Welcome to Mandan (Bismarck)

Hello Family and Friends:) 

This was an interesting week for sure:) 

For the most part this last week in Minot, Sister Jarvies and I were tracting...ALOT. But we made it fun. We have a system you see:) we take turning giving each other code words that you have to use in the tracting approach. They are usually easy like "window", or "doorknob". But once they reject us and the message we just have to blurt out the a sentence that has the word in it, or you have to keep knocking doors until you use the word...haha It was so funny! Sister Jarvies is so good at being awkward she kills it, but my maturity skills get in the way;) haha We were definitely blessed for our efforts but not by getting new investigators. We actually tracted into a family that we had an appointment scheduled with so when they just let us in- we got overly excited to be accepted...But thats okay- they are a great family:) Jerry ( the father) has an amazing testimony, It was cool to hear it:) Man, I Love Minot.

So That being said, I got a call Friday from the President and the Assistants. They asked us how we would feel about leaving Minot for a few weeks. I told them that we have like 0 investigators so as far as the work goes we wouldn't break too many hearts.. but that it sounds scary when they don't tell us where or why;) they said " great, we will call you later." *click* haha wow..talk about nerve racking... But then we found out that we were being sent to Mandan in the Bismarck Zone to work with Sister Anderson. and needed to be packed the next morning. So now we are in Mandan. It is awesome- because we get to go to church with President and Sister Hess and We also get to see the temple like everyday in Bismarck. But I am sad, I will most likely miss Mackenzies baptism in October, because I wont be back until Halloween:( But I guess this is where the Lord needs us. 

I am loving this mission:) we are truly blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. I would hope that we all take the time this weekend to enjoy the blessing of the Restoration by listening to our beloved Prophets and Apostles and making the changes necessary to come closer to our Savior:) I love you all:) I hope the best for each and every one of you:) God is ever mindful, don't forget about Him:) 

Love you!!!!

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Sister Taylor Andrus

 Taylor was so excited to say that she got to have ice cream with Sister Hess, that made heading out to Mandan for a while worth it for sure!!! Gotta love that girl and her ice cream!! Misty

Meeting Sister Jarvies (Jar-Vis)

Hey All:) 

Well as planned, This last week I got my new companion Sister Jarvies straight out of the Provo MTC. She is an amazing missionary. She has a great desire to be out here and to do all the work that she can, some people call this greenie fire, but she is full of it. I am very grateful for her and her willingness because we are also opening up a new-ish area in the Minot 2nd ward. It would be impossible for us to do this without the hard work of each of us and in that regard I have been greatly blessed with Sister Jarvies. She is from the San Lewis Valley in Colorado. She is the first to serve a mission in her family and has 3 brothers and 2 Sisters at home, she the the 2nd oldest, and setting a great example for her family. She has a super strong testimony and we have so much fun laughing and working together:) 

As for our new area. we now live at a new address:

3100 14th St. SW #17

Minot, ND 58701 

We have amazing members who have already taken us under their wing. We were able to meet a few families when they invited us over for dinner, and I am very super excited to get to know them all. I know that I will love this ward and I plan on putting off leaving Minot for the time being. You never really know what happens at transfers but I probably only have 2 transfers left in Minot. So we will see:) Thankfully that is far away:) 

Our first lesson together was with an investigator named Daniel Alba. He was awesome! About half way through our lesson I had to ask him if he was already on date to be baptized because He seemed like He should have been getting baptized this weekend. He said that he wasn't on date, but he wants to get baptized...so  I guess that is one way to put someone on date;) Sad day though, he will be moving to the Elders Areas so we will have to hand him off at the end of the month:) 

Two Baptisms this weekend!:) Brother Steven Roskelley from my old ward was finally baptized and I was able to attend. This was something that He has been working toward for a long time:) I was amazing to be able to be there and feel of his spirit and watch their family take this new step:) 

The other baptism was also someone who has waited for a long time. Shane from the Rugby branch was baptized last night. He has waited 6 years to be baptized. He was glowing with happiness after the meeting and I felt so privileged to be in the presence of one of God's Strongest Children. His confirmation blessing what the most real blessings I have ever heard. Its amazing how we can feel and know someones spirit without even knowing them. He is an amazing person and will do amazing things:) 

This week was so good and I Hope that all is well with you and your families:) I love you all:) Have an amazing week:) 

-- Pictures: 

Roskelley Family

Sister Jarvies

Sunset in Minot 

Minot Zone Leadership for last Transfer (Bye Elder Child) 

Training???!?!?!

Hello Family and Friends

Good News, I am staying in Minot for this next transfer

Bad News, I have to say bye to all the members and investigators

Unsure News, I am training a new missionary and opening (kind of) another area in Minot. 

This past week has been great! We got Mackenzie on Date for October 17th and She is doing so well! She comes to church all by herself...which is super impressive for an investigator...She just has no idea how ready she is! The Lesson what super cool! The spirit was so strong and we talked about a lot of really awesome things. Near the end I was like unsure about what to say so I just decided to say what Taylor would say. So, I Said 

"Let's just be real okay? Sister Clegg will stop me if I start to get out of hand...." and I basically told her that This is the True Church and that there is no way that We would come and give up everyting to teach her something that isn't real. We told her that we have prayed and Know for a fact that she will receive and answer to be baptized by October 17th if she is looking for one. She agreed to that day and then said 

"I don't really know, I just get this jump in my heart sometimes when I talk or think about stuff like this, So that just happened when you said October 17th....so Ill say yes." 

Sister Clegg and I were just like That is the Holy Ghost!!!! It as awesome!!:) 

We asked her to say the closing prayer and she did, it was amazing. there is no other words to describe it. I wish her the best and I know that Sister Clegg will take care of her. 

I just want to end by sharing what I know to be true. 

I know that we as natural men, will make mistakes. I know that we all have sinned and that we all will again. But, I want each of you to know, that We don't have to be defined by our mistakes or past transgressions. Jesus Christ and His Atonement take away every scar and mark. Through Him we can and will be perfectly Whole again. Let Him take away the things that are keeping you from reaching your full potential as a son or daughter of God. Nothing will make you happier:) I promise:) 

Love, Tay (Sister A) 

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Sister Taylor Andrus