97th Week Behind, Final Week Ahead

 We have enjoyed a great week following the baptism of 9-year-old Akasha on June 22^nd. We had worked to get her baptized almost since we got here 22+ months ago. She brought a little non-member friend to church with her yesterday. We are confident that our branch leadership will help the Iron Mountain missionaries follow through with rides to Iron County, where she lives, as there are other individuals waiting to be taught there. (Iron County is 30-50 miles from the branch) Also, we visited other less active members and two investigators last week and had gospel lessons with each of them. We are hastening our work as well, although it is a good bet our end will come before that of the world's. We have seen our efforts magnified in the Lord as He has used us to find and re-energize members in this branch including the branch callings in which we have been serving. We will miss it all, but especially the people. We understand, however, there will be new challenges and callings we will receive that will be just as fulfilling.

 Early in our mission we reported seeing what we thought was a bear. We were maybe 90% sure but that sighting was a considerable distance from the car. Not so last Friday. As we were traveling to Florence on Wisconsin N, a road we frequent, we came around a bend and there sitting on the side of the road was a genuine black bear. He didn't move and since we weren't ready for a picture we stopped and slowly backed up. As we got closer he got suspicious and bolted into the woods. He didn't go far as you can see in the picture. But we now have a confirmed sighting with evidence. The only other animal we were hoping to see before we returned was a moose. It looks like that will need to be postponed until a later trip.

Since the bear can't see us, we're thinking he thinks we can't see him.

 With this transfer we lost four of the six elders in our district including Elder Christensen our District Leader. Our new District Leader, Elder Johnson, and his companion right out of the MTC have been assigned to the Escanaba Branch. With that change our mission has come full circle. Escanaba was the location and weekly meeting place of our district when we first arrived in the U.P. In fact our first District Leader just announced his engagement last month on Facebook. President and Sister Jones are now in route home and President Cutler has been in charge since last Friday. We will have an opportunity to meet him and Sister Cutler this Wednesday in Appleton. Things in the Lord's church are always changing and yet, somehow, they stay the same. When you examine it I think you'll agree that, that is another evidence of the true church.

 As we’ve been sorting through things we need to pack for home, we came upon a quote from Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, “Most senior missionaries who go [on missions] are strengthened and revitalized by missionary service; many are sanctified and feel the joy of bringing others to the knowledge of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  There are few blessings greater than being called to serve the Lord 24/7. We have very much appreciated this opportunity.

Still, for a little longer,

Elder and Sister Johnson