"You Get a Line and I'll Get a Pole"

Wow, well let me tell you. . . I'm still not that great of a fisher man

Today Élder Thomas and I accompanied the Bishop to a waterfall that is close to where we live. Élder Thomas was wanting to get out in nature he practically lived in the mountains before the mission. He is super cool and so is our Bishop who happened to bring some line and hooks on the trip and we ended up using some thick grass for a pool and going a fishin'. 

"You get line and I'll get a pole .. . . . " andy griffeth show

Any way so that was super awesome! The Bishop ended up catching 14 little fishes and Élder Thomas 1 and you guessed it Élder Anderson 0. Well at least I got to get my hands in the dirt and hunt for worms to stick on the line before the little fishys robbed em' all! Super cool experience would love to send you a picture, but I don't have a way to send them today! Well, maybe I can work something out and send a picture afterwards. . . . 

Well this week was pretty cool, my companion had an idea to let each companionship in our zone make a goal each day for the zone to accomplish. It helped a lot with zone unity and working in creative ways for example, doing 7 random acts of kindness, or 4 references from members, quoting a scripture from the Book of Mormon in 10 contacts, stuff the the companionships made up to help our zone find more new investigatores and have more excitment in our work as missionaries.

My companion is super awesome and I am receiving some great counsel from him about teaching and being a missionary. I'm trying to be humble and honor God and I'm realizing things each day I can improve to be a better person, someone that others like to be around and they can feel loved and can share there feelings and thoughts, this is super important. I have good examples and great missionaries in our district and I am super glad that I'm learning these attributes as a missionary and as a person. 

Tomorrow we have a mission conference and I'm excited to receive some counsel and apply the revelations that I may receive. One thing I and my companion have been feeling that we can improve is the fast. I remember a letter mom had sent me about the fast and I really know that I can apply this powerful tool more to help me, our investigatores and the missionaries in our zone. I am feeling a few "growing pains", but I feel that it is all part of God's plan for me to be a better disciple of Christ, more faithful, more wise, more courageous, and more charitable. I'm learning that prayer is the tool that will help us be "Grateful in our Circumstances", always looking for the hand of The Lord in our lives. 

One thing I thought was interesting in my patriachal blessing was that it says after a period of difficulty I would be able to communicate with the people whom I am called to teach, and I always that of that as Portuguese, but I was always confused because i didn't feel that I was having such great difficulty. But, know I realize that maybe the language that I am learning is a language that is even more important than Portugues, maybe the language I'm learning is the language of The Spirit, the language of the angels and of God- the language of love. The apostle Paul writes about the importance of love in 1st Corinthins 13 the first first is excellent. I love you all and thank you for your support and prayers.

Te Amo,

P.S. mom you know that little cow cup you sent me, yah well it broke into pieces, but thankfully my companion had super glue and I was able to fix it up just about the way it was when you sent it haha. Thank you soooo much for the munchies and jam and hymn book! 

Élder Anderson

My Zone/Getting in Shape!

This is my zone- they are all so awesome!!

This is the baptism of the mother and son of the Bishop. It was an amazing day. The Bishop played and sang a wonderful arragement of "When I am baptized" on the guitar. Wow. Maria who is is mother has been going to church for 2 years and stopped drinking cofee while we were teaching her and she was baptized, in preparation to go to the temple with her family sortly after the second to youngest son returns from his mission in Vitória in a years time.  What an amazing testimoy of eternal families!

I love you all I am very well and yes dad I am eating well and we are excercising, too because, my companion wants to be "in shape" for when he returns home in a few monthes. AWESOME!

LOVE you All

If There Isn't a Feeling of Love, the Spirit Isn't There

Hello Family

Elder Hayden Anderson

7/13/15

To: Andy Anderson, Austin Anderson, Clarissa Lewis, jorge andrade, Lorna Anderson, Lorna Anderson, Marti Zohner, Ryan, Sydney Layton, W. Clark Anderson

fotos.zip

Hello my dear ones,

Glad to hear that you are all doing well. Today I played soccer with a group of missionaries and the Presidente; didn't exactly feel qualified to play with the best of em you know. . . the soccer thing is still a work in progress. But, luckily we were able to play a bit of basketball in the end and that made me fell a bit better, however I tell you what, I am starting to feel 20 coming on. . . hahah just kidding, only 3 more days! It is a bit weird, time. . . 

Tomorrow will be Zone Counsel with the Presidente and Zone leaders, should be exciting. The day after we will have a zone meeting and I will do a split with Élder Smith in His área. That is one of the duties you know . . . splits.

I had my second "split" this week with Élder Dias, my first "split" outside of my area. It was super cool. I realized from the Split that Love is so critical, I know I say that all the time, but it is true! The first thing I discovered is that this Élder's mom had passed away 4 years ago by an aniurism, and that his companion, an american from Arizona had lost his mother much like how Nolan passed away, 4 weeks before he left for his mission. That day we visited members, investigatores, less actives, and a pizza shop. . . oh that was for dinner, 1 "Real" which is about a third of a dollar for a piece of cheese pizza, pretty cool. Oh but back to the point- LOVE- right so we visit all of these people and we can talk all we want and prove that were right and everything and that is great, but if there isn't a feeling of love the Spirit isn't there. . . sorry charlie the truth is the truth okay. . . "Love people, Love people. . . You and me.. . .that's the way to beee, oh yah yah." #flashback#eagleproject#lovepeople#itwillbealright

Wow I don't think I even knew how to years this hip thing before the mission, but I feel I'm starting to master it, maybe, well it is fun. 

Oh so I met 2 youths during this "split" whom are absolutley awesome. They have very little in there home, and their mother is working like crazy to support them, but their testimonies are incredibly strong after 2 years of baptism in the church. They made some visits with us after we challenged them to share the message of the plan of salvation with a friend, and during the visites I discovered that Sarah, the 14 year old girl had asked God if what the missionaries was true. She received an answer. She said that in her dream was shown to her written in the color blue the word "SIM" or YES. That was a special testimony to me that God answers our prayers in the way that we may understand, however if we aren't listening for his answer things are a bit more painful. I want to use the fast more effectively to receive heavenly assistence in my prayers and desires for good. 

Isn't there something special about the color blue- to me there is, however, I have decided that my favorite color is green, just so you know. 

Well I have a couple of pics for you, unfortunately I don't have a pin drive again, but these are pics from my companion Élder Matheus. He is from Recife and likes to surf, worked as a DJ before the mission. His house is 30 minutes from Porte de Galinhas which is an amazing beach in Brazil look it up. The first picture is with Irmã Maria the mother of the Bishop who will be baptized with her grandaughter this weekend. She has stopped smoking and drinking cofee and is really excited to be baptized. The other picture is of Amanda who was baptized this weekend, her mom is awesome and has been to church a few times, but she isn't married and the dad is a bit tough, but we are going to work with them, really nice family. 

Well I bid you all adeu and the next time you all hear from me I will be much older and wiser too, Happy Birthday to me! I love you All!

COM AMOR

ÈLDER ANDERSON

Zone mtg./Use B of M in All Teaching/My District Leader "Barney Fife"

My family, I am very well, and Glad to hear that you are also. Sounds like lots of fun for you all and our family. On the 4th of July I had the pleasure of sharing the recording I have of dad singing the national anthem with the Élders in my zone ( thank you Clark and Dad). It was quite enjoyable. We had a great zone meeting this week, focused on working with members and using the Book of Mormon in all teaching and finding opportunities. I felt a great building opportunity in all of this and am pleased with the out come of it all. There is a new Élder in my zone named Élder Murdock and he was dancing partners with Kinzi Mitton in Pocatello! Super cool connection, one more from Idaho.

Well I mentioned to clark that I spent a day with an Élder that knew Clark while he was serving, another awesome connection. He is a great missionionary. I wanted to send pictures, but I forgot my pin drive at the house, sorry. We were able to share a bit about our families and stories and he was very excited that I was able to help him with English, which until know he hasn't received.

Oh so my district leader is an awesome Élder from Utah that reminds me a lot of Barney Fife. He has a super good heart and a strong testimony, but that same fire and humor that is famous about good old Barn, Never a dull moment on the mission when we open our hearts to love. 

Well I'm sorry that my letter is so short, but I spent more time responding individually today.

God Bless you all, until next week

Élder Anderson

p.s. exicted for the birthday box to arrive! Thanks mom

Resourceful Missionaries/Seeing Gods Hand Using the Direct Approach

Hello my beloveds,

I am here in Paranoá and wow it is getting a bit nippy hear. I'm going to look for a sweater to use during the most cold parts of the day and at night time, I did not think I would ever feel cold in Brazil, but it isn't too bad, it is actually quite refreshing at times. It should start to get warmer in a month or two. It is really funny because Élder Thomas who is from northern Utah is dying of Cold because he has become accustomed to sweltering heat, hahah- he is Super Cool. 

Speaking of Super Cool, he, Élder Matheus, and I had an awesome experience this week. We were playing frisbee during exercises and when arrived home our frisbee ended up landing on the neighbors roof- you know how it is. After various attempts of great valor we decided to duct tape two brooms together in attempt to scoot it off, but to no avail. I ended up finding an old hose in the house and just like my cowboy ancestors in a final attempt of rescue lassoed that frisbee and yanked her down from off of the roof. To make the story even better that same morning while playing frisbee I put the frisbee through the basketball hoop two times, one from full court and the other from half court-it was absolutely nuts, I guess it was just a magical day, 3 is a magic number. I will send some pictures that ÉLder Thomas took when he send them to me, really funny.

I included some pictures, maybe you had already seen the one of the family night. The other is of my previous companion and the other is a picture some young recent converts drew for me before I left São Sebastião. I liked it so much I put it up on the wall in my new house.

Speaking of house, it has been a none stop battle to manage all of the details involved with taking care of all of the house problems, water leaks, unpayed bills, electrical problems, but it is good practice and really fulfilling after solving a problem especially when we work together as a district. 

When I entered the bus with my bags in route to Paranoá I felt the desire to do a"fear no man" as they call it, so the minute I entered the bus I introduced the peculiar band of bag bears that included myself and a bit about our voluntary work to help people follow Jesus and one 13 year old boy raised his hand admist mostly youth indicating his desire to learn more. His name is John Peter and is really awesome, he went to church this Sunday although his mom was unable to stay, but felt really welcome and is going to a family night with us tonight at the house of an awesome member family. So cool to see the instant results of an inspired action " fear no man". John Peter also had to practice this principle as a youth to raise his hand in the midst of his peers to voice his honest desires- super cool, hope I get to see his baptism, just have to mark it.

We will also finish teaching the mother of the Bishop this week, as she will be baptized with her grand daughter this Sunday. She stopped smoking recently after a life time of smoking and is stopping her coffee habit as well. She is almost 70 years old and likes Shekeira, Akon and other hip artists. She is happenin' Granny, that is for sure.

Well I hope that gives you a bit of a sneak peak into my weak as a fulltime missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am so thankful for this opportunity and I know that he is aware of me and of all of you, I hope we ask ourselves often "How have I seen the hand of the Lord reaching our to touch my life today?" We will receive many revelations and life happier and more fulfilling lives. 

Much Love,

Élder Anderson

Linus Recovery/Entire District Transferred

Wow well I certainly feel blessed today. To hear that my nephew is recovering and that my family is well. And also to know that our family can be eternal. I am reminded of this truth especially on this day that marks 4 years that Nolan passed away. I felt comforted with this truth after receiving the info last week about the circumstances with Linus´s heath- Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father´s Plan. What a beautiful truth this is. I am very blessed and pleased.

I really didn't even remember the importance of this day until now because my district and I were transferred today. Yes, my entire district was transferred. I have been transferred to Paranoa which isn't too long from my other área, but I will be fulfilling the responsibility of Zone Leader together with my new companion Élder Mateus. He is from Brazil Recife and will return home in approximately 4 months. I am excited for this new opportunity and am ready to learn.

On Sunday I was very happy to see our investigators at church, including Jonaton whom also shared lunch with us in the house of Brother Emerson. I will share a picture of him and I later when I receive it, he remindes me a bunch of Nolan. I felt a confirming spirit through out the day that I had accomplished what the Lord desired of me in the area. One of these moments was when a recent convert called me and thanked me for my service in the ward and for being "transparent" as she put it in my desire to serve others; I felt really glad for the opportunity to work in the area for so long. 

I have been noticing recently the absolute nessecity of presenting and using The Book of Mormon in teaching investigators. If the record is so powerful, why would I hesitate to present the proof to the person. If the Spirit is the Converter and if the Spirit testifies of truth, why don't I present the most true book upon the face of the earth to the true seeker of truth. So you see, the mission is really all about truth, receiving it, cherishing it sharing it, just like Lehi in the story of the Tree of Life (1 N 8). I am excited to improve my capacity to teach by the Spirit and help many souls enter into the path that leads to eternal life! I invite you also to share what you believe to be true with others and watch the fruits of your faith return to, but remember that these fruits are the stuff of eternity.

Well I am well, just feeling a bit of a cold coming on, I am a bit tired, but maybe that is because I went to sleep late and woke up early. Yah that is probably it. 

Well I love you all and I hope that all of us can look for God´s hand reaching out to touch our lives.

Love, 

Élder Anderson

Construction on New Church

I have good news, no, great news. 

and it isn't your even day of the week news, 

our investigatores didn't go to church this week, that was kind of a bummer

However, the Lord made manifest his hand in many different ways:

A man who had we had helped move on friday with his family who is currently without a job and to whom I look as a an example in the preisthood helped us Sunday morning pick up an investigator even with all of the difficulties he is having. In church he went and bore his testimony that even though the family we went to go pick up wasn't in the house he said that he felt useful in the hands of the lord. 

The Bishop said that this month will comence construction on the new church. 

We had a specail meeting about family history work and I was able to share an experience about how prayer can help us in our efforts to do our work for the dead. 

I taught the lesson in the Gospel Principles class, becasue the teacher wasn't there and it happened to be about the gifts of the Holy Ghost: gift of tongues and wisdom and others. It was quite lovely. 

I had a few members ask me if I would teach them the piano yesterday so maybe I will try to do an accelerated two week course., hahaha. 

Oh story time so one of our investigators who is preparing to be baptized this week lives on a street that is like really rough and while teaching her about the word of wisdom in the street one day oh what to our wondering eyes would appear- a drug bust!- two policeman at the end of the street searching some youth for paraphernalia how ever you spell that, soon after the occurrence my companion and I passed by these troubled younguns and bore our testimonies about the word of wisdom and the safety and peace that it may bring into our lives. Unfortunately there are many occurrences through out the day of policeman reprimanding people in the street because of drug problems. 

But, on the same street I heard this dude say to another dude in the street as we passed by, " hey charlie don't mess with these guys, their of God" or something to that effect. 

So don't worry- Nós somos de Deus

Com Amor

Élder Anderson