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