Baptismal Interviews

Hey Mom! This week was great! We had a training in the capital, so we went to that, and it went well. We also found some good people this week, and we currently have 9 baptismal dates! I am very surprised and happy at the success we've had here in 1 transfer starting everything over here, but it's been great! Hopefully as soon as the next transfer starts next week, we'll start to see some of these baptisms happen. Super exciting stuff though!

As far as halloween goes. Noone celebrates it. It's just a normal day here. It's probably for the best though. Because they use most holidays here as an excuse to drink. Like, even their kids birthday parties, the kids will play, and the adults will buy CRATES of beer. 

Our investigators are doing well though. Nicanor now has a baptismal date. He didn't come to church though even though he told us he was going to. So we'll see what happened with him. 

Once we get the branch started (Which I think will be near the end of November) I think we'll be attending the branch.

On Sunday, We actually had a little sacrament meeting outside of someone's house in the sister's area, because I had a baptismal interview there. That was a cool experience. I'll send you a picture of the meeting. Also, I love baptismal interviews. My favorite part about interviewing people is asking them to share their testimony with me, because it's always something very special and heartfelt, and it's a wonderful guage to see if someone is prepared and spiritually ready to recieve the sacred ordinance of baptism.

Anyway! It was a wonderful week! We taught a lot, and we worked hard! I'm now trying to wean my companion off of english, so we have "No english times" Hopefully that will help him out. Love you guys! Have an incredible week!

 

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Love, Elder Anderson

Nueva Esperanza Branch

Hey! So, yesterday we had our Ward Council meeting, and it was announced that our ward is going to be organizing a branch in my area, because there are enough priesthood holders in that area to be able to do it. So our job is to go and look for a house to rent that would be big enough to have sacrament meeting in. It'll be a really fun experience I think! The ward is great though. Really organized, and we've got a great bishopric, and other great leaders too! 

Right now, we have 8 people with a baptismal fecha. Fredy, Dorka, and Arisleda are the parents and grandma of an RM in our ward.

 Yiret is the niece of a super cool member named Yoan

And Francisco, Eridamia, are an old couple we contacted, and their grandson is Fabián.

We also have Manuel, who is a super cool kid that's 17 years old.

All of them are doing really well! Francisco and Eridamia used to be 7th day Adventists, so they are having trouble with the Whole sabbath on sunday thing. But we are trying to explain that the key to resolving that doubt is to read the book of mormon, so we'll see what happens with them!

Anyway, everything's great! I'm loving it here, and the work is good! This week, I was studying in 2 Nephi 15, and at the end, it gives a super crazy prophecy about the last days in which it sounds like Isaiah is describing airplanes, and trains, and modern transportation in the last days for the gathering of Israel. I remember learning about that in seminary, but it was cool to be able to find it again. The book of Mormon is so true. I have gained a testimony of the truth of that book. I love it, and without it, I would be lost.

I love you all, and I hope you have the best week every! Thanks for being such a great family. You are in my prayers!!!

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Love, Elder Anderson

October 16, 2017 ~ Week 63

Hey Mom! This week was a good one, and we ended week 3 of the 12 weeks of training. Haha, it's good that we have two spanish speakers in the house, but it also makes me the official translator of the house so that communication is possible. It really is crazy though to think about how far I've come in the language from when I didn't think that I'd ever learn Spanish!

Training is going pretty well. Sometimes it's tough just because if we're going to do something, I've got to be the one to do it, but it's good! We're finding a lot, and doing a lot of teaching too!

We still don't have any baptismal dates in this area, but we should be getting a couple within the next two weeks!

My spiritual thought for the week comes from a quote from Isaiah in The Book of Mormon. 

In 1st Nephi 21:16, the Lord says:

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

I love the imagery that is there in that scripture, that it was for us that he suffered, and just as a carpenter gets callouses and blisters from creating beautiful works out of wood, the Savior has the evidence of his work for us in the palms of his hands. 

I hope you all have a great week! I love you so much, and I am so grateful for each and every one of you in my life!

Love, Elder Anderson

October 9, 2017 ~ Week 62

Hey Mom! 

As far life here, it´s pretty much the same, lots of finding, lots of teaching about the book of Mormon. But life is good. I like Canastíca. We have a really great ward here. It´s also kind of a nice mixture between the south and the capital. So we have a pretty good grocery store nearby, but there also aren´t a trillion people living in one small area. It´s more tranquilo.

There are four Elders in our house, and 10 people in our district. And in our house we have me and Elder Paolo, and Elder Ortiz from Mexico, and Elder Brutus who is also being trained. He's from the DR. 

I need to ask around about the waterfalls though! That sounds pretty awesome! I heard about some cool caves a little bit ago, and maybe we'll try and visit them one of  these P-days! 

Life is good though! I don't have any complaints. I think that my Spanish is getting even better now that I'm the only companion to speak and I feel like I am really perfecting the language with my grammar and everything! I hope this week is great for you all! I love you!

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Love, Elder Anderson

Canastíca, San Cristóbal

Hey Mom! I´ll start by answering your questions!

I am now in the pueblo of Canastíca in the Zone of San Cristóbal which is the closest "Southern" Zone to the capital. It´s a super cool little town, and it´s got a pretty strong ward. And there were sisters here before, so the house is SUPER clean!

My companion is Elder Paolo, and he is from Yamhill, Oregon! He´s a super cool guy, and he´s really obedient, and ready to work hard! His spanish isn´t incredible, but neither was mine at 1 week in the field (Or anyone´s for that matter) and he has a strong desire to study and learn it, so he´ll be holding his own in lessons in no time. 

General Conference was great, and I made sure to get it hooked up in English so that my comp could understand... And I like it way better in English! My favorite talk was either President Nelson´s or Elder Anderson´s. I liked President Nelson´s because both our mission, and I personally have been focusing on the book of mormon recently, and I loved his question: "What is worth more to you: Diamonds, rubies, or The Book of Mormon?"

I also loved Elder Andersen´s because it felt very candid and genuine, and I liked the spirit that I could feel during the talk. I also loved the fact that he shared from Elder Hale´s talk, and the others and I felt like it was a nice tribute to Elder Hales. 

This week was great though! Lots of contacting! That's basically all we did, because we don't know anyone here, but it was a great week! I love you all, and I'm praying for each and every one of you!

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Love, Elder Anderson

New area and a new companion