Sister Riana Johnson: Life as a Michiganary: training pt. 2??

December 31, 2019

hey yall!

this week has been a good one and I am constantly reminded why this work is so important. the gospel has been such a blessing in my life but in all those whom we share it with!

• we got our transfer calls this week and Sister Nelson is leaving me and that I'm staying in Sturgis to train again?? Crazy stuff but I'm so excited!

Sister Nelson and me with our BOMs that we read together from cover to cover!

• christmas eve was a little crazy with back to back appointments. We got to see Sue and Robert. Then we went to visit with a recently widowed member whose son left a few months ago to Ghana on his mission. She has so much faith and it was so sweet to spend that time with her.

• Robert is doing great! He has been struggling with some things he read online but he prayed and studied about it and has an even stronger testimony of the Restoration because of it! My favorite quote from him is "no test, no testimony". He also loved church and stayed to sing in the choir.

Us with Robert!

• Sue is feeling a lot better and she picked the 18th to be baptized! That's the same day as Robert and we haven't broken the news to him we are SO excited for her though. When we were teaching her on the 28th, she said "I know I'm supposed to be dressed in white getting dunked right now but the Lord has a greater plan for me. I have all these seeds planted in my heart that are going to grow so much". She just warms my heart.

Us with Sue!

• we had a fun christmas too. We got to call home and had district council. Then we got to visit a lot of shut-ins which was such a sweet time. I love how the gospel is for families but also individuals. It is for everyone. It also got strangely warm here up to like 56° and everyone was losing their mind.

• so I am currently in Battle Creek with Sister Schulties while we both wait for our new missionaries. We got to go help out a sweet family yesterday clear out a hoarded home, and I truly just felt the love that God had for this family despite the very concerning situation.

Something a little different that the Sturgis ward does the last Sunday of each year is called "testimonies through music." So rather than speakers or a testimony meeting, they congregation is open to going up and sharing their favorite hymn and how it has strengthened their testimony. Then we all sing a verse of the song. It was different for sure, but a reminder to me of the power music can have in our lives and our spiritual growth. One of my favorite hymns is "Lead, Kindly Light". Sometimes you may feel as though you are in darkness and there may only be enough light to take a single step forward. The Lord is there to lead us forward to their presence. I hope you each can take a moment to step back and see what power music is having in your life. What has strengthened your faith in Christ and really allowed you to feel His love for you?