Email from November 19th

G'day,
I am trying not to get trunky! I have had companions that get trunky and I have seen missionaries that don't get trunky and I don't want to be trunky. I think about home yes, but I am here now!
About school.... Did you get on besmart.com? I would like to go in winter term if there is any way possible, see what you can do please. I will take the ACT test again and this time I won't stay up until 3 in the morning the night before :) and maybe I can just sleep on the beach! :)
I just want to get away and figure things out without any pressure.
Well we'll see what happens.
I am doing ok. I have been sick this week. I had a pretty bad head cold. I feel a bit light headed now and just feel kind of sick. We didn't teach our one investigator this week because he went down to Melbourne so we'll see him next week and try to move his date.
About the long flight of 14 hours. It was crazy. I didn't get out of my seat the whole time, and I was shell shocked about the experience. I was worried I shouldnt play the games on the TV in front of me and I was scared to watch the movies. I just watched as the screen kinda showed a jet flying over the ocean and showing the progress of the flight, it was weird. I don't know what I'll do this time?
Elder Bennett is from Idaho Falls, he has been out for about 18 months. Umm he is a music guy studying music at Ricks.
Today we are going to Werrington to play touch rugby, it will be interesting because we have 2 new missionaries in the zone so we will have to teach them rugby.
Thank you,
Love you heaps,
Elder Andreasen

Email from November 8th

(Sorry that it has taken me over a month to update Blake's website. But below is the last month + of emails. A month from Thursday and he'll be home YEAH!!!)


G'day This week has been good. You remember that Indian guy? Well we set a date for him to be baptized on Dec. 19, I know it is after I go home and it is so far away soooo.. We will try to move it forward, to maybe the 3rd? Other than that not much has happened, oh we taught a Tongan family. It is the sister of a member that just moved into our ward. Last year Thanksgiving I was in Dubbo and the branch president’s wife was from the states so they had a bunch of missionaries over. Then we played some horse shoes and watched a church movie. Thanks for info about school. I don't know what else to do on the application, if you want to go on and look, and update some stuff and check it out. And about rooming I don’t care well... no plans with anyone. Well one thing new that has been going on last week at interviews president asked all the missionaries to read the Book of Mormon in 2 months marking all the references to Jesus Christ, so because I am going home before 2 months I will have to read it quickly, I am in 2 ne 29 and I am learning how much the BoM is another testament of Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for everything, I will try to send a card home this week so you can have some pics.
Love you Heaps
Love Elder Andreasen


(Well I am not sure if this is torture before the missionaries come home.. I am guessing Blake might have smooth legs when he gets home) :)

Email from November 1st

G'day
Not much happened this week. We did a lot of work with less active members hopefully something will come of that. The weather has been pretty hot and I think it will only get hotter and hotter until about Dec. 12 then it will be freezing. :) Not much happened for Halloween we saw a few trick or treaters but that was about it, oh then there was a small party in one of the apartments next door.
I haven’t heard from Elder Ucunibaravi, he was supposed to send me some stuff but never did, I am not sure if he is in Hawaii, I am pretty sure he has a brother and sister there though?
My suits are doing fine... the one that I bought is not nice and it is old so I will not bring it home and I am debating on bring 1 or 2 suits home? We will see
I talked to President Scruggs about going to Hawaii BYU and he said he might be able to help so... I think I should start in January that way I don’t really have to worry about transportation, so could you start getting things organized for that, maybe with President as well.
Today we are playing basketball. I am loving it here. The lord blesses me so much. I am really grateful for the experiences the people and everything else that I am learning here.
Thank you for your support, love and prayers.
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from October 26th

G'day This week has been good. On sat I baptized our investigator. He is 13 and is a friend of the Bishops son. Some of his family came to his baptism and confirmation on Sunday, so I hope and pray that all these things will lead to them accepting the gospel. Yes I went to the doctor he gave me some antibiotic to put in my eye; I think it is fixed now? Hopefully it will not come back. On Friday I finally received the Reeses and razor heads, then today we came to the temple and I received the Halloween package, thank you!! Oh that was a picture of Elder Sperry and me. Oh I don't know what to do about Hawaii, I think I want to go there maybe just for a year??? I don't know, did you find out if the credits could transfer to Utah University??? That sounds cool beaner Wednesday! I miss good Mexican food The temple was good today. It was my first time doing..... (Man I suck at spelling) initiatories, now we are going to go play footy as a zone, We were not able to get the Indian guy to church because he had to work. It is good at the same time because he believes he got the job because of us going over to teach him how to pray. Well I am trying to do the things that the Lord needs me to do here. Thank you for your support love and help Love ya heaps!! Love Elder Andreasen

Email from October 18th

This week has been good! We have someone getting baptized this Saturday. I will send pics.... Today we are going to Katoomba which is where the 3 sisters are so I will take pics there as well. This week we also have zone conference those are always something to look forward to; this is my last one... Nothing too much has happened this week; the weather has been really nice. We are just trying to build up a teaching pool in Richmond so we can have a few more people to try to get baptized in the next couple of months. Katoomba is about an hour drive so sorry today email is short. But I am loving it here in Australia Richmond is such a good ward; I am trying to strengthen it in any way I can. Thank you all for your support I love you and pray for you daily Love Elder Andreasen
(As you can see Blake has mastered the Rubik Cube) :)

Email from October 12th

G'day
This week has been busy. It was good though at the end of the week we got to watch conference. 10 hours it was good, I really enjoyed it. I think my 3 favorite talks were, of course Elder Holland, but also Elder Callister (he is now our area president here, I had an interview with him a few months ago... he was a mission president in Canada about 10 months ago) and also that Korean guy his talk was good.
Something good that happened this week was, Elder Bennett and I decided to walk towards the university on Wednesday, we met a guy and he is from India, we set up an appointment to teach him Friday so we went and taught him. He asked if he could come to church with us, and we told him about conference, he wanted to come on Saturday he went for 2 sessions, then when the member dropped him back home they said he started to cry, and said thank you. We will teach him again on Friday...
Well next conference I will be able to sit in my PJ's on the couch, it will be so much better to sit there than 10 hours on a church bench.
Well thanks for the update on everyone, enjoy Hawaii...
Hey I am serious about this... would it be difficult to go to Hawaii for school??? BYU Hawaii?? Or the other university over there? Can you check it out for me? Hawaii seems like a nice place, and there are a few people I know from here that will be going there. Thanks
Not much else has happened this week. I haven't received the package yet, and the past little while I haven't been taking too many pics... i will try to take more.
Oh one thing that happened again this week I don't know if I told you.
But about 5 weeks ago we were digging a hole and Elder George accidentally flicked some dirt in my eye. Then about a week later it got all red, and then it went away. then the next week it went all red again, so I bought some eye drops and it went away for about 3 weeks then yesterday it flared up and got red again, it was quite painful, I will call Sister Scruggs and tell her and probably get it looked at?
But I am doing fine now just a little red, thank you for everything
Love you heaps Love Elder Andreasen

Email from October 5th

G'day,
Well it was Labor Day yesterday so the library was closed. So I don't have much time today. So can you send this email to Dad for me as well thanks.
Elder Bennett is from Idaho Falls, he has been out for about 17 months, and he is a good guy. He went to BYU-Idaho and studied something about music. This is his 4th area, so he usually stays in his area for awhile.
Things are going good here in Richmond. I don't know if I told you but will have a baptism on Oct. 24, we are still trying to find people to teach, and we had a couple families move into the ward that we will work with in finding people. They seem like really nice families.
The weather here has been crazy, a lot of rain! Today is the first real clear day for a while. Everyone says this summer will be hot, and they are getting scared of bush fires happening.
Oh my flat is by some business complexes right on the corner then there is a small empty field then our flats. There are about 13 small flats.
Well I will watch conference next week, I am sure I will enjoy it. I hope all is well over there, I pray for you daily thank you for your help and your prayers Love ya heaps!!
Love Elder Blake Andreasen

Email from September 27th

G'day
Wow that dust storm was crazy!! I didn't get a real good look because we have to be in the flat till 10 but when we went out wow... Many people were advised to stay indoors, but i think President Scruggs was mad at the mission. We had baptism dates fall through so we went out and worked in it. I took a picture of our shoes after walking around for awhile and I had already wiped them down a couple of times. Since there hasn't been any rain, all the dust just sits so we walk around and our shoes still get dirty. I guess there is a video on YouTube of when the dust got picked up out in broken hill and the sky went black. I haven’t seen it yet but I heard it was cool.
We got transfer calls yesterday. Elder George is going up to Grafton I am staying and my new companion is Elder Bennett. I don’t know him much but he seems pretty cool.
About those questions
Yes I got those school forms, I chose that basic course, but I asked you to see if I need a foreign language to get into the U of U?????? Because if I do I will take one at SLCC maybe Chinese??
And I don't really care what color you paint the room; I am not too picky on that kind of stuff, hot pink maybe? :)
Oh I got that big envelope with all the cards in it, thank you for those and thank everyone else too. The fruit snacks were good. Oh and next package you send could you send more Reeses? Thanks! Oh and it is the same razor I came out with...
Today some other missionaries are coming to Richmond and we are going to go bowling, I am starting to really like bowling , I don't know if I told you but in Dubbo we went a few times and once I picked up a 7 - 10 split!!!!
Last p-day we just did our shopping then went back to the flat and relaxed. The one before I think we just went to the chapel and played b ball they have an outdoor court.
I will let you know about Elder Bennett next time.
Thank you for your love and support
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from September 20th

G'day
HAHA That lady that called you is from New Zealand, everyone in New Zealand knows each other so Elder George was talking about all these people he knew. She said she was in Kaysville and said she would give you a call... Her sister is in our ward she is less active with an nm husband and we just popped in yesterday evening and they gave us a drink. Hahaha her name is Ester it’s just the accent that made it difficult to understand.
WOW I can’t wait for some peach shakes!!! Sounds like everyone is so busy over there. Thanks for the updates
I am doing well. Transfers are next week, so next time I email I will tell you what is up with transfers... this week was good, we had interviews with president Scruggs he is such a good guy. Jack does not have a solid date yet we are pretty sure it is in October, but hopefully we will find out this Thursday.
Well we had stake conference this Sunday it was good Penrith stake has some good strong Melchizedek p/hood holders. It is a small stake but it is pretty strong, Richmond is probably one of the best wards. They are doing missionary work but they just have a little bit of trouble getting the missionaries involved. They talk to others about the church more than any other ward but they struggle inviting, people we are working with are doing well. I think and hope things will really explode here as far as missionary work. I think one thing we will do is pray and fast like we have never done before.
I don't really need anything that I can think of. Thanks though.... Oh wait some razor heads would be nice.
I did get my birthday package thank you. I gave the Reeses away to some Aussies that haven’t tried them before, they were really thankful for them so thanks again for those. I took the Swedish fish to zone conference and shared with a bunch of people, and I took the gummi worms to the zone activity and they were smashed in about 5 min, thanks. I don’t know if I shared things like that when I was back home or if I have just learned it while being out on my mission. Charity never faileth...
Well thank you for your support Love you heaps Love Elder Andreasen

Email from September 13th

G'day mate
Hey things are going good here in Richmond. The baptism date we set got moved back to sometime in October, so that is a bit of a bummer but he will be baptized it is just a matter of getting everyone to attend.
His name is jack he is 13; his mom is catholic but supportive of what he chooses. Sometimes the kids are a gateway to the parents though so hopefully in the future her heart will be touched.
We will be working with a Tongan family in our ward that have 13 kids, crazy eh, anyways they have a cousin or something like that, that staying with them that is not a member, so we will get the Tongan speaking missionaries to come up and teach him. Then we will work with this girl in our ward that has a nonmember boyfriend and she told him that she wouldn't marry him unless he gets baptized so we have a few people that we are hoping and praying for.
The weather has been quite hot lately, oh and also they have been doing back burning before the summer begins, so Richmond is covered in smoke. I think this summer will be quite hot!! I will go home to the cold. I hope there will be snow when I fly in??
we are really at the foot of the runway. It’s a good thing they don't fly at night... the latest i think i have seen is 10 at night, so we are lucky.


Oh I could go for a peach shake right about now....
I hope all is going well for everyone, you are in my prayers.
Love you heaps!!
Love elder Andreasen

Email from September 6th

G'day
Thanks for the video, and pics..
I got a call from the office this morning to wish me a happy birthday, and they said the just received the package. I will probably get it on Thursday at zone conference. I got the big envelope. Thank you those Swedish fish and jelly bellies I just can’t get enough of.
Richmond is going well. We are teaching a few people, which is good, the ward is really good, and we get fed 3 or 4 times a week. But most importantly they enjoy doing missionary work!! We set a baptism date for the 26 for jack,,, bishop’s sons’ friend.
Thank you for everything. I really appreciate the updates on everyone; sorry I am not much of a writer or typer at that. But typing is easy and fast. I wish I could write everyone and say thank you especially those that have written me, I just hate my handwriting, sorry :)
I am enjoying it here, and I always feel so blessed, I feel your prayers daily.
Thank You!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from August 30th

G'day
I think i figured out something I can do to make the emails work?
Well I will put all the stuff that I typed last week.
I am doing well. Richmond has a really good ward; a lot of the members are doing missionary work. We are teaching one of the bishop’s son’s friend, we will probably get a baptism date for him this week. Then we are working with some of the members friends that they are working with hopefully we can help them. Elder George and I get along well.

I haven’t received any packages yet?
I sent the memory card last Monday, you should get it soon.
Our flat is right at the foot of an air force runway. Our study desks look right out the window and the planes are flying right over head. It gets pretty loud!!
It is only elder George and I in the flat. We are about a 1 hour drive from the mission office which is on the same grounds as the temple.
Oh and about how much I weigh.... I gained some weight at the begging of my mission but I am pretty sure I cant gain any more,,, I have tried. I wish I could put on a few more pounds/??
Wow they are making a singles ward. Who is the bishop??
Well I am doing well
Thank you for your support
Love you heaps
Love elder Andreasen

Email from August 16th

G'day
I am getting transferred to Richmond, my new comp is from New Zealand his name is elder George. He came out the same time as me. I am not real excited about getting moved, but I have a lot of things to do today because I have to say goodbyes and get all packed up again. I was in this area for 6 months so that means I will probably die in Richmond? Because I have 4 months left. Wow it is flying by.
Sorry this week is short
I have a few questions though.
Is my birthday on Sept. 9 or 7, because on the pedigree chart you made for me when I came out says the 9th, but I am pretty sure it’s the 7th? :)
oh and about school do I have to have foreign language to get into u of u , I think I heard you do,, or can you sneak me in because I took 2 years of Spanish it just wasn't when it counted 9-12 grade?????
I love you heaps!!!!
Thank you for everything
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from August 9th

G’day things are going well here.
Ummm not much new this week. The apartments that all the senior couples were staying at got sold so they all have to move, so we helped a couple of them last week and in the next week we have to move 2 more. Man was i sore! Elder Bybee and I carried all of the fridges from the top floor down 2 stories but they were the double over stair cases. Then we had to take all of the rest of the things down. So other than that not much new.
Question time.
Yes i still live in aprtment on 129 park road Dundas, but transfers are next week so i will let you know of any major changes.
OH about the 13 of december that should be fine, i will just wing it ;-) No one is very close to baptism in our area. we still are just filling up the teaching pool. In the district though over in ryde ward they are doing awesome, the sisters have a baptism date for the end of this month and they are teaching a lot of people, the same as the elders they are teaching a lot of people. They are all Chinese UNI students.
Well when I get off the mission I will tell y7ou all about my companions some I like some I don’t but right now I need to love the one I am with no matter if he is my favorite or not.
YES we knock on doors, it is not a very effective way to find people to teach, the best way to find is through members, but tracting must get done. The best converts are the ones members find but they just have a hard time with that, we are trying to help them but not much success yet.

Up until this week we had a car but we had to give it to other missionaries that needed it so we are just bussing walking and training.
Oh this week I tried to make a Chinese dish called HOT POT its kind of like fondue I took a pic and a video. It was ok I don't know how to make it but I tried and it was edible.
Thank you for the pictures everyone looks happy so that is good Thank you for your support and everything Love you heapss!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from August 2nd

G'day
This week has been OK yesterday we had 2 Indian guys that we have been teaching come to church. They also have a friend that we teach but just wasn't able to come to church. It is interesting teaching them because they don't really believe in Jesus Christ and they don’t have very good English. But that’s good because no one in China believes in God either so it is a new concept for them too.
WOW my little sister is getting married this week!!
OH I only saw Sister Scruggs sister for like 2 minutes, but it was good hearing some Utah accents again. Don't take offense or anything but it just sounds weird talking to the fam on the phone because of the accent.
OH in the package I just need socks, sour patch kids, Swedish fish. I think that’s it.
Well the weather is beautiful over here. It’s a bit chilly in the morning but when we go out to work all I wear is a long sleeve shirt. Then sometimes I have to roll my sleeves up.
Well I remember 1 funny experience. We were walking down the road in a very suburban area and all of a sudden we see a wild turkey crossing the road? I was a bit confused by it so I kind of started hunting it, but it flew on top of a building and Elder Savage said that I can’t climb up there.. That was interesting.
Well the work is really starting to pick up here in Ryde district; I am trying to figure out what I can do to help the district members.
Thank you for everything,
Pray always
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from July 27th

G'day
We went to the temple today so that is why I am emailing a day late.
WOW! I cant believe my little sister is getting married.
I completely forgot about the 24 of July. Elder Bybee and I were on exchange and he reminded me right before we went to bed that night. One of the weirdest and another crazy experience , Elder Bybee and i were walking down a road and long story short we saw a drunk all drugged up, so we called and got an ambulance. You will have to ask me about this story so you can get the longer better version.
OHH I heard ICE Age 3 came out how was it?!!
Sorry I am not very good at writing, I just don't know what to write and sometimes don't think..
DID you remember if Elder Bybee has the same eye problem as Me.? I told you what it was last week.
I really wish you could send Cafe Rio, but since you cant maybe just Swedish fish, jelly belly, ???????
Thank you for everything! All is well here, and i am loving it!
Love you Heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from July 17th

G’day the weeks really seem to fly by!!
Thank you for the update on everyone, I pray for you all every day.
I will answer those questions first so I don’t forget

1. What is the weirdest or interesting thing he has eaten? (I was guessing it was the Kangaroo when you first got there, if not let me know)
The weirdest thing that I have eaten, it wasn't in a meal, but it was a thousand year old egg. I am pretty sure it’s not thousand years old but it looks like it, I guess it is some Chinese food. Boy was it nasty it’s like a hardboiled egg but it’s BLACK!! You peel the shell ITS STILL BLACK!! I had to eat it though, it was like a challenge that a few missionaries had to do, a few of them were gagging not me though, and it was hard to hold back.





2. What is your favorite thing about Australia?
Well right now it is being able to share the gospel, and the people that you are able to meet, but about Australia.... it is cool to see all the different cultures that are here, oh can I say one of my least favorite things. The men wear short shorts, it is so weird

3. What work have you done... that’s meant a lot to you?
The greatest thing that you can see is others, whether they are active, less active or non members, be strengthened by the gospel,

4. Funny or interesting thing that’s happened?
Wow being a missionary, I think it is impossible to go a day without something funny or interesting, man some of the people we meet, the dogs, oh did I tell you in my first area I got chased by a massive Rottweiler (SP?) I am loving it here.






OH I am still in the same flat with 4 missionaries, E. Savage, E. Bybee, E. Kat. Ha-ha elder Bybee, is cool he is from St. George; I think he has the exact same eye problem as me. He says it is called strabismus. Is that what I have?
We are doing well thank you for everything Love ya heapss!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from July 12th

OOpss!! I just wrote you an email and it got deleted ugghh!!
Hey things are going well here. Elder Savage and I are doing well he is a really smart guy. I was able to get to know him a little in the mtc. Right now we are just working with a few of the same people and we are trying hard to build up our teaching pool.
This transfer I was called to be the district leader over Ryde district, and you should be getting something in the mail saying that. Oh one of the first things that I had to do was pretty crazy. .... The sisters are supposed to call in each night when they get in just to make sure they are safe it gets to about 10 and I call a few times and they don't answer so after calling the zone leader they said if they don't answer by 10 30 they will call president to see what to do. So of course they don't answer so president say that I and elder savage need to go to their flat to see if they are home. we get to their flat at 11 and start ringing the bell no answer we rang for about 10 minutes still nothing so we call president and said that he is sending over someone with a key then and that moment the lights go on in the flat.. Well they were asleep and left the phone on silent in the other room. That was fun :(
Oh I never got anything about SLCC or the Jazz in the mail yet.
Hopefully it will come soon.
Well love you heaps thank you for all your support. I am loving serving the Lord here in Australia Love you Heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from July 5th

WOW everyone is moving, well we got transfer calls and I am not moving. My new companion is Elder Savage; he came out the same time as me. I asked him if he knew any Savages in Sandy and he said no. He is from Colorado but he has lived quite a few different places even in the Dural ward when he was young.
Well we have had a really good week this week we have been able to find a lot of people to work with and we hope that we will be able to get some of them to progress.
Just really quickly, I think I would still like engineering but I thought you just had to take generals because that is what the U requires?
But things are going well here
Thank you for everything, hopefully everyone can get settled and stop moving
Love,
Elder Blake Andreasen

Email from June 28th

G'day Things are going well here in Australia I Have another companion with me just until transfers. Next Monday I will tell you what is going on with transfers I will find out on Sunday. MY new comp for this week is elder Qualls from Texas. After thinking about it has been awhile since I have had a comp from America the last one was with Elder Vogel and we left each other in September wow. I think I have lost almost all the American in me; I am probably more Chinese than American ha-ha.
It will be weird coming home, oh and about that I am not too sure how many classes I should take. Because I am not sure how much money I will have when I get home so maybe I will need a job? I don't know maybe I will just bum off you for the first semester? Tell me what you think; I don't know what 15 hrs means how many classes is that? I will probably do that if that is what you suggest? OH and about a car I don't know or really care as long as it is good at getting me place to place good gas mileage easy to take care of, ask Brian what fits those categories. I know he says Honda’s are good?
OH and about the didgeridoo the mission sends out a thing when your mission is coming to an end about how to take them back, I think you can just wrap them in bubble wrap and just tape it to your suitcase?
Hawaii!! You should wait until I get back ha-ha/k, I would like to visit Hawaii some time. Elder Ucunibaravi has 2 brothers going to school at the BYU there. And I think a couple of the missionaries here are going to go there?
Well things here are going well we are starting to find people that we can work with and we are working on finding more.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers Love you heaps!!
Love Elder Blake Andreasen
Oh I got you package by the way. They brought it to interviews and I opened it there and the Swedish fish were a big hit I haven’t opened the Reeses yet and I try as hard as I can to savor the jelly bellies. Oh and thank you so much for the shirts

Email from June 21st

G'day
Sorry about last week I just thought that you didn't want to write to me anymore so I decided not to write you. HAH J/K I didn't get your email though and I was really busy last week as well. Today I am emailing late because we were helping a family move into the ward. One of the boys just got off his mission. He served in England he said he knew Elder Jeff Wilson, so that was cool to be able to talk a bit about him. But the boy that returned from his mission is from South Africa and his family moved here to Australia when he was on his mission, so his home coming was not really a home coming. But he is really keen on doing missionary work so hopefully we can work with him and get the ball rolling here.
We are not teaching too many people right now just trying to find, and the people that we are working with are going a bit slow. Things will start to pick up though.
Tomorrow we are going to the temple as a zone then we are going to have a zone activity. I will try to get a pic to send you next week of all the missionaries; we have Tongan, Samoan, Chinese, Aussie, and Americans, pretty crazy.
On Thursday we have interviews with President Scruggs.
Oh and next week Elder Ucunibaravi is leaving but it is a week before transfers so I will not know who my new comp is for a little bit. In the meantime I will probably just be with the Chinese Elders. We will see what happens.
I will try to answer some Q's
Elder Ucunibaravi is from a place close to Suva Fiji he says I have to come visit Fiji because it is paradise there.
He is excited to go home.
That dance is from New Zealand it is the one BYU does before their games; I don't remember how short the Chinese Elder is he got moved to Newcastle a couple months ago.
I don’t remember offering that sweatshirt to him but if he wants it I will give it to him when he goes home if he does I will tell you so you can send me one. Because he will go home before it gets here.
Sorry again for not writing much last week. And if you have that stuff from SLCC send it again because I think my mailbox was too full last week.
Thank you, Love you heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from May 31st

G'day
I don't have much time this week, We are playing volleyball again hopefully i don't get smashed in the face again. And elder Ucunibaravi needs to get a hair cut. He has the natural curly hair and he is getting a little afro so we are getting his cut. This week has been good the lady we have been teaching came back from China on Wednesday and we had a lesson on Saturday and she also came to a baptism in Ryde were this Chinese uni student was getting baptized. Hopefully after watching the baptism she will have a stronger desire to get baptized. Hopefully before Elder Ucunibaravi goes home.
Oh before i forget I want to ask about school. When does the tuition discount come into action at the U. I want to try to go to school in January probably just at slcc though until the discount kicks in. Can you figure some things out for me??
Thank you for everything
Thank you for your prayers
Love you heapss!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from May 24th

G'day mum Sorry I don't write much I am not very good at writing. I guess that is just a weakness that I have. I remember when I was learning how to write my teachers always got mad at me because my handwriting was very bad. I think that is where it all started.
We just got transfer calls this week, Elder Ucunibaravi and I are staying together again> Elder Jin the new missionaries from China that was staying in our flat is getting moved to Hornsby. Elder Kat the other one in our flat is staying and he is getting a companion that has already been his companion 2 times, his name is Elder Lam. Elder Lam and Elder Ucunibaravi go home at the end of this transfer. Elder Ucunibaravi flight is on July 2 so just over a month.
This week has been ok. It has rained a lot so that always puts a damper on things. We had 2 really good lessons with a man we are teaching at member’s homes but he got sick so he couldn't come to church. I went on an exchange with elder Jin on Saturday, that was really fun we tried to go see a bunch of Chinese people in our area, he was able to teach a few so that was good hopefully we can continue to teach them. And on sat we had a ward progressive dinner, so Elder Jin got to go meet a lot of members in our ward that was good. Elder Jin is so funny; his English is not very good so when he talks to people they really have to listen to understand him which is good.
Today we are going to play volleyball again at the chapel last week we had a lot of fun playing even though I got smashed in the face with the ball. Everyone was sore after playing because we played for ages.
Thank you for the pictures, everyone is growing up so fast I can't believe that is Jessi. Wow time is just flying. Thank you for all your support Love You HEAPS!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from May 17th

G'day mum It was so good to hear from you last Monday. This week has been really good. We started teaching a guy a few weeks ago, he has a lot of problems that he has to overcome but we will help him through them and hopefully he will be baptized on June 14. The lady we were teaching earlier is still not back from China. But when she does come back hopefully we will be able to set a baptismal date with her as well. OH just so I do not forget again we live in Dundas NSW, we live in a big apartment complex. Today we are going to play some sports with the zone that will be fun. Well I love hearing how everyone is doing. Thank you for all the updates, I love doing the lords work. This really will be the best 2 years that I will experience. Thank you so much for all of your prayers Love you heap Love Elder Blake Andreasen

Email from May 3rd

G'day mom I love the novels, please don't worry about writing a lot. Sorry I don't, but I am just not very good at that so I will try to answer all of your questions.

Everything is going well. This week our Chinese district did really well we all hit our goals this week. If we keep it up we will be able to go to a rugby game.
Hey I don't need a calling card elder Kat from Cali and I will share like a ten dollar one.
I am telling you I had no clue Australia would be so diversified. But it really is.
The only thing that I need is just shirts and if you could get 15 size that would be best. Oh and by the way thank you for the shirts the fish and Reese’s and the jerky did get through. Just to be safe I will just buy the not as good jerky here.
The weather here has been good at night it gets pretty cold and during the day it is really nice. I think everyone in the flat has been sick but me I think it’s just that I am used to cold weather.

The Chinese lady is going back to China for a few weeks, so we will work with her when she gets back. We went on exchange this Friday and sat with the Elders in our flat. I went to work in Ryde. Wow! Ryde and Eastwood are just full of Chinese people it is like China town there. It was really good though we had a lot of teaching appointments and they went well.
Thank you so much for all of you prayers. I am loving it here and I love doing the Lord’s work
Love you Heaps!!
Love elder Andreasen
Little Bro like Big Bro (look familiar Brian?)

Email from April 26th

G'day this week has been really good Don't have much time.
I will attach some pictures for you then send the memory card soon.
I got a call from the mission office today and they said they have a package for me from you.
I am loving doing the Lord's Work
Thank you for your prayers
Love you Heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from April 12th

Thank you for your email, we were able to watch general conference this sat and Sunday. That was really good 10 hours seemed to just fly by. I really enjoyed Elder Hales talk on sat and Elder Holland Easter sermon on Sunday... Last Friday we had the missionaries from Ryde Ward Elder Cia, Elder Kat and Elder Lam move in. We have a really big flat that elder Ucunibaravi and I live in so they moved in, We just got transfer calls and we are staying but Elder lam and Elder Cia are leaving and Elder Kat is training a fresh one from china named Elder Jin, I am learning quite a bit of Chinese because our district is all Chinese except Elder Ucunibaravi and I.
Oh and by the way. Yeah I know Elder Thrift he is pretty cool. He served with Elder Tobiassen and then he served in Dural right before he went home. He came out one transfer after me.
Well I have had a really good week Elder Cia is hilarious so we have had a really good time with him. I really enjoyed watching general conference it is such a blessing to know that we have a prophet in these last and trying days. Thank you for all your support love you heaps!!
Love Elder ANDREASEN

Email from April 5th

G'day mum, this week has been pretty good. I am not sure if I told you about this Chinese lady that we are teaching.. We have invited her to church the past few weeks and she didn't want to come to our ward because it meets early but she would go it the next ward meeting. So the past 2 weeks she has gone to that ward but this week with day light savings and all she came to our ward for all 3 hours I think she liked it. We invited her to be baptized but she wanted to come to our ward first and maybe see a baptism first. She is a really nice lady she used to be a journalist in china and now she is an accountant.
We had interviews with President last Thursday. I enjoyed that because President talks to all of us at once then he takes us and interviews us then while we are waiting we have workshops and stuff.
Oh no I haven’t gotten you package yet I was just pre-thanking you for it and telling you what the stuff was for.
Oh and please no rush but if you really like sending packages I could use some short sleeve white shirts and 1 long sleeve 15 neck size. I have some it’s just they are not as white as they used to be.
Today for zone activity we are going to play laser tag that should be really fun, Elder Ucunibaravi has never been, and I don’t think that some of the Chinese missionaries have been either. I will probably win, I think my natural halo skills will take over and I will waste some noobs. :) I am excited for conference as well. I just got an email for president Scruggs and he said that Elder Holland gave one of the best Easter sermons I will ever hear. We get to watch conference this Saturday and Sunday.
Well I better go warm up for laser tag. Love you heaps!! Thank you for your support and prayers
Love Elder Blake Andreasen

Email from March 30th

G’day this week was a pretty good week. We had a zone conference with 2 other zones. One of them was orange zone so I was able to see Elder Tobiassen and the other missionaries still serving in the bush. Parramatta Zone is one of the biggest zones, when I first came into the mission it was the highest baptizing zone but now it has really slowed down. Hopefully it will start to pick up again. Any way we are teaching this Chinese lady that has a friend that is a member, we usually go over every Saturday and teach her in the morning but this sat we had an elder quorum activities in the morning so we went to her house in the afternoon and had a really good talk with her, She came to church last week to a ward that meets later and she said it was boring but I admit it was. But we were able to get her to come again and she really liked it hopefully we can start to get her to come in the morning to our ward.
Today we went to the temple as a zone so that was really good and on Thursday we have interviews with president Scruggs. Transfers are coming up in a couple of weeks as well.
Well I am doing well and I am loving Australia and especially serving the lord down under Thank you for all your support and all of your love and prayers Love you heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from March 22nd

G'day things are going well here in oatlands ward. Time is just flying I can't believe that it has been 15 months already. Elder ucunibaravi and I are doing well together. This week we had to go to a few different places in the zone so that Elder Ucunibaravi could teach Some Fijian investigators. Did I ever tell you how multi cultural it is over here? It is pretty cool because you get to learn some words in all the languages, except it is pretty hard to remember them all.
This next week we have zone conference it starts at 8 a.m and goes till 3 or 4 or sometimes later. It will be good. I always love going to zone conference.
Hope everyone in Oregon is doing well. When does school get out? Over here it works with the year, so at Christmas is when you advance a grade.
Sounds like I have a mini me. It looks like Austin is better than I was though. I hope that all will go well with the house situation.
Oh thanks for the package the cookies and most of the candy is gone already but we haven’t had a chance to use the sauce though. Thanks for the socks and garments as well.
Well I better get going. I love you heaps. Tell everyone that I love them and miss them Love Elder Andreasen

Email from March 15th

Hey I got your package today!! We had an appointment with someone that lives across from the temple that wanted to learn about the book of Mormon. Too bad the appointment fell through. So we went to the mission office and there they had a package. I looked in it but that's about it. I didn't want to carry it everywhere because we are on foot in this area, so I left it in the office and they will bring it to me on Wednesday.
Thank you!!
Well today we are going to go and play touch rugby with some other missionaries in the zone. That will be fun I haven’t played for about 6 months.
The area is going well. We are doing pretty well in teaching. At church yesterday we had 2 less-active members come that we had been teaching, then a couple others that we are not teaching and 1 investigator come. That was pretty exciting.
Well I better get going love you heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen
Thanks again for the package

Email from March 8th

G'day
My new area is really good we are teaching a few people and the members are really nice. The past 2 days I have eaten more food than any other 2 days of my life. This one guy went out with us to teach then after he asked if we had had lunch then he took us to MacDonald’s and said we each get 2 meals we had a quarter pounder meal and fish fillet meal both large. Then yesterday he had us over for dinner and cooked up a whole heap of steaks. I think I had about 3.
Well anyways things are going well with elder Ucunibaravi and I he has about 4 months left on his mission. He is pretty cool.

Ok to answer the q's.
The guy in the tree was bro Shcyveschcuurder we were helping him cut down some trees. We said he looked like a koala so we took a pic.
Looking over the ledge out over the Blue Mountains, the scenery here is really beautiful.
The pregnant lady is the branch president’s wife; we were playing that board game for our prep day.
That spider is a harmless spider, which is the biggest one I have seen, I forgot what kind it is though, the name will come to me later.
Sitting on the floor was up in lightning ridge at the member’s house up there, the Hawkins.
Go Jazz
Thank you for everything
Love ya heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from March 1st & a New Memory Card

G'day
Well I have a bit of news for everyone. I am getting transferred to Dundas. That is in Parramatta Zone. Elder Tobiassen is staying in Dubbo; his new comp is Elder Westover. My new companion is Elder Ucunibaravi. He is from Fiji, I know you will not be able to pronounce his name but it goes a bit like this, Uthooni-baravi. I don't know to much more about him. I stayed at his flat once and he seems pretty cool.
Yesterday was good at church, Pres Ryan's son turned 8 last week so we had the baptism and confirmation yesterday, Pres. Ryan baptized him and I confirmed him. Then at church I told all the members goodbye. The Shcyveschuurder's invited us to come over for a barbie last night there was about 10 people there so that was a good little farewell party.
Well anyways I will tell you a bit more next week about my new area and comp.
Wow Natalie and mike getting married!! That’s big news! I didn't get an email from her but she probably will soon.
Thanks for the updates on everyone. Know that my prayers go to all of you, I all that you do. We have to go down to Sydney today we will stay in Dundas tonight. Dundas is right close to the temple, but is in a different stake than Dural ward was. Dural ward was were the temple was and it was right on the boundary of the 2 stakes.
Well love you heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Blake's Buddies from the Ward

Email from February 22nd

G'day mum this week was pretty good, it is a pretty short week to talk about because I emailed only 5 days ago, because of the lightning Ridge trip.
I sent a package to you last week with something I think for everyone, most of the stuff is just small, but I hope that they like it. I sent you some things for Andrea's and rich, and also Jen and bill. So can you just get that to them for me next time you see them. I just wanted to send something for everyone to let them know that I am thinking about them, even though most of it is small.
This Saturday we went to orange to have interviews with president Scruggs. That went well. President just interviews everyone 1 zone at a time, our zone is the smallest and we were last to be interviewed. After interviews the zone usually gets something to eat. This time we went and had all you can eat Chinese. I ate more than I have in a long time, it wasn't very good, but for what they lacked in quality they made up for in quantity.
I had to give a talk this Sunday on the Melchizedek priesthood. The first speaker didn't show so I had to take up quite a bit of time. Sunday was still pretty good thought president Ryan was the last speaker so between him and I we took up all of the time. In the branch now we have teachers for all the classes so the only time we have to teach is to fill in.
After church we went and taught this Zimbabwean (can’t spell) guy. He is really nice and he is also really smart. He has studied the bible and knows it really well. The only thing he didn't understand about the plan of salvation is pre-earth life. But he is really nice. Hopefully we can, next time we go over there help him understand it better.
Well next week is transfer but I will let you know if anything changes. I will find out on Saturday night then I will email on that Monday which is Nat's B-day.
Thanks for all the updates, that's too bad about Larry miller. I wonder if you go to the funeral Stockton or Malone would be there.
Well thanks again and love ya heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from February 17th

G'day
Sounds like everything went well last week that would be really cool going snowboarding again. It’s been over a year since I have seen or felt snow, wow that’s ages.
Well this week was really good it has been raining a lot and it has been pretty cool. I hope all of the rain is helping the fires down south.
I was talking to Elder Davis (my zone leader) about going to Lightning Ridge and I told him he should ask president if they could come with us to lightning ridge and president Scruggs said that that was fine. So they helped us out up there. This trip was really good. On the way up because of all the rain a few of the roads had a lot of water on them. I took a video of us driving through some. When we got up to "the ridge" we spent some time with the Hawkins, they are about the only members up there now. I guess awhile back they used to have about 20 members up there, which is pretty amazing if ya take a look at the town. We blessed the sacrament for them then we watched the Testaments with them. That was good as well. The best part was Monday though, first we went and had a light breakfast, we were still pretty full from the feed the night before, and then the Hawkins showed us some places that we could look for opal. This place is just a place where miners dump all the stuff that they dug up and didn't see opal instantly. All that we could find in there was small pieces = with not much color in them. But I guess a while back a tourist found a 25,000 $ opal in the pile. Then the Hawkins booked us in for a tour of The Chambers of the Black Hand. That was really cool. I took a video of that and a few pictures; I will send them with the package. The chambers is all this sand stone that the miners dig through to get to the opal, then this guy decided he like carving in all this sand stone. So he made all the rooms with carvings and stuff in the wall. Sis Hawkins showed us this $75,000 opal that she found in her mine. It was so cool.
We travelled back last night which took longer than it was supposed to because of the water on the road and it was raining.
Things in Dubbo are going well we have a few people that we are teaching but not anyone that is going anywhere yet. On Sunday we were able to get one less active guy to give us a ride to church so that was good.
I think this next transfer I will get moved. I have served in the bush for 6 months now, and that is a fair while.
That house with all the stuff was a house that we did a service project in Condoblin which is in a different branch.
This Saturday we will have interviews then the week after we will find out about transfers Better get going Love you heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Blake's Musical Abilities

Email from February 9th

G'day, I hope everything is going well. Things are going well here. Yes I have received all of your packages, I just got your valentines package, thank you for that. We just went down to Sydney for mission tour. So that is when I got the valentines package. Then the other package you sent I got it in the mail, so that was cool.
So for mission tour, Elder Tad Callister came and taught us, he is in our area presidency. He is really cool, he knows so much about the apostasy so it was really great to hear about that from him. He just finished being a mission president in Canada then got this calling. Oh then after the conference Elder Callister wanted to interview a hand full of missionaries, Pres Scruggs picked them and I was one of them, so that was pretty cool being interviewed by a 70.
I don't know where the wild fires are I have only heard a little bit about them. It is pretty hot here though. oh yeah this next weekend we are going up to lightning ridge again so it will probably be Tuesday before I email again. Oh and thanks again for the packages everything arrived fine. I will probably send my memory card back to you this week as well. My garment size is I think small and its crew neck and brief bottoms.
That is cool to hear about Andy. It will be like 3 years before I see him that crazy. I don’t really need anything as far as toiletries or anything really. Oh can you just make sure that everyone has the new mission address because soon they will stop forwarding them to the new one.
Well I better get going love ya heap!!
Oh and tell Brian not to be jealous that is where the lord needed him and this is where the lord needs me. The scenery is just a nice perk and the games were just a 1 time thing because we are in Dubbo.
Love elder Andreasen

E-Mail from February 2nd

G'day
Well this week was pretty interesting, we went on an exchange with our new zone leaders, so first we went to Orange that is where the zone leader’s area is. Then afterwards we came to Dubbo and worked for a day. Orange is about 1hr and 45min drive from Dubbo. When we were with the ZL we asked them to ask Pres Scruggs if all of the Orange zone could go down and go to the district temple day. He said that that was fine so on Friday we went to Sydney then on Saturday we went and met with Pres Scruggs and he gave us all a little pep talk for the area's that we are in because they are all small branch's and are bush areas. Then after that we went to the temple that was really good. so after the temple session we head back to Dubbo, then 6 hours later we go to pull into our garage and we find out we don't have the flat keys! After a few phone calls we decided to go up and stay at President Ryan’s in his motel. So we stayed there for the past 2 nights. we did get a call yesterday saying they found our keys in another missionaries flat, so they are going to express post them to Dubbo, and if they don't get here today we will go back up and stay at Pres Ryan’s again. Elder Tobiassen just must have placed the keys somewhere and then forgotten to put them in his pocket. It’s ok though because we were able to watch the super bowl with Pres. Ryan which was an extremely good game I loved it and the outcome. I think pres Ryan was cheering for the Cardinals just because they have never been to the super bowl before. The only thing I didn't like was that on Aussie TV they didn't show the funny ads. They just showed lame ESPN ones over and over. Oh well it was still good to watch.
Well this next week we are going to Sydney again for mission conference so it will probably be Tuesday or Wednesday before I email again.

Cute pig sounds like you would have your hands full taking care of a pig and preparing for that conference, I hope that goes well. Will that on your birthday that you go up there? I hope that you have a good birthday. I will send you a package soon with a memory card and another gift for you. I am pretty sure you will like it if it gets through customs. Oh and did you find out about getting stuff into the states for me?
Well I better get going
Love ya heaps!!!
Love Elder Andreasen
I think I will get transferred next time because that will be 6 months in the bush. But we will see the next transfer will be just before Natalie’s birth day.

E-Mail from Monday, January 26

G'day wow it sounds like you are really busy. Thank you for the email it was good to hear about all the blessings. And thank you for updating me on everyone. Sorry I didn't email yesterday. Yesterday was Australia day (that is like our 4th of July) we had a branch activity so that was fun. Oh the library was closed on the public holiday so that is why I am emailing today.
Hey I got the package that you sent me today, I didn't think I was going to get it for another 2 weeks but the mission office sent it to Dubbo for some reason. Thank you.
well I do not have much time but to answer some q's we don't do too much tracting in Dubbo because it is a small place and pres Scruggs does not want us to tract it out. We are struggling to find people to teach but we are working with some less active members and part member families to help them come to church.
Thanks again for the package and yeah next time you send something go ahead and send what is left of socks and garments.
Oh I am not sure what I will do with school yet weather I go so SLCC or not. I think I will just to get back into the swing of things.
Oh and about picking me up I am not sure how that would work because my release date is about Dec 22, 3 days before Christmas, but I think we get to call and organize the flight plans when I have 3 months left. But ask President Scruggs and see what he says about it.

Well thank you again and love ya heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen

Email from January 18th

G'day
Hey sorry I didn't have much time last week. President Ryan had asked president Scruggs if I and Elder Tobiassen could go and watch the Steelers play the chargers and president Scruggs said that that was fine but he made sure that we knew that this was a special exception. That was pretty fun to see football again I was trying to teach Elder Tobiassen how to play, I think he got the hang of it but he thinks that aussie football they can kick farther but I said that the best aussie kickers play in the NFL. Its kinda fun just to pick at each other which stuff is better in our different countries.
Oh yeah I can't believe the Draper temple is up, well I guess I have been gone 13 months now , but anyway that is cool you got to go through it.
I still haven't got you package and it might take 3 more weeks or so before I get it just because that will be the next time I go to Sydney.
But any way I will have another memory card to send when I get it back.
This week the weather in Dubbo did get really hot about 42 degrees I am not sure what that is in Fahrenheit though.
Well we are going up to President Ryan’s again to play "axis and allies" the board game that we always play when we go up there on our preparation days.
Thank you!!
Love ya heaps!!
Love Elder Andreasen
Can you believe this is my 3rd Western Australian companion? I have had 3 from WA 1 from NZ and 2 from Utah, Crazy!
Well we got transfer calls last night Elder Tobiassen and I are both staying here in Dubbo. I think things here in Dubbo are really about to start picking up. Because of the transfer there are going to be closer missionaries instead of being 3 hours away they will only be 2 hours away. So I will be in Dubbo for at least 6 more weeks so that will give me another chance to go to Lightning Ridge were the opals are.
Elder Tobiassen and I had an interesting experience this week; part of our calling in Dubbo is we have to update the branch list. So we went to this place called Coolah (that is where Suzie used to live) to see get that date of death for this lady that on our records said she was dead. We got there and knocked on the door but no one answered, we decided that we were hungry so we found this little pie shop and got a pie and went back to the ladies house and knocked again. We expected to get the nonmember husband to answer the door but a lady answered the door, so we asked for "Vera” and she said that me, and we were shocked we were like you’re supposed to be dead. Anyways we started talking awhile and found out that she joined the church when she was 17 because the Elders were hot and she hasn't been back since she was 19. That was pretty fun.
Oh at sacrament meeting this week we only had 9 people but 1 of those people was this less active family that we are trying to get back to church. That was really good to see the mum there and hopefully we will be able to get the rest of the family back. This is the family that had us over for Christmas lunch and that own the boomerang shop. We are going over tomorrow to work out on their property to help them out. Because the last people that lived there didn't take care of it.

Email from January 11, 2008

G'day

Hey I don't Have much time, Elder Tobiassen and I are up here In Gilgandra where the Branch Pres Live and have to use the tiny library's 1 computer with slow Internet
Just wanted to say that I love y’all heaps, and I promise next week if I don't get transferred I will spend at least an hour emailing.
Oh we were not able to go to lightning ridge again because the family up there is on vacation.
Transfers are next week and I am pretty sure Elder Tobiassen and I will be together at least for one more transfer in Dubbo.
I just want to say before I go thank you for all your prayers and love. This is the lord’s work and I am so excited to be doing it here and now Love ya Heappss!!

Love Elder Andreasen

G'day Mum
Just a quick note can you forward the first email to Dad and stuff I really don't have much time.
Oh, and by the way I do miss your cooking, I tried the other day because we had nothing else to eat to make pasta with a white sauce but I kinda failed at it.
Well love ya heaps
Love Elder Andreasen