IT PROCEEDETH FORTH FROM THE MOUTH OF A JEW

Heyo!

Let's go over the housekeeping items first........

Thank you for your emails! I loved them!

• Dad, I got your skype info and I will give it to the member that we will be with on Mothers Day. We don't know who it will be yet we have a couple options but we'll let them talk to you and set it up so we are good to go that day
• HAHAHAHAHAHA Yes Mom, I WAS pinching Elder Miller's butt. How do you DO that? My comp actually got mad at me because someone saw me do it haha. I love you
• I loved that story about the old lady 50 yrs later thank you.
• I have discovered the Ukelele and there is one @ guitar center for 20$ so I am going to get it ok? I am actually pretty good. Get ready to rock out skype style I'mma play you a song I wrote.
• So I gave my scripture case to a recent convert who needed it. Can I get a new one please? Sorry....... If you send me one I'll probably give it to him and just take my old one bck. Just a regular case that holds a tripple.... sorry again.
• Will you send me my hammock for my b-day? I actually found one out here but now I need two for preparation day so just slip that sucker in there if you can.
• We always get our packages so no worries.

Ok now that that is over down to the good stuff!

This week we have been working hard to help all of our investigators prepare to receive the ordinance of baptism and confirmation by using the nightly planning guidlines to focus on those investigators that are prepared and to prioritize our work. We have been starting every conversation with testimony also. That is one thing I really worked on while I was on exchange with Elder Rogers, (assistant) . We had a great exchange and I learned the importance of study in the morning that is really laser focused on investigators. Elder Rogers invited me to study every day this week for investigators in personal study so that we can come together in companionship study with revelation and plans for our lessons that day. I like that idea. I have always used personal study to learn the gospel better while keeping investigators in mind, but never blocking off time to actually study for each investigator we will teach that day. I am thankful for our assistants. Elder Farr and Elder Rogers are truly inspired and focused on helping me personally. I think that is important that each missionary can feel love from their leaders and I can see how that would apply to investigators as well. Leadership is about having a personal relationship with every missionary and so they will follow you into places they wouldn't otherwise go. I am learning so much from the example of other missionaries.

We have been working with 4 recent converts that are doing so well, Jearvin Sosa, who was just baptized in the Kempsville ward, has now started coming to the singles branch and we are getting him some great fellowship. I am very thankful for the YSA members here, they help us out so much with fellowship. Also, Josh Debres is another recent convert we are working with, he was just baptized in the last month and he was ordained a priest yesterday! He wants to bless the sacrament, so he will this next week. I want to let you know that Josh Debres understands this gospel and is already a great missionary. He is 34 and he reminds me of you! He will serve so well in any position and is excited to see his progression in the gospel. Another one is David Davis. He is doing so well. He and Josh have joined together and are learning quickly about the organization of the church. We meet with them once a week and are really enjoying ourselves as we watch them go from investigators to part of the Salem Ward family. The fourth recent convert we are working with is James Currin. He is not progressing as fast into the gospel but we are helping him to blossom as a member and really showing him that this gospel is a way of life. We are confident that he understands as well we just need to find him some solid friends.

Less active members are a whole different story. We have really been blessed because both the salem ward and the YSA branch understand that it is their responsibility to bring back those who have fallen but they know that we are here to help and we have returned and reported many times on lists that we have been given. Mostly it's just the dirty work of finding people that the Elder's Quorum President has never even met. That's ok though, we just plan those things under finding and prioritize it so we are also finding the non-members that they live with to help them receive the gospel too!

 This week my prayers have been answered and I have found that most of our companionship disunity was because I was looking for the mote in my brother's eye in-stead of fixing the beam in my own. Everything works out if we just do everything we can to be obedient. I have learned once again to humble myself and turn to The LORD. My goal is to figure out how to do that BEFORE being compelled.

Our investigators are the BOMB! We had another lesson with Mike and he is so ready. We started out as missionaries and now we are such great friends. He drives a 2012 Camaro SS and he keeps tempting me by telling me I can drive it. It sounds like a dinosaur..... RAAWR

Billy is progressing as well, he still has a date, but won't be baptized too soon. The end of may. He is working on his testimony and he's scared to make changes but that's why we are here!

We met a native american lady who lives in one of William's houses. (he owns 4) She is so stoked about baptism and she is looking for a church. We haven't taught her any lessons except the resto on the street the first time we met her. GREAT STUFF though she is amazing.

I have a short story to tell you. I was on exchange and on a bike in bayside. We have a ysa investigator named Aiden that lives in Bayside so we just stopped by. Long story short, we just tetified and taught Christ's atonement and saving power. If anyone cares to read an amazingbook on Christ there's one called believing Christ that I think I have already talked about but we gave him an analogy from that and he totally broke down and we figured out every reason why he wasn't progressing. MIRACLE!!! WOO!!

Wazoo everybody, I love you and I know that this combination of authority, organization, principals, ordinances, gifts, blessings, commandments, and The plan of salvation is the same that was taught by Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus Christ. It's all in the book!!! I love the Book of Mormon.

Love you all and have a great week!
-- 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

LET MY PEOPLE GO!!!

So Elder Miller left right? but he left me with a little gift.....

A baby blue baptismal suit:) haha he gave me a onezee. What kind of a gift is that? A full size man-onezee and I'm bleaching it today so when I sleep at night I can stay focused on BAPTISMS!!! Yes, I DID commit to wear it for the rest of my mission so don't be surprised if you see some pictures of me in a baptismal suit around our apartment it's just a white onezee.

I know what you're all thinking, and NO, it doesn't have a flap in the back.

Ok, so.....

This week was a long week. Thank you so much for the letters. Dad, you are the MAN! I loved your letter. Mom, your letter was so sweet and I am so thankful for you. Also, what a BONUS!!! T-birt pulls through with the winning shot and brings it all back around. WOO! I love hearing that Tanner is staying close to the Lord on a personal level and is planning on serving a mission. GOOD FOR YOU BRO!!

I have a journal entry I'd like you to read, it comes from yesterday, in sacrament, I have decided to give up on writing in my journal @ night and just write in it whenever something cool happens.

         So William Oneal got baptism yesterday (that's the way he says it, he is a slower gentleman and a sweet sweet spirit) he is a heavyset man, in his 30's, and a very special soul. My love for William has grown so mch in the past couple days. Yesterday was a beautiful day. We stressed so much about Williams baptism, was he going to show up? Was anyone going to come? We also had no Idea what to do because we couldn't find any baptismal suits. We were running around calling every companionship in the zone trying to figure out who had a baptism and used the suit and we were so stressed we didn't even think about just letting William use Elder Narramore's stufff. William was on time, (miracle) and it was a small meeting, but it was accompanied by the spirit. I kept a copy of the program. William was just beaming and he even teared up a little after he was baptized. He just kept saying "You don't have to worry about anything, you just need to get baptism" He really understood as we talked about the spirit and now i'm sitting next to him in sacrament. He just got confirmed and is listening intently to the talks. he is a funny man, he will open the hymn books and not sing, he rides a scooter everywhere, he works two jobs though and comes straight from work to church. He came today in the pouring rain in jeans and a t-shirt but he packed the back of his moped with a white shirt and tie that he could put on when He got here. As we pulled up to church today we saw William, standing in the rain next to his moped in his helmet. I just was overcome with love for him. I went over with an umbrella and helped him get out the white shirt and tie. We went in the building and the whole congregation waited like 5 or 6 min while we went to the bathroom and I buttoned up the top button of his shirt because he couldn't get it. We talked him through his confirmation and then I tied his tie and put it on him. HAHA He was just so excited."

      I don't know, I just have never felt that amount of un-conditional love for someone. He is a little difficult to work with, but none of that mattered. He had such a good time at church that day. The members caught on and congratulated him. He feels like one of the family and he undoubtedly is. ANYWAY, I just wanted to say, you love those whom you serve. I am so excited for the opportunity I have to be here and to see things like that. Just little moments that let us know God loves us.

I want you to know that I know you are loved by Heavenly Father. The trials and the pains that we go through are just more and more evidence of that. We may pray for sunny days and easy pay but God knows that we need much more than that. He blesses us with opportunities to strengthen our faith, opportunities to repent, we are tested and tried constantly because he needs a strong willed and experienced people. The only way our burdens will be lightened is if we accept that the Savior is "mighty to save". He has already been through this. He knows what I feel. He has given us the way to peace, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." I know that peace is not the point where we can stop working and relax, it is help in our labors.

I love you all so much!!!

Keep being who you are and try your best every day.

"if we only knew the real value of a day" anonymous

"Whatever you are, be a good one" Abe Lincoln

"Whetere thou art, play thy part" Anonymous

Whatere thou art, be a good one" Abraham anonymous

Love,
Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

AW man that was my favorite hat

HEY AAAAALL!??!

AH what an email this week, I'm printing it off for sure. I love you guys so much!!! Dad, your counsel was perfect as usual. I really enjoyed and took a lot from that story of your district. That was awesome. So Elder Miller has been here since he got out (with me) This was his first area, he was trained, trained, led a district, and this transfer is being moved to Chessapeake to be a Zone Leader. WHAT A MISSIONARY!!! He is such a good missionary and I take a lot from his example. I'll see him still.
I don't know what is going to happen to Elder Case I haven't figured that out. There is a ton happening here though. So many missionaries getting transferred. CRAZY. We are doing a zone preparation day today though. MINI GOLF YAYYAH. Yeah I played the piano. Simplified Hymns :) Don't judge me I've lost a lot :( Do we have any flash cards or anything? Can you send me some theory books and that Hannon technique book? That would help a lot.
I have Zander's address but not on me. Has Jordan gotten any of my stuff? I sent him a package and a letter. I need to know. I got your Easter package thank you so much!!!! I think Skype is a good Idea, I want you to see my high-n-tight combover ;) It's sweet. Elder Miller cut it for me.
This week was a quick one but we got a lot done. William Oneal will be baptized this Saturday hopefully. I think I may have told you a little about the new branch mission leader in the Tidewater YSA branch, but I just want to say he is the best thing that has happened to that branch in a while. We set another person with a date! Woohoo! for May 19, his name is Mike. We are really trying to apply Sister Perry's council about Baptism being our main goal and purpose. WOW how well that correlated with the YSA BML. Every lesson with him we just say the word baptism so much that it's no surprise in the end that that is the reason we are there. In stead of saying "Joseph smith was confused about which church to go to" we say "Joseph Smith wanted to know which church to be baptized in" or in the place of "The priesthood was restored back to the Earth" We say "the authority to baptize you correctly has been restored" when we talk about the savior, it's all about his baptism and his authority which he had and gave the apostles to baptize. It has proved itself so far. If we asked most of our investigators "why do you think we are here?" we would get some weird responses. Oh, they bring the spirit here to help us come to church, or yeah, they are really nice guys. A ton of investigators have no idea that we are here to prepare them for their own baptism, but not any more! Our purpose is to help them receive the restored gospel through faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. Nothing else even matters. It's cool to see people get excited about getting baptized when you do it that way. Anyway, I thought Mike was a member haha. He has been there every week and in a shirt and tie. He makes comments and stuff in class. I just assumed. Then we asked around and found out he was an investigator. So yesterday when we saw him at church we just kept him back in priesthood and taught a little lesson right there and committed him to be baptized in a month. He is excited. WOW MIRACLE.
I know I have said this before but I do need a GPS. There is a good chance Elder Narramore will get transferred next transfer, so we have six weeks, but if we didn't have his GPS we would get nothing done. Working with the whole VA beach stake is just too much to learn the map. It has taken me until now just to learn the Salem area and I have to get around the whole stake. So, just let me know. There is a pawn shop here that has two garmin GPS's and they are both $70. I thought of some other things but I can't remember now. I'm good on socks and underwear so what else do I need? Maybe just some nice ties. I love the brand Apt.9 @ kohls. I bought a purple one and loved it. The skinny-er style. also, I need some handkercheifs. Like a stack of 7 or 10 that I can just throw in the washer. ummm..... Idk can I just do missionary work on my birthday? It's actually on a preparation day so we are planning on going go-karting. We actually got that approved so can I? Please?!?!? :) Just let me know I would need to spend money from home on that. I bought some stamps and sent a package to Claire last week, that was the money spent there. 

Well my beloved friends and family, I bid you adeu. I love you all so much! I am going to have so much to tell you when I get home....... I just can't fit my week into this measly email. :/ 

I am so thankful to all of you for your support. Especially you Mom. And Dad. Tanner.....send me a letter:) haha I LOVE YOU! MMMUUUUUAH!

 Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ :)

Always Happy To Hear From People In Virginia

We thought you might enjoy these photos we took of your son this morning. We took him and the other elders shown, out to see the ships and then to share lunch. Congratulations on raising such an outstanding young man. He is a remarkable leader and very effective missionary. He has brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to our efforts here. We particularly enjoy his sense of humor. He is one of the best loved elders in the mission. Thanks for sharing him with us.

Elder and Sister Flake
Military Relations Missionaries

HAPPY EASTER!!

Hello Fam!!!!

And all others reading this we consider you family also,

First off, Dad, thank you so much for that thought about Helaman and the strippling warriors. That's cool:)

GRANDMA ANDREASEN!!! Thank you so much for being my Grandma! I love you and I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

This week was so good, and ended with a bang. Yesterday, Easter, was one of the best Sundays I have ever been alive for. Elder Berg (Elder Miller's comp.) was sick so Elder Miller and I were together all day for THREE sacrament meetings. The first one, the Salem Ward, was good and the spirit was there but after sacrament we left to take the sickly elders back to the appartment so we missed half of it. Then at the end we met this lady named Robin who is one of Elder Miller/Berg's investigators. She was crying and explained how frustrated she was, torn between her church and this one. She wants our church to be true but has never felt the spirit here. We explained the type of feeling she should be searching for and promised if she kept an open mind and heart that day during the Kempsville ward sacrament meeting she would feel it. We told her we would pray for her the whole meeting. I got to stand in the circle for two of Elder Miller's new member's conformations (mouthfull) then the bishop of the Kempsville ward gave the most beautiful talk on the atonement and there were amazing musical numbers. Brother Heintzelman, who I interviewed for baptism, was sitting next to me just crying!!! I started tearing up haha. So after the meeting we went up to Robin and she said "it worked, I can't believe it worked" So I just said "what does that mean then?" She said she'll be coming back and she set up a lesson with elder Miller. So then we were off to the YSA branch. We met a new investigator last wed. that has jewish background named Clarissa, she thinks Jesus was a cool guy but didn't believe he is the son of God. We explained the atonement and the fact that we can not pay for our own sins. It was a cool lesson. She is the personal chef of a member that is in our ysa area and she is so cool. We told her we would fast all day sunday so that she could feel the spirit and get an answer to her prayers to know if Christ was her Savior. We did and she came and the sacrament meeting was full of the Spirit and amazing talks about the Atonement. PERFECT!!!!! She loved it. She understands!! She just has to figure out if she believes it now. (She does I can tell) ;)

Also, Lacy came. Can you say PROGRESSION?

We had some amazing things happen and we were very blessed. I don't have any time because I'm really slow at doing numbers and typing so I hope this does it justice. I have to go but I love you all so much!!!!!

Love,

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

P.S. I feel so rushed in my life right now.......

but I still choose Christ :)

Tell Seth and Jason GOOD WORK!!!!

Oh just a didgerydoo real quick

I love you all so much!

So this week was really fun. We did a ton of service including two days at this lady's house in Sandbridge weeding her garden and then planting a bunch of flowers. And shrubs.

We haven't taught too many lessons this week which is a bummer. We did have FOUR people come to general conference though. That was a HUGE blessing. One was a YSA named Lacy who has only been taugh one lesson but we got her a ride to the Stake center yesterday and she came and loved conference. It was the coolest thing to see all of the 19 or 20 year old ysa girls just flock around her and get her number and she wants to come to church next week to hang out with them.  she has been reading and praying. I think it's only a matter of time now.....

William Oneal keeps calling us and saying he can't afford tithing but he's going to try. He should be getting baptized on saturday and we are just HOPING that will happen. And praying of course.

Dusty and Sherrin keep missing appointments and putting us off. :( We'll get back with them soon I hope.

We have some promising referrals to contact this week and we are stoked to get back in to finding mode. We are going to start meeting with at least one member each day and helping them desire to do missionary work by simply bringing the spirit in and letting them set the terms for their own work.

I'm sorry this week is so short, but I feel like we really didn't do much. I did love conference though! There are so many distractions to being a missionary. Phone calls, numbers, meetings, struggling missionaries, sometimes I wish I could just get back on my bike and go down the street again. But, we are still so blessed to be able to serve all of these missionaries and still have two areas to cover. I've never been so stressed. It's a lot of highs and lows, but The LORD still finds a way to get us to the living room of prepared investigators and to give us the spirit we need to discern needs. I love it! Somehow things always just work out.

I hope all of these pictures send and you get to see my favorite video of the week.

Wazoo!

Thank  you all for your support I love you so much!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Andreasen

P.S. I choose Christ!!!!
Tanner better write me soon!!!!!!!!!!