Monday, March 25, 2013

Year 1 - Letter 42 - New Orleans, LA

Alma 32:42-43

42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.


Hey Everyone!

Life is so good here in the Big Easy!  This last week wasn't the best in terms of numbers, but did a lot of good finding.  A really good week! 

We have found that most Hispanics in the area don't get home until around eight, so that is when we are out talking!  So far, we have found one group of four that were sitting and drinking cervezas and we went up to them (literally, they where on the second story balcony thing, that has stairs up to it, it is hard to explain) and started talking.  One of them kept asking some really weird question, that, now, I know how to answer, and will.  The others, however, when he was asking that question, where defending us, which was kind of interesting.  Anyways we testified of the restoration and the Book of Mormon, and the spirit was super strong!  Elder Jones did so well!  I am so proud of him!  So cool.  We gave them all a copy of the Book of Mormon and left on a good note.  Such a great experience for Elder Jones, and I.  

Another contact we met was someone who said that he had met the missionaries for around six months and all of a sudden, they stopped coming.  I think around the time he said they white washed New Orleans, so he must have gotten lost in the confusion of that.  So excited to stop by and see what happens!
Had an incredible couple of lessons with Daniel.  He is SO ready to be baptized. So ridiculously ready!  We are getting the ward involved in finding him new work, because that is his only issue.  He frequently works on Sunday.  Anyways, back to the awesome lesson.  All we did was watch "The Testaments", and when it shows Jesus Christ being baptized, we talked about why Jesus Christ needed to be baptized.  He felt the spirit so strongly and it was awesome.

We had interviews Friday with President!  So awesome!  President definitely has the gift of discernment!  It was incredible.  In the interview, he asked me what my biggest concerns where, and I tried to explain what was up, but couldn't really find the words.  He then answered my question by telling me to just focus on inviting others to Jesus Christ.  So awesome!  Then he told me to go finding by playing my guitar at the French Market with some copies of the Book of Mormon at my feet.  Maybe we will try it, if I can get my hands on LDS Hymns tabs!  Well, that is pretty much it!  I know Christ lives, and I am so happy for the opportunity to share that with EVERYONE!  Love you all!  Thanks for the support!

Love,
Elder Scott Turner Andrews 



Monday, March 18, 2013

Year 1 - Letter 41 - New Orleans, LA

Moroni 8:16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.


Hey everyone!

Another week here in the big easy!  Things have been going pretty well!  Had an exchange with Elder Richards, our district leader.  He is awesome!  I learned a lot from him!  One of the biggest things was the scripture I set as my title.  Moroni 8:16.  So awesome!  When you look at any example of anyone that did something that was big and scary, and then look at why they did it, a lot of the time, it is love.  They did it because they loved someone ore something more than they loved themselves   More than they loved what people thought of them.  When we can develop this love for the people in our area, there will never be anything, or anyone, that can get in our way.

All of this reminds me of a talk that anyone that has been in the MTC will know.  It is the Character of Christ by Elder Bednar, that he gave on Christmas 2011 in the MTC.  Elder Bednar's address last october entitled Converted unto the Lord is similar.  Anyways, when we turn inward, we focus on only ourselves, and we would rather flee from trials.  However, that is not the Character of Christ.  Christ always turned outward.  Every time.  When we turn outward, and focus on others, and develop charity, we will not fear.

Crazy weekend this week with Saint Patrick's   We found out that they have parades on the day before Saint Patrick's day.  Why, I don't really know.  Anyways, it was crazy.  Just like Mardi Gras all over again.  Elder Jones was impressed.  I just remembered that time we went as a family to Disneyland on Saint Patrick's day.  That was fun!

Had a few good lessons with our investigators.  Daniel is doing well, and is progressing.  We learned a lot more about him our last lesson.  We are still really focusing on finding more people to teach!  I know that we can do it!  I love you all!  Thanks for everything!  It sure helps to have all the support from y'all!

Love
Elder Scott Turner Andrews

Monday, March 11, 2013

Year 1 - Letter 40 - New Orleans, LA

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

Hi everyone!

This week has definitely been a week of service!  We were doing stuff like running to the Verizon store to help a paraplegic in our ward, to visiting the elderly, to going to the Hospital!  It has been a little crazy.  

I went on an exchange this week with Elder O'Donnell.  He is pretty cool.  He right now is serving in New Orleans East, which really isn't New Orleans at all.  Anyways, we had a good time walking the streets and knocking doors.  Didn't find to many Hispanics though, but that is OK.  One thing we have learned is that members are SO important!  We need their help in the work!  Another thing is that we need to ask referrals from everyone!  You never know when someone will give a name of a friend!  
We got one of our investigators to church yesterday!  Daniel, who we have been teaching for like five months!  He finally had work off, and was able to make it!  That was definitely the highlight of my week!

Oh, crazy story.  So me and Elder Jones where crossing the street, and all of a sudden there was a car that was being chased by a cop, and the car turned right into a neighborhood and tried to ditch the cop.  That was crazy.  Got to see a hi speed chase!  Don't worry, we look both ways before we cross the street.
  
Besides that, everything else is fine and perfectly safe!
  
Sorry this email is a little later than usual.  We spent our morning in the Hospital with a brother in our hospital that messed up his knees and is going to a rehabilitation facility to work on them.

Oh, some really interesting news!  Apparently missionaries are allowed to use email now to email ALL family and friends!  So, if this is going on the blog my email is scott.andrews@myldsmail.net.  Other news is that we are allowed to have instruments.  It had never really been a definite thing.  I had picked up a small guitar from another Elder, as well as a Harmonica.  That has been fun.  Last of the crazy announcements, is that President Wall said we are allowed to watch movies, and the example he gave us was Seabiscuit.  We didn't expect any of those.

Well, next week is going to be interesting!  We have an appointment to bless a house this Thursday.  That and we are really going to push on getting referrals!  Love you all!  Thanks for the support!  

Elder Scott Turner Andrews

Monday, March 4, 2013

Year 1 - Letter 39 - New Orleans, LA

Jacob 5:71-75

71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

 73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.

 74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.

 75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.

Hey everyone!

It was a hard week!  We tried to meet with our awesome potential investigators and one of them is moving to Kenner, and the others were not home.  I guess we will refer the one to the Kenner Elders and try again with the others!  We are going to be doing a lot of finding this week!  Our mission goal is to have 20 lessons a week, and if we are going to get even close to doing that, we are going to need a bigger teaching pool.  In a super big area with only a few pockets of Hispanics  that is kind of hard, but that is OK.  We are missionaries. We do hard things.

Me and Elder Jones get along really well!  We are quite a bit alike, so that is good.  He reminds me of me at the beginning!  Ha ha, that has been interesting!  I don't think anyone coming out of the MTC really feels confident of their Spanish, except people that went in knowing Spanish, and they don't count.  He is catching on pretty quick though.  He will be just fine.  

I love what our zone is doing lately!  We have a goal to give out 70 copies of the Book of Mormon.  We have been trying to be more creative with how we present the Book of Mormon.  I think the total last week was 48.  We can do it!  I am so excited to go out and help people!  I know that as we go out and work with all of our effort in the vineyard here, we will be able to be happy with those we bring unto Christ!  The picture on this email is (from left to right) Elder Pope, who trained Elder Gillett, who trained me, who is training Elder Jones.  That was kind of a neat picture!  Love you all!  Thanks for the support!

Love,
Elder Scott Turner Andrews