Hey Dad,
Well it is that start of a new transfer and we are busy busy busy. We have already planned out our transfer and again we have meetings, exchanges, interviews and who knows what else. We are leaving for Charleston tomorrow for a three day training meeting. Elder Hansen, myself and seven other missionaries from our Zone will be leaving. The training is great!!!
This past week was a bit of a struggle. We did better finding but the investigators that we had are starting to disappear. I don't know what we are doing wrong. Elder Hansen is keeping me going. We work pretty hard. Because we aren't going to be working in our area this week, we are cutting our P-day short. We have some appointments with hopefully some new investigators.
We have been doing splits with Christian and Aaron every week now. They are so great!! They love to come out and work with us. We are trying so hard to schedule some appointments but it seems like whenever they go out with us the appointments get canceled so we end up tracting. I think that they enjoy that as well.
Nothing exciting has happened this week. Sorry no stories.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Hey Dad,
Well, it is transfer week again. Elder Hansen and I will be staying together, but again we have lots of changes in our zone. It is going to be interesting trying to learn everybodies names again.
On Monday, the Clarksburg Ward had an activite. It was called the "Fun Run". It was a 5K run and then a brunch after. We decided that we were going to wear gym shorts and then a white shirt and tie on the top. The members really loved it and the non members just thought that we were strange. I will have to send you pictures. I ran the 5K, the first one of me life and did better then I thought I would. I did it in 29:36. Not bad for a fat boy. LOL It really was fun. Now Elder Hansen and I are going to start running more in the mornings. We are both trying to get in shape before we come home.
This week we struggled finding and teaching. We have been tracting with little success. A lot of our investigators are dropping us or we are just not able to contact them. It is really frustrating. And to add to all that, we are going to Charleston again next week for a four day training. So this next week we are not going to be able to find many people. The training will help us become better missionaries though.
Well, other then that nothing has changed to much. I love you very much
Well, it is transfer week again. Elder Hansen and I will be staying together, but again we have lots of changes in our zone. It is going to be interesting trying to learn everybodies names again.
On Monday, the Clarksburg Ward had an activite. It was called the "Fun Run". It was a 5K run and then a brunch after. We decided that we were going to wear gym shorts and then a white shirt and tie on the top. The members really loved it and the non members just thought that we were strange. I will have to send you pictures. I ran the 5K, the first one of me life and did better then I thought I would. I did it in 29:36. Not bad for a fat boy. LOL It really was fun. Now Elder Hansen and I are going to start running more in the mornings. We are both trying to get in shape before we come home.
This week we struggled finding and teaching. We have been tracting with little success. A lot of our investigators are dropping us or we are just not able to contact them. It is really frustrating. And to add to all that, we are going to Charleston again next week for a four day training. So this next week we are not going to be able to find many people. The training will help us become better missionaries though.
Well, other then that nothing has changed to much. I love you very much
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Hello Dad,
What a week we have had!!! Lee Milam was baptized on Sunday. The spirit was really strong. I had the opportunity to baptize him and Elder Hansen Confirmed him. Then in Sacrament meeting we got to speak on missionary work. It was a packed day. Elder Hansen was a little stressed out but we made it and the day went better then expected.
We also went out on a whole day split with two of the young men in the Ward here. Christian and Aaron went out with us on Thursday. It was a very interesting experience. I felt like I was training a new missionary again. I did most of the teaching and door approaches but it was really fun. I think that they both enjoyed it because they are going to go out with us all day again tomorrow. They actually wanted to do it two days this week but we don't have enough work to keep us all busy. It is really nice though because it doubles our time.
This has been a great transfer and now it is coming to a close. I hope that the Lord still needs me here for one more because we have some great things coming up here in the future. Donnie Tate is still working towards being baptized on September 25th. We found two great families. One of the families I thought was Mormon already. They have eight kids and they home school them. Doesn't that just scream Mormon? We are really excited about everything that is happening for us. The Lord has blessed us with the time that we do spend working in our area.
It looks like you all had a great week this week. Freezing corn, going to the cabin. It sounds like Katelyn is going to enjoy her Senior year of High School. She has a lot of great classes. I wish I was going to be home to see here musical production. But I guess I am doing a great work here in West Virginia.
Me and Elder Hansen have been talking about it. We only have 2 1/2 transfers left on our missions. That is enough time for me to be a Zone Leader one more transfer and then to go off and die in my last area. I can't beleive it has come this fast!!
Fall is coming fast here. We heard in church yesterday that the weather is supposed to start getting colder every day. It gets to about 60 degrees at night. and we don't use our AC Unit any more. I can't beleive it is here. It is another testimony that my mission is drawing to a close. :(
Thanks for all of the great pictures. I sould be sending some home to you all here this week.
I love you very much.
What a week we have had!!! Lee Milam was baptized on Sunday. The spirit was really strong. I had the opportunity to baptize him and Elder Hansen Confirmed him. Then in Sacrament meeting we got to speak on missionary work. It was a packed day. Elder Hansen was a little stressed out but we made it and the day went better then expected.
We also went out on a whole day split with two of the young men in the Ward here. Christian and Aaron went out with us on Thursday. It was a very interesting experience. I felt like I was training a new missionary again. I did most of the teaching and door approaches but it was really fun. I think that they both enjoyed it because they are going to go out with us all day again tomorrow. They actually wanted to do it two days this week but we don't have enough work to keep us all busy. It is really nice though because it doubles our time.
This has been a great transfer and now it is coming to a close. I hope that the Lord still needs me here for one more because we have some great things coming up here in the future. Donnie Tate is still working towards being baptized on September 25th. We found two great families. One of the families I thought was Mormon already. They have eight kids and they home school them. Doesn't that just scream Mormon? We are really excited about everything that is happening for us. The Lord has blessed us with the time that we do spend working in our area.
It looks like you all had a great week this week. Freezing corn, going to the cabin. It sounds like Katelyn is going to enjoy her Senior year of High School. She has a lot of great classes. I wish I was going to be home to see here musical production. But I guess I am doing a great work here in West Virginia.
Me and Elder Hansen have been talking about it. We only have 2 1/2 transfers left on our missions. That is enough time for me to be a Zone Leader one more transfer and then to go off and die in my last area. I can't beleive it has come this fast!!
Fall is coming fast here. We heard in church yesterday that the weather is supposed to start getting colder every day. It gets to about 60 degrees at night. and we don't use our AC Unit any more. I can't beleive it is here. It is another testimony that my mission is drawing to a close. :(
Thanks for all of the great pictures. I sould be sending some home to you all here this week.
I love you very much.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Hello Dad,
Sorry for not writing you last week. We have been told that we only have thirty minutes on the computers now. Last week I had to do a lot of reports and get them emailed to the Stake President and to President Thornock. It took almost all of the time that I had.
Things have still been really busy this last week. We taught two more District Meetings. One in Morgantown, and one in Mannington. We have been putting a lot of miles on our car. It has been really great to be able to get to know all of the missionaries in our Zone though. We taught about extending baptismal dates earlier as we teach. A lot of missionaries (myself included) wait until the third lesson to even invite the person to be baptized, but now they want us to extend a date on the second visit. I thought that was wierd at first but now I see the importance of it. We are sent out to find the Lord's elect. What better way then to just ask them if they wouuld like to enter into Christ's fold through baptism.
Then we went to Mannington and taught the same things. We have some great missionaries in our Zone. They are so willing to learn and to become better. They all love the work so much. It is really exciting to see so many missionaries excited to go out and do the Lord's work.
On Saturday we were able to attend a baptism here in Clarksburg. His name is Jim Lafferty. His wife was baptized about one year ago he just took a little longer to understand, and feel the Holy Ghost testify. I guess it is on the Lord's time. As always it is a very spiritual experience seeing a baptism.
Well Elder Moreang and Elder Hegland are gone. We are all alone in that huge house. Now we are going to be covering two areas so we will be even more busy then normal. We have some great potential investigators though. We are going to go and help one of our investigators move tonight. It is so funny how we get wrapped into that.
Well I hope that you got my video chip by now, because I did finally send it home.
I love you very much!!! Have a great week.
Sorry for not writing you last week. We have been told that we only have thirty minutes on the computers now. Last week I had to do a lot of reports and get them emailed to the Stake President and to President Thornock. It took almost all of the time that I had.
Things have still been really busy this last week. We taught two more District Meetings. One in Morgantown, and one in Mannington. We have been putting a lot of miles on our car. It has been really great to be able to get to know all of the missionaries in our Zone though. We taught about extending baptismal dates earlier as we teach. A lot of missionaries (myself included) wait until the third lesson to even invite the person to be baptized, but now they want us to extend a date on the second visit. I thought that was wierd at first but now I see the importance of it. We are sent out to find the Lord's elect. What better way then to just ask them if they wouuld like to enter into Christ's fold through baptism.
Then we went to Mannington and taught the same things. We have some great missionaries in our Zone. They are so willing to learn and to become better. They all love the work so much. It is really exciting to see so many missionaries excited to go out and do the Lord's work.
On Saturday we were able to attend a baptism here in Clarksburg. His name is Jim Lafferty. His wife was baptized about one year ago he just took a little longer to understand, and feel the Holy Ghost testify. I guess it is on the Lord's time. As always it is a very spiritual experience seeing a baptism.
Well Elder Moreang and Elder Hegland are gone. We are all alone in that huge house. Now we are going to be covering two areas so we will be even more busy then normal. We have some great potential investigators though. We are going to go and help one of our investigators move tonight. It is so funny how we get wrapped into that.
Well I hope that you got my video chip by now, because I did finally send it home.
I love you very much!!! Have a great week.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Hello Dad,
Well it is transfer week again, that is why I am writing you on tuesday. I found out that I will be staying in Clarksburg, but Elder Houser will be transfered to Cowin WV. I will now be serving with Elder Jason Hansen (not John Hansen). He came out with me so that will be very interesting to serve with him. I served around him while I was in the middle of the Blacksburg/Radford mix up. He was one of the Elders that we shared an appartment with in Dublin.
Lots of changes are taking place in the Mission. They are getting rid of a lot of the zones and combining them. So last transfer I was a Zone Leader over 16 missionaries, and now I will be a Zone Leader over 28 missionaries. I am really nervous!!! We are going to be driving a lot from area to area doing the new training that will be taking place here. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord chose me to be a Zone Leader in the middle of all this.
This last week we set Lee Milam with a Baptismal Date!!! We are really excited about it. We have been working with him for a long time and it is finally time for him to be baptized. He will be baptized on August 28th. Pray for him.
We also were able to find 4 new investigators this past week. One lady that we met is from Holland. Her name is Candita (Candeta). She is a really nice lady. We are going to be able to meet with next week. Then we found a man named Jim Elder. He knows a few of the members here and I think that is why he let us in, but hey, whatever it takes.
I don't really have any fun stories. We are still doing a lot of tracting. We were tracting in Grafton on Saturday and we knocked on a door, I started dry heaving when I smelt the inside of the house. I thought that I had a strong stomach after going to that house in Charleston, but this house was NASTY!!! I felt really bad but I just couldn't talk so we just gave them a card and walked away. I will never forget that smell.
I hope that you had fun at Girls Camp. I love you very much!!!
Love,
Elder Anderson
Well it is transfer week again, that is why I am writing you on tuesday. I found out that I will be staying in Clarksburg, but Elder Houser will be transfered to Cowin WV. I will now be serving with Elder Jason Hansen (not John Hansen). He came out with me so that will be very interesting to serve with him. I served around him while I was in the middle of the Blacksburg/Radford mix up. He was one of the Elders that we shared an appartment with in Dublin.
Lots of changes are taking place in the Mission. They are getting rid of a lot of the zones and combining them. So last transfer I was a Zone Leader over 16 missionaries, and now I will be a Zone Leader over 28 missionaries. I am really nervous!!! We are going to be driving a lot from area to area doing the new training that will be taking place here. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord chose me to be a Zone Leader in the middle of all this.
This last week we set Lee Milam with a Baptismal Date!!! We are really excited about it. We have been working with him for a long time and it is finally time for him to be baptized. He will be baptized on August 28th. Pray for him.
We also were able to find 4 new investigators this past week. One lady that we met is from Holland. Her name is Candita (Candeta). She is a really nice lady. We are going to be able to meet with next week. Then we found a man named Jim Elder. He knows a few of the members here and I think that is why he let us in, but hey, whatever it takes.
I don't really have any fun stories. We are still doing a lot of tracting. We were tracting in Grafton on Saturday and we knocked on a door, I started dry heaving when I smelt the inside of the house. I thought that I had a strong stomach after going to that house in Charleston, but this house was NASTY!!! I felt really bad but I just couldn't talk so we just gave them a card and walked away. I will never forget that smell.
I hope that you had fun at Girls Camp. I love you very much!!!
Love,
Elder Anderson
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hello Dad,
Well it is transfer week again, that is why I am writing you on tuesday. I found out that I will be staying in Clarksburg, but Elder Houser will be transfered to Cowin WV. I will now be serving with Elder Jason Hansen (not John Hansen). He came out with me so that will be very interesting to serve with him. I served around him while I was in the middle of the Blacksburg/Radford mix up. He was one of the Elders that we shared an appartment with in Dublin.
Lots of changes are taking place in the Mission. They are getting rid of a lot of the zones and combining them. So last transfer I was a Zone Leader over 16 missionaries, and now I will be a Zone Leader over 28 missionaries. I am really nervous!!! We are going to be driving a lot from area to area doing the new training that will be taking place here. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord chose me to be a Zone Leader in the middle of all this.
This last week we set Lee Milam with a Baptismal Date!!! We are really excited about it. We have been working with him for a long time and it is finally time for him to be baptized. He will be baptized on August 28th. Pray for him.
We also were able to find 4 new investigators this past week. One lady that we met is from Holland. Her name is Candita (Candeta). She is a really nice lady. We are going to be able to meet with next week. Then we found a man named Jim Elder. He knows a few of the members here and I think that is why he let us in, but hey, whatever it takes.
I don't really have any fun stories. We are still doing a lot of tracting. We were tracting in Grafton on Saturday and we knocked on a door, I started dry heaving when I smelt the inside of the house. I thought that I had a strong stomach after going to Yvonne Evans house in Charleston, but this house was NASTY!!! I felt really bad but I just couldn't talk so we just gave them a card and walked away. I will never forget that smell.
I hope that you had fun at Girls Camp. I love you very much!!!
Love,
Elder Anderson
Well it is transfer week again, that is why I am writing you on tuesday. I found out that I will be staying in Clarksburg, but Elder Houser will be transfered to Cowin WV. I will now be serving with Elder Jason Hansen (not John Hansen). He came out with me so that will be very interesting to serve with him. I served around him while I was in the middle of the Blacksburg/Radford mix up. He was one of the Elders that we shared an appartment with in Dublin.
Lots of changes are taking place in the Mission. They are getting rid of a lot of the zones and combining them. So last transfer I was a Zone Leader over 16 missionaries, and now I will be a Zone Leader over 28 missionaries. I am really nervous!!! We are going to be driving a lot from area to area doing the new training that will be taking place here. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord chose me to be a Zone Leader in the middle of all this.
This last week we set Lee Milam with a Baptismal Date!!! We are really excited about it. We have been working with him for a long time and it is finally time for him to be baptized. He will be baptized on August 28th. Pray for him.
We also were able to find 4 new investigators this past week. One lady that we met is from Holland. Her name is Candita (Candeta). She is a really nice lady. We are going to be able to meet with next week. Then we found a man named Jim Elder. He knows a few of the members here and I think that is why he let us in, but hey, whatever it takes.
I don't really have any fun stories. We are still doing a lot of tracting. We were tracting in Grafton on Saturday and we knocked on a door, I started dry heaving when I smelt the inside of the house. I thought that I had a strong stomach after going to Yvonne Evans house in Charleston, but this house was NASTY!!! I felt really bad but I just couldn't talk so we just gave them a card and walked away. I will never forget that smell.
I hope that you had fun at Girls Camp. I love you very much!!!
Love,
Elder Anderson
Monday, July 19, 2010
Hello Dad,
Well it was a really hard week for us in finding new people to teach. We spent many hours pounding the pavement and knocking doors with little success. It wasn't just us either; the whole Zone struggled really badly. We have 8 companionships and we only found 4 investigators for the whole zone. OUCH!!
It is time for a change of heart. I need to be more focused on the work. I seem to have lost my faith and am relying on my own knowledge. I need to repent and turn to the Lord for help in his work.
Nothing really great is happening here in Clarksburg. We only taught 4 lessons last week. Our investigators are stuck where they are comfortable. They don't want to do anymore then they have to. It is really frustrating sometimes.
Again, I wish I had some stories for you but I don't.
Yes, I did get the new shoes on Saturday. In fact I am wearing them right now. They are a little different from my old pair but they still work. I have a question for you. I found a suit in a Thrift Store for $10, I bought it. It fits me really well. I don't think that I am going to be wearing my other suits anymore because they don't fit me at all. What do you want me to do with them? I sent two pants home already, do you want me to send the rest of the suits home? I don't really have room to carry them around with me. Let me know.
I love you very much. Thank you so much for running around and figuring things out for me with school and everything. Thanks.
Love,
Elder Anderson
Well it was a really hard week for us in finding new people to teach. We spent many hours pounding the pavement and knocking doors with little success. It wasn't just us either; the whole Zone struggled really badly. We have 8 companionships and we only found 4 investigators for the whole zone. OUCH!!
It is time for a change of heart. I need to be more focused on the work. I seem to have lost my faith and am relying on my own knowledge. I need to repent and turn to the Lord for help in his work.
Nothing really great is happening here in Clarksburg. We only taught 4 lessons last week. Our investigators are stuck where they are comfortable. They don't want to do anymore then they have to. It is really frustrating sometimes.
Again, I wish I had some stories for you but I don't.
Yes, I did get the new shoes on Saturday. In fact I am wearing them right now. They are a little different from my old pair but they still work. I have a question for you. I found a suit in a Thrift Store for $10, I bought it. It fits me really well. I don't think that I am going to be wearing my other suits anymore because they don't fit me at all. What do you want me to do with them? I sent two pants home already, do you want me to send the rest of the suits home? I don't really have room to carry them around with me. Let me know.
I love you very much. Thank you so much for running around and figuring things out for me with school and everything. Thanks.
Love,
Elder Anderson
Monday, July 12, 2010
Hello Dad,
Things are still going good in Clarksburg. We had a rough week finding people to teach and almost all of our appointments fell through. BUMMER!!! But we will work harder this week and hopefully the Lord will bless us.
Nothing has really changed for me. We have still been doing a lot of tracting and spending time trying to find people to teach. We are starting what is called OYM's ( Open Your Mouth) all it is is everywhere you go you open your mouth and share the gospel with those around you. It has been a challenge but it really helps you love the work.
We had a lesson last night with an excommunicated member of the church who would like to be rebaptized. He is going through a lot of problems trying to get back on the right path. All I can say is addictions are intense. Satan really knows how to use them against us. That is why we are counseled to stay away from anything that causes addictive behavior. One thing that we are trying with him is we are reading the Confrence Ensign with him and his family. It is amazing the power that comes from the words of the prophet. So much strength and hope.
We started asking around and we found three AC Units. The only problem now is the breaker keeps flipping. So we can only have a few lights on while they are running. We are so ghetto. LOL At least we don't sweat when we sleep.
Well, I wish I had some fun stories to tell you but nothing is really happening at this point. I love you all so much.
Love Elder Anderson
Things are still going good in Clarksburg. We had a rough week finding people to teach and almost all of our appointments fell through. BUMMER!!! But we will work harder this week and hopefully the Lord will bless us.
Nothing has really changed for me. We have still been doing a lot of tracting and spending time trying to find people to teach. We are starting what is called OYM's ( Open Your Mouth) all it is is everywhere you go you open your mouth and share the gospel with those around you. It has been a challenge but it really helps you love the work.
We had a lesson last night with an excommunicated member of the church who would like to be rebaptized. He is going through a lot of problems trying to get back on the right path. All I can say is addictions are intense. Satan really knows how to use them against us. That is why we are counseled to stay away from anything that causes addictive behavior. One thing that we are trying with him is we are reading the Confrence Ensign with him and his family. It is amazing the power that comes from the words of the prophet. So much strength and hope.
We started asking around and we found three AC Units. The only problem now is the breaker keeps flipping. So we can only have a few lights on while they are running. We are so ghetto. LOL At least we don't sweat when we sleep.
Well, I wish I had some fun stories to tell you but nothing is really happening at this point. I love you all so much.
Love Elder Anderson
Monday, July 5, 2010
Hello Dad,
Sounds like you all had a great 4th of July. Things were a bit different here. They still celebrated Independence Day on Sunday, so we missed all of the good times, and it didn't help that it was a fast Sunday. Oh well.
Things have been going good for us in Clarksburg. We are teaching a few more people. This week we taught a man in Grafton, his name is Donald Edison. We took a member with us, her name is Sister Poe, she is from the Philippines (? spelling). It was a great lesson! He said that he was interested in coming to know if it is true. I have been praying really hard for him. I know that if he reads and prays with a sincere heart and real intent, then the Lord will answer his prayer. We left him a Book of Mormon and asked him to read the first two chapters.
Also this week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Moreang. He is doing really great for only being out for two weeks. I think that he misses home. He is staying focused on the work and loves it. We tracted into a young girl named Tiffany and now they are teaching her!
The Ward Members are so great here. They are all really excited about the work and are always willing to help. We went and ate and the Gladwells on the 4th of July, and they noticed that the shoes that Elder Moreang was wearing were falling apart. She called us this morning and we secretly took him to JCPenny and she bought him new shoes, some short sleeve shirts, and some new ties. The people out here so love. She offered to get us something but Elder Houser, Elder Hegland, and myself are getting ready to come home. There is no reason to get new things. Plus, I just got new pants.
We have had some fun adventures this week. There are some members that have a huge rope swing the swings out over the road. We got to go and swing on that. It was so high. I thought that the rope was going to break with all of my weight. It was really fun though. Then later we were working next to a lake so we went over and got pictures of the dam. West Virginia is so beautiful!! I love it here.
We have still been doing a lot of tracting lately. Something very interesting has happened the last two weeks. I think that the Lord is pushing us into talking to people about Family History. It all started with Sister Haws giving us some Family History Pamphlets, then the next day I was reading in "Preach My Gospel" and noticed that in the "Finding" Section that the biggest portion is how to use Family History in finding people to teach. I got a really strong impression that that is what we needed to try. So, we followed the promptings and there are a lot of people that are interested in it. So now we are looking at how we can introduce people to Family History on the door step, and at the same time share the gospel with them. We have come up with the idea to teach them about the spirit world and the importance of Family History to bring the gospel to those who will be taught there. Then this morning I was reading in the June Ensign and there is an article about Family History in there, and as I read it I got the same strong feelings. This is definetly something that the Lord wants us to do. I have been carrying around my Pedigree Chart and the pictures of Vera Strong and of Mom's Mom. People really open up when you share them stories about these people. It has been really exciting!!
The work is going so good!! I love it so much and continue to love it more each day. The Gospel is true!!!
I love you very much. Thanks for everything.
Love
Elder Anderson
Sounds like you all had a great 4th of July. Things were a bit different here. They still celebrated Independence Day on Sunday, so we missed all of the good times, and it didn't help that it was a fast Sunday. Oh well.
Things have been going good for us in Clarksburg. We are teaching a few more people. This week we taught a man in Grafton, his name is Donald Edison. We took a member with us, her name is Sister Poe, she is from the Philippines (? spelling). It was a great lesson! He said that he was interested in coming to know if it is true. I have been praying really hard for him. I know that if he reads and prays with a sincere heart and real intent, then the Lord will answer his prayer. We left him a Book of Mormon and asked him to read the first two chapters.
Also this week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Moreang. He is doing really great for only being out for two weeks. I think that he misses home. He is staying focused on the work and loves it. We tracted into a young girl named Tiffany and now they are teaching her!
The Ward Members are so great here. They are all really excited about the work and are always willing to help. We went and ate and the Gladwells on the 4th of July, and they noticed that the shoes that Elder Moreang was wearing were falling apart. She called us this morning and we secretly took him to JCPenny and she bought him new shoes, some short sleeve shirts, and some new ties. The people out here so love. She offered to get us something but Elder Houser, Elder Hegland, and myself are getting ready to come home. There is no reason to get new things. Plus, I just got new pants.
We have had some fun adventures this week. There are some members that have a huge rope swing the swings out over the road. We got to go and swing on that. It was so high. I thought that the rope was going to break with all of my weight. It was really fun though. Then later we were working next to a lake so we went over and got pictures of the dam. West Virginia is so beautiful!! I love it here.
We have still been doing a lot of tracting lately. Something very interesting has happened the last two weeks. I think that the Lord is pushing us into talking to people about Family History. It all started with Sister Haws giving us some Family History Pamphlets, then the next day I was reading in "Preach My Gospel" and noticed that in the "Finding" Section that the biggest portion is how to use Family History in finding people to teach. I got a really strong impression that that is what we needed to try. So, we followed the promptings and there are a lot of people that are interested in it. So now we are looking at how we can introduce people to Family History on the door step, and at the same time share the gospel with them. We have come up with the idea to teach them about the spirit world and the importance of Family History to bring the gospel to those who will be taught there. Then this morning I was reading in the June Ensign and there is an article about Family History in there, and as I read it I got the same strong feelings. This is definetly something that the Lord wants us to do. I have been carrying around my Pedigree Chart and the pictures of Vera Strong and of Mom's Mom. People really open up when you share them stories about these people. It has been really exciting!!
The work is going so good!! I love it so much and continue to love it more each day. The Gospel is true!!!
I love you very much. Thanks for everything.
Love
Elder Anderson
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Hello Dad,
Things are going great here in Clarksburg. We found two new investigators in the little town of Grafton. We have still been doing a lot of tracting but every once in awhile someone will let us in.
Yesterday was Zone Confrence. My first one as Zone Leader. I was really nervous at first but it went really well. One thing about leadership is it helps you find your weadnesses really fast. I feel so inadequate sometimes. There are so many great Elders in this mission that could do a much better job then me. For some reason the Lord thinks that I will do a good job. I have never prayed so much in my life!!
My studies in the morning are probably my favorite part of the day. I love the scriptures so much!! Everytime I study with a question, that question is always answered through the scriptures. I have really come to form a testimony in prayer and Heavenly Father hearing our prayers. Everyday he answers my prayers and helps me become a better person.
This work is so much fun. I have never come to love something so much. It is pretty amazing how quickly you can learn to love somebody because you are sharing the gospel with them. The Lord really does bless you with Charity if you pray for it. I am really going to miss the people of WV. They are all really friendly and so laid back. I can't wait to come back and show you all my mission. I think you are going to think it is great as well. I am so glad that I was called to the Charleston West Virginia Mission. The Lord really does know where we are supposed to go.
Well I hope that everything is going well at home. I love you so much!!
Love Elder Anderson
Things are going great here in Clarksburg. We found two new investigators in the little town of Grafton. We have still been doing a lot of tracting but every once in awhile someone will let us in.
Yesterday was Zone Confrence. My first one as Zone Leader. I was really nervous at first but it went really well. One thing about leadership is it helps you find your weadnesses really fast. I feel so inadequate sometimes. There are so many great Elders in this mission that could do a much better job then me. For some reason the Lord thinks that I will do a good job. I have never prayed so much in my life!!
My studies in the morning are probably my favorite part of the day. I love the scriptures so much!! Everytime I study with a question, that question is always answered through the scriptures. I have really come to form a testimony in prayer and Heavenly Father hearing our prayers. Everyday he answers my prayers and helps me become a better person.
This work is so much fun. I have never come to love something so much. It is pretty amazing how quickly you can learn to love somebody because you are sharing the gospel with them. The Lord really does bless you with Charity if you pray for it. I am really going to miss the people of WV. They are all really friendly and so laid back. I can't wait to come back and show you all my mission. I think you are going to think it is great as well. I am so glad that I was called to the Charleston West Virginia Mission. The Lord really does know where we are supposed to go.
Well I hope that everything is going well at home. I love you so much!!
Love Elder Anderson
Monday, June 21, 2010
Hello Dad,
Clarksburg is great. My new companions name is Elder Houser. I have served around him on my mission so I feel like I already know him. It has been a great experience so far to serve with him. We are living in a big house looking over the city of Clarksburg. It is really strange being in a house. It feels like we really are coming home in the evenings.
We have had some great experiences this past week. Just yesterday we were tracting a little town the missionaries haven't tracted in awhile. We talked with a women that we supposedly talked with at somebody elses house. She was very nice but said she wasn't interested. We started walking away and there was a man working in a garage just down the road. It was her husband. We talked (bashed) with him for a few minutes and the the spirit softened his heart. It is amazing because we talked with him for over and hour and his attitude didn't change until we shared a scripture with him from the Bible. We asked him about what he thinks happens to people that die without knowing the gospel. He said that he didn't know. We read him a scripture from 1 Peter that talkes about Christ teaching the gospel to the dead. He thought that that was really cool. It answered a question that he had had for years. The gospel is true!!!!
We have been doing a lot of tracting this past week. People are really friendly but don't want to talk religion. We did get a new investigator but it wasn't from tracting. It was actually and investigator referral. We taught a man named Lee and he brought a friend named Ginger. We taught them the Plan of Salvation. The lesson was so amazing bacause we had a member there. He was able to teach them the gospel in a way that they both understood. The spirit was so strong!!
Everything has been going really great for us. We are working hard and having fun doing it. I love this gospel so much. I love that if we have questions we can ask and receive. I love the spirit and the direction it gives us as we live worthy of that amazing gift. God really does know us and care about us. My new address is 790 Locust Ave Clarksburg WV 26301
I love you very much!!!
Clarksburg is great. My new companions name is Elder Houser. I have served around him on my mission so I feel like I already know him. It has been a great experience so far to serve with him. We are living in a big house looking over the city of Clarksburg. It is really strange being in a house. It feels like we really are coming home in the evenings.
We have had some great experiences this past week. Just yesterday we were tracting a little town the missionaries haven't tracted in awhile. We talked with a women that we supposedly talked with at somebody elses house. She was very nice but said she wasn't interested. We started walking away and there was a man working in a garage just down the road. It was her husband. We talked (bashed) with him for a few minutes and the the spirit softened his heart. It is amazing because we talked with him for over and hour and his attitude didn't change until we shared a scripture with him from the Bible. We asked him about what he thinks happens to people that die without knowing the gospel. He said that he didn't know. We read him a scripture from 1 Peter that talkes about Christ teaching the gospel to the dead. He thought that that was really cool. It answered a question that he had had for years. The gospel is true!!!!
We have been doing a lot of tracting this past week. People are really friendly but don't want to talk religion. We did get a new investigator but it wasn't from tracting. It was actually and investigator referral. We taught a man named Lee and he brought a friend named Ginger. We taught them the Plan of Salvation. The lesson was so amazing bacause we had a member there. He was able to teach them the gospel in a way that they both understood. The spirit was so strong!!
Everything has been going really great for us. We are working hard and having fun doing it. I love this gospel so much. I love that if we have questions we can ask and receive. I love the spirit and the direction it gives us as we live worthy of that amazing gift. God really does know us and care about us. My new address is 790 Locust Ave Clarksburg WV 26301
I love you very much!!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hey Dad,
Well, I found out where I will be going and what I will be doing. I have some big responsibility ahead of me. I was hoping that I could have gone through my mission without being in leadership positions, but I guess the Lord has different plans. I will be going to Clarksburg West Virginia. I actually will be working in the city of Bridgeport but living in Clarksburg. I will write to you and give you the address as soon as I get there. I am going to be a Zone Leader up there. I am really excited and really nervous.
I guess I should tell you what a Zone Leader is. Right now I am a District Leader which means that I am a leader over four other missionaries. As district leader you teach a district meeting once a week. As Zone Leader I am going to be a leader over about twenty missionaries. I will be teaching a Zone Conference once a transfer. Zone Conference is when President Thornock and the Assistants come a watch. I am really nervous about that. I hope that I can do everything that the lord needs me to do.
It has been a great transfer here in Blacksburg with Elder Hofheins, but I am ready to go. I am really tired of living out of a suitcase and sleeping on the floor in Dublin. It is going to be great to have one area that I am over and I know that I will be there at least two transfers. I will be able to see people progress towards baptism and come closer the Christ.
I love missionary work. It is really exhausting sometimes, but really rewarding all the time. I am so grateful for this chance that I have had to serve the Lord. And I can't wait to continue to serve him for the next five transfers.
I love you very much!!!
Love
Elder Anderson
Well, I found out where I will be going and what I will be doing. I have some big responsibility ahead of me. I was hoping that I could have gone through my mission without being in leadership positions, but I guess the Lord has different plans. I will be going to Clarksburg West Virginia. I actually will be working in the city of Bridgeport but living in Clarksburg. I will write to you and give you the address as soon as I get there. I am going to be a Zone Leader up there. I am really excited and really nervous.
I guess I should tell you what a Zone Leader is. Right now I am a District Leader which means that I am a leader over four other missionaries. As district leader you teach a district meeting once a week. As Zone Leader I am going to be a leader over about twenty missionaries. I will be teaching a Zone Conference once a transfer. Zone Conference is when President Thornock and the Assistants come a watch. I am really nervous about that. I hope that I can do everything that the lord needs me to do.
It has been a great transfer here in Blacksburg with Elder Hofheins, but I am ready to go. I am really tired of living out of a suitcase and sleeping on the floor in Dublin. It is going to be great to have one area that I am over and I know that I will be there at least two transfers. I will be able to see people progress towards baptism and come closer the Christ.
I love missionary work. It is really exhausting sometimes, but really rewarding all the time. I am so grateful for this chance that I have had to serve the Lord. And I can't wait to continue to serve him for the next five transfers.
I love you very much!!!
Love
Elder Anderson
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Hello Dad,
It has been another crazy week. As I told you last week, we were told that we needed to pack everything up and move it Dublin. Well, guess what, things have changed again. We had President Interviews last Wednesday and everything that we were told was changed. We are back to our normal routine now. Blacksburg on weekends and Radford during the week. The only difference is all of our stuff is now in Dublin and we live out of suit cases when we come to Blacksburg. Talk about throwing a stone in the pond!!
This week was really hard for missionary work. We have still been spending a lot of time tracting and doing follow ups, but nothing is coming from it. In Radford people are very content with their lives and in Blacksburg, everybody says they are to busy to sit down and talk. I guess we will continue to press forward and hope for the best.
I wish I had some cool stories to tell you but I really don't. Oh, I take that back. We met the best banjo/mandaline player in the United States. We went to some members house for dinner and they have a family band called "Tossin' Possum". And this guy was over there helping them make a record. Hopefully I will be able to get one of their CD's so you all can listen. Good old bluegrass music.
We have been meeting some very interesting characters while we have been tracting. Yesterday we were tracting to finish out the day, around 8:30, and we had some people tell us that we were breaking the Sabbath and then one of them said "I guess that means we have to stone you now". Wow, some people are really special. I don't think that they think before they say something.
Well the bugs are starting to come out. We have been killing spider, earwigs and mosquitos like crazy. We even had some bug spray in the closet so we sprayed it around the house to try and keep the bugs out. You all know how much I love the little critters.
We have been having some really intense rain storms the past couple of weeks. One minute the sun will be out and then the next there is a huge black cloud rolling in with lightning and thunder. I have never seen it rain this hard in Utah. It floods the main roads and fills all the ditches. You can barely see when you are driving. It seems like we have a storm like that at least twice a week. Thank goodness you sent me out a rain coat!!
Well hopefully things will start to go back to normal. I love you very much. Have a great week!!!
It has been another crazy week. As I told you last week, we were told that we needed to pack everything up and move it Dublin. Well, guess what, things have changed again. We had President Interviews last Wednesday and everything that we were told was changed. We are back to our normal routine now. Blacksburg on weekends and Radford during the week. The only difference is all of our stuff is now in Dublin and we live out of suit cases when we come to Blacksburg. Talk about throwing a stone in the pond!!
This week was really hard for missionary work. We have still been spending a lot of time tracting and doing follow ups, but nothing is coming from it. In Radford people are very content with their lives and in Blacksburg, everybody says they are to busy to sit down and talk. I guess we will continue to press forward and hope for the best.
I wish I had some cool stories to tell you but I really don't. Oh, I take that back. We met the best banjo/mandaline player in the United States. We went to some members house for dinner and they have a family band called "Tossin' Possum". And this guy was over there helping them make a record. Hopefully I will be able to get one of their CD's so you all can listen. Good old bluegrass music.
We have been meeting some very interesting characters while we have been tracting. Yesterday we were tracting to finish out the day, around 8:30, and we had some people tell us that we were breaking the Sabbath and then one of them said "I guess that means we have to stone you now". Wow, some people are really special. I don't think that they think before they say something.
Well the bugs are starting to come out. We have been killing spider, earwigs and mosquitos like crazy. We even had some bug spray in the closet so we sprayed it around the house to try and keep the bugs out. You all know how much I love the little critters.
We have been having some really intense rain storms the past couple of weeks. One minute the sun will be out and then the next there is a huge black cloud rolling in with lightning and thunder. I have never seen it rain this hard in Utah. It floods the main roads and fills all the ditches. You can barely see when you are driving. It seems like we have a storm like that at least twice a week. Thank goodness you sent me out a rain coat!!
Well hopefully things will start to go back to normal. I love you very much. Have a great week!!!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Hello Dad,
What a week I have had. It has been very frustrating and things just seem to be getting worse. I don't know if you have noticed but I have spend a bit of money off of my home card. I'll tell you what, if something goes wrong everything goes wrong. I have five pair of pants for tracting and regular missionary work and every single one of those pants fell apart on me last week. I tryed to get patches and fix them but that didn't work so I had to just get new pants. Then on top of that, my shoes broke as well. Luckily I have a two year garuntee on them so I will take a picture of them and send it to you so I can get some new shoes.
As you know things have been really crazy with missionary work for me and Elder Hofheins. We have been covering Blacksburg University and Radford. We have been staying with the Dublin Elders during the week and driving back to Blacksburg on the weekends. Well, President Thornock has thrown another curve ball at us. We were eating lunch today and we got a call for the Assistants. That usually means bad news. They just informed us that they need our car and that they are shutting down Blacksburg. So we are going to have to pack everything up today and move to Dublin. We will not have our own area. We will be working in Dublin and Radford. Really what we will be doing is following the Dublin Elders around and tracting all the time.
It is going to be a huge change. Missionary work is so unpredictable. I don't really know how I feel about it but I guess if that is where the Lord wants us.
Thanks for sending me Katelyns talk. It was great to be able to hear what she had to say about the temple. I can't wait to be able to come home and go through the temple with the whole family. What a wonderful blessing!!!
I love you very much.
Love,
Elder Anderson
What a week I have had. It has been very frustrating and things just seem to be getting worse. I don't know if you have noticed but I have spend a bit of money off of my home card. I'll tell you what, if something goes wrong everything goes wrong. I have five pair of pants for tracting and regular missionary work and every single one of those pants fell apart on me last week. I tryed to get patches and fix them but that didn't work so I had to just get new pants. Then on top of that, my shoes broke as well. Luckily I have a two year garuntee on them so I will take a picture of them and send it to you so I can get some new shoes.
As you know things have been really crazy with missionary work for me and Elder Hofheins. We have been covering Blacksburg University and Radford. We have been staying with the Dublin Elders during the week and driving back to Blacksburg on the weekends. Well, President Thornock has thrown another curve ball at us. We were eating lunch today and we got a call for the Assistants. That usually means bad news. They just informed us that they need our car and that they are shutting down Blacksburg. So we are going to have to pack everything up today and move to Dublin. We will not have our own area. We will be working in Dublin and Radford. Really what we will be doing is following the Dublin Elders around and tracting all the time.
It is going to be a huge change. Missionary work is so unpredictable. I don't really know how I feel about it but I guess if that is where the Lord wants us.
Thanks for sending me Katelyns talk. It was great to be able to hear what she had to say about the temple. I can't wait to be able to come home and go through the temple with the whole family. What a wonderful blessing!!!
I love you very much.
Love,
Elder Anderson
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Hello Dad,
Well, I found out some very interesting new yesterday. I am going to be staying in Blacksburg and I will be serving with Elder Hofheins again. That is a really rare thing to serve with your trainer again. I guess President Thornock doesn't think that I learned everything that I should have.
This summer if going to be really different. We will be covering Blacksburg and Radford. I don't know many details but I hope that I find them out soon. We have found out that a few of our investigators will be staying for the summer so we won't be starting from nothing. We still have Eric Colley working towards his baptismal date on the 15th of May. He told his mother about it and she is supportive. Eric is so ready for the gospel. It amazes me the testimony that he already has.
Something that we may try this summer is a English Conversation Class. There is going to be a lot of Asian people here and that is something that seems to interest them. We will be teaming up with two members who served in Korea and Tiawan (? Spelling). We will see how that goes. Hopefully we will be able to teach the gospel as we teach English as well.
I am really excited about this next transfer. We are going to be working really hard. Man is it hot here!! It was 87 degrees and 80% Humitity yesterday. We sweat all the time. It has been rough but the Lord gives us strength to continue in His work.
Well, I found out some very interesting new yesterday. I am going to be staying in Blacksburg and I will be serving with Elder Hofheins again. That is a really rare thing to serve with your trainer again. I guess President Thornock doesn't think that I learned everything that I should have.
This summer if going to be really different. We will be covering Blacksburg and Radford. I don't know many details but I hope that I find them out soon. We have found out that a few of our investigators will be staying for the summer so we won't be starting from nothing. We still have Eric Colley working towards his baptismal date on the 15th of May. He told his mother about it and she is supportive. Eric is so ready for the gospel. It amazes me the testimony that he already has.
Something that we may try this summer is a English Conversation Class. There is going to be a lot of Asian people here and that is something that seems to interest them. We will be teaming up with two members who served in Korea and Tiawan (? Spelling). We will see how that goes. Hopefully we will be able to teach the gospel as we teach English as well.
I am really excited about this next transfer. We are going to be working really hard. Man is it hot here!! It was 87 degrees and 80% Humitity yesterday. We sweat all the time. It has been rough but the Lord gives us strength to continue in His work.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Hello Dad,
This week has been really great. We are having so much success that we almost feel like we are cheating the system somehow. We are finding so many people that are willing to listen to us, which is really suprising because finals are next week. I think that they are hoping that God will bless them for listening to us. LOL
We had a great Sabbath Day. We had three investigators at church and a member brought a friend as well. This ward is so great for missionary work. Most of them are RM's so they are still really excited about the work. We taught six member present lessons and we taught six other lessons. Then to top it off, on Sunday we went to a lesson at a members home and set Eric Colley with a baptismal date. He is so solid!! He has already read through 1 Nephi, and he said that he has prayed about it and knows that it is true. He will be baptized on May 15th.
There may be a change of plans for me this transfer. There are only four missionaries leaving and ten coming in, so President Thornock has to decide which areas he wants to leave open. If this area stays open it is going to be a completely different form of missionary work. There is talk about spending half the week here in Blacksburg and then spent the other half in Radford. We would just live with members while we were in Radford. Or we would just travel around the Zone and help other missionaries in their areas. That would be really interesting.
The old truck was actually back in Buena Vista. I think that the name of the road was Keyes Mill Rd. It was all the way to the end and there was actually two old trucks. They are just sitting in the middle of a field rusting. I don't know if they would even be worth fixing up. I don't know if they were for sale of not. I don;imagine the owners would have a problem with somebody taking them.
I did get grandma's letter and I am planning on writing her back today. I just seems like i don't have much time to do anything on P-day. We are always running around town doing other things.
Jentry and Racael wrote me an Email finally. I don't really have time to write them back. I have a few people I need to write to first. Have you heard from Kasey Anderson lately? I wrote him awhile ago and he hasn't written me back. I worry about him.
It sounds like you are staying busy with your job and with the yard. I can't wait to come home and see everything that has been done. Speaking of coming home, I was looking at what transfer I would come home and it looks like I would be home on January 12th. That leaves me two days before school starts. I am thinking about asking President Thornock if I can come home 2 weeks earlier. I haven't decided yet.
Thanks for all that you do. I love you very much!!
This week has been really great. We are having so much success that we almost feel like we are cheating the system somehow. We are finding so many people that are willing to listen to us, which is really suprising because finals are next week. I think that they are hoping that God will bless them for listening to us. LOL
We had a great Sabbath Day. We had three investigators at church and a member brought a friend as well. This ward is so great for missionary work. Most of them are RM's so they are still really excited about the work. We taught six member present lessons and we taught six other lessons. Then to top it off, on Sunday we went to a lesson at a members home and set Eric Colley with a baptismal date. He is so solid!! He has already read through 1 Nephi, and he said that he has prayed about it and knows that it is true. He will be baptized on May 15th.
There may be a change of plans for me this transfer. There are only four missionaries leaving and ten coming in, so President Thornock has to decide which areas he wants to leave open. If this area stays open it is going to be a completely different form of missionary work. There is talk about spending half the week here in Blacksburg and then spent the other half in Radford. We would just live with members while we were in Radford. Or we would just travel around the Zone and help other missionaries in their areas. That would be really interesting.
The old truck was actually back in Buena Vista. I think that the name of the road was Keyes Mill Rd. It was all the way to the end and there was actually two old trucks. They are just sitting in the middle of a field rusting. I don't know if they would even be worth fixing up. I don't know if they were for sale of not. I don;imagine the owners would have a problem with somebody taking them.
I did get grandma's letter and I am planning on writing her back today. I just seems like i don't have much time to do anything on P-day. We are always running around town doing other things.
Jentry and Racael wrote me an Email finally. I don't really have time to write them back. I have a few people I need to write to first. Have you heard from Kasey Anderson lately? I wrote him awhile ago and he hasn't written me back. I worry about him.
It sounds like you are staying busy with your job and with the yard. I can't wait to come home and see everything that has been done. Speaking of coming home, I was looking at what transfer I would come home and it looks like I would be home on January 12th. That leaves me two days before school starts. I am thinking about asking President Thornock if I can come home 2 weeks earlier. I haven't decided yet.
Thanks for all that you do. I love you very much!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
How is everything going? I sounds like you are staying really busy. I bet your employeer loves you. You don't find people that just do things because they need to be done. That is great.
I really love the fire pit. It looks like it is really nice. I can't wait to sit around it as a family and roast marshmallows/hot dogs. Have you cracked open the pool yet? I miss swimming so much. Funny things that we miss when we have restrictions on what we can do. I have a whole bunch of pictures that I will hopefully be sending home today.
We went golfing last Tuesday. You know me, I am not a huge fan of golf so I just rented a golf cart and drove everyones golf clubs around. It was so much fun!!! It is the closest I will come to fourwheeling on my mission. What a blast!! I got a few pictures of me on the golf cart. Fun memories.
We had a baptism on Saturday!! The Lord is blessing us so much. I love the gospel. It is great to see people make covenants. I actually had the opportunity to interview someone for baptism. What a spiritual experience. He was only 18 so it was really fun to talk with him. I look up to him for accepting the gospel at this time in his life. What a great kid.
Missionary work has changed again here in Blacksburg. Finals are coming up and people really don't have time (or don't want to make time) to listen to the gospel. We are just doing a lot of street contacting and referring them to mormom.org. Hopefully they will do that. It is an amazing website.
Well, not to much to talk about today. I love you very much.
I really love the fire pit. It looks like it is really nice. I can't wait to sit around it as a family and roast marshmallows/hot dogs. Have you cracked open the pool yet? I miss swimming so much. Funny things that we miss when we have restrictions on what we can do. I have a whole bunch of pictures that I will hopefully be sending home today.
We went golfing last Tuesday. You know me, I am not a huge fan of golf so I just rented a golf cart and drove everyones golf clubs around. It was so much fun!!! It is the closest I will come to fourwheeling on my mission. What a blast!! I got a few pictures of me on the golf cart. Fun memories.
We had a baptism on Saturday!! The Lord is blessing us so much. I love the gospel. It is great to see people make covenants. I actually had the opportunity to interview someone for baptism. What a spiritual experience. He was only 18 so it was really fun to talk with him. I look up to him for accepting the gospel at this time in his life. What a great kid.
Missionary work has changed again here in Blacksburg. Finals are coming up and people really don't have time (or don't want to make time) to listen to the gospel. We are just doing a lot of street contacting and referring them to mormom.org. Hopefully they will do that. It is an amazing website.
Well, not to much to talk about today. I love you very much.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hello Dad,
It was really good to hear from you. I got your letter yesterday in the mail. It sounds like you are still staying pretty busy. That is great that you got up to see Steve. I don't think I ever remember him being healthy. Poor guy. He is lucky that he has such a loving wife though.
Well Spring is here in Blacksburg. We have been having great weather. It has been staying in the 60's, which is perfect missionary weather. It does rain here about once a week though. That can be interesting being on a bike and everything. Luckily the town of Blacksburg has a great bus system. It is really fun to ride the bus because you can talk to people and they can't walk away from you. You still have to share the messege of the Restoration really quick though because you don't know what stop they are getting off. I have had some great conversations with people while riding the bus.
This last week was event filled for us and the school. We have been tracting and following up with people like crazy. We found five new investigators last week. Things are going really well. We do teach the first lesson a lot though. It seems like we get them on a good day and then they are always to busy to talk. Oh well. The school held a "Walk for Life" Relay on Friday. It was really interesting to see so many students at that event. What a great thing. All of the money that is donated goes to cancer research. There was probably th 3000 students there. On the down side of things, there was a big protest on campus. Three years ago there was a shoting at Virginia Tech and 32 students were killed. Some church from Kansas came and was saying that the shotting took place because of all the sinning that is happening here. I can't believe that a church which claims to be christian would come in and protest about that. That is not Christ-like at all. So sad.
We are having a baptism this Saturday!!! Asa Gravely is going to be a great member of the church. He is so excited and ready to be baptized. He is even having trouble with his family but it just makes him want to do it even faster. We will be meeting with him tomorrow to conduct his baptismal interview and get the last minute details figured out for his baptism. I am so excited!!!
I didn't hear anything about miners getting killed. As a missionary you are kind of out of the loop. The only way we know what is going on is if members or investigators tell us about it. We don't even know what the weather is going to be like. I like it that way. There is less things you have to worry about and if it is really important, someone will tell us.
Elder Mills is from Mendin Utah, it is up by Logan. We are both leaving Blacksburg on May 5th. He will be going home in July. He is such a great missionary. I have learned so much from him. Sometimes I wish I could talk as well as he does. I guess we all have different talents.
Things are still going great here. We are teaching a whole bunch of people, and to be honest, I don't know half of their names. It is really hard because a lot of them are named Nick, Andrew, and Chris. I remember who they are by where they live. It has been so fun to be a servent of the Lord.
I love you very much. Thanks for the letter and the email. It is good to hear from you.
Love,
Elder Anderson
It was really good to hear from you. I got your letter yesterday in the mail. It sounds like you are still staying pretty busy. That is great that you got up to see Steve. I don't think I ever remember him being healthy. Poor guy. He is lucky that he has such a loving wife though.
Well Spring is here in Blacksburg. We have been having great weather. It has been staying in the 60's, which is perfect missionary weather. It does rain here about once a week though. That can be interesting being on a bike and everything. Luckily the town of Blacksburg has a great bus system. It is really fun to ride the bus because you can talk to people and they can't walk away from you. You still have to share the messege of the Restoration really quick though because you don't know what stop they are getting off. I have had some great conversations with people while riding the bus.
This last week was event filled for us and the school. We have been tracting and following up with people like crazy. We found five new investigators last week. Things are going really well. We do teach the first lesson a lot though. It seems like we get them on a good day and then they are always to busy to talk. Oh well. The school held a "Walk for Life" Relay on Friday. It was really interesting to see so many students at that event. What a great thing. All of the money that is donated goes to cancer research. There was probably th 3000 students there. On the down side of things, there was a big protest on campus. Three years ago there was a shoting at Virginia Tech and 32 students were killed. Some church from Kansas came and was saying that the shotting took place because of all the sinning that is happening here. I can't believe that a church which claims to be christian would come in and protest about that. That is not Christ-like at all. So sad.
We are having a baptism this Saturday!!! Asa Gravely is going to be a great member of the church. He is so excited and ready to be baptized. He is even having trouble with his family but it just makes him want to do it even faster. We will be meeting with him tomorrow to conduct his baptismal interview and get the last minute details figured out for his baptism. I am so excited!!!
I didn't hear anything about miners getting killed. As a missionary you are kind of out of the loop. The only way we know what is going on is if members or investigators tell us about it. We don't even know what the weather is going to be like. I like it that way. There is less things you have to worry about and if it is really important, someone will tell us.
Elder Mills is from Mendin Utah, it is up by Logan. We are both leaving Blacksburg on May 5th. He will be going home in July. He is such a great missionary. I have learned so much from him. Sometimes I wish I could talk as well as he does. I guess we all have different talents.
Things are still going great here. We are teaching a whole bunch of people, and to be honest, I don't know half of their names. It is really hard because a lot of them are named Nick, Andrew, and Chris. I remember who they are by where they live. It has been so fun to be a servent of the Lord.
I love you very much. Thanks for the letter and the email. It is good to hear from you.
Love,
Elder Anderson
Friday, April 9, 2010
Finally got into this blog. I don't know what my problem is but I have problems with the passwork each time.
Ian has a new address:
314 Reynolds St Apt C
Blacksburgm, VA 24060
Here is Ian's lastest e-mail
Hello Dad,
Wow, wasn't confrence amazing?!!!! It was probably my favorite one so far. Powerful speakers. I do have to admit Priesthood Confrence isn't the same without having you there.
I love how bold the apostles are. They just say it like it is. I loved Elder Hollands talk about Love vs. Lust. He is probably one of my favorite speakers. Also, I love President Eyring. What a spiritual giant. I hope that one day I will be able to talk about the gospel like he does. When he speaks, you just know that he knows. I am so greatful to be part of Restored Gospel. How wonderful it is to hear from the mouth peice of God.
We are really blessed here in Blacksburg. I feel like the Lord is just handing us people to teach. We were walking through campus the other day and we noticed that there were two people sitting on the steps reading their Bible. Well, that doesn't happen very often in on a college campus. We went over and talked to them and gave them both a copy of the Book of Mormon. They were both interested in reading it. I am so greatful that I have had the opportunity to serve here with the college students. It has helped me with my teaching skills a lot. It seems like everyone likes to talk religion here, and they all have a lot of questions.
We had Zone Confrence yesterday, another spirit filled day. It is interesting to notice how tired you are after you have had a day filled with the spirit. We talked about planning and how it will help us be more productive missionaries and son and daughters of God. Also, we learned more about extending commitments to everyone that we talk with. It is amazing how the Lord prepares us for things to come.
After Zone Confrence, we taught a lesson to a girl named Stacey. We were talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how we need to have Faith, Repent, be Baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, and then Endure to the End. She expressed her concerns about being worthy to receive the promptings of the Spirit (she always asks the right questions). We found out what she felt was holding her back and committed her to stop doing what she was doing and turn to the Lord. She was hesitant but was willing to change her life to know God better. I knew at that moment Heavenly Father was so happy with her. The Spirit was so strong in the room.
I love teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to be able to open my mouth every day and share this wonderful gospel with others. I can not tell you all the ways that this experience has blessed my life. Today is my 16 month mark and it has made me reflect on the many things I have done here in the West Virginia Charleston Mission. How time flies when you are in the service of God. I love this Gospel, I know that my Redeemer lives, and continues to lead this church. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It makes me so happy everyday when I read it. What a wonderful blessing that is to have the Book of Mormon in our lives. I wish that everyone around me could just feel the same things that I do.
I love you very much Dad.
Ian has a new address:
314 Reynolds St Apt C
Blacksburgm, VA 24060
Here is Ian's lastest e-mail
Hello Dad,
Wow, wasn't confrence amazing?!!!! It was probably my favorite one so far. Powerful speakers. I do have to admit Priesthood Confrence isn't the same without having you there.
I love how bold the apostles are. They just say it like it is. I loved Elder Hollands talk about Love vs. Lust. He is probably one of my favorite speakers. Also, I love President Eyring. What a spiritual giant. I hope that one day I will be able to talk about the gospel like he does. When he speaks, you just know that he knows. I am so greatful to be part of Restored Gospel. How wonderful it is to hear from the mouth peice of God.
We are really blessed here in Blacksburg. I feel like the Lord is just handing us people to teach. We were walking through campus the other day and we noticed that there were two people sitting on the steps reading their Bible. Well, that doesn't happen very often in on a college campus. We went over and talked to them and gave them both a copy of the Book of Mormon. They were both interested in reading it. I am so greatful that I have had the opportunity to serve here with the college students. It has helped me with my teaching skills a lot. It seems like everyone likes to talk religion here, and they all have a lot of questions.
We had Zone Confrence yesterday, another spirit filled day. It is interesting to notice how tired you are after you have had a day filled with the spirit. We talked about planning and how it will help us be more productive missionaries and son and daughters of God. Also, we learned more about extending commitments to everyone that we talk with. It is amazing how the Lord prepares us for things to come.
After Zone Confrence, we taught a lesson to a girl named Stacey. We were talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how we need to have Faith, Repent, be Baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, and then Endure to the End. She expressed her concerns about being worthy to receive the promptings of the Spirit (she always asks the right questions). We found out what she felt was holding her back and committed her to stop doing what she was doing and turn to the Lord. She was hesitant but was willing to change her life to know God better. I knew at that moment Heavenly Father was so happy with her. The Spirit was so strong in the room.
I love teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to be able to open my mouth every day and share this wonderful gospel with others. I can not tell you all the ways that this experience has blessed my life. Today is my 16 month mark and it has made me reflect on the many things I have done here in the West Virginia Charleston Mission. How time flies when you are in the service of God. I love this Gospel, I know that my Redeemer lives, and continues to lead this church. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It makes me so happy everyday when I read it. What a wonderful blessing that is to have the Book of Mormon in our lives. I wish that everyone around me could just feel the same things that I do.
I love you very much Dad.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ian's new address is..... 270 west 30th st. apt F3
Buena Vista, VA 24416
Hey Dad, Wow, I can't believe Barnes Bank actually shut down. I guess it just tells us how bad things really are. SCARY!!! As a missionary you don't really have to worry about things like that, but it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Well this week started out really slow. We have been doing a bit of tracting and have had little success until yesterday. We gave out two Book of Mormons and we even got in with a lady and taught her the Restoration. We also just found out yesterday that one of our investigators moved to Mississippi. It was kind of a shocker for us because it happened so fast and he left without saying goodbye. He did express to us several times that he wanted to leave. Oh well, the joys of missionary work. The weather here has taken a drastic turn. We were having some very cold 20 degree days for awhile and now it is in the 50's. It is kind of nice. We have been going tracting without a coat. I even started sweating yesterday while we were riding bikes across town. There isn't to much going on here in Buena Vista, but we will continue to work hard and put our trust in the Lord.I love you very much!! Love, Elder Anderson
Buena Vista, VA 24416
Hey Dad, Wow, I can't believe Barnes Bank actually shut down. I guess it just tells us how bad things really are. SCARY!!! As a missionary you don't really have to worry about things like that, but it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Well this week started out really slow. We have been doing a bit of tracting and have had little success until yesterday. We gave out two Book of Mormons and we even got in with a lady and taught her the Restoration. We also just found out yesterday that one of our investigators moved to Mississippi. It was kind of a shocker for us because it happened so fast and he left without saying goodbye. He did express to us several times that he wanted to leave. Oh well, the joys of missionary work. The weather here has taken a drastic turn. We were having some very cold 20 degree days for awhile and now it is in the 50's. It is kind of nice. We have been going tracting without a coat. I even started sweating yesterday while we were riding bikes across town. There isn't to much going on here in Buena Vista, but we will continue to work hard and put our trust in the Lord.I love you very much!! Love, Elder Anderson
Hello Dad, That is so exciting that Aimee had her baby. I can't wait to get some pictures of him. I am glad that everything went well and that Aimee and Cache are healthy. It sounds like everything is going very well for the new Tueller family. Married in the temple, and new house and now a new baby boy. I am so happy and proud of Aimee and all that she has done in her life. Everything here is going pretty good. The work here is a lot slower but we are going to work on picking that up. We do a lot of Less-Active work. I love missionary work so much it has really become a part of my life. Now without thinking, I will walk up to people and just start talking to them randomly about the gospel and how it has blessed my life. What a great opportunity I have had to come and share the gospel which I love. My new companions name is Elder Shelburne. He is a great person. He has a lot of faith and loves the work. He is so great that the Lord has put some restrictions on him, he stutters really bad. The Spirit is really strong when he teaches though. The Lord really knows what we all need in our lives even if sometime we don't really know why we are going through it. THE BIKE!!!!!! I thought that I would be able to go my whole mission without riding a bike. Boy was I wrong. It has been a very humbling experience to ride a bike, but I have also learned that the Lord really does make our weaknesses strengths. I have been on the bike for about a week now and I am beginning to enjoy it. Sometimes it would be nice to be in a car with a heater, especially when it is 11 degrees outside but it has been ok. We don't really have any investigators who are close to baptism, but that will change shortly. It sounds like to me that these people just need to be challenged. They need something to make them think about whether or not they want to make this commitment. Sweet boldness, that is something that I have been working on. It has been exciting to be in an area around missionaries that I know. Elder Hulme was in the MTC with me and it has been really fun to start up old inside jokes. Elder Dahl is my Zone Leader here. I served with him in Charleston for two transfers. And Elder (Steven) Wood. Wow, it has been really fun to talk about the good old days in Kaysville. It is funny the things you can remember after so many years. The Lords work is going forth and nothing can stop us (unless I get in a bike accident, keep me in your prays). I am excited to be in Buena Vista. I love you all very much!!! Love, Elder Anderson
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