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.