Elder Andrus Update November 19, 2009. TWO WEEKS LEFT!

Well hello family.
Yet another week has passed and time quite has not felt to real lately. it is a weird mix of emotions. This past Saturday we were able to have a conference with Elder Russell M. Nelson on Saturday morning. It was an incredible experience. For those of you that do not know Elder Nelson is part of the quorum of the twelve Apostles. Just like Jesus Christ's Apostles of old like Peter or John. It was great to shake his hand and to receive direct instruction from him. The spiritual strength of that man will be something that I will always remember. He went through such a string of things it is hard to relay. I will have to show you guys when I get home. So hopefully you remember to ask me about and I will be happy to discuss the notes. His knowledge of ancient scripture just amazed me. He was so easily led by the spirit, he answered a lot of questions that the missionaries did not even voice. It was great to learn from direct revelation. He is truly a man called of God, there is no doubt in my mind of his divine calling to be one of the Lord’s Apostles. What a great thing it is to have the Lord’s church restored on the earth! We also had the opportunity to hear from him again at a Sunday Stake Conference. The funny thing about that was that he came to visit the Reading Stake. If I had not been recently moved here I would have not been able to see him twice. So I consider that quite the blessing. In that session he spent a lot of time focusing on the children and some serious parenting tips. It was great I was heavily reminded of Jesus Christ and his desire to bless the children. 3 Nephi. I was also able to see a lot of the people I served with in Reading 1st ward and Reading 2nd. After a couple weeks of straight knocking doors we finally have some people we can teach on a regular basis so that has been great. I kinda ran myself into the ground though I think. I got pretty sick on Tuesday night, but luckily we were able to get back out the door by Wednesday afternoon. I can still feel a little bit of the garbage inside of me but it is going away so that is good. Well family I love you so much. I hope all is well at home.
Love,
Elder Andrus

November 12 - Letter from Tys. I cried all the way through it!

Hello family,
Well this week has been full of miracles yet again. We were out knocking doors and something we have to pay close attention to when we are tracting is the presence of the holy ghost. So when we were out tracting and after a couple of doors we could feel a serious vacancy in the spirit. So we then bowed our heads and said a quick prayer. The whisper of a street name came into mind and so of course we went to that street even though we had knocked most of the doors around there last night. As we started to knock doors. Someone was going up and down the street on a BMX bike doing tricks around the neighborhood. As we were knocking the guy yelled across the way, "hey what are you guys doing?" We yelled back "we're missionaries man, sharing the gospel with people" So he started to ride over to us. To make a long story short we ended up talking with this guy for about an hour. He ended up explaining how he has read the bible two times through and he has been to almost every church in Lehighton and has not found one that has fit what he has read. We went on to explain the message of the restoration with the falling away from Christ's church after he and his apostles were taken from the earth and how a prophet was called to restore that truth back to the earth. The lesson went great and you could tell he was absolutely prepared by God. He went on to explain how he is not from that that town and he gave us his address. His address is in a place I know - we would have never knocked on his door. If this is not proof that God exists than honestly I do not know what does. We were again sent to a place at a certain time because that was the only way we could find this person; that has happened time and time again on my mission. GOD IS REAL, please know that. We also were led to a cool family as well that night.
So I guess I have alot to write about this week. Yesterday was my last Zone Conference. Of course it did not really feel like it but I guess it had to happen some time. It was a powerful meeting that I was glad to be a part of. Near the end they asked the couple of us that were leaving that transfer to give a testimony at the end (a testimony is bearing our witness of Christ and the truths that we know). I will miss the opportunity to do that in that kind of setting in front of a room full of missionaries. The spirit is so strong during those meetings. You can truly feel the dedication of all those wonderful people. It is a true opportunity to be a part of that. Afterwards I had a small one on one talk with President Murray. He is an incredible man and I have been grateful to learn from someone like him over the past two years. I know that a huge part of why God sent me here was of course for the people I would meet and the missionaries I have been with, but also the opportunity to learn from a man truly called of God.
Well Family that is enough of my ramblings for the week. I love ya and I hope all is going well for this week. I pray for you all.


Love,
Elder Andrus

Elder Andrus Update November 5 2009

So I just finished writing my mission president, so I will include a portion of what I wrote him about this week.

This week in Lehighton has been one of polar opposites. On Monday we had a great meeting with the Branch President, President Keller. We were really able to connect with him and build a trust very quickly. He has great desires to build his branch but as of late he has felt like he has been a failure in that department. We were able to bear testimony one to another and the Spirit was able to give him some revelation of new angle he could take on helping the Branch up here invite more people to Christ. After that meeting though it seems as though Satan is working overtime, we have had a rough time finding and teaching so far this week. I don’t know what the deal is but experience has shown me that when things like this happen that means that something fantastic is around the corner whether I see it while I am still here or not it does not matter, but as long as it comes for this area that’s what matters. I hope I can help move it around the corner faster.

So that’s the portion that I sent this week. I don’t know what I really have left after that. E. Santos is doing great his English is coming along. Life has been a little crazy every time we see any branch member they ask me if I am "trunky"(meaning am I getting a little restless about the thought of home) yet. So that kinda bugs but I just smile and say, nope too much to do to get trunky. They are a group of really good people I just pray that we can help them while I am still here.
Well family I love you dearly.
Love,
Elder Andrus

Fun Halloween Pics - Thanks to Aubrie!

Must see halloween pictures of my darling Grandkids!

I think they are the most beautiful children in the whole world -- Very objective on my part :)