january 30, 2012

Howdy,

 

I'm glad to hear about all the missionary oriented things that are happening in the valley! That makes me happy, we can all do more. The Lord works by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes, and we all play a part in this work! Just find someone quick, I don't want to hear that you went through withdrawals from your ice cream.

 

 Haha maybe if I stay out here for five years you'll find all of the CTR rings I've lost and the watches and the money, wallets, KEYS, all of my homework, mom's sanity.........

No just kidding but if you find any change in the couch it's mine.

 

President Perry came to speak to us in sacrament meeting yesterday. He spoke on his conversion and the reason the church makes sense. He tied it in perfectly with prophets and the restoration, which Sister Perry talked on. They also taught the third hour, and our investigators were able to be there too. WOW what a man. I wish you could meet him.

 

Teresa scared us last week. She didn't come to church and we hadn't met with her in a good 8 days and we kept calling but no answer. We went over there twice in 3 days and she was home but didn't answer. OH NO!!!! We had set up a lesson for tuesday and so we took President Pettaway with us and she wasn't home. There was a letter on the door labeled "To the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" I kept going back to all of the times my own mother had used my full name and what it always meant haha. I took it off the door and we were walking away, I was so scared to open it. So I didn't. Teresa pulled up as we were getting in the car and she looked embarassed to see us (she probably thought we read her letter). We talked to her and calmed her nerves, President Pettaway used the spirit and told her everything was going to be ok. She is back on track and when I asked her if she wanted us to read the letter she said no and I gave it to her. CRISIS AVERTED. whew. The devil is working on this woman, but she came to church yesterday, we taught her, and she keeps saying she is excited to be a member of this church. I am excited for her too :)  President Pettaway might have found her another place to live too, The Lord is opening up doors for this woman.

 

We found some new investigators this week too. I'll just give you an overview of what we're planning on doing this week. I have a hard time figuring out who to tell you about but I don't have time to tell you everything about everybody. I don't know, ok so Teresa is progressing well, praying, reading, set for Feb 4. Jose Mendez, part member family and another amazing story, is progressing, reading and praying about a date to be baptised. His real goal is to be sealed with his family in the temple so that helps. We asked HIM what the next step was, and HE said baptism. :) Tron has been investigating (yes, TRON, like the movie) for 3 years but we just barely got him. He reads and prays and wants to be baptized, he knows it's true. Said so himself, just won't make any changes. We'll see though. Jabena + Shawnell are our next door neighbors. Set for Feb 11, reading, praying, we taught them the Plan last night and Elder Richardson did such a good job. they haven't come to church yet though and we can't figure out why. Stacy is another that was found a couple weeks ago. Very spiritual first lesson and now she dissapeared. ARGHGH. Antonio baker is a member referral (best kind) and he has come to church twice with Sister Vagara. We taught him the Resto yesterday after he heard the Perrys speak and he said "there's no way I'm not coming back. I'm baptized, fellowshipped and paying my tithing" hahahahaha he is a funny guy but is serious. He wants to get baptised. CHEEAh!! So he will, also on the 11th of Feb. Mildred has only been taught About the Book of Mormon but hopefully we meet again this week. She's ready. Francis was taught the Resto and didn't come to church but we're working on it. She hasn't told us if she's reading and praying yet. Bobby and AJ are avoiding us. That's the way it goes in the hood, one spiritual expirience and then you never see them again. SAD. Kim is one we live right by, came to church and liked the book of mormon, haven't even taught her the Resto yet (she has adult add and we can't get a word in edgewise). William is an ex pastor who thinks he knows it all but his catch phrase is pretty cool, he seriously says it almost 30 times whenever we go over there "Why check in.........if you can't check out. Ya know what i'm sayin? Why check in to Hell, if you can't check out. It's like a hotel room you can't check out of. Why check in.... if you......." Good guy. Elizabeth is pregnant and told us to give her a couple weeks (again). Eshley, aka Rainbow, is not progressing but still wants to meet. Okey Dokey sure.. And Vicki told us that she is mad at us for telling her about the Plan of Salvation because she now knows where she's going and feels forced to accept Christ. That was a new take on the whole Eternal Plan situation I hadn't heard yet haha.

 

That's everyone we're working with so it's been busy and fun. I love you all! I Choose Christ!

 

Dad, you were spot on with your advise about using the priesthood with Teresa. SHE asked Pres. Perry to give her a blessing yesterday, and because of her faith, she's healed. I kid you not. She was teary eyed because of the pain in sacrament meeting. She had polio as a child and she looked at least one billion times better after that blessing. WOW what an expirience. I was privileged to be able to stand in on it. Good call Pops.

 

Ok I gotta go shopping but I love you again! Have a great week. Stay humble so the Lord doesn't have to humble you. I promise it's better.

Elder Andreasen.

Wazoo!