In the City Again.....

He didn't send any photos this week, so I am re-posting one of our
favorites that he sent while in Carthage....

Rogers is much like Utah. Joggers, floral hats and fancy socks are as common as hipster music. However, my apartment complex is a bit of an anomaly. Everyone in my apartment complex is Indian.  Therefore, I am the only american in the entire complex. My companion is from Guatemala and the rest are from India. Its pretty cool to talk with a lot of different culture here. I've already learned a lot. 

With change comes learning and these past few days have taught me that. I felt pretty confident in my last area, as anyone would after nearly 18 months in the same stake, but here was totally new. I have already learned a lot and hope to learn more. 

I had to give a talk in the YSA ward and had a moment of realization. I know nobody here and everything is extremely new. I felt like I should be more familiar with all this and should be use to it, but I wasn't. I prayed earlier that day that I could get the strength I needed so I could help those around me. I was worried but moments later two familiar faces entered the little chapel. It was two members I knew from the Monett stake who were coming to see the YSA branch. It was so great to see some friendly faces and it gave me the help I needed. Prayer is a real source of help for me and I know it can help us all. 

Thanks fro your prayers and support!

Adios,

Elder Thomas   

Serving in his 3rd state....Rogers, Arkansas! Where Walmart was born....

We drove past a member of the church who hasn't been in a long time and saw his motorcycle glistening in the sun. Because of last week's experience with talking to a recent convert about his motorcycle, I considered myself capable to engage in a conversation about motorcycles. We knocked on his door and I asked him about it. He explained the small metal pig that was welded to the front and the paint job and then the mechanics. I was lost pretty quick but we asked him if we could stop by later and he said sure. The next time his wife joined us. She isn't a member but after a brief discussion about the restoration, she said she'd be baptized. We are visiting with her on Wednesday.  The Lord is guiding us all the time.

P was baptized, but like most victories it didn't come without a battle or two. P was hit with sleeplessness. He slept for 2 hours a night. J, P's wife, was hit with a lot of pain in her spine that needs surgery. But even though P had a lot going on, on Saturday he was baptized. After he changed he came in and looked at us. He whispered thank you to us as he sat down. I teared up as assumed. It was the Lord and we were like a fly on a wall. I really have seen the Lord's guiding hand. 

I got transfer calls. For my last transfer I am going to Rogers, Arkansas. I have never served in Arkansas and I am excited. Thank you for the prayers and support! 

Adios,

Elder Thomas   

Laundry Attack

Poor squirrel...

America...

Corner of Wilson and Maple...

The Nield family, from Ian's mission, were visiting Utah, so I couldn't resist a quick hello with them.

   

"Y'ins like Cheese!?"

My new ride....

The cheese...

Waiting to get a nail out of our tire.

The heat has increased this week. In a trailer park we were getting sunburned. We knocked on a door and a man opened it, picking up a dog with his other hand. He was shirtless and his dog was toothless. The conversation slowly drifted from the summer heat to the spiritual matters. He expressed his lack of interest and immediately said, "Y'ins like fresh milk?" I said, of course, having become accustomed to fresh cow milk living in this part of the world. I also said I love fresh cheese. Then he exploded, "Y'ins like cheese?!" He gestured back into his home and closed the door. We turned at each other awaiting something exciting to tell the people back at home. He returned with a lovely packaged cut of cheese. Although it came from a trailer from a shirtless man, with toothless dog in hand, it looked great. I hadn't eaten much that day so we took it. So with cheese in hand, we left and then he gave us a referral. That part was pretty cool because then that referral gave us a referral and then that referral gave us a referral too. Lots of people in 15 minutes. Well, I still had the cheese and it was hot. Cheese and heat go together poorly so we decided the only thing to do was eat it. We had a long drive in the country to enjoy the cheese and it was like something out of a dream. The cheese was incredible! Then something happened. We had been breaking pieces off it and then we were left with a little piece. I noticed a little white piece on it that was not the same color as the rest. Yes, it was mold. At that moment I realized I wasn't paying any attention to the pieces I was eating. I was pretty sure I ate some mold and same with my companion. Whoops. No noticeable side effects occurred luckily and that in itself could be a miracle. 

We met a guy named J. He told us to stop by later. Later was two weeks later and he told us he did a little research. Little research was reading everything on lds.org, all of Preach My Gospel, etc. Everything BUT the Book of Mormon. It was crazy.

P will be baptized on Saturday and the adversary is not happy. His wife has had a hard time and so has he. However, besides all of the problems that have arisen they called us on Friday. "Hey Elder Andruski, remember how you wanted a guitar?" They told him they found one and they would buy it if he paid them back. They went out of their way to serve us. Looking for a guitar and buying him a song book so he could learn. They have been helping us in their hard times and it has been inspiring to me.

Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Adios,

Elder Thomas  

"Service with fire...my favorite!"

Jelly Beans

 Knocking doors is about as interesting as eating jelly beans, you never know what's behind the next door. It could be a fellow with a lot to say about politics or a mom who is very involved in her church or a guy that only wears a t-shirt, I mean the 'America the Beautiful' tank top, with his mini soccer shorts exposing his mozzarella white legs when it is 20 F or below. But sometimes you find something incredible. We had some time before the next appointment and after determining that knocking doors was the only useful and effective option, we began. Knock knock. No answer. Knock knock. No answer. Knock knock. An older woman came to the door and greeted us with a friendly smile. After I asked her if she was religious, she said 'I'm Mormon'. We talked and she invited us back. Later on in the week we stopped by again. We asked her feelings about the church and she began to cry. She said she never has forgotten her baptism and the feelings she had there and she said she wanted to come back. Pretty incredible that our arbitrary door knocking in some small town of Missouri yielded a woman totally prepared to return to the fold.

     P continues to progress. In fact, he just texted us and he said he was enjoying some authentic Greek food in Joplin. His wife's birthday was this weekend and the Spirit was willing but the wallet was weak and so they went to Joplin instead of an island of the Caribbean for their dream getaway vacation. And even thought they were on their vacation they went to church out there. He's reading and praying and with their sights on getting sealed they continue to repent.

     R and her boys are progressing as well. Overcoming smoking was something we invited her to do last week. About an hour ago she texted us and she said she was done smoking. She is trying to talk with her husband about baptism as well and things are looking up. I believe the whole family could be baptized sooner than we think. 

     S was telling the other young men and young women about his baptism at church yesterday and we are very excited for it too. He has accepted it quickly and asked his friend, a recent convert named Z, to baptize him. I hope the youth see the impact they have on their friends and continue inviting them to church.

     It's a great blessing to be a witness to the Lord's tender mercies for His children. I recently got an email from an Elder in Tulsa saying that a lady in the Spanish branch that has been taught forever is going to be baptized really soon. Miracles aren't just happening in a little remote area of Missouri, they are happening everywhere. We can all be a part of the Lord's work if we are willing to do it. If we ask what we can do for this work the Lord will let us know.

     Thank you for your help and support and prayers! I love talking with my family yesterday it was great! Happy Mother's Day everybody!

Adios,

Elder Thomas  

Elder Thomas and Elder Andruski are well fed in Monett!  Thank you Mary!

Storms and Such

Ian received a photo of the Assistants dunking.  Here was his response.

   Other than the frantic tornado warning text we got from the assistants one night, this week has been great! The text told us to get our bike helmets on and extra water near our bed. Conveniently, we had just returned from a Dairy Queen trip to wrap up the night. I had a giant water cup and so all I was missing was the bike helmet. Not a drop of rain had fallen nor did it appear likely to have a storm within in the next little while. Apparently it rained pretty hard and thunder shook the homes of nearby towns, but lucky for me I have developed the ability to sleep through nearly anything expect for the sound of our phone alarm. No damage was done nearby and we continued on as normal.

     We went to Dollar General a couple weeks ago. Dollar General is about as cool as the mall in these small towns. As we left, Elder Millett said, 'I think we have to go back inside'. He continued to tell me that a woman inside, named R, was a past potential investigator and he felt like he needed to talk with her. I was a little thirsty, so with refreshing beverage in hand, I waited in line. Elder Millet pointed to the lady in front of me and said that was her. I didn't know what else to say, so I asked her, 'Is your name R?' She turned around and said, 'Yes. I should've called you guys'. We exchanged information and now we are teaching her. This week we taught her and her two sons outside of their home in the countryside. It was a relaxing Spirit that we all felt. A few days ago we got a text, it read, 'We have been praying about what you invited us to do and we all want to be baptized'. She went on to say that she is trying to get her husband involved as well. I have never taught a whole family before and I feel pretty blessed to be part of their story. 

     Another investigator, named P, is progressing as well. Despite the pain he and his wife experience because of their recent surgeries, they came to church. Our last lesson we had with them ended with him sharing a goal he had with us. He said he wanted to be sealed with his wife in the temple. Pretty incredible. 

     We taught another lady named T. She is going through a lot and we caught her last night as she finished doing some yard work. We taught the plan of salvation and she was smiling the whole time. She said she would be baptized and pray about a date.

     Sometimes I think, 'Wow, I have done a lot here,' but the missionaries are just a tool in the Lord's hand. We are seeing a lot of miracles here and they just keep coming. I feel so blessed to be a witness to God working in the lives of His children. Thank you for your prayers and support, They are being answered everyday.

Adios,

Elder Thomas

Tornado Watch