March 2016 ZONE CONFERENCE in Cranberry

Faith unto Repentance

   Faith is a principle of action and power.  For people to come unto Jesus Christ we can:

Follow the Spirit as we carefully craft and adapt the message of the doctrine of Christ to their specific needs.

Make sure our message is focused on progressing towards making and keeping sacred covenants.

True conversion comes through the power of the Spirit.  When the Spirit touches the heart, hearts are changed.  When individuals ... feel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence of the Lord's love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened spiritually and their faith in Him increases.  These experiences with the Spirit follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment on the word.           -  PMG

PITTSBURGH NORTH and JAMESTOWN ZONE

Front row:  Sisters Wayman, Huffaker, Wadsworth, President and Sister Johnson, Sister and Elder Clarkson, Sisters Jex and Smith

2nd row:  Sisters Nelson, Oliver, Kwasney, Morrison, Elder Masina, Sisters Blackwell, Pena, Hamblin, Evenson, Birch, Busath and Jensen

3rd and 4th row:  Elders Elkins, Tunquist, Tidwell, Nelson, Smith, Miller, Wadsworth, Draper, Kap, Aitken, Ord, Millis, Halls, Foster, Mink, Rose, Cahoon and Boyes

5th row:  Elders Bates, Williamson, Rackham, Schofield, Woodbury, Liston, Uchytil, Wilson, Andrade, Bramwell and Hyer

Lunch is served!

These Sisters fed us so well!

Singing "Called to Serve" as a thank you to our lunch hostesses.

Elder Mink providing entertainment at the break.

March 2016 ZONE CONFERENCE in Greentree

"We have been called; we have been set apart; we are to be there; we are to open our mouths; and in the midst of doing that, we have to make sure we do not get in the way, because the Holy Ghost is the teacher.  We become that conduit – that vessel, through whom that power of the Holy Ghost can bless and touch these investigators who have sincere hearts and real intent."

             "Everything we do is intended to then invite them to act for themselves so that the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost goes into their hearts - invited through their own exercise of faith."

                                                                      -  Elder David Bednar

PITTSBURGH ZONE

Front: Elders Wood, Miller, Duffy, Sister Smith, Elder Syndergaard, Taylor, Lundburg and Worsham

2nd Row: Sisters Gardner, Butler, Welch, Buetler, Roberts, McDonald, Hansen, Johnson, Casler, Clarkson, Elders Clarkson (behind), Slade and Sister and President Johnson

3rd Row: Elders Gardner, Butler, Ord, Sisters Johnson, Campbell, Penrod, Thompson, Elders Gray, Ekins, Pennington, Gull, Cuthbert, and Geockeritz

4th Row: Elders Nelson, Whitby, O'Keefe, May, Garduno, Moon, Sister Amendola (below), Isom, Wilkins, and Redd

5th Row: Elders Devey, Klima, Mueller, Howard, Griffin, Hansen, Parke and Christensen

Lunch is served!

Left:  Sisters Roberts, Johnson, Hansen, Elder Ekins, Gull, Nelson and Sister McDonald

Left:  Elders Parke, Devey, Griffin, Whitby, May, Moon and Gray

Left:  Elders Cuthbert, Redd, Butler, Taylor, Christensen and Hansen

Left:  Elders Worsham, Slade and Gardner

Getting ready to sing ...

Three Sister Johnsons

President thanking our gracious hostesses!

Break-fast!

Sunday March 6, 2016 the missionaries in the Jamestown New York and Erie PA areas put on another "Why I Believe" fireside.  There were 40 missionaries singing with all their hearts, testimonies shared and some powerful video clips that edified and testified of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Elders Kap and Draper flipped pancakes for the missionaries before the fireside.

Brother DuPont drove the missionaries over and enjoyed some pancakes with them. 

Thanks Elders!

MLC March 2016

As a Mission Leadership Council we identified some of the concerns in our mission.

    Baptismal Dates

    Making and Keeping Committments

    Inviting investigators to church

    Finding

    Keeping people progressing

President Johnson then asked:  What is the example of Christ in solving these concerns?  Here are some of the solutions they found.

       Christ asked inspired question

       Committment is to God not the missionary

       Love is a powerful motivator 

       Christ taught about the proper authority

       He knew his flock and used the Spirit

       Taught by example

        A vessel of the Spirit

       Christ's purpose was clear

       He was bold but loving.

"True conversion comes through the power of the Spirit.  When the Spirit touches the heart, hearts are changed.  When individuals ... Feel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence of the Lord's love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened spiritually and their faith in Him increases.  These experiences with the Spirit follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment on the word."

       

President Johnson leading a discussion.

Elders Richens, Nelson, Averett, Liston and Masina

Sisters Crockett, Durfee, Wall, Smith, Ewell and Davis

Elders Gray, Parke, Mills and Gehrke

Elders Hyer and Millis and Sisters Birch and Busath

Elders Loretto and Montgomery and Sisters Roberts and McDonald

Elders Gee, Harley, Ord, Devey, Smedley and Baker

Front left:  Elders Harley, Richens, Averett, Liston, Gehrke, Baker and Grey

2nd row:  Elders Ord, Smedley, Loretto, Millis, Sisters Birch, Busath, Davis, McDonald, Smith and Wall

Back:  Elders Parke, Devey, Miller, Nelson, Masina, Mills, Gee, Sisters Roberts, Crockett, Durfee, Ewell

Far back right:  Elders Hyer, Montgomery and President Johnson 

"Sadie's Socks"

Our mission received a large box containing individual colorful P-day socks for each missionary with this message on each pair:

                                                                     Sadie's Socks

       Our daughter and sister Sadie loved being a missionary with all her heart and loved serving with all of you in Pennsylvania. Sadie also loved to wear bright and colorful socks.  Just like each of you, she would "pull on" her testimony of the gospel and love of the Savior every day in "full and living color" as she "stepped out" to serve and teach God's children.  We wanted to send you our love and prayers with the simple remembrance of Sadie as you carry on in your "call to serve".

       We know that Sister Wells would want each of you to "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ", having your "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel" and planted firmly upon our shared  testimony "that He lives" as you invite all to "follow in His footsteps".

Love,

Lee, Pam, Bryton, Maisie and Olivia Wells

     

Thank you to the Wells's Family for inspiring and lifting all of us through your steadfast faith in Christ!

We love you and will never forget Sister Wells and her vibrant testimony and colorful socks!

Farewell to the Hansons

"You can make the pathway bright, heal the soul with heavens light, if there sunshine in your heart;  turning darkness into day as the shadows fly away, if there sunshine in your heart today..."

                                                                                Hymn 228

Elder and Sister Hanson from Blackfoot Idaho have served faithfully for the past year here in the PPM. They have touched many lives for good through their bright and sunny examples!  We will miss them!  We wish them the very best as they return home to be met by their children and grandchildren.

At the overlook in Johnstown where they served.

In a recent district meeting.  

Elders:  Beal, Woods, Robertson, Bumgarner, Holman and Wilson

President and Sister Johnson and Elder and Sister Hanson

Excellent News

The following is an update President Johnson sent the missionaries yesterday.  

"Sister Johnson and I drove to the East side of the mission this morning and were able to see all three of the sisters who were injured in the car accident February 9.  We have excellent news to report.

 

Sister Young has made remarkable progress.  She is sitting up, talking and feeding herself regular food – she had pizza on her plate when we walked in.  Importantly, she has that glow about her that one always felt in her presence and that made her a truly outstanding missionary. One of the trauma doctors told her parents that they had not dealt with a case quite like hers and that her progress has been “miraculous”.  There is still some concern about infections and other issues that could derail some of the improvements, but she is making great strides down her long road to full recovery.  Her parents have been by her side every minute and have provided amazing support.

 

Sister Faamaile has made so much progress that her doctor cleared her to go back to work.  This afternoon she returned to Shippensburg where she was joined by her new companion, Sister Noorlander, who will help her complete the last six weeks of training.

 

Sister Douglas has also made real progress.  However, her concussion was very severe and will require her to return to Utah tomorrow, where she will complete the recovery and recuperation.  She very much wants to stay but recognizes going home will help ensure a complete recovery.  She is excited for the day when she is fully recovered and will return to complete her mission in the PPM.  Her mother has been with her and Sister Faamaile 24/7, in the only trio that involved a Trainer, a Junior Companion and a “Senior/mother”.

 

Thanks to all for the prayers that have helped get these three sisters to this point on their recovery journey.  All have expressed a deep thanks for the prayers, kind words and thoughts offered on their behalf.  Keep those prayers coming as they will be needed in the weeks and months ahead."

 

God bless,

 

President Johnson

Sister Young in the Intensive Care Unit at Hershey Medical

With her parents

Sister Anne Douglas with Sister Faamaile and Daughter Sister Douglas