JOHNSON IN WISCONSIN

Hey ya'll,Another week has snuck by us. This past week me and Elder Anderson rode our bikes as we have the car 3 outta 4 weeks. It was a hot and humid week. I dont like sweating like it does out here, it all adds to the experience and also to my top 10 reaslons why i would never move back here. Bike riding was good exercise. Not a whole lot of excitement. Were doing a decent amount of teaching. Only have one real progressing investigator but she works alot and live a half hour out into the country so we done see her much but she's been to church a few times. Her name is Cynthia and she's 17 and she has been doing great. Her nephew Anthony, 9, was baptized here last transfer and she attended his baptism and confrimation and church a few more times and she told us that she has learned meore the past month than she has her whole life at the Catholic church. She pretty golden and will probably be baptized soon. As far as Steven is concrened, we had to move his date back a few weeks as he hasnt been progressing like he needs to to be baptized. Were not sure if its gonna happen. We'll see. Were working with a less active, Dave Timberlake who were trying to get ready to recieve the aaronic presthood and were working with a few more less active members and some other investigators as well. Its been pretty up and down lately. The mission certainly has not been a cake walk, some days its the greatest thing in the world and others i just wish it was finished..defenitly a roller coaster out here, the one thing i have noticed is that the lord has always lifted me and given me a boost when i need it. On Thursday morning we do weekly planning and i was pretty sick, my allergies have been killer the last few weeks and i was sick of being sick and we had no appointments all that day and i had no motivation to do anything, i just wanted to sleep all day. We finally left our apartment at 1:30 and i prayed that the lord would lead us to have a meaningful day and we did!! We taught 6 lessons and met a cool less active sister that hasnt liked missionaries for a long time but she let us in and by the end she was cool with us and we ended up going over to her house again the next day to paint out in the sweltering heat for 3 hours and she fed us dinner and we met her family, including a daughter that is interested and may soon take the lessons. The lord's hand is so present in the work and my testimony has been so strengthened these past 19 months. Its great to be here although tough at times. I just started reading in Isiah, its nice to have the Old testamen tstudy guide i scored for free in Madison to help me understand it. Ive also been studying the Law of Moses a lot recently and seeing how much symbolism is there. I intend to read books abotu the old testament when i get home as there is so much to learn in it. I really enjoy all of the study time i get on a mission. Did i mention that i gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday and I talked about Fathers and how important a role they play in the gospel. Read the first few verses of 1 Nephi 11 and Enos for examples. Im not counting down but i did start reading Psalms backwards yesterday. there are 150 of them and a lot of missionaries like to read the D&C backwards till they go home but that would be too long so i saved Psalms and i read 149 today. Its a lot a fun and worth while out here but id be a liar if i didnt say im really looking forward to finishing my mission and take what ive learned and progress through my next phases of life. I cant begin to express my gratitude for all the blessings ive recieved from my mission (even having to wear a smelly splint on my finger.) I love you and wish you a splendid week and hold to the rod!! Love Elder Benjamin!!