71

Merry Christmas!!! It's been a great morning. Elder Christensen and I got up and opened our gifts and packages from home! I'm looking forward to calling my family at 3pm today. This week we had the baptism of Shelley Sanders in the Diamond Springs family ward. Shelley is legally blind -- most objects are blurry to her. Shelley grew up in Diamond Springs but is now  living with the Harwells, a member family and her neighbors when she was a kid. Shelley is amazing. She has so much faith. I'm happy for her.

 

This Saturday Kurt is getting baptized in the Shingle Springs YSA ward. He has had a rough past and the change in his life is like night and day. I love Kurt. He is a deep thinker. Whenever we teach him he's got an open notebook and takes notes about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Plan of Salvation, etc. He reads the Book of Mormon like it's going out of style. Kurt is awesome.

 

One of my favorite things to witness is someone who grasps the gospel and holds on without fear or hesitation. They know what they have missed their whole lives and they know it's true. The sacrifices they make to change their lives is incredible. It strengthens my testimony of the gospel. This isn't just a man born 2000 years ago. It's not just good words to live by, or a lifestyle. It's all that and more. This is the true and living gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No man can inherit the kingdom of God, except he chooses to follow Christ and live His way. I know it's true and I love it.

 

The first weekend in January another one of our investigators in the YSA ward has chosen to be baptized. Ian is his name. I hope for both of these young men that they can serve missions as well.

 

My favorite scripture this week is the first few verses of Mosiah 3. The prophet King Benjamin, 125 years before Christ's birth, was told by an angel details of his birth, life, Atonement, death, and resurrection. This is the glad tidings. I love you all and hope your Christmas is as meaningful as mine has been.

 

"...I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.... For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men."

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

70

What an awesome week! Wednesday morning I got a ride from my ward mission leader in Wilton, Br. Telford to my new area. My companion is Elder Christensen from Moroni, UT. He's pretty awesome. He grew up on a ranch and raised turkeys. Total cowboy. I love him. Our area is the Diamond Springs ward and the Shingle Springs YSA (young singles adult) ward. We are the zone leaders, so we cover the whole stake of El Dorado. It's in the foothills of the Sierras. Beautiful country.

 

On Thursday I got to know our zone better. We went to district meeting. We have two districts in our zone. There are 14 missionaries in our zone. It's pretty awesome.

 

On Friday I went to new mission leaders meeting with President and Sis. Lewis and the APs. I was just there last month as a new district leader, but I really needed this meeting again. There's a lot of new responsiblities as a zone leader, but I think the biggest thing is being an example to the missionaries we serve. We must have a model area so that other missionaries can learn from it. But it's fun.

 

On Saturday I was able to go back to Wilton ward for the baptism of Cheryl Brant. She is amazing! I am so happy for her. It's incredible to see the power of the Atonement change someone's life. As we have taught Cheryl she has learned and applied with such earnestness it gives new meaning to the word "redeemed." The light that has come into her life is visible, even illuminating. She is the best.

 

On Sunday we went to our wards and a fireside by Br. Gomm. In our YSA ward there are a couple familiar faces from people I knew in Jackson. We had two investigators attend both wards. In the family ward Shelly came. She is getting baptized this Saturday! In the YSA ward we had Ian and Kurt. Both of them want to be baptized! At the fireside Br. Gomm talked about experiences he had working in Jerusalem. He was called on a special mission to open the land of Isreal. Br. Gomm is like the Indiana Jones or Jason Borne for the Mormon Church. He has some amazing stories.

 

This week we have our temple conference with the whole mission. On Wednesday we will be going to the temple with our zone and a few surrounding zones. Love ya!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

69

Elder Gottfredson, Elder Nalesoni, Elder Villalva and I ice-skating this morning.

Well, transfers are here and I unexpectedly got transferred to El Dorado Hills. I will be companions with Elder Christensen as a Zone Leader. I feel very inadequate. When I was on the phone with President Lewis last night I asked him if he thought I was ready. He said, "Well, no, but the Lord does..." and that what matters, right? This will be challenging, but I'm up for it.

I'm sad to leave Elder Villalva and the Wilton and Sheldon wards already -- six weeks is just not enough. We are looking forward to a White Christmas with Cheryl getting baptized this weekend! I'm hoping that I will be able to come back for her baptism.

I just heard news of my Uncle Darin passing away in Logan, Utah. I'm in shock. I wish I could be there with my family in this hard time. My prayers are with them. I love you all.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

68

It's December! I can't believe how fast this year has flown. I'm so excited for Christmas! We are looking forward to a White Christmas. Even though we don't get any snow in the valley where we serve, we are working to help truly converted people enter the waters of baptism this month. It's our "White Christmas," the white baptismal clothing representing purity. Elder Villalva and I have set up a little Christmas tree in our house, we listen to Christmas music, and we share Holiday videos and scriptures with members and non-members. Yay!

This week we taught our investigator, Cheryl. She is incredible! She has been searching for the gospel for a long time, and now she is prepared for baptism. She has lived with a member friend for 20 years, and within the last year her friend has returned to activity and has helped Cheryl learn. I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being the "good news." As we have taught Cheryl she is so eager to learn and understand and enjoy fully the blessings of the Atonement. Through Jesus Christ we can become clean from sin. The burdens of guilt and sorrow can be washed away. I love being able to help someone else understand our need for Grace and change their lives! Cheryl is amazing.

As a side-note last week Elder Villalva and I got a call from Elder Clifton in the mission office (he's our vehicle coordinator). He switched out our old Chevy Malibu (we call it a Mali-boat for it's lousy turning radius) for a brand new Chevy Cruze. I'll probably never drive a newer, nicer car for years! We like it. They are better than the Toyotas that the Church used to buy.

We had a mission conference this week and found out that by middle of next year, we should have about 250 missionaries serving in our mission. Right now we are below 190. Holy smoke! I'm stoked. This means that every single ward in the mission will have it's own companionship. No more two ward areas. It's a struggle to balance and serve effectively in two wards. Oh yeah baby.

Hey, the Church made a Christmas website! Check it out, check it out.
mormon.org/christmas

Love to all and Merry Christmas!



--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

67

Thanksgiving was great! We went with the Taylor family to "The Delta King," a steamboat on the river in Sacramento. We drove through Old Sac and boarded the ship. It was a buffet style Thanksgiving dinner. Super delish. It was awesome to spend Thanksgiving with them, and afterward we came home to hang out with the McClellans, the family we live with. They had all their kids and grandkids over. It was awesome. After eating so much Elder Villalva and I had to play basketball with the McClellan grandkids to burn it all off. The picture above is Elder Villalva and I on the dock of the the Delta King.

On Saturday Claire O'Shea in the Wilton ward got baptized! She is the result of the hard work of dozens of missionaries. She has been off coffee for two weeks, and we are super proud of her. Her husband is a less-active member, and he is in a nursing home in Sacramento. Claire was baptized by Br. Telford, her hometeacher. She is from Brooklyn, NY and has the greatest accent. Very classy.

After the baptism of Claire I headed up to Jackson to witness the baptism of Steve Larson. I taught Steve for almost six months in the Jackson ward and Elder Gurr (my companion in Stockton) and his trainee have been helping him progress. I am so happy for him. Steve is completely blind from an accident years ago. I was so happy to see many of the members of the Jackson ward that became family to me -- Br Martinez, Br Ward, Sis Saldate, Br Fedena. 

Well, the Church is true and I've got to go. Love you all!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

66

Happy Thanksgiving! It's been a long week without pday on Monday, but all day today is pday. We are going with the Taylor family in our ward to a restaurant in Old Sacramento. Elder Villalva and I are pretty excited. After that we will come back and eat with the family that we live with, the McClellans. They have had all their kids and grand kids home this week. All this is new to Elder Villalva, of course they don't have Thanksgiving in Ecuador. We decided to fast this morning before eating two dinners this evening :)

Investigator update: Claire is getting baptized this Saturday! She has waited so long for this. She overcame coffee and has a testimony. Before she lived here she lived in my old area of Amador County where she met the missionaries. She moved to Wilton with her less-active husband and the missionaries tracked her down and have been working with her for years.

Steve! Remember Steve Larson in Jackson ward? He is getting baptized this Saturday as well. He is my favorite investigator/best friend that I taught. Elder Gurr has been working with him, and he received an answer to his prayers after listening to General Conference. He is awesome.

Jocie in Wilton ward has also set a baptism date for December 29th. Oh yeah.

We added a new investigator named Cheryl in the Wilton ward also. She is so humble and willing and prepared. When I think about all of the investigators and people that have been prepared to hear the gospel, each of them have had a great friend or family member that has led them to the church. It's a testament that we need to share it with everyone.

Well, here's my thank-timony --

I am so thankful for my mission. I love it. I am grateful for my family that loves me and supports me. I am grateful that I have such an awesome companion and a great district. I am thankful for President and Sister Lewis and the guidance they give me. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and the prayers that He answers. I am eternally grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Well, love you all and have a great Thanksgiving! (write ya on Monday)

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

65

Sorry it's a short one this week w/out pictures. Last Monday our zone played glow-in-the-dark ultimate frisbee in the church gym, with glow sticks around our necks and taped on the frisbee. That was fun.Tuesday was great. Wednesday we taught Clair, one of our most promising investigators. On Thursday it rained, that was cool. We had training from our zone leaders instead of district meeting this week, so I didn't have to prepare a district meeting. I'm cool with that. On Friday President and Sis. Lewis came and taught us about faith. That was awesome. We studied scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and discussed how we can increase our faith and the faith of our investigators. I'm always amazed that even though faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost are such simple gospel principles, we can always talk about them in such depth. I love it.

Saturday was great, Elder Villalva and I taught a lot. My favorite days are the ones that we are rushing between teaching appointments and are constantly teaching lessons and reading the scriptures. Those days we see the most miracles in finding as we teach, and as we invite investigators to be baptized.

Church on Sunday was crazy. We are still getting to know ward members and leaders, so it's awkward when someone comes up to you and you know their face... but you forgot their name in the plethora of new names and faces jumbled around in your brain. I feel like an idiot sometimes. Oh well. Love ya!

Love,

Elder Andrew

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

64

Woah, what a crazy week. On Wednesday I got a ride to my new area, the Wilton and Sheldon wards in Elk Grove. It's the countryside kinda near Sacramento. It's a little like Jackson and Ione, except not as hill-y. Beautiful area. We live in a member's guest home by ourselves. My companion is Elder Villalva! He is from Ecuador. He is awesome. Elder Villalva has been out for 5 months and this is his first time serving in English work. He speaks it very well. We still do language study every day for an hour, and I study Spanish while he studies English. I told him my goal by the end of the transfer is to be able to talk about the gospel and pray in Espanol. Elder Villalva is funny and we get along great.

 

Being shotgunned into an area is an adventure. This week was kinda hard to find the people that we are teaching and have been taught in the past. Church was great though. We meet in the biggest building in the stake, the Vintage Park building. It has two chapels so two wards can meet at the same time. We have to bounce between both of our wards so we can be where we need to be for ward councils, sacrament meetings, and gospel principles. Good stuff! These wards are great, and we have a lot of support.

 

On Saturday I was able to go back to Stockton for the baptism of Jacob Lemon! That was awesome.

 

The missionaries in my district are awesome. On Thursday we had district meeting. Elders Nalesoni and Gottfredson are in the Waterman ward and Elders Scalese and Kafton are in the Elk Grove ward. Great Elders.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

63

Oh boy, it's been a good week. Our transfer calls came last night, and I'm leaving to Elk Grove to be a district leader. I'm being "shotgun-ed" or "white-washed" into an area, which means my companion will be just as new to the area as I am. My companion (not sure how to spell his name, I'll let you know next week) is from Mexico and was called to speak Spanish in this mission, but is being moved to English work this transfer. So, I'm not sure how much English he speaks. It will be an adventure. Good stuff! I have a feeling it will be a humbling transfer as I accept this responsibility. I just talked with Elder Muir, the missionary that was serving there last transfer, and he told me that they have a investigator with a baptismal date and a few other progressing investigators. Yeehaw!

Elder Brook is staying in Valley Oaks ward with Elder Chatterton! Elder Chatterton came out with me from the MTC. "Valley Oaks! No jokes! We be baptizing all the folks!" This Saturday is the baptisms of Jacob Lemon and Janie Mustapha. I'm hoping and praying that I will be able to come back for their baptisms.

On Sunday the Mezey family was baptized! SO happy! It's been a long road for them, but it was such a sweet, happy day. Br Mezey received the priesthood in church and baptized his wife, Amy, and four children that evening. In the picture, from left to right, is me, Alyssa, Shelbie, Elder Brook about, Br Mezey and Sis. Mezey, James, Kayleigh, and their next youngest Lilliah in her lap. They have a new born brother J.T. that is not in the picture. They are an awesome family.

Along with Br Mezey in church Tom Erps received the Aaronic priesthood. It was a blessing to be able to participate in his ordination. Edgar and his family is living in the El Dorado ward now, and he should be receiving the priesthood soon too.

Well, it's a big week ahead and I'm stoked for the adventure. It will be a challenge. I'll miss the people of Stockton. It's been real, it's been fun... it's been real fun. I love you all! Love,

Elder Andrew

PS the Stockton homicide count is 69 this year. That breaks the record, which was set last year! Last weekend there were 4 murders, and our mission president told all the missionaries in Stockton to return to their apartments by 8pm to do companion study, instead on returning at 9pm. Good stuff!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

62

Well, the Mezey's were not baptized this weekend. They want their father to baptize them all and he should get the Aaronic Priesthood next week, so the baptisms has been postponed until then. On the bright side, this week our other progressing investigator, Janey, quit smoking and has set her baptismal date for November 3rd! She is amazing. Jacob Lemon is still set for the third as well!

Edgar and his family moved into their new place permanently this week. They are doing great and Edgar should be getting the priesthood soon. Tom is solid... he enjoyed Stake Conference this weekend. He should be getting the priesthood soon too.

Next week is transfers, so you won't hear from me until Tuesday. I feel like I'm probably leaving, maybe to be a district leader. Our zone leaders gave us our transfer reports (how our progression, skills, growth and abilities are measured by our mission leaders every six weeks) and mine said to leave Valley Oaks and be a district leader. We'll see. I know being a district leader will be hard, but I think I'm ready for the challenge. District leaders are usually over 2 or 3 companionships and they provide training every week in district meeting. They go on exchanges with all the missionaries in their district and help them in their areas. The missionaries in their district report their proselyting efforts to the district leader, which he reports to the zone leaders. The zone leaders report to the assistants to the president, and they report to the mission president.

I sure love this place. Stockton is great. I love the people that I have taught and the ward members that I have worked with. Life is good!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

61

This week was awesome! Last p-day we went fishing with our recent convert, Edgar Zuniga, and the family. Elder Brook and I didn't catch anything, but it was fun to hang out and spend time with the Zunigas. They are moving out of our ward soon, and we are bummed out about it. But they will be great members wherever they are.

Tom is doing great. Janey is praying about a baptism date. We have taught her for more than six months and she has had two baptismal dates already, but she says she feels too rushed... so we invited her to set her own date. She said she would like to be baptized before Thanksgiving! :)

Yesterday we had a surprise  As Elder Brook and I were walking into our church building for sacrament, Sis. Lemon and her son Jacob (Sis. Lemon has been less-active for years and we have been teaching her three children: Madison (14) Jacob (12) and Taylor (11). They set their baptisms for next April) came walking out and said, "We have some news for you! Jacob has decided he wants to get baptized. He doesn't want to wait anymore." YAYYY! It's about time. Jacob has gone to scout camps and is in deacons quorum and loves the young men, but he really wanted to pass the sacrament. We're planning on November third! Yeah baby.

The Mezeys had their interviews last week and they are all good to go for this Saturday! Sis. Mezey, Kayliegh, Alyssa, Shelbie, and James will all be baptized.

Life is great my friends!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

60

What a spiritual feast we have had this week. I loved General Conference. It is always a time of self-reflection and an eye-opener to areas of improvement. I'm so glad we have it every six months. I was amazed to realize that although the leaders of our church must have a deep knowledge of gospel doctrine, their messages are always centered on the principles of the gospel -- faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, and saving ordinances. They truly love us and are inspired in their words. I especially loved the talk about the relationship between having a testimony and becoming truly converted. Becoming converted is a life-long pursuit, not a one-time spiritual event. We become converted by praying, studying the scriptures, and obeying God's commandments.

 

On Thursday Tom Erps was baptized and confirmed! He set his baptism date about six months ago to be on his birthday, October 4th. The Paul family that initially fellowshipped Tom came up from S. California to participate in the baptism and confirmation. In the picture Tom is on the left and Bro Paul is on the right. Elder Gurr came back from Jackson to be here as well. It was a great service. Edgar and his family came to watch and so did one of our current investigators, Kristina. She is working toward being baptized as well.

 

Today Elder Brook and I are going fishing with Edgar and his family. They had to move out of our ward this week, so we want to spend as much time with them before we have to pass them off to the new ward. Good thing the church is true wherever you go! We will miss them.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

59

Great week! Yesterday in sacrament meeting Edgar got up and bore his testimony. He shared his experience coming to the church and simply said, "I know that this is true." He talked about his experience growing up catholic, but losing his faith a little as he got older. He said that he has been feeling like he has been searching for something for a while. When we began teaching him he knew that this was it. We found Edgar through his family. We received a referral for a non-member that lived in the home and found the Alvarado family, who were baptized years ago in another ward. They had fallen away, but they caught the Spirit again after a few times of us visiting. Cynthia, one of the daughters of Br. Alvarado, asked us to baptize her oldest daughter, Lupita. After a few weeks Cynthia's husband, Edgar, came home from work in Fresno, and we began teaching him along with Lupi. And now he's here! We're so proud of him. Edgar is such a great member of the church.

This week Thomas Erps is getting baptized! His baptism is on Thursday. Elder Gurr will be coming back, he began teaching Tom. Tom is so prepared -- he even taught Gospel Principles class one week. We're excited.

And then there's General Conference this week! Pretty stoked about that.

Well, other than that, nothing much else. Love everyone!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

58

On Saturday Edgar Zuniga and his daughter, Lupita were baptized. It was awesome! The service went fairly smoothly. Elder Brook baptized Edgar and I baptized Lupi. After the baptisms Elder Brook and I gave the family a quadruple combination with their last name on the front. I am so happy. Nothing sweeter than baptizing truly converted souls as a missionary. I'm so proud of Edgar. He has shown willingness and humility in following Christ. He will be a great asset to the Valley Oaks ward and a great member of the church.

Yesterday we confirmed both of them in sacrament meeting. Bishop Michael confirmed Edgar first and then asked me to confirm Lupita. She was my first confirmation! What a joy.

Edgar and his wife, Cynthia, have been having struggles with their landlord and are going to be moving this week. They're looking for an apartment in the area, and we're praying that they will find one in the ward. It will be harder to retain them and keep them active in another ward if they move out of the area. But God is in control. He knows what is best for them.

Well, other than that, nothing else of interest has happened this week. We've been finding new investigators, helping investigators with baptismal dates, and teaching. Good stuff! I love being a missionary. Love you all,

Elder Andrew

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

57

It's been a good week. It's transfer tuesday today and Elder Brook and I went to the temple this morning. It was a great session. I love the temple. We got our transfer calls last night and, like we expected, we're both staying together to finish training. I'm stoked! It'll be another great transfer.

 

This week we are getting ready for Edgar and Lupi's baptism! Edgar Zuniga and his daughter, Lupi, are getting baptized this Saturday. I am so happy for them. It has been incredible to work with them and help them come to church and feel the Spirit. They are the greatest. They will be wonderful members of the Valley Oaks ward. They have come to church every week for the past month and a half. The only struggle is getting the younger children to primary. Any tips? We've tried candy, CTR rings, begging, but the two youngest don't want to leave their mother. Oh well, they'll get used to it.

 

Last week I went on exchange with Elder Turner. He is one of my favorites. He is our zone leader and we live in the same apartment, but it was fun to get out and work with him. He is from Afton, WY and is hard-core outdoors man. He worked as an EMT running ambulance before his mission and volunteered for SAR. This is his last transfer and he is staying to die in Stockton! Also, my last companion, Elder Gurr who went to be Elder Crager's last companion, is training this transfer!

 

Well, love you!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

56

Today is beautiful. We got up this morning, I cut my hair, studied, and now we're at the Miller's home emailing. We just helped them mow and trim their lawn, and the weather outside is balmy. Br. Miller remarked, "I hate to say it, but it almost felt cold this morning." Californians will tell you that the the best part of California is the weather. I like the people, but the weather is nice too. In the valley we almost never get snow, that is if it ever drops below freezing at night. My favorite part of winter here is the fog. We don't have very much fog in southern Utah, and last winter it was foggy quite a bit in Sacramento. I'm hoping for the same season soon. Anyways, with that said, it's felt a little like fall around here. It's still in the 80's and 90's during the day, but it just feels "fallish." I love it. Soon it will be General Conference time! And then Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and before you know it, Christmas. I'm stoked.

Well, this week was great. Our Wednesday was out of the ordinary. Our investigator Edgar's grandmother-in-law (who was a member, baptized in Salvador years ago) just passed away, and we are the only connection the family has had with the church in many years. Elder Gurr and I found them from a referral in the household, and we found out that the family are members. They have been less-active for a while and have moved in and out of several wards. We have been trying to get them to church but opposition has gotten in their way. We have given them priesthood blessings as well. So, when Emma, the grandmother, passed away, we were asked to come to the graveside memorial service and give the dedicatory prayer. We called for permission from President Lewis. We talked with Bishop Clegg, the bishop in the Spanish ward, and he organized and presided at the ceremony. Wednesday morning we headed over to the funeral home and sat while the family gathered in the chapel around the casket. We followed the hearse to the cemetery. It was a cloudy day. At the graveside, we sang a couple hymns and family members said a few words about Emma. Bishop Clegg taught about the plan of happiness and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was powerful. After that I stood and offered the dedicatory prayer. It was simple, but I felt the Spirit. I hope that what was said and taught will have the power to turn the hearts of the family to the gospel. The knowledge of the plan of salvation will comfort their souls. I am so happy that Edgar and his family have made the decision to be baptized and active in the church. The path is difficult but it is so worth it.

Other than that, nothing too exciting to report on. Something that I realized this week was the very real opposing power of Satan. That scumbag does everything he can to stop the children on God from making lasting righteous choices. It's hard to tell a progressing investigator that the road they're on is for their good when so many bad things happen to them. They have financial struggles, a death in the family, they can't hold on to their house, they have car problems. All these things happen just as they start to read their scriptures, pray, come to church, and commit to make the sacred covenant of baptism. Opposition comes without fail; if it doesn't there is something wrong. That is the test, will they continue on the path of exaltation, or take the smooth highway of least resistance?

I do not envy the place of new converts in the church. Their struggles as they learn and do new things, essentially begin a new life-style, is extremely challenging. But the Holy Spirit will help them overcome all things. I love to share Alma 7:10-12, about Jesus Christ.

10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Because of His suffering during the Atonement, Jesus Christ knows how to "succor His people." The meaning of "succor" is "running to aid." He experienced all of the pains, the sickness, the sadness, the grief, the heartache, the suffering that we will ever feel. Because of that we can seek comfort and spiritual healing from Jesus Christ. It is because of that eternal truth that I love my calling as a missionary - to turn people to Christ. I know that He lives.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

55

This week has been beautiful. We've enjoyed 80's and low 90's, and that's a huge difference from 108. Fall is coming! Nothing too exciting happened this week. We are still working with the same families, the Mezey's, Edgar & Cynthia, and Tom. They all came to church yesterday and liked it. Cynthia's grandma passed away, and so her and the family are very busy with visitors and arrangements.

 

This week we have a new missionary meeting up in Sacramento, and we have a zone training on Thursday. We're all looking forward to that. You wouldn't believe it with all the zone conferences, district meetings, exchanges, and zone meetings we have, but we've cut down a lot on "administering" and focused more on "ministering." I'm all for less and shorter meetings. Speaking of meetings, I can't wait until General Conference in October! Six months is too long sometimes. I guess that's why we have the Ensign magazine, huh?

 

Well, love ya guys. Later.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

54

This week was great! On Tuesday we had Zone Conference with the southern half of the mission. The main theme was "Becoming." For zone conferences all missionaries have to prepare 5 minute talks on a subject from our mission president, which he reads and chooses two or three missionaries to give theirs. This time it was on the talk by Dallin H. Oaks "The Challenge to Become." We received training from President Lewis, the APs (assistants to the president) and our zone leaders, Elders Turner and Nicholls. It was great.

 

The Mezeys are doing great. We meet with them two or three times a week and this week we helped them on Saturday trim some trees in their front yard and neighbor's front yards. The have moved their baptism date to October 13th. Br. Mezey will baptize his family. We're so excited! Edgar and Cynthia came to church this week too. They are doing alright. Their grandma's in the hospital and it's not looking good. Edgar got sick and random bad things are happening to them. In our last lesson with them we told them that Satan knows the righteous desires and efforts they have and he is throwing everything he can in their path to stop them. Edgar and Cynthia are troopers though. They're doing great. We really love both of these families. They've become good friends.

 

This week I got a package from the Roylances!!! Thanks guys! I sure love you (and my companion does too--we played connect 3 with those smarties and the kisses were gone in a few days). I hear about you guys from Grandpa and Grandma, I'm amazed at how much you've all grown! Mark, Nate, I hope you guys are enjoying priesthood. Keep up the great work, all of you. Love you!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

53

Wow, I hit my year mark this week! It's been great so far. I hope that I can continue to learn at the rate that I have this past year. The lessons that I have learned have been invaluable. I am on the life-long path toward true conversion. Lately I have learned the importance of setting goals. I am going to try to use that skill to make the most of the time that I have left.

Another tool that I have learned the importance of is using a study journal. I use it to write down what I've learned in personal and companion study in the mornings, jotting down notes from church or conferences, lessons learned/to teach, setting goals and actions, and recording spiritual impressions. Totally awesome!

This week has been great. On Wednesday we taught the Mezey family. The husband has been less-active for a while and his wife and six kids are not members. They have begun meeting with us so that they can be baptized and eventually go to the temple where they want to be sealed as a family. They recognize this as something that will help them increase love and unity in the home and family. We have met with them twice this week and we have invited them all to a baptismal date on September 15th! They accepted and are excited. Their oldest is 14, and she loved girls camp this summer. Their youngest is under a year, and he and one other sister are under the age of eight. They are an awesome family.

Another miracle this week was the Zuniga/Alvarado family. The wife is a less-active member and she has five children. She wants her oldest, Lupi (who is eight), to take the lessons and be baptized. We have also begun teaching the father, Edgar. They both want to be baptized in September! They have set their baptismal date for the 22nd. We are so excited!

We are hoping and praying for seven convert baptisms next month. That is incredible! The Lord has blessed us immensely. Elder Brook and I are doing our best to keep up with the people we are teaching. Life is good. Love ya!

(random picture: CFA. That's right, this side of Stockton is my turf)

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

52

In photo, left to right: Elder Forster, Elder Andrew, Elder Brook. Keepin' the posterity alive!

 

Early Wednesday morning me and a two other missionaries in Stockton headed up to the mission office in Sacramento. We joined a group of eight other missionaries and received training from the APs (assistants to the president) and President Lewis. We learned about how to train new missionaries and how much more obedient we need to be and how much our new companions will do everything we do. I thought about Elder Forster and everything I learned from him. Around 10am all the departing missionaries (Elder Forster included) came into the chapel and we stood and sang "Called to Serve" as the group of new missionaries marched into the room. We sat down and President Lewis called out our names and put us with our new companions. My companion is Elder Brook! He's from Lakewood, WA. He has one older sister. He loves video games and movies. He worked at Gamestop before his mission. He's pretty cool. It's fun to train, but boy it's hard work. I remember how clue-less I was and maybe how much my trainer felt overwhelmed. But it's great, Elder Brook catches on fast.

 

On Sunday in church our new bishop was announced. Bishop Ganoe has been the Valley Oaks bishop for six years and in the bishopric for 13. He has been the best bishop I've known on my mission. Besides his service as leader of our ward, he has been always willing to give the missionaries rides, has us over for dinner at least once a week, and has been extremely generous to us. Almost all of the other missionaries in the stake know him by name! We are sad to let him go. Our new bishop is Bishop Micheal! I don't know him very well, but I'm sure he will fulfill his calling well.

 

Our Sunday was a miracle. We had nine investigators to church. It was crazy! With us having no ward missionaries and it being Elder Brook's first Sunday in the ward, we felt a little "spread thin" trying to make sure everyone felt welcome and comfortable. But I think everyone was happy. The best part of church was Gospel Principles class. Because there were so many new faces in class, our ward mission leader, Br Anderson, went around the room and asked everyone to introduce themselves before he began the lesson. The Spirit was felt as everyone (who were almost all non-members) shared spiritual experiences and bore their testimonies. It was amazing! Many of them said that they will come again. We hope and pray that the spirit they felt at church will remain with them as continue to study and pray and progress. Back at the apartment after church Elder Brook and I knelt together and thanked the Lord for the blessings that He has given us. The purposes of God are being accomplished! We have our work cut out for us to help our investigators become truly converted.

 

Love you all!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

correction...

In June and July we exceeded our baptism goals of 55 and 67. Sorry 'bout dat. Our goal for August is 64.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

51

Well, President Lewis called last night and... I'M TRAINING!!! I will go to the mission office tomorrow morning and pick up my new missionary. I am so excited and nervous and humbled to have this opportunity. I think back to my first couple transfers and remember what an influence my trainer, Elder Forster, had on me. I hope that I can be the best trainer I can and keep the work in this ward moving. With the Lord's help everything is possible and we definitely have the Lord's help.

 

So, about transfers. A lot of change is happening. First, my companion, E. Gurr is going to Jackson/Ione!!! He will be E. Crager's last companion before he goes home. Two of my favorite companions are serving together -- miracles are going to be happening there. Elder Forster, my trainer, (who is a zone leader here in Stockton and I see all the time) is going home this week and will be going up with me to the mission office as he leaves the mission and I pick up my boy, to keep his posterity alive. He's a grand-dad! AND, Elder Amos is going to be a zone leader here in Stockton! He only has about 5 more months on his mission. Well, I think that's about it. Fun stuff, huh?

 

This week was great. We found a new investigator; her name is Julia. She's black, about 80 or so. Her husband has Alzheimer's and is hard of hearing and Julia has been overwhelmed with caring for their house and yard, so we came over and helped her move furniture around and weed-wack and clean up her yard. Julia is Pentecostal and is very involved with her church, but she loves talking with us "about the Lord." In middle of lessons she'll raise her voice and say, "AMEN! PRAISE JESUS! HALLELU--JAH!" and sometimes she just suddenly begins praying. She's the kind of Christian that mumbles "um-huh. amen. thank you Jesus" as you pray. At one point she started speaking in tongues, which is what happens when the Holy Spirit comes down upon you so powerful that you can't stop from saying "habajubadamomikakamossamussudentihaba." Yep, sign of the Spirit right there. Julia is so funny, we love her. Anyways, we invited her to church at our ward at 12:30pm this Sunday and she said that she'll try to make it after her service in the morning. Well, she walked into fast and testimony meeting a little after sacrament and sat down right up front. Elder Gurr and I were pretty excited to see her! After a few minutes, Julia stood up and started walking up to the podium. E. Gurr and I looked at each other and thought, "Oh boy. Are you ready for this?" She stood there and said how much she appreciated us helping her out with her house and she said that we are servants of the Lord. She said that she feels the Spirit here and will be coming back to church. She spoke about Jesus and His Atonement, and then sat down. Wow! After that, the whole meeting and testimonies were focused on Jesus Christ. It was such an uplifting testimony meeting. And another one of our investigators, Jacob Lemon, got up and bore his testimony. We were so proud of him! He is 12 and his mom is a returning less-active in our ward. Church was amazing. After that E. Gurr and I had the Gospel Principles lesson and that went well too.

 

A side note about how the mission is doing -- in June and August we exceeded our baptism goals of 55 and 67. We are on fire! Elder Holland's promise to us is being fulfilled, that "the next few months will be the greatest in the history of this mission." We are working hard and sacrificing more, and the Lord is blessing us immensely. What a great gift it is to serve at this time.

 

Well, life is good here in Stockton. The Church is true!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

50

This week was great! Our investigators are great. We have a large teaching pool and we are constantly adding and dropping new investigators, but we have really been focusing on finding and helping people be baptized right now. It's a big commitment but we know that it will make people the most happy in the eternities. There are a few investigators coming to church and keeping commitments. The majority of our investigators keep commitments when it is convenient and are unsure about the commitment and covenant of being baptized. Some of them have concerns like "I'm in my 80's and probably don't have that much longer on this earth. How will not drinking alcohol and coffee and wine help my already decrepit body healthy?" One of the people we are teaching is Latino and has attended the Spanish ward and didn't like it, but doesn't understand very much of the doctrine terminology that we use in the English ward. Many have living problems and health problems and family issues. But, the work goes on and I love it.

Last Monday was Elder Gurr's birthday! He got a package from his family and we had dinner with the Ganoes, our bishop's family. It was awesome. I ordered a "Mormon Messages" DVD from Deseret Book for him. Those short videos are so inspiring when teaching principles like the Atonement or families or our purpose on earth. It was also Elder Hubbard's birthday this week, so we celebrated that. Our apartment is kinda "caked-out" with all the sugar foods that we have eaten.

Well, next week is transfers (already!). I hope that either I'll stay with Elder Gurr or get a new missionary. I think it would be fun to train, but Elder Gurr has been my favorite companion. The ward loves him too. We'll find out next Monday. A little more about E Gurr: he is going to Dixie State in St. George for graphic design. He is an amazing artist. He loves the outdoors and wants to work as a wildfire fighter. He worked at Brianhead as a trails manager. He loves motocross and is really good at freestyle. He is the oldest boy of seven. Yeah, he's a pretty fly guy. His family seems pretty cool too.

As a side-note we all cut our hair really short and buzzed in our parts. It makes it easy riding and sweating with a helmet on. I don't even have to use gel... it's nice.

Love ya!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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49

This has been a GREAT week. Elder Gurr and I have taught a lot of lessons and are helping our investigators progress. We were bummed yesterday though, because two of our investigators that have baptismal dates in August didn't show up in church. One has (had) a date for the 5th and the other is working towards the 25th. Hopefully they will progress and come to church before we have to drop them.

 

This week we had interviews with President Lewis. He is so great. In an interview he'll ask how you are doing, how your family is doing, how the work is going in your area, and how your companion is doing. He asked me how my testimony was and how I feel about my purpose as a missionary. It's great. I love it.

 

Our teaching pool is large, but I'll tell you about some of the people we are teaching right now. There is the Lemon family, which is a PMF (part-member family). The mother has been less-active since her teenage days, and now she has three kids that are all over the age of 8. She has returned to activity and is bringing her whole family (minus her husband, she's working on him) to church and the children have a baptismal date sometime next year. Sis. Lemon wants them to be baptized on the date she was baptized, but hopefully as they continue to come, they will decide to bump up their date to be sooner. We are also teaching Tom, and he is a veteran. He was fellowshipped by a family in the ward who just recently moved, but he loves the church and knows the gospel is true, so he's solid. He has chosen his date for October 4th. The reason being that that is his birthdate. He wants to be "re-born" the same day he was brought into this world. We are also teaching Ronnie, a 15 year old kid that is living with a less-active family. He is the one that has a date for Aug 5th, but he didn't come to church yesterday, so it will have to be pushed back. Janey is learning too, and she has been to church twice already and loves it. She was baptized when she was 10 into the Baptist chuch, but feels like it didn't mean very much to her, so she has expressed desire to be baptized again. We invited her this week to be baptized on August 25th, and she is praying about it! Hopefully these people can recognize the Spirit and desire to become truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Well, these are the main investigators in our teaching pool. Life is great! Love you all!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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47

This week has been awesome. All missions have "key indicators," or ways to measure the work we do as missionaries. For example, we count how many lessons we had with member fellowshippers present each week, and how many new investigators that we began teaching each week, and how many referrals received and contacted each week. There are also "standards of excellence," which are goals that are suggested by the mission president that help us set well-balanced goals each week. Now, just because your numbers are high each week doesn't mean you're a successful missionary, but it does say something. Anyways... our key indicator goals and actuals the past few weeks have been incredible. We have been over the standards of excellence consistently, and our teaching pool is very large. It feels awesome! I have never had so much success before on my mission. I sure love Elder Gurr and the Valley Oaks ward. I love my mission!

 

In our apartment we live with two other elders, Elder Turner and Elder Hubbard! It's pretty cool to live with my old MTC companion. Elder Forster is their zone leader too, so I see my trainer pretty often too. Elder Turner is pretty cool too. He is from WY and loves the outdoors. We went to REI last Pday (it's huge -- it has two floors of gear and stuff). We have a really fun apartment. I like living with another companionship. This week we bought chocolate and grahams and marshmallows and made smores over the stovetop. Good times.

 

Also this week a less-active family we are teaching decided to get their 8 year old daughter baptized. They're shooting for the 4th of August! My companion and I are very excited. There are a few other people we are working with and helping to progress that we hope and pray will choose to be baptized soon. The church is true! Love,

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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46

Yes, preparation day was moved to today for Independence Day. We have an all-day P-day today, and we get to have dinner with Pres. and Sis Lewis and watch the movie "17 Miracles" tonight.

 

It's been a long but great week. On Wednesday morning I got a ride to my new area... the Valley Oaks ward in Stockton! My companion is Elder Gurr (pronounced just like it looks) from Parowan, UT. He is awesome! Definately one of my favorites. He has been out for about 3 months, and I am his follow-up trainer (doesn't really mean anything, I'm just his next companion after his trainer). He is dialed, man. He knows the people, the area, the work so well that he should be training a new missionary right now. I just love him. It's funny to tell people when they ask where we are from that we're both from Southern Utah. He is a big outdoors junkie and is really into motocross. He worked for Brianhead maintaining trails and patroling. He is a really good artist. Loves camping, hiking, everything outdoors. He loves the work and is very obedient. He has caught the vision of his mission.

 

We bike around North Stockton everyday. We've gotten a few flats, and it's really hot in the afternoons, but I enjoy it. We talk to lots of people. We have a large teaching pool and a few investigators are working towards baptism. We are trying to help them choose sooner dates, but the Lord knows what's best for them. My first Sunday in my new area was great; our ward mission leader is great and the members are very generous. All of our investigators that are "firm" (investigators with a baptismal date) attended.

 

Stockton. It just declared bankruptcy a few days ago and it is the largest city in the US to go bankrupt. I think it was rated something like the 10th worst city. I guess that's why we're here. From the hills of my old area you could see the smogg-y haze the overhangs the valley of Stockton and Sacramento. The air quality is terrible, my eyes don't react very well to it. The other day Elder Gurr and I picked up bullet shells from a drive-by. This place is awesome! The population is incredibly diverse, too. Lots of blacks, Cambodians, Europeans, Latinos... everybody. I love working here.

 

Life is good and the work is great! Love you all,

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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45

Wow, what a great week. Forth Hoyt was baptized and confirmed on Thursday! It was such a happy meeting. It's incredible to see the joy in someone's face who has just made that sacred covenant with our Heavenly Father to follow Christ. The meeting was great -- mostly close family and friends came, and Elder Crager and I spoke on receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and baptism.

 

The other day we talked to a less-active member who grew up in Moab. The last name was Robison, and I guess his brother still lives there in LaSal. It was cool to talk about familiar sights and places.

 

Yesterday we got our transfer calls. I'm going to North Stockton! My new companion is Elder Gurr. I'll miss Amador County, but I'm happy for change. I look forward to serving with E. Gurr. And by the way, I'll be on bike in my new area for the first time on my mission :)

 

Today Elder Crager and I got up before the sun to attended the temple with Br Fedena. We took the drive to Folsom and arrived with plenty of time before the first endowment session. I love the temple. It is such a happy, peaceful place where we are able to learn from the Spirit. It was a good ending and beginning to these chapters on my mission. I actually met Elder Gurr after the session in the dressing room at the temple. Cool, huh?

 

Well, I'll let you know more about my new area next week. Love ya!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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44

This week has been good. Last Pday we played frisbee golf and ping-pong upcountry at the Forbes house.

 

Church was great yesterday. We attended Ione ward sacrament and then went to the Jackson building for 3rd-hour priesthood. Forth came to Ione ward with his sister. I'm so excited for his baptism on Thursday. He has a cousin and an uncle in the ward that will be performing the baptism and confirmation, and he has family from out of town that will come too. It's kinda funny because the last ward that Elder Crager served in was the ward that Forth's family lives in, and they are pretty close. They're a great family.

 

Well, transfers is next week and I think I'll probably be moving to a new area. Amador county has become home to me, but it's time. I'll miss the Jackson and Ione wards, but I feel like I'm finished here. I don't really care where I get transferred too -- wherever the Lord knows I'll learn and grow the most at this time in my mission.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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43

Week was good. Last p-day we went bowling with our ward mission leader, Br Martinez (it was raining outside). On Thursday I was on exchange with our zone leaders in Lodi. I was companions with Elder Holmes. He's from Pocatello Idaho, but his family has now moved to Orem. E Holmes is way cool. It was one of the funnest exchanges I've been on.

 

On Wednesday we visited a returning member in Ione. He has decided to be baptized on the 21st! I am so happy for him. This is an answer to prayers. Because he is a returning member, he doesn't count as a convert baptism, but I don't care. It brings me joy to see someone come closer to Christ and use His Atonement. It's just amazing.

 

Well, short one this week. Love ya anyways.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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From President Lewis

Our mission president is the best. Every week he sends an email to each of us. This week he sent us another email:

 

Dear Elders and Sisters,

 

I was a bit tired when I finished the Sac Spirit last night.  When I read it this morning I felt I hadn't adequately thanked you for your faithful work over these past two months as we have been refocusing our efforts in the Mission and that I had not properly acknowledged the Lord's hand in what is happening.  I am so grateful for each of you.  I am proud of you.  I love each of you.  Thank you for all you are doing as disciples of Jesus Christ.  I am honored to serve with you.  When I saw the very good results for this past week I immediately showed them to Sister Lewis and then we knelt in prayer and thanked our Heavenly Father for blessing this Mission and for His kindness to all of us serving in the Mission.  This is His work and we are all so blessed to participate with Him in this little part of His vineyard.  I hope you will humbly thank Heavenly Father for all He is doing to bless you and our Mission.  Just think of all of our brothers and sisters who are investigating the Church and how this Good News is changing their lives forever.  Lucky us to be a part of this!  With love and appreciation,

 

President Lewis

 

I love President Lewis.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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41

This week we had zone conference so we gathered with other missionaries from around the mission to learn from our leaders and our mission president for a day. I saw Elder Forster, my trainer! He is going home in August, and when a missionary leaves they bear their testimony in the zone conference before they leave. So, he did, it was cool. Maybe by the time he leaves I'll be training my own "boy," and Elder Forster will be a "grandfather." I really don't want to serve in any other leadership positions like district leader or zone leader, but I would like to train at some point on my mission. Our zone conference was great, and I evaluated myself and my work and have focused on some things that I need to work at being better. Yep, being a missionary is great.

 

One thing that we are working on is our goal setting. For a couple months now we have been setting goals each week that will stretch us, but they're not to far to reach. Our lessons and other "key indicators" have been steadily increasing, and this week we have been blessed to have taught a lot. I love teaching. I love guiding others to something that I love, and I love the gospel. We have added new investigators at least once a week. I love the wards I'm serving and the people here. This area is the best.

 

Steve! He finished the B of M this week! As he did he fasted. He is so sincere. Steve really wants to know. We asked him how he felt about baptism and he said he feels like he hasn't received his answer yet. We talked about the spiritual experiences he's had with us, as he's read the B of M, as he's come to church, but he wants to know. I reminded him of the promise in Moroni 10:4 that his prayers will be answered. I told him that I feel like his prayers are being answered. He wants to keep learning more and keep reading. He mentioned that he wants to go over some parts of the Book of Mormon again and would like an audio copy of D&C. Dang it, this is taking forever! But I guess the Lord knows what he's doing. Steve will get there, he's been on the edge for so long. Missionary work is work, man. I never would have guessed how much effort this takes. I study and pray for Steve every day, to know what we can do to help him the best, what will help him progress and build his faith.

 

Life is good!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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41

This week was awesome. On Thursday we visited Steve and taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He told us he drinks a cup of coffee in the mornings, but he gave it up and handed his last can to us. Yay! We promised him that obeying this commandment from God will help him recognize the answers to his prayers. He is reading and praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Last week we challenged him to finish the Book of Mormon by June 2nd, and he's all the way into 3rd Nephi! Near the end of our meeting, we invited Steve to be baptized on the 9th of June. He said he'd pray about it. Isn't Steve awesome? We visited him again Saturday evening and taught him about fasting and how it can help him gain a testimony (Alma 5:45-46). I believe that he did fast on Sunday, and he really enjoyed church.

 

Our sacrament meeting on Sunday was amazing. A young woman's leader spoke on being steadfast and immovable. The knowledge of who we are, sons and daughters of God, will help us be steadfast and endure to the end. Her talk was amazing. Then our bishop spoke about the influence we have on other people. He is a teacher at a high school and this week they had a mock disaster, showing what can happened in a wreck with a drunk driver. They even life-flighted someone from the football field. A few days after the mock wreck, the people who "died" were asked to write a letter to their family as if they had died and read it in front of the school. What he wrote to his wife and young girls had a pretty powerful effect on the students, and he hopes that his knowledge of the Plan of Salvation will influence others for good. The talks and music in that sacrament meeting were amazing, and I felt the Spirit.

 

This week we have been busy with new investigators, teaching appointments, service opportunities, and strengthing the wards. I love being a missionary! It's just great. Last p-day we visited a gold museum with our district and slacklined at the park. It was so fun! (BTW, I can still walk a 20-30ft line) Elder Crager and I have been doing core workouts and running in the mornings. I love my companion. Write ya later!

 

Chris

 

PS we saw the Google Maps car this week! Cool, huh? Just driving around in little 'ol Plymouth. We drove up behind it in our silver corrolla, so soon we should be in streetview! Haha.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

40

Elder Crager! He is awesome. He is definitely one of my favorites. A few things about him:

 

-He is from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

-He has been on his mission for 20 months

-He likes to run

-A good teacher

-Works hard

-A great leader

 

I'm predicting that we will only be together for a transfer, and then I'll leave Jackson/Ione. We get along so well and have so many common interests that I wouldn't mind staying another six weeks with him. We are unified when we teach. He's amazing.

 

This week has been great. Bringing a missionary into a new area is fun. We've visited investigators and our ward leaders. Elder Crager loves this place. We are going to work hard and get a lot done and have fun. I love being a missionary! :-)

 

Steve came to church again this week! He really wants to know, for sure, that the church is true. It's humbling to have the experience of teaching and helping Steve come closer to Christ.

 

Yesterday late afternoon we walked out of Br Martinez's house and the light outside looked really weird. My first thought was "the world is ending!" The shadows were all split and everything looked kinda yellow. When we pulled into our apartment complex there were a few people outside checking it out. It was a solar ecplipse! I had no idea that it was supposed to happen. The guy that lives right across from us made a telescope-type thing to watch it. We could see the shadow of the moon over the sun through a pin-hole in the box. It was sweet.
--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

39

Well, the transfer is over and Elder Barrow is going home. I'm a missionary killer! This week our mission office called and asked if we could bring our '09 Corrolla in. It had about 50,000 miles on it, and that's when the church sells their vehicles. So, we "killed" our old car and got it replaced with a brand new Corrolla! My favorite feature is the Bluetooth. When someone calls and we're driving, the car answers with speaker phone. It's pretty cool. Anyways, I'm staying in Jackson/Ione and my new companion is Elder Crager! I have never met him or heard anything about him, so I'm stoked. Going on six months in this area! It's going to be a good transfer.

 

On Sunday I got to call home for Mother's Day! We called from our ward mission leader's house, Br Roberts. Hearing my family was great. I felt recharged and excited to continue working! My brother's voice changed, too. That was weird.

 

Sorry it's a short one. Love you guys!

 

Chris

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

38

Our zone went to Big Trees today. It was fun.

 

This week was great. Steve was sick this week, so we didn't meet and he wasn't able to attend sacrament meeting. We are teaching other people, but Steve has been one of my most solid, steady investigators. I have seen him progress from four months ago to now. We have shared many spiritual experiences and discussions. I want so much for him to be a part of this gospel. Steve is awesome.

 

An insight from my personal study this week: 1 Nephi 19:23

 

"And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning."

 

Preach My Gospel states that to liken is to "create a mental bridge between understanding the doctrine and living the doctrine." Living the doctrine of the gospel comes from first understanding it, and then becoming personally committed, or converted. I love "likening" the scriptures to situations that I'm in and to my life. In my teaching I have been able to use specific stories and circumstances in the scriptures and apply them to the lives of others. It has been a joy. One of my greatest desires is to become a powerful and persuasive teacher, and to teach from the scriptures. I love teaching and guiding others to things that have made me happy.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.