Today and Always!

Well first of all I am really sorry to all of you for not writing at all last week! We had a really busy p-day last Monday which involved a big pig roast. It was lots and lots of fun! We started it at about 7:00 am with killing the pigs and then gutting them and by 6:00 pm everyone was eating. It was a lot of work, but from what everybody said it seemed to be well worth it. The only bad part about it is that I did not get to eat any of the pig's because of my procedure I had done on Tuesday morning. But that's alright I got to help other people enjoy it! We did two pigs. We did one 250 lb. pig that we cooked in the ground, and then we did a 40 lb. pig that we roasted on a spit over the fire. It was lots of fun though! When I get home from my mission we will do one in our back yard I am pretty sure that I could do it on my own now! So the last two weeks have been really tough but I have also grown and learned a lot!
Last week we picked up this new investigator that kind of just fell into our laps which was awesome! She is a 19 year old girl who actually lives in Riverton like five minutes away from our house, but her parents are both Greek Orthodox(?) But her parents are very against her joining the church but her best friend lives in our area so she comes to church with her and is going to get baptized in this area. During the first lesson we noticed that she was holding a quad and so we asked her if that quad was hers? And she said yeah it is mine I just finished reading it. And we were like, the whole thing? And yes she has read the whole quad Old testament, New testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, and then she just finished the Book of Mormon for the second time. She has wanted to get baptized sense she was 14 but her parents would never let her. So she is getting baptized this Saturday!

We will have two baptisms this saturday Haeden the 19 year old girl. And then a 14 year old girl named Kayla. It should be a good week! We also have transfers on Wednesday so we will see what happens.

So this week it was really cool it was almost like a light bulb went off in my head and all of a sudden some things just clicked! You know serving here so close to home has always been really hard on me, but I found out this week it really shouldn't! It does not matter one bit where you serve it is definitely how you serve. In D&C 79:1 where it says "....from place to place, and from city to city, in the power of the ordination wherewith he has been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel." That is what I am doing as a missionary. I am proclaiming glad tidings of great joy!  I have never been so happy in my life as I have been in the last 6 months. I am making people's lives so much better by INVITING OTHERS TO COME UNTO CHRIST BY HELPING THEM RECEIVE THE RESTORED GOSPEL THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ATONEMENT, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM, RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST, AND ENDURING TO THE END! This work that I am doing is so important!

I look back at the time's that I told myself that I was going to be done with my mission and then many of you would tell me that I need to make my own decision but that I need to make sure I make the right decision. I am so thankful for the example that all of you have been to me in helping me stay on my mission! It is the best decision I have ever made! I really want all of you to be able to feel this joy and the excitement that I feel on a daily basis while serving my mission! And you all can by doing missionary work on your own! There is always somebody that each and everyone of us know that is ready to hear the restored gospel. The message of the restoration is so important and us bearing our testimony's to our friends, family members, neighbors, or co-workers could help the work progress so much! In Alma 6:6 it says "Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God." We all need to join in fasting and in mighty prayer in behalf of those who know not God. If we do this and all do our part of missionary work the work will be able to progress and there will be a lot more work going on!

I really like this quote from Elder Bednar in conference, it was during a priesthood session so it is centered towards the priesthood holders but this works for all of us and all of us should do this:
"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 priesthood 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 pre-mortal 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 the priesthood and to preach the gospel. That is who we are, and that is why we are here—today and always."

Today and Always! We are all to proclaim glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel! Let us all go forward in faith and Proclaim the gospel, Today and Always!

I am thankful for all that you do for me and all the prayers that come in my behalf. Thank you for everything. Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Anderson