Today is the first day of the final year of this mission...no, literally it is the first day. When we think about it we wonder where the time went. Time, of course, "goes" nowhere, we are the only things that go. That is we go when we exhibit the faith necessary to move with the Lord's direction, in the Lord's way and within the Lord's time. We of course are also "In the Middle" as Pres. Uchtdorf has instructed us. We appreciate his insightful message as well. I am just glad we have more time to seek, find and refine.
On Friday we visited with Br. Klingman and discussed the upcoming Elder's Quorum party he has volunteered to host. This coming Saturday we will be meeting in his beautiful backyard as an Elder's quorum to have the party. We commented on his beautiful yard with its majestic views at one of our first meetings. He said, "with a yard like this we should have a party". The Spirit whispered, "take him up on that", so we did. The result has been his interaction with more and more of the members as the party is being planned. The party will be in Crystal Falls which is 30 miles NW of Iron Mountain. There are several inactive families who all live within 15 miles of this city, including the son of our 1st counselor. In fact Crystal, as the locals call it, was the early site of branch gatherings in this area; a factoid of which the members in that part of the branch are always reminding us. (Grandma Riggs attended church in Crystal Falls when on a mission here over 30 years ago). We are hoping to have 12-15 priesthood holders in attendance. Our (becoming) less active brother (Klingman) was in church again on Sunday. It is wonderful to see how the Spirit takes hold and encourages this process.
Britney Stevens will be baptized this coming Saturday the 28th. We have been able to help by befriending the Stevens and giving the missionaries transportation to and from their appointment (we have a less active man we teach the same day). Will Stevens has ties to some of the members here which has greatly aided the families integration. The Stevens' lives have improved dramatically. Will found a job close by with no Sunday work required, decent pay and benefits that are some of the best around. (All of the foregoing is somewhat unheard of in the U.P.) Pres. Compton (2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency) met with us at church on Sunday. He had taught Will Stevens all four years of seminary when he lived in Marquette. Will graduated, but like some other of his peers, including Pres. Compton's son, went into inactivity. Pres. Compton, with much emotion, explained how he had been praying for these individuals. I am sure his gratitude overwhelmed him when he learned of Will's return and the upcoming baptism. It strengthened the resolve of Sister Johnson and I to do everything we can to help those we visit to feel the Spirit which will facilitate their return as well. This is what this branch has needed and will be a major blessing to the branch.
At our last Zone Conference last week we learned some interesting things about missions for example there is no briefing for an incoming Mission President. After 4 days of MTC training they arrive at their assignments and are given the keys (both kinds) and wished "good luck". Mission presidents do know always in advanced how many replacement missionaries, Elders, Sisters and Seniors, to expect, they just don't know the names. This conference , like the others, as remarkable as young Elders took charge and taught great lessons. The emphasis for this conference was to take the opportunity at each bullet point of each lesson to tie the bullet point concept to baptism if at all possible. If you wonder why such emphasis re-read 3 Nephi 11:1-34 and notice the emphasis given by the newly resurrected Savior. It was the first thing he taught, his "Doctrine".
We had another car incident. The intake manifold on the Olds sprung a leak. It was small but it was enough to allow coolant into the oil and create a vacuum leak which lead to a very rough running engine. I replaced the one on the green Olds at about the same mileage. Although the 3.8 motor is super reliable this one part tends to fail after a few miles. (130,000 in this case) The manifold is made of a composite material and leaks from the harsh climate in which it operates. So once again the car is "totally reliable." We think we would like to be able to be repaired with the same lack of fuss and with the same ease if our plumbing fails. (Wait a minute...I guess I have!)
Is this not the best time of our lives or what,
Elder and Sister Johnson
And now for a political message. (Everyone else is doing it)
On Friday we visited with Br. Klingman and discussed the upcoming Elder's Quorum party he has volunteered to host. This coming Saturday we will be meeting in his beautiful backyard as an Elder's quorum to have the party. We commented on his beautiful yard with its majestic views at one of our first meetings. He said, "with a yard like this we should have a party". The Spirit whispered, "take him up on that", so we did. The result has been his interaction with more and more of the members as the party is being planned. The party will be in Crystal Falls which is 30 miles NW of Iron Mountain. There are several inactive families who all live within 15 miles of this city, including the son of our 1st counselor. In fact Crystal, as the locals call it, was the early site of branch gatherings in this area; a factoid of which the members in that part of the branch are always reminding us. (Grandma Riggs attended church in Crystal Falls when on a mission here over 30 years ago). We are hoping to have 12-15 priesthood holders in attendance. Our (becoming) less active brother (Klingman) was in church again on Sunday. It is wonderful to see how the Spirit takes hold and encourages this process.
Britney Stevens will be baptized this coming Saturday the 28th. We have been able to help by befriending the Stevens and giving the missionaries transportation to and from their appointment (we have a less active man we teach the same day). Will Stevens has ties to some of the members here which has greatly aided the families integration. The Stevens' lives have improved dramatically. Will found a job close by with no Sunday work required, decent pay and benefits that are some of the best around. (All of the foregoing is somewhat unheard of in the U.P.) Pres. Compton (2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency) met with us at church on Sunday. He had taught Will Stevens all four years of seminary when he lived in Marquette. Will graduated, but like some other of his peers, including Pres. Compton's son, went into inactivity. Pres. Compton, with much emotion, explained how he had been praying for these individuals. I am sure his gratitude overwhelmed him when he learned of Will's return and the upcoming baptism. It strengthened the resolve of Sister Johnson and I to do everything we can to help those we visit to feel the Spirit which will facilitate their return as well. This is what this branch has needed and will be a major blessing to the branch.
At our last Zone Conference last week we learned some interesting things about missions for example there is no briefing for an incoming Mission President. After 4 days of MTC training they arrive at their assignments and are given the keys (both kinds) and wished "good luck". Mission presidents do know always in advanced how many replacement missionaries, Elders, Sisters and Seniors, to expect, they just don't know the names. This conference , like the others, as remarkable as young Elders took charge and taught great lessons. The emphasis for this conference was to take the opportunity at each bullet point of each lesson to tie the bullet point concept to baptism if at all possible. If you wonder why such emphasis re-read 3 Nephi 11:1-34 and notice the emphasis given by the newly resurrected Savior. It was the first thing he taught, his "Doctrine".
We had another car incident. The intake manifold on the Olds sprung a leak. It was small but it was enough to allow coolant into the oil and create a vacuum leak which lead to a very rough running engine. I replaced the one on the green Olds at about the same mileage. Although the 3.8 motor is super reliable this one part tends to fail after a few miles. (130,000 in this case) The manifold is made of a composite material and leaks from the harsh climate in which it operates. So once again the car is "totally reliable." We think we would like to be able to be repaired with the same lack of fuss and with the same ease if our plumbing fails. (Wait a minute...I guess I have!)
Is this not the best time of our lives or what,
Elder and Sister Johnson
And now for a political message. (Everyone else is doing it)
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