Writings from West Virginia: #miraclesallaround

Hello Friends and Family!

Another transfer gone by. 6 weeks down the rabbit hole. The 5th free throw has been swished. #nothingbutnet. Haha, anyway.

I hope youralls week was awesome! Mine was! We had some great things happen. I'm sorry I wont be giving another Consecrated Year sermon this week. Those don't come willy nilly you know! Let's start at the top.

Tuesday we had District meeting! Led by our fearless District Lordimean Leader Elder Davis, we went on a District hike to have District meeting atop an awesome lookout point. You know how old prophets went up to mountains to talk to the Lord because they could feel the spirit more up there? Yeah, well it's totally true. Genius me forgot my camera though. Sorry everyone! Know that it was really really pretty! Haha.

We met with an investigator on Tuesday again. JE! It was a pretty rough lesson, but we managed to teach The Plan of Salvation. The main problem is that he wants to be taught out of the bible, and we are trying to teach him that the bible is only one authority, that prophets are the final authority, but he just isn't getting it. He thinks that if it isn't named in the bible (Angel Moroni, coming of Christ to Americas, etc (ALL OF WHICH ARE MENTIONED, BY THE WAY )) then it can't be true. It's quite frustrating. We made a lot of progress with him though, and are seeing him on Friday, so hopefully what we talked about stuck [with him] and he is ready to be taught The Gospel of Jesus Christ. He asked me in the lesson to show him all the scriptures in the bible that talk about the book of mormon. Oh man. How grateful I am that I was raised (trained) by a missionary who knew the bible really well. I did fairly well, but I certainly did a lot of studying when I got home.

On Thursday we did our bi-monthly trip to the Food Kitchen at the Wytheville Baptist Church to help serve the good people that come there! Its a great place to meet people, and we get the leftovers! (which were delicious) it's a true Christian thing they do there. Its really what Christ and being a Christian is all about, serving and loving others. If only they had the Priesthood.

On Saturday we had the chance to teach S&J! S has been investigating the church since I've been in Wytheville, but we just picked J, her sister, up as an investigator last week! We had a really good prayer lesson with her, and S, who as of previously not even would say a prayer alone because she "felt weird" said the prayer at the end of the lesson! WOO HOOOOOO PROGRESSSSS. Oh yes. Now we just need to teach them the importance of being baptized, because both of them are a little skeptical on that subject. They did both come to church though! So that is huge for them.

Speaking of church! So, after Ward Council, I noticed that the bishop was talking to a very uncomfortable looking Elders Davis and Garrett, so I went up to investigate. I get up to them and the first thing I hear bishop say is, "How good are you two at speaking?" and in my foolishness I go, "You need a speaker?" Davis and Garrett were extremely happy to get out of the limelight and Elder Garrett congratulated me on being so awesome to volunteer. It was right around now when it dawned on my what I had just done. Bishop says, "Our youth speaker just cancelled last second. Can you speak?" This kind of thing only happens in a New Era story I thought. Oh well! So, 5 minutes later I'm on the stand rifling through Elder Larson's scriptures (because I only brought my mini quad and those pages don't stay open) trying to find something to talk about on the subject of "The plan that our Father in Heaven has for our lives." Used a scripture in James, Peter, Abraham, and somewhere else that I can't remember. I still have the little index card that I wrote my outline on in 15 minutes. I'll take a picture and send it to ya'll. But, needless to say (obviously), it was a slam dunk.(ha ha) I was really happy with it. It's awesome when The Spirit helps you with those things!

As he always does, Ward Mission Leader WW drove us around for the whole Sunday to go visit people! Among them were his cousin, D, his former boss and his less active wife, H., his childhood friend R. and his wife and son, and finally our investigators S&J to finish off the night!

The lesson with R. was incredible. We spent the first 30ish minutes letting them talk and catch up with each other, W., as he always does, turned the subject to religion. Well, I asked an inspired question (not taking credit, it was all the spirit) about his families local church attendance. It just so happens that they haven't been to church in around a year, and haven't really found where they belong yet. Hey, who are those guys in white with wings singing Hallelujah outside? It was awesome!!!! We invited them to church on Sunday, and they invited us back to their house, "anytime". If only we had the miles to get out there "anytime." ARE YOU READING THIS MISSION OFFICE? Anyway. It was great.

S&J are awesome too. J. has mistakes in his past, as we all do, but he has such a desire to be better. They talked about getting married with us, and we asked if they'd like our bishop to do it. They said yes! We will talk to our bishop on Sunday and see exactly what we need to do. It would be so awesome. They said they are coming to church on sunday, and J. is coming and playing basketball with us on Saturday night. #Miraclesallaround It is awesome to be here in Wytheville.

Our final lesson for this email was on Monday with a less active named J. Her friend N. is always over there with her, so we thought we would go teach them The Plan of Salvation today. Unbeknowest to us, J. lost a son some years ago. As we were teaching, N. had a lot of questions about The Spirit World and where we go after we die. That lead naturally into temples and their functions, and eternal families. J. started crying and we bore powerful testimony that we know she will see him again. I said, "I know that he is waiting for you, and he's so excited that you're letting us teach you right now." I could basically feel his presence there. It was amazing. She wants to come to church on Sunday, and said she was going to be bringing her daughter and two grandkids. Woo hoo! Amazing things are happening here.

That's my letter for the week! I know, it's short. ;D I hope you all have a fantastic week, may God bless you in all your endeavors! Look for miracles and missionary opportunities. They are always around us, and I promise you'll see at least one in the next week. Until next time!

Love,
Elder Brax Johnson