Writings from West Virginia: My First District Meeting!

Hello everyone! Thank you for taking some time to read this email! I appreciate it!

The week really started picking up around Wednesday! Wednesday morning we did the usual thing and went to the Genealogy center to do some work around there. We were able to have a great conversation about our church and why we do genealogy with one of the other volunteers there! It was great! Experiences to find are everywhere! Even if they don't want to take the lessons, you can still share the gospel with them!

Later that day, we went to L&J's house to see them and make sure they are doing well. L. is a member from Salt Lake, and J. is one of our awesome investigators. J. is awesome! She always has questions about the bible and book of Mormon every time we come over. We love being able to discuss and answer the questions with her! It helps us get better. I was also able to administer a blessing to J., as she had gotten some scary news from her doctor a couple days before. It was a great blessing! Heavenly Father really loves that woman. I made some cool promises in the blessing too. Something Hank told me the day I went in to the MTC still rings in my ears every time I lay my hands on someone's head, "You have the Priesthood of the Almighty God, the authority to act in His name. Never be timid in what you say, and the promises that you make." Puts some pressure on, for sure. It was awesome though!

Wednesday evening we finally got in contact with a couple members of the church that we've been trying to catch for the last 12 weeks! We were able to have a great visit and get to know them well. Their names are the W.'s, C. and C. They have a cute little boy who is five, and they are really just all around awesome. C. was baptized in March of last year. Pray for them!

On Thursday, we were able to see a couple another Recent Convert! A.G. was baptized last year around August I think. His wife, M., was at work, but we were able to have a great conversation with A.G. He's an awesome older guy with an even more awesome (if that's even possible) beard! You all know how I love facial hair.

On Friday was my first District Meeting ever! Oh my goodness! I was so nervous. It went well though. I prepared throughout the week, and then the night before decided I didn't like the way it was structured and basically redid the whole thing. I'm glad I did though, because I feel that it went really well because of it.

After that, I headed to Hillsville with Elder Garrett for an exchange! It was interesting because our last exchange was me, the junior, trying to learn all I could from this missionary, and now I'm the leader --but, I still tried to learn everything I could from him, :) because Elder Garrett is an awesome missionary and a great teacher! He has a lot you can learn from him! We had a great exchange!

Church was great! We had some awesome speakers in Sacrament, Brother Wh. gave an awesome lesson in Sunday School, and J.K. led a great discussion in Elder's Quorum, talking about Ezra Taft Benson.

We did the usual thing and went with Brother Wh. to go and see people! We hit more people that day than we ever have before when being with him! Our best visit was that night, with the usual lesson with S&J! J. wasn't there, having to return to West Virginia for a couple days. We were able to have a great "hope and peace through church and Christ" lesson with S. We committed her to come to church, and I really really hope she comes! I think she's starting to see how much better her week goes when we come over, and the Spirit that we and Brother Wh. bring into the home there. She's an amazing woman! I have a lot of respect for Single moms (shout out to Mom!), and is a strong lady!

That's all I have for this week. Thanks again for taking some time to read this. I appreciate the support and love all of you! Have a great week! Make this the best week ever!

Love,

Elder Brax Johnson