May 28, 2018 ~ Week 94

Hey! I hope everything's going well back home. I'm sorry to hear about your health situation mom. I hope everything is resolved and that it isn't anything serious. Please keep me updated. I'll keep you in my prayers. 

I'm glad to see that school's out! That's always really exciting. That means I'll be home super soon! Aaaahhh! But for now, I'm just going to keep working hard. We had two baptisms this week! Steven and Miguelángel both got baptized, and they also both got the priesthood, and they're going on the ward temple trip this Thursday. We're also now teaching Jefry, Miguelángel, and Steven`s friend: Jan Carlos, and he has a fecha for June 16th, and he's really excited to get baptized.

I think/hope that I'll be staying here in Cristo Rey for my last transfer. I'll find out on Saturday! Being a Zone Leader is going well. Ours is the only Zone in the entire mission that reached the goal of 2 baptisms per companionship in the month of May! Haha, so things are going well!

Something really cool happened this week. We left with the Second Counselor in the bishopric: Ramón, and we didn't have any appointments, so we felt like we should go to Steven's house, but when we got there, Steven wasn't there, but his mom was. Her name is Blendy. She was baptized about a year ago, and her husband doesn't really like the church a ton, so it's been kind of rough for her sometimes. So we talked with her, and we asked if we could share something with her. So we prayed and I shared a scripture about prayer, and we started discussing the importance of prayer, and then Blendy started to cry, and she said that these past few days have been rough for her. And that just before we came she had prayed for God to send someone to help her. 

Wow. That was a cool moment. It's amazing too see God's hand in everything and to be able to be the answer to someone's prayer. 

This week, I'd like to invite the family to pray to be the answer to someones prayer, and if you ever find yourself in a difficult moment, don't be afraid to pray for help. God knows us, and will help us in any difficult moment. 

I love you all so much and I'm grateful for everything you do for me! I hope everything goes okay with your kidney stone mom, and I hope you feel better! You are always in my thoughts and prayers and I love you guys so much! Have a good week!!!!!! ​

--

Love, Elder Anderson

May 21, 2018 ~ Week 94

Hey Guys, how's it going? Sounds like school is winding down now. Is everyone pretty excited for summer vacation? I'm so excited for the weather to warm up... Just kidding. Haha, it's been way too hot recently. Lol. When is the last day of school for everyone?

This week was good! We baptized Dorianni! She's 9 years old and her parents were kind of less active, but her grandparents are active, so her mom started coming a lot more frequently and her dad came to her baptism! So that's good.

Probably the coolest experience of the week was on Sunday. Jefry passed the sacrament to the congregation, and it was just really cool to see one of my converts using the priesthood to help others. It was really rewarding and it made me reflect on the people who encouraged me in my life to make sacred covenants and to righteously excercise the priesthood (Mostly my parents, but also friends, and ward leaders) And I'm so grateful for that. Really the only way that I can pay that back is to pass it on. 

I had great parents, so to pay you guys back, I have to strive to be a good, loving parent, I've had great ward leaders, so I need to be willing to minister to the needs of others. That's really what our relationship is like with our Heavenly Father. We'll never be able to pay him back for his perfect love, or salvation, but he doesn't expect us to pay him back, he just expects us to be grateful, and keep the chain going by helping others and to strive for improvement. 

I love you guys, and I hope you have a great week!

Oh, and Steven and Miguelángel are getting baptized on Saturday!

--

Love, Elder Anderson

Oh! And I was wondering if when I get home you would be okay with making pork barbequoa with cilantro lime rice. That sounds sooooo delicious!

May 14, 2018 ~ Week 93

Hey Mom! It was great to be able to talk to you yesterday! It is an incredible feeling to talk to you guys and it reminds me of the love I have for each one of you!

Don't worry, I'm not too trunky. Just a little 😉 But I'll definitely keep working hard to the end! Haha, love you mom!

-Elder Anderson

-Love, Elder Anderson

Last Mother's Day call with Elder Anderson before he returns home.

The Fam - Mother's Day 2018

Love that Smile and the Thumbs Up!

d

21 Months - Week 92

Hey Mom! This week was good. It was pretty normal. We've been trying to encourage the relief society president and the elders quorum president in our ward to make assignment for ministering. Especially for our recent converts. But I think they'll do it eventually.

I'm sure Hunter is so ready to graduate. I know how he feels. 

I'll plan on calling you guys as soon as you get home from church. So 2:00 your time. I'm so excited to call you guys for the last time before I see you for real!

The Zone is doing great though! We've got some really good investigators and I'm really happy here. Things are good.

Anyway. I hope you have a great week this week! Love you mom!

See More from Paula Anderson

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Love, Elder Anderson


May 8, 2018 ~ 

Hey Mom! Just wanted to let you know real quick that I'll actually be skyping at 5:00 your time or a little after on Sunday. We'll plan on doing it through FaceTime. Sorry for the change! Love you!

-- 

Love, Elder Anderson

April 30, 2018 ~ Week 91

Hey Mom! The rainy season I think is like, always I think. It hasn't been raining a lot recently though.

I heard that the Jazz have been doing pretty well. Most of the kids in this country LOVE basketball, so I've heard a little bit about the playoffs.

I'm so excited for Hunter and his mission call. I think that the whole family is going to have to learn Spanish now, haha, that's awesome that you've already started, and that you're learning portuguese.

That's also really exciting for Hannah! I'm glad that she was able to make elections! I'm so happy for her!

We are now making some progress with Jefry's Mom. She says she's going to come to church on Sunday to see Jefry recieve the priesthood, so that'll be great.

My comp was having some constipation problems, and he's had them for his whole mission, but he actually decided to stay, but it was after transfers, so they sent him to a diferent area to finish. 

My new comp is Elder Ellis from South Jordan, and I think he'll be my last companion. He's a chill guy and he'll be a good guy to end the mission with. The new Zone Leader here is Elder Raps, my comp from the MTC. So we're both pretty excited about that. Ending the mission like we started! 

My next transfer date is June 4th, and then The next tranfer I'll be going home! 

Things are super good though! Everyone in my house is cool, and we are doing good things here. 

I'm so excited to skype you guys in a couple of weeks. Our bishop is going to let us do it at his house, so we're all set! 

I love you Mom and I hope you have a great week! Sorry I can't write a whole lot. Today is a holiday here and the internet centers aren't open.

-- 

Love, Elder Anderson

April 23, 2018 ~ Week 90

Hey Mom! So I won't be able to call in, because it'll be too late, but can you send me a video tonight without saying where he's going, and tomorrow, I'll be able to log on and watch the video? Thank you so much Mom! I appreciate that and I'm so excited to find out where he's going!!!

We had a baptism on Saturday! Jefry got baptized and it was a great service. His mom and little siblings were able to come and they really enjoyed it. They also came to church on Sunday to see the confirmation. It was great!

Also, my comp is going home for some stomach problems he's been having. He only had one transfer left though. But my new companion will be Elder Castillo. He's dominican, but he's lived in the canary islands since he was 12. So that's pretty cool! What island did Jarrett serve on again? Tenerife right?

I love you mom! Thanks for all your love and support! I can't wait to talk to you on Mother's day!

--

Love, Elder Anderson

April 18, 2018 ~ Week 89

Hey Mom! I'm also glad that it didn't expire. I'm sorry to have scared you like that! Yeah, I'll just have to prepare ahead of time to be able to have the money I need when coming home, but no need to worry, I'll be alright. 

As far as the luggage situation, honestly my suitcases have worked great for me. The big one has been extremely useful, and I don't have any complaints about it. Everyone usually has a huge suitcase about the same size as well, so I would reccomend that Hunter use the same suitcase that I did. 

As far as when Hunter opens his call, maybe you could send me a text message the day he gets it telling me what time he'll be opening it so I can be ready. I can ask a member if I can use their phone or computer to Facetime you guys. The bishop has an iPad so that would probably work. 

The temple today was great, and it was so good to be in the house of the Lord. I ordered the garments and everything, so that's good. And my pants and shirts are good. My shoes are wearing out more than anything, but I think I can make them work for three more months!

Thank you for always thinking of me and for being such a great mom! I love you so much! I hope you have an incredible week this week! 

--

Love, Elder Anderson