Hey everyone,
This week has been a week of pondering. I received the sudden and shock news of the loss of a very dear loved one back home. Someone I, for a very long time, have considered family. The very last thing I wanted to do this week is write an email, but when the spirit tells you to do something, it is best to obey.
Brayden is someone that I consider to be a third brother. Our families have grown up together for years and I have always looked up to him so much. He is just such a good man. He is one of the best examples to me of constantly showing christlike love. With the news of his sudden and tragic death, I have spent a lot of time wondering, pondering, questioning, mourning, and praying. It comes down to this. Is the gospel that I am currently declaring to the people here true? If not everything is in vain, nothing matters, and there would be no hope or progression. I need yall to understand that I have a firm testimony of the truthfulness of the doctrine that I teach. I know that Jesus christ suffered, died, and rose again so that the pain, sin, and death that comes with mortality will be temporary. What a beautiful thing it is to know that all this hardship (while it feels like eternity) will actually be quite small compared to eternity. I know that each of us are children of a loving Heavenly Father who wants what is best for us. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and because of that I know each of us will also live again. These simple but beautiful truths do not make the pains of this earth life easy, but they do make it easier. This has been the hardest week of my mission thus far, I am not going to sugar coat it, but that's the beauty of the gospel, it doesn't promise ease but it does promise a future... something that this mortal life cannot guarantee without a savior. I no longer just have faith that it is true, I know that it is true simply because it has to be and the spirit has testified to me that I can move forward confidently in the things I teach.
Lenoir is doing good, I will send an update about the work soon, but I felt it was an important opportunity to testify to all of you back home. I love my Savior, I love this gospel, and I love you all. Please stay safe:)
Sister Johnson