Letter from Michael 5-4-2015- 17 Months

It was a good week for us in Witbank. On Tuesday we had interviews with President Dunn. It was actually fun because he took us out to eat at Domino's Pizza and we took some pictures. Early in the week at a gas station there was a man who walked up to us and asked what happened to our window. The night before someone broke into his house so he thought perhaps someone robbed us as well. We talked to him for some time and he seemed very enthusiastic about families and the gospel. He is looking for the right church to join. We visited him and his family on Friday. They were very thankful for the message we shared about families. We gave him, Paul, a copy of "The Family A Proclamation to the World." Later that night he also came to family home evening at the church. He enjoyed it and said he felt he was at home. We introduced him to many of the members. His family was going to go to the church on Sunday but they all had the Flu. It started with the wife. 

Anyway, the family home evening this week was a huge success. Elder Novotny and I were surprised. there were about 60 members, less actives, and investigators who came to church. That is even more than the number of people at church normally. We watched "Meet the Mormons" since last time hardly anyone came. The people loved it and afterwards there was refreshments and games. It was like picture perfect. Everyone was happy and everyone was getting fellowship. 

Fast Sunday this week was also a huge transformation from what it used to be. Usually we sit in silence but this time. many people came up to testify and no awkward silence. In there testimonies many of the talked about missionary work, the family home evening, or a lesson we had with them that week. This was one of the best weeks I have seen for the Witbank branch. 

- Elder Johnson

Part of his letter to his mom:

We have a place to skype on Sunday. I will text you the time because right now I know not what time. 

The window is being replaced as we speak. We had to rip out the whole window on Last week Monday because it kept crumbling. I had nothing stolen.  Did you get Selena's pictures. Selena shared her testimony in sacrament meeting yesterday. We did not do the college class but we did find some families while tracting.

God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes we receive problems like a broken window or the house being robbed and might complain when really it is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps if the window never broke or if Paul was never robbed we never would have met or taught his family.  

Part of his letter to his dad:

We have always been teaching William as well. Or new phone stopped working last week. We fixed it though.

Michael then rewrote his main letter slightly differently and sent it. It is found below:

It was a good week for us in Witbank. On Tuesday we had interviews with President Dunn. It was actually fun because he took us out to eat at Domino's Pizza and we took some pictures. Early in the week at a gas station there was a man who walked up to us and asked what happened to our window. The night before someone broke into his house so he thought perhaps someone robbed us as well. We talked to him for some time and he seemed very enthusiastic about families and the gospel. He is looking for the right church to join. We visited him and his family on Friday. They were very thankful for the message we shared about families. We gave him, Paul, a copy of "The Family A Proclamation to the World." Later that night he also came to family home evening at the church. He enjoyed it and said he felt he was at home. We introduced him to many of the members. God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes we receive problems like a broken window or the house being robbed and might complain when really it is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps if the window never broke or if Paul was never robbed we never would have met or taught his family. 

His family was going to go to the church on Sunday but they all had the Flu. It started with the wife. 

Anyway, the family home evening this week was a huge success. Elder Novotny and I were surprised. there were about 60 members, less actives, and investigators who came to church. That is even more than the number of people at church normally. We watched "Meet the Mormons" since last time hardly anyone came. The people loved it and afterwards there was refreshments and games. It was like picture perfect. Everyone was happy and everyone was getting fellowship. 

Fast Sunday this week was also a huge transformation from what it used to be. Usually we sit in silence but this time. many people came up to testify and no awkward silence. In there testimonies many of the talked about missionary work, the family home evening, or a lesson we had with them that week. This was one of the best weeks I have seen for the Witbank branch. 

- Elder Johnson

Michael with his Zone and President & Sister Dunn

The broken window

Service Ideas

Michael, President Dunn, and Elder Novotny

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