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November 27, 2017 - The train is runnin

Hihihi,

Training is a jolly good time, especially when your trainee comes pre-trained. 

Some might say this is bogus, but I had a feeling about who my companion was going to be before I even met him. The day before transfers I got a feeling that my companion was going to be a big guy, not fat, but just have a frame bigger than mine. The next day, the moment I saw Elder Martin I knew he was the man, he's 6' 3" and just over 200 lbs. I looked at Elder Martin and  I knew my mission president was going to put us together. Call me crazy but I think some things are meant to be.

Elder Martin is 20 and was raised in England in a place called East Yorkshire. He lived in Scotland for 5 years before he came out so he has a bit of a hybrid accent. He's just a well prepared missionary and a down to earth guy. He's adjusting really well, it doesn't feel like I'm training which is a blessing. Things are going really good, we're working hard and having a good time.

On Thursday and Sunday we met with Laurence, the Former INV who called us up on Monday out of the blue. Although he is accepting everything we have taught him so far, I am a bit torn because he is not 100% mentally stable. His mental complications are not severe but he will accept whatever anybody says as truth: that includes any religious doctrine or political view for that matter. With this concern in mind we are still going to treat him as any other child of God and help him feel closer to his Father in Heaven. I'll update his status as we move forward with him.

We had 2 responses to our "free help and service" kijiji ad. One of which is a family who needs help cleaning up their backyard. They recently moved here from Calgary and they don't know anybody here. Well...what a coincidence.

Missionary work is crazy, it is more up and down than anything I have ever experienced. That might be because work on a mission does not guarantee immediate results. In fields such as school, work, and others, yes, hard work brings immediate results. In the mission field, not necessarily. The results of my missionary work depends highly on the agency of other people, because missionary work is for other people. Obviously, I have no control over the agency of others. I can teach by the spirit and leave a specific commitment but I can't make the person feel the spirit and keep a commitment. I can dish up a well-prepared 3 course spiritual feast and leave the person drooling, but I can't make the horse drink as they say. It's hard to accept sometimes. When all is said and done, it's not about me. It's never been about me and it never will be. It's the Lord's work: it's his church, it's his gospel, it's his kingdom, it's his sacrifice, it's his mission. And he does it all for his Father and his Father's children. I've noticed that there is no "I" in the Godhead, the gospel, or the Plan of Salvation. There is no I in love. There is no I in atonement. BUT, James E. Talmage pointed out: there is a 'one' in atonement. Through the 'At-one-ment' of Jesus Christ, together we can be one.

Ephesians 4:3-6
 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

I know these things are true and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Elder Johnson

Picture: Elder Martin and I


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