Brookside 7/10/17

Hey all!

Lovely week! Here are some highlights:

-We drove down to Shepherdsville (my first area!) for a Fourth of July
ward party! Saw all my people. The fireworks show was AMAZING. Sister
Endemann and Honey are still companions and they were in Louisville
for MLC so they just drove down to party with us.

-Had an amazing lesson with our J-dub friend. He is very much a humble
seeker of truth. It was probably the most spiritually potent first
lesson I've ever had!

-We sang with the Elders at a nursing home and it was really fun. It's
so cool how music can bring the spirit so powerfully. The residents
loved it, although I think they'd prefer a little more "Amazing Grace"
and a little less Mormon hymns haha!

-Had a mini Zone Conference and met the new mission president!
President and Sister Hughes are absolutely adorable AND they're from
Idaho, soooo. ;) I thought I'd be really sad about the Broughs leaving
but I already feel so much love for the new ones.

Love ya!
Sister Kristen Johns

Face painting

Thanks for the package!

Brookside 7/3/17

Hey all!

It's been a fantastic week! 

In my past few areas I've come in and been like, "LET'S WORK WITH MEMBERS!" And we've hit that really hardcore. In ward coordination I felt the impression that we should still work with members of course, but should really focus on personal finding. This area is wonderful like that--so many soft hearted people. We worked hard last week and now this week is packed with appointments. It feels good.

Some unique experiences this week:

-Taught a lady from west Africa who speaks 15 different languages and is working on her third degree in college. Did I mention she's blind? She asked for proof for what we were teaching and I just sort of handed her the Book of Mormon. It was cool.

-Set a return appointment with a very humble, newly converted Jehovahs Witness. That's a first!

-Got our bike rack stolen off our car. It's completely useless without the clips, which are safely stored in our car. I was hoping the thief would realize that and put it back on, but so far no dice.

-Contacted an older couple as they were in the process of moving and they gave us six garbage bags of their granddaughter's unused clothing. Blessed! 

-Had my last exchange with Sister Andrus! I felt like my life was coming full circle because Sister Andrus is in my first area, Shepherdsville. And when I was there I went on exchanges to Brookside because it used to be an STL area! (Our meeting place for the exchange is an obscenely pink liquor store, see photo no. 1)

-The less active family we've been working with came to church for all three hours for the first time in forever. Made me happy happy:)

-Went to the temple to do baptisms with Sister Mitchell's recent convert! It was absolutely lovely. Saw a couple different people from my old areas! 

Love,

Sister Kristen Johns

Church!

Aldi shopping!

Brookside 6/26/17

Hey fam!

Wowza, lots to write.

Got to Brookside Tuesday afternoon. Sister Mitchell is super hilarious
and snarky, it's great. She's a 6'1" five year old with a "refined
palate" (she eats mainly chicken nuggets and PB and J haha). She's
only been in the area for five weeks so it kind of feels like we be
white washin'.

If you like daily odd compliments, attend Louisville 4th ward. My
favorite for this week-- "Your clothes match really well for someone
who's going home soon."

Also, if a sister in the ward brings their friend to church, don't get
TOO excited about the referral. She most likely just convinced her
friend to come by telling her that the church with help fund her
non-profit organization in India and Africa. So much for real intent.

Ward coordination was quite interesting! We share the ward with the
Spanish elders. The ward members are quirky and endearing. They call
us by our first names sometimes. The ward mission leader is younger
and looks and talks JUST LIKE Faromir from Lord of the Rings. I'm sure
we'll get along just fine.;) The assistant ward mission leader/gospel
doctrine teacher/every other odd calling you could imagine is a
convert of five years and he and his wife...live and breathe for
missionaries. Their life revolves around missionaries! I've actually
met quite a few ward members like that on my mission. I'm currently
trying to think of a name for people like that. Not sure if it's a
disease or something more praise worthy. Haha

I'm currently trying to understand the ward and the area as fast as
humanly possible so we can make some good stuff happen. It's like
alright we got six weeks let's GO GO GO!

It's an adventure!

Love,
Sister Kristen Johns