So, you may wonder about the bonfire pictures and the shirt. On
Wednesday, we helped R., our investigator, make sure he didn't burn
down Wythe county! It was great! A tradition that missionaries seem to
have everywhere is to burn a white shirt to celebrate
your making it one year! I know, it's very weird. I figured that since
my year mark was 8 days after this bonfire, I might as well burn the
shirt now! So I did, and dang did it burn! It was awesome. 1 year down!
Thursday morning, we were back at the Food Kitchen again! What a great
experience. Funnily enough this time, there was a less active daughter
of an amazing member there helping us, so we got to have some good face
time with her and invite her back to church.
I don't think her re-conversion will be as immediate as some are, but
any encouragement is good encouragement!
We had the chance that night to meet with C. and S.! They
have made the decision to get married this Thursday, on the 4th! I'm
really excited for them, and I hope that they have a long and happy life
together. We got invited to their wedding on Thursday
too! So we get the chance to see it.
On Friday we had District Meeting, taught by myself. It was a really
good meeting I think, and apparently my district got something out of
it. That's pretty cool in and of itself! We talked about working hard,
and sacrifice, and goal setting, etc. I had a rather
long (and unplanned) discourse on fasting near the end of it, which
apparently made the biggest difference in the ears of the people who
were there! I even got quoted by Elder Bingham! "A 24 hour fast shows
that your spirit wants something more than your body
wants food." I don't even remember saying that, haha. #HankSmithLevel. I
think I subconsciously stole the quote from Elder Nelson in his talk
"Self-Mastery."
After District Meeting and a nice Fajita at El Puerto, Elder Bingham and
I headed up to Princeton for exchanges! I've discoursed in letters
about how much I love Elder Bingham before, so I wont do it here, but he
is pretty awesome.
We had a great day together! On our way back up, we stopped by to see an
investigator named M., who is in the Tazewell Elder's area in a
rehabilitation center for a surgery he had recently. Elder Bingham has
been working with this man for a year now (since
his first area, Radford), and he is getting baptized here in a couple
weeks! M. has an amazing story. He is taught by Elder Bingham and
his trainee, and is even interviewed by President Salisbury for baptism.
President has to go through some hoops for
him, so the baptism is postponed 6 months. A few weeks later, M.
suffers a major heart attack and goes into a coma. Shortly thereafter,
Elder Bingham is transferred to the other side of the stake, thinking
that M. will pass away quietly in his sleep.
But surprise! He wakes up! He has a bucket of health problems, but he's
alive! Elder Bingham and M. are reunited, and President surprises
Elder Bingham at interviews with the letter from the First Presidency
saying to go ahead with the baptism. That was
4 months ago. After a handful of surgeries and recoveries, M. will
be stepping into the waters of baptism in 3 or 4 weeks time. What a
story!
Later that evening, we also had a chance to teach their investigator,
Mi., who will be baptized this COMING Sunday. A more prepared man I
have not met (except maybe D.) Mi. is amazing though, and will
make a fine member of the church.
To end the evening, we taught a girl named C., who's been
investigating for a little over a year now. Funnily enough (considering
that morning) she had some questions about fasting! We had a great
lesson with her, and she is planning to fast next fast
sunday with the rest of the church. How solid of an investigator is
that? Supa solid.
Saturday was great too! Just a funny tracting experience Bingham and I
had. We were walking around this trailer park, and out of the corner of
our eyes, we noticed this woman glaring at us and watching us at one of
the windows. In true Christlike Spirit, Elder
Bingham looks over, makes eye contact, and waves. I don't think I've
ever seen anyone move away from a window faster. Silly people.
Back in Wytheville, Elder Bean and I decided to go walking to contact a
referral we had gotten some time ago. P., one of our Recent
Converts, had given us this referral, and we were waiting for her go
ahead to go contact him. Unfortunately, she had some
things come up in her life and moved away temporarily. So we went to
contact him ourselves. It was great! We set up an appointment for
tomorrow, and can feel some really good things in the works with him.
About an hour later, we were walking along a road we walk a lot, and
these two guys shout from across the road to stop so they can ask us a
few questions. I was a bit like Laman and Lemuel, "Oh, this'll be good."
but it turned out to be a great conversation!
We got these guys' numbers and had a great talk with them about the
bible and book of mormon. They had really never heard of the church
before, so we were able to invite them to learn more, and will be
meeting with them this week! Sweetness. The Lord provides!
At dinner that evening, we were at a returning less-active's (S.)
apartment with her mom and her mom's boyfriend. S. and I have
become pretty good buds over the last 6 months, and she told me that she
is ready to quit smoking. We had a smoking lesson
with her, took her ashtrays and the rest of her cigarettes, and told
her to call us if she ever had the urge. Or just to call someone. Or
just to distract herself. Something. Just get away from it. She is
committed, and I believe that she can do it! She is
getting sealed to her fiance next year, and really wants to be ready
for that experience.
Sunday was a great day, albeit a little disappointing. No investigators
at church AGAIN. Boo. But that's okay! Our heads are high, and our faith
is full. We'll get these people to church eventually.
It was also Ward Conference yesterday, so we got to have a big sacrament
meeting with all our Stake Leaders. I got to chat with President
A., our Stake President, a little. He is an awesome guy. I like him
a lot. We also had the Linger Longer after church,
with some supa healthy salads and such. They were awesome! The Ceaser
salad was one of my favorites. Mmmm. Probably because of the bacon.
We saw a few people after that, had a good lesson with most of them, and
ended the day with D. and D. at their house. Their family,
D. really, has changed my life. I'm so blessed to have known him and
be associated with him. The Lord truly blessed
me by letting me be the one that would see him through his first
covenant with The Lord.
I love you all! I hope you make this the best week ever, and see the
miracles that The Lord has placed in your life! Have a great week, and
I'll talk to you all next week!
Elder Brax Johnson
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