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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