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
P.S. I choose Christ
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