July 14,2013

                                                                                                                                July 14, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

                We send greetings once again from water soaked North Carolina.  It does know how to rain in these parts.  It would be nice to share some of it to those places that need it. 

                We have finished a busy two weeks in our mission.  I suppose it isn’t any busier than most two weeks—it just seemed every minute was filled with more than could be accomplished.  Last week was transfer week which is always busy.  We successfully received 27 new missionaries and placed them with wonderful trainers. We also sent 7 great missionaries home.  We created 10 new areas with this transfer which necessitated finding and contracting 10 new living places along with furnishing them.  We then spent two days hosting two leaders from the missionary department, Bro. Wade and Bro. Amistad.  They brought with them IPADs for 14 missionaries.  Our mission is piloting a process to see what problems are encountered having each individual missionary unpack and configure his own machine.  I guess in other piloting areas this process was contracted out at a large expense and the brethren are anxious to have this happen for less dollars.  Brother Amistad is the head of technology for the missionary department.  It was great to have him with us.  Needless to say he really knows technology and was so good to share.  We started with one district and will be adding the rest of the mission over the next month or so having all missionaries trained with their own IPAD by the last of August.  They encountered some unexpected challenges but were able to handle them, however were not as timely as they hoped.  The goal was to have the missionaries with IPADS out working for half of the day on Thursday so they could be part of the training of leadership on Friday.  The missionaries didn’t get out the door until 4:00 in the afternoon so there was not a lot of time to report.  Training still went well on Friday—just a little different than they hoped.  Our office staff was kept busy getting this and copying that and fetching this and making this chart etc.  It really kept us busy.  It took most of Saturday just to catch up on the rest of the things that need to happen.  As I have said before that is what we do.  We are so blessed and know the hand of the Lord is upon this work.  I was good to have Brother Amistad give me some pointers setting up the video conferencing.  He helped me considerably.

                We start Zone Conferences this next week.  In the past we have combined some of the Zones, however with the increase in numbers of missionaries, President Craven desires us to have a conference for each individual Zone—thus 7 conferences instead of 5.  It will spread out the car inspections a little better, however being out of the office 7 days out of the next 14 will be a challenge.  Sister Andrus doesn’t have to attend Zone Conferences so she and Sister Cornelius will hold down the fort.  We won’t have to travel to Asheville so that will help. 

                Our Book of Mormon class is progressing—we’re covering what is becoming one of my favorite parts of the Book—the Doctrine of Christ as recorded in 2 Nephi 31-33.  President Craven is so focused on this process for teaching the gospel.  If we develop faith, which happens when we read the Book of Mormon and other Holy Words and keep commitments, we have a desire to repent which leads us to baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Having the spirit with us continually develops more faith in us thus increasing our desire to repent more.  All the sudden church attendance becomes so very important as we need to renew our baptismal covenants so we can have “His spirit to be more abundantly with us”. By so doing we can endure to the end.  President Craven believes the word “endure” should be interpreted to say “growing” to the end.  You can see how this cycle, if truly understood and followed will allow us to return to our Heavenly parents to dwell with them forever.  I was impressed as I read a paragraph from a talk of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, The Probationary Test of Mortality.  Which reads:  “I’d like to append to them the fact—and this is a true gospel verity—that everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he’s on the straight and narrow, he’s going to go on to eternal reward in his Father’s kingdom.”  He goes on in the same talk to say “If you’re on the path and pressing forward, and you die, you’ll never get off the path.  There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come.”  I don’t know about you but his really gives me hope.  It motivates me to keep plugging along even though I fowl up continually.  If I keep plugging along improving myself and my behavior ever so slowly I’m going to make it.  It was reiterated in the missionary training on Friday from Brother Wade—He asked the missionaries what is the cleansing agent that brings a remission of sins?  Is it the cleansing of the baptismal water?  He went on to teach the missionaries that the Holy Ghost is the cleansing (sanctifying) agent in the repentance process.  This cleansing is made possible by the blood of Christ which was shed for sin.  But the agent through which this cleansing occurs is the Holy Ghost.  Can we now see how important the confirmation ordinance becomes?  What powerful training.

                Our dear family, we so missed being with you at the Rushton Family Reunion.  We were happy that so many of you were there.  Thank you for making the effort.  I can just see those beautiful grand children playing with their cousins and having such a great time.  We believe this to be a very valuable experience that teaches far beyond the actual time spent.  Somehow the time spent carries forward cementing patriarchal bonds which are eternal by nature.  It is associated with the beckoning call which gathers Israel in the last days. 

                Have a great week!!

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.

Father's Day

June 16, 2013 (Father’s Day)

Dear Family and Friends,

                We wish you Happy Father’s Day from North Carolina.  We have fathers here also—lots of good ones and some not so good.  I suspect it not much different than anywhere else in the world you may be.  Regardless reflection on the goal of fatherhood and its meaning and influence on the world is an important discipline to exercise occasionally.  It is a day we can reflect on the efforts of our own fathers and their sacrifice in our behalves. 

When I remember my father I see several images. All of them are of a man working hard.  I see a straw hat with a perspiring face as he is hauling hay, bucking a sack of spuds, slopping the hogs, fixing fences, leveling the land, docking the lambs, planting straight rows of potatoes, cutting down a tree with an ax or setting a dam and shoveling in a gap.  I see him kicking my butt, scolding the sheep, being disappointed in my disobedience.  I see him proudly recognizing my accomplishment.  I see him at the MTC witnessing my setting apart and supporting me through much sacrifice on his part. I see him with hands laid on my head ordaining and giving me blessings.  I see him at the airport telling me to “have a great mission”.  I see him teaching Sunday school, leading the choir, leading a troop of boys at scout camp.  I see him in the school teaching students, finding those not attending class by going to Bears, watching and participating in football and basketball games.  I see him leading us as a family in scripture study, family prayer, and leading the making of homemade root beer on the back lawn in family reunions.  I see him announcing the death of his son, our brother.  I see him and mom in Woods funeral home struggling for answers and then witnessing the calming influences of the Holy Spirit distill upon and sustaining them for many days.  I see him humbly kneeling and pleading for continued answers and then witnessing tender mercies from above through one of his sons again to him and mom.   I see him orchestrating family vacations to California, Oregon, Yellowstone Park, to Arizona, to Illinois to Mount Rushmore.  I see him leading us to Logan to Uncle Earl and Aunt Emma’s on Thanksgiving Day.  I see him standing under the tree at the family home shedding tears as his family is leaving to return to their homes after a week of family reunion.  I see him singing and dancing with mom in the living room.  I see him scheming with Tom Brower (who had a house full of daughters) and hiring a dance instructor to come to our home and teach us ball room dancing.  I see him with Mr. Music buying the piano and a clarinet.  I see him enjoying showing the slides of pictures taken over the years.  I see him in the bank helping his children with loans and money management.  I see him sitting on the Farmal tractor using the farmhand lifting trusses up on Dean and Kathy’s home in the new forty and then watching them fall.  I heard words which turned the air blue but then felt the anguish of a humble and repentant man.   I see him at the cemeteries on Memorial Day sharing histories.  I see him as a missionary as he and mom boldly drive out of our driveway in Perry on their way to Oregon wishing they could turn to the right at Tremonton instead of going straight.   I see him following direction from his Priesthood Leader leaving the home he built and the farm he loved and moving to Fairwinds with mom.  I see him in the hospital struggling with the challenges of an aging body.  I see him at the rest home striving to get well so he could return to Fairwinds.  I see him in the casket ready to be placed in the Ucon cemetery that he worked so hard to ready for such occasions.  My Father was not a perfect man, however he was a great man who loved his family and loved the Lord.  I see him with mom, David and Julie orchestrating and directing, as he can, the patriarchal duties of the future.  I am confident on this day he is honoring his many fathers he is with and more than likely working with his children here on earth so we can all be together again.  What a choice heritage we all enjoy.  I love you Dad. Thanks for a noble example and a lasting heritage. 

To Grandpa Rushton who we are privileged to still have with us on this side of the veil.  Happy Fathers day.  I remember the first time I met Ned Rushton—it was at the family home in Vaughn, Montana.  I was quite at home immediately.  You took me to see the pig project.  Took me to Sterling Nielsen’s to see the cows and proudly shared the opportunities given to your family to help milk each week.  I remember how impressed I was observing a family who were more interested in things that matter rather than things.  I have learned over the years from Grandpa Rushton the value of missionary work and of sacrifice and hard work.  I’ve observed a lot of rough edges however I’ve also observed a heart in the process of change.  A heart that now mirrors the heart spoken of by Alma in Chapter 5.  Probably the single most important assignment I received from Grandpa Ned was to assist him and Grandma in going on a mission to Virginia.  Completion of that assignment has brought more to our family than we will ever know.  The spirit of our Heavenly Father—especially of missionary work, came into our home and has helped us a thousand times more than we ever helped.  The blessing you have given our children to know and serve you is so valuable.  We are all so proud of you and who you have and are becoming as you patiently and maybe not so patiently await the time to continue your progression.  We pray for you each day that enduring to the end will be your lot.  

To our sons and sons in law—we see great men. We thank each of you for doing your part to carry on the Andrus and Rushton family legacy.  Thank you for taking care of our daughters and daughters in law and our precious grandchildren.  Thank you for your efforts to follow the Savior and your efforts to lead your families back to Him.  The most important work you will ever do is within the walls of your own homes.  We pray daily for your success in this most important of assignments.  We marvel at your abilities and capabilities and are so grateful for the support we receive from each of you. 

To our dear extended family and Perry friends and missionaries, we wish you a Happy Fathers day.  We honor each of you great fathers and spouses and families this day.  We continue to glean from you great examples and patterns of what fathers are suppose to be like.  Thank you for your love and support to us and our families.  We send President and Sister Reeder our love and support as they embark on their assignment of presiding over the Philippines, Naga mission.  We would love to be the office couple in that mission.  What a joy that would be for us to be under your leadership and stewardship. We, however love being right where we are and have confirmed to us almost daily that we have been called to serve where we are needed.   Elder Andrus was called this week, in addition to the other duties already assumed, to be executive secretary to the mission presidency.  In this assignment, I will have the opportunity to facilitate more formally presidency meetings with the members of the mission presidency.  President Craven desires mission presidency representation In each of the stakes council meetings.  I will be responsible to schedule these.  I will be responsible to set up and facilitate the new electronic meeting equipment that has become available.  PVC is the acronym used which I believe stands for Personal Voice or Vision Communication.  It is the Church’s “Skype” system.  I obviously need to learn much more than I do regarding this but am excited to be a part of the team.  Many of the meetings will take place electronically with vision and voice real time capability. The Lord is hastening his work.  I will share more with you after the meeting next weekend (June 23) where we can sit in on the instruction that will be given to President and Sister Reeder and other new mission presidents and spouses.  We are looking forward to that.

 It would be great if someone would give us a report of APTC.  We appreciated the clip of “The Princes Pat” shared by Jim and a picture of the hike up Grizzly Peak to Camp.  It brought a tear to a wrinkled old face.

 Again we love you all.  Have a great week

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.

Rushton Reunion

To the Rushton Family Reunion 2013

I can see you all now--resting in the bowery, paddling at the pond, maybe a little fire bowl in the evenings, kids playing, cards flying,  babies cuddled and passed around, great works of art created, and a myriad of other events that mark a great Family Reunion.  But mostly memories made, testimonies strengthened and love shared.

We find ourselves in North Carolina, hot, wet (lots of rain) and busier than we have ever been.   What brings us joy is watching the faces of all we meet and enjoying the fruits of our labors being used and utilized to teach the gospel message.  Yes --getting out to do actual missionary work does not happen for us as our mission is to focus on the behind scenes that make sure missionaries are housed, fed, and able to travel around the mission to share their gospel message.  We do have the opportunity to teach a Book of Mormon class to the new investigators and recent converts.  Many join in from the ward as well.  We love our new ward and are able to strengthen and support the missionaries efforts.  

Every skill learned as a Wife, Mother, Secretary plus more that seem to be taught as we face challenges have been useful.   Did I think I could do this mission.  NO!   Did I have to rely on my Heavenly Father for direct guidance on a myriad of tasks that come to me daily.  YES!!  And He is always there to guide, direct and carry us through.   I EVEN DRIVE IN CHARLOTTE, I WON'T DRIVE WITHOUT A NAVIGATOR BUT I DRIVE ALL OVER THE PLACE.  AND IF YOU WERE DRIVING IN CHARLOTTE, YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS REALLY IS.  

Isn't it amazing that a question from a 14 year old boy has brought about the greatest change in religion.  A change that can be made as each of us learn to know what he found to be true in the Sacred Grove, the truth that our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ are real and are aware of us and want us to be a part of their eternal family.  This boy prophet brought to us the reality that His Son, our Brother, is our Savior.

As we teach the Book of Mormon class, I am continually aware that the Spirit testifies of the truths to be found therein.   We have taught it so slowly and carefully, each week we are able to testify of a truth or gospel concept that we have taught.   We are only in 2 NEPHI 30-33 (Started the first week in Jan) and because of this safe, slow work can repeat and familiarize many truths in different ways so all may learn.  As we study over and over, the Spirit continues to testify.  We have a challenge at times to  help our Baptist converts to stop only reading the Bible and get immersed in the Book of Mormon.  

So much of Isaiah's writings are about the gathering of Israel, in fact all are-I think-There has never been a time more in church's history unless it was during the preaching and teaching in England in the beginning days of our church when a modern day prophet following prophetic inspiration to make a change in policy has had such a profound effect upon all members and non-members of the church.   This changing of age for missionaries has brought about many changes.   One of which I am very glad to be a part of--The missionary force today.

My Dad has always been a missionary.  You aren't around my father very long before he knows your religion, ancestry and political affiliation.  He was born a missionary and has passed that legacy on to his posterity.  Oh how we love our Grandpa Rushton.  Who would have guessed we would have him still with us--for 95 years.  I believe he is just getting a good start on the next 95.  He so misses our mother.  He yearns to be with her again and see her as a we all remember her when she shared her angelic testimony of the truthfulness for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  
It brings a little humility to me to know that Dad and Mom served their mission just a few miles to the north of Charlotte.  I so desire to be able to share my testimony of the Savior to my childiren and grandchildren the way my mother did.  The missionary spirit has never left the Andrus home because of Grandma and Grandpa serving a mission in Virginia.  

We love you and send our testimonies through wireless miles to Hannah Utah.  We physically are not there but our thoughts, memories, and hearts are.

With much love-Ruth, Sister Andrus
Sent from my iPad

May 12, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

               

                Happy Mother’s day!!!  Thank you mothers for all you do, have done, and will yet do for the world we live in.  I hope you feel important and needed and loved—especially on this special day.  Our Reedy Creek ward has a tradition that has been ongoing for many years.  On Saturday morning—the day prior to Mother’s day, the High Priests sponsor a Mother’s day Café.  The Relief Society Room is changed into an elegant dining hall complete with china, music and special settings.  The Ladies are escorted individually into the room—are seated and are asked to fill out a menu.  The Waiter comes and takes their order to the kitchen where it is filled and returned to them by the Bishopric—all dressed in formal attire for the occasion.  It was fun to be associated with this.  I was asked to be the escort which was such a great opportunity.  We had about 40 ladies come. 

Across the street from the Reedy Creek building is a protestant church.  They advertized a breakfast for anyone.  We had a young couple get confused with the signage and came to our building.  We, of course greeted them and the lady was escorted into the Café.  The Man had to remain outside (for mothers only) the cafe room; however we sat him down and brought him a breakfast.  They were a little confused at first, however it turned out great.  The sister missionaries were present and had a great visit with the lady.  We presented them with a Book of Mormon and they were thrilled with the invitation to learn more.  It will be interesting to see what happens next. 

                We completed a busy week—maybe survived is a better term.  The traveling to Zone Conferences adds to the business; however it is so wonderful to be with the young missionaries.  We have two more conferences this coming week.  The Oil Changes add to the challenge; however it is such a good thing to complete all at once.  It is such a hassle to arrange with the different vendors when it is done individually.  So in spite of the challenges it is the better way to go. Elder Cornelius and I spent most of the day yesterday cleaning up the paper work and preparing for the coming week.  I’m glad we have tomorrow to prepare even more.  We received the 8 new Ford Fusions this past week and received word there are 8 Chevy Cruze’s to be picked up this coming week.  The church parking lot looks like a car dealership.  We are replacing 6 cars this Zone Conference cycle but that just leaves six old cars in their place that have to be detailed, prepared and often repaired and then we try to sell them. There is always something to do. 

                President Craven is working hard to raise the standard of missionary service among our missionaries.  We have felt we needed to support his efforts in the office by raising the standard of not only the office setting, but our interaction with the missionaries and each other.  As such we have prepared our safety presentations this go around to be a little more refined.  We have a new video from Salt Lake that helps with this also.  Our missionaries are asked to memorize D & C 121: 33-46.  We have taken the phrase “doctrine of the priesthood” and prepared a short presentation using this as our theme.  We quote from Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s address regarding “Doctrine of the Priesthood” the following:  “This doctrine…..unknown in the world and but little known even in the church—cannot be learned out of the scriptures alone.  It is not set forth in the sermons and teachings of the prophets and Apostles, except in small measure.  The doctrine of the priesthood is known only by personal revelation.  It comes, line upon line and precept upon precept, by the power of the Holy Ghost to those who love and serve God with all their heart, might, mind and strength.”   In the safety video, Elder Ballard and Elder Holland challenge the missionaries to develop a Safety Attitude.  We are tying this to the “doctrine of the priesthood” hoping as the spiritual roots are developed; the leaves will be more safe and clean.  The missionaries seem to be connecting as we present this to them.  Hopefully we will observe a safer and cleaner environment where the spirit of the Lord can dwell more easily.  Maybe some of you have some additional ideas that will help us be successful.   

                I have been reflecting a lot about my mother this weekend.  It has been just a little over 10 years since she passed away.  I have been so grateful over these last 10 years that I was able to be with her for a few weeks prior to her passing.  I have often thought how disappointed I would have been had I not taken the opportunity to transfer employment so I could be closer during those difficult times.  With the passing of Julie just 30 days prior adds even more to my gratitude for the tender mercies from above.  I so appreciate Dean and Kathy and their family and Darrell and Sharon and their family for allowing me to stay with them during this time.  That year proved to be an important year in my life to re-group and move forward.  It is interesting to me as I look back and reflect on the blessings that came from a kind Father in Heaven.  It motivates me to strive to live a little better each day to show my gratitude for the many blessings that flow freely.  As I reflect on the lives of our children and grandchildren as well as our extended families and friends over the past 10 years—my how we have been blessed.  Not without our challenges and trials as they are necessary pieces of the puzzle, but how indebted we all are to a loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.  My mother was as kind and Christ like as a person can be on this side of the veil.  Her gentle demeanor has been a force for good all of my life.  I pray I can live in such a way as to be able to qualify to once again see her on the other side.  I can’t imagine heaven being a place that doesn’t include my mother.  I’m ever grateful for my wife Ruth.  I am learning to love my missionary companion even more as we serve together.  I can still see her working long hours in our Perry home to be such a wonderful mother to our children.  No one is better than Ruth in serving her family.  I often reflect on her mother.  Grandma Rushton was much like my mother—so gentle and kind.  I will ever be grateful for the spirit of missionary work that came into our home as the result of Grandpa and Grandma Rushton serving in the mission field.  It was magnified as my parents served a full-time mission as well.  Grandma Rushton’s fervent testimony still rings in my ears.  Her spirit resonates with my mother as they together inspire me to be better.  Thank you Heavenly Father for Mothers in my life that make a difference.  I reflect on the people our daughters are in their role as mothers and again have cause to express gratitude for their love and gentle spirits.  I see an ever increasing gentleness and effectiveness in their lives as they serve others—especially their children and spouses.   I am so grateful to our daughter in laws.  Each one is so talented, beautiful and wonderful.  Each of you are valiant mothers striving hard to raise a righteous posterity.  Thank you so much you dear mothers. 

                May all of your dear mothers have a great day and splendid year as you fill such a vital role in all of our lives.

                Have a great week as we celebrate the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood along with Chloe’s birthday.

               

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.

Dear Family and friends,
        Little late in getting this sent this week.  We had Stake Conference
and we took a family with us so didn't have the normal Sunday morning.  This
coupled with daylight savings time and the hours went by fast.  Hope all is
well with each of you.  We are already in double digit March--time really
moves fast for us.  It has been over 7 months since we embarked to the MTC.
Seems like we just arrived.  
        Our office is busier now than ever.  We were successful in handling
our transfer week.  Remember the week before this one we welcomed rather
unexpectedly 11 visa waiters.  We were informed Friday that four of them
received their visa's and will be taking them to the airport tomorrow to
head to Brazil.  Thought we were through with airport for a week or so.
President Craven visited with one of the four this morning at Stake
conference--he really has enjoyed his few days as a missionary--with tears
in his eyes he asked if there was anyway he could just stay in North
Carolina.  Not possible the President says,  President Craven has to be in
Asheville tomorrow so he has asked me to interview the four missionaries and
give them a priesthood blessing prior to their departure.  What a choice
opportunity this will be.  I am grateful for the trust he places in me to do
this.  I believe I mentioned last letter the opportunity I had to give some
blessings to some struggling Elders.  It was good to see them at the
transfer meeting this week.  They each gave me a hug and expressed
appreciation and indicated things are looking up for them.
        We had an interesting experience with one set of sisters--The new
trainer (who has been in the field only 5 weeks) and her new companion were
sent to Statesville too open a new apartment and area.  When they got there
they only had beds in their apartment--nothing else.        
They didn't have a car yet so they just sat there wondering what to do.
They finally called the President and he panicked and called us.  We were
just walking into our Book of Mormon class so Sister Andrus stayed outside
and handled the issues.  Seems the ward mission leader got confused on his
timing--fortunately he punted well and the whole ward showed up with
everything making the whole situation better.  Sister Andrus handled this so
well.  She told them to get their journals out and write this down.  Some
day their grandchildren will appreciate what they went through.  My mind
reflected back to the Willie and Martin handcart pioneers and these sisters
really have nothing to worry about.  It turned out well for everyone.
President Craven grew a little more grey but not too much.  
        We met a fellow at Stake Conference today--Kerry Porter.  He asked
if I knew Dean Andrus.  I, of course, indicated yes.  It seems that when
Dean, Kathy and family were living in Charlotte years ago, this fellow was
in a class that Dean was instructing.  Dean had given each member of the
class a journal and challenged them to go on a mission and fill out the
journal.  This fellow did so and he wants to report the completion of his
assignment.  I emailed Dean the contact information and hopefully the rest
of the story will be forthcoming.  He really thinks highly of Dean and
indicated this was a real motivator for him personally.  I asked this fellow
some questions and he indicated they were living in the Charlotte 2nd ward
and they were meeting in chapel on Hilliard Drive.  This is the location of
the mission offices now.  It is good to think that we are in the same
building that Dean and Kathy and family were in years ago.  
        We love you all.  Keep working to be eternal in nature.  Becoming
Eternal families is an awesome goal and doesn't happen without careful
planning and continual effort.   We pray each of us will be motivated to do
something everyday to progress towards this goal.  

Have a great week as we celebrate the Ides (sp) of March.  Keep warm.

Elder and Sister, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Don and Ruth.

March 3, 2013

Dear Family and friends

                Greetings from North Carolina.  We pray all is well with each of you and that this letter finds you healthy, wealthy and wise.  Sister Andrus and I are working on one out of three—we have the best shot at the healthy slot.  The other two seem rather distant and at least one of them the window is already closed—oh well—moderately healthy and adequately blessed and gaining wisdom through life’s experience and learning is good.   We truly feel the tender mercies from above and believe we are blessed beyond measure.  We continue to be so thankful for faithful children and grandchildren who are striving to be good people. This blessing is priceless.  We are grateful for our wonderful extended family and dear friends.  We feel of your prayers and support and continue to pledge to each of you our best efforts in serving as full-time missionaries.  We love serving in North Carolina as office specialists even though this is much different than what we thought we were signing up to do.  We see the value of what we do and know it is vital in the overall efforts to bring souls unto Christ.  The work we are doing has to be done by someone so why not us.  By this time next week we will have successfully welcomed 66 new missionaries and said a tearful good bye to 24.  It is becoming continually more difficult to let these valiant young people leave and go home.  What joy they have brought to so many.

 I believe I mentioned in last week’s letter the opportunity I had to interview a baptismal candidate—her name is Crystal.  During the week the sister missionaries called and indicated she had asked that I baptize and confirm her.  Needless to say I was delighted.  I had the privilege last evening to baptize Crystal and will confirm her in our meetings today.  I met her husband who I believe will be following her soon.  This brought back some great memories of when I was serving a mission as a young man.  What a great blessing.  President Craven asked me this week to take his assistants and visit some missionaries who were struggling.  We drove to their apartment not really knowing what we were going to find.  We met three humble young men who were really teachable and ready to re-commit their missionary lives.  We had the honor of giving priesthood blessings to them and challenging them to move forward.  We blessed their home to be protected from evil and felt the power of the priesthood as we do so.  It turned into such a choice experience for all of us.  Sister Andrus and I were able to sit in on some discussions this week that really lifts our missionary spirits.  It is so difficult for many of these good people to change their habits and forsake sin.  They so want to, however the flesh is weak.  We marvel at the power of the spirit as it works to help receptive people in this process.

Thank you again for all you do for us.  Have a wonderful week.

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.

February 24, 2013

Dear Family and friends,

                Another memorable week has passed and it’s once again time to pen a word or two to those who mean the most to us.  We think of you often.  We miss you, however are so very thankful for the privilege to serve as full-time missionaries in the North Carolina Charlotte Mission of Miracles.  We rejoice with you with the announcement of 58 new missions opening.  We are told our mission will be affected, however we do not know any particulars at this point.  We are so pleased with the calling of President and Sister Reeder to preside over the Philippines Naga mission.  For those of you who may not know, the Reeders have been long time friends who live in Perry.  We have worked together extensively in various church assignments over the years and know both of them as faithful, obedient servants of the Lord.  They are young, willing and able to serve and many are and will yet be blessed for their service.

                We completed another series of Zone Conferences.  We dodged the rain and sleet quite well and were successful inspecting the vehicles and providing safety training to our missionaries.  President Craven called us into his office on Thursday and informed us that 13 new missionaries will be arriving this coming Monday.  Wow what a flurry of work this entails.  This is in addition to the 27 new missionaries coming the following week.  Sister Andrus has been working non-stop as all of us have under her direction.  We are so pleased to have the new office couple here to help.  We also welcomed Elder and Sister Checketts this week.  They are serving in the employment center whose offices are down stairs in our building.  The 13 new missionaries are what we call “visa waiters”—missionaries called to other missions but are awaiting their visas to enter the countries.  According to President Craven, the church is experiencing an ever increasing challenge to keep and send missionaries into the various countries of the world.  Our “visa waiters” are mostly called to Peru and Brazil.  We typically will have them anywhere from two weeks to 6 months.  A few actually are reassigned to just stay with us for whom we are always glad.  President Craven insists we treat them just like they have been assigned to us and provide the training and treatment just the same including the training booklets, which keeps Sister Andrus hopping to prepare this 70 plus page document.  We typically place these missionaries with current companionships creating threesomes.  You can only imagine what this does to all the functions we deal with in the office e.g. housing, furniture, financial arrangements, bicycle and other transportation needs to mention a few.  But as said before—that is what we do.  We are also in the process of changing all the missionary expense cards from the JP Morgan / Chase banking systems to Bank of America.  This has to be completed before March 1^st.  Needless to say our plate is full this coming week.

                Last Wednesday President Craven asked me to assist him during the evening which necessitated Sister Andrus handling the Book of Mormon class herself.  She did wonderful.  Many of the participants informed me how wonderful the class was.  I am ever so proud of her and her increased capacity to serve in ways she says she can’t.  She is learning she can not only accomplish the assignment but does it so well.  I think we call the process “making us equal” to the calling.  We attended two baptisms this week from our Reedy Creek ward.  These are two excellent candidates who will be powerful additions to the ward family.  I had the opportunity to conduct the baptismal interviews for one of them and was so impressed with the conversion process.  These are people who have been involved with gross disobedience in the past who have been touched by the Sprit of Christ and the Holy Ghost and have experience a might change of heart and have put off the natural man.  What a privilege to be involved with the process.  I interviewed another candidate yesterday who likewise has made the commitment to change her heart.  Not only her but her husband is also making the same changes and both will be baptized in the coming weeks.  This is a family who our sister missionaries tracked out.  I asked her why she let them in.  She said she usually doesn’t, however it just seemed like the right thing to do.  Our missionaries are trained to offer the Saviors peace and blessings approach as they meet people for the first time.  Within a five minute period of time the missionaries are kneeling with the entire occupants of the home and offering a prayer for the family.  They are calling down the powers of heaven to these people and it becomes obviously apparent whom the Lord has prepared.  Those who react favorably are challenged for baptism while still on their knees and it is amazing to realize how powerful the spirit reacts to these settings.  We are seeing an increase of teaching opportunities by about 50 percent.  This approach quickly identifies the need to be exactly obedient on the part of the missionaries.  Those who struggle with this are quickly identified and President Craven works with them to resolve issues keeping them from being all they can be.  What a exhausting effort he makes to help our missionaries be obedient.  He and his wonderful companion are so excellent with this.  The key indicators are moving upwards and we truly feel the Lord is blessing our mission.

                We rejoice with Dean and his family for the new addition to their family.  Congratulations to Camille and family.  We enjoy the reports from our “Far-eastern correspondents” Elder and Sister Beus and reports from Sharon in Salt Lake.  We continue to, and often express how wonderful it is to be in North Carolina as we look and hear of the mounting snowpack in Utah and Idaho.  Maybe someone ought to suggest a special prayer to stop the moisture from coming.  I bet our snowmobile friends are enjoying the snow. We are thankful that Richard survived the mud obstacle course he participated in yesterday.  Please be careful.  We express to Uncle Greg our congratulations on his receiving the Silver Beaver award.  He has been and is a wonderful scouter.  We love you all and continue to pray for you.  Thanks again for your faith and prayers in our behalf.

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom Don and Ruth. 

February 17, 2013

Dear Family and friends,

                We finally had some significant snow yesterday.  A couple of inches has stayed on the cars and lawns.  It should all be gone by noon today; however it was enjoyable to have a taste.  We still contend that this is the year to be out of Utah and Idaho.  We know the mention of snow carries with it faces with frowns on many of you.

                We had a good week in North Carolina.  All of our weeks are good in North Carolina, however we are seeing some sustaining progress in the key indicators area.  We are experiencing steady upward trends in our teaching pools, teaching with members and sacrament meeting attendance.  All of these are moving “Real Growth” forward which is good.  President Craven is a marvelous leader and works extremely hard to instruct and motivate and empower missionaries.  Two of our three Assistants go home in a couple of weeks—it will be so interesting to see how the revelatory processes will work in this area.  I have every confidence the Heavens have already supplied and called the replacements—it’s just wonderful to sit back and watch it happen.  I had the opportunity to interview, at the President’s request, a baptismal candidate.  What a special experience to see how the repentance process has helped this middle aged father accept the responsibility of membership in the kingdom.  His lovely wife and family have stood by him for years as he has little by little stripped himself of pride and “put off the natural man” and allowed the atonement to work for him.  His baptism is scheduled for Thursday evening.  Sister Andrus and I have been with the missionaries as they have taught discussions to another father whose wife joined a year ago.  He has accepted a baptismal date for March 2.  The missionaries are working with his son and daughter also—will be a little longer for them.

                Zone conferences are moving forward.  We had two this past week.  We inspected several cars and our bathroom skit is a “hit”.  Poor President Craven has to hide his head; however it is good to see him laugh a little.  We are also preparing the Sister missionaries to ride bikes.  When Elder Nelson was with us last week, his emotions were pretty tender regarding the funeral he attended in Arkansas of the sister missionary who was killed in Oklahoma.  He really instructed President Craven regarding the need to be safe.  He indicated the Sister missionary who was killed was doing everything right which was a source of great comfort to the family.  Had there been a missing safety element it would have been much more difficult to accept.  As a result our safety presentation is mostly being spent on bicycle safety.  Up until this coming transfer, none of our sister missionaries have been on bicycles.  Because of the large influx of sister missionaries into the missionary pool, they will be on bikes.  We were just informed our allotment of cars is increasing by 28 cars.  This will help; however will not cover all the needs.  We arranged for a lady who owns a bicycle outlet shop in the Charlotte area and who is a professional biker to come and demonstrate all the safety features and techniques to our sisters.  It was fun to watch them put their helmets on and ride the several models of bikes around the church parking lot on Thursday.  They are willing to accept the challenge and we are hoping the safety instructions are adequate.  The church has a wonderful DVD regarding safety that we are showing at Zone conferences that is so good.   Our sisters are so beautiful and we need them to be safe.  We have three more Zone conferences this coming week.  It is a huge effort, but that is what we do. 

                We welcomed Elder and Sister Cornelius, our new office couple, to our mission on Wednesday.  They are settling into their lovely apartment and becoming oriented to the office.  Elder and Sister Cornelius are from Malad, Idaho.  We know a lot of the same folks and will enjoy working with them. We will be taking Elder Cornelius with us on the Zone Conference’s this coming week.  These are wonderful people and are so willing to help.  It brings back memories not so long ago for Sister Andrus and I.  We spent most of the day Friday with them including a wonderful dinner with President and Sister Craven on Friday evening.  Sister Andrus and I are encouraged and are confident our office will remain intact with our service missionaries leaving in a month or so. We have plenty of time for adequate training which is a plus.  We will welcome Elder and Sister Checketts this coming week.  They will be our employment missionaries.  The employment office is in the same building as the mission offices so we interface with them most every day. They actually receive their marching orders from the Area office in Atlanta; however President Craven has some jurisdiction over them.  We will include them in our daily devotionals so we will get to know them over the coming weeks.

                We continue to pray for our family and friends.  We love you all and are ever grateful for your love and support.  Thank you for the many valentine wishes and your phone calls are always appreciated.  We love our mission assignment and thank each of you for helping us serve.  We trust Heavenly Father is blessing each of you as your daily strive to serve Him and keep the commandments.  Have a blessed day and week and we will check in next week.

Elder and Sister Andrus, Dad and mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Don and Ruth.

February 10, 2013

Dear Family and friends,

                Weeks are flying by—at least they seem to be for us.  We can’t seem to keep up with all that is coming at us.  We are truly enjoying being busy, however.  We are busily preparing for another round of zone conferences starting next week.  We are putting together a safety training skit on cleaning bathrooms—to the tune of 2001 Space Odyssey.  We are hoping lightening it up a bit will bring more compliance.  We have some pretty nasty bathrooms out there.  Now that more Sister missionaries are coming and taking over some of the apartments that have had Elders in them for a long time, some rather negative reports are coming our way.  Some of the Sisters are rebelling.  I can’t say I blame them in some cases, however in many they just need to buck it up a bit.  The apartments are so much better now than when I was a missionary. I know, I know walking up hill both ways syndrome.  I better go somewhere else.

                We had a wonderful experience on Saturday.  Elder Russell M. Nelson is presiding at a stake conference in Charlotte this weekend.  He wanted to meet with all the missionaries as part of his assignment.  President Craven invited all the missionaries in the field to come to Charlotte for a two hour plus meeting with Elder Nelson.  He insisted on shaking each missionaries hand—what a great thing for our missionaries.  He was especially gracious to the senior couples and to those missionaries from other countries.  We have three or four from Mexico—one from the Congo and one from one of the Caribbean islands and several from Canada.  We were instructed by Sister Craven, Elder Giddons from the Seventy and then the remainder of the time from Elder Nelson.  Most of the meeting was a question and answer type format.  President Craven had prepared the mission well with what was appropriate for questions as well as proper protocol.  Everything went well.  We enjoyed learning about the process of selecting a new member of the seventy as well as a new member of the twelve.  He shared with us in rather detail the process of announcing of the age requirement change in missionary service.  He asked those who were present to stand if they were here because of the announcement.  We had about 15 stand.  He indicated this was the ripple—the wave is coming he said.  He answered questions regarding how his study of medicine had strengthened his belief in God and the plan of happiness.  He shared stories of special conversion experiences with medical professionals around the world. He spent time detailing the repentance process using his knowledge of the root words in Greek, Latin and Hebrew describing what repentance is all about—how the very air we breath must change to become truly repentant.  Very insightful.  Needless to say it was a glorious experience for our mission.  We are so pleased.  He is presiding at the South Charlotte Stake conference.  This is the stake whose president is Ladd Hall. Many of our Perry friends remember President Hall.  I had a pleasant conversation with him on Saturday.  He is a wonderful and well respected church and business leader here in the Charlotte area.  President Cheney, a counselor in the mission presidency, was the former Stake President of the Charlotte South Stake and we have had the opportunity to be together in several settings and have enjoyed our President Hall stories.  Sister Andrus and I are on our way to the Sunday session as we speak so I better close up and get this sent. 

                We love you all so much.  We wish our sweet Rachel a happy 6^th birthday.  Have a great valentine’s day.  We have been enjoying a “Heart Attack” month opening a special heart package each day since February 1^st.  What a clever and special way to remember our family.  We thank Kappy and family for this.  We also are enjoying special valentine packages from several of you—all of which are decorating our home with lots of hearts.  We will have to face time and share our “heart wall” with you.

See you next week!!

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.

Dear Family and friends,

                We send warm greetings from North Carolina.  We trust all are well and progressing in 2013 with continued determination to keep the resolutions made just 30 days ago.  We read and hear of the miserable smog conditions in Utah and pray for some relief for our dear family and friends at home.  We had a few hours of freezing rain on Friday here in North Carolina and it was frightening.  We were having a Sisters conference at the mission office.  All of the Sister missionaries were present and were suppose to head back to their proselyting areas after the conference, however we had many of them stay with local sisters until later on Saturday to allow for safer driving conditions.  It proved to be a good move as Saturday was considerably warmer weather and driving became much safer.   I know it doesn’t match the challenges you are all facing in Utah and Idaho, however the bad weather is compounded here with no equipment to help the roads be safer. Regardless, we hope improvement for all of you is sooner than later. 

                This week was mostly just the calm before the storm.  We are prepared to receive 27 new missionaries and to send 11 home.  This is always a logistical challenge, however we are getting better anticipating the needs and it seems to be getting easier.  Sister Andrus really shines in this area.  She is the “go to person” with the logistics of such events.  Elder Stanley is also relied on of which we will miss him as he is heading back to Texas.  He has trained some capable replacements and all will be fine. Three new senior couples will be entering the MTC on Monday.  One of them will be serving with us in the office.  One couple will be serving in the employment center, and the other will be a member support couple.  We welcome them, of course and look forward to their safe arrival and their anticipated addition of strength to our missionary force.  We are learning just how valuable the senior missionary force is in offering another dimension to the mission success.  We spent an afternoon with Elder and Sister Bushman this week.  They are serving in South Carolina on the Catawba Indian reservation.  Elder and Sister Bushman lived many years in Payson, Utah as neighbors to Rick and Beverly Rushton.  For those of you who don’t know, Rick is Sister Andrus’s brother.  The Bushman’s have become dear friends, as all the Sr. Couples have become.  The Bushman’s took us around the reservation.  What an interesting area.  The tribe gave property to the Church to build a Chapel.  It is one of a very few LDS Chapels that have on the property a cemetery.  One distinguishing feature of many denominations buildings in this area is a cemetery contiguous to the building.  It is unusual to see this on an LDS property.  The Bushman’s say it provides lots of service opportunities to the youth groups to keep it clean and trimmed.  They shared many interesting happenings and projects for which they are involved.  What a valuable service they are providing.  Elder Bushman is a seasoned priesthood leader who is assisting a new Bishopric as well as all the PEC committee in their duties.  Sister Bushman provides such a bubbly confident environment to every situation.  What good people they are.

                We had one of those tender mercy moments this week in our Book of Mormon class—As we were concluding the discussion on Tender Mercies of the Lord,(1 Nephi 1:20) one of our participating couples received a phone call informing them that their son and daughter in law were just involved in a head on collision and were in route to the hospital.  We quickly bowed in prayer with them as they were rushing to leave and asked the blessings of heaven to be with them and their family.  As we followed up with them the next day, they reported that indeed their family experienced miracles regarding the accident.  Their son required surgery to repair a broken femur which is anticipated to heal completely.  The wife experienced only minor abrasions and the unborn child remains unaffected.  He shared with me that he is sure they were blessed with tender mercies.  Perhaps a little thing but a powerful object lesson for our class.  “Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.” (Alma 37:6)

                We pray for each of you and know you are striving to keep sacred the covenants you have made.  Please know there is not a greater work we can be about than that of keep the covenants we make.  In a world that is increasingly becoming covenant breakers, we must be” steadfast and immovable” and must always keep the covenants we make—especially those made in the holy temples.  Sister Andrus and I strive to do so and pray you will do so likewise. 

                We love you all—Hope your health will improve Sister Long.  We are proud of your service.

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.    

January 13, 2013              

Dear Family and friends,

                We bid you greetings once again from balmy North Carolina—currently 55° F with a projected high of 72°F.  “We sure love ya North Carolina”.  Sorry to rub it in however I just couldn’t resist.  I’m sure I’m setting myself up for payback; however on this end it feels good.  I haven’t missed shoveling snow a bit.  I’ll have to admit I miss some parts of the snow etc.  However it is good to just see the pictures.

                Our week has been rather uneventful—just turning the crank.  Our annual financial audit is scheduled today at 4:00 p.m.  Our office has been working to prepare for this all week.  We have some holes; however we are working to fill them and are confident we will run a tight ship soon.  I am reminded that a year ago, I was working for our laboratory’s CAP inspection.  I thought it would be my last one.  I found myself waking up in the night this week with all kinds of lab challenges—not being able to get the tests done fast enough—not able to find the blood units for transfusion etc.  I was always relieved to wake and discover it was only a dream.  Hopefully after the inspection today I can return to normal. 

                Our Book of Mormon class was a little disappointing—not a lot of participants.  We are not to be deterred, however.  We are actively recruiting more participants.  Most of those who came were long time members wanting a 500 level course in the Book of Mormon.  They were a little disappointed to find a 100 level class.  They were kind and we did have a good discussion introducing the Title page to the class.  Hopefully they will invite there less active and yet to be members to come with them.  We invited them to do so.

                This week we hosted new missionary training at the office.  President Craven feels it more effective to bring the new missionaries back together after a month or so in the field to give the new missionary training that he used to give the first and second day of their arrival.  He feels it is more effective after they have been in the trenches some.  I tend to agree with him.  It was so good to see our new missionaries once again.  They look so good.  My how we love them and pray for their success.  We are so pleased when they are progressing so well.  In talking with President Craven about our Book of Mormon class, he told us that the very first question he asks the new missionaries is how many times they have read the Book of Mormon.  In his six months experience as President, he shares that those who have read it the most are the most obedient, the most disciplined, and the most effective and have the cleanest apartments and the most successful in bringing souls unto Christ.  He made the comment that if he was Stake President again, he would not allow anyone to enter the mission field unless they have read the Book of Mormon at least once and preferably more than once.  I tend to agree with him.  So dear grandchildren and family—Read and re-read the Book of Mormon.  It will be the most effective thing you can do to prepare for your missions.  Members of the Don and Ruth Andrus family need to continue to set their goals high in this area.  I promise you as you do not only will you be prepared to be a great missionary—you will be prepared to be better in every discipline you undertake.  (See 2 Nephi 32:3)  I remind all of us that we can get “nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”  Our prophet leaders have promised us that our homes will be more peaceful and our lives will be blessed more as we strive to Read the Book of Mormon.  I know you are all striving to do so.  Please know your efforts do not go unrewarded. 

                We thank each of you for your love and support.  We are saddened to learn of the passing of some of our dear friends in Perry.  Time passes so quickly—its is hard to see life fly by, however what peace the gospel brings to our lives.  The plan of happiness truly is a blessing.

Have a great week!!

Elder and Sister Andrus, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Don and Ruth.