Hey Hey!

Hey hey!  It was awesome talking to the fam on the phone on Christmas!  I was so thankful that I didn't break the rules and talk any longer because I'm seeing blessings from it.  I've noticed that the missionaries who talked on the phone longer ended up really home sick and I'm not at all (I keep praying that I won't).  

I'm sure that most of you have heard about my Christmas from the family but if not, here is what we did.  Christmas Eve we spent teaching and visiting people.  We had 2 dinners, one with Hermana Ughetto and the other with our new friends Liz and Fotu.  We went back to our apt at 9 and took a quick nap and then went to St Peter's Cathedral for Midnight Mass.  It was quite the experience.  We got there like an hour early and they had a choir performing.  It was really pretty.  Also, it was packed so Sister Rodrigues, Liz, Fotu, and I had to sit on the front row.  We were right up there where all of the action was.  It was really a cultural experience.  It was good to see what everyone here believes in.  I think that it is more of a traditional/cultural thing than a belief.  It really strengthened my testimony in the apostasy.  So many pure, simple, and precious truths were lost after the deaths of Christ and his apostles.  It was a beautiful production but that was it.  It was like a play in a way.  I thought that it was great that there were so many people with faith in Christ but I also felt like they were missing something integral, they were missing the Spirit.  Like I said, my testimony of the apostasy really grew.  After that we went home and went to sleep.

(Christmas Day with Mary's daughter Celeste)
Christmas day was spent studying, opening up gifts (thanks everyone for the wonderful gifts and cards), and visiting people.  We ate tamales (it's the Christmas dish here) for dinner.  We were able to go Christmas caroling to investigators with our District. It was really fun!  I loved being able to spend Christmas by serving the Lord.  As much as I love Christmas I'm a bit glad that it is over because maybe people will talk to us now.

So we've started teaching Eddy again.  He has given up drugs and now we're working on smoking.  This week he has made some huge improvements.  He decided to fast for strength to overcome this addiction.  I'm really excited about the changes that he is making and we have reset (for the hundredth time) his baptismal date for the 23rd.  I really think that this is going to be the one that he keeps!

Well, thanks for everything that you all do for me!  I hope that you had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!  I love you all!

Bye!
Love, Hermana Anderson

(On Exchanges with Hermana Aquino & Hermana Mackay)

Feliz Navidad!

Hey there!  Merry Christmas!!!!  Feliz Navidad!  

Thank you everyone for the Christmas greetings and packages!  You all are the best!  

Things here are going great!  We had the baptism of Maria Elena Pacheco on Friday! We've been teaching her for a few months and she finally got baptized!  It was a little crazy.  The person that baptized her was late so needless to say the water got cold.  Oh well, at least she got baptized.  That's all that I care about.  

We were supposed to have the baptism of Robert tomorrow but unfortunately his wife doesn't want him to be baptized.  We're praying for a miracle and that it actually happens.  I guess we'll see what happens.  

Last week we had zone conference a week early because this week is Christmas.  It was awesome!  It was a huge Christmas celebration.  President Walker talked to us about what we are giving Christ for Christmas this year and how we need to let him into our hearts not just for the next week but forever.  Sister Walker told us a few of her favorite Christmas stories and you'll never believe what story she included.  It was crazy because she had told a few stories and then she was like "the next story is about a missionary in Michigan, Mark Anderson."  So yeah, I was really surprised and kept thinking "thats my dad."  Afterwards during a snack break I told her and some of the sisters that that missionary was my dad and everyone started congratulating me and telling me that it made them cry and what not.  I became a celebrity based on association.  It was way funny.  I don't know how she got the story but you're now a celebrity throughout the mission.  Congratulations!

So yesterday I was thinking about all of the different titles that our Savior has.  He has so many.  I think that one of my favorites is Prince of Peace.  When nothing else can bring us peace, He does.  He calms the troubled heart, heals the wounded soul, unites families, and on and on.  In order to find peace in our lives, families, and the world we just need to turn to Him.  Of course that is easier said than done sometimes but I know that as we turn to Him we find the peace we need.  I've seen this in my life and the lives of so many people.  Whenever I feel down, stressed, or anything, I feel peace as I turn to Him.  I know people who's lives are completely messed up in every way but as they turn to Him they are healed.  This doesn't mean that their problems are all taken away but it does mean that they are given the strength to endure those troubles.

Well, Merry Christmas everyone!  Thank you for all that each of you do for me.  I'm so lucky  to have such amazing family and friends!  As you go about celebrating Christmas this year take a bit of time to stop and think about our Savior and what He did for you individually.  What are you going to give Him this year?  Like the scriptures say, "What are you going to do with this man called Jesus?"  I hope that you all can feel the true meaning of Christmas.  Remember that because of a baby born in a stable we all have the greatest gift of all.  We have a Savior, a brother, a friend, a confidant, a Redeemer, and so much more!  I love you all!  Have the most Merry Christmas of all!  I know that I will!  We'll be studying and visiting people all day!

Love, Hermana Anderson

Still in El Paso

Hey there!  So it was good to hear from all of you!  It sounds like things are quite busy at home.  Things are really busy here as well.  As most of you know, I actually didn't get transferred.  My companionship is the only Spanish sister missionary companionship that didn't change in the mission.  All of the other companionship's are threesomes now.  I'm glad that I didn't get transferred right before Christmas. So you can just send things to my apt if you like.  Grandma and Grandpa Apostol, thanks so much for the package!  I'm excited to see what you sent!

This week has been really good.  We did a lot and saw a lot of miracles.  Last Sunday was kind of rough because we tried so hard to get our investigators to church and not one came.  This week, however, was different.  We had 5 come to church!  That's huge for us.  Also, 2 part member families who we had never met came to church and asked us to teach them!  Talk about miracles!  So we've been teaching this man named Robert since I got here.  He's about 60 and lives alone even though he's married.  He and his wife each have their own house and they visit each other once or twice a week.  Well, he was going to get baptized last month but his wife said that she controlled the check book and didn't think that it was a good idea.  We were upset but we decided that when there is a will there is a way.  So we've still kept in touch with him but hadn't gone to visit.  This week we decided to stop by and see how he was doing.  We planned on watching the Joy to the World video but while there both Sister Rodriguez and I felt like we should extend a new baptismal date.  So we did and he confessed that he didn't know if he could give up coffee.  Of course he can!  He accepted a new date and we're really excited.  Hopefully everything goes according to planned!  We are having the baptism of Maria Elena Pacheco on Friday!  We've been teaching her for almost two months.  She's in her 60s and has a very strong personality.  She's always telling us weird ultimatums that she gives people (mostly her family).  She takes everything very seriously and sometimes we have to be careful not to laugh because everything is so dramatic.  We've really come to love her and her funny personality.  
Well, yesterday she absolutely had to come to church in order to be baptized this week.  Every Sunday Satan keeps throwing things at her so that she can't come.  For instance, last week her sister had a heart attack.  Well yesterday she called us a few hours before church to inform us that she cut her foot really bad.  I was thinking that it probably was a small scratch and nothing to worry about.  We were just worried about her not coming.  Well, church started and there was no Maria Elena.  I was getting a bit nervous but then she came in!  I went and sat with her and she showed me her foot and it was covered in blood.  She cut it way bad.  Afterwords she said "Satan is trying to stop me.  I'm not going to let him win!  I'm going to win and I told him so!  I'm the boss!"  She showed him.  We're just praying that it doesn't get infected before the baptism.  Oh Suzy, I showed her our family picture.  She kindly said that we all are very nice looking but you got an extra compliment... she said that you are "a different breed, just beautiful."  You're dark hair and pale skin is just exquisite.
This week we decided to go visit this lady with cancer that we taught once a few months ago.  She knew that the church was true and I believe wanted to be baptized.  We hadn't seen her since the first time because she was so sick.  Well, we went to her house and her husband was out front crying.  He informed us that she died a two weeks ago.  He was a wreck and told us that we can come visit him this week.  This experience has taught me that we need more urgency.  You never know when your time will end.  I'm going to write down all of her information and her husbands and make sure that her temple work gets done in a year.

All in all this week has been really good.  As I was reading in Alma I thought about all of the great missionaries in the Book of Mormon.  They didn't see the miracle until after the trial of their faith.  This is what happened to us.  We didn't see these miracles until after we were tried the week before.  A mission is just like a roller coaster.  There are so many ups and downs but the ups always out weigh the downs.  There is always something to be thankful for and always experiences that change your life forever.  I love you all and pray for you daily!  Thanks for your prayers for me!  Please pray that everything will go well with our investigators and that the baptisms will happen and that we'll see more miracles.  Thanks for everything!  I love you all so much!  Make sure to make this Christmas season the best one ever!  Remember who it is all about!
Love, Hermana Melissa Anderson

It has been freezing cold

Picture taken on my 6th month day of my mission...I don't know if I look older, but I feel older.

Well hey there! It seems like you all had a great week! I'm sure that you missed the life of the party at the cabin this week. Just kidding. We find out tonight about transfers. At my last interview President told me that he was keeping me here unless I told him that I couldn't handle it anymore or the Lord told him otherwise. Well, I have this gut feeling that I may be leaving. I could be completely wrong but just to be safe it might be a good idea to send things to the mission home this week. I'll write you a quick letter and let you know as soon as I find out.

So I was kind of surprised to hear that El Paso weather has been all over the news. It is true, it has been freezing cold. I did not expect to get this cold on my mission but boy was I wrong. It's started to warm up and is about 60 today. I'm very happy about that! It's funny because people here don't know how to react to this weather. No one left their houses and they didn't want us to come into their houses, you never know what the missionaries will drag in. Needless to say, the work was nearly as effective this week than it has been in the past.

This week has been a bit frustrating to me. I know where discouragement comes from but it seems like everything that we've worked towards this week failed. Hopefully we'll be able to turn everything around this week.

On Saturday our English ward Relief Society had a Christmas activity. We were "filling our buckets with the spirit of Christmas." It was really special. When we got there everyone was given a cute little Christmas bucket. They had 7 short Christmas stories that were read and with each story we got a little representation of it to put in our bucket. The Spirit was really strong and it just made me even more excited for Christmas! I'm going to do my best to make this years Christmas the best. Our recent convert Mary inspired me on Saturday. As you know, she is blind. She really wanted to come to the activity and instead of asking anyone for a ride she walked. That's right, it was freezing cold and she walked like 5 miles to get to the church. She had never walked to the church before but she just pictured in her mind how to get there and an hour later she was there without any problem. Amazing huh?

It got me thinking, often we become complacent about being members of the Church. We take everything for granted but she doesn't. She does whatever she can to take part in the Church because she can see the blessings that it gives her. I want to be more like her.

I really enjoyed the Christmas devotional last night! We watched it in Spanish so I didn't quite get as much out of it as I would have liked but that's ok. I still understood some and was still able to feel the spirit. No matter if you understand the language or not, the prophet is the prophet and you can still feel that. And the choir was beautiful!


Thanks Renee the traveling pants made it to El Paso...

Well, I sure love you all! Thanks for all of your love and support! I really appreciate it and need it! Have a great day and remember the true reason for this season! Let Christ come into your hearts!
Love you lots! Hermana Melissa Anderson

GOOOOOOOOOOO COUGARS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone! How about them cougars!!!!! I wore blue on both Friday and Saturday and you better believe I was praying for them. Saturday night I couldn't handle not knowing and so I called a member who always shares with me the scores. He is a huge Utah fan and his wife is a huge BYU fan. So when I called I heard his wife scream "noooooo" and he said "guess who just won! I'll be wearing my Utah tie tomorrow." He told me that it was overtime and I informed him that BYU still had a chance but that I had to go into a lesson. Well, yesterday at church I noticed that he wasn't wearing his tie and he and his wife mouthed to me who was victorious. I'm so proud. I just wanted to rise and shout but decided it wasn't appropriate because Sacrament Meeting was just about to begin.
Thanksgiving definitely was different this year. I was reminded of all of my many many blessings. We first went to dinner at Mary's. It was her first Thanksgiving as a single mom and kind of rough. It was us, her 3 kids, her mom, her aunt, and cousin. We ate the normal Thanksgiving food and stayed for a few hours. After that we went to the home of some recent converts. We just love this family. They're really struggling financially (it's a mom and 3 kids 18, 19, 21). They're going to lose their home so it wasn't the happiest Thanksgiving for them. After that we went to Hermana Ughetto's. Her son is on house arrest and so the police told her that she can't leave her house either. It's pretty sad. Her husband is in Iraq too. From these three houses you can imagine how I just kept thinking of all of my many blessings. I'm so lucky to have an intact family who loves the Lord and serves him. It really didn't feel like Thanksgiving but it was really nice.
On Saturday this lady called us and told us that she was inactive. She asked us to come over to her house for dinner. So we went yesterday and she just wanted company. She's divorced and all of her kids are grown and live in different states. We had a really good time and she didn't want us to leave. Hopefully she'll come back to church because she needs the spirit with her more than when we are there.

When we were there I was thinking, that in some ways I sure have changed. Before I was way shy about going to people's houses and now I go over to complete strangers homes and eat their food without even thinking twice. Another way I've changed is that I'm not nearly as naive as before. I've heard about everything you could imagine that could happen to someone. This has just shown me that the world is crying for help and the source of healing and comfort is Jesus Christ. Because of my testimony in Jesus Christ and all of yours I haven't been subject to terrible things. I've been really really lucky.

We had an awesome experience this week. We were just walking through our parking lot and there were these 2 guys in their early 20s. One was super friendly and we were thinking that he must be LDS. Well it turns out that he is a returned missionary and was married in the temple! Also, his friend's girlfriend is LDS. So we started talking to them and we're now teaching this friend. He even came to church yesterday! This just shows me that when we're doing what is right the Lord puts people in our path, even when we lease expect it.

I hope that you all have an awesome week! Find ways to serve. Service brings so much real happiness. Let others see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Also, there is a line in the Restoration movie that I love and think about a lot it says, "Do you have faith and are you willing to show the Lord the evidence of your faith?" Think about it. I know that when we show the Lord the evidence of our faith blessings are poured out to us. I love you all so much and am so thankful for all of you! It's snowing today in El Paso, crazy!
Love, Hermana Melissa Anderson

Have Your Own Sacred Grove Experience

Hola familia!
 
I hope that you got my letter in the mail before today letting you know that pday is today instead of yesterday just this week.  Since this week is Thanksgiving they pushed up zone training from Tuesday to Monday.



Zone training was awesome!  I always love the opportunities I have to talk one on with President Walker.  He interviewed Sister Rodriguez right before me and when I came in the room he said "Sister Anderson, you have been doing amazing work.  The difference between Sister Rodriguez before you and now is night and day."  That felt really really good sometimes I wonder if there is a difference but I know deep down it's there.  We discussed the possibilities for next transfer and I told him that I'm good for one more here.  So unless the Lord or I tell him otherwise in the next two weeks, I'm staying.  

It was really good to be able to just talk to him.  During the interview we talked about how I need to step up my Spanish.  I've been thinking about this a lot lately and am now trying to only speak in Spanish for most of the day.  Its hard but fun and I know that this is the only way to progress.  

This week was really good.  We had a record number of 5 investigators at church!  I've really come to see that commitments are the way to see who is the elect and who is not.  If people aren't willing to make and keep commitments then they are not willing to progress.  Elder Kikuchi asked us all to pray to double and triple the number of baptisms in our mission.  Well, it looks like we'll be having a white christmas out here because so many people are progressing!  

Oh, my exchange to Anthony was just what I needed.  It got me refocused and was really fun.  President said that he's going to arrange more for me.  

So we have this investigator named Maria Elena Pechaco.  She is amazing!  She is scheduled to get baptized next week but we'll see if she can be done smoking first.  This lady is so funny.  She's so dramatic.  I've heard her say more than once to her 30 year old son "Who's more important, God or your friends!?!"  She almost became a nuns when she was young but she wouldn't conform to what the priests and other nuns expected.  

Speaking of nuns, we went to an investigators house the other day and there was a nunn there.  This investigator, Maria Guadeloupe (90% of women are named Maria) was being really secretive and we haven't been able to talk to her since.  I think it was the first time I've seen a real nun.  

One of my new favorite scriptures is Alma 37: 36-37.  I've tried to follow the council of this scripture and council with the Lord in everything.  I've seen a lot of amazing results.  Elder Kikuchi asked us all to have a sacred grove experience every day after reading the Book of Mormon for a half hour.  I've found that this is an amazing time to be still and know that He is God.  This time is spent in prayer, meditating, revelation and inspiration.  I love it!  

I would just like to invite everyone to find a quiet place every morning and to have your own sacred grove experience every day.  I know that it will bless your lives a ton.  Well, I better go.  I hope that you all have an amazing week and Thanksgiving. Eat a lot!  Have fun!  Thanks everyone for your love support, and prayers!  I love you all!
Love, Hermana Anderson

Hey Everyone

(Spanish Sisters in El Paso)

Hey everyone!  Thanks for the letters and what not!  I really love letters.  I think that I'm so lucky to have such amazing family and friends that support me.  

This week has been great!  We had zone conference with Elder Kikuchi from the 70 on Wednesday.  Talk about intense.  This man is powerful.  For 3 hours we talked about the morning schedule.  He went around and asked every district leader what percentage of the time their district follows the morning schedule.  We heard a lot of numbers between 75-100%.  After each number he had a comment like "do you only want to be resurrected 85%?"  or "if you pay 95% tithing can you go to the temple?"  It was pretty intense.  

Unfortunately, one of things we're working on in my companionship is time.  So sadly, we were late.  I tried and tried but we were late.  So a lot of the comments were directed at us.  I got "do you want your husband to only give 95%?"  It was intense.  It was sad because he went around and personally met every missionary but we missed it because we were late.  I've tried to use this experience as an example of why we need to be on time.  We'll see if it helps.  

I learned a lot from this zone conference.  We talked about the morning schedule for so long because it is like the tithing in Malachi 3.  When we give the Lord what He asks the windows of heaven will be opened and we won't even have room for the blessings that will flow from it.  If the Lord promises we can be sure that we will receive.  

Another thing I learned is that I don't teach the first vision with the reverence it deserves.  He taught us to recite it really, really, really slowly.  He then had some missionaries do an example of it for us.  It was powerful.  When we say it slow with a lot of pauses the Spirit has time to work and testify of the truth.  There wasn't a dry eye in the chapel as it was being recited.  

So whenever any missionary teaches the 1st vision, something always happens.  Always.  Usually it's an ice cream truck, baby crying, phone ringing, or something like that.  Well this week we had something new... someone fainted.  I'm serious.  We just got done sharing the experience and we asked this lady how she felt and then she started moaning and fainted.  Luckily she was sitting on a couch so she didn't fall or anything.  I ran and got her water and that helped a bit I think.  It turns out that she is pregnant and didn't eat anything.  When she got better she answered that she really hoped that it was true and that it really happened.  She said that she feels like Joseph Smith and really wants to find the truth.  So we proceeded to invite her to be baptized (we always do this on the first lesson).  She said "yeah, thats what I really think i need."  Yay!

Well, I love you all.  I hope that you have a fantastic week and don't freeze to death over there!  It's 50 degrees here and I'm freezing!  I can't imagine how you all feel.  Anyway, have fun, do good!  Always trust and believe.

Love, Hermana Anderson

Well Done

Well as many of you may know or may not know I was released as a full time missionary Sunday.

My mission has been the most amazing experience of my life! I have learned so much from my mission and have gained so many experiences that I will never forget! I have also matured more then I ever thought possible. I have loved every single minute of my mission, I have loved serving the Lord and serving my fellow men and helping those people around me and those people in my different areas come unto Jesus Christ.

I have given it all that I have had, and Heavenly Father has blessed me for 10 great months! But at this time my health has deteriorated and it is time for me to come home and start something new.

I would like to thank each and every one of you that have helped me with every thing, whether that be prayers, letters, or just thinking about me and my family or whatever it may be. THANK YOU!

I Love You All So Much!!!

My "Full-Time" mission may be over. But that certainly does not mean that I am going to stop being a missionary! And I hope and pray that each and every one of you continue to be missionary's as well!

Love, Elder Reed M. Anderson

Elder Reed will be reporting on his mission Sunday the 22nd at 2:50 pm.

Trust In The Lord!

Well hey there,

I'm glad to hear that you all are doing well.  Reed, you better get feeling better or I'm going to beat you up first thing when I get home in a year.  I'm kind of surprised that you are home but I know that you did your very best and what was expected of you. I look forward to hearing what you decide to do with your life.  I know that you have great things in store for you.  

Thanks everyone for your prayers and love towards me.  I really appreciate all that you all do for me.  Just like any missionary, I need all of the prayers I can get.

This week sure has been a good one.  I've really thought a lot about the definition of prayer that Dad shared with me and have changed the way that I pray.  And boy, it sure has made all of the difference.  The Lord is helping me fulfill my goals and become a better missionary.  

On Wednesday we had a goal to get 3 new investigators.  It was already like 6 or 7 and we hadn't found any.  Then we got a phone call from a man and he said "Is this the companionship with Sister Anderson from Bluffdale, Utah in it."  My companion told him that it was and he proceeded to tell us that he and his family had just moved here and his sons needed to be baptized.  Apparently he served his mission in Riverton 20 years ago and when he went to the church and saw my info and picture he knew that he needed to call us right away.  His two sons will be baptized the first week of December!  

After that we went to visit a in active who was anything but nice to us a few weeks ago.  Her parents asked us to go back.  I wasn't super excited but we went and this lady came out and was like "Sisters I'm so happy to see you!  Sister Anderson, I really like you skirt."  She proceeded to tell us her life story (it's amazing how people just tell you their life stories without you even asking) and then said "one of my daughters isn't baptized.  She really needs to get baptized."  Talk about a mighty change of heart!  The first time we talked to her (probably 3 weeks ago) she just told us to go away and now she's the warmest, friendliest person.  I really like the new her.  You know, sometimes we just have to get under the rough exterior and when we do we find something amazing.  

One of our investigators Fernny is a good example of this.  
When we first met him he wanted nothing to do with us so we started to teach his brother who just is not progressing.  So one day when his brother wasn't home we started teaching Fernny again.  This man is 30 yrs old, has lots of tattoos, a former gang member, grew up on the streets, has spent 1/2 of his life in and out of prison, and the list goes on and on.  Well he came to the branch activity on Friday and church yesterday.  He said that he just feels "good."  He loves this and in the past week has healed some wounds with his family.  Yesterday we were like "Fernny, you know that you need to get baptized" he said that he did so we set a date for the 12th of December!  Another mighty change of heart!  His mom told us that the whole family has tried to get God into his life but it never worked before.  In the past 3 weeks and the past week especially he's become brand new.  It's amazing!  I love it!

Trust in the Lord!  He's the ultimate source of comfort, healing, peace, etc etc. Sometimes I feel like we are too proud to let Him help us but now is the time to change that attitude.  We need to let Him help us!  

This morning I felt prompted to read Mosiah 3 and 4.  After reading your emails I know why.  Mosiah 4:11 is the key to happiness.  Read it!  The promise is in verse 12. It's true!  As long as we have the Lord we will always have reason to rejoice.  

Well, I better go.  I love you lots!  Have a fantastic week!  Choose to be happy no matter what!

Love, Hermana Anderson

Roller Coaster of Emotions and Events

Well this week has kind of been a roller coaster of emotions and events.

It has also been a great week! I would like to thank everyone who has helped me this week and who has counseled with me in my decision to stay on my mission and to make the right decision as to whether or not this is where I am supposed to be.

I know that I am supposed to be on a mission at this time. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both have a purpose for me here. I know that I am supposed to be serving here in this mission, the Salt Lake City South mission. I know that there is nothing greater then serving a mission and seeing the Light of Christ come into people's lives. The last 9 month's of my life have been some of the hardest times of my life but have also been some of the best times of my life! I hope and pray that each of you will be able to accept the gospel into your lives and be able to have missionary opportunity's in your own lives.

I am going to share a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that I really like in his own words he said: "Now, to anyone within the sound of my voice who has wondered regarding our Christianity, I bear this witness. I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal, living Son of our literal, living God. This Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer who, under the guidance of the Father, was the Creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. I bear witness that He was born of a virgin mother, that in His lifetime He performed mighty miracles observed by legions of His disciples and by His enemies as well. I testify that He had power over death because He was divine but that He willingly subjected Himself to death for our sake because for a period of time He was also mortal. I declare that in His willing submission to death He took upon Himself the sins of the world, paying an infinite price for every sorrow and sickness, every heartache and unhappiness from Adam to the end of the world. In doing so He conquered both the grave physically and hell spiritually and set the human family free. I bear witness that He was literally resurrected from the tomb and, after ascending to His Father to complete the process of that Resurrection, He appeared, repeatedly, to hundreds of disciples in the Old World and in the New. I know He is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. I know that there is no other name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved and that only by relying wholly upon His merits, mercy, and everlasting grace can we gain eternal life.

My additional testimony regarding this resplendent doctrine is that in preparation for His millennial latter-day reign, Jesus has already come, more than once, in embodied majestic glory. In the spring of 1820, a 14-year-old boy, confused by many of these very doctrines that still confuse much of Christendom, went into a grove of trees to pray. In answer to that earnest prayer offered at such a tender age, the Father and the Son appeared as embodied, glorified beings to the boy prophet Joseph Smith. That day marked the beginning of the return of the true, New Testament gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of other prophetic truths offered from Adam down to the present day.

I testify that my witness of these things is true and that the heavens are open to all who seek the same confirmation. Through the Holy Spirit of Truth, may we all know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.” Then may we live Their teachings and be true Christians in deed, as well as in word, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

May I also add my testimony that I know that what Elder Holland said is true! I know that Jesus Christ was and is the literal son of God. I know that Jesus Christ was born to a virgin mother and that he did perform many miracles while he was on this earth. I also know that while he was here on this earth that he set up his church, The Church of Jesus Christ. I know that he gave the Priesthood authority to his twelve apostles, or twelve disciples and that they were to go teach all nations. Teaching them the things that Jesus Christ had taught while he was here. I also know that later those twelve apostles were rejected and that the priesthood authority was lost.
But I have a testimony and I know without a shadow of a doubt that in the Spring of 1820 in upstate New York a young boy named Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ and that this church that Jesus Christ had set up when he was here on the earth was brought back to the earth. That priesthood authority was also brought back to the earth. We now have that same church that Jesus Christ once set up on the earth. Christ is the cornerstone of our religion.
I know that Jesus is the Christ!

As it says in 2 Nephi 22:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

For I trust Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I know that through them anything is possible and that I and you can conquer anything!

I hope that each of you will have the strength to do anything that stands in your way, for God and Jesus Christ can and will be your Strength!

I love you all! And pray for you daily!
Have a great week!!!

Love Elder Anderson

What a week!

What a week!  I think like all of you I've been on a roller coaster ride.  

You know, the Lord has really blessed me.  You know me, usually when Reed has problems I get really upset and think of how I can solve them.  Well, this week was different.  I thought a lot about it and the Lord just calmed and comforted me.  I knew that everything would work and that as long as I put my trust in Him everything would work out.  It was amazing.  The Lord really is looking out for us. I know that I've said this before, but I don't know how people survive without Him.  

Thanks everyone for the packages and letters.   I LOVE packages and letters and am so thankful for a great family and friends.  I really am SO blessed.  So I've only opened up the first picture from Halloween (the one of Tommy and Grandma Anderson).  It is so awesome!  I swear Tommy's hair gets curlier every day and if I didn't know better I would think that he permed it.  Grandma, in your letter to me you said that you didn't think that I would recognize you when I get back.  Well if I don't its because you'll look so much better!  You look a hundred times better than when I left.  I'm serious!  Thanks for your letter too!  I loved it.  It sounds like everything is doing well at home and I'm so so thankful for that!

This week was awesome!  Every week is!  Mary got baptized!  
Something crazy happened though.  When it was time for her to get baptized we opened up the font and all but an inch and a half of the water had drained.  So we all went back to the RS room and had a talk about the Holy Ghost.  The talk lasted probably 10 mins and when it was over the font was full!  It really was a miracle, it usually takes a half hour to fill.  But like always, the Lord has a purpose for everything.  Another investigator was supposed to come and wasn't there.  He got there right after we discovered the lack of water.  So if the water had not drained he would have missed it all!  The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.

This week we met an awesome lady.  Her name is Kim and of course she is from Korea!  There is a huge Korean population here.  Well, I'm pretty sure there is because there are tons of Korean churches.  Anyway, this woman just wanted to sing to us.  She has a deep operatic voice and knows 3 songs:  America the Beautiful, The Lord's Prayer, and How Great Thou Art.  She's actually pretty good.  It was really interesting.

For Halloween we had to be in our apt by 6.  We just did weekly planning.

So it turns out that everyone in the English ward here is struggling.  Lately I've been praying to be more Christlike and be able to mourn with those who mourn and what not.  Well yesterday we were teaching Sunday School and I just started crying while I was teaching.  The Lord sure does answer prayers.  This morning a recent convert called me up and told me that she just "felt for me."  She wanted to know how I was doing and I told her great.  She then said "You know honey, I may not have been in the church for very long but I've been a mother for a very long time and if you ever need a mom in El Paso I'm here for you."  I thought that that was so sweet.  This lady is just trying to serve everyone the best way she knows how and she is blessing so many lives.  I'm trying to be more like her and to not let opportunities to serve pass me by.

My new favorite scripture this week is found in Moroni 9:25 ~ My son (or daughter), be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

Well I love you all!  Trust in the Lord, He is everything!  Have a great week!

Love, Hermana Anderson

Tommy Singing Tell My Father

Many of you have asked if we had a recording of Tommy Singing at Young Ambassador Camp this past summer and because of legal issues we could not record.
Here is a link to the video of him singing Tell My Father on BYU's website.

This week was awesome!

Hey there! How is everyone doing? I hope that everything is going well back home in Utah. Snow sounds crazy! Today is the first cold day that we've had. Its the upper 50s right now. I was so excited this morning to finally be able to wear a jacket! I haven't worn any since the MTC and I can tell that I've gained weight. Oh well. It's probably good for me.

This week was awesome! Dede got baptized!
It is so amazing to see the light of Christ really come into people's lives. The change that I've seen in Dede has been amazing. Just last year she was in rehab and now she is so so strong in the Gospel. She knows that it is true and wont ever deny it. And I'll tell you what, baptism changes the way people look. Forget about those extreme makeover shows. Baptism and Christ do way better work than any dr or fancy technology. I'm serious. It's amazing!

It was awesome because her parents and son came and could really feel the Spirit. Afterwords her mom just thanked me for helping her daughter. I just kept thinking "well you're next!" Her main issue is that she isn't willing to give up smoking. Hopefully we can change that soon.

We have another baptism scheduled for Friday! This ladies name is Mary. She is in her mid 40s and is blind. Even though she is completely blind she can still read. It's really quite amazing. We'll give her a pamphlet and she'll rub her fingers on it and can tell you exactly what it says and what the picture is of. I really don't understand it. Sometimes I close my eyes and try to do it but it definitely doesn't work. She also works as a seamstress.

Amazing huh! I don't know if any of you remember how wonderful my sewing skills were in high school (Christina and Ash). It's amazing to me that this blind woman sews as a profession and I can't even sew in a strait line. She really is super talented. Mary also has more faith than almost anyone I know. She has taken her weaknesses and made them into strengths with the help of the Lord.

So this week is transfers. We find out tonight what's going to happen. Something for sure is going to happen to my companionship because we are the only threesome and we're getting one new hermana in the mission. I'm 95% sure that I'll stay. I'll write you a letter if I do get transferred.

Well, I love you all so so much! I'm so lucky to have the most amazing friends and family in the world! Have a great week and always trust in the Lord. This is the only safe way to life.

Also, always remember to look to the good side of things - it makes all of the difference.
Love,
Hermana Anderson

ps Aunt Marsha, you are the BEST!

Takin' A Break

Hey everyone Reed has come home for a few days to try and rest his body and regain his health and strength. This has been the longest period of time that he has been able to serve without needing to come home and sleep for a few days.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that the decisions that need to be made will be the will of our Fathers.

U.S. Marshall's, Police, Bomb Squad

Well this week has been a pretty good week. We were able to get a lot more done this week.

We were able to pick up a new investigator this week. His name is Brad. Brad is probably about 30 years old and has investigated the church off and on for about 5 years. His big hold up has been that he has been living with his girl friend for 12 years, but not wanted to get married. Well they are finally getting married this saturday and he also now wants to get baptized. We were able to put Brad on date for baptism for November 14. He is a really fun guy to teach, He is an African American guy and is just full of a lot of energy and really energetic and lot's of fun.

We also have lot's of other people that we are teaching that are progressing very nicely that we should be able to put back on date for baptism this week. And we also have some referrals that we hope and pray that will pan out and that we will be able to start teaching this week.

So yesterday we had the Regional Stake conference. We had the opportunity to be able to take some of our investigator's down town to the conference center and to be able to watch it there. We got there about an hour and a half early so that we could get some good seats. We were really close. And they thought that it was so close that they could see and hear the prophet speak to them in person. It was neat to go downtown sense that is out of our mission President Laney gave all of us missionary's special permission that if we had investigator's we could go. It was crazy to see all of the construction going on down there but a great experience.

So on Thursday I was able to go on exchanges in the Mt. Jordan Stake. Now many of you may be familiar with this stake because this is where my father's family grew up. Well I have a story to tell all of you.

On Thursday evening at about 8:15pm we were walking North on a sidewalk in a neighborhood just off of 9000 S. It was fairly dark outside and we were walking back towards the apartment. From about 75 yards away I saw a group of about 10 people wearing all black walking towards us on the same sidewalk. I was thinking it was a group of high schoolers up to no good so I told my companion let's just walk on the road. So we got off of the sidewalk and started walking on the road. As the group started getting closer to us I started to realize that they were a little bit older then high schoolers, I also started to realize that they were all wearing the exact same thing. When they were about ten feet away from us one of them said, "hello Elder's." And then they all started running towards this one house! And on the back of their kevlar vests (bullet proof vests) They said one of the following three things, U.S. Marshall's, Police, or Bomb Squad. At this point they all had their gun's drawn and were rushing towards this house and pounding on the door. So me and my companion ran to the other side of the road and got behind the car and were watching threw the window's. When nobody came to the door they pounded again and yelled, "Come out!" And then there was a gun shot at which point we decided it was time to get in a house! So we knocked on the closest door explained the situation and they let us in. As we were all watching threw the window we were trying to see what was happening but couldn't really see. When all of a sudden they all just were gone as if nothing ever happened. So my companion and I were like we gotta go find out what happened. So we started walking down the road when we saw all of the U.S. Marshall's getting in their car's and one of them called us over. He said Elder's do you have an extra Book of Mormon on you? And he pointed who to give it to. So we started talking to this guy that he pointed to and he was the main U.S. Marshall guy. He was the boss! He explained to us what they do and that they go around in group's of fifteen people to serve warrant's on people that will be the really dangerous or the people that will put up fight's. As we were talking to him I was looking at him and at all of the different stuff he was wearing. He had on first of all his bullet proof vest. And then what we could see, 5 different guns. So needless to say this was a pretty interesting experience.

Who says crazy thing's can't happen in the Salt Lake City South Mission? But we did place a Book of Mormon through this! So last week I asked a question, Who is Jesus Christ in your life, and what has he done for you? Now this is a question that the answer can be very different or very much the same for every person. But today I am going to try to tell you just a little bit (the cliff notes version) of who Jesus Christ is in my life and what he has done for me.

First of all and most importantly Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. None of us would be where we are at or who we are today without the atoning sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for each of us. I would not be who I am or where I am today without that most wonderful atoning sacrifice he performed. Jesus Christ is a comforter in my life. Just like big soft blanket can keep us warm and comfort us in those times of sickness or cold. Jesus Christ is ALWAYS there in our times of need and in our times of discouragement or pain. Jesus Christ has always been there during the times of my life that I just can't do it on my own. He has given me LIFE! Without Jesus Christ I can honestly say, I would not still be here today. I would not have had the strength to make it through the health challenges that I have had in my life. Jesus Christ has always been there and WILL always be there for each and every one of us through our lives.

On my mission I have grown a lot closer to Christ. in 2 Nephi 25 there is a scripture that kind of tells it all it says, And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we Preach of Christ!
That is what I am doing every single day as a missionary! I am talking of Christ, I am rejoicing in Christ, and I am definitely Preaching of Christ! What better then that!

I love Jesus Christ and the example that he was to each and every single one of us. May we each strive to be more like him in every thing that we do! Let us strive to do all that we can to be more "Christlike" in our daily lives.

I love each and every one of you and pray for your success and your safety daily!
Thank you for your support and love!
I love you guys!

Love, Elder Anderson

One of the most amazing things I have ever seen!

Well hey there!  I love reading all of your letters!  Powerhouse!  

Mom, can you print off yours, dads, and reed's letters and send them to me?  I would love to have copies of all of them.  I don't know why I am so lucky to have such an amazing family but I'm so thankful.  Seriously, I'm the luckiest person.  Thanks for the package as well!  The cookies are amazing!  I love receiving packages and letters!

This week has been really good!The Lord is blessing us tremendously.I'm so thankful for all of the blessings that we are receiving. This week was pretty tough. I'll just put it this way, my companions are both looking forward to transfers next week. I'm pretty sure that Sister Randall will leave and it will just be me and Sister Rodriguez here.

I had an interview with President Walker this week and he told me that I'm making huge progress with Sister Rodriguez. I don't really see it too much but he assures me that she is doing a lot better here than she was in Tucson. She is a really good teacher and really good and tracting. We're just working on some life skills that should have learned years ago. The goal is that she'll have some of these skills by the time she goes home. But hey, with the Lord on our side I think that this is definitely possible.

This week I was really able to see the healing power of the atonement. One of our investigators made a big mistake over 35 years ago. She's been carrying this mistake since then. We didn't even know about it until we were going over the baptismal interview questions. So she had to talk to President Walker about it. Since he is in Tucson she had to call him rather than meet with him in person. After the ward halloween party we went into a classroom in the church to make the call. She was way nervous and wanted us to stay in the room with her while she made the call. We could hear both ends of the conversation. President asked her a few yes or no questions and you could just see the pain in her eyes. Then President said some words that I'll never forget "On behalf of the Church and more importantly on behalf of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I want you to know that you are forgiven. Move on with your life and don't look back."

This was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen. From the moment he said that (keep in mind she's been searching for comfort and forgiveness for this since it happened) she was changed. With those few words he said she became completely different. Her eyes brightened. She could now stand tall and with confidence. She loved herself again. Honestly, she looked 10 years younger. This is what the atonement is all about. Through Jesus Christ we can overcome our past and look to the future with a perfect brightness of hope because we know that our actions in the past are gone.

So now to answer Reed's question... Who is Jesus Christ in your life, and what has he done for you? President Walker asked me this week "How do you feel about Jesus Christ in your life right now?" So I'll try to answer these questions as best as I can but no words can describe the way I feel. Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING to me. EVERYTHING! He is my brother, Redeemer, Savior, friend, person with me when it feels like no one else is. He is the person that keeps me together. He is the person that keeps my companionship together. Christ is the reason I get out of bed on time with a smile on my face every day. Christ is the ultimate source of comfort and joy. We can't have joy without Christ. Sure we can have a little short lived pleasure but we can not have real joy. He is who keeps me going. Who keeps me happy. He is who understands me best no matter the circumstances. If we say that we can live our lives without the Savior we are lying to ourselves. We need Him. Life without Christ is meaningless. I love Jesus Christ. He is absolutely everything.
I hope that you all have an amazing week! Remember to put Christ first. When you do this everything else will take care of itself! I love you all!

Love,
Hermana Anderson

Hola! Como esta?

Hola! Como esta?  

Well, I hope that you all are doing wonderful and have had an awesome week!  Thanks for all of you who wrote me!  I LOVE receiving letters!

This week has been an amazing week!  We have done more work in the past week than any other week since I've been out here!  It's been amazing!  Reed sent me this thing about the importance of making specific goals about baptism.  So I really thought it through and with the Lord's help came up with a goal that will definitely push me, but it is definitely do able with the help of the Lord.  And I'll tell you what, since I made that goal we are on fire!  We know have 10 people on date for baptism!  I'm so excited!  The Lord has blessed us so so much!  I keep thinking that I need to up my goal because even though it is a huge number of people, it is not high enough.  

I've found that goals give us added determination and that when we council with the Lord while making them He will do everything to help us accomplish them as long as we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.  

We taught so much this week!  Usually we spend a lot of hours out knocking but we didn't do that at all this week, we didn't have time!  We've had people tell their friends and they want to meet with us and one of the first things that they say is "when can I be baptized?"  AMAZING!  The Lord is definitely on our side!

This week I've also come to understand more about my calling.  I think it was Elder McConkie who said that we are called to do, say, act, etc the way the Savior would if He was here.  

Well this week we got a phone call from a member of the ward informing us that a member had a stillbirth and wanted to see us.  She is probably 25 or 26 and is a returned missionary.  I had never seen her before because she was inactive.  It also turned out that the babies father wasn't in the picture at all.  So we went to the hospital and everyone was so thankful to see us.  They knew who we were and who we represent.  Well when we went into her room I just became full of compassion.  I can't explain it.  It reminded me of when Mary and Martha told Christ that their brother had died.  Even though Christ knew that it would be ok he wept with them.  This is how I felt.  We shared some scriptures and cried together and then we sang some hymns.  With each new hymn we sang, the Spirit became stronger and stronger.  Each song was acting as a healing agent.  Of course there will be lots of hard times- this morning was one of them, it was the funeral- but through Jesus Christ there can be joy once again and peace.  This experience has really stuck to me.  I need to be the missionary that the Lord needs and expects me to be.  As I become this missionary I will have more opportunities to do good and bring the peace that people need.

I love you all and am so thankful for all of you in my life!  Have a great week!  Find ways that you can go out and do more good and change someone's life for the better!  Also, I want to know all of your answers to Reed's question!  Have a great week!  Love you all!

Love,
Hermana Anderson

I have a question...

Elder Anderson with President and Sister Laney the day he was made District Leader.

Well this week has kind of been a slow week. It has been a tough week because I was sick for three of the days and it was hard to get too much work done. But I am starting to feel better now and things are picking up.

On Saturday we had the baptism of a 14 year old girl named Alexus. She has been meeting with the missionary's for about six month's now. She has been fun to teach the last couple of weeks and it was a really great baptism. She is a really strong girl, she has no parental support at all but has a really strong testimony and is going to be really strong in the church.

We also had zone conference this last Friday which was really great. It was all on chapter 9 of Preach My Gospel, (Finding People) Elder Erekson and I were able to get some great ideas of how we can further the missionary effort's in our area and how we can better find some new people to start teaching.

We are both really excited to get out this week and hit the pavement and really find those who are ready to hear the gospel and are waiting to hear the truth in their own lives.

So in one of the sacrament meetings that we attended yesterday one of the speaker's asked a question that I have really been thinking about for the last two day's, and it is a question that I am going to ask all of you. It is a question that I want all of you to think about over the next week and then I will give you my answer next Monday.

So the question is;"Who is Jesus Christ in your life, and what has he done for you?"

Just ponder that question and think about it.

Well I hope that all of you have a great week and that you will all strive to do what is right.
I hope that you all know that I love you and pray for you daily!

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Anderson

(Please keep Reed in your prayers he has had hit a rough patch again with his migraines and has been trying to pass a few Kidney Stones.)

Conference was absolutely amazing!

Well this week was a pretty good week. My companion and I were able to learn a lot more about each other which in turn helped us get along better and then helped us work in unity and helped us teach better as well.

The week was kind of a bummer in teaching lessons, We had 13 lessons cancel on us which really stunk. But I guess what can you do? We were able to teach 6 lessons all together though.

So I don't think that I really told you about my new area too much last week, so I will tell you more about it now. So my companion and I are over two stakes. We cover the Sandy Midvalley Stake and also the Sandy Cottonwood Creek Stake. And then we also cover the Tongan Singles Ward which covers pretty much the whole mission but meets at the South Jordan Institute building.

Now you may be asking, wow Elder Anderson is your companion Tongan? Nope, for some odd reason they have two white white missionary's covering the Tongan singles ward. It is pretty fun to go to the Tongan activity's and ward though because they are so loving and so warm towards the missionary's and you feel so welcome.

So things in our area are going really well right now. We currently have 6 people on date for baptism. Two of which are scheduled to get baptized this coming Saturday. We also have potential of putting another 4 to 5 on date for baptism within the next couple of weeks. It is really exciting to see the work progress in this part of the Lord's vineyard.

So this weekend has been one of my favorite weekend's this far in my mission. Conference was absolutely amazing! Conference never meant so much to me until I was serving a mission. It was so amazing to be able to hear the Prophets, Seers, and Revelators speak to us and to hear them bear their testimony's with such power and with such an amazing spirit. We were able to watch conference at a member's house on Saturday and Sunday. It was nice to be able to kind of relax for a couple of day's but at the same time once it was all over we were like dangit we have got nothing done in the last two days. So over the next week we are going to make up for what we lost over the last couple of days. So there were many of talks that I really liked this weekend but there was definitely one that really stood out to me and that one would have to be Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's. His talk was so amazing, he spoke with such amazing power and the spirit was so amazing.

So ever sense I have been serving here in the Salt Lake City South mission I have realized how important member missionary work is. I also realize how little missionary work I did before my mission and wish that I would have done more.

I have come across a quote from Elder Bednar that I really love that I would like to share with all of you that I really believe to be true and that I hope all of you will take into your own lives the quote says, "My beloved brethren and sisters, you and I, today and always, are to bless all peoples in all the nations of the earth. You and I, today and always, are to bear witness of Jesus Christ and declare the message of the Restoration. You and I, today and always, are to invite all to receive the ordinances of salvation. Proclaiming the gospel is not a part-time obligation. It is not simply an activity in which we engage for a limited time or an assignment we must complete as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather, missionary work is a manifestation of our spiritual identity and heritage. We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham. We are here upon the earth at this time to magnify our calling and to preach the gospel. That is who we are, and that is why we are here today and always!" -Elder Bednar-

Today and Always we are all to bear testimony of the church, of the restoration of the gospel and to do missionary work. I hope and I pray that all of you will be missionary's in your own life and will be able to have missionary opportunity's in your own life because I know that it will bring
great joys into your life!

I hope that all of you have a great week and that I get lot's of letters from all of you next week :)

Love, Elder Anderson

Answered Prayers

Hey everyone!  It sounds like you are all doing well and enjoyed conference!  I LOVED conference!  I always do.  Mom and Dad, thanks for making conference such a big deal. Thanks for the conference package!  Conference wouldn't be the same without popcorn and other treats!  It makes me feel bad when people don't watch conference.  They have no idea what they're missing!  

We watched it at the church house.  On Saturday the man in charge of getting all of the tv's hooked up couldn't find the satellite cord to hook the tv in for the spanish.  He had looked everywhere and couldn't find it.  Conference was starting in 15 mins so I just started searching everywhere.  We decided that we needed to pray about it.  So we did and I felt prompted to look in the Library.  When in there I saw a box and thought that maybe I should look in there.  So I did and I found a cord.  It wasn't the one that they usually use but I thought that I should just give it a try.  So I ran to the Relief Society room, plugged it all in, and it worked!  Talk about answered prayers!  I didn't want people who only speak Spanish to have to watch it in English!  

By the time I got it all plugged in and what not there was one and a half minutes left until conference started.  It was crazy!  The Holy Ghost led me to where to find it.  

So yeah, I loved all of the talks!  I watched it in English because our investigators that came all are English.  The Spirit during Conference was so strong!  When President Monson got up I felt overwhelmed because he is my prophet.  From conference I hope to have "a mighty change of heart" and be a better person.  

There is an amazing family who brought us lunch and dinner on Saturday and made us and 4 other missionaries a turkey dinner yesterday (just like home!).  It was amazing!  People are so kind and such good examples to me.

We also had zone conference this week.  It was awesome!  The leaders here are so amazing and inspired.  Ever since zone conference I've been trying to put more effort into the work.  People need this message!  

I love the quote that Reed put in his letter.  Missionary work is vital to all of our lives!  Everyone needs the Gospel and everyone needs the opportunity to share it!  We can't let the blessings of sharing the Gospel just pass us by.  

Dad, thanks for the sample ward mission plans.  I've read over everything and hope to implement it into the ward and branch here.

The work is "going forth boldly, nobly, and independent" here.  We have been blessed a lot this week.  Our investigator Dede is amazing.  She is thirsty for the Gospel.  Every time we go she has a note pad and paper and is taking notes and asking great questions.  I love it.  I've tried to take her example and thirst after righteousness.

As I was reading the book of Matthew this week I thought of something interesting.  I was reading the chapter about Christ walking on water.  As you know, Peter went out to join him and walked on water as well.  Them walking on water is amazing and a huge miracle.  But I think that there is a greater miracle in this story.  Peter got scared and began to sink and cried "Lord, save me."  "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him..." (Matthew 14).  The biggest miracle to me is that when Peter called to Christ to save him, Christ was there IMMEDIATELY.  This is how it is for all of us.  As we call out to Christ because we are beginning to sink he will reach out to us immediately.  This is so true.  In no matter what situation we are in.

Well, I love you all so so much!  I've been blessed with the best family and friends in the world!  I'm serious!  Thanks for all of the packages and letters.  They mean so much to me!  Have a great week.  Remember who you are and act accordingly!  The Church is definitely true!

Love, Hermana Anderson

(Photo: sitting outside man's apartment while he played piano for us)

Minding the Gap

Hey Family!  

From your letters and emails it sounds like you are all doing awesome!  It sounds like you all are having great experiences and opportunities to be missionaries.  Keep up the great missionary work!  

Anderson cousins, can I just say that you are all amazing?!  I loved the package with all of your letters!  Thanks so much for you love, support, and prayers.  I always tell everyone that I have the best family in the world and this week my companions finally agreed with me.

Things are going great here in El Paso.  I have definitely learned why I was in a threesome with 2 Koreans in the MTC.  I needed to learn a lot about myself, charity, and to love others no matter our differences.  This companionship sure is a roller coaster.  At one point we'll be super high and teaching amazing lessons and 5 mins later my companions will be so frustrated with each other and will ignore each other.  It sure is interesting.  Never a dull moment.  

We've made a lot of head way this week though.  By the end of these 6 weeks I hope that we'll be able to go a day without the two of them arguing.  I think it's possible.

I loved General Relief Society Meeting.  It was just what I needed.  The stake here makes a huge deal out of it.  It starts at 4 with service projects, they have dinner at 5, and then watch the meeting at 6.  Its way fun!  We were able to get around 5 inactive sisters to come and one of our investigators.  After the meeting our investigator, Dede, just sat in awe.  She was like "did you feel that?  I feel like that man was just speaking to me, like he was looking deep into my soul.  It feels so weird but I like it."  It was awesome!

We've had some really great lessons this week.  We have been trying to get a hold of Dede and her son Jon for a few weeks now and we were finally able to teach them on Monday.  She was just so excited and kept saying "I must feel the Spirit through excitement!  I love this!"  Jon is 20 and has had a rough past few years (they both have) and isn't quite sure what he wants but feels a lot of peace.  This is huge because just last year he didn't even believe in God.  They both have a baptismal date for the 24th!  I'm so so so excited!  We taught them 3 times this week and would have more but they live on the border of our area.  Its a town called Chaparral, New Mexico.

The Lord is really blessing us for our desire to serve him and for our charity and patience.  On Friday we went to an appointment with someone we had met on the street.  He wasn't home but his 17 year old daughter was.  She invited us in and we taught her the first lesson.  After the Joseph Smith story I asked her how she felt and she said "He's here right now.  Jesus Christ is in this room.  I can feel Him.  I love this."  It was amazing!  She also accepted a baptismal date for the 24th.  We asked if it would be ok with her parents and she said that it would.  
So yeah, I'm really excited.  When I have experiences like this I know that everything is worth it and that as long as we're doing our very best the Lord will bless us.

Well, I hope that you all of an amazing week!  I love you all so much!  Remember who you are and act accordingly.
Love, Hermana Anderson

The first picture is with a member, Hna Ughetto. She is awesome and feeds us tons of food. This week she fed us cactus. It was actually really good. It tastes a lot like peppers. I love this lady. The next one is of Chaperral. They have the most beautiful sunsets. This town is just dirt, dogs, and trailers but it is awesome.

Many of you have already heard...

Well as many of you have already heard, yes it is true I did get transferred this week. I am now serving in the Cottonwood Creek and Midvalley Stakes. Now many of you are wondering, "Where the heck is that!" So I will tell you. It is mostly in Sandy but also partially in Cottonwood Heights. My area goes from about 7000 S. to 8600 S. and from about 700 E. to Highland Drive. Some establishments in my area that many of you might be familiar with would be, Healthsouth (extended Anderson family should be very familiar with this one) and also the other establishment would be the Macey's off of 1300 E.

And also as many of you may have heard already I do now live within the ward that Elder Packer lives in. I actually live just a couple houses away from him. And he attends his home ward frequently so I am sure I will be meeting him soon.

Also one of the bishop's of the 16 ward's that I now cover is Bruce Lindsay, yes the Bruce Lindsay that is the newscaster for KSL Channel 5. Yesterday, I was sitting in the foyer waiting for a sacrament meeting to get out and to go into a new one and all of a sudden I hear a very prominent voice saying, "It looks like we have a new Elder." And I recognized the voice immediately and he introduced himself as Bishop Lindsay and I said Bishop Bruce Lindsay. And he immediately asked me where I was from because I must be from Utah if I knew who he was.

My new companion is Elder Erekson. He is from Chantilly Virginia, which is about 15 minutes outside of Washington, D.C. He has been out for 6 months and this is still his first area. He has had the exact same companions up until now. He has a lot of learning to do still so things have been kind of rough the last couple of days, but we are doing good and we will get to the point where we need to be.

The area is doing really good though. We have 5 people on date for baptism right now and should be able to put another 4 to 5 on date this week.

And dad to answer your question, we do not drive the red mazda 3 anymore. In my new area we now drive a Chevy Malibu that is a dark gray color.

So on Saturday there was a baptism in my old area that I got to go back to. It was a really neat baptism for a couple of reasons. #1 because it was a complete non-member family. It was a single mom and her 9 year old son that got baptized. We have been teaching them for about 2 months and they really had a desire to get baptized. #2 the second reason that it was such a neat baptism was because Taylan the 9 year old son asked me to baptize him so I had the opportunity to baptize somebody for the first time. That was a really neat experience and one that I will never forget.


Well I hope that you all have a really great week and that you all continue to be great examples to those around you, and also strive to be missionaries in your daily lives!

I LOVE YOU ALL, AND PRAY FOR YOU DAILY!!!!!!!!!!
Have a GREAT week!
Love, Elder Anderson

The rain came down and the floods came up...

Hey there!  Wow, what a crazy week it has been!  

Last Monday we tutored an investigator named Thelma for 4 hours.  My brain hurt a bit afterwords but it was good to get practice doing things like that.  

Thelma is an amazing woman.  She is 31 and a single mother of 4.  She also works and goes to school.  They started teaching her a few weeks before I got here and she's never been to church.  She knows that it is what she needs to do but has a hard time acting.  We decided that we needed to do whatever it took to get her to church so we tutored her and then made her and her family breakfast yesterday.  And guess what... it worked!  She came to church for the first time!  I was SO happy!

So we also got a new companion this week.  Her name is Sister Rodriguez and is from Boston.  She has been speaking Spanish her whole life!  I'm so glad because we have needed help with Spanish.  She's been out for 9 months and President has kept her in Tucson the whole time.  On Wednesday morning (transfer day) we got a phone call from him telling us that he was sending her out here for a fresh start and the advice he has for us is to be patient and love her.  He wanted us to make this the first companionship that she has ever succeeded in.  She's an awesome teacher and really bold.  We've had some problems so we had a big companionship inventory yesterday which helped a lot.  I mentioned that in D&C 42:14 it states that if you don't have the Spirit you "shall not teach."  So we discussed all of our thoughts and feelings (actually, I didn't talk too much because it was mostly the other 2 needing to share; I was kind of the middle person).  But, last night we had some awesome lessons because we finally had the Spirit with us.  

I'm learning a lot about charity and I pray for it constantly.

Monsoon season has finally arrived.  It was a bit late though.  The worst of it hit on Saturday night.  Around 8 pm we went to a members house to get something really quick.  Well, right as we got there a downpour began.  I've never seen anything like this before.  It was so windy and the rain just came down.  We decided to wait it out a bit.  After a bit it was just a drizzle so we thought that we should leave before it got worse.  Bad idea.  I've driven in tons of conditions but never anything like this.  We got out of the apartment complex and onto the road and it was flooded.  We quickly realized that we couldn't keep driving.  The street had turned into a river within like a half hour.  When I say like a river I mean the water was probably about 3 feet deep in some areas.  It was just under the windows of the car in some places.  I really have no idea how it happened so fast.  From the apt complex it didn't even look that bad but boy were we wrong.  Needless to say, we didn't make curfew that night. We got home around 11:30.  It was crazy.  The power was out and lots of the roads were closed.  This experience taught me a lot.  We have to be ready for the rains to come. They will come but what matters is how we react to it.  Also, its important to remember that tomorrow is a new day.  The sun will come out again the rain will dry. Sometimes we just need to be patient.

Since I've been here I've really tried to follow President Monson's example of caring for the one.  I don't care who the person is - baptized or not - everyone needs to be reached out to.  I've found that from doing this my faith has been strengthened.  I've learned so much from the people out here and after talking to them I always have a desire to do a little better.

Thanks so much for the letters and packages!  I love them all so much and every day I think "I sure have the best family and friends in the WORLD!"  I'm sorry to hear about BYU.  That really is such a shame.  Well, have a great week!  I love you all and am so thankful for all of you!
Love, Hermana Anderson

Another Slow Week...

Well this week was yet another slow week. The last two weeks have been two really hard and really slow weeks! We have been working really hard to find some new investigators this week but to no avail.

The last two weeks we have found 0 new investigators so it is really frustrating!

We taught a family this week that we were hoping to pick up as new investigators. This is probably the very first complete non-member family that I have taught on my mission. (Mom this is the family that your friend knows). But anyways we taught them, and the lesson went really well and we were able to answer lots of questions. They have been investigating a couple of different religions. The Methodist, Catholic, and the LDS church. So we tried to put them on date for baptism and they totally shot it down. They don't believe that God can answer their prayer's. We asked them how long they thought it would take for God to answer their prayer's as to which religion was true. Their answer was 9 months. I was like wow that is a long time! So hopefully they will pray and they will actually find out that God does answer our prayer's and that it doesn't take 9 month's.

Transfers are this week and I am 98% positive that I will be transferred, but you never know.

So this week I also came upon a quote that I really liked as well that I would like to share with all of you. The quote is from Elder David A. Bednar and it says, "In The Strength of The Lord We Can Do And Endure And Overcome All Things." That quote is so true! That through the power and strength of our lord and savior Jesus Christ we can overcome anything.

I love you all and hope that you all have a great week!
Love Elder Anderson!

(Elder Anderson touring some tourist sites in his mission.)

Well this week was a pretty slow week. We were not able to pick up any new investigators so that was kind of lame. But all three of our investigators that are on date for baptism came to church yesterday so that was good.

We had a pretty cool experience this week. We have been teaching this guy named John. He is a 62 year old guy. He is an interesting guy. He is a really smart guy, he was a scientist for a profession and used to work for the national government making vaccinations. About five years ago he got in a really bad car accident and lost lots of his memory. He is still a fairly normal guy but pretty much does not remember too much of his life history before the car accident.

So before the car accident he joined the LDS church and was baptized and was also an endowed member of the church. He was a very faithful and very active member of the church. But now John has no memory of ever being a member of the church. So we have been teaching him and he tells people that he is "investigating" the church. It is hard to teach him because it is not like he can get re-baptized but we are just trying to get him to remember.

So on Wednesday we had a lesson with him. And the spirit was so strong. We talked about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. He stopped me and said now wait a minute, I was baptized wasn't I? And I said yeah John you were. It is so true in the scriptures where it says. The gift of the holy ghost will bring back to our remembrance all things. This was an event that testified to me that, that scripture was true.

Just thought I would share that cool story with all of you.

But other then that nothing really exciting this week. We went to four sacrament meetings yesterday so it was a very long day! We spoke in two of them, And I can tell that my story is really having an impact on people.

I love serving a mission and serving the Lord daily! This is the best thing I could possibly be doing with my life at this time! The last 8 months of my life have been the hardest 8 months, but have also been the best 8 months of my life and the most fulfilling eight months of my life!

I love all of you and hope and pray that all of you will be able to have the joy of the gospel in your lives. And also will be able to have missionary opportunity's in your daily lives.

Have a great week and I hope to hear from you all soon!

Love, Elder Anderson

No Unhollowed Hand...

Hola mi familia!  

How are all of you doing?  I hope that everything is going well and that you had an amazing week!  Our new apt is AMAZING!  Feeling safe in your apt is awesome!  Our last one was really old and run down and their had gotten to be some drug problems going on nearby.  This new one, however is awesome.  They do background checks on everyone before you move in and smoking is not allowed.  Most of the families there are military families.  It just opened up a few months ago.  Transfers are this week and I'm 99.9% positive I won't be moving but I don't know.  Sometimes the week before transfers they hold onto our mail at the mission office so that might be the reason I haven't received the package yet.

This week lots of crazy things have happened.  Satan is really doing everything he can to stop the work from progressing.  Seriously, almost any bad thing that could happen to our investigators did.  But, like Joseph Smith said "no unhollowed hand can stop the work from progressing.  Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, columny may defame BUT the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent until it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; until the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say 'the work is done.'"  

Despite all of the bad things that happened I have continued to be happy.  "Come what may and love it" right?  I've seen the Lord's hand and guidance in my life.  I know that this is His work.  He never said that it would be easy, He just said that it would be worth it.  I think sometimes my companion is a little confused why I am always happy and optimistic no matter what happens.  It's because I have the Lord on my side.  There is no way I can fail because I have him.  

We have to keep things in perspective.  I've met with lots of different kinds of people this week.  They are all going through super hard things.  The difference in them is the way they react to their situations.  If they have faith they know that they will overcome and that the Lord is by their side guiding them and carrying them.  The people without faith have no hope for life.  They are barely making it day by day.  Faith is SO important!  We must have faith.  It reminds me of Moroni 7.  If we have faith we have hope.  In church language we know that hope doesn't mean that we hope something will happen.  Rather, it means that we EXPECT things because we know that Lord will help us.  Our Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever so of course He is going to help us.  Just like he protected the children of Israel, He will protect us.  We just need to have faith and hope.  

Also, Moroni 7 teaches us that faith and hope lead to charity.  Charity is something that I'm constantly working on.  Without it we are nothing and I'm wasting my time and your money here.    Anyway, those are just some of my thoughts for the week.  We are trying to get more ward and branch involvement because we need them.  Dad, in the pamphlet you sent me it talks about what happens if the members are involved.  Instead of having 2 missionaries covering North East El Paso and tens of thousands of people we could have at least 500.  We are going to try to get some ward mission plans going. I'm excited to see the thing you sent me!

Well, that is about it.  I sure love all of you!  The Church is so true!  Trust in the Lord and lean on Him.  He will direct you for good.  Have faith and be believing.

Love, Hermana Anderson
ps GO COUGARS!!!!!!!