August 26, 2013
Hello Everyone,
This week has been extremely busy, but has been one to remember! My companion and I have had a lot of really great conversations about conversion, and we were able to study Alma 5 together. He told me that he likes to go through and ask himself all of the questions that are being asked in that chapter. After reading it I realized a lot of things that I need to improve about myself, which I guess is always a good thing to be looking for.
A few days ago, we taught a man on the street in Sparta. He was drunk but was still able to talk to us. He listed off five or six different types of alcohol he had drunk earlier that day, and said that it had been a good day. That was taking it easy for him! We taught him about the restoration, and had an oddly powerful lesson with him. Not too often can you have a powerful lesson with a drunk person, especially on the street. It showed me that God has prepared a way for everyone to hear and receive the message that we have to share. He opened up and shared a lot of his life challenges with us, one being his youngest son passing away. We talked to him about the Plan of Salvation, and he began to show a lot of interest. Hopefully he will be able to sober up a little bit in the future, so that he will be even more responsive.
The woman that called and asked if she could come to church dropped us a few weeks ago, which is why there have not been any more updates. She went to her church the following week, and texted us informing us that she was going to return to her church and that she didn't want us meeting with her anymore. We will have to try back with her later. Also, one of our teenage investigators dropped us. Our two teenage investigators broke up, and the one apparently was never really interested. Luckily, we will still be able to teach the other one (the girl), and maybe the boy will come around sometime in the future! Our entire zone has been facing a "dropped investigator" epidemic, yikes!
Today for P-Day, we spent the day with a recent return missionary. He took us to the "Amish Walmart" out in the middle of nowhere! It was kind of fun to see how different things are in Amish towns, and how people live without electricity. I know the pioneers were very strong people, but I would never desire to live like they did! Nope :) Amish people have the option of using modern day technology, and choose not to! It was fun spending the day with a returned missionary though, he is leaving tomorrow to go to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University. Unfortunately, this means we are losing our joint teacher and main help in the branch!
Now that I have finished the training program, I decided to order new nametags. When I get my new tags, I will be sending my tag home, complete with my dork dot from the MTC which is on the back. That way, it won't break like a lot of other missionaries tags.
I hope you are all doing well, and are enjoying the week! It has been INSANELY hot and humid here recently, so we are excited for the cooler fall weather to come. Thank you all for your love and support, and for your emails and letters :) I really appreciate everything you do!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
Showing posts with label Investigators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Investigators. Show all posts
Monday, August 26, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Another Incredible Week
This week has been both challenging, and rewarding. I am constantly reminded about how difficult missionary work is, but the rewards we receive from this devotion. The more you learn and improve as a missionary, and as a child of God, the more you realize you have more to work on. It's kind of a frustrating process if you think about it, we can never be truly perfect like Jesus.
This week I only went on one exchange, with an elder. He was really nice and encouraging, and I really enjoyed working with him! I love going on exchanges and meeting other missionaries in our area. I learn so many incredible lessons from them, I just wish we could do it more often!
We found out this week that President Monson and President Packer are speaking to us on Sunday, June 23rd, and that they will be making some big missionary announcements. I wish I could have been in the MTC to see President Monson, but a broadcast will be cool too! I will have to update you all on what happens :)
Our Mission Conference with Elder Holland, Elder Callister, Elder Dube, and Bishop Stevenson was amazing! Elder Holland was my favorite. He talked about the importance of missionary work, and never going inactive when you return home from your mission. His words were so inspired, and I learned SO much from him! At the end of his speech, he said to "always be true". That really stuck with me! Afterwards, he announced that he was changing the closing song to Hymn #165 "Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide". We were all kind of stunned, but proceeded to sing. While we were singing, I felt the spirit surround me, and I felt not only God's love for me, but also Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Prior's love for me. This feeling was overwhelming, and reminded me that we sang this song during Great Grandpa Prior's funeral service. Elder Holland was inspired to change the closing hymn, and I swear he did it just for me. This experience was truly incredible.
Currently we are working with about three different investigators. An african-american woman who has a child, but split up with his father. She still lives with his father, but is moving towards finding a new place. She is very accepting of our teachings, but hasn't felt inclined to go to church or to be baptized. We are also teaching an african-american man. His wife is a member of the church, but he is staying true to his beliefs. He recently quit chewing tobacco, and we have been working with him on the Word of Wisdom. He is waiting for the answers to his prayers, but I think he knows that he wants to be baptized. We are also teaching a Hmong gentleman, but he speaks English. His wife is a member of the church, and he has been attending church for a while. They are waiting for him to get his green card so they can get a marriage certificate and be baptized. They had a Hmong wedding ceremony, but never got a marriage license, so he cannot be baptized yet. He lost his green card at a gas station, so we are just waiting for him to get a replacement. Money is tight in their family, so it is taking a little longer than expected.
We are also working with a new member of the church. He was baptized about a week before I came into the mission. We are teaching him and his children about the gospel and how it strengthens families. I know that my purpose in serving a mission was for family. In fact, the second FCCLA purpose is "to strengthen the function of the family as a basic unit of society." What better way to do this, than through the gospel.
We are still tracting all the time, but I have been working on planning lessons with members of the church to break up our tracting time ever so slightly.
My companion is finished his missionary service in about three weeks, and then I will have a new companion.
Thank you all for your love and support. I love and miss you all, and can't wait to see you again in two years!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
This week I only went on one exchange, with an elder. He was really nice and encouraging, and I really enjoyed working with him! I love going on exchanges and meeting other missionaries in our area. I learn so many incredible lessons from them, I just wish we could do it more often!
We found out this week that President Monson and President Packer are speaking to us on Sunday, June 23rd, and that they will be making some big missionary announcements. I wish I could have been in the MTC to see President Monson, but a broadcast will be cool too! I will have to update you all on what happens :)
Our Mission Conference with Elder Holland, Elder Callister, Elder Dube, and Bishop Stevenson was amazing! Elder Holland was my favorite. He talked about the importance of missionary work, and never going inactive when you return home from your mission. His words were so inspired, and I learned SO much from him! At the end of his speech, he said to "always be true". That really stuck with me! Afterwards, he announced that he was changing the closing song to Hymn #165 "Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide". We were all kind of stunned, but proceeded to sing. While we were singing, I felt the spirit surround me, and I felt not only God's love for me, but also Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Prior's love for me. This feeling was overwhelming, and reminded me that we sang this song during Great Grandpa Prior's funeral service. Elder Holland was inspired to change the closing hymn, and I swear he did it just for me. This experience was truly incredible.
Currently we are working with about three different investigators. An african-american woman who has a child, but split up with his father. She still lives with his father, but is moving towards finding a new place. She is very accepting of our teachings, but hasn't felt inclined to go to church or to be baptized. We are also teaching an african-american man. His wife is a member of the church, but he is staying true to his beliefs. He recently quit chewing tobacco, and we have been working with him on the Word of Wisdom. He is waiting for the answers to his prayers, but I think he knows that he wants to be baptized. We are also teaching a Hmong gentleman, but he speaks English. His wife is a member of the church, and he has been attending church for a while. They are waiting for him to get his green card so they can get a marriage certificate and be baptized. They had a Hmong wedding ceremony, but never got a marriage license, so he cannot be baptized yet. He lost his green card at a gas station, so we are just waiting for him to get a replacement. Money is tight in their family, so it is taking a little longer than expected.
We are also working with a new member of the church. He was baptized about a week before I came into the mission. We are teaching him and his children about the gospel and how it strengthens families. I know that my purpose in serving a mission was for family. In fact, the second FCCLA purpose is "to strengthen the function of the family as a basic unit of society." What better way to do this, than through the gospel.
We are still tracting all the time, but I have been working on planning lessons with members of the church to break up our tracting time ever so slightly.
My companion is finished his missionary service in about three weeks, and then I will have a new companion.
Thank you all for your love and support. I love and miss you all, and can't wait to see you again in two years!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
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