Thursday, May 26, 2016

#StudyTeachTestify May 2016



Zone Leaders and President and Sister Johnson took the training from the MLC throughout the mission to all missionaries in the PPM.  The focus is the Book Of Mormon.  The Prophet Joseph called the Book Of Mormon the keystone of our religion.  President Ezra T. Benson said that it is the keystone in three ways:
 
“The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity.” 

Pittsburgh North Zone
Front:  Elders Beal, Chafin, Foster, Pennington, Ramos, Rayburn and Woodbury 
Middle:  Sisters O'Reilly, Crisp, Oliver, Nelson, Morgan, Bartlett, Meyers, Wilson, Johnson and Smith
Back:  Pres. Johnson, Elders Coburn, Wodbury, Miller, Walker, Schofield, Cahoon, Moon and Bates

“The Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the ‘fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.’ (D&C 20:9[;27:5].) … In the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. And they are taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation.”

Jamestown Zone
Front:  Elder Millis, Sisters Durfee, Jensen, Hansen, Birch, Schofield, Pena, Elder Aiken
Back:  Elders Elliot, Williamson, Walker, Pres. Johnson, Elders Story, Syndergaard, Kap, Wilson, Gull, Bell, Andrade, Bumgarner, Boyes and Elder and Sister 

Altoona Zone
Front:  Elders Haroldsen, Averett, Simmons, Uchityl, Holman, and Eubanks
Middle:  Sisters Hartman, Brown, Ewell, Wadsworth, Bowden, Wentzel, Paine, Campbell, DeMille and Simonsen
Back:  Elders Curtis, Mueller, Calaway, LaFon, Zubeck, Cook, Segon, Draper, Pres. Johnson, Robertson, Johnson, Hansen, Richens, Smith and Wilt

Williamsport Zone
Front:  Sisters Allen, Thorson, Samuelson, Farnes, Thompson
Row 2:  Sisters Roberts, Ewing-Di-Bari, Elder Samuelson, Sisters Morrison and Crockett
Row 3:  Pres. Johnson, Elders Swisher, Saylor, Halls (in front), Davidson, Kotter, and Selfridge 
Row 4:  Elders Holbrook, Holdaway, Smedley and Montgomery 

Harrisburg Zone
Front:  Elders Camp, Ibarra, Hinckley, Renteria, and Van Leeuwen 
Row 2:  Sisters Maya, Manumaluena, Roden, Harlan, Wyasket, Forrest, Kwasney and Palmer
Row 3:  Pres. Johnson, Elders Wilson, Gardiner, Herzog, Rogowski and Devey

Lancaster Zone
Front: Elders Baxter, Lundgren, Wood, Adams, Meija, Garduno and Vu
Row 2:  Sisters Sears, Smith, Busath, Welch, Hokafonu, Hale, Blake, Canseco and Collins
Row 3:  Pres. Johnson, Elders Duffy, Shephard, Elkins, Spencer, Mink, Tunquist, Gehrke, Davis, and Spencer

Chambersburg Zone
Front:  Elders Worsham, Howard, Hawley, Gray and Rose
Row 2:  Sisters Nevil, Huffaker, Noorlander, Faamaile, Evenson, Smith, Hamblin and Wall
Row 3:  Elders Iverson, Ross, LeBaron, Ainsworth, Perry, Wadsworth, Pres. Johnson, and
Elder and Sister Woolley

Pittsburgh West Zone
Front:  Elders Goeckeritz, Liston, Hughes, Bramwell, Posada, and Taylor
Row 2:  Elder Woll, Elder and Sister Christensen, Sisters Johnson, Roberts, Amendola, Durrant and
President Johnson
Row 3:  Elders Hummer, Halsey, May, Ord, Mills, Tengberg, Gee and Parke

“Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. ...if the Book of Mormon be true--and millions have now testified that they have the witness of the Spirit that it is indeed true--then one must accept the claims of the Restoration and all that accompanies it”

Pittsburgh Zone
Front:  Elders Lundberg, Ekins, Bryant, Loreto and Whitby
Row 2:  Elder and Sister Canaan, Sisters Simpson, Beutler, Stimpson, Penrod, McDonald, Taunima
Back:  Elders Pirzadeh, English, O'Keefe, Furniss, Christensen, Hansen, Baker, White, Nelson and
           President Johnson

President Johnson also trained on important training by Elder Elder Dallin H. Oaks 
"Each of us needs to establish holy habits and righteous routines!" - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Sister Johnson led a discussion on:
   FINDING STRENGTH BEYOND MY OWN
  Scriptures shared by members of the MLC
 
D&C 121:7-8                       D&C 6:36-37                John 16:33
 
Joshua 1:9                          2 Timothy 1:7               Moroni 7:29-30                  
                                                           
 Alma 26:27                         2 Cor. 11:9-10             Alma 7:11-13               
 
1Nephi 3:7                           D&C 84:88                  3 Nephi 9:14     
 
Alma 7:11-13                       Isaiah 42:5-6                Matthew 11:28-30              Alma 58:10-11
 
Moroni 7:29-30                    3 Nephi 9:14                Alma 26:12                         Romans 1:11-12
 
D&C 88:126                        Alma 29:17                   Psalms 27:1                        Proverbs 3:5-6
 
Mosiah 8:18                        Alma 36:21                   Isaiah 41:10                        Ether 12:27
 

 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Joyfully Entering In At The Gate



Elder Wilkins, Sister Butler, Anthony, Elder Butler and Elder White (Anthony baptized in April 2016)

Elder Moon, David, Sister Thompson,Taylor, Sister Amendola,  Jayden and Wyatt were baptized on April 16, 2016

Elder Bramwell, Earl and Elder Whitby (performed the baptism) May 2016

Sisters Crockett and Farnes with the Brimley family.  Karrie was baptized in May 2016

Sister Thompson and Sister Morrison with Nathanial and Hayden baptized on May 20, 2016


Sister Allen and Sister Roberts taught Kathy who was baptized in May 2016 and her mother. 

Elder Highes, Brother Berrett, James (baptized May 28), Jamie and Elder Taylor

Monday, May 23, 2016

New Little Investigator!

President Johnson and I were very excited to welcome a new little investigator into our family!  Meet our new grandson!

    Bradley Dean Wigington
    Born May 19, 2016
    Parents - Jeffrey and Rebekah Wigington
    Big Brother - David


Sweet dreams!

Welcome to the PPM

Welcome to the PPM!

                  Elder and Sister Canaan from Provo Utah will be serving in Pittsburgh
       

Friday, May 20, 2016

MLC May 2016




President Johnson conducting the Mission Leadership Council

Sister Johnson leading a discussion on "Finding Strength Beyond Our Own"



Elder Gardner was a guest at MLC who taught us a beautiful lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ


Elder Liston discussing the power of the Book Of Mormon

MLC (Sister Gardner center front also bore a beautiful testimony of the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in her life)





Elder Ord committing us all to #StudyTeachTestify from the Book of Mormon everyday!


Elders Millis, Renteria, Halls, Nelson, Hummer, Liston, Averett, Richens and Parke

Sisters Hale, Taunima, Hansen, Birch, Morrison, Gardner, Wall, Hamblin, Thompson, McDonald and Hokafonu 

Elders Ibarra, Baxter, Gehrke, Howard, Masina, Ord, Montgomery, Ramos and Whitby



Front:  Elders Baxter, Hummer, Montgomery, Averett, Gehrke, Liston, Masina, Syndergaard, Howard
Row 2:  President Johnson, Elder Ibarra, Sisters Taunima, Hale, Morrison, Gardner, Birch, Hamblin, McDonald, Hansen, Thompson, Wall and Hokafonu 
Back:  Elders Millis, Parke, Richens, Gardner, Halls, Nelson, Ramos, Cuthbert, Renteria, Ord, Whitby

New Mission Song


Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission Song
To the tune of 'Israel Israel God is Calling'


Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission is the place we've joined the fight! 
In His mission we will labor, with our strength, heart, mind and might!
And as saviors on mount Zion we'll share His word with all in sight!  
Then we'll see the Lord's great harvest, for the field is turning white. 

Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission,  to our God we will be true!  
We will teach with pow'r and purpose, for we know what we must do.  
O-Y-M and making phone calls in burrows, hollers, townships too.  
We will ever teach His doctrine, for we know that it is true. 

Pennsylvania Pittsburg Mission, is the place we'll do God's will ...
Learn and love and live the Gospel, see His promises fulfilled.  
For we know we'll see our Savior, when in glory He's revealed. 
We will kneel and give accounting, Oh how grateful we will feel!
Oh----how--joyful ---we---will----feel!

 


Words by Sister Akua Danso and Sister Rosemarie Johnson

Thursday, May 19, 2016

May 2016 Farewell and Best Wishes

D&C 11
23 Behold . . .  seek the kingdom of God, and all things shall be added according to that which is just.

24 Build upon my rock, which is my gospel;

25 Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things;

26 Therefore, treasure up in your heart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth.

27 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.

28 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world.


Piling out of the van for a hike on their final day in the mission.  

What can we find in the pond?
On the trail!










Back left:  Elders Stevens, Hyer, Sisters Sibley, Smith, Jex(behind), Davis, Blackwell, Elders Rackham, and Tengberg
Front: Pres. and Sister Johnson, Elders Gates, Haskins, Tidwell, Isom, Cluff and Woods 

Wounded in battle?  Sister Davis had an accident in the gym on P-day 10 days before she finished her mission.  We hope she has a speedy recover!


Back:  Sister Jex, Elder Haskins, President Johnson, Elders Hyer, Woods, Tidwell, Stevens and Cluff
Front:  Sisters Blackwell, Smith, Sibley, Davis, Elders Isom, Gates, and Rackham

!
Elder Gates and his parents!

Elder Tenberg flew home a few weeks later.  

Thank you for your dedicated service, for thrusting in your sickles with all your might!