Elder Andrew Edholm -- week 82

 This week went really well, Angel Moises is still planning on being baptized this Saturday, the 27th, so we're super excited about that!  We've been bringing him to some of the youth activities and he's been really enjoying them too. I'll tell you next week how everything went. Something else exciting that happens this last week was that someone else we are teaching, Mireya, had a really spiritual experience and wants to be baptized. We went over and read some scriptures about prayer, the power of it, and the privilege we have to be able to ask our Heavenly Father in prayer for the things that lack. We asked her if she could pray for us and to ask God in the prayer about our message and more specifically if Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hands of God to help restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. She prayed and asked, then paused for couple of seconds and there was a very special feeling in the room, she then continued and finished her prayer. She told us that she believed it to be true. We talked with her and we set a goal together for a baptismal date, she is planning on being baptized the 20th of March.

Here are two verses that I read in my personal study that we shared with Mireya. 

Matthew 7:7-8

    7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

    8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

-Elder Edholm

Elder Andrew Edholm -- week 81

 This week went well, we've been talking with Angel Moises and he expressed to us his desire to be baptized. We talked with him and Katerina about it and we all have agreed on the 27th of this month. We've also gotten in contact with Katerina's oldest son, he works pretty much from 4pm to 4am, so it's been hard to meet with him because of his exhausting work schedule. But we talked with him briefly, and he has a super hard life. He is married and his wife is still in Venezuela and she has cancer. We really know how much the gospel if Jesus Christ will help him.

Valentine's Day was Fun, we gave little SpongeBob valentines to the other elders in our District. 

Because it was Valentine's day I want to share two scriptures. The first one came to my mind after a message we shared with some members. 

2 Nephi 26:33, "...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female... and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."

And my companion shared the second Scripture.

John 3:18, "16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

He loves us immeasurably, we should do the same.

Wrath of the Dragon King by Brandon Mull

 Junior Fantasy Fiction. Book 2 in the Dragonwatch series. These are pretty fast reads, but not short on adventure. This continues Seth and Kendra's adventures at Wyrmroost-a dragon sanctuary. Seth and Kendra find themselves the caretakers of this sanctuary right when the Dragon King has declared war. They must fight to prevent the dragons destroying the human world. 

Recommend: Yes. 

Elder Andrew Edholm -- week 81

This last week went well overall. We have  been having a little bit of a more difficult time finding new people to talk to and meet with, but we're not too worried about that right now, we'll keep doing what we feel is right and new people will be put in our path. 

Katerina has been loving attending church and sharing with us what she has learned from the scriptures even more since her baptism, which make us happy to see. We have also started sharing scriptures and messages with her son, Angel Moises. He's a little quiet but has enjoyed everything so far. 

It seems as if spring is coming early here in salt lake.

PICTURES:

Zone Meeting

Missionaries with Santa

Andy's mission buddies

Teaching via technology

Andy loves goofing around with the kids

Katerina's baptism

Playing basketball on P-Days

Andy and companion

It was snowing so lets go outside without shoes on

Random bike ramp

The door to their apartment

 

Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull

 Junior Fantasy Fiction. Our family has enjoyed Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series as well as the second series called Dragonwatch. The fourth book of this five book series recently came out which I bought. I decided to reread the first books in this series since I can't remember many of the details, a hazard of having to wait to read the next book in the series until it's written. 

This first book in the Dragonwatch series, called Dragonwatch, starts with the same characters from Fablehaven, siblings Kendra and Seth. They need to help protect the Dragon sanctuaries that are in danger of falling which would allow the dragons to roam the earth and wreak havoc on mortals. It has a lot of adventure and there is danger involved for the two children. I really like seeing the growth that Kendra and Seth make as they progress through these books. Their situations and reactions can create good discussions about right and wrong and learning from our own mistakes. 

Recommend: Yes

Elder Andrew Edholm -- week 80

 This last week went really well. Katerina got baptized! We had some members present for that, it was great that she had support from some of the Spanish members here. Elder West was able to Baptize her and I was able to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. She was also got her new apartment last Friday, she doesn't have much in there but she loves it. We helped her son, Angel Moises, put together the bunk bed. We're going to go by today and teach them how to make S'mores and then share some scriptures with them. Also Rogelio came to church today and really like it, we are going to pass by his house again this Wednesday.

I got news, I'm officially permanently reassigned to Salt Lake City. 

With the baptism last Saturday I'd like to share two sets of scriptures. 

Acts 2:36-39, 

   36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

   37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

   38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

The second passage is Acts 19:1-6. It's a little long so I won't add it in here. I really love both scriptures, it shows how baptism is a way we can show our appreciation for Jesus Christ and how much the Holy Spirit helps us in our lives.

Love you guys.

-Elder Edholm