Homeward Bound

Today, after counseling with doctors, the mission department in Salt Lake decided that Elder Anderson will be medically released from his mission. The physical demands and illness's have become more then his body can withstand. Although his time in the field was short, the intangible knowledge and skills that he has acquired have matured Reed in such an amazing way. His siblings don't recognize his manner of being because of the growth he has made spiritually. Although his body couldn't handle the trials it has been put under, his spirit and mind are stronger then ever. He wants to serve the Lord in anyway possible, and is still being a great example to his family as well as those around him.

Why hello there everybody!

I am sitting here right now in the mission home on Sister Hemingway's computer. We successfully made it to Rochester at 3:20pm this afternoon. We then went to the Sacred Grove and had a great experience there. After that we drove all around Palmyra just looking at everything. It was awesome.

We then came to the mission home and Sister Hemingway had made us some Pulled Pork Sandwiches that were so amazing. (especially after not eating anything sense last night).

Well my P-day's are on Monday so I will email you again next Monday. I will get my new companion tomorrow. But am pretty sure I am serving in Palmyra! So that will be cool.

Well I love you guy's! Talk to you soon!

What a great day!

I usually do not find myself anxious to get out of bed in the morning, but this morning was an exception to the rule. Not only was I up, but busy fixing breakfast for Suzy, Melissa, Tommy and Mark when the much anticipated phone call arrived.

It was wonderful to talk with Reed. He sounded great and was anxious to get to Rochester.

Reed was the travel leader of the 11 Missionaries that were called to the New York, Rochester mission. I'm sure that Pres. and Sister Hemingway were just as anxious for their 6 new Elders and 5 new Sisters to arrive as these new missionaries were about arriving in their assigned field of labor.

Thank you for your love and prayers in Elder Anderson's behalf, we know that it is because of your faith and prayers united with ours that Reed is able to be serving the Lord in the Rochester Mission.

Hey hey hey!

Good morning everybody! I hope all is going well. I am sure that it is. Wow. What a week it has been! I have learned so much this week here at the MTC. It has been amazing. They have firesides on Sunday nights and Devotionals on Tuesday nights and I swear that they are always meant just for me. It is awesome! I am learning all of the lessons right now and actually starting to get really familiar with them. I am on lesson 4 of 5 right now. I realized that I only have Thursday and Friday left of actual studying days so I have got to really buckle down now! I got my flight itinerary or whatever it is called. We leave the MTC at 5:00am on Monday morning. Our flight leaves SLC at 8:00 and we have a lay over in Cincinnati then off to Rochester. We get into Rochester at like 3:30 or something if I recall. I am so excited it is going to be awesome to actually get out there and start sharing the gospel with people. Oh and I already got the family names done mother. They are in the mail. Actually sent them to Suzy's apartment so get them from her. Thanks
It has been awesome to have Elder SHarp just three doors down from me. I talk to him all of the time and he is doing a great job. I don't remember if I told you or not but Elder Frederickson is like two doors down from me as well. So I see him all of the time. And Elder Jacobson and Elder Butterfield I see pretty much every day so that is nice.
Mom you said something about Hermana Bowman getting a picture together with all of the Bluffdale 2nd warders. Already done. We got it taken last Sunday.
Melissa I see Sister Ruegner(Chari) and Hermana Butterfield all of the time! They say to tell you hello and that they love you so much!
I hope all is going well at home as I am sure it is.
How is grandma doing? How is she liking being back at home? Oh and how is President Cowley doing? Is he okay?
So I know that in pretty much every letter I have gotten this week. Every single person has asked me how my health is? Well this might sound kind of rude but this is how I want it to be and think it will help a lot. My health is fine! The power of prayer and priesthood is amazing! Although my health is going to have some ups and downs over the next two years I just want to "FOCUS" on my mission, not my health. I am going to go through my whole mission without ever having a BAD day. I am here to help others come unto christ by receiving the fulness of the gospel. Not to think about myself and how bad or good my health is. I am trying to be a BLESSING not a BURDEN for everybody around me and everyone I associate with. In D&C 81:5 it says "be faithful....succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees..." I don't want to be the one that has to be lifted up. I want to be the "LIFTER" not the "LEANER." I know that my mission is going to be hard...yet it is going to be so glorious! The lord has asked me to come serve a full time mission for the next two years. The lord does not ask ANYTHING, save he a way. I am in the Lord's hands now. He will pick me up and carry me as long as I am STEADFAST and IMMOVABLE. I guess I have just kind of come to the conclusion that I have been called to be a missionary, and it wont help at all to just sit around and complain about myself. I just am going to get to the work! I am on the Lord's time now. No time for me or you to worry about my health. If the Lord thinks that I can do this....THEN I CAN! The lord has sent me to succeed, not FAIL! In the marines their motto is "SEMPER FI" this means, ALWAYS FAITHFUL. That is what my new motto is. SEMPER FI or always faithful. Always faithful to my family, my companion, my mission president, the lord, and my family. I promise I am fine and I will continue to be fine if I just do what I am supposed to do.
I am going to DO THE BEST I CAN! I am going to GO AND DO. I'm never going to quit just because it gets tough.
Now I hope that this didn't sound rude or anything. I promise I will let you know if anything "bad" happens or something really bad is going on with my health. But other than that. Please don't ask. I know it will be hard but I fill that it is what I need to do at this time to concentrate on the work.
Please send your responses today to that mail thing dear elder. I can read them a lot easier.
I love all of you, I hope you have a great week and cant wait to talk to you on Monday morning at 6:00am.
I love you guys,
Love,
Elder Anderson