February 29, 2016

I forgot what transfer I am on, but its the end of it! That flew by haha!

This week was awesome! We were able to find some people that are interested in the gospel as well as we were able to put a couple people on date for April!! Elder Johnson and I are so stoked for it. I feel so blessed that the Lord is blessing us with these people to teach and befriend.

The weather was awesome over here this last week to! Ton's of sun...which called for a lot more walking! I love going out and finding when the sun is out! Got to take advantage of it over here! We were able to teach gospel principles and attend the primary and be the "guest speakers"! I love the primary. There is an awesome spirit in that class that is different than the others! We discussed in gospel principles "Jesus Christ, our savior and leader". We were talking about in the premortal existence Satan proposed he be our savior and that he wanted all the glory, and then Jesus Christ stood up and said he would volunteer to be our savior for the love that he had for us and his father. As well, with Jesus being our savior, we would be able to keep our agency! We were also talking about how the Savior would be our judge. How suited he would be for that position seeing that he has gone through everything that we have or ever will go through.

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--

4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life. (D&C 45)

To me, this scripture is pretty comforting!!!!!!! He will be our advocate, he will plead for our cause depending on our desires, he will ask to spare all of us who will choose to believe in him! Jesus sounds like a bro. haha! All I got to do is believe, and follow his example=eternal life and happiness forever!

I love you guys, and hope all is well..as well as the weather over there! Its crazy how much of an impact it can make on your day!

Sincerely,

Elder Andrew

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February 22, 2016

Hellooo!

Another great week has passed! We found a couple solid new people ready to investigate the church, they seem pretty prepared so we are stoked! We had a ton of great lessons, members and non members! The Lord just seems to be handing miracles our way and it's starting to feel like we are doing less and less.

An elder we are living with had the opportunity to go to a temple sealing for the first investigator he taught. Over time he had the opportunity to see them progress in the gospel to where they are now. He said it was THE coolest thing to see the change and be able to witness the sealing. He said the spirit was undeniable and emotions were high! We have an opportunity to make some pretty cool promises with the Lord, and in return he has promised us incredible blessings. Now this couple can be together forever and their children will be born into the promise which will not only bind them to their parents, but also effect and influence their lives for better then they, or really any of us can really understand. I was pretty jealous.

Another cool thing this week was interviews with president! The person who is subbing in for president is way cool! Seems like a very understanding loving person!

We ate a pig too! Elder Johnson and I got to eat in the Tongan ward once this week...we got there and they had two big pigs over a fire they had got that morning! It was way cool!

We had exchanges soon after and being with my previous companion for a day was fun.

Lately I have been really focusing on developing Christlike attributes. Rather than just making them actions, I want to really incorporate them to who I am. Yesterday's big look was knowledge. Before I never really thought of knowledge being a Christlike attribute, but it is! In Alma 17:2-3, it talks about how powerful we can be in our ministry when we try to obtain a knowledge for righteous purposes. The sons of Mosiah "had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.

4 And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth;"

Prophecy, revelation, teaching with the power and authority of God....SUCCESS!! I need this! I'm still trying to obtain a knowledge that seems adequate for the task I have at had. Without a doubt, my efforts in this behalf have allowed the spirit to take my words and make them into what God would have me say. "21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men." Pretty cool promises.

I love you guys, I love it out here! The work is progressing so fast! Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elder Andrew

February 15, 2016

Hey everyone!! I have like no time this week to write...just got back from a cool hike! Miracles have been raining down this last week!! Have to talk about it next week! Love you all!

Sincerely
Elder Andrew

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February 8, 2016

Another week down! As usual, it flew by. I learned a couple lessons
this week haha!

First off, yesterday was fast Sunday and I got up to bear my testimony. I remembered my heart was pounding crazy fast this time. I knew I wanted to bear my testimony but didn't know what to say so I started thinking of things to say and ways to say it....bad Idea.
I don't remember what I said, but it didn't feel that good after. Than I remembered a scripture that I had seen proof of in previous experiences and that was:

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Pretty cool promise. I remember prior and at the beginning of my mission I took a lot of thought for what I was going to say!! I learned there was a difference between planning out a lesson or talk and actually thinking of things to say and how to say them and not just relying on the spirit to bring things to your remembrance. Definitely a mistake i will try not to make again! Something that has just been on my mind.

We met the family who are progressing in the gospel this last Thursday and it was awesome! We show up, and all of them I guess went to Deseret books and picked up quads with their names engraved on them!!! We were so stoked. The main one we are focusing on quick smoking and coffee cold turkey...and has no desire to have it!! Serious prayers being answered! She experienced a miracle from paying her tithing too! She told us it was either groceries and part of the rent or tithing and she chose the latter. A couple days
later, she got a couple of gift cards to Wenco with several hundred dollars on them. We were mesmerized, and kinda had to tell her the Lord doesn't always work like that, but sometimes through our faith, we can witness miracles. They are still progressing rapidly, so keep them in your prayers! as will we.

I got to go on an exchange to my last area, and I realized how much I missed that ward. All of the people in the Tongan ward seriously have the most charity collectively I have ever seen and I seriously look up to them!

GREAT WEEK!

I love you guys. Thanks for all you do for me and your support!

Sincerely,
Elder Andrew

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February 1, 2016

Hellooooo! Fam and friends how are ya! This week has been a quick one!
Been a little under the weather, but as was everyone...seasons
greetings! We had some really cool stuff happen this week!

We have been meeting with a less active member of the church and saw her a
couple days ago. We went into her home and a new person was there! Told us she was the daughter of this member and had been listening in on our previous visits! She said she felt the spirit strongly and wants to be baptized!! This is the same family who has a grandmother
who wants to be re baptized...!! Seriously the coolest thing ever! So now we are teaching the whole family and they are super receptive to the spirit.

There are some funny things that go on in the city of Portland. Stories for another time, but it's been fun.

Lately a lot of our efforts with the ward has been trying to focus on the temple and regular attendance of the temple...I think most times, we don't necessarily grasp the importance and magnitude of this holy place and what really goes on. Put aside the fact that we receive
incomprehensible blessings for making and keeping promises, this is the literal home on earth of the Lord. If we really wanted to get as close as we could to walking where Jesus walked, this would be the place to do it! I wish so bad we were able to go more often as missionaries. There is a quote that puts it simply. 

"Maintaining our spiritual strength is....a daily challenge.....the greatest source of
that spiritual strength comes....from our temples".-James E. Faust.

I remember back home attempting to visit the temple on a more regular
basis prior to my mission. I could, hands down, recognize a difference in myself, in multiple aspects, when I chose to attend the temple that week. There is an undeniable spirit that dwells there. For me: grab the fam and make a goal to go with each other once a month. For those
who can't quiet go inside or are unable, just go to the visitors center or walk around the grounds...then see within a month what difference it makes. "That whatsoever he shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven" I love you guys, and I'm looking forward to the eternities with you all!! Let's do the simple things so we can have a BALL in the next life.

Sincerely,
Elder Andrew

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