Hurricane Casualty Report

Hey y'all! Happy Halloween!!!

Hurricane Casualty report:

1 Trash can tipped over, 5 reported incidents of boredom (more were hinted at but only 5 reported), 1 report of severe heartburn, and one turtle in the bathtub. Also, one spilled cup of root beer and I won 2 games of Monopoly deal. We never did finish that game of Trivial pursuit...

 

We didn't get evacuated, we just had a bunch of Elders from Norfolk and Sandbridge come inland a little just in case, but to be honest it was nothing worse than a bad rain storm and some howling winds. We had 7 Elders in our apartment and there were 9 in another and 6 in another. The Norfolk sisters stayed with the stake president and our senior couples stayed in their own apartments. Nobody flooded, nobody hurt (as far as we know), but we did stay in all night Sunday and all day Monday per orders from church headquarters. That was crazy.... I had cabin fever so bad I just wanted to go out and WORK!!!

 

The most debris we saw was a twig or two on the way to the library, we are so thankful to say that not much happened here. I know the same cannot be said about others up north. Maryland and Rhode Island and D.C. are all getting slammed aren't they? We just pray everyone is OK. We feel silly for staying inside but hey, plan for the worst and hope for the best eh?. I am especially thankful that our prayers for safety were answered.

 

This week was pretty crazy, and it feels like we didn't get much done :( we had to cancel an exchange because of the hurricane.

You already know about mission conference, that was amazing. It feels as though that happened months ago.

Tuesday night, we went on splits with the ward and I went with a member named Brother Layne. He is so awesome. It was my first chance to teach about the Doctrine of Christ to a less active family right after we learned about it from Elder Whiting. It was fun, and they got it! It really clicked and they were uplifted. He couldn't come to church this week and I didnt' see her or the kids but we will be back over there and we will continue to bare testimony and hope they come to church. After that Brother Layne and I just sat in the parking lot talking. I got to pick his brain about what he learned on his mission and what I could do to improve. When talking to returned missionaries, there seems to be this recurring statement where they explain a time in their mission that they finally "got it". They "understood how to do missionary work" or they "finally got it". It also seems to be that in most cases, they "got it" near the end of their service, and had to go home. It is my quest to "get it" before the end and then apply "it". I'll let you know when I find out what "it" is haha.

 

Wednesday we had a table time in Norfolk with the Sisters to talk about how we can improve things down there and figure out how the Sisters are doing. It helps to just go have a meeting because we can do exchanges with the Elders but we cannot with the Sisters so we just go ask some questions and cousel about things. After that we had Melinda. I've told you about Melinda right? She is in a wheelchair and cannot move, but talks with her eyes? She is amazing and it's always uplifting to speak with her. Her dad is coming back into activity and because of his faith his wife is now investigating. We haven't taught her a lesson yet but she said she knows she needs to be baptized. :)

 

Thursday we had an exchange with the OTHER spanish Elders, the second set in VAbeach. I had Elder Gonzales with me in our area and it was awesome. We did some tracting, some teaching, some contacting, and had waffles on WAFFLE DAY!! The Justesen family has really taken on to waffle day and she loves to feed us on that day. After that we had a lesson at Brother Schoppauls house and went to exchange back. It was an especially good exchange as we were able to do a wide range of activities and learn from each other.

 

Friday we did weekly planning, and we almost finished in one sitting!!!! This almost never happens. Too many people calling and things happening. So after that we just went down a list for the Salem Ward Relief Society president and visited with less active members.

 

Saturday wasn't much. The Elders we lived with managed to clog our sink and we worked on that for a while, we tried draino twice and ended up buying a small snake to clear it. You wouldn't think that would take long, but pair it with lunch and a trip to wal-mart and it's already 2 o clock. The rest of the day was spent at dinner with Josh Debres, and then I was with Josh when we did splits with the ward. We went to one of his home teaching families and talked about the Word of Wisdom. I learned a ton. Dad, you were right on target with the restrictions thing those are wise words!

 

Sunday, Went to church (9am to 4pm) and then we went to the Stake Pres. house with a bunch of missionaries that were here for the hurricane and had dinner and played apples to apples. The assistants called and told us all to stay indoors until tueday morning so we went home and were inside Sunday night.

 

Monday, in all day :( nothing happened of any significance. Haha actually I learned to play 4 songs on the guitar! WOO!!

 

This week coming up should be good. :) I am excited for interviews with President Perry on Thursday.

 

Well, I have about 10 min left and I have a referral for Elder Lawson in AK so I gotta go!

 

 I love you all so much and I hope you can feel the excitement and the joy that comes from simply living the Gospel. I am eternally grateful for the knowledge I have been given and the testimony that is within me.

 

Love,

 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

P.S. I choose Chirst!!

Mission Conference...Love It!!

Hello Mom and Dad.

I am on today because we had mission conference yesterday so today is our Preparation day. Love you all!!!!  

Mission conference went so well, we had Elder Scott D. Whiting of the Seventy, he was the one who spoke in conference about the Temple and the gritty walls and the perfect window. He is so so so inspired and we actually had an extra hour in the High counsel room with just the Zone Leaders, President Perry, and Elder Whiting.

I feel really good.  The conferences are always a boost. He actually talked a ton about the things I needed to hear and answered many questions for me. The best of which was about leadership.  What a leader really is and how a leader can better those around him.  Mostly I think the Lord has been preparing me for what he would say because it tied in well with everything that I have learned in the past couple weeks. We learned so much from him. He also told us of the numbers that will grow and the increased responsibility we will have with all of the changes that will happen in the mission. Our mission will be one of the first to take on an increased complement to our numbers and an increase in language missionaries.  Sisters will be on bikes more and we will have many wards with two sets of Elders or Sisters. It's going to be fun. The Lord is hastening the day. The Twelve and Seventy are hastening their work as well.

I registered to vote here in VA, I figured they probably need the vote here. The problem is, I feel very UN-educated in the whole matter. I have been picking up bits and pieces here and there. From what I can tell they are just being really critical of each other and trying to bash Romney on dumb little stuff. I feel like the election is just one big chance for everyone to whine. There are a bunch of Romney Ryan posters out here that get vandalized and stuff but the more people we talk to the more I think VA likes Mitt. At least in VA Beach.

Even if he doesn’t win, Governor Romney has helped fulfilled scripture. D and C 1:30 talks about bringing the church out of obscurity. It's prophecy fulfilled. With our new websites and technology, we have truly come "out of obscurity and out of darkness, as terrible as an army with banners" not only that, but for the last 3 weeks, GOOGLE reported that "Mormon" and "Mormonism" were #1 and #2 hits, where pornography was taking both spots before. This is an amazing time in the history of the world to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Hey Mom and Dad I gotta go. I love you! I will write you a letter today. Tell Tanner Hello! 

Love,

Elder Skyler Andreasen

I Choose Christ

Just Be Yourself

Howdy Partners,

I learned something new this week, it was a glorious realization and I am so HAPPY!! I have gained a witness of the power of following the example of the Savior in my life. About 4 or 5 weeks ago, I was talking to a missionary who I love and respect a lot named Elder Van Houten. He has been out quite a while and when I was a new missionary he was in my zone! I wanted to be just like him! He is so humble and a very hard worker. I had many examples like that. Elder Wheelock, Elder Harris, Elder Tramell, Elder Hopkins, Elder Cook, Elder Rickson, and many many more. They are the examples that have continually made me want to be a better missionary. At some point though, in trying to be like them, and ultimately trying to be like the Savior, I was trying to forget about who I was. I think I even said the words "forget about who you are and focus on who the Savior is, and He will mold you into what He wants you to be." In a way, this is true, but it goes much deeper than just forgetting who you are! (Which is a hard thing to do). I asked Elder Van Houten one day, "What can I do to improve?" He said, "Man, you have changed a little. Just be yourself" I was taken aback!!! I thought I was supposed to forget myself!!! Haha I can't believe I even thought that.

The example of Jesus Christ is not one that we are supposed to follow in a carbon copy way. In our quest to fulfill the commandment of the Savior to "be ye perfect, even as I and your Father in Heaven are perfect", we are not expected to have the same personality or mannerisms as the Savior, or to take His gifts upon ourselves all at once. We ARE expected to strive to learn His attributes, but WE ARE NOT TO FORGET THE GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. Christ's example is that of an individual fulfilling all that was asked of Him, an example of taking the gifts and talents that He was given and using them for others. He magnified His callings, and that is what God asks of us. The way that we can follow the example of the Savior is not by forgetting who we are expecting to become like Him, but magnifying our callings and using our gifts and talents to the best of our ability. Our goal should be to "be the best YOU you can be" :) I feel lighter and happier, and I want you each to know that we can be ourselves. Is that not a glorious message from on high?! I seriously felt a weight lift off of my shoulders as I was studying this.

 

I want you to hear more about those we are teaching, and next week I will dedicate my time to that. The other Elders are breathing down our necks for getting them to the library at 1:00 and everyone is hungry. I have to go, but I love you and I admire each of you for living the gospel in a world like this. Just be yourselves, and know that you have talents and gifts to enhance.

I love you all so much.

Love,

-- 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

YOU CAN'T GO BACK

I'm sorry to inform you that I have taken Elder Holland's inspired counsel and I won't be returning from my mission. It's just too great!!!!!

I can't remember what the website was to get that family history chart. Elder Narramore showed me that. Try searching for family history fan chart or something. If I remember correctly, that was it's original name.

 I have never met Hermana George but I will definately say hello and give her a warm welcome when I do!!! We have Tidewater Mission Conference this month so if she is on my side of the mission I will see her and meet her. If not she is on the Richmond side and it might take a while. They call this side of the mission the tidewater trap. As you can see, it's proved true haha.

About the pictures, I don't know what to have you do. I would love to have an album or something but seriously I couldn't carry it around with all of the pictures I have. I don't necessarily want the flash drive either, because I don't have a computer to look at them on. I don't know if I need a picture frame either, but I need to figure out a small portable durable way to have all of my pictures so I could view them. Or maybe you just send me an empty drive and I fill it up and send it home and I can see them later. I can just see them after the mission. :/ haha I'm stumped. Maybe if you can find a small frame that I can take really really good care of that would work. DON'T CARE! Whatever works, I'm over it.

Conference....  It was a pleasure to hear from our current prophets and apostles on the building up of ZION!! I can't tell you how much personal relevance the talks by Elder Oaks and Elder Holland had. The whole time I was just sitting there watching thinking that my family was probably doing the same, feeling the same spirit. I felt very unified with the whole church as a whole. I feel like the Prophet let us in on the workings of the brethren in this conference, telling us that missionary work and gaining our own personal whitness of the truthfulness of the Gospel as it has been restored should be the primary concern of every member. Then, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" and help them to be the best they can be. Be commited to the Gospel and it will always pull through. No matter how tough life gets know that GOD is the way, that Jesus is the light. ALL THINGS shall work together for your benefit. I am very excited that every member of the church is bound together by the promise to take upon us the name of Christ and to do things his way. Do you feel the power that we have when we are unified this way? WE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD. One person, one child, one friend, one sibling, one stranger, one individual at a time we can build Zion and gather Israel. If we will break free from Babylon and be in the world but not of the world we will be the lower light for others to do the same, and to guide them to eternal life and salvation, that when they are converted they can strengthen their brethren, and so on. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and I need to know that is true for myself, and then I need to run and tell every person I see, that's what I got from conference.

I have loved this week. Elder Monibidor has taught me so much. We talked a lot about after the mission and set some goals for who we want to be. Elder Monibidor's girlfriend in Idaho just decided to go on a mission haha! (He went to BYU I for 2 years before the mission so you will probably meet him) I have grown very close to him and I have learned to cherish his counsel. He is wise, and has a stern obedient attitude, but when you open him up and ask him to help you he turns into a spirit machine that just pumps out perfect solutions to every situation. I love serving with him. We came upon something that will help me after I return from missionary service, and ironically enough it happened upon us Saturday morning. Elder Monibidor and I were discussing  the fact that we have changed, and I was expressing the feeling that I don't really know who I used to be before. I mean, I'm sure I'm the same, and laugh the same, and I look the same, (except for the 33 pounds I've gained), but my nature is changed. My biggest fear is that I will go back home and sit down in my room and just start being the same me that I was before. I don't want to do that. I made too many bad decisions and foolish mistakes. So, Elder Monibidor piped in "Peter, when Jesus left, just went back to fishing. You don't want to go back to fishing. If you want to know what I think, you should get rid of all of the fishing nets hanging up in your room." I just thought "I have a mannequinn, a spedo, a board from vegas that says wazoo, and a bunch of other stupid stuff" Mom, Dad, I give you permission to CHUCK IT. I don't want it. All I want to see is a bed, a closet, and a dresser. And my skis. But no longboard. If you can, maybe even paint the room the same as the rest of the house. I'm not in high school anymore. :)

I love this

Love,

Elder Skyler M. Andreasen

P.S. I choose Christ

Six More Weeks

First, I sure am glad that somebody found a good use for those tumble weeds and the turf HAHAHAHA!!!!! That was funny!

 

This week was hectic. I have been here 7.5 months! WOO!! Elder Monibidor and I will be staying for another 6 weeks!!! WOOO!!! Crazy. I didn't expect that, but he told us that we are needed down here and I am willing and ready to keep working to find out why.

 

We want to get a gym membership, it's $10 a month and no contract. It's the only way we can get up to work out we don't have any weights and I am sick of push-ups.

 

I just want to bare you the most sincere testimony I can of the Atonement. It gives us such power! It was explained to me once like a mother who pays for piano lessons for her son, (I'll be darned if that one didn't hit home). The Mother, lovingly and hoping for the future of her child, pays for the piano lessons. The son, as I see it, is now sitting on the piano bench with a choice to make. He can either use what he has been given or not, but either way it has been payed for. What the Mother did was to open up a door, to give a gift and an opportunity for her son to become great. What she did gives her son POWER to become GREAT, if he will accept this power and use it. I have such a strong testimony that all we need to do in this life is to accept what has already been given to us. God, our Eternal Father, has given us the gift of the Atonement through the suffering and death of His son. He has enrolled us in the eternal school of progression, applied to us a plan of salvation, and now we are sitting at the bench. If we practice, we will become great. The plan isn't easy to live but we can do it, I know we can. The atonement gives us the power to be great. SO LET'S BE GREAT!!!!! :)

 

We weren't getting through to Margie so we called the sisters in and they cleaned house. WOW I don't know how they do it. She was crying and she is back on track and knows that the spirit is in our church. Still not making to many steps forward but hey, she knows it's true. I am trying always to be patient. Claire told me to be patient with people... I do listen :)

 

Kim is doing well.....

I don't know, all of my weeks are running together right now. Days feel like weeks and weeks feel like days sometimes. Today we were at Eastern Shore again fishing. I caught two tiny fish and as a group we caught like 31 fish. I am not lucky at fishing right now.

 

I love you all and I hope you know that God loves you and that the Gospel is the only true Joy in this life. I looked a lot for fun before my mission, and I found it, but I know now that fun isn't the goal here. It's eternal life, it's joy and peace and Love and every other fruit of the spirit. Jacob is a great book.

LOVE,

 

-- 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ