Week 100: The Escobars

     Happy Memorial Day family and friends!  This week was fantastic and we witnessed many miracles.  I'm sad to report that this week I started my last transfer as a missionary (my mom's feelings are quite the opposite).  Tuesday, I will hit my 23rd month mark.

     On Wednesday, I said goodbye to one of my most legendary companions, Elder Bingham.  He taught me many lessons that will stick with me for my entire life.  He is incredibly skilled as a missionary and his desire to be obedient is inspiring.  I am very grateful to have served with him the last 2 transfers.

     My new companion, Elder Schrader is a stud.  I've grown very close to him throughout my mission as we have served in 2 other districts together prior to becoming companions.  He is from Twin Falls, ID and has been on his mission for 21 months.  I am very excited to serve with him for the last weeks of my mission.  We are both going to finish strong.

     This Sunday was so memorable.  We had 10 investigators attend sacrament meeting!  It was so cool to see investigator after investigator walk into the chapel.  Revere is starting to blow up!

     We picked up a super cool family this week.  We received a referral for a lady named Kori who wanted a visit.  On Tuesday, Elder Bingham and I were able to visit her and taught her the restoration.  She said that a few years ago she was living in Pawtucket, RI and some missionaries knocked on her door.  She let them in and they started teaching her.  She doesn't remember anything they said, but she has never forgotten the way she felt as she spoke with them.  Life got busy and she lost contact.  Fast forward to now, she remembered how she felt when the missionaries had come to her house and wanted to feel that way again.  We taught her and her husband, Kevin on Saturday and on Sunday they both came to church!

     Sunday night we had the most incredible lesson with the Escobar family.  We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ by using pieces of paper representing faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end as "stepping blocks" to eternal life.  At the end of the lesson, we had Alfredo, the father, walk across the steps first and stand facing the family.  Next, we had Gabriela walk across the steps and stand with her husband.  Finally, we had Fabiana, their 8 year old daughter, walk across the steps and join her parents.  As they stood together as a family, we asked them if they would be baptized on June 16th so they could prepare to have an eternal family.  Gabriela looked over at Alfredo and he said yes!  The spirit was very strong.  Through teaching them and working with their family, I know that without a doubt God wants families to be eternal.  We are so excited for them.

     I love being a missionary and feeling a small portion of the love the Heavenly Father has for His children.  I know that He is aware of all our needs.  As we are obedient to Him and His commandments, He will fill us with light and truth.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Elder Schrader and Elder Gutierrez at the Boston Temple on Memorial Day 2018

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Schrader - P-day at the Boston Temple

Elder Bingham's Last P-day in Revere was spent in Boston - May 21, 2018

Elder Gutierrez in Downtown Boston

My son, Elder Barlow, trained him 18 months ago.

Celebrating Earl's 20th Birthday

Elder Schrader . . . . .

Week 99: Goodbye Elder Bingham

     Hello family and friends!  The work is going great in Revere.  We received transfer texts on Friday.  Elder Bingham is headed to my former area Ludlow.  On Wednesday, I will get my new companion, Elder Schrader.  I happen to know Elder Schrader quite well and have served in two other districts with him.  I am very excited to have him as my last companion.  We will have a great transfer.

     This week we were able to make a lot of progress the investigators that we are already teaching.  We were able to help our investigator Jacqueline make a 14 day plan to stop smoking.  She is loving the gospel and the church and as soon as she can live the Word of Wisdom she can be baptized.  We are planning for June 2nd.

     We are currently teaching the coolest family I have ever taught.  I failed to mention them in an earlier email.  There story is quite long and complicated, but here is the short version:  The Escobar family came to church 3 weeks ago.  The mother, Gabriela, felt very strongly that they needed to come to our church.  They are devout Catholics and are very involved in their parish.  Gabriela's parents converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 20 years ago in Venezuela.  Gabriela's oldest daughter was baptized at 8 years old into the LDS church as well which had a very big impact on the family.  Her parents were not supportive, but let her make her own decision.  Alfredo, Gabriela's husband, is an incredible father and has always been a devout Catholic.  Through many different powerful revelations from God in the last 3 months, Gabriela has come to know with a surety that the Catholic church is false and that the LDS church is the true church of Jesus Christ.  Alfredo though questioning has been a great support to his wife's decision and has come to church with her now four weeks in a row.  We have taught them three times now and Alfredo is doing very well.  He has tons of questions and is slowly coming to know the truth.  They also have an 8 year old daughter that we will begin teaching this week.  They are a huge miracle and a testimony builder to me that the Lord is preparing the hearts of so many in the world.

     This week we also had a very powerful zone conference.  President and Sister Miller gave amazing trainings.  I know that God places us in our assigned missions for specific reasons.  The Miller's have definitely been one of those reasons for me.  I will never forget the power of their testimonies and their strong examples of love and obedience to the Lord.  I love them both very much.

     Well everybody, thank you for all your support.  I love you all very much.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Sister Kimberly Miller, Elder Scoresby, Elder Gutierrez and President A. Todd Miller

The Roman Catholic "Madonna Queen of the Universe" Statue in East Boston

Week 98: Miracles and Mother's Day

     Hello family and friends!  It has been an exceptional week in Revere.  So much has happened and I have been very excited to tell you all about it.  But first, I want to express my deep gratitude to my mom.  She is the most amazing woman.  She has always been an example to me of faith, love, and charity and I love her very much.  Happy Mother's Day Mom!

     I had a great exchange on Tuesday with Elder Harris in Boston.  During our morning planning meeting, we saw that we had a new referral for a man named Chris Chasse, on the refferal system.  He lived in downtown Boston and we both felt that we needed to go and stop by.  Again during the day, we felt like we needed to visit him.  We stopped by and found out that he lived in a special home for people recently coming from prison to help them get back on their feet.  We asked at the front desk for Chris and not too much longer, a wheelchair bound man came and introduced himself to us with a big smile on his face.  We sat down and began talking with him.  He started telling us his story and it didn't take us long before we noticed that Chris was special.

     He first showed us some certificates he had from the church recognizing that he had finished the seminary study guides for all of the standard works.  He then grabbed his scriptures which were all well worn.  He told us in 2011 he drove past our church in Foxboro, MA and decided he wanted to order a Book of Mormon, so he got on Amazon.  He read it.  Then he read it and read it again and again.  That same year, some mistakes from his past caught up with him and he was faced with the consequences and was sent to prison.

     Since then, he got out of prison, lost his family, and 18 months ago was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  He went from being healthy to not being able to move within 5 weeks.  He has been in hospitals for the last 18 months until he moved back to Boston about 3 weeks ago.  Ironically, right across from Northeastern University where he used to be a professor of computer science.
   
     He has read the Book of Mormon 20 times since 2011 and basically any other book published by the church including:  Jesus the Christ, Preach My Gospel, The Teachings of the Presidents, and Our Search for Happiness.  A while back, he wrote a letter to Elder Ballard after he read his book, Our Search for Happiness.  Elder Ballard wrote him back and put him in touch with someone to send him materials.  We felt that we should go through the baptismal interview questions with him and he answered all of them in depth.  He has a strong testimony of repentance and the atonement.  We asked him if he would like to attend church and he said, "That would be a dream come true."  In all of his study, he has never been taught the Gospel by anyone other than the Holy Ghost.  We also invited him to be baptized 3 weeks from now and he gladly accepted.  He is the most prepared man I have ever met!  I am very grateful to have met Chris and to hear his story.  The Boston Elders are blessed to help this man's dreams come true.

     That's all I have time for today.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

The most prepared man, Chris

Exchanges with Elder Harris

My first Lobstah roll

Our new pal, Father John

Dexter's Laboratory, Lynn Edition

Mother's Day Surprise

      What an incredible Mother's Day weekend!  On Saturday, I was able to meet up with other moms with missionaries serving in the Massachusetts Boston Mission.  We laughed and shared stories about our missionaries.  I know why Elder Gutierrez has had some amazing companions - because their moms are amazing.  It was so great to meet them all.

      During Sacrament meeting, the Bishop got up and explained that we would end the meeting by having the fathers of the currently serving missionaries in the ward read a letter over the pulpit that was written by the missionaries to their mothers.  He asked what was special about their moms.  Of course, I started tearing up immediately and couldn't hold it together.  Here is what Elder Gutierrez wrote.

April 30, 2018

      My mother is the best, and when I say that I mean it.  Before serving my mission, I unfortunately didn't realize how amazing she is.  She raised me right - always living the Gospel and being an example to me and my siblings.

     My mother has always gone the extra mile.  I cannot remember a single day growing up where we did not have dinner as a family around the table.  Whenever I needed help, she was there.  It is the little things that my mom does that really make me grateful to have her in my life.  I love her and cannot thank her enough for all the sacrifices she has made for me.

     God, on occasion will send angels to minister to us, His children. I can honestly say that my mom has been one of those angels.

- Elder Drew Gutierrez

      It was great to talk to him over Facetime.  He is doing well and is so excited for all the investigators that they are currently working with.  He is still putting all his energy into serving which I am so thankful for.  At one point, he commented, "You all act like I am coming home soon.  I still have plenty of time left, 5 weeks.  I'm trying to stay out here."  I am so grateful for his dedication and commitment.

- Entry written by Heidi Gutierrez

Parent Letter From President Miller

4 May 2018

Dear Brother and Sister Gutierrez,

     It is with both sadness and joy that we inform you that Elder Andrew Luciano Gutierrez will complete his assignment in the Massachusetts Boston Mission on 22 June, 2018, and will return to you for an honorable release.

     Elder Gutierrez has been a fabulous missionary.  He served faithfully as Junior Companion, Senior Companion, District Leader, Zone Leader, and Zone Leader Lead.  He was loved and respected by the investigators he taught, the members in his area, and his fellow missionaries.  You will be pleased to see the tremendous growth he has experienced.  You will find that he has learned how to serve in the Church.  Thus, he will be a great asset to the work wherever he is called to serve in the future.  We hope he is given a meaningful assignment upon his return.

     Sister Miller and I consider it a privilege to have served with Elder Gutierrez.  We dearly love him and look forward to seeing all the great things the Lord does through him for the rest of his life.

Warm Regards,

A. Todd Miller
President, Massachusetts Boston Mission

Elder Gutierrez with President A. Todd Miller - Photo added by mom not included in letter.

Week 97: Christ's Love and Mercy

      "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourself of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ . . .if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot".  Moroni 10: 32-33.

Dear Family and Friends,
      I want to start off this email by expressing my gratitude for the love and mercy I have felt this week through my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I testify that our Heavenly Father desperately wants us all to return back home to Him.  The only way that we can do that is through Jesus Christ.  If we rely on Him then the Spirit of God will guide us through our trials, mistakes, and heartaches so that we can make it back home.  I know this because I have felt it.

      I desire to share this with the world!  The Lord is blessing our lives each and every day.  If we sin, he will receive us with open arms as long as we repent.

      This week was incredible, as I showed God a greater desire to become pure and holy, I could feel God leading and guiding us to those who are prepared for the restored Gospel of  Jesus Christ.  Each day I hope to become even more holy and sanctified so that I can fulfill all that God would have me do.

     Catherine was one of those prepared investigators we were lead to this week.  She originally wanted a Bible mailed to her but she said that the Spirit prompted her to ask it to be delivered.  We wanted to stop by but had run out of Bibles.  We decided to go anyways.  We were able to meet Catherine and have a very special lesson with her.  For a long time, she told her story about how multiple times in her life she considered herself an atheist.  Though God had a different plan for her.  She had a lot of concerns about the churches she would attend and through the message of the Restoration, we were able to answer almost all of her concerns and questions.

     Sorry that is all I have time for today!  Love you all.  Remember God loves you!  You are great in His eyes.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Spring is finally here!

Beach Soccer at Revere Beach

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Shull - Daddy

Elder Gonzalez

Chinese Buffet with Ethan Barrett