Elder Zachary Andrews: Last Email

THE VISION OF THE SOUTH

"Make no small plans: This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together....We will see the time when we will baptize hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands...In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people." President Spencer W. Kimball

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Last Email

Jun 9

So this will be my last email. That is so weird to say. I don't believe it at all. It really hasn't hit me yet I feel like I am just going to keep on keepin' on. I am seriously cuttin up. Elder Karn asked me this morning "Are you alright? You seem really distracted today." I said, "No I am not all right. I am going home in two days..." That is so weird!!

I am so eternally grateful for this experience. There is nothing like it, and I am going to miss it so so much. I can't even express to you how amazing it has been. I have changed so much and have seen the Lord work in so many people's lives. I KNOW HE LIVES. I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE!! and I will see you on Thursday. Love ya.

For the last time,

Elder Zachary Jacob Andrews.

Missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This makes me cry. Big tears all over. Love, Mom

Zach, I am so proud to be in your family. You are an amazing man and you fought the good fight to the very end. I really love and respect you so much. Axel

And also:

So I got another ticket for speeding on Sunday...so that sucks. I can mail it in and the other one I can pay online. I am just telling you now so you can steam and then just be so happy that I am home that you forget all about it. I don't know how I am going to feel. I know how I should feel and...well, I don't know what it will feel like. Have you made an appointment with the Stake President to release me? That is just something that I have to do before I can do any fun things. Love ya. Thanks

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Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission

The first branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in New Orleans with 334 members in 1841. The prophet Joseph Smith sent the first missionary to New Orleans in March of that year. After reaching 169 members in 1849, the New Orleans branch disbanded because of the threat of serious disease in the area. The Southern States Mission, which included Louisiana opened in 1878, but the first missionaries were not sent to the state until nearly 20 years later. Missionary work spread throughout the state during the early twentieth century and by 1930, there were 1500 members. The first ward was established in Shreveport in 1953 and the first stake in New Orleans in 1955.In 1975, the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission was created and by 1980, there were over 12,500 members in the state of Louisiana. By 1989, Louisiana had 22,000 members in seven stakes. In 1998, the First Presidency announced the building of a temple in Baton Rouge. That temple was dedicated on 16 July, 2000.The Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission extends from Natchitoches South to the East and West borders through the state including the Gulf of New Orleans. The mission also includes the South West corner of Mississippi including Natchez, Liberty, and Macomb.