September 30, 2013

Dear Family,

      

Well first mom, I am so happy you had a good time at lunch with Sister Barkdull's mom. I got her letter and picture of you two, and Sister Barkdull got one too, it is sitting on our dash board in the car so we see it all the time haha! We love it. Oh and thanks for all the prayers for brother Gunther, they totally worked! We found out about 2 days later when he had his cancer consultation thing, that the cancer was not as bad as they thought, and that now that his kidneys are working properly, because that is what he originally went in for and had surgery on, that hopefully the cancer will just be washed out on it's own by January, and if it's not, then they will do something more, but they think that it will go away on it's own!! How amazing is that answer to prayers or what!!! It was amazing.

       

So Tony called us up a couple nights ago and told us about a dream he had, which was super cool. It was totally about how he needs to follow the gospel and not go off on his own path, and I really think that it kinda kicked him in the butt and got him moving, at least I hope it did. Sadly they were not at church this week!! Grrr so we stopped by in the evening and they were just chilling. They normally always come to church.

       

So we went to the Belt branch this week! The Belt branch is great and it was full!  Probably about 50 people were there! It was awesome. We were able to contact a lot of referrals also which was so nice cause it is really hard to find some of the people in Belt.  Like if you ask anyone for an address they say, "I don't know the address but I know where they live." Everyone says that.  Like one of the referrals address was listed as "trailer next to the blue trailer with a brown fence on Lewis street" ya that's like near impossible to track down, but we did haha! We also did watch the broadcast, of course!!! It was so cool! I loved the last lady who spoke and she related the tabernacle burning to how we can become better, just like the tabernacle, it was really neat! But I think Pres. Monsen has lost some weight! He looks like he has.  His talk almost made me cry it was just so sweet. Oh another cool part is that it was all about covenants and one thing our mission pres always says is "We are a covenant keeping mission!" And so it totally related to us and was great.

       

 Oh so cool story, I may have already said in another email but I'm gonna tell it again and finally tell you the ending. So about 2 months ago the bishop had us track down this lady, well we did and it happens that she moved and another young man lived there.  Me and Sister Taylor both thought we should talk to him, but we didn't and felt awful after. We then told the bishop and he said "oh duh, my bad, I knew she moved I gave you the wrong name" (it was totally supposed to happen that he gave us the wrong name) then the next day Sister Taylor gets an email from a Elder who used to be in Great Falls 1st ward and he tells her "Hey there was this house we tried that bishop had us go to and we found out the lady moved, so we left, but there was a nice young man who answered and I really felt the need to talk to him but I didn't and I could never catch him at home again, so can you try him?" Well,  low and behold it is the same guy, so we named him Kevin, cause we needed something to call him. Well we tried to get ahold of him, and never did.  Then Sister Taylor got transferred and me and sister barkdull kept trying. Like a lot, like every other day. And finally after 2 months he was home!!! He answered the door, and I was so curious to what his name was and of course I was not right, his name was Jeff haha.  Anyways we taught him the restoration on his door step and handed him a Book of Mormon.  He said he would try to read it. He also said, well I'm catholic...but of course me and Sister Barkdull don't care haha.  We are going back this week to talk to him. We don't have an appointment, but we know what times he is home now, and we are gonna ask him about it :) So I know that the story didn't have this awesome ending but I think it is pretty sweet! And I am super pleased with it :) So that was like the highlight of my week.

       

Oh today it had taken me forever to email cause we have been at our ward mission leaders home making wool skirts with his wife :) haha it was great. I will have to send you pictures later :) well I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week.  Please send me letters. I'm kinda sad not to have any..it's nice to ihave a break during the week and have a letter.  I am so looking forward to general conference coming up this weekend.  The priesthood session will be broadcasts this year, and so me and Sister Barkdull are gonna watch it :) haha

- love Sister Draudt (mom I love you :) )

I took these pictures on the drive back from Belt the other day.  Aren't they just beautiful?  So so pretty.

This picture is of Elder Walch.  He is one of our zone leaders and is from Provo.  It was his birthday and we shoved a cupcake in his face. haha

First Day of Fall

Hey Family!!!

This week has been interesting.  We had a couple different sisters with us because of transfers and so it was crazy in the beginning of the week.  But thank heavens they finally left.  I love them, but it is so nice to have it back to just me and Sister Barkdull.  One Friday morning after they were all gone, me and Sister Barkdull had our first disagreement.  We just discussed our problem, because it was about how we wanted to teach people. We told each other we were frustrated with each other and we both were annoyed with each other, but we also made sure to tell each other that even though we were frustrated with one another we still loved each other. It was so weird, like we communicated and had an argument but not a fight. If that makes any sense.  It was really cool that we both handled it so well. Throughout the day we were able to get over it and both totally felt fine with our companionship, and the appointments we had, kept getting better and better.  But every time we would leave them we both just felt awful and we didn't know why. It was so weird but we talked and we both felt like something really amazing was about to happen and Satan was trying to stop us. We decided to get blessings, and as soon as we got our blessings we felt better. The blessing was perfect for me, I know that it came from Heavenly Father, because I have really been thinking about dad this week and scared that he is mad at me, and it's really stressing me out cause I don't want to lose the relationship that we have built. In my blessing right before he closed he said "Your Heavenly Father is proud of you, and not only that, but you dad is so proud of you as well" I started to bawl, I really needed to hear that dad was proud of me and through the blessing I was able to know that he is. In my blessing I was also told that this journey will be difficult but to never give up because I have people on the other side of the veil backing me up and pushing me forward. WOW! I really needed that too.

After the blessing I felt amazing, and then the next day (so yesterday), we found our reason why everything was going wrong. We went to a referrals house, and she happened to be in the shower, but her son came out, he is 19, and has been in prison and has had a rough life. Well we started talking to him when he came out for a smoke, and we taught him the restoration and plan of salvation.  While we were teaching him, his mom came out and listened. We found out that she is super interested, and this kid ended up really enjoying talking to us. We are gonna go back and talk to them again, and I really feel that this family has so much potential. Me and Sister Barkdull left, and we talked about how much we both know that he was the reason we had a hard day. This boy doesn't really have any religion in his life, he didn't know who Jesus was until he was like 12, and he still doesn't know a lot. It was so cute cause we were teaching and he just sat down on the sidewalk and just looked at us while we taught him.  It was one of the coolest experiences ever!!! Then we contacted another referral and her name is Patsy.  She saw us and got this huge grin and immediately said "When can I set an appointment?" and then when we were leaving she looked at us and said " i am so privileged to have you come to my home" WOW!!! Seriously this was like the best day ever, we know she is golden also. It is so amazing.  We continued to contact 3 more referrals that day, how amazing is that? We found out why Satan was working so hard on us.  It's because of all these souls who are ready to learn and come closer to Christ.

This week has been super great with contacting referrals and getting lots of appointments with less actives and investigators! I am so excited for the week to come. Yesterday we had dinner with the Jensens in our ward.  They are a young couple with 2 kids.  I helped move them in when I first got here. They both served missions and he is here for work.  He is a dentist.  He went to UNLV.  It was cool because we were talking and he said it took him 4 years to be accepted to dental school, so just tell Matthew that everything will work out.  Russ (Brother Jensen) had super good grades and he had 5 interviews before he was able to get in. They ended up going to Vegas for a year to get residency, and then finally he was accepted. But now look at him and his family everything worked out and they are doing amazing! They want to take us to this restaurant in town, haha they are so cute.  We just love them.

OH MY HANNAH!!! I seriously like freaked out when I heard about Brian student teaching at Timpanogas High School Seminary!! I am so freaking ecstatic for him! That is the coolest thing ever!!!

Mom I love you and I love the story you told me about Gavin :) it makes me happy that he knows who I am :)

OH something I forgot to tell you last week.  So a couple weeks ago we were at the Gunthers jewelry store that they own (the Gunthers we live with) They were showing us all the sapphires in their store, and especially the yogo sapphires, they are super rare and expensive, they can only be found at the Yogo Quarry in Montana.  Anyways we said how nice they were, but me and Sister Barkdull also said how pretty the pearls were, and they thought it was funny we liked the pearls more. Sister Gunther then said "Well I have a whole sack of pearls I need to string." Then the next day when they came home from work, Sister Gunther brought us each a little bag and in side were pearl earnings and a pearl necklace she had strung earlier just for us!!!! awwww how amazing is that! They are absolutely beautiful; I seriously think I will wear them on my wedding day. How amazing is that?  Sister Gunther gave us pearls. By far the best mission souvenir ever. I will sent pics :) anyways I love you so much.

PS  Where are my letters everyone?  I have not got mail in like 2 or 3 weeks ...boring, I need some mail!!! Please :) I love you all so much have a great week :)

-love Andrea 

September 16, 2013

Hey everybody,

I received a blessing this last week for transfers. (I am staying!!!) Haha wahooo anyways the blessing talked a ton about patience, and it was really cool, except I was trying to figure out why I need patience and I think our family is part of the reason, because later that week we were talking with sister Gunther who we live with and she was talking about faith and patience and my family came into my head, I really think I can be a big influence on everyone during my mission. I started thinking about my patriarchal blessing and it says I will be the means of bringing someone out of the depths of despair and bringing salvation to their soul. I really thought this was my mission, which it is, but then I thought about others I know. I really think my patriarchal blessing might be talking about people who are close to me.  My mission is not just for the people in Montana, but it is for you guys back home, especially my family. I love you all so much. During that blessing I was also told that I would go many different places.  I was so so scared that I was being transferred; I wanted to cry, because I am so happy with where I am and with my companion. We went to dinner after the blessing, and the phone went off, normally we turn the phone off but it was a blessing we did not because it was president. He talked to me about the elder that liked me, which is all old news now, but when our sister training leaders were here my old comp Sister Taylor told one of them and so they told president! So that was the 2nd time he heard about it so he thought it was another issue with this elder and I had to clarify to him that the sister training leaders were the wrong ones. But anyways he said that elder was being transferred.  Then I told him I was worried about transfers and he said to me and Sister Barkdull, "I see no need for you to be moved, that is not the plan." So he told us we were staying, we totally knew our transfer news like almost a whole week before everyone who just found out today.

We actually talked to President 2 days in a row because the day before that call he called us to give us good news! Carla had permission to be baptized!!! (Carla was raised in a polygamist family.  Her older brother and one of her sisters have converted to our church.  Her aunt and her aunt's family have also joined the church. Because of the situation, Carla had to have special permission to be baptized and had to be interviewed by a general authority which took 2 months to set up and then finally after the interview about a week ago we got a call this week from the President saying it has been approved.  She is amazing!) Wahooooo She is being baptized October 12th!!! I am so excited we screamed we were so excited and President himself wants to come for her baptism! How cool is that!!! The elders were right outside our house when we got that news and they were shocked that we screamed like that with President on the phone, it was funny. I just love president he knows me so well, like when we had out little private conversation he said "My job is to protect Sister Draudt, and I don't want anything to worry you or make you uncomfortable." I just love that he knows me. And he said that too. He was like "I know Sister Draudt pretty well."

Yesterday we had the coolest opportunity! So we were in Belt and went to sister Adams house, cause she was going to drive us around, and when we got there she said "Can you share a thought with my family real quick, my son's friend is here and he is a direct descendent of Joseph Smith.  He has only ever heard what the world has to say about Joseph Smith." We of course agreed, and went outside and grabbed a pamphlet and prayed.  I just felt this peace come upon me immediately. We then shared the restoration with him and we were able to testify to this boy, about his ancestor and how that his ancestor, great, great, great... something grandpa is a prophet of God and was the tool that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored the gospel to the earth through. That was such a powerful lesson. He just looked at his feet but you could tell he was thinking, and you could tell it meant something to him. The spirit in the room was so strong, so powerful. I hope we planted a seed and that he can come to learn more about the church and to join the church that his ancestor was a prophet of :) I seriously can't describe it.  I keep trying, but words can't describe how powerful and amazing that was, how strong the spirit was to be able to testify to this boy that his great, great, great something grandfather is a prophet of God!

This week we did a lot of service so I don't have like a ton to say, it's weird normally I ramble.  It was so nice to do service though!! I loved it.  We helped clean Amber’s house, so so so fun. Oh we went to contact a referral and there was this 19 yr. old sitting on the porch and we got to talking to him about the gospel and so hopefully we can teach him.  He has had a rough life.  He is from New York, and just moved here to straighten his life out.  He lived with his friend's family, (the mom of that family was the referral) so hopefully we can teach them.  It was cool to run into him because we were just around the neighborhood and I was like, hey we need to contact this lady, and we ended up meeting this boy which was super cool.

I just want you to all know that I love this gospel with my full heart.  I love it so much. I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ and that He died for me, for us, that He loves us. He has to love us, you only sacrifice for people you love, and He sacrificed His life for us, that just shows how much He does love us. I know that Heavenly Father is our Father; He loved us and has given us everything we need to get back to Him. It's like school shopping.  Our parents send us off to school to benefit us, to help us learn and grow and make something out of ourselves. But they didn’t just send us off to school with nothing, they taught us everything we needed before hand so that we would be ready to go.  Just like Heavenly Father did for us. But He didn't just teach us and drop us off.  He provided us with tools, just like our moms and dads do.  They send us with clothes, backpacks, colored pencils, paper, calculators and books. Those tools really help us during school, just like the tools Heavenly Father has given us.  He has given us the Book of Mormon and the bible, so that we can do our reading and learn, so that we can be guided. He has given us prayer, so that we can call Him and talk to Him any time.  He has given us a teacher, like prophets, and primary teachers, and parents. I know that He does everything He can, but we just have to act and use what He has given us, He gave us the calculator and the book, but He can't make us use it, we have to. We must act on our beliefs and the knowledge we have.  If we don't know how we just need to start, because if you never start how can you learn?  

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it applies to us in these days. I read it every day and I always learn something.  I always find something.  Of course I have to read it and pay attention and focus, because of course if I just read it I'm not gonna learn. Like if you just look at a math book do you learn anything? Nope never.  You have to focus on it and try to understand. I 100% know that my prayers are answered.  I pray all the time 24/7.  I heard a really good talk in sacrament this week and it said something like "Heavenly Father is in the details.  If something doesn't go the way you want, thank Him for that blessing because it means He is blessing you with His plan for you rather that our own, and His plan is always better, so when something is not the way we planned get on your knees and thank Him." Isn't that amazing?  I loved that!  It was so powerful, and it is so true.  We need to be thankful because His plan is so much better than our own, so we need to be happy when it is going His way and not ours. :) I know my Heavenly Father loves me :) I can feel it. I love Him too. And I can't wait to be able to be reunited with Him again :) how special that day will be :) I love you all so much! Have a great week :)

-love Andrea (sister draudt)