Hey Mom,
Thanks for your email. I love hearing from you and hearing about what's going on back home.
This was another kind of rough week. I am sick and tired of disobedient missionaries that don't understand why they came on the mission and have no sense of respect or reverence.
I called President yesterday to inform him about the situation. President thanked me for my obedience and talked with my comp for a while. Afterwards, my companion and I talked, and he apologized and I apologized for any pride I might have had, or for offending him in any way, and we decided on doing a "Week of consecration" for his last week in the mission. So we're going to strive for perfect obedience for a week.
Then I called President back to tell him what we talked about, and he told me that earlier in the week, he had recieved an impression about me, and that he was glad that I called him because that was an answer to his prayers, and he asked if I would be willing to serve as Zone Leader. So I said that I would be willing to, and he thanked me and he thanked me for what I did, and said to keep the tablet until the last day like I had decided.
So yeah! Kind of crazy, and the interesting thing is that sometimes when you do the right thing, you feel a little bad because other people want you to feel like it's not the right thing, but I don't care what others think. I care what God thinks and I'm glad that I chose him because I'm his disciple, and I fear no man! And that includes my companions.
But yeah, sometimes that happens. I hope that next transfer I'll get a good companion. We'll see. But I'm glad that the Lord and President trust me to be able to handle the tough ones. I didn't know that I would have to deal with this so much in my mission and it can definitely be frustrating, especially when you're forced to live with people who don't share your values, but hey, life is hard sometimes, and God will always help.
Other than that, this week was good. We should have a baptism on Saturday, so that'll be good! But I just found out that Nate Johansen and I have the same exact release date! July 19th!!! So that's super cool that we'll be getting home the same day!
Also, that's crazy to hear about Hunter's friends getting their mission calls. That will be so good to have a good month or two together before he heads out on his mission. That means that he'll be getting his mission call when? At the end of April? I'm so excited to find out where he's going!
It really is an eternal summer here. There's a joke that I like saying and it's that there are two seasons in the dominican republic. 1. Verano (Summer) and 2. Infierno (It's a play on words because Invierno with a v means winter, but infierno with an f means hell) So yes I'm still making puns even though I'm speaking Spanish!
That's great news about Hannah and Hunter making their teams, and about McKay getting his life scout! Tell them that I'm super proud of them!
I hope you're enjoying your calling even though I'm sure that it's keeping you really busy! I know that the lord blesses us when we serve, and I've come to realize that sometimes the blessings that he gives us aren't always random blessings in other facets of our lives, but they are a direct and natural result of the attributes and habits that we're cultivationg. Nothing in life is about what we do, it's all about what we're becoming through what we do. We're not earning heaven, we're learning heaven step by step.
Sorry I don't have a lot of pictures but the four I'm sending are of my new buzz cut, some caves we visited on Pday today, and the view of San Cristóbal (My pueblo) and you can see the capital in the background.
Anyway, I love you guys so much, and I'm sorry for ranting a little bit in this email, but I'm trying to work hard and make you guys proud. I love you so so much, and I'm so grateful to have you as a mom.
I hope you have a great week, and that you have success in all that you do!
Love, Elder Anderson
