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.
Monday, October 26, 2009
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!
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.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that the decisions that need to be made will be the will of our Fathers.
Monday, October 19, 2009
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
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
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
Monday, October 12, 2009
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
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.)
Monday, October 5, 2009
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
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)
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