September 23rd, 2013

Whew, it's been another rough week, well.. I guess I would say tiring. We've been workin hard, you can count on that. I'm so exhausted in every faculty. But it's great, I love it, and I can still work harder. We've been instructed to be out from 6-9 every evening and all day Saturday and Sunday and Sister Keistler and I have been out until 9:30 to sacrifice just a bit more. So we've been out on the streets a bit more that I'm used to. That and living on a giant hill has worn me out. We saw some really great blessings this weekend though. On Friday we had a great experience that assured us that we're doing the right thing. I was another rainy night. We had a lesson with an active member who then went out to help us with a lesson we set up from making calls. The meeting fell through though so we went out to contact. It was late, dark, raining buckets. No one was out so we circled round and walked the member back home. She told us 'go home!' We explained that we can't go back until 9:30. She said 'go home and work inside, no one is on the streets.' and then made us promise we would go back. I must repent because I made an empty promise that night I had no intention of keeping. Both Sister Kiestler and I knew there was no way we would be turning in so early but we headed in that direction just to comfort her. We pass our building and tromp along the side streets through mud and puddles with no one to talk to in sight. Nine o'clock comes around and it's still just us. Sister Kiestler umbrella-less and soaked to the bone. We stopped, looked at our watches, looked at each other, thinking the same thing. It was 9:00, technically we could go in and still be obedient. But we had made the decision in weekly planning to stay out till 9:30... in this moment though, there was still the decision to be made. We talked it out and determined that if we had already gone this far, we might as well just stick it out and test the Lord if He would really bless us for our sacrifices. We planned out a route home going down through the park. As we turned the corner and walked a ways I spotted a woman waiting underneath the eaves over a stairwell. That was our chance and I charged over and snagged it. It was a lovely conversation and she agreed to meet with us. We carried on and in the park we found another girl walking home from work. She also agreed to meet with us. By that time we were still at the bottom of the hill and had 7 minutes to race back home. We made it with not a second to spare, legs burning, clothes, hair, everything wet, a grateful heart and a grin of victory. My testimony grew that the Lord really will grant success when we show our willingness and dedication to Him.

The was the great 'up' of the week, the 'down' being that out of our 11 meeting we had set up this week, 9 of them fell through, all in a row. Let's just say I got a bit discouraged/frustrated. I'm not sure what the deal is and why people think they can just not come when like and hour ago they said they were still good to meet. Patience, forgiveness, love... yeah, I've got a lot to learn. But I'm just happy to be seeing progress in the area, even if it is small. At least we had meetings set up when before we had none. Now those people just need to come and hear what we have to say. Great things are still just around the corner.

Love you!
Sister Johnson

Dear Missionaries in a truly amazing mission!

This week has been one of amazing miracles and blessings. But before I list some of them, I need you to understand something very important. While many are experiencing miracles, some are not. We all need to understand that many of the miracles and blessings that are being experienced are the result of the CUMULATIVE effect of the faith and hard work of the entire mission. Please remember that while Ammon was experiencing the great miracles of converting Lamoni, his household and Lamoni's father, Aaron and his brethren, who were certainly as faithful as Ammon, were suffering in prison from "hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions." Despite that, we are told that "nevertheless, they were patient in all their afflictions." Undoubtedly, the combined patience and faith of ALL these missionaries contributed to the miracles which others in the land received. The same will be true of our mission and the combined faith and work of all missionaries. We will share and rejoice in each other's successes, knowing that the work of the whole mission is contributing to them.

With that important preface, let me share a few of the amazing things the Lord is blessing us with. (By the way, please keep sharing miracles the Lord blesses you with. The rest of the mission needs to hear them):

-Two or three years ago, a woman was given a brochure. She has tried for two years to find our church and could not. Last Sunday, she decided that this was the last time she would look for our building. She found it and walked into church.

-A girl stopped a companionship on the street, said she already had a Book of Mormon, and wanted to be baptized

-A woman who was contacted had just prayed to God to send her help when the missionaries approached

-A man ran to catch up with missionaries who were walking down the street because he was interested--he came to church on Sunday

-Missionaries put up a signboard and immediately a woman standing behind them spoke up and said she used to meet with the missionaries and wants to be taught again with her family this time

-Missionaries were walking down the street when a man yelled from his window and asked them to come up and teach him

-A woman walked up to missionaries with her son, and said she wanted to have her son baptized

-A man came into the Branch before church started and said "I've heard of your Book of Mormon. I want to read it." He read until church started and then stayed for church.

-A 27 year old man stopped missionaries and said he had already stopped smoking and drinking. He said he wanted to be happy, and asked if he could come to church.

-Missionaries found a man sitting on a curb who said he had been praying for angels to be sent. An appointment has been made to teach

-Missionaries called a wrong number and instead of it being the investigator they thought they were calling, it was a man who had talked with missionaries before and wanted a Book of Mormon

-(I got to witness this one personally): Missionaries were contacting on a street late at night and stopped a young man. He said he really likes to watch movies about Christ, and wondered if the missionaries would be able to show him any? An appointment was made. (I wondered afterward how many young men could there be walking around the streets of Russia who like to watch movies about Christ?)

Missionaries were contacting and met a man from China. He has since watched the Restoration video in Chinese, received a Chinese Book of Mormon, and has a return appointment for tomorrow. He said when he goes back to China, he wants to teach young men he knows about the truths from the book

-And finally, I don't usually share names of missionaries because we should all be doing our work with an eye single to the glory of God. However, this one involves my wife and I'm really proud of her!! So, without her permission--Sister Schwab was at sacrament meeting today when a woman walked into the branch. She had received a brochure four months ago, put it in her purse, and thought about what it said several times. On Sunday, she took a taxi to our church and walked in. Sister Schwab and two sisters taught her a lesson and at the end, Sister Schwab felt impressed to challenge her. So, Sister Schwab gave her the baptismal challenge and the woman said "Yes, if it's true I think I would get baptized." She is being taught again at our home on Tuesday.

Believe it or not, there are many, many more, but hopefully that gives you a flavor for what is happening around our mission. Also, if it sounds like I'm repeating the same story over and over, I'm not! Many people are walking into our churches and wanting to know more!

We are being so blessed. These blessings are from the Lord and we cannot take credit for them. They are blessings from Him, plain and simple. However, those blessings are being given as a result of the consecrated efforts and sacrifices which so many missionaries are making. Please, continue to make sacrifices, work hard, and exercise your faith in Christ that we will be blessed. This is truly His work, and I promise you that we are only scratching the surface of what the Lord is willing to bless us with.

We love you and pray for our Heavenly Father's blessings to be upon you. 

Love,
President Schwab