Weekly Letter - 10 Nov 2014
Sent Date: Monday, November 10, 2014
Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob
This area is awesome i have heard about this place forever so it is awesome to be here. I am just running around trying to learn the area. It is crazy though because i am in a big old ward. It is weird. I am super excited to be ZL and serve all these wonderful missionaries. This week i have been studying about love and how we can love others better and i like what Jesus says in Matthew 22:39 and i like how there is two parts one love 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. We all look at this and see I need to love my Neighbor I need to love everyone . But it says "as thyself" so we need to love everyone including ourselves. WE need to one realize how awesome we are. We need to have love for ourselves. if you increase your love for others the love you have for yourself will increase!
Purpose Driven Missionaries
Sent Date: Monday, November 17, 2014
Author: President Hansen
Dear Sisters and Elders,
As most of you have noticed it was a very busy week for Sister Hansen and me. I was able to read each and every letter, but I didn't respond because there was just not enough time. I am so proud of you though. I am seeing a remarkable level of commitment and desire in the missionaries. We are seeing more lessons taught and way more of the lessons taught are to non-members.
An amazing number of you talked about how much excitement and fulfillment you had through finding. I know that tracting is not the most fun of the things a missionary does but as we learn to find and teach on the doorsteps, it prepares us to know how to convert referrals to progressing investigators. The Lord is blessing our mission because of your work and faith. We are seeing missionaries become way more purpose driven, spending way less time "member chilling" and way more time productively teaching investigators.
We pray that this week we will all continue to grow.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
FROM PH: Short Member Visits
Author: President Hansen
Dear Elders and Sisters,
I have really loved reading your letters. They mean so much to me each week. I always think, what amazing missionaries are in this mission.
In my contacts with President Stock and President Burkhardt I have learned that the members of the stakes feel like missionaries that stay at a member's home for more than the one hour time allotted for dinner appointments are being less faithful. Both Presidents expressed the desire to have missionaries show they know their purpose and demonstrate to the members that they have places to go and people to see and that they can't linger at member's homes. I had an investigator tell me the same thing this week. He said that the missionaries teach him and when they leave he feels the spirit leave with them. That wouldn't happen if the missionaries finished the lesson and then lingered at the investigator home and didn't leave after commitments, testimonies and prayer.
I know that this is true too. Let's keep all of our member visits short and to the point. Watch the blessings come and our lessons become more spiritual and purpose driven with both our members and investigators. Short lessons and dinner appointments lead to baptisms.
Just a few notes from the missionary letters. I am trying to keep this shorter:
-----It was kinda crazy at the beginning because the grandma was the only one paying attention and people were walking in and out and all and then Linisha said something about how she knows about our church and started asking about Joseph Smith and so I answered a question and testified of the Book of Mormon and it's purpose in helping us know the Doctrine of Jesus Christ but also being a witness that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet called of God and that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. The whole atmosphere changed and the Spirit was really strong. Linisha was SO excited! she was so happy and was asking if she could be a missionary and saying she believed everything we were saying and she was just smiling so big. I asked her why she was so happy and she said, "I don't know all I know is 10 minutes ago all I could think was about how tomorrow at the bus stop this girl is gonna get it! and now I don't even care, i am just happy and I can't stop smiling!" It was SO COOL to see how the Spirit completely changed her whole attitude.
-----(I) had this idea that we should invite her to have dinner at a members home with us. We had a dinner appointment with them that night and they have a daughter Shelby's age. I called and asked the member and she said that would be fine, so I texted and asked Shelby. She said she would enjoy that so she drove us out to their home. It was super awesome! The dad is a convert to the church and he joined when he was 19 (Shelby is 20) and living here in (name of town). He ended up sharing his conversion story after dinner and then went into a personal experience he had in the MTC, when he really learned for himself that all of it was true. It was definitely spirit led. When we left their house Shelby said she really enjoyed it and she felt really good in their home. I was able to testify to her that it was the spirit she felt and she can continue to feel that in her life.
-----When I first got here, all they (the members) would talk about is how dead the area is. Now, I don't think I've heard one remark like that. The Lord is pouring out His Spirit and it has been wonderful. I think the members are starting to see that there is hope here.
Dear Elders and Sisters,
I have really loved reading your letters. They mean so much to me each week. I always think, what amazing missionaries are in this mission.
In my contacts with President Stock and President Burkhardt I have learned that the members of the stakes feel like missionaries that stay at a member's home for more than the one hour time allotted for dinner appointments are being less faithful. Both Presidents expressed the desire to have missionaries show they know their purpose and demonstrate to the members that they have places to go and people to see and that they can't linger at member's homes. I had an investigator tell me the same thing this week. He said that the missionaries teach him and when they leave he feels the spirit leave with them. That wouldn't happen if the missionaries finished the lesson and then lingered at the investigator home and didn't leave after commitments, testimonies and prayer.
I know that this is true too. Let's keep all of our member visits short and to the point. Watch the blessings come and our lessons become more spiritual and purpose driven with both our members and investigators. Short lessons and dinner appointments lead to baptisms.
Just a few notes from the missionary letters. I am trying to keep this shorter:
-----It was kinda crazy at the beginning because the grandma was the only one paying attention and people were walking in and out and all and then Linisha said something about how she knows about our church and started asking about Joseph Smith and so I answered a question and testified of the Book of Mormon and it's purpose in helping us know the Doctrine of Jesus Christ but also being a witness that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet called of God and that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. The whole atmosphere changed and the Spirit was really strong. Linisha was SO excited! she was so happy and was asking if she could be a missionary and saying she believed everything we were saying and she was just smiling so big. I asked her why she was so happy and she said, "I don't know all I know is 10 minutes ago all I could think was about how tomorrow at the bus stop this girl is gonna get it! and now I don't even care, i am just happy and I can't stop smiling!" It was SO COOL to see how the Spirit completely changed her whole attitude.
-----(I) had this idea that we should invite her to have dinner at a members home with us. We had a dinner appointment with them that night and they have a daughter Shelby's age. I called and asked the member and she said that would be fine, so I texted and asked Shelby. She said she would enjoy that so she drove us out to their home. It was super awesome! The dad is a convert to the church and he joined when he was 19 (Shelby is 20) and living here in (name of town). He ended up sharing his conversion story after dinner and then went into a personal experience he had in the MTC, when he really learned for himself that all of it was true. It was definitely spirit led. When we left their house Shelby said she really enjoyed it and she felt really good in their home. I was able to testify to her that it was the spirit she felt and she can continue to feel that in her life.
-----When I first got here, all they (the members) would talk about is how dead the area is. Now, I don't think I've heard one remark like that. The Lord is pouring out His Spirit and it has been wonderful. I think the members are starting to see that there is hope here.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Another Day, Another Lesson
Transfers!! I am leaving and going to Metairie with Elder Drollinger. I am nervous about my new calling and transfers. I am just a little bit scared because my new calling is to be Zone Leader...scary. I hope I will do a good job. But I am excited! Another day, another lesson! It is all super cool. This week we have been working really hard and I have been so tired. Super tired! It was really drawing on me. But then, like a miracle that only the misinformed can appreciate, Day Light Savings came to the rescue. Miracle! Anyway I am really sad to leave. I really love this branch a ton. It has been an amazing time to be here and to meet the people that I have met. Today I have just been saying goodbye to everyone and it is super sad. This is truly an amazing place. I have learned so much. But now I have to go somewhere else to learn and I am so SO excited for that!
This week I read Judges and I really just love how the Lord never gives up on those gosh dang stubborn Jews. They do something dumb and the Lord bails them out. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking "Ya bunch of idiots. What are you doing? Shape up! Be good!" But then I thought, how many times has the Lord had to bail me out and done it EVERY SINGLE TIME. We are super luck that the Lord loves us. We are soooooooo lucky that we have someone to bail us out every single time without fail. We need to learn to rely on him and also realize that we are relying on him. LIFE IS AWESOME.
Love y'all,
Elder Andrews
Elder Andrews
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Life is Awesome
Weekly Letter - 04 Nov 2014
Sent Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob
This week we have been working really hard and i have been so tired super tired it was really drawing on me. But then like a miracle that only the misinformed can appreciate daylight savings came to the rescue. Miracle! Anyway i am really sad to leave i really love this branch a ton. It has been an amazing time to be here and meet the people that i have met. Today i have just been saying goodbye to everyone and it is super sad. This is truly and amazing place. i have learned so much. Ha but now i have to go somewhere else to learn and i am so SO excited for that!
This week i read Judges and i really just love how the Lord never gives up on those gosh dang stubborn Jews. They do something dumb and the Lord bails them out. The whole time i was reading it i was thinking ya bunch of idiots what are you doing shape up be good, but then i thought, how many times has the Lord had to bail me out and done it EVERY SINGLE TIME. We are super luck that the Lord loves us. We are soooooooo lucky that we have someone to bail us out every single time without fail. We need to learn to rely on him and also realize that we are relying on him. LIFE IS AWESOME.
Sent Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014
Author: President Hansen
I am so excited to work with you on the mission leadership council.
Sent Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Author: Andrews, Zachary Jacob
This week we have been working really hard and i have been so tired super tired it was really drawing on me. But then like a miracle that only the misinformed can appreciate daylight savings came to the rescue. Miracle! Anyway i am really sad to leave i really love this branch a ton. It has been an amazing time to be here and meet the people that i have met. Today i have just been saying goodbye to everyone and it is super sad. This is truly and amazing place. i have learned so much. Ha but now i have to go somewhere else to learn and i am so SO excited for that!
This week i read Judges and i really just love how the Lord never gives up on those gosh dang stubborn Jews. They do something dumb and the Lord bails them out. The whole time i was reading it i was thinking ya bunch of idiots what are you doing shape up be good, but then i thought, how many times has the Lord had to bail me out and done it EVERY SINGLE TIME. We are super luck that the Lord loves us. We are soooooooo lucky that we have someone to bail us out every single time without fail. We need to learn to rely on him and also realize that we are relying on him. LIFE IS AWESOME.
Sent Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014
Author: President Hansen
I am so excited to work with you on the mission leadership council.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
We Got Fed!
Oct 27 at 11:48 AM
This week we felt the love and when I say that I mean we got FED, 14 times! Twice a day! Yes they love us. We have been working hard and I am loving it! We haven't seen any results from our work so our new branch mission leader is getting discouraged. We have to keep boosting him so he doesn't give up. I just found out that one of the sisters in my district has a crush so that is tricky. I am happy cause we are working hard. I am nervous about transfers because I love this area and my companion, Elder Hale, who also might have to go home for surgery. But life is good the same old same old stuff love it. We got to watch the movie Meet the Mormons on Tuesday it is really awesome it you guys should watch it cause it is cool to be a Mormon. Church is true I am nervous about transfers for the first time!
We have been feeling the spirit and just in small ways he has been helping me out. Cool stuff. Like little a prompting here and a prompting there; a question pops into my head at the time I need it.
Love y'all,
Elder Andrews
Faith is a Seed
Oct 13
This week I went to Opolusas, a place up north. It was fun. It was one of the first times I left my area for an exchange. Life is good. We are just working hard and doing all that we can to help everyone grow their faith. Something that really hit me from conference was when they talked about faith as a seed. I was studying in Alma 32 and it was awesome. He talks all about the seed and how faith is a seed and if you plant it in your heart then it will grow and turn into a huge tree. Awesome stuff I have been studying that a ton lately!! I would encourage all of you to look at your tree and see where it is weak and then work on it by doing the right things! Awesome!
Love y'all
Elder Andrews
Allergic to Bees
This week was cool! We had an awesome FHE with all the Hispanics and it was such a success!! We had tons of people come and it was so great! I also learned that I am allergic to bees..... I got stung on the hand on Wednesday. Thursday I woke up and my hand was huge.... So I looked on the Internet to check out what I should do. It said that after 24 hour it is actually a problem so I waited and it got worse and so I got some Benadryl and spent conference extremely tired. But this week was awesome! We had a lesson with a family that is really prepared and I am really excited to show them and everyone here the amazing messages that were shared in conference!!
Conference was amazing. The messages so inspired I had so many themes that came out to me. I would invite you to join me and review conference over and over again to see what things we missed. Something that I didn't do before my mission was review conference after conference weekend. I really enjoy the time in between conference that we have to review and see what we need to know for the next 6 months. One theme that I got was Follow the Prophet cause he is the Prophet. So let's read his words and follow them!
Love ya
Elder Andrews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)