Mission Tour and a "New" Place

 We had a busy week last week with our appointments, pasties, the mission tour and a youth missionary preparedness event in Marquette on Saturday. We felt good about all of the activity even though we continually notice we are unable to do all the things we used to be able to do. When we run we actually do “get weary” and I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with ignoring the Word of Wisdom, because we don't.

 Our General Authority visitor at the mission tour was Elder Golden of the Seventy. It was a very inspirational meeting. He reminded us that as members of Christ's Kingdom and His Church we, as a group, have very low expectations for ourselves and of what we are capable by exercising faith in the Lord's ability to move the work forward. He then challenged us to double and even triple the number of baptisms in the mission. I am pretty sure most of those in attendance will be embracing the same low expectations they came to the meeting with. It's simple. We all have a comfort zone and we do not like to be moved out of it. Those that are willing and do move become our leaders here and forever.

 Our branch council members were excited on Sunday when we presented the idea of the “Mormon Next Door” presentation we have arranged for. It will be 3:00 P.M. on Saturday December 1^st at the Dickinson County Library. At this point we will select various branch members to read the script because, after all…these people are the Mormons next door. They could introduce themselves as, “Hello, my name is Myron Berry, I’m a Mormon and I am your neighbor”. Our plan is to have the missionaries and members bring people (friends, relatives, part members, former investigators, etc.) who we will be able to follow through with after the meeting. Sister Johnson and I have been appointed to spearhead this activity. We will oversee promotion, refreshments, and handle the actual presentation details. If any of you would like a copy of this presentation just request it via e-mail and we will send it.

 Our little house here in Kingsford experienced a mini-extreme makeover. So just in case anyone has plans to visit us and they are using Google Street Views, we have posted pictures of the the place with its updated exterior.

Here is how she looked when we arrived 13 months ago. No beauty but serviceable. 

Here she is under construction from the rarely seen "backside" of the house.
(The A/C doesn't work and, according to the landlord, won't be repaired)

Here is the first "after" photo taken from near the same spot as the "before" photo.

Cool looking, eh? Next spring they plan to paint the window frames white. That will make them pop.

 We feel totally blessed to have such a nice place to call our "temporary" home. If they move the next set of Senior Missionaries to another place in the mission, which is likely, our landlord will probably sell this place.

 We continue, with the Lord’s help, to make good progress with the less active members we visit. We are trying to add more families to our teaching pool including some they have given us to home and visit teach.

Happy in the U.P. part of Zion,

Elder and Sister Johnson