JOHNSON IN WISCONSIN

Last week was good, taught a lot more (still in search for some real serious investigators though, taugha new couple in a members home between sessions yesterday which was sweet but they gotta lot of hurdles to overcome) and boy was confrence awesome. Sat and Sunday morning sessions rocked. Was your testimony strenghtened? (dumb question) Mine sure was, another lego :)....I especially liked Elder Jensens talk about Hymns and conversion cuz some of my most spiritual experiences involve the hymns. It was almost 4 years ago that I sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" at the wilderness youth confrence. That day chaged my life. It was then that my personal tetstimony began and that day was when i decided to serve a mission, and now 17 months into it im I continue to see all the blessings of the gospel in my life. Over that sr. year i continued to watch my testimony grow and ive had a few more hymns that i hold dear to me that i recieved direct spiritual witnesses of this church. Leads right into the talk given by Elder Pace yesterday. Ive had too many direct witnesses that i cannot deny that have been rocks to my testimony, even when doubts and uncertaintity come in i cannot deny those experiences and i know this church is true and that the gospel is great, no matter what somebody trys to tell me (and belive me, out here people are alwyas tryin to sway us). There were so many other great talks given. If you didnt catch them all i would exhort you to check them out cuz they are God's words. (sorry to use scripture language, but im a missionary). In arenect email from Whitney she asked if i noticed how mush i have changed out here. Yes, i have notcied a big change in myself out here. The mission has changed me in so many ways and provided such an amazing experience to refelct upon. I love reading now, i used to hate it, but now i cannot get enough of the scriptures and gospel books, i have a nice list to acquire and read at home over the years. I love attending church and confrence because of what i learn there, not because its a great social place. I used to view confrence as drudgery but now i lesten intensly to each speaker noting how i can apply what they are teaching. My faith has increased, my testimony strenghtened. Ive learened humitilty and patience. I have learened how to deal with adversity, challeneges, disappointments and trials. I look at life in a different life always trying to see what heavenly father is trying to teach me during those experiences. My mission has taught me so many valuablr lessons and prepared me for my future and growth in the gospel and frowth as a son of God trying to return to him. Thats what this life is for, just ask Amulek in Alma 34. Were preparing to meet God and a mission is doing a great job teaching me how to do that better. Rm's always seemed so much different that those theier same age without a mission under their belt. I know why they are more mature and wiser. Ive benefited so much from my service in the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission, where God knew i could have these experinces that have blessed my life so much. I understand the roles of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in my life and witout them id be nothing. Im am so grateful for all the blessings in my life. I truly have been blessed with goodly parents and great friends in life. I wouldnt have asked for a better family. I look forward to the 6 weeks between Tahnksgiving and New Years that ill be home to spend time with ya'll. Of course you know i eventually gotta go off to college so hopefully that wont happen for a while. One things happeneg recently is ive been getting the question "how long do you have left elder?" When you begin your mission its' "how long have you been out elder" and now they wanna know when you go home. The number is 7 and a half months and that number keeps on getting smaller. Ah, its April already. In 6 weeks i get to call again. How fun. Well we have a huge zone p day at the park, there will be brats(its the big thing in Wisconsin, im not a huge fan but ill eat em anyways). There will be over 30 missionaries tehre. Zone confrence is a week early this transfer and every transfer they move the location to a different unit in the satke and guess where we get to go tomorow. JANESVILLE!!!! my birth place, my genisis. Im excited to get to vist there again, it will bring back great memories. I love you and wish you a swell. Week, mommy travel safely to Hawaii and take lots of pictures for me!!! Love yous so much. Take care, Love Elder Benjamin!!!!