She came to church!!!!!!!!!!

Hello family and friends!

I hope you're all happy and alive and doing well!!

This week was GREAT. The work is picking up!!! yayayyay!!!!

This week was filled with great happy boosters! 

SO, there are nooo coincidences my friends! Last Saturday we went over to the monongahela Elders area and helped them do some service with a few members. Later that day we were doing service for a lady too. We were pretty excited to help, but then she cancelled.

While helping out the Elders my companion left his jacket in a members car and we forgot about it. Later we found that the keys were in his jacket... and that the member wasn't going to be able to get us our keys back until after 5 pm. We found this out at 1. We made the best of the situation and crashed in on the Elders dinner appointment. It was great!

Yesterday was our stake Priesthood meeting and it was SO great. Not to mention the beautiful things taught, but I got to go and see some old friends in Pitt 3rd!!!!! The meeting was held in my greenie area!!!!!!!!!!! SO GREAT.

Remember Samantha the Hawaiian? SHE CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so wonderful seeing her there. It's her first time being in a church in over 20 years. 

It just goes to show that Heavenly Father is always there for us, and will always help His Children come back. I testify that God lives. I truly know that Christ did Atone for us. And I truly know God will never leave us. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.  

 With love,  Elder Johnson

She immediately grabbed & hugged it. She was so grateful to hold another Book of Mormon!

Hello family and friends!

Things are going swell here on a mish!

The other day we had a neat experience with contacting a referral. It was getting to be night time as we were walking by looking for the house 1725. We passed a really dark and scary house and Elder Klima says "That house is freaky, I'm glad it's not that one"

I read the address.     1725.

We went to the door hoping for the best, and a small Hawaiian woman came out to greet us. She let us in and started to tell us all about her life. It ended up being and amazing visit. She joined the church almost 30 years ago and still remembers so much about the church and the Gospel. She has gone through so much affliction and has been struggling to keep her family in order and functioning well. She's going through so much I can't even list it, and she is still trying to serve her family. It was a very tender moment to see her love for her family and how much she was willing to give for her kids happiness. She is such a wonderful woman. 

She told us how she was tearing the entire house apart looking for her Book of Mormon, and she was sure that her husband had taken it away from her. When we arrived she was so happy to see us. We told her we had another Book of Mormon for her and she immediately lit up. She immediately grabbed it and hugged it. She was so grateful to hold another Book of Mormon.  We gave her another that she will be giving to her close friend. It was so beautiful. We left with smiles on our faces, and she looked so much brighter.

The Book of Mormon truly can bring peace into our lives as we study with Faith in God that He can help us. I've felt so much peace when I read the Book of Mormon.

I know Christ really did Atone for all mankind. I truly know that God loves us infinitely, more than we can understand. I love this Church and this Gospel, and I know that it is true. In the name of jesus Christ. Amen.

With love,

Elder Johnson.

We all testified with boldness of the truthfulness of the church.

Hey Friends and Family!

So this week was CRAZY.

A few weeks ago we did some service for a member in the branch. We cleared out some trees and cut down some stuff. Little did we know there was poison ivy there too!!!

Yup! You guessed it! We've got poison ivy! My companion has it really bad and his arms look like boiling bubble gum! Just kidding. But it does look painful. Here's a picture! I wore a jacket when we did service so I'm pretty clean. Just a little bit on the inside of my elbows!

But anywho! OKAY STORY TIME!

SO we got a referral over the phone for a man named David. He requested a Book of Mormon. We drove over and his wife was there to greet us. She explained that her husband wasn't home but would be the following day. I was really excited, I thought we had found "The one".  I couldn't have been more wrong.

We went over the next day and brought Bro Punjack with us (the one with the injured foot) and was warmly welcomed. We went into the living room and the man stood at the doorway. I knew something wasn't right here. He said "Gentleman. I'm very pleased you've come here today and delivered your Book of Mormon, but I must be honest with you," He reached into his wallet and pulled out 3 business cards that said a church name and underneath was his.

He was a minister! And wanted us over to teach us about the true church of Christ! That's super backwards!!! And they still believe in the Book of Mormon too so it was so weird talking to him. We were bible bashing..but with the Book of Mormon. It was so intense. It was like trying to teach a scripture tank. 

But all in all, it actually was a really neat visit. We all were extremely edified. We all testified with boldness of the truthfulness of our church. There was great respect and love. The Spirit was very powerful as we spoke. I don't think he will join the church any time soon. But I do know that we completed what the Lord wanted us to do.

I love you all :) Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for your prayers. I've felt so much Heavenly help. Thank you. 

Elder Johnson

The spirit of Elijah!!!

Hello my family and friends!

I hope you've all been doing super well!

This last week was JAM PACKED with service. We cut a ton of trees down for Sis Lamson. It took forever! But it was so fun!!!

Do you remember Brother Punjack? He was the one that had a 1,000 lbs door crush his foot. He came and helped us do some service! It was pretty unwise to let him come and use a chainsaw.......buuuut Agency I guess!

I'm just kidding, we set up a little station of chairs so he could sit with his leg properly elevated. It was safe!

Anywho, so that was definitely a high light of the week. We all had so much fun serving our sister. Here's some pics!

Lately I've felt so much peace while trying to update and work on my Family History. I truly know that Heavenly Father is inspiring more and more of His Children to receive the Gospel. And Family history is becoming a brilliant tool in doing so. I've definitely felt the Spirit of Elijah while trying to work on it. 

I haven't done anything miraculous, and my progress in finding my ancestors hasn't been flying through the roof, but I can assure you, and testify from my soul, that my capacity to Love my Brothers and Sisters has grown immensely. I know that God wants all of His Children to have an opportunity to receive the Gospel, and can because of the ordinance done in the Temple.

I love you all! :)

Elder Johnson

What did you have to do in order to prepare to get patriarchal blessing?

Hello family and friends! 

This week sure was neat!

We found out a former investigator wants to be baptized in 2 weeks!!!! I hope everything works out so that can happen!!!!!! His name's JJ.

It'll be so neat!

This last week we had a really neat experience! We were out seeing a member named Sis Murphy, she's pretty great! But she has some health problems so she's in an electric wheelchair. Anywho! We were out seeing her, and another younger woman Alexis (who is a less active) often comes to take care of the house. To my knowledge I don't think she remembers very much about the Gospel at all, but it was neat that she was there too! 

For some reason we started talking about patriarchal blessings. I tried to involve Alexis as much as possible. As we were talking the Spirit filled the room. It was so powerful. I felt like I was going to explode! We were kind of indirectly teaching Alexis, while talking about the blessings. Sis Murphy asked me "What did you have to do in order to prepare to get one?"

My thoughts, Why yes I'd love to testify my guts out while another person who fell from our faith is here. So I did! I talked about my preparation to receive it. I explained that the Blessing is a map of your life, and can guide us to the happiness that God has prepared for us, both now, and in the eternities. I felt the Holy Ghost so strongly. There's no way Alexis didn't feel it. There was so much peace there. Elder Klima and I both knew that Heavenly Father was working on Alexis and trying to lead her back to the truth. 

Later we saw Sis Murphy again and told us about Alexis' reaction after we had left. Alexis started asking questions about how to get one. It was beautiful. 

I testify that God loves us, and is so happy and ready to answer all of our prayers and dreams. I know He Lives and loves us so much. I truly have felt so much love while serving the Lord. I have never felt closer to God. I testify Christ does live, and His Atonement is real too. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Johnson

In seminary we had the "March Madness"challenge, which was to read the entire Book of Mormon in a month.

Hello Everyone!

Well this week was great!!!!!

Remember Sister Payne? She's a less active I talk about a lot. She's so amazinggg!!! We saw her a few days ago, and the lesson went SOOOOOOOOOWELL.

I think she's one of my favorite people! Anywho, we went to go see her, and we were very close to doing something else instead, but we figured it would be best to go and see her. It was definitely the correct choice. 

We followed up to see if she was reading her scriptures, and she said she was so swamped with homework that she couldn't.  I started telling her about an experience I had while in seminary. In seminary we had the "March Madness" challenge, which was to read the entire Book of Mormon in a month. I was very determined to do it! I read and read, but I got very busy, and things didn't work out as I hoped. I would do my homework, and then never had time at the end of the day. Before I knew it there was only a week left. Feeling over exhausted I gave up. When I went to seminary a few days later, the other students talked about the neat experiences that they had. I felt a fire in my soul, and I determined to finish it.

 I knew God could help me do it. I prayed very hard that I would be able to finish reading. I then asked my mom if I could set aside my chores for a time to be able to finish my goal. She agreed wholeheartedly and was proud of me for trying to hard.

I rearranged my thinking and decided that I would start reading my scriptures FIRST, instead of last. I found that every time I did that, no matter what, I ALWAYS had enough time for everything else. Without fail it happened again and again. Before I knew it I had completed the Book of Mormon. When i stopped I was only a third in. I had read 2/3's of the Book of Mormon in a week.

I shared this with Sister Payne, and she felt immense love from Heavenly Father. I told her she could do it too. I expressed our love for her, and she was beaming from ear to ear. I then told her that this expression of love is a fraction of what her Father in Heaven feels for her. She later told us that earlier that day, she was thinking about us and wondered "I wonder when the Elders are coming by" When we knocked she already knew it was us and wasn't surprised to see us arrive.

I testify that God loves us perfectly. I really know that He not only loves us, but He expects us to be obedient, and HELPS us do so! :) The commandments are guiderails on the highway of life. Which guide us to Happiness. 

Pretty much God says "Hey you! Be happy!" and yet sometimes we say "NO! and immaturely run away like a little kid who stole a cookie from the counter" No no no my brothers and sisters! :) hahaha, obedience is much more simple, and easier :) Not to mention much, much, MUCH more HAPPIER!!!

Word of wisdom either comes from God, or does not. God would confirm to him!

WOW. Conference was SO amazing!

But anywho. STORY TIME!!!

This week was beautiful listening to conference. We met a nonmember named Helena, she was moving on saturday and really needed our help. We, and a family from the branch came and helped her move. It took forever. She didn't pack very much, so we did A LOT. We started at 8 am on sat, and ended around 7 pm. It was so much work, and we barely scratched the surface of what she needed done. We missed the 12 and 4 o clock sessions of conference. We were very sad. But all worked out, we went to the Esteps house (their an AMAZING family here. I love them!!!) and we watched conference with them in the morning to catch up. Then we went to the church and watched the 12 and 4 o clock sessions. 

We're going to the Esteps tonight to watch 2 more hours. By then we would've watched every session. yayyy!!!!!!

We enjoyed a lot of conference and even got to teach a lesson! It was a pretty busy day, but the Lord sent us over to a less active man named Terry. We pulled up to his house, not sure if he was asleep. The lights were off, and it didn't look like he'd be very happy if we knocked. We've met with Terry a few times and had very powerful and loving lessons with him. He's a very special man. Here's a little bit about him.

(he investigated many many years ago, but didn't get baptized. The Elder that taught him back then said, "If you ever decide to get baptized, I don't care where I am in the world, I will come and baptize you" Terry joined the church last year, and sure enough, this much older former missionary drove over multiple states and baptized him. Terry has since struggled with some word of wisdom issues and coming to church, but the lessons we've had with him have nourished his soul, and he has slowly been coming unto Christ once again.)

Anywho. So we were at the door, and Elder Klima knocked, No one came to answer. We were going to leave, but I knew that he was in there and needed something we were going to say. I knew it, because only a few minutes earlier, I prayed in the car. In this prayer I asked specifically, that Terry would not be frustrated or angry, even though it was late, and that we'd be able to teach him something he needed to hear. I was a billion percent confident that God would answer me. So I boldly opened the door and pounded at it very loudly. Immediately the lights inside flipped on and sure enough, Terry came to the door. He was very very glad to see us and immediately let us in.  We talked about Conference, and how the words of God can guide us to safety. 

He brought up concerns of why he needed to give up coffee. He admitted he didn't believe it was necessary. We told him simply that the Word of Wisdom either comes from God, or does not. We said "If the commandment truly came from God, then God would confirm to him if that's really what He wants."

We both boldly testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, The Spirit touched his heart. We promised him that God would answer his sincere question if he worked for it. 

I love this Church, I love the Savior. I love my Heavenly Father very much. I'm sooo grateful that we have funny Prophets. But more importantly, I'm glad we have them.

In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

 Elder Johnson