October 26, 2015

This week was a good one. Monday we went to the "ape caves". We were on the lookout for Sasquatch the whole time...you never know;). It was pretty cool though! It's this huge natural formed cave that's like a mile long and it is pitch black the whole way. It would definitely get a little creepy had I done it alone or not had a good flashlight.

We also tried out one of the 'before mission' tactics early on this week, which I don't know if we are really allowed to do it but oh well. We saw some dudes playing ball while Tracting and we went over and started a pickup game haha. The deal was if they lost they had to listen to our message, if we lost we would get out of their hair. My comp isn't really a ball player back home, and I was sore from lifting and just sucked that day (excuses), so we lost. They wanted to hear our message anyways though! For a good ten to fifteen minutes we talked about Gods plan for his children and the restoration. We got two new investigators out of it and both of them received a Book of Mormon. The 'before mission' tactic wasn't too bad after all.

The work is picking up incredibly! We have 6 progressing investigators, 4 of which are now on date and preparing to be baptized. We found out who is being transferred, and me and Elder Burciaga are staying! I was so happy just cause I have created some really strong friendships and I wanna be a part of this next major movement in the area. The ward is really starting to trust and respect us now and friendships are growing there too. Scripture for the week:

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

MATHEW 28:19-20

I love this scripture lately because I have been in a "hit the pavement"/"find, teach, and baptize" mindset lately and I don't think it's going to leave any time soon. The lord is definitely on our side if we are proclaiming his word "boldly, nobly, and independent." Miracles happen out here...the girl we had on date now has started including her family in the discussions and we are all best friends. Now they all want to get baptized....AS A FAMILY! With patience and hard work, if we ask, we will receive. I hope all is well at home, you are all in my prayers.

Love you guys,

Elder Andrew

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October 19, 2015

This week has been an interesting week. For some reason, all the missionaries from other faiths have been coming up to us and wanting to "bible study". We talked to some Jehovah Witnesses the other day for a while...they like to talk...a lot and almost try to get the conversation heated. Good thing I wasn't feeling overly headstrong that day, or I would have got kind of into it!

Our investigators for the most part are progressing. We had to move one of their baptismal dates to a little later date cause she still hasn't made it to church twice...so that's kind of frustrating. I hope I stay here for another transfer so I can see a couple of our investigators baptized.

Transfers are next week and we should be getting transfer letters this Friday!

I have been sharing my favorite scripture after meals with families for a brief message. In Ether 12:27, it talks about humbling ourselves and admitting our weaknesses. Once we do this, our weaknesses will be made strengths through the Lord.

Nothing out of the ordinary other than that this week. Another week of miracles everyday this week. Thank you for all all the support and prayers in my behalf! I love you guys, and I love serving the Lord!

Sincerely,
Elder Andrew

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October 12, 2015

Two weeks until my second transfer!

Time is flying by and training is going well!

It's been a very wet week! Both my shoes have huge holes on the bottom from walking so much. That definitely increased the fun walking out in the rain with no-sole shoes!

This week has also been a week of bashers coming up to us and wanting to "talk". I'm pretty headstrong I found out, and it is easy for me to get into (not forgetting to testify) it because I know a couple things now haha...not worth it anyways though, we rarely get anything out of them. One of the bashers was a lady that had a TON of armpit hair (she was wearing a tank top) and she gave my companion a huge hug after haha!! I took a big step back cause I didn't want the same for me. The same day we had people throwing crap out of the car at us and that night we got soaked cause someone drove by and threw their drink at us. I was laughing really hard and my comp almost started crying.

We have been visiting a less active once a week that was a truck driver. He always tells us how much of a thug he was back in the day. We get a pretty good laugh out of visiting with him.

As far as the work, we are still working with several investigators on their baptisms within the next month. I kind
of hope I'm not transferred so I can see them be baptized!! We found a lady who was interested and brought us in with her WHOLE family. She thought her husband was gonna prove us wrong or bash with us. It ended up being an extremely spiritual experience and we gave everyone Books of Mormon and they all committed to reading and praying if it is true, and being baptized if they feel it's true!

The relationships with the people in this area are getting very strong. I am developing friendships that I would have never seen coming. Loving the people
gets you twice as far in the work..thanks for the advice pops!

This Sunday I bore my testimony on charity and Christlike love, and next
Sunday they are making me sing a solo in sacrament meeting ... it's gonna be hilarious. Oh well, if I screw up, at least people can get a good laugh out of it! I love you guys!

Sincerely,
Elder Andrew

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October 5, 2015

This week was a really good one;) hahaha, I feel like I say that every week. We have picking up a ton of new investigators! We have at least four progressing and that want to work towards baptism! We have been getting pretty close to our investigators and families. They invite us over for meals and ask us to do all this fun stuff that we can't do cause mission rules, but friendships have definitely been gained out of running into and teaching these people.

Other than that, this week has been a pretty normal week, and it flew by so it's hard for me to remember anything overly significant!

General conference was cool! I liked one of the first talks by Elder Uchtdorf: keeping things simple. The doctrine and principles are so simple but they really do take more than a lifetime to fully understand and comprehend. Faith in the fundamentals should be our foundation. People worry about the in-depth, including myself, maybe a little to much where as I could be focusing on putting my efforts in better understanding the atonement or Christ's doctrine instead of controversial church history topics.

No crazy challenges for you guys this week, just keep on keepin on;) Maybe listen to the young ones a little more because they are familiar and say these things that are so simple, but so true. Our investigators' 6 year old daughter out of no where just said "Jesus can do everything". That's inspired, and I think it hit all of us in the room harder than we thought. Just keep it simple, coming from President Uchtdorf. Love you all!

Sincerely,
Elder Andrew

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September 28, 2015

This week has been a good one...for the most part. We have been gathering a few new investigators and we put some one on date the other day! We have really have been making it clear lately with those we are teaching that baptism is a goal and we as missionaries are there to help them get there and understand why it is essential for eternal progression.

 

Training has been fun, it's a lot more work on my part, but I like taking initiative and it seems my way of doing things is working out...haha. My comp is cool and the ward loooves him. We aren't exactly alike, but we make it happen, I love the kid!

A lot of this week I've been pretty sick, with the flu or something...we got through the week though so it all good! The other day we were Tracting and ran into an interesting person. He really wants us to tell people and focus on the fact God is almighty and we must fear him. It was pretty funny, he was like grabbing my face and rubbing it like a little kid and kept telling me I missed a spot on the stache...;) hahaha burciaga was laughing way hard, I was pretty weirded out. He kept pointing at mount hood and saying out God created that and how almighty he is. Sometimes he would yell, sometimes he would whisper. It was an interesting experience to have a drunk old biker dude with a beard grab my face, but I noticed he had the light of Christ. I saw it in his eyes. He passion and love he had for Christ was exponential, and it hit me hard. When he brought up we need to fear God, I was thinking. I agree but maybe not in the same way he thought. As missionaries sometimes we run across some pretty funky people, and are purpose is to bring ALL unto Christ. During my studies I came across this and I think it's pretty cool. It relates to missionaries and non missionaries:

"9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not." 

Sometimes we are scared of a reaction, or timid to talk to people. The Lord has prepared certain people that are in need of hearing the message we have to share. My challenge to you all is to look past the "cover of the book" or outer appearance, and to not fear the people, and submit yourselves to the will of the Lord. The last days are here, anyways, it's the least we can do for what our savior has done for us. Just look at the moon the other night....that was pretty cool how red it was. I love you guys. Keep hitting me up with the fun stuff you do at home.

Sincerely ,

Elder Andrew 

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