80

This week was wonderful! But I really need to keep this short. On Wednesday it snowed about 3-4 inches, and Elder Finnerty and I drove around in our 4x4 pickup in service clothes with snow shovels to shovel investigator's drives and help people on the side of the road (some Californian drivers don't know what to do in the snow; direct quote from a man in middle of the road, "I'm not going to move anywhere! I'm just going to call Triple A." Boy was Triple A busy that day).

On Thursday Elder Finnerty and I had dinner with Tag and Kathryn George! Kathryn is Karen (Peterson) Neilson's sister! Tag and Kathryn met while working at World Wide and now they live in Pollock Pines. Tag works for the Sacramento Fire Dept. and they have three great boys. Karen called just as we finished dinner and it was weird to hear her on the voice machine. Crazy.

We had our transfer calls last night and both of us are staying. I think this is the happiest I've ever been to stay with my companion. I am really happy with how well Elder Finnerty and I work together. It's not like any other time on my mission. We are so unified in the work, and that's what matters.

Time is short! I love you all!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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79

We had ups and downs this week. Our up was the baptism of Lauren Lewis!!! It was the best/most spiritual baptism ever! We held it after YSA ward in the church building right next to the temple (remember, where my first baptisms, Jody and Erik were held). Lauren was so excited and the baptism was WELL attended. A few non-members were there including her very catholic father and his fiance, and they felt the Spirit. Lauren is incredible.

Our downs were we weren't able to meet with our current investigators because of illness, school, work... it's been tough. Opposition ALWAYS comes! These are people who have accepted baptism dates and just got "lulled away" and caught up with the busy-ness of life. We will be working harder this week to oppose Satan and his work.

I feel like one of the reasons we have had so much opposition is because Elder Finnerty and I are really seeking to exercise our faith. We follow Preach My Gospel the best we can and we pray constantly. We follow the Spirit and we fast often. I've learned a lot these few weeks and hope to see the fruits of our faith.

Well, P-day's almost up. Love you!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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'nother picture.

I asked my companion to get a picture of old main Placerville as we drove through this morning. It's pretty historic. A couple pdays ago we checked out some of the stores and shops around. It's a joke we have that you will always see at least one old guy with a beard walking down the main strip in "Old Hangtown." I don't think the gold prospectors ever moved on after the gold rush. Either that or we're just seeing ghosts. I believe the running total of beard sightings in one drive is five. Who knows, that might be me someday.

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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78

My companion and I just got back from slacklining. We did our studies, cleaned our room and bathroom, and shopped before we met with the zone at the stake center for sports. We played volleyball and basketball and then Elder Finnerty and I found a grassy area under some oak trees to set up a line. We borrowed a Gibbon slackline from Br. Nuttal, a councilor in the YSA ward. Elder Finnerty is HOOKED. He says he's going to get one after the mission. The picture is of Elder Morley from SLC, slackin' from proselytin'.

On Saturday I went on exchange with Elder Gaskill from Colorado Springs into Spanish work. He's been on his mission for about a year. He is an amazing missionary. As he taught in Spanish I could understand mostly what he was saying and the investigators were saying, but I really couldn't put together the little words I know into phrases. As I listened to Elder Gaskill teach and testify of the Restoration of the gospel with his own conviction, I could feel the Spirit powerfully and I knew that the people we taught felt the Spirit.

Lauren is set to be baptized next weekend!!! She asked me to baptize her :) I am honored, and so happy.

Yesterday was good. Ashley came to Placerville ward. Elder Finnerty and I had a meeting with Stake President Weston (who has been a mission president and also was in our mission presidency when I came into the mission) and a few high councilors. In the YSA ward Lauren's baptism was announced, Stryder came to church, Kurt and Ian blessed the sacrament, and Bryce brought his friend Jason.

Life is good!

--

Elder Chris Andrew

California Sacramento Mission

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks, CA 95628

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77

This week was great! We started it off well with FHE with the Single's ward Monday night. We learned about CPR and first aid. It was good refresher. When we teach investigators about how to know if this church is true we relate it to CPR. C-hurch, P-ray, R-ead. Experience the gospel by coming to church, praying to know if it's true, and reading the Book of Mormon. It will save our souls from death!

 

Each day this week has been very fulfilling. We have had appointments with investigators that have been great lessons and we have been staying very busy. On Friday Elder Finnerty and I went to Sacramento for zone leader council with President Lewis, the Assistants, and all the other zone leaders in the mission. I love that meeting. We talk about how the mission is doing on our baptismal goals and we report how our zones are doing to reach our zone goals. We discuss issues and how to solve them and we receive training to present to our missionaries. I love being a part of the leadership in the mission. Tomorrow we Elder Finnerty and I will train our zone on exact obedience. I am excited.

 

We had stake conference yesterday with a broadcast from SLC to all of Northern California. Elder L. Tom Perry spoke to us about how the work is hastening with many new missionaries joining us in the field. This is true. I have seen how the Lord is changing hearts and preparing them to harken to the gospel. He directly promised us that we will experience joy and peace as we share the gospel with others. I feel it and I add my testimony.

 

Yesterday was my birthday too! It was so great. My family sent a box with goodies in it. Thanks guys :)

 

Today my companion and another missionary are going to play frisbee golf and slackline with a few YSAs. 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.