HEYO! SLAM DUNK GOLD IN THE BANK!!!!!!

• I got my pants fixed, I am going to go get them today, 15 dollars for everything 
• Yes, transfer calls were Sunday and we are staying six more, woo
• haha no just kidding though we are staying another transfer more and I'm excited.

Great week this week, although it's been crazy because the Salem sisters got booted out, so we are now covering the Salem Ward in full force and the Young singles branch. which is fine, we are just trying not to sacrifice quality for the quantity of time we have to spend on both. It should be pretty fun though. We now have like 10 investigators and a bunch of less actives so with all of the people we are working with in singles and in Salem we should just come home and pass out. That is what I want, to just work so hard we are just dead at the end of the day. YESSS!

Ok so here's the list, first, for the Salem ward, our investigators

Margie, and her daughter Felicia, who is a YSA. Felicia has a date set for July 7. Margie wants to be baptized and we will meet with her tomorrow night. I'm excited to meet them haha

Esmerelda, who's husband is a member. He wants to baptize her.......... She wants to be baptized............ cool :) she just needs to work on some things. We'll get her there. and then baptize her friends.....

Kim, also knows it's true and wants to be baptized, she has a crazy situation though. She lives with a member but is married to someone else? She is trying to get a divorce.

Sonya, she dropped the sisters but we want to at least meet her. Hopefully we can spark some interest.

Cory who loves the gospel but won't be baptized, we'll see what he's all about this week

The Edwards Fam, who have 2 non- members that requested Elders but we can't seem to get a hold on them. We will though, today we hope.

Dusty and Sherrin, no progression but we're hoping this week they will.

Alan - same, if he doesn't do anything this week we have to drop him :(

The Less actives include Liz, Chrissy, Tammy, Sis. Dunmire, Sis. Galotti, Edwards (again), and Valarie. Great!!! so much work.

Plus 4 or 5 recent converts.

Then we have the YSA branch investigators

Billy, hasn't come to church yet, he's scared to, but we are having a church tour with him this week if he'll call us back....

Daniel, lesson tonight, we'll be on splits so I don't get to teach him but hopefully good things!

Lacey, We had a thought to have a lesson at Melinda's house, who is in a wheelchair, I think I've told you about her. It should be good. We will have it this week and we were going to have the sisters teach her but now they are gone.

David - what a cool guy. He doesn't believe in Jesus but he keeps coming to church. He is praying still to find out if Jesus is the Son of God. He is just having a hard time trusting the Bible. Lesson on Saturday should be fun:)

Sarah- she knows the Bible in and out and says she finds contradictions with the Book of Mormon but she can't come up with any when we are there. She just needs to come to church and she would but she has work. We're just waiting for a window to get her in and help her find out.

Vanessa-Sarah's friend, comes to every lesson, does whatever Sarah says, a little frustrating haha

and then we have all sorts of recently baptized people that we are correlating with the Salem ward leadership and ysa branch leadership to make sure they are staying close to the gospel. It's so much fun! We are going to be pretty busy for the next while. Hopefully it stays this way and we can keep this teaching pool up. If everyone gives us one friend, then they give us one friend....... we could just baptize everyone! What a cool experience to be this busy and also watch over our missionaries. This is just too much fun!!

There were really no big spiritual experiences this week, but last night and this morning were pretty emotional and exciting. I got calls from Elder Wright, Elder Carpenter, and Elder Wheelock, all who fly home today and just wanted to say some last dying words. I was so touched. They each gave me advise and I am just so blessed to know and be friends and be influenced by so many young men and women out here serving. I'm convinced they are the best in the world. Elder Wheelock (my first zone leader) told me something that really meant a lot. He told me about the influence that I will have on others if I will live like the savior did. He said that the Savior did three things, he lived perfectly and was exactly obedient, served and sacrificed with love, and then invited others to better themselves. He has served as a mission leader for pretty much his whole mission, meaning he trained, was a district leader, zone leader, and assistant, and one thing that always impressed me was that he ALWAYS invited me to read a scripture and get back to him. ALWAYS uplifting me and praising my gifts, that's the type of leader I want to be. BUT, Dad, you taught me an important lesson too. You said "drop out of leadership mode and learn something from someone else this week" or at least that's what I got from it haha. So It's a balance, always learning and teaching, uplifting and being uplifted, edification happens as we use the spirit in all things. So, can I invite you to study some scriptures and get back to me so I can learn what you have to say about them? These are my favorite scriptures about the Atonement. Mosiah 15:9 esp. "standing betwixt them and justice" , D&C 45 3-5, and D&C 110: chapter heading and 1-5. Just envision the Savior standing betwixt you and justice, saying those words in section 45, and apply it when you partake of the sacrament. I LOVE IT!!! I hope someone can get something from that and that I can learn from your responses. I would love to discuss through pen and paper anything about the atonement :) :)

I love you all so much! Thanks for another good week :)

Love,

 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

P.S. I CHOOSE CHRIST!!!!!!

Another Great Week

Whew, another week down... Crazy CRAZY CCRRAAAAZYYY!!! It's funny you say this week went by slow for you, I felt the same way. I look back and it flew but it sure took a long time for it to fly by. Does that make any sense??

Mike got baptized! Woohoo!! IT was a great service, I'll tell you about it when I get to Saturday. I'll give you the investigator rundown eh? I sometimes feel like the rodeo announcer, sometimes the bull, sometimes the clown, but most of the time I feel like the rider. The investigators are the demolition derby that happens after the rodeo I think I haven't decided yet.

So Elder Narramore and I have decided to keep a stash of Pants in our van and every time we see pantless people we open up the side door of the van and yell "PANTELONES!!!" and throw their new pair of pants at them. We figure in this way we can help everyone live modestly, you'd be surprised at the amount of people not wearing pants in the city....

On a related note, Elder Narramore seems to remember that in elementary school, there was a boy who would decide every day who he liked most and would give his lunch to them. We aren't sure if he ever ate or not we'll let you know.

• Monday-Preparation day, We went over to Chessapeake and hung out at their apartment and played some games. Elder Miller and I also had a rambunctious time writing as many letters as we could. This night we had Correlation with Rajan (indian bml) and FHE with the YSA branch. FUN FUN FUN
• Tuesday- Taught a recent convert Denzel who is a song writer and his "stuff just got approved by the big dogs" so we told him he can either be an influence for good or for evil in the music industry and for the world so he chose good and has read his Book of Mormon every day this week. He got kicked out of his mom's house and asked us for a blessing and right when we got done he got a text with a picture of a bunch of people around a big table and they said the head of the company listened to his "stuff" and wants him to go to LA. He's really determined to stay the course and be an influence for good now, he has been using the B.O.M. as inspiration for writing songs. Look for DENNY WAYDE on the big screen eh? We went on splits this night to teach Mike and prep him for baptism and we figured out that his dad had passed away a year ago and told him all about the temple and he was crying it was great (haha) he really does live up to D+C 20:37 and is ready to help the church grow! Elder Narramore went on his split with a member to teach Darlene, RC, and they taught the restoration to her again, good stuff
• Wednesday-we just ran around in circles and tried to contact some referrals and helped some Elders out in a rainstorm. We did teach Mike again and we taught him at Brother Thomas's house. Can I tell you how much I love Brother Thomas? He is the High councellor over missionary work in the stake and is a stuDDD. He is just such a great man.
• Thursday was weekly planning (UGH) but it went really well, we FINISHED on time so that's a plus. We were setting up Mike's baptism and contacting referrals and tracting and we had two lessons fall through but oh well all's well that ends with a lesson at mike's house. He is so PREPARED!! We also visited an 82 year old woman who is amazing and she fell asleep holding my hand, then woke up and answered all the questions we had just asked her before she fell asleep. Pretty funny
• Friday-Zone Conference WOOO! So good. Pres. Perry and the assistants were inspired once again. I gained some good insight for myself and for investigators and more about real growth. How we can find with the end in mind and teach our investigators to live up to D+C20:37 and to stay active and one day live with our Heavenly Father. We taught a lesson to Trey, less active who requested a visit, he committed to come to church again and didn't, GRRR. He is making progress though, baby steps:) Elder Narramore took us out to RED LOBSTER for dinner on his mom for his birthday. I had this honey bbq chicken and shrimp. So good. Lesson once again with Mike and He is ready ready ready for his baptism.
• Saturday-Pretty much made some calls and whatnot while filling the font for Mike. Had a beautiful service and I conducted which was fun, I got to make some people laugh and have fun with Mike, Rajan Baptized him then winked at me, which is fine, and Brother Thomas gave the coolest talk on the gift of the HOly Ghost. We had a lesson with an Atheist, who said the world COULD HAVE begun with someone somewhere just playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons (my companions favorite) and he actually made me think a lot, everything changes if there is no God. It's crazy to think about. I'm just thankful for a testimony, conviction, and KNOWLEDGE that there is one. It makes the day more bright and the trees more beautiful, and gives us purpose. I love it. We had dinner with the coolest family tonight, The Tamanalavu family from FIJI. My new BEST FRIENDS!!! I played some ukelele and they gave us some beads and more chicken than I could ever eat in TWO sittings. They have a brother in the YSA branch named Pisa, who reminds me so much of Jadon it's sick, we hang out and he helps us teach. He's an RM from the Houston Texas mission. He actually served with Elders from my MTC district.
• Sunday-We had some good meetings and an ok Branch Council. I love our YSA branch, I feel like one of the group, making suggestions and helping the branch grow, we have really established a good relationship and because of that the Branch gives us referrals. We are just teaching peoples friends! It's the best way. Two sacraments is always fun. I have started this thing where I try to stay perfectly clean in between 9 and 1 and it hasn't worked yet but I have faith :) haha so a bit of a story before I go.....

Last week, the Kempsville Elders got a call to go give a blessing to a lady in the Hospital, named Jesse. We went with them and as I sat in the waiting room (only two could go into the room) The tensions were high with the family, some crying and others just sitting and some on the phone. Everyone was there because they knew she was to pass soon. A small portion of the family were less active, but mostly non-members. I couldn't help but think about when we were in the hospital for Grandpa Andreasen's heart attack and we all just sat there. I hate that feeling. If that ever happens again, I have the perfect solution. SING SOME HYMNS. I stood up and asked everyone if it was ok if I shared a message. I had felt the impression to sing be still my soul pretty much the whole time we were there so I gave a little message about hymns and I sang it. My comp. was so embarrassed at first because I don't have a very good voice but it was ok, they really loved the hymn and the tension seemed to lessen. We left our number and we actually saw them at church and set them up with some counseling through the bishop. Super cool. Then we got a call on Friday and they requested that we be at the funeral, but not only that, they wanted us to do a musical number....... oh boy. So we sang sweet hour of prayer? I don't know Haha it was ok it turned out well and they asked me to speak and I did. Go ahead and try to speak at a funeral when you don't know the person, WOW challenge but I just did what my Daddy does and testified of Christ. I actually did have a theme though it was how knowing that God is our Father and Christ is our Savior gives us the perspective we need to endure, I don't remember a word I said so I hope it went well :) haha I was grateful for the experience and we had a nice dinner, then we sang in the Salem ward choir (figured it was appropriate to just jump in since we are being requested and all, Bishop said we should go on tour.) Then we went to the ARP with Trey but he didn't show so we just went anyway.

Good week, I am having fun and our investigators are doing well. I didn't tell everything of course but I tried to tell you the good parts. I haven't written president yet and we are supposed to go to the zoo today. I am pretty stoked. This week we set some good personal and companionship goals and I am excited to keep working hard. I am so grateful for all of you and especially Ben, remember, I'm doing this for you.

I love you all! Send my love to the world and always bear your testimony! Everyone invite a friend to investigate the gospel. "like right now just call them it's no big deal we'll get em baptized and back with Heavenly Father no problem"- Rajan Tawari "I want to physically baptize you" -Also Rajan Tawari (read with an Indian accent)

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 20 Years

So...............

• Thank you so much for the birthday package :) I LOVED IT! Especially the silly straw and my Hammock. YESSSS! I want you to know that I had a real nostalgic moment when I opened up my hammock to show Elder Van Wagoner. Once a long time ago I randomly told Jordan Anderson to sign my hammock. He signed it "to peaceful sunny days" Jordan G Anderson. HAHAHAH YES!
• Good work on finishing the Book of Mormon! Woo! I love that book. Did I tell you about my expirience re-starting it? WOW I just can't get over Nephi's faith and the fact that he saw Christ's life and now I could hear more about it. That means a lot to me.

In the past months, the church has made a huge push on "Real Growth" basically to say that we need to help all others around us to receive all of the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for them. To "establish the church" as the Twelve and the Seventies are called to do in D+C 107. We are included in that. If anyone is interested, in the new ensign there is a talk called "The rescue for real growth" WOW I now know my job as a member and what really helped was that we had Elder Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve come talk to our mission. What a meeting. He really brought the spirit in the room. The one thing I want you to know that really touched me is that at the end, because the spirit was so strong, he pronounced an Apostolic blessing uppon us. In that blessing, among other things, he blessed you, my family, friends, and loved ones. That was quite the expirience. YOU ARE BLESSED!

 

Talk about real growth, wow! I had a conversation last night with Elder Richards in the Norfolk 1st ward who was struggling a week ago and he has totally switched to the other side. He is doing so well and last night I shared a couple things with him that were really cool. Basically I just tried to tie in what President Perry had said about us as missionaries being the example of real growth. I love that. It's so true. I helped him realize that "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" What a cool expirience to see him grow like that I feel like one of my own children is growing up haha. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have to help others around us to expirience real growth. 

This week was amazing with all of the meetings we had and the spirit that accompanied Elder Nelson. My favorite part was I was going to ask him how we could change our teaching and finding to help the church with real growth and he skipped over me and took a question from someone else but his answer was so amazing. When that Elder in the back asked about his investigator holding back because of family, he answered in such an amazing way and gave the most amazing example of teaching for real growth. "What we need you to do is to be an extention of your Heavenly Father and his purpose" what better way to explain real growth. I gained such a strong conviction of following the spirit in trainings because I had just trained on Moses 1:39 and how our purpose should be fulfilling our Fathers purpose, and how that is what we can do to help our investigators catch the vision. I am so interested in finding and teaching with the end goal in mind, there has been a fire lit in my life of extending that hand to EVERYONE around me to help establish the church. That is our purpose as members, to be JUST AS INFLUENTIAL in our sphere of influence as the Prophet is in his. I am striving to establish the church always, with everyone, to bear my testimony in every setting and to be a representative of Jesus Christ by serving all others. What a fun calling!

Our investigator with a date is doing well, he reads every day and comes to church every week. He is already converted and is so excited to receive the gift of the holy ghost. It seems as though no one else is progressing though which is a little discouraging but we are striving once again to prepare ourselves perfectly to find those Elect that will receive us.

I love you all so much and I am sorry I don't have all the time in the world. I could spend 5 hours on here bearing my testimony of Christ but I know he lives, he died for us, the sacrament is our connection to the atonement, I know my Father Lives and loves me too, I love you, what more can I say it's my BIRTHDAY!

Have a good week ya'all

 

Love,
Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen
P.S. I choose Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!