Dear President Wall, Good to Talk to Mom

Sent Date: Monday, December 30, 2013

Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob

President,

How are you? Good I hope. I am doing really well. I have my challenges but that is why I can appreciate the good. Christmas was awesome it was very therapeutical (it says I spelled that wrong but I don't think I did) to be able to talk to my Mother. Lots of very difficult things have happened since I left. I have never experienced such difficult things before, and the worst part is that I can only read, read what they have to say; And in return I can write them an poorly worded, poorly punctuated E-MAIL back. Anyway I know that the Lord is doing more for my family than I ever could, and for that I am eternally grateful...as is the way it always has been and always will be.

Life in Algiers is great. People are awesome, busy but awesome. The Elders that I am around are great, they all have their talents and area all good at what they do (Oh the sisters too) I believe that I can learn something from everyone. District unity is good, sometime I can tell that Elder Mastache feels like he is herding cats, but he does it remarkable well. Elder Vaughn and I are good. I think that the "trunkiness"(that one definitely is spelled wrong) has become a problem. I have faith in him and believe that we can change. I just continually try to get him out of the apartment, one because that is way more fun and two too keep working, always working.

I am really curious what is going to happen this transfer?

Thanks for all you do. Love y'all,

Elder Andrews

Dear President Wall, How Great Is Our Call?

Sent Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob

This transfer i will make things work. I can not change my companion but i can change my attitude. So that is what is going to change. I LOVE MY COMPANION!!!!! AND I AM SO EXCITED TO SERVE WITH HIM ONE MORE!!!!!!

This week was kind of weird because it was basically dedicated to one man in that we say him almost everyday. His name is Guerrmo. He is Honduran and is like 76 years old. His sister is a member and is here from Honduras. He is a really cool guy and has asked for so many blessing and we are so happy to give them to him. I gave lots of blessing this week almost everyday and most not to him. The members here really have a strong testimony of the power of the priesthood. The people here are just all round awesome. Even the non-members, sure they don't really want to listen to our message but they always want us over to eat to talk. I can't even tell you how many times in one day i hear "mi casa es su casa" (my house is your house). It warms my heart.

Something that I found interesting in of the Book of Mormon this week is Lehi and Nephi's visions of the tree of life.  It is an immensely powerful experience but more than this week, I am interested in how the spirit taught these Prophets. Both accounts are very different. Lehi's is all about the dream and telling him what he needed to know about his family because in his life his family is what he needed to be aware of. Nephi on the other had is the future leader of the Nephites(spiritually and physically) He has to have a testimony of Jesus Christ. He had to have a knowledge of his Savor so that he could convert his people. And instill in his people a faith that would last as long as it could for hundreds of years. Luckly he wasn't alone. Luckly none of us are alone, because we all have an awesome duty to these people. ooouhhhh 

HOW GREAT IS OUR CALL!!!!!!!! WWWWAAAAHHHOOO (i have no idea how to spell those things)

Love, Elder Andrews

FROM PH: Purification

Sent Date: Thursday, December 5, 2013

Elder Perkin of the Seventy will tour our mission January 16th and 17th. Perhaps you can consider accepting the challenge to purify yourselves in preparation for a visit from a Special Witness of the Name of Christ.

Purification

I would like to talk about the importance of doing everything in our power to be worthy of having the Spirit with us as we strive to find our brothers and sisters who are ready to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have come to realize just how much we value the great gift of the Spirit in our lives as full time missionaries. We all stand for something we value more than rubies or gold for we know that we are sons and daughters of God who wants nothing more than to have us return to Him and dwell with Him forever.

I want to tell you about a division of soldiers in Napoleon’s army many years ago. At the end of battle this division was totally surrounded by the enemy. Less than 100 men remained alive with their French flag atop the hill. All the rest of the division had been killed. Four cannons, loaded with shrapnel faced these last embattled soldiers. The soldiers were told to lay down their flag or be killed by the point blank blasts of the cannons. The Frenchmen decided they would rather die than lay down their flag and surrender. They were all killed. 

Do you think these men laid down their life for a piece of fabric that was their flag? Of course not. It was the principles and values which their flag stood for that were so meaningful. Today let’s talk about what our principles and values are as we strive to draw closer to our Heavenly Father as His missionaries. We are trying to allow Him to mold us into the missionaries He needs here at this time. I believe that each one of us wants to be an instrument in His hands to be led by the Spirit in doing His work. I’m sure there is not one of us that would not like to be a more effective missionary. 

I would like to read about a missionary’s experience from a talk given by Elder Gene R. Cook written while he was serving as mission president in Uruguay. I feel that it has a very important message that

will teach all of us. The following story is written in the missionary’s own words: I was transferred to a new area and was working hard. In terms of spiritual things, I was starting to understand more deeply, yet there was still something missing. I began to read the scriptures more thoughtfully. More accurately, I began to search the scriptures. As I did, I became aware there was still something missing.

One day a member informed us that he had an investigator that was ready to be taught and he volunteered to attend the first discussion. The discussion went along as usual. At the conclusion, my companion and I bore witness of Joseph Smith and then turned to our friend. He paused for a moment, looked at the young lady and said, “I know that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of God.” The room filled with an extraterrestrial force. The investigator started to cry.

As we walked home, I was baffled. The man said the exact same words that we had said but the result was dramatically different. When he spoke he had an influence that we did not have. There was no question that the influence was the Holy Ghost, but this man seemed to have it in a different way. There was still something to be learned. I had to find out what the secret was so I returned to the scriptures. It seems like we were so close to being effective and yet we just could not make it happen. After several weeks of searching and praying, we attended a meeting and heard a well-known church leader. He spoke about the scriptures as a source of strength, and about the process of spiritual influence. His words caused a burning in my soul. When he finished his address, I intentionally lingered behind. When I was finally alone with this man I asked him for a few moments of his time. I explained my desire to be a more effective missionary. I told him about the lessons I had learned. I told him that something was still mission. Finally he spoke. He said, “Elder, when these pretty ladies pass you on the street, what do you think about.”

Before I could answer, he asked,“do you ever speak sarcastically to your junior companion?” 

“Do you get up at 6:30 a.m. every morning?”

“Do you keep every mission rule?”

His list of questions grew longer. Finally he said, “These are things that keep you from hearing the promptings of the Holy Ghost and from being his companion. If you want the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, then you must purify yourself. I will tell you how to do it. Go home and fast for a day in the attitude of fasting and prayer. Make a list of every behavior that separates you from the spirit. (The Spirit will tell you what to put on the list) Once you have made your list, go to the Lord. Covenant with the Lord that you fast from the things on your list

for 40 days. In other words, for 40 days you will do nothing that appears on that list. 

“You cannot just stop the old behavior and start the new ones. You need the help of the Lord. So each morning go to the Lord and specifically promise Him that you will avoid each item on your list. Ask for His help so you can have extra strength, and at night go over the list with the Lord. If you failed on some items, figure out why. Tell the Lord. Ask for more strength the next day.

“Go through the process for 40 days. If you do, you will find that your most basic desires have changed. Your spirit will flourish and the Holy Ghost will become your constant companion.  You will become an effective tool in the hands of the Lord.”

We went home determined to make the concept work. We began to fast and we began to make a list. It proved to be much harder than we assumed it would be. I would pray and then I would feel impressed to write down some item. Then arguing that there was nothing wrong with the particular thing I would fight the impression. For example, I felt impressed to put golf on the list. (Who told me to put that on my list? The Holy Ghost prompted me to do the things I needed to do to hear him better). My response was, “There’s nothing wrong with golf. We only play on preparation day.” I ignored the fact that on the other six days my mind continually dwelled on how to play better. I wrestled with the Spirit and then finally wrote golf on the list. It is interesting that from the moment I wrote it on the list; I experienced the most intense desire to play golf. Everywhere I turned there was some reminder, some temptations to break the commitment. So it was with each item on the list. Each day I had to fight all my natural inclinations and turn to the Lord for the help necessary to overcome myself. Sometime between the 30th and 40th day, I suddenly realized that my desire for the things on the list had disappeared. It was as if a great anchor had been cut from me.

The last morning my companion and I knelt in prayer and then started out the door. I was impressed to back again and pray. With unusual confidence I addressed the Lord, “Father, these are thy children. We are now doing everything within our power to live the gospel. We turn the burden over to thee. Please carry us the rest of the way.”

We went to our first appointment. Halfway through the discussion, our investigator began to make an excuse that he could not be baptized because he did not know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. “Your real fear is that your mother will disapprove if you join the Church. In the name of Jesus Christ, I promise you that your entire family will embrace the gospel because of your courageous example. The Lord wants you to be baptized now and it is necessary that you comply.”

I had never before done anything like that. In fact, I knew nothing about his mother. He hardly  mentioned her. While I could hardly believe what I had said, a familiar spirit entered the room. This brother began to weep. He committed to be baptized that following Saturday. The experience repeated itself. At our very next meeting with each investigator there was a celestial manifestation and every one of them was committed to baptism. In an 8 week period, 16 people were baptized. It was an unusual number for our mission! While the number of baptisms was large, the truly impressive thing was the change in my companion and me. We were different people. Our most basic desires and motives had been altered. Credit and recognition were no longer of any consequence. From the first time in our live the things of God were more important than the things of this world and the honors of men. Our sensitivity deepened. We noticed how often we would cry. Several times a day we would be brought to teach by a prayer, a talk, a discussion, a scripture, or almost anything would deeply touch us. Our concern was continually focused upon others. For the first time we could understand Nephi’s claim, “For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night because of them.” We could understand the statement because for the first time we could understand Nephi’s motives.

We became constant companions with the the Holy Ghost. Because our motives had changed because we had an eye single to the Glory of God, the Lord could trust us and we experienced the Power of the Priesthood and became effective tools in His hands. I believe that purity is one of the main keys to being an effective missionary by allowing us to have the active influence of the Spirit. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, “The pure in heart are those who are free from moral defilement or guilt, who have bridled their passions, put off the natural man and become saints through the Atonement.” Most of us cannot be classified as pure in heart yet, but we are commanded to be working on this.

Helaman 3:35 “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

I CHALLENGE each of you to fast from food and water for 24 hours, and in the spirit of the fast write a list of at least ten things that “keep you from hearing the spirit” (or 10 of your natural man inclinations that you want to change). REMEMBER, IT WILL BE THE HOLY GHOST INSPIRING YOU OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO LIST. Then fast from the 10 items on your list for 40 days in order to be purified so that the Holy Ghost will be your constant companion while you are doing this missionary work. This fast is not a fast from food and water, but it is a fast from your natural man tendencies. It is a period when you deny yourself of all those natural man things on your list that you want to change. You might include eliminating things that prevent you from hearing the spirit, such as: 
1. Eliminate all distractions that prevent you from having a meaningful personal study hour every morning.
2. Avoid any unwholesome thoughts.

3. Stop sleeping in-even 5 minutes.

4. Avoid expressing any irritation you may be inclined to experience with a companion.

5. Think of other’s needs fist-do away with the “I” pronoun.

6. Avoid any music that does not conform to mission standards.

7. Put pride out of your mind and heart.

You may wish to include some positive things you wish to do such as:

1. Maintain a positive attitude about all aspects of missionary work.

2. Set yourself a definite goal in memorizing the scriptures.

3. Being rigorously honest in your accounting- don’t give yourself the “benefit of the doubt”.

Commit yourself to overcoming a fear that you still have of some aspect of missionary work. How many of you will be willing to commit with me to do this for 40 days of fasting from our natural man tendencies? I know it will make a difference. I know it will make our mission better. It will make each one of us better.

Moroni 7:48 “Pray unto Father that we may be purified even as he is pure.

D&C 50:29 “And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be

  

Christmas Wish from President and Sister Wall

Christmas gift

Sent Date: Thursday, December 5, 2013

When we think of Christmas and the extraordinary gift of the Savior, we also remember that because of His great love for us, He gave us another gift that is also very precious. It is a gift that helps us to always remember Him and helps us to be close to Him. And, like the real meaning of Christmas, it is a gift that is sometimes forgotten. When the Savior spoke to the surviving Nephites and Lamanites following the great destruction following His crucifixion, He first invited them to “return unto me…that I may heal you,” and invited them to “come unto me, and ye shall have eternal life,” and extended His arm of mercy towards them. He then told them the conditions of receiving some of these great gifts. “And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” And then He tells them something that I have often wondered about. He tells them of the Lamanites that “were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.” As we have been teaching our missionaries the importance of being guided by the spirit, they struggle with how they can feel the spirit, and question whether they are living by the spirit. As she was worrying over this, one of our sister missionaries got a wonderful answer from her mother. “My mom wrote me today and said this when I told her that I was worried if I was living by the spirit and could recognize being guided by the Spirit. One thought on being led by the spirit: it is a different experience for one who was born in the covenant (or has been baptized and received the Holy Ghost). It is like living in a room your whole life with light- you don't really notice it being there because you are so used to its presence. But, for one who has lived in the dark and a light is turned on, it is a dramatic arrival. You have lived with the spirit in your home and in you, guiding your decisions for your whole life. Don't be so hard on yourself...it likely still is there the whole time; and working hard and asking for direction, as long as you are doing nothing to withdraw from it, is living by the spirit". 

Because the voice of the spirit “occupies our minds and feelings, comes as a still small voice, carries into our hearts, enlightens our minds and puts thought into our hearts,” we can be like our young sister missionary and know not that we are guided by it. But, it’s always there, prompting us to do good, impressing on our minds things we should be doing in our daily lives, warning us of danger, callings us back to the Father if we stray, and so much more. There are times when we can be like a little child playing in the street whose fathers or mothers keep warning us to get out of the street. We may ignore the warnings and even move further away so that we can continue to play in the dangerous street. But we can never get so far away, that, if while playing on unsafe streets and a car approaches, our father or mother will not run to us with a voice of warning. “You deserve it ” is not in their vocabulary. The spirit is like that, it is always warning us and calling us to come back out of danger. It may be like a radio signal that we have in our lives allowed static or poor tuning to block the signal that is always broadcasting messages of peace and love and guidance and warning.

Perhaps this Christmas, we can express our gratitude to the Savior for the gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives by removing the static, and getting in tune with the spirit. The Father gave us the gift of His Son. Other than eternal life, the Savior said He had given no greater gift than the Holy Ghost. 

May the light of Christ and the light of the Spirit brighten your path daily and safely guide you back to our Heavenly Father.

With much love,

President and Sister Wall

Dear President Wall, Unity Strained

Sent Date: Monday, December 2, 2013

Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob

President,

This week has been great, despite the fact that I think our companionship unity is becoming strained. Just with the assumption that he has, that I am never right, or that I never have a good idea on what to do in the day to day stuff. It is not something that started this week, matter of fact it has been going on for a while, and I am now starting to lose my patience with it. I know I am new and still have a lot to learn, but I don't want to except that everything that I say is completely ludicrous and deserves to be gawked at. I am really struggling keeping myself positive, I am almost depressed about it because I have tried many different things to no avail. That said I still slap a smile on my face and muscle through. 

District Unity is good like always, I am really impressed with the growth that has happen to Elder Mastache and Elder Cisneros. I have been studying from the Book of Mormon everyday but really what struck me this week was what one of our investigators said, "I like this Church because it is so easy to find out if it is true or not. Just read this Book and pray about it and you will get your answer." Isn't that amazing!!! First off, can I get a PREPARED, and second how true that statement is. That is all it takes. Nothing more Nothing less. Just read pray and be willing to change. It was a good lesson. 

Okay well it is killing me... I really don't want to say anything about this but it has been bugging me for a while now. I would like to be transferred. I am sorry that I am saying this, it feels juvenile to say this but it has been something I have wanted to say for a while. My sentiments from last email still stand.(1 Nephi 3:7) Now you know my stance and I will say nothing more about it.

Thank you so much for all you do. I really appreciate it. My prayers are with you.

Elder Andrews

FROM PH: Right Place, Right Time

It's time to be in the right place at the right time!

Sent Date: Sunday, December 1, 2013

Author: President Wall

If you were paid a generous fee for every minute that you worked as a missionary, would you ever take too much time for lunch or dinner breaks? Would you find reasons to "hang out" with other missionaries at times other than district meeting or service projects? Would you find it easier to "have fun" with members rather than teach them or serve them? A spirit led missionary uses time wisely. If this little nudge has made you wonder if you are making wise use of your time, then you could probably do better. For example, when should you be spending time with other missionaries?

District Meeting

At Church
Missionary Correlation Meeting
Preparation Day
Service Projects
Exchanges

Are you "hanging around" after your meetings? You are constantly being evaluated (judged) as others see how you are spending your time. When you account to the Lord for how you are using your minutes, hours and days, what will you be able to tell him? Do you miss miracles because you were not in the right place at the right time? Is it time for a change on how you use your time?

Sharing the Gospel is Easy

So, funny story.  We got a call from Edson, a guy that we have been trying to teach for a while now and he wanted us to come over to teach him and his friends.  That night we went over, thinking it is funny that he lives on the same street as the Gariffina (black people who live in HONDURAS-sorry not Brazil in last week's email.)  It turns out he lives in the same house as the Gariffina we contacted and not only that, Edson has three friends that are all so awesome.  They have all been searching for the true church!  In our lesson Edson said something really cool.  He said that what he likes about this church is that it is so easy; all you have to do is read this book and pray if it is true! They are Golden except they, like everyone else here, don't have a car so they can't drive to church.  The problem is that everyone needs a ride and lots of the people in the branch already have to give people rides.  So that is going to be a struggle but come on, still too easy!

 

Anyway have I told you about our neighbors?  No?  Oh man I have been holding out on you.  So we have one neighbor, super nice lady, and her lady "Friend".  They love to argue at three in the morning and wake up the Mormons in the next apartment up.  They aren't even the Gold Medalist.  We've got colorful people around here.  Probably read the first paragragh again just to get the spirit back, whoops.

 

Love y'all.  Hope you realize how easy it is to share the Gospel; it is just talking to people.  You don't have to be a missionary.  Actually we just have the keys to teaching not to finding.  The members have to do almost everything for it to work. Trust me, in my 6 months here I have already seen so many people slip through the cracks because no one was there to say, "We love you.  Sit and stay a while."  It is that easy.

 

Love,

Elder Andrews