Week 48 and Week 49

Week 48

Wow...This week has been so crazy...We had a blast in Trinidad. It was like a four day vacation that was full of work, but not normal missionary work, so that was a fun change of scenery. I was a little bit sad that I wasn't proselyting. like I've been in my area 2 days out of 8...this is how the story goes.

Monday - Met up with Elder Thompson (Zone Leader comp) and worked the day in his area.

Tuesday - Fly to Trinidad for a ZL meeting

Wednesday - All day in meeting with President Egbert 

Thursday - Fly to Guyana and get home at about 9

Friday - Normal day.

Saturday - Normal day.

Sunday - Normal...*ring ring* "Hey, Elder Andrus, your meeting that you have tomorrow at 9am has been moved to 7:45am." "We live 1 hour and 45 minutes from this meeting, the buses don't run that early..." "Make it happen." So we had to leave our house by 7pm to make it by 9pm so we could get to the next Elder's apartment to stay the night so we could be at the meeting in the morning. I got the awesome privilege to sleep on the floor. I love the mission! 

Monday - In town all day at Zone Conference. All about the temple. It was so awesome. My favorite "When you touch the temple, it touches you."

This week was really fun. I was able to meet up with almost all of my past companions. Elder Cook (my trainer) I saw in Trinidad, he is going home in two weeks! Elder Hardy is going home in two weeks as well! Elder Kyler (son) he will still be in Guyana for a year. 

But what a neat experience it has been to go to Trinidad and to have our Missionary Leadership Council (MLC). And it was just that. We counciled together as missionaries. We counciled about what was good in the mission and what needed to change and what we could do to help. Pres. Egbert was there and participated, but he wasn't really in charge. It was mostly us ZL's and STL's. We all sat around and discussed. It was very cool. 

It is so sweet that Livi prays for me. It can be a little sketchy sometimes walking around in the middle of the night with a bunch of doped up dudes cursing us out holding cutlasses. LOL I don't feel threatened by them, I know God has my back. But we do represent Jesus Christ, and look at what the people did to him...so you know...Thanks for the prayers!

I remember bearing my testimony at camps and things, and it was such a great experience because everyone believed you. It's hard when you stand in front of someone (Muslim or Hindu or skeptical Christian even) in their own home and have to testify of the Savior, and they don't believe you. That can be hard.  

This week was really awesome. It was a lot of administration, but it was really good. I got like no sleep. I get lots of phone calls all of the time, but  I love talking to the other missionaries! We had a lot of fun. I'm very grateful to be a missionary. I love the gospel. I know it's true. It will bless us at all time if we follow it. I love you all!

-Elder Andrus

Week 49

This week was really exciting! I have so much I want to talk about. So let's begin!

Monday: Zone Conference. All about temples and family. I really helped to build my understanding of temples. I was really awesome! I didn't conduct the meeting, but I was a big part of it. So it was a lot of fun! 

Tuesday: We had an amazing lesson with a guy named Fineman (nickname) We started talking about the Plan of Salvation. He had so many awesome questions. Then we asked him if he wanted to be apart of that and he said yes! So we read, 3 Nephi 27:19-21 and he told us that he needed to be baptized! His grandma asked him, "What about your other baptism?" (by a pastor) Then Fineman explained the whole idea of Priesthood authority to her. Needless to say, they both have a baptism date for July! And they both came to church. I love to teach about the priesthood. That is always the second lesson that we share with everyone that we teach. It really is awesome. I am so grateful that I hold this priesthood. 

Wednesday: Today we saw everyone we wanted to see, plus 3 more! It was so awesome! 

Thursday: I went on an exchange in LaGrange. It is a really nice area. But the apartment sucks! I did two baptism interviews. #ZLresponsibilites Which both went amazing. That was my highlight for the week for sure. 

Friday: Was Crystal's b-day. She has been doing really good. She wanted to move her baptism date which was a good decision. She is awesome! 

Saturday: We saw the Khans. Love that family!

Sunday: Like I said Fineman came to church and his grandma, which was awesome. Seeta (Momma) came as well which is awesome! And the Dyals, a part member fam! (7 investigators, 19 total)

I tell people all of the time, if you pray and ask God if the BOM is true, it WILL change their life FOREVER! Ask those hard questions later when we can understand the answer and just move on in faith. That is how I feel about the mission is sometimes. It's out of our control. Just move on with faith, and make the best of what we've got. It seems to work for me. :)

I love this work. I can see people's lives change. And mine too. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that temples are amazing. I can't wait to go there again! Don't worry about me. I'm healthy and happy. I love being a missionary! I love you all and have a great week!

-Elder Andrus