TRANSFERS!!!

I was in denial basically the whole week that transfers were coming. I did NOT want to leave. And I did NOT want to get a new companion. I mean obviously whatever happens its the Lord's will and will be good for me... but I was not ready to leave Cheney 2nd ward yet.

Well it worked! I'm staying! And so is Elder Leavitt! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. This area is the best! I love the ward! I love the investigators! I love my district! I love my Zone!

Here is a picture of my district. The two sister companionships have been in a trio for the last transfer. This coming transfer two of the sisters will be gone though.

Don't ask me what I'm doing in this picture. I don't really know.

Miracles from this week:

Sebastian and Janita came to church!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally! They've been saying they were going to come for weeks! Its been mind blowing to see how hard Satan tries to get people to not get to church. They came and they loved it! They are both basically ready to be baptized except they still have to get married. They want to be married but they want to have their family come and they probably won't be able to till March. But we're expecting that as they continue keeping the three commitments we keep giving them, Church Pray and Read, I think their desire to be baptized will increase and they will make it work out so they can be baptized sooner.

The Smiths are really working hard for these next two weeks to quit coffee and Tobacco to be prepared for their baptism coming up. Please pray for them.

This week we were riding our bikes to an appointment and we decided to cut through a parking lot. We saw a guy outside smoking so we went and talked to him. He is super elect! His name is Mark. He said that just yesterday his buddy got out of prison and came and talked to him about how he found Jesus and it changed his life. Mark has really been humbled for the last few years of his life. He has some pretty strong addictions that he is trying to conquer. He has never been religious but is interested in learning about how Christ can change his life. He was eager to come to church and read the Book of Mormon. We'll contact him soon to teach him more.

Report on Mormon Channel Challenge:

Brian and Clint both did the challenge. I will be using the words "Quintillion" (1 with 18 0's after it) and "Juxtaposition" in my next lesson. I will report on it next week. The challenge is still standing so I encourage you to invite someone to watch a video on Mormon channel and send me a creative word.

Love you guys!

-Elder (Andre) Johnson

The Lord has a plan

I've found that the fact that this church is true really helps me out when I'm teaching. Yesterday Elder Leavitt and I were teaching a lady who was baptized 2 years ago but fell away. The lesson was very scattered. We both struggled to explain our thoughts. But the funny thing was that she totally felt the spirit! At the end of the lesson she said, "ya that makes a lot of sense, I need to start praying". It was super weird because Elder Leavitt and I both felt the spirit during the lesson even though we really struggled to find her need and teach simply. After we got out of the lesson we were like, "well its a good thing that God wants her to accept the Gospel because that would have not turned out so well if he didn't." 

Ya lately I have really seen how the Lord has a plan for everyone of his children and he knows what he is doing. Last week the Smith family "fell off date" for baptism. We weren't sure why this was part of God's plan. But ever since then the ward has been reaching out to our investigators way more! Its sweet! Its good for not only the Smiths but also for the members that get to do missionary work. And now the Smiths are back on date again!

Unfortunate continuous phenomenon/Test of my manliness:

We share a car for half the week with the Sister Missionaries here in Cheney. And for the last 3 weeks without fail it has been great weather everyday that we have the car. And the day we give up the car the weather goes fowl again. This last time we gave the car up things were looking pretty good outside. But turns out the moment we parked and turned the car off it started to rain outside and continued for the entire day. Ha ha I guess God is just giving me opportunities to get more Man Night Points. (Ask John Packer what Man Night Points are) .

Did any of you invite someone to watch a video on Mormon Channel? I invited 2 over email so far. 

If you didn't read the challenge last time I'll write it here again so you can do it.

Its super important that every person on this earth has the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ by exercising Faith, Repentance, Ordinances, Feeling the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. One great way to do this is to invite somebody to visit mormonchannel.org and watch one of the inspiring videos. I invite you to invite someone (nonmember, less active, or active) to visit mormonchannel.org this week. If you do this write me an email that says you did it a long with an unusual word ie. (gargantuos, or majestic) and I will commit to say that word in my next lesson. I promise you that if you make the smallest effort to share the gospel the Lord will increase your confidence and ability to share the Gospel. He will also trust you with more of his children. As you make a small effort again and again you will become like Alma and Ammon who were the means by which thousands of people accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love you!

-Elder (Andre) Johnson

Zone Quest

The Smith Family is coming along. The ward is really starting to reach out and bring them into the fold. Satan is definitely working his hardest on them though. They could really use some prayers right now. Especially Sister Smith who is trying to quit smoking.  

Zone Quest Miracle!

A few days ago the quest for the day was to find a couple and make them new investigators. So that day Elder Leavitt and I visited all the couples that we had met before that we had addresses for. We tried a few and they were either not home or not interested. Right before dinner we stopped by Damien and Brooklyn. I had talked to them a few times in the parking lot since I've been in Cheney but they were never that interested so we could never talk for very long. Whenever we would know on the door they wouldn't answer. But this time they answered! It was snowing inside and I think they felt bad for us so they let us in. Turns out they are super Elect! We taught them the Restoration and they loved it! It was basically the classic lesson that you think of when you think of missionary work. Usually it doesn't run so smooth. Usually they have concerns about the first vision or the Book of Mormon. But Damien and Brooklyn loved it. They were super focused during the lesson. They had a one year old boy that was walking around messing with stuff in the house and usually when that happens the parents are constantly chasing the kid. But during this lesson they just let the kid go and were paying very close attention to what we were saying. After we finished reciting the first vision they said, "Wow I have never heard of that before. Thats amazing!... Thats so cool that you guys came by today because we have been looking for a church". The spirit was super strong during the lesson! I'm super excited to go back and see them again. They accepted a baptism invite and are preparing for the beginning of February!

Recently the Sacrament has become much more meaningful to me. Yesterday we had church down in Sprague where only 18-25 people attend. The Spirit was super strong as I listened to a recent convert who was baptized in June bless the Sacrament. I really felt strengthened as I realized the significance and simplicity of taking upon you the name of Christ and receiving a remission of your sins when you take the Sacrament. I know that participating in this ordinance weekly is mandatory to our spiritual progression. I know that while it is simple it has a profound impact on our lives.

Its super important that every person on this earth has the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ by exercising Faith, Repentance, Ordinances, Feeling the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. One great way to do this is to invite somebody to visit mormonchannel.org and watch one of the inspiring videos. I invite you to invite someone (nonmember, less active, or active) to visit mormonchannel.org this week. If you do this write me an email that says you did it a long with an unusual word ie. (gargantuos, or majestic) and I will commit to say that word in my next lesson. I promise you that if you make the smallest effort to share the gospel the Lord will increase your confidence and ability to share the Gospel. He will also trust you with more of his children. As you make a small effort again and again you will become like Alma and Ammon who were the means by which thousands of people accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love you guys!

-Elder (Andre) Johnson

Epic Picture of Elder Leavitt and I walking into Cheney from our house.

Its been snowing a lot lately which has made life "fun" because we have to walk half the week. Actually it is pretty fun sometimes. So for some reason in all the Spokane area they believe in having the worst roads on the entire earth. One way they achieve this goal is by not doing any sort of plowing on the roads during the winter. So basically the snow just packs down and turns in to ice. But it can be pretty fun because you can slide super far on it. And their are some pretty steep hills in Cheney and you can slide from the top all the way to the bottom with out stopping. Its awesome.

So right now our mission has a goal of doubling its baptisms in 3 months. So right now each zone, district, companionship, and missionary is setting goals and plans to achieve that. In our zone we started doing something called the daily quest or mission. Right now we are focused on inviting people to be baptized so the quests are always tied into that. The daily quests are creative ways to inspire you to do something. And they are super fun. Te first day we had to Invite someone to be baptized over the phone. It was sweet! We turned a former investigator into a new investigator and we also found two people that want a Book of Mormon. The next day we had to invite a neighbor to be baptized. This one was kinda hard for us because we only have 1 neighbor besides the cows next door. So we went and talked to our neighbor. He said no to being baptized but he was super nice and invited us back to visit with the person who actually owns the house. The next day we had to invite someone to be baptized who was walking their dog. "I Stood all Amazed!" God put dogs in our path. We were talking to one of our investigators and her neighbor came out with his dog so we quickly started talking to him and now he is an investigator. Then later we were walking and we saw someone who brought their dog out to make yellow snow so we invited her to be baptized and she said yes. Right before we were going to go her roommate came out with his dog! Its like God was telling us, "You need to invite him also". It was sweet. Anyway the quest thing is pretty fun and it seems to be working pretty well. Tonight after P-day we have to invite someone to be baptized by first complementing them on their shoes. 

Love you people!

-Elder (Andre) Johnson

p.s. Last night I had a dream I came home. I was happy to see all the family. But I was also pretty devastated. Sorry I'm not ready to come home yet. But I still love you!