Welcome to my weekly letter page! I am serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Sacramento, California.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Week 11

Happy Halloween! Actually, halloween isn't my favorite holiday. People put up the ugliest decorations in their front yard and wear the nastiest costumes. But, it means an all-day P-day! Instead of going back to work tonight at 6 like usual, our zone is going to get together and do something. We don't know what yet, the zone leaders are keeping it a secret.
 
This week was busy. On Monday, after I wrote, I tried to catch one of those stupid turkeys that roam the neighborhood. I was closing in on it, and started running to jump on it. I wasn't paying attention to where I was running and I slipped on wet grass and ate it... in my shirt and tie. Elder Forster caught it on video. Embarrassing. I wanted that turkey SO BAD!!! One day...
 
On Tuesday we helped paint an investigator's living room. They're painting the whole inside of the house a very light green. I was up on the ladder with the roller on a long pole to reach the high walls. I love doing service. It's gratifying work, to be able to see the results as you work... not something you see too much while working in the field. Plus, I just like the physical labor.
 
On Wednesday we taught an investigating family the restoration. The father's a member, but hasn't been to church since he was twelve, when he was baptized with his family. He said he remembers doing baptisms for the dead in the temple though. He drinks, but has cut down since his girlfriend moved in and they had a baby. The mother doesn't know much about the church and is not sure there's a God. Together they live with their son, who's like 1 or 2. They are a wonderful family, and I believe they're pretty sincere. I see so much potential in them, but a lot of change will have to happen.
 
On Thursday... nothing much happened.
 
On Friday we had zone conference. A third of the mission got together and we received training from President and Sister Lewis and other senior couples. And, we had a special guest... Elder Yamashita and his wife! He spoke in the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference about missionaries (click on his name and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the link to his talk). Elder Yamashita (yam-AH-shita, not yama-shita) and his wife just moved from Japan to SLC three months ago, and now they are touring stakes and missions in the western US. They just sent off their last son on a mission. As all of us missionaries arrived, he stood with President Lewis and their wives to shake our hands and greet us. He asked where I was from and I told him. "OH! Mow-wab! We went there! Arches!" Then his wife (who's still learning English, but is pretty good for only three months) understood and said, "dessert." I said, "Yep, it's a desert" with a smile :) During our training (it lasts almost all day), Elder Yamashita spoke about the Doctrine of Christ and special responsibilities we have as missionaries. He said something that really impressed me, that it is our "responsibility to convert, not just to baptize." A lot of times missionaries get caught up in numbers, and we can't just consider our work done when the baptism is over. Our attitude as we talk to people, as we teach, and as we help people progress, should be to help truly convert people, not convince them to be baptized. And that can only happen with the Spirit.
 
Sister Yamashita did training too. She told us that we need to "open our mouths!" and held up an origami mouth that opened and closed when she pulled it. It was hilarious, everybody laughed. She handed out squares of paper and taught us all how to fold it into a big mouth. It was great :)
 
That evening E. Forster and I went to the "Harvest Festival" for our ward in El Dorado Hills. It was a great party; no Halloween costumes, live bluegrass music from a family in the ward, a talent show, and contests. Kinda reminded me of the Pumpkin Chuckin' Fest back home :) Except not as cool. They had a pie-eating contest, and they pressured me into joining. I really didn't want to 'cause I was already full and I hate pumpkin pie, but I had to. I was strengthing the ward relationship, right? I don't think it was worth it. :P
 
On Saturday we went to an investigator's house to help her with her yard. She has a lot of pain in her wrists, so she can't do a whole lot with her hands. We mowed her small lawn, pulled weeds, turned over soil, and cut bird netting for her raised beds. It was a beautiful day, I didn't even break a sweat. She had peppers and a lot of herbs like rosemary and thyme. I love working in gardens. When I get old I'm gonna have a garden with tomatoes and peppers and raspberries and garlic and a lot of other plants. When we left she fed us pancakes and gave us some delish organic snacks. She's awesome, but doesn't have much motivation to go to church or read the Book of Mormon. Someday!
 
On Sunday the sister's had a baptism that we went to. Our zone had six baptisms this month! We were all set up to get eight, but two people used their free-agency and decided to wait. Eight in one month is the record for this zone, and I wanted so bad to break it and get nine. When a zone breaks a baptism record, President Lewis takes the whole zone out for lunch. But, I'm so glad we were able to get six people, that's unusual for this zone! And, the goal for the whole mission this month was 80... a pretty big number. Guess how many we got... eighty-five! None of the elders I've talked to can remember a time when we've gone over the mission goal, ever. We've truly been blessed. 
 
Well, that about sums up this week. Love ya,

--
Elder Chris Andrew
California Sacramento Mission
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
 
PS just for the fun of it, I counted. Guess how many hands I shook this week? 75. That's a lot of germs.



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Monday, October 24, 2011

Week 10

Man, this week has flown. First week of my second transfer! It's been alright. We added a lot of new investigators last week, but they've all flaked on appointments this week and they haven't been home when we've dropped by. I guess that's missionary work.

Elder Yagi got transferred and E. George moved in! He's really tall, from Idaho, and likes to canyoneer and photograph. We hit it off pretty well. He's been all over Zion NP and other slot canyons in Utah. Late nights we talk about the adventures we've had in the desert. He's pretty adventurous. This morning we went exploring in the ravine next to our apartment! We found wild raspberries and a cool creek flowing through the trees. Nature! :) He took some pictures I'm sending.

Scripture that gave me comfort this week: 2nd Nephi 33. We knocked on this black woman's door who was very angry at us and hates the Mormon Church. She tried to convince us that the prophets Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were false prophets and that the Book of Mormon was sent "straight from the pit of hell." She was really angry. The next morning I happened to read this chapter in my Book of Mormon study. I'll share my favorite verses:

But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.
11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.
 14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

Powerful. Needless to say, reading this chapter was an answer to prayers.

On a weird side note, Elder Kaluhiokalani makes "Spam musubis" for lunch sometimes. He fries slices of spam in "oyster-flavored sauce" (don't ask), sprinkles it with sesame seeds and chopped seaweed and then wraps it with rice in sheets of dried seaweed. It sounds gross, but it's pretty good. I wish I was Hawaiian.

My mormon.org profile showed up! Here it is: http://mormon.org/me/5JVZ/
And this is a guy in my ward in El Dorado Hills: http://mormon.org/me/1K72/

I love you! Peace,

--
Elder Chris Andrew
California Sacramento Mission
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks, CA 95628



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Monday, October 17, 2011

Week 9

Today... is the last day of my first transfer! A transfer lasts six weeks. I'm staying with Elder Forster in Folsom. This will be E. Forster's fourth transfer in Folsom. I'll probably stay in this area another transfer after this, but get a new companion in December. Also, I'm two today! Only 22 more months left... it goes by fast.
 
In December our mission has what we call a "White Christmas." Even though it doesn't snow here, our "white Christmas" is a goal to baptize many truly converted people. We've set a goal to baptize 101 people for the whole mission in the month of December! That's a big number, but the reason it's a hundred and one is to put emphasis on the one. It's exciting work! I'm excited for investigators I teach during my first year on my mission because that means that if they stay worthy and keep progressing, they'll be able to go through the temple in one year, while I'm still out here. I would love that, to attend the temple with the people that I have taught and grown to love.
 
I'm excited for my first Christmas in the mission! It's an all-day P-day, we get to call home, and we get to go to the temple. The mission office holds all packages to missionaries received in December until a few days before Christmas. If you send anything, I would love stuff like music, ties, and pictures. Please send pictures! I want to see what you guys are doing. And, I love pictures of mountains! Sacramento doesn't have a lot of those :P pictures of Moab, the river, torn-out pages from calendars ... I'd love that. Keep in mind there's also rules for the music we listen to. To quote the white handbook, "do not listen to music that pulls your thoughts away from your work, merely entertains, has romantic lyrics or overtones, or dulls your spiritual sensitivity by it's tempo, beat, loudness, lyrics, or intensity." I like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, acoustic guitar, banjo, folk-y type music, Disney soundtracks, and I've even started to like Enya? And ties, they have to be "conservative in color, pattern, width, and length." I can't wear light-colored ties like yellow or light blue, that's considered "apostate" :) But I love polyester ties!
 
Well, it's a short one this week... I don't have much to report, just working hard. I promise I'll write more soon. I love you,

--
Elder Chris Andrew
California Sacramento Mission
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks, CA 95628



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Monday, October 10, 2011

Week 8

Hey guys! It's been a great week... we had a baptism, my first!

On Tuesday I went to a "New Missionary Meeting." My whole MTC district was there with their trainer and we received training from President and Sister Lewis. They're awesome. It was so good to see all of them again. They all are doing so great. That afternoon I went on splits with one of the AP's (assistants to the president) and tracked a street. He said something that I'll remember for the rest of my mission, that when people close their door or walk away from us, they're not rejecting us, they're rejecting our message of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. He said, "It's going to be hard when I go home and ask a girl out and get shut down... then it's just me they don't like!" Elder Bellingham is an awesome missionary, I don't think he'll get turned down by many girls.

On Wednesday it rained a lot, and a cold front came through. We could see our breath! That was a nice change... the weather lately has been keeping things interesting. And I got letters from the primary! Thank you for your pictures and drawings. And thank you Kerri for sending them with your notes :D

On Thursday our zone combined with the Carmichael zone and had training from Pres. and Sis. Lewis. They've been meeting with each zone individually these past weeks and have been working with them. After the meeting, President Lewis decided to come out with Elder Forster and I to work. Elder Forster had never had that happen before; we were so nervous! We had a lesson with Jody, met with a former investigator, and contacted and tracted (Contact: talking to everyone you see on the street. Tract: knocking doors). President Lewis was awesome; he validated everything we did and said, and brought so much to the lessons. He's like a father to us. I love him.

On Friday, Jody got baptized! We were supposed to have it two weeks ago, but scheduling the font and other issues got in the way. I was all for just going down to the river and doing it there, but it didn't happen :( Jody was so ready. She wanted me to baptize her, although I had only been teaching with her for a few weeks! I was so nervous. I was so nervous that I forgot to say "Amen." at the end of the baptism prayer before I dunked her! That was embarrassing. I had to do it over again. Man, pick the green missionary to do it.... But besides that, it was an incredible baptism. Elder Forster said that it was the most spiritual one he's had, and I believe him. I hear that most investigators aren't like Jody; one day the missionaries were walking around the apartment complex and she came up to him and said, "I want to be baptized." She has sacrificed a lot, and now her baptism has meant a lot. She changed her lifestyle, her habits, and has become a new person. It's been awesome to see the change in her life.

Saturday we attended the baptism of two siblings by the zone leaders, E. Yagi and E. Kalhiokalani (the Hawaiian). That's three for the month of October already! We are working and praying for eight this month... it's take a miracle, but it can be done. The record number of baptism for this zone in one month is eight. We have a lofty goal this month!

In church on Sunday we had the confirmation of Jody. That was a spiritual experience too. She'll do wonderfully in the church.

This morning E. Yagi and I went trail running down by the American River. If I had known about that trail, we'd have been running every morning! It was beautiful. We ran out onto the foot bridge, over the calm water. The water is so clear, and the rocks are so sharp and the birds were singing... it was great. I love the outdoors. Right now it's raining outside. I love it after it rains, the air is so fresh and the mountains in the distance are sharp and clear. Everything is so clean.

Have a great week. I love you!

--
Elder Chris Andrew
California Sacramento Mission
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks, CA 95628



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Monday, October 3, 2011

Week 7

Dear Friends and Family,
 
How'd you all like General Conference? It was incredible. I have been looking forward to it for weeks. General Conference for missionaries is kinda different. Before my mission I didn't realize the importance of the words of a Prophet and Apostles. I was a little apathetic even. Now it's night and day difference. Every missionary says the same. This Conference I was truly uplifted. Here in California we watch the live sessions at 9am and 1pm, so it's at the same time in Utah. It was great to sing, pray, and learn with all of you.
 
I learned a lot about missionary work in the inspired messages of this Conference. Pre-mission, I wish I would've been been more involved with missionary work and better prepared to share the gospel. I loved the scripture that Richard G. Scott quoted, that we must always be prepared to share the message of the gospel wherever we are. 1 Peter 3:15 "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..." Share your beliefs, share your testimony, share your love.
 
I also love the Golden Questions (questions used by missionaries to make people really think and open their hearts) "What do you believe about Jesus Christ? What are you doing because of your belief?" I'm going to use that one this week :) It's bold, but that's our job.
 
Other than Conference, nothing really exciting happened this week. On Tuesday I cut my own hair! My companion has a hair-cutting razor thing, and let me borrow it. I cut it way short! I can barely part it. It looks pretty funny, but it's starting to blend in a little bit.
 
One evening this week we had dinner at the Holtry's. They are an older couple in the ward. When I told them I was from Moab, they said on their mission they knew an elder from Moab too! They told me they served in Spokane, WA about 5-6 years ago. They couldn't remember the elder's name, but he was a riverguide and a fast runner. "Elder Stucki! Yeah, I love the Stucki family, they live down the street from my home and we're great friends." I told them what I knew about Ryan and what he's doing now.
 
Love!
 
Elder Chris Andrew
California Sacramento Mission
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
 
PS It's good to hear Brian and Angela are back! Tell them hi :)



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