JOHNSON IN WISCONSIN

Im having fun training. Elder Thompson is doing great and is an excellant missionary. He has a great testimony and vigor for the work and were doin great. He loves basketball and bowling just like me so things are great. Let me tell you how things are going: AWESOME! This is gonna be long but read it. Missions are the best experinces we can have in our lives. Yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life. This weekends confrence was the best ive ever seen. Particularly the last session yeasterday afternoon. The spirit was so strong and the talk that Elder Holland gave was so powerful. When he declared to the world that we have a liveing prophet and apostles that are inspired of God and recieve revelation. God loves us. He has sent his gospel to the earth. My mind caught reflection to the many other people and churches of the world that do not have confrence or a prophet. I was thinking of how much they miss out on and how fortunate we are to have that. I hope you were able to see conrence this weekend and if not, read every single talk. They are gods words and warinings to us that this world is getting worse and worse and the only refuge is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that this is his church. I have not a shred of doubt about that. President Hinkley then spoke i could feel his love and sincerity. He is a prophet!!!! God loves us so much!!!! We are so lucky to have this knowledge. I know he prepares ways for us to have spitiual experiences. The choir then sang the three verses of the Hymn and tehn they put the words of the first verse again on the screen "We thank thee o God for a prophet" I started singing with everyone else in the chapel and after the first line tears came into my eyes as the spitrit bore sincere witness to me again, just like it has many times past, that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and we have a savior that loves us so much. I havent cried very often but i couldnt help myself as everybody sang that verse. I love my savior and this mission experience. As if it couldnt get better, it did. I had the privlege of baptizing Jon Flippin right after the session. I began teaching him a month ago and to see the whole process was such a blessing. The closing hymn was The Spirit of God and Jon had tears in his eyes. What an amazing day for me. One i will never forget. What an honor to be an instrument in the lord's hands. Jon and i will be friends from here on out as he is my special convert i suppose you could say. This is why i came on a mission. To help others and boy have i gotten so much in return. I never thought it would be the experience it has been and to think i have 13 more months of this is awesome. Thats was yesterday, The rest of the week was great too. We started teaching Anna, the girl we met when we set up the table at the Univesrity. We had a great first lesson with her and were gonne teach her with members this week. She wasnt able to come yesterday which was a bummer cuz had she beem there she would have asked to be baptized. I think she will anyways. Aftere teaching her last week she wal holding the Book of Mormon in her hands and moing it saying "This feels really good, it just feels right" We told her that what she was feeling was the spirit. Oh if she ends up getting baptized how great will be my joy. Remember the carpet lady, Olive. She came yesterday evening to the last session and the baptism. Now shes told elders in the past that the was Episcipaien or whatever and she didnt need to get baptized but i think yesterday hit her. Were gonna see her again this week to help in her garden and talk to her about yesterday and invite her to be baptized. We'll see how she reacts. Missionaries for a few years have been working on her. We had interviews and our mission is starting a new program to promote member missionary work. Its called Prepare to succed. We teach a 21 day program of 4 visits to an active family and its supposed to get us member referrals which leads to baptism. So far this year out mission only has 166 baptisms but they have set a goal for 136 more by christmas (which would be about double the rate) so great things are happening out here. The lors's work is moving forward. Im so glad ot be a part of it and will never froget the experiences ive had on my mission. Have a great week and continue doing the best you can to live the gospel. Love Elder Benjamin Johnson