to wash it down except that aloe-vera water..it was incredible. If any of you have seen the movie "Matilda" I felt much like that boy who was forced to eat the chocolate cake while Sister Cahoon was just whispering to me the entire time to "keep eating" and "push it down Johnson" But we did take some left overs to our flat sisters to have them try it and Sister Tuu'u threw up outside. hahha best night ever. 

ok so that might have been a bit dramatic.. but I wish you could have been there. It was hard not to just laugh at how bizzare this dinner was. man, I love being here. 

We also had a ward activity last night for Halloween. We decorated the boot of our car with the other missionaries that serve in our ward and the sisters that live in the same flat as us. Oh man it was soo fun! We all dressed us like islanders and decorated the boot to match. We also had some samoan music playing and made all the kids dance in order to get their lollies. It was honestly a blast! I love serving in this ward. (sentimental moment--I was able to spend Halloween with Sister Cahoon 2 YEARS IN A ROW.. I am so blessed! I love her soo much)

This morning we had to opportunity to do a session in the temple! It was soo nice and really brought so much peace and joy. As you all know, recently I have been faced with many questions and doubts. This past week many of my prayers were answered as I found answers to my questions during my studies, talking to Sister Cahoon and today in the Temple. 

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father loves us and answers our prayers. I have come to appreciate Him more this week and have been able to feel His love for me. I know that He has a plan for all of us and we don't have to know everything right now. We just need to trust Him. Like a favourite quote says, "you don't need to see the whole staircase in order to take the next step." 

I am grateful to know that I have such amazing family and friends back home that support and encourage me. (thanks for all the encouraging emails this week.. you guys are the best!) I am even more grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ who also love, support and guide me. 

I am so happy. I am so blessed to be a missionary.

have a good week

cheers!

xoxo,

张姐妹

Sister Johnson

 October 2016 - MTC

Together Again - October 2017

Glen Waverley, Australia

Burning shirt to mark one year mark

That looks like trouble.

Ward Halloween Party - Island Girls

Boot all decorated including a Disco Ball

"Helped a less active do some weeding. 

She just kept saying 'remind me never to let you cut my hair.' 

I guess we aren't super good at trimming rose bushes."

The famous chocolate cake from the Wilsons

Sister Brotherton