Writings from West Virginia: Happy News!

Hello everyone! I hope your Monday has been just fabulous! I spent way too much time getting those colors right. :P

My week was great, and I want to tell you about it! Let’s get in to the highlights of what we did, shall we?

So last week we picked up a new investigator named R. He had investigated before, but wasn't really keeping commitments and so the missionaries dropped him for a time to hopefully let him realize that he really needs this gospel in his life. We had set up a return appointment for that next Tuesday, and we went to go see him then! It was a pretty good lesson. We talked a lot about the true church of Jesus Christ, what it would have in it, what it would entail, things like that. We weren't sure how much was getting through, but we left him with a Restoration pamphlet and said we'd get with him to set up another appointment. (We aren't done with him yet!)

On Wednesday we had a cool experience! The J.'s, A. and C., offered to come with us to an appointment we had with K. (from last week. Another Sunday miracle!). Unfortunately, K. wasn't home! I hate it when that happens. Luckily, our backup was right around the corner, so we went over there, hoping and praying that he would be home. He was! His name is S.. Elder Numbers and I tracted into him a while ago (like, my first week) but had only ever been able to catch him in sporadic bursts and never sit down and have an actual lesson with him. This time, especially since the J.'s were with us, we were committed to having this lesson. We taught on the porch about the Book of Mormon, it's importance, and how it testifies of Jesus Christ. He had never really heard of the Book of Mormon before, so this was a brand new experience for him! He seemed to really enjoy it, and the J.'s were rock stars. S. used to play football up at SVU, at the same time A. was playing basketball, so they immediately connected there. They also invited him and his wife and kids to our dinner appointment on Friday!! THAT WAS SO COOL. They are the coolest family.

Thursday was Zone Conference! It was also Elder Brenchley and Elder Numbers' year mark! Happy year mark elders! Anyway. Zone Conference was great. We had the blessing of having the Assistants stay at our apartment the night before, so that was really fun. We even got to bed at a decent hour! Woo! President Salisbury was great. It's always great to see him. He's a great man and I look up to him a lot. I hope to someday be as big of a spiritual giant and stalwart righteous man as he is.

We talked a lot about helping people make and keep commitments and having and building faith like in Alma 32. It was a really good meeting, and we got to hear from Elder Christofferson (video) at the very end, President Salisbury played a 20 minute clip from this past most recent Mission President and Wives conference at the MTC. It was about how faith and repentance are an upward cycle that build on each other and how it all relates to the Atonement. I am so thankful for my Savior's sacrifice and how it means that I can be changed both body and spirit. It really was a great meeting.

After the meeting I had the opportunity to go down to Lynchburg with Elder Hallewell on exchanges! We went on an exchange last transfer, so I am really starting to get to know this awesome and amazing elder! He's only been out 2 months, but he is still absolutely wonderful and committed. He is and will be a great missionary!

Coming back to BV on Friday, we had a great lesson with B. and D.! Miracle of the night there: they both prayed! B. said the opening prayer and D. said the closing prayer!! It was so cool because D. told us that she would never pray out loud. Ever. She'd pray and does pray in her heart, but never would out loud. Well the Spirit worked on her and she did! It was an amazing prayer too. Really all we did that lesson was answer questions, mostly about church. They always have quite a few!

Our ward had their annual Pool Party we were invited to (obviously not to swim) on Saturday! We invited all the people we could and prayed someone would show up. Turns out, Randy brought his two kids! That was awesome. They had a ball swimming in the pool, and we think it was really good for Randy to be there. Tons of the members of the ward went up and talked to him and gave him some really good fellowship.

Later that night, we had another lesson with B. and D., this time actually teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, the last half, being the Gift of the Holy Ghost, The Sacrament, and Enduring to the End. It was a really good lesson and they committed to come to church on Sunday! They were all ready, their friend Sister B. had gone and bought D. a dress because she didn't have one, aaaaaannnnnddddddd

THEY CAME TO CHURCH! Yes. It was quite the process getting them there, but they came! They had a great experience too. It was a fantastic Sunday. The speakers were just awesome, Brother B. taught a great Sunday School Gospel Principles lesson, and Brother B. did a great job with the combined lesson. Really blessed! I'm so thankful for the Spirit being there to teach them during those meetings. You could feel it. It was palpable! :D I'm still just on Cloud 9 after that.

Last thing, we got to meet a really cool family last night too. The R's. They have some severe health issues and can't come to church. Bishop asked us to go over there and check up on them and see how they're doing. I don't know if I've ever met more humble people! They joined the church around 15 years ago, were sealed last year, and are approaching the end of their mortal journey, but they thank God for every day that he gives them, and it’s really cool to see. Brother R.'s cried as he bore his testimony to us, and even I teared up a little bit. We talked about trials in this life and trusting in the Lord. Just wanted to throw in a little shout-out to some amazing and humble people. :)

Well, that was my week! Thank you all for reading it! I really appreciate it and am really thankful for all your support of me! I love you all! Have a great week, and make it the best one yet!

Love,

Elder Brax Johnson