Hmm...Snow...What Is THAT?

Hey you guys! so HELLO from Mombasa! We are in Mombasa right now for a Zone Conference, so that is what is going be happening this week. It is by the coast, so it is nice and humid and hot here and just African! I am looking forward to the upcoming days. I am just happy, and staying healthy. I LOVE you guys!

There really is not TOO much to write about this past week. It was pretty much the same, but always still great! We have been trying to overcome some obstacles with the branches, and just trying to gain their trust. WE are actually focusing on the youth, and trying to get them to church, and answer their questions, and we have two future missionaries that we are trying to help to encourage. On Sunday, I actually got to teach the youth Sunday School class. It was something that I was just given on a whim (which is not rare here) and I got to teach them about how the prophets words can help us come to have faith in the Atonement. Man, it was seriously SO great. I was teaching with the Spirit, and just bore MY personal testimony of these great things. It was so great, and I realized again how strongly I feel about these things! I just love them!  We are really happy though, because as we have been working with some lost sheep, we saw some of them at church on Sunday, and we were thrilled for that! That makes me happy to see that we are making some progress and getting somewhere with what we are trying to accomplish.

People aren’t really jumping at being baptized, but we are hoping that as we discuss with some of these great people, that they will have their testimonies built and their spirits touched. That will hopefully make them think about baptism in the future. So, I just have been looking in the scriptures a LOT this past week. They really truly do give us SO much strength, and I have gained more courage through them. One thing that I loved when I was studying the other day, was the story of the Title of Liberty in Alma 46. I love this great example!!! There is a scripture that says something like, if we were all like unto Moroni, then the DEVIL would NOT have power over the hearts of the children of men! (Alma 48:17). This Is So great to have that much passion as Moroni did about what he believed! I am starting to also see what the sons of Mosiah were feeling in Mosiah 28:3, that explains that they were desiring that NO human should perish! I truly do love these people so much, and I just know that as I keep that same passion that Moroni has in that chapter, then the Lord will not let me fail. I am trying to really focus on Christlike attributes lately, and I really have seen how much I need to work on and still just how much more I can grow! I love this thing where we can always learn from our mistakes and be made better through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have seen it, and keep continually seeing it, and just look towards the future in faith. I love you and just hope that you have SUCH a great and Awesome week, and will be trying to keep the light of Christ. It IS the best light that Shines in this Dark world.

Love

Elder Andreasen

YA! These Are The THINGS!

WELL JEEZ! It’s been a whole week, and its already gone! Your right, it did fly by! Sometimes it seems like there just isn't enough time, but that’s why we have to make all we can out of EACH day!!! (Wow that’s a lot of Exclamations) But I am just so happy at this moment! I just love you guys! I decided that all I am going to do from now on in my life is just LOVE! Love is the simple key to happiness. It is everything that Christ Himself showed and I just love to love! Man, it is a Smokin’ hot day today, but it is SO beautiful! Ya know, every morning I get to get up, and see the sun coming over the horizon, and then I get to study the gospel under some beautiful palm trees while listening to the birds sing, and feeling the spirit...Cool huh? If you just take time to look around you and see the beautiful earth that God has created for US His children, you feel the spirit SO strong, and I really do just appreciate it so much more. 

Wow, and the work! The work is coming along. It is coming somewhat slowly, but we are trying to put all we have into it, we just have learned to exercise patients, and put things more into the Lords hands. It is crazy how much Satan really does have an influence if people let him in. We got to see some more lost sheep this past week, and it was so great, because they had some serious questions, and some things that were holding their spirits back from coming to church, but we had that chance to put in the power of the gospel. One of the stories of the week is so simple, but I felt the spirit so strong. It was while teaching someone that had not been to church for about a month and a half, and she had some concerns about rumors and about her family being safe in the church. We had a member with us, and he translated while we bore our testimonies, and reminded her of how strong her testimony of these things can be. I felt accomplished as we were leaving and she let us know that she wasn't scared anymore, but that she had regained her courage to come back.  

Hmmm, so one of the most popular fruits here, is one of my favorites, mangos. They are everywhere, and all different shapes and sizes. Some as big as both of my fists put together or bigger. And it is almost like they consider sugar cane here to be a fruit, because it is sold everywhere! Yes, I love the stuff! Eeesh, I hope for no cavities though, I brush. Ah, and I am very excited, because we are looking forward to doing some service projects this next week. So we get to help dig a well, and make a mud hut! SUPER awesome! Oh, and we got to visit another of our four branches this past Sunday, and they are just so Awesome. Got to bear my testimony and meet many many people. Uh huh, yep so I think that is it for now, but I do love you SO SO very much!!! That is great that the spring is here for you. Spring is one of the BEST times of the year! Have a great one!

Love 

Elder Andreasen

Keep Smiling!

Pass Along: Hey G-ma Davis! How old are you? 81! That is old, but so great! You've made it SO far and you are SO wise and SO strong! I JUST LOVE YOU! I am so proud to be one of your favorite grandsons and just smile every time I think of your amazing spirit and fantastic laugh! I hope that you have the greatest  81st birthday in your whole life! PHEEEWWW think of how many candles that takes...your cake will be COVERED in wax! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

What An Amazing Place

Hello hello! How are you doing? I am doing Great! It sounds like you are doing just great yourselves. I don't think that you guys could ever be boring though, you’re my parents, and Mark and Paula Andreasen are NOT boring! haha I have just had a great day, and a great week. Just been doing the usual thing ya know...MISSIONARY WORK! I love that I get to serve the Lord, and especially in this amazing place of Chyulu! Ya know, I will be honest with you and tell you that a lot of missionaries say that they don't like this place. They call it the Repentance area...where someone gets sent because President doesn't like them or something...But that is NOT true! I can see why someone could not like this place, but I keep falling more and more in love with it. When you get past the sweat and the hot sun, you find that there are so many great things around to look at. First off, the people. I did mention that they are always smiling, and I love that, but they really are just so friendly. I feel like they just except us as missionaries and they are really just so welcoming. Then you look and you have the great Kamba music that is EVERYWHERE. haha, It really sounds like out of tune guitars and banging tins, but it has this nice get-up to it. The good food which is beans and Chapati and beans and corn and rice. It really is just awesome though, and it seriously teaches you how to work and how to put your faith into action.

It is nice, because this week we were able to actually get a little further in knowing the area and meeting a lot more people. We have been taken by some great members who have dedicated a little bit of time to not work and lead us. OH, that is another thing, most people here either work in the small markets, selling fruits and veggies, or at small café like places, or they farm. Most farm. So, they mainly depend on the crops, and hope that they do well. It has been hard this year, because when they planted during the time that it was supposed to rain, it didn't very much. So, now it is hard work to try and come up with money and feed the family for some of the people, but they do take time to really help and show us around, and that is amazing. But we have been meeting a few less actives, and seeing where others live. We are trying to get to know the areas, but they are all so big, and since it is bush, it is somewhat hard to find where someone stays. It is like, a bunch of twists and turns through trees and bushes, and then we are there! hahaha One thing that we are now facing that is the hardest, is in one branch we are struggling to have people trusting and getting along in the leadership, and with the leadership. There is a lot of contention in the branch, and that is one of the main reasons why there are so many less actives... We are finding more and more out that we have to work on with the branches, and we can only do it with faith in the Lord. We are trying to help some potential missionaries to try rethinking about mission, and we are going to really still try and focus a lot on the youth. Very much excited for all of this!

Yes, my bum is ok now. I am gaining some Good padding, (in muscle) so I think I will be ok! hehe We do have electricity for most of the time, and we do have water thank goodness. People here seriously walk everyday to go and fetch water and carry it back to their place. They have big amounts of dedication, but they are still just happy as can be. No, not many people have TV's. Mainly just in the market, and if they are living well. Most everyone lives in mudhuts, and just have their chickens, goats, oxen, and others. Nobody has cars, but bikes are popular. Which reminds me, thank you SO much dad for teaching me how to fix a bike! Ha! This thing has SO many problems, and I have had three popped tires and brake problems and I am just so grateful for this fantastic skill. Thanks with much love! Hmmm, well yep, I think that's about all for now. But I love you guys, and thank you so much for writing! I will let you know more next time. Until then, have a great one!

Love

Elder Andreasen

P.S. Hey so yes I do know of Elder Sitati. People are very happy to say that there is a Kenyan serving in the seventy. I Have heard a LOT about his strict character. We had three people from my last areas that were in the Ghana mission when he was President, and they told us all about it. I hope I can meet him someday. Have I ever met this Great Uncle Roger? I don't recall him. Anyhow, love ya and have a great week!

REALLY IN AFRICA NOW!

Hey! So I am doing great! My new area is fantastic and it really has been a crazy adventure for sure but I love crazy adventures. So we went home and packed and we left the next day after getting the news that we were going. It was another REALLY long 7 1/2 hour long bus ride to Nairobi but we were able to make it safe with a soar bum. There were a bunch of Zebras that we got to see on the way, more then last time, and that was probably the highlight of the trip. So eventually after sleeping and getting on another bus for 5 hours we arrived in Chyulu. The ZLs took us to our flat and it took a half an hour just to drive there and so they are pretty far away from where we stay…haha. The place is actually not a bad flat. It was crazy though because on that same day that we arrived, it decided that it wanted to POUR rain. It was CRAZY! The wind was blowing at the same time and water was leaking down the walls. The next day we went out and a lot of the big trees had been snapped in half by the force of the storm and especially at the church. Anyhow, so yes this is definitely bush area for sure. There is a nice small market and everybody knows everybody and they all know of the church. When we contact, we are simply just making best friends with all of these people and we are gaining their trust. They might know of the church but we get to tell them about everything else. It is hot and it is humid but SO beautiful and peaceful too. One thing that I really love is that everybody Smiles! It is so amazing when you greet them and they just have this amazing grin SO big, and they have such sweet spirits!

The area is really far spread apart and so we have bikes and they are really something! Haha…Iron horses that are heavy and have no shocks, no gears, hard as EVER to steer, and thin tires. The place is rocky all over the paths and places that we take the bikes and so no one would ever believe what these bikes get taken through or us ourselves. But it is most definitely a testimony builder and a strength for the faith. We have to take care of FOUR branches while we are here. We get to go to a different one each week. The work is going to be mainly focused on finding and reactivating the Less-actives. The thing is, there really should be a stake here but the strength of those members that have been baptized verses those that actually come is not where it should be. We would love to baptize a few of our great friends in the market but it will take a little bit of time. They have all pretty much been contacted before.  We are actually working with one man who loves what we share and just asks and asks questions. We have had some great discussions with people and we are just striking interest in these great people. We have been trying to get to know the members around. We have visited all of our branches areas and met some people there. One of the branches takes about a half an hour on a bike to get to. We will have to be going to a different area each day and proselyting there. But we found the branch mission leader for the branch that is right next to our flat and he has really been a great help to us. There are 420 members in this Thengoni branch that is right next to our flat. Not very many actually come on Sunday but the ward mission leader knows where a lot of them stay, so we are excited. But we have A LOT of work to do and it can be done!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Andreasen! I love you and hope you’re not feeling TOO old! You’re now considered old though according to what my parents say..."Your not old till your eighty!" HAHA I really hope and wish the best 80TH for you and hope you eat some great cake and get some good presents. Just remember that one of your FAVORITE grandsons loves you! Have a great one!

Well I think that’s it for now, off the top of my head, but I just LOVE you SO much and just say have a great week and laugh a LOT!

Elder Andreasen

sMiLiNg!

P.S. They do celebrate Easter here. I don't know how and I don't know what the next holiday is...I will find out.

Emergency Transfer

HEY! HEY! So I have some CRAZY news! Elder Kisesi and I are getting Emergency transferred!!! What! The zone leaders just let us know. Because of some things happening with the government not excepting some visas and working permits, missionaries are being taken out of Kenya. So, Elder Kisesi and I are getting sent to Chulu! That is hardest part in the mission and we will be whitewashing an area. It’s HOT kabisa! CRAAAZY! We leave tomorrow! I am SO excited and really in shock. They don't really speak Swahili there but they speak Kikamba, which is just the tribal language of the Kambas. So...another language! Haha Oh man, that just really tops the day. This day has really been so GOOD. We got to go and play some futball...and I almost made this rad goal but missed by a little bit. I just got done eating some nice juicy sugar cane and am loving to be able to write my wonderful family from back home. Love you guys!!!

Wow, so this week has really been so great! We had district conference and so the elders from Kitale were staying here in Eldoret. Unfortunately Elder Kisesi and I did not get to host any elders in our flat this time but we all still had a lot of fun. We had Elder Bricknail of the Area Seventy here speaking to us. He was such a powerful and amazing speaker and just an extraordinaire person. I have had such a good week and truly know that I can say I have been obedient like crazy, have worked hard, and have seen the blessing of these two great things. I love talking about obedience and that is something to be honest, is what Mission President (President Hicken) has really been focusing on for all of the mission. All of these things that we have learned in the last few days, has really struck my heart even deeper to become everything I can be and give my all in everything that I do. Anyhow, so I can say that we really are having these great six investigators that are really progressing and moving along in their testimonies just great! One whose name is Kevin keeps progressing but just simply won't accept a certain day to be baptized worth everything! He just needs some time but he is super powerful and really is pretty much already a member. He is giving us referrals and is telling everybody about what we have shared with him...future missionary? I think yes!

Oh! Ok, so that field that you saw, we plowed the whole thing with Jembes!!! (Hoes) It is something that happens pretty regularly but it was BIG this time and that is the third time that I have not had gloves for it. I had blisters again all over my hands, which is just simply a reminder of how it builds my testimony. Some good hard sweaty Kenyan work. Cultivating. You know though, I never see the pics that Sister Anderson sends you…haha. Thanks for the nice comments, I probably looked nice and sweaty and manly.  She also sent you some group pics I see and so those Elders in Kitale are pretty much all Mazungu! (White)

Anyhow, I will keep you updated on when I get in my new area and the people and the heat and the powerful bikes (Iron Horses). I am excited for the week and just love you and hope all keep going well. KEEP SAFE! I pray for you every day and just know that the Lord is blessing you and that makes me so happy! Well Asante sana, and Kwaheri!

Elder Andreasen

(Big Big Smiles!)