Sept 2 and 9th

Sept. 2

Dear Family

                Elder and Sister Andrus reporting in—we have had an eventful week. It started with Sister Andrus and I meeting with Pres. and Sister Craven on Sunday (last week) afternoon.  I believe I reported this to you last week.  We began our first day in the office on Monday.  A little overwhelmed with the many duties required, however as the week moved forward we could see we are going to be able to do this.  We have made lots of progress this week.  Tuesday started with meeting Elder Bowen and Elder Carlson and their spouses.  Lovely people—my brothers and sisters will remember “Mr. Music” in Idaho Falls.  Elder Bowen is one of the children of Mr. Music.  One of Elder Bowen’s Daughters married a son of Heber Andrus.  They inspired and motivated us in the office and extended warm greetings and gratitude from Salt Lake City for a job that is usually associated with mundane and behind the scenes, however so necessary in the big picture of bring souls unto Christ.   Sister Andrus and I from the office were invited to join them in Salisbury, NC as they met with half of the mission leadership.  (They had met with the other half on Monday)  They really trained the Zone and District Leaders and Sisters well.  It was very enjoyable to be associated with them and to be taught by them.  The remainder of the office staff and the rest of the missionaries met at 1:00 p.m. for general training.  It again was very inspiring and wonderful to be taught from such capable leaders.  The council was very stern and direct yet so loving and kind.  We all left feeling like we can do better.  We were not feeling like we were beat up on—even though from the outside looking in one would have reported it as such.  Sister Andrus and I are working on a presentation to the office staff on how we can raise the bar in our assignments—both in a personal and in a collective behavior way.  President wants to eliminate the mission slangs e.g. guys, AP’s, ZL’s—he desires the AP’s to be called Assistants to the President or just Assistants—Zone leaders and District Leaders.  People our baptized not “dunked” etc.  We are moving forward changing the culture from our end.

Sept 9, 2012

Sorry for the delay—we have been without internet service and our “Free Time” is filling up.  Office work is just that.  Lot’s to do but very enjoyable because of the wonderful people we are with.  We are learning our duty and enjoying the moments we have with Pres. Craven.  He is a wonderful President and really motivated to do a great job.  It is fun to help.  We met with our Bishop—we have been assigned to attend the Reedy Creek Ward.  Our new apartment is actually within the boundaries of this ward.  Bishop Mattingly is a wonderful Bishop—(are there any bad ones)  He assigned us 105 prospective elders to visit and asked us to be the single adult 31 and over representatives.  We have close to 100 of these people with about 30 active.  Needless to say this is taking all of our non-office duty time.  With finally having a place to call home we believe we can make a difference.  There are 3 sets of missionaries assigned to the Reedy Creek Ward--the Assistants to the President and a set of sister missionaries and us.  We had them over to our home yesterday to go over the prospective elder and single adult lists.  It really helped us prioritized the list.  We fed them lunch—truly a blessing to be with these wonderful missionaries.   Our goal is to meet with the ward council next Sunday and suggest some people they can ask the missionaries to help them activate.  A little back door approach, however that is what the handbook says.  President Craven shared with us the method to his madness in having us assigned to this ward—to help train the leadership on missionary responsibilities.  We, of course, need to be very diplomatic and humble in our approach so the spirit can be the teacher.  It is really exciting to be about this wonderful work.

We so appreciate our wonderful and supportive family.  We have had a busy week which is good so we can keep our minds off of Peach Days and the Temple open houses.  We would really like to be involved with that wonderful event.  We think we are—just a little different than expected.  Our apartment is very nice—we need to set up a Skype / face time tour.  Give us time to get internet installed and get the boxes and suitcases unpacked.  It may take a week or so.  Charlotte is a really beautiful area.  We are nestled in a grove of trees—everything is nestled in a grove of trees—even the slums, however it is really nice.  Our apartment is a gated complex complete with pool, exercise room and car wash facilities included in the rent.  Not bad—a little on the high side for rent; however the Mission President did not want us anywhere else.  We are happy. 

                Pres. Craven has asked me to lead a discussion tomorrow morning in our office staff devotional regarding following the doctrine of the Book of Mormon in our teaching and studying.  He really wants our missionaries to focus on finding the doctrine that will motivate people to make the changes needed for true conversion.  He’s convinced that if our discussions are doctrine based, that will help—especially using the Book of Mormon.  As you all know the regular study of the Book of Mormon will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.  It thrills Sister Andrus and I to read of our beautiful families striving to read the Book of Mormon each day.  We pray for your success as those early morning or late evening hours seem impossible to keep.  We promise you success as you do your very best.  Sister Andrus and I are finding we have to get up earlier than required to get it all done before our office duties begin at 8:30.  Well it is after my bedtime in North Carolina so I need to close.  Hopefully I can be timelier as our life is settling in a routine. 

                We love all of you and pray for your success and safety every day.  We cannot do this without your continued prayer and support.  Thanks Again

Elder and Sister, Mom and Dad and Don and Ruth