Mar 3
What rocked your world this week?
What rocked my world? I'm not sure right now. Maybe church, because our investigators felt the strong spirit there!
Meet any new and interesting people?
Leticia and Estefania,
Leticia is a drug addict that is trying to get over her addiction. We got there right as she was starting and we seem to show up when she needs us the most. Unfortunately she fell after 7 days, but went to church Sunday and loved it and now has a vision for the future! It will be a longer road for her to baptism, but she will make it!
Estafania is a lady we met that went to church. That is very hyper. I don't know her really well yet, but she loved the church and wants to go back next week!
Both are just some of the sweetest people!
Have any epiphanies regarding the work you are doing?
Epiphanies? Not really. I'm working on something new, but I haven't really decided to focus my study on anything in particular yet.
How is being the lead companion going? Does it stress you out?
Good and yes!
What are three positive characteristics your companion has?
He speaks really well,
He does contacts well,
And he wants to get better!
Are you still as tired as you were?
Yes. It doesn't ever go away. The older you get, the more tired you get. It’s a universal thing among the missionaries here. They say if you are tired you didn't work smart, but I say the opposite. If you are not tired, you didn’t give it everything you had.
This week was long, hard and stressful. We worked hard, and it gave up some results, some are people that might be baptized in a few weeks and others are people that will be baptized this week. It will be a good month. Here we want to break our record in the mission with 231 baptisms in the month, which means I HAVE TO WORK HARD AS I CAN! It will be great!
Anyway that’s all I got to say for now, it’s been raining a bit here, and we are excited!
Elder Anderson
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Addiction, marriage (or the lack thereof), and the trouble Satan causes.
February 24, 2014
So my week has been thus. Crazy! As always.
But to start we started running behind a few people. First off is Tayla.
Tayla is a 15 year old girl that smokes and drinks and has been since she was 11. Wow. anyway we have almost helped her to stop, and she has a response to her prayers and everything and now she will move to a different ward and get baptized. Dang. Oh well, she will still be in the same building.
Next is Amanda. Dang, we were so close. The story is this.
First a few weeks ago we had left her due to her mom being a little mean to us and let fires calm a little. We ended up seeing her at the family home evening of her neighbor (who lives in front of her) and we taught her the plan of salvation, and she loved it. We ended up passing again and teaching her the 3rd lesson and inviting her to go to an interview.
The interview was a hassle to get her there, but when she finally got there she had a very spiritual experience, and decided she wants to be baptized. We would do it the next day!
Then comes the bummer. We walked out and there was a marriage that was going on, and she asked us if she needed to be married...
Dang.
So now we will go get them married in the next few weeks because it takes 15 days here. We are aiming for the week of transfers.
This week though we have to baptize a man that went to church with 19 years. So young man, but we hope that everything works out well.
As for being tired all the time, the problem is we don't have time to make real food ever, so we end up eating a bunch of junk food all the time. I hate it; I wish I had more time.
Glad to hear about the good stuff happening there, it will be so weird to return to Idaho Falls...
Elder Anderson
So my week has been thus. Crazy! As always.
But to start we started running behind a few people. First off is Tayla.
Tayla is a 15 year old girl that smokes and drinks and has been since she was 11. Wow. anyway we have almost helped her to stop, and she has a response to her prayers and everything and now she will move to a different ward and get baptized. Dang. Oh well, she will still be in the same building.
Next is Amanda. Dang, we were so close. The story is this.
First a few weeks ago we had left her due to her mom being a little mean to us and let fires calm a little. We ended up seeing her at the family home evening of her neighbor (who lives in front of her) and we taught her the plan of salvation, and she loved it. We ended up passing again and teaching her the 3rd lesson and inviting her to go to an interview.
The interview was a hassle to get her there, but when she finally got there she had a very spiritual experience, and decided she wants to be baptized. We would do it the next day!
Then comes the bummer. We walked out and there was a marriage that was going on, and she asked us if she needed to be married...
Dang.
So now we will go get them married in the next few weeks because it takes 15 days here. We are aiming for the week of transfers.
This week though we have to baptize a man that went to church with 19 years. So young man, but we hope that everything works out well.
As for being tired all the time, the problem is we don't have time to make real food ever, so we end up eating a bunch of junk food all the time. I hate it; I wish I had more time.
Glad to hear about the good stuff happening there, it will be so weird to return to Idaho Falls...
Elder Anderson
Of juggling, whey protein, and training!
February 17
Of juggling, whey protein, and training!
How is your new area?
It’s small, but it feels big since we are going around a lot of it.
Did you have to find a place to live, or was that already set up for you?
The place was already ready for us, it’s an old apartment that the ground is concrete, and it’s a pretty good size for the 2 of us.
Do you have a nice place to live?
It’s ok. Not the worst I’ve lived in, but also not the best. We have a bit of cleaning to do still.
How is the new ward and mission leader?
The ward is good and very supportive, and I've met some really cool people that I like thus far, the ward mission leader is an older guy, retired, though sounds like he will work again here in a bit. He’s a cool guy, but I really wish he was behind more ward missionaries, that would be really good.
Are you teaching anyone?
A few people, but the first is the one that went to church, Tayla. She is 15 years old, and we met her the other day just passing by her in the road as she was getting to her house. She almost didn't go Sunday when we passed by her, but we had a miracle. And I think that she has some possibility. First obstacle we have to pass is her addiction, she smokes. That’s so weird to me, 15 year olds smoking and addicted. Second problem is her dad is investigating and wanting to get baptized in another church that is very prominent here (known as the Jehovah Witnesses), but he won't stop her from doing what she wants.
Next news, I have learned how to juggle, not extremely well, but to the point where I can keep going, and do at least one new trick (I learned by watching Elder Christensen :P). That’s just a little something that is funny that I’ve been working on with the leftover limes we have.
One more thing, I wake up broken every day. Like demolished and destroyed. I go around every day and just feel really tired in the morning. Yesterday was the 2nd time I have ever tried whey protein (it was really nasty too). Then they put milk powder in the second half of the cup... this morning I felt like sunshine and daisy’s. And I ran for the first time in about 8 months. I am seriously considering buying a jug of powder. Mom, may I?
Elder Anderson
Of juggling, whey protein, and training!
How is your new area?
It’s small, but it feels big since we are going around a lot of it.
Did you have to find a place to live, or was that already set up for you?
The place was already ready for us, it’s an old apartment that the ground is concrete, and it’s a pretty good size for the 2 of us.
Do you have a nice place to live?
It’s ok. Not the worst I’ve lived in, but also not the best. We have a bit of cleaning to do still.
How is the new ward and mission leader?
The ward is good and very supportive, and I've met some really cool people that I like thus far, the ward mission leader is an older guy, retired, though sounds like he will work again here in a bit. He’s a cool guy, but I really wish he was behind more ward missionaries, that would be really good.
Are you teaching anyone?
A few people, but the first is the one that went to church, Tayla. She is 15 years old, and we met her the other day just passing by her in the road as she was getting to her house. She almost didn't go Sunday when we passed by her, but we had a miracle. And I think that she has some possibility. First obstacle we have to pass is her addiction, she smokes. That’s so weird to me, 15 year olds smoking and addicted. Second problem is her dad is investigating and wanting to get baptized in another church that is very prominent here (known as the Jehovah Witnesses), but he won't stop her from doing what she wants.
Next news, I have learned how to juggle, not extremely well, but to the point where I can keep going, and do at least one new trick (I learned by watching Elder Christensen :P). That’s just a little something that is funny that I’ve been working on with the leftover limes we have.
One more thing, I wake up broken every day. Like demolished and destroyed. I go around every day and just feel really tired in the morning. Yesterday was the 2nd time I have ever tried whey protein (it was really nasty too). Then they put milk powder in the second half of the cup... this morning I felt like sunshine and daisy’s. And I ran for the first time in about 8 months. I am seriously considering buying a jug of powder. Mom, may I?
Elder Anderson
Training Elder Monk and some crazy experiences this week!
February 10, 2014
Well this week has been a really short and a fast week, but a really crazy week.
First this week we were transferred, both me and Elder Christensen: me to Semiramis, Londrina (which I found out on Monday) and Elder Christensen didn't know where. On Monday night I got a call to go to Centro for training for new trainers and learned that I would train. So that next morning, we went there, and we had the same training that I received when I got here on the mission.
Anyway my new trainee is Elder Monk! He is from Virginia, and is a hard worker and will someday be Assistant. Yeah!
So what he has already experienced this week, and were some really funny moments for us both.
1. We had a moment with two guys that were really doped up on drugs (we got the address of one, we will probably pass him, cause he was telling us that he wanted to be saved, and the other we just left him. he was singing Aerosmith apparently, though I didn't understand him
2. We had a guy named John Lennon at church. we talked to him at about 10, and he did a mini tour, left, (we got someone else after him to go to sacrament) and then she left, and he came back and (he was extremely drunk.) and ended up going to his house, letting him change, and we watched the last talk.
Later that day we went to his house, there was a fight between him and his dad? Or something. I'm a little sorry that he had to witness that.
3. Almost had a baptism, then the mom was thrown in the equation.
Anyway, everything so far is hectic from the having to open the area, but it will work out in the end. Baptisms this week of John Lennon and Amanda and this other lady (who also was really cool)
More stories next week!
Elder Anderson
Well this week has been a really short and a fast week, but a really crazy week.
First this week we were transferred, both me and Elder Christensen: me to Semiramis, Londrina (which I found out on Monday) and Elder Christensen didn't know where. On Monday night I got a call to go to Centro for training for new trainers and learned that I would train. So that next morning, we went there, and we had the same training that I received when I got here on the mission.
Anyway my new trainee is Elder Monk! He is from Virginia, and is a hard worker and will someday be Assistant. Yeah!
So what he has already experienced this week, and were some really funny moments for us both.
1. We had a moment with two guys that were really doped up on drugs (we got the address of one, we will probably pass him, cause he was telling us that he wanted to be saved, and the other we just left him. he was singing Aerosmith apparently, though I didn't understand him
2. We had a guy named John Lennon at church. we talked to him at about 10, and he did a mini tour, left, (we got someone else after him to go to sacrament) and then she left, and he came back and (he was extremely drunk.) and ended up going to his house, letting him change, and we watched the last talk.
Later that day we went to his house, there was a fight between him and his dad? Or something. I'm a little sorry that he had to witness that.
3. Almost had a baptism, then the mom was thrown in the equation.
Anyway, everything so far is hectic from the having to open the area, but it will work out in the end. Baptisms this week of John Lennon and Amanda and this other lady (who also was really cool)
More stories next week!
Elder Anderson
Transferred, getting trained to train:)
February 3
What's the news from Brazil?
Was transferred (don't have any time to write, it’s a miracle I’m on right now).
Might train.
We were teaching a baptism, but our area just closed, so who knows what will happen. Thankfully she is dating a missionary (he is home due to epilepsy for 1 more month)
Are there any principles of the gospel you have gained a greater testimony of lately?
There are so many things that I can tell you that I'm learning, including grace, and the nature of God (I'm finishing up the lectures on faith and a bunch of supplemental readings! So good!)
That’s all the time and the juiciest info I can get you guys right now.
Elder Anderson
What's the news from Brazil?
Was transferred (don't have any time to write, it’s a miracle I’m on right now).
Might train.
We were teaching a baptism, but our area just closed, so who knows what will happen. Thankfully she is dating a missionary (he is home due to epilepsy for 1 more month)
Are there any principles of the gospel you have gained a greater testimony of lately?
There are so many things that I can tell you that I'm learning, including grace, and the nature of God (I'm finishing up the lectures on faith and a bunch of supplemental readings! So good!)
That’s all the time and the juiciest info I can get you guys right now.
Elder Anderson
Fastest Baptism ever and transfers coming up.
January 27
Well I wouldn't say I'm the most diligent in writing my journal, though I at least keep a basic record of everything important, I wouldn't say things important happen every day, some days I just get home completely exhausted.
But the biggest part about this week is the blessings of the lord that we are seeing in our missions here. First is the blessing of a BAPTISM!!!
Irma Rita!
So we met her the other day after going and checking out a reference that we received a while back from a member. Rita went to church and didn't seem like she wanted anything to do with anything, and so we just forgot about her. But Thursday we went and checked it out to see if we would pursue it or just leave her. But while she seemed reluctant at first, she committed to be baptized. So we immediately called the zone leaders they came the next day and she was baptized that night.
(Fastest baptism that I or my companion have ever had with the oldest person we have ever taught. 74.)
Just a little about her. She is 74, has 7 living children, she had 8 and one more that was a miscarriage, with a total of 9. Wow. I don't know how many grandchildren she has, but she has at least one great grandchild, and a good portion of her family are baptized members of the church. I can barely understand what she says, and her and her husband Jose are always fighting when we are there. At least I think they are fighting.
But that’s all about her. The next news is that transfers are next week, maybe I stay here, or maybe I go. I don't know, we are working on getting a house all ready for 4 elders, so maybe I stay one more here...
Other than that, we are going to try and baptize the girlfriend of a missionary that is at home for a short time because he developed epilepsy on the mission. Wow. (I've met at least 3 missionaries that developed epilepsy...)
That’s my week. We walked a lot, out of the blue baptized, and we are going to be walking a lot more. I think I will sleep all day today.
Elder Anderson
Well I wouldn't say I'm the most diligent in writing my journal, though I at least keep a basic record of everything important, I wouldn't say things important happen every day, some days I just get home completely exhausted.
But the biggest part about this week is the blessings of the lord that we are seeing in our missions here. First is the blessing of a BAPTISM!!!
Irma Rita!
So we met her the other day after going and checking out a reference that we received a while back from a member. Rita went to church and didn't seem like she wanted anything to do with anything, and so we just forgot about her. But Thursday we went and checked it out to see if we would pursue it or just leave her. But while she seemed reluctant at first, she committed to be baptized. So we immediately called the zone leaders they came the next day and she was baptized that night.
(Fastest baptism that I or my companion have ever had with the oldest person we have ever taught. 74.)
Just a little about her. She is 74, has 7 living children, she had 8 and one more that was a miscarriage, with a total of 9. Wow. I don't know how many grandchildren she has, but she has at least one great grandchild, and a good portion of her family are baptized members of the church. I can barely understand what she says, and her and her husband Jose are always fighting when we are there. At least I think they are fighting.
But that’s all about her. The next news is that transfers are next week, maybe I stay here, or maybe I go. I don't know, we are working on getting a house all ready for 4 elders, so maybe I stay one more here...
Other than that, we are going to try and baptize the girlfriend of a missionary that is at home for a short time because he developed epilepsy on the mission. Wow. (I've met at least 3 missionaries that developed epilepsy...)
That’s my week. We walked a lot, out of the blue baptized, and we are going to be walking a lot more. I think I will sleep all day today.
Elder Anderson
Sundays are the toughest day of the week!
January 20
So this week was a long, long week. It seems like every day I was more and more tired. Though, the last day is always the hardest. We wake up earlier, we have more work and we are rushed for the next 6 hours, Sunday is definitely not a day of rest for a missionary.
I think the most disappointing thing for me here in the mission is when I work hard all week, we have good results and good potential investigators, and on the last day, everything falls and nobody comes to church.
That wasn't this week.
A woman and her husband and 2 kids came to church this week, of all of the people we talked to. We had some good success with them, and we will have to try really hard to baptize them.
The biggest issue with them is we have to help them to receive a response while having to help them get married, seeing as they have been living together the last 14 years. So, this will be a great thing if it all works out. I just don't know if I will be here to finish the marriage or not. We kind of have to just try. The problem though is they don't have money, so I think me and my faithful companion will team up with some members of the ward and try and help them pay for the marriage license. That way it’s not really expensive for us.
Other than that, we have some really cool people to work with; a guy in a wheelchair that already went to church and his wife, and another man and his family (0rlando)
We’ll work with them a little and see what we can do. We will try to work miracles this week!!!
Working wonders!
Elder Anderson
So this week was a long, long week. It seems like every day I was more and more tired. Though, the last day is always the hardest. We wake up earlier, we have more work and we are rushed for the next 6 hours, Sunday is definitely not a day of rest for a missionary.
I think the most disappointing thing for me here in the mission is when I work hard all week, we have good results and good potential investigators, and on the last day, everything falls and nobody comes to church.
That wasn't this week.
A woman and her husband and 2 kids came to church this week, of all of the people we talked to. We had some good success with them, and we will have to try really hard to baptize them.
The biggest issue with them is we have to help them to receive a response while having to help them get married, seeing as they have been living together the last 14 years. So, this will be a great thing if it all works out. I just don't know if I will be here to finish the marriage or not. We kind of have to just try. The problem though is they don't have money, so I think me and my faithful companion will team up with some members of the ward and try and help them pay for the marriage license. That way it’s not really expensive for us.
Other than that, we have some really cool people to work with; a guy in a wheelchair that already went to church and his wife, and another man and his family (0rlando)
We’ll work with them a little and see what we can do. We will try to work miracles this week!!!
Working wonders!
Elder Anderson
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