October 31 2011 - HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HEy everybody!

 This week just flew by, I can't believe I've almost been out one transfer. Tell grandma that I did baptize Marie in between classes. She said the word baptism so we just took her in the basement and did it right there! Just kidding, I just felt prompted to ask her to get baptized, and she said yes. We have had similar expiriences with Marie this week and we taught her three times. She just loves having these "little surprise parties" and she is gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon, she is seeing the aplication of it in her life. I love that about the Book of Mormon, it applies to us all. My favorite part in any lesson is when I pull out a copy of the Book of Mormon and hold it out in front of me, and testify of how much I love it, of how much they are going to love it. People can really connect with something if you can just look in their eyes and tell them you love it and it will change their life. this is the best work and the most dissapointing work you'll ever do" I always heard that but now I understand. I have never felt such high highs and low lows. Not like this. I can't get enough of this:)

I got an e-mail from Elder Green today! And Elder Lawson. Very refreshing to hear from those guys. I still have yet to hear from Blake or Brock. HOLY COW WE ARE AT A NEW LIBRARY AND I ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT>

And thus was my e-mail last week. haha Mom, I am so sorry I didn't get to press send last week and I want you to know I e-mailed President Perry already so you are the first one I'm writing today because I was so heart broken that I got a letter from someone named "angry mom" I laughed at first but then I felt really bad. I apologize. I will not be transferred. The new training is a 2 transfer training and it lays out our day to day study so I am being trained very well. I can't believe I've been out here six weeks it's so nuts.

  The weather here is so much like Utah so far. We have days where it's 60 and sunny then it's 40 the next day. This morning was the first morning there was any frost on the cars so it's starting to get pretty cold here. On Saturday we biked like 16 miles, clear to the end of our area and back twice,  and despite the huge coat you sent me and my gloves and ear muffs it was so darn cold. But we did find a ton of people that day it was cool. 

  So an update on Cedric- He dropped us. We knocked on the door and his wife was like yeah, he's not home. (we could hear him in the other room) I asked how they were doing and she said good but stop coming by because Cedric was going to stick to the bible from now on and they have nothing against the Mormons but they just like the bible too much to read another book. I tried to say something like "but we love the bible, I read it every day!" but she slammed the door. I was a little sad but that's the life of a missionary. 

 We meet with Marie almost every day. The most time we've had between lessons is 3 days it's so awesome. She called me the other day because she had just seen someone get hit by a car and she went and helped the person (she's a nurse) she put her coat around the lady, checked her leg, and then she said something really sweet. I'll tell you in her words. Keep in mind she had at least 8 cups of coffee this day and was wired.

    "So I did a head to toe check on the woman, she was doing okay. The boy who had hit her was a VCU student and was freaking out and crying and didn't know what to do so after I got the lady situated I stood up and told him to calm down. I told him he did the right thing and that God would bless him for stopping to help in stead of driving away" she went on to say afterwords " those were not my words! They can't have come out of my mouth. I want to thank you Elders for coming over here and teaching me because 2 weeks ago I wouldn't have said anything like that" 

  After she was done telling us that story, I asked her how many cups of coffee she had had that day. She said none, then admitted to 8! Ha ha we had committed her to stop drinking coffee last week and I could tell she needed help keeping this commitment so we had a really spiritual lesson about the plan of salvation and committed her again. She didn't want to, but we PROMISED her she would be blessed and she said OK, I'll try. This was Saturday night. On Sunday, she came to church and was so awake and ready, it was really funny because she kept apologizing for having no makeup and no stockings because she didn't have her cup of coffee this morning. HAHA I was laughing so hard, she is hilarious. My point in telling you this though; When you give up the things that God asks you to give up, he blesses you. Even when you don't see a reason for it, you do it. Marie is applying this and it is so fun for me to watch her learn and grow. I love these people so much! Richmond city, the rough downtown part, has so much talent and potential I could cry. There are all sorts of amazing artists and little kids who do things like painting, tap dancing, violin lessons, and get straight a's. These people are so so cool and I love them. Pres. Perry told me in a meeting that I will be serving in areas like this my whole mission because that's just who I am and that's where I belong as a missionary. He is an inspired man. I love it here and we are really starting to see some success. 

   I am not a perfect teacher. I actually skruggle (hood talk) a lot with being simple. I just want to tell them everything at once! It's really hard but Elder Tramell and I are starting to really click and when we are simple, the spirit is there. The spirit testifies of simple truths and that's what I'm trying to do right now. Just a fun fact, something I'm working on. If you want to read something that says a lot in just a few words, read Preach My Gospel. It's so amazing. 

  I am doing very well out here. Mom, it sounds like you are doing well, and I'll be praying for your second surgery. I love getting mail from you! I will be sending you one soon. We have to stay in all night tonight because of Halloween so I have time to write :) I hope and know that you are being blessed for your faithfulness and it sounds like you have attended a lot of meetings lately! I absolutely love church. I don't have time now, but next week ask me to tell you about Joanne and Stone. Some of the most amazing people I have ever met, mother and son. I know you will appreciate their story. Have a good week and I love you.

 Dad, you are the man. I love getting your letters. They always uplift and inspire me to be the best person I can be, not only as a missionary, but as a man. Thank you for being my friend.  We have a unique relationship that I am very thankful for and we are blessed to have it. I strive to do the things you do and say. You are my biggest role model and I wish some of these kids in Richmond could have a Father like you to shape them into who they can become. I love you

 

  T-bird

I just made that up

What the heck man? I miss you. I have learned so much in the time I have been gone. I want to tell you everything, but there just isn't enough time. Remember the time we were in Iowa and that wolf tackled you? I told that story in a lesson haha it was sweet. I don't know why I told it but it was funny. We've had some good times man. I miss going on trips and always having you by my side. I have a new comp. now but you will always be my companion and the best brother I could have asked for. It's me and you buddy, we're going to have a lot of catching up to do after we both serve. I love you!

I'm having a good time out here and loving the people. Have a blessed week and WAZOO!

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen