This is Sarah's own description of them dropping me off at the MTC:
"Emily, Preston, and I took Joanna to the MTC today. I was more than happy to miss an hour of work to go, and I'm glad I could. I was impressed with how well Joanna composed herself considering she is one of the softhearted family members. But then, I know she didn't eat anything all day and could barely say more than two words at a time. I am committed to write to her at least once a transfer, but I have a feeling she will be expecting more."Sarah did not write once a transfer, but she did do better than some people in the family.... And, once we had dinner in the MTC that night, I ate very well. It was ice cream night:)
Andalusia
Home Sweet Home
Andalusia seemed to fit me just right, probably becuase it was a small town and also because the branch was so small. It was very similar to Mt. Vernon including all the crazies in the branch, but I loved it. I still get homesick for it and will probably write a letter to one of the families when I'm done with this. I love Andalusia still to this day!
Tallahasee
The Bowcutts made Tallahassee manageable.
Tally was a hard area because the sisters (and elders) before I got there didn't do any work and had created some hard feelings with the bishop. While it wasn't my favorite area, it was probably the best one for me. It stretched me in ways that have been and will be beneficial to me. I also learned so much there about the gospel.
Destin
The perfect place for a missionary to die.
It got me pretty spoiled. I'm pretty sure this was in February on our way home from district meeting one week, and now I dream of those white sandy beaches and the emerald colored water and that I could be there instead of still freezing in April here :( It was a totally different experience in Destin, but it helped me get ready to come home. And, I had a great companion to send me home.
And then I was home. Tan. Happier than when I left. And in a coat.
For never having wanted to serve a mission, and refusing all possible notions of serving a mission, I LOVED MY MISSION!!!!! I learned so much about myself and my potential as one of Heavenly Father's children; who Heavenly Father really is and how vitally important Jesus Christ is to the plan; and how to really open my heart to others and let them into my life.
And, for those of you who want the longer version (ie, all 18 months and 3 weeks worth of letters) you can check out my old blog joannasjourneys.blogspot.com for the full in depth letters. And believe me, they are in depth! Ben's youngest brother's letter this past week was titled "Dusty, very very dusty (long email)" and I had to laugh. It was a few short paragraphs. My siblings would have loved it if my long emails were only a few short paragraphs!
6 comments:
I totally forgot about that commitment to write once a transfer. Is that from my blog?
I'll admit it now: I often skipped parts of those novellas you wrote home.
I didn't! I read every word you wrote, Joanna!
I was never as tan as on my mission. Oh, the joys of living in the tropics.
Thanks for sharing your mission with those of us who missed it! Funny how when we don't want to do something and then finally do it, it turns out to be a good experience, that is especially true with gospel things. And yes, it would be nice if Ben's youngest brother did write a little more in his "long" emails! :-) But at least he writes!!!
And what better way to spend your after mission months than going to the Wausau institute!
You went on a mission??
JK, I knew you went to Brazil. :)
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