Merry!
Finally got snow here in southern Ontario. About 8 inches came down between Tuesday and Wednesday. I found out the Canadians over here aren't real Canucks because activities at the church Wednesday evening were cancelled due to the weather...it was not that bad at all. School was also cancelled for 2 days in a row, wimps. Oh well, the church is still true.
Last week I talked about a family from Cameroon we met and sat down with. The family of 5 enjoyed the lesson but the mother did not want to read the Book of Mormon. Although I left the first lesson thinking we might not see them again anytime soon, I had faith we would get back in there, and so was the case. We called her up and offered to share a Christmas message with the family and she accepted. I was on exchanges in London Ontario for the day but my companion and his partner visited them and they said the lesson went great. The Mother views the Book of Mormon just as a book and not the word of God, my companion invited her to read and pray about it and she is more open now. On Saturday, she wanted us to come by and help her 11 year old son with prayer and also cleaning his room. We got there and helped him clean his room but didn't talk much about prayer haha. We basically just stood there and timed him clean his room so he would get it done quicker. It is a really small room and it was packed with clothes so it was quite the job. Anyways, we're going to see them again next week and teach them the restoration and help them come to see the truth of the Book of Mormon. Slowly but surely, the Lord is softening their hearts. They are a wonderful family a 5, it is very exciting. Still haven't met her husband yet, but hopefully it happens soon.
Annette who was also found through our service kijiji ad came to church for the first time yesterday. She enjoyed all 3 hours and the members did a fine job fellow shipping her. My comp. and I had to teach a primary class during the second hour so we couldn't be with here during gospel principles but the members stepped up and it worked great. The most recent former bishop is an awesome missionary and drove 30 mins out of the way to pick her up so she could come to church. It was just a really good team effort. She is definitively well on her way to baptism but come January she plans to visit her family in Jamaica for a month or two so we won't see her for a while. It's okay, God won't lose track of her.
Annette is in her 60's and has been living without a partner for many years. For almost her entire life, she has been the victim of abuse, she has never been with a man she deserved. Recently she prayed that she would be able to find a man to be with. Shortly after praying, she decided to start a Facebook account and somehow came in contact with an old friend who's currently living in Kingston, Ontario (the opposite side of the province) who is also single. Considering their history, she couldn't believe it and neither could he. He wants to meet up and be a help meet for her and be the man that she deserves. If this man is genuine and it works out with them, that would be a pretty cool story. In this year, God has sent many people to help her and it's amazing to think that I have been one of the tools in His hands. In a very real sense, I have helped God save one of his children who was in desperate need.
That's what this work is all about: building people. It's about individuals feeling a connection with the divine. It's about individuals feeling a part of something bigger than themselves; that they are loved and important. It's about lifting others, sharing a smile, doing a good deed, forgiving a friend, teaching a child, being an example, sharing the light of Christ. The church is nothing but Good because it is founded upon the true and restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. On the contrary, Satan's work is to deceive, divide, discourage, deny, dismantle, and destroy the work and Glory of God: which simply stated, is us. Whenever I have felt or seen those things, I know that the author is Satan.
"For this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
This is the Church of Jesus Christ: the very being that literally formed this planet, his feet literally touched this earth, he was here, you could see him with your eyes and touch him with your hands, he healed blindness and leprosy and palsy, he took upon himself all of the sins and infirmities of every individual. He died and the cross and rose again on the third day. This is his Church. No other church can claim that, no other church would try, because they have no grounds to do it. It's quite simple, the church is either true or it is not. The most important decision I have ever made was to decide which it is.
The most important decision I make everyday is to stay true to that choice. I hope you are staying true to it as well.
Happy holidays everybody! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and spend lots of time with family!
Elder Johnson
Pic: 1. Elder Martin's first taste of Canadian coffee 2. The Leathermen
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