Van Johnson.
Haha, ok here it goes… Van and I hang out all the time
doing random things that usually involve ice cream and a camera and end with a
back massage and a hammock. All our conversations are either about travelling
the world, missions or music.
We argue about what horse is going to win at the horse races and what animal is better if you had to become one. We argue about who is stronger, and who is a bigger nerd. Basically we just argue about everything except the best ice cream flavor (obviously mint).
We argue about what horse is going to win at the horse races and what animal is better if you had to become one. We argue about who is stronger, and who is a bigger nerd. Basically we just argue about everything except the best ice cream flavor (obviously mint).
We take turns driving (and by "take
turns" I mean we fight for the key and the winner gets to drive). We sing
too loudly in the car, and sometimes we put songs on repeat just because they
are good.
We longboard everywhere, and even though he always tries to make me fall down, he’s the one that does. We eat oreos. All the time. I make him milkshakes on his bad days, he brings me milkshakes on mine.
We longboard everywhere, and even though he always tries to make me fall down, he’s the one that does. We eat oreos. All the time. I make him milkshakes on his bad days, he brings me milkshakes on mine.
He says he hates cuddling but he ALWAYS will be
the first to curl up (probably because he wants his hair played with). He
kisses my forehead lots, and lets me fall asleep during movies even if they are
good ones.
Van is my beach yoga partner. Because no one
appreciates yoga like Van and I do.
He is always trying to teach me how to skip
rocks, and will get super excited with me when my rock barely skips twice. He
also sometimes lets me dunk him in the ocean (after throwing me in first).
In San Diego we went to a swing dancing class,
where we twirled and laughed and stepped on each other’s toes all night. Having
a dance partner that is willing to dance with me whenever (even at 2 in the
morning or at a pretty park in front of everyone) is wonderful.
He will give me boosts up rock walls that I am too clumsy to climb up alone. He will yell as loud as he can on lame roller coasters while I sit next to him giggling and screaming too.
Van is my crazy, wild, sassy best friend.
To say my emotions are
as crazy as the roller coaster we went on in Vegas right now would be an
understatement. So many things are flooding my mind, and I have 4 blogpost
drafts that try to explain my emotions clearly. They all end up filling me with
one emotion- excitement.
Sounds crazy right?
What girl would be more than thrilled to have her best friend leave her for 3
years, only communicating through emails? Through many nights surfing the
internet for girls in the same position as me, I realized I'm the only one that is purely excited.
Cool :)
3 years? Here's the numbers behind that:
He leaves in 9 days for a 2 year LDS mission adventure in Merida Mexico.
I have 1 year left of high school (Senior Year!!!!)
Then I have a semester of college, fulfilling my dream and attending Southern Virginia University.
He will be out for 1 year when I start college.
I will leave on my mission around February of 2017, his 1.5 year mark.
That leaves me with 1.5 years serving the Lord.
And he will get home the August I leave.
Then 1 year of him in college at BYU and me on my mission adventure.
He leaves in 9 days for a 2 year LDS mission adventure in Merida Mexico.
I have 1 year left of high school (Senior Year!!!!)
Then I have a semester of college, fulfilling my dream and attending Southern Virginia University.
He will be out for 1 year when I start college.
I will leave on my mission around February of 2017, his 1.5 year mark.
That leaves me with 1.5 years serving the Lord.
And he will get home the August I leave.
Then 1 year of him in college at BYU and me on my mission adventure.
Complicated right?! I
can't wrap my mind around it all. That's around 1050 days. 150 weeks. Lots of
big numbers and huge mountains to climb before we even see each other again!
Believe me, I'm scared
out of my mind. That is a LONG time! So many doubts and worries fill my
thoughts constantly. Those days when I just want to hear his laugh or listen to
him sing a Sugar Ray song will be hard. The fact that I won't see his little
minivan emoji on my phone, or sit in a hammock with him is so sad. I’m losing
my dance partner and fellow ice cream lover. Three years is the ultimate test
of our relationship.
But it's only 36 fast
Sundays.
What does 3 years
really mean?
D&C 88:40 “For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own..”
This means if you want
someone like that, gain those qualities yourself. Van is becoming a missionary,
growing his testimony every day in service and charity. Because of this, I must
strengthen myself as well. Every day, I will come closer to Christ, just as Van
is. That way our testimonies will grow together.
Speaking of becoming
missionaries, the mission spirit Van has is contagious. He aches to teach the gospel
to the people of Merida, and that feeling has transferred over to me and my
desire to teach. I look for opportunities to preach my beliefs more than I ever
have because Van feels the same way. As he is teaching in Mexico, I will be
doing all I can to teach wherever I am. That is why we are here on earth; to be
missionaries. And I know that Van and I will teach as a team, even if we are
separate. His testimony will strengthen mine, and I'm sure mine will do the
same for him.
We will both grow in these
3 years. I get to have new experiences in school and in my studies. I will get
to continue my life growing in the gospel as I go to seminary and institute. My
testimony will grow as I see his grow, and my love for the gospel will lead me
onto the mission field in 1.5 years where I can continue my growth doing what
the Lord has commanded me to do. I will make new memories, and though they are
without Van, they will still be fun. I will love life the way he has taught me
to.
Van Johnson has an
appreciation for life that reflects off everything he does. He lives life,
making the most of what he's given and never saying no to an opportunity to try
something new. He looks at his mission with a determination to do his best, and
to make the most out of it, even if that means leaving behind his rock climbing
gear for 2 years. This amazes me. His love for living is what gives me
confidence that he will make it through the mission. Van has taught me to love
life. Not just to love life because he is in it, but to love life because there
are so many reasons to live, so many adventures to have and so many trials to
overcome. His leaving doesn't mean my life will stop. I will still have
adventures and fun times. I will still go through trials. But because I now
have the same appreciation Van has for living, I will still grow. So here’s to the adventures we’ve had together, and the new ones we are going to have for
the next few years!
Van is also going to
grow through teaching and bearing his testimony every single day. It will be
hard, but he will become such a spiritual giant because of his mission. I am so
excited to hear of the amazing experiences he will go through.
Van’s power reminds me
of the words spoken about Captain Moroni in Alma 48:11-13, 17
“11 And Moroni was a strong and a
mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did
not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the
freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;
12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with
thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he
bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and
safety of his people.
13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in
the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his
people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his
blood.
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if
all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold,
the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would
never have power over the hearts of the children of men.”
Van is my example of a
modern day Captain Moroni. He is so strong in the gospel, just as Captain
Moroni was. My favorite thing about Captain Moroni was that he made mistakes,
but he always grew from it. Moroni had faith that Christ would guide him and
his army against the enemy even if the circumstances seemed impossible. Van,
though not perfect, will continue to become stronger against Satan’s influence
through faith in Christ as Moroni did. Van will also have an army of family and
friends at home defending him and supporting him like Moroni’s army.
Van's priesthood will
save so many, just as it has saved me. I was lucky enough to visit the San
Diego temple with him to do baptisms. It was his first time preforming the
ordinances in the temple. The second he laid his hands on my head I felt the
power of the priesthood stronger than I ever have. His priesthood is real, and
that power is needed in Mexico. Someone in Mexico needs to feel the strength
that comes through having the priesthood, and Van will be there for them. The
testimony I have of the priesthood is so strong, and to see a worthy young man
use his priesthood to his full potential is such a refreshing feeling, especially
with all the hard things happening in the world.
How amazing is it that
young men we go to high school with hold God's literal power? Even though they
still make mistakes, they are worthy enough to carry the priesthood with them
as a shield of truth against the adversary. Van's priesthood, as well as all
those young men worthy enough to hold it, can perform wonderful works like
being a missionary, baptism, temple ordinances, and priesthood blessings. How
lucky I am to have the priesthood power in my life, and I ache for those in
Merida to have the same shield Van has. Van will use God’s power to serve and
teach every day. That’s an incredible gift to have.
Faith is what will carry me through the hard days, and it will help Van keep going regardless of the number of doors slammed in his face. Faith is a constant test, as well as a constant blessing. Through Christ, all things are possible. I have faith in Christ, and I have faith that Van will be an instrument in the Lord's hands to do the work of eternity. Both Van and I will have our faith tested and grown these next years, and our testimonies will grow as we both become missionaries together. It’s gonna be hard, but it will be so worth it.
Whatever happens in 3 years, I'll be grateful for the lessons I've learned and how I've grown.
Van Johnson, you have my heart and my prayers. I’ll see you in 3 years, ready to massage the heck out of your back knots that you’ll get from sleeping in a hammock for 2 years. ;) Namaste
xoxo
