the news is in- I´m training this transfer! Hermana Cano is going to Cartegena to be a SHE (Super Hermana Entranadora/Sister Training Missionary), and I´m staying here in Malaga 3 to train. As far as I know, there´s one other sister missionary from my transfer training on her own- Hermana Kunz. There are two other sisters (Hermana Thompson and Hermana Israelson) who are both training a new sister and being trained by their current companions still.
I haven´t met my new companion yet- President Deere has hinted that I´ll probably train a Spaniard, which will be a blessing and an immense challenge, but I know I´m going to grow a lot this transfer because of the difficulties. At first I was really scared (ok, still really scared, but more so then), because I felt like I was just a last resort in desperate times, but a senior missionary here (Elder Castillo) told me that from the first day he and President Deere were almost certain that I should be one of the trainers in the next transfer. I still feel very inadequate, and maybe it´s better that way. Knowing that I have so many things I need to improve is going to keep me focused and humble. I´ve never felt so weak, and I have a feeling that´s only going to intensify- I´m going to have to learn to rely on the Lord more than ever before.
You wouldn´t recognize me now, in part because of the chub I have in my arms and belly, and in relation to that, what I´m willing to eat. I´m so sad I didn´t take pictures of it, but the other day we had paella with a member, and it was full of little bite-sized squids- tentacles and all! Get this- I loved it! Ok, apart from knowing that there was a little squid in my mouth, it was really good. The members tell me that I´m brave because I try/eat all the food they prepare. And oh, how I´ve grown to love bananas and oranges- I prefer them over practically any dessert. Still don´t like tomatoes- I wonder if I ever will. We had a salad with a member the other day filled with tuna and tomatoes (not the best salad), but I was eating it bravely when my knife fell. I bent to pick it up, but the member told me not to worry and rushed off to get me a new knife. It was an answer to prayers- I turned to Hna Cano urgently, "Hermana, take my tomatoes!" She did, but thought it was intentional- I promise it wasn´t!"
I met a friend of Mark´s the other day in Granada- I don´t remember his name at all, but I know he served with Mark. He says you were a great missionary, Marky. I´m always so grateful that I have 8 incredible siblings and amazing parents that I can look up to and be proud of. You´re all the best, and I´m grateful I have you.
So many miracles this week. My favorite happened the other day when one of our other plans fell through. We thought about seeing a recent covert instead of our back up plans, but felt that we should follow through. The first backup fell through, and when we went to the next, we were told he didn´t live there anymore. But someone inside heard that we were missionaries and shuffled to the door- it was a Nigerian woman we´d met through Victoria- we had her number, but she never answered her phone, and we didn´t know where she lived. It was incredible- we had a really good lesson with her, and I can´t wait to see where it goes.
I don´t have time to write more, my lovelies, because we have to eat with a member. I only had time to glance at the newsletter, but it looks amazing, and I can´t wait to dive in when I have the time. You´re all so wonderful, and even though I miss you, I´m glad I´m here on the Lord´s errand. Take care, and make your children write me :) Let them know I miss and love them.
Take care! Love, Hna. Johnson
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