Surprised to feel Nothing but Peace

We're in Munich for district p-day and I only have about fifteen minutes before I gotta skidaddle.
Was a slightly disappointing week for us in Landshut. The Christmas season is a wonderful time of reflection and spiritual growth on the mission, but it really slows down the work here in Germany. Unfortunately, as it usually is once a baptismal date is set with someone, the adversary has been working really hard on Surin and David. All of our appointments with them fell out this week and Surin is losing interest. This coming week we'll still be doing our best to bring them the gospel. We'll especially be working really hard with David because we know that HE has really felt the spirit testify that what we say is true. He even told us so.
There was one big glorious highlight of the week however. We had an amazing appointment with Tomas at the Klemm's home. They're a great young couple in our ward, and Br. Klemm really befriended Tomas and gave powerful testimony of the gospel. His cousin, a fresh R.M., was also there and really helped us out with his special R.M. spirit. I think it was really great for Tomas to see normal, for lack of a better term "chill" people who live and love the gospel. We watched the "joy to the world" DVD with him and he got teared up a couple times as the Tabernacle Choir sang those beautiful Christmas hymns. Br. Kelmm invited him to church and was ready to pick him up on Sunday, but unfortunately we couldn't get a hold of him. Was a little disappointing after such a great appointment, but I'm still full of hope and excitement for the guy. In the midst of our disappointments we must never forget our successes, because they are what makes it all so great.
Last night as I tallied up our low numbers, I was surprised to feel nothing but peace. I knew that I had given my best and the Lord was pleased with my work. As Elder Texiera of the seventy told us in Mission Tour, its a matter of faith! All I can do is continue doing my best and turn the rest over to the Lord.

Hope this Christmas is a great one for you all. I'm excited to spend some quality time with the members, enjoy the great cultural experience of Christmas in Germany, and even more excited to use this time to find people.

Merry Christmas every one!

-Andy

Christmas..A celebration of HIS life and HIS atonement

Hope the holiday season has been treatin' ya well. Christmas is really a beautiful time in Germany. We had a ward Christmas party last night at the church and watched the first presidencies Christmas Devotional at the end. When the tabernacle choir sang "For Unto Us a Child is Born" I was brought to tears. The spirit always seems to speak to me very strongly through that song. And as I listened to it sung beautifully by the tabernacle choir last night it reminded me again of what the Christmas season really is about. "For unto us a son is born, unto us a son is given." What a wonderful thing it is to have this time to celebrate the birth of our savior, to celebrate and give thanks that our heavenly father sent his son to this earth to redeem all of us. "...and his name shall be called, Wonderful Councilor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Christmas is after all, more than just a celebration of Christ's birth. It is a celebration of his life and his atonement. It’s no coincidence that we all associate Christmas so closely with the family when the family is the center of God's plan, which is made possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I feel very close to my savior this Christmas season, and, even though I'm here and you're there, closer than ever to my family.
As far as the past week goes, I guess I can put it simply by saying it's been a great one! We've set a baptismal date with Surin's son, David, whose testimony is blossoming before our eyes, and will hopefully set one with Surin this week. We have a great new investigator who we found because Elder Hansen is so good at talking to everyone. His name is Tomas and he's from Africa ( I think). We had an appointment with another investigator on Tuesday night that fell out and while we were waiting outside Elder Hansen started talking to this guy walking passed us. Tomas was instantly very open and made an appointment out with us for the next day. Within the next two days we met with him twice and were able to set up a two times a week appointment schedule with him. We've been taught by our leaders to be very upfront with our investigators, to let them know that our end goal is to baptize them. This is what we did with Tomas and it was great to see him accept it so well. Its great to see that when we have faith in the authority that God has given us as missionaries, and let the people know who we are and what our goal really is, they recognize the truth and accept it far better than when we beat around the bush.
We've got another busy week ahead of us, but I'm grateful that the Lord has blessed us with so many prepared people that we don't even know what to do with ourselves. I must admit, I've been a little down this week because, maybe due to the Christmas season, I've been missing my family quite severely, but I've pressed on and tried my best to lose myself in the work, and have seen the fruits of that. It gives me a great feeling of comfort to hear from you every week and to know that you're all doing well. You mean everything to me and I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas! Have a great week and enjoy the holiday season!

Alles Gute!

-Andy

Lord is with Us, when we turn to him things will work out

Dear Fam,

The holiday season is finally here in full force. Must admit, my first Christmas season away from home and all of you is making me a little homesick, but I'm more than glad to be here, and very grateful that I get to serve in Germany where Christmas is such a big deal. The town is lit up with Christmas lights and the Christmas markets are out in full force. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good pictures today and also get a few little Christmas presents for the fam ;)
I must admit, being transferred to Landshut has definitely been the toughest transition of my mission. Being a senior companion has definitely been a little more stressful than I imagined. When I first got word that I would be senior companion in a new area, I thought I was totally ready. I was right in the fact that my time in Erlangen had prepared me for it, but the past two weeks have definitely been humbling. I feel a whole new wait of responsibility and accountability on my shoulders, which is causing me to have half the energy I used to. I can honestly say I've never been so tired on my mission, or in my whole life for that matter.
Yesterday proved to be the catalyst, or realization that I "wasn't in Kansas anymore." As Elder Hansen and I added our numbers up for the week, we realized that we hadn't even come close to achieving what we had wanted to. It was the first time in my mission that I had been so hard on myself, blaming myself for our lack of success, and it didn't feel good. I felt like I had failed this area, and failed as a senior companion. After about a half hour of talking about what went wrong, I made the decision to stop feeling sorry for myself and just get on with it. Elder Hansen and I made some goals as to what we can do better and I feel pretty confident that this week will be much more successful. I guess in the end all I need to do is be patient with myself and remember that I need to do is my best and turn the rest over to the Lord. My only problem is that the spirit is willing but the flesh is week. I could get a lot more done if I wasn't so dang tired all the time. Just gotta have more faith and keep on goin' I guess. Thank you for your prayers family. I feel them strengthening me every day.
Despite the tough times, the week definitely wasn't a complete loss. We had an amazing appointment the other night with Surin, an investigator from Romania. As soon as we went into his home Saturday night, I felt the spirit of a good, faithful family living in that house. I knew that we were meeting with someone special. President Auras was with us and really caught the vision for this family, which will be a huge help for the future. We taught them the plan of salvation, and it was great to see how well they accepted it. The real miracle was when Surin explained to US the three kingdoms of glory before we could explain it to him. President Auras really got a kick out of that and shared the experience in fast and testimony meeting yesterday. Elder Hansen extended Surin and his son the commitment to baptism at the end of the appointment. They didn't quite say yes, but they were very positive about the idea. If it weren't for the language barrier, this family's understanding would have lead them to baptism already, so we just need to adapt to their needs by being patient and teaching with a little more simplicity. It is our goal to have a baptism this transfer, and I feel pretty strongly that Surin will be that baptism. Hopefully we'll be meeting with him tomorrow and bring Bruder Reisinger, also a stud of a member in our ward. The whole family will also be coming to our Ward Christmas party next Sunday evening, which will be a huge help in integrating the family into the ward.
Kind of having an interesting epiphany right now. As I wrote that last paragraph, I found that I was focusing on the highlights of this past week and once again feeling good about myself and the work. Just another sign that the Lord is with me and when we turn to him, things will work out.
Enjoy the holiday season and know that I am with you always. Take care!

-Andy

A day without laughter is a day wasted

November 30, 2009

Dear Fam,
As always, I'm sure glad transfer week is over. Its always really disorienting and uncomfortable when you get transferred. But eventually you settle in and just get on with the work. I'd be lying if I said I still didn't miss Erlangen like crazy, but I'm glad to be here and excited for the work ahead of me.
This is my first time as senior companion. A little nerve-wracking but I do feel that my time in Erlangen prepared me for it. My new companion, Elder Hansen, is now in his third transfer. He's already a great missionary with wisdom and work ethic that I definitely didn't have when I was at the beginning of my third transfer. He has some depression problems but handles them really well and tries his best to forget about himself. I've been trying to compensate by making sure that we have a lot of laughs together. After all, a day without laughter is a day wasted, and a day without a lot of laughter is a day not very well spent.
The branch seems really great. Considerably smaller than Erlangen, but it seems that the ward really likes the missionaries and is ready to help us in the work. We just got a new Ward Mission Leader who seems pretty enthusiastic so that should be a big help. What thrills me the most is that our branch president is the brother of Daniel and David Auras, my good friends in Erlangen, and he's a stud just like his brothers!
In any case, its great to be back in Bavaria. Landshut is a beautiful city and I look forward to exploring it. Our apartment is right in the middle of the city and also right next to a catholic church to give us a little extra motivation ;)
Glad to hear your thanksgiving was great! Tell Grandma and Grandpa I miss 'em a ton! I'll be thinking of you all a lot this holiday season I'm sure. After all, it is the first Christmas I'll be spending away from home. Strange thought. Anyway, Love you all and hope the week is great!

Love,-Andy

November 23, 2009

Dear Fam,
Hope its been a great week for ya! Received your package the other day! Thanks a million for the book Mom! I've read a little and have loved it. Reading the words of C.S. Lewis always strengthens my testimony! And the pictures of Olin and Karl tripped me out man! You guys have really grown up over the past year. Especially you Karl!
As you already heard from Br. Meissner (I'm gonna miss that guy, he's hilarious! Hope you enjoyed my message, wanted to say something that you knew would be from me), I'll be leaving Erlangen this Wednesday for Landshut (pronounced Londsoot, not Land shut). Elder Anderson is also leaving Erlangen for Kaufbeuren, my first area. What a way to start the mission! First the guy gets sent here with Me, Jensen, and Achtmann, three of the craziest Elders in the mission, then he goes to Kaufbeuren ! I'm excited for him. There are a lot of interesting people in Kaufbeuren, if ya know what I mean.
Its hard to describe the contradiction of feelings that I've been having since I got the transfer call yesterday morning. I think you all already know, or at least can imagine how much I love Erlangen, and how tough it is for me to leave an area that I worked so hard in for 4 months only to see the very beginning of its turnaround, to leave a ward that I love with people who I now consider my family. But unlike my transfer from Schweinfurt, I've been able to accept what the Lord has in store for me with a great feeling of peace and excitement for the future. I always used to be the type of person who didn't embrace change well, but my mission has taught me that change is life, to put it as simply as possible, and as bitter as it may sometimes be in the moment, its return is always sweet when you realize that change is what allows us to progress and makes us who we are. I will always be grateful for my time here in Erlangen, for the relationships that I've made and for the work that I've done, and I look forward to the rest of my mission and the opportunity and privilege that I have to build more relationships and help more people come unto Christ.
Andy

The Book of Mormon is the Word of God

November 9, 2009

Its been another tough week here in Erlangen. Our golden investigators fell off the face of the earth, and despite our increase in active finding, we can't seem to get as many new investigators as we'd like. There were some great miracles this week, however, and last night Elder Jensen and I both talked about how, in weeks like this, its a peaceful feeling to know that we did our best and are square with the Lord.
For the last two weeks we haven't been able to get a hold of Walter. The last time we talked to him he had the Swine flu and since then we've gone by and called him to no avail. After asking his neighbor if she had seen him yesterday, we came to the conclusion that he's gotta be in the hospital. Tomorrow we'll be searching for him, calling the local hospitals to find out if he's there. It seems that the adversary is very aware of Walter's preparedness, and is working really hard to keep him from this message. Just means we have to up the anty and do everything we possibly can to get Walter baptized. As Elder Texiera said at mission tour, "It's a matter of faith," and we'll be mustering up all the faith we possibly can this week to find Walter and set a baptism date with him.
On Saturday we were able to do something that opened the doors for miracles for a very special family in the near future. We had gone by Frau Lechner earlier in the week to see how her move was going and offered our services. Thankfully she accepted and invited us to help with the move that Saturday. It was a great opportunity to touch this family's heart with our willingness to serve and also to get to know her awesome husband. Because of this act of service we were able to begin building a great relationship with a very special family who Elder Jensen and I both feel very strongly has been prepared by the Lord to accept the Gospel. At the end of the days work they said that they would definitely call us and invited for dinner to thank us. We accepted, of course, and look forward to teaching this family in the near future.
Luckily, we were finally able to get a hold of Andreas Jud yesterday. Found out that his new job has been taking up all his time, so much so that he barely has time to spend with his family. Despite that he told us that he has been reading in the Book of Mormon and made an appointment out for next Monday. Its frustrating when you can't meet with someone as often as you'd like, but its also a miracle when someone, despite the state of chaos that their life is in, has felt the spirit strongly enough to keep trying our message out. And after the way the past few weeks have been, we'll take what we can get.
Later in the evening while going by some potential investigators in the city, we received an unexpected call from Walter Hoffmann. He's a potential investigator that Elder Gneiting and I met at a street display, and taught, or at least tried to teach, once after that. He's extremely baptist, and was quite the tough customer- an investigator that really challenges everything we teach and believe. Normally I say "forget it" with people like Walter and move on to people who really want to hear our message instead of trying to convince us that the Book of Mormon isn't true, but for whatever reason, Walter stayed in the back of my mind until I couldn't ignore it anymore and decided to give him another chance. After not being able to reach him for quite awhile, he gave us a call back last night. To make a long story short, the fifty minute conversation that followed was pretty freakin' intense, just as I knew it would be. You really have to stay on your toes with a guy like Walter, and with the help of the spirit, I was able to bear what I felt to be very powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. After the conversation I was really glad that I had made a goal to spend a little time in the Book of Mormon every single day in my personal study so I could bare that strong witness that it is true to a man who is so convinced that it isn't. Which brings me to my point. Family and friends, for whatever reason I feel it is my responsibility today to bare you my testimony that the Book of Mormon IS the word of god, and that Joseph Smith was and IS his prophet, that through him the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth so that we can receive eternal life. Most of you already know that, so don't forget it, and do everything you can to always be striving to strengthen your testimony. For any of you who don't know that, or find your testimony shaking, read in the Book of Mormon, go to your Heavenly Father in prayer and ask him if it is true, and act on that answer. Our testimonies must always be reinvigorated and re-strengthened, and from last night I learned that that is only possible through our actions.
I guess I've been learning a lot of really important personal lessons over the past couple weeks that I think have ultimately changed the course of my mission. I've just shared one. The other I've learned through some hard times in our district. I've been watching a dear friend of mine entering freak-out mode because he's nearing the end of his mission. He's forgetting what he told me a few transfers ago, and that is, that the Lord sends us where he sends us because of who we are. Right now, he thinks he has to not be himself in order to end his mission diligently and on a good note, and its caused me to do some real soul searching over the past few days. The conclusion I came to is that I should always be striving to improve as a missionary, but I would rather do that by being who I am, than ignoring who I am in fear of my weaknesses. I may be a little to jovial and laid back about things at times, but the Lord has sent me here to work with these people because of who I am, and if I forget that than I lose my individuality. If I lose my individuality, than I lose the best part of myself. If I lose the best part of myself, I will never be able to connect with others, and that is the worst fate I can think of, not only as a missionary, but as a fellow human being and friend of the people I meet every day.
But enough about me. hope all is well for all of you back home. I love you all and pray for you every day. Keep on truckin'!
Alles Gute!
-Andy

November 16, 2009

Hopefully you've been updated on how tough things have been for us here in Erlangen the past few weeks. And as the days have gone by things have only become tougher. We've pretty much hit the bottom of our slump in this past week, working harder than ever and getting little to no satisfying results from our labors. We can't get a hold of our golden investigators, and as hard as we try we can't seem to find new ones. To put it simply, the adversary has pounded us.

Last night, as Elder Jensen and I pondered on the week, we both remembered an awesome quote from the Dark Knight: "The Night is darkest just before the dawn." In my time in Erlangen I have seen the improvement, and the many prepared people coming forth to accept the Gospel. Right now this is the moment of truth, the trial of our faith, and Elder Jensen and I are ready to pass this test with flying colors. We have the vision, and we definitely see that bright, beautiful dawn on the horizon. More importantly, we know that the Lord will bless us and the people of Erlangen for our hard work. The other night as Elder Jensen and I were walking home, my severe discouragement was replaced by a great feeling of comfort from the spirit, letting me know that, whatever happens, I am well on my way to becoming the missionary that the Lord has called me here to become, that he is with me, and has consecrated my work this transfer.

Thank you for your prayers fam, and keep 'em coming! This Sunday is transfer calls so next week I'll be letting you know next Monday whether I'm staying or going! Have a great week and take care!

Alles Gute!

-Andy

It's a Matter of Faith

November is in full force here in Erlangen. All the leaves are brown and right now its a cloudy day with a little rain. Makes me miss home a little. I've always loved Utah Valley in the fall.

It seems that Satan is really working hard on the people here in Erlangen. unfortunately, due to sicknesses and other weird reasons, we haven't had much luck meeting with our investigators. Walter got the flu, Andreas has disappeared off the face of the earth, and Frau Lechner is still busy moving. Elder Jensen and I were talking about our struggles last night, however, and we both feel reinvigorated and very good about this upcoming week. Our faith is strong and our will to keep on truckin' is even stronger.
This week we had the great privilege of having a mission tour. We had the opportunity of hearing from two general authorities: Elder Camargo of the third quorum of the seventy, and Elder Texiera of the presidency of the Europe area. It was a great spiritual energy boost to hear from these two servants of the Lord. Elder Texiera talked a lot about how the Lord expects a difference here in Germany, and that, in his own words, "Its a matter of faith." I received a lot of personal revelation about what I can do better, but the basic message that I got from the mission tour was that all I really need to do Is push myself just a little more and do things, in Elder Tiexeira's words, "fundamentally different" in order to see more success here in Erlangen, and for the rest of my mission.
Luckily the end of the week showed us a little promise. Yesterday we went by Frau Lechner and offered our services to help with the move. She accepted and we will be helping her and her family move this Saturday. This gives us a great opportunity to start building a relationship with her husband and children and make the steps toward eventually teaching them as a family. I've caught the vision for this family and can't wait to see what happens with them in the near future.
Glad to hear that things are well back home, and glad to hear that Young Frankenstein is still being watched at the Andersen home on Halloween that's super important. Elder Jensen knows Young Frankenstein and we've been quoting it all the time for the past four weeks "There Wolf...There Castle."
Know that I love you all, and pray for you every day. The Lord will continue to bless you. I know because he has promised to bless my family while I'm away.

Alles Gute!

-Andy

All the Leaves are Brown and the Sky is Gray

Fall is has arrived in full force here in Erlangen. All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray (Mamas and the Papas reference), but today its a little warmer ad we get a break from the dreariness and enjoy some sun. Its been somewhat of a disappointing week but in the end it ended up being more successful than we thought it would be.
Unfortunately, our appointments with Walter and Andreas, our two golden investigators, fell out, leaving me and Elder Jensen in stitches. Luckily, we were able to get hold of Walter last night and he sounded like he was doing well. We were able to make out two appointments for this week and will be prayin' like crazy for the next couple of days that they go through.
Elder Achtmann was sick this week so we had the opportunity to do some mini companion exchanges so they could still get to some important appointments. Elder Anderson and I went to Frau Maisel, their golden investigator, and we were able to set a baptismal date with her! Super exciting because it'll be the first baptism in Erlangen in years. Hopefully we'll be able to set a baptism with Walter as well in the next week. I would love to see him baptized before I get transferred. We were also able to get a couple new investigators that the other Elders had found in our part of the city, so things are really shaping up for us.
Had a pretty hilarious experience at Zone Conference on Friday. I guess I'll start out with the background information: Elder Achtmann loves spicy food and had bought some ridiculously hot hot sauce called "Beyond Death" at this American food store that we went to with the Bishop a couple of weeks ago. Now he brings it with him everywhere so he can put it on his food when we eat out. Anyway, It came time for lunch at Zone Conference and sure enough, Elder Achtmann busts out the "Beyond Death." Before long, President Condie happens to notice that we're putting a small drop of this stuff on our food, treating it like its radioactive, and saunters over in his President Condie way to check out the situation. He looks at the stuff, takes the bottle and says to Elder Achtmann, "I'm gonna try this, and if there are any problems, that means that you can't have it anymore." As he puts a drop on his plate we're all on pins in needles, telling him to be careful not to put too much.
After President Condie quietly saunters back to his table, Elder Lindgren, our awesome Finnish Zone Leader, comes over to our table to try this stuff out. Well he tries some, and he puts way to much on his food so now tears are streaming down his cheeks. He then proceeds to wipe his eyes, not realizing he has a big blotch of hot sauce still on his hand, and before he knows it he's in real trouble because he just put this ridiculous hot sauce directly on his eye. The hilarious thing was that as all this was happening, our table was just watching the whole thing laughing as Elder Achtmann got more and more nervous. After a couple more minutes Elder Lindgren frantically runs to the bathroom to wash his eyes out and President Condie soon follows to check up on him. Now Elder Achtmann is really freaking out. In a few more minutes, President Condie comes back into the room and walks straight over to our table. As we're all thinking that Elder Achtmann is in big trouble, President Condie just gives him a thumbs up and says, "That Hot Sauce tastes pretty good." and quietly walks back to his table. Hahaha President Condie is so legit.
Well, I hope that story was entertaining. Kind of a "had to be there" situation but since it was one of the highlights of my week, I thought it was worth sharing.
And yes, for whatever reason, I didn't get your email last week. Don't worry Mom, I know that you would never forget me, and I learned a valuable lesson from the experience. Its a strange thing to be away from your family for two years, only having contact with them once a week through emails, and I will admit, it was a little nerve racking not to know what was going on with my family for a whole week. Last Monday evening I found myself almost getting paranoid, thinking, "What if something's wrong and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it because I'm on the other side of the world?!" My nervousness and paranoia gave way to peace, however, as I prayed and asked Heavenly Father if everything was OK with my family. I was able to focus on the work for the rest of the week and not worry because I knew that my family was in my Heavenly Fathers hands, and always will be, even after I return home.
Thank you for your prayers and love! Hope you all know how much I love you and pray for you and your needs whenever I can! You are my family and are more important to me than anything! Take care and have a great week!

Alles Gute!
Andy

Simultaneously Successful and Disappointing

Dear Fam,

Here in Erlangen, the week has been simultaneously successful and disappointing. It seems that these days there are absolutely no fence sitters in our pool of investigators. Everyone is either making progress or bowing out.
Our last appointment with Walter was the best we've had yet. We had planned it to be an intense scripture study and were pretty nervous about it because we'd be going head to head with some heinous J-dub doctrine. But, as it often does, the spirit directed us to take a different approach. We went through the plan of salvation pamphlet and read it together, using scriptures to back up the doctrine. With a calm spirit in the room, Walter accepted everything just fine and was, as always, really excited about what we were teaching him. At the end of the appointment we asked him if he had prayed about what we were teaching him and he said that he had, and that he really felt that this was the right way for him. He is loving the book of Mormon and says that he understands the gospel clearer than he ever has before (well, naturally, we're preaching the truth here). He still wants to study and pray a little more before he sets a baptismal date, but he's consciously thinking about it and is well on his way. Thanks for your prayers in Walters behalf everyone! They're working!
Our new investigator Andreas Jud is swiftly making progress. Every time we meet with him we can tell that his cynical side is really fading and becoming more and more superficial, giving way to his open heart that is ready to believe in God again. We meet with him tonight and have high hopes for his future.
Unfortunately, we had to drop Ingrid Strixner this week. To make a long story short, we had a great appointment with an extremely strong spirit. When there was nothing more we could say I asked Ingrid "Do you want to find out if our message is true?" she thought for a while, and finally came to her conclusion. "No" she said. It was, as it always is, unbelievably frustrating to build a relationship with someone, know that their heavenly father has led them to us, only to see them reject the truth. Just gotta keep on truckin though. There's plenty of prepared people out there and we've now got a little more time to find 'em.
Thanks you for your prayers. I feel them strengthening me and helping my investigators every day. Hope all is well. Love you all and take care!

-Andy

Right State of Mind

Dear Fam,

First I'll relay the great news of the week. Yesterday was transfer calls and none of us got any. That means all four of us in the Erlangen district will be staying here for another transfer! We're all pretty stoked about that. Its very rare that you have a district where everyone gets along with one another so well. Man this transfer is gonna be epic!
Unfortunately, for the first time on my mission, I was sick this past week and had to stay in the apartment for almost three days. Despite this obnoxious hindrance, however, The week turned out to be pretty successful. We were finally able to meet with Andreas Jud, an young guy in our neighborhood who Elder Gneiting and I taught once. We watched the Restoration DVD with him and, although he said otherwise, I could tell it really touched him. He agreed to meeting with us twice a week, which is a hard thing to get the German's to agree to, and I'm absolutely positive that he'll quickly make progress. He's had some bad experiences with religion in the past, but says that it would be really great to find his faith again. I look forward to watching his progress over the next six weeks.
We had an appointment with Walter scheduled for this week, but unfortunately he canceled on us. We rescheduled for this Wednesday so if all goes to plan we'll be able to really resolve his concerns and once again invite him to really think about baptism. Thank you for your prayers on his behalf. Its been, and will continue to be, a tough road with him, but your prayers have worked and he continues to slowly but surely accept the restored gospel.
Last night we met with Herr Sahiti. He lives in our apartment building and we've built a really strong friendship with him. He's Muslim, but is really interested in all scripture, and really understands the concept that God's words never cease. We gave him a triple combination in Albanian with the hopes that we would be able to finally set up something in which we could regularly meet with him and finally make progress with him. Unfortunately, he declined our invitation, and we had to drop him as an official investigator, which normally is really disappointing, but with Herr Sahiti nothing has changed. We're still friends with him, and will still see him around the building and answer his questions whenever he has them. Its really frustrating as a Missionary to meet someone like Herr Sahiti, who is so close to the truths and already understands so clearly the most important principles of the gospel, but just isn't ready or willing to take the time to learn and accept the fullness of the gospel. But last night, as I thought about Herr Sahiti's situation and talked about it with Elder Jensen, I felt more and more at peace and had a very important principle of missionary work taught to me through the spirit. There are people in this world who, for whatever reason, will not be in the right state of mind to recognize the truth and accept it at the time its offered to them, or perhaps for their entire duration on this earth. I refuse to believe, however, that this is their only chance. Our Heavenly Father loves us too much to condemn us for initially rejecting something we don't understand. I am absolutely positive that there are so many great people in this world, who live great lives, who will have multiple chances in this life, and in the spirit world, to accept the Gospel at a time when they are in the right state of mind to recognized the truth, especially when the chance was given to them when they weren't. I guess my real point is, It's almost unfathomable just how much our Heavenly Father loves all of us, and, with his perfect understanding of the human condition, how merciful he is to his children.
Hope that all made sense. My writing skills are really struggling these days and it's really frustrating me. Oh well. guess I just have much more important things to worry about.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Your beloved son, brother, and friend,

-Andy

Dear Fam,

Its been a full and wonderful week. It started with a hilarious p-day and ended with an unbelievable General Conference, with some great work in between.First things first, P-day. It was quite the hilarious adventure for us. First of all, its not as normal as you would think to walk around Nürnberg in Lederhosen. Had we been in Munich or somewhere in deep Bavaria, nobody would have looked twice at us, but to be in Nürnberg in Lederhosen, on a Monday, when almost nothing special is going on, is kinda wierd. But what do we care? We get more weird looks walking around in our shirts and ties than we do in Lederhosen. And more importantly, Lederhosen just makes everything better. When you're wearing Lederhosen, the sun shines brighter, food tastes better, funny things are funnier, and pretty things are prettier. They basically have the same effects as a natural drug, but they're not against the Word of Wisdom. Anyway, the day basically consisted of us seeing the sights in Nürnberg, the famous castle on top of a hill, looking over the whole city, this huge Gothic church, common in any big German city, and of course eating at a really touristy German restaurant. But the best part of the day was when we stopped at one of these street side accordion players and asked him to play a really fast polka song while Elder Jensen, Elder Achtmann and I did a Lederhosen, Bavarian knee slapping dance for everyone on the street. It was incredibly embarrassing but unbelievably hilarious as well. Elder Anderson took a video of it, which I'll try to send today if the internet isn't too slow.Things are going really well with Walter. We were able to meet with him twice this week. The first appointment was a little rough. We taught the second half of the plan of salvation, which is completely different from what the J-dub's teach, so it was a little hard for Walter to accept, but the spirit was there nonetheless. We plan on having a solid scripture study with him this week where we use the bible and the book of Mormon to clarify the doctrine. Hopefully this will increase his testimony of the doctrine, but more importantly that the fullness of the gospel, and the priesthood authority to baptize, was restored through Joseph Smith. He already believes this, but needs an unshakable testimony to be baptize and overcome what he's going up against, an entire J-dub congregation will do everything they can to keep him from getting baptized once he makes that decision. He came to the Saturday morning session of Conference and absolutely loved it, especially President Uchtdorfs talk (also my personal favorite from this conference), so I think he's really seeing and feeling the importance of the restoration. Keep him in your prayers fam, because over the next few weeks, he's definitely gonna need 'em.Had a great appointment with the Daniel and Andrea Auras, basically my favorite family in the Ward. Daniel's a freakin' stud. The only problem is whenever we go over there He and I spend like an hour talking about Movies (He's also a big film buff) to the annoyance of my companions (Well, I don't think Elder Jensen minds too much, but I'm sure it drove Elder Gneiting crazy haha).Speaking of Elder Jensen, things are going really well with us. I've been really lucky on my mission so far to be blessed with such great companions (even the tough ones). The guy is a spiritual giant, and, like me (or at least I'd like to think so), puts his focus on loving and helping the people, which is really the most important thing. I mean, its why we're here isn't it?After all, as President Uchtdorf told us on Saturday morning (or Saturday evening for me) thats whats most important for all of us as Latter Day Saints and Disciples of Christ. To love God, and to love our fellow man. As Latter-Day Saints, we should be known as people who love God and Others. Which brings me to my food for thought of the week...Elder Jensen told me something that has really changed my perspective on what it means to be a member of the Restored Church of Christ. A convert that he knew from back home had a friend say something to the effect of, "Well you should understand, you're a mormon." His reply was, "I'm not a Mormon. I'm a Saint." What a powerful and profound statement. The time has really come, as President Eyring said not long ago, for the perfecting of the Saints. We are not, and should not want to be, "Mormons." That often can be a term with a negative connotation created by man. We are disciples of Christ, literally Latter Day Saints. The time has come to stop Pharasitically going through the motions, as the "Mormons" can do, and truly become "Saints." For that is what The Lord has called us to be as members of his church in these days.As always, you're all in my prayers, and I wish you all the best in the coming week.Alles Gute!-Andy

I have received direct Witness

Its almost 7:00 p.m. here in Erlangen. Had to have a bit of a different schedule this p-day due to an unexpected service project... and I am pretty exhausted. But what the heck, you're pretty much always tired on the mission anyway, so no biggie.
It was another slow week for us here in Erlangen, but we've made some serious progress and have a great week ahead of us.
As if by some divine miracle (actually it was by divine miracle), we were finally able to reach Walter Ganther after three weeks of no contact! To our surprise he was still open to our message. We were able to recommit him to reading in the book of Mormon and made out an appointment for this Wednesday. My certainty that Walter will be the next baptism in Erlangen remains, against all odds, and if all goes according to plan, and if he is ready, we will have set a baptism date with Walter by the end of the week. Its quite the nerve racking thing to try to baptize a newly converted Jehova's Witness, let alone teach him, because when you do that, you are up against an entire congregation who will do everything they can to stop you. Needless to say, we, and more importantly Walter, need your prayers now more than ever.
got some other emails to write this week, so to close this rather short and lame email this week I just want to share a pretty awesome spiritual experience we had today. For p-day today our district spent most of the day in Herzogen-Aurach, a dorf in our area, because they have epic Puma and Adidas outlet, and Elder Anderson wanted to go there and check it out for his birthday. We all pitched in 5 Euro and helped him buy some sweet shoes from the Puma outlet and ate at this sweet Mexican restaurant. Anyway, as we walked back to the middle of town where our Bus stop was, we started talking about Joseph Smith, and how there was absolutely no possible way that he couldn't be a prophet. The spirit kinda just hit us all at the same moment, then Elder Achtmann suddenly started faintly singing "Praise to the Man," almost as a joke, until we all joined him and walked down the street singing that amazing hymn like it was nothin'. And yes, I know that sounds totally doofus-missionary like, but it was a really powerful experience to walk down the street bearing our testimony of the Prophet Joseph in unison like that. Because of this silly but powerful experience, my testimony of what I'm doing here is reinvigorated ten-fold, and I can honestly say, once again, that I have received direct witness from God that Joseph Smith was his prophet, and that means that what I'm doing here is more important, and more incredible than anything else I could possibly be doing at this time. How lucky am I?!

Love you all! Bis nächste woche!

Alles Gute!

Ihr geliebter Sohn, Bruder, und Freund,

-Andy

Time Hurries on...September 14, 2009

As of today I've officially been on my mission for 8 months. Unbelievable! Its just like Simon & Garfunkle said, "Time hurries on, and the leaves that are green turn to brown."
The work is going a little slow for Elder Jensen and I, but we're both doing our best to keep our spirits high and strengthen our faith. All we can do now is step up to the plate, organize ourselves, and keep on truckin'.
Despite the lack of luster in the work right now, I've really come to feel at home here in Erlangen over the past couple weeks and am very grateful to be working here. We have a wonderful ward whose enthusiasm for missionary work is definitely growing. Our district this transfer is also pretty legit. All four of us know how to work hard and play hard, and we've already had some pretty awesome times. Last week we went to Höchstadt, a Dorf in the Erlangen area, and picked up some awesome things at this Sozial Kaufhaus, which is basically a German version of D.I. Elder Achtmann found this amazing shirt (pic attached) and I was able to get me a Mr. Rogers sweater and a couple cool mugs. Our biggest adventure so far, however, was yesterday, when we had what Elder Achtmann and Elder Anderson called "Davy Jones Jambalaya" for Sunday dinner. It basically consisted of shrimp, clams, and...OCTOPUS that we found in the grocery store, (pics attached). It was actually pretty good (despite the fact that the octopus squirted sea water in my eye when I bit into the head) but my stomach was dyin' later that evening.
On a more spiritual note, Last Tuesday was Zone Conference, and probably the best and most spiritually uplifting Zone Conference I have been to so far. The theme this transfer was "becoming a better teacher" which I felt was exactly what I needed. There were two things in particular said by two different Elders that really spoke to me and helped me realize what I need to change. After giving us some tips fro street contacting, Elder Bond, our new zone leader, said that we don't do these things because they're gimmicks to trick people into listening to us. We do these things because we love the people, and we want to make sure that we give the German people a better chance to accept the gospel. As you all well know, I can have a little chip on my shoulder about somethings and always kind of tune out when Elders talk about what I usually refer to as "fancy contacting methods," but what Elder Bond said gave me the right motivation to be willing to try out new things and put forth an effort to become a more effective missionary.
Our new A.P., Elder Williams, talked about how we all reach a pint where we kinda slow down in our progression as missionaries and just float for awhile, and eventually either choose to rise up again or just kind of poop out (if you'll excuse the expression). I realized that I am in this state of floating right now, and must decide to rise to the occasion and work even harder to become the missionary that the lord as called me to be, because if there's one thing I don't want, its to just give up and coast for the rest of my mission.
Lastly I would especially like to thank you all for your prayers this week. In many instances they are what keep me going. I am still going and becoming a better missionary to bless the lives of the people here because your faithful prayers keep me going when things are at their toughest. I love you all and hope the coming week brings you health and happiness.

Alles Gute!

-Andy

Absolutely Wonderful Nonetheless

Hope the past week has been a good one for you all. Once again the times are a changin' as they frequently do here on the mission. As I reflect on this past week, I realize how much my mission has helped me to accept change, something that was always hard for me to deal with in the past. Not even a month ago I would have cringed at the thought of having to take over an area, but over the past week I've been able to step it up and keep things going with very little trouble. Just goes to show you that the Lord will never give us something that we can't handle.

Elder Jensen and I are getting along just great. He's really easy going. I think the only challenge that we may have, if any, is getting the flow of teaching together well, which is something every companionship has to work on at the beginning. Elder Achtmann's greeny (That's what we call new missionaries), Elder Anderson, is a really cool guy. He's from the San Fransisco area, which of course is awesome, and seems to be adjusting to life in the field a lot better than I did. I think he's off to a good start because he's working with a great trainer and two other Elders who know how to work hard and play hard.

For the past transfer I've really tried to increase my love for the people, which I'd say I've done pretty successfully. Now it seems that the lord is testing my patience for the people. As of now I've reached probably the most frustrating situation of my mission. Our golden investigator, Walter Ganther, has been completely unreachable for the past two weeks. We've done everything we can to reach him, so now we just have to sit back and give him some time. The last time we met with him, we watched the Restoration DVD at a member's home, which he really enjoyed. He also said that he would read the entire Book of Mormon over the next week, and that he already believed it was true. Elder Gneiting and I were really excited about him and I was sure that he was going to be the next baptism in Erlangen. Its unbelievably frustrating to put all of your faith into a person only to have them all of a sudden fall out on you. This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me on my mission and It most likely won't be the last. The one thing I must remember now and for the rest of my mission is that in situations like this, all I can do is press forward, increase my faith and love for the people, and have the faith and works to see miracles happen for these people.

Yesterday at church, Bruder Daniel Auras, one of my fav members here in Erlangen, gave his new daughter her baby blessing. It was probably the most spiritually powerful Baby blessing I have ever witnessed, and I think its because the members here in Germany are so genuine in all that they do. Bruder Auras also bore his testimony and said how grateful he was to have the knowledge that he was sealed to his wife Andrea for eternity. These are things that I've witnessed many times growing up in the church, but because it came from such an amazing family that I've grown to respect and love during my time here, my heart was touched and made open to receive a strong and powerful witness form the Holy Ghost that through the restoration of the Priesthood, families can be sealed to be with each other in happiness for time and eternity, and that I will have the opportunity of being sealed to my future wife and raise a righteous family under the care and direction of my heavenly father.
If that all sounds cheesy, then so be it. Its true, and absolutely wonderful nonetheless.

I wish you all a wonderful week and send my tender lovin' vibes your way.

Alles Gute!

-Andy

Another Successful Week - Aug. 24th

Dear Fam,

Pleased to report that its been another successful week here in Erlangen. We've been meeting with some truly prepared people who are strengthening my testimony as I try to help them develop theirs.

Our week started out on a really good note last Monday evening when we went back to work. We went by an old Contact in this apartment complex where mostly University students live. We weren't able to talk to her but another girl came walking up the steps just as we were about to leave and Elder Gneiting started talking to her (He's really good at trying to talk to everyone. I've definitely learned from his example in that regard). Surprisingly she let us right into her apartment and we were able to give her an entire first lesson. The spirit was very strong throughout our entire discussion with her and, although she didn't want a return visit from us at this point in time, we knew that she felt something and was prepared by the Lord to receive our message that day. It really has been a blessing for me to work here in Erlangen and be able to see so many faithful people my age.
We were finally able to meet with Walter Ganther, our newly converted Jehovah's Witness, again this week. He came with us to David and Marylin Auras', some awesome members in our ward, for dinner and we watched the Restoration DVD together. Walter really enjoyed it and has no problem believing that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He's really interested in the Book of Mormon, and will no doubt have read the whole thing by the end of this week. He's a man who is seeking after the truth, which is why he became a Jehovah's Witness, and will recognize it with no problem once he reads it and prays about it. We'll be shooting for a baptism date with him within the coming week or so, so keep your fingers crossed (or praying would probably be better)....I think I made this same joke in another email. Man I really need to get some new material.

...Uh, anyway, We had a great second appointment with Ingrid and Ludwig Strixner on Friday. Ludwig is very quiet, but you can tell he's very intelligent and listens to everything we say, and I respect that. Ingrid is really just at the starting line in her understanding. We had planned to watch the Restoration for this appointment but Ingrid's concerns sent the discussion in a totally different direction. She told us that Its hard for her to believe that God is our heavenly father, and that he could possibly know and love all of us personally. Despite the lesson going in a totally different direction than what we had planned for, Elder Gneiting and I were able to rely on the spirit and give one of the best lessons we have ever given in our companionship. The spirit was very strong and as we bore testimony I could see in Ingrid and Ludwig's eyes that they were both touched by our message. They will be on vacation for the next couple weeks, but we already have an appointment scheduled for when they get back. I'm really excited to see what happens with this great couple.

My mission as constantly reminded me how much I love people, and how life is all about people and connections and the relationships that we build with each other on this earth to build each other up and prepare together for the next steps. I have received so many blessings on my mission, but I think my greatest blessing has been the relationships that I've been able to have with all of this wonderful people in this part of the world- The members, the people I teach, and even the people I talk to every day on the street.

My mission has also made me realize how grateful I am for the people back home, my friends and family. I hope you all know how much I love and how much you all mean to me. I pray for you always and feel closer to you all than ever, even if I'm on the other side of the world.

Take care!

-Andy

Fruitful Week

I'm pleased to report that the past week has been unbelievably fruitful here in Erlangen. Its been a long tough transfer, but because we've worked hard, the Lord has blessed us with lots of very prepared people. Aouni, our young single investigator from Syria, is enjoying everything we are teaching him. We had a great lesson on the plan of salvation with him, thanks to Brother Auras coming along for a joint-teach (the guys a stud). We're gonna try to set a baptism date with him this week so everyone keep your fingers crossed (praying may be better). We finally were able to meet with Walter Ganther again and will be trying to set a baptism date with him in the coming weeks as well.

Two weeks ago, during a companion exchange, Elder Gneiting and Elder Achtmann ran into an older couple picking plums off of their tree while going door to door. Out of his love for food, Elder Achtmann asked them what they planned to do with these plums they were picking. They told him that they were going to make a plum cake (its a German pastry thing, not an actual plum cake like one you would imagine in America) and invited them back to have some when they actually made it. Elder Gneiting and I were able to go by yesterday and enjoy the afternoon with them. Ingrid, the wife, was very interested and open to the Book of Mormon. She hung on our every word the whole time. It was one of those special appointments where you know that the people you are speaking with are really feeling the spirit when you testify the truth to them. We'll be meeting with them again on Friday and I'm very excited to see what happens.

The future also looks very bright for two amazing young families in our neighborhood, the Jud's and the Sahiti's. The Sahiti's live in our building and we've become very good friends with Herr Sahiti over the past few months. He loves to talk so its been quite the struggle to actually have a real appointment with him and teach him the gospel, but things are picking up and hopefully we'll be able to teach him more and make some commitments with him as the days go on.
We met the Jud's through the Sahiti's and were finally able to meet with Andreas last night as well. He was raised as a Jehova's Witness and had some bad experiences there so he's lost his faith in God, but was very receptive when we met with him. The spirit was definitely there and he is still open to find God again. I think he really listened when I told him that The Book of Mormon could be the missing link in what he searched for and didn't find in his faith years ago. We weren't able to make out another appointment with him, but we see them around all the time and I have very high hopes for him. Its great to see these wonderful families and build friendships with them, but its also so frustrating to know how happy they would be with the gospel in their lives. All we must do I guess, is have faith, patience and love for these families. After all, the Lord's time isn't our time.

This last transfer has been a tough one, but I've become stronger, and learned more about myself than ever before. I've also come closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ than ever before. To put it simply, in a fit of discouragement I knelt in prayer last week and received a very profound witness from the Holy Ghost that, despite my mistakes and weaknesses, the Lord is with me and is pleased with the work I am doing and the testimony I am sharing with others. As cliche as it may sound, This week I have felt spiritually born again, and hope that this transformation will be able to bless the lives of the people I teach.

Love you all and wish you all the best.

Alles Gute!

-Andy

The Lord Provides Service Opportunities

The days on a mission are definitely long, but the weeks seem to fly by faster and faster (welcome to the Andy Andersen cliche festival). Overall, I'd say that this was a pretty light-hearted and fun week. It began with a great companion exchange. I worked with Elder Hardy and was able to buy an awesome to bike helmet and old German army sweater (see pics attached). I was sick of looking like a total doofus with my goofy helmet every time I rode my bike, and When I saw the helmets that Elder Hardy and Elder Achtmann had bought the day before, I had to have one. Its hilarious when all four of us ride somewhere together now, the three of us with Army helmets and aviators and Elder Gneiting cringing because he's so embarrassed to be associated with us, Naw he's a good sport.

A couple days ago Elder Gneiting and I had a pretty spiritual finding experience. We've been trying out different techniques for finding lately, and on Friday we decided that we would try spending an hour just looking for service opportunities. At first we kind of just walked around our neighborhood, knocked on a few doors, with no success. We decided to get on our bikes and ride around for a bit and low and behold, we happened to ride past some people moving into an apartment in a building pretty close to ours. They were pretty confused as to why we would want to help them move at first, but of course gladly allowed us to help. It was pretty clear that we had touched the hearts of everyone involved in the move, which is all we could have asked for, and were even able to talk to the brother of the lady who was moving in and gave him a Book of Mormon. He seemed very interested and said that he was trying to come closer to God. Anyway the moral of the story is that The Lord had provided us with the service opportunity we had prayed for, and a person that he had prepared to accept the gospel. It was just the reminder I needed that this is the Lord's work, and that All we need is faith and vision to find those that the Lord has prepared.

Aouni came to church yesterday, which was really exciting for Elder Gneiting and I. it was our first investigator at church since we started working together. He also agreed to let us teach him twice a week. I have a really great feeling about Aouni. He has an amazing guileless quality to him and his heart seems pure and ready to accept the truth.

Yesterday evening we were finally able to visit a referral that we had been trying to get in touch with forever. They were an older couple called the Bergbauer's. They didn't have much interest in the gospel but were very interesting to talk to and fed us an unbelievable meal with all these different courses and everything. and Herr Bergbauer was basically a german Patrick Stewart, which of course was awesome. He and I talked about Utah quite a bit (they had been there on vacation the year before) and it was the first time on my mission where I felt really proud to be from Utah (ha ha). At the end of our appointment Elder Gneiting and I sang a hymn for them, and Frau Bergbauer's heart was very touched. It was just one of those times where you meet great people who, although they don't have interest in our message, had a great spirit about them and felt something when they talked with us.

Elder Gneiting are going to be working on "Catching the vision" this next week and for the rest of the transfer, which basically means improving our attitude, Christlike love for the people, and hope for people to be baptized. I have a really great feeling about the future of this area and hope that the work I do here will be a big help in the progress of Erlangen.

Take care fam. You're always in my prayers!

Love,

-Andy

Four Months in Germany

Hey I'm afraid I don't have time to write a solid email this week. Don't worry next Monday's email will be epic I'm sure. But here's a few pics for you! These first ones are from when I went to Neuschwanstein Castle when I was in Kaufbeuren.






























Here are a few pics from Schweinfurt. The first one is Us and The Koralewski's with Nina at her baptism (Man that day was amazing!) the second one is Elder Erekson and I in our lederhosen (I know we look unbelievably awesome!). The third one is of Me, Elder Erekson and the Koralewski's the day I left Schweinfurt (tear!).


































Here are some pics from the Hitler Colosseum from today. The first one is some propaganda posters. The next are outside in the middle of the Colosseum at the end of the tour. It was really interesting. They showed a couple documentaries and one was about this propaganda film made by a German filmmaker whom Hitler hired.





























Me and Bruder Rotter on my last night in Kaufbeuren (love that man!), Me and Komi in Schweinfurt (Seriously one of the coolest people I've ever met), and my district from last transfer (notice my amazing Jack Benny impression). Oh, and me and Elder Erekson doing door to door in the rain.

Trials and Struggles of Missionary Work

This p-day is one of great relief. It means that I made it through the longest, and maybe the toughest week of my mission so far. Elder Erekson and I are going to be taking it easy today. After surviving a week like this last one, we're just about beat.
The week started off with a bad omen. After a district p-day in Bamberg (where I bought some amazing lederhosen!) we had an appointment with an inactive member that turned out really bad. The guy simply has let Satan take over his heart and doesn't want anything to do with the church. It was one of those appointments where the person you're talking to invites a really bad spirit by the things they say about the church and it can really drain you spiritually. The next day, we stopped by our golden Muslim investigator, and she told us she didn't want to meet with us anymore because of the pressure she was getting form all of her Muslim friends. That was a real heart breaker for us to be rejected by someone whom we knew needed the gospel and was so close to letting it change their life.

The rest of the week gave us a couple of new investigators, which was a saving grace. It also gave me not one, but two flat bike tires, which for me was kinda the the straw that broke the camel's back. To understate, it was a rough week, and Elder Erekson and I were both indescribably relieved this morning when we realized it was over.
As we say here in Germany, so gehts der missions arbeit. In other words, that's just the way the mission goes sometimes. The Koralewski's teach institute on Wednesdays, and we usually tag along. We just finished studying the book of acts. through this rough week I thought a lot about the apostles and the unbelievable persecution that they suffered, and which eventually lead to their death. I've been thinking about Paul, and how he frequently expressed is gratitude for the opportunity to face all of his trials and persecution for the Lord's sake, and my heart is filled and my spirit is re-energized form the knowledge that all I face on the mission is also for the Lord's sake. I'm grateful and honored to to be a part of the same work as Paul, and all of the other prophets, to face the trials and struggles of missionary work in the name of our savior Jesus Christ. I'm tired and a little weary, but am grateful for all of my experiences on the mission because I know that they're for the sake of the Lord.
As always, my heart and prayers are with you all. Take care.

-Andy

NOTE: The Apostle Paul was a man of vision, a man of action, and a man of letters. A visit by the resurrected Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus changed the course of his life, and from that moment he dedicated himself to preaching the gospel, becoming one of the greatest missionaries in history.

All one can do is sit back and say, "Man, the church is true!"

Its been a long week. Things have been so crazy that I don't even know where to start. At the end of a week like this all one can do is sit back and say, "Man, the church is true!"
On Wednesday we went out to Meinberg, a village just outside of Schweinfurt, for an appointment with a younger girl, about 20 or so, who had accepted a Book of Mormon from us. Our spirits were high and our hopes were up for this appointment. Our first meeting with her had been by chance. We had gone there to deliver a Book of Mormon in Romanian to her grandmother and she had happened to answer the door. We got to talking with her and at the end of the conversation, despite her skepticism; she was the one who told us that she would test out the Book of Mormon. She had promised that she would read it, and although she didn't feel comfortable praying, we were able to get her to pray about it as well.
And so there we were, a week later, both having the spirit testify to us that this girl needed the gospel and it was her time to receive it. When we arrived at the house her Mom answered and was about to shut the door on us when we told her we had met with her daughter. She then curtly said "Ein moment" walked into the house and came out with the two Books of Mormon to return them to us. We tried to refuse them and tell her that we had given them to her mother and daughter, but she wouldn't listen. Elder Erekson finally had to snatch them out of her hand when she tried to throw them in the garbage can next to us.
After having the door slammed in our face, we couldn't do anything but stand there outside the house. This wasn't an unfamiliar situation, and in most cases we would simply say "Well...there it is" and move on. But the spirit was keeping us there. We knew that this girl needed the gospel, despite her Mother's rejection.
After sitting there on the side of the road for a few more minutes, we wandered up this hill on the other side of the street and up to a group of trees. There we knelt in prayer, and with all the faith within us, prayed that we might know what to do. I cant really express the power and surety of spiritual revelation that was felt by both Elder Erekson and I following the prayer. Without even talking about it, we both knew, through direct revelation from God, that we needed to go back to the street and this girl that we needed to meet with would come walking toward us. And sure enough, that's exactly what happened. It was probably the most amazing spiritual experience of my mission so far. I've felt led by the spirit before, sure, but not so directly through such a powerful feeling in the moment that I needed it.
Unfortunately there is another, very real side working against us, and I'm sad to say that in this instance Satan won this round. Despite all that we had done and felt, and what God had done to bring us to this girl, she coldly and condescendingly rejected us in a moment of weakness. She was tired and had a long day, and Satan took that and used it to totally change her countenance from the first time we met her. No matter what we said or how fervently we bore our testimony, she just replied with condescension and cold rejection. This girl had been prepared by the Lord to accept the gospel. She needed it, and we knew it through all that we had felt just moments before, but in the end she exercised her agency and rejected the message. To put it simply, Satan had won that round.
However tough this experience may have been (actually I'd have to say it was the toughest of my mission so far) I thank my Heavenly Father for it. Through this experience I learned of the reality of my being set apart as a missionary and the revelation that comes with it, as well as the reality of the adversary constantly working against us.

Don't worry though; this week wasn't a total downer. We also met this Muslim lady who we've already taught the first two lessons to yesterday and today. She's golden! Its one of those golden teaching situations that you think only happens in the missionary movies. But I guess miracles do happen in real life is well. This lady's husband has just left her, which is really a blessing in disguise the guy does not sound nice, and despite her Muslim back ground she has always had at least some belief in Christ. Things are hard for her right now, but her life situation has opened the door for her to hear the gospel. She recognizes that it was no accident that we met on the street the day her husband left and she recognizes that our message comes from God. Its almost too good to be true and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to my heavenly father for leading us to this woman. The gospel is true, and Christ lives. That's all I can say really.

Hope all is well with you. Pray for you every day. Take care and put your trust in the Lord and will be well.

Love,

-Andy

Lord's Hand in this Work

This past week was, to put it simply a weird one. Full of experiences that makes one realize how much the Lords hand is in this work.
Among the many good experiences I had this week, there was also a pretty brutal one. One I will never forget. We went by this young Russian Lady who accepted a Book of Mormon from us and seemed very interested. Unfortunately, when we went by this week she wasn't home and her husband answered the door. He proceeded to yell at us and chew us out in a way that I haven't yet experienced on the mission. We tried to explain to him that we were sorry and that we were only there because his wife had invited us to come back, but he wouldn't listen. He was too busy yelling at us about how he's sick of seeing us in the area and threatening us with the police. What made matters much worse was the fact that this guy is only two doors down from the Gypsy family, and one of them happened to be outside watching the whole thing. Not only that, a group of kids gathered around us so we had an entire audience watching us get verbally abused by this guy. But the worst part of it all was the fact that this man had taken away his wife's opportunity to hear the gospel. There is nothing more heart-wrenching than seeing someone loose the chance to learn the gospel because of the actions of another, especially when it's someone that close to them. At the end of the day when I thought back on this experience, however, some peace came to my heart when I realized that God will not punish this woman for her foolish husband's actions. There will be a time when she will have the chance to receive the gospel again.
We had a lot of really weird and great coincidences this week. We met some people, that one only meets through strange "coincidences", that really aren't coincidences at all. On Thursday, for instance, we were doing some very unfruitful street contacting, it was a German holiday, and on German holidays, everything is dead. So there we were in Stadtcentrum walking around with next to nobody on the streets. We had a few good conversations with a few people but to no avail. Just as we were heading back to our bikes, through this tiny old street, we ran into some guy watering his plants. We approached him and soon realized that he spoke English. We proceeded to chat with him for quite awhile and he told us about why he was in Germany, how he got here, all this crazy stuff that you only hear on a mission. Turns out he's from Serbia and is married to an American social worker or something of that nature for the military. He invited us into his house and showed us these sweet custom speakers and amplifiers that he had made. Olin and Karl, you would have died, the sound of these things was amazing! Anyway, we talked with him for about two hours and he invited us back to tell him about the Book of Mormon. He was seriously the friendliest person I think I've met so far on the mission and I'm way psyched to meet with him again. His name is Vladmir but he usually goes by "Komi", which is the Russian translation of "Skeeter" I guess.
On Friday, another weird thing happened. Something that seriously never happens, but did and it was crazy! We teach this guy from Costa Rica, named Luis, English class on Friday evenings and as we were walking to the church a guy came and approached us. He asked us if we were Mormon. We told him yes and he asked if we had a card or something we could give him. We were distraught because it was the one time neither of us had our cards on us. We offered him a Book of Mormon, and he said "No thanks, I already have one, I'm a member." Needless to say we were shocked. So we invited him to church on Sunday. We found out yesterday while talking to him at church that he was baptized a couple years ago but immediately fell away. He's not the friendliest guy in the world but he says he wants to get a testimony again and wants to meet with us more. Just goes to show you how led around we are, and how much the Lord is invested in this work.
We also had an institute party on Friday (Elder and Sister Koralewski teach institute to a couple of the young single adults and we always come along) and we watched this movie version of the book of Acts that was made by an Evangelical denomination. It was freakin' sweet because Dean Jones (ya know, from the love bug and Blackbeard's Ghost and all those old Disney movies) played Luke and narrated the whole thing, and James Brolin played Peter! When it was over I said "Man James Brolin was good, but I think he's way to attractive to be an Apostle."
Speaking of Movies, Elder Erekson told me that last Christmas he was allowed to watch It's a Wonderful Life! Now that I know that, I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure I get to watch it this Christmas!
Anyway, you are all in my prayers always and to answer your question Mom, yes! I do feel your arms around me and your comfort all the time! Love you all and take care!

Alles Gute!

-Andy