More Visitors from the West

 We enjoyed another busy week. Rich Matson is making great progress. He and his father are reading the Book of Mormon and asking questions. He has prayed nearly every week since we started teaching him. Our re-activated Elder, Dennis Klingman, lives in the same little town and has become friends with him. He invites Rich to come to church with him. The branch leaders are getting Rich to help his dad with the computer skills his dad needs as the new branch clerk. Sister Johnson has asked him to play Silent Night on his guitar at the branch Christmas sacrament meeting. When he does he will have then attended church, the last hurdle (excuse) before he returns to full activity.

 Elders Jones and Leavitt, our Zone Leaders, taught us at Zone Training Meeting this last week. We were once again reminded of the Spirit and power these young Elders possess. The organizational abilities, skills, concern, and pure love these elders share inspires not only us but also all of the elders and sisters in our district. This was demonstrated by the participation and willingness to commit to weekly goals by all present.  We always seem to learn something of value to help us with our investigators and less active members. This week came the reminder to ask those who are reading the Book of Mormon, “how does what we just read apply to your life?” Priceless! The meetings are all great but last week seemed extra special to us. The meeting was held 1/2 hour earlier than usual (although they forgot to tell us so we were late) because they needed to get to the town of Escanaba. They were moving furniture into a new apartment for an arriving Senior Couple, the Rileys from Orem, who have been assigned there. Not only will we have a new couple in the mission but they will be in our district. Yay! 

 We had another treat this week and I don’t mean pasty making, which came one week early because of the deer hunt. Our son Alex and his wife Amy, flew in from Mesa, AZ to visit for a couple of days. (Thursday – Saturday). It was really great to see and be with them. She is expecting their 4^th child, a boy, to arrive next March. He will be our 25^th grandchild.

Birthday gladiolas from Sister Johnson's visiting teacher.

 It was Dawnine's birthday on the 8^th so we scheduled dinner that night at the “The Four Seasons” resort where they stayed. A railroad company built it in 1925 to show off the north woods. Some members of the Chicago mob (think Al Capone) reportedly took a liking to the place, which made it the site of some nefarious activities.  It is situated on an island in the Menominee River about 8 miles east of Pembine, WI. (Still in our branch!) 

The Four Seasons Resort...it didn't look quite this lush and green last week!

Random visitors at the top of Pine Mountain.

 As you can see by the posted videos we captured shots of some daredevils, one who is climbing the rickety old ski jump on Pine Mountain; others, not with our party, are braving a seawall on Lake Superior, in a storm, even though the signs forbid it...there must be a college nearby.

 There are many, many veterans in the upper mid-west, Michigan, Wisconsin, etc., and that includes our branch. Even the Relief Society President is a veteran. So yesterday after church one sister made a cake and another brought ice cream and those that stayed paused to honor all those who have or are serving. The longer we live the more we appreciate this sacrifice. We are the "land of the free" because of the brave.

 Having family visit to support and encourage us coupled with the feedback we are receiving about how our children and grandchildren back home are focused on missionary work, is equally humbling and rewarding. And, to be able to live where we can freely share our message; our blessings are too many to even count.

With love, 

Elder and Sister Johnson