WELL MOMBO! Man! I just love you guys SO much! I love this Mission SO much! I just have SO much to be grateful for! I am having a fantastic day! Can you believe I've been out for TWO MONTHS! That went by fast! It’s been a NICE day. We actually played some soccer today with our district, and that was Way fun. I love the people in my district! It has been nice and sunny today, and I love it!
SO, I got a new companion, and his name is Elder Ndwandwe. Fun name and such a great person. He is from South Africa, and is just an all around cool guy. I can see great things happening in the future of this companionship! He just transferred up from the west lands in Nairobi, and so Huruma is definitely a change for him. He was there for 9 months! CRAZY! but he actually was welcomed here with some rain and a lot of mud! HAHAHA. We are still getting to know each other more but we are going to have fun together. MAN! Can you believe the things that are happening back down there in Nairobi! We truly are praying hard for those people and hope things settle down. It has not affected us really, but we are also just praying that the elders there will be safe as well. They are on lock down and had to by food storage and stuff. A lot of people in Africa have been affected by this terrorist group and so it is just very sad.
But on a happier topic now…this last week! So, since I didn't have a companion, I got to go and stay with the Zone Leaders for three days, and that was a BLAST! Elder Barney and Elder Beacom crack me up! We had great times! During those three days though, I learned a lot about leadership, and about how a good companionship can work together. OH! so since I was there, I got to be a part of some exciting news. Our district is getting bikes! In Huruma they aren't AS needed but still excited and happy for the other areas also!
Elder Ndwandwe came on Thurs. so on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday, we were able to teach together, and tract a little too. I have showed him around and am introducing him to the members and investigators. It’s kind of difficult sometimes though because I can get lost on some of these streets! Everything looks very similar! hah but it is getting easier. We actually did go to see Caren this week. She is still just So excepting, and has some great questions. We got to the point where she is committing to a baptism date. She is going to pray on it, and see when she wants to be baptized! It felt good to share the plan of salvation with her. It was nice to be able to show her that the Lord really does have a plan for us. Wow! The spirit was strong! The members are still doing well. Ok so this Sunday was so interesting, and very good. I got to teach in the Relief Society, and Elder Ndwandwe got to give a talk with knowing about it five minutes before sacrament. I was asked to speak next Sunday! Lucky lucky!
Man! Skyler! it sounds like you gave a pretty awesome talk! I have heard about it in two other e-mails besides mom and dads! haha Way ta be! touching other peoples lives and stuff. Way to keep up the work of the Lord! It is weird to think that it is not going to get colder, but hotter as time goes on. It's nice that my allergies haven't bothered me at all yet, and it is not snowy. Anyhow, Have a fantastic week! I love you all VERY much, and wish best health to you! I am healthy and happy and can't wait for this next week!
Much Love From:
Elder Andreasen
KEEP SMILING!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
September 16, 2013
Wow! HELLO!!! I am just wanting to say that I am doing great! I am happy and healthy, and I love that I am able to live in this great big AFRICA! Things back home sound pretty smooth, so that makes me happy to hear that! haha!
Today has been a great day, my companion has left, got on a plane at 8:00 in the morning, and I am spending the next three days with the zone leaders. I WISH I knew who my new companion is going be but they moved transfer news from being on Saturdays, to Mondays. I will find out who my comp. is tonight!!! I am sorry you have to wait till next week to get to know but I will make sure to tell you all about him!
Lets seeeee now, what has happened during this fine week... well, it is getting to be the change from rainy to dry season here. I have started to see some dust...actually A LOT of dust haha but I love the sun! Like everybody says that it is so dry, which it is, but the air here is more humid than back home, and there is always a nice breeze, (either natural, or from the trucks). SUPER awesome thing is on Sunday, we had those four newly baptized members from last week got confirmed and that was just cool! We throughout the week actually taught them about the Holy Spirit and how receiving it was really going to help their life. It was good to explain to them that the Lord has given us this extraordinary gift, and we get to have it with us at all times. It is great to be able to look back at my own baptism and see really what I was doing, and the things that I was planning to accomplish in my life. It sometimes is hard for me to relate to those who are just coming into the church at a later age in their life, because I grew up in the church. At the same time, it reminds me that I have been set on such a sure foundation that You as my parents would not let break away. I like that I can remember my life and the ways that the Holy Ghost really has helped me as a comforter and as a guide. I have born my testimony about this to my investigators and my testimony just keeps growing from it.
SO to answer your questions, there are not to many members that come to our branch on Sunday. We have a lot of those who have been lost but we try to encourage all that we can to come. We do have the normal three hour block which is from ten to one. Since my comp is gone, I might actually have to start teaching the Gospel Principles class sometimes so that is going to be fun and good to help me to understand even MORE about the gospel. We just got the Aaronic priesthood class started two Sundays ago and that is very good. There is a Relief Society and a Primary so it is all coming along good. Sometimes we need to encourage the Branch Presidency but they are strong and are doing a lot. The members are just really trying to keep each other up and going and they are sticking strong! I actually haven't had to speak yet, just been asked to bear my testimony. That is something that we are trying to work on is helping people know how to give talks haha. Sometimes they really don't like it and don't understand maybe what a talk is…but they are still awesome.
MAIL…they do send a pouch of mail up from the Mission Office in Nairobi every week. Whenever we see the couples, if we have mail that week that has come in, we usually get it from them. I am getting mail from some people which is good.
Man so I actually have time to write today, which is really nice, but I am writing about 3:30 your time and I wish that we could chat. I am pretty sure that dark thirty is not going happen! haha!
I do want to tell you about one of our specific investigators that we found while contacting last week. Her name is Caren. We were just going from compound to compound knocking at the door of the compounds. You actually have to do that by the way, you can't just walk into the compound where the huts or flats are or you will be scolded! Anyway, so we came to the bottom of this hill and knocked at her compound and waited. We were invited in and told a little about what missionaries were and what we do and she invited us in. She really has been prepared by the Lord! She has had some difficulties in her life and has traveled a little around Kenya but ended coming back and staying with her parents there in Huruma. But she says that every thing that has happened to her has really made her think about life and about maybe trying to become what God wants her to be. SO she had been led back to Huruma, and had been going to all these different churches around but didn't know which one was right and didn't think that any of them felt right to join. Can you say JOSEPH SMITH! It was cool because we were able to share with her about the restoration and introduce the plan of salvation a little bit to her. She is truly interested! This last week when we were teaching her, we had taught her how to pray, she said that she had seen the Lord really answering her prayers in a peaceful comfort just like we explained and that all it takes is just the time to really listen after you pray. It was so amazing to be able to hear that from her because she really just has been so confused in life and the Lord shows that He does answer and care and that we just have to listen. Testimony builder. We introduced the BOM to her actually this last week too and she is just so willing to give this book a try! I testified to her that I knew that it is more than just any other book and that it does not replace the Bible because she said all she wants to hear about lately is anything about the Bible. I have faith in this soul and I know she is going to keep progressing.
WOW. MMMM. Phil Collins is playing in the cyber right now! haha. Music is huge here. When you step into most matatus, there usually is some kind of music going. Skyler, I think you'd have fun in some of these matatus' , lots of them have crazy bass! It’s a different world! There is reggae actually all around so I did prepare myself with listening to my Bob Marley cd's back home! haah. The culture here in Africa is just lax. It is just Acuna Matata as lots of people say. It's fun, and everybody just likes to enjoy...which isn't always the best, that is where we can help introduce the gospel. Well, I don't think I really have to much more to say about the week. I will say though that I do love being a missionary, and I know that this where I am supposed to be right now. I love you SO SO SO MUCH! I pray for you and wish the best for the next week! I am excited for the next week and just love the work! I can't stop smiling and laughing!
Love
Elder Andreasen
KEEP SMILING!
Today has been a great day, my companion has left, got on a plane at 8:00 in the morning, and I am spending the next three days with the zone leaders. I WISH I knew who my new companion is going be but they moved transfer news from being on Saturdays, to Mondays. I will find out who my comp. is tonight!!! I am sorry you have to wait till next week to get to know but I will make sure to tell you all about him!
Lets seeeee now, what has happened during this fine week... well, it is getting to be the change from rainy to dry season here. I have started to see some dust...actually A LOT of dust haha but I love the sun! Like everybody says that it is so dry, which it is, but the air here is more humid than back home, and there is always a nice breeze, (either natural, or from the trucks). SUPER awesome thing is on Sunday, we had those four newly baptized members from last week got confirmed and that was just cool! We throughout the week actually taught them about the Holy Spirit and how receiving it was really going to help their life. It was good to explain to them that the Lord has given us this extraordinary gift, and we get to have it with us at all times. It is great to be able to look back at my own baptism and see really what I was doing, and the things that I was planning to accomplish in my life. It sometimes is hard for me to relate to those who are just coming into the church at a later age in their life, because I grew up in the church. At the same time, it reminds me that I have been set on such a sure foundation that You as my parents would not let break away. I like that I can remember my life and the ways that the Holy Ghost really has helped me as a comforter and as a guide. I have born my testimony about this to my investigators and my testimony just keeps growing from it.
SO to answer your questions, there are not to many members that come to our branch on Sunday. We have a lot of those who have been lost but we try to encourage all that we can to come. We do have the normal three hour block which is from ten to one. Since my comp is gone, I might actually have to start teaching the Gospel Principles class sometimes so that is going to be fun and good to help me to understand even MORE about the gospel. We just got the Aaronic priesthood class started two Sundays ago and that is very good. There is a Relief Society and a Primary so it is all coming along good. Sometimes we need to encourage the Branch Presidency but they are strong and are doing a lot. The members are just really trying to keep each other up and going and they are sticking strong! I actually haven't had to speak yet, just been asked to bear my testimony. That is something that we are trying to work on is helping people know how to give talks haha. Sometimes they really don't like it and don't understand maybe what a talk is…but they are still awesome.
MAIL…they do send a pouch of mail up from the Mission Office in Nairobi every week. Whenever we see the couples, if we have mail that week that has come in, we usually get it from them. I am getting mail from some people which is good.
Man so I actually have time to write today, which is really nice, but I am writing about 3:30 your time and I wish that we could chat. I am pretty sure that dark thirty is not going happen! haha!
I do want to tell you about one of our specific investigators that we found while contacting last week. Her name is Caren. We were just going from compound to compound knocking at the door of the compounds. You actually have to do that by the way, you can't just walk into the compound where the huts or flats are or you will be scolded! Anyway, so we came to the bottom of this hill and knocked at her compound and waited. We were invited in and told a little about what missionaries were and what we do and she invited us in. She really has been prepared by the Lord! She has had some difficulties in her life and has traveled a little around Kenya but ended coming back and staying with her parents there in Huruma. But she says that every thing that has happened to her has really made her think about life and about maybe trying to become what God wants her to be. SO she had been led back to Huruma, and had been going to all these different churches around but didn't know which one was right and didn't think that any of them felt right to join. Can you say JOSEPH SMITH! It was cool because we were able to share with her about the restoration and introduce the plan of salvation a little bit to her. She is truly interested! This last week when we were teaching her, we had taught her how to pray, she said that she had seen the Lord really answering her prayers in a peaceful comfort just like we explained and that all it takes is just the time to really listen after you pray. It was so amazing to be able to hear that from her because she really just has been so confused in life and the Lord shows that He does answer and care and that we just have to listen. Testimony builder. We introduced the BOM to her actually this last week too and she is just so willing to give this book a try! I testified to her that I knew that it is more than just any other book and that it does not replace the Bible because she said all she wants to hear about lately is anything about the Bible. I have faith in this soul and I know she is going to keep progressing.
WOW. MMMM. Phil Collins is playing in the cyber right now! haha. Music is huge here. When you step into most matatus, there usually is some kind of music going. Skyler, I think you'd have fun in some of these matatus' , lots of them have crazy bass! It’s a different world! There is reggae actually all around so I did prepare myself with listening to my Bob Marley cd's back home! haah. The culture here in Africa is just lax. It is just Acuna Matata as lots of people say. It's fun, and everybody just likes to enjoy...which isn't always the best, that is where we can help introduce the gospel. Well, I don't think I really have to much more to say about the week. I will say though that I do love being a missionary, and I know that this where I am supposed to be right now. I love you SO SO SO MUCH! I pray for you and wish the best for the next week! I am excited for the next week and just love the work! I can't stop smiling and laughing!
Love
Elder Andreasen
KEEP SMILING!
September 9, 2013
This week has been extra joyous I think though! I am going to start from yesterday. Yesterday, we had four new souls baptized into the church!!! How fantastic these people are, for choosing to follow Christ in everything they do. I had the beautiful experience of being able to baptize three of those people! It was my FIRST time ever baptizing, so I was a little nervous, but it went well! It was so POWERFUL! It is funny though, when you look at the pics that sister Anderson is going to send you, you will see that I am kind of not dressed in MY baptism pants and tie... SO we had the baptism right after church at like two. I thought that we were going to go back to the flat after church but we rushed into the car and left for the church with the better baptismal font. So I had an experience of pat drying my shirt after, and my garments, and wearing them after the baptism. It just makes me laugh when I think of the dorkish things that happen in my life…haha! But how blessed I am to know such dedicated people, to follow through in baptism, and just have so much faith in Christ. Sometimes it seems hard for these people to join the church because of the persecution around and such. I love it when they do get this amazing amount of courageous faith and do follow through because they know that they will be blessed for having stepping forth and following the ultimate example.
These people of Kenya are really teaching me so many lessons in life. One that has really stood out to me is that no matter WHAT trial gets thrown at you and no matter how bad you think life can get, you can always find joy. You can always get back up. You will always be able to look to the Lord.
The rest of the week we actually didn't have too much going on. WE found two other sisters while contacting that we taught lessons to that were surely readied by the Lord. I am so glad that we were lead to these two amazing spirits! I am excited to help them come closer to the Celestial Kingdom! We also actually had to go on exchanges again so the people that were to be baptized could get interviewed. I went back to the same place I did exchanges last time and that was SO much fun! It was nice to have a change, to be able to teach in a different companionship, and to just be able to help more of Gods children!
Today we actually went with Elder and Sister Anderson to a place called the Rift Valley. They take all of the elders and sisters that are going to be leaving and show them this amazing site! It was so much fun and truly beautiful! My comp is actually leaving at the end of this week. We are in a branch and are pretty involved. We definitely are trying to get the council to be more diligent in really trying to keep this branch together. We definitely have seen great results and have faith that it will get even stronger.
I love you all so very much, thank you! I am working hard for the Lord!
Love
Elder Andreasen
September 3, 2013
HEY! so I am SOSOSO sorry that I didn't write yesterday! These last three days, we have had different conferences, and we had our zone conference yesterday, which kind of threw everything off. My bad! I forgot to let you know about that last week! But I am writing today, and I just love you guys so MUCH! Thank YOU for your letter, I am very excited to be able to come and read about what’s up!. SO I don't have too much time to write today, but I am going to do my best to tell you everything that’s been happening this week.
I actually want to start with these past three days. We had our district conference on Saturday and on Sunday, and then we had our zone conference/ mission tour. It has been way fun, and super exciting, because we have been hosting six other missionaries in our flat that came from different areas, for the conferences. Also, the President and his wife came up and were in Eldoret for the three days also! There were just a bunch of different missionaries that I was able to meet, and we all got to hear amazing talks given to us by different Seventy, and different people from the branches. I have learned SO much, and really have felt the spirit so strong, as these great people teach and testify. So, there was an area Seventy that spoke to us, and he is from South Africa, and is just super knowledgeable about this gospel. But then, I think that yesterday really was my favorite day out of the three. So, the mission tour is going on, which means that once a year, the President and his wife, and a special guest go throughout the mission and they speak at different places. So, they were here for zone conference, and for the tour, and the guest that has been with them is Elder Renlin of the Quorum of the Seventy. Yesterday, we got the opportunity to sit in a room, and have him and his wife talk to us, and teach us, and help us as missionaries! What an Extraordinary experience! We got to ask questions, any that we wanted answered, and we discussed them. What an amazing humble man he is, and truly you can see that he IS called of God. So that actually is the highlight of the week for me, is to hear from a General Authority. I truly do feel so blessed!
I actually feel blessed in everything here in Eldoret. The work is really not too much different; we are still just trying to ready those investigators for their baptism this Sunday. We do have a baptism...font, but it really just looks like a clean blue garbage can, that you would see at like the back of a store. Not like the huge ones, but the medium sized ones. ha-ha they just keep it outside, and at first I totally had no idea that it was the font! But yes, it is still rainy, and wet, but in the mornings, like I said, it is beautiful! The sun is usually shining in the mornings, and it is just so gorgeous! I really do appreciate this earth and the beautiful creations around. But since it is wet, there is ALOT of mud! I loved mud when I was a kid, and didn't mind that I got my clothes dirty, but here, you work to try and not get to muddy, and it just doesn't work!!! Hahaha. We do ALOT of walking, and I don't know if I mentioned that, so the only time we do take matotus (bus) is when we are going to town. But we'll be walking, and get back to the flat or apartment, and the mud is just caked on our shoes, and we have mud over the bottoms of our pants! It makes it fun when I am washing though, because we do hand wash everything, so it is a Blast! Washing by hand is actually one of those things that isn't that bad though. After only being out a month, I have gotten used to it and so it is just another thing that is to be done. I have definitely seen that I am becoming more diligent in things that I do, but I also just like to have fun too.
It definitely sounds like a hot summer there for you guys though! Wow 90's is up there! You can have some of this water if you want. Just to let you know, this isn't considered the bush area, and I really don't know what to consider it. It is just Huruma, Eldoret. Congrats on the job by the way Skyler! Icon sounds like fun. You’ll have to tell me about it. DAD! You sound busy! man, alot of meetings. Just by the name of that clip, it sounds like a teary one. We don't really use media here, we pretty much just use the scriptures and pamphlets. We haven't even actually showed like the restoration movie or anything like that. I am kind of grateful for that in a way though, because we get to explain through the stories, and really help people to understand the way we do.
I don't actually know if they really have holidays in Kenya. I bet they do, I just don't know what they are. I am guessing though that when Christmas comes around, that all of the different kinds of churches are going to be doing a bunch of different things. You'll have to tell me what exciting things you guys did for Labor Day, especially if it included sunburn! ha-ha, Speaking of Christmas, I really don't know, I love treats, and I love music. I can pretty much get food things here, EXCEPT pancake mix! I can make scratch pancakes. I love you so much FAMILY! You ARE in my heart and in my prayers, and just thank you! Have a great week, and really smile and laugh, it keeps us healthy, and happy, and that is what the Lord wants for us! It is the plan of happiness!
LOVE ELDER ANDREASEN!!!
I actually want to start with these past three days. We had our district conference on Saturday and on Sunday, and then we had our zone conference/ mission tour. It has been way fun, and super exciting, because we have been hosting six other missionaries in our flat that came from different areas, for the conferences. Also, the President and his wife came up and were in Eldoret for the three days also! There were just a bunch of different missionaries that I was able to meet, and we all got to hear amazing talks given to us by different Seventy, and different people from the branches. I have learned SO much, and really have felt the spirit so strong, as these great people teach and testify. So, there was an area Seventy that spoke to us, and he is from South Africa, and is just super knowledgeable about this gospel. But then, I think that yesterday really was my favorite day out of the three. So, the mission tour is going on, which means that once a year, the President and his wife, and a special guest go throughout the mission and they speak at different places. So, they were here for zone conference, and for the tour, and the guest that has been with them is Elder Renlin of the Quorum of the Seventy. Yesterday, we got the opportunity to sit in a room, and have him and his wife talk to us, and teach us, and help us as missionaries! What an Extraordinary experience! We got to ask questions, any that we wanted answered, and we discussed them. What an amazing humble man he is, and truly you can see that he IS called of God. So that actually is the highlight of the week for me, is to hear from a General Authority. I truly do feel so blessed!
I actually feel blessed in everything here in Eldoret. The work is really not too much different; we are still just trying to ready those investigators for their baptism this Sunday. We do have a baptism...font, but it really just looks like a clean blue garbage can, that you would see at like the back of a store. Not like the huge ones, but the medium sized ones. ha-ha they just keep it outside, and at first I totally had no idea that it was the font! But yes, it is still rainy, and wet, but in the mornings, like I said, it is beautiful! The sun is usually shining in the mornings, and it is just so gorgeous! I really do appreciate this earth and the beautiful creations around. But since it is wet, there is ALOT of mud! I loved mud when I was a kid, and didn't mind that I got my clothes dirty, but here, you work to try and not get to muddy, and it just doesn't work!!! Hahaha. We do ALOT of walking, and I don't know if I mentioned that, so the only time we do take matotus (bus) is when we are going to town. But we'll be walking, and get back to the flat or apartment, and the mud is just caked on our shoes, and we have mud over the bottoms of our pants! It makes it fun when I am washing though, because we do hand wash everything, so it is a Blast! Washing by hand is actually one of those things that isn't that bad though. After only being out a month, I have gotten used to it and so it is just another thing that is to be done. I have definitely seen that I am becoming more diligent in things that I do, but I also just like to have fun too.
It definitely sounds like a hot summer there for you guys though! Wow 90's is up there! You can have some of this water if you want. Just to let you know, this isn't considered the bush area, and I really don't know what to consider it. It is just Huruma, Eldoret. Congrats on the job by the way Skyler! Icon sounds like fun. You’ll have to tell me about it. DAD! You sound busy! man, alot of meetings. Just by the name of that clip, it sounds like a teary one. We don't really use media here, we pretty much just use the scriptures and pamphlets. We haven't even actually showed like the restoration movie or anything like that. I am kind of grateful for that in a way though, because we get to explain through the stories, and really help people to understand the way we do.
I don't actually know if they really have holidays in Kenya. I bet they do, I just don't know what they are. I am guessing though that when Christmas comes around, that all of the different kinds of churches are going to be doing a bunch of different things. You'll have to tell me what exciting things you guys did for Labor Day, especially if it included sunburn! ha-ha, Speaking of Christmas, I really don't know, I love treats, and I love music. I can pretty much get food things here, EXCEPT pancake mix! I can make scratch pancakes. I love you so much FAMILY! You ARE in my heart and in my prayers, and just thank you! Have a great week, and really smile and laugh, it keeps us healthy, and happy, and that is what the Lord wants for us! It is the plan of happiness!
LOVE ELDER ANDREASEN!!!
August 26, 2013
So wow! I just love that i get to write you guys, and that i get to share these amazing experiences with you! Man, so this week has gone by! i do love that the senior couples are sending you pics, of course i have no idea which ones they are, so i hope i am not makin some weird face or anything! haha I just love you mom and dad so much! Skyler, i am so proud of you, and proud to be your brother! WAY TO FINISH STRONG. It sounds like you are gettin the hang of being back in the world. haha
PS. So i also don't have anyone's email address from back home, so if anyone is wanting to write to me or me to write to them, they are going to have to write me first just so i can get their address. Also, I totally thank you mom for those recipies, i acctually thought of those same recipies! haha so I think i am good though, with that, but i love you so much mom and dad and skyler, and have FUN!I am excited for this upcoming week! i really can't wait for more of the work to progress! I love all of you so much!I love though, that i always get the chance to smile, and to laugh, and to show how much i do love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So yes we did have Eleven progressing investigators as of last week, but not all of them kept up on there progression, but we are really working with them. I am so excited for these few Seven progressing investigators that we have! So as i said, we have five baptisms coming up, and are about to get two more to commit to baptism. As we teach them, they are still always prepared by the lord to learn what we are going to teach them. There is one investigator that i really just love teaching the most, his name is Nelson. I don't know if i am aloud to say that, but i did anyway. ha. So he really just loves to learn. He is so happy about the gospel in his life, and has opened up to us so so much. He has so many good questions, that sometimes when i get back home, i have to study topics more to understand more about this gospel. The spirit can teach you so so much, and i love that i get to learn and grow, and have knowledge. We have been working with really trying to gain people back to the fold by helping those who are less active, and also help those recent converts and members to have as much strength as they can. It is really not very easy for people to be apart of the church here in Kenya, due to all of the rumours and things that go on, but we have helped them to stick together and focus on strengthening the branch together. We have been focusing on getting more people to do family home evening, and getting more people to come. We also have help the members start doing some branch activities, like the other day we went and played some Futball (soccer). I still need to work on my skills, but lets just say that i am gettin pretty good. we have been helping to strengthen the branch missionaries, and they really are doing such a great job! But the other day, we went to go and see a family that lives about an hour and a half away from Huruma. The Anderson's drove us to there home, and we were able to teach this family. You see, the dad is a member, but the mom is not, and once took the disscusions, but since they live so far away from the church, they have a hard time attending, and so the mom won't get baptised because of the distance. But what is so GOOD, is that the dad has all the pamphlets and just so many books about the gospel and its teachings, and all of the children have BOM's, so they just know so much about the church, and Christs Gospel. The eldest kid actually just right off the bat was like, i know that god loves me, and has given so much, so i really really want to be baptised! We definatley are gunna try and work with this family till i see them get baptised. The weather hasn't really changed, but there is one day that i got to get away from the rain, and it was when we went on exchanges, and i went to the other side of Eldoret, to a place called Jerusalem, which by the way was a great experience, but it hasn't changed ha! The food is always great! I acctually noticed that the flatbread that is served at like every meal called Chapati, is actually a version of Non! There are just different ways to cook it, and am gunna learn how to cook it! YUM! Beans and rice man, beans and rice and corn. hahaha. oh, and the water, we have these filters that hook to our sink, but we only get water out of that sink like twice or once per week! So we have to bottle water that we want filtered, but we have a shower, and it has a heater on it, so it's nice. So i think thats all for this week!This week. Aww. this week really has been somethin. This mission is deffinatley a mans mission, and really shows you what you can be. just from being here for two weeks, i have really seen that the Lord is shaping me to become His sculpture. I have come to gain more of a testimony of the power of prayer, and how our Father in Heaven really truly does answer us. He does love us and has given us so so much! i have recognized how much he really has given to me and those around me within in mine own life. I am not going to lie to you and tell you that this week has been easy, but i love that the trials that i go through do strengthen me. I have really tried to work on the Christ like attributes in my life, and become more like him. I am working on one in specific the most, it is patience.
I have always been a pretty patient person in my opinion, and i love that i am able to work even more on really showing it. I love this work, and am really always so excited to go and do the work, i again thank you so much mom and dad for really teaching me to be diligent in all i do, i really have seen that what you have taught me is playing a role in my life.KEEP SMILING!!!!!
August 19, 2013
So HEY! Wow. this week has actually gone by really fast. I love it here in africa. there are so many great spirits here! what a blessing each and everyone of them is in my life. Sounds like you guys are stayin busy at home, thats great!
So, dad asked when i am walking around, if when i talk to people, if they speak english, and if i run into a bunch of different languages. I can tell you that, yes i do run into different languages. The biggest language spoken hear in eldoret is swahili, and i am learning a little of that, but there are other languages like zulu, and swazi, and i have really only ran into those a few times. it has been easier to understand people in there crazy english, african accents, but it still takes some serious listening skills sometimes. so what has been goin on here this week.
We have a new investigator! he is really awesome. we have taught him two lessons so far, and he is just super exceptive of what we are teaching him. HE says that it makes alot of sense, and that it really has been on his mind everyday. We are really making progress with our other investigators. we have 11 persons that we are working with, and they are really good at keeping up on there commitments, like there reading, and church attendance, and so forth. the branch just keeps growing, and the active members are just keeping strong. Everything in this branch is about missionary work, and bringing brothers and siters back unto the fold. I am super happy, and healthy, and these people have a lot to do with it. i love being able to serve them everyday. that brings something else up.
We had this big thing called "Mormon Helping Hands", which is where people from all of the branches around, get together, and we all do service for the community, or a community. It is a way to give back, and so we went and served at a place that is about a half an hour away from where we are in huruma, which is called langos...langus. we pretty much just raked the garbage off the streets, and put it into a dump truck. it was so great to see all of these member, and some non-members helping to serve. That was probably the biggest event that happened this week. MAN! it has still rained every single day that i have been here! ha! it is a nice day, then it just pours. still have a tan though. My companion leaves in four weeks, so i am gonna have more than one triainer, don't really know how that works, but i am excited!
The food is still great. They have stores hear that pretty much have everything that i need/want, so i am my own chef! all we have to cook on is a gas stove, so i am getting good somewhat at just workin with a pan, or a pot. but the crazy thing though, is that we take public transportation. hahaha i will tell a little bit about that. We drive in these vans, they call them mototus. They really aren't that big, but they try and fit as many people as they can. the usuall max, is about 25. 25! so, when you go shopping, it is hard to carry it around in the mototu, but i have my ways. people kinda sometimes make fun of me though haha, they say i am the mzungu who doesn't know what he's doing. I pretty much have caught on though. Sometimes though, it is still pretty scetchy to walk in front of moving traffic to get to the other side of the road. That is normal.
WE are finding different ways to be able to implement FHE into these members homes, and so we have been to a lot of different FHE's this week. Every place you go though, haha, they serve you hot coco, and bread. they think it is cold here! I think it feels nice. i am learning alot from the scriptures, and my companion has been teaching me some great missionary skills, and more things in the scriptures. He knows alot about the work, and is really pretty chill...sometimes to chill. but i love the mission within this first week and a half/two weeks.
Holy cow! skyler is about home! how crazy! that is super exciting! I love you guys so much! You are in my prayers everyday, and hope things are still goin great, it sounds like it! love you, and have an amazing week!
Elder Andreasen
August 12, 2013
Hey you guys! I am so so sorry that I wasn't able to write much at all last week. I was being rushed and we couldn't send a real e-mail. I love you all so much! HAPPY B-day dad! I hope your day will be fantastic! And mom, I am doing great. I am healthy and all is going great!
Ok, so I did send you a handwritten letter from the MTC that should be getting to you shortly about the last little bit in the MTC so I will start with leaving the MTC. We left at 5:30 in the morning, which means we got up at 4:30. We got to the airport and we Kenyan missionaries flew together. We actually met someone on the plan that we convinced to reread the BOM and explained a lot to him. We landed, met the Mission President and went to his house to have dinner with him and the AP's. Mission President is super nice and very friendly. We then found out where we were to be serving and I was to be sent to the Eldoret, Huruma mission. We got to then go and stay in the AP's flat for 2 nights, where to be honest, we didn't even get very much sleep. I finally took an 8 hour bus ride to Eldoret and met this awesome elder on the bus, too bad he's not serving in our area. Anyway, I finally reached Eldoret, where I met my companion. His name is elder Tsegaye (suh guy). He is pretty cool, super chill, and has an amazing spirit when we teach. Which brings me to the work in Huruma.
It really is amazing here. The people are all very upbeat. They all know about the Bible and about Jesus Christ because there are so many different churches around. It is like the Joseph Smith story all over again…haha. We already have five baptisms set up and three of them happened yesterday. Two of them, they have been working on since April. The weather here is really weird but exciting. it is rainy season so it has rained every day since I have been here. WHen I say it rains, it POURS! It usually starts out sunny in the morning and then about 3 everyday, clouds role in. It's CRAZY. All of the streets here in Huruma are dirt. So when it rains, it is fun. The people really are very excepting of any kind of gospel but a lot of the pastors have put into their minds that we are devil worshipers or free masons. Its funny though because my companion says that he has asked them when they say we are free masons, what is a free mason and they have no clue…haha. Really you just have to be the peoples friend. You have to talk to them, really get to know them, gain their trust and show that you care about them. They really need someone to know how much they care.
It is really poverty stricken in our area and lots of these people just make the best of what they have. The first day I met my comp., we went shopping to the nearest street market, people that he knows. For the first two days, I was living off of tomatoes, bread, and onions. Super funny though, cause it really wasn't bad. I have now gone shopping and have food food. I was wondering though if you can send some recipes over e-mail cause I would love to make an actual meal for myself. I have been to eat at two members huts/compounds and I have tasted some good stuff. Last night I had some yummy ugali, which is like a kind of bread cake stuff, and some delicious meat and greens. mmmm. So we go tracting everyday and I have gotten my shoes a little muddy but I just clean and shine and go on! We work hard. The church here in Africa is still pretty new so we are making sure that they are doing things right...ha. I attended my first Sunday here and there were about thirty people that showed up out of 300 members. They just called ward missionaries and they are working on reactivating. Yesterday was so amazing in itself because I was able to teach through the spirit. I have been teaching through the spirit but I really just let the Lord take me and use me. I just let Him do the thinking because when I do...it is not right.
I just really can't stop smiling. There is so much joy in this work! Holy cow though, Skyler comes home in a week!!!! that is crazy! OH! Skyler did email me and it was great. I would most definitely love to write to some people. They can write me over email or they can send a letter to the mission office and they should get it to me. I will definitely bring my chord for my camera and send you some pictures next week. I just found out I can do that. I just love you mom and dad so much! Thank you for raising me the way you did! You truly are amazing and I feel your love. I am learning some Swahili and am definitely trying to get used to some accents here. The Lord really does help you when you just get on your knees and truly pray with your heart. HE has helped me to get used to the accent…haha. I walk in the streets and lots of the kids will run by or sing to me the word MUZUNGU. It means foreigner or white person! haha. They are so awesome though and I love to make them smile! I must say that the driving in Kenya, especially in Nairobi, is INSANE! People just walk right in front of cars. You kinda just get used to it though. I want to take video of it and send it to you. One of the AP's explained it as being the same as a video game. Right now I am just in town at an internet cafe so that's where I will be emailing. My p-day is on Mondays so it is set now.
That's pretty much what is happening here in Kenya. OH and i saw my first thing...flock...herd of zebras'! it was pretty cool. There are just too many chickens here though. There are always animals roaming the roads, wild hogs, cows, goats, dogs. Anyhow...I love you all so much! Be safe!
August 1, 2013
Hey you guys! I LOVE AFRICA! holy cow, I don't even know where to start. I have been writing in my journal, and so I am kinda lookin at that too. :)
So the day I got hear, I got a companion, and his name is Elder Motau. He is so humble, and we have taught each other so much. it was funny at first, because we couldn't really understand each other as well as we wanted, but got over that pretty fast. He is from south africa, down by the temple. Except he is going to Zimbabwe. I am learning so much in this small MTC. Did I mention that there are only 28 people in the MTC right now, I kinda believe it is a choice mission, but I might be a little bias. haha but I love the work so much! They are putting so much knowledge into our heads, and I love to be a vessel for the Lord. We are put into districts, and there are 8 people in our district. What amazing men theses elders are. We work so hard together, and have so much fun, it is amazing! I can't believe how blessed I have been in the last week and a half, and how I have been able to bless others lives. That is my main goal, is to think about others before myself, to serve them, and love them as the Lord our Savior would. I am so excited, because we are teaching fake investigators, and I feel so accomplished. we have the best teachers, who themselves were awesome in the field, and knew what it really was about.
The food is great! they give us african meals, and it is good, of course not as good as moms! I love it when we go into teach, because, we do have a lesson plan, but ya never know how its going to go, but then the spirit takes over and uses you and the Lord uses you as a instrument. I love that feeling. These investigators make it seem so real, that you have to be ready for anything. I have placed B of M's for all three of my investigators, and have comitted them to prayer. I even got one to "come to church". Sometimes to prepare, during companion study, we do little role plays of our own, and I am not going to lie, I make an awesome investigator! haha. but our day is planned out, and I love it so much. I feel like I have so much time to focus towards our Father in Heaven. It is crazy how I don't even think about my first name anymore, I am the new ELDER ANDREASEN. There are eight people that are going to Kenya, and they are all awesome. One of the elders in our room is actually going, and we talk about it all the time! His name is Elder Gwebu, and he is probably one of the funniest people I know! he cracks me up! We are all just super excited to get out into the field. It is like a cage here sometimes, but we learn so much! I do love it though, but there are a few who are pretty homesick though. I like it though in the mornings, because I get up with a few people, and we go running, which feels so nice. the air hear though in Johannesburg is pretty nasty though. We went to the temple on Wednesday, and got to tour around the grounds, but I was pretty bummed though because we couldn't do a session due to renovations on the temple. But a member of the Seventy came and talked to us for an hour, and it was amazing. His name was Elder Dale G. Renlond. Man! I have slept so well the last week and a half! jet lag was TERRIBLE! but I am getting used to it. I am learning to play soccer, or "futbol", and I am getting pretty ok, but those crazy Africans and there awesome spirts are just to good! but i'll get em' don't you worry! I will work on some letters, and send them while I am still in the MTC, and give you some more details, but I love you all, and hope all is still well. :)
P.S. This is my P-day. I Leave for the field on Tuesday. Love ya!
KEEP SMILING!
July 28th 2013
Subject: WELL HELLO! Guess who!
Hey you guys! so I finally made it to africa, and it is definatley different, but so amazing! I am writing you on the first day at the mtc, and how welcoming they are, and what great spirits I have met! truly am excited! I just got done getting my shots and i gotta say, that it really was nothin. I had some crazy long flights! but, so i finally got to london, and we weren't really for sure about what we were going to do, so...we actually went out, and rode the underground train to see buckingham palace, and that was an adventure. I was hanign out with the Ghana elders, and they were super funny. they went to the provo mtc, so they were all pumped, and I didn't have to worry about them speakin italian every five min. haha but I got back and found some elders, going to the mtc, and have been havin great fun with them. but it is winter here, and everybody thinks that its cold, but it is JUST right! I love these people, and the mission president is a very humble man, and just great! I love you very much, and hope all is going well. I am more excited about these amazing adventures that I get to experience in the future! I am just smiling! I love the work, and can't wait!
OH by the way, this is TANNER!
KEEP SMILING!
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