Waffle Day and I had waffles for breakfast...1.5 waffles, I was HUNGRY

Hey Ya'all!

I have been in Eastern Shore since yesterday, we went down there to talk to the missionaries and hang out and go fishing. We caught two sand sharks, one sting ray, a bunch of crabs, and some cool photos, I'll send them soon. I kissed the shark on the mouth.

I am dead dog tired. Last week was a blast. Esmerelda didn't get baptized because her grandma-in-law died in Arizona and they were planning on leaving Friday night to go to the funeral. Then we see them yesterday at church and I guess they brought the grandma back to life? They said she was dead for 2 hours and they revived her. WOW. I don't know. Anyway she is set to be baptized on July 7th. yoohaa

I can't wait to get home and see this balloon in the house, maybe YOU have stolen the fizzy lifting drinks.

If you have more of that suit, send it on over! I love it so much. I have been very sad without it. Don't get me wrong, I love my other suit, but that one just GETS me, ya know? I would love to have the other one too :) Thanks. And that wear on the pockets was from my planner, I've started putting it in my shirt pocket, but then my pockets start to sag. I don't know, either way, two years will be pretty hard on all these clothes. I'll figure something out though.

Maybe if we are close to Kohls I'll look for that tie for Elder Miller, so don't worry about it. If I can't find it it's whatever.

Dad, my hands smell like fish still from earlier, I miss the smell of fish. It was cool today you would have loved it. We just bought some minnows and squid and put bottom riggers on. I caught the first shark then nothing else but it was probably one of the biggest fish I've ever caught. It was small for a shark but it was a fight coming in. Anyway sorry about the fish stories....

Esmerelda, July 7th. Woohoo! Margie and Felicia, still July 7th. Woohoo! We thought we were gonna lose em but it was cool how Elder Narramore really felt some inspiration on the matter. Margie, during our lesson, had said that she didn't feel comfortable being baptized yet and that took away from Felicia's strength too, so it scared us. We know they will be baptized, it's just a matter of when, so after the lesson we confirmed with Felicia that July 7th was the day. Her boyfriend was going to do it too but he hasn't come to church yet so there's not too much effort there but he does read with Felicia so there's something there. Elder Narramore said we should back off of Margie and just teach Felicia and I was a little torqued. After all we had done and said to get them here we just back off? He said we had been too pushy with her and it wasn't good to let her be baptized just to let her be baptized. I knew that, but It didn't seem like a good Idea, because with Margie if we don't say it she never will. In preach my gospel it says "people will not likely change unless invited to do so" and I am more of a "find the need and teach to it" type of guy. I really didn't want to, but we planned to just teach Felicia and not Margie. GRRRRR. We prayed that the Lord would soften Margie's heart and that as we talked to Felicia and taught her, Margie would follow and desire to be baptized with her daughter. (ELDER NARRAMORE IS SO INSPIRED) Well, we get there, and Felicia isn't there so we just taught Margie. It was cool though, because we didn't teach her anything about her baptism or what she would need to do. We just had a whole lesson asking her how her life has changed and what blessings she had seen since she started coming to church. It was great and the spirit was there. As we neared the end of the lesson, Felicia came home with Josh. We talked to Felicia a little bit about how excited she was that her dad is going to be able to baptize her and she is excited for July 7th, and then we asked them to kneel in prayer with us. Right when I started saying something to end the lesson, Margie started talking too, so we ended up doing the eh.... I.... you go... no you go... thing haha.(Again, me jumping the gun)  I just stopped and said "we want to hear what you have to say, sorry for interrupting"  She said "how do you know when you are ready to be baptized?" I just looked at Elder Narramore, and he gave a beautiful explanation of the requirements for being baptized. We bore testimony of how ready we knew she was, and asked, "so is that something you would like to do?" she said yes, we asked "when would you like to be baptized?" haha completely changed around, just because she came to us. Very cool experience, and we are back on track for the 7th.

Real quickly, we went to "Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic church" on Sunday at 8 am and attended with an investigator in the YSA branch named Daniel. What a guy. Cool experience, incense, singing, wine, haha don't worry we just watched. It was cool because he was so touched that we would come with him and he came to the YSA branch and loved it. All of his problems are melting away as he reads the Book of Mormon. That's the way it's supposed to be. He keeps saying, "It doesn't matter what the commandments and teachings of the churches are, either what I believe is true, or what you believe is true. Either the priesthood continued and the Catholic church has it or it didn't continue and the Mormon church has it." He's right. For a long time he was looking for the book answers and facts on page to prove it, but he understands very well (we tell him every day) that his answer will only come from the Holy Ghost. He is so tight. We feel very blessed to have investigators who understand. The LORD is PREPARING His PEOPLE!!! Even a recently converted Catholic can be converted by the power of the Book of Mormon, fellowship, and the spirit of the LORD.

I am glad to hear that you are doing missionary work. It is the only way, I mean what else is there to do when you really think about it. We have the responsibility of ushering in the second coming, and that won't happen until EVERY member is a missionary. I have a strong testimony of doing missionary work and the strength it brings. Strive to share what you have, study in the morning then when you have an encounter throughout the day (and you will have them if you pray and look for them) use that scripture or concept that you have become recently converted to. I love you all so much! Thank you for your support and love and for all of your service. Keep on keepin on and remember

CHOOSE CHRIST BY THE MINUTE!!!

Love,

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

I Cut A Good Hour Out Of Their P-Day...DON'T CARE!!!

HAHA there is a kid next to us in the Library playing some computer game yelling "OH NO YAYO, OH NO YAYO" 

• I got both packages, thank you so much. Oddly enough they both came on Monday, so I was pretty excited. I love the new shirts! I'm wearing one now!
• Hey ya wild bill sweet

Our stake conference this weekend was very spiritual and uplifting. I am so surprised by President Lambourne every time he speaks! The LORD has taught him a lot. I was especially excited that we had 3 out of four people with a baptismal date there at sacrament. We Had Esmerelda, who is going to be baptized this Saturday, and we also had Felicia and Margie, who have been set with a date for the 7th of July!!! Rajan, the Branch mission leader in the YSA branch, sat with Margie and Felicia it was cool they loved it. We sat with Esmerelda and her kids and that was crazy but fun. Their little son kept wanting to draw and I didn't want him to draw while I was taking notes so I gave him a bunch of addiction recovery program handouts to decorate haha.

      We met with Margie and Felicia, and Felicia's boyfriend Josh was there. It was so perfect!!!!! We had the branch mission leader there with one of the sisters in the YSA branch named Amanda. The spirit was so strong and we went over there planning to teach about prophets but it was cool to see that the subject of Prophets brought out their real concerns. Josh and Felicia already told us they want to make it to the temple, but it's a weird situation because he had never been taught. We started our lesson with testimony and then watched a talk by President Monson. Margie asked some great questions to Rajan (bml) about if he had ever met the prophet. Then the lesson turned on us and we were teaching about baptism and read the story of the man who sold everything he had to buy the plot of land with the treasure in it. We talked about how being baptized and following the prophet for life correlated with enduring to the end and how the gospel was a process. Margie and Felicia are really scared to commit because "then we have to go every week for the rest of our lives" haha well, at least they understand. The spirit was there and they knew it was the right thing to do. Then we transitioned right into the invitation. To be honest, it surprised me. We had not intended on setting them with a date, because we don't know when Bruce (dad) will be ready to baptize or if he can yet, but We turned to Josh, who has only ever heard of Prophets, and invited him to give up all he had to buy the treasure, to be baptized and claim all of the blessings that are available to him. He said yes. This surprised Felicia and Margie because they were like hey, I thought this lesson was for us haha it really opened their eyes to the reality of the gospel. Even Josh, 20 years old and Catholic, can feel how true this is. I am so thankful to The LORD for making it possible that we could teach that lesson. The hammer doesn't pound the nail, just as the missionary does not convert. But the hammer has to be there right? The thing is, who made the hammer? Who planned it out and pounded the hot metal into place? Then who picked it up and used it to build something beautiful? I am so humbled to be in the hands of the Almighty GOD, and I am striving to be the moldable metal. Obedience is so KEY!!!! I am so thankful to be here it's overwhelming.

     We also had another lesson with Esmerelda, who is to be baptized this Saturday! We had it at a member's home, and it was very inspired. I don't know if I told you this, but we followed the council of Brother Thomas and prayed to see who would be good to fellowship Esmerelda, and we did it RIGHT after partaking of the sacrament. We felt like Sister Justesen would be good. No reason but the feeling. After our first lesson at the Justesens, we left Esmerelda there to talk to them and her kids stayed and played. We saw sister Justesen (single mother of 5) at a ward activity and she was so excited. She said "it must have been inspired!!" She went on to tell us all of 5 or 6 things that they have in common and she was so excited about missionary work. I want to bare you my testimony of hand picking members, by the spirit, for investigators. We, as missionaries, experience real growth and progression in the gospel, because we are teaching it. "missionary work is the edge of the sword, the tip of the spear" as Brother Thomas puts it. When you are a missionary, progression happens exponentially, and when we allow the members to come into the process in an inspired way and to participate in teaching and fellowshipping investigators, we lay on the altar a blessing that will change their life. We are allowing them to experience the spirit and protection of missionary work. They will see blessings immediately, as will their families, friends, and the investigator. I believe that by doing so we get to the root of the word edify.

     I love this. I am grateful to be here and to see this work being accomplished. HIS work. HIS glory. HIS spirit. HIS credit. HIS Sons and Daughters choosing Him through His son Jesus Christ. And we are just puppets, bystanders, the little guys. 

I thank you for your council and for the interest you have helped spark in Jesus Christ in MY life. I love you all! Happy Fathers Day again Dad and have a great week.

     Sorry I can't share more I'm an idiot. I forgot the numbers binder today, so we had to go all the way back home to get it. Then I did the numbers and saved them but the computer logged me out so they got lost. Now Elder Narramore is doing the numbers because I can't do it right. Needless to say everyone is mad because I cut a good hour out of their Preparation Day. But I know this isn't my errand, this is The LORD's errand. :) DON'T CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
Love,

 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

I RIPPED MY FAVORITE SUIT COAT

 I hope you have had a good week! We have been so blessed being on the Lord's errand...

• I RIPPED MY SUIT COAT :( oh my goodness gracious I am a little flustered at this... I turned a corner and the banister in our apartment went in my pocket and ripped it to shreds. Like right down the side. I will send it to you today, is that ok?
• We had a crazy week. We have had on our plans every day for two weeks to see the Edwards family (LA). We have been unsuccessful EVERY DAY. 
• One story real quick. We get a call on Saturday from a Sister who was crying and in need of an emergency blessing and couldn't get off the couch. We drove there as fast as we could and could not find a male in sight so we just went in. She looked malnourished, maybe 100 lbs. She was crying but no tears, very dehydrated. Her husband had been gone for a week and there was no one to pick up dog poop INSIDE the house. It was crazy. We gave her a blessing and she was in a lot of pain, but we got it out of her that she was having a narcotic withdrawal and wanted to die. I needed no further indicator, and Called 911. They got there and took her to the Hospital and we called president Perry. he said we did the right thing and told us to go to the hospital and check her in and be with her till the ward could get there. Bishop Williams and the Relief society pulled through and we didn't get home till 10:30 CRAZY and we will keep going to see her. I know what the bottom feels like and she was at the bottom, spiritually separated and in despair. We were able to administer hope through Jesus Christ and will be there wherever we can. WOAH I'm still in shock.

We have one investigator with a baptismal date. (wooohoo yes yeah!!!) her name is Esmerelda. She is awesome. We met with her for the first time this week (the sisters taught her for a long time) She has told us many times that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and she knows the church is true, but she has felt that she will never be clean enough to be baptized. She said she can't forgive herself for some of the things she has done. In our lesson, we taught about repentance and forgiveness and she kept saying "I know part of repentance is forgiving myself, and I just can't do that." We turned to the gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and looked for a part where it says to forgive yourself. There is none. This doctrine of forgiving yourself is kind of a grey area, because the only forgiveness that matters is Heavenly Father's. I think a better way to put it is after Father has forgiven us we should forget about it. Anyway, we said "Imagine kneeling before the judgement bar of God and he says [Esmerelda, I forgive you] and you say [Well, I know you forgive me, but I don't forgive myself]" She came up to us yesterday in church after Sunday school and said "So what do we do about this interview thing." haha I have to tell you that this week has been a bunch of blessings like that. The Lord is preparing hearts and Esmerelda is evidence of that. The sisters worked so hard to get her to where she is and we are blessed to be able to be here. Not to say it didn't have it's downsides. I ripped my favorite suit coat.
We had 3 investigators at sacrament, what a BLESSING! We saw Kim, Esmerelda, and Margie. Kim is really doing well, coming every week, and we haven't even met with her. We keep trying to and they never pull through. We met with Margie yesterday, (Sunday night) and what a meeting that was. So Margie's husband, Bruce, is a member. He has been less active for a while but the sisters helped him come back and in the process started teaching Margie and Felicia (daughter, 20). Felicia wants Bruce to baptize her. Bruce wants to baptize Felicia. Bruce was very scared to go talk to the bishop because he thought he was going to be excommunicated or something but he put forth his faith and met with the bishop and now he is reading his scriptures every day along with "The miracle of forgiveness" and he is coming back. We are so excited for him. So we were sitting around the table with Margie and Bruce last night and Felicia and her boyfriend were in the next room just talking so naturally we invited them to join and they did reluctantly. We just went through from Bruce to Josh (Boyfriend) and asked everyone how their spiritual progression was. Bruce told us he is re-activating, Margie has read the Book of Mormon every day and is starting to feel of it's power (she has a lot of questions about the Indians in the movie "The Testaments" it's pretty funny) and Felicia said she hasn't been reading so we renewed the commitment there, then we got to Josh, Who we have never taught. Keep in mind this is after a long discussion and testimony session of the Book of Mormon. He was just silent the whole time. As we sat there Elder Narramore and I were searching for the inspired question to ask, the one that would open a door, so we opened our mouths and asked. "What is the most important thing in your life right now" he said "Seeing Felicia every day" (nice) Then we just sat there and felt inspired to ask "Where do you see yourself in 3 to 5 years". His answer was a complete surprise, he said "I want to have read the whole bible and Book of Mormon and know where I stand and I want to be married to Felicia." Wow if one scripture has ever proven true, it's proverbs 15:22. Felicia then said, "I want to be baptized and get married in the temple, so you have to be a Mormon" We had them both write these goals down and we are here to be their guides as they do this. We are going to see them tonight to have family home evening at a member family's home. What an amazing blessing to be instruments in the Lord's hands. I can't imagine myself being any more happy!!
We taught the Tallmans, David, Daniel, and Esmerelda. Let me tell you about David......
I had such a good experience praying and seeing it answered, then our meeting with him went even better. The Lord has truly prepared him and he is feeling the strength that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. We had him over at the Pursleys house for dinner and a lesson and it was apparent that the spirit would be accompanying us that night from the beginning. There were tears from both sides of the table as Sister Pursley bore her testimony. We transitioned over to the couch and watched finding faith in Christ then bore testimony and told him that he was ready to be baptized this week. I felt like Paul or Peter, "if ye have felt this pricking in your heart, follow me down to the water today". He accepted and told us he just needed to pray about it right away and get back to us. The sad part of all of this is that two days later he let us know he was just too stressed to make a decision and would just wait and be taught in Washington (he moves today) so that was a bummer but was it really? A man who had no knowledge or testimony of Jesus Christ a week ago has a testimony and is striving to act in faith. Mission accomplished.
Daniel Diaz was a good lesson and one filled with testimony as well. He has recently converted from Atheism to Catholicism and is a hard case to crack, but we haven't been confounded and I know as long as we are obedient we won't be. He has a sincere desire to find truth he is just finding a lot of differences in his church and Christ's. (which makes sense because they are different) but we explained that "Blessed art thou, Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but the Father, which is in heaven" He will receive his answer and be baptized We have no doubt.
We also did some service this week for a recent convert in the Salem ward who's husband is not a member. His name is Jake. he really appreciated our service and even came to a linger longer yesterday where we had the soldiers in the Elders quorum rally around and meet him and fellowship him. He wants to meet and they made us cookies.

Our second new investigator is Felicia's boyfriend Josh. Cool kid and we even listen to the same techno music. (well, not until after I get home, and even then I might have to do away with that stuff)

In the past couple weeks I have felt yet another change come over me. I don't feel like I'm a rowdy 20 year old trying to be a missionary anymore. I feel like I am starting to understand what it means to be lost in the work. I don't care so much about anything other that working hard. It's a huge blessing and an answer to prayer. I am so excited to be a missionary. WOOHOO!

I am trying to be ware of Pride. I don't know at what point I can rejoice and still be relying on the Lord. I am very thankful and I know that of myself, I am nothing. As to my own strength, I am weak. I struggle every day with the character weaknesses that God has blessed me with,  but the beautiful thing is that when we mess up and then repent, we are still being exactly obedient. It's when we mess up and give up that we are in the wrong.

 

Presently smiling,

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

Did you not tell them they were the LORD's Chips?

  This week has been phenomenal. We were sad to see the sisters leave Salem but we have found the transition has been so smooth and we are already in love with their investigators. We had two of them at sacrament and another in the YSA at sacrament. SO COOL!  What a week! FUN FUN FUN! We taught David, Margie and Felicia twice, Daniel, and One more.

  We also taught 2 other lessons, one with a new investigator that we found in the Kempsville Elders area named Sister Weaver (We call her household of people "Sister Weaver and the gang" haha she has a couple special needs people that she takes care of and they are just gems! One, named Andrew, bless his heart, just raised his hand in the middle of the lesson and we called on him and he said "oh no, I was just waving" haha they are just a house full of amazing spirits and she fed us and gave us drink and she wants to be baptized! We teach them again on exchange with Kempsville on Tuesday. Our second other lesson was with a man named Cory who the Salem sisters taught, he has a crazy story, his father murdered his mother and he was raised by his grandma. I just sat across the table listening and I felt so much love for him. He is a bigger man and he has this really high voice that makes him sound like he's on the verge of crying all the time and I just want to hug him!

  We have 6 progressing investigators, who are Margie, Felicia, Daniel, David, Kim, and Esmerelda. I haven't had a lesson with Daniel yet because they are on Tuesdays and we go on splits with the YSA branch on Tuesdays and I haven't taught Esmerelda yet because we haven't had a lesson with her but she came to church and she is reading and praying so the sisters must have made their mark!

  Margie and Felicia are doing so well! They are progressing quickly, and Felicia DID have a date but didn't make it a while ago. She wants her father to come back to church and baptize her and he has a meeting with Bishop Williams this week to "see where he stands with the church" he says. We don't know how that will work out but hopefully for the better. Margie wants to be baptized by the Bishop. We meet with them on Wednesday and we are going to talk more about what it means to be a member! They really do want to be baptized we have just sensed that they are scared to make the lifestyle change and commitment that it takes but hey, when you look at the big picture, it is a joy to be able to be a part of God's kingdom on earth. We discussed that a little bit with them and they are beginning to understand that this is not just another church in the land. I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE CHANGE FOR CHRIST!!

  Let's talk about David. He has been coming to the YSA branch for 8 or 9 weeks with the Flakes and then the Pursleys. We have had lessons with him over the last 6 weeks and have taught him almost everything and he comes to Gospel Essentials and participates and he is such a genuine guy. 21 yrs old, his mother and his sister are members back in Colorado, but he just can't wrap his mind around the Idea of Jesus Christ. He has never believed in him, not because he doesn't want to, but because he can't. He got up yesterday and bore his testimony of the charity of the members and how grateful he was to be here. He said a "voice in the back of his head" was telling him to do it confirmed with "that warm feeling" We sat him down in the third hour and taught again out of Alma 32. We told him that he was "casting the seed out by [his] unbelief" and we testified that he had received his answer. I asked him all of the requirements to be baptized out of Mosiah 18:8-10 and he met them all. We told him the strength that would come of this weakness if he could follow Alma's counsel and give place for the seed that has been planted to grow. He felt the spirit so strongly!!! We got a text last night @ 11:11 that said this; and I quote "Know it's late. Just wanted to tell you guys first, well besides my sister. Fellas I got my answer. Don't have to reply. But this is pretty surreal. Thanks for your help. and yeah hopefully we can talk soon. Night fellas. Good job. ha" YESSSS!!!!!!! The coolest thing about it is this; I was praying pretty late into the night, maybe till 10:45 or 10:50 and I was praying so hard for David. I just went to bed and didn't think anything of it but we woke up in the morning with that text. Now if I was praying at 10:45, and he got is answer, then called his sister, then texted us at 11:11............. Just saying. Prayer works.

We are having so much fun and working harder than ever. We have weaknesses, and we know this, but we also know in whom we have trusted. Elder Narramore and I are growing closer and we are having a blast. I am understanding more and more why the weak and the simple are called to help the weak and the simple. I love being a missionary and I love seeing change. I love repenting and helping others repent. All repent means is change, whether it be big changes or little changes, we repent, refocus, and progress. THAT is the gospel of Jesus Christ. To change constantly those things that are not in harmony with God's will and his teachings. I am so glad you found those scriptures to be powerful. I love those scriptures.

I love you all. Please know that! Know that I am here to be your servant and that if you have any need of help I am here! Just send a letter! Anyone in need of uplifting is first on my long list of people to write back. Right after my mom :)

Know that Christ lives. Know that he is the living Son of the living God. Serve your fellow man because you love them. Be a FOLLOWER and a DOER, not just a Believer. Act, do not be acted upon. Live to enjoy the chocolate bar, not just the golden ticket. As you follow the gospel and DO God's will, you WILL become more like him and be blessed with changes in yourself and your surroundings, that is a promise. We can all come to know that the course we are pursuing in this life is the course our Heavenly Father would have us pursue. O, Remember, remember, my friends and my family, that your decisions determine your destiny. CHOOSE CHRIST every second and you will undoubtedly get what you go for. Your destiny will be Immortality and Eternal life. It is hard work, but oh the Joy that comes from hard work!!! I love you so much!

Love always and forever,

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen
P.S. I choose Christ