Senior Training and Pig BBQ

 We experienced our usual highs this past week. We continue to make progress with Br. Rich Matson. Sister Johnson has asked him to play his acoustic guitar at this years Christmas sacrament meeting program. She has requested he play Silent Night. We think it will be a beautiful and spiritual experience. He hasn’t said yes yet but Dennis Klingman has offered to play chords on a different guitar to back him up. (This is only so he will feel more comfortable) Getting him to attend church is our foremost goal. Once more, while meeting with Bob Peters our investigator, we had an outpouring of the Spirit. It is frustrating because we know he experiences it, and this was not the first time. He will just not commit to baptism. We have explored the “why” and there is no good reason. Bob has been attending longer with more positive impact on the branch than many of the members. He would be such a great addition. He is still reading the Book of Mormon, attends church almost weekly and is praying (although he could pray with a little more intent). Family is not an issue. We think it may have to do with the deep hurt he experienced when his wife of 30+ years divorced him with “no good reason”. He may blame the church or someone in it, we can’t really tell. Those of you reading this blog who have any inclination, please join us and pray for him by name. Pray for him to receive the answers he seeks and we don't mean just about joining the church. He is troubled and needs the comfort that only the Savior's love brings. He invites us back for these weekly lessons and is happy to see us so, even though  we talk boldly, we don't think he feels like we are pressuring him.

 On Friday we attended a Senior Missionary training meeting in Oshkosh, our third. They just keep getting better. It was good to be able to meet the other seniors that have been called to serve here. They are all wonderful people with powerful and varied talents and testimonies. We anticipate they will be responsible for much future success in this mission. It did occur to us that from the stand point of being examples and because of the help senior couples offer to mission presidents, that senior missionary numbers will grow right along with the increased numbers of young missionaries. It was another witness to us of the importance of the revelation to adjust the missionary calling age. Coupled with the call for more seniors it is further evidence of God’s timeline for His creation, Earth. (Hint, the Lord is hastening the work see Matthew 24:22, I read "elect" as Saints). At this meeting were asked to teach the Restoration lesson using mormon.org. All of the missionary lessons are there under the heading "Our Beliefs" and President Jones wanted us to demonstrate how that could be done. We had never done it. To our knowledge no one in the mission had. Sister Johnson took the lead with the preparation and presentation and did a great job up to the point where the technology failed her. She was counting on the text from some of the slides on the webpage that didn't load and since it was our first time she had to "vamp" (look it up) her way through it. One of the Senior Missionaries complemented her on the great job although she was understandably a little frustrated. 

 We had a great experience in the Temple on Saturday. It was beautiful sunny, crisp fall day. 

You don't often see the back of the Chicago Temple, so here you go.

It wasn’t busy like we thought it might be. There was a wedding and it was kind of fun seeing all of the guests and the wedding photographers all waiting for the bride and groom. We did see and were able to visit with President and Sister Castleton (The Temple President and Matron) in the Temple. They had visited the Iron Mountain branch and spoken in Sacrament meeting about six weeks ago. They remembered us and were very supportive. On our way home we made our traditional stop at the "Apple Holler Family Farm". OK it was only the second time we have stopped there, the first being on our way home from the Temple last year, but it would become a tradition if we lived here. They have a wonderful menu with a great Cracker Barrellish ambience. Sister Johnson was right at home.

Let me describe, if possible, the wonderful dish Sister Johnson is eating, which BTW we
both ordered separately. The orange crinkly things are sweet potato fries. The name of
this deliciousness is "Pig BBQ", not elegant but descriptive, and consists of pulled
pork shoulder, onions, Wisconsin cheddar cheese and the most tasty BBQ sauce
you can imagine. The sauce, like everything else in the place, is made using a
small amount of apple in the recipe. All of this goodness was draped over
a French baguette that, as you can see, didn't quite fit. The only
thing missing were the bibs. Check it out online.

 We are headed to Green Bay on Tuesday (We will be missing district meeting) for an appointment with the cardiologist. He and I will discuss the results of my stress test and he will render an opinion as to my next step. We will let you know. 

It's great to be missionaries and y'all come out soon y'heah! (Sorry it's the Pig BBQ talking)

Elder and Sister Johnson