We had a great experience this
past week. On Wednesday as we were visiting members bringing to them a
Christmas message, the phone rang twice in the space of one hour. The first
call was from a man we have been trying to meet who wanted information about
the church. He called at the church and talked with Pres. Nishida two months
ago and President Nishida asked us to follow up. We had talked on the phone and
left messages at his door but just couldn’t seem to connect. This potential
investigator said he had gone to Marinette for a one-week job that extended
into two months but he was home now. We made an appointment for Friday but we
were still digging out after the recent storm (Draco) so it will be after Christmas before we
can see him.
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| Not quite as bad as it appears only 6-8 inches. |
A short time later the second
call came from Brandon Winter the father and member in a part member family.
The family moved into the branch a short time ago. His father, who is a branch
president down in Iowa, alerted us to them. Brandon and his wife Tammy were
married shortly after they arrived here. They have seven children. He has two
still living in Iowa, she has a 16-year-old daughter living with them and they
have four children from 8 down to 8 months. We stopped by the house as soon as
we could after receiving his record. He met us in the driveway to his house and
wasn’t particularly friendly but during our conversation mentioned he was
having trouble with his boiler. With the temperatures dropping we were worried because of the young children in the home. Shortly after leaving we felt inspired to involve a member who is
skilled in that area. He gave them great advise. That was our first contact. We had a second visit 2 or 3 weeks later to invite the
family to the branch Christmas party. It was here that we met Tammy's daughter. The family didn’t come but it was this contact that gave Brandon our phone number to call.
So Brandon called and wanted to
know the phone number of the branch president, which we gave him. We then asked
if there was anything we could do for him. He replied that yes, “we could come
and teach him and his wife the discussions.” We had already determined to visit
them later that day to give them a Christmas CD we had prepared. We went, met her and
some of the children and made an appointment to start teaching them after the
first of the year (they've gone back to Iowa for Christmas). We have invited
the young Elders to go with us and meet them and teach them. I am certain they
will do a great job and will commit the family to be baptized. Tammy was already
talking like she is expecting to be baptized as the result of the teaching,
Brandon said he would like to be taught again because it has been a long time
and he ignored his early teaching because he felt he was ”forced” to be a
member. He wants their 8 year old to be taught but he wants to be sure that
getting baptized is, “her decision”. It sounds like a great opportunity. We will
be there when the missionaries teach because we were the first contact with the
family plus we can help with the young children while the missionaries teach.
(I guess those years in nursery and primary are going to prove worthwhile after all)
Sister Johnson has been going they extra mile this year by preparing pies, cookies, soups, bread, cakes, etc. you know the drill. She added to the above efforts by the making of the cutest little Santa hats for the newest Christmas arrivals in our local hospital.
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| The brims are a really bright white, I'm not sure how they picked up the brownish tint, but you get the idea. |
Just a little something in keeping with the season:
Gifts from Above
‘Tis the day before Christmas
and in all our hearts
rise feelings of gratefulness
that make us a part
of that time of year God’s gifts
He imparts.
To some in abundance
to others less so
but to God’s every child there
comes such a glow.
A glow caused by giving, not of
gifts hard and cold,
but of gifts shared from God,
gifts greater then gold.
Gifts of kindness of caring,
gifts of mercy and love,
a gift of redemption sent from
above.
That we all might enjoy this time
of great worth
we reflect on the reach of His
miraculous birth.
Through Him we are clean and
worthy once more,
then asked to share blessings
that He has in store
to our brothers and sisters, who
among us now live,
so they will experience what He
is waiting to give.
So give mercy,
give kindness,
give forgiveness and love,
for these are the gifts He sends
from above.
(Kent B Johnson -
Christmas 2012)
We hope you are having another
blessed Christmas…we are.
Elder and Sister Johnson
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