Sonnora Johnson loved being an OHI missionary so much, she applied for the position TWICE! But her two missionary experiences couldn’t have been more different, each fulfilling in unexpected ways.
Sonnora first visited OHI San Diego in 2003. She was looking for a holistic spa experience, found OHI in her online search, and booked a 3-week stay sight unseen. She absolutely loved it, and made it a priority to come back every year, and sometimes even twice a year, for the next 15 years. In 2018, the last of her three children headed off to college. She had been homeschooling her three children for the last 24 years, and while it was a job that she loved, she felt like she was completely depleted mentally, physically, and emotionally.
“And then it just hit me,” said Sonnora. “I needed to go to OHI as a missionary. I love teaching and connecting with others, and I love OHI, so it was a perfect fit.”
Sonnora’s 3-month missionary stay turned into a 6-month stay, and she served at OHI Austin October 2018 through March 2019.
“Living and serving at OHI for 6 months was truly a gift,” said Sonnora. “I met so many people, and I learned something from each of them.”
Sonnora particularly loved the Focus class and the Mental Detox class. “The Focus class helped me understand what I wanted to prioritize and accomplish in my life, and identify and eliminate the time wasters,” she said. “And the Mental Detox class really challenged me to see how my negative thinking was not supporting my goals and aspirations. I have to take responsibility for my thinking, and banish the negativity if I want to achieve more for myself. I also felt the depth of the cleanse is greater when you stay at OHI for months instead of weeks. A cleansed body leads to a clearer brain, and I just felt like my thinking was so much sharper when I had cleansed for 6 months. I felt amazing!”
So was there anything Sonnora found difficult serving as a missionary? “The hardest part for me was saying goodbye to guests that were leaving,” she said. “Being a missionary is a way for me to pay it forward, and it’s a blessing to serve others. So I would really bond with people, then cry when they had to go home. Clearly, it was a lesson that I needed to learn. I didn’t want to withhold my love, so I prayed on it, and God said I needed to keep bonding. It’s good for my soul.”
Sonnora felt the pull to return to OHI as a missionary, and started her second term on March 15, 2020…and then the pandemic hit.
“What are the odds that I would be here during a pandemic?” laughed Sonnora. “I really feel like it’s a blessing in disguise. I am staying in a paradise, and this sanctuary is keeping me safe and protected. I am so grateful. OHI is categorized as an essential business, so we’ve been permitted to stay open the entire time. The other missionary and I keep the campus well-stocked and sanitized, so we are ready to welcome guests at any time. She and I are the Princesses of OHI right now. We eat well. We exercise. We meditate. We are happy to focus on better health for our bodies, and set aside anxiety about the future as we put our trust in God. I have never felt so connected to the universe. This missionary term has been so different from the first, but equally as rewarding. Thank you, OHI!”
In these uncertain times, look to OHI as your safe haven. As we celebrate 43 years of holistic healing, we can teach you how achieve your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual goals for optimal health. Stay safe, and be well. Above all, embrace positivity!
Visit our website at www.optimumhealth.org, or call us at (800) 588-0809
to make your reservation.