You wanna hat-dooag?

We didn't get to go to NY :(

   This week has been great! We have some awesome investigators doing some awesome things. With Sarah and Steven, we are setting goals and making plans to apply and practice the Christlike attributes. They love it. She is so smart! (Sarah's mom and Steven's dad just got married last week). As far as we can observe, they are doing everything they can. They have definitely manifest by their works that they are learning and like having us over, and they set a goal this week to work on faith. The plan that THEY came up with is to come to church every week. We liked that plan haha. 

   Brother and Sister Federoff came to church! They had a good experience, and we set her up with the Stake President's wife, sister Scott, so now the Federoff's will be going to the Scott's for family home evening. Y>E>SSS> That is a sweet place for them to be and an environment where the spirit can testify to her. Hopefully she keeps trying, she seems distraught that her kids are so rowdy at church. We will teach them this week.

    The Roach's came to play flag football on Turkey Day but they didn't come to church. He seems to be making progress and hopefully will open up and tell us how he feels about the church soon. He is kind of a closed book. The spirit has definitely touched him and He has felt the truthfulness of the gospel. His wife is a member and super cool. She works a lot on Sundays though.  

    We taught a lesson to a little boy named Shane, he's 11. He committed to pray every day. He said he wants to be baptized so the plan is to set him with a date on Tuesday. His mom is a member but they live with Mom's boyfriend. He is hopefully listening when we are over there as well, but he seems to stay in the other room and listen. We went to spread grass seed with him and he seems to like us, so maybe next time we see him we'll just ask him some inspired questions. Everyone is progressing well, and our companionship is still great! I love Elder Coon. 

   On Thanksgiving we played flag football from 8 am to 1:30 or so. We were STILL sore yesterday. This guy in the Belmont ward had some extra cleats so I was really having fun:) I wish I was that good when I was playing JV my senior year! It was so fun to just relax and play and see all of the missionaries in the Richmond and Midlothian zones as well as the missionaries in our zone. It is always good to get the whole zone together. It's crazy, in two weeks I already feel like I know everyone really well. We also had Thanksgiving dinner with a recent convert family named the Wagners. They are so sweet and we have been teaching about the temple. They love it and they are so excited to go!

  I have had a very rewarding week personally. On Saturday we were on exchange with the assistants and I got to go do some young singles work in downtown Richmond, just walking and talking for 5 hours on the VCU campus. Back to the old stomping grounds! Back to the park where I first learned what it was to talk to everyone with Elder Tramell! That is my element. My favorite part of missionary work is just walking and talking. Seeing people on the street and saying hey and making a connection right there, maybe even teaching a gospel principal, always bearing testimony, and setting up a return appointment. It is so FUN and it makes me so happy when we can get them stoked about coming to church or having a meeting with us. I feel like that is the heart of missionary work; teaching as you find and finding as you teach.

  Thanks ya'all! I pray that you have an amazing week and see the fruits of your good deeds and desires!

Love you all!

Elder Andreasen.

I CHOOSE CHRIST

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

Yes I am in Chester, VA in a ward called Swift Creek. I have never been so thankful for a companion. Elder Coon is 24, from Marysville Washington, and a powerful leader and teacher. He has been out 17 months and been a zone leader for 1.5 months. OH MY GOSH I love this kid. I don't know how to explain what has happened the past 3 days. He picked me up from the church where I was dropped off at about 7 pm on Thursday, and by the time we had arrived at our apartment (a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom flat on the 4th floor that we share with the Belmont Elders), we had already set a goal to be perfect missionaries and to be completely unified in all things. When we make decisions as missionaries, sometimes it can be competitive or contentious because one of us thinks one way and one thinks the other, but with Elder Coon, we are both striving to be submissive to the will of the Lord. It has been so refreshing to just sit down and throw my Ideas on the table, knowing he will be considerate of them, then he throws his ideas out knowing I won't criticize or be hurt. We create an imaginary "think tank" and then we pray and seek The Lord's will. It's a CRAZY concept isn't it? haha I guess I'm just really appreciative because I know of the humility it takes to counsel.

One might ask, "But what does that do for your missionary work?", let me tell you; In the morning, we study. We study for the investigators and lessons we have that day. We study personally and seek revelation for the situation personally, then we come together and sing a hymn and pray together and counsel about what we learned. We come to some conclusion of what we will teach these people. I have never felt such power in a lesson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have taught 5 lessons since Friday and every single one was planned out and counseled about and the Spirit was there because of it. Many times in a missionary companionship you end up being  the new missionary who hasn't been out long or the new leader who needs training. You feel as though your companion is pulling a lot of the weight and you rely on his counsel as the senior companion. On the flip side, sometimes you are called to be the missionary who is training the other or has been out longer or whatever, who is "helping" your younger companion. This creates a type of rift in the unity, or let's just say the unity in the companionship isn't as strong as it could be. ESPECIALLY in cases where you both feel as though you have something to teach the other or think you are the senior companion. What I have experienced in the last 3 days is raw unity. Elder Coon and I talked this out and decided to be on the same page and trust each other (can you imagine??) haha the blessings have been awe inspiring.

Friday: Lesson one was with Sister Christy and her grandson Aidan. We taught about the atonement and had a discussion on how the sacrament ties us to Christ and invited them to come. It was a powerful first lesson and a testimony to the power of our goals. We bore testimony of each other and both Sister Christy and Aidan were touched. Aidan is a nine year old recent convert but so smart! Then later that day we had dinner with Sister Luck. She fed us roast and potatoes :) yumm! Her granddaughter Makayla is a recent convert of 9 months and she's 18. It was fun to teach a ysa. I love that! We talked about patriarchal blessings because she had a lot of questions about that.

Saturday: Service at the Roach's house. We helped them clear out a Go-cart path that was full of leaves and pot-holes. Didn't get to ride the go-cart but you bet I wanted to. I did ride his son's bmx bike over a jump though. Kind of nerve-racking but it felt good to get some air for the first time in a long while. I DID have a helmet on:) Bro Roach is not a member but the spirit was so strong as we served them and then they served us that when we invited them to church they came!!! We are going to baptize that man. In church there was a talk about the responsibilities of a father and how the Priesthood can help with that. He cried :) haha is that bad that I was looking and we are totally stoked that it touched him like that? After the Roach's we went to Ashlee and Dee. They are not members but she is investigating. Well, he is too after we met with them but we went and bought a nice picture frame and framed "The Family: A Proclimation to the World" and talked about that with them. She is looking at 3 yrs in jail but it's crazy that they both want to be baptized now (they can't) and they both want to be great parents. They took the Proclamation to heart and it was also powerful how much we could feel the Spirit chastening both of them and inviting them to be better parents and to get married. Again, an Idea that we counseled about and came upon and the lesson was exactly what they needed in a number of ways. Then dinner at the Kimballs. Young couple with one kid. In the navy. Went to.......get this.........UTAH STATE!!! haha I was so excited!

Sunday: Powerhouse day. Ashlee came to church and so did the Roach's. The lessons were spot on and the Spirit attended. The Stake President asked for volunteers to go up to New York and New Jersey to help with cleanup :) GUESS WHAT?!?!? We asked President and the assistants and we might be organizing a group to go up for 2-3 days. OUT of our mission and to NY BABY! That would be so cool. We have no Idea yet. It sounded like he was really considering it but it could be a straight no. The stake president here is awesome. We had two lessons after church. One with Sarah and Steven (16 and 17) Steven is a member who comes occasionally and Sarah wants to be baptized.  6 months ago Steven's dad (member) and Sarah's mom (recently converted) thought that it would be a good Idea to start dating.  We have more assessment to do but we had a beautiful lesson on recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the import of the Spirit in our lives. They ate it UP! They told us many examples of feeling the Spirit and they desire to feel it more. They are both in a metal band called "Before the Massacre" so maybe if they turn down the amp a little they will hear him a little more but hey, kids will be kids. They played us some stuff. They are super good. After that we had a lesson and dinner with the Fedderoffs. He is less active but hasn't smoked in a month and she is not a member. She hasn't been investigating either. We sat down and just started off by loving them enough to find out about them. We asked her what she thought of the missionaries and what she had done to find out if these things are true. We were so thankful and blessed to be prompted to ask a random question that could have been dumb, but it was amazing. We said "Do you believe there is a God" like out of nowhere. Her eyes got teary and she said "I have been having a problem with that whole 'God' thing" we said "explain" and she went off. She talked for a good ten minutes about her feelings, and just through that counsel process and some bold testimony on our side of the table she established that there is a God, and that he created all things. Then from there we were able to take her to the part of the Gospel she could live, the part that is supposed to change her and make her happy, the part where she exercises faith and repents and is baptized and receives the Holy Ghost and Endures to the End. It was amazing. Keep in mind that she had completely shut down Elder Coon and Elder Coburn last time they were here. We were so blessed and happy and overjoyed to be the missionaries who could experience that. I am convinced that she will be at church next week with the whole family but we will be praying and contacting them daily to make sure.

I am grateful to be here. I know that this is true. Evidence that the gospel is able to change men resides in my heart and is manifest in where I am today as opposed to where I was two years ago. I am eternally in debt to my Heavenly Father. "Who would have supposed that our God would have snatched us out of our awful, sinful state?" Who would have known that I would be blessed with these opportunities. I can't express my gratitude and my appreciation for you, Mom and Dad. Your patience and your diligence and your prayers and your long nights and your stress and grief are much appreciated. I can't even imagine how you mustered the strength to deal with me. Honestly.

Thank you for your advise. I love it and follow it!

We have these recent converts named the Wagoners who have signed up for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. HAHAHA So we're covered. I think that is GREAT!

I will most likely be going back for Josh Debres :)

Yes I am in a missionary training video series online that talks about finding, teaching, retaining, and activating through family history. I am actually in it a lot haha. It's funny that there is actually evidence of Elder Tramell and I doing something together. Did I tell you he is a zone leader in Newport News? It's fun we see each other often.

3rd nephi 27:21 and 27 are awesome. 21 says do like the savior, 27 says be like the savior. I love that. I have taken way too much time and have to go.

Love you!!!

Sad to leave Virginia Beach...Headed to Chesterfield

Christmas is a coming and the Egg is in the nogg,

how about ya give your friend a happy little dog?

if you haven't got a happy dog a happy cat'll do,

If you haven't got a happy cat then God bless you!

-Bing Crosby

He ya' all.  :)

The news is in, the call came Saturday night, and I'm getting transferred! I am sad to see the Salem ward and young singles branch go. I love this place and I love these people. I have made so many friends here in the past 8 months it's ridiculous. I hope to hang out with all of these peoples after the mish. I am excited though, Chesterfield sounds fun. I'll be in a ward by the name of Swift Creek. I leave Thursday, so this week will be a lot of last lessons and saying goodbye and packing. (I have so much crap haha)

In other news, it was the last day of the mission yesterday for Elder Buckley and Elder Van Wagoner so we decided to do something "really crazy" and sleep outside in my hammocks on the back patio haha! We ended coming in at like 2:30 but I saw the stars for the first time in a while and got some fresh air so that was good:)

I think I told you about Darreon, a YSA who we found and brought to basketball? We set him for Dec 22nd and he is super stoked!! He is way more solid than we thought and he came to play basketball with us last night with the YSA FHE. He fit right in and everyone loved him. I LOVE it when that happens. That fellowship is so essential. I put in a little hint as I left yesterday as I left after shaking his hand I said "and if you need someone to come back here and baptize you, you know who to call" haha he just laughed. He is so funny and easy going. He will be an asset to this branch.

Terry came to church again! She loves it! Her son loves it too. She is the one who approached us in the parking lot. Wow what an amazing family and one that will benefit from the gospel. It sounds like her husband is interested too but we just need to meet with him. He works every Sunday (bummer) but I guess I don't have to worry about it I'm gone :'(

This morning, I talked to the Missionary in Chesterfield who I am replacing. He gave me some vision as to what they are trying to do in the Chesterfield Zone and some of the Goals of the Stake Presidency up there. The ward and branch boundaries in the Stake were re-organized recently and it sounds like the focus has been on strengthening the ward unit to be able to handle all that it needs to handle and then to train them in how to grow. This should be really fun and challenging. It sounds like we will be an integral part in meetings and goal setting and working at the Stake and ward level. Elder Coburn said we go to ward counsel, P.E.C, and even Bishopric meeting, and that the Stake President includes us in many aspects. I am excited to do what I can to be a part of the work in that part of the Vinyard. It sounds very unified. :)

Well, that's the update. I don't know what else to say. This has been a good run in VAbeach, and I will surely miss it. It feels like home to me. I have spent over half of my mission here. I think of all the things I will miss, our van is #1. Man I love driving around in that thing. We call it the storm chaser.

Mom, I love what you said about kindness. You are so wise and I appreciated your insights! I am learning a lot from YOUR example and always have. You have always been kind and loving and I appreciate that.

Dad, do whatever mom says.

:) haha we need you better so you can go skiing! This winter sounds intense and if I'm not there to ride your S-7's, then I'm going to need you to do it ok?  

Well, I love you all! Hope you enjoy these pictures!

-- 

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ

Back to the norm

Howdee do ya'all!

What a great emal! Thank you for your love and support. I LOVE you and I LOVE hearing from you.

This week was back to the norm, not to much different than any other week. I had a hard time recovering from the trunky atmosphere of 7 Elders in one apartment. You might think I'm kidding but I didn't get my focus and a good keen sense back until yesterday while fasting. I felt crazy and wild all week and we joked and laughed a lot and it just wasn't as focused as in the past, but it progressively got better until yesterday, a DAY OF MIRACLES. That always happens when we fast for a purpose.

I would tell you about the turtle in the bathtub but that was a report from our zone and WE haven't even heard the full story yet. I'll ask the Sandbridge Elders and get back to you :) 

Interviews with President were wonderful as usual. The spirit was there and we talked a lot about what our zone should be doing and the future of the mission and my own future. He told me that a good leader should have 3 things; A humble teachable attitude to EVERYONE, they should be a good follower (either to their leaders or after being a leader), and they understand the power of unity. Also, we talked a ton about the temple again. Did I tell you we talked a lot about the temple in my last interview?

Wow Dad congratulations! I know you will do well! You have always been very organized in thoughts and on a desk. I look up to you a lot in that respect and I am so excited! What are your responsibilities? What does that calling consist of? I love being able to spend time with the Stake President and his counsellors here in VA beach, and I have learned a whole lot from listening to them. I can't remember where I heard it, but there is always this quote in my head when I am around someone who holds keys; "when a man with keys speaks, I listen". I know that President Neilson has the keys to direct the work in the stake and I am super stoked for you to be a part of that work and to help them out. You are the MAN with the PLAN!

I think the only referal we have gotten from around the globe was from like Texas or something haha nothing too cool. No not true we have had 3 or 4 from temples like Hawaii and SLC and DC. People go to the visitors center and end up putting their name down for missionaries. That is such a great resourse. The Lord has his hands in this work!!

We had a general authority come to VA before I even entered the MTC who said something really cool about reading the Book of Mormon. I didn't hear it obviously but the missionaries before me relayed the message pretty clearly one day when I was struggling with a question. Basically, we had an investigator in Richmond who had a problem, and I was trying to fix it with the Book of Mormon. I was searching really hard to know what passage of scripture to give her that would be perfect for the situation. My trainer just looked at me and said "Elder Andreasen, a general authority told us that we would be fools to tell someone to read the Book of Mormon from anywhere but the beginning. In the first chapters of Nephi, it tells of prophecy and faith, courage to follow the spirit, and many other basics that we need before reading the rest of the book or investigating the church." Those weren't exact words but the point is clear. Whenever you read the Book of Mormon, start at the start. In the past 5 weeks or so I have gained a witness that the Book of Mormon was written and compiled in that exact order and with that exact information for a reason. As I read first and second Nephi I was drawn to the Isaiah chapters and the Prophecies of the last days. We are watching these things come to pass. Jacob talks a lot about our day too. It was written for us! How amazing is that? So I guess my answer is, there's no better place to begin than page one. Actually, it's helpful to start at the title page and read the testimonies of the witnesses and the Prophet, the introduction is instructional as well, and to read the whole thing SO PRAYERFULLY AND CAREFULLY and just seek for the spirit. I love the B.O.M. Pray for the spirit of prophecy and discernment, you are entitled to it. If you ask you shall receive.

I'll just tell one quick expirience; two weeks ago, Elder Monibidor and I were in the parking lot of the church in our van when a woman pulled up with her son and parked next to us. We rolled down the window and started talking to her and she asked if this is the building where the boy scouts meet. We told her it is. She then said "Can I ask you a couple of questions about your church?" We ended up giving her a small tour and just telling her a little bit about us and to pay attention to the spirit of God. She said she could feel it. The Relief Society President showed up too and they laughed and talked, it was great! We invited her to come back to church on sunday, got her number, and tried to set up an appointment, but she wouldn't let us come to her home, she said she would just come to the church. Well, yesterday she did :) It seemed as though every testimony was for her! The spirit was strong and she could feel it. Her son Zach is 11 and he sat next to me and was asking me questions the whole time about the sacrament and the primary and when he could come back. Haha he is an awesome kid. After sacrament we got the kids squared away and took her to gospel principals and taught the restoration, and she understood it all and loved it. We invited her to be baptized right there in front of the whole class and she said yes, but she'll need time to read and pray and she'll be back next week with her kids. She attended relief society as well and loved it. We have a lesson wednesday and I am super stoked! Hopefully she has read and prayed! The LORD is preparing hearts, I'm tellin ya!

Tell the Wamsleys hello for me!!!

Love

Elder Skyler Mark Andreasen

p.s. I choose Christ