80 Degrees, and Still not Enough

 So...the snow from that huge storm we had on Leap Day, that had mostly disappeared by our last post, is now history. Reference the following photo.

It seems that near 80 degree temperatures will do that. It is amazing what the weather can and does do. The locals are totally befuddled by it but we are excited and hoping for more. We're just hoping we don't experience temps that are 30 degrees above normal when averages increase to around 80 degrees.
 Steady improvement has been our goal since we arrived in WI/MI and we feel, for the most part, we are becoming more effective. The trainings, especially those set up for senior missionaries, help immensly. This week the training in Oshkosh allowed us to practice on each other. We practiced more the concepts of commitment and invitation.
 Before leaving for Oshkosh we were able to introduce one of our most active members to an endowed less active individual close to his age. This less active brother moved here from Milwaukee after he retired about 18 months ago. The two really hit it off and we are hopeful this new relationship will help him to become reenergized about church and want to join us in the branch.
 Our lone investigator is hanging in there. We were able to meet again with him this week and read with him from the B of M. He is finishing up 2 Nephi. We are feeling there is progress although it is slow. He has spent 30 years resisting the wishes of his family so "slow" is to be expected.
 This was also the monthly pasty making weekend. The senior volunteers with whom we work really appreciate our help and in this group, we are the kids!

We are enjoying the time, people and Spirit,
Elder and Sister Johnson

Spring Arrives? and Conference

 So what follows is a picture taken of the same area where our landlord was snow blowing a path for the mailman. (See previous blog) You can easily see what 60+ temperatures, warm rain and strong south winds do to over two feet of accumulated snow. The warm spell is not finished. We are slated to have temps in the 50s and 60s for the next week, 20-30 degrees above normal for this time of year. The normal "high" is freezing or 32 degrees.

 I am not sure spring is actually here. An article in the paper did warn the ice fishermen to be careful of the thinning ice. Apparently, depending on geography, there are dates by which your fishing shanties must be removed from the lakes. If one goes in you are fined and required to pay to have it removed.

 We attended a wonderful stake conference over the week end.  Sister Johnson was able to join in a women's choir for Sunday morning session.  They sang 3 hymns for the prelude and then we sang "Consider the Lilies" one of our favorites, then the concluding number was "The Spirit of God".  It was so fun to sing in a choir again.  After the last number, the sister sitting next to her said, "Wasn't that thrilling; I still have the chills."  The only problem was that Elder and Sis Johnson were not sitting together when our Mission President had all the full-time missionaries stand up.  Since Sister Johnson was standing up behind him, he didn't see her and sent a voice mail wondering why Sister Johnson wasn't there.  Seventy Per Malm from Sweden was the visiting authority. He is a very personable and delightful man; but then they all are. He and his wife have 8 children. Can you imagine the looks they got when traveling through Scandinavia and on the Continent. There was a lot of emphasis on the Book of Mormon and its role in conversion. There were many warm, sweet testimonies given of the power of the Book of Mormon in individual lives.   Speaking of the power of the Book of Mormon I have copied and included an article from the Church News that ran on the 14th of January this year. (We are able to subscribe to the Church News because we live way out here in MI) This is the follow up to the story Elder Nelson shared in conference about a copy of the Book of Mormon he loaned to some fellow doctors.

Enjoy this amazing conclusion to "The rest of the story", 

Your "Elder" Missionaries

At October 2010 general conference, Elder Nelson himself related it in these words:
"Many years ago two colleagues of mine — a nurse and her doctor husband — asked me why I lived the way I did. I answered, 'Because I know the Book of Mormon is true.' I let them borrow my copy of the book, inviting them to read it. A week later they returned my book with a polite 'thanks a lot.'
"I responded, 'What do you mean, thanks a lot? That's a totally inappropriate response for one who has read this book. You didn't read it, did you? Please take it back and read it; then I would like my book back.'

Intellectual Reserve Inc.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the quorum of the twelve.

"Admitting that they had only turned its pages, they accepted my invitation. When they returned, they said tearfully, 'We have read the Book of Mormon. We know it is true! We want to know more.' They learned more, and it was my privilege to baptize both of them."
Speaking to the couples at the seminar dinner, Elder Nelson gave this follow-up to the story.
After his call to the Twelve, he was on assignment at a stake conference in Tennessee, filling in for Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who had another assignment from the First Presidency.
He saw a woman on the left side of the chapel and asked the stake president who she was. The stake president found out her name but added to Elder Nelson, "If you're thinking of calling on her, I wouldn't recommend it."

Intellectual Reserve Inc.

Elder Russell M. Nelson invites members of the congregation to identify themselves as "the swift messengers" foretold in ancient scripture.

But as Elder Nelson was giving his final address, the irresistible prompting came.
"I overruled the stake president and I asked her to come on up. I said, 'How long have you been a member of the Church?'
"She said, 'Thirty years.'
"I said, 'Who baptized you?'
"She said, 'You did.' "
It was this woman and her husband to whom he had lent his copy of the Book of Mormon.
"The reason I didn't recognize her name was that her husband later lost his life," he explained. "We were all on military duty. She was an army nurse; he was an army doctor and I was an army doctor. That's why I had to lend her my copy of the Book of Mormon. I couldn't give it to her; it was my one-and-only, and I was lucky to have that in a wartime situation."
She had remarried and had a family.
At the end of the dialogue at the pulpit, he asked her how many people had come into the Church through connections to her and her husband.
The number was 80, including all members of her family, her husband's family, her second husband's family, their children and the number of converts their children had taught on missions. "That's a pretty good harvest for a surgeon who said, 'You didn't read the book, did you?' " Elder Nelson remarked.
That was in 1984. At Christmas of 2010, Elder Nelson received a letter from her to which was attached more than 50 pages of personal testimony from people who had come into the Church. She said the number of converts has now grown to 309.

Buried...but Still Alive

 Well there it is, proof that it actually snows in the U.P. After living through the 4th warmest, snow free winter on record (only because I bought the first snow tires I have ever owned, I might add) we get all of the snow due us in one storm. Claimed by one resident to be the most snow in one storm in over 30 years.

This is on our deck. It snowed another 5-6 inches.

 The storm threw everything off: garbage pick up, schools were closed and we canceled appointments we had for that day, even with the snow tires.

 It was a wet snow perfect for creating snow villages or snow families not just measly snowmen. As you can see in the video the snow challenged removal by most normal means. After clearing driveways etc. the city plows would come by and fill them up again. Two days before the storm our mailman left a note in our box that we would get no more mailed delivered until we cleared out a path to the main street not just the alley. This was because of blowing snow from three weeks ago; so this storm was great in that our landlord cut a new trail so that the mail can now come through.

Local in native dress!

  Later in the week we were able to visit the daughter of Bob Peters our investigator who was recovering from a burst appendix. She was doing well and seemed happy to see us. 

We mostly were at the mercy of the weather this week.

Trying to keep it real,

Grandpa and Grandma J.

Slow Week and Reporting

 We had a slower week this week with the exception of two very well received lessons one from the Gospel Principle's manual on repentance to our less active member; plus we also had a follow-up lesson for our investigator Bob Peterson on the importance of baptism taken from 2 Nephi 32-33. We did watch Elder Aubrey, Elder Smith's new companion as he greeted the other members of the district at Tuesday's district meeting. It is amazing how these young people quickly bond. He has slipped right into the work along side Elder Smith. From my perspective I really see the wisdom of the 12 week training program and especially having a new trainee become the next trainer. It strengthens every aspect of the mission/missionary.
 We are being used (abused?) by the branch. Sister Johnson helped plan and prepare a very successful R.S. event held on last saturday to which 2 of the less active members we have been visiting came. On Sunday she played the piano for sacrament meeting and then taught her regular sunday school class. I taught the Gospel Principles class and have been called as an Elder's quorum teacher which class I have taught each of the last two weeks. A week ago we met with the membership clerk and helped him clean up some of the branch records which we have been working on since we arrived. I'm just kidding of course, we love being able to help out any way we can.
 I think there is increased interest/curiosity about the church generated by the upcoming election. The Elders stopped at a convenience store for some hot chocolate (64 oz for a dollar). One of the attendants asked, "could you give us some none preachy information about the Mormon Church?" They ended up teaching for close to half an hour. Maybe we should get magnetic signs for the car announcing who we are and we are available for Mormon "lessons." Now for the sign of the day:

 After thinking about it, it looks like we might have had a busier more productive week than I realized. So, that is one reason we are asked to do reports. It gives us honest feedback so we can "repent" of self defeating activities. Everybody should report. We have an obligation to those to whom we are required to report plus an obligation to ourselves and finally a serious obligation to the Lord.

Keep on reporting.

Elder and Sister Johnson

Reflections on Service

In reading the local paper (Online edition) I noticed an article about the sentencing of a woman for a home invasion robbery. She had broken into several homes looking for drugs. It is sad to think that a 37 year old mother of four would find herself in such desperate circumstances. She pled guilty to the charges and since this is her first offense the judge did not send her to prison rather he assigned her to the local county jail where she can get help for her addiction. I was attracted to this article by the woman's name. It seemed like a name I recognized from the branch list. Sure enough. It is a member we know little about having not yet been to her home for a visit.

It occurred to me that this good sister needs some help, love and support. These are the people the Savior was referencing when he said, "they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." We are the workers on whom the Lord depends for that care..."and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort... Mosiah 18: 9-10. So, are we willing?

Sister Johnson and I brought up this woman's predicament to the branch council. To their credit they have begun the process to see her and to discover how we may be of service to her and her family. The young missionaries were already set to visit an investigator at the jail so they will try and see her this week. Look around you. Be sensitive to others needs. Be a blessing to all. Become as the Savior is.

We have had a new missionary come to us this week, Elder Aubrey from American Fork, Utah. He is the fifth of a family with ten children. He will serve with Elder Smith who will be his trainer. Elder Church who was transferred to Chilton, WI as a senior companion, was an excellent elder. He overcame a less than totally engaged first companion to set an example for a strong work ethic and rule keeping. We will miss him.

Last week was pasty making week. This is a great but painful experience for us each month. We do a lot of lifting, pushing, reaching, standing, etc. but we are very much appreciated for the help we give the Senior Center. If I remember, next month I will shoot and post a video of each step of the process.

It has been another good week,

Elder and Sister Johnson

Ski Jumping and Prison...again

Here is an "old-timey" post card showing the Pine Mountain event.

 Today is the final day of the FIS Continental Cup Ski Jumping Tournament at Giant Pine Mountain. We dropped by on Friday to see what the venue was like. Turns out it was tailgating time even though the temperature was hovering around zero and the wind was such that the jumpers couldn't practice. People were building little ply-wood shelters to protect themselves from the elements. At least it was easy to keep the beer cold. It is the 73rd year the tournament has been here in Iron Mountain. That means it started here even before I was born. The local Kiwanis ski club  www.kiwanisskiclub.com is the main sponsor. Our branch president is the current Kiwanis president. One of his responsibilities is to help with the parking for the event so yesterday, he and the Elders were standing outside in the single digits and 20+ mph wind. He called late Saturday night after being outdoors all day asking me to teach the combined RS and Priesthood meeting on Sunday. His claim was, "he isn't as young as he once was". Who is? It was fine and turned out to be a good class.

 Bob Peters has been reading the B of M as he said he would and had some good questions to show for it. It is a truism that when we do things without focus or "intent" we don't pay the same attention as when it the result/payoff is personally meaningful to us. He was in church again today. We have high hopes for him.

 On Saturday we made the 2.5 hour drive to Iron River followed by Watersmeet and then on to the prison facility in Marenisco. We left a DVD about Jesus Christ in the door of the sister in Iron River who is the quilter that we met with last week. In Watersmeet we once again met the sister we have been reacquainting with the gospel after 30 years of no fellowshipping. She made us some very tasty lasagna for a quick lunch before I left to go to the prison facility. Sister Johnson then had a great time answering some of her questions and sharing some more of the gospel with her. She wanted to know about life after death...not, is there one; but, tell me all about it! Sister J. shared with her a video about Relief Society. Sister Anys was quite interested, it is a very nice video. She is sharing the DVDs we are leaving with a friend. She is also getting some push back about the Mormons from a local minister. It is good for us to be there often. (When you live 90 miles away often seems to be once a month) Sis J. also took the opportunity to practice the talk she gave in church today. It went well...both times.

 So if you have never been to prison and you need to go, this is the only way.  Show up with a minister's credential and you won't have to fill out all of the regular visitor paperwork. You will still have to go through the metal detector, be patted down and have the insides of your shoes examined. A small price to play to be able to visit the member I found in this very out of the way place. He has served 7 years of a 9.5 year sentence. He enjoys full membership in the church, whatever he did, (He will send me a letter explaining his mis-deed) was not serious enough for him to lose his membership. He is about half way through earning an Independent Studies degree from BYU. He really appreciated my visit. The last time someone had visited him was about 2 years ago. When he was 13 he sent for a free B of M advertised on TV. He read it and put it aside. Years later when he and his wife were going through a "rough patch" part of the decision they made was to see if they could find a new church they could both feel comfortable with. He found and gave the B of M, which he kept all these years, to his wife. His instructions were, "read this and see if this is anything we would be interested in". She came back 3 days later saying, "you've got to read this".  He did, for the second time, and then they called Salt Lake and had them send missionaries. Some sister missionaries came and as the say, "the rest is history".

 Speaking of missionaries, this is transfer week and we are losing Elder Church who came out the same time we did and Sister Brady up in Marquette. We will get some great new ones, that is they way of the mission.

Could life be any better,

Elder and Sister J

 

Prison, A Quilter and Beagles

 We enjoyed a very good week. On Tuesday we received a response from a letter we sent to a 30 year old Elder who is incarcerated in a minimum security facility way out west in Marenisco, MI. Pres. Berry wanted us to contact him and see about his situation. He is a tithe payer and his letter indicated a strong interest in contact with other church members. We will combine our visit to him with one to the member living in Watersmeet which is along the way. On Saturday we visited with two less active families we hadn't been able to see before. These families live in Iron River about 60 miles from here. (See documentary film of the trip below, warning...a full screen viewing will make you sick) One is a young husband with a 2 year old and a non-member wife. He indicated a willingness to receive us for future visits. The other is an older sister; who was excited to see us and, as it turns out, is accommodating an LDS friend while she is going through a separation. Sister Johnson was able to establish a great relationship with this new sister because she is a "professional" quilter. Her position in the Relief Society allows her to know about activities and other events we can encourage these sisters to attend.

 We are still teaching a less active family and a less active single man each week. The brother has attended church each of the last two weeks. The family we teach is more challenging. Church attendance is our goal but distance from church and the father's Sunday job are serious barriers. Our most exciting news, however, is the committing of our investigator Bob Peters, whose entire family are members but him, to read the B of M. At our last District meeting we visited with the sisters about their success with Br. Syria (he was baptized) who's wife and family have been members for the last 30 years. The sisters' insights were most helpful and then we, as a District, were committed to follow up more frequently with our investigators which we have done with Bob. He has 25 years of inertia to overcome so once he is rolling we need to be there to keep him rolling. I was impressed to encourage him to keep a journal with the B of M so that as he reads he can record not only questions but impressions that will come to him. I assured him that this journal will become one of his most valuable possessions. I believe he will be blessed and touched. I reminded him that prayer before scripture reading is always a good idea as well.
 We met another less active member on Wednesday. He moved up here from Milwaukee and built a nice house overlooking a forest area. His backyard is a veritable local zoo. He gets visits from all types of local fauna including bobcats looking to lunch on his beagles. His beagles are used to hunt rabbits. The hunters use automatic pistols which gives the rabbits more than just a fighting chance.

It's been a fun week.
Elder Grandpa and Sister Grandma