November 26, 2015

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Nichols

November 23, 2015

How you all doin!? Thanksgiving is coming up and that day is going to be jam packed for us! We are eating dinner with like every family in the ward! I am going to die. This coming week will be a fun and full week. This last week..once again...has flown by. We had interviews with president and it sounds pretty probable that I might be out of my area. It will definitely be rough considering the relationships I have established and what I have gotten used to..but I still am not counting on it just because you really never know where you are going until you open that letter. The ward has been treating us really well and my companion and I agree we have established some definite trust and respect which is AWESOME. We have been staying busy in our proselyting efforts and had a pretty cool experience this week in an area that our bishop felt inspired to focus our proselyting efforts on. We were visiting a former investigator, who ended up not being home, so we did some tracting.  We knocked on the neighbor's house and he answered. We started talking and it got really interesting. I guess he is some ridiculously smart computer guy who can hack anything. He admitted his beliefs to us - he is an "agnostic atheist" (someone who is open to ideas or beliefs but wants proof). We ended up teaching the restoration to him and when we spoke of the first vision he made a weird face. We asked if he was feeling anything or what his thoughts were. He came back at us saying he felt something very strong...that he could not deny...!!! Inside, I was thrilled. Whether this guy gets baptized or progresses, I don't know..but this little experience I think was rewarded to us because of our labors. We had mission tour (like a zone conference) this week and something president Taylor said was along the lines of ...despite our exact obedience, charity, 100% effort, why does it seem sometimes the Lord isn't blessing us or is there or we aren't having success...its because success, or blessings, or miracles ultimately don't convert us to the gospel. Also, when we have these really cool experiences every so often, we have a greater appreciation for them. True conversion is not what we believe, its through our works and what they allow us to become over time. Charitable is something that people can become. I extend the invitation at the beginning of this Thanksgiving holiday to pray for charity, to have a charitable experience. Over time these acts, or experiences, will engrave in us and allow us to "become" charitable people. Do something for something this holiday season that THEY can be grateful for. I love you all and love it out here! Hope you have an awesome Thanksgiving! Scripture for the week: Ether 12:34.

Sincerely,

Elder Andrew

November 18,2015

November 17, 2015

November 16, 2015

This week was crazy jam packed! And next is looking very similar! My comp and I decided to do a little fasting this week and Heavenly Father made sure we were busy and will be busy. Our main focused on investigators have been all sick, so it's been testing our patience quiet a bit. Part of our fast was focused on these specific people.

Something pretty cool happened the day of our fast! Towards the end of the day we got a couple texts, both of which were from these investigators wanting to schedule an appointment!! I have been hoping and praying I don't get transferred out (the 9th) so I can see these guys baptized. Either that our have a miracle and see them baptized this transfer. This week and last, I've learned I need to have a lot more trust in the Lord rather than relying solely on my own efforts. I came across a scripture in my studies that hit me fairly hard. It reads:

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

3 Nephi 13

The Lord provides for his children that show their faith and trust in him. Things don't always go how we expect our how we want, but if it's the Lords will, it will happen. Something that I will always be
working on is aligning my will with the will of the Lord. If our investigators are baptized this transfer, so be it! I need some serious patience haha.

This week we have also ran into some interesting people. Some, there appearance was pretty funky, some their beliefs. There was a guy that beliefs in Zeus and Greek mythology so that was interesting. Being exposed to all kinds of liberal and extreme beliefs has been fun as can be! 

The work is going good and me and elder Burciaga have a pretty good time! I love you all!! Remember to trust in the Lord, through thick and thin, and he
will provide!

Sincerely,
Elder Andrew

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November 9, 2015

What's up guys! This week has been a little long..not gonna lie. The
weather here is foggy and rainy ALL the time and we walk all day in it
getting soaked. Fun stuff haha. Peoples personality definitely changes
during this season, and it's interesting  talking to people who are in
winter mode out here! Our main investigator has kinda been going
through a rough time, so it's been somewhat hard to coordinate with
her and her family. She is still progressing though, she has been to
church several times along with her brother and say they really like
it! We have final interviews set up, and our fingers are crossed that
things go as planned. There has been some confusion with the church's
recent stance made. It gives me comfort that we are lead and guided by
a modern day prophet who receives revelation for the church as a
whole. For people that had questions concerning this, and quote came
into my mind which was "doubt your doubts before you doubt your
faith". We are members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints and anybody who is a member is converted to the gospel of Jesus
Christ. At one point or another has come to the realization that this
church holds the power and keys necessary to perfect the saints,
redeem the dead, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ "boldly,
nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent,
visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every year".
For questions and confirmation, we should always bring it up with our
father in heaven who cares about us more than enough to show us truth.
Sorry for probably over expounding, buts it's been kind of a big deal
up here. Scripture for the week;) Moses 5:8-9. I love serving the
Lord...the church is true! Love you all and have a great week!

Sent from my iPad

November 2, 2015

Hope you guys had a good Halloween! I'm jealous Jeff can dunk it that good! I have pretty much lost all my hops and any skills I had! It's been raining like crazy and I haven't seen the sun for a few days. The work is going good. The area has at least doubled in progress since I have been here! Our baptism should be within the next couple weeks if things go as planned! I couldn't be more excited! 

exchanges

First one of these I've seen in a while #ancient

Scripture for the week: 2 Nephi 24:11-16. 

Love you guys!

Elder Andrew

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